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

[Barra333]

Public schools in Ontario closed for the next three weeks. Next week is March break anyway, but everything looking to be shut down for the next 3 weeks for school, and I expect university and daycares.

 

[Rallywagon]

Disneyland is closed, and all current customers there are to be vacated no later that March 16th. And while typing this, my daughter's school district has canceled classes until further notice.

Edit: I have jumped to conclusions based on the tember of the phone call. An email was also sent out clarifying the call, which was automated. The school is closing Monday, tocallow teachers time to adjust their lesson plans in the event there is a shut down.

 

[Danoff]

Country will shut down anyway and mortality rate will be way up if the spread is not stopped on time. When you say 'worth' do you mean economical or something else?

The country does not necessarily have to shut down anyway. This disease does not hit everyone equally. The people flooding the hospitals, the demographic that this disease hits hard, are the ones that need to be taking precautions. The rest of us need to keep things afloat so that they can.

 

[Liquid]

Which means they're on time. Keep in mind that as long as the medical system is not swamped, fatality rate will stay very low. Once the medical system is swamped (see: Italy, Iran, China) those numbers go up very rapidly (need to triage patients as you can't help everyone that needs IC. No treatment if you need IC=you die in most cases). In China they were too late so after lockdown numbers still increased exponentially afterwards, until it slowed down after a couple of weeks. Same for Italy (though Italy hasn't reached the peak yet I think). You really want to stay ahead of that curve, so take measures before the hospitals are full, not at that moment. That's the main reason people are pissed off in NL: people know we're on the same curve as the countries mentioned so people are literally telling the government: shut down now, it will happen anyway in a week or so when things explode.

I don't disagree with you. As I noted a few pages back, preventative measures keep case numbers down but low case numbers make people question the preventative measures' necessity. It's only the false sense of security and people complaining about a nanny state that is truly frustrating.

'Shut down' is also relative: people in countries with a lockdown can still go out and get food/water/work, etc. (Though I'm not 100% sure that's the case I quoted)

Yes, you are currently still able to go to the supermarket and purchase food and drink in Slovakia, providing that you are not under quarantine, self-imposed or otherwise.

One of the conditions for self-quarantine are having entered the country from abroad within the last 14 days. I am perfectly free to leave my flat because I don't have any specific reason or any legally-binding document from the police, a doctor nor an employer that tells me to. However with all sports venues and pubs closed, I don't really have a reason to go out anyway and most of my other friends don't want to hang out even indoors.

---

An anecdote from a friend:

Every building in her estate is having their water and gas pipes fixed. As luck would have it, this week when Slovakia has seen its first (small) spike in the number of cases, they're working not only on her building but her flat. She has to remain at home, which she is doing anyway, but the door needs to stay open as the plumbers enter in and out doing whatever it is they are doing.

The risk of them or anyone passing taking an infection to every floor, every individual flat in the building, concerns her greatly. There are elderly people in the building but there are seemingly no plans to halt the works to her building as they just happen to be the one being done this week and are already underway but she thinks they should be put on hold for now given the change in circumstances. It might not be technically possible due to switching off people's water but I do agree that any future works in other buildings should be temporarily suspended.

 

[NLxAROSA]

The country does not necessarily have to shut down anyway. This disease does not hit everyone equally. The people flooding the hospitals, the demographic that this disease hits hard, are the ones that need to be taking precautions. The rest of us need to keep things afloat so that they can.

I don't disagree with the last bits. I just think it's not enough since people like you and I are still a vector for spreading. And mortality rates for us also go up with flooded medical systems. I also think we might have a different view of what 'shut down' means (I'm assuming that during a shut down people still work, though reduced in most cases).

I also think we're going to see who's right pretty soon as we're seeing both practices (early shutdown vs delay as much as possible) being rolled out in different countries as we speak.

 

[TheGeologist]

The NASCAR Cup Series race at Homestead-Miami Speedway is postponed.

Major League Baseball has announced that the rest of Spring Training is canceled and the start of the regular season will not begin for at least two weeks from its originally scheduled date.

 

[Danoff]

I don't disagree with the last bits. I just think it's not enough since people like you and I are still a vector for spreading. And mortality rates for us also go up with flooded medical systems. I also think we might have a different view of what 'shut down' means (I'm assuming that during a shut down people still work, though reduced in most cases).

