PLAYPEN: Covid-19 Everything Political

[TechTalk]

Stats?

Yesterday (18th July) The Times newspaper in the UK, reported that the death stats for England included anyone who had had Coronovirus, irrespective of how they had died.  This means that if someone had recovered but then died in a car accident, (s)he is included in the stats.  The consequence is that the death stats in the UK can never go down to zero unto everyone who had the virus had died!   The Times reported that in Scotland only those who die within 28 days of a positive test are counted.  On the other hand the virus can cause problems for months after infection so may be missed there.  The concern is that in England the deaths in care homes will continue to be reported even after recovery as life expectancy is not as long as in the general public. 

Apparently there is no WHO agreed method of counting the deaths from Covid-19.

So we should not compare stats until we know the bases are the same.

Best wishes,

Jonathan

There are multiple agencies in the UK which report COVID-19 deaths and they do so using different methods. What you're referring to are statistics from Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) which are used in reporting from Public Health England (PHE). Objections to the methodology has resulted in a pause of reporting of daily death statistics from these departments while under review.

The UK Office for National Statistics (ONS) does not use this data or methodology for reporting death statistics. ONS uses death certificates where COVID-19 has been mentioned on the death certificate and is regarded by many experts as more reliable. There is a delay of several days in reporting due to the time required for registration of the death certificates. National Heath Service (NHS) England and Public Health Wales each have their own methodology for determining statistics.

All this points to a need for developing standardized reporting methods. When different states and different countries have multiple methodologies for statistical reporting it increases the difficulty for public health experts to accurately track a global pandemic. This does not mean, however, that the statistics that are being gathered should be ignored or dismissed. You're right that it makes statistical comparisons more difficult. Epidemiologists and other experts across the world are gathering all of the available data to provide the most accurate picture possible and will be able to provide even better accuracy as data becomes better and more consistent.

[faberryman]

Fun fact to know and tell:

The number of Japanese killed by the atomic bombs at Nagasaki and Hiroshima was between 129,000 and 226,000. Half the deaths were on the first day; the remainder over the ensuing months. With COVID-19, we are over the conservative estimate and on our way to the outside number. As Trump said this morning with respect to the death toll: "It is what it is." I guess so.

I wonder whether the Japanese quibbled about the numbers when they explained the scope of the tragedy to their people. After all, some of those casualties were probably already in the hospital and were going to die anyway.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atomic_bombings_of_Hiroshima_and_Nagasaki

[Alan Klein]

Coronavirus on the light side:

Quote:
"2019: Stay away from negative people. 2020: Stay away from positive people.

The world has turned upside down. Old folks are sneaking out of the house, and their kids are yelling at them to stay indoors!

You think it’s bad now? In 20 years our country will be run by people home-schooled by day drinkers…

This virus has done what no woman had been able to do…cancel all sports, shut down all bars, and keep men at home!!!

Do not call the police on suspicious people in your neighborhood! Those are your neighbors without makeup and hair extensions!

Since we can’t eat out, now’s the perfect time to eat better, get fit, and stay healthy. We’re quarantined! Who are we trying to impress? We have snacks, we have sweatpants – I say we use them!

Day 7 at home and the dog is looking at me like, “See? This is why I chew the furniture!”

Does anyone know if we can take showers yet or should we just keep washing our hands???

I never thought the comment “I wouldn’t touch him/her with a 6 foot pole” would become a national policy, but here we are!

Me: Alexa what’s the weather this weekend?
Alexa: It doesn’t matter – you’re not going anywhere.

Can everyone please just follow the government instructions so we can knock out this corona virus and be done?! I feel like a kindergartner who keeps losing more recess time because one or two kids can’t follow directions.

I swear my fridge just said “what the hell do you want now?”

When this is over…what meeting do I attend first…Weight Watchers or AA?

Quarantine has turned us into dogs. We roam the house all day looking for food. We are told “no” if we get too close to strangers. And we get really excited about car rides.

These jokes are not mine. I wouldn't want anyone to be confused that I'm that funny.  They came from a friend who probably got them from somewhere else too.  He's not that funny either."

[jeremyrh]

You need to lighten up a little Jeremy.  Life's too short.  A little foxhole humor makes most people smile.

You're right. Did you hear the one about the elderly photographer and his wife who died gasping for breath and their lungs filled with fluid?  I never laughed so much.

[Jeremy Roussak]

You're right. Did you hear the one about the elderly photographer and his wife who died gasping for breath and their lungs filled with fluid?  I never laughed so much.

That's vile. Apologise.

Jeremy

[faberryman]

Trump says regular coronavirus briefings will resume as cases surge

https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/20/politics/donald-trump-coronavirus-briefings/index.html

Oh boy!

[Alan Klein]

Y0u're right, it is vile, and if I offended Alan in the course of my making a point I apologise to him. People might also find it somewhat tasteless in general to make jokes about something taking so many lives just now.

I didn't feel offended by your joke.  It just wasn't funny.  There's nothing  wrong with foxhole humor.  It's how people deal with the fear in keeping it in context of life overall.  It reminds us to remain humble because we're not in charge. 

[MattBurt]

Yeah, it's too soon for the jokes IMO. At least those ones. Maybe after there is a vaccine or other event that puts it firmly in the past.
We haven't even been able to hold a service for my friend who lost his life to this and I know others still fighting it months after being infected.

