# 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:** 65
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2020, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/1283 "2020-03-22T19:51:59Z")
North Korea’s Kim Jong Un gets a letter from Trump, saying that the US is prepared to help North Korea with anti-epidemic work. Nice. However, if you are from New York, tough shit, no help from the Feds for you. ---
**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 22, 2020, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/1284 "2020-03-22T20:05:09Z")
Senator Rand Paul first Senator to get COVID-19: > **[Rand Paul is first senator to test positive for coronavirus | CNN Politics](https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/22/politics/rand-paul-coronavirus/index.html)** > > Kentucky Republican Rand Paul is the first US senator to test positive for coronavirus, throwing an even greater sense of urgency into Senate negotiations over a massive stimulus package that had yet to come together Sunday afternoon as other... ---
**Author:** ![PoppaSan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/poppasan/32/189_2.png) [@PoppaSan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PoppaSan)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2020, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/1285 "2020-03-22T20:08:34Z")
> [@rocking\_chair](#): > > Rand Paul who showed no signs of coved 19 has tested positive. Why would someone with no signs get tested? Proximity to POTUS/Veep? ---
**Author:** ![PoppaSan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/poppasan/32/189_2.png) [@PoppaSan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PoppaSan)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2020, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/1286 "2020-03-22T20:14:02Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > [12-year-old girl with no known underlying medical issues fighting for her life in GA.](https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/22/us/georgia-coronavirus-girl-hospitalized/index.html) Would having pneumonia, which she has, qualify as an underlying condition? ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Quatro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bc8723/32.png) [@Mr\_Quatro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Quatro)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2020, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/1287 "2020-03-22T20:17:06Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Hawaii’s Governor David Ige today announced [a mandatory 14-day self-quarantine for ALL travelers flying into Hawaii from anywhere, mainland or international](https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2020/03/22/live-governor-expected-announce-new-restrictions-bid-fight-spread-virus/). Starting this coming Thursday. It will include the constant stream of visiting doctors and nurses, which will hurt, because Hawaii has a chronic shortage of both. No word on how this could be enforced, but break the quarantine and you could be facing a $5000 and/or a year in jail. This sounds serious … next thursday is March 26th ---
**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 22, 2020, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/1288 "2020-03-22T20:22:58Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > Holy cow, [Worldometer](https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/) has US Covid-19 cases up 14,550 so far today. …and now it’s at 8,149 cases. Apparently a reporting glitch. I should do as Snowboarder Bo does and not check until the end of the day. ---
**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 22, 2020, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/1289 "2020-03-22T20:32:21Z")
> [@PoppaSan](#): > > Would having pneumonia, which she has, qualify as an underlying condition? Coronavirus, if it hits you badly enough, _ **produces** _ pneumonia. That is how it kills. The girl went in with pneumonia and tested positive several days later. Chances are her pneumonia was caused by a COVID-19 infection. More things; two survivors from the 1918-1919 flu pandemic (both over 100 years old) give their comments on the Coronavirus pandemic. > **['Be careful': Spain's last 1918 flu survivor offers warning on coronavirus](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/22/be-careful-spains-last-1918-flu-survivor-offers-warning-on-coronavirus)** > > José Ameal Peña, 105, is watching on anxiously as a new pandemic sweeps globe ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2020, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/1290 "2020-03-22T20:36:02Z")
> [@PoppaSan](#): > > Would having pneumonia, which she has, qualify as an underlying condition? Seeing as how she received her diagnosis of pneumonia and COVID19 within days of each other, I am assuming that the former was caused by the latter. Mayhap that is not what actually happened, but it is a reasonable assumption to make IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2020, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/1291 "2020-03-22T21:46:08Z")
As if this whole situation wasn’t weird enough, we now have this to look forward to: “Members of extremist groups are encouraging one another to spread the virus, if contracted, through bodily fluids and personal interactions,” according to the alert issued by the FBI’s New York office Thursday. Intercepted messages from these groups show members were asked to use spray bottles filled with body fluids to attack police. Others were directed to spread to Jews by going to “any place they may be congregated, to include markets, political offices, businesses and places of worship.” “Extremist groups” are White power assholes, by the way. They could have just said that in the story. > **[Extremist groups encourage members to spread coronavirus to police, Jews: FBI...](https://abc7chicago.com/white-supremacist-coronavirus-neo-nazi-hate-crime-new-york/6038813/)** > > Members were asked to use spray bottles filled with body fluids to attack police and Jewish people. ---
**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 22, 2020, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/1292 "2020-03-22T22:18:28Z")
The number of cases in Taiwan has jumped recently, more than triple from a little more than a week ago and up to 167. Some of the latest news: I think I reported this the other day, I think but it’s relevant. Taiwan has closed it’s borders to nonresidents with only a few exceptions. Many people live here and do visa runs to Hong Kong every 90 days. I have a friend who does that. It’s not possible not. People returning home from overseas are not allowed to use public transportation home and have to take a taxi if they can’t arrange for someone to pick them up. Long lines in the airport. Taiwan is barring international transits starting tonight after a number of infected Chinese used Taoyuan Airport to try to get home. Yesterday, there were only 7,800 passengers at Taoyuan Airport, compared to the normal daily average of 133,000. A person required to be in 14-day quarantine decided that’s boring and went clubbing. They were fined NT$1,000,000 which is about US$33,000. Taiwan still isn’t under lockdown so clubs are bars are operating. Taiwan still have few cases of community spread, but is very carefully watching the situation. There have been a number of articles in various international media praising the Taiwan’s response. So far, things have not been too bad, but it can get worse. ---
