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

  • Thread starter baldgye
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Danoff
Ok, time for optimism.

What we're watching right now is a complete global cultural shift happening to all societies simultaneously. Telework was coming, but the amount that companies are scrambling to adopt this is happening at break neck pace, and it's not going back after this has passed, not all the way to where it was. Another virus is just around the corner, and the benefits (for workplace shootings, commutes, office space, energy consumption) are enormous. Companies are going to get on this permanently.

The same is happening for education (which works for everyone except little kids, which is still problematic). Universities that never adopted distance learning are suddenly wondering why they have to pack freshmen into giant lecture halls to listen to someone talk at them when they could do it online. This solves so many problems... again... shootings, campus space, lecture size, etc.

If you're rooting for emissions reductions to stave off global warming, what you really needed was a giant kick in the pants to get people to stop commuting. Voila!
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I worked for Cisco when Telepresence (and video conferencing) were introduced about 10 years ago. My 'customer focus' was higher ed & healthcare for telemedicine. I was a kind of an evangelist to increase the adoption grade of using ICT as a learning tool...In those days we also moved away from large 15K colleague kick off meetings and introduced Global Virtual Kick off. Main reason was less (travel) costs, Then economy went up and we all flew to Las Vegas and SFO again.

There is no technical barrier for 'distance learning' but then 'politics', initial investments and dare to change mentality come around the corner

Back on topic: extra measures in our Province is --> don't pay any visit to a elderly home, caring house.
And then typical Dutch (?): but only if you have to ;)
 
Danoff
If you're rooting for emissions reductions to stave off global warming, what you really needed was a giant kick in the pants to get people to stop commuting. Voila!
Click to expand...

While this is true and beneficial to the environement, I can't help but notice there is a flip side to all of this. Humans are naturally social creatures and by encouraging society to become more distant from each other, you will see more people becoming isolated, thus feeling more lonely and bringing mental health issues associated with these cases. Physical interactions will always provide beneficial qualities you can't get from online communication.

I'm all in for removing less essential requirements for commuting, but I hope society doesn't get too carried away with this movement.
 
Drayenko
So we dehumanize ourselves even more :mischievous:.
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FT-1
While this is true and beneficial to the environement, I can't help but notice there is a flip side to all of this. Humans are naturally social creatures and by encouraging society to become more distant from each other, you will see more people becoming isolated, thus feeling more lonely and bringing mental health issues associated with these cases. Physical interactions will always provide beneficial qualities you can't get from online communication.

I'm all in for removing less essential requirements for commuting, but I hope society doesn't get too carried away with this movement.
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Yea, the social element is important. But I think that some socializing can happen without direct human interaction as well. I'm socializing with all of you right now, and I've only ever met one of you in person.

I don't disagree that we fundamentally need to physically co-locate at some level to really fulfill our social needs, but I don't know how much actual time we need to spend doing that, and we can increase the quality of it by spending it on the people we really like and care about.

It's a separate issue. Teleworking does not mean that you can't socialize with people in person.

BrainsBush
Back on topic: extra measures in our Province is --> don't pay any visit to a elderly home, caring house.
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I hope they're setting up internet visits to keep morale up.
 
Very interesting video made last year discussing what to do in the very situation we find ourselves in today.
They recommend unity; centralized, globalized coordination between governments and business.

 
590 cases in the UK now according to NHS England, with two more deaths taking the figure to 10.
 
Most of my pilot friends think this Covid thing is a scam and are laughing it off. They're also Republicans. Coincidence?
 
It occurs to me that hospitals should have calls out for volunteers right now, and be running training sessions to train up volunteers on how to use resuscitation bags. I mean that would be a hell of a lot more productive than shutting stuff down right now.

Edit:

Hell, the President could suggest this to the public. "Hey public, do you want to help? Ask your hospital about prepping for volunteer work in case they get over-run".
 
Keef
Most of my pilot friends think this Covid thing is a scam and are laughing it off. They're also Republicans. Coincidence?
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Definitions of pilot include guide or leader. Some of the characteristics of pilots, guides and leaders include confidence and expectation of success.
 
It was rumored that next friday (20March) that anyone with VPN abilities within our organization were to be home to test the capacity of our.VPN servers and ISP backbones coming into our data centers and LMAN ring. We have in just the past two weeks expanded our VPN capabilities (though, we are still trying to work on a solution for those without RSA tokens, which we use as the first form of authentication outside of our LAN) and ordered expansions on the ISP link side. I believe we have 2gig links coming in from outside our LAN, and we are trying to upgrade to 10gig links.
Since we have now two cases, and the Governor has declared a state of emergency, we have pushed the date forward to tomorrow! Lucky me, unfortunately, not lucky for our network environment. To date, only 1 ISP has managed to upgrade their links. We are waiting on 5 others.
That being said, i suspect that if we get anymore confirmed cases, we will be shutting down much of our SOS (the MI version of the DMV) sites, much of our DHHS sites, minus those dealing with community health, and all non-essential sites. All employees that can will be working from home, and those that can't and aren't essential will probably be put on admin leave until this all blows over.
MSU has also cancelled all on campus classes as I believe a student is currently being tested and treated. All students and staff not residing in the Lansing area are being told to go home as well. I suspect to see all of the other colleges and universities follow suit.
 
