Does anybody else wonder about our septuagenarian candidates and coronavirus?

[lostnfound]

I mean, dang, they are all out there shaking hands every day and in big crowds.

Epidemiologists have said to expect 40-60% of the population to eventually catch it.
I’m sure that number depends on contact with the public.

Among the 80-somethings the mortality rate is estimated at 1 in 6. Severe illnesses that take a month in the hospital are around 20%.

A little lower among the 70-somethings.

Seriously. I think Warren should have stayed in a while longer because sometimes shit happens. Besides, I know some Floridians who really don’t know who to vote for now. Why didn’t she stay in longer?

[LaurenOlimina]

1. Yeah...

In my darker moments, I thought, "This is how we end up with Tulsi Gabbard."

[karynnj]

4. Not really -- everyone "suspended" their campaigns

I assume that if there was a reason they could "un suspend" . Oddly, I think what happens is a throw back type back room convention where the pledged delegates vote for a nominee. I assume that all teams will have the antibacterial stuff for the candidates as they leave a rally and they need to avoid touching their faces.

[LaurenOlimina]

6. That's what would happen.

My guess is Pete or Amy at that point. I'm assuming Warren is dead at that point as well, otherwise, she is a contender, but youth will go up in value.

[lostnfound]

14. I'm not suggesting that both candidates would get sick or be gone,

But if one of them did, having an alternative at the convention or for late voting states might matter. It did for the Bobby Kennedy race.

[voteearlyvoteoften]

16. Rotfl 😂

Thanks for the laugh.

[emmaverybo]

2. Well, Pete should have stayed in by the same token. Warren supporters are in mourning and want to

hold on to her. But all the candidates can have been exposed. Of those, Bernie due to cardiac issues might be the most at risk of complications,

Even that is not clear as age range and health condition have varied. May be two strains, one worse than the other.

Maybe Pence and Trump go under and Pelosi takes over. Oops she’s old too.

[LaurenOlimina]

17. It'll be President Stephen Miller vs. Pete Buttigieg

FFS... I need a drink.

[emmaverybo]

18. OMG. Pete wins that one hands down.

[karynnj]

3. I've thought of this -- and not just for the older candidates

What worries me is that the candidates shake multiple hands in a rope line. If anyone in the line has any of the virus on their hand, can you consider everyone after that as exposed -- not to mention any contaminated by someone sneezing?

[BusyBeingBest]

7. Yeah, that's a great way to spread the virus down the rope line, I thought of that

seeing all the candidates shaking hands lately. Unless everyone in the crowd immediately uses sanitizer or washes afterward, but I doubt it. I think they've been lucky. Same with the Pope--just got lucky it's not corona.

[customerserviceguy]

8. I'd be very surprised

if every candidate's staff didn't have hand sanitizer for everybody within five feet of the rope line. Even without Covid-19, that should be standard protocol.

[lostnfound]

9. They should all stop that handshake routine for now

It’s not just the candidate, but everyone else in the line, as you point out.

[33taw]

5. Well if it comes down to a brokered convention because of illness, I think anyone can

be nominated. Elizabeth, Bernie, Joe, Pete, Amy, Cory, Kampala,.... So, Tulsi does not need to be the choice.

[OhNo-Really]

10. An actual scientific CV19 study

https://www.thelancet.com/action/showPdf?pii=S0140-6736(20)30211-7

[RockCreek]

19. Link not working n/t

[OhNo-Really]

22. Oops. Here you go

https://www.democraticunderground.com/114222708

Link in article

Very perplexing that copying Lancet link won’t work

[Jirel]

11. Nope.

That kind of panic doesn't help anything.

Note that candidates have campaigned and stayed just fine through multiple flu outbreaks. Granted, there's Tamiflu and at least partially/hit-or-miss effective vaccines for those. However, they have figured out how to handle exposure for candidates long ago.

[lostnfound]

15. Not panic, that's bs to call it that. Nt

[ibegurpard]

12. lay off the handshaking

We should all be doing that anyway now. It's one of the few things we can do on an individual basis to take precautions.

[NurseJackie]

13. I think the chances of someone having a 2nd heart attack is greater.

And if there's a family history of such things (ie: early/young deaths of parents/grand/sibling/etc.) then the chances are even higher. I believe this is especially true in high-stress jobs with odd hours, lots of travel, poor diet and exercise, and irregular sleep.

[wnylib]

20. Yes. I have been thinking about this lately and posted

about it in a few other threads.

[defacto7]

21. This virus could be used to infect just about anyone

let alone candidates on the trail. I'm concerned because it would be just too easy as well as impossible to detect or prosecute.

[W_HAMILTON]

23. Well, I am now.