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

[Slapped]

Just a quick question for you guys from the UK - is the panic buying as bad as the British press is making out? (I'm a Brit but live in der Schweiz)

We're on lock-down here in Switzerland - pubs/bars, restaurants, shops apart from essentials are all closed, Apart from a few isolated cases the supermarket shelves are completely normal, and everything is still available, bog roll and beer as well.

 

[Touring Mars]

Just a quick question for you guys from the UK - is the panic buying as bad as the British press is making out? (I'm a Brit but live in der Schweiz)

We're on lock-down here in Switzerland - pubs/bars, restaurants, shops apart from essentials are all closed, Apart from a few isolated cases the supermarket shelves are completely normal, and everything is still available, bog roll and beer as well.

Depends where you are - it is pretty much fine where I am though there are some empty shelves... that said, I've been able to get everything I have wanted every day thus far.

I reckon out-of-town supermarkets where people can only go with their cars are worse - because people have their car, they're able to buy far more in one visit than they actually need.

 

[zzz_pt]

Italy had >6500 new cases and >790 new deaths in the last 24h.

It's crazy how it keeps growing each day.

 

[MUSC4EVER]

At the shop today

We actually had toilet paper!! its now restricted to one per customer which meant a full pallet lasted longer than an hour.
We had milk and bread but no eggs or sugar, or fresh fruit and veg.
it was busy in the morning but dead in the afternoon.
Still got plenty of empty shelves.
We cant order more stock from the warehouse anymore so they are just sending us what they can, which isn't a lot.
Two of our new temporary staff started today.
Looks like we will be getting a bonus next week as a thank you. 👍

 

[CodeRedR51]

I stopped at my local store last night as the parking lot was half full I was encouraged to stop and get some things. They finally had water but it was 1 per person. Was able to get milk. Microwave meals were very slim pickings, all of the frozen vegetables were gone. Pasta, gone. Canned food, mostly gone. I didn't go through the whole store so not sure what else was sold out.

 

[Touring Mars]

Italy had >6500 new cases and >790 new deaths in the last 24h.

It's crazy how it keeps growing each day.

This is the trouble with exponential growth - in fact, the number of new cases in Italy have grown at a lower rate (+13-17%) in the last week than since before the lock down (closer to +25% on average per day)... but, 13% of 47000 (6100) is a much bigger number than 25% of 10000 (2500).

It is encouraging that the growth rate is already approaching half of what they had before, and with some luck that will half again in the coming days. Unfortunately, though, the actual number of new cases is likely to be high for some time even as the growth rate comes down, but with some luck that trend too will start to reverse.

-

Channel 4 news just said "And the numbers in Spain are also going in the wrong direction" - but the rate of growth in Spain is also starting to come down (even though new cases are still higher day-on-day).

 

[baldgye]

 

[Liquid]

Slovakia formed a new government today:

 

[mustafur]

Supermarkets are soo ransacked here in Sydney that people are taking trips to rural towns to ransack their supermarkets.

This is why you can't panic the populace, there is too many idiots that ruin it for the rest of us.

 

[ONESPACE]

I'm sure the question has been asked. But does anyone know someone with the coronavirus? This is a big forum, figured a good question.

 

[Danoff]

Well, if you listen to health experts, damned if you dont, and if you listen to economists, damned if you do. I am guessing only hindsight really knows. We've seen in China (if they are to be believed) amd S. Korea how one method is playing out, and in Italy and Spain, we see how the other methodology is playing out.

I think the point he's making is that this can be taken too far. It's not a matter of "we do this until the COVID threat has passed". It's a matter of "we need to be careful with how much of this we do".

He says "global economy collapse" not "broad economic downturn". He's using those graphs as a warning not to completely ignore the economy. They don't forecast anything. He makes no suggestion that the current measures are too far or not far enough. At least twice he acknowledges that he doesn't know the best course of action.

He's speaking of an economic downturn (a collapse is a hard downturn), broadly (globally). And I agree with the rest of what you wrote.

 

[CodeRedR51]

Going out tonight for a run in the canyons with my car and I guess a local Subaru group is doing a cruise but they are practicing social distancing by not getting out of their cars.

 

[maxi25]

There's this rumor going around that drinking warm/hot water helps either prevent or ease the virus. Not trying to say I believe it but anyone else hear about such things and know if it's true? I'm leaning towards no since it infects the lungs and not the stomach.

 

[Famine]

There's this rumor going around that drinking warm/hot water helps either prevent or ease the virus. Not trying to say I believe it but anyone else hear about such things and know if it's true? I'm leaning towards no since it infects the lungs and not the stomach.

Warm/hot water is not a known antiviral.

That's a "no".

