Trump VS COVID-19 Threat

[bleubird]

Steve Novella (Science Based Medicine & Skeptics Guide To the Universe Podcast) was saying that regular soap is able to break down the lipids that encase the virus. Moreover, the anti-bacterial stuff can affect the ph of your hands and may not work as well.

Food service workers are told that the soap does not kill the virus or germ it breaks down the oils on your skin that hold the bugs.

 

[bilby]

Steve Novella (Science Based Medicine & Skeptics Guide To the Universe Podcast) was saying that regular soap is able to break down the lipids that encase the virus. Moreover, the anti-bacterial stuff can affect the ph of your hands and may not work as well.

Food service workers are told that the soap does not kill the virus or germ it breaks down the oils on your skin that hold the bugs.

Yeah, few viruses have a large lipid component; Typically they consist of a protein coat surrounding an RNA payload. Coronaviruses do have a lipid membrane supporting the coat proteins and glycoproteins, but the accessibility of the membrane to soaps and surfactants is minimal - washing with soap is far more likely to remove the virus intact than to actively break it down. Once it's off your hands and down the drain, it's in a very hostile environment, and unlikely to do further harm.

 

[lpetrich]

The Coronavirus Is Challenging What Our Politicians Think About 'Medicare For All' | HuffPost

A Department of Health and Human Services official told a Senate committee Tuesday that the administration is considering how it could pay hospitals to treat uninsured coronavirus, or COVID-19, patients. And Republicans in Congress ― some of whom have spent their entire political careers railing against Obamacare and socialized medicine ― are sounding supportive of the idea.

then
Matt Fuller on Twitter: "Truly stunning to hear some Republicans advocate for free Coronavirus testing and treatment for the uninsured.
Rep. Ted Yoho (R-Fla.), one of the most anti-ACA members:
“You can look at it as socialized medicine, but in the face of an outbreak, a pandemic, what’s your options?”" / Twitter

Pete Rudkins on Twitter: "@MEPFuller Another way of saying it: "cancer and diabetes are your own fault. Coronavirus we can blame on foreigners."" / Twitter

Fiona Mandible on Twitter: "@MEPFuller This disease is different because it affects THEM." / Twitter

5 min conversation on Twitter: "@foxxjaw @MEPFuller Yep, it's time people understand this is all being a conservative is all about, it's not about "limited Government, or whatever BS they try to lecture on, it's about "does X situation personally affect me or not" that's it." / Twitter

MomsThoughts™ on Twitter: "@MEPFuller @DelWilber "Every day suffering is fine, but if there's a chance their suffering could spread to me, then I'm down with socialized medicine"
God I hate Republicans." / Twitter

The Wyzard on Twitter: "@MEPFuller So like...they understand it when all of a sudden a medical emergency might threaten people like them." / Twitter

 

[lpetrich]

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Twitter: "It’s great to see Republicans understand this crisis & advocate for socialized medicine.
No one should be charged for getting tested for Coronavirus, & no one should be charged for getting treated.
This applies to pandemics and it should apply to any condition or care you need. https://t.co/bpwvIj5sL0" / Twitter

Daniel Johnson on Twitter: "@AOC The 'change of heart' is because they are afraid their own health will be threatened if people don't get tested." / Twitter

Veronica on Twitter: "@AOC As usual, Republicans are against doing the right thing until it affects them personally." / Twitter


Kathryn Watson on Twitter: "What alternative to shaking hands would you consider as a standard, non-contact social greeting?" / Twitter
then
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Twitter: "One practice I’ve used in no-hand shake situations is to put my hand over my heart and smile/nod at whomever I am greeting. (Shout out to our local NY14 faith communities for teaching me this!)
What’s your favorite handshake greeting alternative? https://t.co/xY1rXBjFZ0" / Twitter

beeg beeg yoshi on Twitter: "@AOC https://t.co/hIi5EsXuWO" / Twitter - touching feet, with shoes on

Michael on Twitter: "Since #COVID19 means we can't shake hands, we could use this opportunity to work on our humility in "the west".
We could meet and greet with clasped hands or bowing * to replace handshakes. What better time to reduce ego, add humility and respect for others? Give it a try. https://t.co/CFk7dJXVk2" / Twitter
then
Michael on Twitter: "@AOC Clasped hands and a bow, some much needed humility in our society today. https://t.co/bkaH9VBfj6" / Twitter

kdino on Twitter: "@AOC Namaste https://t.co/WohjWXJMoF" / Twitter - has a GIF with a demo of the "Namaste" gesture

Raul Rodriguez on Twitter: "@AOC https://t.co/OuTCUosYIv" / Twitter - image file with "Coronavirus Tip: Wash your hands like you got a club stamp you don't want Mom to see."

