Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #42

[Cool Cats]

I have been following COVID-19 since thread #1, as have other WS members. I remember people early on pooh-poohing our fears that CV would be a problem in the US.

Unfortunately my elderly dad was treating it like just a flu virus that would soon blow over. He said he's seen this kind of thing before and did not get that this is different. He does now.

Before he "got it" he told me he was going out on March 17 to celebrate St. Patrick's Day with a group of friends at a favorite bar restaurant.

I visit him every week and my son told me not to visit him if he goes out. It was a stressful dilemma.

Then I got lucky. On the morning of the 17th the Governor shut down all in-dining inside restaurants and he could not go!

Lots of people follow the government blindly. They think If the government says it's ok to go to restaurants then we can go and we won't get the virus and then give it to our families. We
will be safe.

This is one reason why it is necessary for Governors to intervene. The Florida Governor waited too long in my opinion.

 

[Gardenista]

Caution: cynical POV ... I think that the stimulus checks to lower income people were included in the huge stimulus bill to offset, in the minds of the public, the really gross amount of what, 500 billion destined for large corporations including per the president, making cruise ship companies "vibrant" because "it isn't their fault."

Could be. They definitely bailed out the big corps in 2009.

 

[CSIDreamer]

Yes and NY should have shut down their state way before they did. It’s easy to criticize from the comfort of 20/20 hindsight. It does no good. IMO

This 100%.

 

[tresir2012]

I don't see how cruise ships can refuse to give money back because, at least from the USA, all cruise ships have cancelled their cruises and don't know when they can even reschedule.

I doubt there is any legal way they can keep people's money. If they do, they will "sink" their reputations and be accused of greed and taking advantage of the pandemic. This is what happened to the Atlantis cruise ship when they refused to cancel and give refunds.

Under pressure they cancelled but still haven't given refunds. They might try to force people to go on later cruises but even this could cause outrage and ruin their reputation. We will see.

Wrote the company: “All cruises have been cancelled through April 13 and thus our sailing on Celebrity Summit will not sail as planned March 21-28,2020. We will contact all booked guests by email with next steps regarding this cruise by Monday, March 16. Please do not contact our office until that time as we have no further information.”

Atlantis Events Cancels March 21 Gay Caribbean Cruise, Postpones Others Amid Coronavirus Crisis - Towleroad Gay News

Despite coronavirus fears, it’s business as usual for gay cruise

This is what airlines are doing. Leaving people stranded overseas and offering vouchers but no flights as countries have closed air space. I bet the airlines have hung on to millions that way.

There's loads of examples but this is one couple stuck on the Zaandam. There are loads of stories about couples stuck in Argentina too waiting for flights. More couples in this article too.

Argentina | The Irish Times

Here's another recent article :-

Coronavirus: UK passengers stranded abroad – Which? News

 

[NuttMegg]

Could be. They definitely bailed out the big corps in 2009.

This is why they can even get away with saying that some of the individual stimulus checks will take 20 weeks to send out.

Does anyone think the big corps will wait 20 weeks to get their handouts?

 

[The Night Watchman]

Will anything good come out of this horror? We know most of the bad things.

1) Americans know 1000x more about a pandemic than they did before.
2) Governments relearned the hard way what is needed to combat a pandemic. It won't be ignored going forward, and they will be held accountable.
3) Americans (including me) have learned the importance of flu shots (it's not about you, dummy).
4) People are stepping up and helping neighbors.
5) Pollution is reduced, creating a possible vision of what could be.
6) Possible momentum for universal health care.
7) Time spent with family.
8) New recipes.
9) Self-evaluation of health status (what lifestyle changes are needed).

What else?

 

[margarita25]

I’m all caught up again, after my no-good horrid bad day yesterday.
Good morning everyone from a sunny-bright and cold morning in London.
First of all, holding good thoughts for @Snoods and your little princess at the vet today. I hope all goes well.
I just had a text from our vet’s clinic, to say they are now offering video and phone consults. This seems such a great idea and a godsend for those animals (and owners) who are incredibly stressed by any change to routine.
Meanwhile, today I am grateful for the marvel that is my coffee machine. Perfect coffee at the touch of a button. Anyone like a mug?

