This virus has a new code name it seems, COVID19 as named by the WHO (World Health Organization), so far this virus has claimed a total of 1,115, there well maybe be more than this that China isn't letting on about, meanwhile, a vaccine for COVID19 maybe as little as 18 months away, if you believe what they are saying on the T.V/Radio.

Why would they not let on? Whether it's 1,000 or 2,000, the difference would be an irrelevance in the greater scheme of things.

Australian governments lie about figures and hide reports all the time, but that's OK because they're fair dinkum Aussies

This virus has a new code name it seems, COVID19 as named by the WHO (World Health Organization), so far this virus has claimed a total of 1,115, there well maybe be more than this that China isn't letting on about, meanwhile, a vaccine for COVID19 maybe as little as 18 months away, if you believe what they are saying on the T.V/Radio.

Why would they not let on? Whether it's 1,000 or 2,000, the difference would be an irrelevance in the greater scheme of things.

Australian governments lie about figures and hide reports all the time, but that's OK because they're fair dinkum Aussies

But their not fair dinkum Chinese are they , oh by the way Bing, as for hiding reports and figures, yes they do, but this is way different to reports and figures.

This virus has a new code name it seems, COVID19 as named by the WHO (World Health Organization), so far this virus has claimed a total of 1,115, there well maybe be more than this that China isn't letting on about, meanwhile, a vaccine for COVID19 maybe as little as 18 months away, if you believe what they are saying on the T.V/Radio.

Why would they not let on? Whether it's 1,000 or 2,000, the difference would be an irrelevance in the greater scheme of things.

Australian governments lie about figures and hide reports all the time, but that's OK because they're fair dinkum Aussies

1100 people have been reported in China to have died, I would suspect more than this die every year from farting in China.

We can 2nd guess what China may or may not have done, however the cases outside China in more transparent govt's even if some of them are not telling the full truth there is enough cases outside China that shows the rate of infection can be controlled via isolation and the death rate is around 1%.

The interesting part now is the "ethical" issues arising in the media of forced isolation, such as that cruise ship were people are basically kept in rooms not intended for permanent habitation of such duration. We went on a cruise 2 years ago, stayed as family of 4 in the cheaper rooms, we had a window. I would hate to contemplate staying in a cabin for a week at a time in a small room with no window.

The problem is the cruise ship cannot go anywhere as no foreign govt will accept it and likely use their navy to defend if they tried. The Japanese don't want these large numbers of foreign nationals in their country which are now confirmed some to be infected and will surely spread through the ship like wild fire. The ship's crew didn't sign up for this and will more than likely catch the virus and if too many do will likely cripple the ships operations and safety of the vessel and sustain public order on the boat if too many crew get sick or simply refuse to work.

I think in western culture we are used to having defined and well known rights, however the Corona Virus or COVID-19 is forcing govts to operate outside this defined rights for which those affected don't like. Just look at the bitching on Xmas island.

Me thinks if this continues expect to see military in bio-hazard suits forcing people under the threat of a gun into ghetto's where only the naturally immune survive.

1100 people have been reported in China to have died, I would suspect more than this die every year from farting in China.

Not to mention those who simply "disappear" when they don't toe the party line!

1100 people have been reported in China to have died, I would suspect more than this die every year from farting in China.

Not to mention those who simply "disappear" when they don't toe the party line!

I wouldn't be surprised if China's biggest killer was no other than Winnie the Pooh. The teddy bear, that is.

So only 3 people passed away from COVID-19 outside China. Indicating that even if the Chinese are hiding numbers, what they have reported is likely limited to elderly and those already week.

So the official figure at the moment is 1,525 deaths, with over 8,000 recovered so far, I'm calling bollocks on the deaths bit, given that many more in China would just pass away from the normal influenza in any normal year, this is an influenza on steroids!!, so what has China got to hide....

So the official figure at the moment is 1,525 deaths, with over 8,000 recovered so far, I'm calling bollocks on the deaths bit, given that many more in China would just pass away from the normal influenza in any normal year, this is an influenza on steroids!!, so what has China got to hide....

