# 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:** 215
**Author:** ![Banquet\_Bear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banquet_bear/32/373_2.png) [@Banquet\_Bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banquet_Bear)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2020, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/4299 "2020-08-17T00:28:11Z")
> [@SCAdian](#): > > Read my previous post. SayTwo commented on the lack of masks in the store. You dismissed that as nonsense and started talking about what the government was doing. “Another sign of how well the government was prepared” does not address SayTwo’s comments. …you took my quote **out of context**. The “nonsense statement” I was responding too wasn’t the “lack of masks in the stores.” It was “Man, they really must have thought they were fully out of the woods.” Nobody here thinks we are out of the woods. Being able to go back into Level 3 in under 24 hours, bringing back home schooling, injecting billions of cash into the economy to keep people employed, all within a very short time frame shows that the government was prepared and ready in the event of a new outbreak. As for the “its just another sign of how well the government was prepared” statement, you snipped out everything else that I said, which completely changed the context of my reply. I can only suggest you go back and read my original response. The lack of masks in stores **is understandable, considering the circumstances.** Explaining those circumstances, that the free market exists, that masks weren’t selling so grocery stores didn’t stock up on them, answered SayTwo’s question. That lack of masks wasn’t a problem though because the government released millions of masks from the stockpile. Thats **independent** to the original answer I just gave. “How well the government is prepared” should be seen in that context. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2020, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/4300 "2020-08-17T01:15:29Z")
Hydroxychloroquine? Feh. Last month’s miracle, this month’s miracle is oleandrin, the wondrous extract of the oleander flower. Maybe you think I am making this up. Wish I was. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2020, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/4301 "2020-08-17T02:21:24Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > this month’s miracle is oleandrin, the wondrous extract of the oleander flower. > > Maybe you think I am making this up. Wish I was. That…on one hand that doesn’t sound great, but on the other it wouldn’t be the first time we’ve used poisons to treat disease. Belladonna (Donnatal) was used for migraines and arsenic to treat heartworm, for two examples. ---
**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:** [August 17, 2020, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/4302 "2020-08-17T04:51:29Z")
21,826,450 total cases 773,072 dead 14,564,184 recovered In the US: 5,566,632 total cases 173,128 dead 2,922,724 recovered Yesterday’s numbers for comparison: > [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > 21,615,334 total cases > 768,969 dead > 14,329,742 recovered > > In the US: > > 5,529,789 total cases > 172,606 dead > 2,900,188 recovered IMO there is no way that the numbers for the US today are accurate. ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2020, 8:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/4303 "2020-08-17T08:40:08Z")
Well although we have the weekend effect, the fact is that during this second wave all the numbers are somewhat lower than I’d expect. Even when you allow for improved interventions, when you look at the data for other nations with similar healthcare systems there seems to be some undershoot - however US numbers are so out of line to most everywhere else it is not easy to evaluate - you can’t just scale up what is happening in one country that has only a tiny fraction of the numbers or you get large rounding errors. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2020, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/4304 "2020-08-17T14:08:31Z")
This can’t be good - a _worse_ strain of Coronavirus in the making? Say what? > **[Experts Worry There's a More Infectious COVID Mutation Spreading in Malaysia...](https://www.vice.com/en/article/ep4k3n/experts-worry-theres-a-more-infectious-covid-mutation-spreading-in-malaysia-and-the-philippines)** > > Research indicates that the mutation, called D614G, has become the "dominant" strain of the new coronavirus in parts of the world. ---
**Author:** ![sachertorte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sachertorte/32/3727_2.png) [@sachertorte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sachertorte)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2020, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/4305 "2020-08-17T15:56:16Z")
This looks encouraging: > **[Yale’s rapid COVID-19 saliva test receives FDA emergency use authorization](https://news.yale.edu/2020/08/15/yales-rapid-covid-19-saliva-test-receives-fda-emergency-use-authorization)** > > The YSPH-developed test, called SalivaDirect, has been used as part of an NBA testing program and will now be available to more diagnostic laboratories. I’m not a fan of basketball, but this makes me a fan of the NBA (and Yale). > The related research was funded by the NBA, National Basketball Players Association, and a Fast Grant from the Emergent Ventures at the Mercatus Center, George Mason University. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2020, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/4306 "2020-08-17T16:22:33Z")
