# 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:** 151
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2020, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/3008 "2020-05-07T05:07:50Z")
Well, since Bo is sleepy today: 3,823,013 total cases 265,084 dead 1,303,018 recovered In the US: 1,263,183 total cases 74,807 dead 213,084 recovered > [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > 3,727,864 total cases > 258,340 dead > 1,242,393 recovered > > In the US: > > 1,237,633 total cases > 72,271 dead > 200,628 recovered > > Yesterday’s numbers for comparison: ---
**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:** [May 7, 2020, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/3009 "2020-05-07T05:46:59Z")
3,820,737 total cases 265,094 dead 1,303,146 recovered In the US: 1,263,197 total cases 74,807 dead 213,109 recovered Yesterday’s numbers for comparison: > [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > 3,727,864 total cases > 258,340 dead > 1,242,393 recovered > > In the US: > > 1,237,633 total cases > 72,271 dead > 200,628 recovered ---
**Author:** ![psychobunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/54ee81/32.png) [@psychobunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychobunny)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2020, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/3010 "2020-05-07T06:57:23Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > This has me wondering, it’s been eons and eons since we saw a disease that was 1) highly contagious \*\*\*and \*\*\*2) had a high mortality rate. > > Ebola = deadly, but very difficult to transmit. > Covid-19 = contagious, but not all that deadly. (“only” 2-5% kill rate) > Various bird flus = contagious, but not all that deadly. > SARS = rather deadly, but wasn’t all that easily transmitted > Why did smallpox, bubonic plague, etc. rip around with such ease \*\*\*and \*\*\*mortality? (although of course healthcare was far worse back then) Actually, smallpox and plague have relatively low transmissibility. I find [this chart](https://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/ng-interactive/2014/oct/15/visualised-how-ebola-compares-to-other-infectious-diseases)useful although it doesn’t include Covid 19, but the transmissibility of Covid 19 is nowhere near that of measles, for example. ---
**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:** [May 7, 2020, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/3011 "2020-05-07T07:22:54Z")
The Pentagon has decided that coronavirus survivors are not eligible to join the military. > **[Coronavirus Survivors 'Permanently Disqualified' from Joining U.S. Military](https://www.newsweek.com/coronavirus-survivors-permanently-disqualified-joining-us-military-1502445)** > > This ban applies uniquely applies to coronavirus survivors while allowing applicants with histories of other viral, non-chronic illnesses to enter the military. ---
**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:** [May 7, 2020, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/3012 "2020-05-07T12:38:48Z")
> [@psychobunny](#): > > Actually, smallpox and plague have relatively low transmissibility. > I find [this chart](https://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/ng-interactive/2014/oct/15/visualised-how-ebola-compares-to-other-infectious-diseases)useful although it doesn’t include Covid 19, but the transmissibility of Covid 19 is nowhere near that of measles, for example. Er… no. Yes, the plague is normally transmitted by flea bites (although the pneumonic form can spread human-to-human via air transmission) which (these days) cuts down on transmission, but smallpox is _highly_ contagious and airborne (as well as bodily fluids and contaminated bedding and clothing, which could remain infectious for up to two years). It was not contagious until symptoms were showing, however, which did help with containing outbreaks. Unlike covid-19, where you can be shedding virus for a week before there is any sign you’re sick. ---
**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:** [May 7, 2020, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/3013 "2020-05-07T15:16:19Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > … Unlike covid-19, where you can be shedding virus for a week before there is any sign you’re sick. COVID-19 seems to have a flu-like profile, in which many, probably _very many_ people are [del]asymmetric[/del] asymptomatic or apparently minimally affected, meaning lots of people out there could be just casually shedding virus particles. It is also apparently flu-like inasmuch as there may not be a firm immunity factor. Every one of those seventy-odd spikes is an attachment point: antibodies can sometimes neutralize a virus directly by attaching to and block the virus’ primary attachment point, but, with a coronavirus, the antibody has to act as a signal for a leukocyte to show up and eat the damn thing, during which interval the virus might manage to attach to a target cell with one of its many unblocked spikes. ---
**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:** [May 7, 2020, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/3014 "2020-05-07T15:44:38Z")
[One of Trump’s personal valets has tested positive for coronavirus.](https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/07/politics/trump-valet-tests-positive-covid-19/index.html) > [@](#): > > A member of the US Navy who serves as one of President Donald Trump’s personal valets has tested positive for coronavirus, CNN has learned Thursday, raising concerns about the President’s possible exposure to the virus. > The valets are members of an elite military unit dedicated to the White House and often work very close to the President and first family. Trump was upset when he was informed Wednesday that the valet had tested positive, a source told CNN, and he was subsequently tested again by the White House physician. > > In a statement, the White House confirmed CNN’s reporting that one of the President’s valets had tested positive. > “We were recently notified by the White House Medical Unit that a member of the United States Military, who works on the White House campus, has tested positive for Coronavirus,” deputy White House press secretary Hogan Gidley said in a statement. **“The President and the Vice President have since tested negative for the virus and they remain in great health.”** And we’re supposed to believe that why? ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2020, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/3015 "2020-05-07T15:53:16Z")
