WTF :2019-nCoV NovaCoronaVirus Thread

[Dr Mordrid]

Tonight we baked some potatoes & grilled some 4oz steaks. Halved the potatoes, crushed the centers then topped "em with steamed broccoli. Drizzled a bit of melted Wisconsin Brick cheese on top.

Not a crumb remained, but stored overnight in Tupperware etc. those potatoes reheat nicely in a microwave. Use a low setting.

[VJ]

Working from home... The city is dead: usually at 9.00 there is a huge traffic jam visible over one of the bridges over the Vistula river, on Monday, barely a car... Today the same... Busses are empty, trams are empty, amazing sight...

As it turns out, the neighbours of my girlfriend's parents were in official police-checked quarantine after their daughter returned two weeks ago from Spain on the same plane as one of the confirmed corona-cases in Poland. And of course we were at her parents. Also, a colleague at work says that the father of one of the children in the school where her childeren go, has tested positive; the whole school was closed. We are angry that the colleague just came to work last Thursday like nothing happened, when there really was no reason for her to do so.

Yesterday, I got some symptoms, but I'm not sure they are defining enough. As an asthma patient (currently very well under control), I'm more worried about it... but any cold comes with breathing discomfort. There is also sneezing and a running nose, which are less typical of corona. So it may just be another stupid virus, then again, it may just as well be psychosomatic. Today is much better so I'm not too worried but monitoring closely. Being allergic to most medication given for asthma (inhalers with salbutamol or fenoterol; but also theophyllin) makes treating the symptom of shortness of breath difficult to problematic esp. as I read that cortisone is not recommended with this virus. Now taking very well care not to go out (either not to infect anyone else, or not to get infected with a weakened immune system).

I did realize that if I were to get sick, my family would not be able to come over. Similarly, I may have issues getting to them if they get sick (both parents are in the risk age group, and have cardiac and bloodpressure issues) as there virtually are no commercial flights and Germany closed its borders (so I won't manage by car or train). This gives a very weird feeling: I always felt that Warsaw was close to Belgium, as I knew deep down I could just go to the airport, pay the hell a lot and get a flight in the next couple of hours. At any time I could probably be from home to my parents in less than 12 hours. Knowing now that that is not an option is weird...

[UtwigMU]

Don't worry everyone is nervous like that. I get nervous at every cough. Friend I spoke to says she taps her forehead for fever multiple times per day.

As for borders, yeah i'm really shocked at how everything changed. I remember reading a story from after ww2 when border closed and families were not able to meet.

But despite all that if people ran across borders in commie times with serious army and security forces guarding, I think you'll be able to make it across Germany into Belgium in couple of days time. Walk across border, get a cab / lift to near Belgium and then walk across there.

When do you guys think this is going to peak? For 50% of Germany to get infected we need 13 doubling cycles and for 50% of USA 15 doubling cycles. Now the growth is ~33% a day, taking 2-3 days to double. With lockdowns it might get to 7-10 days, so we might see a peak sometime in July.

[VJ]

Peak in Belgium with the current limitations in place is expected in 1-2 months (currently ~1300 cases on a population of 11M - they are not testing mild symptoms), if people adhere to the limitations. As this seems problematic for some people, some polititians are calling for a curfew...

Back more personal: what with a wedding planned in July? Second downpayment for the room should be in the middle of April, but do we make it or not? If not, we forego the room and loose the first downpayment. We already made the full payment for the ceremony room... On one hand, July is far, but on the other hand it is not... Adds also to our stress of course.

[UtwigMU]

Even with peak in May July will still look like March so I would say get legally married if you need to but forego the party until better times.

Also I don't know how your business model looks like but entire economies will be impacted by this. Even if you're in public sector you will see some cuts, so better to save cash as you might need it for emergencies.

Bring legal marriage forward actually as there are probably legal issues wrt to visits, notifying next of kin, inheritance that are prudent to think about in such times.

[Dr Mordrid]

Trump is invoking the Defense Production Act.

US hospitals have about 160,000 ventilators, and the US Strategic Stockpile has about 13,000 more. Now the feds can order/force the production of strategic needs.

AIUI, this can suspend the exclusive use/production portion of patents.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2020/03/18/coronavirus-senate-vote-expected-house-sick-leave-testing-bill/5076063002/

Wiki

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defense_Production_Act

The Act contains three major sections.

The first authorizes the*President*to require businesses to sign contracts or fulfill orders deemed necessary for national defense.

