Blood on the street II

[Uniquelyme]

Yeah, if only everyone had listened to YOU. LOL

However, the actual situation is that the President and Governors probably have a lot of SMART, RENOUND experts advising them on what to do. But experts don't always agree, even when information is perfect. And when information isn't perfect, they are even less likely to agree. Just look at the recent debate on use of face masks. The CDC was supposed to be the agency that planned for a possible pandemic. And, despite the billions of $$ they no doubt had, the response still fell short. Would more $$ have fixed the problem? Just like throwing money at public education, I would guess the answer is no.

And, even when you do give people direction, there are always glitches, like we saw with the production of the CV-19 tests.

I am not excusing our shortcomings, but I am not surprised or shocked either. Having lived/worked in the real-world I know that there are always flies-in-the-ointment and headwinds to getting anything done. And, on top of all we've seen so far, there is no doubt more fun & surprises yet to come. As von Clausewitz noted: No plan survives contact with the enemy.

The problem is we had an administration headed by a Nyer a Queens native. I've always rooted for this Man. But he dropped the ball. He cared much more about downplaying it and trying to control the narrative and not put in harms way the economy.

 

[krideynyc]

The problem is we had an administration headed by a Nyer a Queens native. I've always rooted for this Man. But he dropped the ball. He cared much more about downplaying it and trying to control the narrative and not put in harms way the economy.

Like old saying goes: the proof is in the pudding. Based on how this Administration responded, and is still responding, whoever is/was advising the President on this pandemic either did a very bad job from a medical perspective, or failed miserably in getting the point across.

 

[VJLUTZ]

But it would have been more effective than what this Administration did, and that is nothing.

Yeah, sure nothing. Total hyperbole.

Yeah. But going by what you posted in the beginning, I think you're also very casually forgetting the details. For someone that argued the flu was more dangerous, you couldn't have been proven more wrong.

Nah, what I said was that I thought the mortality rate would ultimately turn out to be under 1% or comparable to that of a very bad flu season. That was always a hunch on my part and may still turn out to be the case (especially because of the large number of asymptomatic people). However, I do concede it is putting a far bigger strain on the health care system than even severe flu seasons.

 

[Srhsrh]

Like old saying goes: the proof is in the pudding. Based on how this Administration responded, and is still responding, whoever is/was advising the President on this pandemic either did a very bad job from a medical perspective, or failed miserably in getting the point across.

One of the problems of this administration is that a small number of completely inexperienced (in government) people control all the decisions, and they've fired any of the permanent employees that take initiative and disagree with them, essentially muting the rest of the smart people in the government.

Friends at the large tech companies, have said that their companies offered assistance back in january to the WH to develop standard national tracking systems for this to track infected peoples movement, hot spots, etc. They were rebuffed or ignored by a president who simply doesnt understand technology. I'm sure it happened on the medical side too. This government left it for everyone else to figure out how to deal with this and it still goes on. The community is pushing the changes in many areas now to make this less of disaster.

 

[krideynyc]

Yeah, sure nothing. Total hyperbole..

You're right. They did institute travel bans. First was from China in late Jan. Which was two weeks after the virus entered Seattle. The second was on Mar 12 for Europe. Where visitors from Europe was able to travel freely after the Chinese could not. Too bad Italy and Spain turned out to be hot spots. And the rest of Europe is infected as well. Now, if he had implemented the travel ban on Mar 2nd, that might have helped.

Nah, what I said was that I thought the mortality rate would ultimately turn out to be under 1% or comparable to that of a very bad flu season. That was always a hunch on my part and may still turn out to be the case (especially because of the large number of asymptomatic people). However, I do concede it is putting a far bigger strain on the health care system than even severe flu seasons.

No, you said the flu kills more people and is more deadly. As for that 1%, our bet is still on. I project 2.5%. Haven't forgotten. And good luck proving those asymptomatic people statistically. Because now, the death toll has also been under reported. Not in China, but in Italy as well. And for every death, that wipes out 99 untested positives.

 

[krideynyc]

This government left it for everyone else to figure out how to deal with this and it still goes on. The community is pushing the changes in many areas now to make this less of disaster.

