Tag: Coronavirus

COVID-19: An update, with links

For those of you tired of the hype in the news media, and wanting the “straight dope” on what’s actually happening around the world, here are some reports that give us the facts and don’t exaggerate. First, health news.  COVID-19 continues to spread with alarming speed.  You might want to bookmark the Johns Hopkins coronavirus… Continue reading COVID-19: An update, with links

COVID-19: Time for a dose of realism

The media hysteria surrounding the coronavirus epidemic (which doesn’t yet deserve that name in any part of the world but China, BTW) is getting repetitive and annoying.  What’s even worse are attempts by his political opponents (aided and abetted by the generally anti-Trump news media) to make the President appear responsible for it, and to… Continue reading COVID-19: Time for a dose of realism

COVID-19: Personal observations over the past couple of days

I continue to believe that the current “panic stations” response by many to the threat posed by the coronavirus epidemic is overblown.  Nevertheless, practical preparations are in order for most of us:  and the evidence that they’re needed is growing.  Here are just a few things I’ve personally observed over the past couple of days.… Continue reading COVID-19: Personal observations over the past couple of days

COVID-19: an update, and planning considerations

Last week I wrote about preparing for the economic impact of China’s coronavirus epidemic.  It now looks certain that it’s going to cause major disruptions to world trade, and probably to the social fabric of many (perhaps most) countries – including the United States.  COVID-19 is showing a very rapid infection rate, far faster than… Continue reading COVID-19: an update, and planning considerations

Reactions to coronavirus in China are echoing the Ebola epidemic in Africa

I’m seeing a number of similarities between the way that China is responding to the coronavirus epidemic, and the way governments and individuals responded to Ebola in Africa.  Frankly, I’m startled, because the Chinese government should know better, and its people are more educated than the average African:  yet, the similarities persist. Consider government actions… Continue reading Reactions to coronavirus in China are echoing the Ebola epidemic in Africa

Coronavirus: preparing for the economic impact

I had an interesting discussion yesterday with a friend who’s a senior buyer for a national hardware store chain (a big one).  He told me frankly he doesn’t know whether he’ll have a job in six months’ time, because the impact of the coronavirus epidemic in China may scupper his company.  It sources a very… Continue reading Coronavirus: preparing for the economic impact

Coronavirus, breathing masks, and respirators: the facts

There’s an awful lot of hype circulating about breathing masks, respirators, and protection against the current coronavirus epidemic.  Most of the articles are not scientific or factual – they’re more like hyperbole and hysteria. In particular, current stocks of surgical masks and disposable respirators available to the general public have been largely exhausted, and a… Continue reading Coronavirus, breathing masks, and respirators: the facts

Coronavirus: a factual update

There’s a lot happening around China’s coronavirus epidemic.  Some is good news, much is not.  Unfortunately, the facts are all too often swamped by speculation and rumor-mongering.  For some reason, some people seem to like alarming everybody else, and they’re spreading falsehoods and made-up nonsense all over the Internet.  Please fact-check every report you read,… Continue reading Coronavirus: a factual update