# Coronavirus COVID-19 (2019-nCoV) Thread - 2020 Breaking News **URL:** \ **Category:** The Quarantine Zone\ **Tags:** covid-quarantine\ **Created:** [February 11, 2020, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758 "2020-02-11T01:16:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 118
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2020, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/2347 "2020-04-13T19:39:26Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > This NPR article discussed the closure of that plant (and several others), and quotes the CEO of Smithfield as saying, “The closure of this facility, combined with a growing list of other protein plants that have shuttered across our industry, is pushing our country perilously close to the edge in terms of our meat supply.” > > [U.S. Meat Supply Is 'Perilously Close' To A Shortage, Smithfield CEO Warns : Coronavirus Updates : NPR](https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/04/13/833110486/u-s-meat-supply-is-perilously-close-to-a-shortage-ceo-warns?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=nprblogscoronavirusliveupdates) So we should be seeing smug looks from the vegan coalition soon, then? ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2020, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/2348 "2020-04-13T19:48:09Z")
**Moderator Note** > [@Broomstick](#): > > Wonder when the actual firing is going to occur - it does seem inevitable. > > It will, of course, be immediately followed by Trump launching _ad hominem_ attacks against the good doctor and calls to immediately do something completely stupid and contrary to actual medical recommendations. > [@AK84](#): > > You do realize he is getting re-elected right? > [@alphaboi867](#): > > If it were any other President I’d agree with you, but Trump is fucking up so bad (& he’s lost the economy) Biden has a better than 50/50 chance of being elected. The president’s tweet calling for Dr Fauci to be fired is breaking news, so that’s fine. The rest of the discussions are better suited to the Politics and Elections forum. Please take the political discussion there. ---
**Author:** ![SmartAleq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smartaleq/32/163_2.png) [@SmartAleq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAleq)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2020, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/2349 "2020-04-13T20:31:11Z")
I’ve been watching for articles regarding [the use of anti-coagulant drugs](https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/a-stopgap-measure-to-treat-respiratory-distress#Initial-trials-promising) in COVID to reduce hypercoagulability and subsequent venous thrombosis, especially in the lungs, of patients who cross over into ARDS. It would be nice if seven years of putting up with daily warfarin and monthly testing were to have some benefit should I come down with this mess. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2020, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/2350 "2020-04-13T20:46:06Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Wait. All of our nurses, doctors, EMTs, etc., they are all fully stocked with masks? No shortages, anywhere? If the local hospital in Boondock County is not fully stocked, who the bleeding fuck decided that grocery stores get them? Do you want to keep eating food? > **[‘It feels like a war zone’: As more of them die, grocery workers increasingly...](https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/04/12/grocery-worker-fear-death-coronavirus/)** > > At least 41 grocery workers have died of covid-19, and thousands more have tested positive for the novel coronavirus in recent weeks. > [@](#): > > **‘It feels like a war zone’: As more of them die, grocery workers increasingly fear showing up at work** > > At least 41 grocery workers have died of the coronavirus and thousands more have tested positive in recent weeks > > … > > Next to health-care providers, no workforce has proved more essential during the novel coronavirus pandemic than the 3 million U.S. grocery store employees who restock shelves and freezers, fill online orders and keep checkout lines moving. Although the public health guidelines are clear — steer clear of others — these workers are putting in longer shifts and taking on bigger workloads. Many report being stressed and scared, especially as their colleagues fall ill to the highly contagious coronavirus that is responsible for more than 21,000 deaths in the United States alone. > > … > > Now workers across the country are staying home or quitting altogether, according to interviews with more than a dozen employees, leaving many markets short-staffed and ill-prepared to deal with demand. That’s complicated the scramble led by Walmart, Kroger and Safeway to fill hundreds of thousands of new jobs. Demand for groceries has doubled in recent weeks, employees say, as Americans avoid restaurants and prepare most of their meals at home. ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2020, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/2351 "2020-04-13T20:55:39Z")
Today in Austria: [ul] [li] The judges’ associations of various federal courts in Austria have issued a joint statement calling on the government not to make use of **coronavirus tracking apps** mandatory. The judges write that such a measure would be a disproportionate interference with fundamental rights to freedom and data protection, and may even override the principles of the rule of law. (Meanwhile, [the UK government is considering de-anonymizing users of a similar app offered by that country’s National Health Service](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/13/nhs-coronavirus-app-memo-discussed-giving-ministers-power-to-de-anonymise-users).)[/li] [li] The minister for agriculture says that Austria’s **milk, beef, and vegetable producers** have seen huge losses due to the closing of the country’s cafés and restaurants, and has called upon the country’s supermarkets to help by stocking shelves with more local rather than imported produce.[/li] [li] Austria’s psychologists have set up an **emergency psychological helpline**. The service, which will be available 7 days a week from 09:00 to 20:00 until 12 July, will offer free, anonymous counselling.[/li] [li] **Vienna’s national parks** will finally open tomorrow.[/li] [li]This Easter weekend, police issued only 1500 **citations for breaking social distancing rules**. This is much lower than the 2300 citations issued the previous weekend. Since the lockdown began, 23,837 people have been cited for breaking the rules.[/li] [li] Current statistics: 14,043 confirmed infections, 368 deaths, 7343 recovered.[/li][/ul] ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2020, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/2352 "2020-04-13T21:38:50Z")
