International COVID-19 Megathread

[Velasco]

When I started reading and hearing comments on the Boris Johnson's approach to the coronavirus crisis, I could not believe it. What's the problem with this man?

I feel overloaded and overwhelmed by the news in my country, but I fear for the Brits

The government's actual policies are basically a modification of a standard plan for a deviant flu strain pandemic: a reasonable enough idea under the circumstances although (inevitably) there will be bits that won't work out so well. But the government's communication of this last week was hideously bad (for a mixture of political reasons - a desire to stress differences with other countries because of Brexit jfc - and intellectual vanity) and has led to... well... confusion.

Well, I concur Brexit and vanity must be important factors. Given that France, Germany and Switzerland are joining the quarantine club... is it correct to talk about a ''British exception''? Britain is an island, after all

[Tender Branson]

Heavy critique is mounting at the Ischgl ski resort in Tyrol and the ÖVP-Green government in Tyrol + Governor Platter:

On March 5 (!) already, Icelandic officials declared the Ischgl ski resort a „hotbed“ of infections.

More than 1.000 Scandinavian tourists infected themselves in hotels during vacation there and brought the virus with them into the North.

Ischgl did nothing.

Greed led to ski lifts being open until yesterday (!) afternoon, with huts full of guests sunbathing next to each other or in gondolas or lifts.

[CumbrianLefty]

Johnson still playing the now discredited "nudge" game, it appears (cynics also suggesting that not *making* pubs, theatres etc close will save his mates in the insurance industry money)

[Tender Branson]

The Islamic State has issued a travel restriction for their terrorists and have warned them to travel to „infected Europe“ ...

[CumbrianLefty]

The Islamic State has issued a travel restriction for their terrorists and have warned them to travel to „infected Europe“ ...

Missing a "not" there?

[Lumine]

156 cases in Chile now - the number doubled since yesterday -, thankfully no deaths so far, but two people are in a critical state. The borders are being closed, schools and universities are also closed, and things are moving really fast. Several political parties have also expressed their willingness to change the date for the Constitutional Referendum (originally April 26).

One irresponsible b*stard chose not to wait for the results of his test while on the capital and took a flight to the south to take part on a wedding, and sure enough, he had the virus. Dozens have been put on quarantine because of it.

[Former Dean Phillips Supporters for Haley (I guess???!?) 👁️]

156 cases in Chile now - the number doubled since yesterday

Between that and the rises in Brazil, Australia, Malaysia, and Thailand, it is looking less and less likely with every passing day that the onset of summer will materially slow this down in the Northern hemisphere, because the virus is clearly spreading just fine in the southern hemisphere and in warmer areas.

Looks like any remaining hopes that it would be significantly seasonal are shot, it was just a false correlation because countries in the southern hemisphere tend to be less connected to international travel, less developed, and have less testing capacity.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

It currently stands at 177 infections and 4 deaths. Not a big increase since my last post.

[Omega21]

It currently stands at 177 infections and 4 deaths. Not a big increase since my last post.

Poland stronk.



Happy to hear it's not out of control, hopefully, you guys don't reach West EU levels.

[Middle-aged Europe]

The head of the German Robert Koch Institute has just said that the implemented restrictions for the public life could "in an extreme scenario" last two years.

Obviously, this would in practice probably not be sustainable IMO or otherwise it could cause a literal revolution (or unless elections aren't suspended a political party which promises a lifting of the restrictions could outright win). The longer this draws out the more support the "just let the old farts just die" movement would probably gain traction. More than two months of this and there's gonna be blood in the streets.

[Velasco]

The head of the German Robert Koch Institute has just said that the implemented restrictions for the public life could "in an extreme scenario" last two years.

Obviously, this would in practice probably not be sustainable IMO or otherwise it could cause a literal revolution (or unless elections aren't suspended a political party which promises a lifting of the restrictions could outright win). The longer this draws out the more support the "ust let the old farts just die" movement would probably gain traction. More than two months of this and there's gonna be blood in the streets.

