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KerryannQuote
AquamarineQuote
SomeTorontoGirl
In a show of leadership seldom demonstrated, Jacinda Ardern, PM of New Zealand responded to concerns expressed by children by signing a proclamation declaring the Easter Bunny and Tooth Fairy to be essential workers. Full props to her for realizing that kids need this kind of assurance or normalcy during a crisis, and not being afraid to sweat the small stuff to deliver that assurance. (Oh, they’re also flattening the curve like crazy... this is in addition to the big stuff, not instead of it...)
[www.washingtonpost.com]
She is a real leader--I've admired her ever since seeing her handling of the mosque killings.
Yes our NZ prime minister certainly is very good at self promotion. There were calls to shut our border weeks before she did but she was hell bent on having a one year memorial for the mosque shooting with all the bigwigs from the world media in attendance first. She was even promoting crowd gatherings and hand shaking. In the end she was forced to cancel the commemoration one day before it was due to take place due to pressure from the people to ban large gatherings and shut the border, but still managed some media coverage of her dressed in a headscarve. Being an Island if we had acted when we should have we likely wouldn't be in lockdown now with the economic carnage it is causing. Vast majority of our cases came from travellers. So yea, great prime minister whos main ambition is a seat on the UN and will do anything to get there. We need more substance than hugs and fairytales.
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wonderboy
I don't think I've commented on this in about a month. But I've been relieved that the doomsday predictions have not come true.
- The wave is going to be past its peak in a few weeks. By May, we need to go back to our regular lives.
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wonderboy
I don't think I've commented on this in about a month. But I've been relieved that the doomsday predictions have not come true.
- The wave is going to be past its peak in a few weeks. By May, we need to go back to our regular lives.
I don't think anyone have been talking about doomsday. Still, this is the worst worldwide economical and medical crisis since World War II. And it will last for may be 1-2 years. The predictions of some 60,000 - 80,000 deaths in USA are under the assumption that the lockdown is permanent until August, and then furter on, under control, until there is a vaccine. Just listen to Anthony Fauci, he is an expert on the subject.
White House health advisor Fauci says we may never get back to ‘normal’ after coronavirus pandemic (CNBC - UPDATED TUE, APR 7, 2020)
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Even when a vaccine is developed, he said things may never return to what was considered normal before the virus, because it will always be a looming threat in society. He previously said that the virus will likely come back every year, especially without a vaccine to prevent future outbreaks. However, he said Monday that he’s hoping scientists will develop therapeutic drugs and a workable vaccine in the meantime that will help contain the virus better than it is today.
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WSJ Survey: Coronavirus to Cause Deep U.S. Contraction, 13% Unemployment (Wall Street Journal - April 8, 2020)
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bv
About banning flights from China:
Iran banned flights from China very early on, just like USA and many others. Then people used indirect flights. So the only way to manage the virus, as clearly stated from WHO ever since their messaging mid January, was TEST TEST TEST.
I don't see why banning flights from China is said to be so important in fighting the virus. We all know the virus came from China via all sorts of other countries, Chinese on holidays, business people finding indirect flights and so on.
The real problem is those leaders who thought that banning flights from China, or EU, or whatever, was all they needed to do, then they did little or nothing else until their countries were filled up with corona virus cases by March. That is the real problem.
As for the Iran business man, who was "patient zero" in Iran, now sort of in change of thousands dead in Iran, this is a reference:
Iran: 43 infected with coronavirus; patient zero identified (middleeastmonitor - February 23, 2020)
The virus came from China to Qom city Iran. A Merchant from Qom who died of the virus used to regularly travel to China … Flights were suspended between the two countries but he used indirect flights.
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rbp
Lots of talk about a vaccine. Hope people realise that there is a possibility that they may not be able to produce a vaccine for this virus and even if they do there is still the question of how effective it will be - we will know further down the track.
