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Brazil's President Bolsonaro tests positive for coronavirus

france24.com

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Re: Brazil's President Bolsonaro tests positive for coronavirus

#71

What would happen if Bolsanaro doesn't survive? How does succession works in Brazil. Is the next person in line more or less rational than Bolsanaro. Also can it end up leading Brazil further to the right due to sympathy votes? Or will it make people realise his incompetence if something happens to him.

The vice-president takes office. He's a retired Army General as crazy as Bolsonaro regarding social values etc but in multiple times he talked much more reasonably than the actual president about sensitive topics and he seems actually smarter, at least. He almost makes us believe he's better than the president but I think it's just a "vice-president" façade. If he also dies testing positive, then the president of the chamber of deputies takes office. If he dies, the president of the senate takes office. If he dies then the president of the supreme court takes office. I said all that assuming they are males because they are as of today (we had female supreme court presidents in the past though).

Re: Brazil's President Bolsonaro tests positive for coronavirus

#72

It is news, but as other have noted it is not surprising given Bolsanaro's public stance. Frankly, I am more surprised US upper echelon seems largely unscathed at the moment.

Trump gets tested every day. Every person he is in contact with is testing before being given an audience. He knows how it works but it seems like he just DGAF about everyone else.

Re: Brazil's President Bolsonaro tests positive for coronavirus

#73
post #9
post #4

Not to be insensitive, but what's the death rate for healthy individuals in his age range? Next to zero? Italy reported that 99% of those who died from Corona had other health issues.[1] In my county (county, not country) it was reported that 99.4% of our Covid cases have recovered, and that was just the cases that were tracked. Yes, the vulnerable should be taken care of, but legitimately asking - why is there still…

Because that 1% of people are lives that still matter??? WTF... I can't believe this.

I find this ironic in that the same people now suddenly believe every single life needs to be protected were the same people who supported drone strikes throughout the Middle East when it was Obama taking the lives. Now the "other guys" are risking lives and it's politically expedient, so everyone on one side of the political spectrum just joins this chorus of every life matters sans critical thought, devoid of any want or curiosity about the actual facts.

Re: Brazil's President Bolsonaro tests positive for coronavirus

#74
post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Because that 1% of people are lives that still matter??? WTF... I can't believe this.

I'd argue that this year we've learned that the percentage of psychopathy in the general population is way higher than the 2% I've seen being estimated before.

I would argue our relentless pursuit of data driven outcomes and return on investment thinking has skewed the way people think about other human beings. We are just seeing the impact of that now as we face a significant enough species impacting event.

Fun times.

Re: Brazil's President Bolsonaro tests positive for coronavirus

#75

What would happen if Bolsanaro doesn't survive? How does succession works in Brazil. Is the next person in line more or less rational than Bolsanaro. Also can it end up leading Brazil further to the right due to sympathy votes? Or will it make people realise his incompetence if something happens to him.

The vice-president takes office. He's a retired Army General as crazy as Bolsonaro regarding social values etc but in multiple times he talked much more reasonably than the actual president about sensitive topics and he seems actually smarter, at least. He almost makes us believe he's better than the president but I think it's just a "vice-president" façade. If he also dies testing positive, then the president of the…

Super interesting that a member of the supreme court is in line for succession. It's not the worst idea. Say what you want about various members of the SCOTUS and their individual values -- but every single one of them at least has a sense of logic and rationality by nature of their work.

Re: Brazil's President Bolsonaro tests positive for coronavirus

#76

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Are you an epidemiologist? Physician specializing in blood and/or respiratory diseases? Failing that, have you scoured the available literature with a completely open mind, and can summarize the arguments ranging from taking this incredibly seriously to blowing it off as just a "flu?" Or have you seen one or two essays that seem persuasive, and quote the studies that happen to support the argument the author's wish t…

It is quite possible for someone to have all the credentials you specified and still agree with OP. Trying to credential-shame someone out of the conversation doesn't help anyone.

Doesnt mean it’s very likely. Scientific consensus around masks is pretty clear

Not everybody’s opinions are valid regardless of credentials

Re: Brazil's President Bolsonaro tests positive for coronavirus

#77
post #4

Not to be insensitive, but what's the death rate for healthy individuals in his age range? Next to zero? Italy reported that 99% of those who died from Corona had other health issues.[1] In my county (county, not country) it was reported that 99.4% of our Covid cases have recovered, and that was just the cases that were tracked. Yes, the vulnerable should be taken care of, but legitimately asking - why is there still…

Talk about lying with statistics to make an invalid point...

Those "other illnesses" include conditions that are widely prevalent in the general population, high blood pressure, diabetes, asthma (present even in athletes), etc.

Blood type A is strongly related to higher infection & death rates (~+45%).

Vitamin D levels also show up in some studies of death rates.

Moreover death is not the only key measure - large numbers of cases are also seeing serious long-term consequences, strokes, organ damage, overwhelming fatigue, etc. - especially in the young & otherwise healthy cases. While it is still early for studies, go check out "Covid long hauler" forums - you really don't want to risk this.

tl;dr: this is 50-100X more deadly than flu, more contagious, and has far more serious & longer lasting consequences in substantial numbers of survivors. Suggesting that concerns should be minimized is foolish at best.

Re: Brazil's President Bolsonaro tests positive for coronavirus

#79
post #4

Not to be insensitive, but what's the death rate for healthy individuals in his age range? Next to zero? Italy reported that 99% of those who died from Corona had other health issues.[1] In my county (county, not country) it was reported that 99.4% of our Covid cases have recovered, and that was just the cases that were tracked. Yes, the vulnerable should be taken care of, but legitimately asking - why is there still…

According to that article, Italy was including high blood pressure as one of those "other illnisses." Bolsonaro is a 65 year old Brazilian, it's very possible he has high blood pressure and may not be considered healthy. Blood pressure is a significant health concern in Brazil (not that Brazil is special in this respect, many countries have problems with blood pressure).

Edit to address your question about why there is hysteria over this: Because normally people with minor health complications can live just fine. Sure, a smoker might get winded if they run, and a diabetic might have to watch their diet, but most people can live a normal life even with a minor health issue. Now all of a sudden we have a disease going around that significantly raises their chance of dying. So if everyone in your family is perfectly healthy and you only rely on other perfectly healthy people at the places you work and shop, then it might seem overblown. But for many people we have relatives that could be at risk if they catch the disease or our livelihoods could be impacted if people are dying around us. I don't think we should be "hysterical" but there is cause for concern.

Re: Brazil's President Bolsonaro tests positive for coronavirus

#80
post #4

Not to be insensitive, but what's the death rate for healthy individuals in his age range? Next to zero? Italy reported that 99% of those who died from Corona had other health issues.[1] In my county (county, not country) it was reported that 99.4% of our Covid cases have recovered, and that was just the cases that were tracked. Yes, the vulnerable should be taken care of, but legitimately asking - why is there still…

I really wish people (not you) would stop pushing the idea that death is the only consequence of COVID. Three different NFL players have said their lungs still aren't recovered and they're still getting winded months after having COVID. These are people in their 30s and younger and in some of the best fitness in the world. Plenty of stories of blood clotting leading to many other issues in the general population duri…

Aren't we all going to catch this sooner or later, especially with recent reports that it spreads 30 feet in the air through just breathing [1]?

So while there are lasting effects on some who are infected, the vast majority probably handle it totally fine, there are probably more people who have had it than we previously thought, especially considering we're changing our assumptions on how contagious it is, and we're all going to get it anyway right?

[1] https://knowridge.com/2020/07/covid-19-may-spread-10-meters-...

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