Coronavirus - Health and preparedness aspects - II

[REWahoo]

If you acquire immunity, there could be some sense in desiring to get the virus now and be done with it.

That would be pure craziness since no one knows how the virus will affect them . The bad cases result in ARDS which is a death sentence .

+1

Al, it might make sense if you were 50 years younger, but not at your age.

 

[ivinsfan]

That would be pure craziness since no one knows how the virus will affect them . The bad cases result in ARDS which is a death sentence .

The interesting thing is as they test more people I'm reading that with every 2 to 3 degrees of transmission the virus undergoes at least one slight mutation.

So it's possible that it might weaken as time goes on so it doesn't make sense to deliberately expose yourself now. As virulent at it was in the beginning there probably isn't a big chance it will get stronger.

 

[fh2000]

DH and I are hunkering down at home. I want to make one last trip to the public library and get a bunch of books (I know I can read online but I like real books). How can I sanitize books before I bring them in the house? Should I wipe them down with disinfectant wipes? Leave them on the porch for a while? I will wear gloves when I am at the library and of course wash hands and use the Nettie pot when I get home.

I know some doctors suggest that the virus can survive anywhere from 2 hours to 9 days. S Korea government put money circulated back into a closed area for 2 weeks before reuse, so that might be something one can do at home. Leave them in garage for 2 weeks.

 

[ivinsfan]

I know some doctors suggest that the virus can survive anywhere from 2 hours to 9 days. S Korea government put money circulated back into a closed area for 2 weeks before reuse, so that might be something one can do at home. Leave them in garage for 2 weeks.

If you have a chest freezer put them in a box in the freezer for a couple days...

 

[fh2000]

+1

Al, it might make sense if you were 50 years younger, but not at your age.

Even younger people can die from it. We all know the first Chinese doctor who died was only 37.

A New Jersey physician assistant, only 32, got it and is really sick right now.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/every-day-getting-worse-coronavirus-182834806.html

 

[REWahoo]

If you have a chest freezer put them in a box in the freezer for a couple days...

I haven't seen any reliable source saying below freezing temps will kill the virus. Not saying it won't, just not sure I'd go that route without more information.

 

[ivinsfan]

I haven't seen any reliable source saying below freezing temps will kill the virus. Not saying it won't, just not sure I'd go that route without more information.

Deep freezers generally are set at zero...I saw someone mentioned wiping down the books with a wipe not likely to work unless you want to wipe every page.

In theory there is no way to be 100% certain.

 

[Tiger8693]

Just saw a post on FB from some guy in a group I joined saying "I'm 47 and in good health, I'm not doing anything about coronavirus" or something to that effect. Unfortunately that attitude may be pervasive in the low risk category people who figure "It's not my problem". I did reply that that attitude could lead to the spread of the virus and even the death of some older or health compromised individual, but I doubt it will have an effect on him. It's why I also think there'll be more than a few people who even if they know they have the virus, if it's minor to them, will still go out and about and not isolate.

I'm sorry, but I am on board the Elon Musk train here. As Al Trombone mentioned a few posts up, the ACTUAL number of people infected is probably several order of magnitude higher than that reported. Considering that, the mortality is probably even lower than the 0.6% being reported in S Korea's numbers. Eventually, this will possibly (probably) be reported much closer to the Flu mortality rate.

In the meantime, the generated panic has started to all but shutdown the world economy.

By all means, if you are above a certain age and have underlying conditions, wrap yourself up, stay in your house, don't answer the door and TRY and avoid getting this OR ANY VIRUS (FLU?).

In the meantime, let's worry about some real issues perhaps?

 

[atmsmshr]

Just saw a post on FB from some guy in a group I joined saying "I'm 47 and in good health, I'm not doing anything about coronavirus" or something to that effect. Unfortunately that attitude may be pervasive in the low risk category people who figure "It's not my problem". I did reply that that attitude could lead to the spread of the virus and even the death of some older or health compromised individual, but I doubt it will have an effect on him. It's why I also think there'll be more than a few people who even if they know they have the virus, if it's minor to them, will still go out and about and not isolate.

That 47 year old Darwin award candidate will turn 60 someday. If Covid-19 turns pandemic and circulates every year like the flu - he will reap the rewards of carelessness.

 

[Another Reader]

The interesting thing is as they test more people I'm reading that with every 2 to 3 degrees of transmission the virus undergoes at least one slight mutation.

So it's possible that it might weaken as time goes on so it doesn't make sense to deliberately expose yourself now. As virulent at it was in the beginning there probably isn't a big chance it will get stronger.

Mutation is a huge concern. Some experts are saying there at least two strains of the virus, one of which is far more destructive than the other. One theory is the strain in Italy and Iran is the deadlier strain. It's way too early to do anything other than minimize your chances of exposure.

 

[W2R]

Joe I am in NC near that outbreak. DH and I are near 70 and DH has a compromised immune system from the medications he has to take for psoriatic arthritis. So we are taking some steps that are hard for us since we are extroverts--no more Church for a while, let our fitness center membership lapse, making a last trip for a while to the library to get a lot of books (how do you sanitize books?), no more parties or large gathering, canceling a trip in a couple of weeks to Florida, etc. This will test our patience.

