# 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:** 56
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2020, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/1102 "2020-03-18T20:35:33Z")
> [@Buck\_Godot](#): > > So the US and Canada are closing their border. Can anybody explain why (other than to look like they are doing something)? The infection rates of the two countries look about the same so it doesn’t seem to really be an issue of isolating the infected from the uninfected. The situation in Washington State is very different from the case in BC: We don’t seem to have community spread (yet, though it’s coming). Edit: oops, that’s not true… missed the news! ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2020, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/1103 "2020-03-18T20:40:47Z")
Strange that Germany and Italy both have many thousands of infections, but Germany has a ratio of roughly 360-infections-per-death, while Italy’s is only roughly 9-infections-per-death. Is Italy’s healthcare that much worse than Germany’s? ---
**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 18, 2020, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/1104 "2020-03-18T20:43:26Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > Strange that Germany and Italy both have many thousands of infections, but Germany has a ratio of roughly 360-infections-per-death, while Italy’s is only roughly 9-infections-per-death. Is Italy’s healthcare that much worse than Germany’s? [Italy has more old people.](https://www.businessinsider.com/italy-coronavirus-old-population-cases-death-rate-2020-3) ---
**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 18, 2020, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/1105 "2020-03-18T20:43:19Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Thank you for your updates, Psychonaut. We do find them fascinating and appreciate your efforts. Thanks—not a lot of people have replied to them so I was wondering if anyone found them interesting. Being immediately adjacent to Europe’s coronavirus hotspot of Italy, Austria is probably experiencing things and taking measures a couple days earlier than most other places in Europe. And Europe as a whole is a few days ahead of the situation in North America. So I hope that the information I’m passing on can serve as a preview, or a point of comparison, with what’s to come where most other Dopers are located. ---
**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:** [March 18, 2020, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/1106 "2020-03-18T20:53:44Z")
> [@psychonaut](#): > > Thanks—not a lot of people have replied to them so I was wondering if anyone found them interesting. Being immediately adjacent to Europe’s coronavirus hotspot of Italy, Austria is probably experiencing things and taking measures a couple days earlier than most other places in Europe. And Europe as a whole is a few days ahead of the situation in North America. So I hope that the information I’m passing on can serve as a preview, or a point of comparison, with what’s to come where most other Dopers are located. The updates are quite interesting. Thank you. It looks like you actually have leadership in place at the highest levels. \*\ \* ---
**Author:** ![steatopygia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steatopygia/32/3132_2.png) [@steatopygia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steatopygia)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2020, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/1107 "2020-03-18T21:29:47Z")
> [@psychonaut](#): > > Thanks—not a lot of people have replied to them so I was wondering if anyone found them interesting. Being immediately adjacent to Europe’s coronavirus hotspot of Italy, Austria is probably experiencing things and taking measures a couple days earlier than most other places in Europe. And Europe as a whole is a few days ahead of the situation in North America. So I hope that the information I’m passing on can serve as a preview, or a point of comparison, with what’s to come where most other Dopers are located. I find them interesting and informative. Thank you. ---
**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 18, 2020, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/1108 "2020-03-18T22:19:54Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > The updates are quite interesting. Thank you. It looks like you actually have leadership in place at the highest levels. \*\ > \* Ha! No, I just read the local newspapers and have the TV on in the background as I try in vain to work from home. ---
**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 18, 2020, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/1109 "2020-03-18T22:28:22Z")
2,629 of Italy’s cases are healthcare workers! > **[Coronavirus, In una settimana 46mila denunce. Il governo valuta di vietare...](https://www.repubblica.it/cronaca/2020/03/18/news/coronavirus_in_vigore_il_decreto_cura-italia_aumentano_i_contagi-251584599/)** > > L'8 per cento dei contagiati in Italia è un operatore sanitario. La cifra elaborata da Fondazione Gimbe sui dati dell'Iss: "Oltre il doppio… (you’ll need to translate unless you speak Italian) ---
