We're All Doomed!™ (the Conquest, War, Famine, and Death Thread)

[Per]

84 new cars?

[2Fingers]

84 new cars?

Cases

Bloody auto correct on the iPhone

[Per]

84 new cars?

Cases

Bloody auto correct on the iPhone

Yeah, hate that shit. Whenever I get a new phone, the first thing I do is to turn it off.

[Per]

Oldie but goldie...

[Per]

No more excess deaths in Sweden!



You can see that deaths/week were also lower than expected early in this year, which can be attributed to the regular flu being shut down by social distancing far more effectively than covid-19 was... then corona took off and we got a lot of excess deaths in April, May and June, but now in July and August the seven day average has dropped to just 1 covid-19 death per day, and the curve now dropping below the 2015-2019 average is most likely due to people who would have died of old age now were instead killed by the corona virus in April-June.

If there is no second wave the total dead for this year may not differ so much from a normal year in the end.
But we’ll see. The Mediterranean countries having opened up for tourism (though not from the USA, of course) could set off a second wave that may reach us too eventually.

[Mickey107]

COVID-19 rule breakers in B.C. can be fined up to $2,000 BY KATHRYN TINDALE; Posted Aug 21, 2020 10:21 am PD

https://www.citynews1130.com/2020/08/21 ... cement-bc/

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — Fulfilling its promise, the province is cracking down on gatherings that violate public health safety orders, in an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19.

On Friday, Minister of Public Safety Mike Farnworth announced fines of $2,000 for hosts and organizers of events that break public safety orders, effective immediately.
“Enough is Enough,” he said.
“There is no excuse to disregard the responsibility we share to keep each other safe in this pandemic.”
-------
Farnworth explained it won’t only be police enforcing the new orders, but provincial staff from several ministries will help issue tickets for the duration of the pandemic.

“This includes liquor, cannabis, and gaming inspectors; community safety unit inspectors; and conservation officers,” he added.

WorkSafeBC investigators will also be enforcing regulations.

“This is an all-hands-on-deck approach,” Farnworth said. “It’s time to take a tougher stance.”

[5thhorseman]

What the hell! The CDC just changed its guidelines to no longer recommend testing for asymptomatic / pre-symptomatic people!

I'm sure Trump is happy, as this will reduce the amount of testing, and thus the number of (detected) cases.

Apparently the White House Coronavirus Task Force signed off on the new guidelines, but Fauci was not involved.

I can only see this increasing the spread of covid.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/25/heal ... g-cdc.html

C.D.C. Now Says People Without Covid-19 Symptoms Do Not Need Testing

The revision prompted confusion and alarm from experts, who called the move “potentially dangerous.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention quietly modified its coronavirus testing guidelines this week to exclude people who do not have symptoms of Covid-19 — even if they have been recently exposed to the virus.

Experts questioned the revision, pointing to the importance of identifying infections in the small window immediately before the onset of symptoms, when many individuals appear to be most contagious.

Models suggest that about half of transmission events can be traced back to individuals still in this so-called pre-symptomatic stage, before they start to feel ill — if they ever feel sick at all.

The AMA has already asked the CDC and Department of Health and Human Services to justify the changes.

https://www.ama-assn.org/press-center/a ... g-guidance

The following statement is attributable to:
Susan R. Bailey, M.D.
President, American Medical Association

“Months into this pandemic, we know COVID-19 is spread by asymptomatic people. Suggesting that people without symptoms, who have known exposure to COVID-positive individuals, do not need testing is a recipe for community spread and more spikes in coronavirus. When the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updates a guidance the agency should provide a rationale for the change. We urge CDC and the Department of Health and Human Services to release the scientific justification for this change in testing guidelines.”

[UWSaint]

What the hell! The CDC just changed its guidelines to no longer recommend testing for asymptomatic / pre-symptomatic people!

Positive rates tell you about prevalence and cohort of tested tells you what a particular positive rate number tells you.

This problem isn't a particularly hard one, especially in a world where we have data on asymptomatic positive rates, symptomatic positive rates, and the correlations between the two.

