SXSW - time to reschedule for 2021? (Austin, Italy: live, safe, homeless)

[Need4Camaro]

Aaaaand its officially here:

https://weather.com/health/video/fir...=pl-the-latest

Not trying to be that guys and all but this is one of those I'm not sure should be taken so lightly given it has already killed a U.S. citizen on mainland after not even having been here a full month yet. Given the symptoms can be delayed for up to 2 weeks its untold how many people really may be infected. It seems those most at risk for mortality are those with existing lung issues (bronchitis or asthma), diabetes, or are plainly mal-fit...but it seems a bit worse than an average flu.

[m1a1mg]

56,000 Americans die from the flu every year and we can't get people to wash their hands more often. One guy dies from some Chinese virus and we're supposed to panic? SMDH.

[Need4Camaro]

Originally Posted by m1a1mg

56,000 Americans die from the flu every year and we can't get people to wash their hands more often. One guy dies from some Chinese virus and we're supposed to panic? SMDH.

Theres a difference between panicking and taking precautions.

This Virus is a bit more dangerous and much more contagious than the flu

Which virus is deadlier?
The coronavirus seems to be more deadly than the flu — so far.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/29/h...virus-flu.html

and those with lung issues (smokers, asthma, bronchitis) seem to be at much greater risk for mortality. The flu kills about 0.1% of the population who contract it. This virus seems to have a 2% mortality rate so far. That might not seem like alot but in percentages that is something that kills nearly twice as many people who contract it.

[Westerner92]

The biggest problem is that this virus is spreading faster than we can really know its behaviors and implications. Any numbers out of China are highly unreliable, and the first wave of cases in the developed world is just now recovering.

A quarter of all common colds are caused by coronaviruses that are believed (via DNA sequencing) to have jumped to human populations in the last century. A couple have even been discovered after pandemic has already occurred. Some common colds can already kill vulnerable populations with viral pneumonia, especially if they've been smokers or live in areas with high air pollution (which many of the outbreak centers have in common). Since this is a completely novel virus that most likely transmitted from an exotic animal (a Chinese university claims it found a highly similar strain in pangolins in their disgusting live animal markets), people don't have any sort of immunity built up to it, yet even with that, the large majority of known cases don't present anything more severe than a long-lasting chest cold with maybe a fever. It's barely even been observed in people younger than 20, which suggests the virus may ultimately be indistinguishable from the common cold and become endemic in humans. That said, there have been multiple cases where the virus was undetectable in patients upon recovery, only to be detectable just days after. It hasn't even been around long enough to know its infection cycle, just how contagious it is, or just how accurate the tests are. It's a very slow-progressing virus.

The worst case scenario is that it's a chronic infection that can reactivate throughout the lifetime of the host, like chickenpox or mono, which would completely overwhelm healthcare systems and cause supply-chain disruptions that cause record-large corporate Ponzi schemes to collapse and send the world into a larger recession than 2008. The best case scenario is that it's added to the increasingly larger repertoire of human-endemic coronaviruses that cause more persistent than average colds.

I say party should go on, just with extra precautions. Deadly and/or permanent viruses are always around us, but the whole world watching a new one unleash in real time is unsettling. The best thing to do is IMHO is take the middle road: Don't panic, but please don't blow it off. I say the organizers should make all the corporate sponsors pay for tissues at doorways, awareness signs to cough into your elbow, and temperature checking stations.

[m1a1mg]

Originally Posted by Need4Camaro

Theres a difference between panicking and taking precautions.

Cancelling SXSW is a panic response.

[DMChicago]

I saw a woman walking her dog around my block yesterday wearing a mask.

I mean, we live in a gated community for gods sake!

[atxcio]

We typically stop by SXSW one or two days, usually during interactive for the free/no badge stuff.

Looks like this year may be great for that, since the crowds will be reduced.

As long as you aren't high risk or scared of the virus, this may be an optimal time to check it out as a local if you haven't done so in a few years.

[Ivory Lee Spurlock]

It's gonna be a tough call no matter what is decided. I for one would not want to be the one who makes the decision to cancel SXSW or not. On the one hand, if SXSW is not canceled and the region ends up getting hit with a major outbreak of the corona virus, somebody or some group will have to be held responsible and accountable and that might cost millions in attorney fees alone.

On the other hand, a person can't really live a life over what "might" or "might not" happen. If they did, then nobody would drive cars or fly in airplanes, ride in busses, trains or boats, or live anyplace that has earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, wild fires and flash floods. With all the people in and out of Austin everyday, the corona virus could sneak into Austin from anywhere at anytime, with or without SXSW. So if a person wants to be 100% sure not to be a corona virus victim, or any other kind of victim for that matter, he or she just might as well stay home in bed curled up in the fetal position with the covers pulled over his or her head.

[ScoPro]

Correct, but I’d still hope that those who usually walk around coughing, sneezing, & snotting would be more considerate by using a mask to help contain their spray and use tissues to throw away.

[KingHenryFour]

Many tech companies are already eliminating nonessential travel for employees. The film and music sections may still have full attendance, but I think the first weekend (tech) will have fewer.