Corona Virus: Facts & Common Sense Advice

04/28/2020

Dear Friends, Please join us for a discussion on The Discriminatory Impact of COVID-19: The Pandemic's Role in Highlighting Entrenched Racial Inequalities in the U.S. Join us this Friday, May 1 at 4:00 p.m. via Zoom. See details on fyer. All best and I'll see you on Friday!

04/04/2020

What other countries have done to curve COVID-19 and guess what: THEY SUCCEEDED!

Learning from our predecessors in the fight against the virus is a must in order to lessen global morbidity and mortality rates from COVID-19. While some countries are in as bad shape as the USA (e.g., Italy, U.K., etc.), Germany still has most of its factories operating. They have instituted strict guidelines regarding keeping physical distancing, enforcing the use of protective gear, and disinfecting touchable areas. California and Washington State maybe on the same path.

Seth takes a closer look at President Trump essentially abdicating his responsibility to handle the coronavirus pandemic. Subscribe to Late Night: http://bit...

04/02/2020

The truth about WHY we all should be wearing face masks.

We were misled, at least in the US, from day 1. Face masks actually provide partial to even total protection against viruses and bacteria (including COVID-19). For the past few months, the American people were lied to by the federal government, and the mainstream media, that consistently advised American citizens to not wear face masks to protect themselves againstCOVID-19. This is in tune with the U.S. government’ denial of the quiet, and evolving health crisis—from January to mid-March—triggered by COVID-19. Fearing a scarcity of facemasks for hospitals and first responders, the U.S, government chose to downplay their importance, instead of proactively stocking and demanding corporations to make them. On the contrary, countries like Japan and South Korea made sure face masks would be available to all of their citizens and, along with other key measures, have now flattened the curve.

We put together a few useful sources that explain the unequivocal importance of wearing face masks during this pandemic.

In the coming weeks, if they have not already, your government is likely to begin advising you to wear a face mask to protect against coronavirus.

03/30/2020

Dr. Viladrich shares some tips and practical advice for teaching online during the COVID-19. Thanks for circulating (and liking it).
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La Dra. Viladrich comparte algunos consejos y consejos prácticos para dar clases en línea durante la epidemia de COVID-19. Desde ya muchas gracias por circular (y clickear en "like")!

Dr. Viladrich shares some tips and practical advice for teaching online during the COVID-19. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ La Dra. Viladri...

03/29/2020

What came first, cells or viruses? The answer is YES!!

For this Sunday, we thought it would be nice have a little distraction from the Covid-19 crisis and the ensuing politics, and learn a bit more about what viruses are. As a geologist (Steve) I am particularly interested in learning how viruses fit into the evolution of life on Earth.

It came to a surprise to us to learn about the current debate on whether a virus is alive or not. When it was first discovered in the late 19th century, a virus was considered to be a tiny life form, a belief that was contested early in the 20th century.

In last decade or so, our understanding of the history of viruses had a profound paradigm shift that relies on protein folds as a means to trace the viruses’ origins back through time. According to these studies, viruses and bacteria appear to share a common ancestor, “a fully functioning, self-replicating cell that lived around 3.4 billion years ago”. Unlike most cells that evolved through time, thus becoming more and more complex, viruses have shed their genes and streamed lined themselves to the point that can only reproduce by relying on another cell. If this is true, viruses would be in “between” life forms, inorganic organisms that depend on organic ones (i.e., cells) to live and reproduce themselves.

In the case of virus evolution, it appears that less is more efficient and productive!!!

What came first, cells or viruses?
Cosmos magazine

Researchers re-examine the origins of life

03/28/2020

Quarantine…. WHAT????????

It is not a secret that the US leaders are conflicted about what to do with the different versions of shelter-in-place-quarantine to stop the spread of COVID-10. The lack of a unified national policy on this matter was today exemplified by Trump’s announcement that he is considering to declare a quarantine in the states of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. In contrast, Cuomo, the NY governor, during his daily conference update, stated that he did not know about Trump’s announcement: “But I can tell you I don’t even like the sound of it [quarantine]. Not even understanding what it is, I don’t even like the sound of it.”

