# 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:** 33
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2020, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/642 "2020-03-12T05:37:14Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Well, my family is Polish. And Poland is rather low on the list not matter how you slice it. And yet they’re banned. But the UK is not? This doesn’t quite explain it to me. Portugal, both per capita and in number of cases is lower than the UK. Banned too. Ireland? Marginally higher than the UK, per capita, lower in number of cases, but banned. > > It just doesn’t quite make sense to me. If you look at the actual proclamation the restriction is for the Schengen countries. That explains why Poland is included but the U.K. isn’t. ---
**Author:** ![JoseB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/joseb/32/1530_2.png) [@JoseB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoseB)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2020, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/643 "2020-03-12T06:18:44Z")
> [@suranyi](#): > > If you look at the actual proclamation the restriction is for the Schengen countries. That explains why Poland is included but the U.K. isn’t. If Ireland is also included in the ban then it cannot be only Schengen countries, because Ireland is not part of the Schengen Agreement. But it seems that it is not. Incidentally, that also means that Romania, Bulgaria and Croatia (as well as non-EU members that are not part to the Schengen Agreement) are not affected by this ban, either. ---
**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:** [March 12, 2020, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/644 "2020-03-12T07:36:52Z")
Wonderful. My people leaving on vacation tonight cannot get out. Corporate says they cannot cancel their vacations. They have to burn vacation days here in the Kingdom. ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2020, 8:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/645 "2020-03-12T08:41:56Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Well, my family is Polish. And Poland is rather low on the list not matter how you slice it. And yet they’re banned. But the UK is not? This doesn’t quite explain it to me. Portugal, both per capita and in number of cases is lower than the UK. Banned too. Ireland? Marginally higher than the UK, per capita, lower in number of cases, but banned. > > It just doesn’t quite make sense to me. Don’t take it personally. He has banned countries in the Schengen zone, because of free movement between borders. He hasn’t singled out the UK for special treatment (at least I hope so) - other countries outside the Schengen zone are also (currently) exempt, including Ireland. ---
**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:** [March 12, 2020, 9:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/646 "2020-03-12T09:19:56Z")
Here in Austria, I reported a few days ago that all universities have been closed or moved to online-only instruction. Now it’s just been announced that all primary and secondary schools will be closing next week—high schools from Monday and elementary schools from Wednesday. The latter will maintain a limited child care service for parents who are unable to make alternative arrangements, which is probably good for medical staff who need to go to work. Pre-school day-care centres (most of which, like schools, are entirely state-run and -funded) remain open. In addition, all state museums have been closed, and some private tourist attractions in Vienna have decided to close of their own accord. Those venues that remain open are still subject to the restrictions I previously reported (maximum 100 attendees for indoor venues and 500 for outdoor ones). I went to a museum here in Vienna yesterday afternoon—a popular one that you need to make reservations for several weeks in advance—and there were only six other people in attendance. There are noticeably fewer people on the streets downtown—it’s far from a ghost town, as in the news reports from Rome, but it’s not the bustling business and tourist centre I’ve become accustomed to. ---
**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:** [March 12, 2020, 10:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/647 "2020-03-12T10:09:40Z")
More breaking news for Austria: The Czech Republic is closing almost all overland border crossings with Austria, and instituting health checks for incoming travellers at the four that remain open. Meanwhile, here in Vienna, all the major theatre, opera, and concert venues have cancelled their shows for the rest of the month. Vienna reported its first coronavirus death 20 minutes ago. All non-emergency surgeries at the hospitals here have been postponed and it is now prohibited for in-patients to receive visitors. ---
**Author:** ![pullin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c57346/32.png) [@pullin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pullin)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2020, 10:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/648 "2020-03-12T10:28:09Z")
Eldest has been flying combis (half cargo, half passengers) to far flung military bases for several months. He said the military has stopped virtually all personnel transfers, so the “people” half of their planes is completely empty. Says it seems weird to crisscross the ocean with empty seats, but much of the cargo is food and supplies so they must continue their routes, no matter what. ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2020, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/649 "2020-03-12T11:41:01Z")
Ireland: All schools, colleges and public building closed from end of business today. Where possible people should work from home and restrictions of gatherings. I’ll be working from home from tomorrow I reckon. ---
**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 12, 2020, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/650 "2020-03-12T12:25:53Z")
A friend of mine happily sent his son off to college last September. They’d had a rough couple of years before that, but things turned around and son is getting all A’s so far. Friend sold his home and he and wife bought a small condo. So, son is coming home for spring break and it was just announced that he (all students) should not come back. My friend right now is praying for the virus to take him quickly. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2020, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/651 "2020-03-12T12:38:38Z")
Israel: all gatherings of over 100 people are forbidden. Anyone arriving from abroad must self-quarantine for two weeks. The government has promised a 10 billion shekel ($3 billion) stimulus package. The start of the second semester of college has been postponed. Schools are still open, though. There have been 100 reported cases, no deaths. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2020, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/652 "2020-03-12T14:16:21Z")
