# 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:** 22
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2020, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/421 "2020-03-08T23:12:26Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > The American Hospital Association is advising its members on what to expect over the next two months: > > Basically 10x a normal flu season: > > [Presentation: US Hospitals Preparing for Millions of Hospitalizations - Business Insider](https://www.businessinsider.com/presentation-us-hospitals-preparing-for-millions-of-hospitalizations-2020-3) Assuming doubling every 7 days, as they do, we only get to 96 million infections if there are 375,000 infections in the US right now, right? ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2020, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/422 "2020-03-08T23:26:27Z")
Something I was wondering: how much good the mandatory work from home policies initiated by companies like Microsoft in the current hotspots will do. I mean, I figure some expert must’ve told them it would do some good, or they wouldn’t have done it to begin with, but I wonder just how much it’s necessary, and how much is bowing to the realities of worried employees. ---
**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:** [March 9, 2020, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/423 "2020-03-09T01:11:43Z")
Remember: We are NOT going to stop this. BUT - anything we can do to slow it down will help the medical system cope with a potentially overwhelming situation. And that is a valuable thing. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2020, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/424 "2020-03-09T01:18:26Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > Remember: We are NOT going to stop this. BUT - anything we can do to slow it down will help the medical system cope with a potentially overwhelming situation. And that is a valuable thing. We should be encouraging people to get their flu shots. Not because it protects against the coronavirus - it doesn’t - but because we _can_ actually prevent the flu fairly well (and studies show that people who get the flu despite being vaccinated get less sick) and free up a ton of hospital beds for coronavirus patients. ---
**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:** [March 9, 2020, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/425 "2020-03-09T01:22:08Z")
[Ted Cruz staying at home after exposure to man with coronavirus](https://apnews.com/740849680422dc4ce16ca02ea4813867). > [@](#): > > GOP Sen. Ted Cruz said Sunday he will remain at his home in Texas after learning that he shook hands and briefly chatted with a man in suburban Washington who has tested positive for coronavirus. > [@](#): > > Cruz said he met the man being treated for coronavirus 10 days ago at the Conservative Political Action Conference in suburban Oxon Hill, Maryland. The Texas Republican said he’s not experiencing any symptoms, feels fine and has been advised by medical authorities that the odds of transmission were extremely low. > > Yet, Cruz said, out of an abundance of caution he will remain at home in Texas for another few days until a full 14 days have passed since the interaction. He said medical authorities advised him that those who have interacted with him in the last 10 days should not be concerned about potential transmission. > > David Popp, spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said Sunday evening that no changes have been made in the chamber’s schedule in the wake of Cruz’s decision to remain in Texas. > > The Senate has a vote scheduled Monday evening and plans to be in session this week considering energy and possibly other legislation. The Senate and the House are set for a one-week recess the week of March 16. ---
**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:** [March 9, 2020, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/426 "2020-03-09T01:29:17Z")
[This is encouraging](https://apnews.com/0319b9ac8c57805a2e2f5146f0254ca8): > [@](#): > > China is reporting another slight drop in the number of new virus cases. > > In its update Monday morning, China said 40 cases of infection with the new coronavirus were confirmed in the past 24 hours, down from 44 new cases the previous day. > > Another 22 deaths were reported, all but one in the hardest-hit province of Hubei that has been the epicenter of the global outbreak. > > China now has now recorded 80,735 total cases, among which 19,016 remain in treatment and 58,600 have been released. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2020, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/427 "2020-03-09T01:31:00Z")
I don’t know if anyone’s posted this [U.S. coronavirus map](https://infection2020.com/) yet, but the author (and volunteers, I gather) has been updating it quickly. You can send him (?) $3 via PayPal by clicking “Buy me a coffee.” ---
**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:** [March 9, 2020, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/428 "2020-03-09T01:34:22Z")
My Norcal company just sent an email saying everyone should work from home for the next two weeks across several regions. I estimate this effects 20k people. ---
