COVID-19/Coronavirus Information and Support Thread (see OP for useful links)

[Danoff]

Mine looks considerably more aggressive, but it actually hasn't changed since I last left the house on purpose in November.

Don't you review cars?

 

[Joey D]

I'm a little surprised at how many of you are getting your own groceries. You know you can pay a few bucks to have it delivered right?

I tried that, the next delivery window was two weeks out and they would only deliver a certain number of items. They also placed a limit on how much of one thing you could buy, like only 1 gallon of milk, and they won't (can't?) deliver beer either. It didn't seem worth it to me and was more of a hindrance than a help. So I just don a mask and power shop at 7 am Sunday or Monday morning right when the store opens. Takes me about 20 minutes to get everything I need.

 

[Danoff]

I tried that, the next delivery window was two weeks out and they would only deliver a certain number of items. They also placed a limit on how much of one thing you could buy, like only 1 gallon of milk, and they won't (can't?) deliver beer either. It didn't seem worth it to me and was more of a hindrance than a help. So I just don a mask and power shop at 7 am Sunday or Monday morning right when the store opens. Takes me about 20 minutes to get everything I need.

Try a few different grocery stores. Some of them might offer more. The store closest to us has pretty bad delivery, so we go with a different grocer further away.

Curbside pickup is also preferable to going in (if they offer that).

 

[Famine]

Don't you review cars?

Not if I can help it. I haven't even driven one this year yet.

 

[Blitz24]

My mother just got tested after 2 straight days of nausea, chills and fever. She came down with something on Tuesday, the same day that I took her to a fruit market, which I found was really poorly organized. We were both wearing masks, but people were not adhering to the 6 foot rule and the staff of the market were not limiting customers.

 

[Scaff]

It's wild to see how many of you are aggressively distancing. I mean I know that so many people around the world are doing it. But here's the evidence. It's very cool.

I'm a little surprised at how many of you are getting your own groceries. You know you can pay a few bucks to have it delivered right?

Slots for delivery are not always available

 

[Touring Mars]

It's wild to see how many of you are aggressively distancing. I mean I know that so many people around the world are doing it. But here's the evidence. It's very cool.

I'm a little surprised at how many of you are getting your own groceries. You know you can pay a few bucks to have it delivered right?

We got our first supermarket delivery last night... after placing the order on 27th March. And a third of it didn't arrive.

Supermarket deliveries only accounted for a small market share in the UK prior to the pandemic, and quite simply they haven't been able to cope with the massive surge in demand. It takes 15 minutes just to browse the website of the major supermarket I normally use.

It is possible, though, to survive with online-only shopping... but a three week wait (if you can get a delivery slot at all) is pretty crazy. It does, however, beat catching a deadly virus.

 

[super_gt]

 

[DesertPenguin]

I guess that means we're losing because our number is lower? I thought Trump was a golfer. Should the lower number win in this scenario?

 

[TexRex]

If only you could put your attitude on hold just long enough to look at a graph.

The percentage rises gradually and increasingly between every age group going up.
So yes, that is kind of like clockwork.

Where, uh...where's this graph of which you speak?

Also, to say that something "goes like clockwork" is to suggest that it goes as predicted or in a manner that can be predicted. I'll grant you that the rate of spread proved to be fairly predictable, at least prior to efforts meant to slow that spread, but the degree to which the virus affects individuals isn't even remotely predictable across a population where underlying factors and treatment after transmission aren't constants.

1,2,3 etc.

That's counting.

Children? You haven't provided a reason why I should "know" that a breakout respiratory virus would barely affect children.

What?

And why do you think there being a few exceptions make it somehow inherently dangerous?

You asked if it's weird that children aren't affected by it. They are.

Since they are, it's weird to ask if it's weird that they aren't.

Do you have children?

I have a child, yes.

If you do, you should be much more worried about literally anything else killing them.

I worry to the degree that I worry.

