COVID-19 Coronavirus UPDATES, BANS, CLOSURES, ADVISORY, etc.

[Scott CWO]

Airlines Want To Cancel Rule Requiring Them To Refund Fares For Canceled Flights

April 7, 20204:35 PM ET

https://www.npr.org/sections/corona...ing-them-to-refund-fares-for-canceled-flights

Can’t expect any business to give 100% refunds. It takes a lot of money just to keep the lights on.

 

[Wheels]

Can’t expect any business to give 100% refunds. It takes a lot of money just to keep the lights on.

Turkish Air stopped flying my route to Maputo. I definitely want all of my money back. I didn't cancel them, they canceled me.

 

[rpgoldsby]

Delta gave all refunds for 2 tickets to joburg. Was supposed to be in Namibia April 4-15. SAA gave us the same useless credit that gave everyone else. Namibia tours and safaris company initially said they would refund all but 10 percent. Now they are saying they can only give credits for a future tour. Out about 8k so far. Hopefully get to go one day.

 

[Foxi]

Turkish Air stopped flying my route to Maputo. I definitely want all of my money back. I didn't cancel them, they canceled me.

Wheels, what were you hunting in Mozambique ??????

 

[Wheels]

Wheels, what were you hunting in Mozambique ??????

My son and I were going on a buff hunt. We were scheduled to fly out on April 27. Now, "we will have to make a plan".

 

[Scott CWO]

Turkish Air stopped flying my route to Maputo. I definitely want all of my money back. I didn't cancel them, they canceled me.

Yes, if they cancel you get a refund. If you cancel, you get a voucher.

 

[Scott CWO]

My son and I were going on a buff hunt. We were scheduled to fly out on April 27. Now, "we will have to make a plan".

@Wheels like I mentioned a while back, you guys could always join me in Zambia July 2022 after all this craziness is over.

 

[Scott CWO]

Well, we were supposed to be at my oldest son's rehearsal dinner tonight and wedding tomorrow but the damn bat eaters messed it all up. Going to try again on June 6th in the Catskills but not sure about that either. Tried to get him to move it to Colorado but his fiance's mother about had a coronary when they mentioned that idea to her. Poor kids just want to get married, start a family and build a house.

I rebooked the flights tonight and WOW they really went back up to full price now. Everything was cheap a few days ago. I guess the news that the "peak" might be over is increasing prices already??

My younger son is getting married August 16th in Colorado. Hope that wedding isn't messed up as well.

 

[Foxi]

My younger son is getting married August 16th in Colorado. Hope that wedding isn't messed up as well.

Marriages are made in heaven.
Just like hail storms and tornadoes

 

[cpr0312]

 

[wesheltonj]

From the New England Journal of Medicine - BOLDING MINE

https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMe2002387

Editor’s Note: This editorial was published on February 28, 2020, at NEJM.org.

EDITORIAL

Covid-19 — Navigating the Uncharted
List of authors.

• Anthony S. Fauci, M.D.,
• H. Clifford Lane, M.D.,
• and Robert R. Redfield, M.D.

• Article

Metrics

• 12 References
• 23 Citing Articles

The latest threat to global health is the ongoing outbreak of the respiratory disease that was recently given the name Coronavirus Disease 2019 (Covid-19). Covid-19 was recognized in December 2019.1 It was rapidly shown to be caused by a novel coronavirus that is structurally related to the virus that causes severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). As in two preceding instances of emergence of coronavirus disease in the past 18 years2 — SARS (2002 and 2003) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) (2012 to the present) — the Covid-19 outbreak has posed critical challenges for the public health, research, and medical communities.

In their Journal article, Li and colleagues3 provide a detailed clinical and epidemiologic description of the first 425 cases reported in the epicenter of the outbreak: the city of Wuhan in Hubei province, China. Although this information is critical in informing the appropriate response to this outbreak, as the authors point out, the study faces the limitation associated with reporting in real time the evolution of an emerging pathogen in its earliest stages. Nonetheless, a degree of clarity is emerging from this report. The median age of the patients was 59 years, with higher morbidity and mortality among the elderly and among those with coexisting conditions (similar to the situation with influenza); 56% of the patients were male. Of note, there were no cases in children younger than 15 years of age. Either children are less likely to become infected, which would have important epidemiologic implications, or their symptoms were so mild that their infection escaped detection, which has implications for the size of the denominator of total community infections.

