COVID-19 Mega thread

[emailking]

So apparently Trump just called the coronavirus a hoax at his rally...

That's unhinged.

Even for him, that is probably the most disgusting, disturbing, terrifying, and irresponsible thing to ever leave his mouth.

But he doesn't call virus a hoax. He called Democrats politicizing it a hoax.

But what can you expect of people that Bloomy tricked into believing he was endorsed by Obama  

https://twitter.com/atrupar/status/1233570800223084544


Free Press!

I watched the clip. Without any context it sounds like he's calling the virus itself a hoax. Now maybe he talked a whole lot of about the virus earlier that night so no one would interpret that way, and of course we know he knows the virus is real. But he still said what he said. What does it even mean to say the Democrats politicizing it is a hoax? Of course that's happening.

[Dr Oz Lost Party!]

So apparently Trump just called the coronavirus a hoax at his rally...

That's unhinged.

Even for him, that is probably the most disgusting, disturbing, terrifying, and irresponsible thing to ever leave his mouth.

Can we have a separate thread for the Democrats who are incapable of having a meaningful discussion about a scientific phenomenon without decomposing into a self-interested pursuit of their hatred of Donald Trump.

The commander in chief called a mass outbreak a "hoax"... are we just supposed to shrug our shoulders and say "That's just Donny!"

[Penn_Quaker_Girl]

First confirmed death in the US:

https://mobile.twitter.com/business/status/1233812726230769665?s=21

There were, by my count, two known (KNOWN) cases in Washington state: a high-school student and a woman who had just returned from the Republic of Korea, though it's certainly possible that this is a new case.  

[President Johnson]

"Unknown origin" probably means the virus has spread in the US much further than we know without much notice.

[Absentee Voting Ghost of Ruin]

So apparently Trump just called the coronavirus a hoax at his rally...

That's unhinged.

Even for him, that is probably the most disgusting, disturbing, terrifying, and irresponsible thing to ever leave his mouth.

Can we have a separate thread for the Democrats who are incapable of having a meaningful discussion about a scientific phenomenon without decomposing into a self-interested pursuit of their hatred of Donald Trump.

The commander in chief called a mass outbreak a "hoax"... are we just supposed to shrug our shoulders and say "That's just Donny!"

How dare anyone point out that the impact of a global epidemic will likely be worse here in the US because of both the general anti-worker (and anti-science) policies of the Republican party, and because the leader of the Republican Party is a mentally ill, corrupt moron whose "response" to a national health emergency is to lie and worry about how it might hurt his ego. Republicans are so used to being wretched human beings and getting away with it[/] that the prospect of nature forcing them to inescapably face consequences is driving them into panic and fury, for which I have a complete absence of sympathy.

[Torrain]

With Trump, the best bet is always that he will double down. I think he doesn't like the slide in the stock market last week, and he would like it to rebound at the beginning of next week. This would be the bull trap.

That would be totally in character, I just wonder whether the White House is trying to shift strategy, given the cases of unknown origin, and first US death.

While Trump hates apologizing, I feel like he could be pursuaded to change tack if it allows him to play the Commander in Chief card, and improve his public image, and reelection shot.

[Florida Man for Crime]

"Unknown origin" probably means the virus has spread in the US much further than we know without much notice.

If you go back probably 10-15 or more pages earlier in this thread, that was apparent several weeks ago from epidemiological modeling. Epidemiologists told us quite a while ago that international surveillance was likely to only pick up a fraction of actual cases. So the reason it is only showing up now is that testing is only really just starting in the USA to distinguish COVID-19 from regular flu/pneumonia and there is a time lag between infection and showing serious symptoms.

The question we will start to find the answer to over the next week (when more testing in the US ramps up) is just how widespread that community spread already is. Hopefully it is not to a similar degree as in Italy/Iran. I would bet it probably isn't, but that would probably be our worst case scenario for the near future.

[Florida Man for Crime]

With Trump, the best bet is always that he will double down. I think he doesn't like the slide in the stock market last week, and he would like it to rebound at the beginning of next week. This would be the bull trap.

That would be totally in character, I just wonder whether the White House is trying to shift strategy, given the cases of unknown origin, and first US death.

While Trump hates apologizing, I feel like he could be pursuaded to change tack if it allows him to play the Commander in Chief card, and improve his public image, and reelection shot.

Yes, I do think there could be some shift in emphasis, but I expect him to still downplay it and still say things like "it might turn out to not be anything really" while also saying "it is possible it could get worse." So a mixed message, similar to the last press conference.

[Torrain]

With Trump, the best bet is always that he will double down. I think he doesn't like the slide in the stock market last week, and he would like it to rebound at the beginning of next week. This would be the bull trap.

That would be totally in character, I just wonder whether the White House is trying to shift strategy, given the cases of unknown origin, and first US death.

While Trump hates apologizing, I feel like he could be pursuaded to change tack if it allows him to play the Commander in Chief card, and improve his public image, and reelection shot.

Yes, I do think there could be some shift in emphasis, but I expect him to still downplay it and still say things like "it might turn out to not be anything really" while also saying "it is possible it could get worse." So a mixed message, similar to the last press conference.

