# 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:** 152
**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:** [May 7, 2020, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/3028 "2020-05-07T23:45:39Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > Has anyone told Trump that testing is not a prophylactic? Even if you did, he’d just say, “I never wear those anyway.” ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2020, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/3029 "2020-05-08T00:27:23Z")
> [@bordelond](#): > > [You Won’t Catch The New Coronavirus Via Packages Or Mail From China](https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/02/03/801620037/no-you-wont-catch-the-new-coronavirus-via-packages-or-mail-from-china) (NPR) Mind you, washing your hands after opening the mail isnt a bad idea anyway. ---
**Author:** ![RioRico](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f04885/32.png) [@RioRico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RioRico)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2020, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/3030 "2020-05-08T00:58:45Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > Has anyone told Trump that testing is not a prophylactic? If he and/or Pence turn up positive _then_ what? WH staff have probably been brainstorming (ha!) that scenario for a while. Expect vivid PR campaigns assigning blame and proclaiming a glorious future for America once its enemies (foreign, domestic, and microbial) are defeated by task forces of The Best People. Tweetstorms will swirl from Bethesda, then diminish. Friendly “news” sites will stream anxious updates. Fingernails will be chewed to the quick. Rumors will leak. The show will proceed, as it must. ---
**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 8, 2020, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/3031 "2020-05-08T04:12:46Z")
3,917,564 total cases 270,720 dead 1,344,120 recovered In the US: 1,292,623 total cases 76,928 dead 217,250 recovered Yesterday’s numbers for comparison: > [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > 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 The world will prolly top 4,000,000 total cases tomorrow. ---
**Author:** ![Caldazar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Caldazar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caldazar)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2020, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/3032 "2020-05-08T15:17:38Z")
The U.S. April 2020 jobs report is out, and is as ugly as one might expect: [Employment Situation - 2023 M01 Results](https://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.toc.htm) Employed, Not Seasonally Adjusted (Millions of persons) 2020-Jan: 157.0 2020-Feb: 158.0 2020-Mar: 155.2 2020-Apr: **133.3** To put this in perspective, the early part of the year usually sees ramp up of employment, typically in the neighborhood of a 2-3 million jobs in the January-April timeframe depending on the year. Also worth noting is that average weekly earnings have gone up 5% or so since the start of the year; as the report notes; the job losses are hitting lower-wage workers much harder. My comments: 1. Be careful about using the published unemployment rate when there are rapid swings; it can be misleading due to the way an unemployed person is defined. 2. The increase in average earnings is worrisome; the job losses are impacting the financially-vulnerable disproportionately. I suppose higher-wage workers tend to be working jobs that support work-from-home and flexible work hours, while lower-wage jobs tend not to afford such options. ---
**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 8, 2020, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/3033 "2020-05-08T21:07:59Z")
Today in Austria: [ul] [li] People are gradually resuming their usual activities. **Daycare attendance** has grown to 19%, **pedestrian traffic** on Mariahilfer Straße, Vienna’s main shopping street, is around 50% of pre-crisis levels, and ridership on **Vienna public transit** has also reached 50% of its usual levels. Unfortunately, the increased ridership makes it difficult for people to maintain their distance from one another. (Of course, stupidity also seems to play a role. Yesterday I rode a mostly-empty subway home from work. At the first stop, a shirtless, maskless guy with an open container of beer boarded the train and sat right across from me. Fortunately, people like him seem to be rare exceptions; nowadays almost everyone I see on buses, trams, and subways is properly wearing a mask or other face covering.)[/li][li] Polls show **support for the current leadership** remains high. 73% are satisfied with the coalition government as a whole; this is down slightly from 77% in previous polls. Were a parliamentary election held today, 63% would vote for either of the two parties forming the current coalition government.[/li][li] In a press conference today, the chancellor said that the infection rate is still very low, and so the government will continue with its plans to allow **restaurants, cafés, and bars** to reopen on 15 May. He also announced an aid package for the gastronomy sector, which will take the form of tax relief.[/li][li] Current statistics: 15,714 confirmed infections, 614 deaths, 13,836 recovered.[/li][/ul] ---
**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:** [May 8, 2020, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/3034 "2020-05-08T22:54:20Z")
The Hawaii Health Department today reported zero (0) new cases in the state for the 24 hours ending at 12 noon. That’s the first time in weeks. They’ve consistently been in single digits, with one lone case reported on several days, but today it’s zero. The cumulative total is 629 cases and 17 deaths. ---
**Author:** ![lobotomyboy63](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobotomyboy63/32/2900_2.png) [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2020, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/3035 "2020-05-09T03:17:04Z")
Sorry if I missed it upthread. They’ve found it in semen of infected men now. > **[Coronavirus found in semen of COVID-19 survivors; sexual transmission...](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/coronavirus-mens-semen-survivors-sexual-transmission-covid-19/?fbclid=IwAR07iC7t91l7ZplF8s9mTKw-UK_ct3BzOJ69kGEutwnfuTS7vzhmqZKubbY)** > > Researchers say it's not unusual for viruses to be found in semen, but they don't know whether COVID-19 can be spread that way. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2020, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/3036 "2020-05-09T03:27:00Z")
[Her Majesty the Queen](https://www.bbc.com/news/av/uk-52591277/ve-day-the-queen-addresses-the-nation) gave a fine speech that really combined two historic events. If you missed it, it is worth your time. ---
