# 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:** 219
**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 24, 2020, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/4379 "2020-08-24T04:04:10Z")
23,584,259 total cases 812,517 dead 16,082,104 recovered In the US: 5,874,146 total cases 180,604 dead 3,167,063 recovered Yesterday’s numbers for comparison: > [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > 23,382,074 total cases > 808,697 dead > 15,908,524 recovered > > In the US: > > 5,841,428 total cases > 180,174 dead > 3,148,080 recovered ---
**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 24, 2020, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/4380 "2020-08-24T06:19:47Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > I feel like politicians ought to understand the science, but also understand the needs and concerns of businesses, when they make a decision like this. When you understand the science, you understand how it ultimately hurts businesses to reopen too soon. Governors should be able to convince businesses that that’s true. There’s no compromise here. ---
**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 24, 2020, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/4381 "2020-08-24T20:32:10Z")
Here’s some news: > **[Scientists say Hong Kong man got coronavirus a second time](https://apnews.com/1c2f3655a236dd7b1f09d94500042d3c)** > > University of Hong Kong scientists claim to have the first evidence of someone being reinfected with the virus that causes COVID-19... ---
**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:** [August 24, 2020, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/4382 "2020-08-24T22:07:14Z")
Florida judge rules that an order signed by the Florida Education Commissioner requiring schools to reopen is unconstitutional. > **[Judge rules that Florida order to reopen brick-and-mortar schools is...](https://wsvn.com/news/local/judge-rules-that-florida-order-to-reopen-brick-and-mortar-schools-is-unconstitutional/)** > > TALLAHASSEE, FLA. (WSVN) - A judge has ruled that an order requiring brick-and-mortar schools to reopen is unconstitutional.Circuit Judge Charles Dodson issued the ruling Monday.FEA... ---
**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 25, 2020, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/4383 "2020-08-25T04:14:04Z")
23,811,693 total cases 817,005 dead 16,360,536 recovered In the US: 5,915,630 total cases 181,114 dead 3,217,981 recovered Yesterday’s numbers for comparison: > [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > 23,584,259 total cases > 812,517 dead > 16,082,104 recovered > > In the US: > > 5,874,146 total cases > 180,604 dead > 3,167,063 recovered The world will pass 24,000,000 total cases tomorrow. The US will pass 6,000,000 total cases by Thursday, perhaps as early as Wednesday. ---
**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:** [August 26, 2020, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/4385 "2020-08-26T04:05:38Z")
Oahu will be under a new stay-at-home lockdown for two weeks starting at 12:01am this Thursday morning. All unnecessary businesses to be shut again, restaurants will return to takeout only. ---
**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 26, 2020, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/4386 "2020-08-26T04:15:59Z")
24,061,215 total cases 823,513 dead 16,608,597 recovered In the US: 5,955,728 total cases 182,404 dead 3,254,282 recovered Yesterday’s numbers for comparison: > [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > 23,811,693 total cases > 817,005 dead > 16,360,536 recovered > > In the US: > > 5,915,630 total cases > 181,114 dead > 3,217,981 recovered ---
**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:** [August 26, 2020, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/4387 "2020-08-26T04:20:38Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Oahu will be under a new stay-at-home lockdown for two weeks starting at 12:01am this Thursday morning. All unnecessary businesses to be shut again, restaurants will return to takeout only. To add to that, the State of Hawaii recorded 215 new cases today for a total case count of 6984. Deaths number 49. We’ve had a couple weeks of triple-digit cases, usually in the 200s and one in the mid-300s. The recent closure of beaches and parks don’t seem to have made a dent, thus the new lockdown. ---
**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 26, 2020, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/4388 "2020-08-26T19:14:27Z")
There seems to be some confusion about some changes made to the CDC directives for testing: > **[New federal virus testing advice sparks criticism, confusion](https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-ap-top-news-health-washington-redskins-international-news-d36e698786f971658301d2cf4f83ad61)** > > NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. health officials sparked criticism and confusion after posting guidelines on coronavirus testing from the White House task force that run counter to what scientists say is necessary to control the pandemic. > [@](#): > > U.S. health officials have sparked a wave of confusion after posting guidelines that coronavirus testing is not necessary for people who have been in close contact with infected people. > > The new guidance was posted earlier this week on the website of a federal agency, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. > > The CDC previously had advised local health departments to test people who have been within 6 feet of an infected person for more than 15 minutes. But on Monday a CDC testing overview page was changed to say that testing is no longer recommended for symptom-less people who were in close contact situations. > > There was a caveat, however. Testing may be recommended for those with health problems that make them more likely to suffer severe illness from an infection, or if their doctor or local state officials advise they get tested. > [@](#): > > CDC officials referred all questions to the agency’s parent organization, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in Washington, D.C. That suggests that HHS ordered the change, not CDC, said Jennifer Nuzzo, a Johns Hopkins University public health researcher. > > After twitter lit up with head-scratching and alarm about the change, HHS officials sent an email Wednesday saying the guidance was revised “to reflect current evidence and the best public health interventions,” but did not detail what the new evidence was. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2020, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/4389 "2020-08-26T23:01:21Z")
