COVID-19 (f/k/a "the Coronavirus")

[shoothoops]

If it is true that the actual increase overall is 1.5%, that's not "skyrocketing".  It's 75 cents on a $50 grocery bill.

And yes, I was at the grocery store a few days ago.  And I buy all of my meat at a local butcher who seems to have plenty of supply.

According to the Department of Labor and Statistics, meat and poultry prices were up 4.3% in April. Baked goods, cereals, were up 3%...etc....prices have been up significantly.

[WarriorDad]

This is scary stuff. Stalinist stuff. Putinish stuff. Name a murderous despot, and this is the kind of stuff he pulled.

I guess President Pandemic has little choice but to charge his predecessor with unnamed crimes now, though. He is one of the most disapproved-of presidents since approval polls were born 70+ years ago, and his inaction and lies contributed to a crisis that will result in the deaths of 100K+ Americans.

He spent 8 years trying (and failing) to prove that his predecessor was a Kenyan Muslim, so he might as well take another crack at him here.

As he liked to say before pushing a deadly, unvetted drug on COVID-19 patients (but a drug he no longer mentions because somebody finally was able to convince him that it was deadly and unvetted): What does he have to lose?

I am old enough to remember when we all cared about transparency, when we all cared about overreaching law enforcement and government.  Especially the FBI.  Hoover had bad things going on, and we protested the CIA in the 60's and 70's, but it appears not much has changed.  They should release all the documents to the American people to decide.  Whether COVID is going on our not, Americans deserve to know if we were put through charade for a few years and the most recent information sure makes it appear to be the case.  It also fits perfectly into the man you and I don't care for because he will say a much better COVID response could have happened it if weren't for a dumb impeachment on charges that appear more and more to have been based on nothing.  He is going to go there, and if more documents support that, he will have a strong escape hatch to say gov't was obsessed with stupid political games for several years the culminated around the same time a world wide epidemic was about to hit our shores.   

Release all the documents.  Transparency used to matter, why doesn't it now?

[GooooMarquette]

Transparency used to matter, why doesn't it now?

Agreed. Let’s see POTUS’ tax returns.

[Uncle Rico]

Agreed. Let’s see POTUS’ tax returns.

On board, sir

[wadesworld]

Agreed. Let’s see POTUS’ tax returns.

Keep in mind, we should all be well aware by now he agrees those should be released as he’s a lifelong Democrat. He only speaks out against Democrats because he wants it to be “both sides,” as he says over, and over, and over, and over.

[warriorchick]

According to the Department of Labor and Statistics, meat and poultry prices were up 4.3% in April. Baked goods, cereals, were up 3%...etc....prices have been up significantly.

I am not arguing whether or not grocery prices are up are not.  My point was that this news show began a story declaring that grocery prices had skyrocketed, and then went on to say that the actual increase was 1.5%. 

[shoothoops]

I am not arguing whether or not grocery prices are up are not.  My point was that this news show began a story declaring that grocery prices had skyrocketed, and then went on to say that the actual increase was 1.5%.

It's the largest one month price increase for groceries since February of 1974. The report itself from the Department of Labor Statistics uses the term "sharply" increased. The numbers are considered significant.

[ZiggysFryBoy]

went to HyVee today, first time hitting a full grocery shop since shut down.

It was weird some of the things that were out of stock (frozen pizzas, cream cheese, goldfish).  Milk and eggs were fully stocked.  But TP was still hammered.  They were selling individual rolls out of an industrial box for a buck.

Plus, damn near everything was on sale.

GMA was breathless with their reporting on the increase in grocery prices too, FWIW.

[WarriorDad]

That's not quite true.
The head of IDPH discussed this yesterday.

