The COVID-19 Thread - Discussion & Cancellations

[Thunderheads]

15 minutes ago, yawetag said:

I don't think we'll see that. With the measures taken by individual states - keeping kids home, closing restaurants and gatherings - you're lessening the impact. Had the country relied on the White House's public stance, we'd all be in trouble. Thankfully, many of the states were able to listen to smarter people and make decisions that, hopefully, will save a lot of lives.

"You can't reason someone out of something they didn't reason themselves into."

Andrew .... I'm pretty sure the WH stance concurred with Michigan's stance (and I believe A LOT of other states as well) on the same day, so ... not sure where you're going with this, but a political discussion within this subject won't happen.   NOT SAYING YOU ARE TRYING!  You're a great contributor to our site! I enjoy all of your posts!   ....I just don't want it to go there.  I hope you understand

[Umpire in Chief]

On 3/17/2020 at 11:00 AM, lawump said:

When your weekly food budget quadruples because your son is home for college for spring break.  Then, you find out from your son he's home for a month (because the school is shut down) when he says, "let's go to the liquor store, Dad, 'cause I'm on a Coronacation!!!"

I feel you. ECU extended spring break a week and also made all online classes for the rest of the semester. We moved our daughter out of the dorm this weekend. Add to that my son's school has closed for 2 weeks (at least) AND my wife's company has told all employees who are able to, to work from home for at least a month. Thankfully, I still have to go to work LOL. 

But the added food, electricity, and everything else is going to add up. 

As for sports. I don't see any spring HS sports happening.. due to the flattening of the curve we're not near the peak of this, so who knows how long things will be shut down. I wouldn't be surprised if fall sports are ultimately nixed too.

This IS for real I don't want to minimize that, BUT people are overreacting to the max. Even the county south of me has closed itself off (easy to do b/c it's primarily islands) Where only residents and people who work there can enter the county. https://www.outerbanksvoice.com/2020/03/17/dare-county-explains-entry-permit-system/

But neither my county or Dare county or our surrounding counties have any reported cases. 

While I understand the "flatten the curve" movement and the rationale behind it. I tend to disagree for your average person. I also think for those at more serious risk, it could be beneficial for the curve to be accelerated.  I was reading that with the "flatten the curve" movement this could take b/t 18 and  24 months to run it's course vs just getting it and getting over it. Can you imagine living like this for the next 24 months??? No movie theaters, no sporting events, no theme parks, no dine in restaurants, some stores limiting the number of people who can enter at one time (which is completely stupid b/c now people are gathered much more close together at the front door waiting to get in) etc.. It's not that bad now but it is discussed that 85% of the US population will be exposed to it and best case scenario a vaccine is probably 18 months away. As for those with underlying conditions which put them in greater risk, they are going to be at the greater risk for a greater amount of time. For example someone I know's spouse is in a category of being at much greater risk. His doctor has told her she must work from home, and act as if she is at the greater risk b/c she could potentially be exposed and bring it home to him. They are going to have even less "freedom" for as long as this goes on. If the curve were to be accelerated, they'd have to potentially shelter in place for much less time. 

Seriously, I'm almost considering attempting to intentionally get it. Which won't be hard to do, my next door neighbor is a respiratory care nurse and her hospital already had a meeting telling them when it hits our area they will not only be exposed but they will contract it. So once she gets it I'll spend a few days hanging out with her. Like the good ole chicken pox parties Gen X'ers and before will remember.

But for all of you stay safe out there. 

[kylehutson]

@Umpire in Chief - we are going to have some really interesting data. The UK is doing essentially what you're saying. If you're at risk, stay inside. If not, carry on. The economics analysis both in terms of deaths and of national economy will be interesting in a couple of years.

 

[ArchAngel72]

pic removed

 

[Magic]

2 hours ago, yawetag said:

I don't think we'll see that. With the measures taken by individual states - keeping kids home, closing restaurants and gatherings - you're lessening the impact. Had the country relied on the White House's public stance, we'd all be in trouble. Thankfully, many of the states were able to listen to smarter people and make decisions that, hopefully, will save a lot of lives.

"You can't reason someone out of something they didn't reason themselves into."

Another misinformed individual. Please keep politics out of discussions. I don't post a lot but I do read a lot on here and there is no need to express your political views on here. Thank you.

[Thunderheads]

4 minutes ago, Magic said:

Another misinformed individual. Please keep politics out of discussions. I don't post a lot but I do read a lot on here and there is no need to express your political views on here. Thank you.

