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

[blackemerald1]

Our Government (Aus) has closed all borders to any foreign national now. All citizens are being told to come home as soon as possible, subject themselves to two weeks of isolation.

One State has instigated a ban on travellers, including our own citizens, who do not reside in that State. Anyone who resides there iand who is coming home is of course required to undergo a two week isolation.

The fines and imprisonment for failing to self isolate have been made clear. Honestly, you'd have to be living under a rock to not understand. But I'm sure there will be those in the public who want to try and defy this. See if they can get away with it?

Our Federal Reserve has dropped interest rates, outside of the usual regulatory cycle by 0.25%. Some banks are trying to offer low interest loans to businesses. It is in their best interests to not lose them after all. Fixed home loans rates have been lowered and various other stimulus packages are being worked out.

Our biggest National airline has laid off two thirds of it's employees to try and remain 'the last man standing' when this all finished. The employees are being encouraged to take any leave entitlements and potentially look for other employment. For the first time ever two major corporations are working together to divert unemployed workers from one industry into another. Even if it is just packing shelves it is work.

Amy engineers have been deployed to factories to help a manufacturer ramp up masks and other medical stuff. Factories have also been provided with money to regig into medical equipment and supplies.

Meanwhile, today I've had a bit of a blister weather wise with temps rising, North wind howling and bushfire alerts hitting my phone faster than covid19 alerts.

Hopefully we will get some rain later tonight or maybe - bargaining with you mother nature - just cool the hell down.

I think it would be an amazing time to be a tourist right now - if I could be - and I wasn't subject to worldwide restrictions. :rolleyes: I've been watching all of the most beautiful places in the world empty or almost and thinking my ptsd brain could have fun in that space. Stand in awe and not be jumping out of my skin with the constant movement of people from all directions.

Wouldn't it be great?? Anyone got some pics of spaces that are usually crawling so much with ppl that it is definitely never on the list of places to go?

 

[Sideways]

Anyone got some pics of spaces that are usually crawling so much with ppl that it is definitely never on the list of places to go?

Yeah - they're coming thick and fast from my family touring Tasmania atm. They suck. I wanna be in the middle of cool climate, tourist-free wilderness (stamps feet and storms off!!):rolleyes:

ETA I know a lot of people are breathing a sigh of relief with the medication restrictions that have been announced. One month supply at a time to prevent the stockpiling mess of the supermarkets.

The hot tip for diabetes and asthma meds at the moment is to call ahead. Pharmacists are happy to let you know over the phone if they're out of stock at the moment:)

 

[siniang]

But we're on islands. The only way for the virus to get to our population is from people bringing it in. If we can slow the spread to a trickle of new cases then our hospitals have a chance of coping.

And temporary. It will be okay. Some unexpected steps that become necessary to manage the situation, but they're temporary.

^^^ This? Absolutely ok! I understand people calling for shutting off our islands. Our hospital situation is detrimental at best. Anything we can slow down the spread I’m all on board, even if it means temporary closure of ports.

Calling people nasty names? Not ok, though.

Seeing that sign really send chills down my spine. It did remind me if another time in history were some humans were singled out and were called “non-human” names. I wasn’t the only one with that association, as thankfully was evident from the comments under the post with the photo.

There’s so much hate already, and while I do understand where it’s coming from (fear/panic and absolutely inept governments), I just don’t fare well with hate, period. :bag:

Be the person who shares positivity, compassion and kindness:hug:

I’m trying, I’m really trying. But I have to be honest, it’s becoming quite exhausting.

 

[bellbird]

Australia closed its borders today to all non-citizens or residents.

Ditto, NZ! Announced about 10 minutes after you guys, I believe :tup:

Pretty sure that means we couldn't enter into each other's countries, which to me is the part that's really hitting this home.

For anyone unaware, though we Kiwis and Aussies have quite the intense rivalry, we also really look out for one another when it comes down to it, and we have a trans-Tasman agreement that says that we can settle & work in each other's countries without any Visa requirements.

In a lot of cases, it's actually faster for us to fly to Australia than it is to drive to another part of NZ.

So although I had no travel to Aus planned, the fact that I literally cannot go there right now and for who knows how long is... weird. Very very weird.

 

[siniang]

Anyone got some pics of spaces that are usually crawling so much with ppl that it is definitely never on the list of places to go?

Quite a few US National Parks have “virtual “ tours.

Need to Get Outside? These 5 National Parks Offer Virtual Tours You Can Take From the Comfort of Home

There’s also a bunch of non-NPs - I’ll dig up the links tomorrow.

 

[blackemerald1]

I wanna be in the middle of cool climate, tourist-free wilderness (stamps feet and storms off!!):rolleyes:

^So if you get to go to that place, may I come too? :sneaky:

breathing a sigh of relief with the medication restrictions t

^Me too, though I don't actually need any at the moment except for the antibiotics ugh...

This should quell the absolute idiot who spread the rumour that copious amounts of paracetamol can kill covid19 and that asthma meds were in desperate short supply. Neither true. But why let the facts get in the way of a ridiculous rumour? And shame on those morons who thought for one moment that it might be so and cleared out the shelves.

Paracetamol will assist in keeping a temperature down in some instances. But you gotta know it doesn't cure a damn thing - not even a decent headache?

I’m all on board, even if it means temporary closure of ports.

^So am I, constantly importing new patients with covid19 doesn't seem practical imo. But lets make it clear the ports are open for normal business when it comes to cargo! Well as soon as China sends us back some shipping containers lol

I’m trying, I’m really trying. But I have to be honest, it’s becoming quite exhausting.

^Don't try so hard. Just be yourself - which is a decent human being? That's all we need from anyone. Everyone who isn't better friggin pick up their game!

