Covid-19 News & Updates

[PeteC]

phpQjCeHlPM.jpg (66 KiB) Viewed 930 times

[PeteC]

Here is the web site referenced at the bottom of the above chart photo. There is no "About" concerning who is making it and where, and I cringe a bit when a site starts off with a "Donate" button.

https://thewuhanvirus.com

However, it is a point of reference and a place to go when/if you want to see updated numbers.

[HHTel]

Stats that are bang up to date:

worldometers.info

Re hotels: Do they refuse anyone with 'a dose of flu' which is much more widespread and has a very much higher mortality.
If figures are to be believed, take the whole of China and about 1 in 53,000 has been confirmed with the virus. 98% of those are in the Hubei province.

So unless the Chinese national is from, or associated with, or has visited Hubei, then the chances of them having coronavirus is minute.

Of the thousands of Chinese visitors over the last few weeks, how many have been found to have contracted the virus and how many of those are from the Hubei province.

I think I'll leave my worrying for other things, 'flu for instance or Dengue fever or Zika (kills 1% of cases and very dangerous for pregnant women).

There are many diseases in Thailand which are much more common than coronavirus. Of course, the incidence of this virus can change but until then I'll live life normally.

[HHTel]

Just to add to that, last year there were 29,000 cases of dengue fever of which 43 people died.
There is no vaccine or cure.

[Big Boy]

HHTel, did you own a fiddle and live in Rome in a previous life ?

You are so upbeat about this. To me the worrying thing is the 14 day incubation period whilst being infected with no symptoms, but still infectious. So I could be walking around Hua Hin without a mask whilst infected, yet you ridicule taking precautions. If I coughed on on of your kids, would I still be ridiculed for wearing a mask? More importantly, if I didn't wear a mask, I'd suddenly become public enemy number 1.

I guess I, and many others agree with you, the situation does not seem bad now, but turn the clock back to December, and it was reported the Chinese were jailing journalists for the exact same upbeat stance.

I'm not saying paranoia is the answer, but why not take a few precautions? At the very least, it might prevent somebody catching a common cold.

How many car accidents do you have every year? I'll bet the number is very low, or zero, yet you still buy car insurance. Many of us do, but those who don't, don't go around arguing against those who do.

[HHTel]

So I could be walking around Hua Hin without a mask whilst infected, yet you ridicule taking precautions.

If you were coughing, then you would have symptoms. If you were in the incubation period without symptoms, you wouldn't be coughing and sneezing all over the place. During the time when you have no symptoms, then other people can only contract the virus from contact. You, wearing a mask, is not going to protect yourself or others.

I have always said that these surgical masks are to protect other people from the wearer. Of course if you have 'flu or any respiratory disease then you should wear a mask to protect others. It'll do little to protect yourself.

[thecolonel]

[Mod Edit]

Comments on the use of an analogy removed - please keep to subject.

Sent from my Redmi Note 4 using Tapatalk

[caller]

There are many diseases in Thailand which are much more common than coronavirus. Of course, the incidence of this virus can change but until then I'll live life normally.

I don't disagree either, my concern is that I don't trust the authorities here to tell the truth. I was at Bkk hosp earlier and the Doctor I saw wasn't wearing a mask and neither were several nurses. But the majority were. I am wearing one out of sufferance.

[hhinner]

A 70 year old with TB was driving a mini bus. The mind boggles!

In my humble opinion, Thailand is lying. The figures don't stack up. 1000's of Chinese tourists have been allowed in, and only when in unavoidable circumstances, do we hear of new cases here (the lady who returned to Korea for example).

According to the Asean stat in the above link, there are or were or maybe still are up to 25,000 Chinese tourists here (yesterday, Chinese tourists on Samui admitted wanting to stay there to avoid infection in China). Thailand's figures for infection are too low and worryingly Asean states of Thailand: yet to date, widespread prevention and monitoring measures have not been organised.

It was the TB thing that got my attention as well. He should be wearing a mask 24/7 and not driving people around.

We were in MV to eat last night and I think fewer people around the mall were wearing masks than not. Then you see parents wearing masks and their kids not and maybe vice versa. Not sure how that works.

[PeteC]

Current Timeline from Bloomberg News (Videos at link)

https://www.bangkokpost.com/world/18512 ... irus-pdate

The death toll from the coronavirus outbreak climbed toward 500 as confirmed cases worldwide reached almost 25,000, while 684 infected people have fully recovered.

Hong Kong announced plans to quarantine travellers coming from the mainland, while thousands remained stuck on cruise ships.

