[No Politics] What you need to know about CoVID-19 by SARS-CoV-2 [No Politics]

[Wes]

Making comparisons among countries is important because different countries have used different techniques to control the pandemic.

It is obvious that So. Korea has done at least some things right ro example.

 

[LTig]

View attachment 58485

Hopefully shop doors are wide enough for her to pass ...

 

[maty]

El CDC asegura que el coronavirus podría estar viajando en nuestros zapatos
[Spanish] https://www.larazon.es/salud/20200412/3kgsdfig7nb7fdaha6owcwbcee.html

CDC says coronavirus could be traveling in our shoes
https://www.translatetheweb.com/?ref=TVert&from=&to=en&a=https://www.larazon.es/salud/20200412/3kgsdfig7nb7fdaha6owcwbcee.html

[ According to the study published in the journal "Emerging Infectious Diseases", all positive results in contaminated areas (94.7% in ICU and 100% in GW), the positivity rate was higher for the former (43.5%) than for the GW (7.9%) and yet the highest rate of contagion was found in the soil with up to 70 percent in intensive care. Therefore "as medical staff walk through the room" the virus can be traced throughout the plant even reaching the pharmacy room where there are no patients (100% positivity). "Half of the samples from the soles of medical staff shoes could function as wearers," the study concludes. So the measure of leaving your shoes on your doorstep once you get off the street isn't that far-fetched. "We strongly recommend that people disinfect the soles of shoes before leaving rooms containing COVID-19 patients," the researchers explain.

The report also highlights that other hospital objects also gave high rates of positivity, such as computer mice (75% in ICU and 20% in GW), paper bins (60%), patient bed handrails (42.9&) and door knobs (8.3%). Apart from this, "sporadic" traces of the virus were also found in the doctors' fists, gloves and masks, so it is recommended to even disinfect them before throwing them away... ]

[ Conclusions
This study led to 3 conclusions.

First, "SARS-CoV-2 was widely distributed in the air and on the surfaces of objects in both the ICU and the GW, implying a potentially high risk of infection for medical personnel and other close contacts."

Second, "environmental pollution was higher in the ICU than in the GW; therefore, medical staff working in the ICU must take stricter protective measures."

Third, "the aerosol distribution characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 in the GW indicate that the transmission distance of the SARS-CoV-2 could be 4 m". ]


Aerosol and Surface Distribution of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 in Hospital Wards, Wuhan, China, 2020
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/26/7/20-0885_article


As I already mentioned, air conditioning systems and heat pumps are going to be very troublesome. I am afraid they will have to be disconnected in many public buildings and companies.

 

[graz_lag]

Hopefully shop doors are wide enough for her to pass ...

I'm opening her ways-in up ...

 

[Xulonn]

We have had an unusual setback here in Boquete. The director of the local Minsa (Panama Ministry of Health) office has tested positive for coronavirus - only the second or third case in the town. The Minsa office building in downtown Boquete also houses a clinic used mostly by the local indigenous and other very poor families for for medical care. It is the office where all food handlers and food delivery drivers go to for their testing and permits. The building is currently shut down and undergoing a thorough disinfection.

We are already under movement restrictions with a two hour window based on age or the last digit of a national ID card or passport to leave our residences to get food and medicine. Those windows are further restricted to M, W, F for women and T, Th, Sat for men

The local authorities are talking about a "total shutdown" (whatever that means) for 15 days, but people will still need food and medicine, water and electric utilities must be kept up and working. The current restrictions are quite draconian (a good thing in my opinion), but it will be interesting to see how any further restrictions are implemented. For those who are curious, I will post the local government responses as I learn about them from official sources.

Today is cloudy like the photo below, and light rain is falling for the first time since February as we enter the end of our dry season. This is the beginning of a transition to our rainy season, which typically begins in April, and continues through November with up to 200 inches falling in that eight-month period.

 

[Doodski]

This is the beginning of a transition to our rainy season, which typically begins in April, and continues through November with up to 200 inches falling in that eight-month period.

Wowowow. That's veryyy wet. Hope you have a nice big umbrella.

 

[MediumRare]

Wowowow. That's veryyy wet. Hope you have a nice big umbrella.

@Xulonn Yes, that's a LOT of rain. For comparison, Chicago has 39" and Miami has 53" of precipitation in a 12 month period.

 

[JIW]

Deaths per million for selected countries.

Source.

Deaths per million for selected European countries.

Source. Created with: https://ourworldindata.org/coronavirus-data

What is going on in Belgium?

