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Community Forums => General Chat => Topic started by: Khushrenada on March 12, 2020, 10:27:57 AM

Title: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Khushrenada on March 12, 2020, 10:27:57 AM
Seems like this is the dominating topic of conversation on everything right now so might as well have a spot for it on the forums. Let's see if we can actually this thing contained in this thread or if the conversation will spread elsewhere on the forums....
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Khushrenada on March 12, 2020, 10:30:36 AM
Oh no! This thread is too late. (http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/forums/index.php?topic=64838.0) It's already all over (http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/forums/index.php?topic=64849.0) the forums....
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Stratos on March 12, 2020, 01:19:13 PM
I'm switching from Corona to Modelo in support of all those impacted by Corona virus...and not been into work for the past two weeks -working from home is always awesome. I am in the Seattle area and someone in my building was confirmed infected though I had no contact with them (different company that shared our building). Things are a ghost town and we are running low on toilet paper because everyone panic-bought all the toilet hygiene supplies.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on March 12, 2020, 01:47:50 PM
I went to Target last night for toilet paper and hands towels after hearing about hoarders buying out all the supply.

TP aisle was empty, have sanitizer empty.

I have a friend that works there and she told me to come back just before close because they were getting a shipment in.
I ended up having TP and Hand towels of the palettes.

There was a family right behind me pushing 3 carts, stocking water bottles, so much TP, and other bunker stocking items.

I think some people are really over reacting.
I also think they should invest in a bidet or two for the house if they need that much toilet paper.... Maybe just take more showers. Lol
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: ShyGuy on March 12, 2020, 02:01:14 PM
Why are people getting water bottles? If the Joker gonna poison the water supply, you buy big hugs to fill up at home.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Ian Sane on March 12, 2020, 02:10:48 PM
I fortunately bought toilet paper right before the world went nuts.  Wasn't trying to stockpile or anything, just was low on toilet paper so I bought the same sized pack I usually buy when I was grocery shopping.  Now you can't find any.

NBA has suspended it's season.  MLB and NHL just said they're going to suspend their's.  The NFL hasn't said they would but considering their season doesn't start until September that it is rather silly that anyone is even asking them this far off.

Am I allowed to take this seriously and also think it's being overblown?  This isn't the Spanish flu.  We didn't act like civilization as we knew was over with SARS and that so far was deadlier.  I think we should take proper precautions and banning large gatherings temporarily to prevent the spread is a good idea.  Hoarding supplies is insane.  Talking about events that are months and months away as if society could just shut itself down for a year is insane.

I don't have a bomb shelter fulled of canned food.  At some point in the next few days I have to leave my house if I want to eat.  That's reality.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Mop it up on March 12, 2020, 05:54:08 PM
I guess it's fortuitous that I happened to buy some rutt wipe last time I was at the store. I got the largest package they had, simply because it worked out to being the cheapest per unit.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BeautifulShy on March 13, 2020, 01:30:12 AM
I had a friend purchase a good portion of food because their food stamps came in on the 10th and it was like late night. So I should be good for the possible 14 days if I am having any symptoms or anyone else.  I worry about my mom as she is over 65 and she tends to live in the living room and I am back in my own room so I could stay in my room for a time except for food and taking care of hygiene.   I think on the 9th I went to Walgreens to get some meds and then go to the doctors to have it injected into me. HRT for those curious.

 I took the bus to and from my docs to home and walked a block and a half from the closest bus stop to the house. I know what kind of effects I feel after the injections but on the 10th or so I was sneezing a lot and coughing a lot but no fever. No achy joints so I knew it couldn't be the flu or COVID-19 because with the regular flu there is achy joints, coughing and sneezing. COVID-19  is dry cough and a fever. I had no fever so it is probably just allergies since I had watery eyes and my stomach was all twisted. However for everyone's sake I am going to try and be mindful of others and myself so we don't possibly get each other sick. 

I guess this is good as time to work on my backlog of games, work on what clothes I want to donate and other life goals.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Plugabugz on March 13, 2020, 06:50:14 AM
It's the same here too, but now there's signage up limiting everyone to 1 per person.

Antibacterial wipes have all disappeared too which is concerning because i have to work with people's grubby laptops. Still lots of bleach though...
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Ian Sane on March 13, 2020, 12:10:38 PM
So here in Canada the Prime Minister's wife has been diagnosed with the virus.

My brother had a co-worker blow off feeling under the weather and insisting that he can't afford to miss work so he's going to come in no matter what.  I should point out that this guy makes a lot more than my brother, who can afford to miss work for a few weeks, and has no real excuse for being in such dire financial shape.  My brother pointed out to him that it isn't about him getting sick, it's about getting other people sick.  I'm young enough and in good enough health that I'm not concerned about getting the virus myself.  I'm concerned about infecting my parents who are 70 and are on that bubble where there is serious risk of death.  I'm also concerned about my grandpa who's in his 90's and would almost certainly not survive such an illness.

Personally I had a cold a few weeks ago and was worried as hell about it.  Kept myself away from the outside world.  It died down after a few days but a stubborn cough remains.  I have asthma and it is normal for colds to flare that up and leave me with a lingering cough for weeks after.  There is no fever and wasn't one even when the cold was at its worse and that seems to be a key symptom.  I bought a thermometer and my temperature is normal.  I had a big sneezing fit this morning and my nose was running like crazy during my cold, which is not a symptom of the virus.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: ShyGuy on March 13, 2020, 04:30:23 PM
I check my temperature every day now.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BeautifulShy on March 13, 2020, 04:53:49 PM
So here in Canada the Prime Minister's wife has been diagnosed with the virus.

My brother had a co-worker blow off feeling under the weather and insisting that he can't afford to miss work so he's going to come in no matter what.  I should point out that this guy makes a lot more than my brother, who can afford to miss work for a few weeks, and has no real excuse for being in such dire financial shape.  My brother pointed out to him that it isn't about him getting sick, it's about getting other people sick.  I'm young enough and in good enough health that I'm not concerned about getting the virus myself.  I'm concerned about infecting my parents who are 70 and are on that bubble where there is serious risk of death.  I'm also concerned about my grandpa who's in his 90's and would almost certainly not survive such an illness.

Personally I had a cold a few weeks ago and was worried as hell about it.  Kept myself away from the outside world.  It died down after a few days but a stubborn cough remains.  I have asthma and it is normal for colds to flare that up and leave me with a lingering cough for weeks after.  There is no fever and wasn't one even when the cold was at its worse and that seems to be a key symptom.  I bought a thermometer and my temperature is normal.  I had a big sneezing fit this morning and my nose was running like crazy during my cold, which is not a symptom of the virus.

Yeah that is a bit scary about the prime ministers wife.  As for your brother's coworker that is a bit wreckless if you can afford to miss work.  Quick question Ian... Is there a plan in place to have some sort of paid leave for citizens of Canada or is it a company by company basis?

ShyGuy I guess the best one can do is be cautious.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Ian Sane on March 13, 2020, 05:13:38 PM
So here in Canada the Prime Minister's wife has been diagnosed with the virus.

My brother had a co-worker blow off feeling under the weather and insisting that he can't afford to miss work so he's going to come in no matter what.  I should point out that this guy makes a lot more than my brother, who can afford to miss work for a few weeks, and has no real excuse for being in such dire financial shape.  My brother pointed out to him that it isn't about him getting sick, it's about getting other people sick.  I'm young enough and in good enough health that I'm not concerned about getting the virus myself.  I'm concerned about infecting my parents who are 70 and are on that bubble where there is serious risk of death.  I'm also concerned about my grandpa who's in his 90's and would almost certainly not survive such an illness.

Personally I had a cold a few weeks ago and was worried as hell about it.  Kept myself away from the outside world.  It died down after a few days but a stubborn cough remains.  I have asthma and it is normal for colds to flare that up and leave me with a lingering cough for weeks after.  There is no fever and wasn't one even when the cold was at its worse and that seems to be a key symptom.  I bought a thermometer and my temperature is normal.  I had a big sneezing fit this morning and my nose was running like crazy during my cold, which is not a symptom of the virus.

Yeah that is a bit scary about the prime ministers wife.  As for your brother's coworker that is a bit wreckless if you can afford to miss work.  Quick question Ian... Is there a plan in place to have some sort of paid leave for citizens of Canada or is it a company by company basis?

ShyGuy I guess the best one can do is be cautious.

I don't know of any plan.  So far there are some travel restrictions and a lot of suggestions but not much in strict policy yet regarding the virus.  I'm in a weird situation in that I already work from home so for me it's business as usual so I haven't really looked into it that much.  There are laws regarding sick time and you get paid for that but I'm not sure the details in regards to salary workers vs. wage workers.  Of course sick time would probably only come into play if you were infected.  I don't know how it works for a healthy person that has been told to not come in to work.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Shaymin on March 13, 2020, 05:25:06 PM
We have a pretty robust employment insurance plan up here and they're expediting claims for it, so that is an option. Source (https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/corporate/notices/coronavirus.html)
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Stratos on March 13, 2020, 05:28:15 PM
Just an FYI for folks in the US, you can file for unemployment if your hours are cut because of this even if you aren't laid off. Read a thread about it on r/personalfinance so be sure you know your rights.

Also, some states offer paid medical leave for the general population. Here in Washington State they enacted a law to provide some sick leave on top of that as well so look into all your local options to stay healthy and away from unnecessary risks.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: ShyGuy on March 13, 2020, 05:55:01 PM
Because of my transplant, I'm high risk. Berube can have my Nintendo merch if I die.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on March 13, 2020, 06:23:19 PM
This is political in nature, but so is everything related to the response to this pandemic.

https://mobile.twitter.com/briantylercohen/status/1238155454108151808?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1238155454108151808&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fs9e.github.io%2Fiframe%2F2%2Ftwitter.min.html%231238155454108151808

I'm mostly posting it here so I can watch later when I have time.

Summary: US Rep Katie Porter grills head of CDC and gets him to commit to free COVID testing for ALL Americans.

She is one of the freshmans, and we need more like her.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BeautifulShy on March 13, 2020, 08:08:54 PM
Because of my transplant, I'm high risk. Berube can have my Nintendo merch if I die.
Kidney transplant?
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: ShyGuy on March 14, 2020, 04:57:45 AM
Because of my transplant, I'm high risk. Berube can have my Nintendo merch if I die.
Kidney transplant?

yep, I've got three!
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BeautifulShy on March 14, 2020, 06:35:23 AM
Because of my transplant, I'm high risk. Berube can have my Nintendo merch if I die.
Kidney transplant?

yep, I've got three!

I had no idea. I know you had some health problems in the past but I didn't know you had 3 kidneys.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BeautifulShy on March 14, 2020, 06:40:23 AM
For those that want to stay informed I found a database that shows the numbers of where the coronavirus is and what the recover rate,death and serious cases are.   I am doing this to inform and not frighten folks. The data base is below. 

https://ncov2019.live/data
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: nickmitch on March 14, 2020, 09:41:50 PM
Of note, the US president (please hold opinions of him) tested negative for the virus (https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/14/politics/trump-press-conference-coronavirus/index.html) after having come in contact with multiple people who later tested positive for it.  This is good news after he was shown shaking hands with a number of CEOs yesterday afternoon.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on March 14, 2020, 10:08:46 PM
(https://i.imgur.com/6K6YhVR.gif)

I've heard reports of multiple people that didn't initially test positive, to later test positive. Assuming he took the test (his doctor said he didn't yesterday) for his sake if it is negative, maybe he'll start taking real precautions not only for him self but for the country as a whole.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: stevey on March 16, 2020, 12:20:28 AM
It might be because my perception of things is being colored by Spanish flu documentaries from 2018-19 that are still fresh in my mind, but I think the Wuhan virus is way worse than most people realize. If the"flatten the curve" plan is successful, these measures will have to be in place until the beginning of 2021.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: nickmitch on March 16, 2020, 01:22:57 AM
(https://i.imgur.com/6K6YhVR.gif)

I've heard reports of multiple people that didn't initially test positive, to later test positive. Assuming he took the test (his doctor said he didn't yesterday) for his sake if it is negative, maybe he'll start taking real precautions not only for him self but for the country as a whole.

Yeah, word was the doctor said he didn't have to do the test at all on Friday, then on Saturday the US president said he did the test the night before. Then a memo was released saying the test was negative. Many headlines focused on the no symptoms part for some odd reason.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: ejamer on March 16, 2020, 12:13:13 PM
Ugh. Starting to get upset about the whole COVID-19 situation. Not worried/stressed/upset about the virus in general... but at how selfish and stupid people can be, and how that selfishness and stupidity makes life harder for everyone else around them.

Oh well. We've got board games and video games and enough food to eat. We've even got almost a full Costco-sized package of toilet paper left, that was purchased well before that little bit of idiocy started. This will all pass eventually - but it makes me genuinely worried for humanity if ever faced with an actual crisis.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: nickmitch on March 16, 2020, 02:48:05 PM
People are scared, which is fair.  And scared people don't always act rationally.  The worst part is that people who panic cause others to panic.  An otherwise reasonable person might think, "Well, if everyone is buying up toilet paper, there won't be any left when I run out next week!" and then buy a bunch themselves.  It's a vicious cycle.  And the hoarding just leads to some people not having supplies.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on March 18, 2020, 11:12:39 PM
This is why we VOTE people.

COVID-19 Relief Plan proposed by the House
Quote
This #COVID19 proposal out of the house financial committee is really good:
- 2k/month per person every month of the crisis
- suspension of all mortgages, student loans, credit card and loan payments
- prohibit debt collection and repossession
- $5b in homeless assistance
https://twitter.com/maxberger/status/1240458828107386881

Pie in the sky chance the House Dems can cram this into the Senate and get it passed as is...
But at least their trying. Fingers Crossed!!!
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BeautifulShy on March 19, 2020, 12:03:55 AM
This is why we VOTE people.

COVID-19 Relief Plan proposed by the House
Quote
This #COVID19 proposal out of the house financial committee is really good:
- 2k/month per person every month of the crisis
- suspension of all mortgages, student loans, credit card and loan payments
- prohibit debt collection and repossession
- $5b in homeless assistance
https://twitter.com/maxberger/status/1240458828107386881

Pie in the sky chance the House Dems can cram this into the Senate and get it passed as is...
But at least their trying. Fingers Crossed!!!
Looks like that is not going to come to pass as is and there had to be some changes.  It passed in the Senete and Trump signed it hours later after it passed.
Here is the overview of the bill that passed and has been signed.

 https://time.com/5803671/paid-leave-imminent-coronavirus
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on March 19, 2020, 02:34:49 AM
Since the general public is treating this like it the apocalypse
and since I've thought that this current admin was like a plague on this country.... that I didn't expect to become a literal thing

what if I let you know that Africa has been struck with a swarm of locust
https://www.businessinsider.com/desert-locust-plague-devastates-africa-photos-history-2020-2#in-1988-a-swarm-traveled-over-3000-miles-in-10-days-from-west-africa-to-the-caribbean-16

and now China and the Phillpines are fighting a new breakout of the Bird Flu hasn't spread to humans.... yet
https://www.thestar.com.my/news/regional/2020/03/16/philippines-detects-bird-flu-outbreak-in-quail-farm

https://dailytimes.com.pk/578491/china-philippines-detects-bird-flu-outbreak/

at what point does 2020 let up?
or do we need to right some sort of wrong before Mother Nature decides to correct us first?
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Ian Sane on March 19, 2020, 12:33:21 PM
BC has an issue where there was a big dental conference in early March and there are a few confirmed COVID-19 cases among the attendees.  So attendees are being asked to self-isolate and dental procedures in the province are restricted to emergency cases only.

My dad had gone to the dentist during this time... twice because they didn't finish for some reason and he had to come in a second time.  My parents are also friends with their dentist and had dinner with her at some point between the conference and this news coming out, and my mom even hugged her!  So naturally my panic level has gone through the roof and I've had to have that talk where I need to remind my parents that they're 70 and thus in the age range where getting infected could be life threatening and that under no circumstances are either of them to visit my 93 year old grandpa!  ARRGH!!!!
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: stevey on March 19, 2020, 01:05:32 PM
You know it's bad when republicans support temporary-UBI and democrats stop treating everything Trump does as the second coming of Hitler.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: ShyGuy on March 19, 2020, 02:36:58 PM
I HOPE THAT BILL GETS SHOT DOWN IN THE SENATE BLACKNMILD!!!!!

POLITICS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: NWR_insanolord on March 19, 2020, 04:39:23 PM
Let’s tone down the overt references to politics here. I know it can be hard not to bring them up when discussing the response to the virus, but please don’t mention specific legislation or specific politicians.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: pokepal148 on March 19, 2020, 04:42:33 PM
Senator (redacted) is the worst. He/She is nowhere near as good of a politician as Senator (redacted)
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Ian Sane on March 19, 2020, 05:04:41 PM
A friend of mine is understandably upset as her husband just got laid off.  I'm not that worried for myself as I already work from home and in general the company doesn't really need a physical office to operate.  But there is more to it than that.  Our customers may not be able to operate business as usual from home and that will likely affect our revenue for the year.  There have been times where at the end of our fiscal year, layoffs occurred because revenue was under the plan for the year.  I imagine other companies have had similar things happen.  So while there are layoffs occurring around the world currently from temporary closures I could see other rounds of layoffs occurring as companies reach the end of their fiscal years and find out that losing March's revenue was not something they were able to make up and they miss their targets.

There are the companies that can't afford to miss weeks of revenue right here and now but there are also ones that probably won't know the exact impact until months later.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on March 19, 2020, 10:30:29 PM
Let’s tone down the overt references to politics here. I know it can be hard not to bring them up when discussing the response to the virus, but please don’t mention specific legislation or specific politicians.

But the specific legislation is important to everyone (in the U.S.) and relevant to how we proceed with life at this moment in time. Specific people I understand, but if we all talking about this virus and how it affects us directly.... UBI, Sick Leave Pay, one time income payments, etc etc are kinda relevant to the discussion aren't they?

I mean there are 15 people that post here, and I'm sure all of them are over 27yrs old. I think we can manage an adult conversation on a serious topic without turning into raving lunatics.

BC has an issue where there was a big dental conference in early March and there are a few confirmed COVID-19 cases among the attendees.  So attendees are being asked to self-isolate and dental procedures in the province are restricted to emergency cases only.

My dad had gone to the dentist during this time... twice because they didn't finish for some reason and he had to come in a second time.  My parents are also friends with their dentist and had dinner with her at some point between the conference and this news coming out, and my mom even hugged her!  So naturally my panic level has gone through the roof and I've had to have that talk where I need to remind my parents that they're 70 and thus in the age range where getting infected could be life threatening and that under no circumstances are either of them to visit my 93 year old grandpa!  ARRGH!!!!

Now now Jr... no need to over react. This is an important time for family and friends to stay as close together as possible. /s
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: ShyGuy on March 19, 2020, 11:57:06 PM
Sorry, the coronavirus is making me grumpy. I need to take a drive tomorrow.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on March 20, 2020, 01:26:34 AM
Time to walk off Florida


Have fun Spring Breakers. Make the best of it for the next 60 days. Lol

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oa4i9Ap6dCg

Corona Time!!!
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on March 20, 2020, 12:09:39 PM
New York State is officially on a Shelter in Place order.

Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Ian Sane on March 20, 2020, 12:13:16 PM
So my brother had a co-worker call in sick with flu-like symptoms.  She is pretty sure it's just the flu.  Where do people get this **** from?  You have a pandemic going on where the virus causes flu-like symptoms, you start showing those types of symptoms and you come to the conclusion that it is probably just the flu.  It looks like a duck, quacks like a duck and walks like a duck so it's a... PIGEON OF COURSE!!

My family essentially lives in two houses: my brother and I in one, and our parents and younger brother in another.  So our house is potentially compromised by a co-worker and my parents' is potentially compromised by their dentist.  If any household had to isolate, the other household naturally agreed to do grocery shopping for the other.  If both have to isolate at the exact same time then I guess I'm eating lots of delivery once my canned food and Kraft Dinner runs out.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on March 20, 2020, 12:17:25 PM
Denial isn't just a river running through Egypt....

And they're are grocery shopping delivery services.
Oh, and Amazon Pantry/Fresh.

This pandemic is such a terrible thing, but it's a golden opportunity for ALL of the world to finally accept the digital revolution for telecommuting, teleconferencing, tele-education where necessary, Video Diagnostics from home freeing up doctors to examine many more patients in a day remotely, and many other services that can be improved by the use of existing technology and Hyperspeed internet connections (force these internet/communication companies to upgrade their **** and stop gouging both the gov and the people with outdated tech at premium prices).
We have food delivery, grocery deliver, hell, I've even seen apps for Gas and Alcohol delivery.
We can cut down on the amount people commuting all over everyday and actually extend the amount of hours of productivity for all those that can actually do their jobs from home (which is probably 60% of most office jobs).

I'm in the Bay Area in California, and there are people that will literally get up at 4/5am to drive to SF to go to work at 7am, and then leave 4:30/5pm and not get home till near 7/8pm, and this is all because they can't afford to live in or near SF.
so many hour commuting wasted on the trip back and forth. They could've been working for an extra hour or two and still had time for themselves and/or family.

and I've got a "crazy" theory about this virus too, but another vent for another time. LOL
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Stratos on March 20, 2020, 12:29:22 PM
Lots of places are offering "senior hour" services for elderly and disabled to come shop without large crowds.

And our Costco got a restock on toilet paper. My wife and I were out so we swung by and got a package because we were running critically low. One package will last us 2-3 months so we should be covered.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: NWR_insanolord on March 20, 2020, 12:36:27 PM
I don’t know about where you are, but around here several of the grocery stores offer delivery, but it costs extra and it’s probably swamped right now if they’re even still doing it under these circumstances. At the very least see if they let you order online and have them put it together so they can just drive up, have them load everything into your car, and drive right off. My parents did that today.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on March 20, 2020, 12:37:54 PM
i edited my previous post...

but re: Costco.
I hear they blocked the return of items the Hoarder/Scalpers took en masse since they all realized they either didn't need that much, couldn't story that much, and most importantly, couldn't see that much at a mark up price to gouge the panic'd shoppers in need.

So good on Costco and all the other stores that stuck the all of them with inventory they can't recoup the money on. Trying to prey on the public in a time of crisis.
Title: Student Loans and Payments SUSPENDED for 60 Days!!!
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on March 20, 2020, 12:42:45 PM
Federally STUDENT LOANS and STUDENT LOAN PAYMENTS are now on suspension for 60 days

https://twitter.com/Reuters/status/1241033580127694849

"Thanks COVID-19" as was heard from under the breath of millions of student loan debtors around the country
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Stratos on March 20, 2020, 12:47:49 PM
Also, lots of dining places offering free delivery at the moment. So look for some nice deals to be had there if you want to order.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Ian Sane on March 20, 2020, 02:16:09 PM
We can cut down on the amount people commuting all over everyday and actually extend the amount of hours of productivity for all those that can actually do their jobs from home (which is probably 60% of most office jobs).

...

so many hour commuting wasted on the trip back and forth. They could've been working for an extra hour or two and still had time for themselves and/or family.

What are you?  A deranged CEO?  I just gained almost two hours of free time from switching to working from home and you suggest I work MORE HOURS?  I get more free time, I get the same amount of work done for my employer, and I use less gasoline and output less emissions by driving less.  It is win-win for me, my employer, and society as a whole so why suggest we work more?
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: pokepal148 on March 20, 2020, 03:39:58 PM
I'm strongly considering leaving my job at Walmart because of all of this.  I live with my mother who has issues with her immune system so every day I go to work puts her at risk. All of this for a job that pays like **** and that I pretty much hate just isn't worth it.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on March 20, 2020, 04:00:27 PM
We can cut down on the amount people commuting all over everyday and actually extend the amount of hours of productivity for all those that can actually do their jobs from home (which is probably 60% of most office jobs).

...

so many hour commuting wasted on the trip back and forth. They could've been working for an extra hour or two and still had time for themselves and/or family.

What are you?  A deranged CEO?  I just gained almost two hours of free time from switching to working from home and you suggest I work MORE HOURS?  I get more free time, I get the same amount of work done for my employer, and I use less gasoline and output less emissions by driving less.  It is win-win for me, my employer, and society as a whole so why suggest we work more?

it's a compromise as a suggestion to let the companies allow us all to telecommute, stating that we would have more time to work extra hours if we didn't have to spend so much time commuting to and from work.  of course you could use that time to instead have more self time and or family time and not need to put in extra time while at the same time lowering your carbon footprint.

Definite win win.

Edit: Illinois is now under Shelter in Place order.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Ian Sane on March 20, 2020, 04:42:00 PM
We can cut down on the amount people commuting all over everyday and actually extend the amount of hours of productivity for all those that can actually do their jobs from home (which is probably 60% of most office jobs).

...

so many hour commuting wasted on the trip back and forth. They could've been working for an extra hour or two and still had time for themselves and/or family.

What are you?  A deranged CEO?  I just gained almost two hours of free time from switching to working from home and you suggest I work MORE HOURS?  I get more free time, I get the same amount of work done for my employer, and I use less gasoline and output less emissions by driving less.  It is win-win for me, my employer, and society as a whole so why suggest we work more?

it's a compromise as a suggestion to let the companies allow us all to telecommute, stating that we would have more time to work extra hours if we didn't have to spend so much time commuting to and from work.  of course you could use that time to instead have more self time and or family time and not need to put in extra time while at the same time lowering your carbon footprint.

Definite win win.

There is actually a very easy sell for the employer: they save the expense of maintaining a physical building and passes it off to the employees who end up using their own electricity, water, heat, air conditioning, internet, toilet paper, etc.

Anyway, to not stay off topic, I got some take out for lunch and it was weird to see a fast food restaurant that usually is pretty damn full at a weekday lunch literally have no customers in there but me.  Even discounting people eating in the restaurant there is still usually a line for taking orders which wouldn't change if the same usual customers were getting food to go.  Part of me is joking to myself that I can go on a binge of guilt-free fast food eating and justify it as keeping the economy afloat.  Yes I've gained 30 pounds but only so Popeye's and Carl's Jr can live!
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Stratos on March 20, 2020, 06:21:28 PM
toilet paper

https://howmuchtoiletpaper.com
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Ian Sane on March 20, 2020, 07:56:58 PM
Today is a very nice day weather wise where I live.  The kids were home for spring break anyway, most of their parents appear to have been sent home from work and there are a fair amount of retired people in the area.  About half of the houses on my street (a cul-de-sac) have been outside socializing, definitely in groups large than five, spreading contact between at least four households.  All this while the restaurant I went to had the dining area blocked off with caution tape, while the grocery store has no toilet paper and almost no meat, while their own kids aren't going back to school until at least a few more weeks.  Among those having an impromptu block party I see three people that are probably in their 70s and two in their 60s.

I feel very strange observing this from my window.  Is someone on my street going to die?
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BeautifulShy on March 20, 2020, 11:00:23 PM
In bed the past week or so.  I know I got a stuffy nose and I was sneezing and I went out to get some food from the local Dollar General.   I don't have a fever so I know it isn't COVID-19,  The past few days I have been congested in my head and throat.  Still I am going to try and stay inside as much as I can.  I do have an appointment on Sunday for some hair removal but if I am still feeling under the weather come Sunday morning I won't go.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on March 21, 2020, 12:36:15 AM
I think you should postpone that appoint regardless.

Especially since you are already not feeling well. COVID or not, it's probably best you just camp out for at least a week and not risk any unnecessary contact.

I feel very strange observing this from my window.  Is someone on my street going to die?

Only because you willed it so... QUICK THINK HAPPY THOUGHTS!!!!
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: broodwars on March 21, 2020, 07:56:47 AM
My family & I have been very fortunate so far. Despite my sister working for a very public figure in California who WOULD be an easy target for the virus, as far as I know she has not been infected yet. My mom & dad don't leave the house all that often, but they are in At Risk age bracket and so far do not have the virus. I work in an office that is CONTINUALLY coming down with illnesses (and, yes, we are considered an "essential" business so we are still open), but so far no one at work seems to have it. We're prepared to work at home if necessary, but so far there hasn't been a Stay in Place order here in FL.

Gotta say, my morning & evening commute's never been better, not to mention parking. I'm getting to and from work in about 25 minutes, easily shaving off a half hour of stop & go traffic in the evening.

Unfortunately, we've still had our share of bad news as a result of the virus. My dad lost his job in the tech industry a month or so ago right at the start of all this. I also just received news from my mom that a close friend of the family back in Utah (so close that my sister & I grew up calling her "Aunt") has been confirmed to have the virus. She was in poor health before getting the virus, so we're really concerned about her now.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: ejamer on March 21, 2020, 01:49:05 PM
...
Unfortunately, we've still had our share of bad news as a result of the virus. My dad lost his job in the tech industry a month or so ago right at the start of all this. I also just received news from my mom that a close friend of the family back in Utah (so close that my sister & I grew up calling her "Aunt") has been confirmed to have the virus. She was in poor health before getting the virus, so we're really concerned about her now.

Sorry to hear about both points, and wishing the best for your family friend.  :(

I'm extremely lucky - the virus has little direct effect on me or my family. However, a lot of people I know are being laid off while everyone is required to stay at home. The economic damage happening now is going to have a big effect on everyone for years to come.

Hope everyone is hanging tough and making smart choices - whether COVID-19 is causing life-shattering changes (which it will for some) or just making life inconvenient.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Luigi Dude on March 21, 2020, 10:37:57 PM
Well at a time like this I guess it's a good thing I'm a slacker.  I've been wanting to find a different jobs for a while now but have kept putting it off because I've grown complacent since it's easy work for me and I make enough to pay my bills with enough left over to buy any games I want.  It's just I've grown tired of retail sales and having to deal with the general public everyday so I'd like to find some kind of office job.

Well since it's retail that works with the general public we're now closed the next two weeks at the very least they tell us, but I'll still be payed during the time off.  The one negative is I make commission on sales that usually add an extra 3-4 dollars an hour to my base pay so I'll be making a few hundred less then I'd normally make, but still, my hourly pay will still be enough to pay my morgage, electric and buy food.

I guess if I was more motivated I might have gotten a different job by now, but it might have closed without pay, or still be open and some of my potential coworkers might have come to work with it.  So yea for lazyness. :-\
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on March 22, 2020, 12:23:13 AM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mn9zacrVDk
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BeautifulShy on March 22, 2020, 10:43:16 AM
I think you should postpone that appoint regardless.

Especially since you are already not feeling well. COVID or not, it's probably best you just camp out for at least a week and not risk any unnecessary contact.



Well I had to reschedule anyway since the medical doctor for the place said I can't have been sick within the past 10 days.  Which I understand.  I guess I get to save a little bit more money over the next two months since I am not going to NBA games in April and I can put the money I was going to use today to my savings.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on March 22, 2020, 11:01:36 AM
Due to Quarantining.... I may have spent a little too much time on IG yesterday.

around 9pm, I decided to start a game of See a Shot, Take a Shot.
and everytime I was challenged back, I would use a new shot glass.

I'm actually not sure how I'm awake and mostly sober right now.
I'm pretty sure I did 7 rounds on the IG story, and then another 4+ in the DMs

another friend actually responded with a shot video 30 minutes ago.... FML
I didn't expect so many people to respond. LOL
remind me not to start that game again. :D
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: nickmitch on March 22, 2020, 08:30:39 PM
The Governor of Louisiana issued a Stay at Home order, effective tomorrow - Monday, March 23rd - at 5pm. Link (https://gov.louisiana.gov/index.cfm/page/93).
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: nickmitch on March 22, 2020, 08:34:55 PM
Sorry for the politics, but in case anyone missed it, a US Senator announced he tested positive today for COVID-19.  Other Senators are getting tested and/or putting themselves under self-quarantine.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on March 22, 2020, 11:50:53 PM
Well, ****....

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-03-22/fed-s-bullard-says-u-s-jobless-rate-may-soar-to-30-in-2q

Unemployment may soar to 30% in the coming months.
apparently the Great Depression capped out at 24%
https://www.thebalance.com/unemployment-rate-by-year-3305506

Next president gonna have a helluva mess to clean up :/

https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/lamvo/coronavirus-update-charts-unemployment-claims-laid-off-jobs
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Stratos on March 23, 2020, 07:44:21 PM
On the plus side, this is an election season and places that have been long overdue for converting to mail-in ballots may finally do so to promote social distancing. You shouldn't have to take a day off of work (because God-forbid we make it a holiday to do so) and spend half the day in a line to choose your favorite redacted joke about all politicians to run the country.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Ian Sane on March 24, 2020, 07:34:02 PM
So far this year I had booked two vacation days to give myself a pair of long weekends.  I have more time to still book but this was all I had booked already.

One was to go to the Portland Retro Gaming Expo.  It's been cancelled and the event isn't even until August.  It used to be October but the convention center bumped them from their usual date despite them having the same date for 15 years.  Gee, maybe if THAT hadn't happened they wouldn't have cancelled so quickly with an extra two month window.  The Vancouver Retro Gaming Expo is tentatively still scheduled to occur in June.  Being from the area I don't take vacation time to attend it but it is a much smaller event.

The other vacation was something I do every year where I go to Seattle with my dad and brother to watch some Mariners games on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.  That is up-in-the-air as well since the MLB season has been postponed.

Normally I am notorious for procrastinating on trips on these and this was the first year where I was getting things ready with lots of time to spare.  Go figure.  Obviously none of this is of any importance compared to the threat of getting sick or losing your job but it shows how this has affected little things.  I hung out with a friend I hadn't seen in months the weekend before things spiraled out of control and I'm now really happy I did that.  We had no idea this was coming, it was just an impromptu thing where I realized I hadn't seen him a while.

And while on the topic of vacation, my last trip was in December.  I was on a CRUISE that left from ITALY!!  Move that trip over a month and I'd be in quarantine!
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: ThePerm on March 24, 2020, 08:25:39 PM
Dang, I though Vancouver BC and Vancouver WA were right next to each other. They're 6 hours apart
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BeautifulShy on March 25, 2020, 04:47:18 AM
Well this happened here is Arizona.  A man died for trying to use chloroquine phosphate is an additive to clean fish tanks and kill parasites in the tanks. The one that is used for Malaria is hydroxy chloroquine and has shown decent in a few small studies but these studies need to be expanded before making it a viable option for COVID-19.  By the way hydroxy chloroquine hasn't been approved by the FDA as a treatment.  There is no cure currently.   The difference between the two is how they are formulated.  His wife is in critical condition currently after injesting it as a possible treatment of COVID-19. She threw up most of the chemical.   Both were/are in their 60s. 

 AZ couple suffer from meds as a possible cure for COVID-19 (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/24/coronavirus-cure-kills-man-after-trump-touts-chloroquine-phosphate)
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on March 25, 2020, 08:43:20 AM
Well this happened here is Arizona.  A man died for trying to use chloroquine phosphate is an additive to clean fish tanks and kill parasites in the tanks. The one that is used for Malaria is hydroxy chloroquine and has shown decent in a few small studies but these studies need to be expanded before making it a viable option for COVID-19.  By the way hydroxy chloroquine hasn't been approved by the FDA as a treatment.  There is no cure currently.   The difference between the two is how they are formulated.  His wife is in critical condition currently after injesting it as a possible treatment of COVID-19. She threw up most of the chemical.   Both were/are in their 60s. 

 AZ couple suffer from meds as a possible cure for COVID-19 (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/24/coronavirus-cure-kills-man-after-trump-touts-chloroquine-phosphate)

I mentioned this in the funhouse (https://www.nintendoworldreport.com/forums/index.php?topic=64866.msg966434#msg966434), but the part you are leaving out is WHY they thought to use that **** as a "CURE" for COVID-19 especially when they didn't even have the virus or any symptoms.
Old couple scared, being misinformed by public figures they "trust" to give them "facts" and to see those "facts" parroted on their favorite Faux "news" channel, led them to believe they had access to something that could help. It was irresponsible and shows the complete incompetence, greed and lack of compassion of the people in charge, as if that hasn't been apparent for at least the last 3 years, and depending on who your talking about specifically (if you've been paying attention) for much, much, much longer than that.

p.s. there were other people that thought the try the same things. This didn't only happen in AZ, but in other countries as well. for the exact same reason.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on March 25, 2020, 08:45:55 AM
In other news..... Congress got to work, and against all odds, the House got the Senate to actually agree to SOMETHING useful for once. Even got them to cave on some important things allowing the House to exclude some things I'm sure the "Senate" really wanted to give to the "man" in charge.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/us-policy/2020/03/24/trump-coronavirus-congress-economic-stimulus/

summary:
(https://i.imgur.com/qEGrfTO.jpg)
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BeautifulShy on March 25, 2020, 08:51:54 AM
Well this happened here is Arizona.  A man died for trying to use chloroquine phosphate is an additive to clean fish tanks and kill parasites in the tanks. The one that is used for Malaria is hydroxy chloroquine and has shown decent in a few small studies but these studies need to be expanded before making it a viable option for COVID-19.  By the way hydroxy chloroquine hasn't been approved by the FDA as a treatment.  There is no cure currently.   The difference between the two is how they are formulated.  His wife is in critical condition currently after injesting it as a possible treatment of COVID-19. She threw up most of the chemical.   Both were/are in their 60s. 

 AZ couple suffer from meds as a possible cure for COVID-19 (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/24/coronavirus-cure-kills-man-after-trump-touts-chloroquine-phosphate)

I mentioned this in the funhouse, but the part you are leaving out is WHY they thought to use that **** as a "CURE" for COVID-19 especially when they didn't even have the virus or any symptoms.
Old couple scared, being misinformed by public figures they "trust" to give them "facts" and to see those "facts" parroted on their favorite Faux "news" channel, led them to believe they had access to something that could help. It was irresponsible and shows the complete incompetence, greed and lack of compassion of the people in charge, as if that hasn't been apparent for at least the last 3 years, and depending on who your talking about specifically (if you've been paying attention) for much, much, much longer than that.
Oh I am well aware of who mentioned that drug in tweets and in press conferences.  It is even in the link to the article I linked and in the headline.  I am sure folks on this fine forum will be able to piece that together.  Don't listen to Trump for medical advice!
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: lolmonade on March 25, 2020, 09:51:13 AM
It might be because my perception of things is being colored by Spanish flu documentaries from 2018-19 that are still fresh in my mind, but I think the Wuhan virus is way worse than most people realize. If the"flatten the curve" plan is successful, these measures will have to be in place until the beginning of 2021.

