Buried in the article: Out of 3000 passengers, only 46 were tested.
*Of them*, 21 were positive for coronavirus. nbcnews.com/politics/polit…
*Of them*, 21 were positive for coronavirus. nbcnews.com/politics/polit…
We are undoubtedly fucking this pandemic thing up, thanks Pencey
Also cruises are floating Petri dishes for viral incubation and it’s time to ground them until this crisis is over
Also cruises are floating Petri dishes for viral incubation and it’s time to ground them until this crisis is over
Hey, congrats to those who clicked through to the article; most people don’t!
My point in saying “buried in the article” (eg not in the tweet and hed) is that casual scanners will miss the outrageous fact that only 46 of 3000+ were tested, with *nearly 50% infected*
My point in saying “buried in the article” (eg not in the tweet and hed) is that casual scanners will miss the outrageous fact that only 46 of 3000+ were tested, with *nearly 50% infected*
If you’re just scanning your feed or newsapp, you’ll see 21 of 3000 people infected and think “that’s bad, oh well.” When you know the fact that only 46 people were even tested for infection, your reaction becomes HOLY SHIT.
It’s a material fact and should be in the hed.
It’s a material fact and should be in the hed.
Again: my point with this and many stories about the Grand Princess is their headlines adopt Pence’s disingenuous framing that “21 of 3500 people onboard are infected,” omitting that only 46 have been tested so far—and that 19 of 21 positives are *crew who worked a prior cruise*.
The prior 2500+ passenger cruise had at least nine COVID victims on it, one of who has died. They were not quarantined when they disembarked or informed of possible infection until that man died. Not all of them have been tested even now. 
The prior cruise docked at four major Hawaiian ports on four different islands. Tourists disembarked and visited major destinations like Iolani Palace.
The total number of people tested in all of Hawaii so far? Eight.
The total number of people tested in all of Hawaii so far? Eight.
Cruises amplify outbreaks by cramming people in small spaces, encouraging shared use of recreational, dining and sanitary facilities, having potentially infected crew visit every room and recirculating air that carries a viral load. They visit many ports, delivering contagion.
If I were in charge: Every cruise would be grounded, per HI Lt Gov Josh Green. Every person on any cruise with an infection would be quarantined and tested ASAP, and anyone who’s cruised anywhere in the past month would be asked to voluntarily quarantine.
hawaiinewsnow.com/2020/03/07/gre…
hawaiinewsnow.com/2020/03/07/gre…
With Trump/Pence in charge: tests aren’t done, there are no quarantines, cruises with no infections keep sailing—until they’re found to carry COVID, at which point they become stateless deathships. Trump won’t disembark GP passengers because he doesn’t want his “numbers” to rise!
And if anyone wants to see a fairer headline for the Grand Princess disaster (although even it still minimizes the crisis), contrast @washingtonpost’s hed with the ledeburying of @USATODAY @guardian and even @CNN, for whom I write.
Editors—don’t be stenographers for Trump/Pence.
Editors—don’t be stenographers for Trump/Pence.
I think you mean “aren’t flights as bad as cruises” but no—in flights most people don’t move around and contaminate surfaces, they’re briefer so smaller window for infection etc.
Still bad! But flights could be made safe with rigorous screening.
Cruises quite simply cannot.
Still bad! But flights could be made safe with rigorous screening.
Cruises quite simply cannot.
My proposal regarding air travel: For the next 90 days, you need to be tested or 15 days asymptomatic with MD note before flying. Every plane sanitized between flights. Hand sanitizer given to all passengers on boarding to be used before seating. Airport bathrooms cleaned hourly.
Yes we do. Free testing and free checkups for covid should be mandatory and subsidized by insurers and the government and then we need Medicare for All.
