I have to laugh when people say "it's not in my state yet". There will be tens if not hundreds of thousands of cases in every state over the next couple of months.

Regarding the elections, it's tough to know the exact tipping point for when people will stop going to rallies, and all campaigning/debates will have to be online or via TV ads. But I'd imagine 50,000 cases in all 50 states will have people pretty much staying home from any social gathering, political or not.

Trump canceling his rallies would require him to give up his favorite thing to do as president AND to admit that he was wrong. I don't think it happens no matter how many die.

A Cruel Twist In The Coronavirus Saga?

Here's some "good news" and some "bad news".

Lawrence O'Donnell on MSNBC has reported that a Florida man who had just returned from China decided to do "the responsible thing" and get tested for the coronavirus. The good news? His test came back negative. The bad news? He was presented with a $3,000.00 bill for the test.

As Mr. O'Donnell pointed out: "How many people do you think will [voluntarily] get tested after hearing about that?" (In the interview with Mr. O'Donnell, Joe Biden claimed that the test would have been "automatically covered" under Obamacare, but Trump - and the Republicans - got rid of that coverage.)

The actual truth of all this needs to be verified, but it's clear that this virus is going to be a lightning rod of political controversy.

As an added note to that, don't wear face-masks if you are not infected. Most people who were face-masks aren't used to it, and will tend to touch their face / adjust the mask and thus (somewhat ironically) increase the risk of infection.

Trump will cancel when someone points out he could get infected and fat+old people don’t do well vs Covid-19.

Trumps germ phobia is probably serving him well.

Most people I've seen who claim to be germaphobes don't seem to be very consistent in their behavior--or will do other things that make zero sense from that viewpoint. It ends up looking like just more irrational behavior on top of what already exists.

Yes, Trump will listen to advice and act sensibly like he always does.

I feel pretty strongly that this is a far lesser impulse than the two I stated.

We've stopped listing the number of people tested by the CDC for Covid-19. It was already embarrassingly low compared to other countries with outbreaks, and now we're just covering it up. According to multiple reports, people can have all the symptoms and still not get tested unless they had been to an infected area or in contact with one of the very few people who'd tested positive. This is an utter failure and a disgrace, and it assures almost everyone is going to come in contact with the virus.

It sure stopped him from rawdogging sex workers, that's for sure.

I think all the Adderall and beta carotene makes him immune from STDs and Coronavirus.

Beta carotine? You think he got that orange from eating vegetables?

cant work weekends or compile numbers...

lol...wtf. omg

He's going to use that coffee? box as a napkin after licking his fingers wtf


Does anyone remember the Stern show from LV years ago--I'm almost positive it was trump that they ran into? and he used Gary's jacket/shirt as a napkin to wipe a booger off. Gary was just like wow he used Me as a Kleenex lol.

old people

Historically, Trump's self-preservation instincts have prevailed and forced him to listen to counsel in the past. His germaphobia, his paranoia of being poisoned, and his ability to navigate bankruptcy laws all strongly suggest he has less heart than the cowardly lion once he is threatened.

Clearly going to favour the incumbent. National and international emergencies always do.

But the other issue is surely it will affect voter turn-out which is never a good sign if change is wanted but then again most of those that would be of the mind to stay home would be the older demographic (due to the greater risk of catching it) which would tend to vote Republican anyway so it may end up neutralizing the benefits of incumbency.

So to get revenge from last election I think those that want a dem in the white house they should spread as much propaganda about how dangerous it is for these people to go vote because they will get the virus. Fake or real, just put the fear of God in them and maybe it will deter them enough that it'll swing the election. mouahhahaha

Dems don't have the effective propaganda apparatus in place that repubs do and voter suppression generally favors repubs. But, I like the heart.

Corona deathrate is 3,4p according to WHO. Spanish flu was like 2-3p

(# of deaths/# of those who have been diagnosed) could easily be an inaccurate death rate. But the two opportunities for error go in opposite directions.

If we could freeze the situation in time, the number of deaths from those who have already been affected is undercounted because is often takes weeks to die. That brings the ratio up. On the other hand the number of people who have been infected as of today is probably massively undercounted because so many people with zero, mild, or moderate symptoms haven't been included in the denominator.

We might also expect the death rate to decline because
a) treatment can improve
b) processes can improve
and c) more preventative methods for the more at risk

so the final death rate (for the first wave of the virus) is very likely to be lower than the early death rate whatever that may be.

Sure, but theres a factor that can bring the death rate up as well, many ppl getting the virus at the same time so there is less hospital equipment and personell available. Probably the other factors matter more though.

David, yes i know, probably its just lower than 3,4. I just read this:" Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the UK government's "very best assessment" was that the mortality rate was "2% or, likely, lower"."