From what I've gleaned, the "plan" if the curve is flattened is to ease up on some restrictions and try to get back to some semblance of normal life.  It'll be an ebb and flow of loosening and tightening restrictions as cases escalate and what's happening with healthcare capacity until a vaccine is available.

Either way, I agree we're in for a sustained discomfort at minimum.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on March 25, 2020, 06:09:34 PM
EVERYTHING WILL BE OPEN BY EASTER SUNDAY!!!! just a hunch though.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BeautifulShy on March 25, 2020, 07:26:07 PM
EVERYTHING WILL BE OPEN BY EASTER SUNDAY!!!! just a hunch though.
That doesn't seem very practical. 2 weeks away and the typical person would have to be quarantine for 14 days.  Unless the whole USA gets the virus at once and stays home for those 14 days and stays put... wait what I am I saying that isn't going to happen because that is very impractical and the US of A would never follow these requirements. :P
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Stratos on March 25, 2020, 08:09:23 PM
Maybe your part won't follow it, but the Seattle Area has every intention of following through on these quarantine efforts. I don't expect to be back in my primary office until May at the earliest. My wife works in healthcare so she's bearing a lot of the brunt of this outbreak. Thankfully no one at her facility came down with COVID, but one person did waltz in (I think this was a week or so back) and announce they had been in contact with someone who caught it and died, but wasn't sure if they should stay home...she was sent back home immediately.

I expect many places to have various distancing/quarantine efforts through much of April. A lot of experts state we could then relax a bit, but that after a month of loosening up we should probably go back into quarantine mode because there will be a second wave as people go out again. This will be a longer effort over many months.

Also, don't expect things to go back to normal right away. The market has turned south and that will last a good while. The average bear market is 9 months long, so the earliest we see a recovery there in the holiday/Christmas season I would expect. This isn't even considering other events that could affect matters (election season, not enough people practicing distancing/quarantine leading to a worse situation, etc).
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: stevey on March 26, 2020, 02:24:16 AM
Well this happened here is Arizona.  A man died for trying to use chloroquine phosphate is an additive to clean fish tanks and kill parasites in the tanks. The one that is used for Malaria is hydroxy chloroquine and has shown decent in a few small studies but these studies need to be expanded before making it a viable option for COVID-19.  By the way hydroxy chloroquine hasn't been approved by the FDA as a treatment.  There is no cure currently.   The difference between the two is how they are formulated.  His wife is in critical condition currently after injesting it as a possible treatment of COVID-19. She threw up most of the chemical.   Both were/are in their 60s. 

 AZ couple suffer from meds as a possible cure for COVID-19 (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/24/coronavirus-cure-kills-man-after-trump-touts-chloroquine-phosphate)

I mentioned this in the funhouse (https://www.nintendoworldreport.com/forums/index.php?topic=64866.msg966434#msg966434), but the part you are leaving out is WHY they thought to use that **** as a "CURE" for COVID-19 especially when they didn't even have the virus or any symptoms.
Old couple scared, being misinformed by public figures they "trust" to give them "facts" and to see those "facts" parroted on their favorite Faux "news" channel, led them to believe they had access to something that could help. It was irresponsible and shows the complete incompetence, greed and lack of compassion of the people in charge, as if that hasn't been apparent for at least the last 3 years, and depending on who your talking about specifically (if you've been paying attention) for much, much, much longer than that.

p.s. there were other people that thought the try the same things. This didn't only happen in AZ, but in other countries as well. for the exact same reason.

Except that's a ludicrous distortion that came from twitter. He who shall not be named expressed his hopefulness about it and wants to rush out the trails just like the NY governor (https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/clinical-trials-coronavirus-treatments-begin-york/story?id=69777957) also expressed on Tuesday after the reported deaths. Nobody said "We got her" nor landed on an aircraft carrier with a big "mission accomplished" banner on it like twitter made it out to be. See for yourself, here are the relevant transcripts from the past few press conferences since he started mentioning it:

https://pastebin.com/LvuFiede

Idiots self-medicating following instructions they found on the internet to drink cleaning fluid that was the wrong chemical can't be pinned on him anymore than they can be pinned to Cuomo, France, or China. When people criticize him over made up stuff, it completely debases real criticisms of him and hardens him and his supporters in their ways. It's just making the problem worse.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on March 26, 2020, 03:07:01 AM
When he starts incompetently naming drugs by name that are at an early testing phase live on National TV and incorrectly states that it's been approved by the FDA as a "cure" then he does have blame in this. When those same statements are parroted on Faux News as "truth" and "cure" then the blame does fall on the man some want to call a "leader" to have mislead them into thinking his statements were in any way true. He's told so many lies up to this point, I'm not sure why anyone listens to anything he says... but that's just me.

Now that doesn't give him 100% of the blame for desperate people being desperate, stupid people being stupid, or the willfully ignorant continuing to be so, but that's his base, and he knows exactly how he is manipulating these people.
The drug they were taking is basically the same, or very similar (in name) and they all took the wrong dosage even if they had the right medicine (psa: please do not self medicate.... especially from products not meant to be ingested)

Therefore he certainly can be blamed for irresponsible comments that are meant to mislead the public (mostly in an effort to stabilize the stock market, not because he actually cares about the people that are being affected by any of this....)

and I've seen the videos of him talking. they've been on repeat in new political ads, news programs, radio, etc etc. I'm not gonna post them due to heavy political slant this will all take, but the point is, blame most certainly can be placed and nothing about that is ludicrous or distorted.

edit: Chloriquine & Hydroxychloriquine (excuse the spelling) is what was mentioned in 2 different speeches.
A version of this is found in aquarium shops as an additive for cleaning tanks. Other doctors are prescribing them out without need for prescription, and it's all because it was mentioned as "A game changer" and "a cure" "approved by the FDA" by a certain someone live on National TV from the highest office in the land.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on March 26, 2020, 03:24:47 AM
The real reason I had come in here....

Sad day in NY yesterday w/ 13 deaths and things looking to get worse (due to the sloth like gov response).
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/25/nyregion/nyc-coronavirus-hospitals.html

People would have you believe that this is just another flu... but it is certainly more than that.
Everyone please practice social distancing if you must go out. If we don't all take this serious now, it's gonna be an issue for much longer than it needs to be.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on March 26, 2020, 10:16:58 AM
A record 3.3 Million people apply for unemployment LAST WEEK!!!!
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/03/26/unemployment-claims-coronavirus-3-million/

This is apparently 2% of the US Workforce... and there are tons more to come in the next few weeks/months :/
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: broodwars on March 26, 2020, 11:09:15 AM
$600 in unemployment benefits ON TOP OF the state unemployment benefits for 4 months is just ridiculous. That's $2,400+ a month. That's more than I make right now at $15.50 an hour, and I AM working during all this.

Good luck getting people off unemployment after this.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on March 26, 2020, 11:51:25 AM
You know what you have to do now!!! Full time self-isolation sound more profitable in the short term and you get to spend your time online and/or with family instead. LOL

MORTGAGE MORATORIUM NEWS:
In other news, if you're in CALIFORNIA, there is apparently about to be a 90 DAY MORATORIUM by almost every major lender. One major lender has instead agreed to do a 30 day moratorium at a time, but keep extending it as long as necessary.

All deferred payments will of course be tacked on to the back of your mortgage, therefore extending your payoff dates at least 90 days (unless you use this opportunity to make principle payments instead)

If you are in NEW YORK, I hear there is a RENT FREEZE and MORTGAGE MORATORIUM in place.
I do not have the details on length, but I'm sure if this affects you, you can look it up and share with others.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BeautifulShy on March 26, 2020, 05:08:23 PM
Welp as of today there is 508 cases of COVID-19 in Arizona and 8 deaths.    Our Governor made an executive order of essential services during this outbreak and that Mayors would have to go talk with the Governor about any possible changes to the essental services list.  Here is the list that our Governor Doug Ducey has put forth.

Health care and public health operations, including hospitals, public health entities, distributors of personal protective equipment and biotechnology companies;  Okay makes sense

Human services operations, including those that provide services for the elderly, those with developmental disabilities, foster and adoption children and the homeless; Makes sense sure

Infrastructure operations, including food production, utility operators, construction and internet providers; Makes sense

Government functions, including first responders, emergency management personnel, 911 operators, child protection staff, welfare providers and more; Makes sense

Business operations, including grocery and medicine providers, outdoor recreation; I agree with most of this except for outdoor recreation. Reason being is that we shouldn't be out and about at parks and such and being around people. We should be limiting how much we are around folks

Organizations that provide charitable and social services, including religious and secular non-profit organizations and food banks; Agree with most of this except for religous organizations.  I get we have a 1st amendment but one can practice their religion at home and not at a physical church around other folks and possibly spreading the virus

Media organizations, including newspaper, television, radio and other media services;  Yes very important as to inform folks on the virus

Gas stations and other transportation-related businesses;  Makes sense.  Getting where you need to go and such.

Financial institutions, including banks and credit unions;  Yep makes sense.  Gotta stay stocked up on food and supplies and ya gotta spend money for those things. Yep.

Hardware and supply stores; Yeah.  One could have a house problem in this pandemic and it might affect the quality of life while staying at home.  For example ones toilet might be leaking and it needs to be fixed so these help keep the home as clean as it can be.

Critical trades, including plumbers, electricians, cleaning, sanitation, HVAC and security staff;  Yeah makes sense.  Those are all critical in keeping the home in a good state while being quarantine.

Mail, post, shipping and logistics; Yep

Education institutions, including public and private K-12 schools, universities and research entities;   See if you can use online schooling instead of in person classes.

Laundry services; Yeah makes sense

Restaurants for consumption off-premises;  Yeah gotta eat off site and with delivery

Supplies distributors that enable telework and work from home and those that supply essential businesses; Makes sense. Gotta make sure there is income for the folks stuck at home.

Transportation, including airlines, taxis, and ride-sharing;   This one I feel like it is a case by case basis. For example. Getting back to your home country where  from where there is no pandemic in the area to home to be quarantine. Otherwise no. We don't need you going into a country and bring something into or out of the country which could spread the virus to other countries.  Taxis and ride sharing yeah but you need to take precautions to make sure the ride is sanitized after each ride.

Home-based and care services, including for seniors and those with developmental disabilities; Yep makes sense.

Residential facilities and shelters, including those for children, seniors or at-risk populations; Yep

Professional services, including legal, real estate and accounting services;  Yep

Personal services, including personal hygiene services;  If these include non doctor places like a salon or a place where there is lots of personal contact then no it should be off the list

Day care centers for employees exempted though the order; Yeah I can see pros and cons to this but for the most part I agree.

Manufacturers, distribution and producers of supply chain-critical products; Yep gotta keep things moving for the folks to get supplies and food to places for folks that may need them while being quarantine.

Hotels and motels; Maybe. The virus can spread and a lot of the time the hotels and motels aren't cleaned as well.

And funeral services.  Well yeah folks are going to die during a pandemic.

The order allows individuals and entities to utilize teleworking to complete essential services.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BeautifulShy on March 26, 2020, 06:50:57 PM
Welp the USA has the most confirmed cases of COVID-19.    82,791.  China has 81,285.  USA has recovered 224 of those 82,791. China has recovered 74,051 of those 81,285 cases.  It is looking like it is going to get worse before it gets better. 

https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/coronavirus-news-latest-2020-03-26/

Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Stratos on March 26, 2020, 06:56:31 PM
Organizations that provide charitable and social services, including religious and secular non-profit organizations and food banks; Agree with most of this except for religious organizations.  I get we have a 1st amendment but one can practice their religion at home and not at a physical church around other folks and possibly spreading the virus

Agree with much of your thoughts above. This one I suspect is for the charitable services parts of the orgs. I know most of the churches in the area have suspended on-site services and other physical events on their campuses, but they are still offering things like food and clothing for the homeless and other similar charity operations, just with more care for cleanliness and physical contact.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: nickmitch on March 26, 2020, 07:23:14 PM
Welp the USA has the most confirmed cases of COVID-19.    82,791.  China has 81,285.  USA has recovered 224 of those 82,791. China has recovered 74,051 of those 81,285 cases.  It is looking like it is going to get worse before it gets better. 

https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/coronavirus-news-latest-2020-03-26/



(https://i.imgur.com/Y8kRxBp.gif)
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Ian Sane on March 26, 2020, 07:31:22 PM
Funeral services is an interesting one.  People have and will continue to die and obviously not just from COVID-19.  But a funeral is going to gather a large group of people from multiple areas which is exactly what we don't want to be doing right now.  Obviously a body has to be cremated or buried relatively soon after death but I think you take care of that and then hold off on a memorial service until after things have settled down.  I know that could be hard to hear for a grieving person but if this hits hard then a lot of us will be in the same boat and having large funerals will risk more deaths.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Stratos on March 26, 2020, 07:33:55 PM
Funerals are one of the gatherings banned in our state, so they may just be there to hold the bodies until people are able to schedule the service at a later time. Might actually alter that industry as well if people realize they don't have to spend an arm and a leg to give grandma a proper send off to the afterlife.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BeautifulShy on March 26, 2020, 07:41:21 PM
Funeral services is an interesting one.  People have and will continue to die and obviously not just from COVID-19.  But a funeral is going to gather a large group of people from multiple areas which is exactly what we don't want to be doing right now.  Obviously a body has to be cremated or buried relatively soon after death but I think you take care of that and then hold off on a memorial service until after things have settled down.  I know that could be hard to hear for a grieving person but if this hits hard then a lot of us will be in the same boat and having large funerals will risk more deaths.

You know I actually didn't consider that aspect.   I guess there is a few things that can be done to mitigate that aspect.  Have a limited group of people at the service at a time and then have the next group of people come in and so on.  Have a limited in person service. Like the Preacher/ service person do the sermon with the coffin/creamated body and have the guests be online and seeing it from the safety of their homes while the service person does the sermon. 
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: ejamer on March 26, 2020, 08:03:19 PM
Any thoughts from my US friends about Trump feeling it might be good to deploy the military to the northern border? Seems ready-made for jokes about "flee while you still can, soon Trump will have you hemmed in"... but I'm worried that some people might not find any humor there.

On a more serious note, it left me with mixed feelings. Confused about why the current pandemic would make this useful, until I accept that it's not really about the pandemic at all... at which point I felt kind of sad.


Guessing we are about two weeks away from the COVID-19 boom locally. Fingers crossed that it won't be bad here; we're a small enough place that we probably won't be hit hard, but have limited resources so even a smaller hit can have tough consequences.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on March 26, 2020, 11:52:10 PM
Welp the USA has the most confirmed cases of COVID-19.    82,791.  China has 81,285.  USA has recovered 224 of those 82,791. China has recovered 74,051 of those 81,285 cases.  It is looking like it is going to get worse before it gets better. 

https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/coronavirus-news-latest-2020-03-26/



I don't know how much I believe this, as Spain stated that 60% if the test they received from China were giving false negatives on first test....

China's numbers may be FUBAR'd/manipulated so they can get back to work.

edit: I was only able to skim bits of the article earlier, but after reading, it's only a certain type of test and mostly coming from one company that were defective 70% of the time at finding positive cases.... which could lead to sending the infected home to spread amongst friends and fam unknowingly.
https://www.businessinsider.com/coronavirus-spain-says-rapid-tests-sent-from-china-missing-cases-2020-3

so I have to retract previous statements with caution. Hopefully all the other rapid test are proving more accurate.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: broodwars on March 27, 2020, 07:26:32 AM
China's numbers are absolutely being covered up. I don't know why anyone believes anything China says at this point, considering they've been lying and covering up this virus since the beginning. When all this is over, I hope the rest of the world re-evaluates their relationship with China as a result.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Ian Sane on March 27, 2020, 11:56:02 AM
Any thoughts from my US friends about Trump feeling it might be good to deploy the military to the northern border?

The northern border?  Had to confirm that to make sure you didn't mistype.  So the US is worried that infected Canadians might flee our social medical system to use an American one we would have to pay for (travel insurance probably doesn't cover ILLEGAL border crossings)?  Or maybe we'll sneak over to try to shop at the mall that is probably closed in the first place?  If things really got out of hand here then I suppose there might be a rush at the border if Canada was doing a significantly worse job of handling the virus than America but I don't any sign of that.  The only other situation I could see that would cause a surge of Canadians crossing would be if something essential that we import from America was cut off and we had to cross the border to obtain it.  Anyone know of anything like that?  Is this a preemptive move for something that America is going to cut off?  Please tell me we don't get the tests from the States.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: nickmitch on March 27, 2020, 12:18:27 PM
The US President says a lot of things that don't end up happening.  Especially with regards to the corona virus outbreak, I think we should just dismiss whatever he says.  Listen to the experts.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BeautifulShy on March 27, 2020, 12:21:19 PM
The US President says a lot of things that don't end up happening.  Especially with regards to the corona virus outbreak, I think we should just dismiss whatever he says.  Listen to the experts.
QFT
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: ThePerm on March 27, 2020, 08:46:13 PM
People should also stay away from bats. Bats who get infected by people will not practice social distancing.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: that Baby guy on March 27, 2020, 10:22:44 PM
I'm in Florida. Not near where most exposure has been. It should be interesting to watch. The tough thing to bear in mind is that cases tested for today are likely cases where infection occurred about a week or two ago.

In this time, it's gotten considerably warmer and nearly everything is closed. I know it became almost meme-level news, but the beaches that were open were only open initially because those in power didn't think enforcement would be possible.

I'm hoping we see a considerable drop in growth/spread rate of infections down here, but we'll see.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on March 28, 2020, 02:11:38 AM
It's amazing we've made it this far.... the **** we have to deal with. SMFH (https://www.vox.com/2020/3/27/21197647/dont-call-the-woman-in-michigan-trumps-pettiness-was-on-display-during-fridays-coronavirus-briefing)
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: stevey on March 28, 2020, 03:21:52 AM
When he starts incompetently naming drugs by name

How else are they supposed to talk about it? They also named Remdesivir (that drug invented to fight Ebola), Immune Sera, Convalescent Serum, Monoclonal antibodies, and others. The press conferences are supposed to be status reports and discussing them is relevant.

that are at an early testing phase live on National TV and incorrectly states that it's been approved by the FDA as a "cure" then he does have blame in this.

Where in the transcripts does he say that? I posted each day's conferences and nowhere does he proclaim it a "cure". The closest thing is on the 19th where he said it was approved (for the trails in NY that started on 24th/25th) which didn't get final approval until a few days later.

When those same statements are parroted on Faux News as "truth" and "cure" then the blame does fall on the man some want to call a "leader" to have mislead them into thinking his statements were in any way true.

The only citation I can find for the Fox news repeating "it's a cure" is this:
Quote
https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/trump-fox-news-coronavirus-treatment-advice-972042/
But Fox News is already all in. On her show Monday night, Laura Ingraham brought on a man who says his symptoms dissipated after taking the drug. She later spoke to Dr. Meredith Clement, an LSU infectious-disease expert who has incorporated [hydroxychloroquine] in the “algorithm” by which they treat patients, but noted that it was “too soon to tell” whether it’s effective. “We don’t know and we need further data,” Clement said. “We need to collect the clinical data … to see if we’re going to see much of a benefit.”
The article is set up to frame it like Fox news is saying "it's a cure" but if you look at the actual words quoted they aren't. They're just messaging it as promising.

He's told so many lies up to this point, I'm not sure why anyone listens to anything he says... but that's just me.

Honestly, I can say the same exactly thing about all media. They've told so many lies and half truths up to this point, I don't trust anything they say and instead go immediately to the source material. Over half of the time it's false or very distorted. Be it about the president, Sanders, Tulsi, Obama, the Pope, Syria, China, Corona Beer, etc... They're no better than tabloids at this point and lie about everyone on all sides. '00 meme of Faux news just became the new normal for all news outlets since around 2013. Not defending fox but annoyed at all of them.

I wouldn't care about the media being contrarians on political stuff since that's always happened on some level for centuries but this time they're literally going to cause people to die. Michigan and Nevada governors have banned hydroxychloroquine because these dumb hit pieces claiming them as "unscientific" and "false hope cures" to make him look bad. And when they do approve hydroxychloroquine, there's definitely going to be stories of people refusing to take it because they heard it doesn't work and will kill them just like anti-vax'ers.

The US President says a lot of things that don't end up happening.  Especially with regards to the corona virus outbreak, I think we should just dismiss whatever he says.  Listen to the experts.

Maybe his tweets but the press conferences that are being attacked as disinformation are made up of the experts (and CEO's for whatever reason) reporting on the Coronavirus with introductions/remarks from the VP or President. What's said in them aren't much different than the daily NJ, NY, and PA governor press conferences I've also been watching. (Yeah, I'm consuming way too much content about this. I'll stop eventually.) There's no reason not to listen to them. If he says something wrong, he'll be corrected by Dr. Tony Fauci a few minutes later.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: stevey on March 28, 2020, 03:37:21 AM
It's amazing we've made it this far.... the **** we have to deal with. SMFH (https://www.vox.com/2020/3/27/21197647/dont-call-the-woman-in-michigan-trumps-pettiness-was-on-display-during-fridays-coronavirus-briefing)

Ignoring everything political about that article or basically the whole article, I'm actually glad GM is being bullied. They never got criminally punished for the ignition switch scandal and their downright evil actions around it so being bossed around by the defense production act is good karmic payback.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: ShyGuy on March 28, 2020, 09:52:35 AM
It's amazing we've made it this far.... the **** we have to deal with. SMFH (https://www.vox.com/2020/3/27/21197647/dont-call-the-woman-in-michigan-trumps-pettiness-was-on-display-during-fridays-coronavirus-briefing)

Ignoring everything political about that article or basically the whole article, I'm actually glad GM is being bullied. They never got criminally punished for the ignition switch scandal and their downright evil actions around it so being bossed around by the defense production act is good karmic payback.

Bam!
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on March 28, 2020, 02:19:14 PM
If a president wants to be presidential and bring hope to the masses of worried individuals around the world, he can simply state that they are working on many different treatments and have found some that are promising that are currently going through testing.

To irresponsibly start naming drugs as good treatments, when that has not yet been proven as such and also stating that it has been approved as it is already available, is not only stupid, but highly irresponsible. It has led to may hospitals around the world not only treating the virus, but also overdoses/poisoning from people taking the supposed treatment that was touted as approved and available now.

I'm not gonna dig up videos of him touting such, but will just provide a link, and just for semantics (cure/treatment, same difference) here (https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/19/politics/trump-fda-anti-viral-treatments-coronavirus/index.html)

the effect being the the desperate and very uninformed now look for this cure/treatment that is "available" and the manipulative opportunist start using that info to make money and push product.
All things that wouldn't have happened under actual responsible and accountable leadership. here (https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/23/africa/chloroquine-trump-nigeria-intl/index.html).

but we don't need to focus on that.

As for the GM thing.... bullied not bullied, it's something he should've enacted the minute it was decided the plants were being shut down and the products were needed. He shouldn't have waited an additional 1.5 weeks to do it. Everything about this crisis is being mishandled. And that article  goes back to show someone showing the same behavior that led him to being impeached in the first place.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on March 28, 2020, 03:10:41 PM
And now they considering locking down New York State as a whole.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-52079121

Rhode Island police already hunting down New York escapees to send them back to QUARANTINE!!
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-03-27/rhode-island-police-to-hunt-down-new-yorkers-seeking-refuge

This is getting comical in the darkest of humor ways.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: ThePerm on March 28, 2020, 04:29:51 PM
Also pathological marketing is a problem. It's best to state the facts without going into 2 minute marketing spasms. Any drugs you take you should consult a physician. There's no need to take one instance of something you heard offhand and pivot on it because "you got a feeling" The study he was talking about was like 20 people. You can't do percentage math on 20.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on March 28, 2020, 06:56:08 PM
One day.... the movie/limited-series* on this whole previous 3+ years is going to me AMAZING (https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2020/3/28/21197995/coronavirus-stimulus-trump-inspector-general-wont-comply)

I wonder how all the corporate bailouts will be handled :rolleyes:


*it will be 6 seasons and a movie, each season more ridiculous than the last.....
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: that Baby guy on March 28, 2020, 08:31:40 PM
On a different note, back with the Florida stuff, we're at nearly 4k cases. That said, almost half of all our cases are in two counties at one end of the state. My impression based on local things I've seen, these two counties get a lot of traffic from New York, and I believe it's suspected that many of the cases came from people fleeing New York just a little too late or via plane, getting exposed. If I had access to legacy numbers, I'd like to track our spread and growth of cases over the last two weeks. It seems like a lot, but it also feels like it's going slower in all counties but those two than were expected.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: broodwars on March 28, 2020, 10:30:54 PM
On a different note, back with the Florida stuff, we're at nearly 4k cases. That said, almost half of all our cases are in two counties at one end of the state. My impression based on local things I've seen, these two counties get a lot of traffic from New York, and I believe it's suspected that many of the cases came from people fleeing New York just a little too late or via plane, getting exposed. If I had access to legacy numbers, I'd like to track our spread and growth of cases over the last two weeks. It seems like a lot, but it also feels like it's going slower in all counties but those two than were expected.

Indeed. I'm in the Orlando area, and the whole thing is more a mild nuisance than a crisis. We had a run on the grocery stores, but since the stores restocked & imposed harsh limits things have been fairly manageable. If it weren't for the occasional person in a mask and the lighter-than-usual traffic, you wouldn't think anything was going on.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BeautifulShy on March 28, 2020, 11:53:02 PM
So our local news here is AZ reported that it is last in the nation for testing.  It is pretty bad here in AZ. The health official that is dealing with this crisis here has said that because there is so few test kits here that doctors should stop testing and that is wreckless. It has gotten worse and worse each day our cases of confirmed cases of COVID-19.   Our Governor wants to keep health spas, massage parlors and many similar establishments to remain open at this time.
https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/elviadiaz/2020/03/27/arizona-ranks-last-nation-covid-19-tests-outrageous/2929152001/?fbclid=IwAR1DA0L2iTqlyuTc2WiIBt_W_KKDaTc7oEVpDbJAyR1q3snIG3dx5USnkc4


On the plus side there is a new FDA confirmed test kit that is quicker than most other kits. Tests get done is about 5 minutes and a negative result with show up in about 14 minutes and it is about the size of a toaster.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2020/03/28/coronavirus-fda-authorizes-abbott-labs-fast-portable-covid-test/2932766001/
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: that Baby guy on March 29, 2020, 02:39:47 AM
Why is less testing reckless? I've been seeing a lot of this close to the front lines. If we're following guidelines issued by the CDC, we should be avoiding most situations where we could spread the virus. If we have symptoms of the virus, we should be self-quarantining. If we have the flu, we should be self-quarantining at home to get better. The only situation where a test is directly relevant to safety is when it comes to diagnosis and subsequent treatment for those with severe medical issues. The point is, knowing you've caught COVID-19 vs. having all the symptoms and not having it confirmed is mostly pointless. A very small number of sites do have drive-through testing, but even that is only for those with symptoms, and are often by appointment only. From a public safety standpoint, tests in those who do not need advanced medical care is also potentially problematic; It's believed those who test negative are more likely to place themselves in situations where they are susceptible to exposure compared to those who aren't tested at all.

I can also say with confidence, at least in Florida, that the problem isn't really with test kits per say, but actually collection kits. Basically, the swabs, vial, and bag that are used to collect a sample. Doctors and the health department here are just about out, and due to massive, continued worldwide demand, there hasn't been much capability to replenish them. In addition, I'm hearing from sources at the state level, most supplies Florida thought they had secured and were expecting were rerouted to New York. In fact, I'd wager that if you're disappointed in your state's response in general, a portion of the problem is that the spread has been so rapid and at such a pace in NY that most states are having experiencing setbacks to inititial plans because New York is receiving supplies initially allocated for other states.

All that said, I don't know your AZ's situation at all. Our governor basically shut everything down a week ago, after having already shut most things mostly down. There's been a lot of criticism about the beaches, but my understanding is the beach problem is more a matter of enforcement, which is why it's being left to individual counties to decide if they are capable and have the manpower to close the beach.

A fun thing I just saw was that NY's governor was being grilled about why ventilators are being held in storage. Gov. Cuomo got flustered and tried to explain they were being staged for when and where they would be needed. He did an awful job at explaining this, but he's not incorrect in any way. I've said NY has "taken" a lot of our supplies, but that's sort of the way it's supposed to work. If NY is hit harder, it makes sense for their governor to appeal to requisition more necessary supplies, and it also makes sense to project out an increasing number of cases based on what we've seen with this. I know Cuomo has complained about what he's received and what NY has, but it's effectively a "squeaky wheel gets the grease" situation. Squeaking is what he should be doing right now. What I hope is that fewer other states get into situations where they have to start "squeaking," too.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BeautifulShy on March 29, 2020, 03:16:52 PM
Quote
Why is less testing reckless?

Reason why it is wreckless is because of the uncertanty of who has it and who could potentually pass it on to someone else without realizing it.  Yes folks are supposed to be staying inside and all that comes with that but the problem is that not everyone is here in AZ and there is certain essental services from our Governor's executive order which is allowing the virus to spread more and more so when someone has to go out for something that is absolutely necessary then there is a chance that they can catch the virus or if they unknowingly have it and go out then that can spread things even more.  If we had more testing we can know which area of a state has it so we are better informed so as to not go in areas where the virus is more focused and maybe people in this state will actually use some common sense and not go out and infect other people or get infected.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: ThePerm on March 29, 2020, 03:56:57 PM
The snowbirds has made this worse than it would be too. AZ is filled with older people from the Northern states and Canada. When I was at Wal-mart on March 12 around the time **** hit the fan. My friend was telling me his neighbor died(of cancer) and her house was packed with snowbirds at her estate auction.

Apparently they've been rushing home. So there'll probably be a big wave over in Canada, which will probably feed into a wave 2.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BeautifulShy on March 29, 2020, 04:26:13 PM
The snowbirds has made this worse than it would be too. AZ is filled with older people from the Northern states and Canada. When I was at Wal-mart on March 12 around the time **** hit the fan. My friend was telling me his neighbor died(of cancer) and her house was packed with snowbirds at her estate auction.

Apparently they've been rushing home. So there'll probably be a big wave over in Canada, which will probably feed into a wave 2.

You know I didn't even think about that till now. For those that don't know the term. Snowbirds is typically folks coming down to the Phoenix metro area from Flagstaff and northern AZ in the winter months and staying here until summer time around May and then they go back up to northern AZ to avoid the 120 degree summers here in metro Phoenix.  That can make this situation worse than it is.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Luigi Dude on March 29, 2020, 05:01:49 PM
The snowbirds has made this worse than it would be too. AZ is filled with older people from the Northern states and Canada. When I was at Wal-mart on March 12 around the time **** hit the fan. My friend was telling me his neighbor died(of cancer) and her house was packed with snowbirds at her estate auction.

Apparently they've been rushing home. So there'll probably be a big wave over in Canada, which will probably feed into a wave 2.

Yep, as someone who lives in Wisconsin and works in retail Optical, many of the customers I sell to go to either Arizona or Florida for the winter then come back to Wisconsin for Spring.  Now the place I work is currently closed until April 6th, but I hope they'll extend it.

Seriously, all it will take is one of these snowbirds coming into the store on a day it's busy and that **** will spread like wildfire.  Doesn't help that the store is normally packed on a regular weekend, but with the 2 week closer, there's a ton of people who were expecting there glasses during this time that will probably come rushing back.

It also doesn't help that the few days before the store was closed and we were telling customers it would be closed, the people who got the angriest were the most elderly.  Literally the people who would be at the greatest risk for this virus were the ones thinking we were overacting by closing the store for at least 2 weeks.  I mean this is why there needs to be a nationwide lockdown because a lot of people will ignore the warnings unless they're forced to, even those most at risk which is going to make this much worse then it should have been.  It doesn't matter if 49 states have strict measures in place, it just takes the one that doesn't follow them to make the crisis explode again.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on March 29, 2020, 05:54:08 PM
Maybe the stores need to have a temporary max occupancy put in place to limit the amount of shoppers in the store at any given time.

Like what BestBuy was doing before they closed off to interior shoppers all together.

edit:
and a minor celeb death announced
https://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/pop-culture-news/country-music-star-joe-diffie-dies-coronavirus-61-n1171666
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Shaymin on March 29, 2020, 09:55:59 PM
You can add one half of Kato-chan and Ken-chan to the list according to NHK (Japanese link, obviously) (https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20200330/k10012357011000.html).

RIP Ken-chan.

Regarding the snowbirds (who are also coming up from Florida as well): they have to self-isolate immediately upon returning to Canada and are getting routed to one of four airports that have enhanced testing capabilities.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on March 29, 2020, 10:42:11 PM
I don't really have any objective words to say at this point....
but due to lack of response for over 2 months, and even after the tepid response after the first wave hit, I guess only 100k-200k American deaths would be considered a victory according to the one who would pat himself on the back over how this has been handled so far.....

the real meat to this is that we haven't gotten anywhere near the peak of this yet if that projection is to be believed... and that's probably an understatement of what's actually expected.

I don't have the most up to date numbers, but just last week we were at what, 86k infected?
Now we're projecting 100k-200k deaths!? and that's at what.... 5% death to infection rate!? holy **** are we in for a ride here....

If only there were some projections, plans, and professionals in place to help advise the decision makers in the world in how to handle such a situation.... smfh
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: stevey on March 29, 2020, 10:44:44 PM
Wow, history could've been vastly different today if a company called Covidien didn't monopolize the ventilator industry and fucked us over because "it was not sufficiently profitable for the company".

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/29/business/coronavirus-us-ventilator-shortage.html
Quote
The U.S. Tried to Build a New Fleet of Ventilators a Decade Ago. The Mission Failed.

Thirteen years ago, a group of U.S. public health officials came up with a plan to address what they regarded as one of the medical system’s crucial vulnerabilities: a shortage of ventilators.
The breathing-assistance machines tended to be bulky, expensive and limited in number. The plan was to build a large fleet of inexpensive portable devices to deploy in a flu pandemic or another crisis.
Money was budgeted. A federal contract was signed. Work got underway.

And then things suddenly veered off course. A multibillion-dollar maker of medical devices bought the small California company that had been hired to design the new machines. The project ultimately produced zero ventilators.
That failure delayed the development of an affordable ventilator by at least half a decade, depriving hospitals, states and the federal government of the ability to stock up. The federal government started over with another company in 2014, whose ventilator was approved only last year and whose products have not yet been delivered.

“We definitely saw the problem,” said Dr. Thomas R. Frieden, who ran the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from 2009 to 2017. “We innovated to try and get a solution. We made really good progress, but it doesn’t appear to have resulted in the volume that we needed.”
The project — code-named Aura — came in the wake of a parade of near-miss pandemics: SARS, MERS, bird flu and swine flu.
Federal officials decided to re-evaluate their strategy for the next public health emergency. They considered vaccines, antiviral drugs, protective gear and ventilators, the last line of defense for patients suffering respiratory failure. The federal government’s Strategic National Stockpile had full-service ventilators in its warehouses, but not in the quantities that would be needed to combat a major pandemic.

In 2006, the Department of Health and Human Services established a new division, the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, with a mandate to prepare medical responses to chemical, biological and nuclear attacks, as well as infectious diseases.
In its first year in operation, the research agency considered how to expand the number of ventilators. It estimated that an additional 70,000 machines would be required in a moderate influenza pandemic.
The ventilators in the national stockpile were not ideal. In addition to being big and expensive, they required a lot of training to use. The research agency convened a panel of experts in November 2007 to devise a set of requirements for a new generation of mobile, easy-to-use ventilators.
In 2008, the government requested proposals from companies that were interested in designing and building the ventilators.
The goal was for the machines to be approved by regulators for mass development by 2010 or 2011, according to budget documents that the Department of Health and Human Services submitted to Congress in 2008. After that, the government would buy as many as 40,000 new ventilators and add them to the national stockpile.
The ventilators were to cost less than $3,000 each. The lower the price, the more machines the government would be able to buy.
Companies submitted bids for the Project Aura job. The research agency opted not to go with a large, established device maker. Instead it chose Newport Medical Instruments, a small outfit in Costa Mesa, Calif.
Newport, which was owned by a Japanese medical device company, only made ventilators. Being a small, nimble company, Newport executives said, would help it efficiently fulfill the government’s needs.

Ventilators at the time typically went for about $10,000 each, and getting the price down to $3,000 would be tough. But Newport’s executives bet they would be able to make up for any losses by selling the ventilators around the world.
“It would be very prestigious to be recognized as a supplier to the federal government,” said Richard Crawford, who was Newport’s head of research and development at the time. “We thought the international market would be strong, and there is where Newport would have a good profit on the product.”
Federal officials were pleased. In addition to replenishing the national stockpile, “we also thought they’d be so attractive that the commercial market would want to buy them, too,” said Nicole Lurie, who was then the assistant secretary for preparedness and response inside the Department of Health and Human Services. With luck, the new generation of ventilators would become ubiquitous, helping hospitals nationwide better prepare for a crisis.
The contract was officially awarded a few months after the H1N1 outbreak, which the C.D.C. estimated infected 60 million and killed 12,000 in the United States, began to taper off in 2010. The contract called for Newport to receive $6.1 million upfront, with the expectation that the government would pay millions more as it bought thousands of machines to fortify the stockpile.
Project Aura was Newport’s first job for the federal government. Things moved quickly and smoothly, employees and federal officials said in interviews.

Every three months, officials with the biomedical research agency would visit Newport’s headquarters. Mr. Crawford submitted monthly reports detailing the company’s spending and progress.
The federal officials “would check everything,” he said. “If we said we were buying equipment, they would want to know what it was used for. There were scheduled visits, scheduled requirements and deliverables each month.”
In 2011, Newport shipped three working prototypes from the company’s California plant to Washington for federal officials to review.
Dr. Frieden, who ran the C.D.C. at the time, got a demonstration in a small conference room attached to his office. “I got all excited,” he said. “It was a multiyear effort that had resulted in something that was going to be really useful.”
In April 2012, a senior Health and Human Services official testified before Congress that the program was “on schedule to file for market approval in September 2013.” After that, the machines would go into production.
Then everything changed.
The medical device industry was undergoing rapid consolidation, with one company after another merging with or acquiring other makers. Manufacturers wanted to pitch themselves as one-stop shops for hospitals, which were getting bigger, and that meant offering a broader suite of products. In May 2012, Covidien, a large medical device manufacturer, agreed to buy Newport for just over $100 million.
Covidien — a publicly traded company with sales of $12 billion that year — already sold traditional ventilators, but that was only a small part of its multifaceted businesses. In 2012 alone, Covidien bought five other medical device companies, in addition to Newport.
Newport executives and government officials working on the ventilator contract said they immediately noticed a change when Covidien took over. Developing inexpensive portable ventilators no longer seemed like a top priority.

Newport applied in June 2012 for clearance from the Food and Drug Administration to market the device, but two former federal officials said Covidien had demanded additional funding and a higher sales price for the ventilators. The government gave the company an additional $1.4 million, a drop in the bucket for a company Covidien’s size.
Government officials and executives at rival ventilator companies said they suspected that Covidien had acquired Newport to prevent it from building a cheaper product that would undermine Covidien’s profits from its existing ventilator business.
Some Newport executives who worked on the project were reassigned to other roles. Others decided to leave the company.
“Up until the time the company sold, I was really happy and excited about the project,” said Hong-Lin Du, Newport’s president at the time of its sale. “Then I was assigned to a different job.”
In 2014, with no ventilators having been delivered to the government, Covidien executives told officials at the biomedical research agency that they wanted to get out of the contract, according to three former federal officials. The executives complained that it was not sufficiently profitable for the company.
The government agreed to cancel the contract. The world was focused at the time on the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. The research agency started over, awarding a new contract for $13.8 million to the giant Dutch company Philips. In 2015, Covidien was sold for $50 billion to another huge medical device company, Medtronic. Charles J. Dockendorff, Covidien’s former chief financial officer, said he did not know why the contract had fallen apart. “I am not aware of that issue,” he said in a text message.
Robert J. White, president of the minimally invasive therapies group at Medtronic who worked at Covidien during the Newport acquisition, initially said he had no recollection of the Project Aura contract. A Medtronic spokeswoman later said that Mr. White was under the impression that the contract had been winding down before Covidien bought Newport.
In a statement Sunday night, after the article was published, Medtronic said, “The prototype ventilator, developed by Newport Medical, would not have been able to meet the specifications required by the government, nor at the price required.” Medtronic said that one problem was that the machine was not going to be usable with newborns.

It wasn’t until last July that the F.D.A. signed off on the new Philips ventilator, the Trilogy Evo. The government ordered 10,000 units in December, setting a delivery date in mid-2020.
As the extent of the spread of the new coronavirus in the United States became clear, Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, revealed on March 15 that the stockpile had 12,700 ventilators ready to deploy. The government has since sped up maintenance to increase the number available to 16,660 — still fewer than a quarter of what officials years earlier had estimated would be required in a moderate flu pandemic.
Last week, the Health and Human Services Department contacted ventilator makers to see how soon they could produce thousands of machines. And it began pressing Philips to speed up its planned shipments.
The stockpile is “still awaiting delivery of the Trilogy Evo,” a Health and Human Services spokeswoman said. “We do not currently have any in inventory, though we are expecting them soon.”
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on March 30, 2020, 12:24:52 AM
Wouldn't it just be a shame.....

https://www.mediamatters.org/fox-news/fox-news-worried-about-legal-action-after-misleading-viewers-about-coronavirus

Say what you want about the majority of the media, but when it comes to spin and misdirection there has been no worse offender than Faux News. So if this gets them back on the path of reporting the news instead of spinning the news, then by all means, carry on.

It's a shame that it takes the fear of getting sued to oblivion and back for the largest "news" station in the US to see the error in it's ways, but this is unfortunately the timeline we currently live in.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Luigi Dude on March 30, 2020, 12:52:00 AM
Would it just be a shame.....

https://www.mediamatters.org/fox-news/fox-news-worried-about-legal-action-after-misleading-viewers-about-coronavirus

Say what you want about the majority of the media, but when it comes to spin and misdirection there has been no worse offender than Faux News. So if this gets them back on the path of reporting the news instead of spinning the news, then by all means, carry on.

It's a shame that it takes the fear of getting sued to oblivion and back for the largest "news" station in the US to see the error in it's ways, but this is unfortunately the timeline we currently live in.

Yeah I wouldn't be surprised if the reason so many of the most at risk elderly I was talking about early were acting like this virus wasn't a big deal is because of the crap they saw on Fox news.  I mean, after telling me that it wasn't a big deal I would usually say, "well the doctors say it's more dangerous then the usual flu" and they would just roll their eyes or say it's an overreaction by the media.

When many of the older customers are usually more conservative, it's not hard to put 2+2 together to see where they got their news from and why they're not as concerned as they should be.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on March 30, 2020, 09:41:22 AM
Coronavirus III: John Oliver's Last Week Tonight
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ElIf2DBrWzU&feature=emb_title


I feel this is a good voice of clarity (with a sense of humor) on the situation. He points out some of the same issues I've had with this entire situation we're all in right now. Some of it I've shared in this thread, but it's best if you just let him explain.

and some prior episodes on the same topic if you want to see the progression.

Coronavirus II: 3/15
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ElIf2DBrWzU

Coronavirus I: 3/01/2020
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c09m5f7Gnic


edit:
First sitting lawmaker/representative dies from a virus:
https://www.crainsdetroit.com/obituaries/state-rep-isaac-robinson-dies-suspected-coronavirus-infection
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: ejamer on March 30, 2020, 10:31:14 AM
Yeah I wouldn't be surprised if the reason so many of the most at risk elderly I was talking about early were acting like this virus wasn't a big deal is because of the crap they saw on Fox news.  ...

I saw one poll where they made a statistically significant correlation between watching Fox News and either downplaying or outright ignoring the COVID-19 threat... however, that poll came from a liberal-leaning source. So even though it seems like an obvious connection, and reported poll numbers seem to confirm the idea, I can't vouch for how fair the polling process actually was.

Unfortunately, reporting on just the news and relying on actual facts instead of mixing in opinions for entertainment value is a bit of a lost art. :(
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Ian Sane on March 30, 2020, 11:59:05 AM
My parents are not downplaying the virus but they don't appear to quite get all the details of what social distancing is.  Typically on Friday after work my brother and I go to our parents' place to have dinner with Dad.  Mom visits her father on that evening so we're keeping Dad company.  On Friday my Dad phones me.  "Are you guys coming?"  "No!  Of course not! I thought it was assumed we wouldn't."  "I assumed the opposite actually."  "Haven't you been watching the news?  Why would we come by?!"

It's like for some reason we're the exception.  My Mom isn't visiting her father, and the church is closed, and their curling club has suspended the season, and our youngest brother who lives with them is now working from home but it's okay for my brother and I to visit?  I work at home so odds are I'm fine but my brother does deliveries and is routinely all over the place, including cities in the area that have been hit harder by the virus.  It's like they don't quite understand that the virus doesn't make exceptions for things you deem especially important.  Us being close family does not provide some sort of immunity.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on March 30, 2020, 01:33:43 PM
I feel you.

I have a female friend, whose daughter is good friends with my daughter, and she keeps trying to invite me to hang out or our daughters to hang out, and this most recent time was to hang out at her clients house who's baby she used to watch. and this is after visiting her other daughters house, and nieces house, and minor social gatherings with other close family....

she swears she's been "social distancing" and self-isolating and not sick and etc etc.
but just read the first paragraph again. LOL

Obviously I politely declined and reminded her of why I initially started social distancing myself from her specifically to begin with. It's like she's not aware that exceptions are not made for friends and family just because "YOU" stayed away from direct contact with strangers.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BeautifulShy on March 30, 2020, 02:27:25 PM
Well here in AZ we are over 1000 cases. 20 have died. The past two days have seen a steady increase of cases. It is going to get worse before it gets better here in Arizona.


 As for me I am sick again after not being sick for the past few days. Last night I started coughing heavily and deeply and currently today around my lips they feel really it's a weird sensation because they feel chapped as far as like the texture of my lips are like really watery so I have no idea what that is I've been sneezing a little bit this morning and coughing some so I have water and cough drops for now. I can't really buy anything else till the 1st which is in a few days cuz being a low income person sucks.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BeautifulShy on March 30, 2020, 05:36:25 PM
Well finally our Governor issued a stay at home order. It goes into effect tomorrow at 5pm.

Details are scarce as this was just announced but the few details we do have are this...

We can use essental services like the ones I listed up above but if stopped by the police or government officials of that you are using essental services.   So basically nothing really changes for me because I am really only going out for food, my meds, bills and to a store if something goes wrong and makes the home unlivable and it needs to be corrected.  Other than those I am staying inside.

https://azgovernor.gov/governor/news/2020/03/new-executive-order-stay-home-stay-healthy-stay-connected?fbclid=IwAR2s9nmM6L9GyybiDAzhjZ6kUp6O2kGSQeVU2FK1omN7r5_qO_TlJXmDwd8

Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: pokepal148 on March 30, 2020, 06:41:26 PM
How dare all of these Hospitals in New York try to hoard all these face masks. Who do they think they are? Medical facilities*that provide care for millions of people?
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on March 30, 2020, 10:10:04 PM
Is it Friday?
Craig, is that you?

Imagine being fired from your job because you showed up to work while being paid to stay home....
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/30/amazon-fires-staten-island-coronavirus-strike-leader-chris-smalls.html
(Assuming Amazon's version of the story is true)
#socialdistancing 😂🤣
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: broodwars on March 30, 2020, 10:20:50 PM
Is it Friday?
Craig, is that you?

Imagine being fired from your job because you showed up to work while being paid to stay home....
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/30/amazon-fires-staten-island-coronavirus-strike-leader-chris-smalls.html
(Assuming Amazon's version of the story is true)
#socialdistancing 😂🤣

I'm not seeing the problem here. Assuming Amazon's version of the story is true, he came in contact with someone who tested positive for Coronavirus, and he ignored instructions to stay home so he could cause trouble at work and (unintentionally?) infect his fellow workers. Even if you don't take Amazon's version of the events as truthful, he was organizing a strike during a time when the Country as a whole cannot deal with this ****. I'd have fired him, too.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on March 30, 2020, 10:43:28 PM
I'm not disagreeing with Amazon on this, I'm relating it to Craig (Ice Cube) in Friday, getting fired on his day off....

all this guy had to do was not go to work and keep getting full pay w/ benefits....
and he managed to **** that up by showing up to work anyways. LOL
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: nickmitch on March 30, 2020, 11:38:05 PM
Is it Friday?
Craig, is that you?

Imagine being fired from your job because you showed up to work while being paid to stay home....
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/30/amazon-fires-staten-island-coronavirus-strike-leader-chris-smalls.html
(Assuming Amazon's version of the story is true)
#socialdistancing 😂🤣

I'm not seeing the problem here. Assuming Amazon's version of the story is true, he came in contact with someone who tested positive for Coronavirus, and he ignored instructions to stay home so he could cause trouble at work and (unintentionally?) infect his fellow workers. Even if you don't take Amazon's version of the events as truthful, he was organizing a strike during a time when the Country as a whole cannot deal with this ****. I'd have fired him, too.

Can't really fire employees for organizing.  There's usually some union laws to protect them from that kind of retaliatory action, at least in some states.

I didn't see it mentioned that the guy was denying what Amazon said.  If Amazon is telling the truth, the guy looks like a hypocrite.  He wants Amazon to do more for their workers, and the company was giving him full paid leave because he might've been exposed.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: stevey on April 01, 2020, 12:43:34 AM
I don't really have any objective words to say at this point....
but due to lack of response for over 2 months, and even after the tepid response after the first wave hit,
Yeah, China's actions are downright evil regardin-
Quote
I guess only 100k-200k American deaths would be considered a victory according to the one who would pat himself on the back over how this has been handled so far.....
*facepalm* He was the first to try and ban travel from China in January at which the press screamed "xenophobia" and said "the flu was worse" that they then later attacked him for repeating. He also was the first to ban travel from Europe (which the press responded that quarantining was unscientific and doesn't work) before Europe restricted their own boarders a few days later. Meanwhile, Cuomo and DeBlasio resisted closing down NY till the last moment, Boris Johnson took forever to respond, Bolsonaro is still downplaying it, Turkey was in denial up until recently that there were any cases there, Sweden actively wants all its people dead, etc. He's doing no worse of a job than any major leader is currently doing. No major nation is getting an A grade for their handling of this except maybe for SK and Taiwan.

Stop making me defend a guy I don't even like. Chill out. There is only one man to blame for this pandemic and it's despot mass murder Xi Jinping. I hate how the media successfully distracted everyone away from China.

Quote
I guess only 100k-200k American deaths would be considered a victory

I don't have the most up to date numbers, but just last week we were at what, 86k infected?
Now we're projecting 100k-200k deaths!? and that's at what.... 5% death to infection rate!? holy **** are we in for a ride here....

Actually 100K deaths would be a tenth of the old best case scenario. We're looking at 1.2M deaths with lower end infection rate of 40% and maintaining a low death rate of 1%. At 70% infected and 3% death rate it would be 7M (https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/03/16/upshot/coronavirus-best-worst-death-toll-scenario.html), 10M+ for a 5% death rate.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: broodwars on April 01, 2020, 01:32:16 AM
For the record, according to Google the US had a population of 327.2 million people as of 2018.

If even 200,000 people die from Coronavirus, that's .06% of the population.

Given that the death rates we were getting out of China & Italy were over 3%, yes...if we ONLY had 200,000 deaths, that would be a victory by any measurable standard. We were seeing projections early on of over a million dead in the US. If we make it out of this with only 100,000 - 200,000 dead (or even less), that would be an amazing outcome, comparatively speaking.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on April 01, 2020, 02:26:22 AM
For the record, I'm not forcing anybody to defend anyone, and no one has forgotten about China.
We know China tried to hide it, and then contain it, and then then failed at both.

The problem is we already knew about it since last year, it was down played from the top until it was already too late, wide spread, and it caught the US with its pants down due to that down-playing.

My focus is how the US responded when we had the heads up, but no one had the authority to act.
When all our defenses towards something like this have effectively been dismantled, defunded, and/or ignored over teh last few years. That goes towards the Pandemic Plan, the Subject Matter Experts, and the upgrading of the National Stockpile.

Of course hindsight is 20/20, but when the focus has purely been on pumping federal funds into giving roid shots to the stock market to prop the economy (and boost the bank accounts of the already filthy rich), and trimming on all the other things put in place for reasons that may not seem so apparent until they become a problem again once removed, the problems we are having right now never had to be as bad as they are right now.

If actual action was taken and not retroactively spoken into "existence" as if we didn't all witness this all take place in real time, we would have tons more PPE for "essential" workers, and respirators for anywhere that needed it. Obviously we wouldn't be able to save everyone, but we could've been much better prepared if certain people were more focused on doing the job they were elected for and not simply doing anything to retain power and continue bolstering the egos and net worth of their largest donors and silent power players, we'd all be in a better place today.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: broodwars on April 01, 2020, 08:04:25 AM
Not to get political, but I'd like to remind you that Washington in general was obsessed with a certain spectacular waste of time and money in December and the 1st half of January. Perhaps if that wasnt going on, the government could have moved on all this sooner. No one, not the media, not the government, and certainly not The People had any interest in China's latest virus until February. The primary entity at fault there was China. They lied and have continued to lie about their infection & death counts to this day, making it near impossible for the countries they infected to form a strategy for dealing with this virus.

Of course, Trump (for his many, many, MANY faults) tried to stop this early on with a China travel ban, and I seem to distinctly remember the Democrats & the media calling him a racist for doing so. Damned if you do, damned if you don't. That's just the nature of the job, but isn't hindsight a wonderful thing?
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: that Baby guy on April 01, 2020, 08:52:55 AM
From what I've been hearing at my job in public safety, the main reason we've had trouble getting supplies up until very recently is the production shutdown/slowdown in China when this began, followed by the high demand for these supplies worldwide. From what I can gather, we've been trying to get these supplies, but kind of like how I said NY ended up getting Florida's supplies last week, and how there are complaints Florida got other states' supplies, essentially the supplies we wanted were going to Europe. I think the biggest problem we've had is focusing so much of our manufacturing in China created this inability to get supplies. I suppose the president could have used/threatened the act he's used to make GM and others produce medical supplies earlier, but like stevey said, given the reaction to closing flights to China, it wouldn't have gone over well. Seizing the means of production is a much more serious act, as well.

I'm pretty much in agreement with stevey here. I haven't seen anyone suggest any idea that would have been viable for us that any US president could have acted on. If you've got a concrete idea that could have been taken to help, that would have been viable based on the information we knew midway through February, share it.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Adrock on April 01, 2020, 10:55:04 AM
Of course, Trump (for his many, many, MANY faults) tried to stop this early on with a China travel ban, and I seem to distinctly remember the Democrats & the media calling him a racist for doing so. Damned if you do, damned if you don't. That's just the nature of the job, but isn't hindsight a wonderful thing?
The travel ban wasn’t coming from a place of altruism. It wasn’t for the sake of public safety. Dude has been calling COVID-19 “the China virus” which is hella racist.

Also, how would the travel ban even work as intended? Were they going to prevent United States citizens traveling abroad from reentering the country? There’s also the issue of potentially infected people from other countries traveling out of China to their country then to the United States. Removing politics and the media from this entirely, the travel ban strictly targeting China would have been ineffective. All it would have done in addition to referring to Coronavirus as “the China Virus” (which by the way, is grammatically incorrect) is embolden and enable racists to be more publicly racist to people of Asian descent. The government would have to ban ALL travel from every country for it to potentially work as a method of containment. And even then, that’s assuming people who were infected didn’t already get into the country before the travel ban was enacted.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on April 01, 2020, 11:01:37 AM
The U.S. had the intelligence and resources far beyond what we find out about publicly in the news.
They knew what was going on, and could've taken all sorts of preventative measures.

Not to take any blame whatsoever away from China, but had any attempt at any action against this been communicated by a coherent adult that can really communicate functionally, it might have been communicated to the full body of representatives and the public what and why any action that was taking place was taking place.

Our Government also has the ability to multi-task. Had the President actually stayed focused on his job, instead of spending literally more than half his time golfing, and ALL of his down time watching the news for talking points or reasons to attack people on twitter, or maybe actually listening to the briefings held each and every morning (and this is not excluding his time focusing on whether or not he is going to be impeached, as he chose not to participate in any way, so no reason to not go be productive elsewhere.... or at all on anything)

Had the senate not blocked practically any attempt to do anything forward thinking, helpful, and basically their jobs for the past 3+ years. and had the president not focused on dismantling basically anything the previous administration set in place or attempted to strengthen simply because of "who" the previous admin was.... who knows how we as a country could've been prepared or ready to react or even act once such a pandemic happened.

and yes, he also had the Presidential production act, and his advisors where pleading with him to use it since beginning of March (or earlier) because of everything up above has left us grossly unprepared for what was coming.

So you all can deflect blame solely to China for this problem being worldwide and widespread, and you wouldn't be wrong, because China is to blame for that. But you are still ignoring that none of this had to be as bad as it is right now had our actual representation spent time actually representing us and not focusing on cashing favors or paying back debts with policies that are questionable at best and borderline treason-ish at worse.

Even in the light of such an outcome, they are still focused on the economy and "re-election" instead of doing all they can to save the people that put them in the place they are to help us now.

It's only fitting for an admin that has been nothing but chaos, scandal, and incompetence from the get-go to likely end with probably the largest disaster in US history.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Adrock on April 01, 2020, 11:42:07 AM
So you all can deflect blame solely to China for this problem being worldwide and widespread, and you wouldn't be wrong, because China is to blame for that.
I respectfully disagree, mainly the “solely” part. Globally, we were all grossly unprepared for a pandemic. No one took this seriously until March, and even then, once you go down the rabbit hole of just the United States, you may realize that something like suppressing minimum wage while ignoring inflation as the cost of living increased can have dramatic effects decades later.
Quote
It's only fitting for an admin that has been nothing but chaos, scandal, and incompetence from the get-go to likely end with probably the largest disaster in US history.
I’m still definitively going with slavery as the largest disaster in United States history. I know you said “probably” and I’m just being pedantic.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on April 01, 2020, 12:19:13 PM
Well, if China had not tried to cover up the infection, and instead got WHO and other world leaders involved early on, we could have all helped mitigating the potential spread early on.

China literally tried to keep the lid on this boiling pot till it started spilling over the sides and whistling through the rattling lid. China is to blame for how this became so widespread worldwide (they literally let 100's of 1000's of people leave China and go to other countries after they knew how contagious this was, but said nothing hoping it would fade away). Had they at least prevented people from leaving until being tested... they could've saved countless lives around the world. The doctor that originally called it out and ultimately died from the virus was silenced. The public was informed too late (Gov Intelligence was already fully aware, just not pre-active)

with everything being all over the place, naturally the narrative changes to how your local gov reacted to it, and that was the focus of my various rants on the matter. But I think we all know who to blame for even giving this virus the opportunity to become the global incident it currently is.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Adrock on April 01, 2020, 12:25:01 PM
That’s fair. I misinterpreted what you meant. I thought you were saying China in general, not specifically its negligent and corrupt government.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on April 01, 2020, 12:36:42 PM
It's only fitting for an admin that has been nothing but chaos, scandal, and incompetence from the get-go to likely end with probably the largest disaster in US history.
I’m still definitively going with slavery as the largest disaster in United States history. I know you said “probably” and I’m just being pedantic.

and I agree with you on this. I was in a rush to leave when typing that out, but I should have said probably "one of" the worst disasters in U.S. History.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: broodwars on April 01, 2020, 03:05:23 PM
Looks like my state of FL will be going on a 30 Day lockdown starting tomorrow. My office has been put on a list of government-sanctioned essential services, so it's pretty much business as usual for me.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: that Baby guy on April 01, 2020, 04:34:30 PM
I took a look at what was listed in the executive order. The previous executive orders from prior weeks placed us in almost the same condition, anyway. Restaurant dining rooms were already closed, as wer bars and clubs. This order gives a lax definition of essential, basically saying business is essential, and orders people not out for essential reasons, which include business, food, and necessities, they should be at home.

I'm not a lawyer, though. I just read the order and didn't see how all that much would change. Recreational activities are still allowed, as long as proper social distancing is observed. Church and religious services are still allowed.

I haven't seen anyone out and about here since restaurants dining rooms closed a week and a half ago. I don't know what the beach situation is beyond what's been in the news, but I know our county closed all parks about the same time as the restaurants went carry out only.

I know a lot of people outside of Florida were upset no statewide order had been issued, but I just don't really know what the difference will be. I suppose we'll see starting tomorrow. I'll still be at work, I know that.

I've been watching our numbers in state since the emergency management started fielding daily calls with all the county emergency management directors. We're up to almost 7000 cases now. Between the end of the last week and now, we've had about 700-800 new cases a day.

On 3/25, 502 cases confirmed. 3/26 saw 543. 3/27 had 673. 3/28 had 731. Our biggest increase was 3/29, which saw 898, and 3/29, there were slightly fewer, 873.

For comparison, each one of those days had over 6000 people tested. On the 25th, 29th, and 30th, well over 7000 people were tested each day. The report I'm looking at doesn't have yesterday's numbers, but https://fdoh.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/8d0de33f260d444c852a615dc7837c86 is an interactive map that shows a chart graphing daily numbers. I'm on a phone, so I don't feel like making that a proper link. What I'm seeing is a slowdown in the growth of new cases, which I'm hoping means our methods have been effective, and pretty soon we get a reduction in cases. At the same time, at the state level, they've said a lot more collection kits are becoming available, so we may see an increase in positives combined with a much larger increase in ratio of negative test results to positive tests.

Or, this could be like Italy, in which case we see a small lull, and things rocket back up. Time will tell.

The one thing I'm sure of is that it's shocking how many people who meet pretty tough test criteria are coming back negative. The days I posted above saw 4220 new cases. The state had 42,109 tests completed over this period. Roughly 1/10 people who meet the criteria actually had the virus if testing is accurate. The testing criteria for Florida can be found in this pdf: http://flhealthsource.gov/pdf/03282020-clinical-guidance-chart.pdf

I think we're seeing virtually all of priority 1 & 2 of that list being tested. I don't know about those in priority 3. Up until March 28th, the requirements were slightly more strict.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BeautifulShy on April 01, 2020, 04:47:04 PM
Quote
I took a look at what was listed in the executive order. The previous executive orders from prior weeks placed us in almost the same condition, anyway. Restaurant dining rooms were already closed, as wer bars and clubs. This order gives a lax definition of essential, basically saying business is essential, and orders people not out for essential reasons, which include business, food, and necessities, they should be at home.

I'm not a lawyer, though. I just read the order and didn't see how all that much would change. Recreational activities are still allowed, as long as proper social distancing is observed. Church and religious services are still allowed.

I haven't seen anyone out and about here since restaurants dining rooms closed a week and a half ago. I don't know what the beach situation is beyond what's been in the news, but I know our county closed all parks about the same time as the restaurants went carry out only.

So it is pretty much the same as it is here in AZ so not any real change from before. 

In other personal news I had to pay my phone bill and go to the bank and it is very eerie seeing limited people on the bus and no one inside restaurants.    It doesn't seem real ya know but it is.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on April 01, 2020, 07:53:48 PM
Looks like my state of FL will be going on a 30 Day lockdown starting tomorrow. My office has been put on a list of government-sanctioned essential services, so it's pretty much business as usual for me.

Better late than never... thankfully Spring Break had to end at some point. (I know some of these businesses survive because of the boost of income in certain seasons....)
Hopefully this doesn't lead to many other states now getting an increase in infection and subsequent deaths that may have been avoided if not for Spring Breakers Spring Breaking.

edit:
another minor celeb death :(
https://variety.com/2020/music/news/adam-schlesinger-coronavirus-dead-dies-1203552130/


edit 2:
according to this video, the global death rate is just barely under 5%
we are so behind on testing, there are people that have passed during this epidemic that were only suspected but never confirmed of having the virus, and I can only assume that would not be counted into the totals.
(also the blatant lies on camera, as if we couldn't literally just pull up video contradicting the lies and show it to them while their lying about it....)

What I wouldn't give to watch a live press conference where they are called out in real time with a large screen monitor playing back themselves saying, acknowledging and/or doing exactly what they just tried to tell us they never said, never did or didn't know anything about.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on April 02, 2020, 02:00:51 AM
#truth #facts - When Fox News accidentally lets the truth slip out. LOL
https://twitter.com/i/status/1245529084534366208


Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Spak-Spang on April 02, 2020, 04:05:56 AM
Hey Thanks BnM.  Good to hear my adopted home is doing better than my real home...actually no it is still depressing.  But seriously, South Korea has been crazy good on this this.

1) They decided to go with the first test made available even before it was fully tested a German test...then when better tests arrived and they developed their own tests then they changed and retested those that did the first test.

2) Every sort of test available.  Drive-thru, Walk-Thru, Testing sites away from hospitals. 

3) Daily reports.  When a new case in your area pops up, you get a text message, telling where that case lives, and a list a places they were for the last week so you can know if you were in the same locations as them.  Then if you were in the same locations you can get tested for free. 

4) A promise from the government to take care of you if you are sick and quarantined this includes foreigners and Koreans.

5) Strict rules now are in place.  If you do not self quarantine when you arrive in the country you can be put in jail or deported.

6) South Korea is taking a very aggressive hands on approach...and it is working, and guess what.  Things are not closed.  People are going out to eat and shop.  People are living normal lives and working. But everyone washes their hands and wears face masks, clothes ones are good enough.  Plus, nobody is panicking and buying all the toilet paper here.

Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: stevey on April 02, 2020, 04:11:49 AM
#truth #facts - When Fox News accidentally lets the truth slip out. LOL
https://twitter.com/i/status/1245529084534366208
But that's classic deception by cherry picking information.
Quote
"We should have been working on it (covid test) for months. We knew about this from the WHO when, Dec 21 2019 ... we knew coronavirus was coming, we knew it was person from person"
Nobody on Dec 21, 2019 could have confidently foreseen that SARS-COV-2 would blow up like it did over it being a localized problem like the original SARS-CoV was back in 2003 (which the Chinese also lied about too). The WHO also said "Preliminary investigations conducted by the Chinese authorities have found no clear evidence of human-to-human transmission of the novel #coronavirus (2019-nCoV) identified in #Wuhan, #China" (https://twitter.com/who/status/1217043229427761152?lang=en) on January 14 and were constantly sending out mixed signals making the situation worse. It wasn't until mid to late February that most people realized this was probably going to get really bad.
Quote
US and SK had their first case on the same day.... Look at the cases they have. Look at their mortality. It because they have a very strong response and we had a very weak response.
And Italy and Spain had their first cases even later. "Look at the cases they have. Look at their mortality. America is amazing!" /sarcasm What SK is doing is good (following up on every case, cellphone tracking to find where they've been, testing and isolating those that could have been exposed) but it can't realistic be done when it spreads too far. A fairer comparison would be the response after the number of cases start growing exponentially.

I'm all for criticism when you see him not responding as well as he could be. And there's been plenty of that already which has resulted in him correcting course many times. But a lot of this stuff lately is just opponents looking to attack him and wanting to attack him with this so they're smearing him with a distorted account of the past. These political games need to stop, there's no place for it in a time of crisis.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on April 02, 2020, 02:29:33 PM
@Spak-Spang

That sounds great, wish we had a unified and dignified national response here in the US. Full efforts in some areas are compromised by the half efforts in other areas and no effort in the rest.

I had a nurse come into my work 2+ weeks ago (I think she was temp banned) denying that this pandemic was even a serious thing as she is out in public coughing, sneezing, and wiping her hands on everything (refusing tissue or even sanitizer).
"The chain is only as strong as it's weakest link"

And we have so many weak links in our local, regional and especially national response. It's quite frustrating to watch.

The half measures being taken now, with the half hearted and back handed help from the government to accommodate us just sad and embarrassing.

Forget what happened leading up to now, let's look at what is happening in response to everything so far RIGHT NOW.

If we are going to force a work/business shutdown, and stay at home measures allowing only essential workers to report to work and only essential shopping to be conducted, then take care of the people so they don't feel the need to circumvent the system and compromise every effort made to get back to normalcy as quickly as possible. People are panicked, and the delay of and subpar response so far is inexcusable on all levels and both sides of the aisle.


Edit:
And I almost forgot....
This week's unemployment set a new record 6.6M, doubling last week's new record 3.3M, for a total of 10M new people filed in the last 2 weeks.

PSA:
And if you are counting on a $1200 COVID relief check, please make sure the IRS has your direct deposit info.
Otherwise, it could 3-5 weeks till you get a paper check.
Please help your family and friends that may not be technologically inclined to get setup so they can get their money in a timely fashion.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: nickmitch on April 02, 2020, 05:54:50 PM
The issue with this pandemic is how rapidly it evolved.  China's downplaying of the initial outbreak certainly didn't help, as the World Health Organization relied on Chinese officials to assess the the situation.  That being said, once the seriousness of the virus was revealed, the situation escalated by the day, and there was a very narrow window in which to react.

I agree that the US President gets a lot of criticism when only a little bit of criticism is warranted (see: covfefe, gorilla channel, any time his tweet has a typo).  That being said, the US government has had a slow reaction, his tone when the global rhetoric around the virus began to get serious was dismissive, and the government was ill prepared when the tide turned.  Additionally, there is plenty more that he could be doing, and more that he could've done.  I get your point, Stevey, that not every dunk on him is fully warranted.

Quote
US and SK had their first case on the same day.... Look at the cases they have. Look at their mortality. It because they have a very strong response and we had a very weak response.
And Italy and Spain had their first cases even later. "Look at the cases they have. Look at their mortality. America is amazing!" /sarcasm What SK is doing is good (following up on every case, cellphone tracking to find where they've been, testing and isolating those that could have been exposed) but it can't realistic be done when it spreads too far. A fairer comparison would be the response after the number of cases start growing exponentially.

I disagree with your last point.  It's a virus.  The cases are going to grow exponentially.  But you can't even tell either way if there's nothing in place to do widespread testing.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on April 02, 2020, 07:07:57 PM
General public haven't really been paying attention, but the Gov knew much more than we did, need was reporting about it...

Here is USA Today the day Kobe died.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2020/01/26/kobe-bryant-dies-coronavirus-trump-grammys-weekends-biggest-news/4581124002


and I've just got to amplify this.... this is the kind of :jackiechanwut: that had led us on the back slide we are currently on right now.... smfh
https://twitter.com/i/status/1245852517474295809

I'm not even sure what this is supposed to mean.

"The federal stockpile is our stock pile.... not the states stock pile." - Jared Kushner

WhoTF does the Federal Represent? Who do you think funded said stockpile in the first place?
you do not get to hand out the stockpile only to those you reward for kissing the ring.
you also do not put unqualified people in charge of things they not only don't have the experience for, but the knowledge to deal with either. it's all just so GD embarrassing.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on April 02, 2020, 11:43:03 PM
Wouldn't it just be a shame.....

https://www.mediamatters.org/fox-news/fox-news-worried-about-legal-action-after-misleading-viewers-about-coronavirus

Say what you want about the majority of the media, but when it comes to spin and misdirection there has been no worse offender than Faux News. So if this gets them back on the path of reporting the news instead of spinning the news, then by all means, carry on.

It's a shame that it takes the fear of getting sued to oblivion and back for the largest "news" station in the US to see the error in it's ways, but this is unfortunately the timeline we currently live in.

man, you hate to see it happen. LOL

https://timesofsandiego.com/business/2020/04/02/washington-state-group-is-1st-to-sue-fox-news-for-calling-coronavirus-a-hoax/

I wonder if this lawsuit expands to individuals come January 2021.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on April 03, 2020, 01:17:48 AM
and I've just got to amplify this.... this is the kind of :jackiechanwut: that had led us on the back slide we are currently on right now.... smfh
https://twitter.com/i/status/1245852517474295809

I'm not even sure what this is supposed to mean.

"The federal stockpile is our stock pile.... not the states stock pile." - Jared Kushner

WhoTF does the Federal Represent? Who do you think funded said stockpile in the first place?
you do not get to hand out the stockpile only to those you reward for kissing the ring.
you also do not put unqualified people in charge of things they not only don't have the experience for, but the knowledge to deal with either. it's all just so GD embarrassing.

And just to add to the embrassment as a nation... since we didn't make moves early on, and since we downplayed till the last minute, and since we dismantled, underfunded and basically ignored all the institutions/programs/experts in place for emergency response, including the call to beef up the Federal Stock Pile last year..... we have now resorted to paying several times over what it would have cost then to steal already paid for supplies from our "allies" now.
http://www.rfi.fr/en/europe/20200402-china-coronavirus-face-mask-france-stolen-us

basically showing up on the tarmac in China with dufflebags full of cash, and hijacking shipments already bought and paid for headed to both France and Canada.... we paid 3-4x what was already paid for them, and sent them to the US instead.
I know we gotta do what we gotta do, but damn. this is all just so f'd up.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Ian Sane on April 03, 2020, 12:27:44 PM
In Canada our number of new cases was averaging around 700 per day or so until a few days ago where it jumped up to 1100 per day.  I suspected though that some of that might be increased testing.  Yesterday there were 1500.  But the more upsetting stat is 59 new deaths which is the largest single day death count in the country thus far and is more than twice the previous highest daily count of 24.  Unless people are quietly dying at home and no one is reporting the cause that is a hard number to get fudged by the amount of tests.

Quebec's number of cases has exploded and is well above other provinces but does that mean it has spread worse there or that they're testing more?  The death toll remains the highest in Ontario, but that's the most populated province so you would expect it to have the most deaths.  The Toronto area is also the most densely populated area in Canada so you would expect the virus to spread more there, like how New York City having a lot of cases makes sense.  Here in BC most of the cases are in the lower mainland which is the most populated area in the province.  The other fair-sized population centers in BC are all separated by sparsely populated areas so in theory if you restrict travel it would prevent a major spread.

In general Canada's remote population is probably an advantage in this case.  Our major cities are all quite isolated from each other compared to the United States.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on April 03, 2020, 04:08:48 PM
Now we're getting reports that due to the increasing
number of unemployment, millions of Americans may soon find themselves without any medical insurance....
https://mobile.twitter.com/JStein_WaPo/status/1246116385815703553?

So it may soon come to realization for many people that the "do nothings" in the house who passed hundreds of helpful bills that were stonewalled by the actual "do nothings" in the Senate, that nothing has been getting done in this country in the progress of helping the actual people or preparing the country for unexpected incidents such as these.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: broodwars on April 03, 2020, 05:22:14 PM
Perhaps we should just rename this topic "BlackNMild2k1 hates Republicans & especially Trump" and be done with it. Apparently, the no-politics rule has been waived  :rolleyes:

If that's the case, meanwhile, we have politicians using this crisis to abuse their power, such as...

Kentucky ordering citizens who've had Coronavirus to wear ankle bracelets meant for criminals so the government can track them and make sure they're obeying social distancing.

https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/03/us/kentucky-coronavirus-residents-ankle-monitors-trnd/index.html (https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/03/us/kentucky-coronavirus-residents-ankle-monitors-trnd/index.html)

It's always nice when the government treats its citizens like criminals while simultaneously releasing ACTUAL criminals into the wild ALSO to "fight the virus".

Or perhaps you prefer Google using its data mining to track people and ensure they're following shelter in place orders?

https://www.politico.com/news/2020/04/03/google-coronavirus-tracking-162715 (https://www.politico.com/news/2020/04/03/google-coronavirus-tracking-162715)

How about Vermont ordering Big Box stores to limit the sale of "nonessential goods"?

https://www.wcvb.com/article/vermont-tells-walmart-target-costco-to-stop-selling-nonessential-products/32007941# (https://www.wcvb.com/article/vermont-tells-walmart-target-costco-to-stop-selling-nonessential-products/32007941#)

Or how about Governor Cuomo using the National Guard to seize ventilators from less-affected hospitals to redistribute them to New York City alone?

https://www.politico.com/states/new-york/albany/story/2020/04/03/cuomo-plans-to-use-national-guard-to-seize-ventilators-from-upstate-facilities-1271376 (https://www.politico.com/states/new-york/albany/story/2020/04/03/cuomo-plans-to-use-national-guard-to-seize-ventilators-from-upstate-facilities-1271376)

Because, you know, it's not like those hospitals might need those ventilators, so at best this is trading one life for another.

California's governor has also been using some interesting language lately, today referring to "7,000 hotel, motels rooms in our possession" for housing the homeless California's laws have created over the past few years. Democrat leaders in general have had some interesting things to say lately, such as claiming that this virus is "an opportunity for imagining a more progressive era."

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/newsom-says-coronavirus-is-an-opportunity-for-reimagining-a-more-progressive-era

A crisis is an "opportunity", is it? Well, we all know that this is a "tremendous opportunity to restructure things to fit our vision", at least according to Democrat Majority Whip James Clyburn.

https://www.nationalreview.com/news/dem-rep-told-colleagues-coronavirus-bill-is-tremendous-opportunity-to-restructure-things-to-fit-our-vision/ (https://www.nationalreview.com/news/dem-rep-told-colleagues-coronavirus-bill-is-tremendous-opportunity-to-restructure-things-to-fit-our-vision/)

Because, remember: "Never let a crisis go to waste." - Rahm Emanuel.

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/rahm-emanuel-reprises-never-let-a-crisis-go-to-waste-catchphrase-amid-coronavirus-pandemic (https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/rahm-emanuel-reprises-never-let-a-crisis-go-to-waste-catchphrase-amid-coronavirus-pandemic)

I find this rush to curtail American liberties from all areas of government, from both sides of the aisle, appalling. To think, this is all it took over so short a period.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Luigi Dude on April 03, 2020, 05:29:20 PM
Well I found out today that the company I work for will keep the store closed with no set date instead of opening again next week, but all employees will now be furloughed, so we'll have to sign up for unemployment benefits to get payed.  We'll still be covered under the companies health care during this time though so that's good news, since the health plan is a pretty good one if I was to get sick.

Now we're getting reports that due to the increasing
number of unemployment, millions of Americans may soon find themselves without any medical insurance....
https://mobile.twitter.com/JStein_WaPo/status/1246116385815703553?

So it may soon come to realization for many people that the "do nothings" in the house who passed hundreds of helpful bills that were stonewalled by the actual "do nothings" in the Senate, that nothing has been getting done in this country in the progress of helping the actual people or preparing the country for unexpected incidents such as these.

Yep, hopefully this will finally get more people to realize how terrible the current health care system is and demand major reforms.  Maybe more people will finally realize why Single Payer or at the very least a Public Option would be a very important thing to have, especially during a crisis like this.  This is what's going to end up making the virus so deadly in America because so many will refuse to get tested or go to the doctor for treatment because they just cant afford it.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: broodwars on April 03, 2020, 05:32:36 PM
Well I found out today that the company I work for will keep the store closed with no set date instead of opening again next week, but all employees will now be furloughed, so we'll have to sign up for unemployment benefits to get payed.  We'll still be covered under the companies health care during this time though so that's good news, since the health plan is a pretty good one if I was to get sick.

Sorry to hear that, Luigi. Here's hoping you'll be able to get back to work soon and that you'll be able to maintain your health care for as long as you're furloughed.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Luigi Dude on April 03, 2020, 07:29:46 PM
Sorry to hear that, Luigi. Here's hoping you'll be able to get back to work soon and that you'll be able to maintain your health care for as long as you're furloughed.

Yeah that's the one thing I worry about.  Right now they say our health care is covered but if this crisis drags on into the summer, you never know what some companies might try to do to save money.   :-\

At least I have enough saved up in my bank account to still pay my mortgage and utilizes for about a year without any pay, so even if unemployment doesn't pay much, I'm covered on that end for the rest of this year.  Some of the people I work with though are living paycheck to paycheck so I hope they'll be ok during this.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on April 03, 2020, 08:47:57 PM
Sorry to hear about the furlough, but at least you're eligible for the UI Benefits and the extra $600 per week on top of that. Hopefully that is enough to cover more than the necessities and the in home extra curriculars.

Hopefully you can also defer your mortgage for a few month... but I just heard some questionable
news about that as well.... :/
If it benefited you anyone the time, refinancing about a month ago turns out to be prefect as most people closing in the last week thru this week won't have a payment for April, and maybe not even in May, so no need to even worry about the deferment issue I hear about right now.


and @Broodwars, I don't know who offended you, but I don't see the need for such an aggressive callout. I don't hate republicans, and I don't believe I've ever said as such. I think anyone in the position to make and/or enforce the laws and then subsequently and purposely breaks those very laws should be held to a higher standard and made example of. I don't care if they sit on an ass or slide down a trunk. The truth is one side as a group has tried to push some very forward thinking policies even if they can't agree on how to get it done, and another group has done all they can to stifle anything that may relinquish their own grasp on power even if it contradicts the very message they've been spewing for decades.
It's not everyone in either group that's the ideal candidate, but there's always a fistful of influencers with the power to act that push either party, and sometimes they are the bad apples themselves.
Right now we see tons of examples of traditional rules and laws being broken and absolutely nothing being done about it (from the top down). if we had just rewound to 6-8 years ago.... and playback these same stories but with those players, it'd be a whole different game right now.

The general public has a short memory span though, so that's why we are always treading water. 2 steps forward, 1 step back, 1 step forward, 2 steps back. we aren't getting anywhere.

so the fact that everything is shut down, the greed of the system is in full display, and corruption is just done out in the open for all to see, I think now is the perfect opportunity to make some broad sweeping changes to a lot of things wrong with this country and how we deal with just about everything. Like voting, Healthcare, employment, use of technology in society, public safety, etc etc.
It's a great time to look at loopholes int he societal code and anything else that leads larger problems in our society and push policy to address and ultimately fix them. (there's two clips out there of R's stating that allowing people to freely vote by mail will mean another R is never elected ever again.... (https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/490879-georgias-gop-house-speaker-says-vote-by-mail-system-would-be-devastating) and that says so much about the system and people trying to rig it)

This whole situation is gonna last much longer than April 30th and we all know that, except for the person that keeps telling us it's not, yet doesn't do anything at all to help speed this process up by just giving the national mandate to lock it all down for 45 days and lets be done with it. Take over supply distribution from a federal level so the states are not competing with each other and for god sakes distribute the National Stockpile to the places that need the damn supplies, fully enact the Defense Production Protocol like a month ago and let's start saving some lives. **** is getting ridiculous from the clips of news stories I hear/read/get told about every day. It's all just handled so poorly, and there's so many unqualified people put in position to handle so many important task, that it's frustrating to know that all the checks and balances to prevent this kind of stuff have failed us.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on April 04, 2020, 01:52:40 PM
Thanks to all this lockdown... and how busy it was at work just before all this mess began, I am LONG OVERDUE for a haircut, but my barber is currently social distancing. as expected....

So I'm gonna have to dust off the ol' clippers and hope not to need to buzz cut myself in the end. LOL
It's been a few years since I've had to cut my hair, and I've never been "great" at it, but I can trim it down (with a guard), taper the edges (w/ a guard) and maintain the hair lines in the front and face.

Anyone else having to resort to complete self-maintenance or you just letting it go?
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BeautifulShy on April 04, 2020, 02:08:18 PM
Thanks to all this lockdown... and how busy it was at work just before all this mess began, I am LONG OVERDUE for a haircut, but my barber is currently social distancing. as expected....

So I'm gonna have to dust off the ol' clippers and hope not to need to buzz cut myself in the end. LOL
It's been a few years since I've had to cut my hair, and I've never been "great" at it, but I can trim it down (with a guard), taper the edges (w/ a guard) and maintain the hair lines in the front and face.

Anyone else having to resort to complete self-maintenance or you just letting it go?

I have some friends that are in that field but I haven't had to resort to them yet. Most likely I will get it cut in June so my hair isn't getting drenched in sweat from it hanging on the nape of my neck.  Right now my hair is just past my shoulders but I can have it grow to the middle of my chest.


In similar state news our governor finally made it so that Barbers, Tanning Salons, Spas, Massage Parlors and anything to do with Cosmetology will be taken off the essentual business list.      A lot of these sort of places  have already have been closed because well the techs know their field better than the governer but what this does since they are off the essental business list it means those places can file for unemployment while they are not working and it would be valid within their community.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Khushrenada on April 04, 2020, 02:40:43 PM
I'll admit I haven't been checking this thread in awhile since I'm sort of checked out on COVID talk. At this point, I'm doing what I'm supposed to be limiting physical contact with things and people and staying as isolated as I can to work in slowing the spread. There isn't going to be a cure anytime soon and until most people do the same thing to slow down and stop the spread there isn't anything to do but wait.

As such, I've failed to notice that this thread has started to push the boundaries some more on the allowance of political talk. Mods recognize that this subject is going to involve discussion of what governments are doing to respond during the crisis and decisions they are making so there is going to be some political talk. However, a comment like this:

Quote
(there's two clips out there of R's stating that allowing people to freely vote by mail will mean another R is never elected ever again....

That really doesn't have anything to do with the topic of COVID. So far, no one has sent any reports to moderators about this thread which is a good thing. It means no one has crossed a line in their posts to warrant our involvement. Nor am I saying that only one person is at fault by using a single example from one post. It's just an easy way to illustrate the point I want to make which is when posting something in regards to politics, quickly ask yourself does it have actually have any bearing on the COVID-19 Crisis talk? I would say no to that example. Sure, it can be reasoned that it is relevant because COVID-19 might change how some political elements work later but that is speculation right now and not that relevant to what is currently happening. Try and keep things in the now.

Another bit of advice that may help pull things back from seeming too political is to just refer to politicians by the names and not their party. That way, it might help keep things focused on the individual decisions being made in the government and no one will feel the need to post what another party is doing wrong to keep things even or fair and balanced. I shouldn't because it might seem to undermine my point but the phrase is just perfectly timed for use here.

Sound reasonable?
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on April 04, 2020, 02:53:47 PM
In my defense, I only made that comment as a response to a direct call out post and it's content.

Everything else has been more directly related to the pandemic and its response by the Gov in a way that affects all of us at the mercy of their "leadership".

I've said this before, but I figure we're all adult enough to relax the usual rule and discuss a serious matter that is affecting us all in this one topic and keep it more than civil.

Edit:
I don't know if the National stockpile had been opened up to NY yet, last I heard the president wanted to investigate why they don't already have more ventilators....
But apparently China has decided to donate 1000 ventilators to NY and is shipping them over immediately, and I think they said a neighboring State (Vermont?) is donating 150 more.

I really hope that no we that China has their situation under control, they do start to step up and assist the rest of the world at their own expense to help minimize anymore needless loss of life due to lack of necessary medical equipment.

edit 2:
This is beyond sad.... (a follow up on the edit above) US Governors reaching out for foreign aid since Federal Assistance is apparently not available.

New York
https://twitter.com/NYGovCuomo/status/1246457007214931968
Quote from: NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo
We finally got some good news today.

The Chinese government helped facilitate a donation of 1,000 ventilators that will arrive in JFK today.

I thank the Chinese government, Jack Ma, Joe Tsai, the Jack Ma Foundation, the Tsai Foundation and Consul General Huang.

Maryland
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/03/us/politics/maryland-coronavirus.html
https://twitter.com/MarkLandler/status/1246484545001619460
Quote
Gov. Larry Hogan of Maryland asked his Korean immigrant wife to appeal to South Korean officials for help in combatting coronavirus. They agreed to send tests.

Massachussets
https://twitter.com/MattZeitlin/status/1246245606026358784?s=20
Quote
The governor of Massachusetts worked with local rich guy and the Chinese government because he couldn’t trust the Feds not to take their masks
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EUuNxSyXkAETzml?format=jpg&name=large
CONTEXT (https://www.wcvb.com/article/3-million-masks-ordered-by-massachusetts-were-confiscated-in-port-of-new-york/32021700#)

Just unreal.

edit 3: and Oregon is stepping up to help out NY with some ventilators since the "National" Stockpile is apparently only for Federal(?) use and not for use by (all?) the states(!)?
(https://i.imgur.com/BhsFa6v.png)

And an Asian Tech Billionaire joins the rush to Help New York in the absence of full US Federal assistance.

https://twitter.com/CNN/status/1246566005536706563
Quote
Joe Tsai, the billionaire co-founder of Chinese ecommerce giant Alibaba, and his wife Clara Wu Tsai, have donated 2.6 million masks, 170,000 goggles and 2000 ventilators to New York — the US epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic


edit 4:
Russia pitches in to New York's aide (behind a paywall so couldn't read it)
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/02/world/europe/coronavirus-us-russia-aid.html

Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on April 08, 2020, 12:24:41 AM
Le sigh..... It's a good thing the states in need took it upon themselves to find their own way...
https://twitter.com/atrupar/status/1247699968367919104?s=20
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: broodwars on April 08, 2020, 12:38:15 AM
Le sigh..... It's a good thing the states in need took it upon themselves to find their own way...
https://twitter.com/atrupar/status/1247699968367919104?s=20

As is their responsibility, yes. The federal government is, and always has been (regardless of the party in charge), a lumbering; blundering; inefficient mess. This whole situation has been a spectacular demonstration of that.

What's important here is that the states (with the possible except of the mess that is New York) seem to be set to ride out the worst of the 1st wave. I have concerns about whether anyone at any level of government has plans for dealing with the 2nd wave, because the country will not tolerate being shut down without a clear plan to return to some level of normalcy for much longer. We're already seeing the cracks forming in Europe as they deal with this. It's not doing any good that any time anyone brings up needing a path to re-opening parts of normal day-to-day life, they get shouted down.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on April 08, 2020, 03:23:59 AM
Well, by finding their own way, I was referring to seeking foreign aid to assist, and the states coordinating with themselves to help each other out where the federal gov apparently either turned a blind eye, or only provided bare minimum support. (in one case, even confiscating 1 states much needed supplies that I believe that state went and found themselves, and handing them out to another state)

In such as incident as this, I'd at least expect the Federal Gov to take control, direct supplies, and basically be the base of operations as I'm sure it's intended to be to deal with this on a National Level instead of allowing it to run it's course in each state in that states due time. It's only prolonging this whole incident.
But I'm not really sure why after the last few years I had any expectations at all ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on April 09, 2020, 10:26:00 AM
You know what they say....
Hindsight is 20/20 (2020 sucks by the way 😷)
But early Intelligence is Priceless!!
https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/intelligence-report-warned-coronavirus-crisis-early-november-sources/story?id=70031273

Summary: early reports from Intelligence came as early as Late Nov. - warned of how "cataclysmic" this could be.
Info vetted and president mentioned in press brief in Jan.

We all know it was clearly over shadowed by other events at the time, but was also being downplayed/ignored on many levels. And then wasn't acted on till very late.

Unfortunately, there still doesn't seem to be a unified plan to deal with this unprecedented situation now or going forward, and with reports saying it's going to get even worse before it gets better..... :/



In other news 🤓
6.6 million more Americans have filled for unemployment last week 😟
https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/09/economy/unemployment-benefits-coronavirus/index.html

Great depression era had been far outpaced. I know it's not an easy problem to deal with, but if we're gonna throw another $1.5 Trillion in Tax Payer money at something, i guess we should consider throwing it to the tax payers themselves ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

And i haven't read this yet so let's file it under Reading Material for Later:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-52211206
"Over half the world could be lining in poverty thanks yo the coronavirus"

And in a more local level
GOTDAMNIT PEOPLE, 🤬 STOP IT!!!
https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/bay-area-restaurants-getting-hit-by-burglars-during-coronavirus-pandemic/2268613/

the smallish business are already struggling. Your selfish acts thievery are hurting more than just a business that isn't open late at night or early in the morning. You hurting a family, employees and removing another option of sustenance for pickup/delivery from a whole community... Stop it!! /Oldforumershoutingatclouds
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: broodwars on April 09, 2020, 10:40:24 AM
Throwing money at people is a pointless gesture unless they have somewhere to spend it and won't be staring at the National Guard the moment they try to leave their home TO spend it. The country has to get businesses open and people working again to bring back the economy, or all the money in the world 5 months from now won't solve anything.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on April 09, 2020, 11:36:06 AM
"Essential" businesses are open. People need to eat. Supplies needed to be bought. Utilities need to be kept on. Rent needs to be paid. Mortgages need to be paid.
Mortgages from most lenders are deferred, but accounts are accruing balance due in 90 days.

Unemployment may cover some of those cost for some people, but i live in California. Unemployment is cutting it close

I'd say making sure everyone is financially secure for the next 90-120 days may lead to everyone actually staying the **** home so we can get ALL the businesses back up and running.

When we got everyone worrying about the next light bill, and making sure their family ain't hungry, they gonna be out doing whatever they gotta do to make those ends meet.

Rushing back to fix the economy now is only going to prolong the situation. It's too late to fix the response up to this point, but if they gonna lock it down and keep people home, then they need to mandate it nationally and let's get this over with. Staggering responses and making compliance optional just keeps the body count growing.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Kairon on April 09, 2020, 04:04:28 PM
Businesses can only function with both workers and customers able to attend them. Workers need safety to go to their jobs, customers need BOTH safety and funds o spend. Safety means beating back Coronavirus so that it's at a manageable community rate (we don't shut down for flu, for example) instead of a virulent nationwide emergency. Funds mean that people either have jobs, or have bridge money until they go back to their jobs or get new ones).

It's not going to be as simple as one thing to address the economic fallout here. If the economy is going to get back on track you need BOTH the demand side to be healthy (consumers) and the supply side to be capable of starting up operations again (businesses)
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on April 09, 2020, 07:27:56 PM
I agree.
and if we can't keep the consumers (essential, non essential, unemployed, and work from homers) to keep spending money on essential and non-essential things, then lots of the "essential" workers may soon find themselves on that non-essential and possibly even that unemployed list as well.

If we pump the tax payer money back to the tax payers to feel financially stable, instead of to the billion dollar corporations and stock market, the billion dollar corps and stock market may still make money from all the financially stable consumer continuing to consume. While at the same time, mostly staying TF home.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on April 09, 2020, 07:33:56 PM
It's official... this virus was sent to wipe us all out. Mother Nature is tired of our ****.
If we can't all get along, and we can't stop all destroying our own ****, then she apparently just wants us all gone.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-04-09/coronavirus-may-reactivate-in-cured-patients-korean-cdc-says

I really hope this doesn't affect out hopes of making an effective vaccine...
they better not be taking the "Flu" Vaccine approach with a weakened version of Corona as a "cure" either.'''

edit:
Viral Marketing attempt #53298
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-france-confinement/obesity-is-major-covid-19-risk-factor-says-french-chief-epidemiologist-idUSKBN21Q0S7

Work Out at Home Routines - get those summer bodies now and prevent COVID-19!!!
DM me for customized workout @ home plans today!!! only $19.99 each
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: nickmitch on April 09, 2020, 08:27:42 PM
Throwing money at people is a pointless gesture unless they have somewhere to spend it and won't be staring at the National Guard the moment they try to leave their home TO spend it.

I think people are more worried than they should be about National Guard deployments.  They mostly come in to fill in the gaps left by depleted government services (police, fire dept, etc).  I think people hear about National Guard deployments and think the military is coming in to enforce martial law. That's not gonna happen.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: nickmitch on April 09, 2020, 08:31:16 PM
So far, no one has sent any reports to moderators about this thread which is a good thing. It means no one has crossed a line in their posts to warrant our involvement.

I thought it meant that we all realized the mods don't read those emails. :P

But I think we all could do with avoiding sharing opinions or anything that's debatable.  Projections, expectations, or anything forward-looking regarding the spread or future response would probably be fine.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Shaymin on April 09, 2020, 09:42:58 PM
I for one read the emails, it's just that I think I've gotten one or two that haven't been related to the you-know-what-bots in months.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Spak-Spang on April 09, 2020, 10:01:15 PM
I would advice not reading the news, because the news thrives on negative news and that is bringing our culture and our minds to paranoia and breaking points.  This virus is scary, but it will pass eventually. 

The problem isn't the virus, it is people acting irrationally, selfishly, and frankly stupidly.  The supply chains are over taxed because people are being greedy and are buying too much stuff.  We are losing jobs, because the governments and news made choices that made people fear going outside, interacting with people, and basically having some sort of normal life.  Yes, Social Distancing is important, but there can be ways to social distance that don't cripple the economy.  (South Korea has done it.)  And there are ways to manage the supplies of masks, and equipment through regulation that prevents people from hoarding.  This virus is dangerous, but civilization itself is making it worse, and it is frustrating to watch. 

Manufacturing needs to come back to every country, and lets stop being foolish about buying everything from the cheapest country just because we can.  We can manufacture our own masks well enough.  Countries can invest in providing themselves which will create jobs, create energy solutions, create food solutions.  This is a chance for countries to realize that although the world is an international economy, it is time to value the local national workforce, even if it means a higher cost of living and sacrifice.

It means people need to learn to actually care for the neighbors again, and not live selfishly...not live in a manner that you think as long as I have my health and so do my loved ones it is OK.  This isn't even that hard, South Korea is fine...and I think other countries are handling this better too. 

But for America, we have to learn it isn't us vs. them.  Dems vs. Republicans.  Poor vs Rich.  Ethnicity vs Ethnicity or whatever stupid division you want to break the world into.  And we have to reclaim truth and fight against stupid fake news, opinions, and everything having an agenda. 

This has turned into a rant and I am sorry for that, but it is exhausting and stupid to see the world going this way.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on April 10, 2020, 12:33:28 AM
 I totally agree. This is all very serious, but so many people are overreacting, others are under reacting, and that's fault of communication from the top and from the news.

It's all been handled poorly and never had to be this bad. and for the fact that it's continuing to be handled so badly, it will just drag on for much longer than it ever needed to.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on April 11, 2020, 01:32:45 AM
Haha yes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAt7Rg1u2l8
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: nickmitch on April 11, 2020, 02:54:20 PM
The United States has passed Italy for highest COVID-19 death toll.

Link (https://www.wsj.com/articles/health-officials-plead-for-public-to-observe-a-locked-down-easter-11586592822?mod=hp_lead_pos1)
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Ian Sane on April 13, 2020, 01:36:28 PM
Looking at the US death toll there is 22,000 total with 9,300 in New York state.  Around 1,500 people died yesterday in America and half of them were from New York.  The second largest death toll is New Jersey with 2,300, and of course Jersey borders New York.  So what is specific about New York where the outbreak is exceptionally terrible compared to the rest of the country?  It is a very populated state but so are California and Texas and they're nowhere close.  New York City is the largest city in America and is densely populated but there are other large cities in America and they aren't as affected.  is New York's population density unique in a way that would make it more susceptible?  I know Manhattan is an island so it can't sprawl out into the countryside like other big cities can.

At the same time why was Italy hit so hard by the virus?  Is there something that was done incorrectly that caused the situation to spiral out of control that other countries avoided?  Is this all just bad luck?  Climate-wise Italy is much warmer than New York so there is no obvious common factor there.  Italy is a large peninsula with an obvious choke point from the rest of Europe.  New York City is also at the south end of a peninsula and has an obvious choke point from the rest of New York state.  Would any of that matter?  Does the geography "trap" the population in the infected area?  You would think Italy would be too large for that to matter.

If there is some sort of causation here then we can learn from it both in containing this outbreak and in dealing with future pandemics.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on April 13, 2020, 03:21:33 PM
NY does have several International airports and is a major HUB to the US from all over the world.
That mixed with the not just the density of living, but travel, and just being out in public in general (NYC specifically) along with the delayed response partially in part to the downplaying of the seriousness of this situation early on, and the continued lack of testing, all lead to reasons why this has gotten so out of control.

I believe in California we aren't as condensed at the people in NYS and especially NYC, so the same exact response at the same exact time has led to far less devastating results. Not to mention we are a far large state (in physical size) so may have had more places to stockpile out own supplies and not rely so heavily on the lack of government assistance (that has been threatened to be taken away so many times and for so many reasons in these past few years).
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Order.RSS on April 13, 2020, 04:42:57 PM
At the same time why was Italy hit so hard by the virus?  Is there something that was done incorrectly that caused the situation to spiral out of control that other countries avoided?  Is this all just bad luck?  Climate-wise Italy is much warmer than New York so there is no obvious common factor there.  Italy is a large peninsula with an obvious choke point from the rest of Europe.  New York City is also at the south end of a peninsula and has an obvious choke point from the rest of New York state.  Would any of that matter?  Does the geography "trap" the population in the infected area?  You would think Italy would be too large for that to matter.

If there is some sort of causation here then we can learn from it both in containing this outbreak and in dealing with future pandemics.

I'm not an expert at all, so take this as pure opinion: but I think there's a case to be made for Italy and the U.S. to be regarded as outliers, and think they make a poor base of comparison for each other. (Inversely, it'd also be a bad idea to compare with countries like South Korea which seems to be handling COVID a lot more effectively.)

In addition to geography not really inhibiting air/shipping traffic, another factor to consider is age, too. Italy has one of the oldest populations on Earth (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/resources/the-world-factbook/fields/343rank.html). That's much less the case for the United States.
I think it's fair to say at this point that COVID is disproportionally dangerous/deadly to the elderly. Couple this with 23% of Italian 30-49 year olds sharing residences with their parents (https://www.wsj.com/articles/family-is-italys-great-strength-coronavirus-made-it-deadly-11585058566), and you could speculate the virus might've just reached the elderly population earlier through younger people picking the virus up unknowingly at work/social gatherings? More vectors of access, basically.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Kairon on April 13, 2020, 05:37:38 PM
I just think that the sooner you act decisively, the better. In CA, Bay Area counties announced shelter-in-place orders several days before the entire state did, and I just think that without that each additional day delayed means additional rolls of the dice on more people catching it, more events happening, etc. Knock-on-wood, but the Bay Area hasn't become the epicenter I thought it would given the travel that I assume happens through here and how early cases seemed to show up in California.

With something as big as this, you could really just be unlucky with a single birthday party, community event, concert, or other gathering being the catalyst that gets dozens, then hundreds infected. Even before the shelter in place orders I was arguing with my parents that they should get an extended family member of their generation to cancel her birthday party out at a bar. The person was being resistant, so thank GOD the shelter-in-place orders came down when they did so that guests had a legal reason to decline, and they legally couldn't hold that gathering even if they wanted to.

I'd like to think you could reduce the chance for those unlucky breakouts to happen by acting quickly, and in this case of exponential pandemic spread I do believe that even one or two days matter.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Luigi Dude on April 13, 2020, 07:34:50 PM
Looking at the US death toll there is 22,000 total with 9,300 in New York state.  Around 1,500 people died yesterday in America and half of them were from New York.  The second largest death toll is New Jersey with 2,300, and of course Jersey borders New York.  So what is specific about New York where the outbreak is exceptionally terrible compared to the rest of the country?  It is a very populated state but so are California and Texas and they're nowhere close.  New York City is the largest city in America and is densely populated but there are other large cities in America and they aren't as affected.  is New York's population density unique in a way that would make it more susceptible?  I know Manhattan is an island so it can't sprawl out into the countryside like other big cities can.

Another major part is public transportation.  New Yorkers rely on public transportation, especially the subway more then any other major American city.  So in other parts of the country, somebody who's infected is more likely to drive themselves around, while in New York City, they're more likely to be on the subway exposing literally hundreds of others around them because of how crowded the area can get.

So in a way, America's lack of public transportation in much of the country probably helped us stop the spread in a lot of the other major metro area's during the early days before lockdowns started.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Spak-Spang on April 13, 2020, 07:49:08 PM
I think New York is highly reliant on public transportation to get around.  If people were infected and didn't know about it on Subways will just infect everyone around them.  I also wonder about the homeless population in New York, the death toll may be higher because there are several hundred people with no insurance or not good insurance in New York?  I honestly don't know how the Affordable Health Care Act benefits everyone.

As for Italy, they are still highly touchy civilization.  Italy and Iran still greet with kisses on the side of the face.  So when it got to them it spread faster.  Iran also has several open markets that is a major form of commerce which helped spread it. 

Also, since this virus attacks the respiratory system, weaker people or anyone that may already have an illness becomes weaker and more suseptible do facing the worse of both illnesses...again really attacking the weak and poor people in countries. 
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: RABicle on April 14, 2020, 03:53:04 AM
What is the real US infection rate though? The John Hopkins Map https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html says you've only tested around 3,000,000 people for 500,000+ positives. Or a 18% positivity rate.
In Australia, only about 1% of people tested come back positive. Eitehr you guys have been really good at not wasting tests or really bad at testing enough people.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on April 14, 2020, 03:56:14 AM
In spite of certain comments today from El president de Los estados divididos...

The West Coast (Cali, Oregon, & Washington State) have announced a COVID-19 Pact to work together in determining the re-opening of the economy in their states.
https://komonews.com/news/coronavirus/washington-oregon-california-join-pact-for-covid-19-collaboration

And not to be out done, a chunk of The North East Quadrant decided to do the same
(New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Delaware, and Pennsylvania)
https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/492559-northeast-governors-form-group-to-discuss-reopening-of-region-economies

It's good to not only see states rights being exercised, but to also just see powers that be group together to protect and serve the people they represent.

....I wonder if this will turn into little groups of states ganging up together.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: stevey on April 14, 2020, 04:30:39 AM
... but that's exactly what el hombre naranja wanted and was (https://twitter.com/brianstelter/status/1248774918952673281) attacked (https://twitter.com/maddow/status/1248681483503575042) for (https://twitter.com/jonfavs/status/1248680291322843143) a few days ago. And the tri-state governors have been working together coordinating their response and lock downs since well over a month ago.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on April 14, 2020, 09:46:10 AM
Well.... when the man in charge clearly has no plan, is picking and choosing where to send assistance on what appears to be based on his ego, consistently lies about and/or misdirects on pretty much everything, and then threatens to make decisions (he apparently doesn't have the power to do?) based on something other than the interest of the United States and the it's people as a whole (financial gain? re-election?).... it's dividing the country, and therefore the the states have no choice but to unite in direct defiance of any further ill-advised action (against counsel of experts, intelligence, and senior advisers) that would continue to cost more lives for the sake of "saving" the economy now, because it's an election year.

This is all quite the mess, but current circumstances have led to the exposure of so many problems in our system that was apparently just based on gentleman's code of conduct.
c o r o n a v i r u s  has brought us to a very dark spot in american (and world) history that is unfolding in real time right now.

I just wonder how far this uniting of divided states over corona response goes before there is some sort of either federal response or withholding of federal tax by the states themselves. I'm really hoping this doesn't escalate into something further and is purely motivated by and ends with the
c o r o n a v i r u s  pandemic.


Edit: Apparently MA has joined the North East Quadrant (Tri-State Coalition)

and MN, WI, and MI are working on a Pact of their own....
https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/13/politics/states-band-together-reopening-plans/index.html
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: lolmonade on April 14, 2020, 10:51:58 AM
What is the real US infection rate though? The John Hopkins Map https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html says you've only tested around 3,000,000 people for 500,000+ positives. Or a 18% positivity rate.
In Australia, only about 1% of people tested come back positive. Eitehr you guys have been really good at not wasting tests or really bad at testing enough people.

We have no idea.  What's scarier is there could be untold number of people who have died from COVID-19 but we'd have no clue for sure because they never got tested either due to dying before being able to receive attention or because they didn't show severe enough symptoms before it was too late, and testing is too precious of a commodity to waste one on a post-mortem test.

There's still a shortage of testing, no antibody testing, no plan.  It's almost all been ad hoc with the states being told to get supplies themselves, but then there's also been various news stories about states getting a purchase in with a manufacturer only then for FEMA to come in and take them away.  One of the few times i've been grateful to live in Illinois as Chicago has forced the Governor's hand early and it should mean we will be in a better position than some states to start gradually easing some of the restrictions.

This is why it would have been nice to have a federal government that understood that while, no, you don't have direct control over when states decide to "reopen the economy" (lol), that a competent administration would have been able to coordinate with all the states, be the singular purchaser of goods for the entire country, and then collaborate WITH the states as a group regarding which states get supplies when in order to respond to peaks which each of them will have happen at different times.

Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Stratos on April 14, 2020, 12:15:35 PM
An important thing to remember about Italy is they were an early contractor of the virus, so I suspect they didn't take the threat as seriously and suffered because of it from what I have read and remember from early reports of the outbreak. The rest of the world learned from this and acted much faster overall relative to Italy and other earlier impact zones.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on April 15, 2020, 08:37:32 PM
Putting the children first.
Plans to reopen this country leaked
https://www.washingtonpost.com/context/focus-on-the-future-going-to-work-for-america/89ccccbc-7bf0-48d3-8f0c-275494a3b009/

Edit:
And CNN compiles so it's early reporting on the coronavirus
https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/13/world/cnn-coronavirus-coverage/index.html
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Ian Sane on April 16, 2020, 11:56:23 AM
Canada has been averaging about 1200 new cases a day and 60 deaths.  However over the last few days the daily death tool has been over 100.  The new cases figure staying around 1200 might be a cut off based on the amount of tests we're able to do daily.  Death toll is a more accurate figure.  Yesterday I was concerned about the jump in deaths but could pass it off as an anomaly but two days in a row now concerns me.  My pessimistic prediction is that by the 25th or so there will be an increase in cases due to people defying social distancing during the Easter weekend.

There was a report that social distancing may be required until 2022.  If that is truly the case then this is all going to go to hell.  People are not going obey for two whole years.  You would have to enforce lockdown with the military and after too long of that you'll get riots and revolts.  If that's the situation then all we can do is put off the inevitable.  Hope that social distancing can be maintained long enough to flatten the curve as intended before enough people defy lockdowns.  The dam is going to eventually burst.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on April 16, 2020, 03:52:52 PM
If they would focus on getting quick and cheap test so we can test EVERYBODY and quarantine those that need to be quarantined, then we can get past this..... had we already taken that approach instead of denying it's happening or shifting blames (speaking on the US in general) then this really never had to get as bad as it is in the US.... as we are still probably not even near the peak with the limited testing and lack of a real plan or support from the Federal Government.

Projecting to 2 years of "Social Distancing" is kinda a scary thought, depending on what that means exactly. If it's just talking what Asian culture has been doing for years and walking around in public with face mask and using hand sanitizer.... i see some security issues with that, but that's not so bad.
If it's lockdown/quarantine and only "essential" businesses, then that's definitely not gonna work.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: nickmitch on April 16, 2020, 06:53:00 PM
Yeah, I think if two years are needed, then we might be screwed.  I've been seeing events that were rescheduled to the fall get outright cancelled, which could reflect a number of factors.  But there's a Zuckerberg post going around where Facebook is cancelling all company events with 50+ people through June 2021.

I'm hoping things don't last that long and a treatment/vaccine comes around.  But who knows.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on April 16, 2020, 07:41:01 PM
Illinois and surrounding states joining up to "govern" their own economic reopening in absence of a federal plan or assistance.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/coronavirus/ct-coronavirus-regional-reopening-states-20200416-5cw7x5tkrbesdh6tpx2kwnxebq-story.html?utm_medium=notification&utm_source=onesignal

This could be a bad trend depending on how things progress.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BeautifulShy on April 17, 2020, 12:29:13 AM
I wonder if that sort of thing is going to happen with the 4 Corners states(Arizona, Utah, Colorado and New Mexico.)
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on April 17, 2020, 02:06:23 AM
I can't speak to the validity of this report, but I figure it may be relevant...
https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-alerted-israel-nato-to-disease-outbreak-in-china-in-november-report/


edit: There's seems to be some promise in a treatment for the time being...
https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/16/health/coronavirus-remdesivir-trial/index.html
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: lolmonade on April 17, 2020, 09:36:04 AM
Illinois and surrounding states joining up to "govern" their own economic reopening in absence of a federal plan or assistance.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/coronavirus/ct-coronavirus-regional-reopening-states-20200416-5cw7x5tkrbesdh6tpx2kwnxebq-story.html?utm_medium=notification&utm_source=onesignal

This could be a bad trend depending on how things progress.

As an Illinoisian, I think it's a good thing.  The Northeast with NY already started their own consortium.  The concerns I have are more around the long-term effect when it comes to the health of the country....tough to feel like we're all part of one nation if it ends up being 5-6 regions of the US basically competing and fighting each other for resources.

I sincerely worry about what is done to bring us back together after this is all said and done.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on April 17, 2020, 10:35:10 AM
That's my same concern.

The states are no longer "United" and instead divided into regions.
The Federal Gov no longer represents ALL the states, and can't be trusted to step in during a time of crisis to lead the nation.

What's happening with the banding together right now is necessary (because the states were literally told to fend for themselves), i just feel the people in charge are setting a bad precedent by allowing this to continue, especially under these conditions and for these reasons. It's not supposed to be like this at all.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on April 17, 2020, 11:44:32 AM
Can someone please explain to me W.T.F. is wrong with this guy!!?

(https://i.imgur.com/ukKgGEM.jpg)

He is supporting a protest of the stay at home order, which is the very thing that will help us get this situation under control so we can open the country back up....

I know he wants to skip from step A to step Z and get this over with, but this is seriously stupid, and extremely irresponsible, especially for someone sitting in the "highest" chair in the land. I just hope he personally joins this protest and shakes everyone of his supporters protesting hands in solidarity of the effort. Smfh
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on April 17, 2020, 03:11:36 PM
Executive order to open businesses in TX may be coming....
https://www.kvue.com/mobile/article/news/health/coronavirus/coronavirus-texas-covid19-cases-update/269-f1c36a64-eedc-4d08-bf40-97c62ffcb39b
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Khushrenada on April 17, 2020, 04:57:23 PM
(https://images-ext-1.discordapp.net/external/ChpRLD3YLWjH9-k0ODImTBmn1oZ6bSv1OdZYcKUSV5g/https/pbs.twimg.com/media/EVx3X6dXsAAvyPg.png%3Alarge?width=581&height=416)

(https://images-ext-2.discordapp.net/external/EwlxChJG4FuOWre5sCyfDuPDb8jFVEr1diGf-xd_UlI/https/pbs.twimg.com/media/EVx3bVpWkAEp5bM.png%3Alarge?width=594&height=416)
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: nickmitch on April 17, 2020, 07:13:17 PM
All festivals in the City of New Orleans for 2020 are cancelled.  The mayor also seems adamant about not having fans at football games should the NFL resume.  There's also been some talk locally about extending the stay at home order.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on April 17, 2020, 09:16:03 PM
(https://images-ext-1.discordapp.net/external/ChpRLD3YLWjH9-k0ODImTBmn1oZ6bSv1OdZYcKUSV5g/https/pbs.twimg.com/media/EVx3X6dXsAAvyPg.png%3Alarge?width=581&height=416)

(https://images-ext-2.discordapp.net/external/EwlxChJG4FuOWre5sCyfDuPDb8jFVEr1diGf-xd_UlI/https/pbs.twimg.com/media/EVx3bVpWkAEp5bM.png%3Alarge?width=594&height=416)

just tell him to wear a protective rubber suit. Then it should be safe to go out and play.


