OT: Coronavirus

[Guest]

Well, I've been symptom-free for 3 days and apparently have ridden this virus out.  Looking forward to rejoining my life, though it's going to be in the dystopian wilderness of 2020....

[Guest]

@purplefaithful said:
Mass testing, empty ICUs: Germany scores early against virus

By FRANK JORDANS Associated PressApril 1, 2020 — 2:19pm

BERLIN — Late last year — long before most people had heard of the new coronavirus now sweeping the globe — scientists in Germany sprang into action to develop a test for the virus that was causing an unusual respiratory disease in central China.
They had one by mid-January — and labs around the country were ready to start using it just weeks later, around the same time that Europe's most populous country registered its first case.
“It was clear that if the epidemic swept over here from China, then we had to start testing," said Hendrik Borucki, a spokesman for Bioscientia Healthcare, which operates 19 labs in Germany.
That quick work stands in stark contrast to delays and missteps in other countries. Coupled with Germany's large number of intensive care beds and its early social distancing measures, it could explain one of the most interesting puzzles of the COVID-19 pandemic: Why are people with the virus in Germany currently dying at much lower rates than in neighboring countries?
The numbers are remarkable: As confirmed cases in Germany passed 71,000, the death toll Wednesday was 775, according to a tally kept by Johns Hopkins University. In contrast, Italy has reported almost 106,000 infections and more than 12,400 deaths, while Spain has more than 102,000 cases with over 9,000 deaths.
France has four times as many virus deaths as Germany and Britain has twice as many, even though both countries have fewer reported infections.
There may be many factors at play, but experts said early on that fast and widespread testing gave Germany an edge.
“The reason why we in Germany have so few deaths at the moment compared to the number of infected can be largely explained by the fact that we are doing an extremely large number of lab diagnoses," said virologist Dr. Christian Drosten, whose team developed the first test for the new virus at Berlin's Charité hospital — established over 300 years ago to treat plague victims.
He estimated that Germany is now capable of conducting up to 500,000 tests a week.
Spain, meanwhile, tests between 105,000 and 140,000 people each week, about 20% to 30% what Germany is capable of. Italy did around 200,000 tests over the past week, but that reflects a significant recent ramp-up.
Early access to the test from Drosten's team is only part of the reason for Germany's head start. Before the country even registered its first case, authorities agreed the tests would be covered by its universal insurance system, and be available to everyone with symptoms and either recent travel to virus hotspots or close contact with a confirmed case
https://www.startribune.com/mass-testing...569278782/

Like I said, I have a daughter in Hannover, my first grand child, Conrad , was born in November(he has a Kepler jersey) so I have been tuned in.  Total different zeitgeist, they got this shit, it's a generational thing, no exceptional entitlement. Pragmatic "we will get through this, just wait for it, and we will be better.  Merkel is bringing unity about the virus, not a binary choice on everything, she's got this.  Get it done, no conservative/ sane is not required shit,  stuff playing week.  Yeah that was a tweek, put on some big boy pants and deal with with it

[Guest]

@purplefaithful said:
Anyone bother to go back to page 1 on this? Early March???

Seems like 500 days ago now. 

Look what the hell you started MB. 

What's funny is that I knew when I started it it would break a record of some sort. It was actually pretty late in the news cycle. I think people were sort of afraid to talk about it. Been thinking lately it might be a good idea to start another one titled "Coronavirus: Only the Good News." Of course, it would have to be restricted to only science-backed information, recoveries, etc. It's just that this thread (and the news) can result in some pretty crushing anxiety at times. 

[Guest]

@MaroonBells said:

@purplefaithful said:
Anyone bother to go back to page 1 on this? Early March???

Seems like 500 days ago now. 

Look what the hell you started MB. 

What's funny is that I knew when I started it it would break a record of some sort. It was actually pretty late in the news cycle. I think people were sort of afraid to talk about it. Been thinking lately it might be a good idea to start another one titled "Coronavirus: Only the Good News." Of course, it would have to be restricted to only science-backed information, recoveries, etc. It's just that this thread (and the news) can result in some pretty crushing anxiety at times. 

My wife and I have a rule...No ending the night with Covid news on. Something else, anything else...

[Guest]

https://twitter.com/jesteveztv/status/12...24066?s=19

[Guest]

https://twitter.com/KDKA/status/12453958...19365?s=19

[Guest]

https://twitter.com/DailyNorseman/status...90793?s=19

[Guest]

@purplefaithful said:

@MaroonBells said:

@purplefaithful said:
Anyone bother to go back to page 1 on this? Early March???

Seems like 500 days ago now. 

Look what the hell you started MB. 

What's funny is that I knew when I started it it would break a record of some sort. It was actually pretty late in the news cycle. I think people were sort of afraid to talk about it. Been thinking lately it might be a good idea to start another one titled "Coronavirus: Only the Good News." Of course, it would have to be restricted to only science-backed information, recoveries, etc. It's just that this thread (and the news) can result in some pretty crushing anxiety at times. 

My wife and I have a rule...No ending the night with Covid news on. Something else, anything else...

That's a good rule. 

[Guest]

https://twitter.com/ABC7Chicago/status/1...59782?s=19

[Guest]

@Zanary said:
Well, I've been symptom-free for 3 days and apparently have ridden this virus out.  Looking forward to rejoining my life, though it's going to be in the dystopian wilderness of 2020....

Good news, Z.  God bless!