COVID impacts

[NotWise]

Our State just started giving a breakdown of the COVID-19 cases here. The Native American population has been hit hard. They're 11% of our population, but 37% of the confirmed cases -- more than any other ethnic group.

They aren't breaking down the mortality, but over the last few days a lot of the COVID-related deaths have been in counties with large Native American populations.

 

[KeithD]

Our State just started giving a breakdown of the COVID-19 cases here. The Native American population has been hit hard. They're 11% of our population, but 37% of the confirmed cases -- more than any other ethnic group.

They aren't breaking down the mortality, but over the last few days a lot of the COVID-related deaths have been in counties with large Native American populations.

We're getting the same reports about the black and Latino communities. I don't think it's a racial/ethnic issue. I think it's a disadvantaged class issue. Yes, it needs to be addressed, but that's nothing new and lots of luck with that with Donald Trump at the helm of the sinking ship he's driving into the rocks.

 

[Rustyoznail]

We're getting the same reports about the black and Latino communities. I don't think it's a racial/ethnic issue. I think it's a disadvantaged class issue. Yes, it needs to be addressed, but that's nothing new and lots of luck with that with Donald Trump at the helm of the sinking ship he's driving into the rocks.

It's not just a "disadvantaged class" thing either. Who works in the essential areas of cleaners, shop assistants, garbage collectors, etc? These are the people who are face to face daily with the public or their virus laden leftovers.

 

[KeithD]

It's not just a "disadvantaged class" thing either. Who works in the essential areas of cleaners, shop assistants, garbage collectors, etc? These are the people who are face to face daily with the public or their virus laden leftovers.

And you think those people aren't in the disadvantaged class? We seem to have a different idea who that includes.

 

[NotWise]

We're getting the same reports about the black and Latino communities. I don't think it's a racial/ethnic issue. I think it's a disadvantaged class issue. Yes, it needs to be addressed, but that's nothing new and lots of luck with that with Donald Trump at the helm of the sinking ship he's driving into the rocks.

With the Native American population, it's also a cultural thing. Social distancing may be harder for them, but there's a lot more that goes into it.

 

[astuffedshirt_perv]

We're getting the same reports about the black and Latino communities. I don't think it's a racial/ethnic issue. I think it's a disadvantaged class issue.

Let us consider what caused Italy: close quarters, a culture of touching, old and young living together. That describes most of the poorer black communities here.

Latinos here haven't shown up in our state stats that much. Latino communities, while poor, do not seem that touchy nor are grandparents around much.

As usual, I don't recommend being poor.

 

[Rustyoznail]

And you think those people aren't in the disadvantaged class? We seem to have a different idea who that includes.

Poorly worded by me, and from an Australian perspective.

Anyone that has to work face to face daily with people is at a significant disadvantage to the rest of us who are at home relatively safe. No matter what their background is.

 

[gordo12]

Survival of the Fittest?

"in the D.C. metro area, in Florida, we’re seeing that situation is actually still getting worse.

So what does the Governor do?

https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/news/hundreds-crowd-newly-reopened-florida-beaches-even-as-the-state-sees-a-spike-in-coronavirus-infections/ar-BB12Qlsj?ocid=spartanntp

Unbelievable

"The rush came on the same day that Florida saw 1,400 new infections — the largest single-day increase in coronavirus cases yet. As of Friday, the state, which has become a hotspot of the coronavirus outbreak in the US, had reported over 24,000 cases of the virus and nearly 700 deaths.

 

[RejectReality]

There may be a little light at the end of the tunnel as antibody testing ramps up. Data is starting to emerge that the infection rate is orders of magnitude higher than the official numbers from asymptomatic/mild/unrecorded cases. That drastically reduces the fatality rate ( though still higher than the common flu, on top of the common flu ) and suggests a lot more herd immunity out there than currently estimated. ( Depending upon antibody effectiveness at preventing reinfection )

If the numbers keep trending that way as antibody testing ramps up, regional, phased ending of the shut-downs may not be as much of a strain on the health systems as many fear under the current models.

Testing capacity for active virus and antibodies is probably going to be the key to getting back to some semblance of normal, rather than a potential vaccine.

 

[BelleCanzuto]

There may be a little light at the end of the tunnel as antibody testing ramps up. Data is starting to emerge that the infection rate is orders of magnitude higher than the official numbers from asymptomatic/mild/unrecorded cases. That drastically reduces the fatality rate ( though still higher than the common flu, on top of the common flu ) and suggests a lot more herd immunity out there than currently estimated. ( Depending upon antibody effectiveness at preventing reinfection )

If the numbers keep trending that way as antibody testing ramps up, regional, phased ending of the shut-downs may not be as much of a strain on the health systems as many fear under the current models.

Testing capacity for active virus and antibodies is probably going to be the key to getting back to some semblance of normal, rather than a potential vaccine.

Between the limitations of that one, not yet peer reviewed, study and what's coming out about the sketchiness of some of the anti-body tests (high false positives), I wouldn't put too much stock in the idea that infection rates are so much higher than thought.