**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 18, 2020, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/1110 "2020-03-18T22:43:55Z")
> [@psychonaut](#): > > Thanks—not a lot of people have replied to them so I was wondering if anyone found them interesting. Being immediately adjacent to Europe’s coronavirus hotspot of Italy, Austria is probably experiencing things and taking measures a couple days earlier than most other places in Europe. And Europe as a whole is a few days ahead of the situation in North America. So I hope that the information I’m passing on can serve as a preview, or a point of comparison, with what’s to come where most other Dopers are located. I’m sorry I haven’t replied, **psychonaut**. I am very interested in what you post for the reason you just gave and because I am very interested in Austria and Czechia right now; y’all make some awesome grindcore & slam, eh. ---
**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:** [March 18, 2020, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/1111 "2020-03-18T22:47:57Z")
> [@psychonaut](#): > > Ha! No, I just read the local newspapers and have the TV on in the background as I try in vain to work from home. I meant that the news you are reporting speaks of leadership up the chain… ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2020, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/1112 "2020-03-19T00:01:11Z")
> [@psychonaut](#): > > Thanks—not a lot of people have replied to them so I was wondering if anyone found them interesting. Being immediately adjacent to Europe’s coronavirus hotspot of Italy, Austria is probably experiencing things and taking measures a couple days earlier than most other places in Europe. And Europe as a whole is a few days ahead of the situation in North America. So I hope that the information I’m passing on can serve as a preview, or a point of comparison, with what’s to come where most other Dopers are located. Yes, very interesting, thanks. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2020, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/1113 "2020-03-19T00:14:39Z")
First member of Congress to get coronavirus: > [@](#): > > Florida Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R) announced Wednesday he tested positive for COVID-19 after developing symptoms Saturday. He is the first member of Congress to test positive for the novel coronavirus. > > Diaz-Balart has been in self-quarantine in his Washington, D.C., apartment since Friday. “On Saturday evening, Congressman Diaz-Balart developed symptoms, including a fever and a headache. Just a short while ago, he was notified that he has tested positive for COVID-19,” read a statement released by his office. [https://thehill.com/homenews/house/488354-florida-congressman-tests-positive-for-covid-19](https://thehill.com/homenews/house/488354-florida-congressman-tests-positive-for-covid-19) ---
**Author:** ![SmartAleq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smartaleq/32/163_2.png) [@SmartAleq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAleq)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2020, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/1114 "2020-03-19T00:50:44Z")
> [@Defensive\_Indifference](#): > > Bing has a COVID tracker that looks pretty good, and easy to use: [Covid - Search](https://www.bing.com/covid) I’ve been using [this one](http://ncov.bii.virginia.edu/dashboard/), it updates quite quickly. We jumped from about 7500 cases confirmed in the US this morning to 9241 just now. Looks like we’re right on target for joining the 10K club. ☹ ---
**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:** [March 19, 2020, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/1115 "2020-03-19T00:57:26Z")
…someone just posted how the testing is working in New Zealand. > [@someone on twitter](#): > > Today I got called home cause my kid had a fever & sore throat > > Rang the Dr > > Receptionist: Has she been overseas or in contact with anyone that has > > Me: no idea cause she works in hospo > > R: take her to Hamilton A&E and call them from the carpark on arrival > > Arrive in Hamilton, ring the reception there and am advised to wait for a call > In an hour the triage nurse calls, listens to my kid tell her how shes been feeling > We spend 2 more hours watching Tik Tok videos > 2 women come out in basically hazmat suits and do swabs > > Me: shes totally fine lol shes been eating noodle soup in the carpark > > Nurse: if everyone with a slight fever gets a test and isolates we can stamp this out. Results will be back in 48 - 72 hours. Isolate until then > > Sends us on our way [https://twitter.com/\_snozzberry\_/status/1240204797032067072](https://twitter.com/_snozzberry_/status/1240204797032067072) So we aren’t doing testing on a large scale but on demand at the request of the GP and if they feel you need it you get it: no questions asked. There is a quiet reassurance here the government and support services are \*\*just \*\*keeping on top of things, but we all know things could turn in a minute. And Jacinda is really leading from the front. We’ve got great science communicators like [Dr Siouxsie Wiles](https://thespinoff.co.nz/author/siouxsie-wiles/)who are keeping the information flowing, this article here really made a whole lot of things [much, much clearer for me](https://thespinoff.co.nz/science/18-03-2020/siouxsie-wiles-how-testing-for-covid-19-works/). I drove out to the supermarket just now and it was so strange having the main road deserted, drove past the airport and there were no cars waiting for passengers, the only hive of activity were the supermarkets where everyone was diligently stocking up on water, pasta and (oddly) salt. ---
