COVID impacts

[oggbashan]

I noticed that supplies at the grocery store were better today than before. I think people are modifying their behavior and there aren't as many runs on things.

Or they have got so much they can't cram anymore in...

 

[oggbashan]

Lol, I think you’re right! My grandmother says that after the sugar shortage in the seventies, stores were practically giving it away they were so overloaded. I wish I was closer to home right now for similar reasons; my parents have a stockpiled cellar and I have a couple of game-hunting uncles who’ve been waiting for a meat shortage.

Stay safe out there, RR!

Years ago, in a house clearance, one of my dealer friends found two sealed two-pound bags of WW2 sugar - more than a family's ration for a month. He sold them to me and I gave them to a Museum.

How the deceased owner acquired them and why they were never used is a mystery but the museum appreciated them as a very rare survival.

 

[KeithD]

I noticed that supplies at the grocery store were better today than before. I think people are modifying their behavior and there aren't as many runs on things.

At the start of the TP rush, the grocery stores were saying, "Hey, wait, the next big shipment arrives on March 25th." It's March 25th. Folks can go now and count up how many rolls they stockpiled. Give or take half dozen rolls of a sensible reserve, that's how much you contributed to the overall shortage for a while.

 

[oggbashan]

At the start of the TP rush, the grocery stores were saying, "Hey, wait, the next big shipment arrives on March 25th." It's March 25th. Folks can go now and count up how many rolls they stockpiled. Give or take half dozen rolls of a sensible reserve, that's how much you contributed to the overall shortage for a while.

A straw poll of my immediate neighbours has revealed that most of them used to buy in bulk before the crisis and have a couple of month's supply. One bought two x 48 rolls in early January and has been supplying his kids' families.

We had enough for a month's normal use but now the grandchildren are no longer visiting that is probably two months. Do kids eat toilet paper?

 

[Vix_Giovanni]

At the start of the TP rush, the grocery stores were saying, "Hey, wait, the next big shipment arrives on March 25th." It's March 25th. Folks can go now and count up how many rolls they stockpiled. Give or take half dozen rolls of a sensible reserve, that's how much you contributed to the overall shortage for a while.

Hahaha, this does put some additional perspective on things. I read WSJ, Bloomberg and FT articles about the grocer and warehouse shortages in early-March and the experts did give assurance that everything, including TP, was in supply. But like RR pointed out, whether local stores over-ordered in response to panics remains to be seen.

Years ago, in a house clearance, one of my dealer friends found two sealed two-pound bags of WW2 sugar - more than a family's ration for a month. He sold them to me and I gave them to a Museum.

How the deceased owner acquired them and why they were never used is a mystery but the museum appreciated them as a very rare survival.

That’s incredible—both the find of WW2 ration sugar, and that 2lbs was once a family’s monthly ration! We eat far, far too much sugar nowadays.

Before moving to NYC, I went to my family’s storage center to “shop around” for furniture and that’s where I found the decades old hoard of sugar... let’s just say it was a lot more than a family’s monthly ration. And hence, my grandmother’s explanation. I thought my family’s eccentricity couldn’t be beat, but my ex-girlfriend told me that before her family had to flee Vietnam during the war, her grandmother bought more than a USD million of rice trying to hoard up for their family and their neighborhood.

Maybe it’s just a thing with grandmothers.

 

[oggbashan]

...



That’s incredible—both the find of WW2 ration sugar, and that 2lbs was once a family’s monthly ration! We eat far, far too much sugar nowadays.

....

An adult ration of sugar in the UK was half-a-pound per week in 1945, reducing immediately after the war. A two pound bag was four weeks ration for an adult in 1945. But often, even though it was on ration, you couldn't get any. Two x two-pound bags would have been worth a fortune...

 

[trysail]

[Personal attacks and trolling prohibited per our Forum Rules]

 

[TxRad]

Three flame attempt posts so far. All have been reported.

 

[Domwoolf]

A straw poll of my immediate neighbours has revealed that most of them used to buy in bulk before the crisis and have a couple of month's supply. One bought two x 48 rolls in early January and has been supplying his kids' families.

We had enough for a month's normal use but now the grandchildren are no longer visiting that is probably two months. Do kids eat toilet paper?

