Coronavirus COVID-19 *Global Health Emergency* #18

[Henry2326]

Jason Furman - Harvard Professor

The idea that Harvard switch to online classes seemed like an overreaction 5 days ago. Today we made the obviously right decision to ask our undergraduates not to return after spring break. I don’t think anyone in the US will be sitting in a university classroom 2 wks from now.

“Obviously right” because we have no confirmed cases of Covid-19. But if and when we do it will be too late. How do 6,700 undergraduates living in dorms and eating together in dining halls self isolate? How could we send them home then?

We will all be doing our best to be as accessible as possible online and to continue our learning mission. But this is costly for our students and all of us. But the benefits for us and the broader community clearly outweigh the costs—a practical lesson in externalities.

I share because of the broader lesson for our personal lives, our workplaces & policy. What appears paranoid one week seems prophetic the next. Everything everyone has done has been on the side of too little & too late. I can't wait for us all to start making the opposite error.

Jason Furman on Twitter

 

[Henry2326]

Zhejiang Hisun Pharmaceutical’s anti-viral drug Favilavir (Favipiravir) has been approved as an investigational therapy to treat the coronavirus, reported local media.

Initial media reports said that the drug secured regulatory approval as a coronavirus medicine. However, updated reports say the company received a clinical trial approval to test Favilavir in Covid-19 patients.

Favilavir approved as experimental coronavirus drug

 

[Henry2326]

McDonald's hourly workers in U.S. demand paid sick leave as virus spreads McDonald's hourly workers in U.S. demand paid sick leave as virus spreads Reuters on Twitter

 

[LadyL]

Ok, thank you, Trudie. So, them going to the doc did expose others. Which I guess is my point. Best to just stay home unless symptoms get to the point one can’t handle them at home. I’m a retired RN, and very independent, so, I’m totally good with staying at home. I do understand though, how lay persons wouldn’t know what to do, and some might not feel confident enough to care for themselves. They should do what they need to do.

BTW, I stocked up on Sambucol, aka Black Elderberry... which is known to shorten life of the flu. I know it helped me when I had a bad case a few years, and made me a believer.
Also read it is useful for the herpes virus, which to me really indicates it is truly an antiviral. So, I’m thinking it could also be useful against Corona. No guarantees of course, but surely can’t hurt.

I've been wondering if I should get some Black Elderberry. You just convinced me.

 

[Henry2326]

Italy is now the country with the second-most coronavirus cases and deaths - more than 10,000 infected and 631 deaths to date.
Vincent Lee on Twitter

 

[margarita25]

Looks like Savannah is still a go too.
St Patrick's Day.
St. Patrick's Day Events in Savannah

Possibly irresponsible and playing with fire, moo, which brings me to my next point/question.

Speaking of “playing with fire”, and not to beat a dead horse, but I’m still really struggling with my yoga thing. I go back and forth in my head saying, “the chances are slim”, and “what are you going to do, just stop your life?” But numbers are rising around here, and I seem to think, as we all do, that there are so many undiagnosed cases out there.

What it all comes down to imo is this: Are you willing to take the risk? If you are, then be prepared to face the consequences. Even if there is small chance, do you want to risk it. It’s not so much about me fearing the illness, but more about who is going to care for those I’m caring for now if I am hospitalized. I can’t take that chance. Not to mention the anxiety it causes me later wondering about “was I just exposed”, etc.

A really good friend told me something one time when I was unsure about whether to move out of state or not. She told me, “this doesn’t mean this is what you are doing forever, it just means this is what you are doing today”.

I’m using this analogy as I realize that testing is just now really starting to be done, and by all appearances, the numbers are expected to grow, to what extent, I/we don’t know exactly, but I’m telling myself to be patient, wait it out, see how things go, don’t take the risk. Then I see others going about their lives and I wonder if I’ve lost my mind.

Has anybody here cancelled their exercise classes yet and refraining? Again, this sounds like a “first world problem”, I realize.

 

[Henry2326]

March 10 (Reuters) - The Coachella music festival in the Southern California desert has been postponed for six months until October because of concerns over the coronavirus, organizer Goldenvoice said on Tuesday.
Vincent Lee on Twitter

 

[flashy09]

If the Grand Princess docked there on Feb 21st, I 100% would not go. Completely MOO.

It was actually the 19th......lol......please tell me that changes everything! Are they able to test in Cabo? Would we know if Corona cases? Officially the Baja California is still 0 cases.

I keep asking that because my mom tells me it's probably because of a lack of test kits.

 

[TMAN2014]

I know I am joining this forum very late and probably asking annoying questions. Sorry! Supposed to fly into the Los Cabos airport in a few days and then stay a resort in San Jose Del Cabo. Would you worry about the cruise ship with coronavirus that stopped in Cabo? Grand Princess I think Feb 21. So 14 days are up, but are there many test kits in Cabo San Lucas? Would you worry about a resort in SJDC that is 50 minutes from the port in Cabo San Lucas?

I am youngish and healthy so hoping to still go!

Well, lets just look at it. I am not someone to overreact, and like to live a normal life, and I am so far, until employer tells me differently, and I still go to store, certain places. But I am watching schools like Harvard close, a ship marooned in California (with cancer patient aboard), hoops tournaments cancelled, people working jobs at home, big conventions cancelled,etc. I wouldn't go, but it is your decision, but be prepared mentally be maybe be stuck for a long period of time. If you can afford that, and think you are invincible, nobody can tell you no, but personally I would pass.

