Coronavirus

[cricket]

Very interesting documentary. I streamed it on Amazon.

68508

Looks good, I'm going to watch it today.

[The Rodent]

200+ dead in the past 2 weeks in my town.
We've been put under a minimum 18 month lockdown.

They've not said whether the 200+ deaths are from rona or a mix of rona and other cases.

Edit, checked the numbers...
We've gone from 25 cases per week, to 396 per week, in the space of a month.
If we've apparently had 100 deaths a week in this town, I'd say it's a mixture of rona deaths and other causes.
Which means this lockdown is meaningless but we're doing it anyway.

Edit again.
I was right.
43 deaths in my town in the past 2 days.
42 of them are from other causes. 1 CoVid death in the past week.
This lockdown is meaningless.

[Captain Steel]

200+ dead in the past 2 weeks in my town.
We've been put under a minimum 18 month lockdown.

They've not said whether the 200+ deaths are from rona or a mix of rona and other cases.

Edit, checked the numbers...
We've gone from 25 cases per week, to 396 per week, in the space of a month.
If we've apparently had 100 deaths a week in this town, I'd say it's a mixture of rona deaths and other causes.
Which means this lockdown is meaningless but we're doing it anyway.

Edit again.
I was right.
43 deaths in my town in the past 2 days.
42 of them are from other causes. 1 CoVid death in the past week.
This lockdown is meaningless.

What is "rona"?

[Yoda]

Short for "Coronavirus."

[Citizen Rules]

Oooh, there goes my joke opportunity about Rona Barrett:)

[Nausicaä]

Urgh, expected to be announced today that England is going into a second lockdown to last a month... Am I just thick and can't understand why it's increasing so much again when we are all by law suppose to wear masks when in public areas indoors!?

[The Rodent]

Urgh, expected to be announced today that England is going into a second lockdown to last a month... Am I just thick and can't understand why it's increasing so much again when we are all by law suppose to wear masks when in public areas indoors!?

Technically masks don't actually do anything.

If you wear a mask, all you're doing is protecting others from you.

If you wear a mask, and someone nearby isn't wearing a mask, and they have The Rona... and they cough at you... you will get it, regardless of the mask you're wearing.

Thing is... wear a mask to protect others... but if you have The Rona, you have to stay indoors anyway and isolate.
So masks, in effect, are useless.

About 75% of carriers don't know they have it... so they think **** it, I won't wear a mask because I'm fine... and they spread it around to people around them, even to those who are wearing a mask.

[The Rodent]

Addition:

Selfishness and lack of education is the reason for all this.

[Captain Steel]

Technically masks don't actually do anything.

If you wear a mask, all you're doing is protecting others from you.

If you wear a mask, and someone nearby isn't wearing a mask, and they have The Rona... and they cough at you... you will get it, regardless of the mask you're wearing.

Thing is... wear a mask to protect others... but if you have The Rona, you have to stay indoors anyway and isolate.
So masks, in effect, are useless.

About 75% of carriers don't know they have it... so they think **** it, I won't wear a mask because I'm fine... and they spread it around to people around them, even to those who are wearing a mask.

Masks only protect from droplets (the least likely way "rona" is spread). Droplets (as produced when speaking or mildly coughing) only go a couple feet and are pulled down to the ground by gravity - like raindrops.

The most common form of transmission is tactile (mostly of fecal matter - which, sadly, if you use toilet paper, then you have it on your hands - which is why handwashing is so important, along with keeping touchable surfaces in bathrooms disinfected).

The second most common form is via aerosols (liquid turned to vapor when one sneezes or coughs hard). Masks don't stop aerosols - if they did, you wouldn't be able to breath through them.

At best, masks only protect from the least likely, most uncommon form of transmission.

[Yoda]

The latest research seems to suggest it's not just droplets, but can hang in the air for awhile. That said, we're obviously still learning a lot about this.

It does seem increasingly obvious that all the wiping down of tables and whatnot is more to make people feel better than to protect them, though.

[Captain Steel]

The latest research seems to suggest it's not just droplets, but can hang in the air for awhile. That said, we're obviously still learning a lot about this.

It does seem increasingly obvious that all the wiping down of tables and whatnot is more to make people feel better than to protect them, though.

Right. The virus particles are microscopic and their travelling ability is dependent on their vehicle of transmission.

If they are contained in a liquid (a droplet) they can travel a few feet and quickly fall to the ground - it's unlikely people are going to ingest the saliva of others provided they don't let people spit in their face (and now we know better than to have face-to-face intimate conversations). Masks only protect from droplets - but so does most social distancing.

But if the virus particles are contained in an aerosol form, then they can hang in the hair for quite a long time and move quite a distance. This makes aerosols a far more effective transmission method. Unfortunately masks do not protect from aerosols - in either direction.

The idea that mask wearing doesn't protect oneself from the virus, but rather it protects others from oneself is erroneous and illogical...

If the virus is atomized (carried on an aerosol such as a sneeze) it can go through a mask in any direction, especially if expelled with enough force to atomize it (turn liquid to vapor) via a sneeze.

A lot of people will not attempt to cover their sneeze or cough into their elbow when they are wearing a mask. So, in this case, mask wearing may actually be worse if those expelling a strong cough or sneeze are infected and not also trying to physically block them (and blocking methods still let a lot of aerosol through).

[cricket]

When I'm around people I make sure I breathe through my nose, although that's how I breathe most of the time anyway.

[Citizen Rules]

I have a thought for you all: If you catch the common cold or flu this winter season, then you're not protected enough from covid.

[cricket]

I have a thought for you all: If you catch the common cold or flu this winter season, then you're not protected enough from covid.

Right! I've got a co-worker who's been freaking out because a couple of children in the school system caught covid. Of course he blames Trump for not locking the country down, which he doesn't have the authority to do. Anyway, it seems that the flu is way more deadly to children that age. So are you never going to let your kids out of the house?

[Citizen Rules]

Right! I've got a co-worker who's been freaking out because a couple of children in the school system caught covid. Of course he blames Trump for not locking the country down, which he doesn't have the authority to do. Anyway, it seems that the flu is way more deadly to children that age. So are you never going to let your kids out of the house?I wasn't saying a person can't protect themselves from covid. I was saying if anyone catches a cold or flu then they weren't careful enough, meaning they should be more careful. Of course nothing is 100% full proof protection.

[Captain Steel]

I have a thought for you all: If you catch the common cold or flu this winter season, then you're not protected enough from covid.

That's what gets me, Rules. During these months I've socially distanced, I've isolated, I've worn a mask, practiced hygiene, taken vitamins, cleaned everything I contact, etc. Yet during this time I've had several weird illnesses. I think I might have had the C-19 with only mild symptoms as I've had like a 2-day flu with high fever (something I've never experienced before).

But even if it was only a weird cold or flu... how did I get it with all the precautions I've taken? How did I get anything?


Also, a few months back I got a weird rash on my toes that looked & acted like poison ivy. My feet are always covered and it seemed extremely unlikely I'd get poison ivy on my toes and nowhere else. (I could see if I got it on my hands or arms first).

Anyway, I found this symptom called Covid-toes. A manifestation of the virus that usually shows up in babies or those who are otherwise asymptomatic. It looks and feels like poison ivy - even itches, then burns, then makes boils like the ivy rash.

I showed it to my Dr. and explained. She literally laughed at me. I told her I wasn't bothered by the rash (which was almost gone by that time), but I'd read about the condition, and since I take care of someone in the very vulnerable category, should I maybe be tested? (My concern was for my mother if I was infected.)

She literally shook her head and just said, "No." as she chuckled at me.
I kept asking why, and suggested maybe she look it up if she hadn't heard of it.

She laughed, then said I could go see a podiatrist if the rash was "bothering" me because it might be a fungus. (It was not a fungus - it was either a nasty case of poison ivy that SOMEHOW got only on my toes - or it was this Covid-toes).

What I couldn't understand was her attitude - I told her I take care of an 88-year-old with many other conditions, but she refused to even entertain the possibility of prescribing a test for Covid-19 and literally laughed at the mention of "Covid Toes".

[cricket]

I wasn't saying a person can't protect themselves from covid. I was saying if anyone catches a cold or flu then they weren't careful enough, meaning they should be more careful. Of course nothing is 100% full proof protection.

Yep I hear you, and I think we agree. If you're risking getting covid, you're risking getting the flu. My co-worker thinks no lockdown means a risk for covid for his kids. Sure, but no lockdown also means risk for the more dangerous for them flu. So my point is there is always risk. Does that mean we want to live in a forever lockdown?

[Citizen Rules]

Yep I hear you, and I think we agree. If you're risking getting covid, you're risking getting the flu. My co-worker thinks no lockdown means a risk for covid for his kids. Sure, but no lockdown also means risk for the more dangerous for them flu. So my point is there is always risk. Does that mean we want to live in a forever lockdown?OK cool. I wasn't sure if my post was understood, but I guess it was.

[Citizen Rules]

That's what gets me, Rules. During these months I've socially distanced, I've isolated, I've worn a mask, practiced hygiene, taken vitamins, cleaned everything I contact, etc. Yet during this time I've had several weird illnesses. I think I might have had the C-19 with only mild symptoms as I've had like a 2-day flu with high fever (something I've never experienced before).

But even if it was only a weird cold or flu... how did I get it with all the precautions I've taken? How did I get anything? It's a good question, same as Cricket asked how far and how long do we take lockdown...especially if people are still catching colds/flus...On the flip side if all covid measures were taken down the numbers of cases and deaths would go way up. And that's why I think we do have lockdown is to 'manage it'. People are still going to get it, but if the numbers stay low enough there will still be hospital beds for the serious covid cases. Though I've read some states think that this winter with rising covid cases hospital beds might have to be rationed.

[cricket]

It's a good question, same as Cricket asked how far and how long do we take lockdown...especially if people are still catching colds/flus...On the flip side if all covid measures were taken down the numbers of cases and deaths would go way up. And that's why I think we do have lockdown is to 'manage it'. People are still going to get it, but if the numbers stay low enough there will still be hospital beds for the serious covid cases. Though I've read some states think that this winter with rising covid cases hospital beds might have to be rationed.

My thought is to go as far as we can to protect the vulnerable and let everyone else live their lives. But it's just an uninformed opinion.

[Citizen Rules]

...Also, a few months back I got a weird rash on my toes that looked & acted like poison ivy. My feet are always covered and it seemed extremely unlikely I'd get poison ivy on my toes and nowhere else. (I could see if I got it on my hands or arms first).

Anyway, I found this symptom called Covid-toes. A manifestation of the virus that usually shows up in babies or those who are otherwise asymptomatic. It looks and feels like poison ivy - even itches, then burns, then makes boils like the ivy rash.

I showed it to my Dr. and explained. She literally laughed at me. I told her I wasn't bothered by the rash (which was almost gone by that time), but I'd read about the condition, and since I take care of someone in the very vulnerable category, should I maybe be tested? (My concern was for my mother if I was infected.)

She literally shook her head and just said, "No." as she chuckled at me.
I kept asking why, and suggested maybe she look it up if she hadn't heard of it.

She laughed, then said I could go see a podiatrist if the rash was "bothering" me because it might be a fungus. (It was not a fungus - it was either a nasty case of poison ivy that SOMEHOW got only on my toes - or it was this Covid-toes).

What I couldn't understand was her attitude - I told her I take care of an 88-year-old with many other conditions, but she refused to even entertain the possibility of prescribing a test for Covid-19 and literally laughed at the mention of "Covid Toes".I doubt it was covid, I've had lots of weird rashes and such...BUT the Dr should have never laughed at your suggestion, that's just wrong.

[John McClane]

That new UK lockdown sounds intense.

[Captain Steel]

I doubt it was covid, I've had lots of weird rashes and such...BUT the Dr should have never laughed at your suggestion, that's just wrong.

Weird thing - today I read an article called "11 signs you may have already had Covid-19" and one of the signs was that "your toes were a mess" with a rash on them that itches & blisters called "Covid Toes."

https://www.rd.com/article/signs-you-may-have-already-had-covid-19/?_cmp=readuprdus&_ebid=readuprdus1112020&_mid=378183&ehid=11A430B6F98E0CB24A56F568C4AA23F9E033C64C

I like how the article says, "if you're concerned, talk to your doctor." I did and she just laughed at me and refused to prescribe a test.

[Citizen Rules]

Weird thing - today I read an article called "11 signs you may have already had Covid-19" and one of the signs was that "your toes were a mess" with a rash on them that itches & blisters called "Covid Toes."

https://www.rd.com/article/signs-you-may-have-already-had-covid-19/?_cmp=readuprdus&_ebid=readuprdus1112020&_mid=378183&ehid=11A430B6F98E0CB24A56F568C4AA23F9E033C64C

I like how the article says, "if you're concerned, talk to your doctor." I did and she just laughed at me and refused to prescribe a test.You should've flipped your doctor a 'big toe'!

Your doctor sucks, the medical system sucks, unless you have a bucket load of money for premium health care, as opposed to drive-through fast food health care.

As an aside, you can buy home covid testing, though I think that only covers if you currently have it, not if you had it and recovered. I like to know myself if I had it, I think I might have.

[Captain Steel]

You should've flipped your doctor a 'big toe'!

Your doctor sucks, the medical system sucks, unless you have a bucket load of money for premium health care, as opposed to drive-through fast food health care.

As an aside, you can buy home covid testing, though I think that only covers if you currently have it, not if you had it and recovered. I like to know myself if I had it, I think I might have.

They had a Covid testing program in my area that you could drive to (it was at the local DMV), but in order to qualify to receive a test you had to have a set of symptoms - which was kind of weird because it had to be a combination of high fever & a bunch of different flu-like symptoms and / or trouble breathing with accompanying symptoms (seems like if you had these, you probably shouldn't be out driving). Or a prescription from a doctor.

The message was clear if you didn't have a combination of symptoms or a prescription, then you'd be turned away. But that was a few months back - don't know if the program is still being run.

[Stirchley]

That new UK lockdown sounds intense.

Nobody but themselves to blame. Speaking to one of my bros there back in the summer it was like we were talking about 2 different pandemics. He didn’t even own a mask. :rolleyes:

[cricket]

68674

[Stirchley]

68674

We will, we will bash you!!!

