Coronavirus - What Happened?

What Chris is maybe trying to get at is that gas particles are at the molecular size scale, and a virus particle, even though much smaller than a bacterium, consists of many molecules. this makes the virus something that a very fine surgical mask might filter out. think about it, if you can still breath the air (a gas) to provide for your lungs, a gas is getting through.

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Yes, exactly, and that was my point.

Once again, while viruses are bigger than single gas molecules, evidence suggests that they still aren’t blocked out by tissue like that of surgeon masks.

That goes on to show even more your ignorance on the topic. There is no such thing as a “SOLID particle.” State of matter is determined by particle behavior, but physically there aren’t “liquid particles”, “gassy particles” and so on. And while I am sure that I’ll get attacked for arguing over semantics, lemme clarify that this is NOT just semantics.

Particles are particles. They either are there or they aren’t. They even get in or they don’t, regardless of their state.

And what basically everybody who chimed in has failed to acknowledge, although I think I repeated it several times by now, is that the problem isn’t only that normal masks don’t filter air (which you are arguing they do, but they don’t), but also the fact that, the way they are secured to your face, air is allowed to completely bypass them by entering from the sides and the spots where it’s not tightened (and you can’t argue this with this).

This is going to be my last post about the topic. I don’t intend on going back and forth for days over this. You failed to prove me wrong, so I’m not going over the same points again for a fourth time. Let’s hope this pandemic is over quick.

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Maybe not all masks, but like I said at my work they fit everyone for masks every 2 years, there are different masks and depending on the shape of your face they can actually stop air from coming in through the sides. The test involves putting on the mask and they put a sort of big helmet over your head and spray some kind of bitter gas in, if you taste the gas then it’s not working and if you don’t then that mask fits you properly. Look up N95 masks. Of course regular people aren’t going to do that, but even a semi-effective mask is better than nothing.

You seem not to understand the difference between particles, atoms, and molecules.

A “state of matter” is a way to describe the behaviour of atoms and molecules in a substance.

There are three common states of matter:

  1. Solids – relatively rigid, definite volume and shape. In a solid, the atoms and molecules are attached to each other. They vibrate in place but don’t move around.
  2. Liquids – definite volume but able to change shape by flowing. In a liquid, the atoms and molecules are loosely bonded. They move around but stay close together.
  3. Gases – no definite volume or shape. The atoms and molecules move freely and spread apart from one another.

https://www.scienceworld.ca/resource/states-matter/

You quoted an article that said you were wrong

Your argument is like saying that seatbelts are useless because they aren’t 100% effective and people still die or get injured in car crashes.

Oh good. 2 confirmed cases in the hospital blocks from me. One died last night.

WTF. Stay safe man however the hell that is possible with a thing like this.

Time to buy some N95 masks

Too late for that. They’re sold out everywhere.

It is what it is. I’m young and very healthy. It’ll be like the bad flu I had last year.

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It sounds like it’s not even that bad for most people. Take vitamin D and C, or eat lots of fruits for vitamin C.

Alright, so here’s a general idea of what’s happening in China in cities around the Zhejiang/Southern area. Note that not all cities and districts are governed the same way and stuff will vary.

  1. You need a pass, which can be obtained online, for whatever you do outside your home. For example, you will need to apply for a pass for going to work or going to the supermarket. This is essentially for the officials to track your whereabouts.

  2. You can only go shopping for groceries on alternate days.

  3. Everyone has to wear a face mask when they’re outside or there will be legal action taken.

  4. You will see road blocks, officials around every corner of the streets and George Romero ready to check if you’ve been zombified.

P.S I’m not in China.

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And, again, no one, government and citizens alike, is blaming the US for the virus. On the contrary, some people posting fake news about the US causing the virus have purportedly been arrested for the spread of fake news in China.

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The us govt hasn’t been able to stop the spread and generally bumbled their way through this- not releasing test kits, when they finally did the kits were faulty, not allowing the free sharing of info amongst doctors to compare notes on patients, putting “pray the virus away” Pence in charge of the response, etc.

Hopefully this is a good test case that we can learn from so if the next pandemic comes along and has a high fatality rate our response is dialed in.

Pretty much all because Trump wants to be seen as having nailed this outbreak instead of doing things the right way.

I can’t decide if it’s the best or worst PR gamble ever. It’s clearly bad policy, but if the experts do their thing and we do can this outbreak, it will validate Trump’s tweets in some people’s eyes

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https://twitter.com/OfficialWHPress/status/1234994697610809344

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Hey, so, this is going to sound like I’m starting with a brag, but I have to begin by saying that my family are all scientists - both my parents are neuroscientists and my older brother just won the Weintraub award - but it’s not a brag because I’m not a scientist, don’t have a college degree, and am a trade worker who knows very little about this stuff, it’s just proper context because my mom received an email from an old colleague of my father’s (he’s passed, but his colleagues stay in contact with my mom) who was, in his own words, ‘one of the first molecular virologists in the world to work on coronaviruses’, about this current pandemic.