SIGN UP

On the basis of a case definition requiring a diagnosis of pneumonia, the currently reported case fatality rate is approximately 2%.4 In another article in the Journal, Guan et al.5 report mortality of 1.4% among 1099 patients with laboratory-confirmed Covid-19; these patients had a wide spectrum of disease severity. If one assumes that the number of asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic cases is several times as high as the number of reported cases, the case fatality rate may be considerably less than 1%. This suggests that the overall clinical consequences of Covid-19 may ultimately be more akin to those of a severe seasonal influenza (which has a case fatality rate of approximately 0.1%) or a pandemic influenza (similar to those in 1957 and 1968) rather than a disease similar to SARS or MERS, which have had case fatality rates of 9 to 10% and 36%, respectively.2

The efficiency of transmission for any respiratory virus has important implications for containment and mitigation strategies. The current study indicates an estimated basic reproduction number (R0) of 2.2, which means that, on average, each infected person spreads the infection to an additional two persons. As the authors note, until this number falls below 1.0, it is likely that the outbreak will continue to spread. Recent reports of high titers of virus in the oropharynx early in the course of disease arouse concern about increased infectivity during the period of minimal symptoms.6,7

China, the United States, and several other countries have instituted temporary restrictions on travel with an eye toward slowing the spread of this new disease within China and throughout the rest of the world. The United States has seen a dramatic reduction in the number of travelers from China, especially from Hubei province. At least on a temporary basis, such restrictions may have helped slow the spread of the virus: whereas 78,191 laboratory-confirmed cases had been identified in China as of February 26, 2020, a total of 2918 cases had been confirmed in 37 other countries or territories.4 As of February 26, 2020, there had been 14 cases detected in the United States involving travel to China or close contacts with travelers, 3 cases among U.S. citizens repatriated from China, and 42 cases among U.S. passengers repatriated from a cruise ship where the infection had spread.8 However, given the efficiency of transmission as indicated in the current report, we should be prepared for Covid-19 to gain a foothold throughout the world, including in the United States. Community spread in the United States could require a shift from containment to mitigation strategies such as social distancing in order to reduce transmission. Such strategies could include isolating ill persons (including voluntary isolation at home), school closures, and telecommuting where possible.9

A robust research effort is currently under way to develop a vaccine against Covid-19.10 We anticipate that the first candidates will enter phase 1 trials by early spring. Therapy currently consists of supportive care while a variety of investigational approaches are being explored.11 Among these are the antiviral medication lopinavir–ritonavir, interferon-1β, the RNA polymerase inhibitor remdesivir, chloroquine, and a variety of traditional Chinese medicine products.11 Once available, intravenous hyperimmune globulin from recovered persons and monoclonal antibodies may be attractive candidates to study in early intervention. Critical to moving the field forward, even in the context of an outbreak, is ensuring that investigational products are evaluated in scientifically and ethically sound studies.12

Every outbreak provides an opportunity to gain important information, some of which is associated with a limited window of opportunity. For example, Li et al. report a mean interval of 9.1 to 12.5 days between the onset of illness and hospitalization. This finding of a delay in the progression to serious disease may be telling us something important about the pathogenesis of this new virus and may provide a unique window of opportunity for intervention. Achieving a better understanding of the pathogenesis of this disease will be invaluable in navigating our responses in this uncharted arena. Furthermore, genomic studies could delineate host factors that predispose persons to acquisition of infection and disease progression.

The Covid-19 outbreak is a stark reminder of the ongoing challenge of emerging and reemerging infectious pathogens and the need for constant surveillance, prompt diagnosis, and robust research to understand the basic biology of new organisms and our susceptibilities to them, as well as to develop effective countermeasures.

Disclosure forms provided by the authors are available with the full text of this editorial at NEJM.org.

This editorial was published on February 28, 2020, at NEJM.org.

Author Affiliations
From the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD (A.S.F., H.C.L.); and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta (R.R.R.).

 

[Red Leg]

From the New England Journal of Medicine - BOLDING MINE

https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMe2002387

Editor’s Note: This editorial was published on February 28, 2020, at NEJM.org.

EDITORIAL

Covid-19 — Navigating the Uncharted
List of authors.

• Anthony S. Fauci, M.D.,
• H. Clifford Lane, M.D.,
• and Robert R. Redfield, M.D.

• Article

Metrics

• 12 References
• 23 Citing Articles

The latest threat to global health is the ongoing outbreak of the respiratory disease that was recently given the name Coronavirus Disease 2019 (Covid-19). Covid-19 was recognized in December 2019.1 It was rapidly shown to be caused by a novel coronavirus that is structurally related to the virus that causes severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). As in two preceding instances of emergence of coronavirus disease in the past 18 years2 — SARS (2002 and 2003) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) (2012 to the present) — the Covid-19 outbreak has posed critical challenges for the public health, research, and medical communities.