I'm not terribly concerned that my daughter will be mauled by a tiger after taunting it, as I have no reason to believe she will be in a position to do so and I trust her to exercise good judgement in the event that she is.

Because she plays the piano, I'm ever so slightly more worried that she'll die after having been crushed by one than by the aforementioned tiger mauling. But it isn't an actual concern.

However, as she has regular interaction with the public through her employment, I'm a fair bit more concerned that she will contract the virus. I'm by no means paralyzed by fear of this because I'm aware death as a result isn't guaranteed (present data suggests that she's much more likely to survive it), but I'd be lying if I said I'm not worried.

 

[Jezza819]

It's wild to see how many of you are aggressively distancing. I mean I know that so many people around the world are doing it. But here's the evidence. It's very cool.

I'm a little surprised at how many of you are getting your own groceries. You know you can pay a few bucks to have it delivered right?

I wouldn't get groceries delivered if it was free, pandemic or no pandemic. It's only right at a mile if that from where I live and work to the grocery store so I just run by once a week usually on Thursdays and zip in a zip out with what I need. Since I live by myself I don't really get that much unless it just falls that I've ran out of almost everything in that certain week.

Friends of mine use a delivery service for their groceries, in fact they used the service well before any of this Coronavirus stuff started happening. Unfortunately, the service has been somewhat hit and miss, in that they’re not getting a lot of the things they order. Many items are being substituted with close alternatives, which is fine if they get penne instead of spaghetti, but not so fine if they get artsy scented soap instead of antibacterial hand soap. They’ve ended up paying for many things they have little to no use for.

That would be my other problem with a delivery service. If I asked for something in particular then that is what I'm expecting with no substitutes. I would rather be in the store myself to look at other options in case they were out of something than to have those options decided for me.

 

[DesertPenguin]

If I asked for something in particular then that is what I'm expecting with no substitutes. I would rather be in the store myself to look at other options in case they were out of something than to have those options decided for me.

This has been a point of contention in my house since I was a child because my mom would pick up something else when the specific item my dad asked for wasn't available. It ended in her returning at least one thing almost every week.

 

[DG_Silva]

Ahh, heck it. Probably not the best day to do this....

Social Distancing
Questionnaire
=======================
How long has it been since you've:
- Had someone who doesn't live in your home inside your home. - 6 months (we're unsociable buggers)
- Spoken in-person to someone who doesn't live inside your home. - today
- Spoken in-person to someone who doesn't live inside your home within 6 feet with no PPE - 4 days
- Entered a public facing commercial building (such as a grocery store or bank) - today (takeaway has just reopened after deep clean and closure for 4 weeks)
- Entered any building other than your home - today (see above)
- Shaken someone's hand - 6 weeks
- Driven a car - today
- Gotten takeout - today
- How many people live in your house - 2 (and the other half is even less mobile than me).

 

[super_gt]

I guess that means we're losing because our number is lower? I thought Trump was a golfer. Should the lower number win in this scenario?

The number is only important if you want to show that China is hiding the true scale of the infection, which was especially important at the beginning when the rest of the world could have been better prepared for the coming crisis.

 

[PzR Slim]

Not sure about that quote... how are we shutting down for "far longer" when our lockdown started later (but actually at an earlier stage relative to Italy) and is likely to be lifted after almost the exact same length of time...

Ironically, the UK is now in the situation where we would be well advised to wait a bit longer to see how lifting of restrictions works (or doesn't...) in countries that were ahead of us in terms of the outbreak progression. Would this guy prefer that we followed suit irrespective of how well or badly lifting restrictions goes in Italy, Spain or the US? I certainly hope not.

What this kind of comment seems to miss is the fact that this is only the beginning of what is likely to be a series of lockdowns, and that each country will have to try to keep their own economies ticking over while also addressing the most serious public health issue in a century. As such, I don't think that fingerpointing and 20/20 hindsight are particularly helpful, esp. when the key claim they are making is basically rubbish.

