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

[jaccat]

It’s almost as if people don’t realise that supermarkets are places of mass gatherings. It’s one that’s been bothering me because I work in one. I thought, erroneously, that the panic buying would die out after a few days and then the shops would go really quiet, because it seemed obvious to me that people wouldn’t want to be stuck in a queue with who knows who standing behind you. A friend in London has just posted a photo on Facebook of a supermarket queue she’s in that’s so long she can’t see the front of it.

I don’t know the state of my workplace. I’ve had the weekend off, but I’m guessing when I go back tomorrow it’ll still be crazy.

Another friend up country, who’s self-isolating because she’s elderly, placed an online food order last night and was told it’ll be a week before delivery. She reckons there won’t be much left to have in a week!

 

[blackemerald1]

The adage "never let a crisis go to waste"

and the tyrant's plea of "necessity"

^Really? You think somebody somewhere is stacking up a political advantage out of this? I'd ask who, where and why BUT - honestly - don't waste your time.

Not everything is a political conspiracy. Not everyone in power or holding authority is a conspirator.

This is a health crisis in reality and yeah we do rely on our politicians AND other authorities to help us out right now.

 

[scout86]

@Neverthesame , I pretty much ONLY get groceries at those small stories. Maybe that's why I haven't seen any of the craziness?

I told my T yesterday that I've been surprised to learn there's a name for my life style. ("Social distancing") Also that I'm not real happy that the media is telling people when the least crowded times for shopping are, because that means I probably need to figure out a different schedule. Mentioned that when I was in the local grocery the day, it was kind of the usual crowd (of people avoiding crowds). He laughed and said, "Yeah, and I'll bet I could tell you a bunch of their names." (Because he knows where I live and this area kind of attracts people who are in to "social distancing". LOL)

 

[lostforgottensoul]

I've been noticing something interesting here. As I think @Sideways (and probably a few other people) mentioned, I have been going into small grocers (mom & pop shops) and even the smaller chains (Safeway & Co-op) haven't been nearly as crazy as Wal-mart, Costco and Loblaws.

I think that's why I was able to find food at Walgreens. No one thinks to grocery shop there but me.

I told my T yesterday that I've been surprised to learn there's a name for my life style. ("Social distancing")

That's me too!

 

[Justmehere]

Can you get tested for Covid-19 to ensure you are in the clear? Of that anyway?

No, and I wouldn’t want to even if I could (I know not everyone would agree.) We don’t have any tests here. I would have to travel far and even then most are turned away. It wouldn’t change anything either way. I shouldn’t be in public no matter what I have. There are a ton of people in my area with respiratory bugs, of various types, vast majority not covid related, lots with flu. A positive result is a tool to simply scare people into staying home, which anyone should do if sick with anything anyhow. I don’t need that fear. There is no need for me to get tested. I’m self-isolated, safe, have all I need. My doctors would simply engage the same symptom managment they are doing now, and a positive test result would change nothing for me or anyone else around me. Frankly, they have said if I had it I’m long past contagious, and it would only stress others out and make them more panicky and stupid. I don’t know how accurate it is - but people sure are being panicky about things and doing things that make it worse, but better.

The virus has been in the US for some time. John Hopkins medical school (which has been more right in their predictions then the CDC so far) estimates many have it already, most untested because they simply are not that sick and tests not easy to obtain. 'Don't believe the numbers you see': Johns Hopkins professor says up to 500,000 Americans have coronavirus

My state almost abandoned increasing testing efforts to focus on symptom managment and getting everyone to distance themselves so they don’t give it OR catch it... until they realized positive test results might be the kick in the pants many need to stay home. Remember, there is confirmed asymptomatic spread. Everyone needs to be a bit on guard with everyone else even if they have no symptoms or positive test results.

Let’s say I have “ordinary” pneumonia or flu or strep or one of the other ordinary coronavirus bugs running around or who knows what. I should still stay home because all of that is not something anyone needs to get right now because any of that too can become serious and become another need on a healthcare system that is starting to get exhausted.

That’s why doctors are saying over and over, if anyone is sick, stay home. Stay home. Stay home. Don’t try to wander into clinics exposing everyone just to get a test that says hey you are indeed sick and should stay home. Manage symptoms at home unless you stop being able to breathe ok enough. Then call the clinic or ER and get instructions how to get help. It’s also why so many places are shutting down, regardless if people are sick or not. It’s all about flattening the curve. What is ‘flattening the curve,’ and how does it relate to the coronavirus pandemic?

The positive test results will rise as testing spreads. Some of it will be that we are catching more of those already sick and wandering around and hopefully they will start staying home. Some of the increase will be the spike in cases and hospitals will start to get full. The best thing anyone sick with any infectious virus (cold, flu, covid, etc) can do is stay home, call a doc, isolate per the doctor’s recommendations, and let the most sick take up those limited medical tests, beds, and resources.

Plus, the most likely place to catch covid outside of crowed public spaces/transit? Probably a covid testing center or hospital. Yuck. I’m staying away unless I need to go to keep me alive and breathing!

 

[lostforgottensoul]

No, and I wouldn’t want to even if I could (I know not everyone would agree.) We don’t have any tests here. I would have to travel far and even then most are turned away. It wouldn’t change anything either way. I shouldn’t be in public no matter what I have. There are a ton of people in my area with respiratory bugs, of various types, vast majority not covid related, lots with flu. A positive result is a tool to simply scare people into staying home, which anyone should do if sick with anything anyhow. I don’t need that fear. There is no need for me to get tested. I’m self-isolated, safe, have all I need. My doctors would simply engage the same symptom managment they are doing now, and a positive test result would change nothing for me or anyone else around me. Frankly, they have said if I had it I’m long past contagious, and it would only stress others out and make them more panicky and stupid. I don’t know how accurate it is - but people sure are being panicky about things and doing things that make it worse, but better.

