Coronavirus - worldwide breaking news, discussion, stats, updates and more

[Azrael]

What rammed tubes? Where?

I decided to get the bus to work today as, while two weeks ago the tube numbers were down, last week they were down so much that I started wondering about my safety. I avoided getting into a carriage that just had one man in it, and saw the only other person on the platform, a woman, do the same. (We looked at each other and knew.)
Why are you referring to countries using female pronouns? It doesn't reflect well on you.

For the same reason we refer to ships with personal pronouns: to reflect the animacy of the thing referred to. As for why they're female, it's traditional, same as ships. National personifications have tended to be female (not invariably). If you think this "reflects badly", well OK. You presumably think the Royal Navy's Twitter feed likewise reflects badly on them. I disagree.

Regarding the far more pressing issue of the Tube, it'll vary by time, place and line. Some cars are empty. There's been footage of other trains rammed. Unless the definition of "essential" work is restricted, or more trains put on (or both), the risk remains.

 

[Mation]

For the same reason we refer to ships with personal pronouns: to reflect the animacy of the thing referred to. As for why they're female, it's traditional, same as ships. National personifications have tended to be female (not invariably). If you think this "reflects badly", well OK. You presumably think the Royal Navy's Twitter feed likewise reflects badly on them. I disagree.

It really sounds ridiculous, whoever says it.

Regarding the far more pressing issue of the Tube, it'll vary by time, place and line. Some cars are empty. There's been footage of other trains rammed. Unless the definition of "essential" work is restricted, or more trains put on (or both), the risk remains.

Have you actually been on the tube in the past week or so?

 

[Azrael]

Meanwhile we're pursuing hikers with drones through empty fields while allowing rammed Tube trains to run, and the Scottish govt's come up with a terrifying plan to hold juryless Diplock trials that can convict on hearsay evidence. Panic's doing untold harm.

In one piece of positive news, Bute House have junked the jury plan after furious opposition from across the Scottish legal profession, opposition, and from within the SNP itself.

 

[Azrael]

It really sounds ridiculous, whoever says it.


Have you actually been on the tube in the past week or so?

Nope, still under quarantine. Unless the footage has been faked, issue remains. One train running at that capacity ATM is one too many.

 

[Mation]

Nope, still under quarantine. Unless the footage has been faked, issue remains. One train running at that capacity ATM is one too many.

Which train? How recently?

 

[Azrael]

Which train? How recently?

There's been multiple reports, including from the BBC, today. Would you object to non-essential Tube travel being ended until the outbreak's under control? If not, we don't even disagree on this point.

 

[Mation]

There's been multiple reports, including from the BBC, today. Would you object to non-essential Tube travel being ended until the outbreak's under control? If not, we don't even disagree on this point.

That article is from today. The picture, though? I really doubt it. They'd have said so in the caption and/or the story if so, given that they're trying to make the point that numbers need to come down further.

Yes, we can agree on the argument we weren't having: for now, non-essential travel should be a no no!

 

[Mation]

dp

 

[weltweit]

A BBC America update

Coronavirus: US 'considers cloth face masks for public'

US health authorities are debating whether to recommend face coverings for everyone when they go out in public.

One internal memo for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that even simple cloth masks could help reduce the risk of virus transmission, the Washington Post reports.

President Donald Trump has suggested that individuals could "use a scarf".

from US considers cloth face masks for public

Coronavirus: LA county gun shops to reopen as 'essential' business

Los Angeles County is reopening gun shops to the public after a federal memo listed them as "essential" businesses.

Sheriff Alex Villanueva closed shops last week, but reversed course on Monday, following the guidance.

The LA county closures had prompted a lawsuit from gun rights groups.

from LA gun stores reopen, deemed 'essential' business

Trump changes tack on coronavirus crisis

There was no sugar-coating it this time. No optimistic talk of miracle cures or Easter-time business re-openings.

There was just the cold, hard reality of the facts on the ground.

"I want every American to be prepared for the hard days that lie ahead," a grave-faced Donald Trump said in his Tuesday afternoon press conference.

"This is going to be a very, very painful two weeks."

from Trump changes tack as reality hits

 

[teuchter]

Persistently seeing countries anthropomorphised as female is starting to really bother me. It’s fucking weird. A country is either “it” as a thing or “they” as a collective. It’s like something from the nineteenth century to view it as some kind of mother figure.

I was about to post the same. The habit drags on for things like boats, probably because of the kind of men you find in the navy and sailing clubs. But for countries? It's not the 1950s any more.

 

[Kevbad the Bad]

It's not the 1950s any more.

It never was

 

[xes]

It's looking pretty fucked up in Ecuador

#guayaquil hashtag on Twitter

On May 21 @Ruptly tweeted: "Grieving families protested on Wednesday.." - read what others are saying and join the conversation.

twitter.com

 

[spring-peeper]

about fricking time

Florida governor issues stay-at-home order after weeks of resistance

Gov. Ron DeSantis said "it makes sense to do this now" after President Donald Trump announced that the administration is extending its social distancing guidelines by 30 days.

www.nbcnews.com

 

[spring-peeper]

The government of Alberta, Canada, based their provincial budget on revenues for the oil sector.
A new mine changed it's mind, and decided not to open a new mine. 7000 potential jobs lost.

