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Let me bring you some snapshots of the milestone steps during the past some 11 months since Wuhan was first hit by the coronovirus in last December 2019.All the following dates and facts are excerpts from the White Paper released by China's State Council Information Office: Full Text: Fighting COVID-19: China in Action.If you insists on doubting its authenticity, then please refer to a Timeline: WHO's COVID-19 response, which can be a cross reference.If you still doubt the facticity of the WHO data, because the China part is provided by “a dictorship without transparency,” then you can walk away from my answer.December 27, 2019: Hubei Provincial Hospital of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine reported cases of pneumonia of unknown cause to the Wuhan Jianghan Center for Disease Prevention and Control. The Wuhan city government arranged for experts to look into these cases through an analysis of the patients' condition and clinical outcome, the findings of epidemiological investigations, and preliminary laboratory testing results. The conclusion was that they were cases of a viral pneumonia.December 30: The Wuhan City Health Commission (WCHC)issued Urgent Notice on Treatment of Patients with Pneumonia of Unknown Cause. Upon learning of developments, the National Health Commission (NHC) acted immediately to organize research into the disease.December 31: The NHC made arrangements in the small hours to send a working group and an expert team to Wuhan to guide its response to the situation and conduct on-site investigations. The WCHC website carried its Information Circular on the Pneumonia Cases in Wuhan, confirming 27 cases and urging the public to stay away from enclosed public places with poor ventilation and venues where large crowds gathered. The commission also suggested the use of face masks when going out. From that day on, the WCHC began to release updates on the disease in accordance with the law.January 1, 2020: The NHC set up a leading group on the disease response. The next day, it formulated Guidelines on Early Detection, Early Diagnosis and Early Quarantine for Prevention and Control of Viral Pneumonia of Unknown Cause. The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC) and the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CAMS) received the first batch of samples of four cases discovered in Hubei and began the pathogen identification process.January 3: The WCHC issued Information Circular on Viral Pneumonia of Unknown Cause, reporting a total of 44 cases. Under the direction of the NHC, China CDC and three other institutions carried out parallel laboratory testing of the samples to identify the pathogen. The NHC and the Health Commission of Hubei Province jointly formulated nine documents, including Diagnosis and Treatment Protocol for Viral Pneumonia of Unknown Cause (for Trial Implementation). From that day on, on a regular basis, China began to update the WHO, relevant countries, and regional organizations, as well as its own regions of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, on the development of the disease.January 4: The head of China CDC held a telephone conversation with the director of the US CDC, briefing him about the new pneumonia. The two sides agreed to keep in close contact on information sharing and cooperation on technical matters. The NHC and related health departments in Hubei Province produced Treatment Manual for Viral Pneumonia of Unknown Cause.January 5: The WCHC updated information on its website, reporting a total of 59 cases of the viral pneumonia of unknown cause. Laboratory tests ruled out respiratory pathogens as the cause, such as influenza, avian influenza, adenovirus, the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus, and the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus. China sent a situation update to the WHO. The WHO released its first briefing on cases of pneumonia of unknown cause in Wuhan.January 6: The NHC gave a briefing on cases of pneumonia of unknown cause in Wuhan at a national health conference, calling for greater efforts to monitor, analyze and study them, and prepare for a timely response.January 7: Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, presided over a meeting of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and issued instructions on the prevention and control of a possible epidemic of the pneumonia of unknown cause in Wuhan.January 7: China CDC succeeded in isolating the first novel coronavirus strain.January 8: An expert evaluation team designated by the NHC initially identified a new coronavirus as the cause of the disease. The heads of the China and US CDCs held a telephone discussion on technical exchanges and cooperation.January 9: The NHC expert evaluation team released information on the pathogen of the viral pneumonia of unknown cause, and made a preliminary judgment that a new coronavirus was the cause. China informed the WHO of developments and the initial progress that had been made in determining the cause of the viral pneumonia. The WHO released on its website a statement regarding a cluster of pneumonia cases in Wuhan, indicating that the preliminary identification of a novel coronavirus in such a short period of time was a notable achievement.January 10: Research institutions including China CDC and the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) came up with an initial version of test kits. Wuhan immediately began to test all relevant cases admitted to local hospitals to screen for the new coronavirus. The heads of the NHC and China CDC held separate telephone conversations with the head of the WHO about China's response to the disease, and exchanged information.January 11: China started to update the WHO and other parties concerned on a daily basis.January 12: The WCHC changed "viral pneumonia of unknown cause" to "pneumonia caused by the novel coronavirus" in an information circular on its website. China CDC, the CAMS and the WIV, as designated agencies of the NHC, submitted to the WHO the genome sequence of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), which was published by the Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data to be shared globally.January 13: Premier Li Keqiang chaired a State Council meeting and announced requirements for epidemic prevention and control.January 13: The NHC held a meeting to provide guidance to Hubei and Wuhan authorities, advising them to further strengthen management, step up body temperature monitoring at ports and stations, and reduce crowded gatherings. The WHO issued on its website a statement on the discovery of novel coronavirus cases in Thailand, recognizing that China's sharing of the genome sequence of the virus had enabled more countries to rapidly diagnose cases. An inspection team from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan visited Wuhan to learn about the prevention and control of the disease.January 14: The NHC held a national teleconference, specifying arrangements for epidemic prevention and control in Hubei and Wuhan, and for emergency preparations and response across the country. The NHC cautioned that there was great uncertainty about the new disease, and that more research was needed to understand its mode of transmission and the risk of human-to-human transmissibility. Further spread could not be ruled out.January 15: The NHC unveiled the first versions of Diagnosis and Treatment Protocol for Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia, and Protocol on Prevention and Control of Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia.January 16: As the optimization of the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) diagnostic reagents was completed, Wuhan began to screen all patients treated in fever clinics or under medical observation in the 69 hospitals at or above the level of grade two in the city.January 17: The NHC sent seven inspection teams to different provincial-level health agencies to guide local epidemic prevention and control.January 18: The NHC released the second version of Diagnosis and Treatment Protocol for Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia.January 18 and 19: The NHC assembled a high-level national team of senior medical and disease control experts and sent them to Wuhan to study the local response to the epidemic. In the middle of the night of January 19, after careful examination and deliberation, the team determined that the new coronavirus was spreading between humans.The reason I copied the full text of the Stage I: Swift Response to the Public Health Emergency part is because even till today, there are still so many Westerners are still accusing China for “suppressing information,” for “lack of transparency,” blablabla….You can see from the above dates and actions taken by the Chinese local governments and central governments, and compare them to how many of the other nations and governments reacted, and for anyone with a reasonable mind would agree, it’s rapid, scientific and responsible.You have to keep in mind, IT IS A NEW TYPE OF VIRUS NO ONE HAD EVER ENCOUNTERED for Chinese doctors, experts and government officials, and of course for the patients, but all the other governments had been warned about the severity of the virus when cases began to emerge in their countries.Then, for the following months, I would pick up the most important dates and would combine the source from the above White Paper and media coverages.January 20: The NHC held a press conference for the high-level expert team, at which it was confirmed that the virus could transmit from human to human.January 23: At around 2 a.m. Wuhan City Novel Coronavirus Prevention and Control Command Center issued the No. 1 public notice declaring temporary closure of the city's outbound routes at its airports and railway stations at 10 a.m. the same day. The Ministry of Transport issued an emergency circular suspending passenger traffic into Wuhan from other parts of the country by road or waterway. The NHC and five other government departments also issued Notice on Preventing the Transmission of Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia via Means of Transport. From January 23 to January 29, all provinces and equivalent administrative units on the Chinese mainland (hereafter all provinces) activated Level 1 public health emergency response.January 24: Dispatch of national medical teams to Hubei and Wuhan began. In the ensuing period, a total of 346 medical teams composed of 42,600 medical workers and 965 public health workers from across the country and the armed forces were dispatched.January 31: The WHO declared the novel coronavirus outbreak a public health emergency of international concern. The NHC released Guidelines on Treating Novel Coronavirus Patients with Severe Symptoms in Designated Hospitals.January 23 - February 2: Huoshenshan Hospital, an emergency specialty field hospital in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, was built within 