Seems...

Loss...

Last fall and winter, the U.S. went through one of the most severe flu seasons in recent memory. It was driven by a kind of flu that tends to put more people in the hospital and cause more deaths, particularly among young children and the elderly.

The season peaked in early February. It was mostly over by the end of March, although some flu continued to circulate.

Making a bad year worse, the flu vaccine didn’t work very well. Experts nevertheless say vaccination is still worth it, because it makes illnesses less severe and save lives.

Conclusion. CDC estimates that influenza was associated with more than 35.5 million illnesses, more than 16.5 million medical visits, 490,600 hospitalizations, and 34,200 deaths during the 2018–2019 influenza season.

So compare the Flu and the Corona.

New Test...

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued Emergency Use Authorization to Illinois-based medical device maker Abbott Labs for a coronavirus test that delivers positive results in as little as five minutes and negative results in 13 minutes, the company said.

The company expects the tests to be available next week and expects to ramp up manufacturing to deliver 50,000 tests per day.

"I am pleased that the FDA authorized Abbott's point of care test yesterday. This is big news and will help get more of these tests out in the field rapidly," said FDA Commissioner Steve Hahn in a statement.

"We know how important it is to get point of care tests out in the field quickly. These tests that can give results quickly can be a game changer in diagnosing COVID-19."

This test is revolutionary in many aspects
*Quick test and results.
*Less contact between healthcare providers, patients and other patients in the ER.

Salute...

The city of New York is preparing for the arrival of USNS Comfort, the hospital ship scheduled to come into port Monday [1000 bed ]. 

New York is ready to welcome a "much needed" hospital ship, Chris Singleton, spokesperson for the New York City Economic Development Corporation.

On Saturday, while speaking as a part of a send-off for the Comfort in Norfolk, Virginia, President Donald Trump called it "a 70,000-ton message of hope and solidarity."

To ready the Manhattan Cruise Terminal's Pier 90, which will become the ship's temporary home, several city agencies have become involved.

A number of city agencies, including the Office of Emergency Management, have been dredging the berth at Manhattan Cruise Terminal’s Pier 90, where the USNS Comfort will dock, to ensure there is sufficient depth in the slip.

Crowd.

The first and most obvious explanation for the severity of the area's outbreak is that New York is the largest and most densely populated city in the US, and coronavirus tends to spread in dense places.

"That spatial closeness makes us vulnerable," New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said.

New York City had an average of just over 27,000 people per square mile, according to the 2010 Census. That's more than double the density of Chicago and Philadelphia and more than three times the density of Los Angeles.

At all times of day, New Yorkers pack together on the subway, bump into each other on sidewalks and brush knees at bars and restaurants -- all while potentially contagious. They live in crowded apartment buildings, squeezing up stairs or into elevators with neighbors. The transit system connects people across all five boroughs, so most people don't own cars that might otherwise separate people.

How and why did we reach this level of crowdedness? To whos benefit?

Top...

With more and more people working from home, Walmart has picked up on an interesting trend: Tops have seen an increase in sales, while bottoms haven't.

The reason? Teleworking.

That's what Walmart's executive vice president of corporate affairs Dan Bartlett told Yahoo Finance. Later, a spokesman for the company told CNN the same thing.

As officials try to control the Covid-19 pandemic, millions of white collar workers normally bound by dress codes and expectations in the office  are trading business trousers for sweat pants, and stiff blazers for that hoodie they would only ever allow their family, roommates or dog to see.

But there's that matter of video conferencing where you still want to present a presentable self to your colleagues. And so, many of us are donning business attire on top and casual clothing from the waist down.

Blasio...

  

Bill de Blasio, mayor of New York City, and several high-ranking government officials of New York City have visited Chinatowns and dined there on feb. 15th. 2020  in their show of solidarity to help quench the fear over the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and support the fight against it.

 Dumpling soup, stuffed bun and rice with braised duck were all her favorites. Brewer emphasized that it is safe to eat at Chinese restaurants as there has been no confirmed case of COVID-19 within New York State so far. The disease has been noticed to spread fast at large gatherings.

De blasio shouldn't then say we were shocked, the virous was a surprise.  Just admitted, not prepared.

They pay more attention to congestion pricing and other taxing the public than serving them.

My Kids...

Overbuilding..

The first and most obvious explanation for the severity of the area's outbreak is that New York is the largest and most densely populated city in the US, and coronavirus tends to spread in dense places.

"That spatial closeness makes us vulnerable," New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Wednesday.

New York City had an average of just over 27,000 people per square mile, according to the 2010 Census. That's more than double the density of Chicago and Philadelphia and more than three times the density of Los Angeles.