Did anyone watch[Saturday Night Live?](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/12/arts/television/snl-coronavirus-tom-hanks.html) Well they did it different. All the cast members were at home and Tom Hanks, who had it but is now recovered, hosted from his home. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2020, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/2353 "2020-04-13T22:25:09Z")
> [@engineer\_comp\_geek](#): > > **Moderator Note** > The president’s tweet calling for Dr Fauci to be fired is breaking news, so that’s fine. The rest of the discussions are better suited to the Politics and Elections forum. Please take the political discussion there. My apologies for stepping over the line. After Colibri cautioned me I took my comments to the BBQ Pit. Was it really necessary to moderate the exact same post twice? Regardless, I will do better going forward. ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2020, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/2354 "2020-04-13T23:02:01Z")
> [@kk\_fusion](#): > > … and France is extending full lockdown until May 11th. > > Four more weeks. I predict lasting liver damage. “June 15, 2020-- Today, worldwide emergency hospital admissions for hepatitis moved ahead of new admissions for COVID-19…” ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2020, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/2355 "2020-04-13T23:05:03Z")
And now we have a TV presenter supporting the notion that it’s all caused by 5G. > [@](#): > > TV presenter Eamonn Holmes is at the centre of a controversy after casting doubt on media outlets that debunk the myth that 5G causes coronavirus. > > “What I don’t accept is mainstream media immediately slapping that down as not true when they don’t know it’s not true,” the ITV This Morning host said. > > “It’s very easy to say it is not true because it suits the state narrative.” > > He was criticised on social media and by scientists who have dismissed the theories as “complete rubbish”. > > “The opinions of the mainstream media or the state hardly come into the debate,” said Dr Simon Clarke, associate professor in cellular microbiology at the University of Reading. > > “Numerous doctors and scientists around the world have said that the disease is caused by a virus, something completely different to a mobile phone signal.” > [@](#): > > Mobile phone mast fires are being investigated amid conspiracy theories claiming a link between 5G and coronavirus. > > There have been fires at masts in Birmingham, Liverpool and Melling in Merseyside. > > A video, allegedly of the blaze in Aigburth, was shared on YouTube and Facebook, claiming a link between the mobile technology and Covid-19. ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2020, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/2356 "2020-04-13T23:20:03Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > It was not specified that the masks in question are not medical grade. For that matter, are we all assured that no medical workers would want or accept such masks if nothing else were available? Are we further assured that this is not the case? > > Given such assurances, my pearls would remain unclutched. Unless the source was unreliable. The other implied snark is deservedly ignored. You’re someone I’ve looked up to on the 'Dope, because you generally approach things with humor, humanity, and compassion. All I can think is that the world situation has temporarily disabled your reason, because this is not the \*\*elucidator \*\*I have come to know, even peripherally. I want you to [watch this interview](https://www.msnbc.com/stephanie-ruhle/watch/mother-speaks-out-about-losing-her-daughter-to-coronavirus-after-she-helped-the-elderly-81834053969). This is a mother mourning her daughter who kept going into work at a grocery store because her coworkers wouldn’t and because she knew people needed help. Her last paycheck was $20.64, and that’s what she died for. Then come back and tell us that you realize that yes, grocery store workers, and convenience store workers, and pharmacy employees, and garbage men, and postal workers, and people who deliver mail or packages, all of them, all the people who are considered essential to keep the rest of us fed and supplied with goods, whose jobs demand that they interact with the public who could infect them, as they infected that poor woman, all of them deserve PPE. Yes, the medical people are in dire need. But so are these others. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2020, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/2357 "2020-04-13T23:56:26Z")
If the grocery store workers aren’t going to work, where are they buying _their_ groceries? ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2020, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/2358 "2020-04-14T00:03:34Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > Was it really necessary to moderate the exact same post twice? I’m sure **ecg** missed the fact that the post had already been moderated. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2020, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/2359 "2020-04-14T00:58:35Z")
