WHO declares the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic

[Luc 4,776]

2 hours ago, Maleficent said:

lmao it’s literally a biological fact. viruses evolve and only the strongest that can fight it remain alive to pass on their genes. 

there’s really nothing we can do about it, it’s the natural way. been like that since before humans existed. 

sorry some can’t handle the fact that their friends and family will die sooner than later, but the virus doesn’t care. 

Why do you think the social systems we built, the intelligence we have and the solidarity we feel is not part of evolution as well? Evolutionary arguments in cases like this are weak anyways (they're the clearest example of the appeal to nature fallacy I can think of), but as humans we have the capacity to prevent the spread of this and to prevent deaths, and, reasoning from evolution, it's actually evolution that has given us these capabilities. Why not use them to protect each other?

By the way, it's wrong to think that there is some kind of natural selection going on here, which would be necessary for an evolutionary argument. In fact, almost all deaths are people who can't get kids anymore (thus evolutionary arguments don't apply to them anymore). The only way natural selection due to this virus would come into play is when the lower healthcare expenses lead to more consumption by fertile people, which is probably not happening because wealth correlates with lower birthrates.

[NCgaga 4,345]

You guys spread a lot of speculation and over dramatize certain information. Just be vigilant and do what the health organizations tell you to do. Filter your news by making sure you are getting information from scientists- not opinions - and certainly not opinions from panicked members of a Stan website. We have to be responsible. We have to take this seriously. We have to make a few changes to ensure our own safety as well as the safety of the elderly and the immunocomprimised. but stay abreast of the facts. Don’t give yourselves anxiety attacks. Take action, and keeep yourself clean and safe. 

[Zander 14,944]

I'm seeing the same members spread panic on this site which is totally unnecessary and irresponsible. We don't need to panic we just need to be cautious. The risk of you catching it is still low regardless of the variables (Such as where you live, whether you work home from not etc...), and you can keep it low by doing you're bit and being cautious of your surroundings. 

The current reality is that there are many people that who have been  infected, recovered, and haven't known they've got it therefore isn't being reported,  that alone would decrease the fatality rate. If you break it down by region the fatality rate varies because of different variables such as age, population density etc... It'll be a few months down the line when there's enough data to realistically know what it is. Also its worth remembering that when there is a vaccine that rate will drop.  

Imagine if the media reported every single flu case everyday, those numbers would be far higher than what we're seeing at the moment and would be more scary to look at it. For those that are panicked by this, do you and your mental health a favour by blocking certain words from your social media using browser plugins, limit your time to reading the news and try and put things into perspective and don't buy into the hysteria. Yes this situation will get worse before it gets better and an example of that is China & South Korea where cases have/are plateauing.

[YourCureness 2,844]

8 hours ago, kyanewest said:

the problem is that u can catch the virus just by breathing. washing ur hands can help if u touch ur face, but ultimately they use that phrase to make ppl feel like they can stop it and protect themselves. The reality is that if ur in the room or 4meters or less from someone whos infected and u breathe? Good luck to u

No it's not airborned yet. 

[Adakam 2]

1 hour ago, Zander said:

I'm seeing the same members spread panic on this site which is totally unnecessary and irresponsible. We don't need to panic we just need to be cautious. The risk of you catching it is still low regardless of the variables (Such as where you live, whether you work home from not etc...), and you can keep it low by doing you're bit and being cautious of your surroundings. 

The current reality is that there are many people that who have been  infected, recovered, and haven't known they've got it therefore isn't being reported,  that alone would decrease the fatality rate. If you break it down by region the fatality rate varies because of different variables such as age, population density etc... It'll be a few months down the line when there's enough data to realistically know what it is. Also its worth remembering that when there is a vaccine that rate will drop.  

Imagine if the media reported every single flu case everyday, those numbers would be far higher than what we're seeing at the moment and would be more scary to look at it. For those that are panicked by this, do you and your mental health a favour by blocking certain words from your social media using browser plugins, limit your time to reading the news and try and put things into perspective and don't buy into the hysteria. Yes this situation will get worse before it gets better and an example of that is China & South Korea where cases have/are plateauing.

Yes, panic doesnt solve anything and it does make things worse, stress depresses your immune system anyway.

All these numbers that get thrown around about the estimates of the potential of the virus, are based on having next to none response. If the proper measures are taken, even if they affect the overall economy, the virus can easily be stopped. China is almost in the clear already. We'll see the same in Italy.

Because of all the timings this virus has, a good, thorough quarantine like China did, for about a month, completely stops the spread for good. We could literally forget about the virus in a month if the whole world was put on quarantine right now. The whole world's economy will take a huge hit anyway, it would probably be a better idea to take the hit now.

The only way we'll reach those high numbers of millions of deaths, is if governments refuse to do proper quarantines at the right time and if the population doesnt cooperate with said quarantines.

 

[WhiteWitch 720]

Here’s my frustration.... why are we taking this so seriously, but not the flu. The flu kills 290,00-650,000 people every year, but we cannot take that as seriously as we are taking this disease which only 5% of people have serious or fatal symptoms from. The fact is 80% of people have mild symptoms from COVID-19. 
 

That being said, my sister and her bf have health issues, and I take it very seriously any time any of us are sick for cost and healthcare reasons. Even if it could be a simple cold, we pretty mich self quarantine the way people are for this. So why on God’s green earth are we taking this so much more seriously when people can’t even wash their G.D hands for the flu. THAT is what irritates me about this “pandemic.” That and how anti-vax people think they should be taken seriously, yet they want a vaccine for this... right now I am trying really hard not to just heavy sigh at everything. 