The local populace is doing a better job at this point than the Administration, so they have my support. Still not understanding why we invoked a National Emergency if the Federal Gov't is doing more to hamper local efforts than to help.

 

[Srhsrh]

The local populace is doing a better job at this point than the Administration, so they have my support. Still not understanding why we invoked a National Emergency if the Federal Gov't is doing more to hamper local efforts than to help.

I think it was so the president could get on TV every day, and ridicule the press for asking him why the government is hoarding equipment. It also allows him to talk about how great our economy was and what a great job he has done, except for this.

Up here, i've been really impressed by the cooperation between hospitals too. sharing resources where they can (its a huge amount more of a problem right now besides PPE), pushing out new ideas for care. basically collaborating. there's a lot of guys who havent really slept in 3 weeks added to the exhausted doctors and nurses. And the worst is yet to come.

 

[krideynyc]

I think it was so the president could get on TV every day, and ridicule the press for asking him why the government is hoarding equipment. It also allows him to talk about how great our economy was and what a great job he has done, except for this.

Makes sense, now that he can't hold his rallies anymore due to event closures.

Up here, i've been really impressed by the cooperation between hospitals too. sharing resources where they can (its a huge amount more of a problem right now besides PPE), pushing out new ideas for care. basically collaborating. there's a lot of guys who havent really slept in 3 weeks added to the exhausted doctors and nurses. And the worst is yet to come.

The medical volunteers that are coming in to help NY says a lot about how we as a people are willing to handle this crisis. Even when they know the risks are very very high.

 

[Srhsrh]

Makes sense, now that he can't hold his rallies anymore due to event closures.
The medical volunteers that are coming in to help NY says a lot about how we as a people are willing to handle this crisis. Even when they know the risks are very very high.

Up here, because of the difficulties in containment initially there were hundreds of nurses that had to go into self quarantine, or were presumptive positive, because of course, we have no tests available. Replacement nurses have been helping, and to their credit the quarantined and sick nurses have been working from home via phone and computer to help keep medical records up to date, train the replacements, etc. There's a lot of good stories that are not being told.

 

[Uniquelyme]

Up here, because of the difficulties in containment initially there were hundreds of nurses that had to go into self quarantine, or were presumptive positive, because of course, we have no tests available. Replacement nurses have been helping, and to their credit the quarantined and sick nurses have been working from home via phone and computer to help keep medical records up to date, train the replacements, etc. There's a lot of good stories that are not being told.

I have much faith in our healthcare workers. Aside from most plastic surgeons. Most health care workers didnt go into this industry to make boku bucks. They did it to help care for people.

Unfortunately up until now our federal government is failing them. And questioning the governors who are fighting for more supplies solely for the health care workers!!!

 

[krideynyc]

I have much faith in our healthcare workers. Aside from most plastic surgeons. Most health care workers didnt go into this industry to make boku bucks. They did it to help care for people.

Unfortunately up until now or federal government is failing them. And questioning the governors who are fighting for more supplies solely for the health care workers!!!

What many people are forgetting is that for the ones that are still fighting, it stopped being a job weeks ago. A job is something you can quit. These people are staying in even if it means catching the virus and risking it all. They're just asking for any help we can give them.

 

[Srhsrh]

What many people are forgetting is that for the ones that are still fighting, it stopped being a job weeks ago. A job is something you can quit. These people are staying in even if it means catching the virus and risking it all. They're just asking for any help we can give them.

yep. thats my friend, the hospital computer tech that had one mask to use every day for three weeks. he's a rock star. My company has offered to hire him many times. He wont leave, particularly right now.

Computer work is pretty dry stuff most of the time. but when you work at a poor rural hospital, even the computer people know that people die if they dont show up to work. thats the world we live in. I work in both healthcare and financial. financials are the cadillacs, we get the newest toys and unlimited budgets. hospitals are the 20 year old chevy caprices. At least here in this country. but i dont want to be accused again by the intelligentia here about being a sinophile again today. lets just say that there are many third world countries with better systems. and it isnt the people that work in them that makes the difference.