Christian Ramirez AKA Caesar on Twitter: "@AOC I think we should all start bowing to each other like the Japanese. https://t.co/1fvsCYpIkD" / Twitter

Mayank on Twitter: "@AOC Namaste https://t.co/ePHsf8DhdH" / Twitter - Another Namaste GIF

 

[J842P]

Steve Novella (Science Based Medicine & Skeptics Guide To the Universe Podcast) was saying that regular soap is able to break down the lipids that encase the virus. Moreover, the anti-bacterial stuff can affect the ph of your hands and may not work as well.

Virons are generally not encased in lipids. They can be, but viral particles are known for their diversity in structure. I believe coronaviruses do have a membrane at some point in their cycle, at least judging by the diagrams I'm looking up right now.

 

[J842P]

Steve Novella (Science Based Medicine & Skeptics Guide To the Universe Podcast) was saying that regular soap is able to break down the lipids that encase the virus. Moreover, the anti-bacterial stuff can affect the ph of your hands and may not work as well.

Food service workers are told that the soap does not kill the virus or germ it breaks down the oils on your skin that hold the bugs.

Yeah, few viruses have a large lipid component; Typically they consist of a protein coat surrounding an RNA payload. Coronaviruses do have a lipid membrane supporting the coat proteins and glycoproteins, but the accessibility of the membrane to soaps and surfactants is minimal - washing with soap is far more likely to remove the virus intact than to actively break it down. Once it's off your hands and down the drain, it's in a very hostile environment, and unlikely to do further harm.

My chemistry education is in the increasingly distant past, but by the looks of it, I bet ethanol would be effective.

 

[lpetrich]

Tulsi Gabbard on Twitter: "Good news — I just voted to pass emergency Coronavirus funding which passed with strong bipartisan support. It will provide $8.2B toward testing, masks, hygiene equipment for first responders, care providers, tele-health access and more. #CoronaAlert #Covid_19 #Coronavirus https://t.co/9X3G9cI0TQ" / Twitter - TG states that Vice President Pence showed up in Congress to present what the Administration would be doing about it.

That bill:
H.R.6074 - 116th Congress (2019-2020): Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2020 | Congress.gov | Library of Congress

Final Vote Results for Roll Call 86 - It passed the House almost unanimously, with all but 2 of the present Reps voting for it. it will be sent off to the Senate. I hope that Mitch McConnell doesn't obstruct it as "socialism".

Some other actions:

S.Res.505 - 116th Congress (2019-2020): A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that the United States will continue to provide support to international partners to help prevent and stop the spread of coronavirus. | Congress.gov | Library of Congress

S.3370 - 116th Congress (2019-2020): Coronavirus Vaccine Act | Congress.gov | Library of Congress - financing for developing a coronavirus vaccine

H.R.6019 - 116th Congress (2019-2020): Cure the Coronavirus Act | Congress.gov | Library of Congress - "To expand the tropical disease product priority review voucher program to encourage treatments for coronavirus." Referring to it as "The 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID–19)"

S.Res.497 - 116th Congress (2019-2020): A resolution commemorating the life of Dr. Li Wenliang and calling for transparency and cooperation from the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Communist Party of China. | Congress.gov | Library of Congress - after a revision, it was agreed to unanimously. Worth a read for its indictment of China's information-suppression policies - its text.

S.3302 - 116th Congress (2019-2020): Global Health Security Act of 2020 | Congress.gov | Library of Congress

 

[lpetrich]

House easily passes $8.3B spending bill to battle coronavirus outbreak | Fox News
Only two Reps voted against the coronavirus bill, Andy Biggs (R-AZ) and Ken Buck (R-CO).

The legislation now goes on to the Senate where it is also expected to pass easily on Thursday. President Trump is sure to sign the measure, which has the blessing of top Republicans like Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif.

“This moment calls for collaboration and unity,” McConnell said. “It’s time to give our public health experts and healthcare professionals the surge resources they need at this challenging time.”

Seems like he has a tiny bit of decency.