Hi

This reminds me, I’ve got a pet nail trim issue. Usually the little guy has to go to the vet for nail trimming and they have to take him in the back and put the muzzle on to trim his nails....I guess I’ll have to put on my Cesar hat and start training him with treats and stuff so I can trim his nails myself. He’s special needs from a shelter, I don’t know if it will go over well but all I can do is try to make it an exciting event (like the bath dance- “Wooohoo yay bath!! Doggie massage!! Good boy!”)

I also really don’t feel comfortable about trimming doggie nails. Makes me nervous. I guess if we’re going to get this ball rolling I can’t be nervous or it’ll just make him nervous. He is chewing his nails now as they’ve gotten long. Not sure if anyone here has come across this issue yet.

 

[Trino]

Yes. But sooner than than the checks in 2008. And a big issue was it was in the form of less tax withholding, for most, rather than checks.

But the 2008 stimulus didn’t have much of an effect either. Stimulus Checks: 2020 Compared to 2009 and 2008

This virus is not going away in the next few months. It may lessen and stats may flatten, but it will still affect the economy. This stimulus is temporary. It may help with a month's rent or food but not long term. Recession or even depression on the horizon.
Why the Global Recession Could Last a Long Time

 

[CSIDreamer]

Will anything good come out of this horror? We know most of the bad things.

1) Americans know 1000x more about a pandemic than they did before.
2) Governments relearned the hard way what is needed to combat a pandemic. It won't be ignored going forward, and they will be held accountable.
3) Americans (including me) have learned the importance of flu shots (it's not about you, dummy).
4) People are stepping up and helping neighbors.
5) Pollution is reduced, creating a possible vision of what could be.
6) Possible momentum for universal health care.
7) Time spent with family.
8) New recipes.
9) Self-evaluation of health status (what lifestyle changes are needed).

What else?

We can self isolate and social distance like pros if we need to again. Well, most of us.

My husband and I are planning on getting an upright freezer and doing some prep on the other side of this.

Jmo

 

[jjenny]

Hi

This reminds me, I’ve got a pet nail trim issue. Usually the little guy has to go to the vet for nail trimming and they have to take him in the back and put the muzzle on to trim his nails....I guess I’ll have to put on my string Cesar hat and start training him with treats and stuff so I can trim them myself. He’s special needs from a shelter, I don’t know if it will go over well but all I can do is try, and make it an exciting event to let me hold his paws. I also really don’t feel comfortable doing it. Makes me nervous. I guess if we’re going to get this ball rolling I can’t be nervous or it’ll just make him nervous. He is chewing his nails now as they’ve gotten long. Not sure if anyone here has come across this issue yet.

A lot of vets now doing curbside checking. You bring your pet, call them, somebody comes out, takes your pet, does whatever needs to be done, and brings it back.

 

[astheworldfallsdown]

Home baker creates ‘toilet paper’ cake during coronavirus lockdown

A HOME BAKER has gone viral for creating a toilet paper-themed cake.

Kate Pritchett, a public servant from Sydney, Australia, created the cake as she has had toilet paper “on the mind a lot lately” amid the coronavirus outbreak.

“I’d just been thinking a lot about how we’ve come to fetishise toilet paper and have made it distressingly out of reach for many vulnerable people who can’t stockpile,” she told the PA news agency.

Ms Pritchett told PA: “I’m really not making light of a situation so many people find difficult, but I do truly love how delighted people seem to be about cake.”

 

[SkylarSid]

Nice. What kind?

I have never seen one like this. The material is kind of like a really thin memory foam. It has the valve on it that the N95 do, but it did not say N95. I tried it on (the bands which aren't show just slip around your ear) and it has a a strange chemical smell so I will wash them before I use them.

 

[zecats]

Will anything good come out of this horror? We know most of the bad things.

1) Americans know 1000x more about a pandemic than they did before.
2) Governments relearned the hard way what is needed to combat a pandemic. It won't be ignored going forward, and they will be held accountable.
3) Americans (including me) have learned the importance of flu shots (it's not about you, dummy).
4) People are stepping up and helping neighbors.
5) Pollution is reduced, creating a possible vision of what could be.
6) Possible momentum for universal health care.
7) Time spent with family.
8) New recipes.
9) Self-evaluation of health status (what lifestyle changes are needed).

