March Coronavirus Open Thread

This thread was created on 3/​8/​2020, or approximately one million years ago in virus time. It’s getting pretty bloated now, and a lot of things that were high value at the time have been eclipsed by events, making karma not a very useful sorting tool. So I’m declaring this thread finished, and asking everyone to move over to the April Coronavirus Open Thread.

Interested in what happened in this thread? Here’s the timeless or not-yet-eclipsed highlights:

  • Scott Alexander comes up with Hammer and Dance 6 days before Tomas Pueyo

  • Spiracular on why SARS-Cov-2 is unlikely to be lab-created.

  • Two documents collating estimates of basic epidemiological parameters, in response to this thread

  • Discussion on whether the tuberculosis vaccine provides protection against COVID-19.

  • Suggestive evidence that COVID-19 removes sense of taste and smell.

  • Could copper tape be net harmful?