Andy Biggs:

“Throwing money at a potentially serious issue does not alleviate the American people’s concerns," Biggs said in a statement. "Nor does politicizing the issue to score points for future elections. Congressional Republicans and Democrats should join the White House to calmly, wisely, and pro-actively communicate a unified response to their constituents."

"We must rise to the occasion and do what is best for this situation – as well as for future generations," Biggs added. "Unfortunately, this bill fell short of that objective.”

Senate passes $8.3 billion coronavirus bill, sending it to Trump's desk The bill includes

• More than $3 billion dedicated to the research and development of vaccines, as well as therapeutics and diagnostics;
• $2.2 billion in public health funding to aid in prevention, preparedness and response efforts — including $950 million to support state and local agencies;
• Nearly $1 billion to go toward medical supplies, health-care preparedness, Community Health Centers and medical surge capacity, and
• $1.25 billion to address the coronavirus overseas.

Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), the only one to vote against the bill:

“I support our government’s efforts to fight the coronavirus,” Paul said in a statement earlier Thursday. “We also owe it to the American people to do it in a way that avoids piling billions more in debt on their backs.”

He proposed an amendment for cutting some international programs to pay for it. That amendment was tabled 80-16, effectively killing it.

 

[Keith&Co.]

Andy Biggs:
“Throwing money at a potentially serious issue does not alleviate the American people’s concerns," Biggs said in a statement. "

Certainly agree there. Has to be someone there to throw money at.
So, Biggs must have gone on record to protest Trump's admin's efforts to cripple our pandemic resources? Cuts to CDC?

 

[lpetrich]

H.R.6074 - 116th Congress (2019-2020): Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2020 | Congress.gov | Library of Congress -- signed into law.

Rand Paul's amendment to cut some money for other stuff:
S.Amdt.1506 to H.R.6074 - 116th Congress (2019-2020) | Congress.gov | Library of Congress
"To rescind unobligated balances for certain international programs to offset the amounts appropriated in this bill to respond to the coronavirus outbreak."

The vote on it:
U.S. Senate: U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 116th Congress - 2nd Session -- On the Motion to Table (Motion to Table Paul Amdt. No. 1506 )
Yes 81, no 15, not voting 4. All the opponents were Republicans.

U.S. Senate: U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 116th Congress - 2nd Session -- On Passage of the Bill (H.R. 6074 )
Yes 96, no 1, not voting 3. Its only opponent was Rand Paul.


Gavin Newsom on Twitter: "BREAKING: we have ordered health insurance companies to waive ALL out-of-pocket costs for preventive coronavirus testing. https://t.co/5LWWoOqx2r" / Twitter


Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Twitter: "Quick detection is critical to fighting COVID-19. That's why I'm joining other leaders in New York and calling on the CDC to make sure NYC and communities across the country have the number of testing kits they need. Right now, we don't have enough." / Twitter

CSPAN on Twitter: ".@RepAOC @AOC speaks to media on #coronavirus: "One of the key parts to preventing transmission is washing you hands and not touching your face…A mask will not protect you if you don't wash your hands and if you continue to touch your face." https://t.co/WNmC3pLAUP" / Twitter

Some right-wingers counted the number of times that she supposedly touched her face in that press conference. I watched it, and she was mostly adjusting her hair.

 

[lpetrich]

Confused about the Trump administration's response to coronavirus? You should be | The Independent -- "The White House confusion machine managed to do something almost unthinkable this week by somehow making Congress look functional"

“Well, I think the 3.4 per cent is really a false number,” Trump told Fox News host and conservative commentator Sean Hannity on Wednesday night (the president was taking umbrage with he World Health Organization’s current coronavirus mortality rate, his latest thumb of the nose to scientists). “Now, and this is just my hunch ... but based on a lot of conversations with a lot of people that do this. Because a lot people will have this and it's very mild. They'll get better very rapidly. They don't even see a doctor. They don't even call a doctor.”

"You never hear about those people. So you can't put them down in the category of the overall population in terms of this corona flu ... or virus. So you just can't do that," he added. "So if, you know, we have thousands or hundreds of thousands of people that get better, just by, you know, sitting around and even going to work — some of them go to work, but they get better.”

He thinks that he's a great genius.

CDC director Robert Redfield some hours later:

“I think the most important thing, for many of those individuals that might be a little type A: If you get sick, stay home. You’re not helping your colleagues by going to work sick,” he said.

However,

The president on Thursday morning tweeted that he “NEVER said people that are feeling sick should go to work,” going on to, as usual, blame the media for putting out “Fake News” and his Democratic rivals for spewing “disinformation.”

