7 April. Pandemicia coronavirus report #6
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| Stacks of supplies in New York |
Evidence continues to accumulate that the USA and other countries 'wasted months' instead of preparing. Orders for essential equipment were not placed until mid-March.
The epidemic panic is essentially over in Europe, though significant deaths will continue to be recorded. The most affected European countries passed the inflection point of confirmed cases (point of maximum daily cases) about ten days ago (14 days in Italy), and therefore passed the inflection point of new infections about two weeks ago - as it typically takes five days for infections to be confirmed. We have prepared a table demonstrating the peak and the success rate of countries in curbing the epidemic.
Boris Johnson, the British Prime Minister, is in intensive care for coronavirus but is not yet on ventilation. Medical staff say he has a chance of surviving. [death rates at this stage of COVID-19 are about 25%).
A member of Iran's health council said that both cases and deaths were being grossly under-reported. He says that actual infections in Iran are eight times what has been reported, and these are still rising in many regions.
The opening of Hubei after a month's lockdown is revealing a good deal of social and economic dislocation. In interviews conducted on the bullet train with heavily masked young people, one said paying for a quarantine hotel was going to take half his monthly salary. Another was concerned that she might lose her Beijing apartment as she has not been able to return to work (apartments are often tied to enterprises in China).
India has been forced to release supplies of generic chloroquine, though there is no evidence it is effective against coronavirus . New York is trying the drug on parients as "there is no known treatment". [Personally, during travel I have found chloroquine to be quite effective against chest infections while pretending it is shielding me against malaria - JF]
India has been forced to release supplies of generic chloroquine, though there is no evidence it is effective against coronavirus . New York is trying the drug on parients as "there is no known treatment". [Personally, during travel I have found chloroquine to be quite effective against chest infections while pretending it is shielding me against malaria - JF]
Australia
The health care and social welfare industry has been among the hardest hit by stand downs and layoffs in Australia, with about 45% of firms affected, according to ABS statistics. At $1500 a fortnight, the government will be paying more in Jobkeeper benefits to staff laid off than many of them have been earning.
A fine of $1500 on a learner driver driving with her mother in Melbourne was withdrawn after widespread public condemnation. The police said it had not been made clear that this was not an accepted 'essential' activity.
Demand for flour has been rising as Australians turn to baking to while away their time during lockdown.
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