I concur that two years of restrictions are not sustainable, but according to experts here a scenario in which restrictions last more than two months is a real possibility. Officially the State of Alarm has been declared for 15 days in Spain, but everybody takes for granted there will be an extension. In Italy, experts are saying the pandemic won't reach a peak within less than two weeks. China and South Korea have reached their peaks already, but they are still implementing control measures to prevent a new outbreak. Possibly these countries in the Far East can provide us a clue. Another aspect everybody is overlooking are the potentially devastating consequences of the pandemic in Africa and the poorest corners of Asia. This is something like a global stress test. I hope restrictions to mobility can help to reduce carbon emissions, at least

[kaoras]

156 cases in Chile now - the number doubled since yesterday -, thankfully no deaths so far, but two people are in a critical state. The borders are being closed, schools and universities are also closed, and things are moving really fast. Several political parties have also expressed their willingness to change the date for the Constitutional Referendum (originally April 26).

One irresponsible b*stard chose not to wait for the results of his test while on the capital and took a flight to the south to take part on a wedding, and sure enough, he had the virus. Dozens have been put on quarantine because of it.

And of course, the government had to be forced by the mayors to close the schools. The airport controls and ""quarantine"" were an absolute joke and there are several reports of positive cases not being counted. The only thing slowing the spread is that the upper-class neighborhoods of Santiago (the principal cluster) might as well be another country.

Edit: Case in point: Health minister said this morning that there were 50 new cases, now the report says there's only 25.

[CumbrianLefty]

The head of the German Robert Koch Institute has just said that the implemented restrictions for the public life could "in an extreme scenario" last two years.

Obviously, this would in practice probably not be sustainable IMO or otherwise it could cause a literal revolution (or unless elections aren't suspended a political party which promises a lifting of the restrictions could outright win). The longer this draws out the more support the "ust let the old farts just die" movement would probably gain traction. More than two months of this and there's gonna be blood in the streets.

Well an "extreme" scenario is by definition also an unlikely one.

Even if no vaccine is forthcoming soon, more effective treatments should become possible.

[palandio]

Heavy critique is mounting at the Ischgl ski resort in Tyrol and the ÖVP-Green government in Tyrol + Governor Platter:

On March 5 (!) already, Icelandic officials declared the Ischgl ski resort a „hotbed“ of infections.

More than 1.000 Scandinavian tourists infected themselves in hotels during vacation there and brought the virus with them into the North.

Ischgl did nothing.

Greed led to ski lifts being open until yesterday (!) afternoon, with huts full of guests sunbathing next to each other or in gondolas or lifts.

Hotels, sunbathing, gondolas and lifts...

More than anything else Ischgl (and some other places like St. Anton and Sölden) is known for being an international winter party destination, the "Alpen-Ballermann" (Alpine spring break) with its "Après-Ski". The local clubs, discotheques and bars are known for overcrowding and massive alcohol consumption. At least one club employee has been tested positive for COVID-19.

Ideal conditions for accelerating an international pandemia.

But the Tyrolean government said that it was "highly unlikely" that a whole group of Icelanders got infected in Ischgl and said that it was more likely that one of them got it somewhere and then transmitted it on the flight...

[Filuwaúrdjan]

The head of the German Robert Koch Institute has just said that the implemented restrictions for the public life could "in an extreme scenario" last two years.

Obviously, this would in practice probably not be sustainable IMO or otherwise it could cause a literal revolution (or unless elections aren't suspended a political party which promises a lifting of the restrictions could outright win). The longer this draws out the more support the "ust let the old farts just die" movement would probably gain traction. More than two months of this and there's gonna be blood in the streets.

It isn't remotely sustainable for more than a very limited period of time, yes. I suspect governments will move towards a stop-go approach. If the sounds of progress on treatments (not even thinking of a vaccine here) bear rapid fruit, then the 'stop' part would become progressively less onerous, I guess. But even that would be difficult.