10 days. Coronavirus: The hospital built in a matter of daysJanuary 25 - February 6: Leishenshan Hospital, the second emergency hospital was also completed. How China Built Two Coronavirus Hospitals in Just Over a WeekFebruary 14: All provinces and equivalent administrative units other than Hubei saw a continuous drop in newly confirmed cases for the 10th consecutive day.February 18: Nationwide, the daily number of newly cured and discharged coronavirus patients exceeded that of newly confirmed cases, and the number of confirmed cases began to drop.February 24: The daily number of new infections on the Chinese mainland had remained below 1,000 for five consecutive days, the number of existing confirmed cases had kept dropping for almost a week, and the daily figure for discharged patients was now equal to or had surpassed that of new infections in all provincial-level administrative units.February 27: The daily figure for new cases in Hubei other than Wuhan, and in other places on the mainland outside Hubei, both dropped to single digits for the first time.March 6: The daily increase in the number of domestic cases on the Chinese mainland dropped below 100, and fell further to single digits on March 11.March 17: Forty-two medical teams from around the country left Wuhan, having completed their mission there.March 18: For the first time, no new domestic cases were confirmed on the Chinese mainland. By March 19, no new cases had been confirmed for seven days outside of Hubei Province.April 8: Wuhan lifted its 76-day outbound traffic restrictions; and local work and daily life began to return to normal.April 17: The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Wuhan was revised up by 325 to 50,333, and the number of fatalities up by 1,290 to 3,869 by the Wuhan municipal headquarters for the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) epidemic prevention and control. Full Text: Q&A on the Revisions to the Numbers of Confirmed Cases and Fatalities of COVID-19 in Wuhan / Full text of Wuhan's notification on revising numbers of confirmed COVID-19 cases, deaths.April 26: The last hospitalized Covid-19 patient in Wuhan was discharged.May 20 - June 2: Wuhan has reported 300 asymptomatic cases out of 9,899,828 local residents who participated in a citywide nucleic acid test. Wuhan completes 9.89 million COVID-19 tests citywide, found 300 asymptomatic carriers / No new COVID sufferers, 300 asymptomatic, after Wuhan-wide testsThe above part is mainly focused on the first epic center Wuhan and the first wave of outbreaks relating to cases from Wuhan.Since April 29, 2020: Sporadic cases have been reported on the mainland, resulting in case clusters in some locations. Inbound cases are generally under control. The positive momentum in Covid-19 control has thus been locked in, and nationwide virus control is now being conducted on an ongoing basis. China has made vigorous efforts to resume work and reopen schools.As of today (Nov. 13, 2020), there have been eight sporadic clusters across China, here is a link in Chinese, 全国多地再现疫情，数据告诉你别怕, and I will find the relative reports in English and briefly show how China got all of them under control with the experiences accumulated during the first stages and updated with times.First sporadic resurge came in Shulan city in northeastern Jilin Province on May 7. China reports 14 new infections, northeast city returns to partial lockdown, the city was swiftly put into lockdown After New Coronavirus Outbreaks, China Imposes Wuhan-Style Lockdown and City in Jilin declares wartime control mode over COVID-19. The cluster ended on June 7, with 43 confirmed cases altogether.Then, between June 11 and July 20, in Beijing, with 335 confirmed cases. A new local case of COVID-19 was discovered in Beijing's Xicheng district, the municipal government announced on Thursday (New COVID-19 case found in Beijing). On June 13, Beijing Locks Down Part of City After Virus Outbreak at Market, Beijing Locks Down Part of City After Virus Outbreak at Market, Beijing In 'Wartime Emergency Mode' Amid Fresh Cluster Of Coronavirus Cases. On June 14, Beijing Coronavirus Outbreak Tied to Huge Market Sparks Resurgence Concerns. On June 17, Beijing imposes partial travel ban, closes schools over coronavirus outbreak. On June 18, Beijing cuts flights, shuts schools as new coronavirus cases raise alarm, https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/beijing-cuts-flights-shuts-schools-as-new-coronavirus-cases-raise-alarm/2020/06/17/537dbe06-b069-11ea-98b5-279a6479a1e4_story.html. On June 23, Beijing coronavirus testing to enter 'fast track' as cases mount. On July 2, China Appears to Have Tamed a Second Wave of Coronavirus. On August 15, Beijing's Xinfadi wholesale market reopens as COVID-19 outbreak ebbs.Next outbreak was in Urumqi, capital city of northwestern Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, between July 15 and September 7, with 826 cases comfirmed cases. On July 17, China's Urumqi reports five new coronavirus cases, flights cancelled earlier, Urumqi, reported five new coronavirus cases by noon (0400 GMT) on Friday, after the report of an earlier case, its first in months, led to hundreds of flights being cancelled. China Limits Movement in Xinjiang Capital to Stem Virus. On July 18, China's western city Urumqi enters 'wartime mode' after reporting 16 coronavirus cases / China coronavirus: 'Wartime state' declared for Urumqi in Xinjiang. On July 21, China's Urumqi conducts citywide COVID-19 tests / Urumqi tests over 1 million people (http://en.nhc.gov.cn/2020-07/23/c_81166.htm). On September 2, Xinjiang Ends Regional Covid-19 Lockdown After 17 Days Without New Cases. On September 7, China's Xinjiang clears all COVID-19 cases.Then in Dalian, a port city in northeastern Liaoning Province, with 92 confirmed cases. On July 23, Dalian's government said the city on Thursday saw two newly confirmed cases and another 12 asymptomatic cases. Mainland reports 22 new cases Wednesday, Dalian closes factory. UPDATE: Dalian seafood markets close as 14 processing plant workers test positive for COVID-19 | Intrafish. On July 24, Dalian to test 190,000 due to new cases. On July 27, New cluster results in 6 million people in Dalian, China to be tested for Covid-19 in 4 days. Then on August 5, Dalian reports zero new COVID-19 cases for first time in 14 days. On August 11, COVID-19 Alert: Dalian, China Ends Restrictions in 4 Areas as of Aug. 11. On August 12, China's Dalian reports no new COVID-19 cases for 6th straight day.Then, on August 14, in Shanwei city of southern Guangdong Province, Update: One COVID-19 case reported in southern Chinese city. On August 17, Southern Chinese cities conduct large-scale COVID-19 testing after new case reported, and Guangdong virus situation stable after 6 cases Friday (http://en.nhc.gov.cn/2020-08/17/c_81401.htm).A smooth September and a pleasant and relaxing National Day holiday.And then on October 11, Qingdao, the city of Qingdao in eastern Shandong Province reported three new asymptomatic cases, linked by experts to the Qingdao Chest Hospital, part of which is designated to receive imported infections, municipal officials said in a statement, Mainland China reports 21 new COVID-19 cases vs 15 a day earlier : The Asahi Shimbun. On October 12, Qingdao reports 6 confirmed COVID-19 cases, rolls out city-wide testing / Covid-19: China's Qingdao to test nine million in five days. On October 13, The Latest: 3 million tested for coronavirus in Chinese city. On October 16, No new cases of COVID-19 found as Qingdao completes citywide testing. On the same day, Qingdao health authorities identify source of latest COVID-19 cluster. On November 12, China's Qingdao cleared of COVID-19 cases. Altogether, 13 confirmed cases were reported in Qingdao outbreak.On October 24, Kashi city in northwestern Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Kashi in Xinjiang reports one asymptomatic COVID-19 case. On October 25, 138 New Coronavirus Infections in Xinjiang, and then China: Authorities impose travel restrictions in Kashgar (Xinjiang autonomous region) October 24 /update 82. On October 26, Covid-19: China tests entire city of Kashgar in Xinjiang / China’s Kashgar had a coronavirus outbreak. Within two days, 4.5 million people were tested. (https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/china-kashgar-xinjiang-coronavirus-outbreak/2020/10/26/6db14e6e-1748-11eb-8bda-814ca56e138b_story.html). On November 3, Kashi begins 3rd round of mass nucleic acid tests 'to track infections'. With more than 230 asymptomatic cases detected, the virus in kashi has not yet tamed as of today (Nov. 13).On November 8, Tianjin municipality reported one new case, China's Tianjin reports one new confirmed COVID-19 case, Cold storage worker in China's Tianjin tests positive for COVID-19, COVID-19: N China's Tianjin enters 'wartime' mode after cold storage staff tests positive, China's Tianjin to test cold storage food sites after confirmed COVID-19 case. On November 9, More Cases of Covid-19 Linked to Frozen Food Emerge in China. On November 12, Mass virus tests in Tianjin return negative results.On Novembe 9, Shanghai municipality also reported one new case, Shanghai reports one new confirmed coronavirus case, which prompted a quarantine of the close contacts, Shanghai quarantines 186 people after COVID-19 case at airport.On November 10, Fuyang city of east Anhui Province reported a new case related to Shanghai, East China's Anhui Province reports one COVID-19 case.From Kashi to Fuyang, the virus in the four cities is still an ongoing situation, and we need to wait and see what the final results would be. But based on previous experiences, I’m not quite worried and believe all of them can be controlled sooner or later.OK, up till now, I have listed basically all the outbreaks, big scale or smaller ones, across China from Wuhan to the latest in Fuyang, all with solid dates, facts, figures and references, either from official release or new coverages from both domestic and Western media outlets.Then it’s your own judgement and decision as for whether you believe them or not.And last but not least, what China has done right to control the virus?Actually, the answer lies in the above information, as I had once summarized:Shou'en Li's answer to China had the COVID-19 under control in 4-5 months, and yet our cases are still sky rocketing. So, let's be honest and practical, is there any useful measure that China did that can be implemented in the US to help the pandemic?China has proved the virus can be controlled, but,You need to have a firm attitude toward it: no second choice but control it;Then you need to deal with it scientifically: believe it is there real, not any talk of hoax, isolation, quarantine, disinfection, tracing, analyzing the origin of this round of break, etc., following scientific methods and according to experts advise;You also need to handle it rapidly: within 5 days, over 10 million testings, nationwide tracing and reporting of all those in and out from Qingdao;The whole country and all the people need to act as a whole, no lies, no refusals, no protests……Those officials with misconducts would be punished, so to alert all the other local officials, it’s yet time to overlook the prevention measures, in case of a second wave as winter is coming.Nothing special, nothing magical, nothing inhumane, just to put human life before everything else. And indeed it worked and still works.

VERY LONG answer [32+ pages].HCoV-19 (SARS-CoV-2) is very infectious (Each person infects 1.4–6.77 others), but rarely fatal for healthy people age 0–59 (maybe <1%).Recovered people may have 20-30% (or more) lung damage. One patient needed a double lung transplant. Even if you don’t die, COVID-19 scares many doctors.Flu doesn’t usually cause so much life-long lung damage.Main danger for people under 60 is pre-existing conditions - high blood pressure, diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and cerebrovascular disease (maybe 6–23% fatality for people age 60+ or with pre-existing conditions).Most infected people show no symptoms (possibly 40–70%, but we need better studies). Diamond Princess cruise ship: 62% of infected people leaving the ship showed no symptoms. In Italy, 44% of laboratory-confirmed cases have been asymptomatic.Of people with symptoms, fever is more common at age 20–59 (85–91%) than at age 0–19 and 60+ (70–81%). Roughly 9–30% have no fever.Healthy children and teens can be infected. One study (N=2,141) shows3.0–10.6% severe/critical cases. Possible lung damage after recovery.94.2% (2,016/2,141) asymptomatic, mild, or moderate cases.It’s rare for them to be hospitalized, but if they are, it’s just as bad as for old people.Young adults ages 20-44 rarely have fatal cases, but ~20% of symptomatic cases require hospitalization, and ~2-4% require ICU.Kills more men (64%) than women (36%).Mask usage: Chinese advice is “Wear masks in public”.Coronavirus can travel twice as far as official ‘safe distance’ (4.5 meters) and stay in air for 30 minutes. (3/9/20) May stay in air for 3 hrs (3/17/20).HCoV-19 half-life on Cardboard is 3.5 (2–5) hrs. Be careful receiving packages. If package has been touched within 24-48 hrs, maybe use a disinfectant wipe (or wet soapy cloth). (3/9/20–3/17/20)Some pets can catch HCoV-19 (cats, dogs, tigers). Hong Kong is placing pets in veterinary surveillance or quarantine for 14 days if someone has HCoV-19. (3/4/20)How long does immunity last? UNKNOWN.Common cold coronaviruses usually confer weak immunity, which often fades within a year. MERS & SARS immunity lasts many years.Impact of HCoV-19 is similar to OC43 (one of four other mild “common cold” coronaviruses, 15% severe, 0.2% death), but more fatal for older people.HCoV-19 is the virus name (formerly known as SARS-CoV-2, 2019-nCoV, or “novel coronavirus”).COVID-19 is the name for the disease if you have symptoms.It’s very confusing. I don’t like the HIV/AIDS naming approach where the virus and the disease have different names.Other good sources to read:(1–2) Tomas Pueyo has amazing diagrams in his two Medium posts. Best analysis I’ve seen. Warning: Some historical dates and numbers in his diagrams and text are incorrect/out-of-date, but the essence of his concepts is good.(a) Coronavirus: Why You Must Act Now (3/11/20)(b) Coronavirus: The Hammer and the Dance (3/19/20)(3) Best introductory COVID-19 video I’ve seen (3/21/20).Takes you step by step through an illness - mild, moderate, severe, and critical. Some information is out-of-date/incorrect, but it’s a great start.This is what having the novel coronavirus looks like pic.twitter.com/mu7Sj1pq28— Tech Insider (@techinsider) March 22, 2020For people with a strong scientific background, read #4, 5, & 6:(4) Unlike #1–3 which were produced by non-experts…and have many minor errors and out-of-date information, this is 99–99.9%+ accurate (as far as I can tell).---Novel 2019 Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19): An Updated Overview for Emergency Clinicians---I made three short collections of excerpts at:(4a) Some cool tables & diagrams (Easy to read for everyone)https://www.quora.com/q/coronavirus/Novel-2019-Coronavirus-SARS-CoV-2-COVID-19-An-Updated-Overview-for-Emergency-Clinicians-03-23-20-EB-Medicine/comment/1471753(4b) When to Test, Lung Ultrasound instead of CT, Drugs, Vaccineshttps://www.quora.com/q/coronavirus/Novel-2019-Coronavirus-SARS-CoV-2-COVID-19-An-Updated-Overview-for-Emergency-Clinicians-03-23-20-EB-Medicine/comment/1471880(4c) Interesting tidbitshttps://www.quora.com/q/coronavirus/Novel-2019-Coronavirus-SARS-CoV-2-COVID-19-An-Updated-Overview-for-Emergency-Clinicians-03-23-20-EB-Medicine/comment/1471927(5) Tirumalai Kamala's answer to What is the big deal about the new coronavirus, COVID-19? is good to read about top unanswered issues.(6) Dr. Muge Cevik has curated a collection of favorite papers (78) in a multi-thread tweet (Jan 28, Feb 28, Mar 22) from 1,250+ HCoV-19 papers. Mitchell Tsai's share in COVID-19: Top 25 - MTPeople age 20–54 have low fatality (0.1–0.8%), but many are hospitalized (14.3–28.3%) or need an ICU (2.0–10.4%).- Yes, Young People Are Falling Seriously Ill From Covid-19 (Bloomberg, 3/18/20)- ATAndyBiotech on twitter- Ed Taboada's answer to As a medical professional, what is your biggest concern about COVID-19?How bad is COVID-19 if you have a severe case?Read A Medical Worker Describes Terrifying Lung Failure From COVID-19 — Even in His Young Patients — ProPublica (3/21/20). Many more details than I’ve posted here. Scary. Chinese doctors were reporting similar scary experiences in January. It’s why people put Wuhan under quarantine on Jan 23. Often stories from doctors were censored so that people wouldn’t panic.“I spoke to a respiratory therapist there [New Orleans], whose job is to ensure that patients are breathing well. He works in a medium-sized city hospital’s intensive care unit…Since last week, he’s been running ventilators for the sickest COVID-19 patients. Many are relatively young, in their 40s and 50s, and have minimal, if any, preexisting conditions in their charts. He is overwhelmed, stunned by the manifestation of the infection, both its speed and intensity. The ICU where he works has essentially become a coronavirus unit.”‘I have patients in their early 40s and, yeah, I was kind of shocked. I’m seeing people who look relatively healthy with a minimal health history, and they are completely wiped out, like they’ve been hit by a truck. This is knocking out what should be perfectly fit, healthy people. Patients will be on minimal support, on a little bit of oxygen, and then all of a sudden, they go into complete respiratory arrest, shut down and can’t breathe at all.’“It’s called acute respiratory distress syndrome, ARDS. That means the lungs are filled with fluid. And it’s notable for the way the X-ray looks: The entire lung is basically whited out from fluid. Patients with ARDS are extremely difficult to oxygenate. It has a really high mortality rate, about 40%. The way to manage it is to put a patient on a ventilator. The additional pressure helps the oxygen go into the bloodstream.“Normally, ARDS is something that happens over time as the lungs get more and more inflamed. But with this virus, it seems like it happens overnight. When you’re healthy, your lung is made up of little balloons. Like a tree is made out of a bunch of little leaves, the lung is made of little air sacs that are called the alveoli. When you breathe in, all of those little air sacs inflate, and they have capillaries in the walls, little blood vessels. The oxygen gets from the air in the lung into the blood so it can be carried around the body.“With our coronavirus patients, once they’re on ventilators, most need about the highest settings that we can do. About 90% oxygen, and 16 of PEEP, positive end-expiratory pressure, which keeps the lung inflated. This is nearly as high as I’ve ever seen. The level we’re at means we are running out of options.“It first struck me how different it was when I saw my first coronavirus patient go bad. I was like, Holy shit, this is not the flu. Watching this relatively young guy, gasping for air, pink frothy secretions coming out of his tube and out of his mouth. The ventilator should have been doing the work of breathing but he was still gasping for air, moving his mouth, moving his body, struggling. We had to restrain him. With all the coronavirus patients, we’ve had to restrain them. They really hyperventilate, really struggle to breathe. When you’re in that mindstate of struggling to breathe and delirious with fever, you don’t know when someone is trying to help you, so you’ll try to rip the breathing tube out because you feel it is choking you, but you are drowning.”- A Medical Worker Describes Terrifying Lung Failure From COVID-19 — Even in His Young Patients — ProPublica (3/21/20).The US news cycle is slowly discovering the stuff which encouraged people to put Wuhan under quarantine on Jan 23. COVID-19 can be MUCH worse than most flus and colds. We’re lucky it doesn’t affect kids very much.Just because you don't feel sick, doesn’t mean you are safe to other people.“March 10 estimate by a group of scientists, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, of the incubation period of the virus.As Vox’s Brian Resnick explains, “you can see that nearly everyone who develops symptoms of Covid-19 shows them around 10 to 15 days after the infection, and the majority get symptoms by around five days.”- 11 coronavirus charts everyone should see (Vox, 3/17/20)How to make your own masks.Do-It-Yourself (DIY) hand sanitizer not recommended.Laboratory tests by City University showed 80-90% of the function of regular surgical masks for filtering aerosol and droplets.- Make your own mask: Hong Kong scientists reveal temporary solution to shortage (2/14/20)“Mixing it at home, you can't control how the alcohol gets diluted in the final product. If you don't use enough aloe gel, it will dry out the skin on your hands, which can cause it to crack or bleed (the same is true if you just pour rubbing alcohol on your skin).But if you don't use enough alcohol, the final product won't be as effective at killing germs as store-bought hand sanitizer -- rendering it basically useless according to some experts.You can also contaminate your batch with bacteria by not using clean tools to mix it together.”- No, you shouldn't make your own hand sanitizer (CNET, 3/5/20)Update 3/24/20: HCoV-19 may be active on surfaces for 17 days or longer.Please watch the news for further updates."SARS-CoV-2 RNA was identified on a variety of surfaces in cabins of both symptomatic and asymptomatic infected passengers up to 17 days after cabins were vacated on the Diamond Princess but before disinfection procedures had been conducted"- CDC says coronavirus survived in Princess Cruise ship cabins for up to 17 days after passengers left (CNBC, 3/24/20)- Public Health Responses to COVID-19 Outbreaks on Cruise Ships... (CDC)What should I do when receiving packages or shopping?Mitchell Tsai's answer to Hello I'm not trying to panic but my question is I ordered a package from China before the outbreak is this package safe for me to open once it gets here I know a lot of people are wondering the same thing? in Coronavirus WatchWhat happens to kids?New American Academy of Pediatrics study (3/18/20)3.0–10.6% severe/critical cases. Possible lung damage after recovery.94.2% (2,016/2,141) asymptomatic, mild, or moderate cases.WHO-China Joint Mission report:~49% critical patients die~15–20% severe patients become critical- https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/who-china-joint-mission-on-covid-19-final-report.pdf (2/24/20)- New analysis of coronavirus risk: Young adults are not invincible - STAT- Epidemiological Characteristics of 2143 Pediatric Patients With 2019 Coronavirus Disease in China (American Academy of Pediatrics, 3/18/20)Also posted as Mitchell Tsai's answer to What scientific studies have been done on kids with COVID-19?Soap works better than hand sanitizer.Why Soap Works (New York Times - 3/13/20)Update 3/13/20: History of HCoV-19.New info shows cases back to Nov 17 - a Hubei resident age 55 (first seafood market case was Dec 8), and they are still tracking backward to “person zero” - maybe infected Nov 14 (or earlier).- China’s first confirmed Covid-19 case traced back to November 17 (3/13/20)Genetic studies by four research groups estimate HCoV-19 infected “patient zero” in Aug-Nov 2019.----Conclusion: Wuhan seafood market transmission was probably caused by people who were already sick with COVID-19. Not from food eaten there.“Patient zero" could have caught it at the Wuhan seafood market Aug 1 - Nov 7, 2019, and then they (or other people) could have come back in December.Note: Longer history and genetic information towards the end of this answer.How does HCoV-19 (SARS-CoV-2) compare to 1918 Spanish Flu and Seasonal Flu?- graph is based on older 2/11/20 data (N=44,672)- mitchelltsai on Twitter (mitchelltsai on Twitter) (picture is from a Tweet by Seb Allaman - @AllamanSeb)- Newer 2/22/20 data (N=55,924) has CFR 3.8% (was 2.3%), and Age 80+ 21.9% (was 14.8%)- 11 coronavirus charts everyone should see (Vox, 3/17/20)At peak shedding, people with HCoV-19 emit over 1,000X more virus than SARS, which explains the rapid spread of HCoV-19.Infected people develop antibodies quickly (6-12 days), which may be why 80% of people infected do not develop severe disease.- People 'shed' coronavirus early, but most likely not infectious after recovery (3/9/20)A mathematical model suggests maybe 26% (0–32%) of people catch HCoV-19 from others who haven't had any symptoms yet (in a model with R = 2.5).Update 3/16/20: European CDC says other models suggest 48–62% asymptomatic transmission.In Italy, 44% of laboratory-confirmed cases have been asymptomatic.- Disease background of COVID-19 (ECDC)Analysis of serial intervals in 425 cases. Data from a cluster of cases in Germany suggest the proportion might be higher than 26%.- The Contribution of Pre-symptomatic Transmission to the COVID-19 Outbreak (3/2/20)In Singapore and Tianjin, infection was transmitted 2.55 and 2.89 days before symptom onset (on average).Estimated serial intervals are shorter than incubation periods, suggesting pre-symptomatic transmission.“The mean incubation period was 7.1 (6.13, 8.25) days for Singapore and 9 (7.92, 10.2) days for Tianjin. Both datasets had shorter incubation periods for earlier-occurring cases.The mean serial interval was 4.56 (2.69, 6.42) days for Singapore and 4.22 (3.43, 5.01) for Tianjin.We inferred that early in the outbreaks, infection was transmitted on average 2.55 and 2.89 days before symptom onset (Singapore, Tianjin).The estimated basic reproduction number for Singapore was 1.97 (1.45, 2.48) secondary cases per infective; for Tianjin it was 1.87 (1.65, 2.09) secondary cases per infective.”- Transmission interval estimates suggest pre-symptomatic spread of COVID-19 (3/2/20)How can we control the spread of HCoV-19?This mathematical model estimates…"To achieve control of 90% of outbreaks, 80% of contacts needed to be traced and isolated for scenarios with a reproduction number of 2.5"- Feasibility of controlling COVID-19 outbreaks by isolation of cases and contacts (2/28/20)- Coronavirus: Why You Must Act Now (Tomas Pueyo, Medium)Can I catch HCoV-19 from breathing the air near a sick person? Yes.Coronavirus can travel twice as far as the official ‘safe distance’ (4.5 meters) and stay in the air for at least 30 minutes. A bus passenger was infected 30 min after a sick passenger left the bus.This paper has been officially retracted (see below), possibly for politcal reasons.The coronavirus that causes Covid-19 can linger in the air for at least 30 minutes and travel up to 4.5 metres – further than the “safe distance” advised by health authorities around the world, according to a study by a team of Chinese government epidemiologists.Their work was based on a local outbreak case on January 22 during the peak Lunar New Year travel season. A passenger, known as “A”, boarded a fully booked long-distance coach and settled down on the second row from the back.They said the study proves the importance of washing hands and wearing face masks in public places because the virus can linger in the air attached to fine droplet particles.“Our advice is to wear a face mask all the way [through the bus ride],” they added.- Coronavirus can travel twice as far as official ‘safe distance’, study says (South China Morning Post, 3/9/20)“A paper by Chinese researchers suggesting that the coronavirus could spread farther than previously assumed through fine droplets has been retracted.On March 10, the journal posted a “statement of retraction” signed by its editorial department, without offering any reasons.The researchers also found that none of those passengers who wore face masks were infected, a finding that they said supported China’s decision to ask people to wear a mask in public whether or not they show respiratory symptoms.Before the retraction, a doctor in Beijing involved in the diagnosis and treatment of coronavirus patients told the South China Morning Post the study had left some questions unanswered.For instance, the passengers sitting immediately next to the carriers were not infected, though they were most exposed to the disease-bearing droplets known as aerosols.“Our knowledge about this virus’s transmission is still limited,” he said.- Journal retracts study on how far coronavirus can spread through droplets (Inkstone, 3/10/20)What are COVID-19 symptoms?New York Times posted a great overview article.- What Does the Coronavirus Do to the Body? (New York Times, 3/11/20)Please read. It contains many details I don’t talk about in this answer.“Here’s what scientists have learned about how the new virus infects and attacks cells and how it can affect organs beyond the lungs.”What Does the Coronavirus Do to the Body? (New York Times, 3/11/20)Excerpts from Mitchell Tsai's answer to What are the symptoms of Coronavirus?Most people have fever (87.9%), dry cough (67.7%), and fatigue (38.1%).(a) Only 4.8% have nasal congestion. It’s rare.(b) Only 11.4% have chills, unlike flu.(c) Only 13.6% have headache.(d) Some people just have intestinal upset (5.0% nausea/vomiting, 3.7% diarrhea). No fever, cough, or fatigue. It’s not common, but it happens.- https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/who-china-joint-mission-on-covid-19-final-report.pdf (WHO-China mission final report, 2/24/20)“Anosmia, the loss of sense of smell, and ageusia, an accompanying diminished sense of taste, have emerged as peculiar telltale signs of Covid-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, and possible markers of infection.On Friday, British ear, nose and throat doctors, citing reports from colleagues around the world, called on adults who lose their senses of smell to isolate themselves for seven days, even if they have no other symptoms, to slow the disease’s spread.Dr. Clemens Wendtner, a professor of medicine at the Academic Teaching Hospital of Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich, said that the patients regained their ability to smell after a few days or weeks, and that the loss occurred regardless of how sick they got or whether they were congested. Using nasal drops or sprays did not help, Dr. Wendtner said.Now, Mr. Berry said, he literally cannot smell the coffee.“Even with a clear nose, I just realized I couldn’t smell the food that I was cooking, and I couldn’t taste the food that I was making,” said Mr. Berry, a tattoo artist based in Orlando, Fla. He was cooking a plantain dish with onions and vinegar, yet he could not smell it.”- Lost Sense of Smell May Be Peculiar Clue to Coronavirus Infection (New York Times, 3/22/20)Fever seems more common in age 20–59 (85–91%, 77–97%) than in age 0–19 and 60+ (70–81%, 48–91%).Proportion of people without fever (N=1,286, Shenzen, China, 3/3/20):Age 0–9: 30% (15–52%) no feverAge 10–19: 25% (9–54%)Age 70+: 22% (9–45%)- Epidemiology and Transmission of COVID-19 in Shenzhen China: Analysis of 391 cases and 1,286 of their close contacts) (3/3/20)N=55,924 (cases in China until 2/22/20…from page 12):“typical signs and symptoms include: fever (87.9%), dry cough (67.7%), fatigue (38.1%), sputum production (33.4%), shortness of breath (18.6%), sore throat (13.9%), headache (13.6%), myalgia or arthralgia (14.8%), chills (11.4%), nausea or vomiting (5.0%), nasal congestion (4.8%), diarrhea (3.7%), and hemoptysis (0.9%), and conjunctival congestion (0.8%).”- https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/who-china-joint-mission-on-covid-19-final-report.pdf (WHO-China mission final report, 2/24/20)Note: Many people in 2010s-2020s have body temperatures below 98.6° F (37° C).(a) 98.2° F (36.8° C) for young people(b) 97.7° F (36.4° C) for healthy older people (94–99.6° F).Know your own body temperature.“Normal body temperature is not a single number, but rather a range of temperatures. The average normal body temperature is most often said to be 98.6° F (37° C). This may have been correct when it was first determined 150 years ago. But our bodies have changed.More recent research suggests that the average adult body temperature is about one degree lower, 97.5° F (36.4° C). Older adults often have an even lower body temperature without it indicating any health problems.However, recent studies indicate that 98.2° F (36.8°C) is a more accurate average, and in older individuals it may be about 1°F lower. One small study even suggested that in healthy older patients, body temperature ranged from 94° F to 99.6° F, with an average of 97.7° F.”- When is body temperature too low? - Harvard Health (1/29/20)- Influenza kills more people than coronavirus so everyone is overreacting, right? Wrong — and here’s whyHow long before most people notice COVID-19 symptoms?Median times:Five days to be short of breath.Seven days to hospitalization.Eight days to severe breathing trouble.Perhaps 50–70% of infected people never show symptoms.Some people take 24, 26, 34, …, 94 days to show symptoms.This mathematical analysis estimates only 1% will display symptoms after a 14-day quarantine, but there is a chance.Incubation Period (from N=181 study)Median 5.1 (4.5-5.8) days to show symptoms97.5% in 11.5 (8.2-15.6) daysHypothetically:After a 14-day quarantine, 1% will display symptoms afterwardsAfter a 7-day quarantine, 21% will display symptoms- Coronavirus sufferers symptom-free for five days on average – study (Guardian, 3/9/20)- The Incubation Period of COVID-19 From Publicly Reported Confirmed Cases (Annals of Internal Medicine, 3/10/20)“The median time from their first symptoms to when they became short of breath was five days; to hospitalization, seven days; and to severe breathing trouble, eight days.”- Coronavirus Live Updates: Offers of Help Go Unanswered by China as Death Toll Grows Again (New York Times, 2/7/20)The Diamond Princess cruiseship is one of the rare examples where everyone was tested (all 3,711 people), regardless of whether they showed symptoms.- 62% (476/768) who tested positive showed no symptoms- 9% (80, 8 in Japan, 72 in other countries) later showed symptoms: US (46), Australia (10), Hong Kong (5), UK (4), Russia (3), Israel (3), Canada. 14 of the US people showed symptoms right off the boat.- so it’s down to 53% (410/768) asymptomatic (as of 3/9/20)Proportion of individuals infected by SARS-CoV-2 showing symptoms among passengers of the Diamond Princess ship (with 95% credible interval).- Adjusted age-specific case fatality ratio during the COVID-19 epidemic in Hubei, China, January and February 2020 (3/4/20)Age-group data from 4 countries:- ATAndyBiotech on twitter- Ed Taboada's answer to As a medical professional, what is your biggest concern about COVID-19?Korean age-group data from Wed 3/11/20 (N=7,755):Age 80+ 7.20% CFRAge 70–79 4.35%Age 60–69 1.46%Age 30–59 <1% (8/3,358)Age 0–29 0% (0/2,718)Overall 0.77%Male 1.19%Female 0.52%Average is heavily weighted(a) age 20–29 women(b) more females- Robin Daverman's answer to Why does Italy seem to be the most affected country by the Coronavirus?Italy age-group data from Sun 3/15/20 (N=13,323):- Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Italy (JAMA, 3/17/20)- COVID-19 Case-Fatality Rate and Characteristics of Patients Dying in Italy (JAMA, 3/23/20)China age-groups - Old 2/11/20 data (N=44,672):- https://github.com/cmrivers/ncov... (2/16/20)China age-groups - Old 2/11/20 data (N=44,672):IFR (Infection Fatality Ratio) = deaths/all-infected-people-with-and-without-symptoms - includes asymptomatics, AND adjusted for underreporting.CFR (Case Fatality Rate) = deaths/symptomaticIFR for age 0–29 is lower than CFRIFR for age 30–59 is about the same as the CFRIFR for age 60–80+ is higher than CFROverall IFR 1.6% (1.4-1.8%) vs CFR 2.4% (2.1–2.8%)Age 0-9 .0094%10-19 .022% (0–0.082%) vs CFR 0.25% (0–1.3%)20-29 .091% (0.03–0.2%) vs CFR 0.22% (0.04–0.51%)30-39 .18%40-49 .4%50-59 1.3%60-69 4.6% (3.8-5.4%) vs CFR 3.8% (3.1–4.7%)70-79 9.8% (8.2-12%) vs CFR 8.5% (6.9–10%)80+ 18% (14-22%) vs CFR 15% (12–18%)- 11 coronavirus charts everyone should see (Vox, 3/17/20) - Adjusted age-specific case fatality ratio during the COVID-19 epidemic in Hubei, China, January and February 2020 (3/4/20)China age-groups - Old 2/11/20 data (N=44,672):Newer 2/22/20 data has Age 80+ 21.9% (was 14.8%) but China didn’t release age-group data for age 0–79, so this is still the best set of China age-group data.- Tirumalai Kamala's answer to What is the big deal about the new coronavirus, COVID-19? (2/17/20)- https://github.com/cmrivers/ncov/blob/master/COVID-19.pdf (2/17/20)China age-groups - Newer 2/22/20 data (N=55,924)WHO-China Mission report: CFR increased in 2/22/20 data (N=55,924) vs 2/11/20 data (N=44,672):CFR 3.8% (was 2.3%)Male 4.7% (was 2.8%)Female 2.8% (was 1.7%)No Co-morbidity 1.4% (was 0.9%)Age 80+ 21.9% (was 14.8%)CFR dropped over time from 17.3% (people admitted in 1/1-10) to 0.7% (people admitted after 1/31). Why?(1) In Jan, people got to the hospital an average of 15 days after infection. By late Feb, they got to the hospital in only 2–3 days (on average).(2) China learned better ways to keep people alive. After 7 weeks, they were on their 6th version of national patient care guidelines.- Partial summary at https://www.quora.com/q/lktjmwgkoxgvdzpp/WATCH-World-Health-Organization-delivers-update-on-the-coronavirus-as-it-continues-to-spread/comment/1361305 - Mitchell Tsai's share of "WATCH: World Health Organization delivers update on the coronavirus as it continues to spread" in COVID-19 and SARS-CoV-2 (Tue 2/25/20 8 am PT)- https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/who-china-joint-mission-on-covid-19-final-report.pdf (WHO-China report, 2/24/20)Can you be reinfected? Unknown. Probably yes.If HCoV-19 is like the four other mild coronaviruses (which are probably responsible for 1/4 of all “common colds”), you can be reinfected.HCoV-19 appears similar to OC43, the strongest of the four, but seems to be more fatal for older people.(1) 4 mild coronaviruses circulate in people: OC43, 229E, HKU1, and NL63.(2) Mostly OC43 and 229E(3) OC43 is the strongest, and requires intensive care for 15%.(4) Asymptomatic: 18% OC43, 35% 229E(5) Death rate: ~0.2% (US Flu is ~0.1%)(6) Can get reinfected.- Mitchell Tsai's share of "Experts envision two scenarios if new coronavirus isn't contained - STAT" in COVID-19 and SARS-CoV-2How long is HCoV-19 active on packages (cardboard), door knobs (steel, copper), and in the air?Short version:Air: 3 hoursCardboard: 1 day, 2 days to be undetectableSteel: 2–3 days, 4 days to be undetectablePlastic: 3 days, 4 days to be undetectable- How long can the novel coronavirus survive on surfaces and in the air?(Economist diagram, 3/19/20)Excerpts from Mitchell Tsai's answer to How long does CoV19 last on surfaces?Update 3/21/20: These half-lives have changed since the 3/9/20 preprint. They come from the NEJM 3/17/20 final version.Boldface numbers are visual estimates from small graphs.Regular numbers are from text in the paper.HCoV-19 half-lives:Copper 0.8 hrs (0.43–1.3 hrs)Aerosol 1.1–1.2 hrs (0.64–2.64 hrs)Cardboard 3.5 hrs (2–5 hrs)Steel 5.6 hrs (4.5–7 hrs)Plastic 6.8 hrs (5.5–8.5 hrs)- Aerosol and Surface Stability of SARS-CoV-2 as Compared with SARS-CoV-1 | NEJM (NEJM final correspondence, 3/17/20)Mask Advice: Since there’s so much random mask advice…(1) Official WHO recommendations (1/29/20): https://www.thebeijinger.com/sites/default/files/advice-on-the-use-of-masks-2019-ncov.pdf(2) Other observationsMasks are NOT enough if around very sick people.In an early Chinese surgery case, all 14 people in the surgery area caught HCoV-19 even with masks & gowns. Masks are NOT enough, since the virus can infect the eye area. Goggles and full face shields are now used in hospitals around very sick people.How useful is a mask in public to help keep you healthy?Update 3/9/20: Coronavirus can travel twice as far as official ‘safe distance’ (4.5 meters) and stay in air for 30 minutes.Chinese advice is “Wear masks in public”:“…the study proves the importance of washing hands and wearing face masks in public places because the virus can linger in the air attached to fine droplet particles.”“Our advice is to wear a face mask all the way [through the bus ride],” they added.- Coronavirus can travel twice as far as official ‘safe distance’, study says (South China Morning Post, 3/9/20)US advice is “Save masks for health workers, because we didn’t make and stockpile enough masks after the WHO warning on Jan 1 (2.5+ months).”HCoV-19 is ~125 nm (0.1 μm, ~150–300 atoms) in diameter, which is smaller than the 300 nm (0.3 μm, ~400–900 atoms) size N95 masks protect against.But most virus arrives in liquid droplets.IQAir HyperHEPA room filters claim to remove 99.5% of particles down to 3 nm (0.003 μm, ~4–8 atoms) diameter. HEPA filters remove 99.95% (Europe) or 99.97% (US) of particles down to 300 nm (0.3 μm, ~400–900 atoms).If you are sick, a mask in public will help keep other people healthy.But if you have HCoV-19, you probably should be inside (self-quarantine) or in a hospital.If buying food/supplies or going to a hospital, use a mask (if you can…many infected people have trouble breathing).“Surgical masks are highly effective against large airborne droplets.These traditional masks are less effective with small droplets, as they can travel farther and in unpredictable paths affected by wind and other gusts. The droplets can be inhaled around the sides of the masks.”- Blisse Edgerton's answer to What should you know about the new strain of coronavirus in China?What treatments do people receive in hospitals?Mainly people need help breathing.About 1/4 of severe/critical people need mechanical ventilation.About 3/4 just need additional oxygen.If it gets really bad, there’s an advanced breathing machine called ECMO.Most people who get that bad don’t recover. One needed a lung transplant.Treatments given to 99 patients in Wuhan:- “Epidemiological and clinical characteristics of 99 cases of 2019 novel coronavirus pneumonia in Wuhan, China: a descriptive study” (1/25/20) https://marlin-prod.literatumonline.com/pb-assets/Lancet/pdfs/S0140673620302117.pdfWhat is the status of drugs, vitamins, and alternative medicine for treating COVID-19?I’m writing a work-in-progress - 19 drugs, vitamins, and other things in clinical studies around the world. Mitchell Tsai's answer to Are there any effective natural or artificial treatments (antivirals, malaria drugs, human serum, and Traditional Chinese Medicine - TCM) against SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19)?We don’t know 100% that anything works (e.g. confirmed in double-blinded trials against placebos). A few things seem to help, but it’s hard to tell when 75-99% of people recover anyways. So medical experts are waiting for trials with placebos.First four drugs are the most beneficial ones. #1 approved for use in China. #2–4 undergoing the most clinical trials (e.g. testing drugs against placebos).(1) Favilavir (nucleoside analog of Guanine (G), a DNA/RNA base)(2) Remdesivir (nucleotide analog of Adenosine (A), a DNA/RNA base)(3) Lopinavir / Ritonavir (protease inhibitors)(4) Chloroquine (anti-malaria - we don’t know how it works…on malaria or viruses)- T-705 (Favipiravir)- Guanine - WikipediaIf you want to try Vitamins…Vitamin A, B12, C, and D are pretty good immune boosters.WARNING: Some people have medical issues which make high doses dangerous (slight danger or even life-threatening). Please consult doctors first.There are websites which list counter-indications, but it’s DIFFICULT to find the best advice without a lot of searching and some health/medical experience.You probably want to test Vitamin D & B12 blood levels first before using them.WAY TOO MUCH LOW-QUALITY INFO out there.Vitamin C megadosing helps lighten symptoms in 85% of mild cases (N=252), but doesn’t help severe patients who have breathing issues (ARDS).WARNING: Vitamin C megadoses are DANGEROUS for some people (especially with KIDNEY and other issues, please consult doctors).