Meawhile.....

Florida Man last one in, first one out.
Gov. DeSantis to open up certain beaches... with restrictions.
https://www.clickorlando.com/news/florida/2020/04/17/north-florida-beaches-among-first-to-reopen-since-coronavirus-closures/
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Ian Sane on April 20, 2020, 01:22:04 PM
First confirmed death in Canada was five weeks ago.  So I did a quick spreadsheet of the daily death toll to calculate the average daily death toll for each week.

2
6
31
62
124

Obviously we get a huge jump between weeks 2 and 3.  Over the last three weeks the death toll doubles every week.  That is not going in the right direction.  The amount of new cases has flattened but since I don't think the virus is getting twice as deadly each week I'm assuming we're hitting a limit on tests and the actual amount of cases is increasing at the same rate.

While I want to reopen as much as anyone (it was my brother's birthday on Saturday but there was obviously no celebration) I don't see how you can if the numbers are still going up.  Now the death toll is really more the results of what was happening two weeks ago but what data do we have to indicate that within those last two weeks we turned things around?  There's no vaccine, no new treatment option and the death toll is increasing despite our social distancing efforts.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: stevey on April 20, 2020, 02:17:34 PM
"Oil prices below $5 a barrel, from a high of $60 at the beginning of the year"
"Oil prices below $2 a barrel"
"Oil prices below $1.50 a barrel"
"Oil prices below $1.00 a barrel"
"Oil prices below $0.01 a barrel"
"Oil futures are negative for the first time in history"
"Oil futures AT -35.20"

In other news, coronavirus cures global warming.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: nickmitch on April 20, 2020, 05:41:29 PM
The oil price thing seems weird, but keep in mind a lot of oil is bought/sold via financial instruments like derivatives.  Basically, a lot of oil is set to be owned by a bunch of people who have little to no means of actually receiving/storing the oil.  The people they'd normally sell their purchase contracts to have too much oil because usage is down.  The only way those people will take on additional oil is if they were paid to take it.

I've seen some people arguing that deaths/day is an unfair statistic to quote.  I will say, it is a lagging statistic (meaning that if 100 people died today, that means there were 100 times X number of people sick yesterday).  But the more that number rises, the more it shines a light on how close or past medical systems are to capacity.  Number of newly confirmed cases per day isn't too much better because it's strongly limited by the availability of testing and could increase in trend if we all just stopped social distancing.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: nickmitch on April 20, 2020, 05:47:07 PM
In other news, Brian Kemp is set to reopen the state of Georgia this weekend.

https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/kemp-restaurants-other-businesses-to-reopen-in-georgia-amid-covid-19-fight (https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/kemp-restaurants-other-businesses-to-reopen-in-georgia-amid-covid-19-fight)

This Friday, they're opening: Gyms, Fitness centers, Barbers, Hair dressers, Nail salons, and Massage therapists.  Restaurants open Monday.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BeautifulShy on April 20, 2020, 06:05:05 PM
In other news, Brian Kemp is set to reopen the state of Georgia this weekend.

https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/kemp-restaurants-other-businesses-to-reopen-in-georgia-amid-covid-19-fight (https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/kemp-restaurants-other-businesses-to-reopen-in-georgia-amid-covid-19-fight)

This Friday, they're opening: Gyms, Fitness centers, Barbers, Hair dressers, Nail salons, and Massage therapists.  Restaurants open Monday.
I totally expect Georgia to be back to how is was within the next two weeks.   

https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/04/13/832981899/emergency-declared-in-japanese-prefecture-hit-by-2nd-wave-of-coronavirus-infecti
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: broodwars on April 20, 2020, 06:18:03 PM
In other news, Brian Kemp is set to reopen the state of Georgia this weekend.

https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/kemp-restaurants-other-businesses-to-reopen-in-georgia-amid-covid-19-fight (https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/kemp-restaurants-other-businesses-to-reopen-in-georgia-amid-covid-19-fight)

This Friday, they're opening: Gyms, Fitness centers, Barbers, Hair dressers, Nail salons, and Massage therapists.  Restaurants open Monday.
I totally expect Georgia to be back to how is was within the next two weeks.   

https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/04/13/832981899/emergency-declared-in-japanese-prefecture-hit-by-2nd-wave-of-coronavirus-infecti

Which probably won't help. At this point, the states have stalled the virus as long as is realistically feasible to build up medical infrastructure and gather data. Until a year from now when we have a vaccine, the best we can hope for is herd immunity, which we won't have until at least the 2nd wave passes and CAN'T have until a sufficient number of people acquire the antibodies to fight the virus. It sucks, but it's the only practical move forward. The last few weeks have done an admirable job of showing that the US can't endure another month of sustained lockdown, no matter how much local dictators enjoy flexing their emergency authority.

It'll be interesting to see if certain industries show any sign of recovery from this. Pretty sure that theaters are never making a comeback (this entire experience has done a wonderful job of demonstrating how useless they are), and theme parks probably won't get back to where they were 3 months ago till 2022.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Stratos on April 20, 2020, 06:35:29 PM
Sadly theaters may become the new "drive-in" where they become local landmarks people go to once or twice until they get plowed down to make cookie-cutter crowded housing developments.

Best guesses I have read for Disney parks to reopen is January 2021, but I am sure that will depend on outside factors like quarantine, diagnosis, and treatment efforts.

I'm loving quarantine life, but I'm a die-hard introvert who loves working from home. My wife is not and is a nurse to boot. Between the long work hours and a lack of any ability to pursue her biggest outlets of enjoyment (travel, adventure, dancing) its really grinding on her.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: nickmitch on April 20, 2020, 08:03:21 PM
In other news, Brian Kemp is set to reopen the state of Georgia this weekend.

https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/kemp-restaurants-other-businesses-to-reopen-in-georgia-amid-covid-19-fight (https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/kemp-restaurants-other-businesses-to-reopen-in-georgia-amid-covid-19-fight)

This Friday, they're opening: Gyms, Fitness centers, Barbers, Hair dressers, Nail salons, and Massage therapists.  Restaurants open Monday.
I totally expect Georgia to be back to how is was within the next two weeks.   

https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/04/13/832981899/emergency-declared-in-japanese-prefecture-hit-by-2nd-wave-of-coronavirus-infecti

Which probably won't help. At this point, the states have stalled the virus as long as is realistically feasible to build up medical infrastructure and gather data. Until a year from now when we have a vaccine, the best we can hope for is herd immunity, which we won't have until at least the 2nd wave passes and CAN'T have until a sufficient number of people acquire the antibodies to fight the virus. It sucks, but it's the only practical move forward. The last few weeks have done an admirable job of showing that the US can't endure another month of sustained lockdown, no matter how much local politicians enjoy flexing their emergency authority.

This is assuming that survivors of COVID-19 develop some kind of immunity, and the jury is still out on that.  And hoping for herd immunity the natural way still posits a large number of deaths.

And I also disagree that states have stalled long enough for anything.  There still isn't data on the re-infection risk, as I alluded to, or even the timing of a second wave.  The virus could get stalled by the summer and then ramp back up in the fall, or both seasons could see waves.  And testing capacity, while improving everyday, still isn't high enough.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Luigi Dude on April 20, 2020, 08:24:31 PM
This is assuming that survivors of COVID-19 develop some kind of immunity, and the jury is still out on that.  And hoping for herd immunity the natural way still posits a large number of deaths.

Yep, right now there's about 800,000 cases in America with 42,000 death.  Doing herd immunity and say half the country gets it, that will still kill millions of people in less then a year.

It sucks that everything is closed right now but the alternative is literally millions dead in such a short time that will be more devastating then any lockdown is.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Kairon on April 20, 2020, 09:27:57 PM
We really need abundantly available testing. We're doing a lot of theory-crafting in its absence, and when we re-open we'll need promiscuous testing so we can see any resurgences welling up and batter down the hatches again.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on April 21, 2020, 12:03:57 AM
There's selling the eggs before they even bought the chickens that'll lay them.

In other words, they're moving outside the order of operations here. This will just prolong the issue because they didn't have a unified national reaction/lockdown from the get go.

Now we release certain areas that weren't really tested to begin with back into the wild without any additional testing, and all of everything sacrificed so far was all for nothing.

But carry on... (Really hope I'm wrong)
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: King of Twitch on April 21, 2020, 02:40:17 AM
Social Temporary Distancing sucks. I'm trying to do my part and staying indoors and slaying bots 24/7 in Fortnite but I don't know if it's helping.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BeautifulShy on April 21, 2020, 04:09:20 AM
Social Temporary Distancing sucks. I'm trying to do my part and staying indoors and slaying bots 24/7 in Fortnite but I don't know if it's helping.
I mean it is helping not spread or catch the virus it is good to stay inside unless it is absolutely nessesary.   Also playing Fortnight or any other hobbies is good so you can take care of your mental health if that does it for you.  Really any distraction or creative thing you are doing at leasts gives you something you are doing which is not directly tied to COVID-19.   
Title: $ Cash Rules Everything Around Me $
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on April 21, 2020, 11:54:23 AM
It's time to sacrifice yourselves for the greater future, Texans.

$C.R.E.A.M.$

Quote from: Lt. Gov of Texas - Dan Patrick
"There are more important things than living ... I don't want to die, nobody wants to die but man we've got to take some risks"
https://www.newsweek.com/texas-lt-gov-dan-patrick-fox-news-tucker-carlson-1499106#Echobox=1587463924

$(get the money)$

for more context without opening link, another quote of his....
"When you start shutting down society and people start losing their paychecks and businesses can't open and governments aren't getting revenues...I'm sorry to say that I was right on this,"

$ DOLLA DOLLA BILLS Y'ALL $
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Ian Sane on April 21, 2020, 11:59:09 AM
In other news, Brian Kemp is set to reopen the state of Georgia this weekend.

https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/kemp-restaurants-other-businesses-to-reopen-in-georgia-amid-covid-19-fight (https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/kemp-restaurants-other-businesses-to-reopen-in-georgia-amid-covid-19-fight)

This Friday, they're opening: Gyms, Fitness centers, Barbers, Hair dressers, Nail salons, and Massage therapists.  Restaurants open Monday.

That seems ridiculously quick.  Like I could see opening a few things where people don't linger in large groups and then a few weeks later you expand on it based on how things are going.  But waiting a whole two days before reopening restaurants?  Restaurants to me seem like one of the later things that should be opening since everyone sits in the same room for a fair chunk of time.

I'm pessimistic here but my guess is that some places are going to jump to reopen things very quickly and, barring some miracle, will get hit by a second wave of cases.  The places that held off on reopening will see the spike in cases in the areas that opened too soon and will remain locked down and it will be an easier sell to their citizens because there is a textbook example of the effect of opening too soon to point at.

When this first started it sounded like we were holing ourselves up in our homes and hoping the angel of death would pass by.  For a lot of people it hasn't been like that.  I've observed my neighbours being extremely shitty at social distancing but I don't know anyone who's gotten sick or died or even know anyone who knows such a person.  As bad as it sounds, people need to "see" something or they're going to feel this is all unnecessary.  I'm sure people in New York City feel it's necessary but people in Wyoming are less likely to.  It would be horrible to see an area reopen and get creamed by the virus, but it would also probably scare everyone straight for a while.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Adrock on April 21, 2020, 12:43:36 PM
Florida recently reopened beaches because Florida. At some point, Florida just has to stop being a national embarrassment, right? Maybe if enough people die? I don’t wish harm on others so I’m not saying anyone should or deserves to die. Ignoring advice from experts/leading scientists is straight up Darwinism (those who can’t from a professional standpoint notwithstanding).
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Ian Sane on April 21, 2020, 02:40:16 PM
I feel like the word "economy" has become such a political buzzword that people associate it with wall street and the rich getting richer.  Maybe that is what some politicians are truly focused on.

But what they really should be talking about is people's jobs and livelihoods.  My brother is working reduced hours.  Right now it is eating up his vacation hours, which he isn't likely going to have any use for in a year where you can't go anywhere.  But that will run out and then he'll just be making less money.  Fortunately he lives with our parents so his "landlord" can cut him slack on his rent.  But luckily our parents have lived in their house for so many decades that they have paid off their mortgage so they don't have that monthly expense that relies on his rent to help cover.  His co-workers aren't in the same boat.  Many of them have been laid off and those that are still working don't have this narrow fluke of circumstances that make it so that temporarily reduced hours isn't a financial emergency.

Businesses are failing or are in risk of failure due to no fault of their own.  These are small independent businesses, not the big corporations.  Each business failed puts its employees out of work.  How do those same employees find another job when numerous businesses in the same area have also failed and there is a sudden increase in unemployed people and a decrease in the amount of employers?

We're unfortunately being pulled in two directions by horrible situations.  There's disease and death on one side and poverty and unemployment on the other.  The more you work to prevent one direction, the worse you make it in the other.  So it isn't as simple as $$$ because for the average person $$$ is food and shelter.

But that doesn't really become the talking point.  It becomes about being able to go to the beach or watch baseball again.  "My business is going to go under and I'm going to have to fire all my employees" seems like a better sales pitch for reopening then just saying "the economy" in vague terms or focusing on people being bored and annoyed by the lockdowns.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Stratos on April 21, 2020, 03:31:14 PM
Social Temporary Distancing sucks. I'm trying to do my part and staying indoors and slaying bots 24/7 in Fortnite but I don't know if it's helping.

It is helping. Keep at it.

Here is a great video that breaks down the reasoning for all this isolation and distancing.

Long and short: this isn't to avoid getting sick, its to slow the spread of the sickness and keep us from hitting our max capacity of handling sick patients. If we hit that max them even more people will die due to a lack of resources to treat people.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQdHsRkUYKo

The places that held off on reopening will see the spike in cases in the areas that opened too soon and will remain locked down and it will be an easier sell to their citizens because there is a textbook example of the effect of opening too soon to point at.

We already have a textbook example from the Spanish flu. But "something, something history-repeats-itself-when-you-forget-it".
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Luigi Dude on April 21, 2020, 04:45:44 PM
We're unfortunately being pulled in two directions by horrible situations.  There's disease and death on one side and poverty and unemployment on the other.  The more you work to prevent one direction, the worse you make it in the other.  So it isn't as simple as $$$ because for the average person $$$ is food and shelter.

The thing is poverty and unemployment there are varies ways to deal with that both during and after the crisis.  We can't bring back the millions of people who will die from the virus though if we go back to business as usual too early.

The thing about this virus every has to realize is it can take up to 2 weeks for people to even feel sick and can be contagious during that time.  Some people can literally never even get sick but will still spread the virus.  That's the kind of thing you usually see in a fictional doomsday story but instead it's real.  One person can literally infect hundreds without even knowing it because they feel just fine.

This is why drastic actions need to be taken to contain this.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: broodwars on April 21, 2020, 05:49:16 PM
Florida recently reopened beaches because Florida. At some point, Florida just has to stop being a national embarrassment, right? Maybe if enough people die? I don’t wish harm on others so I’m not saying anyone should or deserves to die. Ignoring advice from experts/leading scientists is straight up Darwinism (those who can’t from a professional standpoint notwithstanding).

I thought the same when I first saw the pictures going around online, but at the same time...the people were observing social distancing. The groups (presumably families) were distanced away from other people. I honestly see people clustered more closely together when I drop by Publix these days. And being outside in the sun is GOOD for your health, especially with the heat and humidity this time of year.

So yeah, at first glance it looks boneheaded, but so long as people aren't abusing the beaches it looks like a good move to have them open in Northern FL when the risk right now is predominantly in SOUTH FL.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Spak-Spang on April 21, 2020, 08:15:27 PM
On the other side of that, some States have been closed for 3 weeks or so now.  Many small business owners can't really afford to be closed that long.  And many more employees can't be without a job for that long.  The stimulus checks are barely enough to cover needs for 1 month is pathetic, so I can see the desire to open early. 

Add to that some of the countries that are doing really well in this Crisis didn't shut everything down.  I know South Korea didn't...the government advised some business to shut down and many did, but it was like for a week.  If you allow businesses to be shut down for longer than 2 months, then the only businesses left will be corporations, and not the small business corporations, but the big large ones that people don't want to gain even more power. 

I don't know what the answer is, because it seems like Americans are being foolish and stupid when they go out.  Not wearing any kind of face masks, and American healthcare leaves so much to be desired that I understand not going to the doctor and just risk being sick, because of costs...so I get why having longer shut downs is important.   

And yeah it does eventually come down to the dollar and money, and that is life unfortunately...because the only people that can truly afford a long shutdown are the wealthiest and they aren't suffering through this.  This isn't to say I am for reopening, I just understand why people are moving quickly to try to reopen things. 
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: broodwars on April 21, 2020, 08:32:37 PM
The country to watch in all this is Sweden. They gambled on keeping everything open through the 1st wave, planning on a larger sick & death toll early on compared to their neighbors in exchange for significantly lessened 2nd and 3rd waves due to herd immunity, all while not crushing their economy in the process.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on April 22, 2020, 02:04:19 AM
**i typed this post this morning. just realized I never sent it. I have not read any post in this thread loaded before this post since 9am (Ian sane)

unless we are also able to quarantine entire zones, like regional areas, then it just sets the entire effort back by weeks. That's nearly impossible to police, so the only real effective effort is to massively increase testing and everyone quarantine (at the same exact time) for 45-60 days.

since that's already been fucked up.... we are really just dragging this on at it's highest level for much longer than I think it probably would've been needed otherwise.

But good luck to all those out there really trying their best to distance and mask and protect their loved ones from having any direct consequences from this whole situation.

and on a side note.... opening the restaurants is kinds stupid considering you can't wear mask while eating and drinking, and everyone sitting in the same rooms inches to feet apart from each other in this situation doesn't make sense. Especially since most restaurants are still open an doing business well enough with takeout and delivery options. This will also likely endanger the people just coming in for togo orders and the workers in the restaurants as well as the airborne virus just settles on any and everything in the restaurant because everyone is just in there breathing and talking in close and closed quarters.

and all those poor healthcare workers that's gonna have to deal with this influx of people that just couldn't resist.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: King of Twitch on April 22, 2020, 02:37:13 PM
Also playing Fortnight or any other hobbies is good so you can take care of your mental health if that does it for you.  Really any distraction or creative thing you are doing at leasts gives you something you are doing which is not directly tied to COVID-19.   

It's making me mad a lot too though, because these rando squadmates are dumb as heck, or have no mics, or are children. So what do I do
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Ian Sane on April 22, 2020, 03:05:40 PM
A co-worker of mine is taking this all very hard.  Our manager tries to be optimistic but I think it's clear that he doesn't really know what to say to her and neither do I.  How do I explain how I'm also afraid and worried but am still able to carry on with my day-to-day life the best I can and not suffer a nervous breakdown?  She expresses her concerns and feelings about the situation and I agree and sympathize with all of it but she's an emotional wreck and I'm not.  I'm not criticizing her or bragging about myself; I would like to say "I do this" to help her and I can't because I don't think I'm doing anything right nor is she doing anything wrong.  This just affects her emotionally a lot more than it does me and that's just how it is and that sucks.

The brother that I live with works an essential service and his job can't be done from home.  So during all of this he's been out in the world a lot more than the rest of our family.  He has observed the traffic go from virtually empty roads to essentially the same congestion it was before.  He drives through Vancouver and sees people walking down every sidewalk and waiting at every crosswalk and it no longer looks like the ghost town it was weeks ago.  The rest of my family is starting to get very impatient with this social distancing thing and they want to see each other again in person.  My brother observing more and more people abandoning social distancing is becoming less concerned about it and talking more about when he will also stop observing it.

This is the problem with the re-opening situation.  When people see other people not following a guideline they will naturally think "everyone else is doing it, so I should be fine."  The more people defy stay-at-home orders the more other people will observe them and presume that it should be okay for them as well.  Like the early ones are more the "**** this" selfish people that are just doing to do whatever they want but the later ones are more people making their decision based on what they see and are assuming from others' behaviour that it must be okay to socially interact again.

My attitude is very much that you let other people jump in the pool first and I've expressed that with my family and they're quite agreeable with that.  So I think I can keep them from jumping the gun and risking infection until we've seen others do it first and see if the infection rates go up.  I don't think the rest of them would agree to get together without me if I refused to.  Well that's how I feel now.  Months from now this sort of thing might be causing rifts between families and friends.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BeautifulShy on April 22, 2020, 04:47:53 PM
Also playing Fortnight or any other hobbies is good so you can take care of your mental health if that does it for you.  Really any distraction or creative thing you are doing at leasts gives you something you are doing which is not directly tied to COVID-19.   

It's making me mad a lot too though, because these rando squadmates are dumb as heck, or have no mics, or are children. So what do I do
Play something else. Play something that makes you happy.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on April 22, 2020, 05:40:27 PM
Just dropping some quick tidbits....

Doctors recommend against using Hydroxycloroquine / higher deathrate for Covid combo
https://news.bloomberglaw.com/health-law-and-business/u-s-virus-treatment-guidelines-reject-trump-backed-drug-combo

A Doctor that questioned the use of Hydroxycloroquine was removed from post for questioning it....
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/22/us/coronavirus-live-coverage.html?action=click&module=Spotlight&pgtype=Homepage#link-652aa9c3

and if we needed more evidence that states this isn't just the Flu and that Mother Nature is actually out to kill us all (and those ignoring the threat because $$economy$$ are high risk)....

Coronavirus is causing mysterious bloodclot issue that is resulting in more deaths.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2020/04/22/coronavirus-blood-clots/

WTF is up with this damn virus, and why is 2020 the worst?
I await your thoughts. LOL
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BeautifulShy on April 22, 2020, 06:00:14 PM
You don't want me getting into why 2020 is the worst. 

Anyway our mayor in Phoenix she has spent 27 million on homelessness and housing support to help folks affected by COVID-19.  Homelessness was already a problem here is Phoenix and she was fighting that but now it becomes more important than ever to help the homeless.

https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/phoenix/2020/04/22/hotels-affordable-housing-and-more-how-phoenix-support-homeless-population/5168962002/
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: nickmitch on April 22, 2020, 09:03:45 PM
The novel corona virus has mutated into 30 different strains. Link (https://nypost.com/2020/04/21/coronavirus-has-mutated-into-at-least-30-different-strains-study/).

I'm no expert, but I think that's a lot.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: broodwars on April 22, 2020, 09:12:15 PM
The novel corona virus has mutated into 30 different strains. Link (https://nypost.com/2020/04/21/coronavirus-has-mutated-into-at-least-30-different-strains-study/).

I'm no expert, but I think that's a lot.

In other words, there's probably never going to be a vaccine unless some strains die off, because there are just too many to account for. It's like trying to make a vaccine for the Flu: we try to focus on 1 or 2 of the more common strains every year with the annual vaccine, but it's still no guarantee because the virus mutates so frequently.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on April 22, 2020, 09:18:32 PM
The novel corona virus has mutated into 30 different strains. Link (https://nypost.com/2020/04/21/coronavirus-has-mutated-into-at-least-30-different-strains-study/).

I'm no expert, but I think that's a lot.

Mother Nature with the contingency plan. She ain't playin'.

we are so fucked. LOLOLOL

Is it too late to go get that TB shot?
I hear that at least preps the body and makes Corona less than lethal.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Kairon on April 23, 2020, 06:27:33 AM
I absolutely don't believe that people are capable of sheltering in place for anything like 9 months to a year for something as invisible as this. It'd have to be a danger that's ultra visible, like a war, to make people be that compliant. At such long timetables I not only expect most people to get too antsy to over best practices about such an invisible threat, but also I don't think our society (including the economy) wouldn't function.

People breaking shelter in place NOW though after what amounts to a month and a half in some places and just weeks in others is ridiculous, we really ought to be made of sterner stuff in general than to crack this quickly. (Understandably some people have it much worse than others in shelter-at-home situations, but I do know in CA we've always been allowed to go out, just with masks and maintaining social distancing).

We really need more testing, tracing, and public health tracking of this virus and those infected so we can make decisions based on data instead of emotion, and so when we reopen we truly know what percentage of the public might have it, and so we can detect if things are getting bad again so we can close up again.

People will need hope that things will get better, and that hope should be built on and around good data and good plans to act on that data.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Kairon on April 23, 2020, 06:52:37 AM
The novel corona virus has mutated into 30 different strains. Link (https://nypost.com/2020/04/21/coronavirus-has-mutated-into-at-least-30-different-strains-study/).

I'm no expert, but I think that's a lot.

In other words, there's probably never going to be a vaccine unless some strains die off, because there are just too many to account for. It's like trying to make a vaccine for the Flu: we try to focus on 1 or 2 of the more common strains every year with the annual vaccine, but it's still no guarantee because the virus mutates so frequently.

There's probably way more nuance in vaccine making than just the number of distinct strains we catalog. For example, I just looked it up and Influenza A has over 100 strains known (and that's not even counting the B and C subtypes). If we could magically whip up a vaccine this year for coronavirus that was as effective as our current Flu Vaccines, that'd be a total win.

Instead of being worried about a mutating virus making vaccines tough (and ALL viruses mutate, some faster some slower, but they ALL do so this isn't a real surprise), be concerned at how complex it is to create a vaccine. Scientists have to find the right biochemical proteins or microcellular structures to target or imitate, and our bodies need to respond in effective ways. This is easier said than done.

We got lucky with vaccines for polio and smallpox. BUT, consider that we don't really have a vaccine for HIV yet 40 years or so after it emerged on the world stage.

I think we have a good shot at developing a succesful vaccine, but I even optimistically I'd expect it next year at the earliest. Not because Coronavirus is some sort of super mutating thing but because I think vaccines are just that complicated and serious to begin with.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on April 23, 2020, 09:42:36 AM
Good Luck Las Vegas (and Southern Nevada)

LV Mayor offers up city a "control group" for virus. Suggesting that Las Vegas will be the "Placebo" in the study, and then attempting to "correct" Anderson Cooper ("don't put words in my mouth") before confirming exactly what he just asked.

https://twitter.com/joshtpm/status/1253041723510587394?s=20

Quick Paraphrase:
AC: So you want the Casino's open?

LV Mayor: That's not what I said..... don't put words in my mouth. I want the hotels open, and the restaurants open... I want these people back to work

AC: well, they're not coming to Hotel's and restaurants without the casino's... so you want the casino's open?

LVM: Well, that's part of it. But we also have sports....

AC: So are you gonna be out on these casino floors with all these people?

LVM: No, I have a family at home


And then when asked about the national impact such decision would make, she basically says "not my problem"
https://twitter.com/TPMLiveWire/status/1253059829469458436?s=20

AC: So you're encouraging 100's of 1000's of people from all over the country to come to Vegas and gamble in the casinos, touching slot machines, gather at shows and restaurants, breathing recycled air, and then essentially return home to their own states in their own town to their own homes and families.... I get the economic suffering people are experiencing right now, but doesn't that sound like a virus petri dish!?

LVM: Sounds like you're being an alarmist

AC: "!?alarmist?" How do you expect the casinos to prevent the spread of the virus if they all open up?

LVM: That's for them to figure out, I don't own a casino.....

https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/las-vegas-mayors-interview-with-anderson-cooper-was-a-spectacular-train-wreck

But her lack of concern over public health, over the life of her constituents continues....
I don't want to summarize every point here, but she then goes on to say
 
LVM: "if business then fail because the virus spread, that's the free market at work, and businesses need to figure it out... not my problem."

also LVM: "We also don't need more testing, you're all being crazy.... just take a shower. "

winning Quote? (context: AC explaining how a virus could spread if LV is reopened)
LVM: This isn't China, this is Las Vegas, Nevada!!!

AC: ....wow, that's ignorant.


So good luck LV, and I can't speak for other states, but I'm sure if you leave Cali and go to Vegas, I'm hoping you will return to a mandatory 14 day quarantine in a special facility (like a repurposed cruise ship). So better make it worth it.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Ian Sane on April 23, 2020, 11:58:47 AM
Las Vegas relies a lot on tourism so it will get hit by the economic effects of the lockdown especially hard.  So the mayor is giving off the same vibes as the mayor in Jaws, who knew that closing off tourism would bankrupt his town.

But even if we ignore how callous and outright DUMB she sounds her plan doesn't even make sense.  The Las Vegas strip doesn't make its money from locals going to the casinos, it makes it from people coming in from out-of-town.  How many people are going to go there during this pandemic?  How many flights are even coming in to Vegas right now and you know that no international tourists are coming in, because they probably aren't even allowed to.  So it isn't going to do anything to reopen them other than risk the health of the employees.

There's two parts to this.  You can open your store but you also need enough customers that are comfortable going there to get back to the revenue you were at before.  There was a poll done with Vancouver small business owners and 40% of them (which just makes me want to cry) are concerned that they won't be able to stay in business even after re-opening because they know that enough people will be concerned about returning to crowded public places that they won't be doing enough business quickly enough.  It isn't like you re-open and everyone is going to just go back to their old routine overnight.  Some people will but not everyone, it will roll out as people get more comfortable.

Local economies serving local customers will be what opens first.  Tourism based business and crowd-based business like concerts and sporting events are going to be last.  The ideal control group isn't Las Vegas, it's a small town or area reopening non-essential businesses to their local community.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: nickmitch on April 23, 2020, 05:23:23 PM
The novel corona virus has mutated into 30 different strains. Link (https://nypost.com/2020/04/21/coronavirus-has-mutated-into-at-least-30-different-strains-study/).

I'm no expert, but I think that's a lot.

In other words, there's probably never going to be a vaccine unless some strains die off, because there are just too many to account for. It's like trying to make a vaccine for the Flu: we try to focus on 1 or 2 of the more common strains every year with the annual vaccine, but it's still no guarantee because the virus mutates so frequently.

Well, it's 3-4 strains, but I question what the upper limit of strains a vaccine can protect from is.  For the Flu, there's bound to be the 1 or 2 going around that might spread, but with so many variations, it's only a bit better than a crapshoot.  I suspect the number is so low due to cost, but practically speaking, you couldn't make a 100-variant vaccine.  But is the max 5? 10? 20?  Could we cover enough of the corona strains to be effectively immune? Is that even feasible?  Or could there just be 5 versions of the vaccine that you need to get every two weeks?  I don't wanna give up hope on a vaccine, but it's tough.


Instead of being worried about a mutating virus making vaccines tough (and ALL viruses mutate, some faster some slower, but they ALL do so this isn't a real surprise), be concerned at how complex it is to create a vaccine. Scientists have to find the right biochemical proteins or microcellular structures to target or imitate, and our bodies need to respond in effective ways. This is easier said than done.

We got lucky with vaccines for polio and smallpox. BUT, consider that we don't really have a vaccine for HIV yet 40 years or so after it emerged on the world stage.

I think we have a good shot at developing a succesful vaccine, but I even optimistically I'd expect it next year at the earliest. Not because Coronavirus is some sort of super mutating thing but because I think vaccines are just that complicated and serious to begin with.

I think the nature of HIV is what makes a vaccine so difficult.  But you're right, either way it's gonna take time.  Plus, there's experts to deal with these difficulties.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: nickmitch on April 23, 2020, 05:27:30 PM
A co-worker of mine is taking this all very hard.  Our manager tries to be optimistic but I think it's clear that he doesn't really know what to say to her and neither do I.  How do I explain how I'm also afraid and worried but am still able to carry on with my day-to-day life the best I can and not suffer a nervous breakdown?  She expresses her concerns and feelings about the situation and I agree and sympathize with all of it but she's an emotional wreck and I'm not.  I'm not criticizing her or bragging about myself; I would like to say "I do this" to help her and I can't because I don't think I'm doing anything right nor is she doing anything wrong.  This just affects her emotionally a lot more than it does me and that's just how it is and that sucks.

Ian, that's a tough boat to be in.  I've been relatively calm about the whole thing since I have work to focus on.  The toughest part for me has just been feeling stuck inside with limited human interaction for so long.

I don't know how you can convince her to not panic or feel anxious, but hopefully your co-worker can take solace in the fact that she's probably doing everything she can at the moment by practicing social distancing, and that that's enough.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: broodwars on April 23, 2020, 05:56:28 PM
Incidentally, since I mentioned her earlier in this thread, just FYI my "Aunt" Nancy has recovered from the virus, despite her poor health of late making her an extremely at-risk patient. I just spoke with her the other day. Unfortunately, in the midst of all this she also lost her nursing job with the medical research company she worked for, so...1 step forward, 2 steps back.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BeautifulShy on April 24, 2020, 05:00:23 AM
Incidentally, since I mentioned her earlier in this thread, just FYI my "Aunt" Nancy has recovered from the virus, despite her poor health of late making her an extremely at-risk patient. I just spoke with her the other day. Unfortunately, in the midst of all this she also lost her nursing job with the medical research company she worked for, so...1 step forward, 2 steps back.
I am happy she recovered but it is a pain that she lost her job.  Is she able to get unemployment? 

Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BeautifulShy on April 24, 2020, 05:05:32 AM
I don't know how much people are thinking about the prison system right now but that is one area which is likely to have high infected rates because of the lack of social distancing.  The prisons here in Arizona have a dormatory style prison so there is folks in the cell together and not single cell so social distancing isn't even possible.

There was an article on the prison infection rate and it is very likely going to have a 99% infection rate.

https://kjzz.org/content/1541266/correctional-model-predicts-99-covid-19-infection-rate-arizona-prisons

Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: broodwars on April 24, 2020, 07:10:41 AM
Incidentally, since I mentioned her earlier in this thread, just FYI my "Aunt" Nancy has recovered from the virus, despite her poor health of late making her an extremely at-risk patient. I just spoke with her the other day. Unfortunately, in the midst of all this she also lost her nursing job with the medical research company she worked for, so...1 step forward, 2 steps back.
I am happy she recovered but it is a pain that she lost her job.  Is she able to get unemployment?

Probably? I'm not familiar with the unemployment laws in Utah.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: broodwars on April 24, 2020, 07:14:45 AM
I don't know how much people are thinking about the prison system right now but that is one area which is likely to have high infected rates because of the lack of social distancing.  The prisons here in Arizona have a dormatory style prison so there is folks in the cell together and not single cell so social distancing isn't even possible.

There was an article on the prison infection rate and it is very likely going to have a 99% infection rate.

https://kjzz.org/content/1541266/correctional-model-predicts-99-covid-19-infection-rate-arizona-prisons

Yeah, I'm not terribly concerned with the health of prisoners, especially with governors releasing so many of them into the general populace these days & driving up the crime rate. There are only so many people I can give a damn about in all this, and I don't think it's unfair to have criminals not make the list, especially since the virus has a high survival rate.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on April 24, 2020, 04:44:40 PM
If they would separate the new inmates from the person existing inmates, i don't see why they would have a problem at all....

But of course, I've never been in the prison system, so maybe that's not feasible without a solid federal mandate to coordinate such an effort if it requires transfers and relocations.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: broodwars on April 24, 2020, 05:05:17 PM
If they would separate the new inmates from the person existing inmates, i don't see why they would have a problem at all....

But of course, I've never been in the prison system, so maybe that's not feasible without a solid federal mandate to coordinate such an effort if it requires transfers and relocations.

Just sayin', California's releasing convicted murderers onto the streets because of this virus along with people awaiting trial & sentencing. Old murderers, to be sure (and they claim that at least some of these were started before the viral outbreak), but murderers nonetheless.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/california-gov-newsom-commutes-sentences-21-including-killers-n1170976 (https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/california-gov-newsom-commutes-sentences-21-including-killers-n1170976)

There's no practical way to separate the inmates. There are just too many people committing crimes leading to an overburdened prison system.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Kairon on April 24, 2020, 05:34:06 PM
Incidentally, since I mentioned her earlier in this thread, just FYI my "Aunt" Nancy has recovered from the virus, despite her poor health of late making her an extremely at-risk patient. I just spoke with her the other day. Unfortunately, in the midst of all this she also lost her nursing job with the medical research company she worked for, so...1 step forward, 2 steps back.

That's good to hear that she's recovered. Sometimes I feel like these days are just about tackling one problem at a time, and health and safety is definitely at the top of that list, though it's exhausting that the list of other crises only ever seems to get longer.

It sucks to hear that she lost her job though. I hope she can get unemployment insurance benefits relatively easily. I'd like to think that Utah has a good system in place, (California's UI system seems to be handling the increased load well, my mom filed here some weeks ago and there have been no problems) I'm just reminded of reports where people in certain other specific states are finding that they have to wrestle with the system to get their benefits.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: nickmitch on April 24, 2020, 10:46:43 PM
Incidentally, since I mentioned her earlier in this thread, just FYI my "Aunt" Nancy has recovered from the virus, despite her poor health of late making her an extremely at-risk patient. I just spoke with her the other day. Unfortunately, in the midst of all this she also lost her nursing job with the medical research company she worked for, so...1 step forward, 2 steps back.
I am happy she recovered but it is a pain that she lost her job.  Is she able to get unemployment?

Probably? I'm not familiar with the unemployment laws in Utah.

Glad to hear she's recovered.  I hope she can get things worked out with unemployment or otherwise land on her feet.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Ian Sane on April 28, 2020, 03:09:22 PM
I've realized that if my parents, my brothers and I all lived in the same house that we would have no real impatience regarding social distancing.  I can go months without seeing friends in person but splitting our family into two groups has been rough.  My family members are increasingly becoming cynical about the whole thing and are expressing more and more interest in getting together.  I can freely admit that that temptation is pressing on me too.  The invisible nature of this makes it hard.  I don't know anyone, or know anyone that knows anyone, that has caught the virus.  Canada (and the US) being a very large country geographically also plays into it.  With a large country you can have one area that is heavily infected and other areas where it appears like this is all an overreaction.  What you really need is restriction of travel so that heavily infected areas are locked down but areas with little infection are not.  But I don't know how you could have the manpower for the amount of checkpoints on the roads that you would need to enforce something like that and in America at least it wouldn't be constitutional.  It's a good idea in theory that isn't feasible.