We keep a well stocked pantry and freezer. I like to buy large amounts when they have sales such as corned beef after Saint Paddys day. That way I save money and always have things available. My sister used to kid me about the extra units of condiments in the pantry, lol shes not laughing anymore.
Dom

 

[gordo12]

Interesting solution. Makes you wonder why more research hasn't been done before. It's not like there haven't been outbreaks of other similar diseases.

https://www.scientificamerican.com/...pJobID=1843095343&spReportId=MTg0MzA5NTM0MwS2

 

[Vix_Giovanni]

An adult ration of sugar in the UK was half-a-pound per week in 1945, reducing immediately after the war. A two pound bag was four weeks ration for an adult in 1945. But often, even though it was on ration, you couldn't get any. Two x two-pound bags would have been worth a fortune...

I misread that it was actually four pounds of sugar. I wonder if that experience of rationing in WW2 is what led my grandmother to buy sugar in bulk; I doubt it has or ever will hit that kind of value again.

 

[BelleCanzuto]

Allegedly, his 70yo-plus right wing fan base is willing to die to help the economy “recover.”

Belle, as per usze, you nailed it.

So far, just Lt Gov in Texas, and maybe Jerry Falwell Jr.

Most everyone else said, "ummm, who you lookin' at with this shit?"

Thx, VG, I was afraid that one got a little too far under my skin.

 

[BelleCanzuto]

It’s NYC that seems to be going down.

You know, this is turning political and if it is, the thread belongs on the politics board with all the other nonsense. We could debate this until the moon turned blue but we wouldn’t change our minds. I suggest the moderators either move this to the politics board or we stick with the virus and forgo all mentioning of our beloved leader , who is now up to 60% support according to the latest Gallup poll for his handling of this, and pass on the political aspects, or it’ll turn into a rehash of the stuff that goes on in those political threads. The AH ain’t the place for politics and I can pass, but you know, red flags and bulls.... lol. Unless you enjoy arguing with the resident, you know, moderate supporter of our beloved leader without us all getting carried away and sinking into wrath and vitriol.

So, on that notes, I shall pass the coffee, help yourself to cream and sugar, and move on to less inflammatory subjects. Like,

Hantavirus? Now there’s a hantavirus case in China? Ahhhhhhh.... what next? On the other hand it seems the supermarkets are all restocked most places.

Tell you what Chloe, you quit calling facts "fake news", and I'll quit pointing out Trump's bullshit.

 

[BelleCanzuto]

Peach Paper? Oooohhhh. But you know, we do use a lot. 1-2 rolls per week per person for even 2 people mounts up. Fortunately I have a years supply on hand, so to speak. Did anyone else actually stockpile anything?

I happened to buy a 12 pack of Charmin mega rolls the end of February. But I had a bit of a freak out last week and started conserving. I was telling on myself about how anxious I felt (not my norm, BY a long shot). My officemate texted Sunday that her WalMart had big packs of the good (not "peach paper" good, but good enough for my plebian bum). She offered to get a pack, and I took her up on it.

I split it with a friend/co-worker whose daughter suddenly had to come home from college. Found out today that another co-worker with a toddler and a husband working from home is running out and can't find any. So, I'll bring her a couple of rolls tomorrow.

I bought a bunch of extra soup and dry goods (rice, beans). And I've been overbuying catfood (mine have to eat canned). I have a grocery order tomorrow, and I keep debating about going to the liquor store. I don't drink much, but the thought of not having the option.

I'm not worried about getting through the next couple of weeks, I'm worried about what this looks like in 6 weeks...

 

[KeithD]

Tell you what Chloe, you quit calling facts "fake news", and I'll quit pointing out Trump's bullshit.

Or, as I suggested before, Chloe could just stop while she's behind.

 

[Vix_Giovanni]

I happened to buy a 12 pack of Charmin mega rolls the end of February. But I had a bit of a freak out last week and started conserving. I was telling on myself about how anxious I felt (not my norm, BY a long shot). My officemate texted Sunday that her WalMart had big packs of the good (not "peach paper" good, but good enough for my plebian bum). She offered to get a pack, and I took her up on it.

I split it with a friend/co-worker whose daughter suddenly had to come home from college. Found out today that another co-worker with a toddler and a husband working from home is running out and can't find any. So, I'll bring her a couple of rolls tomorrow.

I bought a bunch of extra soup and dry goods (rice, beans). And I've been overbuying catfood (mine have to eat canned). I have a grocery order tomorrow, and I keep debating about going to the liquor store. I don't drink much, but the thought of not having the option.