[Yoda]

Heh. Man that's good.

[ashdoc]

https://www.google.com/amp/s/indianexpress.com/article/cities/hyderabad/donald-trump-coronavirus-fan-telangana-bussa-krishna-dead-6721045/lite/

Trump's Indian fan who had built a temple installing an idol of Trump which he worshipped daily , died due to cardiac arrest on hearing of Trump's coronavirus positive status .

[Nausicaä]

That new UK lockdown sounds intense.

It's not as bad as the first lockdown by miles when you look past the economy side.

Schools and universities are staying open this time around, vulnerable people don't have to shield, public toilets can remain open so if you go somewhere outside you don't have to worry about trying to find a toilet, dentists and things like opticians can stay open and so on.

Social bubbles still count so people don't have to be alone if that is too much for them and could cause mental health issues.

And so on.

[Stirchley]

public toilets can remain open

Interesting you guys still have these. Try finding somewhere to pee here. :eek:

[cricket]

Interesting you guys still have these. Try finding somewhere to pee here. :eek:

There has been a sharp uptick of trucker bombs found at the side of the road in my area, which are soda bottles filled with urine.

[cricket]

I just went to a lab at Harvard to pick up a coronavirus sample that I was supposed to bring to the main testing lab in Ma. Security would not let me in because of coronavirus precautions. I told him the patient's life was on the line, which isn't true, and he told me to come back Monday LOL.

[matt72582]

It seems like this is never going away....

[Hey Fredrick]

Still a long way to go but some good news. Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine is more than 90 percent effective in first analysis, company reports.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2020/11/09/pfizer-coronavirus-vaccine-effective/

[Stirchley]

There has been a sharp uptick of trucker bombs found at the side of the road in my area, which are soda bottles filled with urine.

Nice. Personally, I prefer the guy who leaves a [small] used condom in front of my house every day. :eek:

[cricket]

Nice. Personally, I prefer the guy who leaves a [small] used condom in front of my house every day. :eek:

I'm sorry I didn't know that was your house.

[Stirchley]

I'm sorry I didn't know that was your house.

Brave of you to admit you’re small. :p

[Sir Toose]

It seems like this is never going away....

Unless you're in China...

Within 2 weeks - gone. No re-infections (statistical nils anyway)..

There are hijinks afoot - remains to be seen as to what exactly they are.

68799

[Powdered Water]

Watched a pretty cool vid of a guy over in Wuhan during their test the whole 11 million people thing. Here, we have 10 million cases. There, they test 11 million people to find almost zero. The city of Wuhan is almost completely back to normal. Even more fascinating is South Korea. In a city of over 35 million people the death toll is almost nonexistent. Didn't even really do a lockdown. Their bbq must be really strong.

[Stirchley]

The city of Wuhan is almost completely back to normal.

Well, good for them. Too bad we are suffering due to the virus that began in Wuhan. :rolleyes:

[Stirchley]

Alarmed to see 8 National Guard guys eat lunch outside at the weekend. Sitting very close together at a relatively small table & nobody had a mask. Sure, it was outside, but still.

[cricket]

Alarmed to see 8 Army Reserve guys eat lunch outside at the weekend. Sitting very close together at a relatively small table & nobody had a mask. Sure, it was outside, but still.

Maybe they get tested regularly? Even still, I know what you mean.

[Stirchley]

Maybe they get tested regularly? Even still, I know what you mean.

Edited my post to say National Guard. Couldn’t think of the term earlier.

I just imagined being one of them who was afraid to put on a mask in fear of being thought a cissy.

[cricket]

Edited my post to say National Guard. Couldn’t think of the term earlier.

I just imagined being one of them who was afraid to put on a mask in fear of being thought a cissy.

Yea I bet that happens quite a bit.

[matt72582]

Unless you're in China...

Within 2 weeks - gone. No re-infections (statistical nils anyway)..

There are hijinks afoot - remains to be seen as to what exactly they are.

https://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=68799


When I was in Asia for a month (almost ten years ago), many people wore masks. When I asked a local about this (and adding there was no pollution) they said it was to avoid illness.

[cricket]

When I was in Asia for a month (almost ten years ago), many people wore masks. When I asked a local about this (and adding there was no pollution) they said it was to avoid illness.

Before the pandemic it wasn't all that rare to see Asians in America wearing them.

[Powdered Water]

When I was in Asia for a month (almost ten years ago), many people wore masks. When I asked a local about this (and adding there was no pollution) they said it was to avoid illness.
I thought they wore masks to hide all the evil? That's not true?

[Sir Toose]

When I was in Asia for a month (almost ten years ago), many people wore masks. When I asked a local about this (and adding there was no pollution) they said it was to avoid illness.

So if we follow that line of thinking then mask wearing is able to corral and negate the virus within a few weeks?

Actually, maybe because they were wearing masks to begin with far less people were infected?

I don't know - just thought the stat was interesting.

[John McClane]

Watched a pretty cool vid of a guy over in Wuhan during their test the whole 11 million people thing. Here, we have 10 million cases. There, they test 11 million people to find almost zero. The city of Wuhan is almost completely back to normal. Even more fascinating is South Korea. In a city of over 35 million people the death toll is almost nonexistent. Didn't even really do a lockdown. Their bbq must be really strong.Asian countries also don’t lock up their elders. Anyone else notice a correlation between the death count and how that country treats their elderly? I find it a shame that no media outlet is pushing the story that we need to dramatically rethink how we handle aging care: COVID has exposed our ineptitude of caring for the old, but no one wants to talk about it.

[Citizen Rules]

Asian countries also don’t lock up their elders. Anyone else notice a correlation between the death count and how that country treats their elderly?

I find it a shame that no media outlet is pushing the story that we need to dramatically rethink how we handle aging care: COVID has exposed our ineptitude of caring for the old, but no one wants to talk about it.Let's talk about it. I'm not familiar with this aspect of the pandemic, so let's start by expanding on how we need to 'rethink how we handle aging care'

[John McClane]

Let's talk about it. I'm not familiar with this aspect of the pandemic, so let's start by expanding on how we need to 'rethink how we handle aging care'Well, I’d say that family access has to be a priority. Yes, it’s another complexity but active community is paramount for aging care. I hope to be the kinda old person that’ll talk to anyone but that doesn’t fit the typical profile. Some only light up when they get a visit from family and thousands were denied their rights to see their own family in the last moments of their life. It’s been equally tough for both sides. I’m gunna shut up now though because I’m making myself cry. 😅

[Citizen Rules]

Well, I’d say that family access has to be a priority. Yes, it’s another complexity but active community is paramount for aging care. I hope to be the kinda old person that’ll talk to anyone but that doesn’t fit the typical profile. Some only light up when they get a visit from family and thousands were denied their rights to see their own family in the last moments of their life. It’s been equally tough for both sides. I’m gunna shut up now though because I’m making myself cry. 😅Thanks. I understand it's a hard time for you right now. I hope you feel better in the coming days:)

[cricket]

Asian countries also don’t lock up their elders. Anyone else notice a correlation between the death count and how that country treats their elderly? I find it a shame that no media outlet is pushing the story that we need to dramatically rethink how we handle aging care: COVID has exposed our ineptitude of caring for the old, but no one wants to talk about it.

That's about half our death count right there.

[matt72582]

Asian countries also don’t lock up their elders. Anyone else notice a correlation between the death count and how that country treats their elderly? I find it a shame that no media outlet is pushing the story that we need to dramatically rethink how we handle aging care: COVID has exposed our ineptitude of caring for the old, but no one wants to talk about it.


I noticed the same when I was in Greece.. The women had an average retirement age (back in 2009, anyway) of about 45, because they take care of their parents.

[Stirchley]

Asian countries also don’t lock up their elders.

A problem in the Mediterranean - Italy, in particular, has been the opposite where 2 or 3 generations will all live together. Greece too & to some extent Spain & Portugal. It’s all very nice, but this has contributed to the spread of Covid19.

[John McClane]

A problem in the Mediterranean - Italy, in particular, has been the opposite where 2 or 3 generations will all live together. Greece too & to some extent Spain & Portugal. It’s all very nice, but this has contributed to the spread of Covid19."A report by academics based at the London School of Economics found that in Italy, France, Ireland, Spain and Belgium between 42 percent and 57 percent of deaths from the virus have taken place in nursing homes."

https://www.politico.eu/article/the-silent-coronavirus-covid19-massacre-in-italy-milan-lombardy-nursing-care-homes-elderly/

[Stirchley]

"A report by academics based at the London School of Economics found that in Italy, France, Ireland, Spain and Belgium between 42 percent and 57 percent of deaths from the virus have taken place in nursing homes."

That still leaves a lot of deaths at home.

[John McClane]

Well, no, we can't infer that. Yes, I am sure that a lot of deaths took place at home but it's far more likely that a good portion of the remaining deaths took place in hospitals. I shared that information because those deaths were untreated elders left to die in nursing homes and, like America, the greatest portion of deaths in those countries is coming from nursing homes. An environment that is built to spread highly communicable diseases.

[Stirchley]

I do think you’re being a tad dramatic. Are the majority of old folks “locked up” in the nursing homes? Are these old folks “left to die” there?

I don’t want to judge the families who have elders in nursing homes because, quite frankly, I don’t know what I would do in their circumstances.

[John McClane]

I do think you’re being a tad dramatic. Are the majority of old folks “locked up” in the nursing homes? Are these old folks “left to die” there?

I don’t want to judge the families who have elders in nursing homes because, quite frankly, I don’t know what I would do in their circumstances.We have countless reports of horror scenarios from Italy where infected bodies were left in the same room as the living. We have stories of nursing facilities essentially being abandoned at the start of the pandemic (Italy, France, Spain all had stories of this behavior).

But, more to your point, most of America shutdown patient access to outside visitors when we got serious about trying to contain COVID. Case in point: my gramps' facility has been on complete lockdown since March and it still is on lock down. So no, I am not being dramatic when I say they have been locked up in nursing homes.

The state of elderly care in the developed world is one that we should all be ashamed of because even when you have the money to pay for it you are still under cared for and God forbid you don't have the money for it. I have seen/heard some situations that just break the heart.

[Stirchley]

⬆️ You’re right. I see what you’re saying.

[John McClane]

Stimulus talks: i just love how both sides still haven’t budged a single bit from where they were this summer.

I am not looking for another stimulus check (wouldn’t say no to it), but it is clear to anyone with a heart that the people who were hurting at the beginning of this year are probably getting desperate right about now.

It seems like both sides are stalling and thinking time is going to prove them right: Republicans saying the economy is better so we only need to spend a little, and Democrats saying it’s not so we need to spend a lot.

It’s just sad that they are both wrong and incapable of doing this stuff piecemeal. I am getting tired of massive legislation in this country because it’s just an excuse for both sides to stall on serving a legitimate need and provide an outlet to escape responsibility.

I would much rather see them pass 10 tiny bills getting work done on the things they agree. Instead, our legislation has devolved into a school yard game where the team captains are fighting because they both want the same player on their team, so no one gets to play at all. :facepalm:

[John McClane]

Re economy: it’s things like women leaving the workforce at a higher rate (https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/10/02/919517914/enough-already-multiple-demands-causing-women-to-abandon-workforce), fallout affecting lower income families hardest (https://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2020/09/24/economic-fallout-from-covid-19-continues-to-hit-lower-income-americans-the-hardest/), and small health practices shuttering (https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.nytimes.com/2020/11/15/health/Covid-doctors-nurses-quitting.amp.html).

[rauldc14]

Stimulus talks: i just love how both sides still haven’t budged a single bit from where they were this summer.

I am not looking for another stimulus check (wouldn’t say no to it), but it is clear to anyone with a heart that the people who were hurting at the beginning of this year are probably getting desperate right about now.

It seems like both sides are stalling and thinking time is going to prove them right: Republicans saying the economy is better so we only need to spend a little, and Democrats saying it’s not so we need to spend a lot.

It’s just sad that they are both wrong and incapable of doing this stuff piecemeal. I am getting tired of massive legislation in this country because it’s just an excuse for both sides to stall on serving a legitimate need and provide an outlet to escape responsibility.

I would much rather see them pass 10 tiny bills getting work done on the things they agree. Instead, our legislation has devolved into a school yard game where the team captains are fighting because they both want the same player on their team, so no one gets to play at all. :facepalm:

One of the most accurate statements I've read on here in a long time. Let's work together people!

[Stirchley]

Re economy: it’s things like women leaving the workforce at a higher rate (https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/10/02/919517914/enough-already-multiple-demands-causing-women-to-abandon-workforce), fallout affecting lower income families hardest (https://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2020/09/24/economic-fallout-from-covid-19-continues-to-hit-lower-income-americans-the-hardest/), and small health practices shuttering (https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.nytimes.com/2020/11/15/health/Covid-doctors-nurses-quitting.amp.html).

Yes, all of these sad stories have been reported in The NY Times.

Going off on a tangent, I predict that the Times will win a Pulitzer for its coverage.

[kgaard]

Stimulus talks: i just love how both sides still haven’t budged a single bit from where they were this summer.

I am not looking for another stimulus check (wouldn’t say no to it), but it is clear to anyone with a heart that the people who were hurting at the beginning of this year are probably getting desperate right about now.

It seems like both sides are stalling and thinking time is going to prove them right: Republicans saying the economy is better so we only need to spend a little, and Democrats saying it’s not so we need to spend a lot.

It’s just sad that they are both wrong and incapable of doing this stuff piecemeal. I am getting tired of massive legislation in this country because it’s just an excuse for both sides to stall on serving a legitimate need and provide an outlet to escape responsibility.

I would much rather see them pass 10 tiny bills getting work done on the things they agree. Instead, our legislation has devolved into a school yard game where the team captains are fighting because they both want the same player on their team, so no one gets to play at all. :facepalm:

That's not the reason. Stimulus bills have passed twice in the House, but have stalled in the GOP-held Senate--the reason is that Republicans want to indemnify corporations from Covid-related lawsuits (https://www.vox.com/2020/7/29/21345228/liability-shield-mitch-mcconnell-republican-safe-to-work-act-gross-negligence), and Democrats don't want to do that because corporations do things like forbidding their employees from wearing masks (https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2020/11/23/family-covid-19-victim-sues-publix-mask-policy-start-pandemic/6390401002/).