Only the good die young. ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2020, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/3016 "2020-05-07T17:05:18Z")
And [this](https://www.thedailybeast.com/georgia-became-magnet-for-out-of-state-visitors-as-restaurants-barbers-reopened-early-location-data-reveals?ref=home) just goes to show that people are stupid and we’re never going to get over this: > [@](#): > > Tens of thousands of visitors reportedly flocked to Georgia a week after the state allowed dine-in restaurants, hair salons and other businesses to reopen. Mobile phone location data reported by the Washington Post shows that an additional 62,440 visited Georgia, mostly from surrounding states. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2020, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/3017 "2020-05-07T18:05:59Z")
Wow. Visit Georgia, take home a little something to remember your trip. ---
**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:** [May 7, 2020, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/3018 "2020-05-07T18:13:49Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Wow. Visit Georgia, take home a little something to remember your trip. Share the experience with your friends. ---
**Author:** ![Mike\_Mabes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mike_mabes/32/1782_2.png) [@Mike\_Mabes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mike_Mabes)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2020, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/3019 "2020-05-07T18:16:35Z")
Are restaurants limiting the number of people allowed and requiring employess to wear masks? ---
**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:** [May 7, 2020, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/3020 "2020-05-07T18:46:42Z")
> [@Sicks\_Ate](#): > > And [this](https://www.thedailybeast.com/georgia-became-magnet-for-out-of-state-visitors-as-restaurants-barbers-reopened-early-location-data-reveals?ref=home) just goes to show that people are stupid and we’re never going to get over this: Some people seem convinced that government is restricting them just for cruelty and Big Brother’s sake to deny them good things. Hence the mad rush to re-opened businesses. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_chao_goes_mu/32/3191_2.png) [@The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Chao_Goes_Mu)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2020, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/3021 "2020-05-07T19:47:28Z")
> [@Mike\_Mabes](#): > > Are restaurants limiting the number of people allowed and requiring employess to wear masks? Yes. Here are the requirements for Ohio: Caution: PDF [https://coronavirus.ohio.gov/static/responsible/Hair-Salons-Day-Spas-Nail%20Salons-Barbershops-Tanning-Facilities.pdf](https://coronavirus.ohio.gov/static/responsible/Hair-Salons-Day-Spas-Nail%20Salons-Barbershops-Tanning-Facilities.pdf) ---
**Author:** ![bengangmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2020, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/3022 "2020-05-07T20:33:06Z")
> [@Banquet\_Bear](#): > > …New Zealand have released the rules for the stand-down to Alert Level 2. > > More at the link. > > [https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c\_id=1&objectid=12330222](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12330222) > > I think this will be the new normal for a long while. Almost everything gets opened up in some way or form: the industries that will be hardest hit are the ones that rely on overseas travel like tourism and the convention industry. But this is good news. Seven weeks in isolation coming to an end. > > I’m self employed and can do a lot of my work from home so (I suspect, like many NZ’ers) will keep to many of the habits I’ve picked up in the last couple of months. We will probably still “click and collect” from the supermarket instead of shopping instore. I’ll work from home more often than not. I’ve simply gotten used to a different way of doing things. I don’t know if thats a good or a bad thing. Figures for 2016…[tourism] is “5.6%) of the country’s GDP in 2016, as well as supporting 188,000 full-time-equivalent jobs (nearly 7.5% of New Zealand’s workforce).” this is my huge concern - no matter how well the “rest of the world” does, what’s happening in the worst countries is going to drag down those of us doing well. Having to survive what could amount to say 5% job losses (if domestic tourism ramps up some) is going to be massive. In our household we’ve been talking about the need for a global plan on this. But again - thanks to the idiocracy of the US, there is NO chance of this. I work in food safety, a recurrent theme I’m seeing is that “work life” practices are being translated to home life. Most notably cleanliness / hand washing and avoiding cross contamination. This is going to become the new norm. And as a closing thought - can’t help but think about Tom Clancy and Stephen King , For those that read cheesy spy thrillers, think on this - Executive Orders (I think) talked about a bio-engineered pandemic, our hero shut down inter-state travel, enforced by the National Guard. With what happened in Georgia, this suddenly must seem attractive - He also “predicted” a commercial plane attack (can’t remember which book) - Stephen King saw a plane being flown into an office tower in Running Man ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2020, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/3023 "2020-05-07T20:33:27Z")