 

[RejectReality]

Between the limitations of that one, not yet peer reviewed, study and what's coming out about the sketchiness of some of the anti-body tests (high false positives), I wouldn't put too much stock in the idea that infection rates are so much higher than thought.

There's an anecdotal element to me leaning toward giving the numbers credence as well. We had a huge breakout of flu in the warehouse about mid February. Most, like me, had a weird, 12-15 hour period of mild symptoms. Fever didn't register, but you could feel the back of your eyes being hot. Aching all over and utterly miserable. Next day, all good. Tons of others with "colds" and "allergies". A few were down for days, or even weeks, including hospitalizations. Nearly everybody we were in regular contact with got it.

We've been continuously up and running through the whole thing, because we're essential supply chain. We deliver to hundreds of locations in fairly hard-hit Chicago. Driver unload. A large part of our incoming freight is from the Chicago area as well, and they only banned outside carriers from the building a week ago. Around 300 people in the building every single day. There's absolutely no way to stay six feet away from people at your workstations, or avoid touching things that 20 other people have touched in the last quarter hour. We're refilling totes that just came back from Chicago that morning. We don't even have the equipment to wash most of them, and only a small percentage of the ones we can wash ever get run through the machine.

( You don't want to know what ends up in a tote left outside behind a convenience store in Chicago )

Even with sanitation and distancing protocols implemented, and single digit reported cases in the county, it's a bit of a stretch that nobody has tested positive in that environment. We've had few call-ins that weren't the brown bottle flu once that wave ebbed. This despite a lot of idiots acting as if there's nothing going on and actively ignoring said protocols.

I think we all had it before anybody knew it was a thing in the U.S.

That being said, they are indeed small, preliminary, studies that haven't been peer reviewed. It's going to take a much larger sample to confirm the initial data. Doesn't mean it's not a hopeful sign.

 

[JamesMiehoff]

We are waiting anxiously for the anti-body testing to be widespread. My wife and I both had a nasty respiratory infection in February. She went in and the flu test (normal flu) came back negative. They put her on the usual antibiotics and sent her home. She went back 4 days later and they put her on stronger stuff.

I had a milder version of it about a week later. I was surprisingly able to get over it without help, which rarely seems to happen these days.

In March before they closed her office and made everyone work from home, two of her coworkers came down with "colds". Both of them came back to work last week and admitted that they tested positive for Covid. She was in close contact with both of them while they were coughing and sneezing.

I have been working from home for 6 weeks. She has been home for 4 weeks and neither of us have had any symptoms. We are starting to wonder if we got an early case in February, which is why she didn't get it in March. Or if we were just incredibly lucky.

James

 

[Haulover]

As of this morning I now know someone, personally, who has died from the Corona virus.

I didn't know him well, so it isn't a personal loss. The main impact to my family and me is that this thing is now that little bit closer to home, just that bit more "real".

Stay healthy!

 

[JamesMiehoff]

Been doing this "shelter in place" for seven weeks now, I think. It is real easy to get lost.

The biggest impact this has had on me is that I am down 15 pounds. I attribute it to eating my own cooking. Normally we would run out for fast food 3 or 4 times a week and I would eat fast food at lunch 2 or 3 times a week. By eating at home, I can control the portion sizes and the ingredients much better.

I know there have been a lot of social media memes about the "Quarantine 15", but so far in my case that has been a good thing.

Now if I could just convince my phone that 1,000 steps is the new normal instead of 10,000.

James

 

[litfan10]

Been doing this "shelter in place" for seven weeks now, I think. It is real easy to get lost.

The biggest impact this has had on me is that I am down 15 pounds. I attribute it to eating my own cooking. Normally we would run out for fast food 3 or 4 times a week and I would eat fast food at lunch 2 or 3 times a week. By eating at home, I can control the portion sizes and the ingredients much better.

I know there have been a lot of social media memes about the "Quarantine 15", but so far in my case that has been a good thing.

Now if I could just convince my phone that 1,000 steps is the new normal instead of 10,000.

James

Good for you!

I was hoping to lose some weight but no such luck. I love to cook but for years I've been too tired when I get home from work to really cook. Well, now I am going crazy cooking so we are eating too well.
And I am basically moving around between two different chairs )office chair and reading chair) and my bed for exercise so that is not going well.
We still have at least three weeks to go at the earliest.
Crazy
Be safe and well everyone.

 

[oggbashan]

A UK public library, closed to the public, had to have a deep clean because one of the librarians tested positive.

They asked their regular cleaner to do it and left her alone for several days.

She took all the books off the shelves so she could clean properly. She put them back in order of size and colour...

 

[ChloeTzang]

As of this morning I now know someone, personally, who has died from the Corona virus.

I didn't know him well, so it isn't a personal loss. The main impact to my family and me is that this thing is now that little bit closer to home, just that bit more "real".

Stay healthy!

Yes, it brings it home. My husband has a lot of Facebook friends he’s met and keeps contact with professionally, and he’s had five people he knows of who have died. No one we’re close to, but it does bring it home. Work is one thing, but when it’s people you know even vaguely, it’s different.

