PLAYPEN: Covid-19 Everything Political

[Slobodan Blagojevic]

For the near future, I'd recommend extending the lockdown for non-essential services.

Actually, in Belgrade, it is the other way around. Probably something lost in translation of "essential." Restaurants are still closed, although they are pretty essential from my perspective. You see, Corrina caught me half-way through apartment renovation, so I am left without a functioning kitchen - restaurants are the only way for me to eat. But I noticed that a gym-shoe store is open, Paul & Shark clothing, even bathroom supplies (sinks, toilets, etc.).

[JoeKitchen]

I am certain we have reached peak insanity and will be coming down soon enough. 

In PA, we are supposed to be wearing masks outside, regardless of what we are doing, but my wife and I are not.  It's silly and we just are not giving into the hysteria. 

Strangers on the sidewalk are now asking us, "you want to f#@&ing die?"  Then, these are the same people who insist on still paying in cash. 

All this is going to be great fodder for comics down the road. 

[Alan Klein]

The UK government has just announced a 3 week extension to the lockdown. An opinion poll release earlier today found that 91% of Brits are in favour of an extension.

The answer at this time may be "no", but they're discussing the re-opening. No one here is even discussing it.  It's all about shutdown. No one's discussing economic impacts and issues relating to that including medical.  Or what might be a way of moving forward. 

I suppose after Trump gives his analysis later today, we'll discuss that.  It seems everyone waits for Trump his has so much public influence.  Of course, by people like yourself not discussing the re-opening and being stuck on keeping everything shut down, you give him the megaphone to lead the way as he see fits.  That's because you're not contributing anything.  Your silence on the economic and re-opening issues allows him to control the agenda.

[Slobodan Blagojevic]

... Strangers on the sidewalk are now asking us, "you want to f#@&ing die?"...

 

What else do you expect from the mass hysteria?

[Paulo Bizarro]

You mean 98% are not enough? Actually, more, 99+ percent, as the dead were mostly already retired.

I was replying to Alan, no idea where you took those numbers from. Are you talking about death rates of 2%? If that is the case, in Portugal it means I would be ok with no isolation, and accept 200,000 dead. So far, after 1 month and a half, we are at 600 dead. I am sure the rest of the population with be quite happy to be able to go back to work cheerfully knowing about 200,000 dead people, and no vaccine for at least 1 year.

Sorry, my country prefers to have less dead people and endure a 1-2 years of economic crisis. Estimates point to returning economy to 2019 levels in 2021. I am sure the great USA, under the guidance of your great president, will come out of it sooner. Why not start a war some place, that seems to do it every time.

[Slobodan Blagojevic]

... we are at 600 dead...

That sounds like a two-car collision in India 

P.S. NOW I am being an asshole... sorry my Indian friends.

[Alan Klein]

Countries or regions of countries that are reopening arefurther along in the crisis, and their infection rate went down after 1 and a half or 2 months. Other countries were hit later on, or will still be hit. Austria and Denmark are slowly reopening because their 7 day moving average is coming down, for example. New York seems to have passed the worst phase of this 1st wave, but other american cities are not there yet.

A governmentt can announce a plan for reopening, but it will be implemented carefully in phases, and will take months. Until a vaccine is in place, or antivirals available, such reopening needs to be closely monitored and phased, and with many social distancing. Older and more sick-prone people will have to be maintained in isolation for months. Assoon as you reopen, infection rate will go up again, and this needs to balanced with economic measures.

This is not a matter of "health" or "economy" - we can have both, but clearly in this first wave of the infection, health needed to prevail. Youcan't have economy without people.

We have to start sometime. If we wait until we're 100%, there won't be any cheese left for a mouse to get a tooth in. 

[JoeKitchen]

We have to start sometime. If we wait until we're 100%, there won't be any cheese left for a mouse to get a tooth in.

That's right, because it will all be in my basement.   

[faberryman]

We have to start sometime. If we wait until we're 100%, there won't be any cheese left for a mouse to get a tooth in.

Be patient. Trump is coming out with his "plan" today. (That ought to keep the thread alive.)

[Alan Klein]

You mean 98% are not enough? Actually, more, 99+ percent, as the dead were mostly already retired.

Well, I'm only retired.  So far. 

[elliot_n]

The answer at this time may be "no", but they're discussing the re-opening.

Actually the UK government are emphatically not discussing re-opening. At least not publicly.

Their messaging is very tight, as they believe that premature talk of re-opening will confuse the public.

No talk of being open for Easter here. No armed protestors on the street.

[JoeKitchen]

Be patient. Trump is coming out with his "plan" today. (That ought to keep the thread alive.)

Any for an over/under on when Bernard's head will explode on here over it? 

I say let's put it at 7:15 PM EST. 

[Alan Klein]

Portugal just voted today to extend 2 more weeks. France the same. Countries will only reopen once they are in the downward curve. Attached is the plot as of today of the 7 days moving average of cases versus number of days after the 100th case. Portugal is the blackline.

It is easy to see that the countries in the down trend will reopen sooner than others that are still not there.

America is different in that we're a federal republic.  We're made up of 50 semi-sovereign states, sort of like different nations in the EU.  So each state has to decide pretty much on their own how they want to handle it.  What's good for New York may not be good for Oklahoma, etc.

[Alan Klein]

For the near future, I'd recommend extending the lockdown for non-essential services.

Does that include pizza parlors?

[faberryman]

The answer at this time may be "no", but they're discussing the re-opening. No one here is even discussing it.  It's all about shutdown. No one's discussing economic impacts and issues relating to that including medical.  Or what might be a way of moving forward.

Lot's of people are talking about it. I don't have time to read all the stories. Have you tried Google?

I suppose after Trump gives his analysis later today, we'll discuss that.  It seems everyone waits for Trump his has so much public influence.  Of course, by people like yourself not discussing the re-opening and being stuck on keeping everything shut down, you give him the megaphone to lead the way as he see fits.  That's because you're not contributing anything.  Your silence on the economic and re-opening issues allows him to control the agenda.

Gosh, and I thought my discussing it on LuLa would be influential.

[Alan Klein]

I am certain we have reached peak insanity and will be coming down soon enough. 

In PA, we are supposed to be wearing masks outside, regardless of what we are doing, but my wife and I are not.  It's silly and we just are not giving into the hysteria. 

Strangers on the sidewalk are now asking us, "you want to f#@&ing die?" Then, these are the same people who insist on still paying in cash. 

All this is going to be great fodder for comics down the road. 

My wife told me our good neighbor told her that she thinks we've both got the virus.  Of course, she's 84 and a little senile, a nice person, but there it is.  I feel like I'm in that movie, Invasion of the Body Snatchers.

[JoeKitchen]

What else do you expect from the mass hysteria?

I was in the grocery recently and some kid was blasting REM's "It's the End of the World As We Know" on his headphones.  Now I thought it was pretty funny, but others, well ...

At least he was wearing a mask. 

[LesPalenik]

Does that include pizza parlors?

I haven't bought a pizza for at least 15 years, so I'd put it into a non-essential category.

[JoeKitchen]

My wife told me our good neighbor told her that she thinks we've both got the virus.  Of course, she's 84 and a little senile, a nice person, but there it is.  I feel like I'm in that movie, Invasion of the Body Snatchers.

The face (below) I get when my wife and I don't practice social distancing in the park. 

Our last names aren't the same either, so thankfully no one has asked us to prove were married ... yet. 

[Craig Lamson]

Any for an over/under on when Bernard's head will explode on here over it? 

I say let's put it at 7:15 PM EST.

I'm afraid you are too late for that...