News Worldwide impact of the novel coronavirus (covid-19)

[somerandomguy]

Just now, I got an email from my T - a mass email sent to everyone in the practice - saying that if I have any COVID symptoms, or have been exposed to anyone that does, that I should stay home and Skype or Facetime our session.

I don't have any symptoms and have not been exposed to anyone who does, as far as I know. However, we're trying to self-isolate and my T has a family with very small children. I don't know what the right thing to do is. I would prefer to go see T in person, especially because there is zero privacy in my house, but I don't want to accidentally expose her or be accidentally exposed.

 

[scout86]

Yesterday was a pretty normal day. Except that the governor has asked the bars,, restaurants, etc be closed. We've had less than 100 cases in the state, nine near here, but they are site the virus is loose in general population. Once again, I'm kind of impressed with all they've thought of. The waiting week to apply for unemployment benefits had been waved. You can apply for UI if you're sick, or caring for sometime who is, or if you can't find childcare because of this. They said they are site there are things they haven't thought of yet, but this is about adapting and making things work, not bureaucracy. There seemed to be a bit less traffic then usual.

The one cute thing that happened is a client asked what precautions taking because, "you know, you're the 'vulnerable' age group". As of now, the location of the line for that seems to be a moving target. LOL Which side of the line I'm on depends on what jurisdiction you're in. But, I assured her I'm taking precautions. (So, maybe getting that gallon jug of 70% isopropyl alcohol wasn't so nuts?)

 

[scout86]

@somerandomguy , you don't meet any of her criteria, I'd go. There may come a time when that's not an option. She's obviously thinking about things and taking precautions. You can probably trust her judgement.

 

[Justmehere]

The special hours for disabled and elderly don’t make sense to me. Grouping those who are mostly likely to be sick with each other won’t help that group.

What kind of access control are they doing there when it comes to grocery stores?

It varies city to city, and store to store, but all of it is better than what was going on a few days ago. They often requires lines where people stand 6 feet apart, only let a few in and then let more in only as others go out. Other stores allow no entrance but bring groceries to cars. Food banks have been awesome here and require people to stay in cars and they bring the food out. No qualification process. They are giving food to anyone who shows up. In some areas police are even delivering food. The government will do all it can to keep power on, water running, internet going, people in their homes and food available. They are no longer enforcing evictions here. It does take about a week to restock food and America just bought a bunch of it’s food supply up so a lot of people don’t need to buy anything. Food will come back on the shelves. Do not panic about food.

Now is not the time to rush out to a grocery store if your city is about to be locked down. Wait a week. There will still be food. I’m in a hot zone with suspected thousands of cases and we still have food. Maybe I can’t get the specific coffee I wanted, but there is still food.

There was no mass prolonged food shortage from the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918. Frankly, people will likely go back to work and risk the at risk dying of covid long before America starts dying of starvation.

Remember, they expect most to get infected. Even with all the shutdowns. The goal is no longer stopping infection. The goal is slowing it down so that the small percent that get very sick become sick slowly over time, and not all at once, so they can save the most lives and not run short on ventilators.

In fact, in the coming weeks, they may start opening up more just to save whatever we have left of the economy in the US.

More than half of American jobs are at risk because of coronavirus - CNN

This is a “rapidly evolving situation” as they keep saying... and the best thing for immune systems is to take things seriously but don’t rush and panic. Everyone is going to start realizing we need not a short term hurricane-style lock-it-all-down approach but a long haul mitigate-risks-and-get-through-this-year approach.

 

[Teasel]

Just to say, particularly grateful for this site and this thread at the mo. Helping me feel less alone!

 

[Chitoshi]

There's a lot of panic going on in my area. Shelves were cleared. I don't know if I have enough food because of everyone panic-buying in mass hoards. I may have to live off of bread from the all-purpose flour I keep in the pantry. ? In all seriousness, I understand that this is a novel virus, but it's already hard for me to get out and get this stuff, and I'm a young working person. I can't imagine. Yesterday, my therapist told me to start using grounding strategies like holding ice cubes until my panic/rising-anxiety thoughts go away. I've started today by baking bread and doing my requisite 2 hours of "professional development" work that my work says we have to do to prove we aren't taking furlough days instead and that we get paid.