> [@Morgyn](#): > > You’re someone I’ve looked up to on the 'Dope, because you generally approach things with humor, humanity, and compassion. All I can think is that the world situation has temporarily disabled your reason, because this is not the \*\*elucidator \*\*I have come to know, even peripherally. > > I want you to [watch this interview](https://www.msnbc.com/stephanie-ruhle/watch/mother-speaks-out-about-losing-her-daughter-to-coronavirus-after-she-helped-the-elderly-81834053969). \*\*This is a mother mourning her daughter who kept going into work at a grocery store because her coworkers wouldn’t and because she knew people needed help. Her last paycheck was $20.64, and that’s what she died for. > \*\* > Then come back and tell us that you realize that yes, grocery store workers, and convenience store workers, and pharmacy employees, and garbage men, and postal workers, and people who deliver mail or packages, all of them, all the people who are considered essential to keep the rest of us fed and supplied with goods, whose jobs demand that they interact with the public who could infect them, as they infected that poor woman, all of them deserve PPE. > > Yes, the medical people are in dire need. But so are these others. > [@D\_Anconia](#): > > If the grocery store workers aren’t going to work, where are they buying _their_ groceries? Your concern is badly misplaced. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2020, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/2360 "2020-04-14T01:02:29Z")
Hawaii reported only five new cases today. (The state health department updates every day at noon.) That is the lowest increase in a long time. ---
**Author:** ![Jay\_Z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Jay\_Z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jay_Z)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2020, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/2361 "2020-04-14T01:55:22Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > This NPR article discussed the closure of that plant (and several others), and quotes the CEO of Smithfield as saying, “The closure of this facility, combined with a growing list of other protein plants that have shuttered across our industry, is pushing our country perilously close to the edge in terms of our meat supply.” > > [U.S. Meat Supply Is 'Perilously Close' To A Shortage, Smithfield CEO Warns : Coronavirus Updates : NPR](https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/04/13/833110486/u-s-meat-supply-is-perilously-close-to-a-shortage-ceo-warns?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=nprblogscoronavirusliveupdates) Which means… Smithfield will be happy to charge you higher prices… and Smithfield will be happy to accept a government bailout! Do you trust what he says? ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2020, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/2362 "2020-04-14T02:19:04Z")
> [@Jay\_Z](#): > > Which means… Smithfield will be happy to charge you higher prices… and Smithfield will be happy to accept a government bailout! > > Do you trust what he says? **Moderating** Again, leave this kind of thing for the Pit. Colibri Quarantine Zone Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2020, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/2363 "2020-04-14T04:08:34Z")
1,925,179 confirmed infections 119,701 dead 447,821 recovered In the US: 587,155 confirmed infections 23,644 dead 36,948 recovered Yesterday’s numbers for comparison: > [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > 1,853,327 confirmed infections > 114,250 dead > 423,692 recovered > > In the US: > > 560,433 confirmed infections > 22,115 dead > 32,634 recovered ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2020, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/2364 "2020-04-14T04:34:13Z")
Taiwan has continued to do well. Another five cases yesterday, all people to contracted it overseas. That makes 20 for the last seven days and the vast majority are Taiwanese who became infected abroad. I don’t believe there are any of the community transmitted who were from unknown sources. They are still going ahead and canceling activities. We aren’t in lock down but just encouraged to be cautious. Last week a hostess at a karaoka club was found to be infected but had continued to work so they are all closed now nationwide. > [@](#): > > Taipei, April 13 (CNA) A rapid diagnostic test for COVID-19 developed by Taiwan’s Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) is scheduled to go into production in July, a Taiwanese official said Monday. > > The ITRI has developed a prototype for the testing device, which can produce results in under an hour at a 90-percent accuracy rate, Vice Minister of Economic Affairs Lin Chuan-neng (林全能) said at a press conference. > > The nucleic acid test is designed to screen patients who are in the incubation period, meaning those who have contracted the disease but have not yet displayed symptoms, Lin said. > > Weighing about 600 grams, the device is likely the smallest rapid diagnostic test for COVID-19 that is under development, according to the official. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2020, 9:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/2365 "2020-04-14T09:17:44Z")
And zero cases for today! It’s not solved and completely contained but this is good news. ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2020, 10:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/2366 "2020-04-14T10:48:32Z")
> [@TokyoBayer](#): > > Taiwan has continued to do well. Another five cases yesterday, all people to contracted it overseas. That makes 20 for the last seven days and the vast majority are Taiwanese who became infected abroad. I don’t believe there are any of the community transmitted who were from unknown sources. > > They are still going ahead and canceling activities. We aren’t in lock down but just encouraged to be cautious. Last week a hostess at a karaoka club was found to be infected but had continued to work so they are all closed now nationwide. I heard Taiwan was hit hard a few years ago by SARS and therefore were ready when this hit. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758.md?page=117) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758.md?page=119)