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I'm traveling in Seattle, where as of this morning the health department has confirmed 6 cases of coronavirus of which only one was a recent traveler to China.[

I'm traveling in Seattle, where as of this morning the health department has confirmed 6 cases of coronavirus of which only one was a recent traveler to China.[0] I would appreciate the ability to cancel a reservation if I feel sick, especially at a reservation with a shared bathroom. [0] https://www.doh.wa.gov/Emergencies/Coronavirus https://www.doh.wa.gov/Emergencies/Coronavirus

poutine 7y ago
FYI Washington state has declared a state of emergency. Fears are that it's gone communal with hundreds or thousands of estimated infections in the community. https://www.theglobeandmail.com/world/article-us-reports-first-coronavirus-fatality-as-cases-worldwide-hit-83000/ https://www.theglobeandmail.com/world/article-us-reports-fir... https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/01/world/coronavirus-news.html https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/01/world/coronavirus-news.ht...
- gdubs 7y ago
  Let’s not post about fears. The situation in Washington in serious. However, a state of emergency was also declared in Santa Clara County weeks ago -they’re necessary for unlocking funding so local governments can prepare. Let’s try to keep discussion to facts, not fears.
  - poutine 7y ago
    No. This is relevant. It was published by the New York Times which is not a hysterical source. From the linked article: Washington State has declared a state of emergency over the coronavirus, and researchers who studied two cases there say that the virus may have been spreading for weeks, with the possibility that up to 1,500 people may have been infected.
    - gdubs 7y ago
      You’re right. And while I’ve been pointing out to people that panic is never a good response, upon reflection “fear” isn’t the same thing and can actually be a motivator. I’m taking this situation very seriously fwiw and agree with the assessment that there are a lot more cases than reported, and my personal feeling is that we’re two steps behind here in the US.
ghaff 7y ago
>I would appreciate the ability to cancel a reservation if I feel sick You always have the ability to cancel a reservation. You may just not get refunded.
PeterisP 7y ago
If you're from Seattle, then the recent research of Trevor Bedford (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center) and the Seattle Flu Study group might be relevant - they've posted a quick summary on https://twitter.com/trvrb/status/1233971278735761409 https://twitter.com/trvrb/status/1233971278735761409 while there's still the weekend; but in essence they've done genetic analysis of the Covid-19 strains in Washington sate, and it suggests the following worrying things: 1. their analysis (virus mutations / differences in individual patients?) suggests it has been spreading in Washington state for some 6 weeks already; 2. "Our best current expectation is a few hundred current infections" (that's about WA only! not the entire USA) - it's not confirmed and identified cases, but the number suggested by virus variation; it's not like there's 6 patients who have all been "imported" or form a single clear cluster, they have been infected by some patients who have not been identified, have not been isolated, and have been spreading it in the cummunity. To me the situation in Washington State seems very similar to where Italy was a week ago.
- sci_prog 7y ago
  You couldn't be more right. Just wait for the news from kirkland hospital that should be coming out today
- pbourke 7y ago
  Upvoting and boosting: There is strong evidence that the Seattle area is where Italy was a week ago.
- selim_tiotoys 7y ago
  Why add the word "worrying" to your statement - just leave it neutral. No need to make people panic. It only leads to irrational behavior. For context - what might have happened in WA could actually be a positive spin on the story. It would mean that the virus has been spreading for much longer than anticipated and the number of infected people might be 100x or 1000x the reported number. It's "positive" as it pushes the denominator up quite significantly, which would mean that the fatality rate is much closer to a "normal" Influenza than anything else. If their profiling turns out to be correct - we're in a "much better situation" than we thought.

poutine 7y ago

FYI Washington state has declared a state of emergency. Fears are that it's gone communal with hundreds or thousands of estimated infections in the community. https://www.theglobeandmail.com/world/article-us-reports-first-coronavirus-fatality-as-cases-worldwide-hit-83000/ https://www.theglobeandmail.com/world/article-us-reports-fir... https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/01/world/coronavirus-news.html https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/01/world/coronavirus-news.ht...

gdubs 7y ago
Let’s not post about fears. The situation in Washington in serious. However, a state of emergency was also declared in Santa Clara County weeks ago -they’re necessary for unlocking funding so local governments can prepare. Let’s try to keep discussion to facts, not fears.
- poutine 7y ago
  No. This is relevant. It was published by the New York Times which is not a hysterical source. From the linked article: Washington State has declared a state of emergency over the coronavirus, and researchers who studied two cases there say that the virus may have been spreading for weeks, with the possibility that up to 1,500 people may have been infected.
  - gdubs 7y ago
    You’re right. And while I’ve been pointing out to people that panic is never a good response, upon reflection “fear” isn’t the same thing and can actually be a motivator. I’m taking this situation very seriously fwiw and agree with the assessment that there are a lot more cases than reported, and my personal feeling is that we’re two steps behind here in the US.

ghaff 7y ago

>I would appreciate the ability to cancel a reservation if I feel sick You always have the ability to cancel a reservation. You may just not get refunded.

PeterisP 7y ago

If you're from Seattle, then the recent research of Trevor Bedford (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center) and the Seattle Flu Study group might be relevant - they've posted a quick summary on https://twitter.com/trvrb/status/1233971278735761409 https://twitter.com/trvrb/status/1233971278735761409 while there's still the weekend; but in essence they've done genetic analysis of the Covid-19 strains in Washington sate, and it suggests the following worrying things: 1. their analysis (virus mutations / differences in individual patients?) suggests it has been spreading in Washington state for some 6 weeks already; 2. "Our best current expectation is a few hundred current infections" (that's about WA only! not the entire USA) - it's not confirmed and identified cases, but the number suggested by virus variation; it's not like there's 6 patients who have all been "imported" or form a single clear cluster, they have been infected by some patients who have not been identified, have not been isolated, and have been spreading it in the cummunity. To me the situation in Washington State seems very similar to where Italy was a week ago.

sci_prog 7y ago
You couldn't be more right. Just wait for the news from kirkland hospital that should be coming out today
pbourke 7y ago
Upvoting and boosting: There is strong evidence that the Seattle area is where Italy was a week ago.
selim_tiotoys 7y ago
Why add the word "worrying" to your statement - just leave it neutral. No need to make people panic. It only leads to irrational behavior. For context - what might have happened in WA could actually be a positive spin on the story. It would mean that the virus has been spreading for much longer than anticipated and the number of infected people might be 100x or 1000x the reported number. It's "positive" as it pushes the denominator up quite significantly, which would mean that the fatality rate is much closer to a "normal" Influenza than anything else. If their profiling turns out to be correct - we're in a "much better situation" than we thought.