The all-new "US Politics and coronavirus" thread

[Minoosh]

This is an interesting article. By the way, no where in the article does it state Governor Doug Ducey "ignored science" as was claimed. It does report:


This is from a Fox News Phoenix report:


I don't see a downward trajectory.

I wonder if there's a way to tease out how many new cases are showing up due solely to increased testing. One problem is we don't have a good baseline for two months ago, when it seemed hardly anyone was being tested. The percentage of "hidden" or "silent" cases may already have been high but we just didn't know it. Someday maybe we'll have good info on how many people have developed the disease after being on, say, 90 percent lockdown for a period of time. Locking down a bunch of people who are already contagious has its limits. I've had no direct physical contact with people from off-campus for probably a month, but the groceries are brought in by staffers or volunteers who are not locked down on campus. As far as I know there have only been 2 cases here, though a disused building is being prepared solely to house people who have tested positive for the disease.

I've noticed people in the dog park tend to let their masks slip when they're sitting six feet apart. Also, residents drag chairs all over the (very small) park to take advantage of wherever the shade is at a given hour. Some ladies were handing their phones back and forth to show pictures or funny FB posts or similar trivia. I wear the mask when I do laps around the park, but when no one else is around I tend to pull it off at least my nose because I start to feel like I'm suffocating. The on-campus nursing home has allowed no visitors for at least 2 months which means couples are separated from each other in what may be an end-of-life limbo unless visits are allowed in a "clean room" with the understanding that just about anyone could be contagious and at some point we'll have to take our chances.

I'm not saying things should open prematurely, but the people here, mostly at least 15 years older than me, are running out of patience. And this is a Congregationalist campus, meaning many people are affiliated with a very liberal Christian tradition that values keeping things contained for the good of the herd. IOW, very few Trump supporters. But I reckon quite a few people in their 80s or 90s don't want to end their lives cloistered and would take their chances if they could contain any damage to only themselves.

 

[Garrison]

And the only thing that could possible make Trump and his loyal subjects more hysterically angry that they already were has happened:

Coronavirus: Obama calls US response 'chaotic disaster'

 

[Stacyhs]

And the only thing that could possible make Trump and his loyal subjects more hysterically angry that they already were has happened:

Coronavirus: Obama calls US response 'chaotic disaster'

Well, it's all his fault in the first place because he left Trump faulty Covid 19 testing kits 3 years before the virus was heard of! You'd think he'd have had some foresight. But, noooooooooo....he was too busy setting up death panels, wearing tan suits, and hiding his real birth certificate.

 

[newyorkguy]

How many new cases are showing up due to increased testing. The problem here seems to be, people who are sick were going to get tested one way or another. Either from having consulted their primary care doctor or having gone to a hospital. Wouldn't increased testing primarily reveal people who are only mildly ill? The people that would have just stayed home and 'self-medicated?' Or those who are infected without symptoms?

There is a tracker site that shows total positives per day since January 22nd. Just quickly, since early April the number of positives has increased about 20,000-30,000 cases per day. This is what concerns people: nationally it's not trending downward, not yet. If you take New York State out of the equation (we ARE trending downward) the trend is up. What's worrisome is, because the steps taken have seemed to help control the spread, people want to end them. That may not be wise, especially when cases are increasing at the same rate every day.

People have to remember, health care professionals say, there are a fairly sizable number of asymptomatic people out there who are highly contagious, there is no cure or effective treatment for this virus and the national fatality rate is about 6%. That is a huge number. People need to have some discipline and follow the advice of medical experts.

And yes, there are experts in the world. And they know more than you! Or me!

 

[Minoosh]

And the only thing that could possible make Trump and his loyal subjects more hysterically angry that they already were has happened:

Coronavirus: Obama calls US response 'chaotic disaster'

I kind of wish he hadn't said that. It's probably obvious to most people and is just going to stir up a lot of abuse.

I'm tired of Trump's name-calling, not that I seek any of it out but even just reading "Trump Tweets" here on the forum. God that man is boring.

 

[Regnad Kcin]

And apparently quite a number of secret service agents. I do hope those infected will have minimal disease. But I hope it scares Trump a lot.

Trump reportedly got 'lava level mad' over potential exposure to coronavirus

 

[newyorkguy]

When trump referred to the Obama Administration as "human scum," I kind of figured that might be going a bit too far. That Obama might feel he had to react.

