# 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:** 135
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2020, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/2688 "2020-04-23T12:33:01Z")
[https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/494236-pandemic-sparks-concerns-about-surging-std-hiv-rates](https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/494236-pandemic-sparks-concerns-about-surging-std-hiv-rates) Public health resources being shifted to the fight against the coronavirus are leaving std and hiv resources wanting. > [@](#): > > The pandemic that has upended life in the U.S. could lead to increased STD rates and setbacks in the fight against HIV as public health resources are shifted to the coronavirus response. > > Access to STD and HIV testing and treatment services are dwindling as local health departments shuffle staff to respond to COVID-19 and clinics reduce hours or close altogether and cancel outreach programs. > > “We are seeing a complete disruption to STD prevention here in the United States,” said David Harvey, executive director of the National Coalition of STD Directors (NCSD). “We expect to experience even higher STD rates as a result.” ---
**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 23, 2020, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/2689 "2020-04-23T14:02:31Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Ferrets have been experimentally infected with COVID19, and they’ve shown ferret to ferret transmission to occur in ferrets. I am happy to report that the ferret population of Chez Psychonaut is alive and (mostly) well. Last week little Knödel had to go to the vet as a result of getting his toe caught under a door, but after some anti-inflammatory treatment he’s made a full recovery. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2020, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/2690 "2020-04-23T14:10:08Z")
Coronavirus now causing [Social Security on pace to potentially be depleted much sooner than before, in this upcoming decade.](https://finance.yahoo.com/news/coronavirus-could-deplete-social-security-as-early-as-this-decade-analysis-220347671.html) ---
**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 23, 2020, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/2691 "2020-04-23T15:42:33Z")
> [@flatlined](#): > > **Colibri** may I say that I honestly admire how level handed you are being “during this very scary time”. Seriously, you are holding up so very well, please know that at least one person here has noticed. > [@madsircool](#): > > Ill second this. Amazing job of keeping cool under pressure. Thanks. I didn’t know what I was getting into when I volunteered to mod this forum. It’s a lot harder than GQ, because opinions are allowed, and it can get contentious. And then most everyone is frazzled and in a bad mood these days. Trying to keep the peace isn’t easy. But thanks to all the posters who generally manage to keep things civil. > [@flatlined](#): > > Does anyone know if its possible to mail beer from the states to Panama? I think our mod could use some liquid support if possible. Things are indeed getting desperate. Panama has instituted a “dry law” for the duration and all sales of alcohol are prohibited. Despite rationing my supply, I’m down to my last two cans of beer. Fortunately, I have adequate stocks of scotch, bourbon, rum, vodka, tequila, and liqueurs. (And I haven’t been desperate enough to consume the bottle of Jim Beam apple/bourbon liqueur that my sister gave me for Christmas several years ago.) ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2020, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/2692 "2020-04-23T18:27:41Z")
> [@Melbourne](#): > > … or inhale the meat … I can see that you must have been watching me eat. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2020, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/2693 "2020-04-23T18:59:27Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Thanks. I didn’t know what I was getting into when I volunteered to mod this forum. It’s a lot harder than GQ, because opinions are allowed, and it can get contentious. And then most everyone is frazzled and in a bad mood these days. Trying to keep the peace isn’t easy. But thanks to all the posters who generally manage to keep things civil. > > Things are indeed getting desperate. Panama has instituted a “dry law” for the duration and all sales of alcohol are prohibited. Despite rationing my supply, I’m down to my last two cans of beer. Fortunately, I have adequate stocks of scotch, bourbon, rum, vodka, tequila, and liqueurs. (And I haven’t been desperate enough to consume the bottle of Jim Beam apple/bourbon liqueur that my sister gave me for Christmas several years ago.) Yes, thanks, and sorry for making extra work for you. The Jim Beam Apple is quite good, actually. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2020, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/2694 "2020-04-23T19:02:40Z")
Apparently, up to 92% of a population can become infected, so…herd immunity seems to have limited effect (granted, this is talking about a very dense population): > **[92 percent of inmates tested for COVID-19 at Indiana prison receive positive...](https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/494322-92-percent-of-inmates-tested-for-covid-19-at-indiana-prison-receive/)** > > The vast majority of inmates that were tested for COVID-19 at a prison in Westville, Ind., have been diagnosed with the virus, officials revealed this week.The District 1 Hospital Emergency Plannin… On the positive side of the scale, New York is calculating a 0.5% fatality rate: > **[NY releases figures estimating 14 percent in state, 20 percent in NYC have...](https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/494324-27m-new-yorkers-have-had-coronavirus-preliminary-data-shows/)** > > Preliminary data shows about 13.9 percent of the population of New York state — about 2.7 million people — have at some point been infected with the coronavirus.About 3,000 people were randoml… ---