I'm not worried about getting through the next couple of weeks, I'm worried about what this looks like in 6 weeks...

That’s very sweet of you to think of your coworkers and neighbors.

I lied (or rather, forgot I guess)—I did buy a bunch of extra canned cat food and cat litter on Amazon at the beginning of March just in case. And I did that cause you mentioned it BC, I wouldn’t have thought of it otherwise. Our babies also only can eat canned; luckily their brand was on sale. Thanks for the reminder!!

 

[Bramblethorn]

Look at Trudeau in Canada, out of his depth on this one. The only country that’s handled this impeccably is Taiwan, and that’s because they’ve never trusted China on stuff like this and they learned from SARS.

And as for WHO. That organization needs a purge. They can carry a lot of responsibility for this mess. I read that Taiwan notified them in December and they ignored because the Chinese government said nope. Idiots to believe anything mainland China says. No new cases my ass.

Should have cut all air travel weeks ago, not bothered listing to WHO because they’re increasingly dealing in politically correct fiction rather than reality, and just gone ahead and protected ourselves. That would have generated a media frenzy worse than we’re seeing now.

If only there were real zombies.... I’ve been training for this.... but that Wuhan biolab failed us all.

...

You know, this is turning political and if it is, the thread belongs on the politics board with all the other nonsense.

I see you.

 

[BigOlTiteez]

_________________________

 

[litfan10]

Other than toilet paper the stores were much better stocked today which was great as we needed some basic supplies (thankfully not toilet paper) otherwise we would never have gone out.

One thing that concerned me a lot all over the place (streets and in the store) very few people were practicing social distancing nor basic germ control. I saw several people openly sneeze without blocking it in the grocery store. Out on the store there were groups of people standing around together.

This virus is going to rip through everyone very quickly around here regardless of the stay at home orders.

While not quite that old, slave_ and I do have health issues. We are staying locked down.

 

[BelleCanzuto]

Totally not political account of COVID19

I can't tell if this article/column is included in the Washington Post's non-paywalled coverage, so I'll copy a pertinent paragraph or two.

From David von Drehle: I Probably Have A Mild-to-Moderate Case of covid-19 I Don't Think I Could Survive Worse

KANSAS CITY — I am thankful for my mild to moderate symptoms.

Are they covid-19 symptoms? I certainly think so. I’ve been reading descriptions of other cases, mild to moderate — that’s what the authorities say most of us have in store — and those portraits of the novel disease involve endless fevers, shocking weakness, full-body aches, utter exhaustion, stomach distress, constant dehydration. That picture makes a pretty good match with my miserable little case.

~snip - bit about not being able to get a definitive test ~

The first symptom was fever. I figured I had the flu. No such luck. The mild to moderate symptoms of this coronavirus make garden-variety flu seem like a tea party.... Seven days into the waves of fever, I was drifting half in and half out of sleep. I was wearing a down jacket with the hood cinched around my head. I was buried under the covers, teeth chattering. A week like that is a very long time. (Nine days, and counting, is still longer.)...

Those are my mild to moderate symptoms. And I’m thankful for them. Because I don’t have certain other symptoms — not yet. My headaches have been few. For many covid-19 sufferers, the headaches are excruciating. My lungs are working well, which means I don’t have to enter the hospital.

It’s going to be a race now to see whether I can finish this column before I pass out. Writing even this much has been the most taxing thing I’ve done in a week, since I finished my last column in a delirium.

We’re barely saying hello to covid-19 in its mild and moderate mercies. That phrase itself reflects the blithe taxonomy of pandemic triage — whatever doesn’t kill you must be mild or moderate.

 

[BelleCanzuto]

General science type info on the Coronavirus that causes COVID19, and why this one turned into a pandemic when the other dozen or so haven't. This article *should* be freely accessible:

From The Atlantic: What We Know So Far about SARS-CoV-2

snippets:

One of the few mercies during this crisis is that, by their nature, individual coronaviruses are easily destroyed. Each virus particle consists of a small set of genes, enclosed by a sphere of fatty lipid molecules, and because lipid shells are easily torn apart by soap, 20 seconds of thorough hand-washing can take one down. Lipid shells are also vulnerable to the elements; a recent study shows that the new coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, survives for no more than a day on cardboard, and about two to three days on steel and plastic. These viruses don’t endure in the world. They need bodies.