I also think we're going to see who's right pretty soon as we're seeing both practices (early shutdown vs delay as much as possible) being rolled out in different countries as we speak.

It's going to be hard to see who is right.

On the one hand you have countries shutting down as soon as possible, hampering the well-being of the people by stymieing the economy. Likely resulting in some deaths, but which will be difficult to count.

On the other hand you have countries shutting down late, still hampering the well-being of the people by stymieing the economy (maybe less). Likely resulting in some deaths due to economic hardship and reduced production, but also due to additional disease spread.

And on your third hand you have no countries that have taken drastic steps to ensure that people in high risk groups (such as over 50 or over 60) are quarantined, sheltered, and insulated from the spread of the virus so that they don't clog the healthcare systems.

 

[mustafur]

It's going to be hard to see who is right.

On the one hand you have countries shutting down as soon as possible, hampering the well-being of the people by stymieing the economy. Likely resulting in some deaths, but which will be difficult to count.

On the other hand you have countries shutting down late, still hampering the well-being of the people by stymieing the economy (maybe less). Likely resulting in some deaths due to economic hardship and reduced production, but also due to additional disease spread.

And on your third hand you have no countries that have taken drastic steps to ensure that people in high risk groups (such as over 50 or over 60) are quarantined, sheltered, and insulated from the spread of the virus so that they don't clog the healthcare systems.

Considering no one has immunity and it basically effects everyone, your going to have issues to even keep things running if you do nothing, having seen people with it, it's too serious of an illness to expect people to go to work with it.

If this really does hit numbers of 50% of the population i don't think a single country will have the infrastructure to handle this properly.

 

[TJ13]

If this really does hit numbers of 50% of the population i don't think a single country will have the infrastructure to handle this properly.

Except for maybe those scientists in Antarctica

 

[Fat Tyre]

The Melbourne Grand prix just got cancelled.

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/...0-australian-grand.KKpXZDcd77WbO6T0MGoO7.html

 

[Biggles]

I say you are correct.

There are eras in which errors are made by omission. Also there are periods of time in which errors are made by commission. I think we are at a moment of danger and change in which correct choices should be made swiftly and decisively. Just now, failure to act swiftly and decisively is an error of commission. Division and partisanship need to be put aside in order address the greater problems of pandemic and economic malaise.

The country does not necessarily have to shut down anyway. This disease does not hit everyone equally. The people flooding the hospitals, the demographic that this disease hits hard, are the ones that need to be taking precautions. The rest of us need to keep things afloat so that they can.

Thanks guys!

 

[Sander 001]

 

[TJ13]

@Sander 001
Here if you have Blue Cross/Blue Shield for insurance they'll pay 100% of testing, don't know if that's just Minnesota or everywhere.

 

[Joey D]

So here's the thing, you can't just walk into a hospital and ask how much something is. That guy is full of crap because medical billing doesn't work that way nor would the person working the front desk be able to tell you.

They have also banned guests from their campuses and to get tested, you can do a drive-through:


They're doing it with employees, faculty and other staff right now but they're planning to expand it.

 

[EngieDiesel]

@Sander 001
Here if you have Blue Cross/Blue Shield for insurance they'll pay 100% of testing, don't know if that's just Minnesota or everywhere.

Not to mention that a large number of hospitals have financial assistance programs that will waive anywhere from 40-100% of the cost of most routine procedures if you're below a certain income level, or at the least will set up a very lenient payment plan.

 

[Joey D]

Not to mention that a large number of hospitals have financial assistance programs that will waive anywhere from 40-100% of most routine procedures if you're below a certain income level, or at the least will set up a very lenient payment plan.

I also believe some states are just picking up the bill of COVID-19 testing. The problem is getting enough tests in the hands of people that need them. We have a significant quantity right now, but they're going quickly.

 

[Danoff]

Considering no one has immunity and it basically effects everyone, your going to have issues to even keep things running if you do nothing, having seen people with it, it's too serious of an illness to expect people to go to work with it.

If this really does hit numbers of 50% of the population i don't think a single country will have the infrastructure to handle this properly.

I've got enough sick leave to handle getting ill. Especially if my kids are still in school and I can focus on sleep. I've also got enough sick leave to stay home with my kids while they have it. Then I can get back to work. I'm not squarely in the "will be hospitalized" demographic, so the expectation that I'll need a hospital if I get sick is pretty far afield. My kids as well.