 

[Dotini]

There's this rumor going around that drinking warm/hot water helps either prevent or ease the virus. Not trying to say I believe it but anyone else hear about such things and know if it's true? I'm leaning towards no since it infects the lungs and not the stomach.

I think it's safe to say you're better off when your immune system is healthy and in the best condition. Obviously plenty of sleep, low stress, good nutrition and hydration will play some role in that. It's a good basic question.

 

[Liquid]

I'm sure the question has been asked. But does anyone know someone with the coronavirus? This is a big forum, figured a good question.

I am friends and football teammates with teachers who teach kids with coronavirus.

About as close as I'd want to be.

 

[Daz555]

Just a quick question for you guys from the UK - is the panic buying as bad as the British press is making out? (I'm a Brit but live in der Schweiz)

We're on lock-down here in Switzerland - pubs/bars, restaurants, shops apart from essentials are all closed, Apart from a few isolated cases the supermarket shelves are completely normal, and everything is still available, bog roll and beer as well.

It has calmed down a fair bit now - probably because all the cupboards and freezers are now full to bursting.

 

[UKMikey]

It has calmed down a fair bit now - probably because all the cupboards and freezers are now full to bursting.

I still can't find paper towels anywhere.

 

[Daz555]

There's this rumor going around that drinking warm/hot water helps either prevent or ease the virus. Not trying to say I believe it but anyone else hear about such things and know if it's true? I'm leaning towards no since it infects the lungs and not the stomach.

Apart from home medication to make yourself feel better (cough syrup, paracetamol etc) nothing will aid your recovery from covid-19 outside of that recommended and administered by a health professional.

 

[andrea]

Study reveals how long COVID-19 remains infectious on cardboard, metal and plastic.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/03/200320192755.htm

The virus that causes COVID-19 remains for several hours to days on surfaces and in aerosols, a new scientific study has found.

The study suggests that people may acquire the coronavirus through the air and after touching contaminated objects. Scientists discovered the virus is detectable for up to three hours in aerosols, up to four hours on copper, up to 24 hours on cardboard and up to two to three days on plastic and stainless steel.

 

[gnomefromnome]

https://www.ktuu.com/content/news/B...changes-combat-COVID-19-Alaska-568985021.html

ANCHORAGE (KTUU) - Anchorage Mayor Ethan Berkowitz has announced an "emergency hunker-down order," as stated in a press conference Friday evening, to help curb the spread of the new coronavirus.

The order goes into effect on Sunday at 10 p.m. and will last until March 31.

 

[Danoff]

Spain looks terrible.

 

[Rallywagon]

That's not strictly speaking true though. Thus far, various countries have taken either one extreme course or another (ignoring the virus or locking most or everything down). None have tried the middle ground where we isolate the ones who are at risk, while setting up the necessary infrastructure to maintain their isolation until people have gained immunity or some other solution presents itself. In this scenario, life would not stop for the majority of people, and by extension, the economy would not suffer as much. Danoff, as far as I can tell, as well as myself, are not arguing in favor of ignoring the virus. Rather, we're arguing for that middle road that won't upend everyone's lives.

The reasons of any individual for favoring whatever approach they do of cause differs, but the notions that there is no middle road to be had, and that the people who complain about having to give up their lives are somehow lacking in the moral compartment, as if their concerns meant nothing, is frustrating me to no end. (I'm not saying that you hold this position, but clearly some in this thread do)

Except we are that middle road. Michigan for sure is but I'd argue America in general is. While there are no gov mandated force quarantine for the elderly and susceptible, no one has been shy about saying those people should be self quarantining. The gov at all levels are saying, the MSM is saying, Dr.s are saying it. It's no secret. And yet we see elderly and susceptible out there putting themselves at risk, which puts us all at risk.
Michigan has closed schools and many gov buildings. Have banned large gathering, put out all the warnings and done everything short of lock down. 334 cases thursday, 787 today de as deaths rose from 3 to 6. Even if we see a vaccine in a months time, at the growth rate we are observing here, I dont think we are going to slow it enough to not tax our healthcare system, and a lot more people I think are going to end up affected than if some sort of lock down was initiated. Even if the lock down was more in spirit than enforceable policy.

 

[Dotini]

This may be of interest:

That's actually from February, but it shows mean surface temperature at various latitudes (at 1bar/1atm air pressure). Each of the black circles represents a location in which there is a known community transmission (person to person within the area, with no first-hand connection to other hotspots) hotspots.

Of course, correlation is not causation... but damn.

I'm still curious about this map. Is there any more that could be said of it?

 

[MatskiMonk]

I'm sure the question has been asked. But does anyone know someone with the coronavirus? This is a big forum, figured a good question.