[Stirchley]

No clue where to put this (we really should have a miscellaneous, anything goes thread). I see a lot of people sleeping in parks & generally shambling around without money. But this week quite near my house I saw that someone had pitched a small tent behind fencing, down a little hill & near railroad tracks. Very hidden from passers by. Terrible that someone has to resort to living like this. People don’t want to go into shelters & I do wonder how this person stays clean. Especially in this time of sickness.

[John McClane]

That's not the reason. Stimulus bills have passed twice in the House, but have stalled in the GOP-held Senate--the reason is that Republicans want to indemnify corporations from Covid-related lawsuits (https://www.vox.com/2020/7/29/21345228/liability-shield-mitch-mcconnell-republican-safe-to-work-act-gross-negligence), and Democrats don't want to do that because corporations do things like forbidding their employees from wearing masks (https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2020/11/23/family-covid-19-victim-sues-publix-mask-policy-start-pandemic/6390401002/).Yeah, House = Dems wanting to spend a lot. Senate = Reps wanting to spend less. It’s not just the indemnification.

But even if it was what does it say that Dems aren’t willing to budge and withholding support because they want workers to be able to hold corporations responsible for an act of God?

My point is that when they should be putting differences aside to work together they are fighting over who gets the player with a mean right kick.

This is precisely why they should and could be doing stuff piecemeal. We are going to hold up giving money to hospitals because we’re arguing over who can be held responsible if we give money to corporations? Have they thought of like, I dunno, maybe just writing a bill to get money to hospitals only? Then the indemnity argument is moot.

But that’s not how our government works anymore; that’s the problem.

[mark f]

/Closed.

[John McClane]

/Closed.
I wish we had an up vote system. :up:

EDIT: In my defense, there is literally no way to talk about coronavirus, in generality, without politics getting into it. Because the failure to contain the US outbreak is a political problem and not a scientific one.

[Citizen Rules]

I wish we had an up vote system. :up:Huh? what are you talking about, you started the politically stuff a few post back:p

I guess you're getting your po-talk in before this happens:
I really hope we ban political discussions before Biden takes office. That’s liable to be the only way to get me to not run my mouth. ;)🙂 The smiley face is because I still like ya!

[John McClane]

Huh? what are you talking about, you started the politically stuff a few post back:pIt was just a joke (I.e. Reddit has a system where more ups means it moves up to the top)

I guess you're getting your po-talk in before this happens:
🙂 The smiley face is because I still like ya!Maybe I’m trying to nudge it with my boot. ;)

But no, seriously, at this point I can’t talk about coronavirus without putting the blame squarely in political context. It has devolved past science. Like we know what it is, how it spreads, and how to reduce transmission. Sure there’s still gaps in our knowledge, but the actual problem now is how do we repair the damage. That is how do we support people who are not sick but are hurting. And that’s where it devolves into a political problem.

[Stirchley]

So I see that all Dunkin Donuts no longer have indoor seating. So when I go to Dunkin for breakfast after Xmas Day mass (my little tradition), I am gonna have to sit outside in the cold. (If we even have a Xmas day mass.)

The NY Times reported yesterday that no indoor or outdoor seating will be allowed in Los Angeles County restaurants. Wow, way to close down the restaurant industry there.

[Citizen Rules]

Our restaurants are closed in Washington state except for outside seating and curb side take out. Of course there's no outside seating at most restaurants here. I mean who wants to set out in the rain and eat your meal:eek:

[Nausicaä]

Well here in Britain Christmas isn't cancelled at the moment, the government said three households can mix over Christmas in a three 'household bubble' from the 23rd to the 27th of december then it's back to the three tier system rules.

We still have to be careful, especially if your households that are mixing have a lot of people... but we are allowed.

[Stirchley]

Well here in Britain Christmas isn't cancelled at the moment, the government said three households can mix over Christmas in a three 'household bubble' from the 23rd to the 27th of december then it's back to the three tier system rules.

We still have to be careful, especially if your households that are mixing have a lot of people... but we are allowed.

I think Christmas is much more of a thing in the UK than it is here. Don’t you guys still close down from Xmas Eve to New Year?

Strangest thing for me here was working on Xmas Eve. Not unusual at all here. And don’t even mention Xmas on December 26 - it’s over thank you very much. :rolleyes:

[Nausicaä]

Most things close on Christmas day and early on New year's eve but every other day everything is open especially for the shop sales that start on boxing day...

I don't venture out near the shops during the first few days after Christmas day because it's packed, especially this year! No no.


°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

Oooo finally a vaccine here the UK! Most of the people who need it most will take a few months to give out then it goes to the rest of the population, so still need to be safe during December and January especially as everyone needs two doses over 21 days.

How's it going in other countries vaccine wise?

[Stirchley]

So our cathedral sent out an email yesterday telling us that masses are suspended through Friday. Someone who comes to mass daily has contracted COVID19.

Rather alarming news as this is the closest the virus has come to me. I don’t go to mass every day, but, no doubt, I have passed by this person, whoever it is.

It won’t surprise me if they suspend Sunday mass this week. No doubt they are feverishly cleaning the cathedral now. Again. :(

[Citizen Rules]

stereo:)

[John-Connor]

How's it going in other countries vaccine wise?
Predictions in The Netherlands are 60-65% of the population will be vaccinated by Easter.

[Stirchley]

Predictions in The Netherlands are 60-65% of the population will be vaccinated by Easter.

17,000,000 there compared to 331,000,000 in the USA. So we should be done - when? 2030? :eek:

[John McClane]

My dad was talking about traveling across the country to visit for Christmas, but I finally convinced him that’s a bad idea. Only took 2 weeks.

[Captain Steel]

17,000,000 there compared to 331,000,000 in the USA. So we should be done - when? 2030? :eek:

America is exceptional with it's speed and resources to get things done fast when it wants to... or at least we were when Trump was in charge...

(He snapped his fingers and suddenly mothballed hospital ships were refurbished, re-stocked, re-staffed and dispatched to each coast in record time! In NY, convention centers and parks were turned into emergency hospitals in a matter of days! He talked to manufacturing companies and suddenly automobile & appliance factories were turning out ventilators on their production lines - enough to make sure hospitals would not become overwhelmed. He launched Operation Warp Speed and multiple therapeutics and vaccines were developed far ahead of even the most optimistic predictions by the most knowledgeable scientists, doctors, and pharmacists!) :)

[gbgoodies]

Most things close on Christmas day and early on New year's eve but every other day everything is open especially for the shop sales that start on boxing day...

I don't venture out near the shops during the first few days after Christmas day because it's packed, especially this year! No no.



We usually shop on Black Friday, but this is the first year that I can remember in at least the last 20 years that we didn't buy anything on Black Friday. It just wasn't worth the risk of being in a crowded store with people who think it's okay to walk around with their masks under their noses, and bump into you if you're in their way.

[gbgoodies]

So our cathedral sent out an email yesterday telling us that masses are suspended through Friday. Someone who comes to mass daily has contracted COVID19.

Rather alarming news as this is the closest the virus has come to me. I don’t go to mass every day, but, no doubt, I have passed by this person, whoever it is.

It won’t surprise me if they suspend Sunday mass this week. No doubt they are feverishly cleaning the cathedral now. Again. :(


We just went through a similar COVID scare a few days ago. One of Hubby's co-workers tested positive for COVID the Friday after Thanksgiving. They closed the shop for two days to clean it, and everyone had to get tested. Nobody was allowed back to work without proof of testing negative.

[Stirchley]

America is exceptional with it's speed and resources to get things done fast when it wants to... or at least we were when Trump was in charge...

(He snapped his fingers and suddenly mothballed hospital ships were refurbished, re-stocked, re-staffed and dispatched to each coast in record time! In NY, convention centers and parks were turned into emergency hospitals in a matter of days! He talked to manufacturing companies and suddenly automobile & appliance factories were turning out ventilators on their production lines - enough to make sure hospitals would not become overwhelmed. He launched Operation Warp Speed and multiple therapeutics and vaccines were developed far ahead of even the most optimistic predictions by the most knowledgeable scientists, doctors, and pharmacists!) :)

Trump is done so don’t even want to get into this. :rolleyes:

We just went through a similar COVID scare a few days ago. One of Hubby's co-workers tested positive for COVID the Friday after Thanksgiving. They closed the shop for two days to clean it, and everyone had to get tested. Nobody was allowed back to work without proof of testing negative.

It seems to me that we should have had contact tracing? I don’t go to mass every day, but I could have crossed paths with this person at rosary prayer on Wednesday mornings & at the 8.30 Sunday mass if that’s the time this person worshipped.

Haven’t heard a word since from the cathedral so presume Sunday mass is on.

[Stirchley]

Wondering how long it will be before people start fighting each other for the vaccine. Believing that they deserve it more than someone else. Hope this doesn’t happen, but predicting that it will.

[Chypmunk]

Nice to see it's all positive posts in here :rolleyes:

[Stirchley]

So our cathedral sent out an email yesterday telling us that masses are suspended through Friday. Someone who comes to mass daily has contracted COVID19.

Rather alarming news as this is the closest the virus has come to me. I don’t go to mass every day, but, no doubt, I have passed by this person, whoever it is.

It won’t surprise me if they suspend Sunday mass this week. No doubt they are feverishly cleaning the cathedral now. Again. :(

So, we had some random priest for Sunday mass. He didn’t introduce himself or tell us why he was there & he left immediately after the mass.

So at rosary prayer this a.m., someone said our priest hasn’t been seen all week & there is some conjecture as to whether he is the person with COVID19. Rather alarming, but will be interesting to see if he returns for Sunday mass.

[Stirchley]

No clue where to put this (we really should have a miscellaneous, anything goes thread). I see a lot of people sleeping in parks & generally shambling around without money. But this week quite near my house I saw that someone had pitched a small tent behind fencing, down a little hill & near railroad tracks. Very hidden from passers by. Terrible that someone has to resort to living like this. People don’t want to go into shelters & I do wonder how this person stays clean. Especially in this time of sickness.

So whoever put up the tent has packed it up & moved on. Thinking this was his own decision (he must have been freezing there) since no police car would be able to see it from the street. Only a pedestrian could see it.

Hard times.

[MovieGal]

Test came back positive... I dont have many symptoms but I cant go to work until I have a negative test.

[John McClane]

Nice to see it's all positive posts in here :rolleyes:
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/2e/11/02/2e11022055eca3164f3d77f3dc8a623d.gif

[Yoda]

Sorry to hear that, here's hoping it's a false positive at least! :) No symptoms is good.

[Takoma11]

Test came back positive... I dont have many symptoms but I cant go to work until I have a negative test.

I wish you an uneventful road to recovery.


My only testing experience thus far is indirect--I've donated blood twice in the last few months and they test it for antibodies and then let you know the results.

[gbgoodies]

Test came back positive... I dont have many symptoms but I cant go to work until I have a negative test.


Sorry to hear this. I hope you get through it quickly and with little or no symptoms. Stay home, watch some great movies, and stay safe.

[Chypmunk]

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/2e/11/02/2e11022055eca3164f3d77f3dc8a623d.gif
https://hips.hearstapps.com/del.h-cdn.co/assets/16/37/1474038253-12677693-1135366849848376-1900696959-n.jpg

[Chypmunk]

Test came back positive... I dont have many symptoms but I cant go to work until I have a negative test.
Sorry to hear, only positive I can think of (aside from having far more time for movies for a while) is that at least your isolation period will be over just before Christmas. Stay well.

[Citizen Rules]

Test came back positive... I dont have many symptoms but I cant go to work until I have a negative test.Keep your spirits up MG🙂 If you ever need to talk you know where to find me!

[Stirchley]

Test came back positive... I dont have many symptoms but I cant go to work until I have a negative test.

Relax at home & try to feel better. Sorry this is happening to you. Keep in touch with us.

[Takoma11]

Wondering how long it will be before people start fighting each other for the vaccine. Believing that they deserve it more than someone else. Hope this doesn’t happen, but predicting that it will.

I'm more annoyed thinking about how people with more wealth/privilege will find ways to jump the queue, so to speak.

I have a friend who is an Assistant District Attorney who specifically prosecutes medical fraud, and she was like, "Oh, yeah. That's a given."

[Stirchley]

I'm more annoyed thinking about how people with more wealth/privilege will find ways to jump the queue, so to speak.

I have a friend who is an Assistant District Attorney who specifically prosecutes medical fraud, and she was like, "Oh, yeah. That's a given."

It’s happened already with Trump, Giuliani, et al.

[John McClane]

Unnerving activity in Florida (https://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/2020/12/07/agents-raid-home-fired-florida-data-scientist-who-built-covid-19-dashboard-rebekah-jones/6482817002/)

[Citizen Rules]

Unnerving activity in Florida (https://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/2020/12/07/agents-raid-home-fired-florida-data-scientist-who-built-covid-19-dashboard-rebekah-jones/6482817002/)Unnerving indeed! End fascism now!

[John McClane]

Reading about Loeffler's exploits before COVID makes her COVID stock market trades even more evil.

[MovieGal]

I went to CVS today and took my 2nd test.. I should have the results back Thursday.. I believe they are expecting me back to work on Friday but I have to make sure I have negative test results before I can return.

Tomorrow I'm going to the laundromat to wash all blankets to make sure no germs of covid may remain... washing them on hot and sneaking a bit of odor ban into my laundry detergent.

[Cobra]

Don’t know the area (or much of Canada for all that matter) but this guy is dumb.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJzVYgVb_qo

[Stirchley]

I went to CVS today and took my 2nd test.. I should have the results back Thursday.. I believe they are expecting me back to work on Friday but I have to make sure I have negative test results before I can return.


Hope you’re feeling better & that your 2nd test will be negative.

[MovieGal]

I found out today, through a mutual friend, that a woman I work with passed away yesterday from Covid 19. Nicki was always nice and would stop to talk. I never worked directly with her but we did have mutual co-worker friends.

