Sibiriak

UK coronavirus restrictions could last six months – deputy chief medical officer Dr Jenny Harries says lifting lockdown too soon could risk second wave of infection NPR's Mary Louise Kelly talks with Justin Lessler from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health about President Trump's statement that the coronavirus pandemic may abate in July or August. Bill Gates argues that extended shutdowns are necessary, and that if they are ended before absolute numbers of infections are brought way down, widespread fear will still stop people from returning to normal economic activity Short version (10:51): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A71lfXrQlxU Long version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHLJ0DaMIIc

Is factory farming to blame for coronavirus? Bat meat at a market in Indonesia.

Following the "Chinese Model", however, has its detractors:

Troopers go door to door hunting down New Yorkers Texas vigilante groups have reportedly volunteered to assist in the hunt for New Yorkers. 😁 Trump says he's considering an enforceable quarantine of New York, New Jersey and parts of Connecticut. Gov. Coumo responds:

Hypertension is by far the most common pre-existing condition associated with Italian Covid-19 mortality. I've noted that in other analyses as well.

Nothing surprising there. That's been the mainstream view for some time, afaict. Dr. Anthony Fauci has been dubbed "the face of America's fight against coronavirus, "a trusted presence behind the podium at White House Covid-19 briefings" . Apparently, he and Gov. Coumo are the most trusted leaders in America on that issue right now. “If you look at the curves of outbreaks, they go big peaks, and then come down. What we need to do is flatten that down" -- Anthony Fauci . Donuts Delite in Rochester is selling "Fauci doughnuts." If the virus doesn't kill you, these might.

Big crises bring big opportunities:

Germany helping out, a bit: Meanwhile in Spain : a new record 769 deaths in the past 24 hours.

Police check passengers' justification for travel at Venice train station

Ron, one point was that it's not only political pressure involved. I.e., However, that may be true, there is also the role of the "expert" community. To give one example, from my quote about Sweden: That's why I asked: "Where are the health experts, economists, social scientists et al. opposing these extreme measures-- authorities that might lend legitimacy and credibility to politicians who might be inclined to do the same? " Of course, there are such experts (as in Sweden's Folkhalsomyndigheten), but across Europe and the U.S., in the WHO etc., they seem to be a distinct minority. (Is there really a correlation between countries' degree of democratic populism and the degree of restrictiveness imposed to combat Covid-19?) In any case, as I wrote previously, it's not an either/or choice: there is a whole range of options between the extremes of do absolutely nothing and total lockdown for months. Each country/region has to consider how much to "flatten the curve" via restrictions, and devise a reasonable strategy based on its individual circumstances, including and especially, the ability of its health care system to withstand a huge surge in patients.

You could reduce risk by using latex gloves and disposing of them asap, or washing/disinfecting your hands asap (never touching your hands to your face etc. before, of course.)

Image on the outside of the main hospital in Bergamo, paying homage to Italy’s healthcare workers. COVID-19: In Midst of Crisis, Italian and US Healthcare Compared

"Herd immunity" theory -- alive and well in Sweden: