Corona Virus #6

[ruffdog]

NPR - "The $2.2 trillion coronavirus relief package marks the largest rescue package in American history. President Trump announced Wednesday that it includes $300 million in direct payments to individuals."

$300 million to individuals. The other 'half' , $2.199 trillion of government handouts is going to ... whom?

These people don't have much money compared to what we are printing for "stimulus."

"The 25 wealthiest dynasties on the planet control $1.4 trillion"

 

[rekees4300]

Based on what I can find out I will be receiving the standard payment. My question is, "Why?"

To prevent the collapse of the U.S. economy.

 

[rswyan]

That was in reference to post #1178
actually just the last line

Richard was basically agreeing with you ... only with more emphasis !

:laughing:

 

[SPYDERLK]

I agree with you on pretty much all you said. I have two clients we build for on hold, one on a let's see what happens, and another is a major healthcare provider so we are safe there. But, this is ridiculous in my opinion, to scare everyone into an apocalyptic cave and not give them a ray of hope. I told a client today, if it comes down to loosing everything I own or taking my chances with the virus, well... bring on the virus, I'm game. This isn't the movies where the virus turns you into a Zombie instantly; yes, we may have a few thousand people die from this, but no one seems to care how many hundreds of thousands die from alcoholism, drug addiction, smoking, or car accidents. Let's get a grip on this before we scare ourselves into oblivion...

I care but would not think of comparing them to highly communicable disease. We personally have inherent control in the former.

 

[California]

To prevent the collapse of the U.S. economy.

Exactly. Getting spending money out to near everyone, nearly all of whom will spend it soon, is an excellent measure to get the economy going again.

Asking for a friend - Is that $150k income limit the point where subsidies cease or the point where the full amount starts to decline?

 

[rswyan]

The USA just moved into the #2 slot of cases and in a few hours will become the #COVID19 epicenter
@Worldometers

Twitter

And there it is. Minutes, not hours. And rising fast. Over 100,000 by end of tomorrow

Twitter

 

[rswyan]

The March 26th outlook
1. The US death curve, like Spain and Italy's, is outpacing that of China's. Ominous, to say the least.
2. New York's death curve flattened some since yesterday but still the worst slope region in the world.
from @FT's @jburnmurdoch and great graphic team

Twitter

 

[rekees4300]

Exactly. Getting spending money out to near everyone, nearly all of whom will spend it soon, is an excellent measure to get the economy going again.

Asking for a friend - Is that $150k income limit the point where subsidies cease or the point where the full amount starts to decline?

"Rebates phase out at a 5% rate above adjusted gross incomes of $75,000 (single)/ $122,500 (head of household)/ $150,000 (joint). There is no income floor or phase-in all recipients will receive the same amounts, provided they are under the phaseout threshold" Section 2201 COVID 3 -- UI and Tax Title Summary | Unemployment Benefits | Tax Refund

It seems to be where the full amount starts to decline. So for a joint return the reduction would be 5% of adjusted gross income over $150,000. For example, if AGI is $160,000 then the reduction would be .05 X $10,000 = $500 So subsidy would be $2,400 - $500 = $1,900.

 

[newbury]

I've wondered when is it worth putting the economy at risk by shutting everything down? That is, how many lives can be written off as just bad luck/wrong place, wrong time? Certainly people die every day for many reasons, and while we try to minimize risk, we don't ban automobile traffic because people die in cars.

I don't know the answer, and would love to hear others perspective on this.

So far, this is what I've come up with. It becomes a problem when it is a significant portion of the daily deaths that would occur otherwise.

However, even that has to be clarified based on region, as hotspots crop up. I looked up NY State mortality statistics and was surprised to find, on average, 404 people die a day. It's been consistent for years.

NY is now having about 150 (I'm not sure of the exact number) deaths per day from COVID-19, and it is continuing to climb. That is problematic for me, and points to a significant crises on the horizon.

Maybe some other areas will get away with fewer mortalities, but I worry that while they appear to be in the clear, that situation will change dramatically in the next few weeks.

Good point - How much has the death rate increased over normal?

I was asked to repost this over here. And is more of a wake up call for the folks that aren't taking this seriously or not worried because it isn't in there area

My wife knows over 40 people that have covid 19 here. That number will probably increase once they finish testing the facility. The nursing facility she used to work at got hit hard. My wife's last day was on a friday. One of the residents had some family come in from florida over the weekend and that's where they figured the infection came from. But to be honest, they really have no idea how it came into the facility. Before it was discovered, the virus went through the facility like a tornado through a trailer park

When the patient tested positive, it was 12 days after my wife had left the facility. Thankfully my wife wasn't infected since she had transferred to another nursing facility.

isn't in there area

can be a very wide area because we are such a mobile culture.
For example Florida is a far piece from the location you show.
Driving from the center of Florida to vilonia, arkansas draws a line directly across my area (near Tupelo, MS). So if they pumped gas in Tupelo they could easily have been spreading it in my area.
Think Typhoid Mary. Think of all the "Mard Gras partiers" and "spring breakers" as asymptomatic carriers.

