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

[Cynthia12]

I have gotten many packages delivered..in time for Christmas.. except, one of mine from my DH. It's been stuck in New York City for a while. Just wrote them...again. Will see what they say.

 

[ChocolateMouse]

We're waiting on a secret santa package form our pagan group (the one we sent the bone earrings out for), and G's mom is waiting on her xmas package from us still. The stuff she sent arrived very quickly and the things we sent as part of the secret santa arrived in no time. Sent on the same day.

 

[IamRainey]

How could an antibiotic knock out shingles? I thought it was a virus.

I don't know. I understand the paradox you cite and I don't understand it either. I just know I was living in Vancouver at the same time that 9/11 occurred (yes, the actual event). The same time when there was hysteria about the potential for anthrax/germ warfare and the handwringing about the unavailability of the antibiotic Cipro.

I got shingles. I went to a local clinic. They prescribed Cipro. I got it without any drama for under $8 Canadian (which, at the time, would have been about $6 US unreimbursed by insurance) and within a few days the pain, at least, was gone.

Could it have prevented or dealt with secondary infection of the lesions on my skin and allowed my body to deal more directly with the virus? I dunno. I didn't question it but it's one of the many reasons I'm in awe of their comprehensive medical system and their government's commitment to providing services in return for taxes. Their taxes are high. No question about it. But the return on investment and responsiveness of both local and national government is also very high.

 

[IamRainey]

Yes, our deliveries continue, for the most part, uninterrupted. That may be the benefit of living in a major hub.

There was only 1 small Christmas item ordered rather late in the scheme of things that's failed to show up. That, and the laundry machines I've now been waiting more than a month for! ::where's the emoji for smelling to high heaven::

 

[IamRainey]

I understand and appreciate that the enormous amount of information/expertise/specialization leaves us very mutually dependent. But I can't agree that those we depend on are necessarily smarter or more prepared. In most cases, I think the reigns of administration and/or power along with the access to the best resources of education are in the hands of influential third-generation heirs of the bright, the innovative and the capable.

Tucker Carlson comes to mind. He's the worthless scion of the person who invented frozen foods who failed out of every broadcasting job he was given until he found and began pandering to his conspiracist audience at Fox. The man should probably be pushing buttons in some laundry sorting facility somewhere but, because of his connections, he's hugely influential to the detriment of the whole society.

In a meritocracy we'd be OK relying on experts. I wish we still had one.

 

[casportpony]

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/l...hance-of-survival/ar-BB1ctP5H?ocid=uxbndlbing

 

[IamRainey]

It's worse than that! The supplies of oxygen for people battling a respiratory assault on their bodies -- people with prospects of surviving -- are scarce at this point.

I can't tell you how relieved I am to think my daughter gets her second shot of vaccine this week! And she's among the very tiny portion of health care workers who've been vaccinated in Los Angeles to date.

I also woke to the news that at my local Costco 41 people have come down with the virus since the Christmas onslaught. It was reported in local news. The continuing health of grocery store workers has been my personal barometer of how we're doing as a society and as a community. They're good people who work hard and have kept our lives possible and as normal as can be managed. I know Costco is vigilant about their safety. I wish them all speedy and uncomplicated recoveries. ...and I'm getting nervous.

Meanwhile, speaking of personal barometers, of 247 of my husband's employees who have been off since Christmas and who get tested regularly, there was only 1 positive with only 1 other result that's yet to come in. Mind you, these are the people who, for the most part, didn't travel over Christmas or who only made local visits. Those who will be returning from holiday travel -- our own little laboratory on travel and virus transmission -- haven't presented for testing yet. But they'll be tested and isolated before then can congregate with anyone else in their working bubble.

The battle rages on....

 

[KarynVA]

I don't like to seem alarmist, but the new, even more transmissible variant of covid really has me worried. Just like back in March when we saw China and other countries using masks, and then it quickly started here; now we are seeing other countries literally closing nearly everything down. So ..... it will happen here. I'm worried this new variant will spread like wildfire in this country.

I guess we are lucky we have time to prepare for these extreme measures.

 

[TropicalBabies]

I feel your pain @MROO on timely packages- which is like lightning striking for me. I ordered a gift on Nov 28th as part of my daughters Dec 21st birthday gift. It was sent out the day after it was ordered but I am still waiting for it to come in. The last one I ordered and gifted took 3 weeks to get here, it also was mailed from the company right away. My DH's gift sat in a Maine PO for 3 weeks and then crossed the nation in 2 days, just after Christmas.
If a company sends our package via $$ Fed Ex 2 day it will take 4 weeks on average to reach here. The new admin policy seems to embolden our postal inefficiencies and I was told by Postmistress that Fed Ex is now put on a slow boat because it is not to share a ride with the USPS? So, we the people pay the added fees and the price. Not sure how and why that is. I continue to turn to smaller business that are more worth the wait and support the little gal or guy more than ever.

To blame others is a way out of ones own shortcomings and discomfort apparently. Baby tantrums. But, oh but those emails and Michele O's arms and that tan suit!!! Oh brother. The plastic world of the faux news engine sinks lower and lower by the minute. Today I keep my fingers crossed and hope things get set right. I am completely sick of snakes, turtles, crocodiles and jackasses.

 

[Cynthia12]

I want my Christmas present....NOW! . Says it's still in New York City.