Now, there comes more news about mines shutting down.

Bloomberg - Are you a robot?

www.bloomberg.com

If you read the article, you will see how hard this is affecting the province.

When the conservative government came into power, they set up a "war room" to promote Alberta oil and dispense with "dirty oil" views.
Since the virus. the war rooms budget has been cut.

Alberta’s ‘energy war room’ sees budget cut by 90% amid coronavirus | Globalnews.ca

Oil prices have been steadily dropping since the coronavirus pandemic started, bringing with it a slew of cancellations, restrictions and shut downs of everything from pubs and bars to air travel.

globalnews.ca

 

[gosub]

A BBC America update

Coronavirus: US 'considers cloth face masks for public'

from US considers cloth face masks for public

Coronavirus: LA county gun shops to reopen as 'essential' business

from LA gun stores reopen, deemed 'essential' business

Trump changes tack on coronavirus crisis

from Trump changes tack as reality hits

I'm really glad I don't live in a country where everybody has to walk around wearing masks and guns are considered essential. The ex Gurka on the door at Sainsuburys today was muttering about face masks emboldening shoplifters

 

[little_legs]

 

[Mation]

Food baskets in Naples.

 

[Marty1]

France now using Chloroquine to treat patients.

https://www.thelocal.fr/20200324/france-allows-chloroquine-to-be-given-to-gravest-coronavirus-cases

 

[frogwoman]

Family of dead British man appeal to Florida to let Zaandam dock

Fears of further passenger deaths on coronavirus-stricken Zaandam unless governor relents

theguardian.com

Fuck. Not letting this ship land is war crime territory

 

[frogwoman]

It Will Haunt History Jesus

 

[cupid_stunt]

Family of dead British man appeal to Florida to let Zaandam dock

Fears of further passenger deaths on coronavirus-stricken Zaandam unless governor relents

theguardian.com

Fuck. Not letting this ship land is war crime territory

It is now going to be allowed to dock, for once it seems Trump has done the right thing.

Trump says US 'has to help' coronavirus-stricken cruise liners heading to Florida

Four people have died on the Zaandam, stranded at sea for two weeks with passengers including Britons, Canadians and Australians onboard

www.theguardian.com

 

[LDC]

Starting to think that the USA might need it's own thread, things are deteriorating there very quickly, has the potential to be catastrophically bad, especially when considering the virus related impacts on the stability and structure of the country.

 

[zahir]

Outbreak at the Ritsona refugee camp.

Ritsona refugee camp quarantined after 20 test positive for Covid-19 | eKathimerini.com

Greek health officials have placed a refugee and migrant camp northeast of the capital in quarantine after 20 of its residents tested positive for Covid-19.

www.ekathimerini.com

 

[weltweit]

Starting to think that the USA might need it's own thread, ..

I have been posting US news to this thread for a while now, I don't see such a great interest in the posts though.
Personally I prefer posting "worldwide" news to this "worldwide" thread.

 

[elbows]

Daily death tolls flattening in Italy & Spain: each new day brings fewer deaths

I dislike premature claims like that one.


From 11:05 entry on BBC ive updates page https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-52130552

 

[weltweit]

Interesting debate atm on BBC News between a German and Swedish Scientists, different approaches visible here, Germany testing a lot and now testing 1,000 in a small town to try to find out how the virus travels through a population and the Swedish scientist arguing against lockdown.

 

[elbows]

Interesting debate atm on BBC News between a German and Swedish Scientists, different approaches visible here, Germany testing a lot and now testing 1,000 in a small town to try to find out how the virus travels through a population and the Swedish scientist arguing against lockdown.

Here is an article from a couple of days ago about the 1000. I already linked to it before but since you mention that, I thought it worth posting again.

Worst-hit German district to become coronavirus ‘laboratory’

Study will follow 1,000 people in Heinsberg to create blueprint for how to deal with virus

www.theguardian.com

 

[elbows]

Putin has extended the 'dont go to work' measures till the end of the month. Other measures to be taken on a regional basis.

 

[treelover]

6.7m Americans apply for jobless benefits in a week

Dominic Rushe

More than 6.65 million people filed for unemployment benefits in the US last week, the latest official figures to highlight the devastating economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the American economy, Dominic Rushe and Lauren Aratani report from New York.
As reports emerged of long lines at unemployment offices, jammed phone lines and broken websites across the US, the federal labor department said on Thursday that a new record number of people sought benefits after losing their jobs in the week ending 27 March.
About 3.3 million had filed for unemployment the previous week, bringing total claims to 9.95 million for the two weeks. More people have filed for unemployment in the last two weeks than filed in the last six months.
The US faces the sharpest rise in unemployment in its history, a surge that is already highlighting income inequality across the nation and comes as the global economy goes into a nosedive that is likely to exacerbate the situation in the months ahead.

very very alarming, back to the 1930's?

 

[mauvais]

Not necessarily. It's not clear that the majority won't be rapidly back into work once restrictions are lifted, unlike the 30s.