You've still failed to answer the question posed earlier as to why it benefits them to put out false figures.

As pointed out already, 1,000 people died from flu in Australia last year, yet I don't see our government shouting it out from the rooftops. How many died in the USA from the flu last year and why weren't we told?

So the official figure at the moment is 1,525 deaths, with over 8,000 recovered so far, I'm calling bollocks on the deaths bit, given that many more in China would just pass away from the normal influenza in any normal year, this is an influenza on steroids!!, so what has China got to hide....

You've still failed to answer the question posed earlier as to why it benefits them to put out false figures.

As pointed out already, 1,000 people died from flu in Australia last year, yet I don't see our government shouting it out from the rooftops. How many died in the USA from the flu last year and why weren't we told?

And here is my answer, because as not to hurt their bottom line.... satisfied? , 2nd point, yes maybe 1,000 Aussies died of the Flu last year , but the Flu is just "normal" as compared with this.

A ‘body count’ is irrelevant without considering the rate of infection.

You might as well say ‘more people die on our roads’, and they do, but nearly everyone is on a road at some point so the actual fatality count is negligible in terms of a rate of deaths.

That is not true of this strain of Corona and is what sets it well apart from influenza.

The body count is a hard statistic, where the infection rate may be far more nebulous. Asymptomatic infections will fly under the radar where symptomatic infections are common, and infections with minor symptoms may also. And let's not overestimate the capabilities and reach of the Chinese health care system.

Coronavirus confirmed to be running rampant in Iran while the first cases are confirmed in Israel and Lebanon - Guardian Australia;

Four Iranians have died after contracting the coronavirus, with health authorities warning it has spread to multiple cities, while Israel and Lebanon declared their first domestic cases as the deadly epidemic spreads across the Middle East.

Asked on Friday if the new cases put the crisis at a tipping point, the World Health Organization director general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said the “window of opportunity is narrowing, so we need to act quickly before it closes completely”.

Chinese medical expert warns that 'recovered' patients are still possibly contagious - SCMP;

A Chinese respiratory expert at the frontline of the battle against Covid-19 has warned that recovered patients may still be able pass on the coronavirus that causes the disease.

Zhao Jianping, head of a team working to contain the outbreak in Hubei, said there had been cases where patients still tested positive after they had recovered.

“This is dangerous. Where do you put those patients? You cannot send them home because they might infect others, but you cannot put them in hospital as resources are stretched,” Zhao told Southern People Weekly on Thursday.

Researchers said it was too early to say whether this would happen because there much to learn about the new virus, but in theory the risk should be low.

When you think about it nature is amazing at keeping things in balance. Too many of anything and some disease or virus culls them. We invent antibiotics and in just a few decades we have super-bugs.
Surely there must be a limit on how much humanity can keep doing what it's doing without consequences?

Talking of medicines, there's real concern that they'll be a serious shortage of medical supplies and drugs that are made in China. That nation is grinding to a standstill. Already an 80% drop in car sales there, and livestock is dying by the millions after being abandoned.

Catastrophic.

Talking of medicines, there's real concern that they'll be a serious shortage of medical supplies and drugs that are made in China. That nation is grinding to a standstill. Already an 80% drop in car sales there, and livestock is dying by the millions after being abandoned.

Catastrophic.

China sneezes and downunder???
Seems transmission of diseases is more likely between animals and humans. Meanwhile Rhinos in Kenya!
http://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/how-antibiotic-misuse-is-threatening-kenyas-rhinos/vi-BBZXV5O

If you consider pathogens passed to humans via a vector species (Lyme for example passed from animal host to human via tick, or bubonic/pneumonic plague via flea), animal to human disease transmission (zoonosis) makes up about 60% of known human pathogens. So yes, animal to human transmission is arguably, at least ‘potentially’ more likely.

Direct zoonosis without an intermediate vector species is less common, but I think the best known examples are rabies, HIV (although this is less true today) and some influenzas.

