Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #71

[Tigerlily75]

It is an extremely militarised border - hard to see how someone got across it. But then it is hard to see how anyone with the virus would get into North Korea .... from anywhere.

Families have been divided by the North/South Korea border and never see each other, except for one meeting that was allowed a couple of years ago. But it was said to be the first and last meeting.

Tears and joy as Korean families reunite

There's a lot of legal and illegal trade across the border with China.

North Koreans sneak across the river and smuggle in goods. It’s often how North Koreans escape, but the danger is not over, as China will send them back if caught, and the consequences are dire.

I would be very surprised if this was North Korea’s first case. There is also tourism from China, and a few tour groups that host westerners to NK via Beijing.

 

[Rocco]

Dh had to stop at the store this afternoon, wearing a mask of course. A man in the aisle next to him complained to an employee that he thinks masks are BS. Yeah, that's not passive aggressive. It's these JA's that can't even shut up about it, can't even shop without kvetching to others about masks who are going to be the death of people. They are NOT going to voluntarily wear a "mask of the beast".

Walmart's policy is:
Walmart will require customers to wear masks in its more than 5,000 stores in an effort to curb the spread of the coronavirus, the company announced Wednesday. Beginning July 20, the nation's largest retailer will mandate face coverings at all its stores, including Sam's Club

And yet I was there today and there were people shopping without masks. None of the employees noticed? Security didn't notice? The greeter at the door didn't notice? What good is a policy if a store isn't going to enforce it?

Southwest Airlines doesn't care if you have a medical reason as to why you can't wear a mask. You have to wear one or you can't fly on their airline.

"If a Customer is unable to wear a face covering or mask for any reason, Southwest regrets that we will be unable to transport the individual."

 

[Tadpole12]

Not sure if this video has been shared here before or not. It was my first time seeing it and it brought tears to my eyes. I have a son in high school (who I am in the process of making choices for regarding his school) and a daughter in college, so this hit home.

It's quite short and worth the watch if you haven't seen it.

Teen’s Short Film Hauntingly Captures How A Pandemic Loop Feels

Very creative video, the frantic pace of all the change yet she remains stationary, and the silent scream was painful to watch.

 

[Tadpole12]

We hit 16 million this morning.

Global coronavirus cases near 16 mn, death toll crosses 6,43,000

Coronavirus latest: Over 16 million infected worldwide | DW | 26.07.2020

COVID-19 Map

 

[gitana1]

Now my sister in law has tested positive. I believe she gave it to my father in law. She went on a date and soon after had strep throat. Then her dad got sick.

She feels okay. Besides the strep throat and mild symptoms. She had a fever briefly.
She had a headache and couldn’t taste anything. She’s 25.

It’s great that my FIL is doing so well but at 66 she could have killed him. But like I said, trying to control people that age? It’s impossible.

 

[Clair Louise]

Ya, the mask of the beast, that started a couple weeks ago, but before that the futuristic microchipping of Americans and vaccines using mRNA were the elements purported to be the mark of the beast.

The microchipping ones really amuse me. They take their location enabled phones around with them all day and are worried that some microchip delivered by a vaccin is going to track them?

 

[tresir2012]

It is a bit concerning, isn't it? And which way does the military go?

On the one hand there are some, like me, who are growing concerned about the frailty of the US right now. Isolated from the world due to rampant covid. With US military obviously falling sick ... as we have evidenced by US military bringing covid into our own countries and trying to cover it up. Indicating that there is perhaps rampant covid among the US-based military as well.

On the other hand, what effect is a vaccine going to have on military personnel? If a vaccine is rushed through without proper long-term test results. Military personnel have been used as guinea pigs in the past, and have been exposed to dangerous high dose chest radiation for TB testing (as my RAF mum was) as well as the horrible effects of Agent Orange, among other things.

Is there a link for evidence that US military have brought Covid into countries?

 

[tresir2012]

Haha! I know that you are just being facetious and I shouldn't laugh about something that is definitely not funny.

I'm sure someone out there might think this means these states can reopen.

No I'm serious. Why do you think I'm being facetious? I am genuinely asking as being below R1 was one of the factors for UK to re-open. Perhaps @MrX could chime in regarding Az? I think he mentioned something about 2 weeks. Are you from one of those 3 states?

 

[Tigerlily75]

Is there a link for evidence that US military have brought Covid into countries?

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-07...reassure-territorians-amid-us-marine/12443572

 

[Tadpole12]

Coronavirus report card: Experts give Canada a B, U.S. an F

 

[tresir2012]

I really cannot see an South Korean going to North Korea willingly.

I thought the border was open now as a result of President Trump and Kim Jong's agreements?
Some families reunited and a liaison office was set up at the border but I don't know the details. But this article explains how items are sent across the border so that could be how it was spread perhaps.

North Korea threatens to send army into border zone

 

[SouthAussie]

Well, thank goodness. A Supreme Court judge wth common sense and the law on his side.
Mind you, the rally has now reduced from a predicted 4,000 people to only 500 people ... so there are likely common sense people among the movement.
Still, it is well over the 20-person outside gathering limit in NSW at the moment.