 

[benzy45]

Yeah, if only everyone had listened to YOU. LOL

However, the actual situation is that the President and Governors probably have a lot of SMART, RENOUND experts advising them on what to do. But experts don't always agree, even when information is perfect. And when information isn't perfect, they are even less likely to agree. Just look at the recent debate on use of face masks. The CDC was supposed to be the agency that planned for a possible pandemic. And, despite the billions of $$ they no doubt had, the response still fell short. Would more $$ have fixed the problem? Just like throwing money at public education, I would guess the answer is no.

And, even when you do give people direction, there are always glitches, like we saw with the production of the CV-19 tests.

I am not excusing our shortcomings, but I am not surprised or shocked either. Having lived/worked in the real-world I know that there are always flies-in-the-ointment and headwinds to getting anything done. And, on top of all we've seen so far, there is no doubt more fun & surprises yet to come. As von Clausewitz noted: No plan survives contact with the enemy.

Anybody that is shocked that the federal (and in several cases state governments) , is not fully up to the task here must have never availed themselves of the services of the USPS, Amtrak, various regional commuter railroads and subways, the DMV, the list is lengthy. Some of the worst run entities known to man.

 

[krideynyc]

Anybody that is shocked that the federal (and in several cases state governments) , is not fully up to the task here must have never availed themselves of the services of the USPS, Amtrak, various regional commuter railroads and subways, the DMV, the list is lengthy. Some of the worst run entities known to man.

In a State of National Emergency, the President is granted unprecedented powers to get things done. If he directs an agency and they are slow to respond, he can skip the usual formalities for a replacement. Like Bush did for Michael Brown of FEMA with Gen. Honore during Katrina. But to argue that we should expect the same level of performance now, is definitely not in the context of a National Emergency.

 

[njlefty]

If the commentary is accurate, the death toll in the next two weeks will be "staggering" in NY.

 

[charliebrown]

You guys are cracking me up.

Anybody that is shocked that the federal (and in several cases state governments) , is not fully up to the task here must have never availed themselves of the services of the USPS, Amtrak, various regional commuter railroads and subways, the DMV, the list is lengthy. Some of the worst run entities known to man.

You missed SS, Medicaid and Medicare!!!

 

[njlefty]

You guys are cracking me up.

You missed SS, Medicaid and Medicare!!!

I think we're doomed. I was reading thoroughly this morning about this virus and how it mutates and replicates. Also how strange it can act inside a body without any predictability. Scientists cannot even get a baseline for understanding the disparate effects in each person, healthy or unhealthy.

Not good.

 

[charliebrown]

I think we're doomed. I was reading thoroughly this morning about this virus and how it mutates and replicates. Also how strange it can act inside a body without any predictability. Scientists cannot even get a baseline for understanding the disparate effects in each person, healthy or unhealthy.

Not good.

NJL, please give a link. Reading the MMQB is mind numbing. I am still not accepting the gloom and doom. This country/world will do what is required to solve this problem and get life moving forward.

 

[njlefty]

NJL, please give a link. Reading the MMQB is mind numbing. I am still not accepting the gloom and doom. This country/world will do what is required to solve this problem and get life moving forward.

Article in the Los Angeles Times. It is an interview with two doctors. I don't feel like looking at it again. But you should be able to easily find and read.

 

[Koondog]

In case you missed it, yesterday, Federal Agents arrested Dr. Charles Lieber, chair of Harvard University's Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, with lying to the Department of Defense about secret monthly payments of $50,000.00 paid by China and receipt of millions more to help set up a chemical/biological “Research” laboratory in China. Also arrested were two Chinese “Students” working as research assistants, one of whom was actually a lieutenant in the Chinese Army, the other captured at Logan Airport as he tried to catch a flight to China - smuggling 21 vials of “Sensitive Biological Samples” according to the FBI.
Oh, almost forgot. The research lab the good professor had helped set up? It’s located at the Wuhan University of Technology. Wuhan China is ground zero to the potentially global pandemic known as the “Coronavirus”which is both spreading rapidly and killing people.
This is Stephen Coonts international spy novel stuff happening in real life - and it has barely made the news.