Made in China?

https://www.news.com.au/world/asia/coronavirus-may-have-leaked-from-a-chinese-lab/news-story/0bc7c4f52892eb2e51e788b8e2e45c07

It gets worse.

It was reported today that the host can carry the virus for 27 days before displaying any symptoms. (28 days later?). So much for the 14 day isolation/quarantine of our repatriated fellow citizens.

Now we are allowing foreign students to return. As it is, we are even allowing visitors, students etc from neighbouring countries on our soil despite these nations having poor controls at their borders for diplomatic reasons.

Cause for any alarm?

Cause for alarm? No, but you’ll no doubt ring it anyway.

Some interesting shipping data is coming out.  Exports from China are grinding to a halt:
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/cargometrics-data-reveals-depth-china-201859254.html

Italy is in strife.  Now up to 400 confirmed cases and 12 deaths.  Quite a high mortality rate to be honest.

I'm thinking it's not a case of 'will' it be a global pandemic, but rather 'when'.  

Apparently insurance companies are already deciding to not refund flight cancellations...

Some interesting shipping data is coming out.  Exports from China are grinding to a halt:
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/cargometrics-data-reveals-depth-china-201859254.html

My civil engineer mate tells me that there are looming shortages of all sorts of structural steel because of the COVID-19 situation - we don't make any of that sort of stuff here any longer of course despite having most of the world's export coal and iron ore. I'm surprised that there's no mention of this anywhere in the media?

Some interesting shipping data is coming out.  Exports from China are grinding to a halt:
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/cargometrics-data-reveals-depth-china-201859254.html

My civil engineer mate tells me that there are looming shortages of all sorts of structural steel because of the COVID-19 situation - we don't make any of that sort of stuff here any longer of course despite having most of the world's export coal and iron ore. I'm surprised that there's no mention of this anywhere in the media?

Our work is having issues with getting various materials from China. Suppliers throwing their hands in the air etc etc. The knock on effect will be huge.

Italy is in strife.  Now up to 400 confirmed cases and 12 deaths.  Quite a high mortality rate to be honest.

I'm thinking it's not a case of 'will' it be a global pandemic, but rather 'when'.  

Apparently insurance companies are already deciding to not refund flight cancellations...

To be honest, I give more credibility to the Chinese to control this than the Italians.

As for travel insurance, read the fine print. Some are policies are still applicable and it depends under the conditions of the  cancellation, not just the virus itself.

Some interesting shipping data is coming out.  Exports from China are grinding to a halt:
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/cargometrics-data-reveals-depth-china-201859254.html

My civil engineer mate tells me that there are looming shortages of all sorts of structural steel because of the COVID-19 situation - we don't make any of that sort of stuff here any longer of course despite having most of the world's export coal and iron ore. I'm surprised that there's no mention of this anywhere in the media?

Our work is having issues with getting various materials from China. Suppliers throwing their hands in the air etc etc. The knock on effect will be huge.

Our supply chain in the Motorcycle industry already being hit. One of our customers who sells Chinese motorcycles has been told they won't see any new stock of bikes until mid year at the earliest.

And one of our Italian exhaust suppliers has warned of significant price rises and shortages of certain lines. Apparently 100% Made In Italy doesn't extend to the materials that the item is made from.......

Italy is in strife.  Now up to 400 confirmed cases and 12 deaths.  Quite a high mortality rate to be honest.

I'm thinking it's not a case of 'will' it be a global pandemic, but rather 'when'.  

Apparently insurance companies are already deciding to not refund flight cancellations...

To be honest, I give more credibility to the Chinese to control this than the Italians.

As for travel insurance, read the fine print. Some are policies are still applicable and it depends under the conditions of the  cancellation, not just the virus itself.

My wife and I are going to South Korea in October. We were talking last week with our travel insurance provider and because we took out insurance before Corona became a serious issue we will have no problems. If you have taken out insurance since it was recognized as a serious risk then you may find it will not be covered.

Craig W