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

[Dotini]

Here's an article about one of the projects I've been apart of for about the past month.

https://attheu.utah.edu/facultystaf...rk86WB-7nAzkuvdw6MkthHC6FsMfddDh1aLv2Rfulk75c

The University of Utah is working to do a random sampling of 10,000 residents in the four countries in and around the Salt Lake Valley. From this, they are going to take the data to develop a model and attempt to figure out what the true number of our COVID cases are. My part has been really small compared to what some of the experts and data scientists are doing. I'm really interested to see the results and I hope they can get the data relatively quickly.

On the mainstream news last night there was a piece on what Ancestry.com, a Utah based company, is doing in the way of researching how one's DNA affects a person's resistance to coronavirus. They have the largest DNA database in the world, if I recall correctly.

 

[UKMikey]

Is this a typo? If it isn't, I have some followup questions.

I know you're the typo police Rex but please give @ryzno a break. It seems obvious to me that he's talking about his family or the people he lives with,

 

[TheGeologist]

There was a man in Florida who threw a public fit about not being let into a Publix without a mask, citing he has a right to buy groceries without being forced into terrorism & exclaiming afterward the employees are going to be mass arrested & executed for terrorism.

Sounds like Florida man, but I think Florida Man is usually dumb enough to do more than bark.

I am an American and I can't understand why Americans always have to be so proud that they are American.

Some of us get so wrapped up in our "freedom" that being asked to stay home and wear a mask to protect others from a human health pandemic is viewed as totalitarianism.

It's a health pandemic. Why are people acting like these restrictions have been put in place during normal times?

This isn't terrorism. This isn't totalitarianism. It's a worldwide pandemic that has killed more than 270,000 people in just a few months.

 

[Dotini]

I am an American and I can't understand why Americans always have to be so proud that they are American.

Some of us get so wrapped up in our "freedom" that being asked to stay home and wear a mask to protect others from a human health pandemic is viewed as totalitarianism.

It's a health pandemic. Why are people acting like these restrictions have been put in place during normal times?

This isn't terrorism. This isn't totalitarianism. It's a worldwide pandemic that has killed more than 270,000 people in just a few months.

There are a diminishing breed of Americans who feel that the rule of law is not something that can be set aside and ignored during any old emergency. If nobody cared about consistent enforcement of the laws, that could lead to who knows what? Obviously, there is not yet universal acclamation for setting aside the rule of law. I's an inconsistency in our constitutional democratic republic which becomes a problem during emergencies requiring extralegal actions.

 

[TenEightyOne]

There are a diminishing breed of Americans who feel that the rule of law is not something that can be set aside and ignored during any old emergency.

That's part of the changing face of politics and society across the world (imo). People are happy with the laws they like and unhappy at the fascist deep-states that impose laws they don't like. It was always that way to an extent - but instant worldwide communication is letting groups of nutters get together like never before.

 

[TexRex]

I know you're the typo police Rex but please give @ryzno a break. It seems obvious to me that he's talking about his family or the people he lives with,

It's a joke. The typo itself isn't funny, rather the humor is in the idea that it might not be a typo and the implications of that. I did it here as well.

 

[novcze]

No, just misinformed and deliberately distorted. Like most of the sources you manage to stumble upon. Some criticism is probably entirely fictional though.

people who lost their family members are misinformed ... ok, it's all in Swedish so maybe they are.

I’m not denying that a lockdown is more efficient in the short term.

I'm not showing you the stats so I can boast about them, it should rise questions. Your medical system is testing 2x less people while you have 3x more confirmed cases (plus 20 - 40% asymptomatic) and you have 12x more deaths (plus doubts about Swedish statistics, but I'm sure they are all misinformed), do you think it is adequate? I know Sweden is not socialist but maybe little more humanitarianism would be nice, no?

A lockdown is likely more efficient in the short term, but unfortunately it can’t be maintained for very long, which is why more and more countries are now starting to lift their restrictions and seek a more balanced approach.

One would imagine that they (we) are lifting some measures because situation with the virus is under control not because of economy.
I think it's entirely possible to stop virus completely, but because there is no common approach in the EU it will never happen, unless we keep borders closed for personal travel, but some people would scream about their constitutional rights so people will keep dying.

btw. we never had full lockdown like in Spain or Italy, because we implemented mild measures early and that was enough to flatten the curve. It remains to be seen how foreign trade will continue.

 

[Danoff]

I am an American and I can't understand why Americans always have to be so proud that they are American.

Some of us get so wrapped up in our "freedom" that being asked to stay home and wear a mask to protect others from a human health pandemic is viewed as totalitarianism.

It's a health pandemic. Why are people acting like these restrictions have been put in place during normal times?

This isn't terrorism. This isn't totalitarianism. It's a worldwide pandemic that has killed more than 270,000 people in just a few months.

People die of illness every year, all the time. That's why there is concern about setting aside the protections from government that American citizens are "guaranteed". There is not necessarily an end to this, and that makes these measures concerning. They have a point, you should not be so quick to dismiss it.

