Coronavirus, Covid 19 Discussion and How It Has Affected Your Daily Life Chat Thread

[Trevorusn]

I'm still going to work tomorrow as is the wifey. The sun will still rise, and spring is still coming. All is still well and will be.

 

[Sapphire Sebright]

Let’s do a quick reality check: the flu kills way more people every year than Coronavirus ever has or probably will. No one ever called the flu a pandemic, closed up everything, or bought all the tp. Also, the people dying from it have mostly been older people with lung problems, and most people who get it barely show symptoms, if any. I also think that the media is putting up panic stories to stay in business. That being said, be careful anyway! People not showing symptoms means they could be anywhere! But there isn’ta reason to panic. Or buy all the tp. Be safe, but don’t panic.

Completely agree, @Friendly_Lurker. Bad news sells, so I guess that's why the media is so pessimistic and doomy-gloomy about this thing.
And, yes, be careful, everyone!
(Also, thanks for your comment on my other post, Friendly_Lurker! I try not to be too political; it's a chicken site, after all, not a political site!)

 

[Friendly_Lurker]

Completely agree, @Friendly_Lurker. Bad news sells, so I guess that's why the media is so pessimistic and doomy-gloomy about this thing.
And, yes, be careful, everyone!
(Also, thanks for your comment on my other post, Friendly_Lurker! I try not to be too political; it's a chicken site, after all, not a political site!)

Unless the politician in question has chickens

 

[ChocolateMouse]

Hate to say it but in my area, the kids are just running around in packs between their respective homes, so they're basically spreading anything they might have all over the neighborhood.

And I also want to give a shout out to anyone who works in the delivery business, groceries, pharmacies, etc... Just everyday people doing everyday things that allow people to keep living despite being locked down. Despite all the craziness I see the folks at my local stores working hard to keep shelves stocked, answering questions, and cleaning. And they're doing it calmly and pleasantly as possible. I'd be completely insane if someone asked me for the 100th time that hour if there was going to be more toilet paper soon.

You have no idea how true this is.
My partner is the management for customer service at a grocery store right now. That store has been out of several things this past week including;
Canned beans, dried beans, canned tomatoes, rice, chicken (frozen, fresh, and frozen pre-cooked), potatoes, canned fruit, hand sanitizer, bread, toilet paper, any sort of sanitary wipes (including baby wipes), face masks, pasta, some medications like tylenol and advil, paper towels, and milk. They've been getting new shipments in frequently but right now they're sold out of a LOT of stuff off and on.

He's been doing more than just keeping team morale up and managing while deeply short staffed. It's more than being so overworked and short staffed that he has to show up an hour early for his 8am shifts to do the closing work that didn't get done the night before. It's more than the stress of sending people home who might be sick (luckily they get PTO and sick leave) and dealing with the usual customers who throw a toddlers tantrum because he won't let them use an expired coupon. And it's more than just a thousand calls asking about shipments of TP. People are calling grocery stores in literal tears trying to figure out how they're going to buy groceries this week because their usual brands are sold out and they don't have money to buy expensive ones. Some of them are elderly and scared they won't be able to use their food stamps through delivery services. Some of them are asking what food to prioritize for staying at home when they're not able to leave to buy fresh vegetables. Poor guy came home nearly in tears yesterday after all the mess of calls he had to field.

These people aren't just doing critical labor that society has said is "unskilled minimum wage work meant for teenagers" for decades now... (You think teenagers are capable of handling all that?) These people are managing peoples finances, their social security, government systems, and doing SO SO much emotional labor for you, all with a smile. It's hell out there for these people.

The good news is there ARE things you can do for them.
Write the companies these people work for and ask them to provide permanent paid sick leave to their employees. Point out this isn't our first and won't be our last pandemic and you don't want sick people working not only now, but also you don't want sick people working in the future. Talk to these companies about how important their employees are and how they deserve living wages and sick leave.

Shop from companies that you know DO provide paid sick leave, decent wages, and are otherwise taking care of their employees. Avoid the ones forcing people to come into work sick to pay their bills.

Get the names of employees who help you and ask their managers if you can write a feedback card saying how much you appreciated them. Alternatively send it in an email to the branch. Make sure you include their name. Some stores have feedback cards just for this. This feedback determines things like who gets raises and who gets promoted. Sometimes if they don't have room for a raise or promotion those people get gift cards which, since they often work for a food business, helps keep their bills a little lower anyhow.

Ask your local politicians of any stripes to close the medicare gap and make medical care affordable for these people. My partner does not have health care coverage right now that allows him to go see a doctor. Sick or healthy, he has to just guess if it's OK for him to go into work.

Be extra kind to those cashiers, grocery workers, food industry people, etc. doing these critical jobs. They've heard their whole lives their work is meaningless while they hold up critical industries and services for millions. Thank them, and appreciate them, the same way that people normally do for military. They're doing more for you than you can know right now and they're exhausted. And they're gonna keep doing it in the future. Don't get complacent in a month or two when this passes, write those feedback cards and those companies when there ISN'T a pandemic too.

 

[IamRainey]

Let’s do a quick reality check: the flu kills way more people every year than Coronavirus ever has or probably will. No one ever called the flu a pandemic, closed up everything, or bought all the tp. Also, the people dying from it have mostly been older people with lung problems, and most people who get it barely show symptoms, if any. I also think that the media is putting up panic stories to stay in business. That being said, be careful anyway! People not showing symptoms means they could be anywhere! But there isn’ta reason to panic. Or buy all the tp. Be safe, but don’t panic.

