New Coronavirus - COVID-19

[serialk11r]

Originally Posted by redpoint5

Tragic. What factors has made the virus more deadly in Italy than other places?

Forgive my ignorance, but what role might cultural factors play into it? I read somewhere that Italians like to greet with cheek kisses, I think that would probably spread the disease faster if it is common practice (I have no clue).

Much of the US is I think going to get a little luckier because there's not much mass transit and people like their personal space. By contrast in Asia, people crowd closer together in public spaces, generally speaking. NYC is going to be very, very bad though. The bars and clubs were all full a week ago.

Also I'm not aware of to what extent breaking quarantine might be a factor in Italy, but in Korea a large number of the cases are attributed to two cases of dumbasses infecting huge numbers of people at churches.

[freebeard]

Originally Posted by Xist

Coronavirus gets them first?

Knock-on effect. The social distancing works for the other flus (flues? flooz?). Not riding in cars with boys reduces teen pregnancy*. Less air pollution. Less terrorist attacks.

*Low gas prices and Spring Break are mitigating factors.

edit:
Why Italy? Here's a theory that it involves a thermocline; https://youtu.be/9w58SYc7JYY?t=145. Thailand would be the counterexample.

The rest might be ideological. Does Italy have nationalized hospitals? Are they on the One Belt/One Road primrose path?

[JSH]

Originally Posted by redpoint5

...and here the $300 round trip tickets to HI are tempting me. Do I gamble on things easing up in the next 2 months?

United is waiving change fees for 12 months so if it didn't work out you could use the credit for something else. I expect other airlines are doing the same.

As I mentioned in another thread my wife and I have been in Costa Rica for 2 weeks attending a Spanish language school. What a difference between the calm here and the chaos described by friends at home. Yes, the schools and bars have closed but life goes on pretty much as normal. I was in the supermarket yesterday and it was no different than 2 weeks ago. Shelves are fully stocked and TP is not being rationed and people are shopping. The biggest change is signs EVERYWHERE saying to wash your hands.

We are are heading back early due to the recent directive from the State Department for all US citizens to return to the USA immediately or plan to stay put indefinitely. We knew it was serious when they said they are recalling diplomatic staff. That combined with the fact that Costa Rica closed their borders on Wednesday means that flights are getting hard to find. Several airlines have quit flying to CR altogether

When we get home both my wife and I will be working remotely. We will have some groceries shopping to do but we would be fine with what we have at home. Due to the risk of earthquakes we have 3 months food and water. It may not be the most balanced diet but we have plenty of rice, beans, and flour. The official guideline is 2 weeks and I'm shocked that most of my coworkers don't even have that. It really doesn't cost anything we just bought a little bit extra every week until we had enough food and then we rotate the stock when we shop. First in - First Out, I write the purchase date on things when it goes on the shelf

Part of me wants to say screw it and just stay. However we are sticking to the plan to work through the next (current) recession and buy low. All extra money goes into the market this year. 20 year anniversary trip is cancelled.

[jakobnev]

This vid caused the outbreak of toilet paper zombies:

http://youtu.be/v-mWK_kcZMs

[Xist]

I heard years ago that shaking hands spreads more germs than kissing, but I do not know how easily this sickens people when it stays on the skin, compared with people rubbing their eyes or mouth.

Sen. Richard Burr sold roughly $1.6M in stock before coronavirus crippled stock market, report finds

Can we believe Fox when they criticize Republicans?

Something like twenty days before NBA players started testing positive and people realized that this was serious (or whatever), while the politician in question was assuring the American people that the economy was fine, he dumped around $1,000,000 in stock.

[Xist]

Missouri Sues Televangelist Jim Bakker For Selling Fake Coronavirus Cure

[oil pan 4]

So I sold around $60,000 in stocks.
I put TSP into F fund as soon as I heard "new virus in China" and my work 401k in bond funds after first day the dow took a 700 point dump.

[Xist]

All that I understood was "trisodium phosphate."

[Xist]

Originally Posted by jakobnev

This vid caused the outbreak of toilet paper zombies:http://youtu.be/v-mWK_kcZMs

How else are you supposed to make hand sanitizer?

[Xist]

Here is a chart showing date, total deaths, deaths that day, and percentage change. D1 shows the average change. At this rate, everyone will have this by April or May:

https://www.worldometers.info/corona...us-death-toll/