That being said, what's currently being asked of everyone is (for the most part) something they should already voluntarily do. And the practical difference between the intelligent, thoughtful, and moral way of handling this and the sloppy, dumb, immoral way of handling this is actually not huge.

Another thing I want to tell these protesters, many of whom voted for Trump is.... what did you expect? You voted for Trump! You should have expected lazy and thoughtless.

 

[TexRex]

people who lost their family members are misinformed ...

 

[Danoff]

I emerged from my house to go pick up a prescription (this apparently could not be avoided). At the grocery store I found something that I did not expect to see... tons of people using their cell phones.

Seriously? Your cell phone? Like... out, in the air, getting waved around in public? There were people not wearing masks, some even using the phone (against their face, talking to it) in the grocery store (though most people were wearing masks). One thing was ubiquitous, people touching their phones.

I suppose maybe each and every one of those phones got wiped down after they left the store. Somehow I doubt it. And after it got wiped down I bet it went straight into the same pocket that was used to hold the potentially coronavirus-smeared phone moments before.

I don't know who needs to be told this right now but keep your phone in your pocket at the grocery store.

 

[McLaren]

People die of illness every year, all the time. That's why there is concern about setting aside the protections from government that American citizens are "guaranteed". There is not necessarily an end to this, and that makes these measures concerning. They have a point, you should not be so quick to dismiss it.

I dismiss it when they start presenting information that leads to confirmation bias.

"Have you seen Plandemic, it's all a sham". Is it a sham? Or did you just gobble up some garbage that just happens to support your long-standing desire to go back to work?

 

[ROAD_DOGG33J]

I've seen people lower their masks to have a face to face conversation in a grocery store. And there always is somebody talking on their phone.

 

[jjaisli]

I emerged from my house to go pick up a prescription (this apparently could not be avoided). At the grocery store I found something that I did not expect to see... tons of people using their cell phones.

Seriously? Your cell phone? Like... out, in the air, getting waved around in public?

This is something I've been struggling with (at my company) as well. We've encouraged everybody to work remotely. But once or twice per week (and I understand it) people DO need to come into the office (logging, scanning, printing, sending or receiving original documents, etc). So we've gone through a long checklist:
- mask required
- gloves recommended but not required
- wash your hands - As often as possible
- No more than one person per department to be in the office at any one time (exception for managers who have their own offices)
- Kitchen closed* No fridge, no coffee machines and definitely no water cooler
- We left antiseptic wipes all over and we tell everybody to wipe down common surfaces like the copy machine touch screen or door handles, before and after use.
- People should wipe down their own keyboard/mouse/desk before leaving their work space

I already blew my lid about 3 weeks ago when I saw one employee not only 'cooked' her lunch in the microwave but she was using the plates/knives/forks we keep in the kitchen and of all the ridiculous things, she was eating at one of the kitchen tables and put a small vase with a dainty little flower in it and was so pleased that she was bringing "spring" back into the office. I had to actually walk out and count to ten before I went back in to reprimand her. I partially blamed myself because I had not officially 'closed' the kitchen. But I didn't think I actually HAD to. I thought it would be obvious with all the other rules. Silly me.

But I continue to see people whipping out their phones constantly. I've done what I can. I've stressed how many germs are and potentially could be on their phones. And encouraged everybody to wipe down their phones as often as possible. I realize it's complicated. While people are working remotely, everybody has their calls transferred to their cell phones. And even while IN the office, since nobody is supposed to be there for more than 2 hours tops, people don't bother to transfer their calls back to their office phones. So it happens. But I continually see people texting/typing. And for the first few weeks I kept telling them resist the urge and keep their phones put away while in the office (or any public place). But it just shows that despite taking precautions, how habits like these are hard to break. And how it potentially adds to the continually increasing spread.

 

[DG_Silva]

- People should wipe down their own keyboard/mouse/desk before leaving their work space

I use a vertical mouse and an MS Natural keyboard - no bugger touches them....

 

[RacingGrandpa]

This is something I've been struggling with (at my company) as well. We've encouraged everybody to work remotely. But once or twice per week (and I understand it) people DO need to come into the office (logging, scanning, printing, sending or receiving original documents, etc). So we've gone through a long checklist:
- mask required
- gloves recommended but not required
- wash your hands - As often as possible
- No more than one person per department to be in the office at any one time (exception for managers who have their own offices)
- Kitchen closed* No fridge, no coffee machines and definitely no water cooler
- We left antiseptic wipes all over and we tell everybody to wipe down common surfaces like the copy machine touch screen or door handles, before and after use.
- People should wipe down their own keyboard/mouse/desk before leaving their work space

I already blew my lid about 3 weeks ago when I saw one employee not only 'cooked' her lunch in the microwave but she was using the plates/knives/forks we keep in the kitchen and of all the ridiculous things, she was eating at one of the kitchen tables and put a small vase with a dainty little flower in it and was so pleased that she was bringing "spring" back into the office. I had to actually walk out and count to ten before I went back in to reprimand her. I partially blamed myself because I had not officially 'closed' the kitchen. But I didn't think I actually HAD to. I thought it would be obvious with all the other rules. Silly me.

