[deanhills]

That statistical/epidemiological conclusion is interesting but needs a lot of follow up investigations, both clinically and biologically for it to have the practical impact the World is expecting. And by this I mean the Whys and the Hows kind of answers, ie the immunological mechanisms involved that supposedly put people with blood group O in an advantage compared with the others (A, B and AB,) but especially the A -as the research suggests.

True @fChk  There's lots of research still needed on the subject.  

I totally agree one should try and be as much informed as one can be.  Knowledge from reliable sources will remove a lot of the fears.  For example.  From the history of cases it would appear that only 20% of those who get the virus are really very seriously ill.  Not every one is getting the virus to the same degree.  Those who are more seriously affected are the ones with pre-existing chronic diseases, or infectious diseases like HIV, TB etc.  More serious though, and this comes from South Africa's Minister of Health, he reckons that 60% of the population are certain to get the virus collectively over the next two years.  So the chances are very good that eventually sooner or later I may get the virus.  So let's hope they are able to detect this early and there is a hospital bed and medical treatment available if it should be a respiratory or life threatening situation. Yesterday on our local news someone who had the virus was told that if it is serious, the serious symptoms usually  manifest themselves after 8 days of having the virus.  If you can get past day 8, you should be OK.

Another big problem is that even if you don't show any symptoms, get tested and test negative for the virus, you can still have it and infect others with it.  That's why so many people who arrived at airports can get through without being detected.  Like not even the people themselves realize it.  They should of course, as all countries are urging passengers to immediately self-isolate themselves for at least 2 weeks after their arrival even when they have tested negative for Corona at the airport - like those superficial tests.  But obviously not all passengers took/take this request seriously. When a couple in South Africa arrived at the beginning of the week and were told to self-isolate, instead traveled through the country and then ended up with the virus, they were investigated by the police. I guess it got special attention as the guy was a member of parliament. He and his wife traveled from Italy, through Johannesburg and they then continued their travel by plane to their end destination on the coast. They started with symptoms a day after their arrival at their home and may have infected passengers on their domestic plane journey and every one else they came in contact with. Then when they went for their tests, serious questions were asked why they didn't self-isolate immediately as requested. I like stories like these, as at least this will make others think about it too. At least after Wednesday, the Government has banned all flights from countries with many cases like China, South Korea, Germany, France, England, Italy, Iran, United States and more. They are also banning people who want to travel from other countries, but who have visited the banned countries within 10 days. 

In South Africa they have started with drive-in testing facilities.  Only the Department of Health through its branches may authorize testing at these facilities.  So how it works is if you suspect you have the virus, you have to phone your doctor or an authorized Government appointed person who works with Corona virus cases.  They then take you through a protocol of questions to check your risk profile and if there is a good case for testing it for Corona, you then get authorized to do the test.  You then can drive yourself to the drive-in test facility, and a medical person with protective covering will then take samples from you in your car.  You don't get out of your car.  They discourage any one who has the virus to go to a medical facility so they won't infect health workers.  You then have to go home and wait 48 hours for the result of the test.  If you test positive, you have to isolate yourself and you have to provide a list of the people you've been in touch with so they can follow up on them.  If you feel serious symptoms, and you've been tested positive, then you need to ask for medical assistance, in which case you need to be treated at a Corona treatment center.  When you get to the treatment center you have to be tested again before you can be given a bed.  This is of course very theoretical, I'm almost certain when it gets to thousands of cases this protocol will turn into something different.  I wonder how easy it will be to get someone on a phone to attend to you.

Another fact about the tests is that the chances of testing negative is much bigger when you are in the early stages of the symptoms. The longer and more progressed the symptoms are, the more likely you will show positive if you have the virus. Those who have been exposed to Corona virus and have been tested negative, usually have to take a second test after the first. Once you're in the Corona test system they've got you in their radar, but at the same time if you need medical treatment when it gets very serious it will be easier to be admitted in a medical facility. Those who test positive for Corona get the test for free, but if the test is negative, then one has to pay for it. Not sure how it will work if the first test is negative and a second positive.

South Africa has also promulgated a whole series of laws.  Like if you are told to self-isolate by an authority and they find you have the virus and you didn't isolate yourself, you can be fined or jailed or both.  If you spread fake news.  Same punishment. If you try and infect someone on purpose also fined or jailed or both. I'd like to see how they implement these laws however as South Africa is well known for its high crime rate and lawlessness. Not enough police or legal facilities to make this work. Does look good on paper though.