A lot has already happened this year. SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2) which can cause COVID-19 (COronaVIrus Disease 2019) has been making headlines shortly after it was first reported. The first cases were reported to WHO (World Health Organization) on 2019-12-31. The virus spread. It began as an epidemic in China . The world watched apprehensively. Reports surfaced of cases in other countries and the the apprehension grew. For many folk, it turned to fear when it was upgraded to a pandemic: WHO Director-General's opening remarks at the media briefing on COVID-19 - 11 March 2020: "We have therefore made the assessment that COVID-19 can be characterized as a pandemic."
We have seen increasing efforts to stem the spread of the disease. Efforts have run the gamut. Closing of borders. Cancellation of sporting events. Conferences cancelled. Churches and other places of worship also closed. Schools closed. Panic buying of household goods and supplies. Supply chain disruptions affecting manufacturers. Restaurant, bars, and other such establishments closed. Work-from-home policies established and enacted.
The changes have been many, widespread, and continuing.
Reading about all the ways that "other people" have been affected is one thing. It seems different, somehow, when it hits closer to home and affects us directly. With many of our usual social activities curtailed or cancelled, it is easy to begin isolating and lose perspective. SoylentNews arose from a troubled period (the SlashCott) and a community has formed from that challenging period.
How have you been affected? Have you been infected? Had a family member or friend who was? Helped neighbors who are struggling? Hunkering down and isolating? (In a basement is optional.) Are you suddenly working from home and finding it challenging to manage your time? Still working on site, but now have a faster commute due to all the other people staying home? Catching up on watching TV shows? Reading more SoylentNews? How has your life changed?
From a somewhat different perspective, how have others helped you to cope... and how have you been able to help others? One of the potential impacts of social distancing is isolation and depression. I count myself fortunate, indeed, to have served this site for over 6 years and for all the people I have gotten to know, here. For those who may not be aware, SoylentNews has its own IRC (Internet Relay Chat) server. Feel free to drop in to #Soylent and just say "Hi!"
Social distancing is permanent when you're dead. So, practice good hygiene and stay safe.
Previously (oldest first):
China Battles Coronavirus Outbreak: All the Latest Updates
2019-nCoV Coronavirus Story Roundup
Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Roundup
Coronavirus Roundup
Coronavirus Roundup (Feb. 17)
Roundup of Stories about the SARS-CoV-2 Coronavirus and COVID-19 Disease
COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2 - CoronaVirus) Roundup
CoronaVirus (SARS-CoV-2) Roundup 2020-03-12
Working from Home: Lessons Learned Over 20 Years
(Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday March 17 2020, @07:42PM (1 child)
Three things:
1) 90%, not 99%.
2) There's a major bias there. Two of the most common things that get folks to go to the hospital are blood and fever. If they're not coughing up blood and don't have a fever, I think it's safe to say that at *least* "most" are not going to go to the hospital. And the hospital for their part is also probably going to be less likely to test anybody that shows up without a fever.
3) When you look at the large spot testing of groups who have a suspected infection (e.g. - a traveling delegation where one member ultimately tests positive) the numbers seem very different than that 90%. The vast majority of people end up completely asymptomatic. That's what makes this such a nasty beast to deal with. The perfectly healthy guy beside you with no coughing, no fever, and no unwellness whatsoever - he could be spreading corona while the guy that looks (and sounds) like he's on death's door that everybody's keeping more than a few feet from - he might just be having a particularly nasty cold, maybe with some aggravating factors like allergies.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday March 17 2020, @08:40PM
The numbers on that seem to still be in flux, it wasn't that long ago that the estimate was closer to 99%, but I see it's dropped quite a bit since I looked it up yesterday. Whether there's a bias or not, we have to assume that the numbers are relatively accurate, in this case, it's as I suggested possible but unlikely that he's got it if he hasn't got a fever as the fever is by far the most common symptom here. It's definitely not sufficient, but it is abnormal to have this and not have a fever.
AFAIK, that's mostly the US where people don't get tested for things unless they're on death's door, but the numbers themselves are based upon data from more than just the US, the best numbers would be from Korea where they've done massive numbers of tests on hundreds of thousands of people, they'd be in the best position to know, not the US where it costs $1500 to get tested.