I would like anti-body testing to increase.  The lingering cough I had for seemingly two months has gone away.  My Dad also had a similar cough and I may have caught what I had from him.  So naturally we're wondering if we had Covid 19.  If we did then my Mom and brothers have been exposed to an infected person this entire time, which would likely mean they caught it too but were asymptomatic.  If that were the case I wouldn't run off to a packed movie theatre but it would be nice for the two households to interact again.

Of course I would like more positive messaging to encourage people to keep this up.  Today the BC government said "We are getting close to the point where we can open up" which is great.  Not "we're reopening this weekend no matter what" and not "you will remain in your homes for two years and life is NEVER going to be the same".  Take the situation seriously.  Don't trivialize it, don't fear-monger.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Kairon on April 28, 2020, 04:16:58 PM
I agree. It helps to have constant communication with your local leaders, and for them to give updates and an idea of the progress we're making. That's why it's helpful to talk about the idea of opening up and what we'd be measuring and what our plans are, even though we're not opening up anytime soon. It help us mentally picture the light at the end of the tunnel.

And I don't understand where all the testing is, this to me is such a glaring failure. The Wuhan area has already gone through the entire first wave, and we're still unable to get any testing where I am unless we're a frontline workers or a doctor says we're symptomatic.

If we had ridiculous testing EVERYWHERE for anyone who wanted it, then it'd be much easier to slowly start opening up and start recovering because we'd have confidence that we'd catch people quick who came down with it.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Ian Sane on May 01, 2020, 03:36:21 PM
Yesterday my brother had to drop something off at our parents.  While he has been losing his patience with social distancing he said that upon seeing our parents in their yard, a safe distance away from him, he felt much more uncomfortable about us all getting back to visiting each other.  He interacts with other people in public for his job.  When presented with the opportunity to just interact with Mom and Dad like normal he couldn't help but think "what if someone I had contact with has it and I'm infected but don't have symptoms yet?  I couldn't live with myself if I got my parents sick."  I hope other people have that moment before rushing into things.  On the bright side my other brother, while still working from home, is back to doing full-time hours.

I've noticed a disproportionate amount of opinions for reopening being based on... haircuts.  Let's examine situations where people would be begging to reopen:

I'm unemployed.
My business is on the verge of collapse.
My non-essential surgery has been delayed indefinitely and I have chronic pain.
I live alone and am suffering depression from isolation.
I want to go to a baseball game.
I need a haircut.

Don't those last two come across as very minor priorities?  Like I can see a person thinking that.  I've certainly thought about how disappointing it is that fun stuff I had planned has been cancelled but I'm not so immature and selfish to actually express that disappointment as an argument for reopening.  If you're going to argue for reopening do it for SERIOUS stuff, not "eh, this isn't fun".  You're not eight years old.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Adrock on May 02, 2020, 02:40:04 PM
I never understood the haircut thing. Aren’t all of the hair salons and barbers closed? People can protest all they want, but it’s still up to the individual owners to reopen if they feel safe. And personally, I go to the same person every month (my hair grows fast). Shout out to Stephanie, the best hair dresser. If she isn’t working, I’m just not getting a haircut (besides just not feeling comfortable right now anyway). I get anxiety every time I have to find a new hairdresser who doesn’t know my preferences.

Semi-related: I did have a particularly weak moment in which I considered using my facial hair trimmer to try to give myself a fade. It would not have turned out well. A cooler head prevailed.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BeautifulShy on May 02, 2020, 04:38:25 PM
Yeah a good percentage of spa/ salon/ barbers are closed because it is nearly impossible to do that type of work without maintaining a safe distance away.     I have been without hair removal for 2 months now and I just had to reschedule my appointment to after AZ opens up again which is stated to be after May 15th.  It is frustrating but I get why it needs to be done this way.   

But yeah Ian I agree those top 4 reasons you listed are good reasons to want things to open up but those latter two not so much.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on May 02, 2020, 05:19:57 PM
Good time to practice Self Care

But I've been procrastinating on pulling it my clippers for more than facial hair trims. I can still shape the fro decently enough to not really care about it yet.
But i also have years worth of experience in trimming my own hair, just not even close to the expertise of an actual barber.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: nickmitch on May 02, 2020, 11:05:22 PM
I've been regularly doing my own hair for a few years now.  I kinda got tired of trying to find someone to consistently retwist my locs after my stylist moved.  I always could do them, I just preferred not to back then.  Now, it kinda eats up most of a Saturday for me, depending on how much styling I'm doing, but it's cheaper and they look nice.  That's one area I'm pretty glad I don't have to worry too much about.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Ian Sane on May 04, 2020, 11:34:08 AM
Semi-related: I did have a particularly weak moment in which I considered using my facial hair trimmer to try to give myself a fade. It would not have turned out well. A cooler head prevailed.

My co-worker did that.  He tried to get his wife to cut his hair but she wasn't going to take the blame for a bad haircut.  He didn't look terrible in that a stranger wouldn't think he looked weird but you certainly wouldn't tip your barber for it.  The funny thing is that until only a few years ago he had pretty shaggy hair, far longer than what his hair would have grown out to during the lockdown.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on May 04, 2020, 11:53:30 AM
I just cut mine the other day.

Hair was so thick, and since my clippers had been tucked in a drawer for the past 3-4 years w/o much use, that they grinded to a halt after about going over about 1/3 of my head.

I had to keep clearing it out, and oiling the blades every few seconds just to get through the haircut.
Usually I would be able to glide through and it would roll the cut hair up like a carpet and keep going. The other day it was like trying to use a weak lawnmower on an overgrown yard. It was a pain to get through. I honestly think the blades need to be sharpened or something, but somehow the hair was just being pulled and/or sliding between the blades and clogging up the ability for the blades to slide back and forth.

turned out well enough in the end.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: nickmitch on May 04, 2020, 10:41:03 PM
Sounds like you might need those blades replaced.  Glad you were able to get through it.

I've been growing my beard out for shits and giggles.  Most days, it looks like the reason why I don't grow it out, but yesterday it was kinda nice.  Still a bit patchy for my liking though.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: that Baby guy on May 21, 2020, 10:03:35 AM
Florida is back in the news again. Really, it looks like reporters and media outlets are trying to create controversy about very little.

Florida is doing a phased reopening, with restaurants in most locations allowed 50 percent capacity, and most other businesses opening up with similar restrictions.

Florida has a population comparable to New York, it has several beaches, and is home to Disney World and other theme parks. Florida's government was heavily criticized for not mandating via executive order the closure of beaches for a few weeks into the known outbreak.

Florida was expected to be a hotspot that emerged after New York. Instead, Florida has 47,471 total cases and only 2,096 COVID-19 related deaths as of yesterday. The number looks large, but it's a fraction of other places considered hotspots. Florida has continued testing, and has had less than ten percent, and often less than that, of those who are tested return positive. It is believed the outbreaks in Broward and Dade counties primarily stem from people fleeing New York for warmer climates. Since Florida's governor was criticized for having a negligent and/or slow response to close things down, like beaches, it has since been determined sunlight can help provide defense against COVID-19, and yesterday, the CDC began reporting that it isn't likely the virus spreads much via contaminated surfaces, which, from my personal knowledge suggests social distancing and masks are probably the best way to prevent getting sick.

Anyway, in the last few days, an employee for the state was fired and the press created an uproar over the incident. The employee was one that worked in GIS (Geographic Information Services), which is a fancy way of saying she worked on maps and displaying data with/on maps. Where I work, we have a GIS department, and their primary responsibility is assigning 9-1-1 street addresses and accurately pinpointing the locations of various buildings, apartments, and the like on maps used by the local government and first responders. The state's GIS map for COVID-19 allows anyone to visit and see information on those who have been infected at some point by COVID-19. It's done using the same GIS system, Arc GIS, as the worldwide John Hopkins tracking map, however, it has many more methods to track and compare data, even to the point that you can view infection counts by zip code, and so much more.

This particular employee, from reports I've read, is not the only one who worked on the map. She allegedly was fired because she refused to manipulate data to make Florida look better. If I'm reading the latest response from Florida correctly, she was actually fired because she refused to listen to the actual scientists and epidemiologists who said including the data of people who were potentially infected with the virus early on, but were never tested or actually diagnosed with it would be inaccurate, and requested she not add them into the data pool being considered. I don't know if they were previously included. I've seen reports saying the employee worked 16 hour days several times and was responsible for half a million lines of code for the Florida COVID-19 GIS map. Without working directly on GIS, myself, I suspect that the code is generated based on parameters and formulae entered into a GUI, rather than by rote coding. I know our GIS department has done some work involving similar systems to Arc GIS, and the head of that department definitely does not know anything about coding. Anyway, if I had to guess, I'd say the 16 hour days with no breaks caught up to her, and she probably was going crazy from the stress. I'm disappointed to see her leadership didn't force her to take time off, though the woman did state she won't be paid for some of her time, suggesting she elected to work through the time off she was supposed to have. I can say Florida's GIS map has been functional for well over a month, so the extended hours she had been working don't make much sense to me.

From the respect of data manipulation, the GIS map couldn't be used to manipulate the numbers directly, but instead, it could be used to spotlight some numbers and obscure others. Florida has released PDF reports automatically generated daily with whole accounting for every new person identified with a positive test. I'm confident this is the case. I had COVID-19, myself, little over a month ago, and was able to go into the PDF and definitely identify myself in this PDF. No names are included, but age, county, and dates of the (first?) positive test are. I don't believe subsequent positive tests for an already diagnosed person are included, as there's no indication someone has been tested more than once.

Anyway, long story short, I stand by my earlier claims that Florida did well all things considered. It's been interesting to watch, but at the same time, I've been frustrated because so much of what I've seen almost universally with the news has been based on fear and irrationality.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: lolmonade on May 21, 2020, 10:23:54 AM
I recall reading that story about her being fired, truthfully my biases had me mentally taking her side, but I'm trying to work on not coming to conclusions with incomplete information, especially as the news seems to be flying at the speed of light.

I will say too that there's been aritcles with data showing that the PEOPLE of the US broadly started social distancing before the state orders came into place, so I'd be more inclined to credit the people of Florida moreso than the state & local government.  Again, my biases might be partially at play with that conclusion.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Ian Sane on May 21, 2020, 11:58:18 AM
Tracking the average daily death toll for Canada in weekly increments, the last week was the first time it went down, going from 170 to 130.  So far this week it is even lower but coming off a long weekend I expect there to be late reported stats as yesterday's number was noticeably higher than Monday and Tuesday.

British Columbia has entered Phase 2 of our restart plan.  They have a nice web site outlining it:
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/emergency-preparedness-response-recovery/covid-19-provincial-support/bc-restart-plan

Oddly enough the Province slowly re-opening has not been met with much backlash.  Gee, it's almost as if this didn't occur in an election year for our country and no parties stand to benefit from steering the narrative in one direction or the other.  I've been quite happy with how the Provincial government has handled the situation.  The lockdown was never that draconian to begin with and it felt more like we were encouraged to social distance more than forced to.  Treating the citizens like adults seems to have worked.  There were rules in place but there wasn't the horror stories of people getting large fines for taking their dog outside to pee.  However today they reported 21 new cases after having single digit amounts for a while.  But phase 2 only started on Tuesday so it is way too early for that idea to have backfired and have to be scaled back.

Following the phase 2 rules (small groups, keep distance, no hugging, stay home if feeling ill) I've been able to visit my parents again which was great, though a little weird with us sitting on opposite sides of the living room.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: that Baby guy on May 21, 2020, 12:20:45 PM
I recall reading that story about her being fired, truthfully my biases had me mentally taking her side, but I'm trying to work on not coming to conclusions with incomplete information, especially as the news seems to be flying at the speed of light.

I will say too that there's been aritcles with data showing that the PEOPLE of the US broadly started social distancing before the state orders came into place, so I'd be more inclined to credit the people of Florida moreso than the state & local government.  Again, my biases might be partially at play with that conclusion.

I agree with you, that people reacted well. I've just seen a lot of criticism lobbied my state's way, and a lot of praise leveled at a place like New York, where it turns out the government there aided the spread to at-risk populations by allowing COVID-19 patients in nursing homes and ALFs.

In regard to this one employee, I spoke some with our GIS department, and it agreed with my synopsis, that primarily, the company that made the GIS software is the one coding, and local GIS puts in data and formulae in order to output an api. There may be a half million lines of code, but it isn't as if she wrote or constructed the code.

I touted in this thread a month ago about Florida's transparency with the data. The GIS map was a great tool for showcasing the numbers, but the numbers weren't produced by the map, they were plugged in. If the state wanted to cover anything up or fudge any numbers, they'd have to heavily modify the reports on the Florida Department of Health COVID-19 site, and not go after someone responsible for GIS. A lot of of her story doesn't line up well with my experiences. I won't claim to know everything, but I will say I think at least some of what she's claiming is likely a product of overwork and overstress, which her claims admit she has done. I'm more interested in if she chose to overwork herself or if the state of Florida put her in a position where she had to work those extended hours for two months. I think we need to give a critical look at the fact she had opportunity to go 16 hours a day for 60 days.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Stratos on May 21, 2020, 02:43:12 PM
Florida is regularly the butt of jokes so I can see how people at large will make sweeping generalizations.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Adrock on May 27, 2020, 09:44:01 PM
Disney plans to reopen Walt Disney World in July (https://www.polygon.com/2020/5/27/21248528/disney-world-opening-dates-parks-coronavirus)


Hahahahahahahaha *pause* HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA......... you serious? (https://youtu.be/BwSts2s4ba4)
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Stratos on May 28, 2020, 03:44:15 PM
My job is planning an optional limited return to work in July, but they won't force anyone to return through the Summer for sure. I personally don't intend to go back until 2021 if I can help it. A lot of other local companies are extending until the Fall/Winter as-is so its not that far fetched to hope for myself.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Adrock on May 28, 2020, 04:02:43 PM
What kind of work do you do? I’m mainly curious why they’re planning a limited return to work so soon.

I’m in IT so it’s all basic office stuff. The operations side is a call center. The owners were pretty quick to have everyone from IT to the call center work from home so I don’t expect they’re in any rush to bring everyone back. In fact, I feel like since most of this work doesn’t require working in an office, they may stop leasing two satellite offices they were renting because we ran out of room in the two main offices.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Stratos on May 29, 2020, 12:39:31 PM
Software engineering for a telecom company. Absolutely no need to go in to do my job other than to use my sweet monitor setup.

Its a national company, so the communications are covering everyone in a more generic way. The guidance from lower level leadership in my area is that no one has to go back anytime soon and managers are expected to work with all employees to continue remote work as long as needed.

I imagine its a perception thing for them. Despite the advances they have made in recent years they still have some leadership perceptions that face-to-face is better. Prior C-level leadership had balked at opening satellite locations to their headquarters when space got too crowded because of this perception (to the point parking and other things like bathrooms and elevators were hard to come by). They've finally opened multiple new locations in headquarters-town so that sentiment seems to have dissipated, but I'm sure some of the related perceptions are still there.

Thankfully I am at a different nearby regional facility so things operate much differently there.

It also doesn't help that I hear a lot of other employees complaining about wanting to go back.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: King of Twitch on May 29, 2020, 03:40:31 PM
Is this real life? Monkeys run away with coronavirus test samples after attacking lab technician in India: https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/monkeys-run-away-coronavirus-test-22106238
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Stratos on May 29, 2020, 03:42:26 PM
Is this real life?

Is this just fantasy?
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: King of Twitch on May 29, 2020, 03:44:09 PM
Is this real life?

Is this just fantasy?

virus in tech lab
escaped with monkeys
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Khushrenada on May 29, 2020, 03:59:31 PM
Is this real life?

Is this just fantasy?

virus in tech lab
escaped with monkeys

So that's how this whole pandemic started!

(https://image.myanimelist.net/ui/OK6W_koKDTOqqqLDbIoPAk6qpcudZ1S2CqgJi8uXddk)
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: nickmitch on May 30, 2020, 01:49:16 AM
Is this real life?

Is this just fantasy?

virus in tech lab
escaped with monkeys

A troop of monkeys
might spread COVID-19
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BeautifulShy on June 17, 2020, 12:17:53 AM
Well after having shut down for about a month or so we opened up again here in Arizona and there is 2,000 more cases in just one day.     Just like I expected a second wave came through.   


Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BeautifulShy on June 17, 2020, 12:19:38 AM
For those that are interested in documentaries Frontline did an episode on COVID-19 today.

For BnM- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4la0YzxFZ4
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on June 17, 2020, 03:47:57 AM
"If we would just stop testing, we would have very few cases, if any....."

Trust me when I say we haven't hit a second wave. We still haven't done anything to get past the first one.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Ian Sane on June 17, 2020, 11:45:20 AM
The situation in Canada is very different.  This has turned very much into an Ontario/Quebec problem and more specifically a Toronto/Montreal one.  That being the two biggest cities, that isn't surprising so it is probably the population density.  However Western and Atlantic Canada have small numbers. Here in BC we get little outbreaks at a family gathering or a restaurant but the health officials have been able to contract trace those and prevent them from spreading.  Doesn't mean things couldn't spiral out of control but we're doing well all things considered.

The general vibe of people has become much more relaxed.  All the stores have social distancing markers on the floor and employees with masks and gloves but the general public has largely blown this off.  You do see people in masks but I'm not sure if it's even 50%.  It's the standard thing where if you handle the pandemic effectively then people think the whole thing was overblown.  There's no tsunami that crashes into the seawall that everyone can see and think "good thing we took precautions".
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Luigi Dude on June 18, 2020, 02:22:51 PM
The general vibe of people has become much more relaxed.  All the stores have social distancing markers on the floor and employees with masks and gloves but the general public has largely blown this off.  You do see people in masks but I'm not sure if it's even 50%.  It's the standard thing where if you handle the pandemic effectively then people think the whole thing was overblown.  There's no tsunami that crashes into the seawall that everyone can see and think "good thing we took precautions".

That's literally what's happening where I live.  The place I work reopened on May 18th and for the first week most of the customers were still wearing masks.  By the end of the second week though most of the customers coming in had stopped wearing mask.  I'd estimate about 30% still wear them now.

And low and behold, the area I live in has now seen a spike in cases the last 2 weeks.

https://madison.com/news/local/health-med-fit/la-crosse-county-says-area-now-at-severe-risk-of-covid-19-spread/article_858224ec-5b4c-58de-8cb9-79276c0dbe58.html

It's just ridicules.  After Memorial Day, so many people around here just started acting like the virus disappeared and started going around without mask and getting together in large groups again.  So now we're getting hammered as a result. 
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Adrock on June 18, 2020, 02:48:58 PM
Even after Coronavirus is under control, I’ll probably still be that little old Chinese lady who wore masks everywhere even before the pandemic. One, because we can never be too careful now. Two, I can pretend to cosplay as a ninja.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: ejamer on June 18, 2020, 04:10:29 PM
For those that are interested in documentaries Frontline did an episode on COVID-19 today.

For BnM- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4la0YzxFZ4

Video unavailable? 
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Adrock on June 18, 2020, 04:53:11 PM
Video unavailable?
Just confirming the video plays for me. Maybe it’s locked by region? You’re in Canada, right?
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BeautifulShy on June 18, 2020, 09:12:26 PM
It is probably a regional thing. See if it is on your local pbs channel.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BeautifulShy on June 18, 2020, 09:19:25 PM
Now with the increase of cases our governor has passed on the responsibility of making the decisions on things to the mayors of the cities.  Mayor in Phoenix has said making masks mandatory going forward when going out.  Tuscon, Scottsdale, Avondale and Payson has made masks mandatory going forward.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: ThePerm on June 19, 2020, 03:47:51 AM
Here in Yuma, Arizona despite the governor saying you need a mask the local town governance was like "nah, you don't need a mask"

The way this **** is going I had predicted August was when it was going to clear out, but that was way back in April. Now it could be the middle of next year.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Kairon on June 19, 2020, 06:04:15 PM
Even after Coronavirus is under control, I’ll probably still be that little old Chinese lady who wore masks everywhere even before the pandemic. One, because we can never be too careful now. Two, I can pretend to cosplay as a ninja.

I remember sering people in masks and being like "Oh, they probably got that habit because they went through some of the SARS scares and the like in Asia."

Now I'm 100% ready to be one of those people. Already decided I'll be wearing a mask while out in public, and ESPECIALLY in public transit, into next year easy.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: pokepal148 on June 19, 2020, 06:08:55 PM
I'm out of work for the next week on the most minor cough I've ever had because that's enough to fail the health screening at work.

Nice.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: ShyGuy on June 19, 2020, 08:08:28 PM
We learned today that if somebody touches a computer, it's quarantined for the next 72 hours.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on June 20, 2020, 01:06:57 PM
Today is the rally in Tulsa, OK that was originally supposed to be yesterday and make June 19th a famous day.... :rolleyes so hard they fell out my head:

It's an indoor rally, and they expected about 100k people (many more than the venue can hold), many traveling from other states, and camping outside since Monday to get in. Mask are not mandatory. They are supposedly doing temp scans and handing out mask to those that want them, but hearing the quotes from some of these idots just lets me know that OK is about to be a source of spread if not a new epicenter itself.

Quote
“I don’t fear anything. If today is the day I die, today is the day I die," said Riniker, 62, who drove to Tulsa from his home in Arkansas earlier this week to attend what he said was his first political rally since Ronald Reagan was running for office. "I'm not paranoid, I'm not afraid."

“I think [the coronavirus] has been hyped up more than it is.There’s flu, there’s cancer, there’s COVID-19,” said Mary Legan of Claremore, Oklahoma, adding that she brought a fanny pack full of hand sanitizer and masks for her and her husband, Ken. Neither were sure if they would wear masks the whole time while inside the arena, commenting on how uncomfortable they can be, especially when it is hot out.

“When you’re in your 70s you can't go hide in your basement, you don't have that many more years,” Legan said. “If Trump felt comfortable having it here, then I’m comfortable.

“I’m a nurse. I’ve worked E.R. for 15 years, and if we want to come to a rally it's our decision," said Sheri Todd from Park Hill, Oklahoma. "I’ve had friends who had it, they were sick for a couple of weeks. But it's still our choice.”

"As far as I know, I’m still an American," said Tom Todd, Sheri's husband, and a retired welder.

"This is a free country and I can do what I want. If I want to wear a mask, I wear a mask. If I don’t, I don't. If I get sick, I get sick. That's my choice," Tom continued, adding that he thought the number of coronavirus deaths was being "padded."

“I’m not going to live my life in fear. I want to get back to the normal — not a ‘new normal,’ but the old normal," said Jill, who lives in Orange County, California.​

But as that TX Gov had said "There are more important things in life than living...."
(he made this statement in regards to restarting the economy during "lockdown" btw)

my thoughts and prayers go out to all those that have to come into contact with these people after the rally. All the locals minding their business, other travelers they pass on the journey home. Family members and co-workers they return to when they get back to their life.....

When even a Nurse takes complete disregard for her own health & safety, knowing good and well, that when she returns home, she is expected to go to work and be responsible for the health and safety of other.... especially after seeing how this affects people first hand, you realize there's no hope for society as a whole.

I can literally go off on a tangent about how this whole pandemic has been mishandled from the top down, and the people in charge at every level keep passing the buck down to the next man. Like everyone is afraid to make important decisions that could save lives.

How hard is it just make face mask and social distancing a national mandatory thing in close public spaces and indoor areas? This only works if we all do it, other wise efforts to stop the spread are futile when non-compliant places have people that travel to compliant places after they've already suppressed the virus and started re-opening.  It's a cycle of stupid that starts at the top.

California was doing pretty good, until Elon Musk threatened to take Tesla to TX or something, and Alameda Co opened early.
Orange Co was always gonna be issue due to the amount of "Karens" that just natural habitat the area.
And now we are on the rise because of certain area's not following the plan, free travel, and things opening up a little too soon, just because the weather is nice and social distancing is an inconvenience.

The ironic thing is that, because we've all been doing what we need to do, we haven't seen many people we personally know get sick, and because of that, most of us "unaffected" start to think that there really wasn't as much threat as we thought, and start to over-relax on the very things that was keeping us at low risk to begin with.
If we fast track to Herd Immunity, we are gonna lose a lot more people than we already have int he next 4-5 months, as the hospitals will not be able to handle the amount of ICU patients that need care. And if our nurses are deliberately putting themselves at risk to prove political points to themselves.... then we are truly screwed in the short and long term.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on June 24, 2020, 12:06:50 PM
and Florida sets another new Daily Reporting Record..... 5500 cases today.
and a 16% positive rate..... which may be another record as well

https://amp.miamiherald.com/news/coronavirus/article243757872.html


Might be time for Florida to actually shut down for more than 2 weeks this time.

Also NY, NJ, and CT put in a Mandatory Traveler Quarantine Protocol effective tomorrow for visitors from certain states.
https://www.fox35orlando.com/news/ny-nj-and-ct-order-quarantine-for-visitors-from-states-with-high-infection-n


In other news though, i had a co-worker, who's husband tested positive for coronavirus.
apparently he went to a gathering of some sort last weekend. been sick for a whole week, and tested positive yesterday. No one I work with had direct contact with him or direct and/or close contact with our co-worker, but some co-workers were understandably worried about it. Luckily I wasn't there all last week (WFH!!!!) but that's the closest I've been to this virus so far. Don't know anyone else personally that has had the virus... that I know of.
although I do have a few friends who think they had it back towards end of last year when they had some sort of flu and just couldn't get out of bed.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Stratos on June 24, 2020, 03:03:06 PM
Washington now has mandatory masks in public. Maybe now people won't glare at us like pretentious idiots because we have never stopped wearing masks in public (seriously, wife and I made a rare trip to the store together and some woman without a mask flat out scowled at my wife for no good reason. Also saw people role their eyes at me as well. An odd thing to be judge-y about.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BeautifulShy on June 24, 2020, 03:11:52 PM
Washington now has mandatory masks in public. Maybe now people won't glare at us like pretentious idiots because we have never stopped wearing masks in public (seriously, wife and I made a rare trip to the store together and some woman without a mask flat out scowled at my wife for no good reason. Also saw people role their eyes at me as well. An odd thing to be judge-y about.

That is pretty much the case here in metro Phoenix and the surrounding cities, finally.  Also that women is a jerk.   
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: broodwars on June 24, 2020, 03:12:56 PM
and Florida sets another new Daily Reporting Record..... 5500 cases today.
and a 16% positive rate..... which may be another record as well

https://amp.miamiherald.com/news/coronavirus/article243757872.html


Might be time for Florida to actually shut down for more than 2 weeks this time.

Just FYI, I know you enjoy a lemgthy rant even more than I do, but FL closed on 4/1/20 and didn't begin phase 1 reopening until 5/18/20. That's 1.5 months, not 2 weeks. The only thing we reopened aside from essential business in that time was the beaches, and we were right to do so.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Florida (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Florida)
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on June 24, 2020, 04:14:15 PM
I was poking that they were late to close and early to open.
Hopefully it gets curbed quickly, but with EVERYTHING opening up in a week....doesn't look likely.
Especially since (from what I've read.....) only certain counties have enforced the mask and social distancing rules

edit: and I'm over here talking about FL.... look at Cali with record setting 6k cases yesterday.
Mostly in SoCal from what I can tell.... LA County, OC, San Diego areas.

(https://i.imgur.com/CIlPFCc.png)

and we can't forget Elon Musk over in Alameda County.... smh
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Luigi Dude on June 24, 2020, 05:34:06 PM
Well with cases in my area spiking, one of my coworkers has tested positive, so now the store is closed for 2 weeks.  The person who was positive I worked with them this weekend, and then they called in sick on Monday because they had the symptoms and then were positive yesterday.

So now the local country health office is sending me emails each day just to respond how I feel.  I'd like to get tested but they said because I have no symptoms they can't because the test don't do a good job if you've been recently exposed.  Now if I still don't have any symptoms by the end of next week I can get tested since if I'm someone who can spread it without symptoms then there would be enough of the virus built up to get a positive.  Otherwise only if I develop symptoms can I get tested this week.

Well as long I don't get sick it'll be like a 2 week vacation since I just sit around and play videogames on my free time anyway.  I just wish I didn't stay up late playing videogames on Sunday night and then waking up early Monday for the Smash Bros reveal.  I mean Monday was my day off so I sometimes don't get the sleep I should when I'm off the next day.  Of course I've been telling myself not to lose control because the one night I don't get enough sleep will finally be the day I was exposed so it shouldn't be too much of a surprise then.  I've made sure to get enough sleep the last 2 days so lets hope that does the trick.

Oh well, if I do get infected at least it was because of Smash Bros.  I can't think of a more fitting way for me to go. :D
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on June 25, 2020, 10:44:38 AM
someone set the reminder....

UK tells Florida to "holds it's beer"

https://news.sky.com/story/major-incident-declared-in-bournemouth-as-thousands-of-people-flock-to-beaches-12014686

::yesterday::
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EbS01HjXkAAT2yg?format=jpg&name=large)

(https://i.imgur.com/uSEmK2U.png)

.....yes. He said they were defecating in burger boxes.

and even though that particular beach is closed till next Saturday, it appears that it's quite busy again today as well.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Ian Sane on June 25, 2020, 07:07:23 PM
Uh... it doesn't have to be a pandemic for me to condemn shitting in burger boxes.  Like that's just a gross thing to do period.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Adrock on June 25, 2020, 10:21:13 PM
For BNM (https://youtu.be/CCi4zMJbMQQ)
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on June 26, 2020, 12:04:28 PM
If theres one thing Florida got.... it's entertainment. (in the worst way, but you still gotta laugh)
https://twitter.com/nowthisnews/status/1276288370562523136
- seriously though.... it's really embarrasing.

and this is all while they are putting up another record reporting day w/ almost 9k confirmed COVID cases.
over 13% positiviity rate on 71k test performed.

some numbers for those interested:
http://ww11.doh.state.fl.us/comm/_partners/action/report_archive/state/state_reports_latest.pdf

and just remember that these number may be low.... it's suspected that FL may be under reporting by masking lots of these deaths as "pneumonia" related instead of COVID, with an annual pneumonia cases being something like 6x the usual annual avg rate (but take that number with a grain of salt, because I don't have the updated figures. Going off what was being shared a few weeks back)

and according to the department that regulates liquor licenses in Florida, EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY
no bars are allowed "On-Site" consumption of alcohol.
https://twitter.com/FloridaDBPR/status/1276534160446930944

so that must mean that all indoor bar activity is put to a halt.
But Disney World, who is supposed to open in 2 weeks.... will they be able to sell Liquor/Beer/Wine?
and if they can't, do they still open the parks?

Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on June 26, 2020, 01:01:25 PM
Looks like Texas is following FL's lead...
https://www.fox4news.com/news/texas-bars-ordered-to-close-restaurants-limited-to-50-capacity

It would be nice if some statewide mandatory mask and social distancing guidelines were being enforced. Maybe some very strict reopening guidelines too, so that businesses don't have to gear up for opening only to be shut down or scaled back again a few weeks later.

Just a suggestion though. 🤷🏿‍♂️
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: pokepal148 on July 06, 2020, 09:35:45 PM
So Rochester MN finally passed a mask mandate. It's about fucking time.

Considering that the Mayo Clinic owns more than half of downtown Rochester and the city's current set of elected officials are generally left leaning, I was assuming that this would happen alot sooner than it did.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Stratos on July 07, 2020, 12:45:53 PM
Election season is coming up soon, so sadly a lot of officials may be trying to act in a way that they perceive will ensure they can be re-elected.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on July 07, 2020, 04:26:24 PM
I got a friend.... swears Coronavirus is a "HOAX" because he only knows one person personally that has had it. He's mostly upset that "schools are gonna be going on, and my kids need to go to school!!!".

I reassure him, if they can't physically attend, they've had more than enough time to setup virtual classrooms. I'm assuming teachers may physically show up, but the classes will be done remotely. Kids will still get an education, and they can still be just as social, only almost exclusively online, almost how they prefer it anyway.

He goes on to vent that it's just like the flu..... no worse than the common flu....
I have to remind him that this kicked off mid March... 3.5 months ago. Over 133k Americans have DIED since then, from coronavirus or related complications from having contracted the virus.
Just because we happen to be lucky so far, and have not had direct contact with someone carrying the virus, does not mean it's not out there, waiting, and potentially deadly.

I told him I had another friend that just got over it... his first response was "Well... it didn't kill him did it!!?". I just wanted to facepalm so fucking bad.
Problem is this is one of my best friends, and I understand the frustration with face mask, and places being "social distanced" or temporarily shut down (like beaches, amusement parks, etc etc).

I've told him, that if you want to blame anyone, you gotta start at the top of the lack of an initial response to this threat. It was treated like a joke, and now we're the punchline.
I think Obama had Swine flu and Bush had Sars, but due to competence and accountability in either The Leadership or their admin, threats were treated seriously and mitigated before becoming a serious one. Had that same level of accountability and competence been shown here.... it most likely never would've gotten anywhere near this bad and we'd likely be getting back to "business as usual", instead of continuing to get even worse.
But he don't wanna hear none of that ****.
He's not political, and he not really World News aware. I think he gets his soundbites off clips on Facebook or some ****, so you know what kind of misleading garbage that has to be (I don't use facebook....)

But I'm not sure how get through to him, other than to just give him his space before he starts to compromise the rest of us.

Just thought I'd lay that out here and get it off my chest.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Adrock on July 07, 2020, 05:32:37 PM
But I'm not sure how get through to him, other than to just give him his space before he starts to compromise the rest of us.

Just thought I'd lay that out here and get it off my chest.
I’ve ended whole friendships over ignorant **** like what you described. At the same time, I also have a stubborn friend I’ve known for over 15 years, who similarly has outlandish beliefs based on 🤷‍♀️. I’m currently on an I-need-a-fucking-break-from-this-person personal distancing (no contact because I can’t deal with his dumb bullshit). The short version is he defended Chris D’Elia (yes, the Chris D’Elia who was recently caught grooming a 16 year old) and several attempts to “get through to him” have been met with “you’re not going to change my mind on this.” This is not the first one of these, mind you. In a less gross instance, I tried to explain that Atkins/keto diet is extremely unhealthy, the vast majority of dieticians denounce it, and provided several links as proof only to be met with some variation of “you’re not going to change my mind on this.” I often think about whether it’s finally time to cut this person out entirely.

I’m not trying to make this about me. I just wanted to preface my actual response to you with an explanation for how I came to the following conclusion: You won’t get through to him. He’s going to have to figure this out on his own. And you may have to accept the difficult truth that he may never figure it out. Neither of the examples above endangered my health (just my patience). If your friend keeps up this nonsense about Coronavirus being a hoax (and likely not taking the proper precautions to be safe), only you can decide what’s best for you and the people in your life. That said, unfortunately, I don’t think there’s anything else you can do that you haven’t already. I’ll leave you with the following tweet (I don’t have a Twitter so I just take screenshots):
(https://i.imgur.com/2Upe8L5_d.jpg?maxwidth=640&shape=thumb&fidelity=medium)
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on July 07, 2020, 07:54:47 PM
Thanks for the response.
At this point, I've already had a whole hear to heart break down with him over the BLM movement, that led to the eventual realization of his priviledge and why he was unknowingly able to push boundaries to stick up for or take the heat for friends of different nationality w/o fearing the worst.

Now we getting into it over COVID, and I just don't see him giving ground on this one short of him or someone close to him actually being killed or maimed by the virus' ever evolving and unpredictable effects.....

I mean, I'm kinda restless too, but I manage to socialize on a small scale, in open settings, because lockdown in this heat is just not doable. But I'm at least limiting my risk in any situation, and not putting myself in situations where the risk is just too much.
I get the frustrations with the societal changes, and I share many other frustrations with what's going on, but I know where to place those blames, and I don't have any intention of allowing my frustrations to directly put me, my family or friends in harms way just to say **** IT for a weekend and be extremely wreckless with a bunch of strangers somewhere just so I can get out.

Sorry for the mini 2nd rant as well..... :D

I just see the charts and see so many people just basically saying "**** it", not realizing that once those hospitals fill up again.... like they are right now, the body count is gonna start to rise quickly.
I see this getting much worse in some places before it even begins to get better, and school is about to start again....

anyway, stay safe everyone.
I'm gonna go hit some golf balls down at the driving range and work this stress off. lol
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Order.RSS on July 07, 2020, 08:32:09 PM
I got a friend.... swears Coronavirus is a "HOAX" because he only knows one person personally that has had it. He's mostly upset that "schools are gonna be going on, and my kids need to go to school!!!".
[...]
But I'm not sure how get through to him, other than to just give him his space before he starts to compromise the rest of us.

I think Adrock is probably right here, but in case you don't want to give up yet... In my experience people are less swayed by evidence and facts which contradict their already held opinions/beliefs, than they are by making a realisation themselves.
Many of these denial/hoax views are inherently contradictory: how can it be a hoax when he knows a guy who had covid? Has he talked to the guy at all? How'd that guy feel, just a flu? Did their family get it too?

Could be worth just asking him a lot of questions. Oh it's a hoax? Who came up with it then? For what purpose? What do people gain from tricking a country into lockdown (can't be money when economies shut down)? How come the entire world is falling for a single hoax then, surely someone would figure it out if this guy does? What's the end goal for a hoax like this, just to make everyone wear masks for a while? Is it some nefarious method of mass control? Wouldn't those people want facial recognition everywhere and thus be inconvenienced by masks? How came he knows all this but nobody else does, someone must've told him? Etc.

Obviously won't occur overnight, but maybe something might click if he's forced to face his own incongruities? If you do decide to cut contact, make it clear his views on X/Y/Z are the reason why, and perhaps set some baseline on how contact can be resumed if you're willing. He might still dig further down the rabbit hole, but hopefully it'll at least remind him of the friendship it cost.
Good luck man, really sucks. Don't let this dude sneeze on you.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BeautifulShy on July 07, 2020, 10:10:54 PM
This is a very stressful time.  No doubt about it.  So if you need to rant on a internet forum BnM go right ahead.   

 Yeah that is a difficult situation. Having a long time friend and they are saying outlandish things because it suits their narrative.   I have a standing rule with friends either offline or online and it is this.  If you want to stand for something go for it as long as it doesn't trample over human rights.  So lots of the social issues going on like BLM, disability rights, LGBTQIA+ and other causes going on right now, if it tramples on any of those well I will kindly remind them that if you are not for those well I will try and speak to their humanity and then after several attempts they are still like that well I will mute or block them but I won't unfriend them. I just won't have much to talk about with them on those issues.   I rarely unfriend folk online unless I feel like for my own sanity or safety is being compromised then I need to step away from them then I will do that.

