Hope is not a strategy. Activating the DPA fully would be. Even I can think of other strategies.

Wonder what could be the motivation behind the "downplayer downers"? Could there be a paid staff of downers somewhere in DC? I notice Nov is on a lot of minds.

I always wear a mask in public buildings or when near others outdoors. I do this to protect them in case I may be asymptomatic and exhaling the Wuhan virus. It does trouble me when I see others not wearing masks when appropriate.

Note : There is NEW research about young children under 10. Yes, they do NOT show symptoms often, but they DO catch CV. Medical scientists found it in their noses and throats as prevalent as in adults. So, their ability to transmit CV is the same as anyone. And practically speaking it becomes higher because who can resist a young child. You want to hold them or be near them. They do NOT represent DANGER. But, in reality, they are. And they have high energy and are hard to train / convince to keep their MASK on, or even to remain in one location - like socially distant. This NEW research is more powerful than it is recognized to be today. This virus is stealthy!!!!!

Hifred and BlueAsh comments here have it right. Wear a mask, & social distance, & CARE FOR OTHERS. If you do not wear a mask it says to many that you do not care about anyone but yourself. HOWEVER, we all know that by this action you could contract Covid 19.. then you will want someone wearing a MASK to treat you and save your life.. We know they will, that is their job, BUT why should they , when others who have been careful need that treatment more urgently.!!!

Google...rise of autocracy in Poland and Hungary. The European union let them in because they THOUGHT (?) they would move toward democracy. It did not work out that way, they have become autocracies! With respect to CV and media. Note that the 1st step that Poland and Hungary did was demonize the media and then jail them. Would people of the Villages want to live in Poland or Hungary. If so, just wait until journalists get arrested. Those journalists covering Portland are worried. That can also be Googled. Downplaying CV and the media may NOT be the best idea to sustain freedom!

I wholly concur.

What the world needs now --------- is MORE charts --- and more cow bells.

Exactly !!

What is the real issue?
 

The situation is that there is a deadly, contagious virus out there. Granted it’s more deadly for those with certain conditions such as heart, diabetes and pulmonary issues combined with age. The only thing is that it can take anyone out regardless of age and health condition while leaving others as asymptomatic spreaders.
All of us need to take precautions so as not to spread the virus. We need to stop pointing fingers, belittling others and start working together. Get real. Listen to the CDC, NIH, legitimate doctors and epidemiologists not politicians.
Stop the whining and bickering. Just do the right thing to protect us all, whether you are a Democrat, republican, christian, Jew, atheist or something else.
Wear a mask! Is it gonna kill you?

Wear a mask or don't wear a mask, it won't effect me any differently. I wear a mask to protect my spouse, only. I do not consider it to be any more effective than covering one's mouth when they cough, since experts/doctors say that as long as you are not near a person for a sustained period of time, you will not contract the virus from them. When shopping, I do not stand near a person and converse with them. I get my items and move on. According to the experts, I would not catch the virus even if I did not wear a mask. The store entrance has a mask rule so wear the mask, period. Being a smart A$$ and wearing it on your chin will only earn you scorn from others, not amusement or support. But, it is your right. If you all feel that you are protected by wearing a mask, then the placebo effect works for you. Folks wearing the mask are still becoming infected. I personally know someone that wore his mask religiously, as well as maintaining his distance. He still became infected and lost to the virus. Anyone leaving the safety of their homes or allowing others to enter their homes, takes a chance of becoming infected no matter how much effort they put into protection. Don't be fooled into thinking that a simple mask will protect you. Logic dictates that anything that filters the air in some manner will give a degree of protection. Do it right and purchase a military grade gas mask and get better protection. Better yet, a full bio-hazard suit. Mask shaming is just a form of being a bully. Suggestions are warranted, but demanding is aggression and UN-American.
There, you all wanted to push the panic and hysteria so I assisted you by injecting the plain truth. I prefer to be positive but if I am, then I am accused of being a denier. I do not think this is a hoax. But, I also know that America, as well as the world has gone through other catastrophic pandemics and survived to continue to pollute this world with their carelessness. Let's face it, mankind could lose half of the world's population and still be the scourge of this world. We all become dust at some point, so don't think that you can avoid the final outcome. No one gets out of this alive.
On a positive note, I plan to live my life like today is my last. I refuse to live in fear of something I cannot change.
Wear your mask if you feel the need, ....or not. I won't judge you. Besides, if others worry about whether or not you wear a mask, they probably should be staying home anyway. They can't control you, but they can control their own actions.
Life is great, so go out with a roar not with a whimper..........or not,... your choice.

Thank you for a rational and non hysterical thought. The virus is real, but the death rate is pumped up. They are assigning Covid deaths to people who test positive but die from something else is many cases. The majority of deaths are in nursing homes which is tragic.

There are two here who just love to say “panic porn”
 

An ambulance brought me to the Villages hospital Thursday night as I had diabetic keto acidosis. I’m still here. When you find yourself surrounded by sick people and caregivers and you see that my home self care and precautions are far far superior to the hospital - I’m scared pants-less. If you think it’s just “panic” I dare you to check yourself in . It’s easy to commentate from your bunker one way or another. Why don’t you quit chastising people for panicking in any form. There is need to be hyper vigilant. I’m extremely worried about getting Covid in the hospital.

I’ve done all the right things. I’ve isolated at home for 146 days. Now I landed in hospital. You never know what tmrw brings. I’m terrified to get it in here after all I’ve done right, I have yet to see one cleaner, and not one nurse staff or doctor has used the hand sanitizer by the when entering or leaving the room. They all touch everything in the room and never wipe a thing. I didn’t plan on being here and they won’t let me out for a few days. I could be a statistic despite doing everything right.

He had stage 4 colon cancer years ago, and was successfully treated, years ago. At the time of his death, he did not have cancer. COVID-19 is a viral pneumonia caused by the Sars-Cov-2 virus.