Coronavirus SZN Forever

[Johnny English]

Something something free market efficiency.

https://www.businessinsider.com/coronavirus-trump-outbid-states-on-medical-supplies-2020-3

[SixFeetDeep]

Something something free market efficiency.

https://www.businessinsider.com/coronavirus-trump-outbid-states-on-medical-supplies-2020-3

Seems like the current system needs addressing, but I’m curious where the supplies that the federal govt orders end up and who makes those decisions based on what criteria. Haven’t seen that mentioned anywhere.

[AlioTheFool]

I've been home since Friday (thankfully) and my heart goes out to anyone who isn't, or hasn't been able to, stay home.

My boss just said during our department conference call that we all need to be prepared to return to the office next week. The silence on the call was deafening.

I may choose to take a vacation. And maybe use that time to find other employment. I really can't fathom the ridiculous idea that "saving the economy" takes priority over surviving this crisis and not putting the lives of our loved ones at risk. But hey, I guess that's why I'll never be rich.

[Miamipuck]

Something something free market efficiency.

https://www.businessinsider.com/coronavirus-trump-outbid-states-on-medical-supplies-2020-3

MEH squared


This from the Wall street Journal:

And indeed the president has also said that if the states find themselves outbid by the federal government, he would give the states priority because they are closer to the problem and have a better idea where the real need is.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/business-makes-war-on-coronavirus-11585004754?cx_testId=3&cx_testVariant=cx_2&cx_artPos=0#cxrecs_s

Of all the coronavirus nightmares, the one most haunting doctors, governors and hospital administrators is finding themselves without enough ventilators to go around. When a patient can’t breathe on his own, a ventilator moves air in and out of his lungs. For a Covid-19 patient in critical care, a ventilator can be the one thing standing between him and certain death.
But in a shortage, who lives and who dies could become a coin toss. If there’s only one ventilator and three people need it, who’s the lucky winner? The 80-year-old grandmother in otherwise perfect health? The 65-year-old father of four with diabetes? Or the 70-year-old retired doctor or nurse who’s just come back into service to help defeat the virus? There are two ways to address shortages. The first is by reducing demand, which in this case means trying to prevent the number of people infected from ever reaching the point of overwhelming the hospitals’ ability to treat them. This is why we have quarantines, shelter-in-place orders and self-distancing.The other is to boost supply.

On Friday Vice President Mike Pence announced that his team had identified “tens of thousands” of ventilators that can be “retrofitted and converted” to treat people with Covid-19. Unfortunately, it still may not be enough: Gov. Andrew Cuomo says New York alone may need 30,000 ventilators—more than five times what it now has. Which is why President Trump has invoked the Defense Production Act in hope of enlisting American manufacturers in the effort to ramp up production of ventilators and other badly needed medical items.“

It won’t be easy or overnight,” says Chris Kiple, “but it can be done.” Mr. Kiple is CEO of Seattle-based Ventec Life Systems. He says Ventec is one of about a dozen players in the global market for ventilators, only about half of which are U.S.-based companies.The smart governors, Mr. Kiple adds, have already been out shopping for the ventilators they need.

Certainly Mr. Cuomo has made it clear that he is. But countries such as Italy and China have been placing orders for a while, giving them a jump on the U.S.There are some technical challenges to rapid expansion. Ventilators aren’t one-size-fits-all.

There are huge ventilators for hospital intensive-care units. Others are battery powered and portable. Ventec is unusual, its CEO says, because its VOCSN ventilator is not only portable but multifunctional. In addition to ventilation, it includes an oxygen concentrator, a cough assist, a hospital-grade suction system and a nebulizer. It can be used from hospitals to homes.

Supply lines present a further challenge. Some parts, Mr. Kiple allows, might be made with a three-dimensional printer. But not an entire ventilator. And even if manufacturing is rapidly scaled up, it won’t mean anything unless provisions are also made to train the many thousands of new respiratory therapists needed to run the machines.But even this isn’t the biggest problem.“The biggest problem,” Mr. Kiple says, “is that no one knows how many ventilators we need.”Given the cost—ventilators run from roughly $25,000 to $50,000—no one is going to risk producing thousands that go unsold or buying thousands that go unused. If there’s a role for government, it’s probably to help set a number for how many are needed, and then provide a guarantee to manufacturers for any they can’t sell or to hospitals for any but end up not needing.That’ll cost taxpayers a pile of money. But it is at least targeted to a defined need.