Now, if my kids' schools close, and I have to take off of work for 2 months while everything shuts down... well then it's much more difficult.

I saw lots of elderly people out today. People are coming down with it fast in Denver.

 

[Keef]

I've got enough sick leave to handle getting ill. Especially if my kids are still in school and I can focus on sleep. I've also got enough sick leave to stay home with my kids while they have it. Then I can get back to work. I'm not squarely in the "will be hospitalized" demographic, so the expectation that I'll need a hospital if I get sick is pretty far afield. My kids as well.

Now, if my kids' schools close, and I have to take off of work for 2 months while everything shuts down... well then it's much more difficult.

I saw lots of elderly people out today. People are coming down with it fast in Denver.

A buddy of mine learned today that he'll be working from home for the next month. Luckily his job offers that freedom. Another friend is both pregnant and a bartender so...she's in a precarious spot.

 

[CodeRedR51]

I'm sorry but there should be absolutely NO CHARGE for the test. That's ridiculous. The world is currently going to hell, you don't charge people to find out if they're sick with a possible deadly virus. And nobody can change my mind on this.

 

[MaxAttack]

All universities (high schools too I think) in the Netherlands will not be holding lessons until at least the 1st of April, according to a mass email students in my building received this evening.

Impromptu student party season has landed in our laps. ~90 students with suddenly free schedules. I'm thinking any students with nausea and headaches in my building over the next couple weeks, well, it won't be due to coronavirus...

 

[Barra333]

And nobody can change my mind on this

Nor should they. I would seriously question the motives of anyone who does.

 

[Danoff]

I'm sorry but there should be absolutely NO CHARGE for the test. That's ridiculous. The world is currently going to hell, you don't charge people to find out if they're sick with a possible deadly virus. And nobody can change my mind on this.

Nor should they. I would seriously question the motives of anyone who does.

So the only tests should be developed out of charity? Enjoy not being tested.

 

[Barra333]

So the only tests should be developed out of charity? Enjoy not being tested.

This is a scenario where the government at some level needs to pick up the tab.

 

[Hayden]

Agreed. Government needs to foot the bill for testing. Anything that prevents a sick person from getting tested increases the spread rate of the disease.

 

[Biggles]

Agreed. Government needs to foot the bill for testing. Anything that prevents a sick person from getting tested increases the spread rate of the disease.

Socialism.

Besides, they need the money to bail out the oil companies.

 

[gnomefromnome]

City of Nome has canceled events, including Iditarod Sled Dog events, a big Tourist attraction in Alaska

Anchorage School district has extended Spring Break, among others

An international traveler is confirmed the first case here in Alaska...therefore there are no known actual Alaskan cases as of yet.

 

[Dotini]

The problem is getting enough tests in the hands of people that need them. We have a significant quantity right now, but they're going quickly.

According to what I learned today, the problem is not lack of test kits. Those are now in place by the thousands. The problem seems to be lack of PPE for the personnel administering the tests. We are talking full suits, masks and face shields, etc. I'm not kidding.

 

[Chrunch Houston]

Today was the day that the panic hit Houston TX.

Yesterday the Mayor canceled the largest annual event in Houston, The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. It is a three week event, and was in its first week. It attracts about 2.5 million visitors a year or an average of about 52,000 a day and every night it ends with a big name concert. Lizzo was supposed to perform Friday.

I went to the store the day before yesterday, and all was normal. Now we have panic buying. I am not going near a grocery store til this panic is over and they have restocked.

They had a firetruck, and firefighters controlling traffic as a long line of cars were backed up on the street trying to get into the Costco parking lot.

Thank god I always keep about two weeks worth of food, not because I am a prepper, I just like to have some variety when I am looking through the cabinets or freezer for something to eat.

The one thing I am out of is bleach. Guess my underwear is going to be a little dingy until this thing is over.

 

[Biggles]

The one thing I am out of is bleach. Guess my underwear is going to be a little dingy until this thing is over.

Thanks for sharing Crunch!

It's odd how Costco has become symbolic of this health crisis. I never hear about other warehouse stores or supermarket chains ... it's always "Costco". Is this good advertising for them, or are they forever going to be associated with coronavirus?

 

[ProjectWHaT]