[Takoma11]

I found out today, through a mutual friend, that a woman I work with passed away yesterday from Covid 19. Nicki was always nice and would stop to talk. I never worked directly with her but we did have mutual co-worker friends.

I'm so sorry.

[SpelingError]

I found out today, through a mutual friend, that a woman I work with passed away yesterday from Covid 19. Nicki was always nice and would stop to talk. I never worked directly with her but we did have mutual co-worker friends.

Condolences. I'm sorry that happened.

[Citizen Rules]

I found out today, through a mutual friend, that a woman I work with passed away yesterday from Covid 19. Nicki was always nice and would stop to talk. I never worked directly with her but we did have mutual co-worker friends.:( Gosh sorry to hear that MG.

[MovieMeditation]

I can’t wait for this corona to sit its ass the **** down. Here in Denmark things are shutting down, opening up, shutting down etc. And I’m currently educating myself in film and television, which is an education consisting of 5 “parts”, so to speak, each part being a couple of weeks and then back on the workplace that’s connected to my education.

Anyway, the FIRST PART of those five parts, has just been temporarily shut down AGAIN for the SECOND TIME for me... that means, I need to go back to the other side of the country for just one single week because I have to finish it to be able to continue. So yeah, I need to go back for a freaking THIRD TIME now in order to finish. And of course I’m more than saddened to hear of all the death and sickness it has caused. That’s obviously a global tragedy. But there’s so much to this virus. All the jobs lost, all the lives affected by this stupid virus.

And I’m really not happy with the way the government is handling this pandemic in my country. I feel like I’ve been patient and trusted their decisions, but lately I feel like they are taking some very poor choices.*

The sooner we can see some light in all this the better.... I feel like I’ve just about had it with this stupid virus by now.

[Wyldesyde19]

I found out today, through a mutual friend, that a woman I work with passed away yesterday from Covid 19. Nicki was always nice and would stop to talk. I never worked directly with her but we did have mutual co-worker friends.
I’m so sorry, MG. You have my condolences.

[The Rodent]

New rules for England...


Ok, so the 5 day period over Christmas, of allowing up to 3 households to mix isn't allowed anymore...

However up to 3 households *can* mix on Christmas Day for that one day.

"New tier 4" rules in the SE of England:
No mingling at all of any households over Christmas... apart from on Christmas Day...
No leaving the tier 4 areas... unless it's for work, religion, leaving the country..,
It's also ok to move around and mingle, if you're visiting relatives, but only on Christmas Day.

Also, even in the "new tier 4" in the SE of England... you can have hundreds, or even thousands of people mingling at the same time, without boundaries, also without any particular days banned or not banned... as long as it's in a Church. And this can happen on any day you choose.

It's like saying, "We've tightened the rules to stop the spread of CoVid... by not coughing on people on December 24th or 26th... but if you cough on people on December 25th, it'll be ok, because it'll only be happening on one day... or if you're going to Church, you can move around completely freely and ignore the new rules"

Absolutely backwards.

[Takoma11]

It's like saying, "We've tightened the rules to stop the spread of CoVid... by not coughing on people on December 24th or 26th... but if you cough on people on December 25th, it'll be ok, because it'll only be happening on one day... or if you're going to Church, you can move around completely freely and ignore the new rules"

Absolutely backwards.

The degree to which all of the lockdowns and regulations refuse to really be strict is a big part, in my opinion, of why this continues to linger the way that it does at the high level it's at.

I have to drive 30 minutes to get groceries because my local stores won't enforce mask wearing. Like, at all.

And with the lack of really strict rules, people are just doing whatever they define as "safe". A man in a parking lot the other day found out I was a teacher and yelled at me "You need to reopen them schools!". Okay, sir. He was not wearing a mask and I'd just watched him rant in the face of a customer service person for several minutes. I went to pick up a gift today (ordered online, you go to the store and ring a bell and they hand you your order through a little door, etc), and I was shocked at the number of people just out and about. Lots of people wearing masks incorrectly, jostling past each other. Today I watched a small crowd of people come out of a church, not a mask in sight.

[The Rodent]

Yep, and it's the lack of definitive rules makes a huge difference.

You can't mingle... but you can mingle... you can't leave certain tier areas... but you can leave certain tier areas... you can't mix households... but you can mix households... you have to wear a mask... but you don't have to wear a mask...


Also... this vaccine...
Have the vaccine... you're now vaccinated... but you still have to wear a mask...

... because you're not vaccinated... even though you are.

Give it another couple weeks, and the whole thing, quoting Dan Aykroyd... is gonna blow like a frog on a hotplate.

[Takoma11]

Yep, and it's the lack of definitive rules makes a huge difference.

You can't mingle... but you can mingle... you can't leave certain tier areas... but you can leave certain tier areas... you can't mix households... but you can mix households... you have to wear a mask... but you don't have to wear a mask...


Also... this vaccine...
Have the vaccine... you're now vaccinated... but you still have to wear a mask...

... because you're not vaccinated... even though you are.

I think that part of the problem is that people are just picking and choosing from the science and information that is available.

Masking helps prevent spread. Distancing helps prevent spread. It's not about picking one of those things--it's about doing BOTH.

It's also still too early to know how the vaccine will work. It's possible with some vaccines that you can still catch, carry, and spread the disease--but the vaccine prevents you from getting too sick with it.

For example, my chickens are vaccinated against Marek's disease. But the vaccine doesn't actually keep them from getting sick--it just teaches their body to ignore the virus. If they spread it to an unvaccinated chicken, they could kill it.

So we could end up in a situation where people who are vaccinated can still spread the disease. That would obviously be really dangerous for people with weaker immune systems or people who can't medically get vaccinated.

Again: it's all too early to tell with the vaccine and how it will play out. I just wish that the general approach among the population was to be incredibly conservative about behavior instead of what's actually happening, which seems to be a lot of people doing whatever they want based on some vague gut instinct about safety. Every time I think about that woman saying lockdown needs to end because she wants to get her hair done, or the guy who complained about how his freedoms were being "trampled" because his local bar was closed I kind of want to punch a wall.

[Stirchley]

New rules for England...

According to the NYTimes yesterday, alarming how many countries are not letting Brits in.

Amazing to me (since I don’t live there) is how an island nation has made herself so vulnerable. I recall speaking to one of my bros early in the crisis & he was surprisingly cavalier about the entire thing. Even though his son had just made it out of Italy in the nick of time after a skiing trip. :rolleyes:

[Nausicaä]

It would have been nice if countries had done this first time around, stopping air travel for a certain time...



"New tier 4" rules in the SE of England:
No mingling at all of any households over Christmas... apart from on Christmas Day...
No leaving the tier 4 areas... unless it's for work, religion, leaving the country..,
It's also ok to move around and mingle, if you're visiting relatives, but only on Christmas Day.


Tier 4 you can't mix at Christmas at all, not even for the actual day unless you have a support bubble. Not a 'Christmas bubble'.

Some of my relatives are in tier 4 now and they have had to all cancel their Christmas plans because you can not go to other households now even on the day. But my Aunt who lives on her own is going to one house to join her daughter because they are in a support bubble.

[Thunderbolt]

According to the NYTimes yesterday, alarming how many countries are not letting Brits in.

Amazing to me (since I don’t live there) is how an island nation has made herself so vulnerable. I recall speaking to one of my bros early in the crisis & he was surprisingly cavalier about the entire thing. Even though his son had just made it out of Italy in the nick of time after a skiing trip. :rolleyes:
As someone who lives in UK I think the government have acted too lax and have not been strict enough. It bothers me that no matter what laws are enforced, I still see many people going about their business like the rules don't apply to them. Come on Boris you can't please everyone. The total country needs a solid lockdown. Not a tier system that has a constant yo yo effect.

[Stirchley]

Not a 'Christmas bubble.

Who remembers when a bubble was just ... a bubble?

[Thunderbolt]

Also while I'm on a rant I just want to stress how much I loath the media for hyping things up and causing widespread panic. Yes things are bad but, most of what they report is speculation rather than fact. With this and the current Brexit situation, I just want to hibernate.

[Stirchley]

Also while I'm on a rant I just want to stress how much I loath the media for hyping things up and causing widespread panic. Yes things are bad but, most of what they report is speculation rather than fact. With this and the current Brexit situation, I just want to hibernate.

I read the New York Times every day. I don’t get that impression from them. But, then again, my brother in England has advised me to stop reading it as the news upsets me. He says they need to fill the pages with something!

[MovieGal]

Well I was cleared to return to work today. My boss's boss gave me the option to return today or tomorrow.. I took tomorrow.. at least I will be there a full day.

[WrinkledMind]

I read the New York Times every day. I don’t get that impression from them. But, then again, my brother in England has advised me to stop reading it as the news upsets me. He says they need to fill the pages with something!


NYT's foreign coverage is beyond rubbish. Same goes for WaPo.

[WrinkledMind]

As someone who lives in UK I think the government have acted too lax and have not been strict enough. It bothers me that no matter what laws are enforced, I still see many people going about their business like the rules don't apply to them. Come on Boris you can't please everyone. The total country needs a solid lockdown. Not a tier system that has a constant yo yo effect.


I am not defending the UK government and you will have a better idea, being a resident, but I wonder how much of it is also down to people from first world countries refusing to take strict orders, considering how you guys value the concept of freedom.




On a side note, I will applaud the UK government for informing the world about the new strain. It has allowed others to act quickly and stop incoming flights from UK. If only China had done such a thing last year, instead of supressing facts and arresting doctors, we would have been in a better situation.

[Thunderbolt]

I am not defending the UK government and you will have a better idea, being a resident, but I wonder how much of it is also down to people from first world countries refusing to take strict orders, considering how you guys value the concept of freedom.




On a side note, I will applaud the UK government for informing the world about the new strain. It has allowed others to act quickly and stop incoming flights from UK. If only China had done such a thing last year, instead of supressing facts and arresting doctors, we would have been in a better situation.

Yes I agree about people refusing to take orders. I see it all the time even on my street. People seem to think they are above the law and the orders are not applicable to them. Everyone is so sick of the whole scenario but until people are kept apart, this will not just disappear. We need a harsher punishment for those not conforming but I don’t know how they would police it.

[Takoma11]

Everyone is so sick of the whole scenario but until people are kept apart, this will not just disappear.

I get very frustrated because an honest-to-goodness lockdown would go such a long way!

But what do I hear from my students? "We went to SkyZone yesterday!" (that's a trampoline park, indoors). "We're having a big holiday cookie party with all my mom's friends and their kids!". Our county's positivity rate is 14.5% and climbing.

Everything is being done halfway and it's drawing this out so long. I have seen 6 people in person for the last few months, and they are all immediate family. I leave my house for groceries and once a month for pet food/chicken feed. But when I do leave, I see people inside restaurants! Maskless! It's just bizarre.

It feels like this:
"I need to lose weight so I don't die."
"Then you need to stop eating cakes and ice cream."
"What if I eat SOME cakes?"
" . . ."

[doubledenim]

Somebody say cake?

[Takoma11]

Somebody say cake?

"I wasn't reading the thread that carefully, but the gist of it was that cake cures COVID."

[Stirchley]

NYT's foreign coverage is beyond rubbish.

No clue why you think this. The NY Times will definitely win a Pulitzer for its coverage this year.

[Stirchley]

I was going to write something along these lines myself, but this woman’s letter yesterday to The NY Times beat me to it. She’s absolutely right.

70530

[WrinkledMind]

No clue why you think this. The NY Times will definitely win a Pulitzer for its coverage this year.



I can speak for the way NYT has covered India and it's a toss between being openly racist (look at poor India and it's space agency why are they spending money on it; why aren't more Indians dieing of Covid, etc) to printing absolute lies (I can give you countless examples).



The last good NYT bureau chief for this region was Lydia Polygreen.

[Stirchley]

I can speak for the way NYT has covered India and it's a toss between being openly racist (look at poor India and it's space agency why are they spending money on it; why aren't more Indians dieing of Covid, etc) to printing absolute lies (I can give you countless examples).

So you’re talking about its coverage of India? You referred to its “foreign coverage” before, which now appears to be rather a blanket statement.

I don’t recall any article that asks “why aren’t more Indians dieing [sic] of Covid, etc.”.

[WrinkledMind]

So you’re talking about its coverage of India? You referred to its “foreign coverage” before, which now appears to be rather a blanket statement.

I don’t recall any article that asks “why aren’t more Indians dieing [sic] of Covid, etc.”.

I have heard similar stories from my friends in Pakistan, Bangladesh, etc. hence said foreign coverage.


Their Covid coverage of India has been poor, which includes the recent article on migrants and trains for which they got a lot of criticism for selectivelty quoting facts and twisiting interviews. Back in March they were wondering why our death rate is low in a weirdly patronising manner.


But then again what can one expect from a publication whose idea of humour is this.


https://gumlet.assettype.com/dharmadispatch%2F2020-03%2F5bcfb16f-e857-4fd9-a986-68db960fcc8d%2FNYTCartoon.jpeg?auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=max&format=webp&dpr=1.0&q=50&w=400

[Citizen Rules]

...But then again what can one expect from a publication whose idea of humour is this.
https://gumlet.assettype.com/dharmadispatch%2F2020-03%2F5bcfb16f-e857-4fd9-a986-68db960fcc8d%2FNYTCartoon.jpeg?auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=max&format=webp&dpr=1.0&q=50&w=400Correct me if I'm wrong but I believe that the satirization in that NYT cartoon is on the western nations who 'act elitist' and view India as poor farmers. Clearly the newspaper's headlines refers to India's space program. So the cartoonist is acknowledging India's space program and the panel on the right represents the viewpoint of the elitist western men in the left panel.

[WrinkledMind]

Correct me if I'm wrong but I believe that the satirization in that NYT cartoon is on the western nations who 'act elitist' and view India as poor farmers. Clearly the newspapers headlines refers to India's space program, so the cartoonist is acknowledging India's space program and the panel on the right represents the viewpoint of the western men in the left panel.


Naah, it was the age-old poor country shouldn't spend on space programs, which was also their general tone in their articles (again not directly, but mentioning the country's poverty when discussing the space programs). Even the American astronauts at NASA criticised it. And it was only after that NYT felt the need to apololgise.

