Several times here, and a few times in personal conversations,

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

I've said that people are not going to take this virus seriously until several celebrities get very sick and or die. Not that I was wishing that on those unnamed celebrities, but the reality is that in this country a very large number of people live their lives vicariously through celebrities. Whether Housewives of Whatever City, Kardashians, mega rock stars, or TV/movie stars, their own lives are less real to them than the aforementioned. If some Housewife, or random Kardashian were to get this and then die, they might finally understand how serious this is.

Well, now that the President of the United States has it, and given his age and things like obesity, he's likely not to do very well. Oh, he may well survive, because he, unlike the rest of us, will have absolutely the best care possible. But I'm betting he's not going to have a mild case and be back at the White House by Wednesday. Nope. He'll be very sick and will be lucky if he's back there by Election Day.

The up side to his getting this is that FINALLY people are going to start to understand that this is a serious disease.

[Rhiannon12866]

1. I heard on a news report today that it was touch and go for Boris Johnson

And he's only in his 50s.

[Cirque du So-What]

3. British healthcare is very good too

as I am given to understand.

[Rhiannon12866]

12. The other fact that's been mentioned about Boris Johnson (and the president of Brazil)

Is that they contracted it months ago - and we've learned so much more about the precautions that we should be taking between then and now. And I also understand that health care in Britain is very good, too - plus they have the National Health as well as private health care provided by employers.

[babylonsister]

5. I think he was put on a ventilator. Yes, he's lucky, as iq45 will be...probably. nt

[nsd]

7. Johnson wasn't put on a ventilator.

However, he was given oxygen and came pretty close (50-50, he later said) of being ventilated. He freely admitted he would have died but for the NHS.

[babylonsister]

11. OK, oxygen.

He needed help to breathe. Tough stuff, but I hear vents are really tough. Thanks!

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

8. Right. For a while there things looked quite dicey

for Boris. And he's nearly 20 years younger.

[Cirque du So-What]

2. If rump is hospitalized for a week

I predict MAGAts will suddenly become the biggest proponents of wearing masks ever seen. Militant about it even.

[TwilightZone]

4. It depends on where they get their news and if they buy the spin.

Fox News, for example, is in full denial mode. All is fine, masks are bad, and hydro is still the miracle drug.

Other right-wing sources are giving air to the ridiculous conspiracy theories about how Democrats and/or China intentionally infected him, etc.

Lots of people are really open to peer pressure, cult-like behavior and media brainwashing. I'm not sure if even Trump dying from the virus would cure them of that. They'll blame everyone but him. If they believe he was killed by China, for example, they might *still* not take it seriously.

[leftieNanner]

6. I have had the same thought

We stay home don't get to see our children for almost a year. We are still healthy.

Herman Cain wasn't enough to get their attention.

[customerserviceguy]

9. Agreed

I've said that until a really famous person dies of this, it won't be taken all that seriously by everyone. Yes, I realize a lot of people who are well known in their fields have died, but we're not talking about anyone who over fifty percent of the American people would have heard of, and know at least one significant fact about.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

10. Yes.

Herman Cain simply isn't well enough known out there for his death to have mattered. Other than to those who cared about him, I'll hasten to add.

[genxlib]

13. Yes

In the same way that Tom hanks and the NBA breakout really galvanized the early days. I have said all along that a famous person dying would be the next tipping point.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

14. Absolutely.

And I bet that at least 80% of people out there don't recall that Hanks and his wife got it early on.