Coronavirus - Pittsburgh news (health care system, deaths, March, Massachusetts)

[eschaton]

Originally Posted by gg

Boom. St. Patrick's Day Parade cancelled.

https://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2020...d-coronavirus/

It's a good preventive measure. Kudos.

[Lost_In_Translation]

Originally Posted by eschaton

It's a good preventive measure. Kudos.

I do wonder where it ends though...cancel all events, shut down transportation...everyone hide in your house/apartment. At some point you have to still just live life unless you decide government needs to quarantine everyone like China. This virus is probably doing more harm economically to the world than it ever did to the general health of the population. Oh well...

[eschaton]

Originally Posted by Lost_In_Translation

I do wonder where it ends though...cancel all events, shut down transportation...everyone hide in your house/apartment. At some point you have to still just live life unless you decide government needs to quarantine everyone like China. This virus is probably doing more harm economically to the world than it ever did to the general health of the population. Oh well...

What's more important? Avoiding a steep recession, or reducing the death rate by around 50% because the hospitals aren't overwhelmed due to a lack of beds?

[Knepper3]

Ugh, so SRU has extended spring break 2 extra weeks since it seems they need that time to setup online classes for the rest of the semester. I get it but 2 weeks off means a lot for these kids to make up and also some kids (my daughter) do not learn as well online and like to study together. There is a reason we did not pay for her to take online classes.



Again I get but also now I'm basically paying for an apartment for the next 5 months that is not needed.


https://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2020...o-coronavirus/

[Knepper3]

Originally Posted by eschaton

What's more important? Avoiding a steep recession, or reducing the death rate by around 50% because the hospitals aren't overwhelmed due to a lack of beds?

Sorry I respect much of what you say but there is zero indication of this. Even if this spread the vast majority of people that get it will not require hospitalization.

[erieguy]

Originally Posted by Knepper3

Sorry I respect much of what you say but there is zero indication of this. Even if this spread the vast majority of people that get it will not require hospitalization.

Bingo

The fear mongering via the media, and the state of panic many are in, is truly amazing.

[Lost_In_Translation]

Originally Posted by eschaton

What's more important? Avoiding a steep recession, or reducing the death rate by around 50% because the hospitals aren't overwhelmed due to a lack of beds?

Honestly...it’s a hard call because there is little evidence to suggest that if you’re under the age of 50 and healthy that this is any more dangerous than a bad cold. It’s the uniqueness of it that’s scaring people and the complications that are arising for those that have underlying health issues. A recession could bankrupt companies, put people on the street and hurt a great deal more people health wise because they can’t afford things. And if transportation reduces, more food shortages, more issues with basic utilities because parts aren’t coming in. Granted a parade isn’t going to shut down life, but we’ll see how far things get pushed. I wouldn’t be so blasé about a recession. Lots of lives were lost during the Great Recession of 2008 because of things you and I never got to see personally.

[eschaton]

Originally Posted by Knepper3

Sorry I respect much of what you say but there is zero indication of this. Even if this spread the vast majority of people that get it will not require hospitalization.

The point of mitigation strategies is to ensure there is enough hospital equipment for everyone who needs critical care and has a chance of recovery.

If we have only 50 respirators in the Pittsburgh area and they're all in use, the 51st patient is going to be screwed.

[Lost_In_Translation]

Originally Posted by eschaton

The point of mitigation strategies is to ensure there is enough hospital equipment for everyone who needs critical care and has a chance of recovery.

If we have only 50 respirators in the Pittsburgh area and they're all in use, the 51st patient is going to be screwed.

Yep...but there is only so much you can do without greater harm to society as a whole. It’s a tough decision to make. Stopping the parade may be an easy one, but if you start isolating Pittsburgh further you risk snowballing consequences that could hurt a lot more people than you save.

[Lost_In_Translation]

Chances are there are already thousands of people infected in NYC and short of putting the city on National Guard lockdown, accepting the consequences of the spread may be the best option and focusing on the elderly first and foremost. Keeping everyone apart is impossible and impractical.