A Black Lives Matter rally planned for inner Sydney on Tuesday is a prohibited public assembly, a NSW Supreme Court judge has ruled, but protest organisers are expected to lodge an immediate appeal.
A prohibition order does not ban the rally, but leaves participants exposed to potential criminal sanction including for blocking traffic or breaching public health orders.

Justice Ierace said expert evidence on the risk of community transmission of COVID-19 had moved from "low" to "medium" and NSW was "presently ... on the knife-edge of a further escalation in community transmission".

https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/supreme-court-grants-prohibition-order-over-sydney-black-lives-matter-protest-20200725-p55fhe.html

 

[k-mac]

Ramble not directed to anyone in particular.

Is it really affecting your rights to don a mask??
Is it really??
Or is it doing your bit to keep the world that you live in as you know and enjoy.

People, please please get onboard the compassion train and stay home when you can....or if out and about wear your mask!

Its really no biggy!

 

[Tigerlily75]

I thought the border was open now as a result of President Trump and Kim Jong's agreements.

No. The DMZ was created in 1953 and despite being called the Demilitarized Zone it is the most militarized border in the world.

The Korean War still hasn’t officially ended. They have an armistice agreement signed in 1953 to cease hostilities until a final agreement is reached .... which hasn’t happened yet.

It will be major world news if it ever opens up.

 

[tresir2012]

'We are ready': NT Health authorities reassure Territorians about coronavirus risk after US marine tests positive

Thanks for that. I did know about that one and that it had been contained. The resurgence was from a quarantine hotel and not from the US, I understand, but SA mentioned countries (plural) so I am wondering which countries.

I can think of just one which is Japan.

 

[tresir2012]

No. The DMZ was created in 1953 and despite being called the Demilitarized Zone it is the most militarized border in the world.

The Korean War still hasn’t officially ended. They have an armistice agreement signed in 1953 to cease hostilities until a final agreement is reached .... which hasn’t happened yet.

It will be major world news if it ever opens up.

I have added to my post. It did open up for some families to reunite and a liaison office was set up. Guard posts were taken down but stuff goes across the border. I added a link to my previous post. This link seems to say they have agreed the war is over.

Korean War to be declared officially over after 65 years

Self reporting in case this is TMI and veering into political but it may be OK if we are trying to ascertain how the virus went across the border.

 

[Clair Louise]

I thought the border was open now as a result of President Trump and Kim Jong's agreements?
Some families reunited and a liaison office was set up at the border but I don't know the details. But this article explains how items are sent across the border so that could be how it was spread perhaps.

North Korea threatens to send army into border zone

Where did you learn that?

 

[Tigerlily75]

Thanks for that. I did know about that one and that it had been contained. The resurgence was from a quarantine hotel and not from the US, I understand, but SA mentioned countries (plural) so I am wondering which countries.

I can think of just one which is Japan.

The current outbreak is from quarantine breaches, that’s in Victoria, and NSW is also having smaller outbreaks. The US Marine was in the Northern Territory where there were no current cases so it caused some panic. The military contingency coming in from the US has been reduced due to covid concerns.

Travellers from the US can’t come here at the moment, our border is closed.

I remember the initial outbreak involved quite a lot of American travelers, and the US was doing very little testing at the time. It was around the time Tom Hanks had it (he was here on the Gold Coast when diagnosed). So the numbers were showing quite low in the US while case after case here in Australia was from yet another American arrival. I remember the talk at the time was that it must be rampant in the US but no one knows it yet.

 

[SouthAussie]

Thanks for that. I did know about that one and that it had been contained. The resurgence was from a quarantine hotel and not from the US, I understand, but SA mentioned countries (plural) so I am wondering which countries.

I can think of just one which is Japan.

I presume that you read of the Japanese anger about covid cases at two US military bases in Japan, and how the personnel were out and about at Japanese venues, with the Japanese not having been informed about the approximately 20 active cases at the two US bases. (Link further back in the threads.)

 

[SouthAussie]

Thanks for that. I did know about that one and that it had been contained. The resurgence was from a quarantine hotel and not from the US, I understand, but SA mentioned countries (plural) so I am wondering which countries.

I can think of just one which is Japan.

And here are many more ....


More than 20,000 American service members have contracted the coronavirus, and the infection rate in the services has tripled over the past six weeks as the United States military has emerged as a potential source of transmission both domestically and abroad, according to military and local public health officials.

At a base in Okinawa, Japan, the U.S. Marine Corps has reported nearly 100 cases .... (wow, those numbers have blown out from a couple of weeks ago)

And in war zones in Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria, already awash with unreported cases, U.S. troops have contended with outbreaks within their ranks.

U.S. Forces Korea has 98 positive cases, which appear to have been brought from the United States .....

“With our inability to control the virus nationally, I think we’re going to see countries that may not welcome deployments of American troops for anything but the most essential missions.”

Rise in Virus Cases Near Bases in U.S. and Abroad Poses Test for Military