San Francisco has declared a state of emergency, not because they have cases, but in order to be prepared:
Reposting to the real time Hopkins data site:
The mortality rate has risen slightly, to 3.3%, which is a bit worse than seasonal flu (which is usually at around 1%)
A not-unreasonable article from The Atlantic: You're Likely to Get Coronavirus
I'm only mildly panicked, on a personal level slightly more than mildly, because given my recent spate of 3 months of bronchitis, I'm worried that when I do catch this, it will kill me. My respiratory system is STILL not back to normal. My husband travels for business weekly, on airplanes. This was the first year I can't blame him for my winter illnesses (LOL), but I fear that may be about to change. He won't wear a mask in public. We're headed out of town on flights together over the next couple of months, and I'm considering breaking out some N-95 masks from our emergency kit, but since I know even the N-95s are not 100% effective against COVID-19, I'm hesitating. I'm actually less afraid of Avian Flu, because all of my grandparents were Spanish Flu survivors. *sigh*
BTW, my package of a costume from China did arrive yesterday. I had the kids in my mailbox store put it in a plastic bag, and then told them to wash their hands (because washing hands never hurts and might help). I brought it home, directly into my backyard, and I completely sprayed Lysol inside the bag (it was one of those plastic envelopes). Then I got my gloves, some peroxide, and a basin, I opened the package carefully, and then I gently dipped the costume in the peroxide and hung it in the sun to dry. There was no "fizzing" of the peroxide on the fabric, so safe to say there was no bio-residue of any kind on it. This may seem extreme to some, but my immune system is not normal (primary immunodeficiency), so better safe than sorry.
@laura-f -- I don't find it extreme at all. If I had respiratory issues I am not sure I could function under the worry. Sending you healing thoughts.
Here is another real-time updater that breaks down the latest data (similar to the JH updater, but breaks it down a bit differently). In my paranoia, I check both frequently ?
Regarding the link I just posted -- I'm watching South Korea very closely, and I find their data encouraging. I believe they are being forthcoming with their numbers and their resources are comparable to ours. They are hovering at 1% mortality and I hope they stay there.
Researchers have found a mutated gene in the coronavirus that may explain its enhanced transmissibility:
Scientists have discovered what they refer to as an “unexpected gene insertion” in the novel coronavirus that apparently makes it much easier for the virus to gain a foothold within the body. Initially it was thought that the virus used ACE2 receptors as the main infectious pathway, similar to SARS; however, these receptors are not as common among healthy individuals. The mutated gene (which the article above states is similar to genes found in HIV or Ebola) alters the shape of the protein spike that the virus uses to attach to host cells, which may explain why it’s so virulent compared to SARS and offers new clues on how to treat infected patients.
Please note that this does NOT mean the virus was lab-created! It’s still likely this was simply an unfortunate natural mutation that happens to share similarities to other infectious diseases.
Yes he does.
So glad he appointed an expert (Mike Pence) to head the response. Only the best.
Apparently "Mike is really really good at it".
I love how Trump just contradicted Sanjay Gupta on facts and numbers. Well he also contradicted his own health officials too but what do they know?
Every scientist in the world vs.Trump.
Well he believes that the Virus will die down when the warmer weather comes. So he was India and decided to be exposed to the hot sun in order for him not to get it.
Ah yes ... we can all sleep well at night, knowing that Pence will be in charge.
As Governor didn't Pence lead Indiana into a totally avoidable HIV crisis? He allowed an HIV outbreak to spread because he slow-walked approval for needle exchanges. I believe it took him 2 months to respond to it, since he didn't support needle exchanges on moral grounds.
This is a good read on the ramifications of Trumps Insurance and Pre-existing and how the disease can spread. This is about a man in Miami who came back from a business trip from China he came down with symptoms and he did what he was suppose to do he went to the hospital and here is were his problems start.:
To his credit, Osmel Martinez Azcue recognized the public-health concerns about the coronavirus outbreak, and given his symptoms and his recent China visit, he felt like the responsible thing to do was check himself into one of Miami's largest hospitals (Jackson Memorial). This is, of course, what we'd expect anyone in his position to do.
The hospital staff followed the proper protocols, took the necessary precautions, and put Azcue in a closed-off room. Fortunately, blood work found that he simply had the flu. The medical teams stood down and Azcue was discharged.
So why did this story generate national attention? A couple of reasons.
Let's start with the fact that Azcue ended up with expensive medical bills, not because he's uninsured, but because he has what the Miami Herald charitably described as a "very limited insurance plan." Or put another way, he has one of the "junk plans" the Affordable Care Act tried to eliminate, but which Donald Trump and his team are quite fond of. Consumers are attracted to the low costs of these coverage plans, right up until they get sick.
In Azcue's case, within weeks of being sent home, he started receiving thousands of dollars in medical bills -- with more likely on the way, because he was treated by some out-of-network physicians -- in addition to instructions on his medical history. Azcue's private insurer wanted him to prove that his flu wasn't related to a pre-existing condition.
Again, "Obamacare" made sure that Americans couldn't be punished for having pre-existing conditions, but under Trump's junk plans, those consumer protections are gutted.
When the White House insists the president champions those with pre-existing conditions, keep this story in mind.
As for the other angle of interest, what happens when the coronavirus outbreak spreads in the United States and many Americans -- who are either uninsured or under-insured -- avoid seeking medical care because they're concerned about bills they can't afford?
The Herald spoke to Georgetown's Sabrina Corlette, who explained, "When someone has flu-like symptoms, you want them to seek medical care. If they have one of these junk plans and they know they might be on the hook for more than they can afford to seek that care, a lot of them just won't, and that is a public health concern."
Yes, actually, it is. While many of the countries grappling with the coronavirus outbreak have universal-coverage systems, the United States does not. What's more, we also don't have a system of paid sick leave, which increases the pressure of economically vulnerable Americans to go to work, even they're unwell.