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Europe, U.S. facing new round of shutdowns amid virus surge

65 Comments
By TODD RICHMOND and FRANK JORDANS

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65 Comments
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I'm expecting that aside from Europe and North America, Asian countries in northern climates would see an increase is cases as well. Christmas season is a time of consumerism after all and I think people who are tired of complying will just disregard everything and live like its normal.

4 ( +9 / -5 )

At least all the other countries in the world test enough to know the real picture of the virus.

5 ( +12 / -7 )

Cue all the anti-masker "open up now!", and "lockdowns do more harm than good" dropkicks.

3 ( +16 / -13 )

The virus has killed more than 250,000 people in Europe

Must be all those European leaders bungled their COVID response, right?

A new wave of lockdowns and business closings

Yes, let's ruin the economy and throw people out of work, increase debt, increase suicides, etc., all for a virus.

-12 ( +12 / -24 )

Cue all the maskers and "lockdowns do more good than harm" dropkicks.

-10 ( +14 / -24 )

Cue all the maskers and "lockdowns do more good than harm" dropkicks.

...and right on cue, I was proven correct.

5 ( +18 / -13 )

Yes, let's ruin the economy and throw people out of work, increase debt, increase suicides, etc., all for a virus.

Sigh. Hasn't it occurred to your that a virus that runs unchecked will also ruin the economy?

We have to balance the economy against lives. It is about finding the right balance between economic costs, convenience and safety. It is a decision that people make all the time and it is never black or white.

6 ( +15 / -9 )

"At least all the other countries in the world test enough to know the real picture of the virus."

yeah right, go tell that to the 200,000 dead in the US, the 35,000 dead in France and their families. "Well at least we tested"

I prefer Japan's low death. Thank you.

-7 ( +12 / -19 )

"Both Italy and Germany set records for new infections Wednesday"

Germany was the poster child for its Covid policy. Now its locked down. So much for testing testing. It looks like Japan did it right after all. Japan simply had better leadership. But that should not come as a surprise. We are the best country bar none.

-10 ( +12 / -22 )

Yes, let's ruin the economy and throw people out of work, increase debt, increase suicides, etc., all for a virus.

...and then not pay any relief money because they live in Democrat run states so to hell with them.

-1 ( +7 / -8 )

Just checked Sweden.

Doing pretty fine! Just like Japan.

Enjoy life, everybody!

-13 ( +10 / -23 )

...and all of that because of China

-14 ( +8 / -22 )

Just checked Sweden.

Doing pretty fine! Just like Japan.

Enjoy life, everybody!

FACTS :

Sweden deaths/1 M = 586.

Japan deaths/1M = 14

Sweden has a Covid death rate 42 times that of Japan.

Sweden is NOT "doing just fine". They are seeing their biggest Covid spikes (2000 daily new cases) heading into a long winter. Their government failed the people badly, and things are getting much, much worse.

14 ( +27 / -13 )

Just checked Sweden.

Doing pretty fine! Just like Japan.

Enjoy life, everybody!

https://time.com/5899432/sweden-coronovirus-disaster/

-1 ( +12 / -13 )

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/sweden/

Sweden is clearly seeing a bigger second wave and ranks 17th for deaths per capita.

For reference, neighbors: Denmark ranks 72nd, Finland 97th, and Norway 104th.

So,... how do you define "doing fine"?

7 ( +19 / -12 )

Sweden is clearly seeing a bigger second wave and ranks 17th for deaths per capita.

For reference, neighbors: Denmark ranks 72nd, Finland 97th, and Norway 104th.

So,... how do you define "doing fine"?

They don't let facts get in the way of a good narrative. COVID deniers hate facts because it threatens their belief system.

4 ( +16 / -12 )

Not sure what you mean by "cleaner" (you may not either), but the reasons for the high pentrance and mortality in many countries is that the virus Ro is based largely on the density and interconnectivity of cities within the country (i.e., Ro varies a lot). The severity of COVID symptoms is based on prior and recent exposure to other HCVs and your underlying genetic architecture, some of which does have a geographical distribution (APOe allele). Missense mutations, indels, etc., in various genes (tlr3, numerous Interferon Regulatory Factors, and other factors contributing to interferon production and signalling pathways) are linked to interferon not being produced early enough in the infection (Zhang etal Science 370 Oct. 23, 2020). Couple these with comorbidities (many linked to Western countries) and you get the results we're seeing.

Burning Bush

So the richest, cleanest parts of the world can't control this "pandemic", but everybody else is basically just fine.

-5 ( +2 / -7 )

Even though the facts speak for themselves that masks and washing hands and social distancing ect all play a part in reducing the spread most western populations keep shooting it down, and now they have a bigger mess to deal with. The USA its out of control and Europe is pretty much on the way there. It's just a temporary measure to ease a pandemic that's all - Not a new world order or whatever the tin hat wearers are banging on about.

3 ( +12 / -9 )

Thanks, Trump.

2 ( +12 / -10 )

.and all of that because of China

exactly.

-12 ( +5 / -17 )

Is China having a 2nd wave?