“In a controlled but non-randomized trial, 85% of the 252 students treated experienced a reduction in symptoms in the high-dose vitamin C group (1g / h at the beginning of symptoms for 6h, followed by 3 * 1g / day).Among patients with sepsis and ARDS, patients in the high-dose vitamin group did not show a better prognosis and other clinical outcomes.There are still some confounding factors in the existing research, and the conclusions are different.”- Vitamin C Infusion for the Treatment of Severe 2019-nCoV Infected Pneumonia - Full Text View - ClinicalTrials.govWhat is the status of vaccines?Many vaccine candidates have been created, but they need to be tested (1 year, or 5–10 years). Some approaches are:(1) NIH & US biotech Moderna - RNA vaccine based on crown-like spikes(2) University of Queensland in Australia, CEPI - "molecular clamp"(3) Vir Biotechnology - Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs)- With Wuhan virus genetic code in hand, scientists begin work on a vaccine“Even if a vaccine were ready within a year, it would be too late to stem the current epidemic in China. But it could help other countries.Fears are growing that the Wuhan virus will spread more widely and become an established seasonal disease around the world, like the common flu.China’s extraordinary efforts to contain the virus, including quarantining over 50m people, may stave off epidemics in other countries until next winter.”“Once a vaccine has been developed in a laboratory, it is sent to a factory where it is turned into a sterile vaccine mix. This is then put into vials and tested to ensure it is not contaminated before clinical trials in humans can be carried out.She leads a group at Oxford University which is working on a vaccine against the Wuhan virus. Her group has developed a template for vaccines that can be adapted quickly for new pathogens. The researchers can make the first small quantities of a new vaccine in just six to eight weeks. In the past the process would have taken up to a year.There are not many factories that can mass-produce vaccines, so new vaccines often wait in a long queue. Aware of this problem, the American government has built dedicated manufacturing facilities that can produce vaccines rapidly for emergencies. Britain is doing something similar.On February 3rd it brought on board as a partner GSK, a big drug firm, which has agreed to lend its highly effective adjuvant to a new vaccine. An adjuvant is a special ingredient that makes vaccines more efficient by boosting the immune response—which means that fewer doses of the vaccine or a lower concentration of its core ingredient is needed for vaccination.”- The race to produce a vaccine for the latest coronavirus (Economist, 2/6/20)How long does a test take? 2–3 hrs in a lab.It only takes a few hours to test for the virus (using Real-Time PCR … RT-PCR).Why do tests sometimes take days? A backlog of other people’s tests, limited equipment, limited and tired staff, paperwork, and bureaucracy.“The CDC…can diagnose a sample in a few hours once a blood specimen reaches a designated lab.”- Op-ed: We need to prepare for US outbreak of Wuhan coronavirus (CNBC)- Real-Time RT-PCR Panel for Detection 2019-nCoV (CDC Instructions)Can pets be infected? Yes. A dog in Hong Kong has been infected.Can humans transmit HCoV-19 to pets? Yes.Can pets transmit HCoV-19 to humans? Unknown.Excerpts from Mitchell Tsai's answer to Can household pets catch SARS-CoV-2 without showing symptoms?“The World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) published a report of the emerging disease, listing this case as the first known in dogs.On Feb. 26, health officials in Hong Kong placed a dog under quarantine after hospitalizing its owner for COVID-19 coronavirus infection.Veterinarians confirmed that the coronavirus had infected the dog too after taking nasal, oral and rectal swabs, along with fecal samples.Follow-up oral and nasal samples taken on March 2 and 5 continues to test positive.Doctors and veterinarians don’t know if the COVID-19 virus has the potential to be zoonotic, or transmitted from dogs to people.Doctors believe the dog got the virus directly from its owner. However, doctors don’t know how the virus was transmitted to the dog, whether by airborne particles, direct contact or bodily fluids.In Hong Kong, health authorities quarantine mammalian pets from households with confirmed human cases of COVID-19 and place the animals under veterinary surveillance for 14 days, according to the report.”- Dog infected by coronavirus COVID-19 in Hong Kong (3/9/20)“The AFCD said experts from universities and the World Organisation for Animal Health have unanimously agreed that "it is likely to be a case of human-to-animal transmission".The pomeranian has not shown any novel coronavirus symptoms the AFCD said.All pets of people in Hong Kong infected with the coronavirus will be quarantined for 14 days, starting Friday. Two dogs are already in isolation.The other dog in quarantine belongs to a second coronavirus patient that tested negative for the virus once and will be tested again before its release.Authorities said it will continue to closely monitor the pomeranian and return it to its owner when it tests negative for the disease.”- Pet dog infected with COVID-19, Hong Kong authorities confirm - France 24 (3/4/20)How fast does the virus spread? Each person infects 1.4–6.77 othersSeven R0 estimates: 4.08 (3.37–6.77, China/HK), 1.9–3.2 (Harvard), 2.6 (1.5-3.5, London), 2.24–3.58 (1.96–4.39, Hong Kong), 3.11 (2.39–4.13, Lancaster), 2.2 (90% 1.4-3.8, Swiss) 2.92 (2.28–3.67, Guandong)4.08 (3.37–6.77, 12/31–1/5) Zhidong Cao, et al., China & Hong Kong (1/29/20)Estimating the effective reproduction number of the 2019-nCoV in China1.9 - 3.2 (1/26/20) Maximum Majumder, Kenneth D. Mandl, Harvard (1/27/20)1.4 - 3.3 (1/18/20)Early Transmissibility Assessment of a Novel Coronavirus in Wuhan, China2.6 (1.5–3.5, -1/24) Natsuko Imai, et al., Imperial College, London (1/26/20)https://www.imperial.ac.uk/media/imperial-college/medicine/sph/ide/gida-fellowships/Imperial-2019-nCoV-transmissibility.pdf2.24–3.58 (1.96–4.39, -1/21) Shi Zhao, et al., Chinese University of Hong Kong (1/23/20)Preliminary estimation of the basic reproduction number of novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in China, from 2019 to 2020: A data-driven analysis in the early phase of the outbreak3.11 (2.39-4.13, -1/22) Jonathan Read, et al, Lancaster (1/23/20)Novel coronavirus 2019-nCoV: early estimation of epidemiological parameters and epidemic predictions2.2 (90% NOT 95%, 1.4-3.8, based on 897 cases until 1/23/20) Julian Riou, Christian Althaus, Switzerland (1/24/20)jriou/wcov2.90–2.92 (2.28-3.67, based on 830 cases until 1/23/20) Tao Liu, et al., Guandong (1/26/20)https://biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.01.25.919787v1.full.pdfWhen did HCoV-19 first appear in humans?Aug-Nov 2019 - Four genetic studiesStill looking through records for “Patient Zero”Nov 17, 2019 - 1st known case (originally thought to be 12/1/19, 12/8/19, or 12/12/19).1-5 new cases each day after Nov 17.Dec 15 (27 cases)Dec 20 (60 cases)Dec 27 (180 cases)Dec 31 (266 cases)Jan 1, 2020 (381 cases)“Government records suggest first person infected with new disease may have been a Hubei resident aged 55, but ‘patient zero’ has yet to be confirmed”- China’s first confirmed Covid-19 case traced back to November 17 (3/13/20)Estimated start dates from four genetic studies are:Sep 2019 - 26 genomes (91–214 days before 12/1/19)https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.01.30.926477v1.full.pdf (Xiong et al, 1/30/20, bioRxiv)11/9/19 - 12 genomes (as early as 9/25/19, 95% credible interval)Potential of large “first generation” human‐to‐human transmission of 2019‐nCoV (Li et al., Journal of Medical Virology, 1/30/20)11/17/19 - 86 genomes (as early as 8/27/19, 95% credible interval)Phylodynamic Analysis | 176 genomes | 6 Mar 2020 (Andrew Rambaut, Edinburgh, UK, 3/6/20)12/5/19 - 53 genomes (as early as 11/6/19, 95% credible interval)https://www.imperial.ac.uk/media/imperial-college/medicine/sph/ide/gida-fellowships/Imperial-College---COVID-19---genetic-analysis-FINAL.pdf (WHO, Imperial College, 2/14/20)- 5 of first six cases known then NOT from Huanan seafood market- Amy Yu's answer to How serious is the 2019–20 Coronavirus? (Chinese CDC paper, 1/29/20)- 3 of first four cases known then NOT from Huanan seafood market- https://www.thelancet.com/pdfs/journals/lancet/PIIS0140-6736(20)30183-5.pdf (Lancet, 1/24/20, updated 1/30/20)- Early Transmissibility Assessment of a Novel Coronavirus in Wuhan, China (Harvard, 1/27/20)- Wuhan seafood market may not be source of novel virus spreading globally (1/26/20)- Wuhan seafood market may not be only source of novel coronavirus: expert (1/29/20)- Coronavirus: Why You Must Act Now (Tomas Pueyo, Medium)Note: JAMA Diagram is amazing, but has some history errors.First case: 11/17/19 (earlier it was believed to be 12/1/19, 12/8/19, or 1214/19)HCoV-19 (2019-nCoV) identified: 1/2/20, not 1/7/20.Sequence shared: 1/5–1/10/10, not 1/12/20.Test kits available: 1/13/20. Test was being used before 1/9/20, but “kits” might not have been sent anywhere else until later.——-11/17/19: First confirmed case. Still searching for “patient zero”.12/30/19: Dr. Ai got the results for the laboratory test she ordered. It said “SARS coronavirus”. Dr. Li told more than 100 of his medical-school classmates “7 SARS cases confirmed at Hua’nan Seafood Market”1/2/20: Wuhan Institute of Virology sequenced virus (but kept it secret)1/5/20: Shanghai medical center sequenced virus and uploaded it to GenBank - Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 isolate Wuhan-Hu-1, co 1/7/20: HCoV-19 (2019-nCoV) announced by Chinese authorities1/9/20: Test was used to detect HCoV-19 in 15 other patients.新型冠状病毒！武汉不明原因肺炎“元凶”初步判定_新闻_央视网(cctv.com)1/10/20: Virological announced the GenBank sequence Novel 2019 coronavirus genome1/12/20: Possible the GenBank sequence was not publicly available until this date (although deposited on 1/5/20).- How It All Started: China’s Early Coronavirus Missteps (Wall Street Journal, 3/6/20)“2019-nCoV was closely related (with 88% identity) to two bat-derived severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-like coronaviruses, bat-SL-CoVZC45 and bat-SL-CoVZXC21, collected in 2018 in Zhoushan, eastern China, but were more distant from SARS-CoV (about 79%) and MERS-CoV (about 50%).These data are consistent with a bat reservoir for coronaviruses in general and for 2019-nCoV in particular. However, despite the importance of bats, several facts suggest that another animal is acting as an intermediate host between bats and humans.First, the outbreak was first reported in late December, 2019, when most bat species in Wuhan are hibernating.Second, no bats were sold or found at the Huanan seafood market, whereas various non-aquatic animals (including mammals) were available for purchase.Third, the sequence identity between 2019-nCoV and its close relatives bat-SL-CoVZC45 and bat-SL-CoVZXC21 was less than 90%, which is reflected in the relatively long branch between them.Hence, bat-SL-CoVZC45 and bat-SL-CoVZXC21 are not direct ancestors of 2019-nCoV.Fourth, in both SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV, bats acted as the natural reservoir, with another animal (masked palm civet for SARS-CoV and dromedary camels for MERS-CoV) acting as an intermediate host, with humans as terminal hosts.Therefore, on the basis of current data, it seems likely that the 2019-nCoV causing the Wuhan outbreak might also be initially hosted by bats, and might have been transmitted to humans via currently unknown wild animal(s) sold at the Huanan seafood market.”