Beyond this, the tested cohort has never been uniform in this country. Testing availability and convenience varies depends on where you live -- though as a whole, the US has been testing lots and lots and lots and lots of people.

[5thhorseman]

What the hell! The CDC just changed its guidelines to no longer recommend testing for asymptomatic / pre-symptomatic people!

Positive rates tell you about prevalence and cohort of tested tells you what a particular positive rate number tells you.

This problem isn't a particularly hard one, especially in a world where we have data on asymptomatic positive rates, symptomatic positive rates, and the correlations between the two.

Beyond this, the tested cohort has never been uniform in this country. Testing availability and convenience varies depends on where you live -- though as a whole, the US has been testing lots and lots and lots and lots of people.

I'm not worried about data gathering, more about contagious people spreading covid because they weren't able to get a test due to testing being scaled back.

[Megaterio Llamas]

This is awful.


Squamish Nation's COVID-19 outbreak grows to 19 cases

https://bc.ctvnews.ca/squamish-nation-s ... -1.5087785

An outbreak in the Squamish Nation has grown to more than a dozen cases of COVID-19.

The nation posted the update on its website Monday, saying there are now 19 confirmed cases of the disease both on the North Shore and in the Squamish Valley.

Other people are awaiting test results, the advisory says.

An initial alert was posted last Thursday, when one case was confirmed. By the next day, the nation had updated its alert to say "multiple cases" had been reported.

"It is really important you know we are here for you," said Kristen Rivers, Tiyáltelut council co-chair, in a statement.

"We are in this together and we are going to get through this together. I know that it is scary, but we will get through this."

The nation's advisory says anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19, who lives with someone who has tested positive or who is waiting for test results is self-isolating.

Deliveries of hand sanitizer, cleaning products, masks, gloves, toilet paper and food vouchers are being made to families who are self-isolating. Grocery and prescription deliveries are also possible for those who need it.

Anyone who suspects they're exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 should isolate and call 811.

[Meds]

This is awful.

Especially the part where they are delivering food vouchers to the people who are having to isolate.

[Megaterio Llamas]

Especially the part where they are delivering food vouchers to the people who are having to isolate.

Yes. That did catch my attention as well.

It does seem a little odd alright.

[Per]

President Trump has earlier described Sweden's handling of the pandemic a disaster.
I wonder if it gives him food for thought that the USA passed Sweden in deaths/million inhabitants last night?

Covid deaths/1M pop:
San Marino 1,237
Peru 890
Belgium 853
Andorra 686
Spain 625
UK 611
Chile 597
Italy 587
Brazil 586
USA 577
Sweden 577
Mexico 514
Panama 473
France 470
Bolivia 452
Sint Marteen 442
Columbia 404
Ecuador 376
Netherlands 364
Ireland 359

The USA is currently averaging 905 deaths per day (7 day average) while Sweden averages 1 death per day.
Per million that translates to just under 3 per day for the US and 0.1 for Sweden, so two weeks from now the US ought to have passed the 600/million mark while Sweden remains under 580. Well, unless something changes.

The pandemic hit Europe hard before the Americas, so several of the Latin American countries are still climbing pretty fast and are likely to end up with far higher casualty numbers in the end. I would also expect there is serious underreporting in some of those countries.

Canada still doing fine, imho. The daily death rate is 6 (seven day average), so roughly 0.16 per million.

[2Fingers]

Especially the part where they are delivering food vouchers to the people who are having to isolate.

Yes. That did catch my attention as well.

It does seem a little odd alright.

Not really, the vouches is like a prepaid VISA card and it allows the family to order what they need and what would fit their diet. If I was to receive any form of support I would prefer a voucher vs. someone dropping of food not knowing what I like.

[Megaterio Llamas]

Especially the part where they are delivering food vouchers to the people who are having to isolate.

Yes. That did catch my attention as well.

It does seem a little odd alright.

Not really, the vouches is like a prepaid VISA card and it allows the family to order what they need and what would fit their diet. If I was to receive any form of support I would prefer a voucher vs. someone dropping of food not knowing what I like.

Oh, okay.

That makes sense.