Re: Further update on COVID-19 (Coronavirus) and IETF 107 Vancouver

[Alexandre Petrescu <[e-mail]>]

Le 25/02/2020 à 14:59, Carsten Bormann a écrit :
> 
>> These organisations are good in their neutrality but the last thing
>> they will ever say is 'I dont know’.
> 
> https://www.google.com/search?q=%22unknown%22+site:+https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov
>
>  
> https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/specific-groups/guidance-business-response.html
> says:
> 
>> … Much is unknown about how the COVID-19 spreads. Current knowledge
>> is largely based on what is known about similar coronaviruses. …

Right, it approaches a 'I dont know'.

A better of that would be to ask to not look at them central 
organisation holding the Truth, but go ask at the local 'pharmacy' 
(emergency medical store? 'apotheke'?).

For my part I went yesterday to 'pharmacy' asking for other things non 
related to this situation.

A person next to me asked for masks.  The person behind the counter 
replied 'what do you all people have, do you synchronise to plan 
something?'; he replied 'I dont know, I have kids, I worry'.  For my 
part, I understand there are many around me who want to buy masks.

That kind of local data is of huge importance.  It is real, actual, 
first hand and non tweaked.  It is not the result of some committee 
deliberation.

> And so on.
> 
> I don’t think we gain anything from adopting the anti-science
> positions 

I agree.  Reason should prevail.

It was not my intent to advise non-science, but to say that one can form 
an idea of what's happening without delving too much into too many reports.

> (as in, talk to your yoga teacher because they are more
> trustworthy than the scientists are) that are so popular today.  As
> the other people replying on this thread have said, IETF leadership
> is reacting on the issue in an exemplary manner; I’m really
> impressed.

I do agree.

I am part of several groups, where several things are announced and 
advised with various levels of authority and mandatoriness, but only at 
IETF people are asked for opinion.  That's key.

Among other things, that just taught me that the area just reported in 
France news about Italy to be 'Sardegne' might actually be 'Sicily'. 
For some people that might sound remote and of little importance, and 
indulge the errors, but for others it might be of utmost importance.

> (Obviously, anyone of us must decide for themselves how to handle
> their safety, and anyone in a leadership position must decide how to
> lead in this situation.  And, yes: be prepared...)
> 
> Grüße, Carsten
> 

Alex