By the way, the Western nations have routinely applauded our space agency for being good and cost effective.


It also goes back to the lazy perception of India which in the past used to be about snake charmers and cows, and now it's about just cows.

[Citizen Rules]

OK, I didn't know all that, thanks for posting it.

[Thunderbolt]

So my region has been lumped into the new tier 4 category as of Boxing Day. 50,000 transmissions yesterday across the country and rising. People keep saying “I’ll be glad to see the end of 2020.” Well if they think 2021 will be any better I think they are massively mistaken.

[Loner]

Can we all unite and agree that WrinkledMind (https://www.movieforums.com/community/member.php?u=101202) has the best avatar?

[Takoma11]

So my region has been lumped into the new tier 4 category as of Boxing Day. 50,000 transmissions yesterday across the country and rising. People keep saying “I’ll be glad to see the end of 2020.” Well if they think 2021 will be any better I think they are massively mistaken.

Everyone in my school system keeps talking about January as if when the ball drops on New Year's eve someone will wave a wand and make everything okay. Our county's numbers are going up, not down. And if they think that's going to improve after everyone breathes on each other all winter break . . .

[gbgoodies]

Hubby and I were complaining for months that nobody in our co-op community was wearing masks or social distancing. Our neighbors just sit outside as a group of people around a small table crowded together, and they block the walkway to the front door. Every time we ask them to at least move away from our walkway if they're not going to wear masks, they get mad at us.

Today I found out that someone in our co-op passed away from COVID a few days ago. :( I hope they at least learn something from that so nobody else gets sick or dies from this virus.

[Stirchley]

Their Covid coverage of India has been poor, which includes the recent article on migrants and trains for which they got a lot of criticism for selectivelty quoting facts and twisiting interviews. Back in March they were wondering why our death rate is low in a weirdly patronising manner.

I deduce that you wouldn’t like any article that portrays India & the region in a poor light, as it were. Sometimes the truth is painful. The New York Times has no skin in this game: it writes about what it sees.

[Stirchley]

Today I found out that someone in our co-op passed away from COVID a few days ago. :( I hope they at least learn something from that so nobody else gets sick or dies from this virus.

Wow, that is close. Try to stay safe.

The Archbishop of Connecticut did not preside at mass this morning. Our regular priest explained that he & another bishop have been exposed to a priest who has the virus. So now they need to quarantine for a bit until they have a negative result from their tests.

I didn’t mind. When the Archbishop presides it’s all rather a long drawn-out palaver. And this is not the time for that. Our mass lasted 15 minutes longer due to a lot of singing from the organ loft, but I guess this was ok.

[WrinkledMind]

I deduce that you wouldn’t like any article that portrays India & the region in a poor light, as it were. Sometimes the truth is painful. The New York Times has no skin in this game: it writes about what it sees.


Nope. Wrong again.


If something is wrong, call it out. My country is far from perfect. But I am just against printing lies. Like the fake Christians under attack narrative that NYT propagated (even wrote a church was burned down when in reality it accidently caught fire due to short circuit), or writing about a law as an anti-Muslim law when it was actually a law that helped to give citizenship to relgiously persecuted minorities from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, or calling a riot (where both Hindus and Muslims died and violence was propagated from both sides) as an anti-Muslim attack, or even the recent piece on migrants and trains in Covid, where they tried to push in a caste narrative when none existed and badly twisted interviews. Unfortunately for them, some of the people whom they interviewed recorded the interviews and made them public showing NYT's lies.


I understand it's a case of ideology for NYT. Their standards have gone downhill, since a supposedly right wing government was chosen here in 2014 (in reality they are way more socialists and their policies are out of left wing textbooks). I don't like the current government and there are plenty of issues on which they can be cornered (economy, foreign policy, etc) but instead of doing that NYT has gone ahead and printed lies. Time and time again.


Same with WaPo who ran a piece stating children were imprisoned in Kashmir, only for judges here to see the piece and order an enquiry, and then discover that not a single child was even detained.


I could go on and on. Plenty of examples since 2014. But I don't want to derail this thread.


I will say it again. If something is wrong, write about it. It's important to report and even criticise. Unfortunately NYT's journalism is more activism and less about facts. Even several of their in-house staff have spoken about it recently.

Also, they do have a lot of skin in the game. Afterall money is important for any organisation to sustain itself.

[Stirchley]

Wondering how long it will be before people start fighting each other for the vaccine. Believing that they deserve it more than someone else. Hope this doesn’t happen, but predicting that it will.

It’s begun.

Hospital Workers Start to ‘Turn Against Each Other’ to Get Vaccine
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/24/nyregion/nyc-hospital-workers-covid-19-vaccine.html?referringSource=articleShare

[Stirchley]

WrinkledMind, I forgot to reply to your long post. We’ll have to agree to disagree. Your POV is entirely different from mine, but I have to respect it.

[cricket]

My wife is temping at a state hospital so she got the first part of the Moderna vaccine yesterday. Part 2 is the end of January. She said it was nothing and she feels fine.

[Daniel M]

My wife is temping at a state hospital so she got the first part of the Moderna vaccine yesterday. Part 2 is the end of January. She said it was nothing and she feels fine.

My mum got her first one a couple of weeks ago so I think it must be her second part this week or next. She works in a residential home. Same with one of my best mates. Both been fine, one had a little bit of an achy arm for a couple of days.

[Takoma11]

My wife is temping at a state hospital so she got the first part of the Moderna vaccine yesterday. Part 2 is the end of January. She said it was nothing and she feels fine.

At this point I know several people who have received the vaccine (all of them are doctors. nurses, or EMTs), and *fingers crossed* they all seem to be doing well.

[Stirchley]

⬆️ There have been a few scary reactions, but, by the time I get mine (God knows when that will be), any “wrinkles”, hopefully, will be ironed out.

[cricket]

I get back to the warehouse today and find out there's been an outbreak at my work. Multiple people tested positive and/or in quarantine including at least 1 person each from the office and warehouse. It's not a big company and it's being treated very hush hush which annoys me. This news is apparently at least a couple of days old and I believe everyone should have been informed immediately. I'm only there for a few minutes in the morning and a few minutes when I get back, but I see everyone, breathe the same air, and touch the same things. They load my truck at night and then park it inside.

[Miss Vicky]

The ex boyfriend of one of my coworkers and the ex’s siblings and parents all have Covid. Unfortunately the “ex” part of ex boyfriend is not significant because he’s the father of my coworker’s son and his mom usually babysits when my coworker is working so she and her kid are around these people a lot. She found this out sometime over our Christmas break (my office was closed for four days for Christmas). She isn’t having symptoms but hasn’t gotten tested yet. She said she couldn’t get an appointment until Saturday.

I had a horrible headache and spiked a fever when I was at work on Monday. It got to 101.7 Monday evening, but I had taken a bunch of ibuprofen earlier for the headache so that probably spared me from getting even hotter. My temperature has come down to normal and my head isn’t pounding anymore but I got tested yesterday and am waiting for the results. I’m so glad this year is just hours away from ending.

[Takoma11]

I get back to the warehouse today and find out there's been an outbreak at my work. Multiple people tested positive and/or in quarantine including at least 1 person each from the office and warehouse. It's not a big company and it's being treated very hush hush which annoys me. This news is apparently at least a couple of days old and I believe everyone should have been informed immediately. I'm only there for a few minutes in the morning and a few minutes when I get back, but I see everyone, breathe the same air, and touch the same things. They load my truck at night and then park it inside.

That stinks. I found out that two different people at my workplace have tested positive. (We have the option to work from home, which I have been doing). In theory I am supposed to report back to work on January 10th. I'm really hoping they delay that. The positivity rate in my county is about 18%.

There is no excuse for not immediately informing people.

I had a horrible headache and spiked a fever when I was at work on Monday. It got to 101.7 Monday evening, but I had taken a bunch of ibuprofen earlier for the headache so that probably spared me from getting even hotter. My temperature has come down to normal and my head isn’t pounding anymore but I got tested yesterday and am waiting for the results. I’m so glad this year is just hours away from ending.

Yikes. I hope you have an uneventful recovery, whether it's COVID or something else.

[Stirchley]

It's not a big company and it's being treated very hush hush which annoys me.

Nothing should be kept hush hush now. Unbelievable that those in charge think this is ok now.

I got tested yesterday and am waiting for the results.

Hope your results will be satisfactory.

[Miss Vicky]

Got my result this morning: negative
Good start to the new year.

[Stirchley]

⬆️ Yes, I would definitely say so.

[cricket]

$1200 just popped into our bank account

[Daniel M]

I get back to the warehouse today and find out there's been an outbreak at my work. Multiple people tested positive and/or in quarantine including at least 1 person each from the office and warehouse. It's not a big company and it's being treated very hush hush which annoys me. This news is apparently at least a couple of days old and I believe everyone should have been informed immediately. I'm only there for a few minutes in the morning and a few minutes when I get back, but I see everyone, breathe the same air, and touch the same things. They load my truck at night and then park it inside.

The second to last week before I broke up for Christmas holidays at my work, it was just me and one other colleague in the office. He felt symptoms on the Thursday evening, got tested on Friday and got the result back positive on the Sunday.

We were in the same building all week but our work has been good following protocols, hand-sanitisers spread across the building in key areas, desks spread as far as possible, if we speak close together wear masks, don't breach 2 metres. I was surprised that I wasn't told by our health services to self-isolate as a consequence of his positive test but apparently I didn't have to as we didn't have any sustained contact within 2 metres. I had a test on the Monday for peace of mind and was negative anyway. My boss also said for the last week everyone can work at home for a pre-caution.

It's testament to the value of having good procedures in place and a decent team, I feel sorry for the business owners and people who have gone through great effort and spent lots of money to adapt to regulations only to be told they have to shut down often with sub-satisfactory compensation. Like you though Cricket I have heard some horror stories and many companies approach possible cases in completely the wrong way.

[Miss Vicky]

The ex boyfriend of one of my coworkers and the ex’s siblings and parents all have Covid. Unfortunately the “ex” part of ex boyfriend is not significant because he’s the father of my coworker’s son and his mom usually babysits when my coworker is working so she and her kid are around these people a lot. She found this out sometime over our Christmas break (my office was closed for four days for Christmas). She isn’t having symptoms but hasn’t gotten tested yet. She said she couldn’t get an appointment until Saturday.

My coworker tested positive.

[Stirchley]

My coworker tested positive.

Yikes. What will you do now?

[Stirchley]

My dentist told me she got part 1 of the vaccine last week at a local hospital. She said it was all very quick & efficient.

She told me that Connecticut is really working well with the vaccine. Especially compared to some other states.

[Chypmunk]

My coworker tested positive.
Sorry to hear, fingers crossed you won't have caught it from her between your test and now.

[Nausicaä]

Prime minister giving a statement in a few hours here. Probably going to say England is going to go into a third lockdown. Not surprised...

Most of the country is in the highest tier, tier 4, yet we are still getting record amount of cases a day!?!?

Also people still don't know how to wear a mask correctly, still seeing so many people not covering their nose! So many in the supermarket yesterday, and not respecting social distancing, about four people reached over me to get something off the shelf...

Sigh...

https://media.giphy.com/media/OQndMbvpFbJl8WmR9c/giphy.gif

[Stirchley]

Nausicaä, I was thinking the other day how Great Britain being an island had protected it in WWII (thanks to the RAF, obviously). It being an island has not protected it in any way from the coronavirus. It’s bad here in America, but I feel sorry for my fellow Brits.

[Miss Vicky]

Yikes. What will you do now?

I just got tested and am not currently having symptoms, so unless that changes There isn’t much I can do other than try to buy a test and pay out of pocket. My insurance won’t cover another one so soon.

I haven’t been near that coworker since last Monday (two days before I got tested) and she was only at the office for a very brief time, was masked, and I did my best to keep my distance. Here’s hoping I didn’t catch anything.

[Stirchley]

Terrifying thought: being infected by the virus when a vaccine is close at hand.

I haven’t the faintest idea when a vaccine will be available to me (though I’m told Connecticut is well-organized with this). Got to think positive & be patient, I guess.

[WrinkledMind]

A junior doctor's account on working with Covid patients in England. I remember reading something similar from an Italian doctor in April or May, and then another from an Indian doctor. And yet, this still ends up being a horrifying read.


https://unherd.com/2021/01/inside-the-covid-ward/

[Stirchley]

And yet, this still ends up being a horrifying read.

Indeed. And many similar accounts have been written by American doctors.

Horrible that this poor woman starts work at 8 a.m. & finishes at 9.30 p.m.

[Nausicaä]

We risked my Father coming to stay over Christmas and thankfully all went fine and no one passing the virus on as the time frame for symptoms to appear has passed.

It was a lesser of two evils though, if he had not come to us he would have gone to a house full of about 14 people including children... so think it was the right decision.

Going by online 'prediction' sites that predict where in the queue you are for the vaccine, my parents should get their vaccine around February which sounds about right for where they fall in list of order. Can't wait until then and that's a massive weight of stress off my shoulders not having to worry about my parents getting the virus. Like most.

As for me, in May sometime apparently.

[Nausicaä]

Sigh... My Nan who is in her late 90s has been told that one of her carers has tested positive for the virus. So far no symptoms showing, and hopefully get her a test.

So fingers crossed. The carers wear masks and visors so hopefully nothing got out.

https://media.tenor.com/images/1088e6b3bfb2c50489c32222cb9734dc/tenor.gif

[Chypmunk]

Fingers crossed for her.

[Stirchley]

Wondering how long it will be before people start fighting each other for the vaccine. Believing that they deserve it more than someone else. Hope this doesn’t happen, but predicting that it will.

“In December, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo threatened sanctions of up to $1 million (and the revocation of the right to practice) against doctors, nurses, urgent-care providers or any others who delivered the vaccine unethically. On Monday he went further, proposing a law that would criminalize the administration of the vaccine to anyone trying to jump ahead in a line that prioritizes health care workers.” New York Times

I read about one woman who volunteers & donates to a hospital. She got the vaccine even though she’s not entitled to it at age 41 & in good health. But it was offered to her & I guess I would do the same as her as I volunteer too.