The virus has been in the US for some time. John Hopkins medical school (which has been more right in their predictions then the CDC so far) estimates many have it already, most untested because they simply are not that sick and tests not easy to obtain. 'Don't believe the numbers you see': Johns Hopkins professor says up to 500,000 Americans have coronavirus

My state almost abandoned increasing testing efforts to focus on symptom managment and getting everyone to distance themselves so they don’t give it OR catch it... until they realized positive test results might be the kick in the pants many need to stay home. Remember, there is confirmed asymptomatic spread. Everyone needs to be a bit guard with everyone else even if they have no symptoms or positive test results.

Let’s say I have “ordinary” pneumonia or flu or strep or one of the other ordinary coronavirus bugs running around or who knows what. I should still stay home because all of that is not something anyone needs to get right now because any of that too can become serious and become another need on a healthcare system that is starting to get exhausted.

That’s why doctors are saying over and over, if anyone is sick, stay home. Don’t try to wander into clinics exposing everyone just to get a test that says hey you are indeed sick and should stay home. Manage symptoms at home unless you stop being able to breathe ok enough. Then call the clinic or ER and get instructions how to get help. It’s also why so many places are shutting down, regardless if people are sick or not. It’s all about flattening the curve. What is ‘flattening the curve,’ and how does it relate to the coronavirus pandemic?

The positive test results will rise as testing spreads. Some of it will be that we are catching more of those already sick and wandering around and hopefully they will start staying home. Some of the increase will be the spike in cases and hospitals will start to get full. The best thing anyone sick with any infectious virus (cold, flu, covid, etc) can do is stay home, call a doc, isolate per the doctor’s recommendations, and let the most sick take up those limited medical tests, beds, and resources.

Plus, the most likely place to catch covid outside of crowed public spaces/transit? Probably a covid testing center or hospital. I’m staying away unless I need to go to keep me alive and breathing.

All very good points. I forget that the tests are limited.

I hope you feel better soon!

ETA: One of the hand sanitizer wipes container at work is empty. Never seen it empty before. We have more all around the floor though.

 

[Anarchy]

@blackemerald1
A little less of the straw man fallacies please

 

[Neverthesame]

You think somebody somewhere is stacking up a political advantage out of this? I'd ask who, where

I'll keep it super brief, unless someone else wants to start a separate political Covid-19 thread as Friday suggested.
Look up the part about abortion in the US Coronavirus Aid Bill. You can't miss it.

 

[DharmaGirl]

Yes, isn't that horrible, @Neverthesame? Can't anyone in the US respond to the crisis without trying to benefit from it?

 

[Mach123]

The churches are closed. My wife went to BJ's and the shelves were quite empty to the point it scared my daughter. I was glad i didn't go. We got some of the essentials, not all. We won't have enough for long but I doubt anyone will. I'm willing to wait and see.

 

[DharmaGirl]

As someone here said before, shop the smaller stores. I'm sure there are a lot of things left in places you wouldn't normally shop. I'm making my own bread now, tough as it is. I have to toast it, lol, but I also have store bread in the freezer. I wish we could have a way to help each other. I'm embarrassed by my "riches" right now. I'm passing out seedlings to anyone who wants them here. It may not mean anything but it may bring hope.

I truly believe that most of us here in Washington have been exposed, and it spread before we got on the bandwagon with trying to stop it. There will be many people who still will go on going out and spreading the joy, because they don't know they are carrying it.

 

[scout86]

Is it ok to start a political Corvid 19 thread? (Because some of us might enjoy it and everyone else could avoid it.)

So, our governor "called off school" today. Except that that's not exactly what he did,. All the districts in the state have a few days to create and implement a distance learning plan. This is probably easier here than in some places because we're used to dealing with blizzards. He's still concerned about the kids of people who really can't take off work. Districts are to come up with a plan for them too. Also, they are to continue paying their hourly employees (janitors, cooks, aides of various types). He suggested they use these people to help implement the distance learning (bus drivers dropping off the day's lesson?). Kids are NOT supposed to be just wandering around. Granted, a few people won't cooperate but, as long as most do, it should help.

He could teach "How to give a press conference". He was calm, rational, and kept talking about science like it's a real thing. He stressed that this situation is fluid and people should be flexible and creative. Mr. Rogers was quoted. He said "we're all in this together and we should do what we do best, look out for each other". He mentioned that there will be gaps that need to be filled and maybe we should think of that as "volunteer opportunities". He cautioned against taking ALL the TP. (Really, he did.) All in all, kind of a "keep calm and carry on" sort of thing. I'm impressed. (And would vote for him for president in a heart beat.)

I'm rethinking my work situation a little. I've got a few appointments scheduled for next week and the week after. Tomorrow is a full day, then just one pony on Thur. A few things scheduled for the week after next and the 1st week in Apr. I think I'm going to plan to keep those appointments, unless something changes. But, anyone else I'm going to suggest we wait a week or two and see how things shake out. I travel over a largish area (60 miles from home in any direction). I have to get gas etc, so I'm going to be going places with a lot of random traffic. The big thing is, as best they know now, this virus can be transmitted by people BEFORE they're symptomatic. I sure wouldn't want to contribute to spreading it around!

One other thing the governor mentioned. That this is going to go on for longer than a week or two. I've been thinking that. The 1918 flu went through several waves. So, it's probably not be reasonable to expect it to end by the end of the month. BUT, keep in mind, part of the job of a government in a situation like this is to make it possible for people to resupply with food etc. Think ahead, pay attention, but don't panic until it's clear that no one who could, is doing anything constructive. So, far, NO WHERE has forbidden people to go get groceries and, as far as I know NO WHERE is failing to get more essentials to the stores.