Our lockdown started 12 days after Denmarks but whilst they are coming out of their's, started a couple of days ago with opening primary schools, we are in it for at least another 21 days. So best case scenario or lock down will have lasted 11 days longer than their's. Time will tell how our government's response will be judged. I'm fairly certain countries like Denmark & New Zealand will be judged to have done a better job.

 

[Danoff]

Slots for delivery are not always available

Usually for me it's like 3-4 days out. We just put one in and reserve the spot, and then tweak the order as it approaches.

We got our first supermarket delivery last night... after placing the order on 27th March. And a third of it didn't arrive.

Supermarket deliveries only accounted for a small market share in the UK prior to the pandemic, and quite simply they haven't been able to cope with the massive surge in demand. It takes 15 minutes just to browse the website of the major supermarket I normally use.

It is possible, though, to survive with online-only shopping... but a three week wait (if you can get a delivery slot at all) is pretty crazy. It does, however, beat catching a deadly virus.

Interesting. Perhaps my experience is unusual.

 

[jjaisli]

I'm a little surprised at how many of you are getting your own groceries. You know you can pay a few bucks to have it delivered right?

Hah--not when you live out the boonies like we do. We have one supermarket in this town. After some initial, disastrous days where few people were paying attention to voluntary rules, it's been a huge improvement over the last two weeks. The first hour of the morning is always for the over 60 crowd. And they won't let you in without a mask and gloves. There are only one way aisles, strictly enforced. Fruit and vegetables are in bags. They only allow 50 people in at one time. And, for the most part, people are generally behaving and abiding. Though on most days the line to get in goes half way down the strip mall. We tried doing a pre-order and pick up but the next slot was almost 3 weeks out.

We have a BJs, a Wal-Mart and a Target each about 20 minutes away but we're too far for home delivery. The next closest supermarket is at least 15 minutes but it's even more crowded. There's another supermarket about 20 minutes, across the New York State border. We did a pick up but the amount of asinine substitutions was ridiculous. We were actually laughing putting the food away wondering if it was somebody's idea of a practical joke. We ended up with less than half of what we ordered. And they were out of so many things that we figured with the precautions they're enforcing at our home town supermarket, it's worth it just to go shopping ourselves.

We also try and do food take out at least twice a week. There are a number of local restaurants which, well, none of them are great, but I'd like to see them stay in business when this is over so we're trying to support them. And they've all gotten very strict and are taking precautions during the pick up process. I find it amazing though, standing in line (6+ foot intervals) and outside in most cases, that already two weeks ago, almost everybody in line was wearing a mask and gloves, before it was required. The only exception, and literally EVERY time I go, are the 60+ year old men, sometimes just one, sometimes even 3-4, who wear no mask, no gloves and are often standing shoulder to shoulder, as if to show how "tough" they are. It should be no wonder why more and more people in this town are infected every day. I even saw one guy wait until he got to the front of the line to put on his mask. So ridiculous. And of course it's the very people (>60, generally obese) that SHOULD be taking extra precautions that don't.

But walking around the neighborhood, everybody is very well behaved with social distancing. Although it's easy when distances are plentiful.

 

[Northstar]

I haven't done the grocery delivery thing but I have started using the pick-up option and have been pretty satisfied with it. Both places I've used it at have given me the choice of selecting substitutions if I want one and even if the person picking the order grabs something different there is an option to cancel that item before my card is charged. Walmart supposedly won't charge more than what the original item cost, but I haven't put that to the test yet. My only gripe is the lack of availability, but they allow you edit your order right up to the time they start picking it so it's not that big of a deal.

As a part of my job I pretty much work from home every day, it's not usually my home though.