Sorry, Mr President, but as your first press secretary, Sean Spicer, said about your tweets: Your Fox statement speaks for itself.

 

[Elixir]

Yeah, few viruses have a large lipid component; Typically they consist of a protein coat surrounding an RNA payload. Coronaviruses do have a lipid membrane supporting the coat proteins and glycoproteins, but the accessibility of the membrane to soaps and surfactants is minimal - washing with soap is far more likely to remove the virus intact than to actively break it down. Once it's off your hands and down the drain, it's in a very hostile environment, and unlikely to do further harm.

My chemistry education is in the increasingly distant past, but by the looks of it, I bet ethanol would be effective.

Yup. 91% isopropyl alcohol would be very disruptive, and I bet silver ions would wreck 'em up pretty well too.

 

[lpetrich]

Trump Fox News coronavirus interview: Trump spreads dangerous misinformation - Vox

The full text of his remarks:

I think the 3.4 percent [number] is really a false number. Now, this is just my hunch, but based on and lot of conversations with a lot of people that do this, because a lot of people will have this and it is very mild. They will get better very rapidly, they don’t even see a doctor or call doctor, you never hear about those people so you can’t put them down in the category, in overall population in terms of this corona flu, or virus. So you just can’t do that.

So if, you know, we have thousands or hundreds of thousands of people that get better, just by, you know, sitting around and even going to work, some of them go to work, but they get better and then, when you do have a death like you had in the state of Washington, like you had one in California, I believe you had one in New York, you know, all of a sudden it seems like 3 or 4 percent, which is a very high number, as opposed to a fraction of 1 percent.

But again, they don’t know about the easy cases because the easy cases don’t go to the hospital, they don’t report to doctors or the hospital in many cases so I think that [the WHO] number is very high. I think the number, personally, I would say the number is way under 1 percent.

Now, with the regular flu, we average from 27,000 to 77,000 deaths a year. Who would think that? I never knew that until six or eight weeks ago, I asked that question, I said, ‘How many people die of the flu?’ You know, you keep hearing about ‘flu shot, flu shot, take your flu shot,’ but how many people die of the flu? And they said, ‘sir, we lose between 27,000 and, you know, somewhere in the 70s’ — I think we went as high as 100,000 people died in 1990, if you can believe that, but a lot much people regardless. I think it averages about 36,000 people a year. So I said, ‘Wow, that is a percentage that is under 1 percent, very substantially.’ So it’d be interesting to see what difference is but again, a lot of people don’t report.

 

[lpetrich]

Aaron Rupar on Twitter: "Trump to Hannity on WHO saying coronavirus death rate is 3.4%: "I think the 3.4% number is really a false number. Now this is just my hunch, but based on a lot of conversations ... personally, I'd say the number is way under 1%."
Astoundingly irresponsible. https://t.co/uC9c03zX31" / Twitter

Aaron Rupar on Twitter: "In this clip, Trump:
1. Denies WHO's coronavirus death rate based on “hunch"
2. Calls coronavirus "corona flu"
3. Suggests it's fine for people w/ Covid-19 to go to work
4. Compares coronavirus to "the regular flu," indicating he doesn't get the difference https://t.co/uC9c03zX31" / Twitter

Aaron Rupar on Twitter: ""We have thousands or hundreds of thousands of people that get better, just by, you know, sitting around and even going to work, some of them go to work, but they get better" -- Trump to Sean Hannity, last night https://t.co/iCgujGbG7F" / Twitter
noting
Donald J. Trump on Twitter: "I NEVER said people that are feeling sick should go to work. This is just more Fake News and disinformation put out by the Democrats, in particular MSDNC. Comcast covers the CoronaVirus situation horribly, only looking to do harm to the incredible & successful effort being made!" / Twitter

Either his memory is bad or he is just plain lying. It's a shame on Republican Congresspeople that they continue to enable this jerk.

 

[lpetrich]

Trump's Gut Collides With Science on Coronavirus Messaging : NPR

President Trump is known to say what's on his mind, to go with his gut and accentuate the positive. That approach is now colliding with a public health emergency in the form of coronavirus.

The challenge posed by Trump's breezy style was on full display Wednesday night in an interview in which he disputed the World Health Organization's recent coronavirus death rate estimate of 3.4%.