[Alan Klein]

Yeah, it's too soon for the jokes IMO. At least those ones. Maybe after there is a vaccine or other event that puts it firmly in the past.
We haven't even been able to hold a service for my friend who lost his life to this and I know others still fighting it months after being infected.

I'm sorry to hear about your friend Matt.

[BernardLanguillier]

I have been a bit busy the past month.

Last time I checked this thread I was told Trump had the covid19 fully under control, that my fear that 150,000 casualties would be reached was more crazy anti-Trump talk, that the damage he did to the economy by downplaying the pandemic was a thing of the past, that people were reopening in a fully responsible way, ,...

Where do we stand?

Regards,
Bernard

[faberryman]

I have been a bit busy the past month.

Last time I checked this thread I was told Trump had the covid19 fully under control, that my fear that 150,000 casualties would be reached was more crazy anti-Trump talk, that the damage he did to the economy by downplaying the pandemic was a thing of the past, that people were reopening in a fully responsible way, ,...

Where do we stand?

Well, we are not quite to 150,000, but give us a couple of days. And we have some work to do on those other points. Never fear though, Trump is going to return to the daily briefings he abandoned in April, and we are sure to get back on track. Speaking of Trump, did you know he aced his cognitive ability assessment? He correctly identified the elephant. The other two animals in the picture were a snake and a giraffe. It is kind of a trick question because all three of the animals live in the zoo, so it's easy to mix them up. But not Trump. He was all over it. The hard question though was counting backwards from 100 by seven. I'm pretty sure most of Trump's supporters can't do that, which is why they idolize him.

[Robert Roaldi]

Interesting that Trump thinks he can better deal with the situation in Portland, OR., than the mayor, https://www.politico.com/news/2020/07/20/ken-cuccinelli-federal-law-enforcement-portland-372570. And I saw elsewhere that Trump said that he's open to sending more federal "agents" to other cities to deal with the "unrest".

I find this an unusual position to take for a guy who took a backseat in the Covid mess and left it up to state governors to decide what to do. More impulsive incompetence, seems to me. But he ends up going back on almost everything he says he's going to do, is there anyone left who takes him seriously?

[jeremyrh]

Interesting that Trump thinks he can better deal with the situation in Portland, OR., than the mayor, https://www.politico.com/news/2020/07/20/ken-cuccinelli-federal-law-enforcement-portland-372570. And I saw elsewhere that Trump said that he's open to sending more federal "agents" to other cities to deal with the "unrest".

I find this an unusual position to take for a guy who took a backseat in the Covid mess and left it up to state governors to decide what to do. More impulsive incompetence, seems to me. But he ends up going back on almost everything he says he's going to do, is there anyone left who takes him seriously?

Everything he does is designed to appeal to voters in his key states. If that means that the Constitution gets torn up, or that a few tens of thousands of people die, it's of little consequence.

[faberryman]

Interesting that Trump thinks he can better deal with the situation in Portland, OR.

It is an article of faith for Trump that if you just beat the living daylights out of the protesters with metal batons they'll give up. Something about domination, except I thought that was more about whips.

[faberryman]

But he ends up going back on almost everything he says he's going to do, is there anyone left who takes him seriously?

It seems like there is a base of about 40% of voters who want this shit show to go on for four more years. I am not sure that means they take him seriously. Maybe they just think they look good in a red ball cap. It is kind of matchy-matchy with the confederate flag. True Trump fans also have the special limited edition camouflage cap, which is the perfect compliment to their camo fatigues when they go armed to anti-mask rallies. You have to look good if you want people to take you seriously. Trump understands this, which is why he wears a red tie which hangs down to his knees. He thinks it makes him appear taller in a way that the lifts in his shoes do not.

[MattBurt]

It is an article of faith for Trump that if you just beat the living daylights out of the protesters with metal batons they'll give up. Something about domination, except I thought that was more about whips.

Remember how well that worked in the 60s? "Those who do not learn history..."

[Robert Roaldi]

Everything he does is designed to appeal to voters in his key states. If that means that the Constitution gets torn up, or that a few tens of thousands of people die, it's of little consequence.

I think I've asked this before on this thread (but maybe not), but why wasn't Trump wholly outraged when those militiamen invaded the state legislature (was it in Michigan?). Is it only demonstrators that are against him that he has a problem with? Is it ok then, constitutionally I mean, to use federal "agents" to go after your perceived enemies while leaving your friends alone? Is that what American freedom is about? Is that why people really want a "strongman", because they think he will stick it to their opponents?

What's the end-game here, another Kent state?

[Jeremy Roussak]

Everything he does is designed to appeal to voters in his key states. If that means that the Constitution gets torn up, or that a few tens of thousands of people die, it's of little consequence.

You have deleted your earlier apology. Restore it, without the mealy-mouthed "sorry if I offended Alan". The apology is necessary because of the offensive nature of the post; whether anyone was offended is irrelevant.

Jeremy

[faberryman]

If any of our international friends are considering moving to the United States, you might want to avoid Missouri.  The governor is a big fan of Trump and his back to school policy.

"These kids have got to get back to school," Parson told a conservative talk radio host. "They're at the lowest risk possible. And if they do get Covid-19, which they will -- and they will when they go to school -- they're not going to the hospitals. They're not going to have to sit in doctor's offices. They're going to go home and they're going to get over it."

And that was just the kids he was talking about. Not sure what his plans are for the teachers and staff, or the parents at home who may become infected by their children.

https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/20/politics/mike-parson-missouri-governor-school-reopening/index.html

[KLaban]

Yet another valued contributor sails off into the sunset.