The "virus" What are your thoughts

[firecadet613]

I just came back from DC. Listened to HHS Secretary Alex Azar’s comments on this.

If you believe what you read and hear on the news you’re making a mistake.

China is not reporting accurately. See rate of spread as your clue.

The CDC won’t sound the alarms yet because they know what will happen.

The Fed has stores of Tamiflu, Relenza and other anti virals in regional distribution centers. Young and elderly will be first to treat.

Dr buddies can’t get any.

This is not the H1N1 virus scare.

Much different. I travel every week. I’d say 25% people in the airport are wearing masks already here in US.

Be afraid. Very afraid.

I flew yesterday, only counted 5 people at IND wearing masks but surprisingly, no one at BOS. Are they effective is the real question.

 

[Korkie]

Yes a mask will help, but certainly not totally prevent. Many variables such as the particular type of mask, how well it fits, etc. Precautions to take are "droplet" precautions.
For us as EMS providers, this includes a N95 mask, (which is fit tested to the respective user), disposable gown, gloves and eye protection. We are required to change our gloves regularly when treating a "potentially infected patient" in order not to promote spread through contact with our equipment and our patient. Most wear several pairs and peel them off as needed. We then must disinfect the unit, equipment and ourselves prior to returning to service. This is for ALL potential infectious cases - not just the coronavirus.
The proper advice is not to be "very afraid", but to be aware and to be smart in public areas. People are wearing masks for several reasons. Most because they just don't want to catch any kind of illness, including the common cold. Others because they themselves have underlying illnesses that make them more susceptible to illness than others due to a decreased immune system.
This virus spreads just like any other influenza. Take the same precautions you would normally take not to "catch" the flu. Be careful out there, not paranoid.

 

[Craig]

I just came back from DC. Listened to HHS Secretary Alex Azar’s comments on this.

If you believe what you read and hear on the news you’re making a mistake.

China is not reporting accurately. See rate of spread as your clue.

The CDC won’t sound the alarms yet because they know what will happen.

The Fed has stores of Tamiflu, Relenza and other anti virals in regional distribution centers. Young and elderly will be first to treat.

Dr buddies can’t get any.

This is not the H1N1 virus scare.

Much different. I travel every week. I’d say 25% people in the airport are wearing masks already here in US.

Be afraid. Very afraid.

I know some of us poke fun at this to defer concern. But on a serious note, afraid is not gonna do anything for you. Be aware, proactive and responsible if you travel. Last thing needed is panic. Stay abreast of the situation and take appropriate action.

 

[fr8dog]

Wish I could, but I can't...

Sure you can, RETIRE! It's great. Think of how much more time you could spend on Reward!

 

[carterchapman]

Sure you can, RETIRE! It's great. Think of how much more time you could spend on Reward!

"It's a chance to wear a uniform and be with a few good friends"...wait - I don't even have to wear a uniform!!

But I am still enjoying flying brand new jets at 73 - even though it's only once or twice a month...

 

[spikedaddy99]

Flying this weekend thru Atlanta. Curious to see how people are coping. M

 

[Gofirstclass]

I’m very conscious of people hacking up lungs around me.

We were in Reykjavík last year and took one of those mini buses from the airport in to town. There was a lady coughing up a lung in the seat behind us and doing little to stop the germs from spraying all over the place.

JVM, are you collecting those lungs? Organ banks pay good money for them. Just kidding, of course.

For me, I'm giving up flying to China. Wait. I've never flown to China. Oh well, maybe I can't give that up but I can give up drinking Coronas without a lime. I understand the lime kills the virus.

 

[Boat Guy]

Guys, it's anyone's guess how this will play out.

But, I heard the DHHS interview today and it sounded right out of the talking points playbook. Frankly, that concerns me. Sure the CDC will be on top of it as they are a data oriented group.

They are "keeping all options on the table"...They feel they are doing adequate work at the airports...yada, yada, yada..... Just ask yourself, how good of a job do they do of containing the flu virus and then make a determination of whether you want to take the risks. Because that's really what it is...We all decide for ourselves what are risk tolerance is. Some of us will shrug it off and decide it's unlikely to hit them and others will see it differently.

My advice is to avoid travel as much as possible. I've heard the onset period could be up to 10 days, which, if so, would make this hard to contain. it's much easier to spot and contain outbreaks that have a quick onset of symptoms and are deadly.

Further, I've heard some medical professionals making statements that masks are useless, and I disagree. While they might not ensure that they can block the virus, they certainly might help. It's easy to shrug it off and be smug that it's not a bio-hazard containment suit. But people are unlikely to have one laying around and they are hard to get in and out of properly. So, if a mask is what you have, then I suggest it's better than nothing. In fact if they were worn by people with the flu, there would be a lot less of it spreading....

