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| The long tail continues From Worldometer |
Three more cases in Hong Kong. But we remain fine here in Discovery Bay, thank you for asking
Andy Xie worries virus popping US stock market
And we’re struck by Bog Roll Bandits
Has the US overreacted ?
Virus bites Apple
Wuhan Woman, mad
Radio discussing commercial rents : drops of 50% to 100%
And Face masks. Are they needed? Are there enough? Answers: maybe. And: not yet.
Taxis being given face masks and disinfectants. Just now ? (Their business down 50%)
Language lesson
Known Unknowns: (a) length of virus incubation period. (b) is asymptomatic transmission happening?
10:25AM HKT: State Council in Beijing giving its presser on CNA. They really are “appalling old wax works” as Prince Charles memorably called them. Stiff, humourless, droning endlessly about all the wonderful steps they’re taking to control the outbreak, but nothing I find compelling enough to report. Some PR training might help.
Carrie Lam Just finished her weekly presser, mostly about mask supply. They’re on the case, apparently. And some more handouts
Friend sends the following, but no link so far so can’t vouch for it though links within seem kosher.
A HK Doctor wrote n sent below to CNN, BBC, NY Times n more. [PF: though not SCMP apparently…]
CHINA'S RESEARCH ON THE COVID-19 OUTBREAK IS PUBLISHED IN THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS MEDICAL JOURNALS
The COVID-19 outbreak has wreaked unprecedented havoc in China and caused global panic. Instead of showing sympathy for China's plight, the western media have been engaging in a smear campaign to demonise and stigmatise China. It is telling that the WHO chief has had to publicly defend China against this western onslaught.
Many accuse China of lack of transparency and doubt China has sufficient medical expertise to tackle this war against the outbreak. This could not be further from the truth and I would like to provide scientific evidence that China's medical experts - infectious disease specialists, epidemiologists, and virologists included - are just as forthcoming as well as duly qualified as their western counterparts. The number of high-quality research articles coming out of China and published in the most prestigious western medical journals in just the last 4 weeks is simply astounding, as can be seen in the bibliography listed below.
New England Journal of Medicine
Lancet
Journal of the American Medical Association
All of the above research publications have undoubtedly enhanced our understanding of the COVID-19 and offer proof that the quality of China's medical research belongs in the highest echelons, not to mention the speed and efficiency with which the data has been released. This testifies to the open and transparent attitude with which China is sharing its information. These publications were all peer-reviewed and have obviously passed the most stringent and rigorous of tests for scientific validity, not least because the NEJM and the Lancet are considered the very most demanding of all medical journals.
Finally, I would like to point out that it is in the nature of new viruses that first response by any country cannot be perfect. This was also true of Swine flu H1N1 which originated in the US in 2009. The US CDC estimated that "151,700-575,400 people worldwide died from (H1N1)pdm09 virus infection during the first year the virus circulated". Link.
No country is perfect, and China appears to be fighting this virus as best she can, but when it is about China, the western narrative has always been to dwell on the negative, and to never give China credit no matter the circumstances. Let's give credit where it is due.
Thank you.
Andy Xie worries virus popping US stock market
And we’re struck by Bog Roll Bandits
Has the US overreacted ?
Virus bites Apple
Wuhan Woman, mad
Radio discussing commercial rents : drops of 50% to 100%
And Face masks. Are they needed? Are there enough? Answers: maybe. And: not yet.
Taxis being given face masks and disinfectants. Just now ? (Their business down 50%)
Language lesson
Known Unknowns: (a) length of virus incubation period. (b) is asymptomatic transmission happening?
10:25AM HKT: State Council in Beijing giving its presser on CNA. They really are “appalling old wax works” as Prince Charles memorably called them. Stiff, humourless, droning endlessly about all the wonderful steps they’re taking to control the outbreak, but nothing I find compelling enough to report. Some PR training might help.
Carrie Lam Just finished her weekly presser, mostly about mask supply. They’re on the case, apparently. And some more handouts
Friend sends the following, but no link so far so can’t vouch for it though links within seem kosher.
A HK Doctor wrote n sent below to CNN, BBC, NY Times n more. [PF: though not SCMP apparently…]
CHINA'S RESEARCH ON THE COVID-19 OUTBREAK IS PUBLISHED IN THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS MEDICAL JOURNALS
The COVID-19 outbreak has wreaked unprecedented havoc in China and caused global panic. Instead of showing sympathy for China's plight, the western media have been engaging in a smear campaign to demonise and stigmatise China. It is telling that the WHO chief has had to publicly defend China against this western onslaught.
Many accuse China of lack of transparency and doubt China has sufficient medical expertise to tackle this war against the outbreak. This could not be further from the truth and I would like to provide scientific evidence that China's medical experts - infectious disease specialists, epidemiologists, and virologists included - are just as forthcoming as well as duly qualified as their western counterparts. The number of high-quality research articles coming out of China and published in the most prestigious western medical journals in just the last 4 weeks is simply astounding, as can be seen in the bibliography listed below.
New England Journal of Medicine
Lancet
Journal of the American Medical Association
All of the above research publications have undoubtedly enhanced our understanding of the COVID-19 and offer proof that the quality of China's medical research belongs in the highest echelons, not to mention the speed and efficiency with which the data has been released. This testifies to the open and transparent attitude with which China is sharing its information. These publications were all peer-reviewed and have obviously passed the most stringent and rigorous of tests for scientific validity, not least because the NEJM and the Lancet are considered the very most demanding of all medical journals.
Finally, I would like to point out that it is in the nature of new viruses that first response by any country cannot be perfect. This was also true of Swine flu H1N1 which originated in the US in 2009. The US CDC estimated that "151,700-575,400 people worldwide died from (H1N1)pdm09 virus infection during the first year the virus circulated". Link.
No country is perfect, and China appears to be fighting this virus as best she can, but when it is about China, the western narrative has always been to dwell on the negative, and to never give China credit no matter the circumstances. Let's give credit where it is due.
Thank you.
