What was your COVID news for the day?

[audreyh1]

I think the news article wasn't quite accurate, the condo owner mailed us this:

"I’m attaching the actual “Local Emergency Supplemental Order” issued yesterday by the City of Palm Springs with the pertinent wording in Paragraph 2 highlighted.

This section says: Any guests currently in a lodging facility are directed to return home… or remain sheltered in place in the unit.” (emphasis added).

So I’m fine with you staying (and staying through May if you like, as I mentioned). I don’t see any legal or ethical issue for us. And, as I said previously Jeff (the HOA President) and everybody else I’ve spoken with loves you guys so I think you add to our community…"

Well that makes far more sense!

 

[krldrummerboy]

Here in Silicon Valley we've had a county mandated shelter-in-place order for going on two weeks. I've been working from home managing my team of R&D engineers. One of them has a brother in ICU in San Jose with the virus. May not make it. He's infected their elderly mother, too, and her prospects are TBD. I really want to get back to normal asap, but really hope we dont allow this too soon. My family is at home playing Monopoly today and we're all getting along fine despite being stuck in a small house together all day....

 

[JoeWras]

Regarding home testing for antibodies, I would like to know if what my DW and I had for 3 weeks and just now getting better was C-19. It would indeed make a difference for us going forward.

They are working on it and making progress:
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-...d-test-for-coronavirus-immunity-idUSKBN21C1KK

I read earlier that China has one, but it is expensive. The US based ones should be ready to go soon.

As an act of good will, I'm hoping China can do a study in Wuhan (a good sample area) so we can understand exactly how many cases went undetected.

Regardless of what they do, I'm sure many researchers here are motivated to do such studies. We need to get all the data we can to understand this thing.

 

[Time2]

A lot has been made of the testing, it seems to me if you are sick, stay home! If you start to run a high fever or have trouble breathing, call your doctor. It doesn't matter what illness you have, in most cases it will go away within two weeks, just stay home.

 

[JoeWras]

A lot has been made of the testing, it seems to me if you are sick, stay home! If you start to run a high fever or have trouble breathing, call your doctor. It doesn't matter what illness you have, in most cases it will go away within two weeks, just stay home.

For right now, stay home sick or not. Stop cruising the aisles for your favorite snack. Every interaction counts towards risk.

DW and I haven't been out to the store in 12 days. We're learning our stored stuff goes a much longer way than we ever dreamed.

 

[ivinsfan]

That’s the big question isn’t it? Is mass testing a good thing or a bad thing, I’m sure the world will be watching how it works out, not just for the UK but the other countries who are going forward with mass testing.

Reading more about these UK tests and sounds like the home delivery ones will be for antibody testing not the same as point of care tests. And they have to be approved by the government first.

 

[Sunset]

For right now, stay home sick or not. Stop cruising the aisles for your favorite snack. Every interaction counts towards risk.

DW and I haven't been out to the store in 12 days. We're learning our stored stuff goes a much longer way than we ever dreamed.

+1
I think we could go a few more weeks without shopping before needing to eat rice and old hard beans.
I have been careful with the amount of meat I use in a meal, as before I'd just pile it in without a thought.
We even bought 3 containers of tofu, and haven't touched them yet.

Milk is the biggest issue, but I bought a 12 pack of 1 liter soya milk as backup since it does not require refrigeration until opened.

 

[Alan]

Well that makes far more sense!

+1

Great news, Helen.

 

[Ready]

I’m scheduled to take delivery of a new IPad Pro and a package of paper towels this week. I’m more worried about the paper towels getting stolen.

 

[Alan]

Reading more about these UK tests and sounds like the home delivery ones will be for antibody testing not the same as point of care tests. And they have to be approved by the government first.

Exactly, they want to know who has had the virus and are now immune to it. At today’s daily briefing the chief medical officer and chief scientific officer gave some detail. First of all they are going to ensure that the test works because a bad test is worse than no test. Once they are assured of its accuracy they will start rolling it out in a tiered manner, testing all the healthcare workers, and other vital services personnel to get them back to work. He said it will be a long time before joe public can go online and order a testing kit from Amazon.