Social Distancing
Questionnaire
=======================
How long has it been since you've:
- Had someone who doesn't live in your home inside your home. - 1 month
- Spoken in-person to someone who doesn't live inside your home. - Today
- Spoken in-person to someone who doesn't live inside your home within 6 feet with no PPE - Today
- Entered a public facing commercial building (such as a grocery store or bank) - Today
- Entered any building other than your home - Today
- Shaken someone's hand - Today
- Driven a car - Today
- Gotten takeout - 1 Day
- How many people live in your house - 1

 

[Danoff]

Hah--not when you live out the boonies like we do. We have one supermarket in this town. After some initial, disastrous days where few people were paying attention to voluntary rules, it's been a huge improvement over the last two weeks. The first hour of the morning is always for the over 60 crowd. And they won't let you in without a mask and gloves. There are only one way aisles, strictly enforced. Fruit and vegetables are in bags. They only allow 50 people in at one time. And, for the most part, people are generally behaving and abiding. Though on most days the line to get in goes half way down the strip mall. We tried doing a pre-order and pick up but the next slot was almost 3 weeks out.

We have a BJs, a Wal-Mart and a Target each about 20 minutes away but we're too far for home delivery. The next closest supermarket is at least 15 minutes but it's even more crowded. There's another supermarket about 20 minutes, across the New York State border. We did a pick up but the amount of asinine substitutions was ridiculous. We were actually laughing putting the food away wondering if it was somebody's idea of a practical joke. We ended up with less than half of what we ordered. And they were out of so many things that we figured with the precautions they're enforcing at our home town supermarket, it's worth it just to go shopping ourselves.

We also try and do food take out at least twice a week. There are a number of local restaurants which, well, none of them are great, but I'd like to see them stay in business when this is over so we're trying to support them. And they've all gotten very strict and are taking precautions during the pick up process. I find it amazing though, standing in line (6+ foot intervals) and outside in most cases, that already two weeks ago, almost everybody in line was wearing a mask and gloves, before it was required. The only exception, and literally EVERY time I go, are the 60+ year old men, sometimes just one, sometimes even 3-4, who wear no mask, no gloves and are often standing shoulder to shoulder, as if to show how "tough" they are. It should be no wonder why more and more people in this town are infected every day. I even saw one guy wait until he got to the front of the line to put on his mask. So ridiculous. And of course it's the very people (>60, generally obese) that SHOULD be taking extra precautions that don't.

But walking around the neighborhood, everybody is very well behaved with social distancing. Although it's easy when distances are plentiful.

I kinda became convinced that if you allow substitutions, the lazy shopper will just grab the first thing that satisfies - that's what it seemed like based on some of those subs. I did a same-day costco delivery which worked. Although it took me a week to get delivery slot. Still it wasn't exactly hard work, just refresh the browser a few times a day until one pops up. Managed to get toilet paper and dish detergent in that delivery, both of which were tough to find.

 

[ryzno]

Not if I can help it. I haven't even driven one this year yet.

Car review or you don't drive right now? If so, how do y'all get around?

 

[Milouse]

Does anyone understand what's been happening in Belgium? It currently has the highest number of deaths per capita of any country (excluding the pretend countries of Andorra & San Marino) at 455/million. This is more than twice that of neighbouring Netherlands.

Maybe the virus just stroke there first, like it did in some other comparable areas like NYC or Lombardy or Ile-de-France region.
Belgium: 5,163 deaths / 11.48 M. inhabitants = 450
NYC: 12,199 deaths / 19.45 M. inh. = 627
Ile-de-France: 4,359 deaths / 12.2 M. inh. = 357
Lombardy: 11,851 / 10.06 inh. = 1178
Those areas are not at the same point in their covid-19 timeline.

Some of the comments suggest this Dr be taken with a pinch of salt, as he is known for some rather wacky claims (separate from his work on HIV).

Before this claim, which i don't comment here, he's known to be a complete idiot. A genuine charlatant.
It should remind us that Nobel prized in medicine are often just names at the head of collective works.