The President’s lack of sound leadership on the mater has now been replaced by single-handed decisions that are not even based on science -- and seem instead motivated to placate Trump’s base. Compare this to when disaster hit NYC in 2012 with Super Storm Sandy. At the time, President Obama and Republican Governor Chris Christie worked together to find viable responses to the damages, even though the hurricane struck NY just before the national U.S. election. Many GOP politicians and pundits criticized Christie for being “nice” to Obama. Looking back, one cannot help but feeling of how civilized, and rational, those leaders were in framing a united post-hurricane response.

After Obama, Christie Wants a G.O.P. Hug
By Michael Barbaro
• Nov. 19, 2012

Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey, who praised the president just before Election Day, is trying to tame the fury of fellow Republicans who feel he betrayed Mitt Romney.

03/28/2020

This letter written by Francesca Melandri, an Italian novelist, offers a great account of the contradictory emotions many of us are experiencing as we are confronted, and get used to, this shocking COVID-19 reality.

An author in Rome describes what to expect based on her experiences of lockdown

03/27/2020

In the last few days, Trump and other GOP members have been pushing to end in the next couple of weeks the aggressive measures being used to combat the Civid-19 epidemic. The right wing social & news media are not only disregarding the advice from medical experts but are also increasing their attacks on Dr. Fauci, calling him an “agent of the deep state”.

In contrast, medical experts stress that we must keep the most aggressive measures to “flatten the curve” so our medical system is not overwhelmed in the next few months. Without flattening the curve, estimates of 1 to 2 million American deaths by the end of the year may occur. These two positions are further dividing the country. While these two positions seem to be dividing the county, this is our message.

Sources
Flattening the Coronavirus Curve
By Siobhan Roberts
March 27, 2020
https://www.nytimes.com/article/flatten-curve-coronavirus.html?searchResultPosition=4

As Trump signals readiness to break with experts, his online base assails Fauci
By Isaac Stanley-Becker
March 26, 2020
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/as-trump-signals-readiness-to-break-with-experts-his-online-base-assails-fauci/2020/03/26/3802de14-6df6-11ea-aa80-c2470c6b2034_story.html

Trump Wants to ‘Reopen America.’ Here’s What Happens if We Do.
By Nicholas Kristof and Stuart A. Thompson
MARCH 25, 2020
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/03/25/opinion/coronavirus-trump-reopen-america.html?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtype=Homepage

03/27/2020

Welcome to our first collaborative effort in bringing together critical highlights on the current Covid 19 news. Today, we share with you, our takes on how this Covid-19 epidemic is revealing deep divisions in America society.

The mainstream media is finally addressing the elephant in the room: the virus is not equalizing our chances to succumb to it, as many do not have the same opportunities to surf the economic shut downs.

Even Bloomberg news recent reported that the epidemics is becoming a great social divide by affecting some groups more than others. See links below.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/27/business/economy/coronavirus-inequality.html?action=click&module=Spotlight&pgtype=Homepage

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-03-21/covid-19-divides-u-s-society-by-race-class-and-age

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/03/22/working-home-reveals-another-fault-line-americas-racial-educational-divide/

Child care options, internet access and extra living space leave a gulf between rich and poor in coping with disruptions to school and work.

03/26/2020

A must watch to make sure we protect ourselves from COVID-19!

PSA Safe Grocery Shopping in COVID-19 Pandemic – UPDATED!!! IMPORTANT EDIT FROM NIH DATA: COVID-19 LIVES ON CARDBOARD FOR 1 DAY. SEE SOURCES BELOW. This is t...

03/26/2020

Please read this NYT article that provides sounded evidence of what will happen if we loosen the (semi) quarantine norms currently in place in the U.S.

Many could die if we ease up too soon.