At all times of day, New Yorkers pack together on the subway, bump into each other on sidewalks and brush knees at bars and restaurants -- all while potentially contagious. They live in crowded apartment buildings, squeezing up stairs or into elevators with neighbors. The transit system connects people across all five boroughs, so most people don't own cars that might otherwise separate people.

With over 8 million people, New York City is also the largest city in the country. So New York's high number of coronavirus cases is also just a reflection of its size. The state will likely lead the country in coronavirus cases even if its infection rate per person is not the highest.

So Mr. De Blasio, enough of the over building in the city. Just a thought.

Liquor...

With bars closed temporarily and sporting events canceled, some Boston-area residents are stocking up with enough beer, wine and other spirits to tipple through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Liquor stores have been flooded with customers looking to calm their fears over the novel coronavirus, which has upended life across Massachusetts. Stores report long lines of shoppers and empty shelves as residents prepare to hunker down at home.

Customers are taking precautions. Everybody has gloves and masks and is using hand sanitizer nonstop.

Campaign...

Fun...

Socialist...

Actions...

Purell's hand sanitizer sales have skyrocketed in recent weeks amid the coronavirus pandemic, but it might have to use some of that money for legal fees ... it's been hit with a class action lawsuit alleging its germ-killing claims are BS.

Purell manufacturer, Gojo Industries, was sued last week in Ohio federal court by 4 individuals claiming the Purell packaging flaunts "misleading claims" about the effectiveness of its product.

According to the legal docs ... Purell's front label claims that it "kills 99.99% of illness causing germs" implies that figure is backed by scientific support, but the folks suing say none exists.

Likewise, the suit adds that Purell hand sanitizer claims to help prevent infection and diseases, but there's allegedly "no sound scientific evidence to support the claims."

The lawsuit also mentions a letter sent by the FDA to Gojo in January, which plaintiffs' claim describes Purell as "nothing more than a topical antiseptic," which was not safe and effective in preventing infection.

The class action suit is seeking unspecified damages for any customer who bought the hand sanitizer and relied on its packaging and marketing materials.

Disparity...

Coronavirus mortality rate is twice as high among men in Italy as it is among women, marking a "concerning trend," Dr. Deborah Birx, the White House's coronavirus task force coordinator said during a briefing.

"Mortality in males seems to be [twice higher than] every age group of females," Birx said, adding that no age group or gender is immune, and that mild symptoms are not equivalent to immunity.

According to Italy's public health research agency, 60% of coronavirus cases and 70% of deaths in the country so far have been in men.

In China, men were similarly more likely to die of coronavirus than women, although the disparity there was less stark. Sixty-four percent of deaths in China have been in men, according to recent figures from China's Center for Disease Control.

Circles...

Me...

the U.S. experience largely mimics China’s, with the risk for serious disease and death from Covid-19 rising with age. But in an important qualification, an analysis by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported underlines a message that infectious disease experts have been emphasizing: 

Millennials are not invincible. The new data show that up to one-fifth of infected people ages 20-44 have been hospitalized, including 2%-4% who required treatment in an intensive care unit.

Still, the most severe cases, and the highest rates of death, are among the elderly. Although 17% of the U.S. population is 65 or older, 31% of cases were in that age group, CDC experts concluded in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. While it is possible that the elderly have more chances to be infected than younger people, such as by living in nursing homes, that is considered unlikely, since younger adults encounter many others at work and school.

Distancing...

Our Fight...

Many people are in the front line, even if they are invisible.

Distance...

Social distancing is at the top of mind for many as countries across the globe are facing the novel coronavirus pandemic -- with countries aiming to tamp down on the spread without either a vaccine or treatment.

Social distancing is described by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as "remaining out of congregate settings, avoiding mass gatherings, and maintaining distance (approximately 6 feet or 2 meters) from others when possible." The World Health Organization urges the public to leave at least 3 feet, or 1 meter, between yourself and anyone who is coughing or sneezing.

Young...

As many spring breakers are still seen ignoring social distancing on the beaches of Florida, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is saying more younger people than initially thought are getting seriously ill due to the novel coronavirus.

Data released by the CDC shows that of the 508 patients known to have been hospitalized in the U.S. for COVID-19, about 20% of those were ages 20 to 44 and another 18% were between the ages of 45 and 54.

During a briefing, the Trump administration implored millennials and young people to take social distancing seriously to help stop the spread of the coronavirus outbreak.

White House coronavirus response coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx said she was concerned about reports out of Italy and France that more young people than expected were in ICUs with complications from COVID-19. 

Assurance...

On radio, he was able to quell rumors and explain his policies. His tone and demeanor communicated self-assurance during times of despair and uncertainty. Roosevelt was regarded as an effective communicator on radio, and the fireside chats kept him in high public regard throughout his presidency.