Decided this was its own topic and I did not want to derail men’s BB thread:
OregonFan4Life wrote:The coronavirus fear is so ridiculous.
Tray Dub wrote:No it's not.
I would say it is ridiculous but then again it certainly has my attention . For me and unfortunately maybe for others my personal lack of respect for the media and their hype machine it’s hard to know just how serious to take the coronavirus scare. Am I going to stop going to events with a large crowd? most likely, am I going to stop going shopping?...... no. Am I going to stop going to dinner or lunch dates? Hell no! who knows? I do think it was wrong for the Ivy League to cancel their men’s and women’s Bbball tournament
I do think it's ridiculous when the Prime Minister of Germany comes out with a statement that 2/3 of her population will contract the disease but offers no scientific or even reasonable explanation for how that is going to happen. Are Germans just that bad at personal hygiene?
It is a highly contagious disease for which, unlike the flu, we don't have antibodies in our system. It is important to slow the spread so the health care system isn't overloaded. The NY Times has a good piece this morning on the topic.
maxduck wrote:It is a highly contagious disease for which, unlike the flu, we don't have antibodies in our system. It is important to slow the spread so the health care system isn't overloaded. The NY Times has a good piece this morning on the topic.
I don't think anyone is arguing with taking precautions to slow the spread. But as of today in the US, 1 in 327,000 people have contracted the disease.
maxduck wrote:It is a highly contagious disease for which, unlike the flu, we don't have antibodies in our system. It is important to slow the spread so the health care system isn't overloaded. The NY Times has a good piece this morning on the topic.
I don't think anyone is arguing with taking precautions to slow the spread. But as of today in the US, 1 in 327,000 people have contracted the disease.
Thats the point of the hype of though, to spread awareness and what could happen. Its a snowball effect which shouldnt be taken lightly.
1 in 327,000 is a heck of jump from the “first case in the U.S.” (Kirkland, Wa) just a couple of weeks ago. I am not doubting you but that figure is near impossible to believe. I just a google of population of the USA, the figure I saw was 327 million, 1 in 327 thousand? Now it is less credible. Hype?
It's a global pandemic that has hit American shores. I would have to say that if the media didn't cover this, it would be beyond negligent on their part.
If the mortality rate is anywhere between 1% and 3.4%, as reported, that's incredibly high. Lets say it's 2%, and it infects a quarter of the American population. That's 1.6 million dead Americans. To boot, there's the increase in people who need hospitalization stressing that system, and then finally what the economic slowdown means to jobs -- hundreds of thousands, likely millions, losing their jobs, if this isn't contained quickly. Even if the first two things don't materialize, the last can be true.
So yea. I'd say it's proper for the media to cover this. I'd also say it would be prudent for them to spend more of their time scrutinizing how unprepared we have been as a country and how that happened.
Think about how easily a cold spreads through the work place. That's how easily this virus spreads. If I had to guess I would actually say this thing has been circulating longer than people realize, and many have already had it and recovered without even knowing they had it
StevensTechU wrote:It's a global pandemic that has hit American shores. I would have to say that if the media didn't cover this, it would be beyond negligent on their part.
If the mortality rate is anywhere between 1% and 3.4%, as reported, that's incredibly high. Lets say it's 2%, and it infects a quarter of the American population. That's 1.6 million dead Americans. To boot, there's the increase in people who need hospitalization stressing that system, and then finally what the economic slowdown means to jobs -- hundreds of thousands, likely millions, losing their jobs, if this isn't contained quickly. Even if the first two things don't materialize, the last can be true.
So yea. I'd say it's proper for the media to cover this. I'd also say it would be prudent for them to spend more of their time scrutinizing how unprepared we have been as a country and how that happened.
Definition of Pandemic - "prevalent over a whole country or the world" With 1000 documented cases in the US I'd say we've hardly reached that point yet. Could we, possibly, but certainly not yet. Neither China or Italy have reached Pandemic so let's pump the brakes on the use of such extreme words.
maxduck wrote:It is a highly contagious disease for which, unlike the flu, we don't have antibodies in our system. It is important to slow the spread so the health care system isn't overloaded. The NY Times has a good piece this morning on the topic.
I don't think anyone is arguing with taking precautions to slow the spread. But as of today in the US, 1 in 327,000 people have contracted the disease.
I don't know how anyone could suggest such a statistic when so few people have actually been tested for it.
The Atlantic could only verify that 1,895 people have been tested for the coronavirus in the United States, about 10 percent of whom have tested positive.
OregonFan4life -
My source just said Chip is officially back!
It will be announced at Autzen press conference tomorrow afternoon!
The point people have to understand is that this is growing extremely quickly. Cases are doubling every few days. That's insane. Right now of course very very few people have it, but that will look *drastically* different in a few weeks if current trends continue. The people who are nonchalant about this because it's still rare are like people who look at the first five minutes of a blizzard and say, "Look, there's hardly any snow on the ground!" The correct response is to say "Yikes, better get inside."
I'm not saying this is going to be the zombie apocalypse, but it is going to be a serious challenge. If you want to see where this is heading, look at Italy. Their hospitals are overwhelmed; if you want to read some harrowing firsthand reports read this for example. And there is every reason to believe we are on our way to Italy in a matter of weeks.
And this is all in the early stages. The case numbers are still rising. We don't know where it will go, but experts in the field are unbelievably worried. You may have seen the American Hospital Association expert's estimate of the US death toll: 480,000. Who knows, but just given the facts we've observed so far that does not seem implausible.
Don't panic, but do get prepared. We are in for some tough months.
Take a couple minutes and read this... I did not write it but I think it is very accurate. Yes it will take a couple minutes but its worth the read.