> [@Mike\_Mabes](#): > > Are restaurants limiting the number of people allowed and requiring employess to wear masks? This restaurant group in Texas is forbidding masks among their employees. > **[Hillstone restaurant employees say the company is forbidding them to wear masks](https://www.dallasnews.com/food/restaurant-news/2020/05/05/hillstone-restaurant-employees-say-the-company-is-forbidding-them-to-wear-masks/)** > > In the rush to reopen and reclaim business, most high-end Dallas restaurants have scrambled to find masks and gloves for servers and staff to make guests feel... When pressed on it, their answer has been. Yep, that’s our policy. If an employee isn’t comfortable with it they can stay home, if a patron isn’t comfortable they can go somewhere else. > **[Hillstone restaurant employees say the company is forbidding them to wear masks](https://www.dallasnews.com/food/restaurant-news/2020/05/05/hillstone-restaurant-employees-say-the-company-is-forbidding-them-to-wear-masks/)** > > In the rush to reopen and reclaim business, most high-end Dallas restaurants have scrambled to find masks and gloves for servers and staff to make guests feel... And this N.C. ReOpen Leader, the Queen of the Idiots — Is calling for a boycott of businesses that require masks. > **[ReOpen NC leader calls for boycott of Costco, Whole Foods for requiring...](https://www.cbs17.com/news/local-news/wake-county-news/reopen-nc-leader-calls-for-boycott-of-costco-whole-foods-for-requiring-customers-to-wear-masks/)** > > RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — Starting Monday, Costco shoppers will be required to wear face coverings in stores. At Whole Foods, shoppers will be given face masks upon arrival at its stores. Some v… These reopening businesses are going to be pushing back against mask rules and, I’m sure, other social distancing rules. The conservatives are pivoting back to the COVID is a hoax line, now that they’ve found a way to hand wave away the inconvenient fact that the Republicans are in charge of the country and the pandemic response. And I know it’s a slog, but everyone should read Dr. Bright’s whistleblower complaint. It’s a long document but I found the part where he was trying to work with a N95 mask manufacturer in January to restart 4 defunct production lines to get from the 30 million masks in stock to the 3.5 billion he thought we needed. But the other government agencies insisted that we had plenty and said if there was a shortage they would deal with it by telling the public not to buy them. [https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/05/politics/rick-bright-full-complaint/index.html](https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/05/politics/rick-bright-full-complaint/index.html) The narrative is totally linear and the info about the masks is mixed in with other issues. But it starts at around page 43 of the document using the page numbers in the reader app. If we had spent January and February manufacturing N95 masks instead of chasing miracle drugs the last few months would’ve looked really different, I think. ---
**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:** [May 7, 2020, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/3024 "2020-05-07T21:21:36Z")
> [@Mike\_Mabes](#): > > Are restaurants limiting the number of people allowed and requiring employess to wear masks? They are here in Austria—or rather, the government has imposed such restrictions. Currently the customer limit is 0 for on-premises dining, though on 15 May that will change to 4 adults plus their children per table, with tables at least one metre apart. I’m not sure whether staff are legally required to wear face coverings, though they have been at all the restaurants I’ve gone to for take-out (or just walked past and glanced in). ---
**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:** [May 7, 2020, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/3025 "2020-05-07T21:23:24Z")
Today in Austria: [ul] [li] The chancellor announced his intention to gradually **reopen Austria’s borders** for both inward and outward travel, including for tourism, with countries that have the pandemic under control. He specifically named Germany and the Czech Republic.[/li][li] The government has announced **a new aid package** : from 20 May, companies can apply for a subsidy of up to 75% of their fixed costs (rent, insurance premiums, consumable supplies, etc.).[/li][li] Two coronavirus patients at the Medical University of Graz recovered after receiving **blood plasma transfusions** from coronavirus survivors. The health minister has therefore put out an urgent call for plasma donations from further survivors so that this line of treatment can be further studied.[/li][li] Public opinion polling shows **trust in the chancellor** and vice-chancellor at 56% and 53%, respectively. Only 26% of those polls trust the opposition parties; 45% trust parliament as a whole.[/li][li] Austria and Romania have finally agreed on terms allowing for a **care worker express train service** between the two countries. The first train bearing Romanian care workers will depart on 10 May.[/li][li] Current statistics: 15,665 confirmed infections, 609 deaths, 13,698 recovered.[/li][/ul] ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2020, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/3026 "2020-05-07T21:44:56Z")
> [@bengangmo](#): > > In our household we’ve been talking about the need for a global plan on this. But again - thanks to the idiocracy of the US, there is NO chance of this. I must say, I admire your optimism that in the absence of the U.S., or a saner U.S., that there’d be an effective global plan that would prevent the dragging down to the worst level you mention. Not that there wouldn’t be improvements over the clusterfuck we have now, of course, but I’m not sure how significant it’d be… ---
**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:** [May 7, 2020, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/3027 "2020-05-07T22:35:58Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > [One of Trump’s personal valets has tested positive for coronavirus.](https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/07/politics/trump-valet-tests-positive-covid-19/index.html) Yeah. So instead of weekly testing they’re going to test folks in the White House _daily_… when actual medical personnel can’t get tested right now. :rolleyes: Has anyone told Trump that testing is not a prophylactic? If he and/or Pence turn up positive _then_ what? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758.md?page=150) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758.md?page=152)