“There are also some additional deaths that happen in someone who happened to be COVID positive, but where the COVID infection had nothing to do with the deaths,” she said. “So we are at IDPH trying to remove those obvious cases where the COVID diagnosis was not the reason for the death. If there was a gunshot wound, if there was a motor vehicle accident, we know that that was not related to the COVID positive status.
“We are trying to make sure that things that aren’t related at all to the COVID diagnosis are removed, but if someone has another illness, like heart disease, and then had a stroke or other event, it’s not as easy to separate that and say COVID didn’t exacerbate that existing illness. That would not be removed from the count,” she added.

https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/coronavirus/dr-ngozi-ezike-refutes-notion-that-illinois-is-over-counting-covid-19-deaths/2270810/

Then she changed what she said three weeks ago.

https://youtu.be/H5FdnrRR2iY 

[WarriorDad]

Have we every quarantined the healthy before?  A few more doctors asking that question again.  Doesn't that hurt our immunity?   It feels backwards.

[GooooMarquette]

Have we every quarantined the healthy before?  A few more doctors asking that question again.  Doesn't that hurt our immunity?   It feels backwards.

Yep...during the Spanish Flu pandemic. And we learned that the earlier and more aggressive measures actually worked. In fact, Milwaukee was one of the leaders in reducing deaths by closing things down.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/03/200330110344.htm

According to the data and analysis, cities that adopted early, broad isolation and prevention measures -- closing of schools and churches, banning of mass gatherings, mandated mask wearing, case isolation and disinfection/hygiene measures -- had lower disease and mortality rates. These cities included San Francisco, St. Louis, Milwaukee and Kansas City, which collectively had 30% to 50% lower disease and mortality rates than cities that enacted fewer and later restrictions. One analysis showed that these cities also had greater delays in reaching peak mortality, and the duration of these measures correlated with a reduced total mortality burden.

"The stricter the isolation policies, the lower the mortality rate," says Dr. Pambuccian. He studied the Spanish flu, including prevention measures and outcomes, to help develop standards for staffing and safety in the cytology lab, where infectious diseases like the COVID-19 virus are diagnosed and studied at the cellular level. His broader article appeared online this week in the Journal of the American Society of Cytopathology.

——————
If we could do it in 1918, we sure as hell should be better prepared today.

[wadesworld]

Have we every quarantined the healthy before?  A few more doctors asking that question again.  Doesn't that hurt our immunity?   It feels backwards.

Being reactive to a deadly virus seems smart. Unfortunately the administration running the country has seemed to think it’s smart too.

[Vander Blue Man Group]

Have we every quarantined the healthy before?  A few more doctors asking that question again.  Doesn't that hurt our immunity?   It feels backwards.

Is there something about pre-symptomatic or asymptomatic spread you don't understand?

[Hards Alumni]

went to HyVee today, first time hitting a full grocery shop since shut down.

It was weird some of the things that were out of stock (frozen pizzas, cream cheese, goldfish).  Milk and eggs were fully stocked.  But TP was still hammered.  They were selling individual rolls out of an industrial box for a buck.

Plus, damn near everything was on sale.

GMA was breathless with their reporting on the increase in grocery prices too, FWIW.

As someone who has been to the grocery stores in the area and has dealings with them on an every day basis, the things that are out of stock are on trucks headed to the store, they'll be there in a day or so if you go.  People are just overbuying and going to the store less often.  When this is all said and done, I wonder how much food with end up in the trash instead of mouths.

[mu03eng]

As someone who has been to the grocery stores in the area and has dealings with them on an every day basis, the things that are out of stock are on trucks headed to the store, they'll be there in a day or so if you go.  People are just overbuying and going to the store less often.  When this is all said and done, I wonder how much food with end up in the trash instead of mouths.

FYI, generic response, not directed at you Hards

This is one of the artifacts of the sensationalism from media. The supply chain has some kinks and things to work out but it's not on the verge of collapse that some in media would have you believe.

Great resource for solid reporting and understanding of some of the different areas in the economy is the Freakonomics podcast by Stephen Dubner(one of the authors of Freakonomics)

[Hards Alumni]

FYI, generic response, not directed at you Hards

This is one of the artifacts of the sensationalism from media. The supply chain has some kinks and things to work out but it's not on the verge of collapse that some in media would have you believe.

