Thread: Corona Virus

US has now surpassed China and Italy in the numbers of confirmed cases.

Coronavirus COVID-19 Global Cases by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University (JHU)

Zooming in on the USA in the map, it looks like a petri dish...

G20 leaders vote to inject $ 8 trillion into the global economy to fight the coronavirus.

Showing more unity than at any time since the 2008-2009 financial crisis that led to the G20's creation, the leaders said they committed during a videoconference summit to implement and fund all necessary health measures needed to stop the virus's spread.
Key points:

• The G20 leaders expressed concern for fragile countries and populations like refugees
• Coronavirus fears forced G20 world leaders to meet via internet
• WHO urged G20 nations to ramp up production of protective gear for health workers

G20 leaders to inject $8 trillion into global economy to fight coronavirus - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Tasmania's Premier on the virus.

25 minutes ago
Tasmania's Premier Peter Gutwein is speaking now






He's kicked off with a very clear message: "Unless you are a returning Tasmanian or an essential traveller, you should not come to our state."

He also addressed some Facebook posts circulating about caravans and the TT line (the ferry that runs between Tasmania and mainland Australia).

Mr Gutwein says he wants to be clear: The only caravans or camper vans carried on the last two sailings of the Spirit have been caravans owned by Tasmanians.

"Furthermore, in terms of vehicles that are travelling on the Spirit that may have mainland plates, again, there are many Tasmanians — students and others — that work on the mainland. That is understandable. And we will let Tasmanians come home."

Mr Gutwein said the Spirit's priorities are returning travellers, freight and essential workers, all of whom will need to go into 14 days quarantine once they arrive on the island.

After being rightly flamed for posting something I'd copied on the virus here which was fake news,[ unbeknown to me] I decided to make amends by posting this official news.

an hour ago
☠ Beware of fake news! ☠


OK that ^ was a bit dramatic... But seriously, there's a lot of false information going around.

ABC reporters Elise Worthington and Ariel Bogle are investigating coronavirus misinformation, and over the past few days, they've received dozens of emails about a chain message pretending to share details from an internal Royal Brisbane Hospital staff email.

It's full of scientific jargon and incorrectly claims that breathing in deeply and holding your breath is a helpful way to self-diagnose for the disease.

It also claims sunbathing can kill the virus, and that gargling "disinfectant solutions" can help protect you from catching COVID-19. To be clear, none of these suggestions are recommended by health authorities.






The risk of misinformation like this is that people will endanger themselves by following bad health advice.

The "internal email" fake message is spreading overseas as well, and it's been reworded and adapted to look as though it is internal advice shared at different hospitals.

One version claims to be from Prince of Wales Hospital, for example, and now Royal Brisbane Hospital and Royal Melbourne Hospital.
Queensland's Metro North Hospital and Health Service has put out a statement disavowing it.

The agency says it's not from Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital and the details it provides are "untrue" and "incorrect". Royal Melbourne Hospital also confirmed it's fake.

"We will not sugarcoat this - the message is completely false and extremely concerning," it said on Facebook.

Our fact checking friends at AFP have done a great point-by-point debunk of the erroneous health claims.

And if you want to read about why coronavirus "prevention strategies" such as warm days and alcohol are doubtful, you can read that here.

Be wary of messages like this that contain dubious health claims and aren't clearly from an official government or health body. You can find the official Australian Government's Covid-19 advice here.

And if you see any suspicious messages, please email us at technews@abc.net.au.

Tasmanian Premier says visitors have to get out, but we can't get on the Spirit before Thursday night, although we are on a waiting list for Tuesday night, and national parks are closed, so looks like we will be free camping with the penguins.

I think I may have found out where the panic buying of toilet paper and medications may have originated. A virologist at the fore front of coronavirus research advocated it on Feb. 26, 2020. That's probably all it took to start it.
Feb.26, 2020

Coronavirus: Australians told to stockpile food, medicine ahead outbreak

Originally Posted by DiscoMick

Tasmanian Premier says visitors have to get out, but we can't get on the Spirit before Thursday night, although we are on a waiting list for Tuesday night, and national parks are closed, so looks like we will be free camping with the penguins.

Do you have a Tuxedo with you?

Originally Posted by johntins

Probably not a good time to be a quokka.

Probably John. Do Quokkas have Burrows with en suites & a Bar Fridge I wonder?