[Citizen Rules]

I'm not so sure I'd want the covid vaccine if offered to me. I'm no expert on the methodology of the new RNA lipid bubble vaccine, but having my cells reprogrammed by designer-alien-'gmo' RNA doesn't fill me with enthusiasm. Who knows what this vaccine will do in the human body over the long run, say a year from now, or even a decade.

[Stirchley]

I'm not so sure I'd want the covid vaccine if offered to me. I'm no expert on the methodology of the new RNA lipid bubble vaccine, but having my cells reprogrammed by designer-alien-'gmo' RNA doesn't fill me with enthusiasm. Who knows what this vaccine will do in the human body over the long run, say a year from now, or even a decade.

Understand what you’re saying, but I’m taking it anyway. Goodness knows when I’ll even be eligible.

[Citizen Rules]

Understand what you’re saying, but I’m taking it anyway. Goodness knows when I’ll even be eligible.Totally understandable🙂

[MovieGal]

I think one of the after-effects of Covid is that when I strain to do something... like walk up a lot of stairs or change/make my bed.. I get overheated quickly. I have to stop and sit down because I get hot. I actually took my temperature once when this happened, and it was normal.

[MovieGal]

I'm not so sure I'd want the covid vaccine if offered to me. I'm no expert on the methodology of the new RNA lipid bubble vaccine, but having my cells reprogrammed by designer-alien-'gmo' RNA doesn't fill me with enthusiasm. Who knows what this vaccine will do in the human body over the long run, say a year from now, or even a decade.

Im not going to take it when first offered.. I think I will wait a year to see how the rest of the people are doing on it... and I will have more options from other pharmaceutical companies.

[Kay Burton]

I'm not so sure I'd want the covid vaccine if offered to me. I'm no expert on the methodology of the new RNA lipid bubble vaccine, but having my cells reprogrammed by designer-alien-'gmo' RNA doesn't fill me with enthusiasm. Who knows what this vaccine will do in the human body over the long run, say a year from now, or even a decade.

Hmm, you're really right. It seems like it's cool - high efficiency, but what are the consequences? At one time, there was a lot of sensational rejuvenation with the help of stem cells, and as a result, many of these rejuvenated died in torment from oncology.

[doubledenim]

I’m not comfortable with the idea of the vaccine either, but I’ll take it when I get my chance.

Look at it this way. All of your healthcare workers are getting it. If something happens to them, you’re gonna be screwed anyways 🤓

[Stirchley]

Im not going to take it when first offered.. I think I will wait a year to see how the rest of the people are doing on it... and I will have more options from other pharmaceutical companies.

This makes a lot of sense. But I’m gonna get mine anyway. But who knows when.

[Darth Wish]

Most of the older generation where my Mum lives have had their first one or are having it within the next week.
My Mum is due hers Friday PM.
I'm not expecting to be getting it until at least Easter but you never know Boris and his bunch of brain dead buffoons might get their act in order and get organised then I might get it sooner.
They said all care and nursing homes would receive it by the end of January 2021but they are no where near fulfilling that promise. :rolleyes:

[Stirchley]

Sad to see how obdurate my fellow Brits are in the UK. NY Times reports that 1 in 30 Londoners has the virus. Masks not required outside & lax enforcement inside. So many thousands are afflicted with the virus & so many thousands have died.

This is my hometown.

71691

[Nausicaä]

^ That's changing here, supermarkets anyway are finally banning people from going in without a mask unless they can prove medical reasons. I'm sorry but I don't believe every person I see without a mask has a medical reason for not wearing one...

Should have done this right from the start when masks were made mandatory inside.

When I was last in the supermarket, again an idiot reached over me to get something off the shelf, I turned to look and they were not wearing a mask. Typical.

[Stirchley]

^ That's changing here, supermarkets anyway are finally banning people from going in without a mask unless they can prove medical reasons.

Unbelievable. “Finally” after almost a year into this thing. Worse than us over here & we’re overrun with nutters. :rolleyes:

[Citizen Rules]

I always laugh (i.e. cringe) at the posted Covid health signs on retail stores...'Mask are required' unless of course someone doesn't want to wear one:rolleyes:

[Stirchley]

I always laugh (i.e. cringe) at the posted Covid health signs on retail stores...'Mask are required' unless of course someone doesn't want to wear one:rolleyes:

Here in Connecticut, people seem to be following this rule very well. Rare to see someone inside without a mask. Many many people wear them on the street too. I don’t do this though I carry one in case I meet someone I know.

[Citizen Rules]

Here in Connecticut, people seem to be following this rule very well. Rare to see someone inside without a mask. Many many people wear them on the street too. I don’t do this though I carry one in case I meet someone I know.Mostly people are good here too, we have a very L state, Washington. Mainly I see arrogant guys in Home Depot strutting around without their mask and apparently damn proud of the own idiot-ism.

[Stirchley]

What is an L state?

[Citizen Rules]

What is an L state?Not sure if I can use that word:D so I sent you a post comment🙂

[doubledenim]

They have changed our policy at work. Now, any movement outside your normal work area requires a mask.

We also have c.c. monitored hand washing stations before you enter. Those are cool, because 90% of people grab their mobile as soon as they are done 🥸

[Takoma11]

I always laugh (i.e. cringe) at the posted Covid health signs on retail stores...'Mask are required' unless of course someone doesn't want to wear one:rolleyes:

I have to rant about this for a moment.

I went to buy chicken feed today and two people were walking around with no masks on. Multiple employees just said nothing. And the aisles in this store are really narrow, like you have to turn sideways to pass someone in an aisle. They were also not respecting distancing. I finally asked an employee to say something to the maskless couple and they refused! "But they're a customer." Dude, I AM A CUSTOMER! It's better to risk my health (and the health of all the other customers) than politely ask people to put a mask on?!

And the people who were maskless were not big scary biker dudes or anything. (I really, REALLY sympathize with store employees who don't want to get punched out or shot for telling someone to mask up). They were a young Mennonite couple.

Our county's positivity rate is literally DOUBLE the state average. Many of my students' parents and grandparents (and even some of my students!) have COVID right now.

So not okay.

I so wish I had said something to the couple, but I was worried it would come out super hysterical sounding. These days the shock of being around someone with no mask sends my heartrate through the roof and I feel like I can't think clearly.

When I got home I called the store and told the manager that I would not be returning to their store.

Like, I'm sorry, but clothing is required in your store and if someone walked in naked you'd say something, right? If someone lit up a joint in your store you'd say something, right? But when it comes to a deadly, highly-contagious disease we're going to get all coy about enforcing hygiene rules?

And the mask mandate is literally an order from the Governor. It is the law. It's not some optional store policy.

Part of why it's so frustrating is that I have been so careful about picking places to shop that are good about mask enforcement. And I really want to support local businesses. AND this store is the best place to get chicken feed. But I will drive the extra hour to get feed if it means I don't have to spend the rest of the day in a sub-panicked state wondering if it's okay for me to go and see my parents.

[Captain Steel]

My niece tested positive.
(No fears, she's in only her thirties and is a school teacher, but hasn't been in school since last spring and is trying to teach remotely. She came down with flu-like symptoms and lost her senses of taste & smell so went for a "rapid test").

Here's what I don't get - her husband and two baby girls all tested negative. If the virus is so contagious how come no one else in her household got it? I mean she sleeps in the same bed with her husband (among other things, presumably - thus the baby girls) and she's probably kissing the babies (at least before she tested positive), and I know little kids don't tend to get it, but can't they be asymptomatic and still have it in their system, and thus test positive, can't they?

[Stirchley]

My niece tested positive.
(No fears, she's in only her thirties and is a school teacher, but hasn't been in school since last spring and is trying to teach remotely. She came down with flu-like symptoms and lost her senses of taste & smell so went for a "rapid test").


Just found out my niece had it too. On lockdown in London & working remotely (she’s 25 or so), but she got it anyway. Exact same symptoms as your niece. My bro tells me she is recovering very well, but was quite sick for a week.

[Takoma11]

Here's what I don't get - her husband and two baby girls all tested negative. If the virus is so contagious how come no one else in her household got it? I mean she sleeps in the same bed with her husband (among other things, presumably - thus the baby girls) and she's probably kissing the babies (at least before she tested positive), and I know little kids don't tend to get it, but can't they be asymptomatic and still have it in their system, and thus test positive, can't they?

Did she only just test positive? Does she know how/when she was exposed?

One possibility is that her husband (and possibly her girls) had it but were never symptomatic (this happened to my friend who literally had not left the house or interacted with anyone and got it--the only explanation was that her husband had been asymptomatic and gave it to her).

If she only just got it, then testing is supposed to happen 5 days after last exposure. Did the husband and kids test after several days of her knowing she was sick, or did they all test on the same day?

I'm seeing many of my students' families have a mixed positivity. Sometimes the dad and the child are sick, but not the mom. Other times both parents have it but the kids are fine. Other times everyone in the house has it. Her husband and kids might have just gotten lucky.

[Captain Steel]

Did she only just test positive? Does she know how/when she was exposed?

One possibility is that her husband (and possibly her girls) had it but were never symptomatic (this happened to my friend who literally had not left the house or interacted with anyone and got it--the only explanation was that her husband had been asymptomatic and gave it to her).

If she only just got it, then testing is supposed to happen 5 days after last exposure. Did the husband and kids test after several days of her knowing she was sick, or did they all test on the same day?

I'm seeing many of my students' families have a mixed positivity. Sometimes the dad and the child are sick, but not the mom. Other times both parents have it but the kids are fine. Other times everyone in the house has it. Her husband and kids might have just gotten lucky.

Latest news is her husband and kids were all tested twice (all negative), and apparently someone told her husband to stop brining the baby girls (2 years old and 8 months old) for testing.

My niece's senses of taste & smell are returning and she described the illness like a bad cold.

[Takoma11]

Latest news is her husband and kids were all tested twice (all negative), and apparently someone told her husband to stop brining the baby girls (2 years old and 8 months old) for testing.

My niece's senses of taste & smell are returning and she described the illness like a bad cold.

It's good that she's on the road to recovery! My principal had COVID and she had ALL the symptoms. The way she put it was "every day it was something new." It took her about 10 days to fully recover (and she was sequestered in her bedroom to protect her family).

There's also some interesting research emerging about blood type and vulnerability to COVID. I think it will be years before we really understand the scope of the disease and why it is so variable in how it acts and how it is transmitted.

Two of my students are close friends and their families went hunting together last weekend and now they ALL have COVID (kids, parents, all of 'em!).

The last month has been pretty rough in my friend circle (people all over the USA)--5 deaths of parents and many deaths of mother- or father-in-laws. One friend has a family-in-law that refused to wear masks or practice distancing, including a 12-person Christmas Eve gathering. Her husband lost his grandmother and father in the same week. His mother has COVID and over 7 other family members (cousins, uncles) are infected.

[Captain Terror]

I've been dodging bullets left and right for the past couple of weeks, as in declining invitations to events that later resulted in multiple infections, so it's starting to feel like it's closing in on me. So far my "Go Literally Nowhere But The Office For An Entire Year" system seems to have paid off, so I'm sticking with it. But here's an annoying story--

My mom's uncle died a couple of weeks ago. (Non-covid, he was 92) My parish (aka county) only allows outdoor services, so I briefly considered going, as the son of the deceased is a pal of mine. After some thought I decided not to go. My mom is the highest of high risks, and I happened to find a Facebook post from a cousin who was at Disneyworld the week prior, and who would definitely be at the funeral, so I got skittish and decided I'd skip it, and convinced my parents to do so as well. Turns out the funeral was postponed anyway, because the daughter of the deceased (and her daughter) both tested positive. The night he died there was a gathering of cousins at his house, which was no doubt the source of the infection, so everyone that was there was asked to quarantine for 10 days. Well, one of those cousins, despite having symptoms of a minor cold, ignored the quarantine order and went to a diner for breakfast. He texted a bunch of folks, complaining that the food was bland AND HE COULDN'T TASTE ANYTHING! Care to take a guess who tested positive a few days later? This guy is in his 50s so there's no excuse for his carelessness other than stupidity or stubbornness. I could murder him right now. I only pray that the diner was sparsely attended that day.

[Takoma11]

I've been dodging bullets left and right for the past couple of weeks, as in declining invitations to events that later resulted in multiple infections, so it's starting to feel like it's closing in on me. So far my "Go Literally Nowhere But The Office For An Entire Year" system seems to have paid off, so I'm sticking with it.

I leave the house to go grocery shopping and animal food shopping once a week. Because of cash flow, buying weeks worth at a time isn't really a choice. But I also know people who are being really careful and only leaving home for necessities and still getting infected. Maybe one of the worst is someone whose father was leaving the home to deliver food to needy families and became infected that way.

But here's an annoying story--

My mom's uncle died a couple of weeks ago. (Non-covid, he was 92) My parish (aka county) only allows outdoor services, so I briefly considered going, as the son of the deceased is a pal of mine. After some thought I decided not to go. My mom is the highest of high risks, and I happened to find a Facebook post from a cousin who was at Disneyworld the week prior, and who would definitely be at the funeral, so I got skittish and decided I'd skip it, and convinced my parents to do so as well. Turns out the funeral was postponed anyway, because the daughter of the deceased (and her daughter) both tested positive. The night he died there was a gathering of cousins at his house, which was no doubt the source of the infection, so everyone that was there was asked to quarantine for 10 days. Well, one of those cousins, despite having symptoms of a minor cold, ignored the quarantine order and went to a diner for breakfast. He texted a bunch of folks, complaining that the food was bland AND HE COULDN'T TASTE ANYTHING! Care to take a guess who tested positive a few days later? This guy is in his 50s so there's no excuse for his carelessness other than stupidity or stubbornness. I could murder him right now. I only pray that the diner was sparsely attended that day.

I'm sorry about the loss of your great-uncle and that you were unable to attend the funeral. This is exactly what happened to my one friend's family: grandmother was already in bad shape and the family ALL decided to visit her on the same day around Christmas.