Thought it’d be really cool for everyone to have a look at the content.

"Sent: Saturday, February 29, 2020, 12:46:40 PM CST
Subject: Coronavirus

Dear Colleagues,

As some of you may recall, when I was a professor of pathology at the University
of California San Diego, I was one of the first molecular virologists in the world to
work on coronaviruses (the 1970s). I was the first to demonstrate the number of
genes the virus contained. Since then, I have kept up with the coronavirus field and
its multiple clinical transfers into the human population (e.g., SARS, MERS), from
different animal sources.

The current projections for its expansion in the US are only probable, due to
continued insufficient worldwide data, but it is most likely to be widespread in the
US by mid to late March and April.

Here is what I have done and the precautions that I take and will take. These are
the same precautions I currently use during our influenza seasons, except for the
mask and gloves.:

  1. NO HANDSHAKING! Use a fist bump, slight bow, elbow bump, etc.

  2. Use ONLY your knuckle to touch light switches. elevator buttons, etc
 Lift the
    gasoline dispenser with a paper towel or use a disposable glove.

  3. Open doors with your closed fist or hip - do not grasp the handle with your
    hand, unless there is no other way to open the door. Especially important on
    bathroom and post office/commercial doors.

  4. Use disinfectant wipes at the stores when they are available, including wiping
    the handle and child seat in grocery carts.

  5. Wash your hands with soap for 10-20 seconds and/or use a greater than 60%
    alcohol-based hand sanitizer whenever you return home from ANY activity that
    involves locations where other people have been.

  6. Keep a bottle of sanitizer available at each of your home's entrances. AND in
    your car for use after getting gas or touching other contaminated objects when you
    can't immediately wash your hands.

  7. If possible, cough or sneeze into a disposable tissue and discard. Use your elbow
    only if you have to. The clothing on your elbow will contain infectious virus that
    can be passed on for up to a week or more!

What I have stocked in preparation for the pandemic spread to the US:

  1. Latex or nitrile latex disposable gloves for use when going shopping, using the
    gasoline pump, and all other outside activity when you come in contact with
    contaminated areas. Note: This virus is spread in large droplets by coughing and
    sneezing. This means that the air will not infect you! BUT all the surfaces where
    these droplets land on are infectious for about a week on average - everything that
    is associated with infected people will be contaminated and potentially infectious.
    The virus is on surfaces and you will not be infected unless your unprotected face
    is directly coughed or sneezed upon. This virus only has cell receptors for lung
    cells (it only infects your lungs) The only way for the virus to infect you is through
    your nose or mouth via your hands or an infected cough or sneeze onto or into your
    nose or mouth.

  2. Stock up now with disposable surgical masks and use them to prevent you from
    touching your nose and/or mouth (We touch our nose/mouth 90X/day without
    knowing it!). This is the only way this virus can infect you - it is lung-specific. The
    mask will not prevent the virus in a direct sneeze from getting into your nose or
    mouth - it is only to keep you from touching your nose or mouth.

  3. Stock up now with hand sanitizers and latex/nitrile gloves (get the appropriate
    sizes for your family). The hand sanitizers must be alcohol-based and greater than
    60% alcohol to be effective.

  4. Stock up now with zinc lozenges. These lozenges have been proven to be
    effective in blocking coronavirus (and most other viruses) from multiplying in your
    throat and nasopharynx. Use as directed several times each day when you begin to
    feel ANY "cold-like" symptoms beginning. It is best to lie down and let the
    lozenge dissolve in the back of your throat and nasopharynx. Cold-Eeze lozenges
    is one brand available, but there are other brands available.

I, as many others do, hope that this pandemic will be reasonably contained, BUT I
personally do not think it will be. Humans have never seen this snake-associated
virus before and have no internal defense against it. Tremendous worldwide efforts
are being made to understand the molecular and clinical virology of this virus.
Unbelievable molecular knowledge about the genomics, structure, and virulence of
this virus has already been achieved. BUT, there will be NO drugs or vaccines
available this year to protect us or limit the infection within us. Only symptomatic
support is available.

I hope these personal thoughts will be helpful during this potentially catastrophic
pandemic. You are welcome to share this email. Good luck to all of us! Jim"

Took out his actual name and title for internet’s sake, but enjoy!

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Also, an interesting article I read, discussing that coronavirus’ danger may lie in the fact that it is NOT as severe as other illnesses, which is why it will spread so quickly -

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I had so many STD’s as a Lcpl that nothing can survive my immune system.

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I was sick constantly during boot camp, and got the flu the night before the crucible and had to deal with that the entire time, but thereafter I wasn’t sick for years. I tell people we were so filthy we were healthy. Immune system of a rat.

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Immune system of plague fleas

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P.I. or Hollywood ?

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