-10 ( +3 / -13 )

I am always amused to see, that even after 10 months in the pandemic, people are still supporting lockdowns.

The last 10 months shows us that the only outcome from a lock down is just a temporary slow down of the spread of the virus.

After the lockdown is finished, the spread of the virus is the same like before, even more worse like you can see now in Europe.

And the same thing will happen again with this upcoming lockdowns in Europe.

But additional, after this new lockdowns, you will see a bigger increase in suicides, bankruptcy, people losing existence, domestic violence, Riots and Demos will come up more and more..

Because the people are frustrated, especially with a new lockdown. People were told that after the first lockdown everything will be fine, but now the people have to face a lockdown again. How many times more?

As long as there is no vaccine or medicine for treatment, nothing will help, except the personal behavior of the people.

And I said that already before:

The behavior of the Japanese people, compared to Europe and USA, is much better according personal prevention. (Wearing masks, Washing hands, using sanitizers, restaurants preventions...and so on...)

This is the keypoint: the personal behavior of each countries citizens. And that is amazing in Japan.

Another important point is: Keep the borders closed!

Don’t let anybody from overseas in without 2 weeks Quarantine at an airport hotel and a negative PCR test.

The travel around European countries over summer vacations in Europe was one of the biggest reason for their increase in cases.

-16 ( +6 / -22 )

@egads man

Nobody knows, because the only news coming out from China are lies!

-10 ( +8 / -18 )

Sweden is clearly seeing a bigger second wave and ranks 17th for deaths per capita. 

For reference, neighbors: Denmark ranks 72nd, Finland 97th, and Norway 104th.

I’ve tried to get a response to this. The only thing I got was something about the MSM and narratives.

I’m still trying to work out the relevance of it.

-5 ( +8 / -13 )

It's fine. Thin the herd. I live in Japan so it's not my problem.

-15 ( +3 / -18 )

I think the difference of death tolls between Europe and Japan is mainly because of DNA. This time, East Asians' DNA may be relatively strong against the new virus fortunately. Therefore, I think Europeans and Americans don't need to feel bad about themselves.

-7 ( +4 / -11 )

In the U.S., more than 71,000 people a day are testing positive on average, up from 51,000 two weeks ago. Cases are on the rise in all but two states, Hawaii and Delaware, and deaths are climbing in 39 states, with an average of 805 people dying in the U.S. per day, up from 714 two weeks ago.

So we've rounded the corner, rounded it again, and rounded it one last time.....so according to Trump we're right back where we started in Mar and Apr....only true thing he's said about the virus except when he admitted to Woodward it was a "killer" and "deadly"...

And just look at "Mr Pro-Life" Mike Pence - out there campaigning and spreading the virus when he should be quarantining.

That's real pro-life of you Mr VP...by the way, does VP stand for virulently poisonous?

-9 ( +7 / -16 )

For all those dissing Sweden, look at the Worldometer figures:

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/sweden/

After a disastrous start where they failed to secure people in nursing homes and hospitals who were already old, ill and/or immunocompromised, Sweden did not lock down and is now experiencing COVID-related deaths in the low single digits.

Compare this to other countries in Europe that have been locking down and releasing and locking down again, and it appears that Sweden is doing something right. Likewise Japan. We had that half-baked "lockdown" back in March-May, and while cases and deaths rose, they were nothing like what has happened in countries that had hard lockdowns.

And look at Victoria in Australia. A hard and punishing lockdown, with by far the greater number of "cases" and deaths in that country, under much harder lockdown conditions than the other states.

This may also help to shed some light of which countries are handling the crisis better and with fewer restrictions of freedom of movement, association and expression.

https://swprs.org/studies-on-covid-19-lethality/#foobox-1/2/uk-mortality-2000-2020-inproportion.png

-17 ( +5 / -22 )

We must be careful here in Japan, now that travels to US, Europe etc is resumed for some.

Let me explain why.

Apart from the fact that the virus is around a lot, just unofficially:

Quarantines can be done at home or any hotel and there is no control whatsoever from the government. Anyone can leave and do their normal lives during the quarantine.

This is something to be concerned.

I don’t believe most people - japanese nationals, residents and business travellers - will fully respect the self quarantine upon arrival if no control by the police/government, as you see in some other countries.

Would be great to see some extra effort on this, to ensure compliance.

Lastly, the tests upon arrival at the airport are saliva tests: the least accurate.

Stay aware, maintain social distance at all times and keep the mask on (mouth and nose)!

This way we can live our lives with reduced risk of being infected, or infecting others.

-14 ( +2 / -16 )

Whose fault?

the EU needs a blanket policy.

The USA needs a blanket policy.

this is why democracy...Doesn’t work.

Only one party dictatorships like China, NK, Japan and Singapore seem to be winning.

-18 ( +3 / -21 )

So the richest, cleanest parts of the world can't control this "pandemic", but everybody else is basically just fine.

Same reason why poorer countries are more densely populated. It has something to do with "survival". The more exposed you are to danger, the stronger you become.

-18 ( +0 / -18 )

Goodluck

You cannot be serious.  You might as well be saying that the E Asian countries did well for racial or genetic reasons.

Last I looked neither Japan nor Singapore are one party dictatorships.

Who knows what is happening in NK?

And anyway the measures taken in Japan have been far from draconian and yet have not caused huge caseloads or mortality.

Sure, all these countries can try what they have already tried and hope for a different result.  Might just work. I guess they think it is (looks?) better than doing nothing.  although some less draconian measures might be better and not lead to riots and all the other issues that appear to be resulting from lockdowns.

11 ( +13 / -2 )

Totally wrong according to World of Meters. How disgusting. You'd rather own the libs rather than keep people alive.

Blacklabel

USA not even in the Top 10 anymore in per capita deaths.

But Im sure all the haters here will keep screaming about Trump and the USA while ignoring all the others.

-2 ( +7 / -9 )

The USA is also #32 in deaths per million over the last 7 days.

So why the nonstop focus only on the USA?

https://www.statista.com/statistics/1104709/coronavirus-deaths-worldwide-per-million-inhabitants/

-10 ( +6 / -16 )

Great US tourism slogan.

"Come visit the US. We're not in the top 10 countries for COVID related deaths per capita."

Do you work in marketing? A wordsmith as I've ever witnessed one.

-4 ( +7 / -11 )

Compare this to other countries in Europe that have been locking down and releasing and locking down again, and it appears that Sweden is doing something right.

What do you think of the Swedish figures compared to Norway and Finland?

Are you going to be the first to compare similar with similar?

I know this is inconvenient to your narrative, but honesty counts.

-3 ( +7 / -10 )

as I said, we normally have 50,000 deaths in a 7 day period.

per capita we are #32 in the last 7 days, simply a fact.

 last 7 days, 4506.

-15 ( +3 / -18 )

R T

Why do you believe Japan is pretending.

When you walk around or whatever do you see tons of sick people?  Are lots of people off from your work sick?  do you have friends or family who have contracted the virus?

As far as I can tell, this has been pretty under control in Japan.

1 ( +11 / -10 )

@Zichi

Emmanuel Macron is not really clever

-16 ( +3 / -19 )

Zzzzzz macron droned on too long. Here we go again...

-13 ( +1 / -14 )

Japan will keep pretending that nothing is happening and reminds the world of the olympics every two days.

So true, at least Europe and America doesn't do that!

5 ( +12 / -7 )

If only we could let those that don't want to wear masks, keep their distance and wash up more often separate from those that do. If they get sick and die, so be it but we know that they will end up infecting someone who is doing their best to stay safe. I really wish this virus would just deal a healthy, heaping dose of Karma to those hell bent on screwing it up for those doing their best to just get through this. You just can't cure stupid but maybe this virus might just end it.

-5 ( +3 / -8 )

There are of course some unpleasant consequences, when nobody wants to hear or act according to the statements of Dr Li Meng-Yan, former MI6 chief Sir Richards etc. or even the very well known ‘war’ statements of those two presidents Trump and Macron themselves. It is now obvious that this all is a kind of biological war , at minimum a constructed or let’s say artificially enhanced and unintentionally released virus, and everywhere and everyone should become used of being at war and act accordingly without mercy.

-11 ( +3 / -14 )

I am a little bit worried this might mean there won't be mass vaccination this year. We should have had the Pfizer reports for the efficacy. Anyone heard anything ?

-6 ( +2 / -8 )

There are of course some unpleasant consequences, when nobody wants to hear or act according to the statements of Dr Li Meng-Yan...

Scientifically speaking the Meng-Yan paper is completely devoid of merits, experts from all over the world found it lacking, the arguments weak and based on ignoring previous evidence that completely contradicts her in almost every detail. It is too obviously a political writing trying to pretend to be a scientific manuscript.

-11 ( +4 / -15 )

It is too obviously a political writing trying to pretend to be a scientific manuscript.

Pot, meet kettle.

-6 ( +4 / -10 )

Japan has done well compared to most of the world, Europe, America, India, Brazil, etc despite relatively low levels of testing. Not as good as Taiwan of course. I think cultural factors play a big role in each nation’s outcomes. There are too many examples of countries with either very strict or very lenient policies that have similar results.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Fighto!

Cue all the anti-masker "open up now!", and "lockdowns do more harm than good" dropkicks.

That would include the 11.000 (and growing) virologists and health professionals who have signed the Great Barrington Declaration, saying exactly that the lockdowns do more harm than good? What say you?

https://gbdeclaration.org/

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Exactly, zichi. 20A.EU1, coming from northeastern Spanish farm workers and spread all over during summer vacation travel returners etc. First people already call it COVID-20.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Viral surge in the US? Can't be. The 'president' says everything is getting better.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@Monty

The behavior of the Japanese people, compared to Europe and USA, is much better according personal prevention. (Wearing masks, Washing hands, using sanitizers, restaurants preventions...and so on...) 

Preventative behaviour has nothing to do with nationality, it has to do with education and the seeking of knowledge...

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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