What makes me so frustrated is that, statistically speaking, if you get this disease you will infect other people. And that means that a chain begins with you and at some point probably hits someone who cannot fight it or who will have lasting impacts from it. So you might be fine and maybe your family or friends you infect might also be fine. But someone's grandmother or a cancer survivor could be a few degrees removed from you. And if you got it because you were in a store or a restaurant or a party unmasked, it means you contributed to an unnecessary death.

[Captain Terror]

I leave the house to go grocery shopping and animal food shopping once a week. Because of cash flow, buying weeks worth at a time isn't really a choice. But I also know people who are being really careful and only leaving home for necessities and still getting infected. Maybe one of the worst is someone whose father was leaving the home to deliver food to needy families and became infected that way.
What I've been doing is making a grocery run at 7 am on Saturday when the store is mostly empty, and I can usually go 2 weeks before another trip. My main concern is the office, because my co-workers aren't the brightest. I'm thankful there are no militant anti-maskers among them, but their mask-wearing is still sporadic at best. Somehow they've decided that their germs only spread part of the day, I guess? I've never been able to determine what inspires them to put on a mask at 2 pm when they've gone the previous hours without one. And then there's the two guys that insist on going out for lunch every day (together). We've explained to them a hundred times that if they get infected at the seafood buffet (I mean, really?) it's coming back to the office with them, but it will take one of them getting sick before they catch on. The only good news is that my work situation is such that I am often 50 feet from the nearest coworker, so they're easy to avoid most of the day, but it only takes a second to be infected.

What makes me so frustrated is that, statistically speaking, if you get this disease you will infect other people. And that means that a chain begins with you and at some point probably hits someone who cannot fight it or who will have lasting impacts from it. So you might be fine and maybe your family or friends you infect might also be fine. But someone's grandmother or a cancer survivor could be a few degrees removed from you. And if you got it because you were in a store or a restaurant or a party unmasked, it means you contributed to an unnecessary death.

This has been my biggest source of stress, the fact that I'm relying on the intelligence, common sense, and consideration of my fellow man, in whom I've got very little faith. I live in Hurricane-ville and I've made the comparison to prepping for a storm. No matter how severe the hurricane, there's always that one guy on the news who lives in a shed on the coast but has chosen to "ride out the storm". That guy is probably going to drown, but that has no bearing on my situation. I am in complete control of my fate. Whether I survive or get swept into the gulf will be the result of my decisions. But with COVID, that one guy is in effect making us all stay in the symbolic shed-on-the-coast with him. And if you try to explain why none of us want to drown with him in his shed, he will become belligerent and rant about his freedoms.

[Nausicaä]

Some good news, my Nan didn't catch covid off her carer. Phew! Which also means my Father didn't catch anything because parts of the week he looks after Nan.

Should be getting her first dose of the vaccine soon since she got her invitation to go have it, so hopefully she gets that all done before anything like this with the carers happens again...

[Takoma11]

This has been my biggest source of stress, the fact that I'm relying on the intelligence, common sense, and consideration of my fellow man, in whom I've got very little faith. I live in Hurricane-ville and I've made the comparison to prepping for a storm. No matter how severe the hurricane, there's always that one guy on the news who lives in a shed on the coast but has chosen to "ride out the storm". That guy is probably going to drown, but that has no bearing on my situation. I am in complete control of my fate. Whether I survive or get swept into the gulf will be the result of my decisions. But with COVID, that one guy is in effect making us all stay in the symbolic shed-on-the-coast with him. And if you try to explain why none of us want to drown with him in his shed, he will become belligerent and rant about his freedoms.

Right. It's the difference between not wearing a seatbelt and reckless driving.

Not wearing a seatbelt puts you at risk.

Reckless driving puts you at risk but also puts others at risk, including the possibility that they will be harmed and you won't.

[John McClane]

As much as I don't like wearing a mask I do appreciate that my employer has taken a hard stance on the wearing of masks. I don't do good in situations where it is unclear what is expected so knowing that masks are required at all times is a relief. Plus, it is keeping us all employed and allowed us to finish the school season without incident. We killed it this past semester: we had other local universities that got massive outbreaks and had to send people home, but in their defense it was the idiots that were partying that caused most of the mess in those areas.

[Captain Terror]

As much as I don't like wearing a mask I do appreciate that my employer has taken a hard stance on the wearing of masks. I don't do good in situations where it is unclear what is expected so knowing that masks are required at all times is a relief.

Yeah, I'm thankful that my company does not allow customers in the building. (They call their order in and their stuff is waiting for them to pick up.) Fighting with non-compliers all day must be exhausting, so I'm glad I don't have that to deal with.

I think of masks like traffic lights or school zones. They're a minor inconvenience but I comply so as not to kill my fellow humans.

[Stirchley]

I’m so thick sometimes! Was just finishing my walk today when I stopped to play on the sidewalk with a stranger’s two little fluffy dogs. So cute! We chatted for about 5 minutes, exchanged names, etc., etc. When I got to my house 5 minutes later dawned on me that neither of us wore masks. :eek:

This is the single error I have made numerous times. I never go inside anywhere without a mask, but I generally don’t wear one for my daily constitutional. Even if it’s inside my bag, I get carried away with chatting & totally forget to put it on.

STUPID!

[Captain Steel]

I’m so thick sometimes! Was just finishing my walk today when I stopped to play on the sidewalk with a stranger’s two little fluffy dogs. So cute! We chatted for about 5 minutes, exchanged names, etc., etc. When I got to my house 5 minutes later dawned on me that neither of us wore masks. :eek:

This is the single error I have made numerous times. I never go inside anywhere without a mask, but I generally don’t wear one for my daily constitutional. Even if it’s inside my bag, I get carried away with chatting & totally forget to put it on.

STUPID!

If you were outdoors I really don't think you have anything to worry about.

There's not much data on it, but everything I did read seems to say that there's little chance of viral spread outdoors (excepting of course direct contact - like kissing).

Most viruses need a certain concentration to be infectious within the body, and while there may be millions of particles in every breath, outdoor air currents begin dissipating concentration as soon as breath exits.

My contention is that virtually no one gets it or spreads it outside (excepting for direct contact of bodily fluids), however, at outdoor gatherings eventually people go inside and people go into bathrooms and that's where I believe the virus is caught & spread.

[Stirchley]

⬆️ But don’t they emphasize social distancing outside as well? Me and this guy were definitely not 6 feet apart.

[Takoma11]

⬆️ But don’t they emphasize social distancing outside as well? Me and this guy were definitely not 6 feet apart.

Being outdoors is definitely safer than being indoors. But the general rule is to avoid being within 6 feet of someone for any prolonged amount of time.

Do you have any of those masks that are tied instead of with elastics? That way it just hangs around your neck when you aren't using it but you just pull it up if you encounter someone.

[Captain Steel]

⬆️ But don’t they emphasize social distancing outside as well? Me and this guy were definitely not 6 feet apart.

If we're going to get technical, masks only stop droplets, but they don't stop aerosols - if they did, you wouldn't be able to breath through them.

Here we're talking about vehicles for the virus - which itself is microscopic and can easily penetrate any mask.

First: the most common form of spread is tactile, especially via fecal matter - hand washing after using the bathroom is the most important preventative measure to protect yourself & others.

(I recommend also frequent face washing around eyes, nose & mouth, and increased oral hygiene - using an alcohol-based mouthwash regularly, brushing teeth, using saline solution on nasal passages and hydrogen peroxide on a cotton swab to clean the ears - basically keeping all the orifices of the head; the entry routes for virus, clean!)

The second most common form of spread is from aerosols produced by the body: Sneezes are bad as they are so powerful they can project over 15 feet and create aerosols that can linger in the air and masks will only stop the solid droplets created by them, but not the aerosols.

The third & least common form of spread is from droplets (which can be saliva or mucous expelled from the body): Droplets are pulled by gravity to the ground within a couple feet of their exit point, but aerosols can linger in the air (aerosols from humans are generally produced through sneezes or a very strong cough).

There's really no protection from aerosols whether you wear a mask or not - thus distancing is one way to protect from aerosols - hoping air currents dissipate the breath of one person before it reaches another.

Outdoors, distancing is less important than indoors - again, due to wind & air currents that don't exist indoors. But to be safe, I'd stick with staying 6 feet apart from people outdoors and even further if possible indoors.

If someone is about to sneeze or coughing in your direction, whether indoors or out, it's best to get far away from them and best for them (or you if you feel a cough or sneeze coming on) to move away from others and try to cover your mouth and nose with something, be it a hand, hankie, tissue or preferably an elbow, even when wearing a mask (again, masks will stop the droplets you spew out but not the aerosols), move away from people, cough or sneeze in a direction away from others, and, if inside, run to a door or window to cough or sneeze outside.

Just for the record, I've had multiple encounters as you described with people and their dogs outdoors since the start of the pandemic and I've never worn a mask while taking a walk or walking my neighbor's dog. I always ask the dog owners' permission if I can pet their dog, but have also stood outside; talking & petting for lengthy periods of time. Neither I, nor any of the locals or any of their dogs I've petted - or my neighbor's dog which the locals have petted - have become seriously ill and I still see & talk to those same people today.

[doubledenim]

We had our “year in review/ year going forward” meeting yesterday. One focus was “mask wearing” and its importance. In a room of about 25, I was 1 of 2 wearing a mask. Please, hold your applause.*

I’m perfectly fine with people not wearing masks. It’s a statement, whatever statement it may be can vary. Es lo que es.

[Stirchley]

Just for the record, I've had multiple encounters as you described with people and their dogs outdoors since the start of the pandemic and I've never worn a mask while taking a walk or walking my neighbor's dog. I always ask the dog owners' permission if I can pet their dog, but have also stood outside; talking & petting for lengthy periods of time. Neither I, nor any of the locals or any of their dogs I've petted - or my neighbor's dog which the locals have petted - have become seriously ill and I still see & talk to those same people today.

Thank you Captain for your long post. I appreciate the facts & advice. So anxious almost every day. Horror stories to read each evening in the Times. I.want.my.vaccine.

[ynwtf]

Coworker is out this week having tested positive. That's her, her husband and son. She described it as a sinus infection. There are twelve of us total in this building and we're all pretty well spread out, but the numbers are crazy. Of 12, she makes the third positive test in our office. The previous two also described it as a cold/sinus infection, weak flu and both worked from home during the course of it. One of those two fell ill soon after her husband tested positive. The husband of another coworker came down with it back in November, I believe, but she never got it. Another coworker's husband tested positive right as we shut down for the holidays. So what's that? Three staff, three partners, and one youngin'. The youngin' is 16, I think. All cases have been and seem to be relatively mild. I did have a friend from school days post on FB that his mom had been in ICU for maybe two weeks before she passed of it.

Weird, the extremes.

[Stirchley]

Do you have any of those masks that are tied instead of with elastics? That way it just hangs around your neck when you aren't using it but you just pull it up if you encounter someone.

Funny you ask since I wore one of these for the 2nd time today. Awkward at first to tie it in 2 places, but I like them. Good advice from you & I will do this. This has been my number 1 fault - chatting in the street without a mask.

Got to church early today for rosary prayer & discovered piece-of-junk paper Chinese mask was missing an elastic on one side. So totally useless. Had to improvise with my scarf, which was irritating, but doable. :rolleyes:

[Stirchley]

Weird, the extremes.

So over this.

[ynwtf]

So over this.

It's a weird headspace, for me. I'm usually the paranoid type I guess, looking over my shoulders for one reason or another but with this I find that I'm more concerned with mom than I am myself. I guess I do trip in and out of that. It's a freaky-elaborate balance of so many pieces in motion. She works from home and has done so for most of 2020 as a result of her company and state restrictions. So on that front, I'm not SO worried, but I can get hung up on the reality of her general health (or lack thereof?) and will beach myself in thoughts of where that road may go should it ever be travelled. Then that sends me into a minor tailspin, if I let it. It's just all very strange. I'm practical about it all for myself, I think, and I'm cautious for as much as my workspace allows. People in general aren't nearly as concerned around here (the community), but I try to stay positive in that the numbers don't seem to equal the potential. Not here at least, not yet.

[Kay Burton]

It's a weird headspace, for me. I'm usually the paranoid type I guess, looking over my shoulders for one reason or another but with this I find that I'm more concerned with mom than I am myself. I guess I do trip in and out of that. It's a freaky-elaborate balance of so many pieces in motion. She works from home and has done so for most of 2020 as a result of her company and state restrictions. So on that front, I'm not SO worried, but I can get hung up on the reality of her general health (or lack thereof?) and will beach myself in thoughts of where that road may go should it ever be travelled. Then that sends me into a minor tailspin, if I let it. It's just all very strange. I'm practical about it all for myself, I think, and I'm cautious for as much as my workspace allows. People in general aren't nearly as concerned around here (the community), but I try to stay positive in that the numbers don't seem to equal the potential. Not here at least, not yet.

You're doing fine. The main thing is to be careful, remember not only about yourself, but also about those people who surround you. There is a civic consciousness in this, even if it mostly manifests itself in relation to relatives. But you better calm down and find something to do that will reduce your stress levels - then you will feel good and it will be easier to adhere to reasonable limits.

[Stirchley]

It's a weird headspace, for me. I'm usually the paranoid type I guess, looking over my shoulders for one reason or another but with this I find that I'm more concerned with mom than I am myself. I guess I do trip in and out of that. It's a freaky-elaborate balance of so many pieces in motion. She works from home and has done so for most of 2020 as a result of her company and state restrictions. So on that front, I'm not SO worried, but I can get hung up on the reality of her general health (or lack thereof?) and will beach myself in thoughts of where that road may go should it ever be travelled. Then that sends me into a minor tailspin, if I let it. It's just all very strange. I'm practical about it all for myself, I think, and I'm cautious for as much as my workspace allows. People in general aren't nearly as concerned around here (the community), but I try to stay positive in that the numbers don't seem to equal the potential. Not here at least, not yet.

Speaking of “tailspins”, I worry about a thousand times more now than I did a year ago. I am terrified I will get the flu (again) as I have the past few winters (so much for my annual flu shot) & will think I have the virus. Glad I “retired” from my church volunteer food pantry as I was dealing with way too many people inside. They can manage perfectly well without me & I don’t need all those germs.

[WrinkledMind]

As a Germophobe the conversation on this page is relatable.


