Physicians have implemented a program called CME--continuing medical education. This is required on an annual basis by many state licensing boards, including my beloved CA. Here we are required annually to get 25 credit CME hours, issued by certified educational providers for this purpose. The intense exercise here at c99 alone is giving me a very deep and broad understanding of a narrow yet crucial medical issue, or issues if you wish to subdivide this pending epidemic. I am learning a lot. If this business failed to educate me, then I should no longer call myself a physician despite 50+ years dedicated to medicine. But I am learning. I am grateful to the communitarians contributing, even those with whom I disagree. Too much is unknown.

Today, I have learned that I could obtain excellent COVID-19 coverage, from of all places, an investment/financial blog. This would be Peak Prosperity. Thank you to those recommending it.

Has any one failed to notice the rapidity at which this story is unfolding. The shroud of mystery, secrecy, and outright lying is being rapidly dissipated as if by a hurricane. Almost hourly, new and more precise information is emerging.

Presented here are screen shots from multiple sources, accompanied by comments.

Sheer stupidity and or cravenness of the public health people responsible. In my own county, Public Health Authorities will not authorize tests unless stringent conditions exist--these conditions ensure that only symptomatic people will qualify for testing.

R0 between 3 and 6.7. I have my doubts. In the US not enough people including Class B individuals have been tested.

Incubation period as long as 27 days? If so, current quarantine, whether self-imposed or externally-imposed are too brief.

Inaccurate testing--as of March 6 the CDC is making available a highly specific and sensitive 3 biomarker test kit. Even if a test is positive for a single marker, that person is certain to be virus infected.

Surface persistence for 9 days? Whoa. That is horrible if true. So, even with extended quarantine, thorough disinfection is necessary.

Still unanswered is what percentage of Class B patients are infectious? 2%? 10%? more?

Stringent but excellent advice. Follow it.

Walking the walk, not just talking the talk

In the past 3 days, starting March 5, I began social distancing. If either I become symptomatic, including unusual fatigue OR fever OR cough--or I contact someone known to be a COVID-19 contact (not simply a person with confirmed disease), I will self-quarantine. I am prepared for this contingency. Are you?