Austin just canceled SXSW. Is it safe to think Nationals will go on as planned. Is it safe to do so. I really want to go to Nationals, but I am 71 and concerned.
So sad. So sorry. Definitely the safest decision. Even if the risk of Covid19 is very low in the under 40 group, many of us are older. Still, I planned my last several months about preparing for the meet. Oh well.
Still, I planned my last several months about preparing for the meet. Oh well.
:bighug: I'm sorry for you, King Frog! I was really looking forward to cheering you on as I watched the live streaming on my computer!
It is really too bad that USMS fell victim to the hysteria and panic decisions that this virus has wrought via the mass media. The funny (sad) part is that after this is all over in a few weeks, the same people who cancelled all sorts of events and closed businesses for "safety" will proclaim success and take credit for the few deaths caused or lower rate of contagion. Meanwhile, they have frightened an entire nation of trusting souls, ruined an entire season of sports nationwide, erased innumerable opportunities for students nationwide that will never be repeated, and ultimately shown just how easy it is to cow the public sector of the USA into doing the most ridiculous things for a mild viral infection. A new low in our history and we are all complicit.
I think that might be part of his point. If we are great in a month, everybody looks like a genius. If not, another reason for half the country to hate our leadership. While we can't predict the future morbidity and mortality, what is certain is when the economic impact of this settles, a lot of people may wish they were dead.
In my opinion, in a couple of weeks, we will all look back on Michael's statement with the same feeling I have about it right now. :censor: Take a look at Italy and where they were two weeks ago. Now, project out where we will be two weeks from now.
This isn't about politics, nor should it be!
As you know, the highest risk age group is 60-80, which is a large percentage of those who attend Nationals. As you also know, you can be a carrier of the virus and not show symptoms. You can also not show symptoms for up to 14 days (the average is 5 days). That could very well be the case with many younger and healthy attendees sitting on the bleacher benches next to those who are most at risk. Personally, I would feel really bad for King Frog (70) if he were sitting next to some 25-year-old who has the virus, is not showing symptoms, and ends up giving it to K.F. King Frog could end up bringing an unwanted "souvenir" onto the airplane and back home to Seal Girl (if she doesn't go with him) and their family and friends before he shows symptoms!
Michael might think he knows more than the CDC and top doctors in this country dealing with this pandemic, but I doubt it. I also think it's sad that he refers to COVID-19 as a "mild viral infection," which, according to statistics, is deadlier than the flu. Tell the family members of those who have died that COVID-19 is a "mild viral infection" and see howthey react. The same goes for those who are getting seriously ill from this virus!
Perhaps we should all be thinking about who we may infect if we get the virus but don't show symptoms. Be responsible! It's not all about us; it's about other people, too.
I get it if you don't care for the media's handling of this. Fine. Just do us all a favor, Michael, bookmark the CDC's website or coronavirus.gov and educate yourself!
Elaine...👍
Mike,
You know my wife. She is a 15 year lung cancer survivor. I was skeptical about going to Nationals, but am glad it was cancelled. I could foresee a situation where I could have unknowingly brought home, what you call a "mild" virus and put my wife in real danger. No thank you!
Mick,
Thank you for the graph; it helps prove my point.
Your point about the schools wasn't thought out quite enough, though. Did you stop to think that adults work at schools (teachers, office staff, cafeteria staff, maintenance, bus drivers, etc.)? I don't believe closing schools is "political."
________________
Glenn,
Thanks. I'm glad to know you are one of the Forumites with common sense and not just looking at $$$. :chug:
There is a certain amount of hysteria around this, for sure. On the other hand, we are clearly at the very beginning of exponential growth of COVID19. One case prevented (or even delayed) right now might mean dozens or hundreds of lives saved.
I attached a graph of the Phildelphia vs St Louis response to the 1918-9 Spanish Flu. St Louis had the "panic" response - and it proved to be the correct one. (Easy to look up with google or other search, if my graph doesn't post). Superimpose on that graph a line for "Maximum Health Care Capacity" and you can see plenty of justification for extreme reactions RIGHT NOW.
That being said, my impression is that children are not only not generally affected by Covid19, and they are not even carriers of it. (Although that is "preliminary information." I expect that to be confirmed or disconfirmed in a few days. Day are precious at this stage of the pandemic.) So it is likely that closing schools and such is called for by political considerations, not medical/epidemiological concerns.
The best I've seen in any media about Covid19 is Michael Osterholm on Joe Rogan:
www.youtube.com/watch
It's over an hour long, and has a lot of non-Covid stuff, so it's best to look at the comments for a topic list with time point links.
I looked up Osterholm on Google news. He's been talking about Covid19 for months, making reasonable, measured, realistic statements. My impression is that Joe Rogan rarely achieves this high level of information, but he does a great job here of letting Osterholm make his points.