More on that: > **[CDC says asymptomatic people don’t need testing, draws criticism from experts](https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/513704-cdc-says-asymptomatic-people-dont-need-testing-draws-criticism-from-experts/)** > > The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) quietly changed its guidance on Monday to now say that asymptomatic people do not need to be tested for coronavirus, even if they have been in c… Well, trump has found the magic way to bring case count down: stop testing so much. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2020, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/4390 "2020-08-26T23:19:55Z")
Not getting why so much alarm. Close exposure results in an advised 14 day quarantine. Some get a negative test, maybe taken day 3 or 4, and think that means they are clear. But even negative on day 7 you need to behave as if you could still become sick up to day 14. It is at least arguably better to eliminate potentially false reassurance of no risk of contagiousness. If you are quarantined then knowing you were a persistently asymptomatic infection is of fairly minor impact. Meanwhile demand outpacing throughput capacity is having negative impacts for getting test results of more decision making importance. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2020, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/4391 "2020-08-27T00:08:51Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > Not getting why so much alarm.- The alarm is because this is one more way of the administration presenting a false picture of the overall COVID situation. “The case numbers are down! See, things are getting way better!” Interesting sidebar on that: > **[CDC's abrupt change to COVID-19 testing guidelines was evidently forced...](https://theweek.com/speedreads/933967/cdcs-abrupt-change-covid19-testing-guidelines-evidently-forced-through-dr-fauci-unconscious-surgery)** > > The latest Speed Read,/speed-reads,,speed-reads, breaking news, comment, reviews and features from the experts at The Week > There might be a reason, though, why [the new recommendation “makes no sense”](https://theweek.com/speedreads/933870/experts-say-cdcs-updated-guidance-asymptomatic-covid19-testing-makes-no-sense) — White House Coronavirus Task Force member Dr. Anthony Fauci was literally unconscious when the decision was made. > > “I was under general anesthesia in the operating room and was not part of any discussion or deliberation regarding the new testing recommendations,” [Fauci told CNN’s chief medical correspondent](https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/26/politics/fauci-coronavirus-cdc-testing/index.html?utm_term=image&utm_medium=social&utm_content=2020-08-26T21%3A14%3A55&utm_source=twCNNp), Dr. Sanjay Gupta. He added: “I am concerned about the interpretation of these recommendations and worried it will give people the incorrect assumption that asymptomatic spread is not of great concern. In fact it is.” ---
**Author:** ![BippityBoppityBoo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bippityboppityboo/32/5745_2.png) [@BippityBoppityBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BippityBoppityBoo)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2020, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/4392 "2020-08-27T00:41:57Z")
And we are supposed to believe that it was unintentional that Dr. Fauci was under anesthesia while this was decided? Of course Dr. Fauci wouldn’t have been responsible enough to inform the Task Force that he wouldn’t be able to be there so how could they have known? I’ve been told I need to put /sarcasm/ here so it will be clear. ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2020, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/4393 "2020-08-27T03:14:01Z")
If we are at 5 million rest assured we are really at 50,000,000 and most likely the super spreaders and active spreaders have mostly been infected already. It looks like by the 1st of the year we should be able to get back to some semblance of normalcy as long as we are ok with assuming some risk ---
**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 27, 2020, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/4394 "2020-08-27T03:48:50Z")
So somehow _all_ the super-spreaders were in your estimated 50,000,000 people who’ve had the virus? None of the remaining 280,000,000–82% of the US population–are super-spreaders, eh? Yeah, not convinced. ---
**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 27, 2020, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/4395 "2020-08-27T04:04:42Z")
24,332,280 total cases 829,666 dead 16,873,307 recovered In the US: 6,000,365 total cases 183,653 dead 3,313,861 recovered Yesterday’s numbers for comparison: > [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > 24,061,215 total cases > 823,513 dead > 16,608,597 recovered > > In the US: > > 5,955,728 total cases > 182,404 dead > 3,254,282 recovered ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2020, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/4396 "2020-08-27T04:24:03Z")
I said most of the super spreaders, that would mean more than 50%. ---
**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 27, 2020, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/4397 "2020-08-27T04:26:15Z")
That doesn’t change the math. You’re claiming more than 50% of super-spreaders are in a mere 18% of the population, and with neither data nor logic to back that up. Still not convincing. ---
**Author:** ![SayTwo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e56c9b/32.png) [@SayTwo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SayTwo)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2020, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/4398 "2020-08-27T04:31:33Z")
There is an element of opportunity that is necessary for one to be a ‘super-spreader’ or for there to be a super-spreading event. I guess we’ll need to figure out what happens when those who have been in relative hiding come out of their caves and start going to church and such, but the notion here is that, going forward, those who will be in close quarters or on front lines have probably already been in close quarters or on front lines. ---
**Author:** ![BippityBoppityBoo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bippityboppityboo/32/5745_2.png) [@BippityBoppityBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BippityBoppityBoo)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2020, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/4399 "2020-08-27T05:40:08Z")
> [@SayTwo](#): > > have probably _probably_ is not a word they use in science much. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758.md?page=218) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758.md?page=220)