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

[GB Warrior]

One consideration for flu season is with so many people (especially kids) masked up, spread of the flu could be down.

South America had a milder flu seasons because in addition to masking, you are seeing the practices that are good at preventing the flu.

https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2020/08/26/906323250/from-the-global-south-hints-that-u-s-may-be-spared-flu-on-top-of-covid-19

[Frenns Liquor Depot]

I didn't post this when it made the news over the weekend since aerosol transmission is pretty widely accepted at this point. 

Now that 'somehow' it's being pulled back and 'posted in error', it's just another gross example of the terrible/inconsistent communication and political meddling in the response to the pandemic.  We really can and should expect better. 

https://www.wsj.com/articles/coronavirus-can-spread-by-tiny-air-particles-cdc-now-says-11600700364

[GooooMarquette]

I didn't post this when it made the news over the weekend since aerosol transmission is pretty widely accepted at this point. 

Now that 'somehow' it's being pulled back and 'posted in error', it's just another gross example of the terrible/inconsistent communication and political meddling in the response to the pandemic.  We really can and should expect better. 

https://www.wsj.com/articles/coronavirus-can-spread-by-tiny-air-particles-cdc-now-says-11600700364

This whole back and forth the administration is playing with the CDC is disgusting. All a way of casting doubt on science, experts and an orderly response to the virus.

[Galway Eagle]

This guy should not be allowed to retire without an ethics probe

https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/21/media/fauci-redstate-nih/index.html

[shoothoops]

20,000 American Flags on the National Mall for 200,000 American COVID-19 deaths.

[tower912]

200,000.  Woot.   I will never get tired of winning.

The equivalent of Fayetteville wiped from the map.   Working our way toward Tacoma and Des Moines.

[MarquetteDano]

Latest IHME projection is 300,000 dead by end of year.  And that is the best case scenario.

Do Americans care?  Nope.  Not if we have to change our lives to accommodate others.

 

[mu_hilltopper]

Question about the flu .. if you google "where does flu virus strains originate" .. the answer is generally "Asia / southeast Asia".

If there's no travel allowed to/from those areas anymore .. how would it get transmitted to the US?

I'd bet on a record low flu year. 

[MarquetteDano]

Question about the flu .. if you google "where does flu virus strains originate" .. the answer is generally "Asia / southeast Asia".

If there's no travel allowed to/from those areas anymore .. how would it get transmitted to the US?

I'd bet on a record low flu year.

Hope you are right.  That with the fact that someone else mentioned that since people will be more careful due to COVID-19,  the flu season should be lighter than most.  Hopefully that will save 10k-20k lives.  Some offset to the impending COVD deaths.

[The Sultan]

You can travel to Asia.  It's not 100% cut off by any means.  The flu will be here but for many reasons will likely be less widespread.

[GooooMarquette]

Question about the flu .. if you google "where does flu virus strains originate" .. the answer is generally "Asia / southeast Asia".

If there's no travel allowed to/from those areas anymore .. how would it get transmitted to the US?

I'd bet on a record low flu year.

The viruses that may cause the flu this fall might already be here. Lots of people with 'Covid-like symptoms' have tested negative, so we might have summertime levels of flu already circulating and ready to spread more widely when people head back inside.

[forgetful]

Question about the flu .. if you google "where does flu virus strains originate" .. the answer is generally "Asia / southeast Asia".

If there's no travel allowed to/from those areas anymore .. how would it get transmitted to the US?

I'd bet on a record low flu year.

The flu circulates the globe readily. Strains originate from all over the world, including the US. The Spanish Flu originated in the US or Mexico in swine populations. Other strains are constantly circulating in the population, both domestically and abroad.

They simply spread more readily in the winter "flu seasons", in more temperate/seasonal climates.

One reason for the idea that they "come from Asia" is that in East Asia there is a large population base not too far from the equator, where there really aren't seasons. That means that H3N2 strains can circulate in that population continuously and often aggressively, and then new strains of H3N2 can circulate from that reservoir. Historically there is widespread tracking of this reservoir.

That isn't the case with H1N1 strains, or other new strains that emerge from animal populations. Those emerge anywhere.

[Sir Lawrence]

The Spanish Flu originated in the US or Mexico in swine populations. Other strains are constantly circulating in the population, both domestically and abroad.

Earlier this year I read somewhere that the CDC's scientists were able to map the genome of the Spanish flu and determined that it was avian in nature.  Could have originated in the US, or Britain or France or who knows.  Probably not Spain. 