 

[Nemo2]

DW and I haven't been out to the store in 12 days. We're learning our stored stuff goes a much longer way than we ever dreamed.

(Almost) likewise - we went the morning of March 16......haven't had a need to go back yet.

DW isn't that fond of it but I'm eating oatmeal for breakfast.....hey, if it was good enough for Rob Roy.....

 

[MRG]

This is an interesting article about Iceland. Based on testing 10,300 of the 364,000 Icelandic people they believe half of the carriers show zero symptoms. They tested a random sample not sick people.

I can't seem to copy from the article.

https://english.alarabiya.net/en/fe...sting-finds-half-of-carriers-show-no-symptoms

 

[mountainsoft]

My wife is working remotely from home for the first time today. To be more productive she's using my main desktop computer, so I'm trying to limp along on my old laptop. Thankfully, things are slow right now so I'm managing OK.


Sign of the times... I tracked how long a roll of toilet paper lasts us. Looks like we go through about two rolls a week, which means we have enough rolls for about six weeks right now. No need to panic, but I'll be keeping my eye open for TP every time I go shopping.


I'm actually more worried about sugar, flour, and yeast. The stores have been out for weeks and we're getting low.

 

[rodi]

Brought college age son home from campus this past Saturday. The school's policy was changing from "a few weeks online, stay on campus if you want' to "remote learning through the end of the semester, but we have academic support for you here - so stay if you want" to "you must have a reason to stay (out of country students), leave now!"

As some of you know - I walk my dog at the beach, at sunrise. We have been maintaining social distance, and it's very uncrowded at 6:30am. Sunday the parking lot was locked - even the lifeguards were surprised. Police had locked it because too many people had gone to the beach the previous day. Spoke with a city park ranger, she confirmed we could still walk on the beach, maintaining social distance. Did that Monday. Monday evening mayor announced all parks, boardwalks, beaches, trails were closed with big fines and possible jail time. A reporter asked if it effected surfers... the answer was yes. I have switched to walking the pooch around the neighborhood for much shorter walks. Harder to maintain social distance in the neighborhood because there are a lot of people out walking and less space compared to a wide beach. Even at 6:30am. I am sad because my beach walks were very good for my mental health - but that is a 'me' problem and I am fully compliant with the rules.

Yesterday we got notice that younger son's school will go online 4/6 for a 'soft' opening... and for grades on 4/27. Previously they had suggested classes would resume on 4/6.

Younger son thinks we are incredibly mean since we won't let him see his girlfriend in person. Her parents think we are being a bit too strict... but are backing our decision.

Set up and arranged with younger son's piano teacher to do the piano lesson over skype. She is self employed and really can't afford to give up the income... Glad we came up with a solution. Took a bit of time to figure out how to place the computer so that it had a good view of the keyboard and hands.

 

[travelover]

This is an interesting article about Iceland. Based on testing 10,300 of the 364,000 Icelandic people they believe half of the carriers show zero symptoms. They tested a random sample not sick people.

I can't seem to copy from the article.

https://english.alarabiya.net/en/fe...sting-finds-half-of-carriers-show-no-symptoms

A few key points:

While Iceland has only 218 confirmed cases among its tiny population, its testing program has produced crucial data about the coronavirus - that half of those who were tested positive has no coronavirus symptoms.

Iceland's high-volume testing also involves genetic sequencing of the different samples of the virus, which helps researchers to investigate the various mutations of the virus.Icelandic scientists say testing has already revealed that there are at least 40 mutations of coronavirus in Iceland, and the virus might develop to become more contagious, but less dangerous. These variants can also act as the fingerprints of the virus to trace its origin. Seven of the infected people were traced to an undisclosed football match in England, the team said.

 

[Chuckanut]

Regarding home testing for antibodies, I would like to know if what my DW and I had for 3 weeks and just now getting better was C-19. It would indeed make a difference for us going forward.

That is important. If you did have CV19 and now carry the antibodies you can be among the first to go back to work when such things are permitted. Hospitals might hire you to replace ailing medical staff. I’m only half kidding.

