# 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:** 28
**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 11, 2020, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/542 "2020-03-11T00:51:23Z")
**Psychobunny,** here: [Our Response to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)  ](https://www.questdiagnostics.com/home/Covid-19/) > [@](#): > > Quest Diagnostics is proud to begin testing for COVID-19. This test is to be performed only using respiratory specimens collected from individuals who meet CDC clinical and/or epidemiological criteria for COVID-19 testing. Quest Diagnostics Patient Service Centers and other phlebotomy sites cannot collect specimens for this test. > > Patients: Please do not go to a Quest Diagnostics Patient Service Center for coronavirus COVID-19 testing as these sites do not collect specimens for COVID-19 testing. Contact your healthcare provider for information about testing. ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2020, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/543 "2020-03-11T02:34:02Z")
This terrifying [Twitter thread](https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1237142891077697538.html) seems to be confirmed by this [Time article](https://time.com/5799586/italy-coronavirus-outbreak/). > [@](#): > > “Right now in Lombardy, we do not have free beds in intensive care units,” Casani says. He added that doctors “have to make this horrible choice and decide who is going to survive and who is not going to survive…who is going to get a monitor, a respirator and the attention they need.” ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2020, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/544 "2020-03-11T02:41:28Z")
> [@psychonaut](#): > > Egypt is not in the southern hemisphere—it lies entirely above the equator. You are correct! More accurately, I should have said “South America and Africa”. Of course that’s all now OBE. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2020, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/545 "2020-03-11T02:49:19Z")
I’m a contractor with a Federal agency (as is my husband). For my project, it’s nearly 100% telework - but we have a certain number of contractually obligated days each month where someone has to be onsite at the customer. While none of my work requires that, I’m one of a smallish number of truly local staff, so I’m asked to help warm a seat a few days a month. Normally I travel via Metro - more reliable, time-wise, and a hell of a lot cheaper. but I drove in last week because the idea of being cooped up on a train with others seemed unwise. And again today - where the place was a ghost town: seems I missed an email saying that most GSA people would be teleworking due to an agency-wide exercise. Whoops! I left quite early and finished the day at home. My husband’s agency just announced that the next 3 work days would be a mass telework experiment. While he doesn’t work physically at the agency, colleagues who do are now expected to go to the employer’s office instead - making it more crowded than usual. That’ll be a nice petri dish…:rolleyes: (he’s opting to work remotely tomorrow). One concern he has is that the telework software / servers may get overwhelmed due to the sudden increase in demand. Not a problem I have, luckily - as my environment is not changing and I don’t need to access anything like a Citrix or other remote desktop tool. A friend of mine is going to be in the area in about a week for a musicians’ conference. As far as she knows, it’s still on. We’ll try to meet them for dinner the day they arrive but I may be “busy” on the day they leave town. She says she has 5 cruises booked later this year (I didn’t ask), which had me rolling my eyes - you could not PAY me enough to get on a cruise ship right now. There’s a student self-quaranting in the small town where my son attends college. Luckily, my son is in an apartment vs a dorm, and he and his roommate basically never interact with each other (they have separate bedrooms). ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2020, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/546 "2020-03-11T02:53:32Z")
> [@Mama\_Zappa](#): > > Normally I travel via Metro - more reliable, time-wise, and a hell of a lot cheaper. but I drove in last week because the idea of being cooped up on a train with others seemed unwise. Fun fact, during SARS, Chinese private automobile ownership skyrocketed. ---
**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 11, 2020, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/547 "2020-03-11T03:06:45Z")
Does anyone have a source for US data – specifically a map – on areas where the virus has hit? The once-useful [Johns Hopkins map](https://gisanddata.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html?fbclid=IwAR1cnB4UuOYuu2DNYoCsIwM9x5iJp6Gxm8VXUT8Hs2AZI3cw_KF1BrsN29Q#/bda7594740fd40299423467b48e9ecf6) no longer has this information. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2020, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/548 "2020-03-11T03:07:32Z")
[Italian doctor gives an interview](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mrPHO-nkVE) Towards the end, he talks about how two weeks ago he would have never expected things to be so bad. I know folks are saying that the US will be like Italy in a couple of weeks. Intellectually I get it. But it hasn’t sunk in yet. My mother, who is elderly, diabetic, and asthmatic, laughed when I told her that we could be like Italy within the month. Laughing is what we both do in awkward situations. I think she gets it on an intellectual level. I hope she does, at least. ---
**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 11, 2020, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/549 "2020-03-11T04:16:37Z")
119,217 confirmed infections 4,298 dead 66,623 recovered In the US: 1,010 confirmed infections 31 dead 15 recovered ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2020, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/550 "2020-03-11T04:17:13Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > Does anyone have a source for US data – specifically a map – on areas where the virus has hit? The once-useful [Johns Hopkins map](https://gisanddata.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html?fbclid=IwAR1cnB4UuOYuu2DNYoCsIwM9x5iJp6Gxm8VXUT8Hs2AZI3cw_KF1BrsN29Q#/bda7594740fd40299423467b48e9ecf6) no longer has this information. Thanks. Paywalled but easy to bypass. [https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/us/coronavirus-us-cases.html](https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/us/coronavirus-us-cases.html) ---