To be clear, SARS-CoV-2 is not the flu. It causes a disease with different symptoms, spreads and kills more readily, and belongs to a completely different family of viruses. This family, the coronaviruses, includes just six other members that infect humans. Four of them—OC43, HKU1, NL63, and 229E—have been gently annoying humans for more than a century, causing a third of common colds. The other two—MERS and SARS (or “SARS-classic,” as some virologists have started calling it)—both cause far more severe disease. Why was this seventh coronavirus the one to go pandemic? Suddenly, what we do know about coronaviruses becomes a matter of international concern.

For example, most respiratory viruses tend to infect either the upper or lower airways. In general, an upper-respiratory infection spreads more easily, but tends to be milder, while a lower-respiratory infection is harder to transmit, but is more severe. SARS-CoV-2 seems to infect both upper and lower airways, perhaps because it can exploit the ubiquitous furin. This double whammy could also conceivably explain why the virus can spread between people before symptoms show up—a trait that has made it so difficult to control.

Coronaviruses, much like influenza, tend to be winter viruses. In cold and dry air, the thin layers of liquid that coat our lungs and airways become even thinner, and the beating hairs that rest in those layers struggle to evict viruses and other foreign particles. Dry air also seems to dampen some aspects of the immune response to those trapped viruses. In the heat and humidity of summer, both trends reverse, and respiratory viruses struggle to get a foothold.

Unfortunately, that might not matter for the COVID-19 pandemic. At the moment, the virus is tearing through a world of immunologically naive people, and that vulnerability is likely to swamp any seasonal variations. After all, the new virus is transmitting readily in countries like Singapore (which is in the tropics) and Australia (which is still in summer). And one recent modeling study concluded that “SARS-CoV-2 can proliferate at any time of year.”

 

[yukonnights]

Interesting solution. Makes you wonder why more research hasn't been done before. It's not like there haven't been outbreaks of other similar diseases.

https://www.scientificamerican.com/...pJobID=1843095343&spReportId=MTg0MzA5NTM0MwS2

Yes, this does sound promising. I hadn't seen this, so thanks for sharing.

On an even more positive note: I have figured out why the big run on toilet paper — this Covid thing is; 'scaring the shit out of people!' Which is actually a good thing, especially for those who are full of it

 

[gordo12]

Yes, this does sound promising. I hadn't seen this, so thanks for sharing.

On an even more positive note: I have figured out why the big run on toilet paper — this Covid thing is; 'scaring the shit out of people!' Which is actually a good thing, especially for those who are full of it

That's the local joke around here.

Why are we using so much toilet paper
One person sneezes, 10 people shit their pants.

 

[yukonnights]

That's the local joke around here.

Why are we using so much toilet paper
One person sneezes, 10 people shit their pants.

This too! It's a compounding and cascading crisis I've already moved the car out of the garage into the cold — it'll be a squeeze, but I might can get 25 more 32 roll cases squeezed in. (I'm gonna need to sign off for awhile — more emergency prep work to do!)

 

[ishtat]

Nurses and their moonlighting

And on a lighter note: A doctor who lives close by told me this story. On the one hand we have a lady who is a councillor on the Local government authority. She is loud, persistent, self righteously evangelical, and committed to the moral welfare (asked or unasked) of the community. Always ready to give advice, it sometimes seems that the constant reminders of her 'volunteering' at the suburban hospital serves to remind us of her moral calibre.

The other protagonist is considerably younger and the proprietor of a local massage shop. Two or three of these (legal businesses) are to be found in every suburb in Sydney and perhaps 70% are in reality rub 'n tug shops. These businesses are the depths of depravity so far as the first lady is concerned but the second lady although much less loud seems well able to hold her own in an argument.

In the last week or 2 the first lady has completely failed to hide her delight that business for the R & T shops has collapsed in the face of CV infection fears, but she found out on Monday that the gods are indeed capricious. She arrived for her volunteering session to be introduced to her new supervisor. She was gobsmacked; she discovered that her new nurse supervisor was: ddddrum roll, her aforementioned nemesis, the massage shop owner. It transpires that the massage lady is in fact a fully qualified nurse who had previously been splitting her time between her 2 professions, but for the time being must concentrate on one.

The Doctor didn't know exactly how things resolved but added that the medical staff and especially the nurses need all the laughs they can get at the moment.