PS: I wear three masks (yes, three) everytime I step out. Have been ridiculed for it by friends, office colleagues, etc and even received stares from strangers but I don't care.

[Stirchley]

As a Germophobe the conversation on this page is relatable.


PS: I wear three masks (yes, three) everytime I step out. Have been ridiculed for it by friends, office colleagues, etc and even received stares from strangers but I don't care.

If I saw someone wearing 3 masks I wouldn’t give them a second glance. People have to do what they have to do. It’s none of my business.

[Captain Steel]

Just a note on pets & animals...

A few dogs (and a couple tigers) are known to have contracted Covid19, but the cases are so rare that experts are not even counting them as routes for spread of the virus to humans. Thus, there's really no need to limit your pets' contact with humans or vice versa.

But a few safety tips just in case:

1.) Give your pets regular baths (as often as they or you can tolerate).

2.) Wash your hands BEFORE going out: in case you pet someone else's dog or cat on the street. (At least you'll be sure your not leaving any traces of anything you might be carrying on their coats that their owners might later pick up).

3.) Wash your hands AFTER you return home, especially if you've touched someone else's dog or any animal.

4.) Wash your hands & face frequently if you pet or touch your own pets and have any other household members do the same.

5.) Wash hands frequently if you touch someone else's pet inside their home or if they bring a pet to your home.

6.) Avoid oral contact with your pet (kissing, etc.) and especially with anyone else's pet (because you don't know if other owners have been kissing their pet). Just best to eliminate all kissing, nose or face rubbing for the duration of the pandemic.

7.) Similar to #6: try to avoid letting your dogs or pets lick your face or anyone else's face. If they try, move your face away from them.

8.) In between baths, try to keep up with your pets' hygiene: frequent hair brushing, hair cuts as needed, nail clipping, tooth cleaning, and pay special attention to cleaning their hind quarters (where they poo-poo) and wipe their paws with a pet-safe "personal wipe" before they re-enter the house.

9.) If you or anyone in your household are showing symptoms of Covid19 it's best to isolate yourself from your pets as much as possible, just as it is to do so with fellow household or family members.

10.) Clean up all pet waste consistently & expeditiously (whether it's inside, outside, in a litter box, etc.) i.e. don't leave it sitting around for any length of time even if it's in the yard. And of course, always wash hands afterward.

[Stirchley]

Give your pets regular baths (as often as they or you can tolerate).

My cats are telling me “Don’t even think about it.”

Avoid oral contact with your pet (kissing, etc.) and especially with anyone else's pet (because you don't know if other owners have been kissing their pet). Just best to eliminate all kissing, nose or face rubbing for the duration of the pandemic.

My cats are telling me “Mom, no kissing? Who is this guy?”


Just messing with you Captain. :p

[cricket]

I have another co-worker out because of COVID, but it's because his wife has it. He has tested negative, which strangely enough means he may be out longer. If he tested positive, he would only have to wait until he tests negative. Instead, he has to wait until she tests negative, and then he has to test negative. They're trying to figure out how she got it because she works from home, but I think there's a good chance he gave it to her. We had an outbreak a couple of weeks ago and he works closely with all of those people. He probably got it and was asymptomatic, but passed it to her, and now it has passed through him. That's my guess anyway. She has asthma so she had symptoms, but she is doing well.

[gbgoodies]

We found out a few days ago that Hubby's brother has COVID-19 Pneumonia, and he is in the hospital. (I didn't even know that there was such a thing as COVID-19 Pneumonia.)

We don't talk much with that side of the family, so it's been hard to get updates on his condition, but we know that he's a high risk due to pre-existing health conditions, and his age and weight.

Unfortunately, he is one of those people who thinks the pandemic is a hoax, and since the beginning of the pandemic, he has refused to wear a mask, so hopefully this will be a wake up call for his wife and kids.

[Stirchley]

OMG, has anyone registered for the vaccine using the Vaccine Administration Management System (VAMS) website?

I had to register my husband (he got the first shot today, thank God). Clunkiest website I have ever seen.

I had to list his meds, address, age, race, etc., etc. & choose a location & date/time.

Took me at least 80 minutes to do this simple task. (Once I switched from his smart phone to my iPad, it was easier.)

Where I got bogged down was race. It kept showing him as African-American & I could not change it to white. That took about 20 minutes to make it finally change.

Then another 20 minutes to pick a date since it would not move on from the actual day I was trying to do all this.

Funny thing: told him to take his phone so the hospital could scan the barcode. Also wrote down his password in case of the remote possibility he would need it. He wasn’t asked for his phone or the barcode, but they did need the password. Who knew?

If I get the same registration procedure if & when my turn arrives, it will be much easier now that I’ve done it once.

But how old people can manage this registration online is beyond me. And not to mention the teeny-weeny type on the phone. :rolleyes:

[WrinkledMind]

We found out a few days ago that Hubby's brother has COVID-19 Pneumonia, and he is in the hospital. (I didn't even know that there was such a thing as COVID-19 Pneumonia.)

We don't talk much with that side of the family, so it's been hard to get updates on his condition, but we know that he's a high risk due to pre-existing health conditions, and his age and weight.

Unfortunately, he is one of those people who thinks the pandemic is a hoax, and since the beginning of the pandemic, he has refused to wear a mask, so hopefully this will be a wake up call for his wife and kids.




One of Covid's serious complication is pneumonia. It happens far rapidly than normal pneumonia.

Anyways, I pray your brother-in-law recovers quickly.
As for him not wearing mask. Yep, plenty of people like that everywhere. They have not been taking this thing seriously until it hits them or someone close to them.

[Takoma11]

My poor personal trainer!

Her grandfather is dying of COVID complications. The aunt (who probably gave him COVID, has refused to mask/distance) is insisting to any family who will listen that he was "dying anyway".

One of her clients told her that now that she (the trainer) got the vaccine she is being tracked by the government and her blood is "flooded with animal DNA".

Another client was exposed to COVID but was going to come to the gym anyway, but someone gave the gym a heads up and they wouldn't let him inside and he threw a FIT. Then called her later to scream at her. (He is in his 50s, she is like 24).

[gbgoodies]

One of Covid's serious complication is pneumonia. It happens far rapidly than normal pneumonia.

Anyways, I pray your brother-in-law recovers quickly.
As for him not wearing mask. Yep, plenty of people like that everywhere. They have not been taking this thing seriously until it hits them or someone close to them.


Thank you. As of a couple of days ago, the last update was that he seems to be doing better, so we're keeping our fingers crossed.

Early on in the pandemic, (around April or May), he emailed us a link to a video of some crazy guy ranting about how the pandemic was a big hoax. We tried to tell him the guy was wrong, but he agreed with the guy in the video.

When he gets out of the hospital, we should ask him if he still agrees with that guy. :rolleyes:

[gbgoodies]

My poor personal trainer!

Her grandfather is dying of COVID complications. The aunt (who probably gave him COVID, has refused to mask/distance) is insisting to any family who will listen that he was "dying anyway".

One of her clients told her that now that she (the trainer) got the vaccine she is being tracked by the government and her blood is "flooded with animal DNA".

Another client was exposed to COVID but was going to come to the gym anyway, but someone gave the gym a heads up and they wouldn't let him inside and he threw a FIT. Then called her later to scream at her. (He is in his 50s, she is like 24).


I'll never understand how some people can be so selfish that they'll knowingly put other people at risk. :tsk:

[Stirchley]

One of Covid's serious complication is pneumonia. It happens far rapidly than normal pneumonia.


Everyone - especially older folks - should have a pneumonia shot. I do.

[Takoma11]

I got my first dose today.

What an interesting process. And then after I had to sit in a chair for 15 minutes because that is how they are screening for severe reactions. In a way that is hard to explain, the whole layout had a weird sci-fi vibe to it. Maybe just because of how the chairs were so meticulously spaced out.

[cricket]

Wifey got the booster Wednesday. Her arm was sore for a few hours and then she didn't feel well Thursday. Back to normal today (Friday).

[Stirchley]

I got my first dose today.


Husband got his Wednesday & will get 2nd dose February 19. He was amazed at how many people were there on the medical staff for each patient. This was in the ER too.

No clue when I will be eligible though Connecticut seems to be working efficiently so I’m not worried.

[Kay Burton]

Speaking of “tailspins”, I worry about a thousand times more now than I did a year ago. I am terrified I will get the flu (again) as I have the past few winters (so much for my annual flu shot) & will think I have the virus. Glad I “retired” from my church volunteer food pantry as I was dealing with way too many people inside. They can manage perfectly well without me & I don’t need all those germs.

Here you are right. Fewer contacts help reduce the risk of infection. Especially when it comes to contacts in an enclosed space without adequate ventilation. In such situations, no vaccine will give 100% protection. In our country, sick people like to go to public places and infect everyone around.

[Nausicaä]

Sigh... My Nan has been feeling ill for the last week and was tested and unfortunately tested positive for covid this time. It's been about a week so far and not showing any of the main symptoms so hopefully it will not get any worse.

A few other members of my family have had to go into isolation who have been in contact with Nan, two help caring for her and obviously they have been in contact with who they live with.

My Nan and another relative have had their first dose of the vaccine so hope that will help somewhat. Fingers crossed.

I live at the other end of the country so haven't been in physical contact with her or the rest of the family but really annoyed because I can't do anything like food shopping for her.

Sigh... :mad:

[Chypmunk]

Best wishes for a full and speedy recovery for your Nanna!

[Stirchley]

I live at the other end of the country so haven't been in physical contact with her or the rest of the family but really annoyed because I can't do anything like food shopping for her.

Sigh... :mad:

But she knows you love her & care for her. That must mean a ton for her.

[Takoma11]

Sigh... My Nan has been feeling ill for the last week and was tested and unfortunately tested positive for covid this time. It's been about a week so far and not showing any of the main symptoms so hopefully it will not get any worse.

A few other members of my family have had to go into isolation who have been in contact with Nan, two help caring for her and obviously they have been in contact with who they live with.

My Nan and another relative have had their first dose of the vaccine so hope that will help somewhat. Fingers crossed.

I live at the other end of the country so haven't been in physical contact with her or the rest of the family but really annoyed because I can't do anything like food shopping for her.

Sigh... :mad:

Not being able to be there, in person, is one of the hardest things about all of this. I hope she continues to stay mild in her symptoms.

[Nausicaä]

^ Thank you guys. :)

Still no main symptoms(same for my relatives who are isolating) and she's just had a second test sent off, so see what comes back with that.

~~~~~~~~

And finally today the Doctor visited and my Mum received her vaccine, she's had to wait a bit longer for it because she can't leave the house, so very happy today that she's got her first dose. :yup:

[Kay Burton]

^ Thank you guys. :)

Still no main symptoms(same for my relatives who are isolating) and she's just had a second test sent off, so see what comes back with that.

~~~~~~~~

And finally today the Doctor visited and my Mum received her vaccine, she's had to wait a bit longer for it because she can't leave the house, so very happy today that she's got her first dose. :yup:

What is the test result? Hopefully negative. Of course, for some time I was rather frivolous about COVID, but now, seeing the terrible statistics, I fully understood that this is not a joke. Maybe many suffer the disease in a mild form, but the number of cases and the difficulty in obtaining the highest quality and timely medical care in some regions is already scary. After all, now is the 21st century and it is a shock that we cannot stop the disease. It's like we went back 100 years ago.

[Stirchley]

After all, now is the 21st century and it is a shock that we cannot stop the disease. It's like we went back 100 years ago.

COVID 19 wasn’t here 100 years ago. We are stopping it. We now have a vaccine.

[Citizen Rules]

COVID 19 wasn’t here 100 years ago. We are stopping it. We now have a vaccine.I know what you mean and yes humans didn't have a plaque of Covid 100 years ago. But just as a side note Covid 19 has been on the Earth for no doubt 10,000's of years BUT in only select animal populations where it wasn't a problem.

[Citizen Rules]

What is the test result? Hopefully negative. Of course, for some time I was rather frivolous about COVID, but now, seeing the terrible statistics, I fully understood that this is not a joke. Maybe many suffer the disease in a mild form, but the number of cases and the difficulty in obtaining the highest quality and timely medical care in some regions is already scary. After all, now is the 21st century and it is a shock that we cannot stop the disease. It's like we went back 100 years ago.I remember the Katrina hurricane disaster where so many people needlessly died because supplies and basic help wasn't gotten to them in time. Yes the 21st century has amazing medical breakthroughs but that doesn't help when huge numbers of people need those specialized services. Basically humanity is helpless if masses of people need help all at one time, then the system becomes overwhelmed.

[Stirchley]

I know what you mean and yes humans didn't have a plaque of Covid 100 years ago. But just as a side note Covid 19 has been on the Earth for no doubt 10,000's of years BUT in only select animal populations where it wasn't a problem.

It started last year in animal populations so it became a problem.

[Citizen Rules]

It started last year in animal populations so it became a problem.Yes I'm agreeing with you 100%. I'm just *pointing out that Covid isn't new to the planet, just new to the human population.

*that's pointing out to the board, not you specifically.

[Takoma11]

Coronavirus is a mutation of something that has been around for a while, from what I understand.

For example, I have a veterinary book for cat care, and I was looking something up and one of the possible culprits of the symptoms was . . . Coronavirus! It was weird seeing it in print that way.

[Powdered Water]

Coronavirus is where the flu comes from. So yes, there are many many variations of it.

[Citizen Rules]

Coronavirus is where the flu comes from. So yes, there are many many variations of it.That's not really accurate. The flu is caused by a different family of viruses.

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/coronavirus/coronavirus-disease-2019-vs-the-flu

COVID-19: Caused by the 2019 coronavirus, also known as SARS-CoV-2.
Flu: Caused by any of several different types and strains of influenza viruses. Different strains circulate each year.
And the common cold is caused by another family of virus the Rhinoviruses.

[Powdered Water]

That's not really accurate. The flu is caused by a different family of viruses.

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/coronavirus/coronavirus-disease-2019-vs-the-flu
And the common cold is caused by another family of virus the Rhinoviruses.


Your right of course. I meant colds. The coronavirus family is immense and a vast number of colds come from them. We just don't hear a ton about them until they really start killing people.