What else?

All great points. And positives.

*Also, dolphins and fish are swimming in waters around Venice
*Tele-education and Tele-medicine are providing successful options
*Many big corporations and CEO's are stepping up to help with
buying or delivering supplies, paying employees salaries, contributing
to charities.
*Pet shelters are seeing recored adoption and fostering of their
homeless animals.
*There is a renewed belief in science again.

 

[Trudie]

Will anything good come out of this horror? We know most of the bad things.

1) Americans know 1000x more about a pandemic than they did before.
2) Governments relearned the hard way what is needed to combat a pandemic. It won't be ignored going forward, and they will be held accountable.
3) Americans (including me) have learned the importance of flu shots (it's not about you, dummy).
4) People are stepping up and helping neighbors.
5) Pollution is reduced, creating a possible vision of what could be.
6) Possible momentum for universal health care.
7) Time spent with family.
8) New recipes.
9) Self-evaluation of health status (what lifestyle changes are needed).

What else?

10) the world at large now know to wash hands

 

[Simply Southern]

Well, for those of us following this thread since mid-January, no. Everything we needed to know was known by then. Government officials, including health departments, have a duty to know more about public safety and health than websleuthers, IMO.

The alarm was sounded a long time ago. The main whistle blower worked super hard starting in December trying to warn the world. But few listened. And not just us. Same with Italy. The UK. Spain. Iran.

I think the only ones who did very well are Singapore and South Korea.

As to being spoon fed disaster news, an easy fix is avoiding news. That’s what I’ve been trying to do.

However, apparently this disaster news is still necessary for many to hear. Because I think the problem is that people can’t be trusted to follow the rules. And if things are minimized by government, they don’t understand why those rules are so crucial.

For example, I saw about 15 people playing soccer at a school near my house a couple days ago. When I ride my bike I see far too many neighbors standing within four feet or so of one another. I saw a group of about 7 ladies going on a walk together. Looked like a walking group.

My ex is working at a library and sees fellow employees wearing gloves but standing right next to each other, using a shared computer and then constantly touching their faces with those gloves hands. Which defeats the purpose of the gloves.

There’s too much of that continuing to go on and too much of that which we should’ve prevented with education and sounding the alarm a lot sooner.

I was shocked by mid-February to see that no one in court seemed to be taking this seriously. Everyone packed together in line to check in to the departments. People coughing without covering. Not hard but still. No hand sanitizer in site. The clerk taking papers from everyone without wearing gloves.

Meanwhile I was taking the stairs, making sure my clients weren’t sick and waiting until everyone had checked in before going into the department. All because of wensleuths. Because I had been reading here and people like @Henry2326 educated me by spoon feeding me disaster news.

Because I was not understanding this at first.

I'm now a FIRM social shelter in place, is the key to flattening the curve, advocate. I know now why Dr. Facui say it 100s of times per interview.

Our Virginia Governor issued an EO stay home on March 30th and closed "some" non essential businesses.

I was thrilled and couldn't wait for the Washington State forecast model to update.
IHME | COVID-19 Projections

Well, the curve was almost as wide as the day before. It extended from April until mid July, some but little change. I looked at MD, DC, and NC all surrounding states and they shows a 30 to 45 day shorter window.

I immediately sent an email, asking Virginia model be updated to reflect the closing of non essential businesses. The response- Virginia didn't close ALL retail business which is heavily weighted factor for "essential businesses" in the model.

The Virginia model is terrible, we are looking at months of this outbreak. By not closing retail businesses, its costing all Virginians 45 to 60 more days of risk, hardship and high death rate per capita.

Virginia's governor is a pediatrician. Why would he not give us the best chance possible?

Moo....

 

[SA55]

Gov. Lee to order Tennesseans to stay home unless carrying out ‘essential activities’

FINALLY! I'm certain my email to Lee this morning is what convinced him.

