March Came In like a Lion and out with COVID-19

It was officially spring on March 19 @11:49pm ET.  But March will be known as the pandemic spread of COVID-19.

This map is the current count as of March 20.  Apparently this is the earliest Vernal Equinox in 124 years.  But no one cares about that.  Everything on the news has been about COVID-19.

From its start in Wuhan China at the beginning of January 2020, to pretty much every part of the globe.  From what we heard, this virus was first reported in Dec2019, by a doctor in Wuhan (Li Wenliang).  But he was reprimanded by authorities when he warned others of a SARS-like virus.  He died in Feb while treating patients at his hospital.

The Chinese gov't issued an apology to the doctor's family.  I heard it was pretty weak and lame.  But what can you do?  This is how they are.

This is the COVID-19 World Map that many were following intently.

I remember looking at that large red dot in Wuhan, China and the first days I was looking at it.  It was looking at the centre of the universe. I went through my messages.  I looked at this site on Jan31 and it was around 9000 cases. On Feb3, just a few days later it nearly doubled to 17,000, and it has skyrocketed from there.

The world was watching what was going on in China.  The 2 week construction of hospitals to handle the massive spread of new cases.  It was incredible to witness.  This was SARS and H1N1 all over again.  I thought this would be contained.  The WHO was not saying it was a Pandemic, but when the first cases were reported outside of China.  It began to tip the scales.  But the speed at which the virus spread throughout the globe was unreal.  And not long that the WHO stated that COVID-19 was now a pandemic.

It was nearing March Break and any hints of a possible trip to a warm destination, were soon put into a holding pattern. Go or no-go? Then last minute cancellations.
All news, tv talk shows was about COVID-19.  Every 6 o'clock news was an update from the Provincial and Federal gov'ts.  Within hours, mandatory 14 day isolation quarantines were imposed by the city/province and country's chief medical officers.  Ontario then declared a state of emergency.   Countries were closing their borders.  USA, then Canada.

What did this mean?  It meant that it could instate a temporary martial law.  10pm-5am curfews were set.  Restaurants, pubs, community centres, recreation centres were closed.  Schools closed.  Self isolation. Social distancing.

Then came the panic and hoarding.  What is the first thing you do when you panic?  Buy toilet paper.  I don't get that?  I don't think it was as bad here as it is in the USA.  I saw skids of toilet paper at Walmart.  They just do everything bigger than everyone else in the world.  Buy up as much toilet paper as possible.

Something must have set this off.  I'm not really sure but really, how much are you going to crap?  If you need this much, you have some serious bowel issues going on, and hoarding issues.

Come on people. geezus.  Use your brain, at least half of it.

So check this out.
1. China nearly 90K cases, 3200 deaths
2. Italy 48K cases, 4000+ deaths
3/4. Iran and Spain. Around 20K cases each, with 1400+ and 1000+ deaths.

Why were these regions hit so hard?

Here's the latest stats on Corona virus here in Ontario Canada.  Thing is.  there's not enough test kits, masks, etc.  Doctors are at risk.  Front line health care workers are at risk.  Fear is everywhere.


The world has been brought to a pause.
Well except the stock markets.  They were in free fall.  See that cliff there?
The biggest drop in decades.  Not 1 decade.  But in many decades.

It is amazing how something so small, something we cannot even see can wreak so much havoc to the world.

We are still in the midst of trying to control the spread of SARS-COV2-19.  That's the official name of the virus.  COVID-19 is the name of the disease caused by the virus.

Here's some interesting facts.  As i was cruising the Interweb.

2002 SARS - 8000+ cases and 774 deaths globally.  Mortality rate was 15%.  Everyone remembers this one.  Cuz if you got it, it could be bad.  If you were old and got it.  That would for sure be bad news.  We even did SARS world tour that year.  That's how bold we were when we were younger.  But this virus limited itself to certain cities.  Ones with lots of Asians.

2009 H1N1 - This one affected young kids worse than adults.  We all got this one but well into Nov of 09 and it was reported Jan09.  And we got the bu just before the vaccine became available.  The yearly flu shot contains this vaccine.  The symptoms hit hard and fast.  This one believe it or not started in Mexico.  So you can't blame this Chinese for this one.

2020 SARS-CoV2 / COVID-19 - This one spreads like fire in dry grass.  And unlike H1N1, there's been only 1 death to someone under 20.  Almost everyone else has been elderly.  The darn bug can live on surfaces for up to 9 days.  And be in the air for 3+hrs.  That's crazy.  No wonder it's so contagious.  The bugger knows how to survive, better than those folks on Naked and Afraid.


Tresa said that there was a line up to get into a No Frills - a local grocery store.  People were keeping their distance, trying to avoid each other.    The store was trying to limit the number of people in the store.  So instead people formed crowds outside the store.  Makes sense?

I went to Walmart and it was not that bad.  The instant noodle aisle was ransacked.  Don't these people know where that shit comes from?  It flew off the shelves like a virus was sneezed out at the speed of sound.   But i saw people wearing gloves, and masks.

It was all surreal.  I could hear people saying how they were afraid to be there, that they'd rather shop online to avoid others.  It felt like I was in a movie. I was thinking.  Maybe I should be wearing gloves and a mask.  But they say the mask won't protect you.  It's better for the mask to be worn by the one with the virus so he/she doesn't spread it.  If they sneeze on you.  You'll get it with or without a mask.

Today the COVID-19 map says we are at 275,000+ cases and 11,300+ deaths.
Hope we get a vaccine soon.
Sneeze into your elbows and wash your hands, damit.
And oh ya, stay the hell away if you are sick.
Use common sense people.

Make sure YOU THANK your Front Line Health Care Worker.  Nurses, Paramedics, Phlebotomists, and Doctors.  Without them...what are you gonna do?  think about it.

In less than 48 hrs

In just 2 days since I wrote this post.  total number of cases jumped 30%, deaths in Italy jumped 50% unfortunately leap frogging it past China to the top spot.  This is right out of a Hollywood movie.  But this is real.  Very real for those affected.  I wish people would take it seriously, before it's too late.