No, but I've just noted your GI60S avatar and I want to say....

 

[DG_Silva]

So my employer (UK equivalent of AutoZone), who has retail stores and garages, have been declared as 'Key Workers' to make sure our colleagues are able to keep their children in schools. While I do agree with them - as it's important to keep drivers working for emergency services, NHS staff, and emergency repairs such as British Gas - see if you can guess who declared that?

 

[Quakebass]

I believe the end goal is despite the fact everyone will likely get it at some point, they don’t want everyone catching it at once and over-taxing the health care.

I’ve seen some medical experts suggest even if you think you have it, avoid hospital visits unless your symptoms get really bad. Some have suggested going to Urgent Cares first in the chance you may actually end up contracting it if you go to a hospital where infected patients may be present.

This is true, and becoming a reality in some areas.

A friend in my house works in the UW medical center and gets a more direct line to the realities of the people on the ground. Right now there are 47 people in their isolation units, and a majority of these cases it isn’t certain how they contracted the virus or who from. It’s gotten to the point out here that they’re turning people away from testing kits unless you are essential medical staff or the symptoms are seemingly life threatening. There isn’t enough to go around.

 

[Biggles]

Here's a scene I just witnessed. I live in a small town that is normally heavily touristed. There are still some people coming to visit & wander around. I was out walking on the local golf course when I saw a middle-aged couple sitting on a bench by the lake having some lunch. A couple of girls were walking by & the middle-aged man beckoned them over & asked them to take a photo of them with his phone. I thought for a moment they were family, as they were all asian. But no, the girls carried on walking, the man took his phone back from them & resumed eating his lunch. WTF.

Perhaps the resident GTPlanet experts can comment on this:

China, South Korea, Taiwan & Japan seem to have been able to get control of the virus by aggressive measures of testing & isolating geographical areas. Possibly also true of Russia, although I don't hear much about Russia. Even though China may have been a bit slow out of the gate for political reasons, they seem to have been able to squash the spread of the virus.

In Europe, efforts to control the virus were half-hearted, even though they had the example of China, Iran & Italy to warn them. Italy now reported more deaths & is on track to end up with more cases than China.

The US seems to have done an even worse job than most European countries, even though the US had more forewarning than the European countries. I can't see any reason why there will not be an explosion of coronavirus cases & deaths in the US over the next 2 - 4 weeks.

Shutting the economy down entirely without a more co-ordinated strategy to test, isolate & treat the infected seems to be the worst of all possible worlds. I'm not sure how "flattening the curve" is going to help that much either. OK, it may help the health care system cope & may save some additional lives, but it will also drag out the process making the hit to the economy even longer & deeper.

Finally, I see countries closer to the equator - "warm countries" are reporting a steady rise in cases. If the virus takes a hold in Africa & South America it's going to spread rapidly through crowded populations that in many cases don't have even rudimentary sanitation available. Another potential catastrophe.

None of this seems very positive.

 

[longshot1314]

I think the problem in the U.S. is social distancing didn’t start in earnest until the past week so it’d be a few weeks before we’d see what impact those measures would have. that and the fact we’ve been extremely far behind in testing. what I’ve seen so far has been encouraging at least for where I live. everyone is taking it seriously. I similarly live in a tourist town and the place was dead for it being a Saturday. I find it difficult to believe that any more extreme measures could be taken given we haven’t had time to see how the present strategies are working. However I have heard from a reliable source that some form of martial law is on the table but that’s appearing less likely given from what I was told the decision would have to be made before the start of the week. I’m supplied for a few weeks at this point so don’t intend on going out beyond going for runs during the next two weeks.

 

[Joey D]

I’ve seen some medical experts suggest even if you think you have it, avoid hospital visits unless your symptoms get really bad. Some have suggested going to Urgent Cares first in the chance you may actually end up contracting it if you go to a hospital where infected patients may be present.

I believe at this point, most health systems have a phone number you can call and they'll triage you. Where I'm at, we're doing free virtual visits for anyone who think they might have the virus and there's follow up with them at some interval (I think every 2-3 days). This still doesn't stop stupid people from showing up at the urgent care and ED demanding a test because they have a sniffle. It's not for a lack of communication either, right now they're running ads on TV, radio, the internet, on billboards, and pretty much anyplace else that you can think of.

At this point, you should probably only go to the hospital if you can't breathe, you have hyperpyrexia (I think it's like a temp of 105.5 maybe), or you're severely dehydrated. It's like people don't understand that more than just COVID-19 cases show up in the ED and at urgent cares. There are some seriously sick people in those waiting rooms, probably sicker than the average person with COVID-19. We do not need them getting this virus on top of whatever else they already have going on.