[parochial boy]

...And Euro 2020 has been postponed for twelve months

[Sir Mohamed]

...And Euro 2020 has been postponed for twelve months

Ugh, this hasn't happened since WWII? That's insane.

[palandio]

[...]
not even thinking of a vaccine here
[...]

Actually several firms from the US, China, Germany and maybe other countries are developing vaccines and are close to entering the clinical trial phase (testing the vaccines on humans), but yes, results will probably be there only next year.

[Velasco]

I think most governments will try to adapt their strategies to the changing circumstances, as well it's obvious that nobody wants a prolonged state of emergency. However, experts say it's not realistic to expect there's a vaccine before next year. Also, they say contingency measures are necessary to save thousands of lives. So, who knows. I don't expect this crisis is over before summer, but I wish the quarantine has been lifted by then. Ojalá

[Former President tack50]

...And Euro 2020 has been postponed for twelve months

Ugh, this hasn't happened since WWII? That's insane.

Actually, first time ever considering the Euro soccer cup only exists since 1960.

[Lechasseur]

I think most governments will try to adapt their strategies to the changing circumstances, as well it's obvious that nobody wants a prolonged state of emergency. However, experts say it's not realistic to expect there's a vaccine before next year. Also, they say contingency measures are necessary to save thousands of lives. So, who knows. I don't expect this crisis is over before summer, but I wish the quarantine has been lifted by then. Ojalá

The head of the German Robert Koch Institute has just said that the implemented restrictions for the public life could "in an extreme scenario" last two years.

Obviously, this would in practice probably not be sustainable IMO or otherwise it could cause a literal revolution (or unless elections aren't suspended a political party which promises a lifting of the restrictions could outright win). The longer this draws out the more support the "ust let the old farts just die" movement would probably gain traction. More than two months of this and there's gonna be blood in the streets.

It isn't remotely sustainable for more than a very limited period of time, yes. I suspect governments will move towards a stop-go approach. If the sounds of progress on treatments (not even thinking of a vaccine here) bear rapid fruit, then the 'stop' part would become progressively less onerous, I guess. But even that would be difficult.

Exactly

[CumbrianLefty]

...And Euro 2020 has been postponed for twelve months

Ugh, this hasn't happened since WWII? That's insane.

But assuming it *does* have to be postponed (the safe option at this point) this makes more sense than moving it to the coming winter as had apparently been seriously mooted.

[Velasco]

Spain has over 10000 cases now

https://english.elpais.com/society/2020-03-17/spain-sees-nearly-2000-new-coronavirus-cases-in-a-day-with-confirmed-deaths-rising-to-491.html

 The Spanish health authorities reported on Tuesday that nearly 2,000 new coronavirus infections and 150 deaths had been registered in the country since yesterday. “In total, there have been 11,178 [infections] since the start of the crisis,” explained Fernando Simón, the director of the Health Ministry’s Coordination Center for Health Alerts, at the daily press conference to report on the effects of the ongoing pandemic in Spain.

Simón also reported that there are a total of 491 confirmed deaths in Spain so far related to the Covid-19 disease, while 1,028 patients have recovered from the illness and have been discharged from hospital.

Madrid is still the main focus with 43% of the cases

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

221 confirmed cases
833 suspected cases
5 deaths

We also have the first recovery, that of the first patient.

We're expecting the pandemic to reach its' height in about 2-3 weeks.

[President Johnson]

EU is shutting down borders now. Germany wants to implement to measure immediately. Federal government is currently looking for ways to get travelers home, who are German citizens.

221 confirmed cases
833 suspected cases
5 deaths

We also have the first recovery, that of the first patient.

We're expecting the pandemic to reach its' height in about 2-3 weeks.

Wow, that's a fast rise in Poland. Today, I read the Polish minister for environment is also infected.