> **[The state of Texas is disclosing hundreds of previously unreported COVID-19...](https://elpasomatters.org/2020/08/15/el-pasos-covid-19-data-is-unreliable-thats-dangerous/)** > > This story has been updated with new data and comments. The Texas Department of State Health Services failed to notify El Paso health officials of almost ---
**Author:** ![nelliebly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nelliebly/32/5422_2.png) [@nelliebly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nelliebly)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2020, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/4307 "2020-08-17T16:56:13Z")
Don’t worry. This is old news being reported as if it’s a new development. The mutation isn’t new. We’ve known about it since clear back in January, when specialists in Chicago saw it. The variant may explain why COVID spread so quickly, not a harbinger of worse to come. From a July 2nd [WaPo](https://www.washingtonpost.com/science/2020/06/29/coronavirus-mutation-science/?arc404=true) article: > “The epidemiological study and our data together really explain why the [G variant’s] spread in Europe and the U.S. was really fast,” said Hyeryun Choe, a virologist at Scripps Research and lead author of an unpublished study on the G variant’s enhanced infectiousness in laboratory cell cultures. “This is not just accidental.” > > But there may be other explanations for the G variant’s dominance: biases in where genetic data are being collected, quirks of timing that gave the mutated virus an early foothold in susceptible populations. > > “The bottom line is, we haven’t seen anything definitive yet,” said Jeremy Luban, a virologist at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. ---
**Author:** ![MandaJo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@MandaJo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MandaJo)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2020, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/4308 "2020-08-17T17:10:39Z")
Yes. Here in Dallas, we had a 5000 case bump yesterday. They acted like it should reassure us that these cases were “really” from July, but that just makes me wonder what else they missed, and what’s being missed now. ---
**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:** [August 17, 2020, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/4309 "2020-08-17T22:54:41Z")
Here’s some news: > **[Agency: First US virus cases in mink found at 2 Utah farms](https://apnews.com/561404eede3feeb244ab5107163125d5)** > > SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Officials on Monday confirmed the first U.S. cases of mink infected with the coronavirus following outbreaks in Europe... Texas joins NY, NJ and CA (and FL isn’t far behind): > **[Texas becomes 4th state to surpass 10,000 virus deaths](https://apnews.com/b3547e76c890bab55db7c2921e121cb5)** > > AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas surpassed 10,000 confirmed coronavirus deaths Monday as the lingering toll of a massive summer outbreak continues, and health experts expressed concerns that recent encouraging trends could be fragile as schools begin... The US is still having trouble caring for our senior citizens: > **[Report: Nursing home cases up nearly 80% in COVID-19 rebound](https://apnews.com/ae2b6d71bdc3a9391ae02910d8f0491f)** > > WASHINGTON (AP) — COVID-19 cases in U.S. nursing homes jumped nearly 80% earlier this summer, driven by rampant spread across the South and much of the West, according to an industry report released Monday... And colleges and universities are having troubles as well: > **[Universities scramble to deal with virus outbreaks](https://apnews.com/66745a09e003a27b6c13e4578636d300)** > > North Carolina's flagship university canceled in-person classes for undergraduates just a week into the fall semester Monday as college campuses around the U... ---
**Author:** ![MandaJo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@MandaJo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MandaJo)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2020, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/4310 "2020-08-17T23:08:12Z")
Another 1800 in Dallas today, of which a “large number” were from June. But we don’t know how many. Also, we aren’t reporting rapid test results. They are less reliable, apparently. But that’s what a lot of people who have a COVID scare get. ---
**Author:** ![Deeg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deeg/32/2955_2.png) [@Deeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Deeg)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2020, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/4311 "2020-08-17T23:13:34Z")
Has there been any recorded fallout from the Sturgis bike rally? ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2020, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/4312 "2020-08-17T23:15:27Z")