But I continue to see people whipping out their phones constantly. I've done what I can. I've stressed how many germs are and potentially could be on their phones. And encouraged everybody to wipe down their phones as often as possible. I realize it's complicated. While people are working remotely, everybody has their calls transferred to their cell phones. And even while IN the office, since nobody is supposed to be there for more than 2 hours tops, people don't bother to transfer their calls back to their office phones. So it happens. But I continually see people texting/typing. And for the first few weeks I kept telling them resist the urge and keep their phones put away while in the office (or any public place). But it just shows that despite taking precautions, how habits like these are hard to break. And how it potentially adds to the continually increasing spread.

Maybe there is something I missed but why are cellphones so dangerous? They are generally only touched by one single person, never handed around and when not in use it's in your pocket.
Has a lot of people contracted Corona or flu from their phones?

 

[DesertPenguin]

Maybe there is something I missed but why are cellphones so dangerous? They are generally only touched by one single person, never handed around and when not in use it's in your pocket.
Has a lot of people contracted Corona or flu from their phones?

It's the other things you touch and then touch your phone with the potential for the virus to be on your hands.

 

[Famine]

Maybe there is something I missed but why are cellphones so dangerous?

They're a vector.

It's a device that you touch with your hands and - when actually used as a phone - have up close to your mouth and against your nice, moist ear canal. It lives, touching surface up, in your bedroom while you sleep (and cough, sneeze, snore, and fart). You touch it before you wash your hands, and afterwards too.

Basically if you have COVID, it's also on your phone, and then anything you touch after touching your phone. If you don't and it's on something you touch, it's also on your phone and then in you.

 

[RacingGrandpa]

It's the other things you touch and then touch your phone with the potential for the virus to be on your hands.

Ok

They're a vector.

It's a device that you touch with your hands and - when actually used as a phone - have up close to your mouth and against your nice, moist ear canal. It lives, touching surface up, in your bedroom while you sleep (and cough, sneeze, snore, and fart). You touch it before you wash your hands, and afterwards too.

Basically if you have COVID, it's also on your phone, and then anything you touch after touching your phone. If you don't and it's on something you touch, it's also on your phone and then in you.

That does make sense.
I am happy I use mine a little different.
It lives in the kitchen, I have an alarm clock. I have no social media so I don't use it that much. I seldom use it as a phone.

 

[TexRex]

It lives, touching surface up, in your bedroom while you sleep (and cough, sneeze, snore, and fart).

My phone is rarely in the bedroom. It's charging at night, and I charge it in my office, so nighttime fart vapor has greater distance to travel for it to settle on my phone. Daytime fart vapor is the greater concern.

 

[Biggles]

Apparently, Katie Miller, aide to Mike Pence & wife of Stephen Miller has tested positive for coronavirus.

https://www.mediaite.com/trump/trum...nce-aide-who-tested-positive-for-coronavirus/

I'm not sure which part of this information is more shocking: the fact that Covid-19 is now in the West Wing ... or that somebody actually married Stephen Miller.

 

[Joey D]

A professor at the University of Utah has come up with a way to hook a small device to your mobile phone and have it test you for COVID-19 with a bit of saliva. It's a proof of concept, but he used the same technology to test the Zika virus. He also said that he could have a prototype in as little as two months and secured a $200,000 grant from National Science Foundation Rapid Response Research.

Portable, reusable test for COVID-19

The innovations that people are coming up with are pretty remarkable and just shows what the human mind can do when faced with adversity.

 

[strela]

or that somebody actually married Stephen Miller.

Why? Is it strange in the US that a woman would marry a man just because he works in the WH and is from a rich family?

 

[Jezza819]

Why? Is it strange in the US that a woman would marry a man just because he works in the WH and is from a rich family?

Nope. Those two things wouldn't ordinarily make it strange. But this is still Stephen Miller we're talking about. It would be like marrying Roger from "American Dad"

 

[TexRex]

Nope. Those two things wouldn't ordinarily make it strange. But this is still Stephen Miller we're talking about. It would be like marrying Roger from "American Dad"

Fixed.

Yes, that's a link. Click it. Click it now.

 

[Biggles]

Fixed.

Yes, that's a link. Click it. Click it now.

Slytherin. Definitely.

 

[strela]

It would be like marrying Roger from "American Dad"

Wait. Didn't Gina married Roger at some point?

 

[Danoff]

Fixed.

Yes, that's a link. Click it. Click it now.

 

[TexRex]

 

[Danoff]

He's saying "but why"? Why would someone do that to their head to look horrible still?

 

[TexRex]

He's saying "but why"? Why would someone do that to their head to look horrible still?

Poor judgement and vanity would be my guess. It's rather Trumpian in that regard, and it may have actually been his idea. I can just imagine the conversation.

Trump: "You should do something about your hair before you go on TV."

Miller: "My hair, sir?"

Trump: "You're bald."

Miller: "Yes, sir. I...I'm actually okay with it."

Trump: "You should go to the guy that does my tan."

Miller: "I don't know--"

Trump: [cutting Miller off] "He's not an immigrant. I know how much you hate them."