Japan said 10 people on a cruise liner tested positive for the disease. In Hong Kong, 3,600 passengers and crew from another ship were quarantined after three travellers were found to have the virus.

Meanwhile, European stocks and US futures rebounded following reports on possible vaccines and treatments.

Timeline:

Hong Kong will quarantine china arrivals (3.50pm)

The city will quarantine people arriving from mainland China, including Hong Kong residents and visitors entering via its international airport, Chief Executive Carrie Lam said.

The policy will go into effect on Feb 8 at midnight. Lam also said Hong Kong will close the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal in its Victoria Harbour, and announced a HK$10 billion fund for those affected.

Cathay Pacific asks staff to take unpaid leave (2.45pm)

The airline asked staff to take unpaid leave from March 1 to June 30 as it tries to preserve cash. Cathay has said demand dropped following the outbreak and announced deep cuts to flight capacity on Tuesday. South Korean budget carrier Tway Air also asked staff to take unpaid leave.

Separately, Airbus SE shut its plant in Tianjin that builds about six A320-series jets a month, corresponding to almost 10% of the company’s global single-aisle output.

Virus cases linked to Singapore spur multinational inquiry (1.41pm)

Coronavirus cases in South Korea and Malaysia tied to a business meeting in Singapore attended by visitors from China have prompted an investigation into the infection’s international spread.

A 41-year-old man in Malaysia and a 38-year-old man in South Korea were infected with the virus after attending a meeting at a Singapore hotel in the third week of January, health authorities said. The World Health Organization is coordinating with Singapore’s Ministry of Health in relation to the event, said Olivia Lawe Davies, the agency’s Manila-based regional communications manager.

Hong Kong cruise passengers under quarantine (12.53pm)

Hong Kong authorities are keeping 3,600 passengers and crew members under quarantine on the cruise ship World Dream after three previous travellers were diagnosed with the novel coronavirus.

The three confirmed virus patients had disembarked in China on Jan 24, according to Chief Port Health Officer Leung Yiu-hong at a briefing at the cruise terminal. The cruise ship, owned by Genting HK’s Dream Cruises, docked in Hong Kong on Wednesday morning.

Health officials are collecting samples from about 30 crew members who reported symptoms including cough and fever for coronavirus tests. Three crew members who earlier reported fever will be sent to the hospital for isolation. The development follows a separate case in Japan in which 10 people on Carnival Corp’s Diamond Princess cruise ship tested positive for the coronavirus.

China seeks patent for Gilead’s experimental drug (12.01pm)

China has applied for a new patent on an experimental Gilead Sciences Inc drug that its scientists believe might fight the coronavirus.

It has applied for a patent for the use of the drug, know as remdesivir, to treat the novel coronavirus. The move is a sign that China views Gilead’s therapy as one of the most promising candidates to fight the outbreak. A patent battle may affect Gilead’s control over the drug in China.

While Gilead’s experimental drug isn’t licensed or approved anywhere in the world, it is being rushed into human trials in China on coronavirus patients after showing early signs of being highly effective.

Credit Suisse scraps Hong Kong conference (10.05am)

Credit Suisse Group AG scrapped its annual Asia investment conference next month, adding to a string of cancellations or delay for similar gatherings in Hong Kong and China.

The decision marks the biggest cancellation in Hong Kong’s financial industry after the outbreak of the virus. The city on Tuesday reported its first confirmed death from the virus. Neighbouring Macau, the world’s biggest gambling hub, has asked its casinos to shut down for half a month.

Apple supplier Hon Hai cuts sales outlook (8.59am)

Hon Hai Precision Industry Co, Apple Inc’s main production partner, cut its 2020 revenue growth outlook after assessing the potential impact of the coronavirus outbreak.

Hon Hai, which makes the vast majority of the world’s iPhones from the central Chinese city of Zhengzhou, is now projecting a sales increase of 1% to 3% this year, Chairman Young Liu told Bloomberg News in a text message. That’s down from a Jan 22 forecast of 3% to 5% before the epidemic spread further around the globe.

The contagion is expected to disrupt Apple’s carefully calibrated production chain centred on China, while also damp consumer demand and overall economic growth.

Disney sees virus hurting profits (7.24am)

Walt Disney Co is feeling the impact of the virus after temporarily closing its Shanghai and Hong Kong parks due to the outbreak.

On a call to discuss the company’s earnings, Chief Financial Officer Christine McCarthy said Disney expects the Shanghai park closure alone to crimp profits in the current quarter by $135 million, assuming it is shuttered for two months. With Hong Kong closing, Disney expects the coronavirus to reduce profit there by another $40 million.