That said, I’ve lost five pounds and we’ve got the house a lot tidier, and we can now get a car in the garage. My writing has taken a hit tho. Even when I have time, I find it hard to focus.

 

[Haulover]

...he’s had five people he knows of who have died...

Stay safe.

And when you're done re-organizing your house, I'll be happy to break the "lockdown curfew" so you can come and organize mine

I'm working from home but plan to get to some re-organization projects in the coming week.


Stay safe, Chloe!

 

[Vix_Giovanni]

….

 

[JamesMiehoff]

I am a little disappointed in myself. I had thought that I would be able to capitalize on the lack of a serious commute (21 stairs and 8 steps to the easy chair I set up as my "home office") would free up more time for writing. But all it seems to have done is made it easier for me to work more hours. The fact that they have canceled the 4 additional programming resources and moved the timeline up by 3 months probably doesn't help.

I did squeeze out a very short story (probably should have saved it for next years 750 word event) that I uploaded today. But I can't even claim to have made the house any cleaner.

That said, I am really afraid of what will happen when everybody starts to come out of their rabbit holes if this virus is still running loose. Assuming half the people locked down before getting it, that means there is a whole lot of people who can still get it.

James

 

[OneAuthor]

Gorgeous day, and our grocery store was well stocked—even got Kobe ground beef and truffle salt so we can grill burgers for dinner tonight. Got home in time to sit on the balcony with a cup of tea and watch the blue angels flyover!

Nice. My wife and I had hoped to see the blue angels flyover, but their flight path was just a bit too far south and east of our location for us to see them. At least the local news had some nice video of it.

 

[gordo12]

Good news here today. For the first time the new cases dropped from the previous day. Hope it's the start of the decline and not just a mistake or outlier.

And of the 2000 beds set aside for Covid in our hospitals...only 298 are being used. For my wife and myself and a lot of people around here, the first inklings that the virus was spreading out of China was our first clue to start avoiding public areas. We were already semi-quarantining in Feb and fully by Mar.

Considering both of us fit the definition of front-line people we've been lucky. Not a hint of Covid yet. Mind you our doctors are swabbing the slightest sniffle, runny nose or? and putting the people into isolation until the results are in.

Keeping my fingers crossed.

********************************************

<RANT> And somebody please get rid of the College-Educated-Never-Done-This-Before-But-I-Got-A-Textbook (no)brain(s) trust at the local health authority. Never worked in a large scale building, think 400+ staff and people with another 800 or so associated. Dropping contradictory pronouncements from above that are creating absolute chaos. Then reverse themselves (reluctantly) a few days later when they finally accept the education from experienced people on the mayhem they've just unleashed.

Ramp up a Dept. from 3 to 17 people between Saturday morning and Monday morning, sure no problem.

Moving the screening process from a large waiting room to a cramped foyer. No problem. Because somehow the foyer isn't part of the building (in their minds). The sixty or seventy staff shift change at 7 am in the morning are left standing outside lined up the street. Doctors, nurses, care staff. The "RECOMMENDED" thermometers don't work outside at those cold morning temperatures and by the time they get inside, they're so cold you can't measure them. So they sit, clogging up the now limited spaces (4 in total, 2 screeners, two people being screened) until they warm up and we can get a temp. Then the next one comes in. Who is also cold. Screening process went from 20 minutes to 70 minutes. Time lost now for the care of the patients.

Anyone leaving the building, even for a few minutes must go through the entire screening process again. Even if they stood outside for five minutes for fresh air. Even smokers.

Smokers who tend to go outside hourly must screen and fill in the entry paperwork each and every time they come back in. Yes, filling out the same paperwork and answering the same dozen health questions 15-20 times a day. Mandatory. I've already had one patient threaten to punch me, he's so frustrated. (stroke victim so I give him some license) Another broke isolation (for a sniffle or runny nose) and tried to beat me with his walker when I stood in his way and waited for staff to escort him back to his room. At the end of the day the paper reports are 3-4 inches thick and all must be filed in the people's files. That requires more people to pull the file and file it.

I could go on with a lot of other departments and the problems but...

It's a typical bureaucratic cluster fuck. Drop every order [backed by law] they can think of so no one can point the finger at them and say you didn't do this. In protecting their own asses they're creating so much confusion that Covid could hold a parade into the building and no one would notice! </RANT><SORRY>

 

[KeithD]

As an index to the toll this Covid outbreak can have. A young doctor from here went to NYC to help in the crisis--and contracted Covid. She recovered . . . and went back to NYC to help in the crisis. She had a mental breakdown. Last weekend she came back to recover again. Instead she committed suicide this last weekend.

 

[oggbashan]

Tomorrow 30th April is my birthday - not a significant number, except last year there was doubt I would be alive for it.

But because of Covid-19 it will be a very low key affair. My eldest daughter, who lives locally, might shout 'Happy Birthday' upstairs while I keep away from her. The local grandchildren might drop in to do the same - and eat some of my birthday cake.

 

[KeithD]

Shouting "Happy Birthday" up the staircase.