**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 23, 2020, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/2695 "2020-04-23T19:22:28Z")
[Africa’s 43% jump in virus cases in 1 week worries experts](https://apnews.com/e1d93cbc49fb24beefab71b522168163) > [@](#): > > Africa registered a 43% jump in reported COVID-19 cases in the last week, highlighting a warning from the World Health Organization that the continent of 1.3 billion could become the next epicenter of the global outbreak. > > Africa also has a “very, very limited” and “very, very strained” testing capacity, John Nkengasong, director of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said in his weekly briefing on Thursday. > > The surge in infections on the continent is almost certainly under-reported and even higher in reality, say medical experts. > > WHO’s recent report painted a grim picture for Africa, one of the last continents to be hit by the pandemic. WHO warned the virus could kill more than 300,000 people and push 30 million into desperate poverty. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2020, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/2696 "2020-04-23T19:27:17Z")
I guess this is the place to put this: [Elizabeth Warren loses oldest brother to Covid-19.](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2020/04/23/elizabeth-warrens-brother-donald-reed-dies-coronavirus/3011072001/) ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2020, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/2697 "2020-04-23T19:28:05Z")
> **[Adebayor: I'm not Drogba, Eto'o; I won't donate](https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/37583102/adebayor-coronavirus-im-not-drogba-etoo-wont-donate)** > > Emmanuel Adebayor has defended his refusal to donate to Togo's coronavirus battle and distanced himself from Didier Drogba and Samuel Eto'o. Footballer Emanuel Adebayor will not donate money to fight the coronavirus. > [@](#): > > “I am compared with Drogba and Eto’o,” he said during a Facebook Live. "However, I am neither of them. I am Emmanuel Sheyi Adebayor and I will always do what I want. > “I do what I want, I eat what I want, and this is the most important thing. Of course, there will be those who criticise me because I did not create a foundation in Lome.” > > “I’m just living my life, I’m just enjoying myself,” he added. "At lot of people are coming on my page and asking why are you not doing a charity. > > "For God’s sake. Why are you asking me to do a charity? I do what my heart asks me to do, not what you people ask me to do. ---
**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 23, 2020, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/2698 "2020-04-23T20:08:15Z")
Today in Austria: [ul] [li] With the recent loosening of the lockdown restrictions, local authorities are now granting permission for **public protests and demonstrations**. The first of these, to take place tomorrow, will be a demonstration by the [Initiative for Evidence-based Corona Information](https://www.initiative-corona.info/), a group that intends to protest the pandemic control measures because its members reportedly believe either that the coronavirus is not particularly dangerous or that it doesn’t exist at all. According to police, only five demonstrators are expected to attend. (I’m not sure if that’s because public gatherings of more than five people are still banned, or if this group couldn’t muster a bigger turnout anyway.) The protest will be held just down the street from where I work—I am thinking of popping down to have a look-see, though on the other hand I’m not sure I want to give this group the benefit of a visible audience.[/li] [li] **Opinion polls** show that support for the government’s pandemic control restrictions is slipping, from 90% four weeks ago to 79% today. Nonetheless, 63% of respondents oppose instituting much looser restrictions, as in Sweden.[/li] [li] The ruling coalation has introduced into parliament **a bill allowing for the exclusion of “certain groups of people” from public events** until 2021. The opposition believes that the government intends to define “certain groups of people” as “people who do not have a tracking app installed on their cell phone”. If so, this would run contrary to the government’s previous assurances that use of such apps would be entirely voluntary.[/li] [li] Starting in May, there will be a **special express train between Romania and Austria** for 24-hour care workers. The train will run three times per week and bring in 350 care workers on each run, each of whom will serve a six-week contract before returning home. Each compartment in the train will seat a maximum of four passengers in order to maintain social distancing, and the train will not make any stops between Romania and Austria.[/li] [li] **Religious services** will be permitted to resume from 15 May, with the restrictions on the number of participants based on the size of the place of worship. Worshippers will also be required to wear face coverings and maintain a distance of two metres from anyone not living in the same household.[/li] [li] The city of Vienna is providing financial aid to its famous **_Fiaker_ (hackney coach) drivers** to the tune of €250 per horse per month. This is over and above whatever aid the drivers may be receiving from the federal government for lost wages/earnings.