Protect yourself, stay cool and spaced out.

 

[rswyan]

A curve on its way to millions of confirmed #COVID19 cases, no less those missed. An ignominious day in United States history

Twitter

 

[Citydude]

Twitter

View attachment 647540

You pump them out every hour? We get it.

 

[randy41]

so who’s gonna go help all those folks in nursing homes file tax returns so they can get stimulus money? I think most nursing homes are on lock down.

 

[rswyan]

You pump them out every hour? We get it.

Nope - the twitter comments are from Eric Topol, MD - who is the Founder & Director of Scripps Research Translational Institute, a medical research institute:

Scripps Research Translational Institute | Scripps Research

The graphs (mostly) are from the Financial Times, based on an analysis of data from John Hopkins University.

 

[Dftodd]

Good point - How much has the death rate increased over normal?


can be a very wide area because we are such a mobile culture.
For example Florida is a far piece from the location you show.
Driving from the center of Florida to vilonia, arkansas draws a line directly across my area (near Tupelo, MS). So if they pumped gas in Tupelo they could easily have been spreading it in my area.
Think Typhoid Mary. Think of all the "Mard Gras partiers" and "spring breakers" as asymptomatic carriers.

Protect yourself, stay cool and spaced out.

Absolutely. I keep nitrile gloves in both my work truck, personal truck, and wife's jeep. We use them to pump gas and for the touch pad on the card reader. One hand touches the pump and reader, the other touches the vehicle. Peal them off afterwards without your skin touching the outside and toss them in the trash

 

[rekees4300]

so who痴 gonna go help all those folks in nursing homes file tax returns so they can get stimulus money? I think most nursing homes are on lock down.

"Nonfilers generally need to file a tax return in order to claim a rebate, although IRS may coordinate with other federal agencies in some instances to get checks out."

That statement seems to imply checks will be sent to those who are unable to file a return. :confused3:

 

[Jstpssng]

so who’s gonna go help all those folks in nursing homes file tax returns so they can get stimulus money? I think most nursing homes are on lock down.

"Nonfilers generally need to file a tax return in order to claim a rebate, although IRS may coordinate with other federal agencies in some instances to get checks out."

That statement seems to imply checks will be sent to those who are unable to file a return. :confused3:

Considering that the stimulus is for people who filed for 2018 or 2019; and that the filing deadline for 2019 has been moved up to July 15 or somewhere thereabouts; I would say that many eligible taxpayers will receive it based on their 2018 tax filing. I will file by 4-15 anyways, as I need the federal form to file my state taxes. Besides, why wait? They probably will be charging interest on the few dollars I will be paying in.

 

[rekees4300]

Absolutely. I keep nitrile gloves in both my work truck, personal truck, and wife's jeep. We use them to pump gas and for the touch pad on the card reader. One hand touches the pump and reader, the other touches the vehicle. Peal them off afterwards without your skin touching the outside and toss them in the trash

Ditto, gas pumps are a hazard! I also use them for bird feeders. No telling what kind of flu, etc. they are carrying. Nitrile gloves are inexpensive insurance. Around $15 per 100 on Amazon.

 

[Jim Nelson]

Just who are "these people" you are referring to?

Those that have been on the public free ride for generations. You already knew that but just want to start a racial argument. I will not play your game.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

While we were doing the dogs and horses this evening I got to thinking about things that I have read and heard this week not related to this and other regular forums. Some doctors I have spoken with tell stories about flu cases from Aug 2019. Some referred to them flu like symptoms with negative flu test results. I read one story from one touring deep into the interior of China last August. He and others got sick and now are certain it must have been what is now called COVID-19.

Perhaps many of the healthy persons just thought it was jet lack or just travel bugs if they only had mild symptoms. When the normal flu season rolled around some around the world already had it and a few were still spreading it slowly in the off season. A case could be made that this has been going around for 6+ months perhaps. If it did come from the wet markets and places where the poorly people lived that did not seek much medical attention it may have been around for quite some time before it moved into the upscale Chinese culture.

This is just speculation on my part after a lot of reading. If it had been around for a year or two in China there would have been some herd immunity in that area of China causing it to peak earlier. Since we know it traveled out from China by plane (Hong Kong picked up on this mode of transmission at the very end of 2019) and China said 17 Nov 2019 was the first case that they labeled. We know for sure the Chinese government was trying to cover up and suppress their medical community from sounding the alarm.

In time we will learn more facts on the entire affair because many are stressed that the government tried to quieten the doctor trying to get the word out. After his death from the virus we see how the people have painted him out to be a hero for trying to sound the alarm. The protesters will be back when the lock down is over and they will be more vocal than ever because they have the attention of the entire world.

Anyway it is just a matter of time before we start getting some ground based info as to what did or did not go down. Right now the rest of the world has to focus on how stay alive and healthy.

 

[rswyan]

Feds have 1.5 million expired N95 masks in storage despite CDC clearing them for use on COVID-19: report | TheHill