Texas needs to get it together! [Exclusive: Walgreens Pharmacy coding error results in under-reporting of 59,000 COVID-19 test results statewide](https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/the-texas-department-of-state-health-services-told-3news-that-walgreens-pharmacy-reported-experiencing-a-coding-error-which-they-have-now-corrected/503-ff7a0eb5-9ce9-4127-82a6-8120175a0d67) ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2020, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/4313 "2020-08-17T23:50:11Z")
> [@Deeg](#): > > Has there been any recorded fallout from the Sturgis bike rally? Too soon for that. It just ended yesterday. ---
**Author:** ![Deeg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deeg/32/2955_2.png) [@Deeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Deeg)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2020, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/4314 "2020-08-18T00:04:26Z")
It started 10 days ago, right? I would think that long enough to start seeing some upticks. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2020, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/4315 "2020-08-18T00:14:32Z")
> [@nelliebly](#): > > Don’t worry. This is old news being reported as if it’s a new development. The mutation isn’t new. We’ve known about it since clear back in January, when specialists in Chicago saw it. The variant may explain why COVID spread so quickly, not a harbinger of worse to come Yes, apparently the “new” variety has been the dominant strain in the US and Europe since at least the beginning of July. Like Nelliebly’s cite, [this one from CNN](https://www.cnn.com/world/live-news/coronavirus-pandemic-07-02-20-intl/h_fa914077a7e53a9636a144e228865a08) was also dated July 2. > The study, published in the journal Cell, confirms earlier work suggesting the mutation had made the new variant of virus more common. The researchers call the new mutation G614, and they show that it has almost completely replaced the first version to spread in Europe and the US, one called D614. ---
**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:** [August 18, 2020, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/4316 "2020-08-18T00:17:51Z")
> [@Deeg](#): > > It started 10 days ago, right? I would think that long enough to start seeing some upticks. I doubt anyone is doing any testing at the event. ---
**Author:** ![Banquet\_Bear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banquet_bear/32/373_2.png) [@Banquet\_Bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banquet_Bear)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2020, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/4317 "2020-08-18T01:33:13Z")
…another update from NZ on testing: 100,000 tests done over the last 5 days, with the benchmark to get results back in 48 hours, but most results are back in 24 hours. That’s 2% of the population. 13 new cases today: 1 of those cases is **not** linked to the current cluster. Its a maintenance worker at one of the Managed Isolation facilities, there is a match to the genome sequence with a guest who had tested positive. CCTV and swipe card records indicate that the two had **zero** contact or interaction, which goes to show that the Coronavirus is a nasty horrible sneaky virus. Also at the latest briefing it appears the Americold outbreak is not linked to other Americold facilities, so it is very unlikely to have come in through frozen meat. ---
**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:** [August 18, 2020, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/4318 "2020-08-18T02:22:00Z")
More news: > **['Horrifying' data glitch skews key Iowa coronavirus metrics](https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-ia-state-wire-us-news-iowa-understanding-the-outbreak-c15b742f95a73ba2a45f7e7bf7d7255d)** > > IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A state agency says it is working to fix a data error on Iowa’s coronavirus website that lowers the number of new confirmed cases and therefore downplays the severity of the current outbreak, just as schools are deciding... > [@](#): > > The glitch means the Iowa Department of Public Health has inadvertently been reporting fewer new infections and a smaller percentage of daily positive tests than is truly the case, according to Dana Jones, an Iowa City nurse practitioner who uncovered the problem. It’s particularly significant because school districts are relying on state data to determine whether they will offer in-person instruction when school resumes in the coming days and weeks. > > Potentially thousands of coronavirus infections from recent weeks and months have instead been erroneously recorded as having happened in March, April, May and June, Jones said Monday. > > “It’s just horrifying. We have no idea what’s going on, really,” said Jones. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758.md?page=214) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758.md?page=216)