- Genomic characterisation and epidemiology of 2019 novel coronavirus: implications for virus origins and receptor binding (Lancet, 1/30/20)- See discussion at Dr. Eric Feigl-Ding on Twitter- https://nextstrain.org/groups/blab/sars-like-cov (1/27/20)How is HCoV-19 changing now?I keep a daily update on HCoV-19 varieties in North America hereHCoV-19 varieties in North AmericaAs of 3/11/20, there are 47 US/Canadian genomes (44 US, 3 Canada) out of 333 genomes at NextStrain/GISAID auspice - live website that anyone can play with.Nextstrain (@nextstrain) | Twitter posts updates when they upload new genomes.- auspice (NextStrain/GISAID live website)Washington state cluster:- Second diagram is by “divergence” (not time). Viruses on the right have more mutations than the ones on the left.- auspice (NextStrain/GISAID live website)What may happen in the future?In a good scenario, HCoV-19 may become a 5th coronavirus which is a “common cold”.In a bad scenario, HCoV-19 becomes a repeat of the 1918 Spanish Flu.First wave (Jan 1918) was fairly mild and killed mostly old people 60+ and kids 0–14.Mutated into a stronger version in the second wave (Oct 1918) which(1) killed lots of 15–40 yr-olds.(2) Some people who got sick in the morning, died before dinner.(3) Not as many deaths in 40–65 yr-olds & 5–14 yr-olds.“In 1918, older adults may have had partial protection caused by exposure to the 1889–1890 flu pandemic, known as the "Russian flu"As more people are infected by SARS-CoV-2, there is a larger chance of a mutation to a more deadly strain.- Spanish flu - WikipediaMy favorite Live Update sites:(1) Coronavirus Update (Live): 126,053 Cases and 4,616 Deaths from COVID-19 Virus Outbreak (Worldometers) - Best worldwide site today. Slow on China numbers.(2) Coronavirus Dashboard - Conveniently shows continents separately (US states, Canadian provinces, Australian territories, Latin America - no Africa yet).Updates slower than Worldometers.(3) Tracking coronavirus: Map, data and timeline - BNO News - Sometimes better than Worldometers with severe/critical information, but not updated as often.(4) 2019–20 Wuhan coronavirus outbreak - Wikipedia - sometimes more up-to-date than Worldometers or BNO.(5) COVID19info.live (Great graphics, good color choices)(6) Johns Hopkins https://gisanddata.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html?fbclid=IwAR2QBDnxetMDGn-txrIUenFwDHZnrOCnXQ1eCLNv1nkN4LZcevgB81gLVho#/bda7594740fd40299423467b48e9ecf6 - old classic(7) Baidu https://voice.baidu.com/act/newpneumonia/newpneumonia - usually most up-to-date for China(8) 全国新型肺炎疫情实时动态 - 丁香园·丁香医生 (DXY)(9) ʵʱ���£�ȫ�����ͷ����������¶�̬ (newsDOTqqDOTcom/zt2020/page/feiyan.htm) QQ

Absolutely it can and it gets more likely every year. There are several reasons that this is so.Executive PowersSince the founding of the USA, the system of checks and balances that we all learned about in high school have slowly and steadily been unchecked and unbalanced in favor of the president.The first and foremost reason for this has to do with the text of the US Constitution regarding the Presidency (Article II of the US Constitution), which is rather vague and unspecific, especially when compared to the text regarding the powers granted to the Legislative Branch (Article I of the US Constitution). The Founders were certain that the Legislature would be the most powerful branch of government. That’s one reason the Legislature is bicameral and its powers so specifically limited in the text of the US Constitution. The Founders, therefore, were not as strict in limiting the powers of the President and the Executive Branch.Another reason is the powers that have historically thought to be inherent to the office of the President, though never specifically mentioned in the US Constitution. Such as the powers during times of National Emergency. The Powers of the President has gone mostly unchallenged by the Courts and the fact that the Attorney General is appointed by the President has essentially made the AG and the DOJ, Presidential lawyers.Without a doubt, the powers of the President will only continue to increase, unchecked and unbalanced.https://www.bu.edu/law/journals-archive/bulr/documents/marshall.pdfShift on Executive Powers Let Obama Bypass CongressErosion of the 2nd AmendmentI am fairly certain there will be many answers here that will say that because of the 2nd Amendment, there will never be a chance for the President to take dictatorial powers. Unfortunately, they are most likely mistaken. Gun Owners have been lulled into complacency by the NRA and the supposed win of the Supreme Court decision Heller v Washington DC.Heller v Washington DC essentially made the first part of the 2nd Amendment, “A well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free State,” null. Leaving just, “the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.”The Founders intended the 2nd Amendment to be about National Security. They were wary of a standing Federal Army. Though in the end the Federal Government was allowed to raise an army, the States Militias were the Second Item in the Bill of Rights. The Founders did not invent Militias, they were part of every States Constitution prior to 1776 and in fact part of English Law.Essentially Heller v Washington DC changes the 2nd Amendment from being about National Security, which was the responsibility of the armed Citizenry to defend the nation from within and without, and redefined the 2nd Amendment being the right to self-defense, seeing it as a civil liberty. The problem is that the Founders were not unaware that people needed to defend themselves. But there was no need to enumerate the right to self-defense in the Bill of Rights because the right of self-defense is the Law of Nature, as old as the first predator and prey. They also understood that regardless of National Defense or Self Defense, people would be stronger in organized, coordinated, and practiced groups, Militias.Gun owners on their front porches with their personal arsenals could never be as much of a deterrent to any enemy as they would be with all of their neighbors, with plans and practice (regulated) in Militias. Individual gun owners, no matter how valiant their efforts, will be easily overwhelmed, subdued and disarmed by an armed offensive force the dictator sends, cops, soldiers, or mercenaries.The NRA is a lobby for gun manufacturers. It is no longer an association for rifle owners. It says that its legal battles; citing its troubles with New York State will bankrupt it soon. Though $10 million or so in executive salaries isn’t the problem.The Biggest Lies About the 2nd Amendment Going Around in 2018Erosion of the 4th AmendmentIn 1966 the Supreme Court ruled in Miranda v Arizona, that the police must inform the person being arrested of their 5th Amendment rights. We all know it, “You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney one will be appointed for you.” Hooray for the 5th Amendment and our right to not incriminate ourselves.Too bad the 4th Amendment has not fared so well. Let’s review the 4th Amendment.The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.Originally the crux of the 4th Amendment was to acknowledge that a “Person’s house is their Castle”, meaning that a person in their home is like a sovereign in their kingdom. That for anyone, including the government or any of its agents, to gain access without permission is forbidden except in very strict and specified circumstances.Technology like telephones and the internet have historically been included in thresholds to one’s house that cannot be crossed as per the 4th Amendment. The War on Drugs in the 1970s and 1980s began the erosion of the 4th Amendment. Seizures of houses, papers, effects and almost any other personal property were allowed merely for drug charges, not convictions. Not just seizures but the forfeiting of all of the above merely for being charged with drug crimes.The War on Terror further eroded the 4th Amendment. The Patriot Act and the AUMF were interpreted to grant secret (not authorized by the court) wiretaps both domestically and in foreign countries, and the “sneak and peek” searches without warrants. The AUMF gave the President, who can direct the military anywhere and anytime, the power to now direct it at individuals and groups of individuals (including US Citizens), rather than restricting the use of the Military against other State’s (Nation’s, Empire’s, Kingdom’s) military. Though Declarations of War and Authorizations of Military Force have been granted the President by Congress many times, the AUMF after 9/11 was unprecedented in allowing military actions against individuals and groups.What is the USA Patriot WebS.J.Res. 23 (107th): Authorization for Use of Military ForceSurveillance Under the USA/PATRIOT ActAnti-Fourth Amendment Patriot Acthttps://fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/RL31133.pdfThe Misuse and Overuse of Federal Conspiracy LawsThe Industrial Revolution changed the world in many ways. The gap between the Industrialists and the huge number of people they employed made a lot of people angry. A movement called Anarchism became popular among the working class. Though none of the leaders of the Anarchists promoted violence, many of its members through frustration did resort to violence.From the 1880s through to the 1910s Anarchists were responsible for some of the first real terrorist acts. Examples include the Haymarket Riots in 1886, the attack on the French Parliament in 1893, the assassination of the French President Carnot in 1894, the assassination of US President McKinley in 1901, and the Bombing of Wall Street in 1920 were by Anarchists.The 20th Century also saw the phenomenon of the organized crime family, the Mafia. These families were becoming a powerful criminal force in most of America’s big cities. There were also new types of Corporate setups that were complex and meant to disrupt fair trade. And hate groups like the KKK were of great concern.In the middle of the 20th Century, Congress passed the Federal Conspiracy Laws. Congress and the Supreme Court saw these criminal groups as far more of a threat to National Security than any individual criminal, and the Federal Conspiracy Laws were meant to be used as a tool by the likes of Attorney General, Robert Kennedy in combating them.All conspiracies share two elements; (1) an agreement, (2) between