Great resource for solid reporting and understanding of some of the different areas in the economy is the Freakonomics podcast by Stephen Dubner(one of the authors of Freakonomics)

It can be both.  There will be some shortages of items in the short term.  There are already limits on a ton of items at the local stores here in Dane Co.  But the supply chain will figure it out.  There is money to be made and logistics haven't been impacted.  Prices will climb and that only makes sense.

[Frenns Liquor Depot]

FYI, generic response, not directed at you Hards

This is one of the artifacts of the sensationalism from media. The supply chain has some kinks and things to work out but it's not on the verge of collapse that some in media would have you believe.

Great resource for solid reporting and understanding of some of the different areas in the economy is the Freakonomics podcast by Stephen Dubner(one of the authors of Freakonomics)

Actually one of the most hyperbolic sources about food supply warnings was....the food companies.  I've found the media to be pretty fair.  I am sure there is some hyperbole and 'attention grabbing' headlines though. 

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/tyson-foods-chairman-warns-food-supply-chain-breaking-n1193256

https://www.wsj.com/articles/smithfield-ceo-warns-of-risks-to-pork-supply-11586730489

[injuryBug]

As someone who has been to the grocery stores in the area and has dealings with them on an every day basis, the things that are out of stock are on trucks headed to the store, they'll be there in a day or so if you go.  People are just overbuying and going to the store less often.  When this is all said and done, I wonder how much food with end up in the trash instead of mouths.

I say that everytime someone walks past me with a cart filled higher that they can see.  A lot of food will get wasted over the next few months

[Hards Alumni]

I say that everytime someone walks past me with a cart filled higher that they can see.  A lot of food will get wasted over the next few months

It's hard though, right?  You want to limit trips to the store so you stock up on more food.  But that means you are probably buying things you don't normally buy.  Or you're buying more shelf stable foods.  I think in a year or two there will be some sort of Facebook or Twitter challenge where people show off their food that they horded in the time of the 'rona.  Expiration dates and volume will be some strange badge of honor.

[Pakuni]

Maybe good news?

https://twitter.com/ScottGottliebMD/status/1260672217710501904

[injuryBug]

It's hard though, right?  You want to limit trips to the store so you stock up on more food.  But that means you are probably buying things you don't normally buy.  Or you're buying more shelf stable foods.  I think in a year or two there will be some sort of Facebook or Twitter challenge where people show off their food that they horded in the time of the 'rona.  Expiration dates and volume will be some strange badge of honor.

family of 6 2 teenage boys and 12 year old twin girls i need to go every week just to keep up and my cart is pretty full.  I have found myself planning meals out much further though and trying to decrease the random trips for this or that

[injuryBug]

Maybe good news?

https://twitter.com/ScottGottliebMD/status/1260672217710501904

That is great hopefully all the states opening up does not move this the other way

[Hards Alumni]

Maybe good news?

https://twitter.com/ScottGottliebMD/status/1260672217710501904

Hard to say, honestly.  I think most of the dropping has happened in the NY/NJ/CT area, but I could be wrong.  So while yes, overall cases are dropping, we have seen spikes outside of the tri-state area.

[Frenns Liquor Depot]

Maybe good news?

https://twitter.com/ScottGottliebMD/status/1260672217710501904

This could be great news, particularly if it holds as the reopenings continue.

As an aside, I find Dr. Gottlieb to be a great source of info - right up there with the govt experts.  He gets policy/systemic mixed with science mixed with pragmatism in his opinions.

I was on a call where he was speaking earlier this week.  He is encouraged that we get a break this summer on the epidemic.  He was discouraged by our patch-work approach.  Felt that if we have weak-link states on testing & tracing we should just resign ourselves to prepare for another epidemic in the fall with severe stress on the health system.  He said there is still time to change course, but it will likely require a few states to prepare at a different level than they are today.

[MU82]

Interesting discussion about the belief that unemployment leads to higher mortality rates. Some studies suggest that the mortality rate actually has gone down during periods of unemployment.

https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/coronavirus/article242688251.html?