Posted on 03/16/2020 7:36:24 AM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer
WASHINGTON - The U.S. surgeon general said Monday that the number of coronavirus cases in the United States has reached the level that Italy recorded two weeks ago, a sign that infections are expected to rise in America as the government steps up testing and financial markets continue to fall.
“We are at a critical inflection point in this country, people. We are where Italy was two weeks ago in terms of our numbers,” U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams told Fox News. “When you look at the projections, there’s every chance that we could be Italy.”
Two weeks ago, there were 1,700 cases of coronavirus in Italy and the country had reported 34 deaths. Now, Italy is reporting an estimated 25,000 cases and more than 1,800 people have died. There are about 3,800 cases reported in the United States and so far, more than 65 people have died from coronavirus.
Adams claims the U.S. has “turned the tide” on testing, a critical part of tracking and containing pandemics. The U.S. effort has been hobbled by a series of missteps, including flaws with the testing kits first distributed by the federal government and bureaucratic hurdles that held up testing by private laboratories.
Adams’ details about the capacity of roll-out of drive-through and walk-by testing sites, however, contradicted other administration officials.
Adams said there will be 30 to 40 new testing sites running in 19 states that could each perform 2,000 to 4,000 tests a week.
(Excerpt) Read more at apnews.com ...
Yeah because the Surgeon General is trying to bring down the President too, eh?
Plus Italy has a much higher population density.
It’s too simplistic as varying factors, such as demographics, population density. climate etc play a part. 1:1 has way too much error.
Talk like that doesn’t help.
All true, but I have to agree, this was superficially inept and idiotic statement.
Some of these folks are not camera or microphone shy. As another Freeper said his dad had warned, “Don’t ask a barber if you need a haircut.”
since the spread is being managed far better in Taiwan, Singapore and a few others And, society is at least partially open, I guess we all could go there the next few months. lol
If it’s true that we are on the same track as the Italians it would be smart to get the virus now before the hospitals start turning people away.
He’s about to be gagged by Trump.
Good call.
I apologize.
But the US has six times the population as Italy. 25,000 case in Italy is like 4,100 cases in the US.
We may be where Italy was two weeks ago in terms of cases, but Italy is probably where we were sixty years ago in terms of capacity to handle cases and their demographics are different: average age, health, population density, etc...
It doesn’t mean that he’s necessarily wrong, but it doesn’t mean that the comparison is necessarily useful.
No apology necessary.
You are aware that the Surgeon General is well liked by the President, and supports the President.
You are aware Trump handpicked the Surgeon General?
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Trump speaks highly of China’s efforts too these days.
He’s fighting battles on several fronts and doesn’t need to open up new fronts so he is being minimally abrasive in all circumstances.
He handpicked Sessions too.
If ire the lying or incomprehensibly stupid bastard RIGHT NOW! Italy’s death rate is 7%, ours is about 1/10th that.
Shut down the TV stations for 5 days and the flu will disappear.
“...much higher percentage of recent Chinese immigrants both legal and illegal...”
Yes, and they did not ban travel to China until late in epidemic. With the huge numbers of Chinese in the textile and leather industries, the interaction between the two countries was very significant. The Italians were easy targets of the virus.
So, we’re going to become Wuhan, now Italy. Last I checked we are a fairly international country with lots of travel, and lots of people. Percentage wise, is it logical that this virus picked us last out of all industrial countries?
Nah. Something else is afoot. Something Trump did slowed this down for us, at the very start. Hmm, what was it? Oh yeah, the thing he was criticized for - travel bans.
And, although the testing needs to be vastly more widespread, the deaths do tell the story. We’re nowhere near Europe’s numbers. Many will say “yet”, but I’m not so sure. Trump was right, people need to calm down, and stop panic shopping. We know a lot more about this virus now than the poor initial victims in China. EVERYONE is washing their hand like 5 times a day. Even in Arizona, where we only have 12 cases, people are using their sleeves to open doors, fist bumping instead of shaking hands, and hand sanitizing every 5 minutes.
We’re gonna be ok.
We might just beat this in epic fashion.
Two weeks ago I don’t recall Italy doing anything like we are.
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