That's a pretty good shout.

[It’s so Joever]

Was it the teen who died? If so that would be a game changer.

[100% pro-life no matter what]

Was it the teen who died? If so that would be a game changer.

That is currently unknown, but 3 cases were recently reported in Washington, so my best guess would be that it wasn't a teenager who died.  The original American case was also in Washington, but that person has long since recovered.

[Absentee Voting Ghost of Ruin]

Demented Donnie Dumb is running late for his own press conference, so here's a re-enactment of events in the White House earlier today:
https://youtu.be/xBWmkwaTQ0k?t=23

[Torrain]

Was it the teen who died? If so that would be a game changer.

Sounds like the kid's ok. It's one of the other patients.

The student, a Snohomish County resident, is doing well, said Dr. Chris Spitters, interim health officer for the Snohomish Health District.

https://edition.cnn.com/2020/02/29/health/us-coronavirus-saturday/index.html

I should note though, that a LOT of rumours are flying. Initial reports suggested fatality was of a 19 year old male, but those details have been retracted.

Now rumours suggest death was a man from King County (Seattle area). Big news there would be that a patient likely died without being diagnosed, and additional cases have been identified in Washington

Press conference happening at 4pm EST (1pm local time) in Washington to discuss this further.

[Vaccinated Russian Bear]

So apparently Trump just called the coronavirus a hoax at his rally...

That's unhinged.

Even for him, that is probably the most disgusting, disturbing, terrifying, and irresponsible thing to ever leave his mouth.

But he doesn't call virus a hoax. He called Democrats politicizing it a hoax.

But what can you expect of people that Bloomy tricked into believing he was endorsed by Obama  

https://twitter.com/atrupar/status/1233570800223084544
Free Press!

I watched the clip. Without any context it sounds like he's calling the virus itself a hoax. Now maybe he talked a whole lot of about the virus earlier that night so no one would interpret that way, and of course we know he knows the virus is real. But he still said what he said. What does it even mean to say the Democrats politicizing it is a hoax? Of course that's happening.

He literally brags before and after how good he/US to was in preventing virus. Then he is accusing Dems and "Free" press politicization the whole thing and criticizing him (in bad faith he means). What more context do you need?

Was it the teen who died? If so that would be a game changer.

It doesn't seem to be recent cases (teen or woman).

https://apnews.com/f175d89567a26d59cab27725c9e8a0d7

Washington state health officials announced two new coronavirus cases Friday night, including a high school student who attends Jackson High School in Everett, said Dr. Chris Spitters of the Snohomish County Health District.

The other case in Washington was a woman in in King County in her 50s who had recently traveled to South Korea, authorities said.

Both patients weren’t seriously ill.

[Vaccinated Russian Bear]

President Trump will hold an impromptu presser at 1:30pm EST today RE: COVID-19.

https://mobile.twitter.com/bnodesk/status/1233799949705469952?s=21

Probably about it >>>

https://twitter.com/tedhesson/status/1233820996513255424

[7,052,770]

I wonder what percentage of people who have the virus never go get tested. A person only mildly symptomatic might not want to become a national news story and could avoid the doctor altogether, and that's not considering the people who are totally asymptomatic and have no reason to go get tested.

There could be hundreds of people who have it and don't know and/or are afraid to know.

[Torrain]

Trump says that the fatality was a woman (high-risk) in her 50s.

Admits several more are in critical care.

[Florida Man for Crime]

Trump says "if you are healthy, you will be fine."

While it is true that most people will not die (or require a ventilator), that is downplaying things.

[Torrain]

Trump now says that US acted quickly and effectively to stop the virus.

Says that experts are praising him as wise for 'acting so quickly.'

[Torrain]

Trump says he wishes he could say how well America is doing under 'quite adverse circumstances'.

Also asks media, politicians to not insight panic. Thanks Governors, representatives of states.

Seems to be hinting he has some bad news, that he can't share. Is now getting Pence to discuss travel restrictions. 

[Vaccinated Russian Bear]

Trump says "if you are healthy, you will be fine."

While it is true that most people will not die (or require a ventilator), that is downplaying things.

Telling the truth is downplaying things???


https://twitter.com/ddiamond/status/1233830148136427526

[Torrain]

US expanding travel resitrictions to Iran (no one who has been there in the last 14 days may enter US).

Italy, South Korea gets a Level 4 warning (not to travel), specific to the regions hit by the outbreak.



Brief optics note: Trump is nodding vacantly, and swaying in the background. His eyes keep drifting shut. Pence looks like a calm, competent politician, by doing the job, and reading from the script. All a bit strange.

[Florida Man for Crime]

Trump says "if you are healthy, you will be fine."

While it is true that most people will not die (or require a ventilator), that is downplaying things.

Telling the truth is downplaying things???

He didn't say that most healthy people will be fine. He said "if you are healthy, you will be fine."

Implying that all healthy people will be fine and that there is no risk unless you already have another condition, which is not the case.

[Torrain]

Pence reassures public they don't need to buy masks. It's the kind of public reassurance that feels presidential, and it's super weird that Trump didn't get this part of the script.

Pence yielding podium to Sec for HHS

[Reaganfan]

This stuff is scary