 

[Deleted member 158085]

If the virus only lasts 3 days on a surface, isn’t just hanging it up enough?

My only concern is that bit of news that the virus survived on the Princess after 17 days. That makes me nervous.

 

[Trudie]

Can your vet tech stop by & do a dog-cure in the yard? Mine does. Of course I pay her, so she gets two hours pay and a cold beer or two for five minutes work.

Hi

This reminds me, I’ve got a pet nail trim issue. Usually the little guy has to go to the vet for nail trimming and they have to take him in the back and put the muzzle on to trim his nails....I guess I’ll have to put on my Cesar hat and start training him with treats and stuff so I can trim his nails myself. He’s special needs from a shelter, I don’t know if it will go over well but all I can do is try to make it an exciting event (like the bath dance- “Wooohoo yay bath!! Doggie massage!! Good boy!”)

I also really don’t feel comfortable about trimming doggie nails. Makes me nervous. I guess if we’re going to get this ball rolling I can’t be nervous or it’ll just make him nervous. He is chewing his nails now as they’ve gotten long. Not sure if anyone here has come across this issue yet.

 

[zecats]

Hi

This reminds me, I’ve got a pet nail trim issue. Usually the little guy has to go to the vet for nail trimming and they have to take him in the back and put the muzzle on to trim his nails....I guess I’ll have to put on my Cesar hat and start training him with treats and stuff so I can trim his nails myself. He’s special needs from a shelter, I don’t know if it will go over well but all I can do is try to make it an exciting event (like the bath dance- “Wooohoo yay bath!! Doggie massage!! Good boy!”)

I also really don’t feel comfortable about trimming doggie nails. Makes me nervous. I guess if we’re going to get this ball rolling I can’t be nervous or it’ll just make him nervous. He is chewing his nails now as they’ve gotten long. Not sure if anyone here has come across this issue yet.

Vets are still open. I had to get meds for my kitty last week and they brought it out to the car for me. They were also transporting pets back and forth to the owners who were waiting in cars. Could be an option for you to still take pup for his pedi.

 

[10ofRods]

I thoroughly enjoy conversing with you on topics. I totally get what you're saying. I have all the respect and admiration in the world for our first responders. I'm really frustrated by their lack of PPE as well.

What's bothering me is this surreal "Lord of the Flies" vibe I'm getting.

My mother is almost 94 and has told me, "if I get this don't you EVEN do that to me." And instructed me to tell the funeral home to just bury her by my dad and skip the "hoopla". My family is probably a bit different lol.

I dunno. Those of us left when this is over have to live with each other. I'd love to think we will emerge a bit kinder, but I'm a dreamer. Jmo

I enjoy conversing with you too! I know exactly what you mean about the Lord of the Flies mentality. And, I'll say something a bit controversial.

A lot of young people just don't give a flying foo-ff. When my classes learned that it was unlikely to kill them, they were all happy. They sobered a little when I reminded them they had parents and grandparents, but then a bunch of them insisted they "never see their grandparents" (this, in a class, where the most common excuse or missing a test is "I had to go help out my grandma.") I already know that many of them live in households with grandparents.

I do think the Spring Break Kids do NOT care at all about who they transmit to (they think it's funny because they won't get it - and they'll "get more jobs" when the rest of us die). In California, where they all were sent home to live with their parents, boy are they bummed out. A new reality sets in (and while almost none went to Florida - they went to San Diego and Cabo). I would love to know how many of their parents and grandparents got or will get CV from them.

So yeah - the callousness that's apparent all around us is eye-opening. It's way more in the US IMO than in France where I used to spend quite a bit of time each year and still have friends.

One of my students said, "Well, when you're 60, you don't have that much time anyway and your life is pretty much over." To which I responded, "I'm 65." And just let it sink in. I got a lot of after class apologies (because the whole class seemed to agree with that one student). "We didn't know you were THAT old." How cute, right?

Most of their professors are 50 and over. Naturally the 30-something profs are popular, but no where near ready to teach the advanced topics that we oldsters are teaching. Most of our health related profs are over 50. Almost no young nurse or doctor or physiologist or EMT is going to teach for the peanuts they pay us.