Also one thing I learned in therapy is to set personal boundaries for folks and set them out to them so they know if they cross this boundary well then they know what caused them to not be friends with them anymore.  Maybe they will think about those things and come around if not then at least you put in the effort to keep the friendship going.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: nickmitch on July 08, 2020, 07:13:27 PM
BnM, I think Adrock is right.  You probably won't get through to him.  If you feel bad for cutting him off, try not to.  It's not your job/responsibility to teach someone who doesn't want to learn.  You may need to let this person go for the sake of your own mental health.  In these times of limited social interaction, the little you get shouldn't be stressful/draining.

I've tried with friends who hold to conspiracy theories to do things like what Steef is saying.  The thing about these beliefs is that they immediately fall apart once you start poking even small holes in them.  You can maybe plant those seeds of doubt that can grow over time, but some people tend to double down on these types of things.  They've spent so much time/energy defending them that they become attached to those ideas, or it's the notion of being contrarian and "going against the grain" that makes them feel smarter or like they're "thinking for themselves".  Either way, you're possibly trying to pry ideas from them that they, to some degree, want to hold on to.  At some point, it's more than ok to stop.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on July 29, 2020, 02:35:09 PM
Can I just point out the stupidity of some of it leadership in the country that is dealing with COVID and other important social issues in this country...

Some context: the was a hearing yesterday regarding the US Attorney General. Some Republicans refused to wear mask, and didn't properly social distance. The congressman below was one of these people, and also got in close to the USAG at some point for a quick face to face conversation.

Today he was supposed to fly with the President to TX and had to get tested. He tested positive for COVID-19. The below then happened....

(https://i.imgur.com/Hc9nk0V.jpg)

And now the USAG had been sent to get tested as well.

And these are the people that make the important decisions that affect all our lives. I don't know about you, but I feel we are in good hands 🙄




Personally I feel there should be some criminal or civil liability for such an ignorant act of public disregard, especially if any of them get sick.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: lolmonade on July 30, 2020, 09:02:08 PM
I just came in here to say I hope you're all doing well in spite of world events right now.  This community has been great for me through the last decade or so.

While I hate to see everyone struggling with what's happening, selfishly it's a little reassuring seeing I'm not alone in this.  I lost my head for a bit the last few months, just finally starting to get to a level mindset.  Make sure you're taking care of your mental health as well as your physical health, everyone. 
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: nickmitch on July 31, 2020, 01:08:33 AM
I just came in here to say I hope you're all doing well in spite of world events right now.  This community has been great for me through the last decade or so.

While I hate to see everyone struggling with what's happening, selfishly it's a little reassuring seeing I'm not alone in this.  I lost my head for a bit the last few months, just finally starting to get to a level mindset.  Make sure you're taking care of your mental health as well as your physical health, everyone. 

Thanks, Internet Friend. Hope you're doing well too.

ICYMI, a pizza man who thought he'd make a good president, died today of COVID-19 (https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/30/us/politics/herman-cain-dead.html).  Herman Cain was perhaps best known among our communities as an avid fan of Sim City (https://www.forbes.com/sites/insertcoin/2011/10/14/herman-cains-9-9-9-plan-straight-out-of-simcity/#581215183b73) as well as the Pokemon franchise (https://www.distractify.com/p/herman-cain-pokemon).

He notably attended a rally for the sitting US President and was photographed without a mask at the event less than two weeks before becoming hospitalized due to the illness.  I don't think it's currently known when exactly he contracted the virus.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: pokepal148 on July 31, 2020, 06:31:51 PM

for BnM. (https://youtu.be/2rRIqrWuYy4)
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on August 03, 2020, 06:25:32 PM
Well, damn.....

(https://deaddeath.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/David-Nagy-Death.png)

R.I.P.
(moment of silence for him, and all others that have suffered needless loss from this pandemic)
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Adrock on August 03, 2020, 07:43:32 PM
That’s pretty scathing.

For anyone wondering, “Abbott” is referring to Greg Abbott, Governor of Texas. I had to google it.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: ThePerm on August 06, 2020, 03:33:17 AM
I was surprised when Herman Cain died. When I was a kid at my local base exchange there was a Burger King / Godfathers Pizza, which I assume he was the brains behind.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on August 06, 2020, 04:27:16 PM
Welcome to America's **** Show LIVE 2020!!!!!

https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/News/video/student-suspended-showing-fellow-students-masks-72209309

summary: kid takes video of his HighSchool hallways packed shoulder to shoulder with kids not wearing mask, and post on Social Media. The School finds out, and suspends the kid for showing the school off in a negative light.
Then some other kid records the Morning Announcement of the Principle threatening "warning" the kids to not post or share anything the paints the school in a negative way, as there will be consequences.


Personally, I hope the parent sues the school and the district. My kid would be sitting out, or transferred to some remote/home learning experience instead.

I actually saw a post in my area for "The Best Damn 4th-6th grade teacher in the Bay Area, to teach 4-7 kids in the backyard. Salary to be more than they were making at whatever school they were currently employed at"
I would wish I or someone close to me had the resources to make that a reality.

Social engagement is important, but how important is it if you, or the people you wish to be social with, don't live through it to continue to be social?
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: ThePerm on August 06, 2020, 07:33:19 PM
the headline could be read as:

School Journalist is Punished by Authoritarian School Governance.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: nickmitch on August 06, 2020, 08:52:25 PM
the headline could be read as:

School Journalist is Punished by Authoritarian School Governance.

^^^much better headline.

I don't believe in violence (read: I'm a coward), but I'd understand if the parent felt the need to engage in fisticuffs with the principal of that school.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on August 10, 2020, 12:27:18 PM
https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/10/health/children-long-covid-symptoms-intl-gbr/index.html

Somebody please think of the children....

as they pile back into the classrooms because remote learning options aren't even being considered while we actively do nothing to curb this nasty virus.

next few generations of potential athletes could be compromised by this if the effects are extremely long term and not reversible over time.

and considering what politicians are attempting with Healthcare in this country.... this will of course be considered a Pre-Existing condition and not covered.... i wonder who the blowback on all this will land on in the near future once everyone realizes how this affects them or their loved ones directly.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: nickmitch on August 10, 2020, 01:02:35 PM
Welcome to America's **** Show LIVE 2020!!!!!

https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/News/video/student-suspended-showing-fellow-students-masks-72209309

summary: kid takes video of his HighSchool hallways packed shoulder to shoulder with kids not wearing mask, and post on Social Media. The School finds out, and suspends the kid for showing the school off in a negative light.
Then some other kid records the Morning Announcement of the Principle threatening "warning" the kids to not post or share anything the paints the school in a negative way, as there will be consequences.

Follow up to this story!
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2020/08/10/9-georgia-students-test-positive-covid-19-viral-school-photo/3333280001/ (https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2020/08/10/9-georgia-students-test-positive-covid-19-viral-school-photo/3333280001/)

Quote
The school's principal Gabe Carmona notified parents Saturday that six students and three staff members had tested positive for the virus. Each of them had been in the school building sometime in the prior week, though it's unknown if they were infected there.
...
Now, all students will take online classes Monday and Tuesday, Paulding County Schools Superintendent Brian Otott said in a letter to parents Sunday. He said those two days will be used to clean and disinfect the school, and parents will learn Tuesday evening if in-person classes can resume later in the week.
emphasis added

Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on August 10, 2020, 03:28:55 PM
Well, I mean, yeah you gotta clean the school, but don't you think EVERYONE that was at the school during that period of time needs to GET TESTED and QUARANTINE, while the school does remote learning for the remainder of the following week.

Then maybe enact mandatory mask rules as part of the dress code, and stagger lunches so that students can eat outdoors with mask off.

This isn't terribly difficult. Someone in charge just needs to care.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: nickmitch on August 10, 2020, 04:00:57 PM
What, do you care about the safety of children or something? PFFT! Next time, think of the economy for saying something so ridiculous.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on August 10, 2020, 09:34:34 PM
The gift that KEEPS ON GIVING!!!!

https://www.businessinsider.com/coronavirus-patients-hair-loss-trauma-stress-2020-7

Please expand upon my list if I forgot something but...
Symptoms:
loss of taste and smell
shortness of breath
fatigue
cough
sneeze

Long Term effects:
Shortness of breath & Fatigue (lung damage)
heart damage
Hair-loss
*Death*

now we just need this to make erectile disfunction drugs ineffective, and I bet we will suddenly have national importance on a level we haven't seen out of Washington in forever.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Kairon on August 10, 2020, 09:43:02 PM
I don't have kids, but this is definitely the first time I've strongly considered the benefits of homeschooling.

Also, I just found out that my specific zipcode is one of the top 3 hotspots in the bay area with the highest infection rates in the region. Mathematically there's still tons of ways to limit exposure and protect myself, but just seeing that fact specifically be the topic of local news is more than a little worrisome/disturbing.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on August 11, 2020, 12:43:33 AM
You in Alameda county?
Or SoCal?

I forget.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Kairon on August 11, 2020, 12:41:20 PM
You in Alameda county?
Or SoCal?

I forget.

Alameda County, Oakland specifically.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on August 11, 2020, 01:01:33 PM
America's **** Show 2020 continues after a this message from our sponsor.

Corona Time, kids edition vol. 2

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/coronavirus-cases-lead-over-800-quarantine-georgia-school-district-where-n1236364

Quote
Just one week after schools reopened in a northern Georgia school district, more than 800 of its students and staff have been told to quarantine.

Last week, the Cherokee County School District, about 44 miles north of Atlanta, told 20 people to quarantine when one 2nd-grader tested positive for the virus after the first day of school. That number grew fast, and as of Monday night, the school has ordered 826 students to quarantine due to possible exposure, according to a list the district created.

Quote
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp said in a press conference Monday that he is happy with school reopenings across the state.

“I think quite honestly this week went real well other than a couple of" viral photos, the governor said.

(https://media.giphy.com/media/106PwpLIIXJnXi/giphy.gif)

Just make mask a part of the damn dress code and we avoid most of these problems.....
It's already become a kind of fashion statement.... Sell some school branded ones as a fund raiser.
make a contest for best face mask to make it fun..... why is this so difficult?

Do we really need to have these kids mourn the needless loss of a classmate and/or faculty member because some adults have picked mask as a moral high ground to literally die on?
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: nickmitch on August 11, 2020, 03:53:57 PM
The difficulty is that folks who are pushing to reopen schools are not the same people who are cool with "forcing" masks on people.  There's this political machismo that makes some people thing that forced normalcy will just work out despite all the evidence to the contrary.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Stratos on August 12, 2020, 01:00:44 PM
On the bright side cases in my area are trending downwards again (Washington State). I don't like our governor for a number of other reasons (primarily his stance on traffic and taxes) but his virus response seems to be one of the better ones thankfully.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on August 13, 2020, 09:53:58 AM
Georgia still at it..... Corona Time, Kids Edition Vol 2 part 2

https://www.businessinsider.com/georgia-school-district-closes-second-high-school-over-covid-outbreak-2020-8

Same county as before.... 2nd school shut down with mandatory 2 week quarantine..... all partially because they won't just make wearing a mask part of the damn mandatory dress code.

They plan to re-open in person classes Aug 31st... :facepalm:

The commitment to stubborn stupidity on display is just so beyond my level of comprehension.
The schools bitch about the budget, but I have to assume that constantly having to close the school, and the potential for the school district itself to be sued, is going to be very fucking expensive.
Providing the school with medical grade mask (which are pretty cheap) and some hand sanitizer kiosk in every classroom has to be a cheaper upfront cost in the long run....
(although distance learning may have been the smarter option, at least through the end of the calendar year)

and all of this after knowing that kid cases and hospitalizations are on the rise. How are these kids supposed to self-quarantine when lots of them need their parents to watch them?

not to mention this:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/us-reports-highest-number-of-covid-19-deaths-in-one-day-since-mid-may/2020/08/12/4cafe146-dcae-11ea-8051-d5f887d73381_story.html

Quote
As the United States reported its highest number of deaths from the novel coronavirus in a single day since mid-May, President Trump on Wednesday continued to press for the nation’s schools to bring children into classrooms, for businesses to open and for athletes to fill stadiums.

“We’ve got to open up our schools and open up our businesses,” Trump said at an evening news conference at the White House, adding that he wanted to see a college football season this fall. “Let them play,” he said.

[..............]

On Wednesday, the country reported its highest number of deaths in a single day since mid-May, at nearly 1,500. The country has now seen its seven-day average of newly reported deaths remain above 1,000 for 17 consecutive days.

College sports have been shut down for the season since it's apparently not safe to gather these kids in such close physical quarters OUTDOORS.
America is reporting a 9/11 amount of American death every 2-3 days for over over the last 2 weeks, and climbing.
and the people in charge just don't seem to give a **** about anyone or anything except the appearance of normalcy and the fucking economy, all due to re-election purposes.

I just seriously hope that going forward, people realize how important it is to express your rights towards representation, starting at the local level, but also on the national one as well. please VOTE.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on August 13, 2020, 12:04:47 PM
America's **** Show 2020 continues after a this message from our sponsor.

Corona Time, kids edition vol. 2

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/coronavirus-cases-lead-over-800-quarantine-georgia-school-district-where-n1236364

Quote
Just one week after schools reopened in a northern Georgia school district, more than 800 of its students and staff have been told to quarantine.

Last week, the Cherokee County School District, about 44 miles north of Atlanta, told 20 people to quarantine when one 2nd-grader tested positive for the virus after the first day of school. That number grew fast, and as of Monday night, the school has ordered 826 students to quarantine due to possible exposure, according to a list the district created.

Quote
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp said in a press conference Monday that he is happy with school reopenings across the state.

“I think quite honestly this week went real well other than a couple of" viral photos, the governor said.

(https://media.giphy.com/media/106PwpLIIXJnXi/giphy.gif)

Just make mask a part of the damn dress code and we avoid most of these problems.....
It's already become a kind of fashion statement.... Sell some school branded ones as a fund raiser.
make a contest for best face mask to make it fun..... why is this so difficult?

Do we really need to have these kids mourn the needless loss of a classmate and/or faculty member because some adults have picked mask as a moral high ground to literally die on?


I'm gonna have to get off this carousel of stupid....
https://www.newsweek.com/georgia-high-school-viral-hallway-photo-reopens-again-after-35-students-teachers-catch-covid-1524871

They really just don't give a ****. I have to check out on this, as there is literally nothing I can do, and it's just gonna continue to frustrate me.
we all gonna look back on this once it's all over..... and hopefully everyone is ashamed. I hope some people in charge face criminal negligence cases of some sort. crippling fines and jail time need to be handed out like halloween candy. it's just beyond ridiculous.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Adrock on August 13, 2020, 08:53:22 PM
crippling fines and jail time need to be handed out like halloween candy.
Speaking of, is anyone planning to give out candy on Halloween? Things like candy apples are obviously out. However, I feel weird about handing out wrapped candy and more importantly, people ringing my doorbell and being within arm’s length which is decidedly not six feet. I guess I could leave bowl outside? The whole thing sounds like a bad idea this year.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Khushrenada on August 13, 2020, 11:28:42 PM
Not sure what will happen there but it seems candy manufacturer's are angling for people buying more for families to get their own and do personal consumption. The Daily Show did a little news bit about it here:


Be like BnM and skip to the 3:10 mark for relevancy (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKdOK4awHtM).
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Stratos on August 14, 2020, 12:49:49 PM
No one ever came to our place when it was an apartment or our new home in a tucked away cul-de-sac (well, we got one guest for our first Halloween in a house...). So this is probably a dilemma for all the fancy neighborhoods everyone drives their kids to to get the best candy. There has already been a push in some of my circles to go to local town/church/festival events for Halloween, and it felt like the old fashioned door-to-door method was dying out for the average person. I could see some of these communities that are popular for the crowds banding together and coming up with something that works with distancing, but then some communities will clearly disregard all guidelines and just do it normally. At least with costumes you can easily find clever ways to add face masks to them.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on August 27, 2020, 02:57:51 PM
Won't someone PLEASE think of the got damn children.....

https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/513962-university-of-alabama-ordered-faculty-to-keep-quiet-about-covid

basically, an email was sent out to faculty to not just not disclose the identity of an infected student to the rest of the school, but to not tell anyone at all that someone tested positive....

because I guess if you don't test, then there wouldn't be any additional cases!? SMFH :facepalm:

I see a lawsuit incoming. neglectful and purposeful endangerment or something.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: nickmitch on August 29, 2020, 08:33:22 PM
On the one hand, if a student in a class tests positive, it may end up being obvious who it was even though the professor didn't name them, and the kids do have some right to privacy.  On the other hand, this is counter-intuitive to the concept of "contact tracing", which is pretty important.

There's also the notion of students flooding any on-site testing centers when maybe the exposure was limited.  If you're six feet away, and you're both wearing masks, the logic has been that exposure risk is minimal, so I understand the university's logic there considering they may have limited testing capacity.  This is a tricky situation for the school, and I don't think most things a school with an active campus does will look good.  The kids aren't fully controllable and are likely getting exposed at bars, house parties, and the dorms.  And being that age and having been cooped up all summer, I think it's hard to blame them.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on September 09, 2020, 09:34:37 AM
California got new guidelines on re-opening
https://deadline.com/2020/09/california-coronavirus-governor-gavin-newsom-reopening-guidelines-confusion-1234572869/

(https://i.imgur.com/j5Lj79k.png)


and Iowa is refusing to follow suggested safety guidelines, even after significant rising cases and College students requesting more testing....
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/sep/09/iowa-coronavirus-cases-bars-masks-stay-open

Good Luck Iowans..... stay safe.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on September 10, 2020, 01:34:45 AM
ANd a new report on our favorite kind of Corona, Coronavirus!!!!

oh and it's affects or related effects on children...
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/covid19-kids-half-million-test-positive-united-states-cases/

Summay: Over 500k cases in kids.
rarely is a kids case fatal, but they are very good at spreading it to adults where is likely to be much more fatal.
BUT..... there is rare but, related disease that seems to be piggy backing this COVID outbreak in children that happens to be fatal.
Quote
Meanwhile, the Centers for Disease Control has issued new data about a deadly and mysterious pediatric illness with apparent links to the coronavirus. Since mid-May, the CDC has been following an outbreak of Multisystem Inflammatory Illness in Children (MIS-C), which is also or sometimes referred to as PMIS.

The CDC describes it as "a rare but serious condition associated with COVID-19" that sometimes presents after a COVID illness or after contact with someone with COVID-19. Instead of attacking the lungs like the new coronavirus disease does in adults, this syndrome, while seemingly very rare, can trigger serious, even deadly cardiac complications in kids.

So be careful out there. Watch your children, and your loved ones and yourselves.
Don't let a single "social" event in 2020 affect your possible future or lack there of one.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Stratos on September 10, 2020, 12:37:31 PM
My wife's grandma has Covid. She's in another country and turns out most of the family there are either deniers of the risk or using that as a veil to avoid spending money to help her. We've footed most of the bill until one of grandma's sons felt "offended" that we were not asking him (we did) or including him in the process (we tried). We sent money for the cousins to take her and while waiting for a Covid test before she was admitted an aunt showed up drunk and created a scene in the hospital. What a mess. This family basically follows the person who is the most belligerent and loud. Its so dysfunctional.

This is the woman who raised my wife from birth to age 12, so this is very hard for her and she can't fly down there due to quarantine. So she's basically losing her real mother.

Was going to rant more, but have decided against it. Lets just say we have already come to terms that she may die and I suspect the aunts/uncles down there may want her to pass because they are horrible greedy selfish people who would rather inherit her very humble home than put in the effort to keep her alive.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on September 12, 2020, 12:41:16 AM
When not trying to cause a panic, goes wrong. (and causes something far worse)
Or when "Not lying" to the public, somehow becomes retroactively altering the facts to fit the narrative?

https://twitter.com/ddiamond/status/1304611043428139011?s=20
(https://i.imgur.com/cwilNOi.png)

But you know, if just ignore the facts, and pretend like nothing is happening, eventually, everything will suddenly just go away and be normal again.

https://twitter.com/DrEricDing/status/1304615538669297664?s=20

https://twitter.com/jallepap/status/1304616525907849216?s=20
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Order.RSS on September 12, 2020, 12:39:57 PM
[...]

Sending good vibes Stratos, everything fucking sucks.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: lolmonade on October 02, 2020, 09:43:33 AM
Welp, Hope Hicks, President & FLOTUS, and the RNC chair have now all been confirmed to have COVID-19.  The internet has handled this about as well as you can expect. 

It does kind of feel like a "you played with fire, no wonder you got burnt" moment though.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on October 02, 2020, 11:40:33 AM
Since it was brought up, and since this likely started with Hope Hicks.... I think Obama may have said it best:
https://twitter.com/Xenos_RIFS/status/1311961928961466369?s=20

Jokes aside....
Not only did he know he was heavily exposed to a person that tested positive on Wed, but that same day he held an event in Minnesota where he threw his hat to the crowd and claimed "whatever we have, we have it together"

https://twitter.com/Independent/status/1312011953439756288?s=20

That alone should lead to some sort of liability lawsuit if whoever caught that hat gets sick.


Not only did he know he was heavily exposed to a person that tested positive on Wed, but neither the Whitehouse nor the Trump Campaign reached out to the Biden Campaign to inform them of possible exposure and begin contact tracing.

The WH is now doing Contact Tracing since the news is out. We can only hope Joe Biden and fam/friends all test negative. (Kamala tested negative)


Not only did he know he was heavily exposed to a person that tested positive on Wed, but he held another fundraiser on Thursday where he was in close contact with about 100 people. Even though some on his staff saw that he was showing mild symptoms prior to and during the event, they allowed it to proceed.... likely without a mask in sight.

New Jersey has since started Contact Tracing for all that were at the event.


and the internet has probably handled this better than I expected them to so far considering that this was DJT exactly 1 YEAR AGO TODAY....

https://twitter.com/Telegraph/status/782673397952094208?s=20
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on October 03, 2020, 11:45:11 AM
So there spread continues....

(https://i.imgur.com/KRAEdPb.jpg)

Add Senator Ron Johnson
And Kellyanne Conway to that list

Edit:
And Chris Christie

So apparently there was 2 ways this became an issue....
First the Republicans decided to have a super spreader event to nominate a supreme court judge....

(https://i.ibb.co/j8s353p/F76-FA03-B-C478-4-B61-BDB3-986323864-C03.jpg)

And then had a debate prep where those infected earlier in the day at the super spreader, could get in closet and spread it to those that weren't
(http://undefined)

And according to Kellyanne's daughter, her mom lied about being negative so she could spend the day with her daughter before her daughter found out her mom was actually positive. Smfh

And in unrelated news. Cam Newton has also tested positive.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on October 03, 2020, 04:56:35 PM
And this raises some serious questions.

(https://i.imgur.com/NVrAVR3.jpeg)

🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔

Edit: gross negligence... Attempted murder... What can and should he and all his accomplices be charged with here?

(https://i.imgur.com/QpgIiJu.jpg)


and add one more of the crew to the list.... WH Press Sec Kayleigh McEnany
She's asymptomatic, but I think she's been maskless talking to the press over the weekend.
https://twitter.com/PressSec/status/1313138387994509313?s=20
(and her husband is a pitcher in the MLB?)


edit: add another one.... and another one
White House spokesman Chad Gilmartin tests positive for coronavirus - ABC
and he apparently tested positive 2 days prior to the above.

and Karoline Leavitt, another WH comm aide

this is starting to sound like the White House is having an outbreak all it's own.
I hope more people close to the president that keep enabling him don't also get sick.... that would be so bad. /s

(https://i.imgur.com/LFDvtYF.png)

edit: and theres more...
Two of Kayleigh McEnany’s deputies in the press shop have now tested positive as well, CNN has confirmed.

and as of this morning, the WH has yet to do much if any contact tracing with the ever growing list of people coming out of the WH infected w/ COVID.... not even the CDC has been tasked to help, even though they stepped back and stood by, waiting for the call.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: ThePerm on October 05, 2020, 07:10:43 PM
I was looking up what year it was in the Chinese Zodiac

It is the Year of the Rat. The last time it was the Year of the Rat was 2008.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: nickmitch on October 06, 2020, 12:17:14 AM
Kellyanne Conway's diagnosis was first reported by her daughter, via TikTok.  Chris Christie lamented that he wasn't told to get tested or that he had even been exposed.  Either the administration was incredibly reckless or incompetently tried to cover it up.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Adrock on October 06, 2020, 12:56:58 AM
Either the administration was incredibly reckless or incompetently tried to cover it up.
(https://media1.giphy.com/media/l0MYHm4hH3lZG2YCI/giphy.gif)
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: nickmitch on October 06, 2020, 01:49:12 AM
I mean, yeah. Almost certainly both.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on October 06, 2020, 01:55:40 PM
Either the administration was incredibly reckless or incompetently tried to cover it up.
(https://media1.giphy.com/media/l0MYHm4hH3lZG2YCI/giphy.gif)

(https://i.imgur.com/uu3KdA2.png)

please let the next admin sue/prosecute the ever living **** out of the previous admin and all it's enablers. This is beyond wreckless and incompetent, it's also very dangerous.

I'm very behind on the events of yesterday and today, but this **** calls for the 25th Amendment on the whole Executive Branch and part of the Congress too...

Quote from: Twitter
NEWS:
@NYMag
 has confirmed that Pastor Greg Laurie of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside, California has tested POSITIVE for COVID-19. Pastor Laurie was at the Prayer March on the Mall with Mike Pence and Franklin Graham and the ACB Rose Garden event later that day.
10:34 AM · Oct 5, 2020·

Pence was very near this man, and even though he continues to test negative for now, his Dr. is staying that he no longer needs to quarantine because he wasn't near Trump or anyone that tested positive..... (except, you know, the Pastor mentioned above.... SMFH)

Quote
*TWO WHITE HOUSE STAFF IN HOUSEKEEPING TESTED POSITIVE: NYT
11:18 AM · Oct 5, 2020·

More info on 2 White House residence staff members who tested positive - they worked for the housekeeping department on the third floor, and didn't come in direct contact w the first family. When their tests came back positive, they were told to use "discretion" in discussing it.
11:12 AM · Oct 5, 2020

The WHitehouse has become a COVID Petrie Dish.... and the people in charge don't give a damn...
Quote
Multiple White House sources told
@ABC
 News there is "a full-blown freak-out" in the administration waiting to see who will be next to test positive -- with aides not trusting each other and some trying to find ways to avoid coming into work at all.
Quote Tweet

John Santucci
@Santucci
 · 22h
White House aides anxious as coronavirus cases rise in Trump's orbit: Sources w/ @KFaulders  https://abcnews.go.com/US/white-house-aides-anxious-coronavirus-cases-rise-trumps/story?id=73435247
12:55 PM · Oct 5, 2020

This man who had to be rushed to a leading hospital for VIP care by a dedicated team with experimental drugs and Steroids leaves the hospital, immediately removes his mask, and then winces in pain as he tries to catch his breath while saying he feels better than he has in 20 years..... (it's clearly the drugs.... but no one tell him that) https://twitter.com/brenonade/status/1313263278613827585

and that's only a snippet of the crazy town at the WH yesterday.
He should be Quarantined in a Hospital, and not putting the lives of the people that work at the WH at any further risk, who then have to go home and possibly expose their own friends/families to this **** because no one wants to say NO to toddler in chief.

The WH Press Sec refused to quarantine or much less wear a mask after being told she was exposed, and then continued to hold maskless press conferences till her results came back, putting the whole press pool at risk of exposure.

Secret Service Agents being forced to drive this dumbass around in his hermetically sealed bullet proof car with nothing more than a mask..... all need to be quarantined

Who are we supposed to turn to reign in this madness? this is just insane.
Shouldn't there be protocols in place to prevent this type of wreckless dumbassery?

(https://i.imgur.com/LLcYEtG.png)

we're getting near a forced Gov Shutdown/National Security issue here if this keeps spreading.

Trump was trying to go to the Oval Office today for fucks sake (he stated he may be "immune" to the virus he has contracted and given oxygen, really strong experimental drugs and steroids for).
Luckily someone stopped him, but WTF is wrong with him and everyone else around him?
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BeautifulShy on October 06, 2020, 02:53:13 PM
Quote
but WTF is wrong with him and everyone else around him?

This should be the tagline for this admin. 

I am not surprised at this point. One would think they would take this thing seriously but no.  No they just want to make it past the election.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on October 06, 2020, 03:51:51 PM
And I think the play here is to either infect the other side or get them to concede to draw a narrative of "scared of COVID" or something stupid like that....

https://twitter.com/DrEricDing/status/1313546737164996609?s=20

They were already trying to run with the narrative that the opposition doesn't have the experience with the virus, as they've never had it.

While simultaneously staying that he may be "immune"
And previously staying that the entire thing was a "hoax" and would just go away.....

So excuse me if I'm extremely distrusting of not only their words, but their intent behind all their actions as well.

Dereliction of duty comes to mind too

And BONUS ADDITION to the COVID WHITEHOUSE BINGO
.....Stephen Miller

anyone got Bingo yet?
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on October 09, 2020, 08:57:27 AM
Now I know that news sources will often write stories or make tribute videos ahead of time when something seems likely or inevitable (like the death of someone we know is very sick), but this is interesting as Deadline posted this, but never actually retracted the story... just stated that they didn't mean to publish it (yet?).

https://twitter.com/DEADLINE/status/1314339830151540736?s=20

https://twitter.com/DEADLINE/status/1314339830151540736?s=20
Quote
A draft post of a story about Vice President Mike Pence testing positive for coronavirus that was never meant to publish was accidently posted on Deadline. It was pulled down immediately. It never should have been posted and Deadline will take steps to see this kind of thing never happens again. Apologies to the Vice President and our readers. We regret the error.

But were they waiting for confirmation before publishing? or was this prepped just in case such an incident were to occur? According to the comment, some who read it said the article had quite a bit of detail..... 🤔🤔🤔

I guess we just have to wait and find out.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: nickmitch on October 13, 2020, 12:10:29 AM
To be fair, they probably had the story pre-written with a handful of details that were easy to edit with the actual facts (e.g., the date of the announcement, the number of WH personnel who have it, etc.).  That way, it's ready to go at a moment's notice.  Now, why exact information, like "Wednesday" as opposed to "[weekday]" were there, I dunno.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on November 12, 2020, 10:16:56 AM
Just a reminder to stay safe out there. I know people are over the Coronavirus and just want to get back to normal, but we are currently at our HIGHEST SPIKE since the start of the pandemic.

Last 10 days have seen over 1 MILLION new infections confirmed.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/nov/11/us-covid-cases-deaths-record-texas

We have averaged over 100k new infections per day for more than a week.

Wednesday saw a NEW WORLD RECORD of 144k New Infections.
new records have been being set since last week as the number just keeps increasing.

(https://i.imgur.com/ziP2DSq.png)

Hospitalizations are at an all time high too (62k on Tuesday!?), and the death rate was something pretty damn high too (I believe we are over 240k total deaths), with another potential 200k in the next few months before a vaccine is available and widespread enough to slow this down.

So as stated, this is just a reminder to PLEASW WEAR A FUCKING MASK. It's not that inconvenient and by now, we should all be mostly used to it by now. My daughter wore hers for hours yesterday, and I had to remind her to leave it in the car, as she was wearing it for the whole car ride because she forget she was even wearing it.

edit: I know Thanksgiving is coming up.... and then Christmas, and then (oh god...) New Years, but it won't mean much if it's your, or someone close to you's last one ever. so just wear a mask, wash your hands, and social distance whenever possible.

U.S. COVID Spread considered a "Humanitarian Disaster"
Foreign Health Workers are coming here to help us out since our own Gov and and half the general populace just don't seem to give a ****.
https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/12/health/us-coronavirus-thursday/index.html
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on November 14, 2020, 06:16:50 PM
Wed = 144k confirmed cases
Thu = 154k confirmed cases
Fri = 184k confirmed cases

We're #1!!!! And apparently we'll never get tired of WINNING!!!

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/nov/14/us-record-184000-new-covid-cases-trump-vaccine-biden

If we keep it up, maybe we'll cross 200k confirmed cases by Tues
and the following week, we'll be trending more confirmed cases per day than people have actually died of the virus in the US so far. Good thing a vaccine won't be available for a few short months, we'd sure hate to miss that milestone.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Stratos on November 15, 2020, 05:34:14 PM
Our state is going back into a more locked down status. Just as well, people are completely disregarding all guidelines as far as I can see. I nearly lost my temper last night at Walmart. I have never seen so many miss-worn masks (free-noses, chin-warmers) or people brazenly just not wearing anything. In the past its always just been one or two people, but there was a lady actively flaunting her no-mask status. A guy asked her to stay back and another commented "nice mask" and she just shook her head proudly and said "thank you" while getting close to other people on purpose. I just laughed at her and she thankfully didn't get closer to me, but I was actually on the verge of creating an incident. I normally just shake my head and walk away, but something about last night just pissed me off. Ended up calling a friend and venting because its just getting on my nerves. Seriously, its like a 2% inconvenience and every place is handing out free masks so its not like you have to even spend money or anything. And masks do not impact oxygen levels at all according to physicians, nurses, and various other medical professionals. How hard is it to just wear one? If everyone did that we could even arguably dispense with most of the other precautions in many situations because of how damn effective it is to wear one.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on November 15, 2020, 10:48:12 PM
clearly, no one gives a **** anymore.

I've been in several stores in the last few days where barely anyone even bothered to wear a mask, employees included, much less call someone else out for not having one.

all I can do at this point is just keep my circle small, and remember to wear my own mask to protect myself.

have you seen the video where they take the standard blue mask and place it over the shower head?
the front of the mask didn't even get wet as all the water was deflected from behind the mask. they do work. people just need to wear them. simple as that.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Stratos on November 16, 2020, 02:40:45 AM
This should be enough to show why we should all wear masks.

(https://static.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/no-mask-vs-mask-experiment-rich-davis-3-5ef99438a0d68__700.jpg)
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on November 16, 2020, 11:11:15 AM
Moderna claims 94% efficiency on it's COVID Vaccine
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/11/16/moderna-says-its-coronavirus-vaccine-is-more-than-94percent-effective.html

can store at regular fridge temp for 30 days.
this is more promising than the Pfizer vaccine which also needed a double dosage but had to be stored at sub freezing temps.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Order.RSS on November 16, 2020, 11:56:50 AM
Article sounds promising. Two doses for ~37$ and most Americans protected by Q2 next year. Not seeing anything on how long you'll be protected though. Are we gonna need 2 annual shots for years to come?

The storage sounds more feasible for transport to other countries too. We gotta get the whole world protected.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: RABicle on November 16, 2020, 09:14:43 PM
Not in any way a medical expert but here's my wild speculation regarding possible vaccines:
So I would speculate that we would need at least two, and possibly ongoing annual vaccinations until this virus is truly eradicated like smallpox.
Two big caveats:
We have never vaccinated against a coronavirus before, and we've never deployed an mRNA vaccine before. So who knows. Maybe that's good, or maybe it's much much worse.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on November 18, 2020, 11:37:38 PM
Who had 250k US Deaths before Thanksgiving?

come claim your prize, you win.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/nov/18/us-passes-250000-deaths-from-coronavirus
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: nickmitch on November 19, 2020, 12:40:38 AM
My family had plans to travel for Christmas, but it's looking like those may get scrapped with the infection rates getting so high.  My stepsister, whom we're all visiting, is especially uncomfortable with all of us, parents especially, traveling right now.  We'll see for now.  My dad seems like he wants to keep an eye on it, but my stepsis seems to have made up her mind.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Spak-Spang on November 19, 2020, 01:01:58 AM
I remember when the predicted death toll would only be 50,000 and people were like that will never happen.  Then it jumped to 100,000 death toll predictions. 

What is crazy is some people still say those numbers are wrong.  That they are saying anyone that dies was a COVID19 death.  Then some less crazy people say well if they die from another thing, but also COVID19 it is a COVID19 death...so it is actually much lower. 

Does it really matter though?  We have 250,000 deaths that may or may not have been prevented.  That is disheartening fact.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Stratos on November 19, 2020, 06:06:08 AM
It doesn't matter in this case because COVID is something that complicates already existing conditions and illnesses. In the elderly it is especially dangerous if they contract COVID while dealing with something else. My wife saw it all the time as a nurse. Several of her patients were sent to the hospital for complications in their cases of pneumonia and other stuff and it turned out they had COVID too. They might have beaten the pneumonia on their own, but with COVID also in the mix its a double or even triple whammy on our most vulnerable people.

We are also wrestling with what to do for holidays. My parents and youngest sis are home 24/7 aside from shopping which they do by contact-less pickup. Every Thanksgiving we get together and its one of the few times to see my other sisters kids in the year, but turns out other sister is ranting tag lines from our Rabble-Rouser-In-Chief and blaming the testing. She's a medic. She should know better. Testing cannot logically be to blame because all testing does is CONFIRM WHAT IS ALREADY PRESENT. The tests aren't causing cases to pop out of the snow like daisies, they merely measure what is already infecting a person.