 

[RVA21]

London -

Coronavirus: Pictures show London's empty streets

 

[Muttly]

NPR keeps posting REALLY faulty articles... I seriously expect better quality control from them of all news outlets..

Yeah, that one article you mentioned they fixed the same day

 

[Friday]

till they get covid19 under control or find a vaccine

There are human trials, for a vaccine in Seattle, right now.

Trial of Coronavirus Vaccine Made by Moderna Begins in Seattle

ETA.. I posted that, and my inner cynic went “I wonder how many idiots are going to drive to the virus’s hottest spot in the country, demanding vaccine?” Sometimes my faith in mankind needs more coffee.

 

[Muttly]

@Friday I need more coffee

I have to admit the corona virus has me stressed. No, not panicking. Just stressed. It's the economic impact that has me stressed. I was already on a brief (3 day) quarantine and that pretty much burned through what paid time off I have. So what if I get quarantined for two weeks? What if the hospital closes. I don't believe that will happen, but what if? I can't afford that. And the sell of my house is supposed to finalize today. What if we can't meet in person to sign and it gets delayed. For a variety of reasons including the time off for the quarantine and all my current pet sitting jobs canceling, I'm completely broke. If that's delayed I don't know what I will do.

And then there's all the older and at risk people I know. I do worry for them.

 

[EveHarrington]

Stupid me put off going to the doctor because I had no money. And now I’m like is it a good idea to go? I don’t need med refills, I am stable.....I have bronchitis that won’t go away AND I live with someone who is immunocompromised. The appointment is 2 hours away in a city where cases are on the rise, no doubt MANY times higher than reported as many aren’t eligible to be tested. Arg.

Edit. Psychiatrist doctor.

 

[Justmehere]

Edit. Psychiatrist doctor.

My two cents, take it or leave it:

If you don't need refills and you are stable, and you'll be good for 30 days, then I'd suggest waiting. A lot of sick not yet diagnosed folks are walking around in a panic. If you need to go in, then go, but no matter what, call the doctor first. I can not stress this enough. Where I am, which might be a few days or a few weeks ahead of you, many clinics are shutting down all but essential appointments and the vast majority will ask anyone with a cough or even a sniffle to leave fast. Now. They do not want anyone with anything potentially mildly infectious (bronchitis included) in person in clinics. A psych clinic will be even less able to handle it than even a primary care. Because of this, many are offering telehealth and phone support for routine matters or even things like colds, UTIs, mental health problems, etc. My post surgical orthopedic care is now 100 percent online. That's orthopedic. I had surgery and yet, my surgeon won't see me, or anyone, in person unless it's to save life or limb. All elective health in person health care is canceled. Elective meaning anything but what will keep someone alive and save major body parts. All mental health is now online as well or quickly going online. Primary cares around here are entirely shutting down. They are closing up clinics to any entry, and only doing telehealth. If someone is seriously sick enough to need more than telehealth, well, ER it is. The choice really is becoming... Can it be handled online? then do it that way. If it can not, then is it life threatening? No? Then wait it out. That's how serious they are getting at STAYING HOME if sick with ANYTHING. They do not want people in clinics with anything.

It does mean there is even more cause to head off crisis situations at the pass as much as possible. My mental health care didn't end, it just changed to being online and by phone with my providers. Insurances are now covering this when they wouldn't in the past. It was weird to do it by video, but it worked. It will help me stay stable and safe at home longer. I do encourage engaging that whenever needed and possible for clinics and anyone needing help or maintenance care. Also be very patient and kind if things keep changing a lot, as healthcare providers are starting to get stressed themselves and trying to adjust themselves to a whirlwind of changes.