**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:** [March 9, 2020, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/429 "2020-03-09T02:38:55Z")
> [@susan](#): > > I don’t know if anyone’s posted this [U.S. coronavirus map](https://infection2020.com/) yet, but the author (and volunteers, I gather) has been updating it quickly. You can send him (?) $3 via PayPal by clicking “Buy me a coffee.” > [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > [The Johns Hopkins map](https://gisanddata.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html?fbclid=IwAR1cnB4UuOYuu2DNYoCsIwM9x5iJp6Gxm8VXUT8Hs2AZI3cw_KF1BrsN29Q#/bda7594740fd40299423467b48e9ecf6) can be zoomed in and out. If you zoom in on the US, you can see states and cities. Clicking on a dot will give you info for that city/area. > > ETA: You can also click the country on the left hand column and the map will focus there and display numbers for that country only. The map at your link is just duplicating what’s already being done, only less of it. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2020, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/430 "2020-03-09T02:45:55Z")
The Hopkins map is extensive but crashes my phone. ---
**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:** [March 9, 2020, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/431 "2020-03-09T03:41:22Z")
Fair enough. I haven’t encountered that problem but I did just upgrade from my 5S recently (finally!). ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2020, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/432 "2020-03-09T03:56:15Z")
Yeah, I’m holding out until my S5 utterly crashes. ---
**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:** [March 9, 2020, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/433 "2020-03-09T04:24:39Z")
110,077 confirmed infections 3,830 dead 62,280 recovered In the US: 548 confirmed infections 22 dead 15 recovered ---
**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:** [March 9, 2020, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/434 "2020-03-09T05:02:41Z")
btw, the US now has the 9th most confirmed infections in the world. #8 is Spain. #7 is the _Diamond Princess_ cruise ship. ---
**Author:** ![phxjcc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8491ac/32.png) [@phxjcc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phxjcc)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2020, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/435 "2020-03-09T06:26:09Z")
From the California desert… BNP PARIBAS tennis tournament cancelled…news release about 7 pm PDT, tonight. Per recommendation by the RIVCO HEALTH DEPT & CDC (WTH?) I expect Coachella & Stagecoach festivals are next. 1 known case in isolation at EMC. ---
**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:** [March 9, 2020, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/436 "2020-03-09T06:56:56Z")
Who is in the “older Americans” age group? Anybody over age X? People age at different rates. You might have a fit, healthy 65 year old in better shape than a 20-something. Is the fit 65-year-old still at high risk? Also, many people seem to assume that planes spread infection via the air that’s recirculated, but the fact is, the air is NOT recirculated. I assume then the risk is greater because people are in close proximity to each other for a few hours. If so, does that mean buses and trains are just as dangerous? ---
**Author:** ![Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiendish_astronaut/32/3295_2.png) [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2020, 7:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/437 "2020-03-09T07:56:20Z")
The situation in Italy is very sobering. With just over 7,000 cases there are interviews with Italian doctors talking about the pressure on beds and how they are using hospital corridors for intensive care. The BBC just interviewed a doctor who said that one of their mistakes is in thinking that this is a virus that only affects old people. They are treating people of all ages over 30 and he says young adults are most responsible for the virus’s spread. There is also a sense that this is much worse (for Italy) compared to the picture they expected when studying what happened in China. ---
**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:** [March 9, 2020, 9:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/438 "2020-03-09T09:24:01Z")
> [@nelliebly](#): > > Who is in the “older Americans” age group? Anybody over age X? People age at different rates. You might have a fit, healthy 65 year old in better shape than a 20-something. Is the fit 65-year-old still at high risk? There’s a good age-bracket graph [here](https://www.businessinsider.com.au/coronavirus-death-age-older-people-higher-risk-2020-2?r=US&IR=T). You can probably reduce your own absolute risk by healthy behaviours like not smoking, but I think the shape of the graph makes clear that age in itself is a big risk factor (I don’t really think 50-59-year-olds have three times the smoking/sedentariness/etc that 40-49-year-olds do … or even that 30-39-year-olds are as healthy and active as 10-19-year-olds) I’d say … worry somewhat if you’re over 50, worry lots if you’re over 70 ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2020, 10:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/439 "2020-03-09T10:11:07Z")
I am not in the risk group, but I have parents who are in their 60’s, with (controlled) diabetes and hypertension. I am rather fond of them and this thread is fucking terrifying. ---
**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:** [March 9, 2020, 10:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/440 "2020-03-09T10:29:43Z")
I’ve been wondering how effective self quarantine will be in the US. In Missouri, the father of an infected girl took his other daughter to a school dance, [despite quarantine.](https://www.kmov.com/news/st-louis-coronavirus-father-took-younger-daughter-to-villa-dance/article_41ec34a4-6179-11ea-b3e3-6fbf809e7778.html) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758.md?page=21) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758.md?page=23)