"I don’t usually post stuff like this, but I feel that it is important to educate everyone about what is coming our way...please read, because this is the reality of what is on the horizon... I work at a Children’s Hospital, so there isn’t much that I haven’t been exposed to, but I am not raiding Costco for Purell, water, and toilet paper...as far as I know, we are not facing the apocalypse! Peace, Love, and STOP cancelling music festivals! Thanks Beth, for this!
Wise words from an Infectious Disease doctor, Dr. Sharkawy, on COVID-19:
“I'm a doctor and an Infectious Diseases Specialist. I've been at this for more than 20 years seeing sick patients on a daily basis. I have worked in inner city hospitals and in the poorest slums of Africa. HIV-AIDS, Hepatitis,TB, SARS, Measles, Shingles, Whooping cough, Diphtheria...there is little I haven't been exposed to in my profession. And with notable exception of SARS, very little has left me feeling vulnerable, overwhelmed or downright scared.
I am not scared of Covid-19. I am concerned about the implications of a novel infectious agent that has spread the world over and continues to find new footholds in different soil. I am rightly concerned for the welfare of those who are elderly, in frail health or disenfranchised who stand to suffer mostly, and disproportionately, at the hands of this new scourge. But I am not scared of Covid-19.
What I am scared about is the loss of reason and wave of fear that has induced the masses of society into a spellbinding spiral of panic, stockpiling obscene quantities of anything that could fill a bomb shelter adequately in a post-apocalyptic world. I am scared of the N95 masks that are stolen from hospitals and urgent care clinics where they are actually needed for front line healthcare providers and instead are being donned in airports, malls, and coffee lounges, perpetuating even more fear and suspicion of others. I am scared that our hospitals will be overwhelmed with anyone who thinks they " probably don't have it but may as well get checked out no matter what because you just never know..." and those with heart failure, emphysema, pneumonia and strokes will pay the price for overfilled ER waiting rooms with only so many doctors and nurses to assess.
I am scared that travel restrictions will become so far reaching that weddings will be canceled, graduations missed and family reunions will not materialize. And well, even that big party called the Olympic Games...that could be kyboshed too. Can you even
imagine?
I'm scared those same epidemic fears will limit trade, harm partnerships in multiple sectors, business and otherwise and ultimately culminate in a global recession.
But mostly, I'm scared about what message we are telling our kids when faced with a threat. Instead of reason, rationality, openmindedness and altruism, we are telling them to panic, be fearful, suspicious, reactionary and self-interested.
Covid-19 is nowhere near over. It will be coming to a city, a hospital, a friend, even a family member near you at some point. Expect it. Stop waiting to be surprised further. The fact is the virus itself will not likely do much harm when it arrives. But our own behaviors and "fight for yourself above all else" attitude could prove disastrous.
I implore you all. Temper fear with reason, panic with patience and uncertainty with education. We have an opportunity to learn a great deal about health hygiene and limiting the spread of innumerable transmissible diseases in our society. Let's meet this challenge together in the best spirit of compassion for others, patience, and above all, an unfailing effort to seek truth, facts and knowledge as opposed to conjecture, speculation and catastrophizing.
Facts not fear. Clean hands. Open hearts.
Our children will thank us for it.”
maxduck wrote:It is a highly contagious disease for which, unlike the flu, we don't have antibodies in our system. It is important to slow the spread so the health care system isn't overloaded. The NY Times has a good piece this morning on the topic.
I don't think anyone is arguing with taking precautions to slow the spread. But as of today in the US, 1 in 327,000 people have contracted the disease.
I don't know how anyone could suggest such a statistic when so few people have actually been tested for it.
The Atlantic could only verify that 1,895 people have been tested for the coronavirus in the United States, about 10 percent of whom have tested positive.
What really bothers me about that doctor's post is that he says stop cancelling music festivals but then urges people to be altruistic. Well, the entire point of canceling public events is to take care of our most vulnerable populations, the old and the sick. They are who will bear the brunt of this; they are who we're protecting by doing the tough stuff like staying home and canceling basketball tournaments. Doing the right thing is taking reasonable steps to keep people safe.
Tray Dub wrote:What really bothers me about that doctor's post is that he says stop cancelling music festivals but then urges people to be altruistic. Well, the entire point of canceling public events is to take care of our most vulnerable populations, the old and the sick. They are who will bear the brunt of this; they are who we're protecting by doing the tough stuff like staying home and canceling basketball tournaments. Doing the right thing is taking reasonable steps to keep people safe.
That wasn't the doctor, the first paragraph was the original poster, and if you re-read it he actually said "Peace, Love and STOP cancelling music festivals"
And yes, the old and the sick should be taking precautions and to the extent possible staying away from crowds and public spaces.
I'm a 60 yr old healthy male and I'm getting on a plane this afternoon. Yes, I will wipe everything around me down with an antibacterial wipe. No I will not touch anything in the disgusting airplane bathroom, but I never do, not just now, never. And before I leave that disgusting bathroom I will wash my hands thoroughly. I'm always amazed when I go to a men's room in an airport how many men simply walk away from the urinal and head right out the door. I think what the doctor is saying is let's all practice what has always been considered healthy, normal hygiene practices. I've been wiping around me in airplanes for years because my sister, a nurse for 30 yrs told me to do it. I used to get colds frequently after flying, but since I've adopted this practice I haven't been sick once and I fly weekly.
If you workout in a gym take a look around. I guarantee somewhere there's a dispenser of anti-bacterial wipes and it wasn't put there since CoronaVirus was announced, its been there for years. Use them before and after you grab a barbell, dumbbell or a handle on any piece of equipment.
It doesn't take much effort to stay healthy!
Last edited by EncinitasDuck on Wed Mar 11, 2020 9:50 am, edited 5 times in total.