[/li] [li] State-run **day-care centres** will gradually be resuming normal service. Starting on 4 May, attendance will be open to children in their final year, children with special language needs in their penultimate year, and children who are the only child in their household. However, attendance is not compulsory, and parents who elect not to send their children back to day-care will not lose their place.[/li] [li] Two of Vienna’s biggest tourist attractions, the **Schönbrunn Palace and Schönbrunn Zoo** , will reopen on 15 May. (We live just down the road from both, and are regular visitors to the zoo and the palace grounds.)[/li] [li] Vorarlberg is the first state to announce the imminent reopening of its **children’s playgrounds** , planned for 1 May.[/li] [li] Current statistics: 14,963 confirmed infections, 522 deaths, 11,694 recovered.[/li][/ul] ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2020, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/2699 "2020-04-23T20:38:33Z")
IL Gov Pritzker just announced extending stay-at-home through May, w/ some relatively minor tweaks such as allowing some stores to open w/ masks/distancing. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2020, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/2700 "2020-04-23T20:45:09Z")
> [@psychonaut](#): > > The protest will be held just down the street from where I work—I am thinking of popping down to have a look-see, though on the other hand I’m not sure I want to give this group the benefit of a visible audience. Maybe you could just walk past them on the other side of the street as if you’re on your way to somewhere else. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2020, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/2701 "2020-04-23T21:07:57Z")
[Preliminary test results suggest 21.2% of NYC residents have COVID antibodies](https://www.6sqft.com/new-york-covid-antibody-test-preliminary-results/) and 13.9% for the whole state population. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2020, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/2702 "2020-04-23T21:24:13Z")
Gavin Newsom just issued an executive order requiring all creditors to stop taking people’s stimulus checks, and ordered those who have already taken them, to give them back. This should have been a part of the initial federal law. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2020, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/2703 "2020-04-23T21:29:28Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Gavin Newsom just issued an executive order requiring all creditors to stop taking people’s stimulus checks, and ordered those who have already taken them, to give them back. > This should have been a part of the initial federal law. I wonder if he has the authority to do this. This is interstate commerce although I agree it shouldnt happen. ---
**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 24, 2020, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/2704 "2020-04-24T04:12:37Z")
2,725,920 total cases 191,060 dead 745,905 recovered In the US: 886,709 total cases 50,243 dead 85,922 recovered Yesterday’s numbers for comparison: > [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > 2,638,024 total cases > 184,235 dead > 721,734 recovered > > In the US: > > 849,092 total cases > 47,681 dead > 84,050 recovered ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2020, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/2705 "2020-04-24T04:54:16Z")
I have to post without comment. > **[Trump just mused about whether disinfectant injections could treat the...](https://www.vox.com/2020/4/23/21233628/trump-disinfectant-injections-sunlight-coronavirus-briefing)** > > It is highly unlikely that injecting humans with disinfectants will turn out to be a safe or effective treatment. ---
**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 24, 2020, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/2706 "2020-04-24T05:06:23Z")
That is something that happened; it’s true. ---
**Author:** ![Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/half_man_half_wit/32/21766_2.png) [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Half_Man_Half_Wit)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2020, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/2707 "2020-04-24T05:37:30Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > I have to post without comment. > [Trump muses about whether disinfectant injections can treat the coronavirus - Vox](https://www.vox.com/2020/4/23/21233628/trump-disinfectant-injections-sunlight-coronavirus-briefing) > [@](#): > > “Supposing we hit the body with a tremendous, whether it’s ultraviolet or just very powerful light … and then I said supposing you brought the light inside the body, which you can do either through the skin or in some other way. And I think you said you’re gonna test that,” Trump said, addressing Bryan. “And then I see disinfectant, where it knocks it [coronavirus] out in a minute — one minute — and is there a way we can do something like that by injection inside, or almost a cleaning. Because you see it gets in the lungs and it does a tremendous number on the lungs, so it’d be interesting to check that. So, that you’re going to have to use medical doctors with, but it sounds interesting to me.” :eek: It’s not a political comment to say that the level of ignorance on display here, and the complete lack of appreciation of this ignorance, is truly staggering. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758.md?page=134) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758.md?page=136)