Dennisch
My parents made the right decision and for once took my advice to cancel their trip to Spain. I can say that that took a bit of weight of my shoulders.
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Traveling's not a good idea, but the Netherlands might end up worse than Spain quite quickly. I just spoke to my daughter who's going to university in the Hague. They have exams starting next week & as it stands exams (which would involve some 2,000 students sitting together) are still scheduled to go ahead. According to her, people in the Netherlands are still very unconcerned. They are being told by the government to " use common sense" in deciding whether to self-isolate. I told her to go out & buy up TP. Good business opportunity coming up. :rolleyes:
 
Biggles
Traveling's not a good idea, but the Netherlands might end up worse than Spain quite quickly. I just spoke to my daughter who's going to university in the Hague. They have exams starting next week & as it stands exams (which would involve some 2,000 students sitting together) are still scheduled to go ahead. According to her, people in the Netherlands are still very unconcerned. They are being told by the government to " use common sense" in deciding whether to self-isolate. I told her to go out & buy up TP. Good business opportunity coming up. :rolleyes:
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The toilet paper heist was last week, together with hand sanitation and paracetamol being sold out everywhere. As of now, I think it that the next 2 weeks will be decisive, if we have a national pandemic or nipped it in the butt.
 
DesertPenguin
Is that really the best thing to be worrying about right now?
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Sorry, I should have specified that I was referring to making telecomutting the standard working practice, and how that is just an awful idea.

As for the now, I'm more worried about the response to the virus 🤬 me over, as the virus itself poses little, if any threat to me.
 
They 'assume' 2-4% of the people in the Province Noord-Brabant is infected. Population here is about 2.2M. Total registered # of Covid19 in complete NL is about 650 until March 12. Do the math ;).

On the positive side: No more close contact with my wife for three weeks! So no more cold feet and other body parts touching me. :bowdown: More time for simracing. We cancelled all visits for the next three months to our mother and mother in law.
 
Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro has tested positive for covid-19, 4 days after his meeting in Florida with Trump.

Aussie GP cancelled.
Sebring 12hr cancelled.
Irish schools closed and public gatherings limited.
Italy closes all retail outlets apart from pharmacies and food stores.
Denmark implements border lockdown.
NBA suspends season.
Champions League fixtures postponed.
English Premier League expected to suspend shortly also.
British Government: "take it on the chin."
 
Dennisch
The toilet paper heist was last week, together with hand sanitation and paracetamol being sold out everywhere. As of now, I think it that the next 2 weeks will be decisive, if we have a national pandemic or nipped it in the butt.
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Just blame the Brabo's and their Carnaval ;)
 
Surely three of the most vulnerable people in the US right now are the three main Presidential candidates. If "politics as usual" continue - mass rallies, pressing the flesh - what are the odds that the septuagenarians running for President get infected & seriously sick?
 
Daz555
Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro has tested positive for covid-19, 4 days after his meeting in Florida with Trump.
Aussie GP cancelled.
Sebring 12hr cancelled.
Irish schools closed and public gatherings limited.
Italy closes all retail outlets apart from pharmacies and food stores.
Denmark implements border lockdown.
NBA suspends season.
Champions League fixtures postponed.
English Premier League expected to suspend shortly also.
Click to expand...
Well, 1 out of 10 ain't bad.

/jk

-

On a more serious note:

Maybe don't click if you are of a sensitive disposition:

 
Dennisch
I blame the upper classes for taking Corona back with them from the skiing trips.
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It seems undeniable that the people responsible for the spread of the virus are the well-to-do who travel internationally. Another reason for rural, guns-&-Jesus Republicans to hate "foreigners & liberal elites". :ouch:
 
Danoff
It occurs to me that hospitals should have calls out for volunteers right now, and be running training sessions to train up volunteers on how to use resuscitation bags. I mean that would be a hell of a lot more productive than shutting stuff down right now.

Edit:

Hell, the President could suggest this to the public. "Hey public, do you want to help? Ask your hospital about prepping for volunteer work in case they get over-run".
Click to expand...

I think many of them are. Right now we're training volunteers and they'll be helping gather travel screenings, taking temperatures (super basic on the forehead), working to limit visitors, and pretty much most non-clinical roles. They're also helping with keeping masks, hand sanitizer, and whatnot stocked up at all the check-in areas. Oh and wayfinding. We just opened a new urgent care within the hospital strictly for respiratory issues and volunteers are helping to make sure people get to the right place.

Unfortunately, most volunteers at hospitals are retired people, so the ones right there in the danger zone.
 

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