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Rocknroll1969
CNN said the United States is 4 percent of the worlds population. The United States has 28 percent of the Coronavirus cases. What does that say? I have been waiting for a Strong federal government response similar to what most European countries are doing.
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Chris Fountain
This is not a fair or balanced discussion when we all ar want the best for all. One of my post in response was manipulated to change the facts of my viewpoint.
Again since my post was altered I have to remind all that i have been attacked for no reason at all over and over again and this has happened for the past 20 years regardless what I say. I have no political interest in this effort to save people's lives!!! That is not political!!!!
I treat others with respect and simply expect the same in return.
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Rocknroll1969
CNN said the United States is 4 percent of the worlds population. The United States has 28 percent of the Coronavirus cases. What does that say? I have been waiting for a Strong federal government response similar to what most European countries are doing.
Do you really think the US has 28 percent of the worlds COVID 19 cases?? Maybe your numbers say the US is doing more/better testing than much of the world and is more open regarding reporting results.
Regarding European countries response, if you look closer, you will see that their actions vary greatly from country to country. The US is composed of 50 different states, each with their own government, medical systems and differing circumstances. So the 50 states have much autonomy to set policies best for their situation. Would you rather have all control and all policies set by the Federal government? If you think Europe is responding better, than you should look closer at how much difficulty the EU is having trying to come together on anything regarding dealing with COVID 19 problems. I don't think the EU has agreed on any policy ACTIONS (except talk) so far. It's been up to each country to respond, although some countries are helping others.
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rbp
Lots of talk about a vaccine. Hope people realise that there is a possibility that they may not be able to produce a vaccine for this virus and even if they do there is still the question of how effective it will be - we will know further down the track.
This is a good point.
I have the flu vaccine every winter but am aware that it does not come with a 100% guarantee. Will it be the same if/when a Corona vaccine is found?
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bv
Luckily most world leaders do now take action with shutdown, but it need to be shut down until there is a vaccine. ...
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bv
Luckily most world leaders do now take action with shutdown, but it need to be shut down until there is a vaccine. ...
I agree COVID 19 is a very serious worldwide disease; and that returning to past normal will likely be impractical until there is an effective vaccine or cure. However, I think it would be worse to have things shutdown for a year (more or less), to the extent things are currently shutdown in many US states and countries in Europe. That would result in a depression worse than the one in the 1930s; and a prolonged major change in behavior like nothing we can even relate to. The human toll from such an economic collapse and unpredictable human reaction to such prolonged control/confinement would arguably be much worse for humanity than losing 1-2 percent to death/disability.
I'm not suggesting it's best to just stop the shutdown/control and let the virus run its course. But I believe it would be best to begin steps to open the economy; and start that process within a month, even though there will still be limits on the amount of personal protective equipment, medicines, and testing.
Trump says a lot of unpolitical things, exaggerates all the time, and picks too many fights. He is not a politician. But I agree with his position that "the cure should not be worse than the disease"; meaning - the man made human toll from the shutdown should not cause worse problems than COVID 19 itself. I think some European countries (including Norway?) are taking or planning such steps to ease the shutdowns, correct?
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Rocknroll1969
CNN said the United States is 4 percent of the worlds population. The United States has 28 percent of the Coronavirus cases. What does that say? I have been waiting for a Strong federal government response similar to what most European countries are doing.
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Rocknroll1969
CNN said the United States is 4 percent of the worlds population. The United States has 28 percent of the Coronavirus cases. What does that say? I have been waiting for a Strong federal government response similar to what most European countries are doing.
I am totally baffled by your statement. Again, we live in the Information Age and at least with respect to this subject it's easy to find relevant information.
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MileHigh
I just heard on NBC News (which has been continuously streaming on YouTube) that 2000 New York police officers are off sick with the virus. Presumably these were healthy officers that were working outside among the public without any masks to protect themselves from the virus-carrying atomized water droplets in the air. It's crazy, WEAR A MASK to PROTECT YOURSELF.