 

[maty]

Una nueva investigación sugiere repensar drásticamente el tratamiento para combatir el coronavirus
[Spanish] https://www.infobae.com/america/ten...-el-tratamiento-para-combatir-el-coronavirus/

New research suggests drastically rethinking treatment to fight coronavirus
https://www.translatetheweb.com/?re...-el-tratamiento-para-combatir-el-coronavirus/

 

[gikigill]

I would be wary of any source that claims that about unemployment, as it is sensationalism.

US unemployment at the end of 1929 was only 3.2% (see table in this article), and 8.7% at the end of 1930, which is lower than during the recent great recession. So any source that would claim that is not being driven by hard data, but rather seems panicked to me.

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/t...proach-great-depression-era-levels-2020-04-03

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-...h-u-s-unemployment-through-2021-idUSKCN21S0BL

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-52231929

 

[gikigill]

This crisis will likely lead to a restructuring of society and hence the economy at least for the short to medium term - as long as the epidemic is ongoing. Many services rely on personal interaction and are thus not able to operate at the same scale if the epidemic is to be ended effectively. Thus, for many businesses revenue will fall dramatically, down to below 10% of previous revenue during lock-down. This will result in many businesses laying off staff in order to cut costs in order to be able to survive on the little remaining revenue, cash reserves and sale of non-essential assets. Still, for some this may not be enough and even if revenue after the epidemic returns to pre-epidemic levels, such a business is not merely illiquid but insolvent since the cash flows required to make up for the losses/service the loans taken during the epidemic do not arise.

Further, many businesses even outside the service-sector were using the already very low interest rates to take on debt in order to invest in projects viable only for low interest rates and similar demand or buy back some of their own stock which increases their equity and hence increases collateral for further loans. Since the cash flow required for this to be viable has all but dried up due to demand sharply declining, many firms have trouble servicing their debt.

Businesses (and also consumers) not able to service their debt will reduce the balance sheets of the banks. If the banks do not have sufficient equity to reduce accordingly, they may themselves not only suffer illiquidity but become insolvent and hence give rise to a financial crisis. Since the debt to equity ratio (leverage ratio) of the banks is quite high due to a high amount of borrowing at very low interest rates from the central bank, there is not a lot of a buffer for loans to become non-performant.

Adding to the above, the cause of this crisis is in large part due to imprudent risk taking by governments. Firstly, the previous bail-outs not being conditional on regulations that adequately ensure the solvency of banks during larger downturns and the central banks keeping interest rates low inflating debt and asset bubbles rather than spreading the failure/restructuring of unviable businesses out in time and secondly the wholly inadequate preparedness (or lack thereof) for an epidemic. The moral hazard is then keeping the people responsible in power/out of prison.

Further, data from Q4-2019 indicates that the economy was already contracting, so the epidemic is not the cause of the downturn but rather an exacerbation that may turn a recession into a deep recession if not a depression.


The fiscal expansion could also be reframed as an attempt at fending off deflation from falling demand (as you seem to describe). Still, this only affects the demand side. Assuming that demand is maintained, inflation will likely still arise from the decrease in supply due to labour force reduction all the way down the supply chains. Fiscal policy cannot address this directly. Thus, attempting to maintain production requires countering the labour force reduction through safety measures and generally by making workers feel confident that going to work will not endanger them and/or that they will not endanger others. If firms have to bear the cost of this, prices will likely increase further. In sum, if government manages to uphold demand, this will likely lead to stagflation.

Now this is the type of post this website deserves, what a well researched and thorough answer.

 

[Doodski]

Canadian company says Health Canada has approved its rapid COVID-19 test
The rapid test uses a coffee-cup-sized portable DNA analyzer — the Spartan Cube — as well as test cartridges and swabs. The company said this allows the test to be carried out by “non-laboratory personnel” in places like airports or pharmacies, or remote regions of the country. Based in Ottawa, Spartan Bioscience said in a news release Sunday that federal government approval means its tests can now start heading out the door to “federal and provincial government partners starting immediately.” Spartan’s tests can provide results in less than an hour.
https://globalnews.ca/news/6810934/rapid-covid19-test-approved-health-canada/

 

[Veri]

What is going on in Belgium?

I do wonder....

 

[maty]

[Spanish] Ministerio del Interior de España: Actividades de Apertura, 13 Abril 2020

Ministry of the Interior of Spain: Opening Activities, April 13, 2020

 

[maty]

[Spanish] https://elpais.com/sociedad/2020-04...s-se-incorporan-este-lunes-a-sus-puestos.html

Distribution of masks at stations (Santa Justa Station, Seville / Andalusia)

https://www.elconfidencial.com/espa...llas-china-espanola-condenada-estafa_2545247/

https://www.lavanguardia.com/vida/2...las-reparto-trabajo-gobierno-coronavirus.html

https://www.translatetheweb.com/?ref=TVert&from=&to=en&a=https://www.lavanguardia.com/vida/20200412/48447852405/como-son-mascarillas-reparto-trabajo-gobierno-coronavirus.html

[ Who are they for?