How long has it been since you've:
- Had someone who doesn't live in your home inside your home. - 4 weeks (plumber)
- Spoken in-person to someone who doesn't live inside your home. - 8 days
- Spoken in-person to someone who doesn't live inside your home within 6 feet with no PPE - 8 days
- Entered a public facing commercial building (such as a grocery store or bank) - 8 days (pharmacy)
- Entered any building other than your home - 8 days (see above)
- Shaken someone's hand - 7 weeks, but is was "la bise" of course
- Driven a car - 13.75 billion years + estimation of infinity in singularity
- Gotten takeout - delivery: 10 years | taken: 7 weeks (chinese)
- How many people live in your house - 2
- ****-The-Police-Walked in the middle of a street - 8 days

 

[Biggles]

Maybe the virus just stroke there first, like it did in some other comparable areas like NYC or Lombardy or Ile-de-France region.
Belgium: 5,163 deaths / 11.48 M. inhabitants = 450
NYC: 12,199 deaths / 19.45 M. inh. = 627
Ile-de-France: 4,359 deaths / 12.2 M. inh. = 357
Lombardy: 11,851 / 10.06 inh. = 1178
Those areas are not at the same point in their covid-19 timeline.

I would compare to the Netherlands - I'm not sure the timeline would be significantly different between the two countries. The Dutch did a very lackadaisical job of enforcing social distancing in the early days & have continued more relaxed than in Italy or Spain. But the Belgians have a mortality rate/per capita double that of the Netherlands - higher, in fact than Italy or Spain. Lombardy is a special case as it was the first area in Europe to experience spreading infection rates, has (presumably) an older population & most likely more generationally integrated also. In NYC I am assuming it is due to the population density.

 

[fortbo]

Just because only part of this interview was posted.

 

[UKMikey]

I'm a little surprised at how many of you are getting your own groceries. You know you can pay a few bucks to have it delivered right?

Some friends of mine went the order online route and had half of their order cancelled ten minutes before it was due to arrive. I'd rather have the food in my hand. Plus it's my chance to get some exercise hauling it back as I don't have a car. I'd rather leave those scarce delivery slots to the people who truly need them and have no other choice.

 

[Dotini]

This seems pretty important, but not entirely shocking if it turns out to be true.





Some of the comments suggest this Dr be taken with a pinch of salt, as he is known for some rather wacky claims (separate from his work on HIV).

If anyone can find info which would either confirm or deny these claims, that would be much appreciated.

No confirmation on its origins as yet, but there seems increasing interest in an accidental release from a lab.

 

[Dennisch]

I'm a little surprised at how many of you are getting your own groceries.

Shops here have a set amount of baskets and carts to keep the number of people who simultaneously shop down. And that's brilliant. Not a problem to keep distance from other people at all. At the registers there are lines on the ground, plexiglass between all the lines, and the cashier. My supermarket has a permanent basket cleaner working, there is paper and alcohol available to keep things clean for yourself.

And most important, almost everyone understands that we need to keep the distance. And those who still think we don't get burned down pretty fast.

 

[Michael88]

Today I went to the recycling center, I was already drowning in plastic trash from not bringing it to that place for 6 weeks now.

First I thought my military gas mask was overkill and actually wanted to go with my FFP2 denim mask, but I reconsidered. When I arrived at the recycling site I was glad I had the full mask with me, it was CROWDED with people unloading their trash. Minimum safety distance was non existent, and half the people did not wear any kind of mask at all. When I put on my mask with the P3 filter people gave me a look, but the poor people working at that site gave me an understanding nod.

In any case, I was super happy to have a 0% chance of contracting the virus by using the large activated charcoal filter and full face protection which is leaps and bounds and walls and universes better than the tissue papers people wear. Yes, I looked like some dude from the Metro 2033 games, or some WWI soldier during a gas raid, but I don't care, results count.

 

[twitcher]

Just because only part of this interview was posted.

I saw this thread on twitter about “Dr” Phil earlier today, it gave me a good laugh.










