China coronavirus death toll climbs to 81 with nearly 2,900 cases worldwide

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

A novel coronavirus has now taken the lives of at least 81 people in China and sickened more than 2,800 worldwide.

The majority of the reported cases are in mainland China, where local authorities have quarantined several major cities and canceled Lunar New Year's events in Beijing and elsewhere.

A novel coronavirus has now taken the lives of at least 81 people in China and sickened more than 2,800 worldwide, including in the U.S. and Europe, as Chinese authorities work to contain the fast-spreading infection.

The total number of people sick stands at 2,884 with roughly 1,900 new cases diagnosed over the weekend, according to data from the World Health Organization. The majority of the reported cases are in mainland China, where local authorities have quarantined several major cities and canceled Lunar New Year's events in Beijing and elsewhere.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/health-news/china-coronavirus-death-toll-climbs-to-81-with-nearly-2900-cases-worldwide/ar-BBZn7HO

[getagrip_already]

1. except that unnofficial sources in china put the number of cases 90k

Idon't have the link, but it was a uk publication. They are hiding the numbers.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

4. If there really are 90k cases in China,

and 81 have died, so far the death rate is minuscule. Heck, even if the 90k is a tenfold exaggeration, and there are 9k cases there, the current death toll is still a fraction of 1%. Which still isn't very deadly at all.

There is a downside to all this coverage, and that is that people don't understand numbers very well.

It's a lot like the problem of reporting preliminary research in mice and assuming the results will carry over to humans, when 99% of the time they don't.

[getagrip_already]

6. unless the death toll is also much higher......n/t

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

7. Okay, so if there have been 90k cases,

a 2% death rate would be some 1800 people so far. And I somehow doubt they'd have been able to hide that large a number of deaths.

[getagrip_already]

8. In china that would be easy......

They already have locked down the press, victims, and families. Putting a lid on this would not be impossible, and as the leaks are showing, not perfect either.

But enough that major news outlets are dragging their feet because they are having difficulty confirming the reports.

They are rushing to build not 1, but 4 new 1000 bed hospitals with what look to be crematoria facilities attached. You don't add 4000 beds overnight for 2000 cases.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

9. If they had 90k cases they'd be building

10 new 1000 bed hospitals.

Or more.

[getagrip_already]

10. remember most (95%) of people get over it with few complications...

But we really don't know what or how many hospitals they are building.

These "hospitals" are likely just isolation wards anyway. More like a mash unit without surgery than a full service hospital. Lots of cots and iv's. Even china doesn't have the trained medical resources to staff that many full service beds.

Their reaction far exceeds what they did for sars. They are scared.

Hopefully it is just that. Fear more than reality.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

11. Bingo.

Most get over it with few complications. So why people are so freaked out defies logic.

[getagrip_already]

12. because 3% of a very big number....

Is a big number.

And it's not uncommon for virus's to mutate. Sure, it could mutate and fizzle, or it could mutate and got 10%+.

Millions of americans get the flu. Most are just miserable but some die. And that is why people are concerned and don't want to ignore it.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

14. Most of those who die from the flu are already old

and almost all of them have other underlying health problems. And while I understand that every single death is a specific tragedy, we all die. We can only do so much to delay death.

Meanwhile, this is also the case with the corona virus. Those who have died from it are already older and have underlying health problems. And while I'm sorry they died, it's why I find it hard to get very worked up about this. I'll repeat myself. We all die.

Also, if you look at the conditions of live animal markets in China, or how exactly they raise waterfowl and pigs together, you will understand why so many of these diseases come out of China. If they made a few changes we'd all be at lesser risk. That's where the outrage should be.

[cwydro]

2. Pretty sure there are more flu deaths here.

Why do people panic about a foreign based pathogen, but ignore our flu right here?

[Jose Garcia]

3. Probably for the same reason that the Chinese are panicking

[cwydro]

5. Uh.

Ok.

[Massacure]

13. This coronavirus is worse than influenza.

A pathogen's basic reproduction number is defined as the number of people on average said pathogen will be passed on to from one infected person in a population of of people who are susceptible to the disease (IE, not vacinated). The H1N1 strain of influenza in 2009 had a basic reproduction rate in the range of 1.4-1.6 and killed about 0.03% of people infected. The Spanish Influenza of 1918 had a basic reproduction rate in the range of 2-3 and killed about 2% of people infected.

Depending on the source, this corona virus is estimated at a basic reproduction rate between 1.5 and 4.0 and so far kills about 3% of those infected.