...
During the interview, Trump also revealed that he was concerned that repatriating Americans from the Diamond Princess cruise ship that was held in Japan last month would "look bad" because it would increase the total number of coronavirus cases in the United States. "I felt we had to do it. And, in one way, I hated to do it statistically," Trump said.

...
Have the politicians talk to the public about practical things they can do to reduce their risks, like washing hands and cleaning surfaces, he said. And, when asked a technical question, have an expert on hand to answer it.

"People understand if the president or any of the political leaders are not experts in everything," he said.

Something which Vice President Pence is doing, calling on Debbie Birx to give a response about something - Debbie Birx, AIDS Expert, To Help U.S. Coronavirus Response : NPR

 

[lpetrich]

Rep. Katie Porter on Twitter: "I refuse to put patients’ health at risk so that insurance companies can use COVID-19 to pad their profits. Patients with private insurance shouldn’t have to choose between lab tests for this virus and putting food on the table." / Twitter
then
Rep. Katie Porter on Twitter: "So I took action. Last night, I led an effort with @Rosa_DeLauro and @RepUnderwood to demand that the Administration take action to make these tests affordable for everyone, including those on private plans.
To learn more about our effort, read here: https://t.co/5FNgTbvYQA" / Twitter
then
Rep. Katie Porter on Twitter: "Knowing if you have COVID-19 can help keep you, your family, and our community safe. We need to be equipped with the best tools and knowledge to fight this coronavirus, and the cost of diagnostic testing cannot be a barrier." / Twitter

Rep. Porter Leads Fight for Affordable Coronavirus Tests | U.S. Representative Katie Porter

WASHINGTON—Congresswoman Katie Porter (CA-45) led an effort with Reps. Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) and Lauren Underwood (IL-14) to ensure cost is not a barrier for people getting tested for the COVID-19 coronavirus. The Congresswomen raised concerns to the Trump Administration that COVID-19 diagnostic testing and services aren’t affordable and accessible for patients, which will dissuade people from being tested, getting the care they need, and keeping themselves and their entire communities safe.

“If we’re going to successfully combat this emerging public health crisis, we need affordable testing, care, and treatment for patients,” said Congresswoman Porter. “When there are huge financial barriers to being tested, even for people with so-called ‘good insurance,’ people are less likely to come forward and do what is required to keep our community safe. Our families in Orange County deserve better.”

 

[Deepak]

https://www.c-span.org/video/?c4859211/user-clip-trump-ignorance-flu-vaccines

Trump suggests using a 'solid' flu vaccine on 'corona'. The whole broadcast is filled with nervous laughter at his poor understanding of the situation.

 

[Keith&Co.]

https://www.c-span.org/video/?c4859211/user-clip-trump-ignorance-flu-vaccines

Trump suggests using a 'solid' flu vaccine on 'corona'. The whole broadcast is filled with nervous laughter at his poor understanding of the situation.

Meanwhile, Ivanka moves to corner the market on Chicken soup, and get a contract with Homeland Security. "I'm helping, Daddy!"

 

[Deepak]

 

[lpetrich]

Brian Sapient the Planet Saver on Twitter: "Rick Santelli on @CNBC just made the argument that we'd be better off if everyone got the #coronavirus right away and 2% of the world died off, so that financial markets could stabilize. Rick likes Republicans, don't be like Rick. This should go viral. #VoteBlueToSaveAmerica https://t.co/1orGoG6cWO" / Twitter

But

CNBC's Rick Santelli apologizes for 'absurd' remark that it might be better if everyone got the coronavirus at once | TheHill
He said

“Of course, people are getting nervous,” Santelli said to anchor Kelly Evans as they discussed the economic turmoil that has accompanied the coronavirus. "And listen, I’m not a doctor. All I know is, think about how the world would be if you tried to quarantine everybody because of the generic-type flu."

"Now, I’m not saying this is the generic-type flu," he noted. "But maybe we’d be just better off if we gave it to everybody, and then in a month it would be over because the mortality rate of this probably isn’t going to be any different if we did it that way than the long-term picture, but the difference is we’re wreaking havoc on global and domestic economies.”

and then

“It was just a stupid thing to say. It is not appropriate in this instance, and we are resilient, both in the United States and in the globe, and that resilience will get us through," Santelli said on CNBC's "Squawk Box."

"The idea of something so absurd — I just apologize, and I apologize to everyone on this segment and all my peers at CNBC," he continued. "We will get through this. We are resilient. But even if one life is affected, I do apologize for my insensitivity.”