Bill, ...thanks, but I addressed it earlier .... I think we're good.  Andrew isn't a trouble-maker, never has been, but when I saw that, I wanted to prevent any escalation.  Thanks again

[yawetag]

40 minutes ago, Magic said:

Another misinformed individual. Please keep politics out of discussions. I don't post a lot but I do read a lot on here and there is no need to express your political views on here. Thank you.

I'm not expressing any political view on here at all. I was simply saying that the message from the White House was "this isn't an issue - no need to worry" for much longer than they needed. Even today, they fail to follow simple guidelines from the CDC - social distancing, no groups - at their own press conferences, even when talking about those guidelines.

I saw no direction from them, only the states taking actions on their own - typically at the direction of the CDC or their own state's departments of health. The White House's stance should have been before states started acting, not the same day. In times of crisis, people look to leadership in how to react and what to do.

[Magic]

47 minutes ago, Thunderheads said:

Bill, ...thanks, but I addressed it earlier .... I think we're good.  Andrew isn't a trouble-maker, never has been, but when I saw that, I wanted to prevent any escalation.  Thanks again

Apparently he didn't listen. 

[Thunderheads]

7 minutes ago, yawetag said:

I'm not expressing any political view on here at all. I was simply saying that the message from the White House was "this isn't an issue - no need to worry" for much longer than they needed. Even today, they fail to follow simple guidelines from the CDC - social distancing, no groups - at their own press conferences, even when talking about those guidelines.

I saw no direction from them, only the states taking actions on their own - typically at the direction of the CDC or their own state's departments of health. The White House's stance should have been before states started acting, not the same day. In times of crisis, people look to leadership in how to react and what to do.

I understand your point, I do.  Again, I just didn't want it to turn INTO something it wasn't meant to, that's all.    And, more to my point earlier ....attached is the from the White House and it coincides with the same date as MANY states in "shutting down bars, restaurants, etc" .    The White House stance was from the CDC, so ....  anyhow, here's the link.  I think everything is moving in a positive direction now (hopefully) and it appears most are on the same page.

https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/03.16.20_coronavirus-guidance_8.5x11_315PM.pdf

[Thunderheads]

3 minutes ago, Magic said:

Apparently he didn't listen. 

It was in a response to his original post.  He doesn't feel it to be nor was he trying to make it political, he's confirmed that, and I believe him.  AGAIN, ...I just wanted to attempt to make sure it didn't escalate.  That's all.    

And please guys .... not worth bickering about.  Two different view points on the same subject have been given ... lets move forward

[yawetag]

51 minutes ago, Thunderheads said:

I understand your point, I do.  Again, I just didn't want it to turn INTO something it wasn't meant to, that's all.    And, more to my point earlier ....attached is the from the White House and it coincides with the same date as MANY states in "shutting down bars, restaurants, etc" .    The White House stance was from the CDC, so ....  anyhow, here's the link.  I think everything is moving in a positive direction now (hopefully) and it appears most are on the same page.

https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/03.16.20_coronavirus-guidance_8.5x11_315PM.pdf

That is good news. I will say that a number of states closed schools and large gatherings prior to the 16th (South Carolina closed schools the afternoon of the 15th, and they definitely weren't the first), but you're right that general closures (restaurants, bars) were around that time - and still continue today.

I'm trying to give credit where it's due in this situation, but not giving blind credit (or discredit) to anyone with a (D), (R), or (I) after their name. As others have said more eloquently, this virus doesn't care who you vote for, what color your skin is, or where you live.

[aaluck]

3 hours ago, Umpire in Chief said:

Can you imagine living like this for the next 24 months??? No movie theaters, no sporting events, no theme parks, no dine in restaurants, some stores limiting the number of people who can enter at one time (which is completely stupid b/c now people are gathered much more close together at the front door waiting to get in) etc.

I can't, nor do I want to.  However, part of me fears this could be a reality for a good bit of time (maybe 6-8 months or more).

My new typical day (probably not much different than everyone else).......

Wake up and hope I don't have a fever.  I have NEVER paid such close attention to my hands, mouth and nose. Hand sanitizer when I get in the car, when I get out of the car, wash hands immediately when I get to work (we cannot just shut down or we will all be broke here at the office). We scrub every door knob, light switch, rail, handle, phone, keyboard, mouse, cel phone (on and on and on) every 2 hours. No clients can come in and if we HAVE to meet folks its in a special room that is cleaned with spray lysol and clorox wipes before and after.