The Oregon governor is expected to announce this morning that all events with 250+ people are banned. I’ll be surprised if Portland schools don’t start spring break on Monday, a week early. ---
**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 12, 2020, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/653 "2020-03-12T14:17:57Z")
> [@This\_Just\_In\_2](#): > > Before the coronavirus I would cough to cover my fart. Now I fart to cover my cough. We here in the **Zappa / Knig** household refer to this as fumigating the room to kill pathogens 😃 My husband’s project had an all-hands meeting planned for today as i think I mentioned upthread. Fortunately, sanity has prevailed and the meeting will be virtual (and they cancelled the after-work happy hour that was planned). ---
**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:** [March 12, 2020, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/654 "2020-03-12T14:25:58Z")
I just heard the President’s address. I do not watch TV so I listen on various podcasts. I think you can listen better without the video. My goodness the President sounded bad. Sniffles, many missing articles, a flat delivery. He sounded quite ill. ---
**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 12, 2020, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/655 "2020-03-12T14:36:55Z")
[US Congress has closed to the public.](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/coronavirus-us-capitol-closing-to-public-lawmakers-shutter-offices/) According to AP Radio News, the Pentagon and White House have also suspended their public tours. ---
**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 12, 2020, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/656 "2020-03-12T14:53:22Z")
[Here’s a relevant 20-year-old comic strip](https://www.gocomics.com/thecity/2020/03/03) (GoComics picked up the strip from its beginning after it ended in 2013). ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2020, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/657 "2020-03-12T15:03:30Z")
The Boston Marathon is likely to be postponed to the fall or cancelled in the next few days. ---
**Author:** ![JoseB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/joseb/32/1530_2.png) [@JoseB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoseB)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2020, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/658 "2020-03-12T15:08:28Z")
The Dutch government has just announced that all gatherings of more than 100 people are forbidden. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2020, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/659 "2020-03-12T15:19:47Z")
> [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](#): > > I just heard the President’s address. I do not watch TV so I listen on various podcasts. I think you can listen better without the video. > My goodness the President sounded bad. Sniffles, many missing articles, a flat delivery. He sounded quite ill. I agree that it was a terrible, awful speech on his part. Apart from his terrible delivery, did a speech writer even proofread it? He caused a shitshow with the whole “trade and cargo” ban which I guess he really didn’t mean. But why was it in the speech? Also he announced the ban on travel from Europe and followed that with “also not the UK.” What did that mean? Also no travel from the UK (as they are not in the EU anymore) or did he mean “not the UK”? Why the “also” in there? I understand now it excludes the UK, but I rewound it three times before I could figure out what in the hell he meant. Why couldn’t a speech writer have made that clear? Not one of his best moments, and that is coming from someone who voted for him. ---
**Author:** ![peccavi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peccavi/32/388_2.png) [@peccavi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peccavi)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2020, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/660 "2020-03-12T15:55:06Z")
This just came in from our COMSEC office: _A malicious website pretending to be the live map for Coronavirus COVID-19 Global Cases by Johns Hopkins University is circulating on the internet waiting for unwitting internet users to visit the website (corona-virus-map[dot]com). Visiting the website infects the user with the AZORult trojan, an information stealing program which can exfiltrate a variety of sensitive data. It is likely being spread via infected email attachments, malicious online advertisements, and social engineering. Furthermore, anyone searching the internet for a Coronavirus map could unwittingly navigate to this malicious website._ So pay attention to the actual URL before clicking on “informational” links on COVID-19. ---
**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 12, 2020, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/661 "2020-03-12T15:58:05Z")
> [@eschrodinger](#): > > I was at my allergist’s office yesterday. The office is in a hospital. Walking down the hall, I passed a bunch of other medical offices with various specialties. All of them had some kind of notice on the outside of the door about Covid-19. My allergist’s office asked that you request gloves and a mask if you have a cough. The office next door, which was for several specialties, required everyone who entered to put on gloves and a mask, which the sign said were available just inside the door. Other signs said to put on a mask and inform the front desk if you have a cough/fever. > > Obviously some differences in views on what precautions need to be taken, probably partly informed by the typical population of patients and staff. The everyone gets a mask approach seems appropriately cautious to me, except that I wonder how many masks they have on hand. If they run out and can’t get more, they won’t be able to implement even the less cautious approach. I was at my gyn’s office yesterday and there was a sign outside the door asking people to avoid coming in if they were ill, in particular to avoid exposing pregnant women. I don’t recall any display of masks - but for most gyn stuff, you can postpone a visit whereas you might not be able to put off a visit to a primary care doctor or some other specialists. The gyn was pretty sanguine about it all - even shook my hand when she came in the room (which, startled, I reciprocated - though I did wash up afterwards). She’s talking precautions and washing hands . using sanitizer a lot, so I suspect there was no issue, but still it startled me. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758.md?page=32) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758.md?page=34)