I think you are very smart to be taking these steps. As for sanitizing books, most people find that if they read on a Kindle for a few weeks they get used to it and even prefer it to paper books. It's lighter and you can usually make the type bigger and easier to see if you want to. You can download Kindle books from home so you would never run out.

F is 66 and I am 71, and like many older people we both have (mild) underlying conditions. The first coronavirus case in Louisiana was found yesterday and that patient lives in our suburban parish (=county). I think that it is time for us to do the kinds of things that you describe. F has not been keeping up to date on the coronavirus spread, and thinks I am freaking out from reading too much news. I want to start staying home more, so I have a lot of persuading to do in the next few days.

 

[Kwirk]

I haven't seen any reliable source saying below freezing temps will kill the virus. Not saying it won't, just not sure I'd go that route without more information.

Everything that I find suggests that freezing tends to PRESERVE viruses. Heat is the better option.

 

[REWahoo]

I'm sorry, but I am on board the Elon Musk train here. As Al Trombone mentioned a few posts up, the ACTUAL number of people infected is probably several order of magnitude higher than that reported. Considering that, the mortality is probably even lower than the 0.6% being reported in S Korea's numbers. Eventually, this will possibly (probably) be reported much closer to the Flu mortality rate.

In the meantime, the generated panic has started to all but shutdown the world economy.

By all means, if you are above a certain age and have underlying conditions, wrap yourself up, stay in your house, don't answer the door and TRY and avoid getting this OR ANY VIRUS (FLU?).

In the meantime, let's worry about some real issues perhaps?

It's not just about the mortality rate.

Did you forget that current numbers show 15 to 20 percent of those with Covid-19 require hospitalization? If US hospitals get slammed like some in China and Italy, better hope you don't have a medical emergency. "Sorry, no vacancy!"

 

[nwsteve]

It will be interesting to compare the Italy stats with the China stats. The coarse summary from China (from my reading) appears to be that children and women fared much better than men, especially older men. But such a large percentage of men in China smoked, and that might skew the results.

This morning's CBS Morning had an interview with a Doc that shared 50% of men in China smoke vs only 2% of the women. She felt that difference was a key factor in the higher male mortality from the virus.

 

[NW-Bound]

The early death rate in Wuhan was 17%, when hospitals were swamped and sick people got sent home to die.

If Elon got sick, he had a few different mansions to recuperate in, and I am sure he could pay for doctors and nurses to come to him.

It is indeed stupid to have to wait for admission to a hospital. Only peasants do that.

 

[Sunny]

What is the public health definition of a large crowd? We keep being told if you are in a certain group to avoid large crowds.

I realize everyone has different opinions on what “large” could mean, but there has to be an official designation.

For instance, for “older” I kept wondering if that was 60+, 65+, etc. and while it is debatable what older means or when you are truly at higher risk, I’ve seen several public health referrals defining older as 60+ now to believe that is their official definition of older (and I think middle age was 40-60 for them if I recall correctly).

So what is public health’s definition of “large” in crowd size? I can’t imagine they leave it wish washy up for interpretation. But my google search skills apparently are not up to the task to find out.

 

[ivinsfan]

Everything that I find suggests that freezing tends to PRESERVE viruses. Heat is the better option.

There seems to be lots of debate on these things freezing with liquid nitrogen is the way to freeze bull semen..we did it for decades..however any rise in temperature great reduced viability.

Bet no one thought that detail would pop up here

I'm with the get a kindle crowd , I've often wondered about the various things that could be living on the pages of a library book

 

[MichaelB]

It would be helpful if we leave the snark and sarcasm to other thread discussions.

 

[Tiger8693]

It would be helpful if we leave the snark and sarcasm to other thread discussions.

And perhaps the apocalyptic prophecies too?

 

[tulak]

That 47 year old Darwin award candidate will turn 60 someday. If Covid-19 turns pandemic and circulates every year like the flu - he will reap the rewards of carelessness.

If this happens, there’s nothing we can do now to prevent it. The virus has spread. It’s not containable. At best, we can slow down the progression of its spread, especially among high risk population.

In some ways, we may benefit more younger people catching this now. Imagine if this was possible: all low-risk people catch the virus and all high-risk people self-quarantine. If we were able to do that, this would be over in a month.

 

[travelover]

In the last day I've gotten emails from an airline and a hardware store assuring me that their premises are squeaky clean, so book that flight, come on down!

 

[Gumby]

And perhaps the apocalyptic prophecies too?

Yes, that too.

 

[Sunset]

... The virus has spread. It’s not containable. At best, we can slow down the progression of its spread, especially among high risk population.

In some ways, we may benefit more younger people catching this now. Imagine if this was possible: all low-risk people catch the virus and all high-risk people self-quarantine. If we were able to do that, this would be over in a month.

+1
By some time a large percentage of young folks will have caught it, and will provide a degree of herd immunity going forward.

I don't expect this for a year or two, but is it reassuring in case vaccine goes the failure route of SARS vaccines.

 

[Teacher Terry]

No way would I touch a library book. I am downloading to my phone and reading. My son is 47 and my DIL is 41 and they are taking the virus seriously. However, they both work with the public.

 

[Fermion]

Wife is going to go give blood today, which is admirable and all but still makes me extremely nervous because of the lax measures being taken in our community (health workers and staff in clinics not wearing masks, people sitting close to each other in waiting rooms).