The conspiracy theorists are going ten-to-dozen on twitter, but they won't like it when I throw this in their threads.
One persistent myth is that this virus, called SARS-CoV-2, was made by scientists and escaped from a lab in Wuhan, China, where the outbreak began.
A new analysis of SARS-CoV-2 may finally put that latter idea to bed. A group of researchers compared the genome of this novel coronavirus with the seven other coronaviruses known to infect humans: SARS, MERS and SARS-CoV-2, which can cause severe disease; along with HKU1, NL63, OC43 and 229E, which typically cause just mild symptoms, the researchers wrote March 17 in the journal Nature Medicine.
The coronavirus did not escape from a lab. Here's how we know. By Jeanna Bryner
Grandmaster Putin did it.
ReplyDelete"escaped from a lab!" = Conspiracy theory...
ReplyDeleteOne persistent myth is that this virus, called SARS-CoV-2, was made by scientists and escaped from a lab in Wuhan, China, where the outbreak began.
ReplyDeleteIn China? I am confused. According to the orangutan's now favourite news correspondent, the corona virus was created in a North Carolina lab.
Trump’s New Favorite Cable News Network Thinks UNC Created the Coronavirus in a [NC] Lab
https://indyweek.com/news/northcarolina/trump-oan-unc-lab-coronavirus/
Lawrence H. Summers @LHSummers
Thoughts at the end of a long week:
Why can’t the greatest economy in the history of the world produce swabs, face masks and ventilators in adequate supply?
Larry can't figure out why lol. Tell him, Duke:
The Duke @gmdools
Replying to @LHSummers
Because we've hollowed out the core of US manufacturing in a search for ever lower production costs due to a singular focus on stock value, regardless of the impact on US workers who are forced to compete w 3rd world labor. Rendering our populace poorer & vulnerable to shortages.
Grandmaster Putin did it.
"Putin the Great", Bob.
It is just repeating the same Nature magazine article where it's been noted that they have conflicts of interest; i.e., Chinese censorship.
ReplyDeleteConspiracy theory.
DeleteWere the scientists featured in the article also working for the Chinese Government?
Plus there are plenty of conspiracy theories going about that the US government invented it to destroy the Chinese economy. Equally rubbish because it is destroying everyone's economy.
NO2 emissions are rising in China. Those don't come from a lab or crematorium.
ReplyDeleteWell you guys have some other explanations to go to:
ReplyDeleteYou guys have:
1. Myth
2. secret neo liberal conspiracy
3. evolved from the apes by random chance
4. fantasy
5. superstition
6. ?
What was 6 again?
So if you dont accept 2 here you have 1,3,4,and 5 still available...
and forgot 6 you guys still have that one I just cant remember what that was...
ReplyDeleteSpeculation?
ReplyDeleteNot much panic other than a run on toilet paper.
ReplyDeleteWhy are governments taking action?
To flatten the infection curve to avoid overwhelming hospitals and triggering a triage protocol. This is a humanitarian effort.
Not everyone is willing to participate in this effort. There is the question of whether crisis fatigue (or cabin fever) will set in after a few months, precipitating a backlash.
The most expeditious approach would have been to allow the pandemic to run its course, at the cost of more lives lost.
Not all the facts are in, and this may turn out to be less severe than feared. Certainly less severe than preventable illnesses which claim millions of lives per year, yet never make the news.
In us will take a week or two Bob... before the backlash starts...
ReplyDeleteUnless a lot more people start dying pronto...
Mortality rate is the wrong metric. Many more are requiring hospitalization and critical supplies. If we let it run it’s course other non corona virus related conditions wouldn’t be treated adequately, adding to toll. You think it’s better to have a bunch of unplanned sick calls for businesses? Economy would be equally cratered if not worse. This is a planned shutdown not a an unplanned breakdown
ReplyDeleteA state of emergency was declared in Nova Scotia, due to "unacceptable behavior". In a sense, a backlash has started already.
ReplyDeleteThere is a % of the population, for cognitive-psychological reasons, do not accept the need for a shutdown. As soon as warm weather sets in, I'll be joining them metaphorically. I need to spend time alone in the sun.