**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 22, 2020, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/1293 "2020-03-22T22:43:21Z")
Austria news today: [ul] [li]Eight entire districts in the state of Upper Austria are now under strict quarantine.[/li] [li]The city of Vienna has produced [a two-minute cartoon video for kids, with subtitles available in multiple languages (including English)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kU4oCmRFTw). The video explains what coronavirus is and why kids can no longer play with their friends or visit their grandparents.[/li] [li]The Czech government has informed Austria that its border will remain closed for at least half a year. Exceptions include the transport of goods, cross-border workers, and foreigners permanently departing the Czech Republic.[/li] [li] Austria’s justice minister has said that children of separated parents may now resume their visitation schedules, provided appropriate precautions are taken. She’s also said that the legal measures taken to control the spread of the coronavirus have built-in sunset clauses making them expire, at the latest, at the end of the year.[/li] [li]Current statistics: 3244 infected, 16 dead, 9 recovered. The curve appears to be flattening; new infections from Saturday to Sunday rose just 15.3%, compared to around 40% the previous weekend.[/li] [/ul] ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2020, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/1294 "2020-03-22T22:47:08Z")
> [@PoppaSan](#): > > Why would someone with no signs get tested? Proximity to POTUS/Veep? I think it is fair that the POTUS/VP, members of Congress and cabinet officials pretty much be tested regularly. There’s already enough panic out there without the leaders of the government starting to drop over dead. Especially given how elderly many are. Can you imagine how much worse it would be if we had Trump, Pelosi, McConnell, Schumer, et al. either dead or in intensive care with Acting President Pence trying to reassure us (with 3 of those advisors behind him not in the press conference because they are dead) that all is well? ---
**Author:** ![polar\_bear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ec9cab/32.png) [@polar\_bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/polar_bear)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2020, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/1295 "2020-03-22T22:50:17Z")
Since you are keeping tabs on Austria, we today saw on the news that the virus seems to have been going around in ski areas like Ischgl and Mayrhofen recently. Whole groups of fairly young people that got ill when getting back (or during the last days of their holiday. Verstuurd vanaf mijn moto g(6) met Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2020, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/1296 "2020-03-22T22:53:26Z")
Harbor Freight Tools will make a big donation of supplies. > **[Harbor Freight Tools to donate entire medical supply to 24 hour emergency rooms](https://foxsanantonio.com/features/coronavirus/harbor-freight-tools-to-donate-entire-medical-supply-to-24-hour-emergency-rooms)** > > SAN ANTONIO- The company Harbor Freight has made the decision to donate their entire supply of personal protective equipment to hospitals with 24 hour emergency rooms. They are donating N95 Masks, Face Shields and 5 and 7 mil Nitrile Gloves. If you... Maybe we need a thread for companies stepping up? ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2020, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/1297 "2020-03-22T22:54:46Z")
Canada is up to 1420 cases with 20 deaths, including one death in Toronto (up from 1050 cases and 13 deaths yesterday). Several new assessment clinics have opened. Epidemiological experts can have significant differences of opinion and have given various estimates for the real number of cases. It would be more useful if hospitalization, ICU and deaths were reported by age cohort. The number of cases is one part of the picture only. In the few open stores social distancing (which some argue should be called physical distancing) is being taken seriously. Even the parks are surprisingly empty; the university campus is deserted. ---
**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 22, 2020, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/1298 "2020-03-22T23:24:57Z")
> [@Dr\_Paprika](#): > > Epidemiological experts can have significant differences of opinion and have given various estimates for the real number of cases. It would be more useful if hospitalization, ICU and deaths were reported by age cohort. The number of cases is one part of the picture only. I’ve heard people argue that there are privacy concerns in giving the age of those who’ve died or been infected. Just saying. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2020, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/1299 "2020-03-22T23:30:34Z")
GIF (so, short) that offers a vivid illustration of what social-or-physical distancing can accomplish: > ---
**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 22, 2020, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/1300 "2020-03-22T23:52:47Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > I’ve heard people argue that there are privacy concerns in giving the age of those who’ve died or been infected. Just saying. Taiwan announces the gender and age of those infected. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2020, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/1301 "2020-03-22T23:56:28Z")
Perhaps, but what was wanted wasn’t age but an age range (cohort), that is, folks 0-20, 21-40, 41-60, 61-80, over 80. ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2020, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/1302 "2020-03-23T00:16:35Z")
> [@Sunny\_Daze](#): > > Yes, this seems a very good idea. I hope we will replicate this here. I would be very surprised if this is possible in the US. I think private insurers could probably do it on their own, but not sure how incentivized they’d be to do so. It would probably cost them a bundle, and their excuse could be protecting the privacy of their members. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758.md?page=64) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758.md?page=66)