COVID-19 Mega thread

[Inmate Trump]

Shut down the border until we know what the hell is going on.

It would have to be the border AND the airports, assuming your solution would be effective.

We just need to build a (REALLY) big and beautiful wall.

[Inmate Trump]

If the U.S. enters a recession how does that impact Trump's reelection campaign?

Sinks it. The economy is the one issue a majority of Americans approve of him over (per RCP).

I wouldn't say this, especially if voters regard his crisis management as sufficient or strong, he'll benefit. In a time of crisis, people often unite behind the leader. At least this happened in the past. We didn't experience this with such a divisive leader, though. Hard to foresee how that would turn out.

When the last financial crisis hit, Americans didn't unite behind their leader (Dubya).  I'm not so sure voters will unite behind Trump if this turns into a full blown financial crisis.

Putting Pence in charge of things concerning the virus does nothing to ease minds either.  Nor does the fact he gutted the CDC prior to this epidemic.

[Inmate Trump]

Can someone explain why these people were brought back here?

Why now? Why not wait until they’re well before they’re allowed back?

[Inmate Trump]

Covid-19 has a lower death rate than most other recent pandemics.

Is my memory seriously flawed, or does it seem as if this is being taken waaaay more seriously than those other higher fatality rated pandemics?

If so, why?

[Inmate Trump]

I'm genuinely freaked out by this virus.

I'm a germaphobe anyway, so this has just really heightened my fear.

Also, stores around me are completely sold out of hand sanitizer and running low on antibacterial hand soap.  A few are out or low on Clorox wipes.

It doesn't help that I've read The Stand by Stephen King and (the much more realistic) Wanderers by Chuck Wendig, the latter of which also includes a very Trump-like president who bumbles his way through things and takes advantage of racism during the crisis.

[Inmate Trump]

One interesting thing that I've noticed is that in 2014, it tended to be Republicans really worried about Ebola and Democrats saying that it was no big deal.  Flash forward to 2020, and Democrats seem to be really worried about coronavirus, while Republicans seem less concerned.

For the record, I disagree with both the "hoax" talk coming from parts of the right and the panic level (i.e. 40 million deaths being the median scenario) coming from most red/maroon avatars in this thread.

Is it always the case that the party that doesn't have the White House will become more concerned about these things?

Two very different animals.

Ebola was not as widespread nor as freely transmissible as COVID-19 has been, even though the symptoms and death rate were much worse.

[Inmate Trump]

How likely is it that the US will see entire cities and/or states on lockdown and quarantines?

And how would that affect people who are first responders?

[Inmate Trump]

What happens if...

COVID-19 worsens and infections/death rate grow exponentially across the US and the world. Mass quarantines and lockdowns occur. Trump declares martial law “until we can figure out what’s going on” sometime around September-October-November, successfully postponing the election. Police, national guard, the military are deployed around the country to “assist” with the quarantine aka martial law.  These groups are largely supporters of Trump. He’s already been installing officials who are seen as loyal to him.

He promises the election will eventually happen, just not as previously scheduled but has no timeframe in mind.  After all, the public can’t gather or congregate so traditional voting is not feasible. And mail trucks either aren’t running or the country is not equipped to have mail-in vote counting on a nationwide scale so mail-ins aren’t an option.

Possibly allowing Americans to vote online, but that can easily be hacked (and it would be) plus setting something like up would take considerable time, money, and resources, which are now preoccupied with fighting the virus.

Trump remains in power, the election is “postponed” until further......

Everybody knows he would do anything to keep from losing an election.

Is this even a possibility?

[Inmate Trump]

I had two totally unrelated people tell me yesterday that coronavirus is (mostly) an overblown hoax designed for rich a55holes pulling the media puppet strongs to buy low when the markets drop so they can get richer at our expense.

I wish that were true actually.

Then I wouldn't have to worry about going outside, or being able to buy things I need at the store, or my elderly relatives being hit the hardest by this.

[Inmate Trump]

At what point does societal breakdown occur where people are mugging/murdering each other over toilet paper and such?

[Inmate Trump]

https://mobile.twitter.com/gabstargardter/status/1238118508166348800

Maybe he should be self-isolating?

As a never Trumper and Biden supporter, I sincerely hope Trump is not infected.  Not only is he still a fellow human being, but the implications of having the president infected would be dire.

[Inmate Trump]

I have major anxiety issues.

Also, my profession does not allow me to work from home AND when I’m at work it’s with a small group of people in close contact.

Is there anything anyone can say about this virus and the hysteria surrounding it that is optimistic at all?  I really need something to calm my amped up anxiety.