The second authorizes the President to establish mechanisms (such as regulations, orders or agencies) to allocate materials, services and facilities to promote national defense.

The third section authorizes the President to control the civilian economy so that scarce and/or critical materials necessary to the national defense effort are available for defense needs.

[UtwigMU]

We have 168 with 20-30 ventilators free at any given time. New government is looking for shipments.

The company that normally makes car seats will make masks for state as well as we took part in EU purchase, so we should go from 1000s masks in stock to millions this week.

They brought the guy who successfully lead press conferences during war in 1991 to be press representative of crisis HQ.

Shops now closed from 5pm so everything is spooky but onions and potatoes are back in stock.

Army will get police authority (2/3 vote needed), all gatherings in groups larger than 5 banned but no permits to go to work like Italy for now.

[Dr Mordrid]

It looks like Iran is a total Charlie Foxtrot, with the holy city of Qom, power base of the mullahs, the epicenter. Heard they lick or kiss a shrine, which spreads virii like crazy.

Guess they've chosen the form of their Destructor, and it's not the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man.

[UtwigMU]

When authorities closed shrine, the radicals stormed it.

[ALBPM]

Hey All, I'm still kicking. I haven't posted much in a few years. I retired from Intel back in October 2015 and have been kicking around the country visiting friends.

Anyway, it took the COVID-19 virus awhile to find New Mexico. But the store shelves were emptied of toilet paper before we had our first case of the virus here...LOL!!
We now have 35 cases in New Mexico. Schools are on a 3 week shutdown along with restaurants,theaters,casinos etc.. And damn it they shut my gym down. Gotta see what weights and bars I have stashed in the garage.

I'm just going to be eating lots of hot New Mexican Chile and wait this out.

Be safe, wash your hands and wear gloves and masks if you have to go out.

[Dilitante1]

What scares me is the info released on blood types can make the difference on how dangerous it can be. A type blood seems at the highest risk (rh +/- not a factor)
If it's true then I will definitely have to watch things.... France released info on treatment option with generics in use here already for years covidtrial.io has the details and are asking anyone in medical circles to share with everyone in health care to help save lives
Been out of work over 2 years so self isolated already 8D but I fear for my folks as they are in 70s now

Be safe out there

[Dr Mordrid]

Type O has a significantly lower risk and I'm O negative - the universal donor.

So long as I test CoVid-19 negative the vampires in blue will have me on speed dial (as they have since 1969). Even if we were scrubed in for a procedure the lab-rats would hunt us O-negs down.

[UtwigMU]

What do you think about discrepancy between deaths to infected in Germany (0,376%) vs Italy (9%) as of today.

Deaths in Germany are starting to go up in exponential curve, so it's not that Germans are more immune.

Deaths lag infections by a few weeks. So while Italian health is over capacity and German elderly have likely isolated sooner, what this shows is that there are likely far more infected and untested in Italy. Probably around half a million or more and probably the corona has been spreading Italy since mid January. This is also why probably containment is ineffective as they have considerable spread.

[Umfriend]

One interesting view is that in Italy, the number of elderly infected is much higher than anywhere else (https://medium.com/@andreasbackhausa...y-c4200a15a7bf).

Not stated by the other but from somewhere else: In Italy, many elderly live together with their (grown) children and/or share meals very often. So where 0-40yo people get infected a lot but suffer little, in Italy they take it hoe to parents. Also, Germany tests way more as I understand it.

[Dr Mordrid]

One interesting view is that in Italy, the number of elderly infected is much higher than anywhere else (https://medium.com/@andreasbackhausa...y-c4200a15a7bf).

Not stated by the other but from somewhere else: In Italy, many elderly live together with their (grown) children and/or share meals very often. So where 0-40yo people get infected a lot but suffer little, in Italy they take it hoe to parents. Also, Germany tests way more as I understand it.

In the US many seniors live independently, either in senior apartments or their own home.

Senior apartments (which get federal govt subsidies so federal rules) are now on a Level 4 lockdown; residents are isolated from building staff - phone or email only unless absolutely necessary, restricted visitors (home health care for handicappers etc.), and everyone stays in their apartment. Strong recommendations against unnecessary trips outside - just essential shopping & medical visits. No social events.

It's driving my best buddy batty.

The seniors at really high risk are those in nursing homes, such as the debacle in Washington state. One staffer brings it in and it takes off through the residents. Somewhat similar to seniors living with an extended family.