**Author:** ![Alley\_Dweller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alley_dweller/32/430_2.png) [@Alley\_Dweller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alley_Dweller)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2020, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/1116 "2020-03-19T01:02:03Z")
> [@psychonaut](#): > > Thanks—not a lot of people have replied to them so I was wondering if anyone found them interesting. Being immediately adjacent to Europe’s coronavirus hotspot of Italy, Austria is probably experiencing things and taking measures a couple days earlier than most other places in Europe. And Europe as a whole is a few days ahead of the situation in North America. So I hope that the information I’m passing on can serve as a preview, or a point of comparison, with what’s to come where most other Dopers are located. They are fascinating. Thank-you and please keep them coming if you can. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2020, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/1117 "2020-03-19T02:11:37Z")
I only commented on the post about the shortage of ferret litter, but I have been reading your posts attentively. They are very interesting - living next to Ground Zero as you do. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2020, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/1118 "2020-03-19T02:21:44Z")
Our number of confirmed and presumed cases in Saskatchewan doublée today, from 8 to 16. While the numbers are small (yet) that is the famous exponential growth we’re told to worry about. The Premier has given about four media conferences over the past five days, flanked by the Minister of Health and the Chief Medical Officer of the province. Legislative session is adjourned, meetings of more than 50 prohibited, bars and restaurants likely to be shut down soon. State of emergency declared under provincial law. Mrs P and I both started working from home today. The normally reliable VPN to my office was very clunky today. I lost some work when Word shut down. Nothing crucial, but a nuisance. I think it means a lot of others are also using the VPN service and it’s overloaded - does that make sense, imputer Dopers? Fortunately, lawyering now is mainly done on line. Sitting at my desk with a laptop, I can do all the statute and case research that I used to have to do in a library. I’m working on some briefs and opinions, and should be able to keep up. May have to go to the office now and then in the evening to print memos or letters out on letterhead. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2020, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/1119 "2020-03-19T02:28:05Z")
> [@PastTense](#): > > First member of Congress to get coronavirus: > > [https://thehill.com/homenews/house/488354-florida-congressman-tests-positive-for-covid-19](https://thehill.com/homenews/house/488354-florida-congressman-tests-positive-for-covid-19) [And now it’s two](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/two-members-house-test-positive-covid-19-n1163511) Ben McAdams, D-Utah. At least the virus is bipartisan. ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2020, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/1120 "2020-03-19T02:32:28Z")
> [@SmartAleq](#): > > I’ve been using [this one](http://ncov.bii.virginia.edu/dashboard/), it updates quite quickly. We jumped from about 7500 cases confirmed in the US this morning to 9241 just now. Looks like we’re right on target for joining the 10K club. ☹ From that site: USA: Active: 9181 Conf: 9349 Deaths: 151 Rec: 17 Only 17 people have recovered so far? That seems really low compared to the number of deaths. Maybe it’s because we’re still fairly early in the curve and those people who haven’t died aren’t out of the woods yet. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2020, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/1121 "2020-03-19T02:44:00Z")
Taiwan has hit 100, most of which are people who developed it overseas and brought it back. Then there are people who can be directly tied to those who came back. Only three people have contracted it from unknown sources. Those three are the scary ones. Taiwan now has closed its borders to nonresidents who arrive on a tourist visa or a vise waiver without a documented reason to visit. People on commercial business, for example are required to have documentation showing the nature of the visit. All residents arriving from overseas are required to self quarantine for 14 days. We went through a mini panic buying on toilet paper and food, but that went, only to resurface after the news about the US started being shown. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758.md?page=55) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758.md?page=57)