Lunch, another adventure...hit the drive thru....tell them to keep the change so I don't have "touched" money. Unwrap the burger, then hand sanitizer, eat then more sanitizer.

After work I usually went to either the baseball field or the gym (both shut down).  Now I sit in my car, after the hand sanitizer, listen to a podcast..nothing to do at home so why hurry.  Then I drive home and watch ESPN reruns of whatever.  Drink a beer and go to bed.

Our problem now is we are running out of Lysol and Clorox.  Thankfully one of us here bought a couple of gallons of refillable hand sanitizer a month ago.

Now I'm going to state the obvious....THIS SUCKS, NO ONE'S FAULT and nothing we can do about it and that is what it makes it SO FRUSTRATING. 

[lawump]

My dream since I was a child has been to go to London.  Last fall I bought a long family trip to London (which we gave to our children on Christmas Day) for this June to, in part, celebrate my son's graduation from college.  At this point, I'm just glad I forked out the extra $500 for the travel insurance...as I see this trip going down the drain. (sigh)

[Replacematt]

2 hours ago, Thunderheads said:

I understand your point, I do.  Again, I just didn't want it to turn INTO something it wasn't meant to, that's all.    And, more to my point earlier ....attached is the from the White House and it coincides with the same date as MANY states in "shutting down bars, restaurants, etc" .    The White House stance was from the CDC, so ....  anyhow, here's the link.  I think everything is moving in a positive direction now (hopefully) and it appears most are on the same page.

https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/03.16.20_coronavirus-guidance_8.5x11_315PM.pdf

That's two months after the point he's making. 

[The Man in Blue]

@Umpire in Chief ... Flattening the curve is about keeping resources available for those who truly need them.  

Think of the limited number of hospital beds as the number of pitches you call in a game (we’ll call that 150 pitches for a nice round number).  Each pitch is a case of COVID-19.  Can you call all 150 pitches if they were thrown at you all at once?  Now, think of all the other health needs (heart attacks, cancer patients, vehicle crashes, etc.) as all the other calls you make during that game.  Can you make all those calls while the 150 pitches are all coming at the same time?  How about if we play a couple of games at the same time and now you have 300 pitches all at once?

How about if we spread that out so you only have 50 pitches coming in at one time?  And several plays at the plate?

Now, I am betting you can handle more than one pitch at a time, but one is ideal.  THAT is flattening the curve.

[scrounge]

9 hours ago, kylehutson said:

@Umpire in Chief - we are going to have some really interesting data. The UK is doing essentially what you're saying. If you're at risk, stay inside. If not, carry on. The economics analysis both in terms of deaths and of national economy will be interesting in a couple of years.

 

That was their initial strategy, a mitigation approach, but they changed abruptly to a suppression approach like we and everyone else are doing once that study came out this week.

[kylehutson]

27 minutes ago, scrounge said:

That was their initial strategy, a mitigation approach, but they changed abruptly to a suppression approach like we and everyone else are doing once that study came out this week.

Ah. Didn't realize they changed course.

[Thunderheads]

16 hours ago, Matt said:

That's two months after the point he's making. 

Hey Matt, ... states weren't reacting 2 months ago.  That was Jan 20th and the CDC announced the first US case Jan 21st.  Now, I may be missing something in the context of the conversation (I miss a lot of things   ) 

[BobUmp]

I'm a volunteer FF/EMT out on Long Island NY. It is a S%%%storm as far as stay home orders/closings/panic buying/etc..

They told us 2 days ago that if the numbers/calculations are correct, our area will go to the S&%&^$-er in 2-14 days. At that time they will pull us in by shift, segregate us by teams of two for crews, and assign us times of coverage until they run out of us due to the illness. But, of course, this is IF the numbers/calcs are correct. That is a big if, because the whole testing/test kits/ federal and state response was screwed up earlier this month and in Feb, and they just don't have solid data.

So today starts that SH""*&*&^%storm window. As of right now, call volumes are "normal", no spikes as of this moment. I will be truly scared when calls start going back to back, we pull up at a house and have 5 patients instead of just one, and if we go the hospital and they have us deliver to tents instead of the ER rooms. 