 

[Alethea]

Jason Furman - Harvard Professor

The idea that Harvard switch to online classes seemed like an overreaction 5 days ago. Today we made the obviously right decision to ask our undergraduates not to return after spring break. I don’t think anyone in the US will be sitting in a university classroom 2 wks from now.

“Obviously right” because we have no confirmed cases of Covid-19. But if and when we do it will be too late. How do 6,700 undergraduates living in dorms and eating together in dining halls self isolate? How could we send them home then?

We will all be doing our best to be as accessible as possible online and to continue our learning mission. But this is costly for our students and all of us. But the benefits for us and the broader community clearly outweigh the costs—a practical lesson in externalities.

I share because of the broader lesson for our personal lives, our workplaces & policy. What appears paranoid one week seems prophetic the next. Everything everyone has done has been on the side of too little & too late. I can't wait for us all to start making the opposite error.

Jason Furman on Twitter

He’s right and the absolute selfishness of some of the replies is mind boggling. How did we get to a point where people think their asinine luxuries are worth other people dying? Harvard has a $40 billion endowment, they can refund tuition if people cry enough about being forced to take classes online.

 

[Henry2326]

Oh no...you should wait until you have 1,000s like the US is doing.....(sarcasm)

BREAKING: Paraguay closes all schools and bans events and places with large groups of people after confirming 2nd case of coronavirus Tracking coronavirus: Map, data and timeline

 

[K.jill]

I've been wondering if I should get some Black Elderberry. You just convinced me.

I have hoarded back elderberry syrup like some people have toilet paper!
Sambucol has gummies that also have zinc.
Gaia It’s a really good brand I think. They have a nighttime black elderberry syrup as well as regular syrup. But they are more expensive than Sambucol. You can get both on Amazon, at least you could last week.

 

[TMAN2014]

In the game of poker, they have the term "tells." It means broadcasting your hand through your actions/ movements, etc.

I have seen "tells" with this virus. I mean, really, Harvard does not close. They don't cancel basketball tournaments in March, and lose all that $$. It is a time for caution, not panic, caution.

 

[Rprp1021]

Ok, thank you, Trudie. So, them going to the doc did expose others. Which I guess is my point. Best to just stay home unless symptoms get to the point one can’t handle them at home. I’m a retired RN, and very independent, so, I’m totally good with staying at home. I do understand though, how lay persons wouldn’t know what to do, and some might not feel confident enough to care for themselves. They should do what they need to do.

BTW, I stocked up on Sambucol, aka Black Elderberry... which is known to shorten life of the flu. I know it helped me when I had a bad case a few years, and made me a believer.
Also read it is useful for the herpes virus, which to me really indicates it is truly an antiviral. So, I’m thinking it could also be useful against Corona. No guarantees of course, but surely can’t hurt.

I work in health care and have been taking elderberry all flu season. I swear by it. I rarely get sick and if I do, it's very mild and doesn't last long.

 

[Trudie]

Ok, thank you, Trudie. So, them going to the doc did expose others. Which I guess is my point. Best to just stay home unless symptoms get to the point one can’t handle them at home. I’m a retired RN, and very independent, so, I’m totally good with staying at home. I do understand though, how lay persons wouldn’t know what to do, and some might not feel confident enough to care for themselves. They should do what they need to do.

BTW, I stocked up on Sambucol, aka Black Elderberry... which is known to shorten life of the flu. I know it helped me when I had a bad case a few years, and made me a believer.
Also read it is useful for the herpes virus, which to me really indicates it is truly an antiviral. So, I’m thinking it could also be useful against Corona. No guarantees of course, but surely can’t hurt.

Well thanks for the tip!

 

[jjenny]

Zhejiang Hisun Pharmaceutical’s anti-viral drug Favilavir (Favipiravir) has been approved as an investigational therapy to treat the coronavirus, reported local media.

Initial media reports said that the drug secured regulatory approval as a coronavirus medicine. However, updated reports say the company received a clinical trial approval to test Favilavir in Covid-19 patients.

Favilavir approved as experimental coronavirus drug

We really need those drugs to be approved in the US.

 

[Trudie]

Where do you get it, please? I’m going to the store in a few minutes, my neighbor just got the last two rolls of paper towels, lol, maybe they are stocking now.

I work in health care and have been taking elderberry all flu season. I swear by it. I rarely get sick and if I do, it's very mild and doesn't last long.

 

[drama_farmer]

It was actually the 19th......lol......please tell me that changes everything! Are they able to test in Cabo? Would we know if Corona cases? Officially the Baja California is still 0 cases.

I keep asking that because my mom tells me it's probably because of a lack of test kits.

One thing to consider: It's not just a question of the "destination" having cases of the virus. Think about everyone you'll come into close contact with on the way to that destination. At least, that's how I would approach risk assessment. IMO

 

[Trudie]

Omg I’m afraid to go anywhere for fear I won’t be allowed to return home.

I would worry about the possibility of not being allowed back into the United States, if you are not a citizen. Or being put in a 14 day quarantine if the virus statrts hitting hard there, when you come back to the United States.

This situation is fluid, and changing, almost hourly. Just be cognizant that changes out of your control may happen.

 

[K.jill]

I work in health care and have been taking elderberry all flu season. I swear by it. I rarely get sick and if I do, it's very mild and doesn't last long.

Also, black elderberry is absolutely delicious!