Coronavirus Figures Explained

There are two ways of looking at yesterday’s spike in both the reported Coronavirus cases (15,152), and in the number of deaths (254): three if you factor in the related economic angle.

The figures were released in two parts. First were those from the epicentre, Hubei, which were 14,480 new cases and 242 deaths. This following two days of falling numbers from China as a whole: in large part this fall was promoted by hedgefund-types, as China sought to steady the markets (particularly the bond market).

The second, and perhaps more important factor, is that China sacked those officials who until now had been organising the crisis effort. And, brought in Ying Yong (don’t laugh), the Mayor of Shanghai.

Those following events will have noted that some of the more accurate, and scary reports, of the Coronavirus have come from Shanghai: a city under restriction, but not in the news. And Ying Yong (you are stereotyping) was in charge of combating SARS in Beijing in 2003.

Ying Yong’s (that’s enough) appointment coincides with the new way of calculating those people affected, (the second in a week). Previously, those who tested positive but showed no symptoms were removed from the list. Now all who test positive are on the list.

Are you with me so far?

The fly in the ointment is that there are cases in which people have symptoms but don’t test positive, and others test positive but don’t have symptoms (though in both cases they can transmit).

So having got the links to my previous articles out of the way… (to bring those interested up to speed, and annoy the morons)… it is time to mention this — Wuhan has ordered an extra 100,000 beds to be in place by the 20th.

If you have a fag packet handy, 14,000 times 7 days (allowing for death and discharge) is roughly 100,000…. give or take…

As Oscar Wilde, so elegantly put it, “the bureaucracy is expanding to meet the needs of the expanding bureaucracy.” … Or “we’ve got a bed, you may be sick.”

And, so to the endlessly fascinating question from Hong Kong, of can you catch the ‘dreaded lurgy’ from your toilet? And the answer is…. we still don’t know… but if you put the seat down and then flush, it is less likely. Oh and they still don’t have enough masks…

With the internet restricted in China, but not for some, and people wearing face-masks fooling the surveillance system, drones are being used to track drivers with those in the car holding their phone out of the window for scanning… the restricted internet has stemmed the flow of ghastly videos… which in turn has given a chance for the web sleuths to flourish.

James Woods is back on Twitter and he’s not hedging his bets, and nor is he buying any conspiracy… well alright he is… but he prefers ‘the science’. OK, Mr Woods, I can buy a mouse with an ear, but unless you can convince me that the hipster craze for eating insects, is somehow connected to this pangolin theory…

Speaking of theories, apparently the reason this outbreak got out of hand was the CCP (boo, hiss) were trying to get Dr. Shi Zhengli’s bat hypothesis published prior to announcement. Presumably to cover up what they had done…. with a little help from their friends…. (allegedly)….

While China is the Asian bad boy, Singapore is the World Health Organisation’s gold star pupil. Some who live there are less convinced… what with a plague ship offshore, Vietnam imposing quarantine restrictions, and Thailand calling for a global pandemic.

Things are much simpler in North Korea.

While in Britain a flurry of cases in London, has not detracted from the Labour party arguing over transgenderists and the Green Death Cult showing once again the detrimental effects of non-parental childcare. Those interested can keep up-to date with events in Brighton while they worry about the world supply of Lemsip.

In the most obvious stock tip ever, people are buying shares in companies researching a vaccine.

Oh and a woman died in Japan….

But it’s just flu…