In a lot of cases, it's actually faster for us to fly to Australia than it is to drive to another part of NZ.

Oh same here. I think I could come stay with you with one train, bus & plane or at least to NZ. Going anywhere here at home would take a lot more than that and a lot longer. :) Big country? :)

 

[Sideways]

@siniang - I totally get it. I routinely have moments where I despair at humanity. Can't let those moments win.

But lets make it clear the ports are open for normal business when it comes to cargo! Well as soon as China sends us back some shipping containers lol

I was stitching the stomach back on to doggo's fave teddy today (which has been repaired a few times) and clocked the manufacturer's tag:
Made In China
I literally wondered, for just a moment, whether I should break self isolation and rush down to the pet store and stock up on new toys!

That would be such a Sideways move: while the rest of the world is stockpiling useful stuff like rice and handsoap, I go to the pet store and buy one of every toy they have?

 

[Ronin]

@Sideways but the image of you running to pet shop is, as an image, hilarious and comforting...

As you taking care of Doggo means so much self care & Ahead and those two are amazing. :tup:

@siniang Hate doesn't win even in the worst atrocities known to mankind... there's always people who put a stop to that shit & those that help them & those that help those that need it most.

It's always worth taking super seriously and shutting down soonest...

But not to drown in despair for.

And? Your safety matters.
Don't direct engage haters just for the principle.
They don't rate that attention *and*?
You taking a stand in your heart and reporting the hell out of that crap *is* doing everything.

Secure & Safe & Well to another day = Everyday Hero & Doing Enough.

 

[osiris]

Anyone wanna escape to Borobudur or Siem Reap with me then?
Amazing sunrises and sunsets and no people. Living the dream.

 

[Justmehere]

Two weeks after the first case, days after confirmed community spread and hospital supply shortages are happening. ICUs are full. The next decisions health care providers will be forced to make are terrible. They still don’t even have enough tests to even confirm if everyone in ICU has it or not, and nurses are threatening to strike if more equipment doesn’t come... from where?

I read an article about of 3 generations in a family being killed by the virus after a family dinner 2 weeks ago. A family dinner. The numbers of deaths are one thing but the stories - I must avoid the news stories about stories like this so I can stay sane through this and help anyone.

Come on US, get on top of the testing! Let’s do what South Korea has done to control this.

This will not be the first or last night my heart breaks over what is ahead.

In funnier news, this clip from The Late Show with Steven Colbert is hilarious. The first part of it demonstrates how all our emotions could go racing down the track... it helped me laugh through the pain.

It’s been pretty interesting and sweet to watch all the daytime tv and late night hosts broadcast from home, without staff physically present. Some like Jimmy Fallon, have used family members to hold the camera while their little kids run around. Ellen Degeneres has been doing some funny stuff from home too. Most are free of robust make up and spit and polish. It is something to watch these highly produced shows become much more raw and real as the world tries to adapt, adjust, and cope.

 

[Mach123]

I’ve been thinking about trying to reframe this experience not as a end or loss, even though that is a huge part of all of this, but as the whole world taking a pause, a big breath, to protect healthcare systems and the most vulnerable (and even the strongest) in societies that will get very sick. A big collective action. Minus the percentage of fools and idiots out there.

I’ve been surprised in the US this hasn’t been called the “war on Covid 19” because we have had the war on poverty, drugs, etc, etc...and good many actual wars... but that language has shifted over the past few years anyhow. Yet all the same, this feels different.

There is a type of wartime solidarity we need. Only the enemy isn’t each other or another nation but this damn virus.

There isn’t yet the unity in the US, the culture banding together, that it seems to be starting to happen in other nations, but we are not as far along yet in this disaster as Italy and others. I hope that people will get through this initial shock and adjustment and band together more and more to pull each other through this.

I have had a few experiences connecting online in groups and been struck with how much people without PTSD are really struggling. Moments of tears, stress, leaking through. There are lots of financial and practical worries, but the biggest source of mental health struggles is, “I need people. This is hard. I don’t know how I will get through weeks or months of this.”

This will change society as we know it. On the other side, I hope that connection and hugs and eye contact and all those things... and watching out for the vulnerable... might become more popular things to do. Of course, society could break down more and life much worse. Equally possible. :( But I try to not think of that because well, hasn’t happened yet, and nothing I can do about it.

But I miss hugs. I struggle with hugs. But being forced by a damn virus without hugs or handshakes or even sitting in a coffee shop on a sunny day with passerbys to decompress... yep, this is hard. Super hard.

It’s also quite the human experiment. Sometimes feels like something out of the Twilight Zone or Black Mirror. So surreal.

How you feel about it is what it is. I've always known this but I couldn't do it. It's easier because I don't have anyone I have to deal with but family. They're bad enough but it's still easier. People always said "you are as happy as you make your mind up to be". Lincoln said it I think. Anyway, someone snapped at me a little for being positive yesterday.

My wife has always done that but thirty years later I know was right. The things that happened happened and being miserable didn't change anything.

So my goal is to help somehow if I can and don't be scared and miserable because you pass that around too. It's infectious. We don't need misery. Please if you have to be miserable, don't infect anyone else.

The news feeds which I scan were showing gun stores and ammo yesterday. I want to get my guns out and make sure they are ready and go blow 100 bucks on shells but. If I do that, I feel like I've given into the hysteria.

IDK what I'll do. Probably take stock and see what I have.

 

[somerandomguy]

I’ve been surprised in the US this hasn’t been called the “war on Covid 19” because we have had the war on poverty, drugs, etc, etc.

You must have missed our Dear Leader's speech yesterday where he called our country's efforts to fight the virus exactly that and then described himself as a "wartime president."

Not to politicize this thread but it made both my wife and I laugh bitterly. Our last self-described "wartime president" was GW Bush, and that went extremely well.