Mr. Kiple says if the White House and hospitals want to see ventilators produced and deployed quickly, the orders need to come in now.The good news, he says, is that players in the private sector, he says, have already been in touch with one another to see how they might team up. Before coronavirus hit, Ventec’s peak output was roughly 150 ventilators a month. Now his team is working around the clock to boost that to 1,000 within the next 90 days.They are not stopping there. On Friday Ventec announced it will work in partnership with General Motors.

The idea is to combine GM’s experience of mass-production manufacturing with Ventec’s technology. Mr. Kiple says the partnership will mean getting “more ventilators to more hospitals much faster.” The president tweeted Sunday: “Go for it auto execs.”

Meanwhile, Mr. Trump has been vague about how exactly he intends to use the powers of the Defense Production Act. Right now he appears to want to require companies like Ventec to turn over the ventilators they make—and the federal government will distribute them. But there may be better ways.

And indeed the president has also said that if the states find themselves outbid by the federal government, he would give the states priority because they are closer to the problem and have a better idea where the real need is.

As for Mr. Kiple, he says business is stepping up to the challenge. “There are many unknowns about this pandemic,” he says. “The only known is that every ventilator available has the potential to save lives.”Write to mcgurn@wsj.com.

[Jumbo]

I've been home since Friday (thankfully) and my heart goes out to anyone who isn't, or hasn't been able to, stay home.

My boss just said during our department conference call that we all need to be prepared to return to the office next week. The silence on the call was deafening.

I may choose to take a vacation. And maybe use that time to find other employment. I really can't fathom the ridiculous idea that "saving the economy" takes priority over surviving this crisis and not putting the lives of our loved ones at risk. But hey, I guess that's why I'll never be rich.

The economic effects of a prolonged quarantine will be profoundly terrible, and depressed economies lead to things like increased suicide rates and poorer health. That's not to say everyone should go back to work immediately, but a poor economy will also lead to negative health outcomes - it's something that will need to be balanced.

[Johnny English]

MEH squared


This from the Wall street Journal:

So then the question is begged as to why the feds and states are getting into bidding contests against each other for urgently needed medical supplies.

[AlioTheFool]

The economic effects of a prolonged quarantine will be profoundly terrible, and depressed economies lead to things like increased suicide rates and poorer health. That's not to say everyone should go back to work immediately, but a poor economy will also lead to negative health outcomes - it's something that will need to be balanced.

I've said this from the beginning: if I work till I get sick and die, it doesn't matter that I still had a job. There will be jobs in the aftermath. The only question is who will be willing to do them.

Sorry not sorry about feeling nothing for rich dudes' bottom lines in the end. I've made the decision to pay rent or eat before. I can do it again. Let's see if Trump and his ilk can.

[Miamipuck]

So then the question is begged as to why the feds and states are getting into bidding contests against each other for urgently needed medical supplies.

Get the orders in , get the needed products made and then worry about where they are needed most. That doesn't seem unreasonable to me in a crisis such as this. There should be better communication and leadership but I have said that from the getgo. As long as it's getting done, I can worry ab out that excrement later.

[Miamipuck]

Both of my jobs are essential services and I am out there on the front lines like a canary in the coal mine. I feel neither brave nor stupid, I am just getting things done.

[Johnny English]

Get the orders in , get the needed products made and then worry about where they are needed most. That doesn't seem unreasonable to me in a crisis such as this. There should be better communication and leadership but I have said that from the getgo. As long as it's getting done, I can worry ab out that excrement later.

Which doesn't actually answer my question, but OK.

[Johnny English]

In these tough times, it's good to know that Pornhub has your back.

Free Pornhub Premium for everyone

[Miamipuck]

Which doesn't actually answer my question, but OK.

I did answer it. Let me make it bigger and bolded so you can see what I mean clearly:

Poor communication and leadership.

[Johnny English]

I did answer it. Let me make it bigger and bolded so you can see what I mean clearly:

Poor communication and leadership.

Hmm. I'm sure you're right, but I doubt that's all there is to it. After all, if I'm manufacturing a scarce good then you'd better believe I'm playing bidders off against each other to drive the price up and I don't really care if the ultimate consumer is the same regardless of its route there.

Like I said to start with, got to love that market efficiency.

[SixFeetDeep]

https://www.instagram.com/tv/B-Hpy8_JCVU/?igshid=fjccvuqdxl06

My President

[guinness77]

https://www.instagram.com/tv/B-Hpy8_JCVU/?igshid=fjccvuqdxl06

My President

I don’t disagree with him at all.