**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 11, 2020, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/551 "2020-03-11T04:20:25Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > [Italian doctor gives an interview Your link/coding was broken; here it is: [url=[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mrPHO-nkVE](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mrPHO-nkVE)]Coronavirus ‘worse than a bomb’ on Italy, says doctor coordinating response]([https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mrPHO-nkVE](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mrPHO-nkVE)) ---
**Author:** ![psychobunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/54ee81/32.png) [@psychobunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychobunny)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2020, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/552 "2020-03-11T04:54:08Z")
> [@susan](#): > > **Psychobunny,** here: [Our Response to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)  ](https://www.questdiagnostics.com/home/Covid-19/) This is all well and good except they fail to tell us in their provider fact sheet how to obtain the actual kits for testing. Note that _they_ are not going to collect the samples and they haven’t told us what type of transport tube or medium is required. I don’t even know if they have a dedicated transport medium and if so how to get the proper tubes. They say “send us the samples and we will test them” but the holdup now is getting the right supplies to collect the samples and training to do it correctly. We have put out calls to all the labs but we have not been able to get any information. ---
**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 11, 2020, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/553 "2020-03-11T05:02:48Z")
I see the problem! ---
**Author:** ![psychobunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/54ee81/32.png) [@psychobunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychobunny)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2020, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/554 "2020-03-11T05:05:13Z")
Just an addendum-LabCorp actually just posted some detailed collection instructions but samples have to be frozen. We don’t have the ability to collect frozen samples. I need to check back with the Health Dept. ---
**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 11, 2020, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/555 "2020-03-11T05:07:30Z")
Today I got an email from the Metro CEO saying they’re deep cleaning all trains and facilities. I’ve used Metro precisely twice, to get me to and from the Women’s March in January, 2017. I’ve never lived in DC, but they’re obviously intent on notifying _everyone_. Also today, I booked my flights to see my family in Chicago this summer. Fares are cheaper than I’ve seen in decades! :eek: What a terrible reason for cheaper fares. And the airlines I’m using (United, American), tickets can be changed for free. Holy frick! **susan** ’s link reporting that CDC COVID-19 posters can’t be displayed in immigration courts has me gobsmacked. Unbelievable. ---
**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 11, 2020, 9:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/556 "2020-03-11T09:58:37Z")
> [@susan](#): > > **Psychobunny,** here: [Our Response to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)  ](https://www.questdiagnostics.com/home/Covid-19/) > > > [@](#): > > > > Quest Diagnostics is proud to begin testing for COVID-19. This test is to be performed\*\* only using respiratory specimens collected from individuals who meet CDC clinical and/or epidemiological criteria for COVID-19 testing\*\*. Quest Diagnostics Patient Service Centers and other phlebotomy sites cannot collect specimens for this test. In other words, more picking and choosing of who to test and who not to test, continuing to make knowing the real numbers impossible. ---
**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 11, 2020, 10:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/557 "2020-03-11T10:01:06Z")
[duplicate] ---
**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 11, 2020, 10:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/558 "2020-03-11T10:00:04Z")
> [@jasg](#): > > This terrifying [Twitter thread](https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1237142891077697538.html) seems to be confirmed by this [Time article](https://time.com/5799586/italy-coronavirus-outbreak/). > > > [@](#): > > > > “Right now in Lombardy, we do not have free beds in intensive care units,” Casani says. He added that doctors “have to make this horrible choice and decide who is going to survive and who is not going to survive…who is going to get a monitor, a respirator and the attention they need.” Yes, triage is a bitch. When ill people vastly outstrip available resources what else are you going to do? Well, in the US I suppose we’ll prioritize based on ability to pay rather than who is most likely to survive. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2020, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/559 "2020-03-11T11:48:04Z")
Best[take on all this](https://twitter.com/nameshiv/status/1237412593834184709?s=20). > [@](#): > > It’s kinda fascinating to me how over the last 7 days, France no longer thinks that face coverings in public will lead to the immediate collapse of the Republic and how Italy suddenly wants those thousands of nurses it refused entry for being too brown to please come back ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2020, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/560 "2020-03-11T11:51:13Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > Yes, triage is a bitch. > > When ill people vastly outstrip available resources what else are you going to do? > > Well, in the US I suppose we’ll prioritize based on ability to pay rather than who is most likely to survive. I mean culling is the most effective way to prevent spread of disease. We regularly practice it. Just not on humans. Wonder how long before there are fights over ensuring “those people” don’t get treated before “us”… ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2020, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/561 "2020-03-11T13:43:18Z")
Trump has said that he will not cancel his rallies. Could he be wanting those who attend his rallies to get too sick to vote? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758.md?page=27) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758.md?page=29)