I think you're misinformed.

There have been over 7000 deaths worldwide from Covid-19 since December 31. Last year there were 16,000 deaths worldwide in the entire year from conventional flues. If Covid-19 deaths don't increase their present rate, which is highly unlikely as it is only beginning to take hold in North and South America, the number would be about twice that of the normal flu.

At one point it was true to say that the victims were chiefly older people with underlying health problems. That is no longer true. The average age of people in Italian ICU units is now closer to 35. The fact that many seem to carry the virus without major symptoms is part of the problem and why the current rate of infection is most likely to rise considerably. These are people who may be going about their business, making contacts and spreading the contagion without even being aware.

The true statement you made is that panicking doesn't accomplish anything. Purposeful avoidance and calm endurance are what are called for. So is accurate, realistic information.

 

[CapricornFarm]

Let’s do a quick reality check: the flu kills way more people every year than Coronavirus ever has or probably will. No one ever called the flu a pandemic, closed up everything, or bought all the tp. Also, the people dying from it have mostly been older people with lung problems, and most people who get it barely show symptoms, if any. I also think that the media is putting up panic stories to stay in business. That being said, be careful anyway! People not showing symptoms means they could be anywhere! But there isn’ta reason to panic. Or buy all the tp. Be safe, but don’t panic.

Anyone can get this virus, and their lungs fill up with fluid and they need life support. They may not show symptoms right away, so they feel fine and go around spreading virus. The virus stays active for up to 3 hours floating in the air. So you go in a store , see few people and you think you're safe. But half an hour ago, someone sneezed and it's floating around in the air. You breathe it in. I agree , don't panic. But be smart. Only go out in public if absolutely necessary.

 

[CapricornFarm]

I'm still going to work tomorrow as is the wifey. The sun will still rise, and spring is still coming. All is still well and will be.

Good job being optimistic.

 

[IamRainey]

Some of them are elderly and scared they won't be able to use their food stamps through delivery services.

Is this a federal policy? This could be changed instantly. It should be!!!

If only there were some actual leadership in the White House...

 

[MROO]

Let’s do a quick reality check: the flu kills way more people every year than Coronavirus ever has or probably will. No one ever called the flu a pandemic, closed up everything, or bought all the tp. Also, the people dying from it have mostly been older people with lung problems, and most people who get it barely show symptoms, if any. I also think that the media is putting up panic stories to stay in business. That being said, be careful anyway! People not showing symptoms means they could be anywhere! But there isn’ta reason to panic. Or buy all the tp. Be safe, but don’t panic.

You are absolutely right about not panicking, and about most people recovering from it, but it still merits attention and concern, especially for those of us who fall into the higher risk categories and/or have elderly parents.
As for the rest, the Swine Flu outbreak of 2009 was classified as a pandemic, as was the 1918 Spanish Flu outbreak. The difference between the Flu and this virus is that with the flu, you come into contact with someone who is borderline sick, and three days later, you're sick, too. With Covid-19, there is a two week invisibility gauntlet that has to be run through before any symptoms show, and the carrier is contagious the entire time. When symptoms do show up, they mimic allergies, at first. That's why it's hitting the elderly so hard. By the time they realize it's not Spring allergies, it's too late and they've got pneumonia, too. That's hard for an older adult to overcome, especially when the virus has already weakened them badly.
The two week quarantine is not a "fix." It's a way to slow down the spread so the medical community can handle those afflicted with the Covid-19 virus. If you come out of the two-week period and nothing dramatic has happened, then it wasn't "fake news" ... it was an effective way to keep the spread manageable.
I think we're in the Covid-19 game for the long haul. It's so contagious, widespread and potentially dangerous that we'll likely see mandatory, routine vaccines for children and the elderly in the (hopefully) near future. Consider it the new "chicken pox." It's going to be around for a VERY long time!
{{{... sigh ... }}}

 

[ChocolateMouse]

Let’s do a quick reality check: the flu kills way more people every year than Coronavirus ever has or probably will. No one ever called the flu a pandemic, closed up everything, or bought all the tp. Also, the people dying from it have mostly been older people with lung problems, and most people who get it barely show symptoms, if any. I also think that the media is putting up panic stories to stay in business. That being said, be careful anyway! People not showing symptoms means they could be anywhere! But there isn’ta reason to panic. Or buy all the tp. Be safe, but don’t panic.

Don't panic is always good advice but it is NOT at ALL ever just like a flu. The biggest problem is that it requires a lot of ICU beds and is spreading fast.
https://www.sciencealert.com/the-ne...the-flu-but-they-have-one-big-thing-in-commonhttps://www.wsj.com/articles/coronavirus-vs-flu-which-virus-is-deadlier-11583856879
Where I live, in a VERY major city our biggest hospital is one of the most highly rated in the nation.
"The Respiratory Institute manages and staffs the Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU) at Cleveland Clinic. With a total of 64 beds across 5 nursing units "
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/departments/respiratory/outcomes/369-medical-intensive-care-unit
Sixty four beds.

Total.

For every single person who is sick enough out of 385,000 in the city who needs ICU care.

If .01% of those people need ICU care in the next month that means 3850 people. If they each recover in two weeks that means we will still need nearly 2000 respirators and beds for them all.

And our biggest hospital has sixty four.

So... Yeah. Don't panic. But it's VERY VERY bad to tell people it's just a flu.