I am currently in my paid job place, since it is designated an "essential" industry location for NYS. They have not pulled usin for shifting yet. Later, I head to the firehouse for my normal time slot, and we will be testing the crews in donning and doffing the "special" PPEs.

I will update here every few days, or if/when the S$$T hits the fan here on LI.

Stay safe, brothers and sisters, and follow all the guidelines as best you can. MAYBE this huge wave of contagia will roll over without overburdening the hospitals and other vital resources. maybe not. I think I will get an idea over the next 12 days... 

[The Man in Blue]

Thank you for doing everything you can @BobUmp (and everybody else)!  Stay safe and healthy!  My wife went in for her first shift at the hospital after being off for almost the last week.  I'm wondering how long before she is required to be there much more than she wants (she is also in nursing school at the same time, so she had been working 2-3 days a week).

I'm accustomed to being in the midst of things like this, but have been out of work since the holidays -- I'm feeling particularly frustrated watching from the sidelines.

On a news front ... The Chicago Tribune is reporting Governor Pritzker will announce a state-wide "shelter in place" order for Illinois at his 3:00 press conference.

[stevis]

Thank you for your service, @BobUmp.  Stay as safe as you can.

[Richvee]

I wish people and the press would use the correct terms. These aren’t “ lockdowns”. You’re free to go out, walk the dog, go buy food, etc. Avoid social contact. Very different. It’s not “ shelter in place”  either. That’s in a case of nuclear war, active shooter, of such things where you would hunker down in an interior room until an  “ all clear “ was given or escorted out by first responders. 
https://emergency.yale.edu/be-prepared/shelter-place

[JonnyCat]

1 hour ago, Richvee said:

I wish people and the press would use the correct terms. These aren’t “ lockdowns”. You’re free to go out, walk the dog, go buy food, etc. Avoid social contact. Very different. It’s not “ shelter in place”  either. That’s in a case of nuclear war, active shooter, of such things where you would hunker down in an interior room until an  “ all clear “ was given or escorted out by first responders. 
https://emergency.yale.edu/be-prepared/shelter-place

Exactly right, Rich. Sick of hearing my state of California being described like that. It's irresponsible journalism.

Many of us are still working, still able to go out and about for essentials or whatever. Still can take the kids out, walk the dog, or exercise. Basically, everything but socializing with others.

Of course it still could get like that, but for now, we're just trying to practice common sense.

[Richvee]

10 hours ago, JonnyCat said:

but for now, we're just trying to practice common sense.

Unfortunately, we have to mandate common sense. I work as an optician, and we have been deemed essential so we're open, however, starting yesterday, we screen customers and only service emergencies...broken or no glasses, pickups of new orders. Basically, if you own a functioning pr of glasses, go home.   Earlier this week, when we were still open for normal business, I was appalled at the number of families with children, WITH INFANTS in tow, older citizens, coming in to "shop". Thursday evening, I had a middle aged woman bring in her 80 yr old mother for replacement lenses in her own frame....No new Rx, nothing wrong with the current lenses, just a little scratched. Then, from across the room, a co worker, a good 30-50 feet away from us cleared his throat...The woman I was helping went into hysterics........"IS HE SICK?? WHAT IS HE DOING HERE????WHO"S THE MANAGER??< THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS"  .  Took every ounce of willpower I had not to tell her "You know what's outrageous? You here with your 80 year old mother for no good reason." There's no fixing stupid. 

[JonnyCat]

3 hours ago, Richvee said:

Unfortunately, we have to mandate common sense. I work as an optician, and we have been deemed essential so we're open, however, starting yesterday, we screen customers and only service emergencies...broken or no glasses, pickups of new orders. Basically, if you own a functioning pr of glasses, go home.   Earlier this week, when we were still open for normal business, I was appalled at the number of families with children, WITH INFANTS in tow, older citizens, coming in to "shop". Thursday evening, I had a middle aged woman bring in her 80 yr old mother for replacement lenses in her own frame....No new Rx, nothing wrong with the current lenses, just a little scratched. Then, from across the room, a co worker, a good 30-50 feet away from us cleared his throat...The woman I was helping went into hysterics........"IS HE SICK?? WHAT IS HE DOING HERE????WHO"S THE MANAGER??< THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS"  .  Took every ounce of willpower I had not to tell her "You know what's outrageous? You here with your 80 year old mother for no good reason." There's no fixing stupid. 

Yep, there is no fixing stupid. She's probably one of those persons hoarding toilet paper, too!