My wife is talking about going with masks and leaving after eating, but I think she is merely offering because she knows it is a big deal for me and my folks. I told her we didn't have to go and in fact I think it best we do not go. We are expecting and the last thing I want to do is risk the baby with an unnecessary infection like this. Wife went on maternity leave early specifically to avoid unnecessary COVID contractions (and the general stress and strain of being a nurse). Would make all that caution feel worthless if she gets the virus at this stage.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on November 19, 2020, 09:25:02 PM
I'm so glad to hear someone else call out the "more testing is causing more cases" nonsense.
i really wish the media would do its job and shut that nonsensical and illogical bull **** down.

it really makes no sense.....
we would have so many dead people reported if we stop checking for a pulse 🥸🤡 GTFOH with that nonsense.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on November 22, 2020, 01:01:00 PM
I'm so glad that studies have confirmed that the youth is immune to COVID. (even though COVID is a hoax)
otherwise this scene from Fort Lauderdale, just days before Thanksgiving, in a State where COVID spread is breaking hospitals at the moment, would be worrisome....

https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-ne-wharf-reopens-with-crowd-20201121-tbn5prnf2rbulkl7lopo4la2iu-story.html

(https://i.imgur.com/jpCkPWX.jpg)

Stay Safe Online Fam. Symptoms can take 3-7 days....
Protect you and yours, don't trust that the next person gives enough of a damn to protect themselves for your sake.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on November 25, 2020, 10:05:37 AM
2100 Deaths in the U.S. yesterday.... and remember what they said!!! well, they said lot of things

https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/25/health/us-coronavirus-wednesday/index.html

It'll go away... No one will be talking about COVID after the election... It's a Hoax...
something something Doctors get paid more for coronavirus blah blah blah


Point being, stay safe, wear a mask, don't travel if you don't have to, avoid large crowds, especially indoors, and whatever other safety measures you can think of to protect the health and lives of you and yours.
Don't become part of the statistic. and certainly not part of the death count.
We all have many years left, so it's not a big deal to just sacrifice the holidays for just this one, to enjoy all the rest of them with as many of our loved ones as possible.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Stratos on November 25, 2020, 01:48:21 PM
Yeah, "1% death rate" some are touting is really disconnected. I'd take that chance in a Fire Emblem game, but not real life, especially if I can avoid it altogether. The fact that 1% death rate means 700-2100+ deaths a DAY is crazy.

(https://i.imgur.com/jN7zVeZ.png)

https://imgur.com/jN7zVeZ
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on November 26, 2020, 10:19:31 AM
Who doesn't always look forward to waking up on Christmas, Mourning!!!?
To come to tears at the lack of presence from your loved ones, as you reflect back on the fond memories of Thanksgiving and Friendsgiving (each other COVID) just weeks prior.

Betcha can't wait.... That's where we're headed.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/millions-ignore-travel-warning-as-covid-19-cases-surge-nationwide/
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Order.RSS on November 26, 2020, 12:29:04 PM
Wonder if video chat services will be able to handle all the extra traffic tomorrow.

Stay safe everyone.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BeautifulShy on November 26, 2020, 02:00:19 PM
Well I am staying home for thanksgiving and my mom is going to my sisters BFF today and my sister's and fiance tomorrow.  . My sister is going to have like 7 people there tomorrow.  I am going to try and do a virtual thanks giving with my girlfriend and friends but she just had an operation so it may not happen. Still trying to stay safe with things.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: nickmitch on November 26, 2020, 03:06:45 PM
I'm at my parents' place today.  They're a 90 minute drive away, so it isn't like I'm in a crowded airport at any point.  I also got tested recently, so that isn't an issue either.  I'm really glad I could make it over because if I hadn't moved last year, I'd probably not be able to be with them, though I'd likely be able to spend time with my girl friend.  Lot of give and take this holiday, but I'm thankful for what I have.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on December 03, 2020, 02:10:38 PM
This sounds like the opening to a joke.... but ain't no one laughing (and one of them barely breathing)

A Jewish Doctor, Black Nurse and Asian American Respiratory Therapist Treat COVID-19 Nazi Patient....

https://www.sfchronicle.com/local-politics/article/A-moment-of-doubt-Pandemic-patient-with-swastika-15764534.php

Quote
A Jewish doctor, a Black nurse and an Asian American respiratory therapist stood over the patient on the gurney in the emergency room.

“Don’t let me die, doc,” the man begged.

As the man struggled to breathe, the swastika tattooed on his chest rose and fell with each gasp.

Dr. Taylor Nichols promised the man he’d do his best.
[...]
But standing in full protective gear, readying for a pandemic procedure that could expose his team to the coronavirus, Nichols, for the first time in his career, questioned whether he wanted to keep that promise.

“I don’t know if I care,” he remembers thinking. “I didn’t feel compassion for him in that moment.”

I promise you, there is no punchline
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Phil on December 04, 2020, 04:08:23 PM
Our household got hit with COVID last month. All of us had a bad cough, runny nose, chills, headache, all that bad stuff. My mom and brother both needed an inhaler to help them breathe better. Fortunately, we're all better now, but I'm still a bit irritated that my mom's boss gave it to us in the first place due to ineptness on his part because it could have turned out real bad for my mom especially with her health issues and age.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: nickmitch on December 04, 2020, 08:36:46 PM
Glad you and your family were able to recover, Phil. Sorry you had to go through that because of someone else's negligence.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Stratos on December 07, 2020, 12:14:42 PM
We had a scare last week. Sister-in-law came over to drop something off and like an idiot we let her in without a mask. And her side of the family all gathered together brazenly because they seemed to think they were immune and one of them got it and spread it to most of the others. Half the family refuses to test but sis did and she was positive two days after stopping by to drop something off. Our tests came back negative so that is a big relief for us. We took that near miss as a lesson and have tightened our protections even more.

Hoping you and your family recover quickly Phil. It sucks when you are doing things as right as you can and someone else goes and wrecks everything.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on February 08, 2021, 12:29:15 PM
AOC just announced that Americans that have had family members die from COVID can get a Federal Reimbursement of upto $7k for storage and funeral proceedings through FEMA.

https://twitter.com/AOC/status/1358819976388485122?s=20

It's good to see those that want to do good being uncuffed and actually being able to act in the better interest of the people that they represent (including the undocumented). And this is retroactive through Jan 2020.

p.s. the COVID Stimulus Relief bill was also passed.
I didn't get the first 2, and I'm not holding my breath for the 3rd, but I read somewhere that those that never received their prior benefits should still be eligible to receive them.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: nickmitch on February 08, 2021, 01:18:03 PM
I don't know the circumstances from the second stimulus, but the first one was a tax credit.  So, you should be able to get it when filing your 2020 tax returns.

My parents and my brother have all gotten their first round of the vaccine because the site had extras and they just showed up for them.  While, I'm happy for my family, I'm also extremely jealous and a tad upset that my university has left us completely in the dark.

edit: I should add: "barring any phaseouts or other exclusions".  I remember when the first one hit, I knew I wouldn't get it because I hadn't filed my 2019 return thanks to the extension, but I could get it later because my income went down after going back to school midyear.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Stratos on February 08, 2021, 09:30:48 PM
p.s. the COVID Stimulus Relief bill was also passed.
I didn't get the first 2, and I'm not holding my breath for the 3rd, but I read somewhere that those that never received their prior benefits should still be eligible to receive them.

Were you supposed to qualify for them? You can follow up with the treasury if you didn't get them and both can be applied as tax credits if you didn't receive them yet (this is according to TurboTax when I started plugging my numbers as I understood it).

My sister filed her taxes later in the year due to extensions and got the first one mailed to her after filing since it was her first year filing taxes, so that could also still happen to folks as well.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on February 09, 2021, 03:21:55 AM
Honestly, I had an issue with Turbotax regarding my 2019 filing that I'm clearing up now.
If I qualified, hopefully I'll see it taken off my 2020's.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Stratos on February 09, 2021, 03:13:10 PM
Turbo Tax 2020 has a specific section for Covid relief and should ask you what you received for each round of stimulus. I messed it up because I miss-remembered how much I got when initially plugging in numbers and when I corrected it I watched my taxes due go up so it does have a direct impact.

For context, I received the full amount each round but put less for the second one, so it gave me a tax break for the 'missing amount'. When I added it back in the number changed to remove the benefit. Taxes are so depressing for me and wife as we always tend to owe no matter what we do (and we get advice to assist us each year to make sure we are maximizing things).

As our original tax advisor stated: "Welcome to the middle class! You are too rich to benefit from what you used to benefit from, but too poor to afford living without those benefits". Our two rounds of stimulus are basically going to cover our 2020 tax bill. On one had we have been blessed, but on the other the system sure makes it a pair in some ways.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Adrock on March 03, 2021, 04:35:13 PM
LOL Texas. As if February wasn’t enough of a flustercuck for y’all...

Governor Greg Abbott:
(https://i.ibb.co/r0qPGXy/A818-CBF6-A600-442-B-B427-281-EBF87145-B.jpg)

Office of the Texas Governor’s website:
Quote
Guided tours of the Governor’s Mansion have been temporarily suspended. In addition to being a historical site, the Governor’s Mansion is also the residence of the First Family of Texas and it is not possible to safely provide tours while also adhering the CDC’s health standards.
It’s real. Source: https://gov.texas.gov/first-lady/tours

Here’s a screenshot just in case they try to walk it back:
(https://i.ibb.co/YbFFMk5/789-ECA42-CB45-45-BD-94-B3-2-DB10901-E1-B4.jpg)

Good luck, Texans-who-are-actually-trying-not-to-die. As for the rest of you...
(https://i.imgur.com/2B60eZ8.gif)
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on March 03, 2021, 05:24:46 PM
🤡
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: FyreWulff on March 16, 2021, 12:49:31 AM
It's now Rona Battle Royale in Texas..
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: nickmitch on March 17, 2021, 03:40:51 PM
It'll be interesting to see what Texas's COVID numbers look like at the end of this week and next week.  I checked on the Googz and it looked like the 7-day average was already ticking upwards, with their first fully open weekend being this past weekend.

Anyway, how's everyone's vaccination prospects looking?  I was able to get a moderna shot recently, and am about halfway through my waiting period for the second dose.  No weird side effects, but I heard they mostly happen after the second dose.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BeautifulShy on March 17, 2021, 09:05:55 PM
I have been trying to get an appointment for one the past two weeks through Walgreens and no such luck.  Also the age range is not down to my age at the places that are doing it at the Arizona Cardinals stadium in Glendale so I am waiting still.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: nickmitch on March 17, 2021, 11:56:52 PM
Keep trying! Myself and a number of people I know were able to get appointments only because places had extras at the end of the day.  I've even heard stories of people in line to checkout at drug stores being offered the vaccine right then and there.  YMMV, of course, but there's always a chance.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: M.K.Ultra on March 18, 2021, 12:28:38 PM
Colorado is starting the phase that I qualify for 3/19 (tomorrow) so I will be able to make an appointment starting then.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BeautifulShy on March 26, 2021, 02:23:51 PM
Keep trying! Myself and a number of people I know were able to get appointments only because places had extras at the end of the day.  I've even heard stories of people in line to checkout at drug stores being offered the vaccine right then and there.  YMMV, of course, but there's always a chance.

Thanks for the encouragement.  Appointments on the state site opened up at 11am and I booked an appointment for the 31st of March at 12:54pm.   
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Stratos on March 28, 2021, 04:32:35 PM
Was gonna type up another rant about family and friends and refusing the vaccine, but instead I'll just say it sucks when you see you may be losing family and friends to madness and irrational defiance. Its amazing how many people have made up their minds about things based off of hearsay and 'feelings'.

I have a baby girl to protect now so it makes these hard choices much easier to make but not less painful.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on March 29, 2021, 08:26:11 PM
I understand the hesitation to take this vaccine based on how it was originally presented, and historical treatment of POC when it comes to testing these things.

From a POC POV, sitting back and watching what happens to everyone that does take it, is quite a popular stance. But honestly, the new admin has done a much better job of framing this as a safe and effective treatment, and not just a monetary achievement and political goal for a re-election campaign.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BeautifulShy on March 31, 2021, 05:30:11 PM
Got my first dose of the Pfizer vaccine.  Next one is on the 22nd of April.


Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Stratos on April 02, 2021, 03:04:24 AM
I understand the hesitation to take this vaccine based on how it was originally presented, and historical treatment of POC when it comes to testing these things.

From a POC POV, sitting back and watching what happens to everyone that does take it, is quite a popular stance. But honestly, the new admin has done a much better job of framing this as a safe and effective treatment, and not just a monetary achievement and political goal for a re-election campaign.

That's a great point I hadn't thought of and I ran it by my wife and it kind of stopped her in her tracks. She was the convinced that her mom was being stubborn, and she does have a flair for the dramatic to make her points appear more valid, but Guatemalans were 'tested' by scientist years ago and injected with syphilis virus and forced to suffer until death for the sake of studying how the virus progressed. Guatemalan natives have traditionally been very kind and welcoming to strangers and travelers, but a lot of the native/remote communities have become much more cold because of this treatment in the past. It is probably still in part based out of fear of the unknown, but this past certainly could have an impact on her and other's hesitation sadly. Only thing to combat that is gently providing information and patience and the effects of the vaccines prove to be truly successful.

I was able to convince one sibling to actually go look into the virus by just having a conversation about it, but she was always one of the more reasonable ones.

On another note looks like my state is opening up vaccines to most everyone in the coming weeks so hoping the wife and I can get in there soon. We're hoping my wife can pass on the antibodies to our baby so some added protection. Wasn't a hard decision, but still a bummer to disappointed family by keeping them away until vaccinations are all settled in.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BeautifulShy on April 02, 2021, 05:51:07 AM
My mom has hesitations about the vaccine as well mainly in part of the side effects and also she is an old hippy and she doesn't tend to like government involvement with some things.  She isn't opposed to getting it she just wants to see the effects of it after 6 months. She does wear a mask when she goes out but usually not walking from one place to another and really only in places that require it.   This worries me because she is older and I care about her a lot that she isn't taking the vaccine when it is accessable to everyone.  She would rather wait 6 months.  Also she isn't a POC so that isn't her concern as it pertains to herself.

I think after I get my second dose I am going to have her sign up for an appointment and then go with her to it.  Just for moral support.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on April 02, 2021, 02:36:57 PM
There's still a lot of unanswered questions, and everyone taking the vaccine now are all guinea pigs in the process of getting those questions answered.

I plan on taking it eventually, but as long as all of you out there taking the vaccine, and I stay cautious  while in public, I'm not all that worried about it in the short term. I can wait it out a bit longer.

But the minute someone develops some cool mutant powers... please let us know.
That might be all the incentive needed ;) :P
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BeautifulShy on April 03, 2021, 04:43:45 AM
My powers I would want is psychic powers and the ability to time travel. 
Fingers crossed. :P
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Stratos on April 04, 2021, 02:44:28 AM
With our luck these last few years it would be a case of zombi-ism and the world would plunge into that chaotic world some nutty folks I know are prepping for.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on April 04, 2021, 01:28:08 PM
With our luck these last few years it would be a case of zombi-ism and the world would plunge into that chaotic world some nutty folks I know are prepping for.

At least then we'll have a use for all them gunz!!!! yeeeaaah.... 'murica!!
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Ian Sane on April 12, 2021, 01:30:47 PM
Today Penny Arcade had a script about getting the vaccine.  The strip's creators are a few years older than me and it hit me of how different the situation is in Canada.  I work for an American company and in a recent meeting the discussion about offices re-opening came up and a manager remarked how "most of us" had received the first shot by now, and all the Canadian employees were like "uh, what?".  In Canada the vaccine rollout has been extremely slow. If you're of working age there is no real thought about whether or not to take the vaccine because it will be months before you're even eligible.  My father just received his first shot a few days ago.  He's 72 and was only eligible because he has health issues.  He was told he would get the second shot in 4 months.  The manufacturer's recommendation for the second dose is up to 6 weeks.

The extended period of time between dosages has contributed to apprehension for receiving the vaccine among people I talk to.  The concern is that it may make the whole vaccination ineffective, so why risk any side effects by taking it at all?  Or if you can't even get the second dose what effect does "half" a vaccine have?  And if the vaccine rollout takes too long then couldn't the virus mutate to a point where the vaccine has no effect?  Defying the manufacturer's recommended time between doses have given a lot of ammunition to the anti-vaccine narrative that Canadian citizens are being used as guinea pigs.

I find the whole situation very frustrating because the vaccine was supposed to be the light at the end of the tunnel.  Vaccinate the population and this whole nightmare is supposed to be over.  But at this rate widespread vaccination even months from now seems like an impossible goal.  And this only works if a significant portion of the population get vaccinated and the botched rollout has increased anti-vaccination sentiment.  And this only works if the four month period between dosages isn't a mistake.  And this only works if the rollout occurs faster than the virus mutating into something immune to the vaccine.  The whole situation feels like crossing your fingers and hoping that everything works out.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: nickmitch on April 12, 2021, 05:12:00 PM
Oh, wow.  I had no idea what the roll out in Canada was like.  I'm sorry to hear all that.

I know in the US it's been kind of crazy since each state is pretty much in charge of their own roll out and information about who can get a shot and when comes suddenly.  But at least we aren't being told to wait four months between doses.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Stratos on April 13, 2021, 01:14:19 AM
I thought Canada had their **** together more than the US but this sounds incredibly frustrating. Sorry to hear Ian and fellow Canucks.

On the bright side my wife got the first dose and I got scheduled for mine so things are looking good here...though some parts of our state are about to get downgraded into tighter lockdown because knuckleheads keep breaking distancing/quarantine anytime the weather turns a little bit nice (my correlation I am seeing, probably a lot more to it than that). Seems here the rate of hospitalization is increasing at similar rates to the vaccinations rates so feels a bit like an arms race.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Adrock on April 15, 2021, 11:59:53 AM
I’m scheduled for the first shot of the Pfizer vaccine on Friday. 🎈🎉🍾🎊
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Plugabugz on April 15, 2021, 07:17:52 PM
I got my first dose, the Astrazeneca one, in February. Aside from some tingly skin for one evening i've been fine ever since. I have to wait 10-11 weeks before the second dose, with the opinion that getting more people partially covered is better than smaller numbers of people fully covered.

We're finally starting to come out of a 7 month lockdown (it doesnt officially end until mid-June) so im happy to be able to do things again like watch movies.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Stratos on April 15, 2021, 07:32:53 PM
Was scheduled for Moderna but they gave me Pfizer instead as they ran out. Second shot early May. Feels like getting the flu vaccine. Sore arm muscles and general fatigue. Day 2 was worse with migraines and lots of soreness/fatigue but feeling better on day three after the wife took half my night shift with infant and I got a longer rest with a swig of nyquil.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BeautifulShy on April 15, 2021, 08:53:02 PM
Good to hear folks are able to get vacinated.  My second shot of the Pfizer is on the 22nd so next week.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on April 16, 2021, 02:01:52 AM
Sounds like Pfizer is supposed to need a 3rd booster in less than 12 months, and potentially this becomes a yearly vaccine.

Plugabugz, I hope you don't experience any of the ill side0-effects from the Astra (was it blood clots?)

Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BeautifulShy on April 16, 2021, 02:33:20 AM
Yeah Astra had blood clots in the news recently
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Plugabugz on April 16, 2021, 05:52:54 AM
Sounds like Pfizer is supposed to need a 3rd booster in less than 12 months, and potentially this becomes a yearly vaccine.

Plugabugz, I hope you don't experience any of the ill side0-effects from the Astra (was it blood clots?)



The stats suggest that it is 7 people in 1 million that is getting clots and, IIRC, they all had existing issues. Those numbers are not worth worrying over. People are out there doing riskier things than that.

I had none of those side effects aside from a headache and tinglyness. For comparison i felt a lot worse in December 2019 when this woman sneezed on me.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Adrock on April 16, 2021, 10:12:44 AM
Sounds like Pfizer is supposed to need a 3rd booster in less than 12 months, and potentially this becomes a yearly vaccine.
That’s a small price to pay considering the alternative.

Last year notwithstanding, my employer has a flu shot day around October. I wouldn’t be surprised it if eventually added a COVID shot day. Then again, I really don’t know how it intends to justify ushering everyone back into the office. Ever. I don’t love working from home. However, it’s still the safest place for me to be.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: nickmitch on April 17, 2021, 01:48:22 AM
I'm also ok with getting a booster.  I honestly don't care, as long as it's accessible.  It's been a long COVID year for me, so whatever gets us on the other side is fine with me.

I'm honestly mostly worried about how much this has renewed interest in the anti-vaxx crowd.  I have a friend who is pregnant and avoiding the vaccine just to be on the safe side.  CDC says it should be safe, but they ask pregnant people to track any side effects in an app.  The problem is that she, and maybe people like her, get reassurance in that kind of decision from the anti-vaxx crowd.  They also try to play on people's fears.  I saw my friend retweet a post detailing experiences from people who were around vaccinated friends and claiming symptoms they experienced were caused by being around vaccinated people despite an underlying theme of most of them having had or likely been exposed to COVID.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on May 22, 2021, 05:52:12 AM
The gift that keeps on giving.....

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/may/21/mucormycosis-black-fungus-disease-linked-covid-spreads-india

this isn't specifically "covid" related, but kinda...
Quote
States across India have begun declaring a “black fungus” epidemic as cases of the fatal rare infection shoot up in patients recovering from Covid-19.

The fungal disease, called mucormycosis, has a 50% mortality rate. It affects patients initially in the nose but the fungus can then spread into the brain, and can often only be treated by major surgery removing the eye or part of skull and jaw.
[...]
It has also been reported in Covid patients who were on ventilators in intensive care units, due to their airways being exposed to humidity and moisture.
[...]
The disease is caused by fungal spores found in soil and organic matter, usually inhaled by humans from the air. The mould enters the body and then manifests around the nose and eye sockets, causing the nose to blacken, and if not stopped will move fatally into the brain. Healthy individuals will usually fight off the fungus but it can spread fast in those with compromised immunity.

Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: midgard95 on July 19, 2021, 05:44:42 AM
well that's not all, now there are variants, each different than the other and shows resistance towards existing vaccines.  :( let's just hope we can come up with a broad spectrum vaccine that can help in eradicating this for good. or may be just this is the beginning of the apocalypse.  :-\
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on July 27, 2021, 03:28:23 PM
Surprise surprise, CDC updates guidance on wearing mask.

It turns out that the Ill advised mandate that vaccinated people can do everything without a mask was just a carrot on a stick to get people to vaccinate, completely ignoring the fact that vaccinated people can too can still get, carry, and transmit the virus to others, and are in fact catching, carrying, and transmitting the virus to others, both vaccinated and unvaccinated, all because they thought they were safe from the virus now that they were vaccinated.

🤦🏿‍♂️🤦🏿‍♂️🤦🏿‍♂️🤦🏿‍♂️

So everyone, vaccinated or not, please wear your mask in public places where you are neither actively drinking or eating. And also in crowded spaces, even if in private residences with publicly social people.

This should've been the guidance going forward, but they really needed to bait everyone into getting vaccinated with the perk of "no mask needed".

Why must the gov be so inept?
Politics getting in the way of common sense.
10's-100's of thousands of deaths that could've been prevented if the people in charge weren't more worried about getting votes in the next election cycle instead of actually serving the public interest they were elected for.

/Signing back out of this thread
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Stratos on July 29, 2021, 05:41:49 PM
Wife and I never stopped wearing them and I've been building a case at work for months that I don't want to go back in the Fall like they are planning. Felt like my manager was not really listening but I think I finally got through to him but we still need to wait until we are closer to get final decisions. I honestly plan on really digging my heels in and pulling all my cards to get semi-permanent wfh status. I have an infant with extra health concerns. No reasons they have given have justified mandating return to office even part-time, if anything part time is just as bad because coming in for team meetings means cramming into conference rooms and such.

We are far from being out of the woods so I and my family are buckled in for the long haul. I'm already looking for a new job that is 100% remote just in case my company will be refusing, but I don't see them doing that, as they have adapted in the past to individual employee concerns.

You got any links to the data you found you could share BnM?
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: ThePerm on July 29, 2021, 07:28:07 PM
It really irks me that people have a really ritualistic notions on how this stuff works. We'd be over this mess by now, if everyone had taken a decent biology class.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on July 30, 2021, 01:55:58 AM
It was a CDC press conference that was on shortly before I posted, of the CDC reversing guidelines, and being very cautious of not pissing off the anti-maskers by emphasizing that it wasn't a "mandate" just a "recommended guideline".

I was half listening while working, but the post conference news was trying to spin it as "rare" that a vaccinated person would carry the virus or be able to spread it. But the Delta variant reproduces much more rapidly and is much more contagious, so even vaccinated people are getting sick and spreading it to other vaccinated and unvaccinated people, because careless vaccinated people are running around thinking they are invincible and immune, forgetting they are still potential carriers and still potential spreaders, even if they aren't getting "sick" from the COVID they carry.

I'm just tired of this whole thing. I would like to think that if this wasn't ignored, and then massively mishandled from the get-go, that we'd be past all this already.... another "swine-flu/bird-flu" season passing type thing. If all they politicizing and misinformation campaign BS had been nixed before it even began by competent professionals in charge of these types of things, that maybe, we would've already been past this whole thing...

Instead we charge head-on towards "herd immunity" as quickly as possible by baiting the community to get vaccinated with promises of mask-less interactions being 100% safe, not that you shouldn't get vaccinated, just that you shouldn't think that just because you are, you are now immune and non-contaminable, when in reality, you just became the unaware sleeper spreader...

and I must pre-face this rant with the fact that I have 3 vaccinated friends that just tested positive, and 2 of them had to be hospitalized for a few days, so it's a little bit of a raw subject. /rant


edit: I just want to clarify that none of this rant was about being vaccinated or not being vaccinated. That's a choice that each individual will need to live or die with.

This was about the professionals in charge not having the balls to make the necessary calls for what needs to be done. Whether that is mandatory vaccinations is debatable, but a mandatory mask mandate, regardless of vaccination status, should not have been. It just makes sense to save a massive amount of lives while out in public and social settings while being minimally discomforting and not invasive at all.

This new variant is said to spread like chickenpox.... and some schools are already back in session.... and some of those schools have "optional" mask guidelines.... kids are just gonna unknowingly spread this **** everywhere, and the grownups are worried about the whiners who "can't breath" and need their "freedoms".

WE.ARE.NEVER.GETTING.PAST.THIS.MESS  (/real end to rant)

p.s. my daughter started school 2 days ago. mask are not options, they are mandatory, but kids will be kids, and the kids I'm worried about are the ones who parents are anti-masker types.... :/
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on July 31, 2021, 11:08:45 PM
Go Florida Go!!!

https://twitter.com/AP/status/1421573654006095875?s=20
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: nickmitch on August 03, 2021, 04:51:57 PM
Louisiana Governor on July 30: No mask mandate. (https://twitter.com/wdsu/status/1421202364539801608?s=20)

Louisiana Governor on August 2: Mask mandate. (https://twitter.com/wdsu/status/1422289936271745031?s=20)

At least he made the right decision.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Stratos on August 05, 2021, 05:25:31 PM
Two lefts don't make a right...but three do!
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on August 18, 2021, 06:00:24 PM
'Merica!!!

Tennessee
https://www.wkrn.com/news/nearly-1000-confirmed-covid-cases-in-middle-tn-schools/

https://www.wvlt.tv/2021/08/17/pediatric-icu-beds-over-75-percent-full-tennessee-according-state-report/

Mississippi
https://www.wbrz.com/news/mississippi-eighth-grader-dies-a-day-after-positive-coronavirus-test

Florida
https://www.cnn.com/2021/08/17/us/florida-school-board-mask-mandate-hearing/index.html

Arizona
https://www.abc15.com/news/state/gov-ducey-announces-163m-in-grants-for-schools-without-mask-mandates


now won't someone think of the damn children!!?

oh, Texas putting some thought into this
(https://i.imgur.com/omSgrl3.png)

and Finally the US Gubment decides that maybe the children are worth saving afterall....

(https://i.imgur.com/dR2JN7r.png)

(https://i.imgur.com/FT0bYyt.png)


But let's recall Cali's Gov....  :rolleyes:


And I hear there is a vaccine getting cleared for kids 6-12 coming in Sept/Oct.
The least the schools can do is mandate mask while on campus.


Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: nickmitch on August 18, 2021, 06:26:22 PM
The COVID news has been especially dire lately, from Mississippi flat out asking for, and being denied, a medical ship (https://www.sunherald.com/news/coronavirus/article253476479.html) to reports of states running out of ICU beds (https://www.wsfa.com/2021/08/17/alabama-has-negative-icu-beds-available/).  It's a damn mess.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Order.RSS on August 19, 2021, 04:44:30 PM
Yeah, not a lot of encouraging news lately.  :-\ Looks like that medical vessel couldn't travel due to hurricanes.
There's been several articles (Science Magazine (https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2021/08/grim-warning-israel-vaccination-blunts-does-not-defeat-delta), NY Times (https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/18/world/middleeast/israel-virus-infections-booster.html), BBC (https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-58245285)) on the Covid situation in Israel lately, and it's not very reassuring. They were comparatively early to roll out mass vaccinations, with much of the population being fully vaccinated, and over 10% even having had a third booster shot.

But recently the Delta variant has been surging there regardless. Maybe the situation is very different so I shouldn't be comparing the two, but it's worrying. I'm so exhausted by all this.

Hope y'all are staying safe.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on August 23, 2021, 03:20:54 PM
More bad news out of Tennessee.... :(

Spreading like WILDFIRE through them kids 5-18yrs old.
https://wpln.org/post/tennessees-pediatric-covid-cases-are-through-the-roof-and-hospitals-are-feeling-it/

1400 new cases per day
16k in the last 2 weeks

I really hope most of them kids are asymptomatic
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Plugabugz on September 15, 2021, 04:24:48 AM
The US ban on EU/UK residents is still standing (if a non-US resident have been to EU/UK in the past 14 days you cannot go to the US) and it looks like it's going to stick around to 2022. Ignoring all the politics, its fairly clear that they simply dont want to change anything right now (right now being all of 2021) for vague unspecified reasons.

They've completely flubbed *that* part, but because it affects everyone else they dont care about the negative attention it draws either.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on September 15, 2021, 06:18:02 PM
Why would they want to come here anyway?

I know everyone has their reasons, but the US needs to get it's **** together.
those Non-US residents should say "I didn't want to go there right now anyway!!" then take off to some actual nice destination instead.

and I'm not sure if the EU/UK has it's **** together either, but I also just saw this report....

1 in every 500 U.S. Residents have died from COVID
https://www.cnn.com/2021/09/15/health/us-coronavirus-wednesday/index.html
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: NWR_insanolord on September 15, 2021, 11:13:28 PM
There have to be exceptions to that policy, because just from what I follow I know that would have blocked a ton of people from taking part in World Cup qualifiers that have been and continue to be played here.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on September 20, 2021, 02:25:53 PM
For the record, I don't give a damn if you're vaccinated or not, as long as you exercise caution (wear a fucking mask) and respect the situation at hand (stay home if you sick)
(yeah, I know most don't care one way or another)

But Good Job California!!

(https://i.imgur.com/aCm1GYZ.png)

Now let's Recall that Vaccine!!!


and then again there is this:
https://twitter.com/News12/status/1440008436989796352?s=20

COVID has killed as many Americans as the Spanish Flu (but it's not done yet)
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: RABicle on September 21, 2021, 03:39:55 AM
Vaccine supply got off to a very slow start in Australia but things are picking up and it's now unofficially a race betweenn the states and territories.
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E_yZX1BVQA4Umed?format=png&name=4096x4096)
My state is doing very badly. It is a source of great shame.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Stratos on September 22, 2021, 11:51:47 PM
Well it happened...my sister tested positive for COVID. The anti-mask/vaccine/science sister. Apparently she thinks sending her husband to the store for various multivitamins will help and doesn't think it is worth testing her kids. Went through the whole gamut of emotions over it when I found out last night, especially how her kids could suffer. They are all such sweet children and don't deserve this. One thing is for certain, we are glad that we avoided all but one gathering she was a part of and had her and the kids wear masks around the baby (when we made it a condition to see her its amazing how easily she was okay with it when she saw we wouldn't be budging on the issue.

Just glad my mother is finally fully vaccinated (dad was months ago).

Now if only my employer would stop parading around like the pandemic is over and making mandatory return to work dates despite a growing voice of concern and dissent while claiming they are listening to employee concerns.

Its already turning into a headhunting situation as employees are asking about how to report others who are coughing in the workplace as if it were a new controversial law in Texas that paid a bounty for reports.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Adrock on September 23, 2021, 07:09:31 PM
For the record, I don't give a damn if you're vaccinated or not, as long as you exercise caution (wear a fucking mask) and respect the situation at hand (stay home if you sick)
(yeah, I know most don't care one way or another)
I both do and don’t care. These anti-vax/anti-mask chuckleheads are taking up ER and ICU beds then begging for the vaccine on their literal deathbed. There are reports of cancer patients not being able to get treatment because hospitals are full. What are y’all doing? They’re very clearly not exercising caution so now we have a bunch of dead kids and immunocompromised people.

At the same time, I’m simply not going to argue with those people. Then die, I guess. 🤷‍♀️ If at this point a frightening amount of people are STILL not taking this pandemic seriously then taking fucking horse dewormer when there’s a FREE vaccine available, what can you say or do? “I don’t know what’s in the vaccine.” I don’t know, man. Have you ordered from a restaurant, like ever? Think about it after you’re done shitting yourself in the middle of Walmart.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: nickmitch on September 23, 2021, 08:18:56 PM
The problem with that last part is if the willingly unvaccinated keep passing the virus back and forth, it can keep mutating and eventually put us back in square 1.  But I'm honestly not interested in arguing with people on it anymore.  It's exhausting.  They often say **** like, "I need to see more data", but they never fucking look.  There is no such data that will satisfy them.  Then there are people who still spread or believe conspiracies about it, and I don't who's worse, them or the devout skeptic.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Adrock on September 23, 2021, 09:26:27 PM
Oh, they’re not passing the virus back and forth. Them mofos are mostly straight up dying, and if they manage to survive, COVID apparently “lingers in the penis” causing erectile dysfunction and possible impotency. It may take longer than expected but as we transition from **** around to find out, the problem seems like it may eventually sort itself out.

By my estimation, the only group worse than the lazy cunts waiting for more data but never actually looking for it is the I-did-my-own-research conspiracy theory crowd who can get ALL the way fucked. And they will. Eventually. By COVID. Imagine having the audacity to believe lurking on Facebook or YouTube for confirmation bias videos is worth more than the research some scientists have spent their whole careers on, building off the knowledge and work of their peers and predecessors. I don’t wish ill will on anyone, but when these people die agonizing, completely preventable deaths, all I feel is:

(https://i.ibb.co/Bf4xmG8/3818738-B-27-B9-401-B-9-B22-868-F6650-D0-BB.gif)
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: ThePerm on September 24, 2021, 03:08:51 PM
The even crazier thing is that statistically, there has to be a very small amount of people that are out of the loop. Like some people that go out only every 6 months to shop for supplies and then retreat back to their bunkers. It must be weird for them. Or not, in the states where they keep reversing measures they could not even notice because they only get out in intervals where things look normal.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Adrock on February 22, 2022, 12:16:50 PM
Just got an email from HR today stating the current plan is to not return additional employees to the office prior to 08/31/2022. 🥳 However, “this is subject to change at any time.” 😒

The last I heard from one of the IT VPs is they plan to implement a rolling schedule for returning to the office. While she didn’t clarify everything, it sounded like we’d be split in groups that would alternate days. To me, this still doesn’t make any sense because most meetings would be via Zoom anyway. Going to the office was far more structured which I liked. However, COVID is still around. We’ve already spent nearly two years working from home. It’s fine; it works. I see no benefit to sharing an enclosed space with other people for eight hours. Why even risk it even if vaccinated/boosted folk likely won’t die? It isn’t even more cost effective.

The last two years have been a colossal flustercuck. How many people failed the group project? Personally, I haven’t stopped taking this seriously.
How is everyone doing with the pandemic?
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: nickmitch on February 22, 2022, 09:10:30 PM
I'm doing well. I'm still masking whenever I'm out and about. At my school, they've lifted the mask mandate, but I still wear mine as do a few students. I only take my mask off around people I'm going to be around for extended periods anyway.

I've also gotten used to not getting colds which I great. I save so much money on Dayquil. I somehow got an upper respiratory infection last year, but that wasn't so bad. I've gotten strep a few times and assumed that was it, but a doctor said differently.

That said, I still haven't tested positive for COVID. I don't test as often as I could, but I think I'll pick it up again once my toe heals up. It's a bit of a walk for me, and I'm supposed to stay off it.

I'm also looking forward to the next booster.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Stratos on February 23, 2022, 07:04:22 PM
I've gotten covid twice...or once and a test later picked up the remnants of my prior exposure. Thankfully it had to have been Omicron since I didn't lose my sense of taste or deal with too many symptoms. I wore a mask at home to protect my infant daughter (who just celebrated her first birthday!) and she got a cold around that time but didn't seem to be covid. Sucks as a surgery I need was delayed because of the spike and the positive test.

Still WFH and I have my exemption good until the end Spring but I have no intention to return. Boss is okay with it and I've told him I will not even entertain it until my child could be considered for vaccination. Odds are I'll be at another job by the time they consider forcing me back as my boss basically said he wouldn't hold me to any attendance requirement while I felt uncomfortable.

Corporate is being weird about it again and celebrated the "return to office culture" and then cases spiked in our state and everyone was back home aside from a core few who have to work in-office or are weirdos or beholden to be present because of sucky middle management. They want to walk this line of talking up returning while its clear in the all-hands meetings there are plenty of dissenting voices pushing back.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: BeautifulShy on March 11, 2022, 12:23:06 AM
My mom has hesitations about the vaccine as well mainly in part of the side effects and also she is an old hippy and she doesn't tend to like government involvement with some things.  She isn't opposed to getting it she just wants to see the effects of it after 6 months. She does wear a mask when she goes out but usually not walking from one place to another and really only in places that require it.   This worries me because she is older and I care about her a lot that she isn't taking the vaccine when it is accessable to everyone.  She would rather wait 6 months.  Also she isn't a POC so that isn't her concern as it pertains to herself.

I think after I get my second dose I am going to have her sign up for an appointment and then go with her to it.  Just for moral support.

Mega Update on this.

After a year from this post and researching what is the best vaccine(Its Pfizer), She got her two doses two weeks 6 weeks apart from each other and then after dealing with a lot of real life stuff like planning for our move to Mesa she got her booster.  I was there for moral support and to help her get to Walgreens for them. She has spine issues and neuropathy now. The Neuropathy is newish.

That being said I am happy she is taking care of her physical health and she has been going to weekly tai chi classes to keep her self mobile.
Title: Re: The COVID-19 Virus is Coming For Us All Thread
Post by: Stratos on September 11, 2022, 05:44:49 PM
Everyone here in the pacific northwest USA is acting like it is over outside of medical facilities. My wife and I have even loosened protections a bit as well since our 16-month daughter has the first vax and getting the second dose in the next week. We still wear masks in crowded areas, but if it is less crowded or open air we are letting them go. We will be training our daughter to wear one soon because we want to do some travelling to see some family.

Washington State will be removing the Covid related state of emergency at the end of October so seems most people are pushing to move on now regardless of future risks.