The “Shape it Up! Woo, Woo!” guy is not the guy I would be taking advice from regarding a global pandemic

Joking aside though, regardless of who the messenger is, there are some valid concerns raised in the interview. As lockdowns continue, people’s mental health must become a genuine concern. Like I mentioned earlier in the thread, I’ve been very fortunate that my life has not been severely impacted by these events. I was talking to a gentleman in the coffee shop earlier this week who said he had a family member living in NYC - they’ve basically been trapped in an 800 square foot apartment for almost 5 weeks. I don’t know how I would handle that, but I doubt it would be well. Add extreme economic uncertainty on top of that, it’s a nightmare.

The point about children is interesting as well, one I hadn’t really thought of. A few close friends have kids, and the kids are definitely getting excess amounts of video gaming and YouTube time. The parents do what they can to keep the kids active, but both sets of parents I’m thinking of, all four people are still working full time. Fortunate for them, the kids are old enough to stay home alone during the day. If that wasn’t the case, for both couples, they would have to give up one member’s income so they could stay home with the kids. And lord knows what those kids get up to, home alone for weeks at a time. I’ve got another friend, a single mom who is a RN at a nursing home, two kids aged 6 and 4. Luckily she has both of her parents, both retired, who live nearby who can watch her kids while she works. To say that she’s stressed is putting it unjustifiably lightly.

 

[ROAD_DOGG33J]

Thought this was an interesting article:
https://www.newsweek.com/coronavirus-outbreak-september-not-wuhan-1498566

The coronavirus outbreak could have started as early as mid-September, and the Chinese city of Wuhan may not be where it began, a scientist looking at the origins of the disease has said.

Geneticist Peter Forster, from the U.K.'s University of Cambridge, is leading a research project to understand the historical processes that led to the COVID-19 pandemic. Ultimately, they hope to identify the first person who got the virus and served as the source for the initial outbreak. By analyzing networks, they have so far been able to chart the spread of the virus, including the genetic mutations, as it moved from China to Australia, Europe and the rest of the world.

They have created a network analysis using over 1,000 coronavirus genomes. This includes patient infection date and the "type" of virus the person was infected with. There are three types—A, B and C. A is closest to the coronavirus found in bats and is thought to be the original human virus genome. This type was found in Chinese and American individuals, with mutated versions in patients from Australia and the U.S.

However, A was not the virus type found in most cases in Wuhan, the city in China where COVID-19 was first identified. Instead, most people there had type B. Researchers suggest there was a "founder event" for type B in Wuhan. Type C, the "daughter" of type B, is what was identified in early cases in Europe, as well as South Korea, Singapore and Hong Kong—but appears absent from mainland China.

....

 

[GTsail]

****
I'm a little surprised at how many of you are getting your own groceries.

I've been using Instacart for my grocery deliveries for the last four weeks and have been very pleased with their service.

Prior to our State's shutdown, I had used the service twice, and both times received the deliveries within 2 hours as they promised.

During the first three weeks of our State's shutdown, I started using Instacart again, and the delivery times were stretched out to about 36 hours (but this was as stated when I placed my order).

This week's order was promised within 5 hours and it was received within 4 hours so they have mostly caught back up with everyone's orders and they have hired more delivery people.

I have found that they do a good job of allowing you to select replacement items (when your first choice is sold out), or allowing you to specify no substitutions. Items in high demand still get sold out at times, but I found that this was no different than actually going to the store since the same items were sold out when I was at the store (during the first week I placed an Instacart order and also drove to the grocery store looking for various items and had no luck in both situations). Once the orders arrive, I'm having the delivery person knock on my door and then leave the bags by the door so we don't need to get within 6 feet of each other.

Using Instacart certainly costs more money. They charge approx 8% more for each item, and add on a small delivery charge and a small service fee, and you tip the delivery person, but during the shutdown it seems worth it if you are trying to avoid COVID-19.