China cases rise above 24,000 (7am)

The number of total confirmed cases of coronavirus in mainland China rose to 24,324 as of Feb. 4, according to the National Health Commission. The death toll is at 490, it said in a statement.

Most of the fatalities -- 479 -- have occurred in the province of Hubei, the Chinese province at the centre of the outbreak. Hubei reported 3,156 new confirmed cases, bringing the total in Hubei to 16,678.

Outside the mainland, Hong Kong reported a death on Tuesday. A man from Wuhan died in the Philippines on Feb 1.

Ten passengers on Japan cruise have virus (6.33am)

Ten people on a Carnival Corp cruise ship moored near Yokohama with about 3,700 crew and passengers aboard have tested positive for the new coronavirus and taken to hospital, Japan’s Health Ministry announced Wednesday.

The Diamond Princess was placed under quarantine this week before it reached Japan and checks were conducted after a passenger from Hong Kong who had been on the ship tested positive for the virus. Of 31 people whose test results have come through, 10 were confirmed as infected, the ministry said.

The new infections come in addition to 23 people already confirmed to have contracted the disease in Japan.

US FDA grants emergency use of rapid test for virus (5.34am)

The US Food and Drug Administration cleared the way for the widespread use of a new test to detect the novel coronavirus at laboratories across the country, removing the need for doctors to send samples out for analysis.

The test was designed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and can be used at any of the agency’s approved labs across the country. Until now, samples taken from patients had to be sent for analysis at the agency’s laboratories in Atlanta.

Nike says virus will hurt China operations (4.48am)

Shoe and apparel giant Nike Inc said the coronavirus will materially impact its China operations. It’s closed about half of its stores in the country, and had cut hours and is seeing lower retail traffic in stores that are still open.

WHO says 684 people have recovered from coronavirus (12.21am)

Six hundred eighty-four people have recovered from coronavirus infections, according to Maria Van Kerkhove, an epidemiologist serving on the World Health Organization’s emergency committee. The death toll has climbed to at least 425, the group said Tuesday.

The UN agency plans to hold a research meeting on the virus next week, Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said during a briefing in Geneva. The outbreak was declared an international public health emergency by the WHO last week.

The WHO estimated the cost of supporting member countries during the outbreak at $676 million.

[Big Boy]

The death toll from the coronavirus outbreak climbed toward 500 as confirmed cases worldwide reached almost 25,000, while 684 infected people have fully recovered.

Hmmm....... 500 dead and 684 recovered. 25.000 still sat on the fence. The mortality rate is currently way past the 2% many are predicting.

[Big Boy]

CHINESE TOURISTS ‘BARRED FROM HUA HIN HOTELS’ DUE TO VIRUS FEARS
A Chinese tourist and her child nearly had to sleep on the streets in the resort town of Hua Hin because no hotel would take them, an activist said Tuesday.

This is quite a bold move - I wonder if TAT or higher government will intervene. I would imagine headlines like these will be very damaging to future Chinese tourism in Hua Hin.

[HHTel]

The death toll from the coronavirus outbreak climbed toward 500 as confirmed cases worldwide reached almost 25,000, while 684 infected people have fully recovered.

Hmmm....... 500 dead and 684 recovered. 25.000 still sat on the fence. The mortality rate is currently way past the 2% many are predicting.

Wordometer figures are different. They've been quite accurate so far:

Infections: 24,627 (out of those 3,223 are in critical condition)
Deaths: 493
Recoveries: 1,030 (this morning it was 996. A significant rise)

That was last updated at 18:45 Thai time.

[HHTel]

I just read this post on A.N. Other forum. I thought it was funny and typical of some of the mentality in Thailand.

I collected my son from his kindergarten at 2:30pm, and stopped in a pharmacy to get some hand-gel disinfectant.

There was one brand on the shelf with 70% alcohol.

I took it to the counter and the old woman cashier snatched it away.

No alcohol, 2 and 5pm!

Oh, but's it's hand-gel. People don't drink it.

At least my son and I don't drink it.

He's only 5.

No!

The law, no alcohol 2 and 5 pm. You live Thailand, you live Thai law.

After which it was put down on a shelf behind the counter.

I only wanted to clean my hands.


Was a bit strange.

[handdrummer]

According to a study by Johns Hopkins, Thailand is rated #6 in the world for health preparedness, the only mid-level income and developing nation to rate that high out of 196 countries. US is #1, UK #2.