For adults without symptoms that are essential workers and that from this Monday return to work.

When and where will they be distributed?

The distribution will take place mainly between 6.00 and 9.00 hours in "the main exchangers and access points" to public transport.

Are they reusable?

As EFE has been told sources of Interior, some of those that will be distributed tomorrow will not be reusable and others will.

Can they be shared?

Hygienic masks can only be used by one person and preferably once, although you can use it several times if you use it over very short periods of time. Once used it should be discarded.

Recommended usage time

For reasons of comfort and hygiene, it is recommended not to wear the mask for a time longer than four hours, and in case it is wet or deteriorated by use, it is advisable to replace it with a new one.

During that time, they can only be used multiple times if it is removed according to explanations, temporarily stored or hung to provide as little contact as possible, and repositioned according to instructions.

How should they be placed?

Before handling, the person should wash his hands with soap and water or rub them with a hydroalcoholic solution; then places it on the face, adjusts it, places the outer ribbons on both sides of the ears, lowers the bottom to the chin and verifies that it covers the nose and mouth.

How should they be removed?

To avoid contamination when removing a mask, follow the steps below. First of all, remove your protective gloves. Then wash your hands with soap and water or rub them with a hydroalcoholic solution. Then remove the mask without touching the front of it. It should be disposed of in a specific container, in a container fitted with a plastic bag (preferably with lid and non-manual control). It is recommended to use double bag to preserve the contents of the first bag in case of tearing of the outer bag. They can also be disposed of in biological waste containers. Finally, wash your hands.

What shouldn't be done?

It should not be placed in a standby position on the forehead or under the chin during and after use. ]


Update

https://www.eldiario.es/madrid/Reparto-mascarillas-Metro-Madrid_0_1016298393.html

It is the first time that I see someone on the street wearing that type of mask. I have one that I use when I spray plants and trees.

 

[RayDunzl]

Comment on the economic irony of the current situation, and a reminder of the singular historical event most likely to have initiated the chain of events, deleted by popular demand.

Excuse me while I re-educate myself...

 

[maty]

***** [No Politics] What you need to know about CoVID-19 by SARS-CoV-2 [No Politics] *****

 

[PaulZH]

I do wonder....

The numbers include since a few days also the deaths in care centers; even those deaths where no test has been done but where the assumption is that they are corona related.

 

[Veri]

The numbers include since a few days also the deaths in care centers; even those deaths where no test has been done but where the assumption is that they are corona related.

I think one reason indeed, is that our (Belgian) numbers are transparent/factual. Deaths in care centers are counted, and they are many. unfortunately.

 

[PierreV]

I do wonder....

Deaths per million for selected countries.

Source.

Deaths per million for selected European countries.

Source. Created with: https://ourworldindata.org/coronavirus-data

What is going on in Belgium?

Deaths per million for selected countries.

Source.

Deaths per million for selected European countries.

Source. Created with: https://ourworldindata.org/coronavirus-data

What is going on in Belgium?

Nothing special - ICU bed use has been hovering at 60% standard capacity. No hardware shortages, no infrastructure shortages, protective stuff in short supply and staff exhausted though. The "take off" you see happened when reporting standards were adjusted. 43% of the reported deaths are in retirement homes and most of them haven't been confirmed by a test. A death with respiratory issues in a retirement home is automatically counted as a COVID death: that makes sense from an epidemiological point of view.

The crisis around here is mostly non political, everyone mostly agrees on what needs to be done. While there is, of course, a significant level of complaints about specific ministers who are perceived as not having done what they should have done pre-pandemic, some bickering about rushed face masks orders that turned out to be defective, we don't see (for now) polarization and grandstanding. I am sure the retirement home death rate by itself is likely to generate a lot of heat in the future but comparing it will require harmonized or corrected reporting vs other countries.

"
Au total, 3903 personnes ont perdu la vie à cause du COVID-19 depuis le début de la propagation de l'épidémie dans notre royaume. 53 % des personnes décédées ont perdu la vie en milieu hospitalier, 43 % en maison de repos, 0% à la maison et 3% à un autre endroit.
De plus, il y a eu 310 nouvelles hospitalisations ce vendredi (5393 au total) On constate également que 239 personnes ont pu quitter l’hôpital au cours de ces dernières 24 heures (6707 en tout). Au total, 1234 patients sont pris en charge aux soins intensifs.
"