[dit 46,738]

Can this seriously kill out a major chunk of the world's elderly? Someone literally said in the bus that this may wipe out a big amount of old people in the world if it is not controlled and I thought they were exaggerating but now I'm really scared for all the elderly  

[Gypsy 3,826]

Deaths:

4,633

Recovered:

68,304

That's all I need to know  

[DeleteMyAccount 11,881]

5 minutes ago, WhiteWitch said:

Here’s my frustration.... why are we taking this so seriously, but not the flu. The flu kills 290,00-650,000 people every year, but we cannot take that as seriously as we are taking this disease which only 5% of people have serious or fatal symptoms from. The fact is 80% of people have mild symptoms from COVID-19. 
 

That being said, my sister and her bf have health issues, and I take it very seriously any time any of us are sick for cost and healthcare reasons. Even if it could be a simple cold, we pretty mich self quarantine the way people are for this. So why on God’s green earth are we taking this so much more seriously when people can’t even wash their G.D hands for the flu. THAT is what irritates me about this “pandemic.” That and how anti-vax people think they should be taken seriously, yet they want a vaccine for this... right now I am trying really hard not to just heavy sigh at everything. 

When this all first started, I was sort of on the same page as you. But I've come to note that it's more than just another cold/flu virus. This pandemic happened so quickly. And because it's new and unknown, it causes a much different reaction. Mainly because we already have a vaccine to the flu and have years of experience treating it. 

I also have to go into the fact that the coverage of this has put a good spotlight on the fact that many people don't wash their hands or even bother getting flu shots. This whole thing should be a wakeup call. It's an unfortunate one, but I hope more people will be prepared in the future. 

However, I want to bring up a point that FATCAT brought up. There are many people, cities, countries, that take on a lot of stress when such breakouts occur. Meaning we need to contain and make sure people are taking care of themselves. We don't have test kits. We don't have a vaccine. We don't have enough data about the coronavirus to even figure out how long it will last. Luckily, places like South Korea seem to be have a slowdown in cases. But the coverage of this is important, even if it is in all our faces, because we don't want the virus to go insane. We have to stabilize the populations as the experts handle the situation. 

[DeleteMyAccount 11,881]

1 minute ago, Gypsy said:

Deaths:

4,633

Recovered:

68,304

That's all I need to know  

That's still bad though. 

[Gypsy 3,826]

1 minute ago, ZacharyMark said:

That's still bad though. 

Most people can recover from this Ebola was more of a threat 

As long as the governments are working together and in lockdowns ect we all should be fine, the news is dramatic 

[DeleteMyAccount 11,881]

3 minutes ago, Gypsy said:

Most people can recover from this Ebola was more of a threat 

Although Ebola had a much worse fatality rate, it's wasn't as widespread as corona. It really depends on how you look at it through the statistics. But at the end of the day, people are still dying. And I don't want to rate the importance/relevance of a disease because some numbers are higher or lower. 

[WhiteWitch 720]

5 minutes ago, ZacharyMark said:

When this all first started, I was sort of on the same page as you. But I've come to note that it's more than just another cold/flu virus. This pandemic happened so quickly. And because it's new and unknown, it causes a much different reaction. Mainly because we already have a vaccine to the flu and have years of experience treating it. 

I also have to go into the fact that the coverage of this has put a good spotlight on the fact that many people don't wash their hands or even bother getting flu shots. This whole thing should be a wakeup call. It's an unfortunate one, but I hope more people will be prepared in the future. 

However, I want to bring up a point that FATCAT brought up. There are many people, cities, countries, that take on a lot of stress when such breakouts occur. Meaning we need to contain and make sure people are taking care of themselves. We don't have test kits. We don't have a vaccine. We don't have enough data about the coronavirus to even figure out how long it will last. Luckily, places like South Korea seem to be have a slowdown in cases. But the coverage of this is important, even if it is in all our faces, because we don't want the virus to go insane. We have to stabilize the populations as the experts handle the situation. 

I’m definitely glad at what has been brought to light, but having had H1N1 in 2009, and seeing what happened with ebola and Zika, I also have experienced how blown out of proportion these things can be as well. I hope I don’t get COVID-19 too, but if it’s my time then so be it. Disease is a fact of life, and if anything I feel that it just goes to show the failings of our governments for what should have already been in place for people who have illnesses. 
 

I think it’s ridiculous that my state already has schools and events cancelling, but we have no confirmed cases yet. To me, that is speaking volumes on the unnecessary fear that is being spread about this pandemic. If disease is such an issue, why should we permit such large volumes if gatherings in the first place. Honestly, follow basic hygiene and illness protocols and you should be ok. That being said, also use this as a reason to push for better legislation for peoples rights so no one is scared to take time they need when they are sick. Also I apologize if this got ranty... I have had an undisclosed amount of wine this evening. 

[Gypsy 3,826]

1 minute ago, ZacharyMark said:

Although Ebola had a much worse fatality rate, it's wasn't as widespread as corona. It really depends on how you look at it through the statistics. But at the end of the day, people are still dying. And I don't want to rate the importance/relevance of a disease because some numbers are higher or lower. 

Nobody is saying it isn't relevant I'm just saying the media is flogging the f*ck out of this making everyone panic.
It's ridiculous and when you really look at it the recovery rate is greater than the death rate.
As someone who works in the medical field us nurses really just fed up about it and how it's being portrayed  

[MissKombucha 308]

10 hours ago, Quartz said:

Literally WHO is declaring this a pandemic and we still have people downplaying it. Yeah sure, back up your smugness with your doctorate in Virology please.

A pandemic just means it’s a global virus — all of them became Pandemics because humanities propensity to travel —