 

[harllee]

Just got word our county in North Carolina is going to "stay at home" mode in the next day or so--only essential trips allowed. They are saying it will last until April 30. We will probably drive to our favorite state park to ride our bikes in the morning, will probably be our last trip there for a long while.

 

[MRG]

This morning our county went under a stay at home order, now the entire state,CO, did until April 11.

 

[ncbill]

Same here...our county is under a stay at home order for two weeks minimum, so that's now for all the major metro areas in our state.

 

[gwraigty]

Sign of the times... I tracked how long a roll of toilet paper lasts us. Looks like we go through about two rolls a week, which means we have enough rolls for about six weeks right now. No need to panic, but I'll be keeping my eye open for TP every time I go shopping.


I'm actually more worried about sugar, flour, and yeast. The stores have been out for weeks and we're getting low.

I should start tracking for our household. No way would 2 rolls last a week. Not for 4 adults. I'm a little stocked up, but not massively. I haven't seen TP in a store for almost 2 weeks.

 

[Just_Steve]

Meanwhile, those of us in the US continue to have the same ability to be tested as citizens the Republic of Lower Slobbovia thanks to [redacted to avoid Porkification].

Speak for your area, plenty of testing drive thus around here.

 

[Walt34]

The governor of WV issued a statewide stay-at-home order effective yesterday evening. This is a bit redundant for us since we were staying home anyway, only going out to the grocery store and that probably less than once a week. The list of exemptions is fairly broad so it shouldn't impact anyone who really needs to be out. Still, I'm glad I got a haircut a couple of weeks ago. I'm unsure of what the results will be like when DW cuts my hair but since no one else will see it anyway I guess it won't matter much.

 

[ugeauxgirl]

This is an interesting article about Iceland. Based on testing 10,300 of the 364,000 Icelandic people they believe half of the carriers show zero symptoms. They tested a random sample not sick people.

I can't seem to copy from the article.

https://english.alarabiya.net/en/fe...sting-finds-half-of-carriers-show-no-symptoms

Interesting article- thanks

 

[gwraigty]

Part of the daily Ohio press conferences are turning into a pep talk/morale booster. I appreciate what they're trying to do, but it doesn't make me feel peppy or boosted. A reporter asked a direct question of the health director, namely are they coming up with guidelines to determine who will get ventilators when we have more patients than ventilators. Yes, they have been talking about it. Of course, any reporter who thinks they're going to spill those details to the public...

An assisted living facility 1/2 mile up the street from our house has it's first confirmed case of coronavirus, a staff member with limited patient contact who hasn't been in the facility since March 16th. The residents are on lockdown, not allowed out of their rooms now.

On a rather funny note, in a nearby community, a guy tried to shoplift from a Target store. He's being charged with violating the stay-at-home-order. From the article:

Shoplifting from Target is not a necessary activity, Avon Police Public Information Officer James Drozdowski said.

“I don’t think that's considered essential business or essential needs to be out,” he said.

In addition to the second-degree misdemeanor charge of violating governor’s orders,

On a personal note, DD will definitely not be getting the 35 hours she's scheduled for this next week. I've made my suggestions to her and it's up to her to handle it. Or not. A big issue is that she was only trained in dining room. She's turned out to be their best person for that, so they haven't cross-trained her as she was promised would happen when they hired her. There's very little for her to do without an open dining room.

 

[aiken]

Regarding home testing for antibodies, I would like to know if what my DW and I had for 3 weeks and just now getting better was C-19. It would indeed make a difference for us going forward.

You're not alone...lots of posts by reasonable folks in sites I visit discussing weird respiratory illnesses that were hard to shake. Many were sure they had the flu and were swabbed negative. One wonders how long this has been circulating in the US. If you figure the China flights weren't stopped until 1/31, and we know the virus was active in China during December, that's thousands of visitors mingling around the country for several weeks....going though airports, eating in crowded places, visiting people, etc.etc. Wouldn't surprise me if there are a massive number of Americans who have been infected. If that hypothesis has any validity, one would have to assume that the mortality rate is nowhere near current levels since the denominator of infections is unknown. One of the many "known unknowns."