In their Journal article, Li and colleagues3 provide a detailed clinical and epidemiologic description of the first 425 cases reported in the epicenter of the outbreak: the city of Wuhan in Hubei province, China. Although this information is critical in informing the appropriate response to this outbreak, as the authors point out, the study faces the limitation associated with reporting in real time the evolution of an emerging pathogen in its earliest stages. Nonetheless, a degree of clarity is emerging from this report. The median age of the patients was 59 years, with higher morbidity and mortality among the elderly and among those with coexisting conditions (similar to the situation with influenza); 56% of the patients were male. Of note, there were no cases in children younger than 15 years of age. Either children are less likely to become infected, which would have important epidemiologic implications, or their symptoms were so mild that their infection escaped detection, which has implications for the size of the denominator of total community infections.

SIGN UP

On the basis of a case definition requiring a diagnosis of pneumonia, the currently reported case fatality rate is approximately 2%.4 In another article in the Journal, Guan et al.5 report mortality of 1.4% among 1099 patients with laboratory-confirmed Covid-19; these patients had a wide spectrum of disease severity. If one assumes that the number of asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic cases is several times as high as the number of reported cases, the case fatality rate may be considerably less than 1%. This suggests that the overall clinical consequences of Covid-19 may ultimately be more akin to those of a severe seasonal influenza (which has a case fatality rate of approximately 0.1%) or a pandemic influenza (similar to those in 1957 and 1968) rather than a disease similar to SARS or MERS, which have had case fatality rates of 9 to 10% and 36%, respectively.2

The efficiency of transmission for any respiratory virus has important implications for containment and mitigation strategies. The current study indicates an estimated basic reproduction number (R0) of 2.2, which means that, on average, each infected person spreads the infection to an additional two persons. As the authors note, until this number falls below 1.0, it is likely that the outbreak will continue to spread. Recent reports of high titers of virus in the oropharynx early in the course of disease arouse concern about increased infectivity during the period of minimal symptoms.6,7

China, the United States, and several other countries have instituted temporary restrictions on travel with an eye toward slowing the spread of this new disease within China and throughout the rest of the world. The United States has seen a dramatic reduction in the number of travelers from China, especially from Hubei province. At least on a temporary basis, such restrictions may have helped slow the spread of the virus: whereas 78,191 laboratory-confirmed cases had been identified in China as of February 26, 2020, a total of 2918 cases had been confirmed in 37 other countries or territories.4 As of February 26, 2020, there had been 14 cases detected in the United States involving travel to China or close contacts with travelers, 3 cases among U.S. citizens repatriated from China, and 42 cases among U.S. passengers repatriated from a cruise ship where the infection had spread.8 However, given the efficiency of transmission as indicated in the current report, we should be prepared for Covid-19 to gain a foothold throughout the world, including in the United States. Community spread in the United States could require a shift from containment to mitigation strategies such as social distancing in order to reduce transmission. Such strategies could include isolating ill persons (including voluntary isolation at home), school closures, and telecommuting where possible.9

A robust research effort is currently under way to develop a vaccine against Covid-19.10 We anticipate that the first candidates will enter phase 1 trials by early spring. Therapy currently consists of supportive care while a variety of investigational approaches are being explored.11 Among these are the antiviral medication lopinavir–ritonavir, interferon-1β, the RNA polymerase inhibitor remdesivir, chloroquine, and a variety of traditional Chinese medicine products.11 Once available, intravenous hyperimmune globulin from recovered persons and monoclonal antibodies may be attractive candidates to study in early intervention. Critical to moving the field forward, even in the context of an outbreak, is ensuring that investigational products are evaluated in scientifically and ethically sound studies.12

Every outbreak provides an opportunity to gain important information, some of which is associated with a limited window of opportunity. For example, Li et al. report a mean interval of 9.1 to 12.5 days between the onset of illness and hospitalization. This finding of a delay in the progression to serious disease may be telling us something important about the pathogenesis of this new virus and may provide a unique window of opportunity for intervention. Achieving a better understanding of the pathogenesis of this disease will be invaluable in navigating our responses in this uncharted arena. Furthermore, genomic studies could delineate host factors that predispose persons to acquisition of infection and disease progression.