**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 9, 2020, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/3037 "2020-05-09T03:50:13Z")
> [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](#): > > [Her Majesty the Queen](https://www.bbc.com/news/av/uk-52591277/ve-day-the-queen-addresses-the-nation) gave a fine speech that really combined two historic events. If you missed it, it is worth your time. I saw her last address, “we _will_ meet again,” and it was inspiring. This address just as much. ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2020, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/3038 "2020-05-09T03:52:28Z")
> [@lobotomyboy63](#): > > Sorry if I missed it upthread. They’ve found it in semen of infected men now. > > [Coronavirus found in semen of COVID-19 survivors; sexual transmission unclear - CBS News](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/coronavirus-mens-semen-survivors-sexual-transmission-covid-19/?fbclid=IwAR07iC7t91l7ZplF8s9mTKw-UK_ct3BzOJ69kGEutwnfuTS7vzhmqZKubbY) I kind of feel if you’re close enough to someone that this starts to become a live issue, it’s probably the least of your problems… ---
**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 9, 2020, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/3039 "2020-05-09T04:05:42Z")
4,013,896 total cases 276,235 dead 1,385,412 recovered In the US: 1,321,785 total cases 78,615 dead 223,603 recovered Yesterday’s numbers for comparison: > [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > 3,917,564 total cases > 270,720 dead > 1,344,120 recovered > > In the US: > > 1,292,623 total cases > 76,928 dead > 217,250 recovered The US will have over 80,000 killed by Covid-19 by end of day tomorrow. ---
**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 9, 2020, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/3040 "2020-05-09T04:17:56Z")
Good lord these numbers are horrible. New cases and new deaths are completely flat. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2020, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/3041 "2020-05-09T04:46:55Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > The US will have over 80,000 killed by Covid-19 by end of day tomorrow. And 100,000 in a week and a half. ---
**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:** [May 9, 2020, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/3042 "2020-05-09T06:35:28Z")
Taiwan reports no new COVID-19 cases Friday; total remains 440, and it’s been 26 days straight without a domestic transmission. All of the cases have either been Taiwan returning from overseas having caught it there or the Navy thing with 36 cases. The number of active cases is now 79, down from a high of 310. In other news, Taiwan is opening the professional baseball to live audience, with up to 1,000 attendees per game. The very popular head of the Central Epidemic Command Center was invited to throw out the opening pitch, but declined. However, he did attend and said some remarks from the pitcher’s mound. Japanese residents are very unhappy with the government there. The government was supposed to send two cloth masks to every household (because surgical masks are not available) but many people have not received them. ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2020, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/3043 "2020-05-09T07:22:32Z")
Look out for Brazil and Mexico, In the case of Brazil we are sadly going to see the effect of doing nothing, with a president whose attitiude amounts to criminality. As for Mexico - It’s going to need a lot of support, their medical facilities are just going to collapse, for the US this will have to be a serious concern. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2020, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/3044 "2020-05-09T08:09:10Z")
> [@casdave](#): > > Look out for Brazil and Mexico, > > In the case of Brazil we are sadly going to see the effect of doing nothing, with a president whose attitiude amounts to criminality. From all reports, Bolsonaro is a big Trump fan and tries to emulate him. That should tell you lots. Another country to look out for is Russia. They’ve been rapidly moving up the leader board on number of cases, getting over 10,000 new cases per day for about a week now. If that keeps up, they’ll be at #3 in about 4 or 5 days. The number of deaths/day is only creeping up, but expect it to start shooting up soon. ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2020, 10:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/3045 "2020-05-09T10:20:13Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > Good lord these numbers are horrible. New cases and new deaths are completely flat. And, assuming you’re talking about the US, it’s not like our behaviors with respect to social distancing are getting any better. The current numbers are after 6 weeks of the most restrained we’ve been (as a whole). This suggests to me that the current numbers are a baseline, and that things can only get worse. ---
**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 9, 2020, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/3046 "2020-05-09T13:47:26Z")
> [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](#): > > … things can only get worse. [Yes](https://www.cnn.com/world/live-news/coronavirus-pandemic-05-06-20-intl/index.html). - Researchers in the UK say they have seen an “unprecedented cluster” of eight children (that) bear resemblance to a severe form of Kawasaki disease – a rare condition that causes inflammation in the walls of the arteries and can limit blood flow to the heart. All of the children were previously fit and well … Five of the children received mechanical ventilation through a tube in their windpipes, and one was put on an ECMO machine … Seven of the children survived, and one died from a stroke.\* (story a few days old) ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2020, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/3047 "2020-05-09T15:07:26Z")
[More than 70 test positive after attending a “large gathering” in Wisconsin](https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/more-than-70-test-positive-for-coronavirus-after-attending-a-large-gathering/ar-BB13OhoW?ocid=bingcovid) These people fessed up to attending a large gathering, but the health department won’t say which “large gathering” it was. But FYI, the cases popped up in the weeks following the April 24th protest rally at the capitol. 70 freakin’ people. How many more are going to test positive because of these idiots? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758.md?page=151) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758.md?page=153)