President Donald Trump reacted to news Thursday that the Justice Department is dropping the case against former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, saying that the Obama administration’s efforts to build a case of Russian collusion against Trump are “unprecedented” and the people behind it are “human scum.” Link

In fact, in looking for that quote, it appears most major news organizations didn't report it. Understandably, because it's basically the raving of a lunatic.

 

[newyorkguy]

Trump reportedly got 'lava level mad' over potential exposure to coronavirus

What a dirtbag.

And when Trump found out Thursday that person had been in his vicinity, he "became 'lava level mad' at his staff and said he doesn't feel they are doing all they can to protect him from the virus," a person close to the White House told NBC News. Trump's concern of personal infection contrasts with his lax attitude toward reopening businesses around the U.S. He explicitly acknowledged Tuesday that reopening the economy would coincide with "more death," but said the risks would be worth it.

 

[Stacyhs]

Trump reportedly got 'lava level mad' over potential exposure to coronavirus

I'd have paid good money to witness that.

 

[Regnad Kcin]

I kind of wish he hadn't said that. It's probably obvious to most people and is just going to stir up a lot of abuse.

Agreed. And what was the point?

Furthermore, Obama’s a smart man, certainly cognizant it wouldn’t matter the call was private. Always assume the mike is live.

 

[Dr.Sid]

Agreed. And what was the point?

Furthermore, Obama’s a smart man, certainly cognizant it wouldn’t matter the call was private. Always assume the mike is live.

Always assume there is a mike.

 

[Horatius]

...and said he doesn't feel they are doing all they can to protect him from the virus

gEe, i WoNdEr HoW tHaT fEeLs.

 

[Trebuchet]

And when Trump found out Thursday that person had been in his vicinity, he "became 'lava level mad' at his staff and said he doesn't feel they are doing all they can to protect him from the virus," a person close to the White House told NBC News.

Do you think he'd tolerate anyone wearing a mask or staying six feet away from him? Not a chance!
Meanwhile, Trumpers are delightedly crowing about Jimmy Kimmel's hilariously snarky "apology" over the "empty boxes" video. Which, even in full, basically has Pence admitting that the whole operation was a staged photo-op and that the rest of the boxes in the van were empty.

 

[Matthew Cline]

From Politico.com:

[Health and Human Services Secretary] Azar emphasized the need to keep the plants open, according to the three people on the call. He also theorized that workers were largely not becoming infected at the meatpacking plants, and were instead contracting the coronavirus from their communities.

Azar noted in particular that many meatpacking workers live in congregate housing, allowing that more testing at facilities would help but that the bigger issue was employees' home environments. One possible solution was to send more law enforcement to those communities to better enforce social distancing rules, he added, according to two of the lawmakers on the call.

 

[Stacyhs]

From Politico.com:

Why do I not find this surprising? Next thing, he'll be claiming that the virus can't be spread as long as the workers are inside the plant.

 

[Skeptic Ginger]

I kind of wish he hadn't said that. It's probably obvious to most people and is just going to stir up a lot of abuse.

I'm tired of Trump's name-calling, not that I seek any of it out but even just reading "Trump Tweets" here on the forum. God that man is boring.

Agreed. And what was the point?

Furthermore, Obama’s a smart man, certainly cognizant it wouldn’t matter the call was private. Always assume the mike is live.

There's a HUGE difference between Trump's kindergarten name calling and actually stating a truth.

Should we all pretend Trump is doing a good job because it upsets him when we point out he isn't?

 

[Stacyhs]

There's a HUGE difference between Trump's kindergarten name calling and actually stating a truth.

Should we all pretend Trump is doing a good job because it upsets him when we point out he isn't?

Actually, upsetting Trump is a plus for me!

 

[Dr.Sid]

Actually, upsetting Trump is a plus for me!

Since he holds half of the worlds nukes, I'm not really that happy.

 

[Stacyhs]

Since he holds half of the worlds nukes, I'm not really that happy.

Trump having a fit because Obama said his handling of the pandemic was a choatic mess isn't going to send him running for the launch button. But it will piss him off. THAT I like. No need to exaggerate.

 

[zorro99]

Who knows, someone in the White House might be sneaky enough to cough on the president’s phone. I do hope they continue not wearing masks, talking in each others’ faces. The speaker of the house is third in line. Let’s see what happens in the next two weeks!