 

[FootballFan]

There is another perspective I have been thinking about, and hearing from a small number of news sources.

Health related danger in North America certainly a real concern and our primary worry.

Secondarily, let's say the virus is contained within China, doesn't become a worldwide threat. Just within China, how bad does it get? The whole world economy is dependent on exports from China. What happens when factories and distribution channels shut down?

Maybe heartless to bring up economic impact, but it is a real potential. We may be able to dodge the human impact in North America, but that doesn't mean it still does not have significant impact.

Will Apple run out of iPhones to sell or Caterpillar not be able to deliver new bulldozers?

 

[b_arrington]

There is another perspective I have been thinking about, and hearing from a small number of news sources.

Health related danger in North America certainly a real concern and our primary worry.

Secondarily, let's say the virus is contained within China, doesn't become a worldwide threat. Just within China, how bad does it get? The whole world economy is dependent on exports from China. What happens when factories and distribution channels shut down?

Maybe heartless to bring up economic impact, but it is a real potential. We may be able to dodge the human impact in North America, but that doesn't mean it still does not have significant impact.

Will Apple run out of iPhones to sell or Caterpillar not be able to deliver new bulldozers?

The Fed noted yesterday the corona virus is becoming an enonomic concern, for basicallys the reasons you outlined.

 

[Craig]

Meanwhile 45 million people get the flu annually with 60k deaths. Go figure.

 

[MrHappy]

Guys, it's anyone's guess how this will play out.

WhileSo, if a mask is what you have, then I suggest it's better than nothing. In fact if they were worn by people with the flu, there would be a lot less of it spreading....

Every one has a mask. They just haven’t looked hard enough

How about a little humor for the day? Have a good weekend.

 

[Boat Guy]

haha...humor is good..

 

[JimT]

The Chinese government has been under a lot of pressure with a slowing economy, the Hong Kong demonstrations, the Trump tariffs and a growing middle class that resents the oppression. If Corona gets out of hand it may bring down Xi.

 

[Steve S]

Anyone ever read Stephen King’s book “The Stand”???

 

[El Capitan]

First time in 50 years the CDC has issued a quarantine order.

HHS Secretary has issued a travel ban for anyone that’s been in China over the last 14 days.

This year 19 million have gotten the seasonal flu w 10,000 deaths.

This is no ordinary flu virus.

Immigration restrictions have been placed for 6 additional countries so this is no longer a China problem.

The only purpose a mask will serve is to fool you into thinking you are protected.

If you come in contact with anything that has been exposed to corona you’re getting it and your fever will show up in 10 days.

Nothing you can do but to be prudent with travel, crowds, and vigilant in hygiene.

Good luck.

 

[yobub]

Flew through CLT and ORD last night. Business as usual. A few people wearing masks, mostly people that looked to be Asian. Beyond that, just another Thursday.

Flying back again Sunday through PHL.

 

[Boat Guy]

First time in 50 years the CDC has issued a quarantine order.
HHS Secretary has issued a travel ban for anyone that’s been in China over the last 14 days.
Immigration restrictions have been placed for 6 additional countries so this is no longer a China problem.

The only purpose a mask will serve is to fool you into thinking you are protected.

If you come in contact with anything that has been exposed to corona you’re getting it and your fever will show up in 10 days.

Nothing you can do but to be prudent with travel, crowds, and vigilant in hygiene.

Good luck.

I think this administration is a lot more about pro-activity than optics, like some previous administrations. Health concerns was actually one of the reasons trump wanted to tighten the borders and have better systems in place.

I really wish healthcare administrators would stop making the comment that masks serve no purpose. While they certainly are not perfect, they might stop the spread a little bit. And, as this spreads exponentially, it might make a difference. Esp. if someone is wearing a mask that is infected but unaware.

The 10 day potential before onset is troubling and why I wish people self quarantined and limited their travel w/o having to be told. If we could shut things down for a few weeks, these outbreaks would stand a much better chance of being contained. But, people want to go on life as usual...

 

[Boat Guy]

The Chinese government has been under a lot of pressure with a slowing economy, the Hong Kong demonstrations, the Trump tariffs and a growing middle class that resents the oppression. If Corona gets out of hand it may bring down Xi.

I've read that the Xi government has expressed it's position that it will potentially jail any citizen for speaking poorly about how the administration is handling the outbreak for between 4-7 years...I think they would be almost impossible to "bring down", but let's see...

 

[Gofirstclass]

A quick question about the mask. I've read that the virus is transmitted through droplets. Do these droplets infect others if they land on the skin of another, or do they have to be inhaled?