two or more people. The history of conspiracy in statutory law begins in 17th Century England. At that time criminal cases were not based on evidence, it was witness testimony that prevailed. A criminal conspiracy at that time was (1) an agreement, (2) between two or more people to bear false witness against an innocent person.By the time Congress enacted the Federal Conspiracy Laws, a criminal conspiracy became more general; (1) an agreement, (2) between two or more people to commit an offense against, or to defraud the United States or any of its agencies. In order to make easier for law enforcement to arrest and prosecutors to get indictments and take to trial, there is also an easing of evidentiary requirements in conspiracies that are not allowed in individual criminal cases.Circumstantial evidence and Hearsay are admissible in conspiracy cases. Anything any co-conspirator says can be used against all accused conspirators. Testimony made outside the court can be used, essentially giving no protection from the 6th Amendment’s Confrontation Clause.One does not have to commit an explicit crime, a person’s guilt can be implied. Meaning associations with people and in places can incriminate someone in a conspiracy case.Conspiracies are considered ongoing. This means that there is no statute of limitations. One can find themselves accused of being part of a conspiracy of people they never met and years before they could have been involved. Essentially no protection from ex-post facto guaranteed by the US Constitution.Charges of Conspiring to do a crime and the crime itself are considered separate charges. Which means you can be tried, and sentenced to both the crime and conspiring to do the crime. Essentially no protection from Double Jeopardy guaranteed by the US Constitution.Obviously, there is a high factor that Federal Conspiracy Laws could be abused by federal law enforcement and prosecutors. So, Federal Conspiracy Laws were intended to be used by the FBI to investigate and make arrests, the Attorney General and federal prosecutors to bring charges in cases of criminal groups only with regard to national security.In 1986 Congress Passed Title 21 United States Code (USC) Controlled Substances Act. This act was an overreaction to the perceived crack-cocaine epidemic in the mid-1980s. This is the Congressional mistake that started minimum sentencing, meant to put away violent powerful leaders of drug cartels for a long time. What it actually did was to imprison for decades and sometimes life, the wives, girlfriends, associates and errand boys of those powerful drug lords. It is pretty much fact that it never caught, prosecuted, let alone sentenced any drug lord to date.The act also introduced conspiracy charges in the failed War on Drugs. Just like the general Federal Conspiracy Laws, Drug Conspiracy Laws had all the same easing of evidentiary requirements. Until 2001 the DEA only used these laws in cases and investigations of the aforementioned drug lords. After 9/11 with the Patriot Act, AUMF, the creation of the Department of Homeland Security; the DEA made general arrests on charges of conspiracy. Two cases in 2001 and 2002 set the precedent.Today the DEA no longer conducts criminal investigations, collecting evidence and vetting suspects. Today all evidence is circumstantial. People are being arrested and prosecuted for text messages that the DEA “interpreter” says are code for amounts and types of drugs. Today individual drug addicts who deal for a fix are being arrested for conspiracies of distribution of vast quantities of drugs, though no actual drugs were found; merely implied.Federal Prosecutors in these cases force the accused to plead guilty. If the defendant chooses to go to trial the prosecutors threaten, and to date have called for maximum sentences if found guilty. Everyone who has gone to trial is sentenced a decade, sometimes two, that’s ten to twenty years longer than those who took a plea.Let’s just think about this for a second. You can be arrested and charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances with NO hard evidence, on hearsay, and then sentenced to decades of incarceration (don’t forget there is no early parole in federal prisons) because you wanted to exercise your Constitutional right to due process, for something that is not an offense against or to defraud the United States, in fact in the vast majority of cases no violence occurred and there was NO VICTIM!https://scholarlycommons.law.northwestern.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=https://duckduckgo.com/&httpsredir=1&article=5765&context=jclcHow Police Investigate Drug ConspiraciesFederal Sentencing Guidelines: Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substance Cases - Dallas Justice BlogAn Offer You Can’t Refuse | How US Federal Prosecutors Force Drug Defendants to Plead Guiltyhttps://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/usao/legacy/2013/06/28/usab6104.pdfFederal Conspiracy Investigations | Jason Kalafat Attorney at Law10 Acts Of Anarchist Terrorism That Shocked The World - ListverseExamining Robert Kennedy's War On The MobEnron Chiefs Guilty of Fraud and Conspiracy16th Street Baptist Church bombing | terrorist attack, Birmingham, Alabama, United States [1963]Title 21 United States Code (USC) Controlled Substances ActMilitarized municipal police forcesThe War on Drugs has also led to the federal overfunding of municipal police force vice squads and SWATs and their acquisition of military-grade vehicles, arms, equipment, and tactical training.This has led to a general discord between citizens and local law enforcement.The Failed 'War on Drugs' Is Militarizing Law Enforcement, Fueling Police ViolenceWar Comes HomeCitizens United vs FECThis decision by the Supreme Court gave corporations all the civil liberties enjoyed by the citizens of the US. It essentially said that corporations 1st Amendment right of free speech could be interpreted as donating as much money as they’d like, without disclosing their identity to groups that either promote or slam candidates. This went against everybody, including Congress, the long-time opinion that Corporate funding of any kind in federal elections should be limited and transparent. That the influence of unlimited corporate money to influence federal elections was patently unfair to the voters and citizens of the country.Historically corporations, partnerships, trusts and the like were given legal personhood. This was to limit the liabilities of stockholders and partners and the like and also allow the corporations etc to be able to buy land, sign contracts, and leases and carry out general business. I don’t think anyone ever thought that this aspect of corporate personhood should be extended to include protection under the Bill of Rights. There is one glaring problem with granting corporations civil liberties, the one really important thing about them that makes them obviously not a person; THEY ARE IMMORTAL! Unlike you and I, they will never die. Which is a point that I hope is brought before SCOTUS and the decision is that in order to enjoy civil liberties, corporations cannot live past 90 years old!The ‘Citizens United’ decision and why it mattershttps://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2015/01/21/5-years-later-citizens-united-has-remade-us-politicshttps://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/22/magazine/how-much-has-citizens-united-changed-the-political-game.html?mtrref=duckduckgo.com&gwh=E2F68667ADAD1564A4ACF77210FD26F7&gwt=payMilitary Industrial ComplexThe Founders were not just scared of a federal standing army, they were hateful of it. The potential danger, of a despot with a desire for power, or a bored megalomaniac in peacetime, was a dark specter with a standing army, able to destroy their fragile new democracy. This included the Federalists like Thomas Jefferson.Almost two hundred years later, after two world wars, and continuing international military engagements, the standing army in peacetime, was comforting not frightening. President Eisenhower, at the beginning of a new decade, bade farewell to the American citizenry after his eight years in office and reiterated our need for that army to secure our precious liberty from the atheistic, evil, lowdown, pinko, commie threat.Then Ike started sailing on uncharted waters. Talking about what a full time, peacetime armament industry might bring. How technologies and inventions will be sought after by this arms industry. Which might lead to the nation’s intellectuals and universities being bought wholesale by this arms industry. The possibility of a technocratic science elite without compassion in power. Where war, not peace would be the logical solution.To many Ike was warning us about Black Projects, suppressed technology, and ?.?.?’s. But that’s for another question. He was correct that most R & D and thus most new technology was financed and purposed first for the military; cell phones, internet, microwaves, computers, drones, and stealth.The Military Industrial Complex and the two longest, protracted wars in US history revealed less in technological advance and more a revamping of SOP (standard operating procedure) with contract military support, like KRB, a subsidiary of Haliburton. From supplies to personnel it seemed that everything was contracted out. This was new and different, just like the new SOP.The good old army hierarchical rank and unquestioned obeying of orders, MP’s and tribunals were in abeyance to corporate executives, contracted people with non-disclosures and arbitration clauses. The wars became the source of high profits. The strategies left to hired guns. A soldiers valor replaced by a mercenaries pay. More appropriate a title would be the Contracted Military Industrial Corporation.Where does all our military spending go?Standing Armies - LewRockwell LewRockwell.comAnti-Arbitration Act Considered For Those With US Military StatusDefense Contractors Will Soon Be Prevented from Demanding and Enforcing Mandatory Arbitration of Employment Disputeshttps://www.illinoislawreview.org/wp-content/ilr-content/articles/2011/3/Snell.pdfConclusionIn the not too distant future, an unchecked and unbalanced powerful President beholden only to unknown corporations and political action committees, not his fellow citizens in securing the election and the Oval Office; might see an opportunity to direct their Attorney General and the DOJ to use federal law enforcement agencies to arrest or detain their political foes on charges of conspiracy. Then declare a National Emergency invoking martial law and direct the armed forces through contracted military operatives overseeing local police forces to disarm the general public. Though there will be some armed resistance, because of their lack of cohesion and organization gun owners will be easily and systematically overwhelmed, subdued, and disarmed. The Legislature and Justices of the Courts might be allowed to continue if they will agree to obey and follow the DOTUS without exception.