Muh Muh Muh My Corona (virus)

And now California.

 

By this time next week, this is the only story people will be talking about. The financial impacts are going to be staggering...let's hope, for only a brief time.

 

Stock market dropped like a rock today, theoretically over this story. I doubt that the news gets better before Monday's opening, either.

I can't wait till Trump starts reassuring us that the virus is nothing to worry about and all is well.

 

On every local news station in Boston tonight, virus was the lead with impeachment either second or third story.

 

I've had a pretty good run, so if it kills anyone in my family, I hope it's me. My wife and kids have a lot of living left to do.

 

Reminder. The chances of catching and then dying from the plain old flu are like about 1000 times more than catching and dying from this. Yet less than half of adult Americans get a flu shot every year. Las Vegas isn't the only thing in our society that says we suck at estimating risk.

 

We get flu shots religiously. Hell, I used to give flu shots.

We're unlikely to see a significant epidemic in the U.S., but it's like preparing for a hurricane. It's in the gulf and it might go anywhere, but its coming your way. You can buy the stuff you need or leave, or you can do nothing. Do the prep but don't panic.

Stats on this say it kills old people and those with impaired immune systems most.

 

Dr. Eric Feigl-Ding (@DrEricDing) | Twitter

Public health scientist, epidemiologist, health economist, Harvard '07, Johns Hopkins '04.

Good reading.

 

Last week, China reported 4,400 cases. Today the number topped 17,000.

 

Chinese 'whistleblower' doctor now has coronavirus - CNN

 

Li Wenliang, Chinese doctor who sounded alarm on coronavirus, has died - CNN

This is one of the consequences of a true pandemic that is seldom considered by the public. Doctors and nurses, hospital and health care workers in general will die in droves if one ever breaks loose. Most of these people will keep coming in to work through the early stages of an outbreak, and they will be exposed, sicken, and die. Their skills and care will be desperately needed, the more so as it ramps up and more of them die. The thing is that at some point, every one working in those jobs will have to decide if it is worth getting up and going in to work at infection central every day at the risk of death or becoming infected and bringing it home to kill their spouse and kids. This would create a massive drain on experienced doctors and health care in general when it is most needed.

RIP Li Wenliang, you did the right thing. At least you won't have to suffer in a Chinese re-education camp.

 

Don't give the GOP any ideas on what to do with whistleblowers.