The Covid-19 outbreak is a stark reminder of the ongoing challenge of emerging and reemerging infectious pathogens and the need for constant surveillance, prompt diagnosis, and robust research to understand the basic biology of new organisms and our susceptibilities to them, as well as to develop effective countermeasures.

Disclosure forms provided by the authors are available with the full text of this editorial at NEJM.org.

This editorial was published on February 28, 2020, at NEJM.org.

Author Affiliations
From the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD (A.S.F., H.C.L.); and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta (R.R.R.).

Yep. The anti-body testing will drive the fatality percentage way down.

 

[sierraone]

Delta gave all refunds for 2 tickets to joburg. Was supposed to be in Namibia April 4-15. SAA gave us the same useless credit that gave everyone else. Namibia tours and safaris company initially said they would refund all but 10 percent. Now they are saying they can only give credits for a future tour. Out about 8k so far. Hopefully get to go one day.

That sucks Preston. My next trip is in Sep, so its too early for me know what will happen. Keeping my fingers crossed.

 

[Wheels]

@Wheels like I mentioned a while back, you guys could always join me in Zambia July 2022 after all this craziness is over.

Appreciate the offer. I do want to get to Zambia someday soon. I have never hunted there.

Not sure how/when we reschedule this hunt yet. There is still a possibility for later this year but I doubt the virus will allow it. I have another hunt already on the books for 2021 and don't really want to double up Africa hunting trips in a year. This Mozambique hunt will probably be rescheduled for 2022.

 

[Wheels]

Well, we were supposed to be at my oldest son's rehearsal dinner tonight and wedding tomorrow but the damn bat eaters messed it all up. Going to try again on June 6th in the Catskills but not sure about that either. Tried to get him to move it to Colorado but his fiance's mother about had a coronary when they mentioned that idea to her. Poor kids just want to get married, start a family and build a house.

I rebooked the flights tonight and WOW they really went back up to full price now. Everything was cheap a few days ago. I guess the news that the "peak" might be over is increasing prices already??

My younger son is getting married August 16th in Colorado. Hope that wedding isn't messed up as well.

Bummer about rescheduling a wedding. Hope everything comes together the way the bride a groom want!

 

[BigSteve57]

America is closing hospitals due to there being no census.

Is the cure worse than the virus.

I’m not able to operate because 95% of my cases (as an ENT surgeon) are ear tubes, tonsillectomies and sinus surgery- all elective cases. Probably won’t be able to get back to doing anything (and who knows what cases I’ll do) until June. Other surgical specialists are in the same boat. Huge huge loss of income for the hospitals. Many employees at my level II hospital are furloughed like most hospitals. Just heard a hospital in OKC is temporarily closed. Unreal. Hopefully not for too long.

A friend is in the same boat. He is an ophthalmologist with nine locations. Three weeks ago he laid of 46 employees. This includes 6-8 MD's and a couple dozen nurses. All he has done is a handful of glaucoma cases during this time.

My wife works in a Radiology office and is one of two who does CAT scans. The cancellation of elective procedures resulted in about a 60% reduction in the number of CAT scan cases they did each day. She's was furloughed last week at least until April 30th.

We didn't see that coming; quite the opposite. We assumed there would be a flood of additional people needing diagnostic scans for medical issues either created by or made worse by Corona.

So, what we thought would be massive amounts of forced overtime turned out to be just the opposite.

 

[spike.t]

From BBC news... kinda shows the actual opinion of those people.... Don't mind ripping the countries off...but really don't give a fk...

The US consulate in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou has warned about discrimination faced by Africans because of fears they could be spreading the coronavirus.
The consulate said the Chinese police had ordered bars and restaurants not to serve people who appeared to be of African origin.
It has warned African-Americans to stay away from the city.
For several days, there have been reports of Africans being evicted from their homes, barred from staying in hotels and forced into quarantine.
With nowhere to go, some are sleeping in the streets.

 

[Brent in Az]

Another episode of "The walking dead" at Wally World. Close to 20 people wanting to check out, 2 cashiers with one speed."Molasses in winter"
Some old buzzard gets right up to my face, breathing all over me, asking if he could cut in front of me because he had less groceries. Had to tell him to back off. Look at the stickers on the floor, spaced 6 feet apart.

In the words of Bill Engvall " Here's your sign"!

 

[Brent in Az]

Texas back in business soon?

https://m.analyzingamerica.org/brea...xecutive-order-to-reopen-state-from-shutdown/

 

[lil 2 sleepy]

So with flight prices being down. If you had an August trip planned, would you purchase the tickets at say $750 and then play the cancel if you had too game with Delta? Says you have a year: