# 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:** 90
**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 31, 2020, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/1783 "2020-03-31T23:51:03Z")
> [@psychonaut](#): > > Today in Austria: > > [ul] > > [li] Yesterday I reported that supermarkets will be distributing free face masks beginning on Wednesday, and it will be required to wear these in the stores. The chancellor subsequently explained in an interview last night that it is his intention for people to eventually start wearing these masks in all public places, not just in supermarkets. Supermarkets were chosen as the first place to start distributing and wearing the masks, because almost everyone goes shopping at one point, and because the supermarkets have an established supply and distribution chain. The idea behind wearing masks is not to protect the wearer against infection, but rather to help prevent people who are (perhaps unwittingly) infectious from spreading the virus when speaking, coughing, or sneezing.[/li] > The chancellor says that wearing masks is going to be the “new normal” and that supermarkets will be the place where we must all learn and practise doing this. He said that before the crisis, he was often quizzical, and even irritated, at all the Asian tourists in Vienna who wore face masks, but after speaking directly with Asian politicians and health experts, he has come to understand and embrace their use. > > [li] Besides masks, the government has introduced further health restrictions regarding shopping: First, when going shopping, you must go alone. No more family trips to the supermarket. Second, surfaces touched by customers, such as shopping cart handles, must be disinfected after use. (I’ve already witnessed some cashiers wiping down debit/credit card readers after customers make a PIN transaction.) Third, all cashiers must be protected with plexiglass screens, though most shops I’ve visited in the past week have already installed these. Fourth, stores must take measures to enforce social distancing, such as only allowing in a certain number of customers per square metre of floor space, and marking spacing lines in front of the tills.[/li] > … > > [/ul] Both of these are very sensible! I don’t understand the “CDC is discussing/thinking about telling people to wear masks…” What’s to discuss or think about? Why delay? Just tell people to do it! NOT the professional masks that health care workers must have, but homemade masks, painter’s masks, SOME kind of cover over your nose and mouth. :rolleyes: Are they going to “discuss” it for two more weeks and then tell people NOT to wear them? If they’re ultimately going to tell people to use masks, then **the sooner the better**! ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2020, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/1784 "2020-04-01T00:01:59Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Both of these are very sensible! > > I don’t understand the “CDC is discussing/thinking about telling people to wear masks…” What’s to discuss or think about? Why delay? Because they can’t just do it because Trump. Heads would roll if they did it on their own, and he’d reverse the policy for who knows how long. So they’ve got to get Trump warmed up to the idea, and put him in the position of taking credit when he finally agrees. ---
**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:** [April 1, 2020, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/1785 "2020-04-01T00:07:19Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > OK, but what would we **do** differently if we found out the Chinese cases and deaths were, say, 5x as high as they’ve reported? Smack their leader upside the head and tell him that ain’t cool. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2020, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/1786 "2020-04-01T00:26:39Z")
Alameda and nearby Bay Area counties just extended the shelter in place to May 1. Sorry no link, I got a text. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2020, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/1787 "2020-04-01T00:32:59Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > Alameda and nearby Bay Area counties just extended the shelter in place to May 1. Sorry no link, I got a text. oops, make that May 3. ---
**Author:** ![psychobunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/54ee81/32.png) [@psychobunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychobunny)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2020, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/1788 "2020-04-01T01:52:15Z")
Austria’s recommendations sound sensible and achievable. Unfortunately, I fear that Americans will resist any required actions. ---
**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:** [April 1, 2020, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/1789 "2020-04-01T04:15:03Z")
858,892 confirmed infections 42,158 dead 178,100 recovered In the US: 188,578 confirmed infections 3,890 dead 7,251 recovered Yesterday’s numbers for comparison: > [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > 785,779 confirmed infections > 37,816 dead > 165,607 recovered > > In the US: > > 164,253 confirmed infections > 3,166 dead > 5,506 recovered ---
**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:** [April 1, 2020, 8:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/1790 "2020-04-01T08:32:35Z")
> [@psychobunny](#): > > [For psychonaut](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMBh-eo3tvE) to thank you for your updates (and definitely a case of do as I say and not as I do). You’re welcome! And thanks for the reminder of how beautiful Salzburg is—we took a short holiday trip there only a couple months ago. Hopefully we can all get back to singing the original tunes soon, leaving educational parodies such as this a distant memory… ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2020, 8:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/1791 "2020-04-01T08:53:12Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > Alameda and nearby Bay Area counties just extended the shelter in place to May 1. Sorry no link, I got a text. [Post #1763, above, including some links.](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=22221106#post22221106) (That was tentative, as of yesterday. What, they made it May 3 now?) ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2020, 9:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/1792 "2020-04-01T09:16:59Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > Alameda and nearby Bay Area counties just extended the shelter in place to May 1. Sorry no link, I got a text. Okay, newer and better links: The entire original shelter-in-place order has been fully superseded by a new order, dated March 31, with even more severe rules, effective through May 3 or as may be later amended. [Summary of the New and Changed Rules](https://sf.gov/stay-home-except-essential-needs), official-looking document from the City and County of San Francisco. [Full Text of the new Order.](https://www.sfdph.org/dph/alerts/files/HealthOfficerOrder-C19-07b-ShelterInPlace-03312020.pdf) ---
**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:** [April 1, 2020, 9:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/1793 "2020-04-01T09:22:09Z")
Today so far in Austria: [ul] [li] 199,934 people have registered as unemployed since the coronavirus crisis began, bringing the total number of jobless to 562,522. This gives an unemployment rate of 12.2%, the highest Austria has seen since 1946.[/li] [li] Public-facing government offices long ago closed, but they have been taking steps to ensure that certain essential services are still available online, by phone, or by post. On Friday Parliament is expected to pass a new regulation allowing for naturalizations to be conducted by post. That is, since it’s no longer possible to take the oath of citizenship in person, it will suffice to sign a written declaration and mail it in.[/li] [li] In a rare display of hypocrisy, chancellor Sebastian Kurz claimed that he had “no time” to concern himself with Orbán’s power grab in Hungary, despite the next day making a public statement in support of the US’s plans to oust Maduro from Venezuela. I surmise that Kurz wants to avoid angering a close neighbour and comrade (both Kurz’s Austrian People’s Party and Orbán’s Fidesz being members of the EU-wide European People’s Party) in a time of shared crisis. However, state media in Austria hasn’t been nearly so deferent; last night the national TV broadcaster, ORF, aired [an English-language interview with Hungary’s justice minister](https://tvthek.orf.at/profile/Additional-Content/1670/Langfassung-Interview-mit-Ungarns-Justizministerin-Judit-Varga/14046803) in which some hard-hitting questions were posed.[/li] [li] The Austrian Red Cross manages a volunteer force of 72,000, but says it is in urgent need of further volunteers, in particular to go shopping for high-risk individuals confined to their homes.[/li] [li] Current statistics: 10,372 confirmed infections, 146 dead, 1095 recovered.[/li] [/ul] ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2020, 9:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/1794 "2020-04-01T09:25:46Z")
> [@psychobunny](#): > > Unfortunately, I fear that Americans will resist any required actions. After hearing the term “coronavirus party”, I’m in complete agreement with you. The idiots among the Americans are going to get us all dead. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2020, 9:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/1795 "2020-04-01T09:30:31Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > 858,892 confirmed infections > 42,158 dead > 178,100 recovered > > In the US: > > 188,578 confirmed infections > 3,890 dead > 7,251 recovered Well, that wraps it up for March - not exactly out like a lamb. Now welcome to [the cruellest month](https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/47311/the-waste-land), so keep those hatches battened down. ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2020, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/1796 "2020-04-01T12:15:13Z")
[John Fogerty has dusted off his guitar and is belting out some of his old CCR tunes.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4E3tHaZBlc) Many that guy can still sing and play. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2020, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/1797 "2020-04-01T14:34:45Z")
> [@Urbanredneck](#): > > [John Fogerty has dusted off his guitar and is belting out some of his old CCR tunes.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4E3tHaZBlc) > > Many that guy can still sing and play. But in my house, the bathroom’s on the _left!_ 😉 ---
**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:** [April 1, 2020, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/1798 "2020-04-01T14:42:14Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > But in my house, the bathroom’s on the _left!_ 😉 As Bonnie Tyler sang, “Turn around.” ---
**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:** [April 1, 2020, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/1799 "2020-04-01T14:51:51Z")
Excellent, eye-opening, animated [graphic](https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2020/world/corona-simulator/?itid=sf_coronavirus)that visually (and cleverly) illustrates the results of four virus-spreading scenarios, namely, freely moving around, attempted quarantine, moderate distancing, extensive distancing. Spoiler: extensive distancing is the most effective in containing the spread of the virus. There is a LOT of information here. Study the animations. Each one is random and does not include deaths from the virus. Each time you run a new simulation it will be different. This article from the Washington Post is supposed to be free (i.e., no paywall). I don’t know if the site will ask you to register, but you will not be asked to pay. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2020, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/1800 "2020-04-01T15:17:41Z")
> [@Dr.Drake](#): > > As Bonnie Tyler sang, “Turn around.” Yeah, thanks for the earworm. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/half_man_half_wit/32/21766_2.png) [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Half_Man_Half_Wit)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2020, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/1801 "2020-04-01T15:23:21Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Excellent, eye-opening, animated [graphic](https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2020/world/corona-simulator/?itid=sf_coronavirus)that visually (and cleverly) illustrates the results of four virus-spreading scenarios, namely, freely moving around, attempted quarantine, moderate distancing, extensive distancing. Spoiler: extensive distancing is the most effective in containing the spread of the virus. > > There is a LOT of information here. Study the animations. Each one is random and does not include deaths from the virus. Each time you run a new simulation it will be different. > > This article from the Washington Post is supposed to be free (i.e., no paywall). I don’t know if the site will ask you to register, but you will not be asked to pay. If you’ve got 20 minutes to spare, you could do a lot worse than have a look at the epidemic spread modeling by [3Blue1Brown](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxAaO2rsdIs). It includes a few more scenarios, among them one where people repeatedly visit some central hub (like, say, a supermarket). ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2020, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/1802 "2020-04-01T15:28:09Z")
This is a reminder that there is a still a lot we don’t know about this thing. So when a friend or a family member has GI symptoms, don’t assume they are just dealing with a normal stomach bug. [Diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting may be the first coronavirus symptoms in some patients](https://www.today.com/health/diarrhea-nausea-or-vomiting-may-be-first-coronavirus-symptoms-some-t177179) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758.md?page=89) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758.md?page=91)