An even bigger problem in Canada and Sweden based on that type of analysis in isolation?

Donald thinks it's the best healthcare system in the world.  Ever.

Anyone who says otherwise is spreading fake news and/or a Democrat.

I listened to a Republican and a Democrat having a spat about Covid-19: it was pathetic but the Republican was unhinged.

The second figure might be an underestimate; the first number is fiction: there isn't a reliable number but 20 is absurd.

Went out with some of my mates from the Lobby this evening and all of them have been briefed OTR that the situation is likely to get very bad vis-a-vis infections and the pressure on essential services.

I think that there's a huge difference between 'possible' and 'likely'.

It's possible I'll win the Lottery; it's extremely likely that I won't.

Tests per million people for selected countries:

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/covid-19-testing/

USA not looking too good on that one!

Obamacare remains.  Even some Republicans recognised that Trump's alternative was a pig in a poke - it would have taken healthcare away from 20 million people.

If Trump as ordered mass testing I can't find any news about it. Do you have a reference or are you guessing?  Who would pay for 'mass testing' and does the US healthcare system even have the resources to do that?

Popcorn at the ready

https://mobile.twitter.com/EconguyRosie/status/1234585440126029824

Does anyone know why total tested (for all countries) was removed from the WHO website on March 2nd? 

I've assumed it was made up as I've not received a response back. The best info I could find is that Swine flu had an R0 of 1.4-1.6 and the latest thinking on Covid-19 is an R0 of 2.2. I'm no mathematician so don't know what that difference in figures means on the ground. 

I thought I'd watch the BBC programme "Everything you ever wanted to know about coronavirus .." last night. A great disappointment - 10 minutes history of outbreak, 10 minutes Boris mouthing platitudes, 10 minutes answering questions mostly with answers which have been well publicised already (though there may well be people with cloth ears).

I'm sure that a lot of ad hoc decisions will need to be made in the next weeks, but no politician wants to admit it for fear of appearing not to be in control.

The Sky programme was much better - they're doing one each day.

Just like the good ole days of the Empire. There are no cases in Sri Lanka. Its the Sri Lankans who should be worried about the English bringing it over

England players will not shake hands during the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka. England will arrive in Sri Lanka today https://t.co/1nCzpGy3kq

— Azzam Ameen (@AzzamAmeen) March 3, 2020

Can they wait till after the Cheltenham festival?

As long as they can keep it fairly contained as it appears to be at present then I would think so. 

If the big summer events are cancelled my income will probably tank by about 60% over the course of the year. Summer is when the £ is made here on TWO.  

Good piece here by a woman in Singapore who has had and recovered from corona. 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-asia-51714162/how-i-survived-coronavirus-and-isolation

In her case it sounds quite similar to the flu. We can only assume she is of average health and has no diagnosed underlying conditions. 

There are  huge trade shows (UK and global) that will make a great dent in  GDP  figures if they don't happen.  From my own industry IBC (Amsterdam)  and NAB (Vegas).  They help drive   growth in the industry as well as  for the host countries.

If  you multiply  across all industries globally, widespread closures will be a "big deal".