[rocky_warrior]

Well, as long as we don't think CDC Flu data is being mucked with, then it's generally good right now, unless you're in Iowa!  Look out Illinois!

https://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/index.htm

[forgetful]

Earlier this year I read somewhere that the CDC's scientists were able to map the genome of the Spanish flu and determined that it was avian in nature.  Could have originated in the US, or Britain or France or who knows.  Probably not Spain.

You are right. Most likely avian in nature. Also most likely from North America.

https://www.nature.com/news/study-revives-bird-origin-for-1918-flu-pandemic-1.14723

I didn't know about the possible equine origins/overlaps discussed in the link though.

[shoothoops]

Reporter: "Why haven't you said anything about 200,000 deaths?

Answer: "Anybody else?"

https://twitter.com/therecount/status/1308536259892174850?s=19

[Skatastrophy]

Reporter: "Why haven't you said anything about 200,000 deaths?

Answer: "Anybody else?"

https://twitter.com/therecount/status/1308536259892174850?s=19

We're at 257,000 excess deaths so far in 2020. Coronavirus is being severely undercounted, but it's harder to hide people being dead.

The New York Times is doing a good job tracking excess deaths, specifically: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/05/05/us/coronavirus-death-toll-us.html

[tower912]

Behind only cancer and heart disease.

[GB Warrior]

https://twitter.com/atrupar/status/1308209927274536961?s=19

[shoothoops]

Non-elected Missouri Governor Mike Parson has been a big anti-masker. He has previously deferred to local authorities throughout the state on all things pandemic. He has previously said, "You don't need the government to tell you to wear a dang mask. If you want to wear a mask, wear a mask."

He has been seen at many events without a mask throughout the pandemic.

Today, Missouri Governor Mike Parson and his wife announce they have tested positive for COVID-19.

They of course still aren't interested in wearing masks or encouraging others to do so.

He will have to reschedule his debate with opponent Nicole Galloway as he will be in quarantine.

[GooooMarquette]

Non-elected Missouri Governor Mike Parson has been a big anti-masker. He has previously deferred to local authorities throughout the state on all things pandemic. He has previously said, "You don't need the government to tell you to wear a dang mask. If you want to wear a mask, wear a mask."

He has been seen at many events without a mask throughout the pandemic.

Today, Missouri Governor Mike Parson and his wife announce they have tested positive for COVID-19.

They of course still aren't interested in wearing masks or encouraging others to do so.

He will have to reschedule his debate with opponent Nicole Galloway as he will be in quarantine.

You can't fake that level of stupid.

[mu_hilltopper]

2020 2H's slogan: The Comeuppaning.

[naginiF]

Non-elected Missouri Governor Mike Parson has been a big anti-masker. He has previously deferred to local authorities throughout the state on all things pandemic. He has previously said, "You don't need the government to tell you to wear a dang mask. If you want to wear a mask, wear a mask."

He has been seen at many events without a mask throughout the pandemic.

Today, Missouri Governor Mike Parson and his wife announce they have tested positive for COVID-19.

They of course still aren't interested in wearing masks or encouraging others to do so.

He will have to reschedule his debate with opponent Nicole Galloway as he will be in quarantine.

As a MO resident I'm embarrassed by our state elected officials recently and am super grateful for how strong of a leader Mayor Lucas has been for KC. Galloway needs to insist on a virtual debate to highlight the ineptitude of the R's (check out how Parsons got his office).

The fact that we have a talent like Jason Kander in our back yard and didn't elect him to state office tells you all you need to know about rural MO (or the outer suburbs and rural parts of any midwest state). Side note: Kander pulling himself out of public life to address his PTSD is an incredible act of bravery on his part.

[shoothoops]

As a MO resident I'm embarrassed by our state elected officials recently and am super grateful for how strong of a leader Mayor Lucas has been for KC. Galloway needs to insist on a virtual debate to highlight the ineptitude of the R's (check out how Parsons got his office).

The fact that we have a talent like Jason Kander in our back yard and didn't elect him to state office tells you all you need to know about rural MO (or the outer suburbs and rural parts of any midwest state). Side note: Kander pulling himself out of public life to address his PTSD is an incredible act of bravery on his part.

That's all accurate.

For comparison to the Governor, St. Louis County Executive an Anesthesiologist by trade (and his wife) has yet to allow any contact sports, football, soccer etc in St. Louis County, basing his decision on COVID-19 data. St. Louis City has had even more restrictions.

Other counties have been playing all sports. And now you are beginning to see a few schools schedule games in different counties just to play them. It's a mess. And of course the Illinois side of that Metro moved fall sports to Spring.

Meanwhile the Governor and his wife will be in quarantine a while.

[shoothoops]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/

"The Pentagon funneled nearly $1,000,000,000 of taxpayer money meant for masks and medical equipment to defense contractors building jet engines and body armor."