Emergence of a Deadly Coronavirus

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Russia has ordered thousands of troops to be quarantined for two weeks after possible exposure to the coronavirus, following the postponement of a large military parade in Moscow.

The Russian Ministry of Defense said around 15,000 troops who participated in rehearsals for the Victory Day Parade originally slated for May 9 -- which marks the 75th anniversary of the Soviet Union's victories in World War II -- would be isolated for 14 days.

It was not clear if any of the troops test positive for COVID-19. The Kremin was hesitant to cancel the event, which Russian President Vladimir Putin hoped to use to forge closer ties with the foreign leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron.

Russian officials said the quarantine was a precaution and that all vehicles, trains and aircraft used by the soldiers would be disinfected.

Russia had 47,121 known coronavirus cases as of Tuesday afternoon, including 405 deaths.

Footage of the April 1 rehearsals showed the troops standing near each other without masks and not observing social distancing guidelines. Putin spokesman, Dmitri Peskov, said military personnel have “a totally different regime of isolation that of course allows them greater freedom of movement,” according to The Guardian.

Source: Russia quarantines thousands of troops over coronavirus concerns; Red Square parade canceled

Hmmmmm! I wonder what they are referring to? And if it is so good why are they canceling their military parade?



In another article:

Nearly 50 cadets and instructors involved in rehearsals for Russia’s now-postponed Victory Day parade have been infected with the coronavirus, the Baza Telegram channel reported Friday.

Rear Adm. Anatoly Minakov, the head of St. Petersburg’s elite Nakhimov Naval School, confirmed to local media that he’s been hospitalized in Moscow with a fever awaiting test results.

Baza, which is believed to have sources in Russia’s security forces, reported that 49 Nakhimov cadets and instructors tested positive for Covid-19. Thirty-one of them are between the ages of 15 and 17, while the others are “much older and are in part high-risk.”

Another 106 who have arrived in Moscow for the parade as early as March 20, including Minakov, are reportedly waiting for test results.

The Defense Ministry confirmed Thursday that 14 cadets and one civilian in Siberia have been diagnosed with Covid-19 and the school placed under quarantine. To date, the military has maintained that its coronavirus situation is under control.

The Kommersant business daily reported this week, citing unnamed sources, that the Defense Ministry assessed the military’s coronavirus situation as “unstable” with three allegedly confirmed cases and 133 soldiers under observation.

Preparations for Russia’s landmark military parade to mark the 75th anniversary of Soviet victory in World War II had been underway since February. Unconfirmed social media footage of recent parade rehearsals outside Moscow showed crowds of troops in an apparent violation of social distancing guidelines to prevent the spread of coronavirus.



Source: Dozens of Russian Cadets Involved With WWII Parade Rehearsals Infected With Coronavirus

NEWS FLASH!

Australia:
99 flu cases.
Last year, this time: 18,000.

Wot did I say?
Wot did I say?

Flu shot uptake, 3x normal.

You do have to wonder,
After this rush for the flu shot,
Coupled with social distancing,
And washing, etc,
Do I need to get a flu shot myself?
I don't really think so.

A BREATH OF FRESH AIR

In a pandemic, fresh air is very good for you.

Research is showing that enclosed spaces are a dangerous place to be. In one research article in the Journal of the American Medical Association, concluded "When one is outside with air circulations or wind, the [virus] is easily dispersed and less concentrated."

In a study in China, they looked at the spread of the coronavirus in 320 towns. What they observed is that 80% of the outbreaks began in the home. 34% of the infections began in public transportation. All identified outbreaks of 3 or more cases occurred in an indoor environment which confirms that sharing indoor space is a major [coronavirus] infection risk.

So enjoy the outdoors. That is what jimmy m. is doing. During the month of quarantine, we have:
* cut down several dead trees and cut them up for firewood for next year.
* repaired our walking bridge which was damaged by flood waters.
* repaired a fallen retaining wall.
* washed my Zoom-Zoom car.
* installed a leaf deflection system in our gutters.
* chimney swept our wood stove chimney.
* replaced the batteries in the utility vehicle and the large lawnmower.
* rototilled the garden.
* hauled in tons of mulch and spread it in the flower beds.
* burned a shrub pile and roasted sausages and potatoes in the ashes.
* and I cut the grass for the first time today.

Spring is here!

I don’t agree with the Social-Darwinist aspect of things.

I agree that people should be able to air their views.

I don’t believe people should be in pain to benefit others—but I don’t agree with not caring about strangers.

Just this evening:

In light of the attack from the Invisible Enemy, as well as the need to protect the jobs of our GREAT American Citizens, I will be signing an Executive Order to temporarily suspend immigration into the United States!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 21, 2020

THE MYSTERIOUS EVENTS IN NORTH KOREA

North Korea has consistently claimed the nation had not been infected with the coronavirus. But excuse me if I don't believe them. Since they border China and have close ties with China, since many of that nation's population has a weakened immune system because of a lack of food, the country is probably crawling with the virus.

Now the leader of that nation Kim Jung- Un is a young man of 36. But he is obese and a heavy smoker. Within the country he is a very public image which means that if the coronavirus had penetrated their borders, he is vulnerable. This is because many co-morbidities are associated with being obese and COVID-19 attacks those with co-morbidities.

On page 357 of this thread I mentioned:

Senior officials in North Korea paid tribute to the remote kingdom's founder Kim Il Sung Wednesday, but the apparent absence of current dictator Kim Jong Un raised questions about whether coronavirus played a part.

The Hermit Kingdom's most important holiday is April 15, the birthday of the country's first dictator, known as the “Day of the Sun.” It's a day that normally includes an immense military parade and synchronized public performances, sometimes involving tens of thousands.

But on Thursday, the Korean Central News Agency said only that a group of senior government, party and military officials paid tribute at the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun for Kim Il Sung's 108th birthday.

There was no mention in North Korean state media if current ruler Kim Jong Un visited the mausoleum where the bodies of his grandfather and father, Kim Jong-il, are located. State media only said that floral baskets were "laid at the statues of the great leaders and mosaics picturing their smiling images."

According to South Korea's Yonhap News Agency, Kim hasn't skipped visiting the mausoleum during the holiday since inheriting power in 2011. State media typically reports on visits to the site the same day or following morning.

So the latest news out of North Korea, perhaps I should call it gossip, is that on 12 April, Kim Jong-Un underwent surgery for a cardiovascular procedure. So I wonder if it might be appropriate to consider the possibility that the coronavirus might have got him.
----------------------------------
Let us apply a bit of fuzzy logic. Picture the book "Alice in Wonderland" with Kim Jong-Un portraying the Queen of Hearts. The title of a just published article in Newsweek read: NORTH KOREA CONFIRMS CORONAVIRUS CASES FOR FIRST TIME AFTER KIM JONG-UN REPEATEDLY DENIED INFECTIONS. So what do you think Kim Jong-Un would say to his underlings who leaked this information if he were still alive? My guess would be - Off with their heads!

Frankly speaking if North Korea is infected it makes little difference to me given they have closed borders anyway.