Coronavirus pandemic

[ET21]

Working from home helps to keep the mind busy, otherwise I'm in paradise cause now everyone is online to play games 

[kalvado]

One of the biggest things that I think will be a take away at the end of this is that way too many people were spreading information that probably shouldn't have been.  I don't know exactly how you control the message on what's going on in this modern age but there has been a ton of misinformation and conjecture that hasn't helped anybody. 

To that end, the lasting effects (if I were to offer a hot take) would probably be as life altering as 9/11.  Life will go on and in time be normalized but it wouldn't quite be how it was.  I suppose it could be infinitely worse, I wonder how society would handle things like; full scale wars, large scale famine, true global level economic depression, and several other historical events that hit hard even the last 150 years.

I hope that we can socially shun those who spread fake information.  This "alternate facts" timeline needs to be slammed shut.  It's fine and dandy to speculate about aliens building pyramids, but when it comes to literal life & death things, misinformation is incredibly irresponsible. 

I also agree this could be life changing like 9/11, especially if it stretches out beyond July or August.

Problem is, there are a lot of small things which can change perception of the situation quite a bit. "Official" information is quite flaky as well.
CDC bravely reported that they shipped out test kits. They did their best, right?
Fine print: kits barely working, FDA banned research lab from testing, and refused to get help from China. Now most of the world runs 15 min tests while US hospitals run out of supplies.

[Max Rockatansky]

Working from home helps to keep the mind busy, otherwise I'm in paradise cause now everyone is online to play games 

I haven't bought a video game since 2009.  Around that time I started to be able to go do the things that I wanted to do regularly (which were mostly outdoor recreational in nature) financially.  Nowadays sitting at home waiting for news or phone calls from work sounds like being condemned to my own personal hell.  Even when I was younger or a child I don't recall sitting at home due to illness or financial constraints as being something I ever enjoyed.  My Dad was a software engineer and marketing guy, my Mom was equally content with the dullness of home life.  I took every opportunity to escape when I could but when you're under 18 those options are limited, they are not more open in early adult life due to money and/or school.  For some I can see how being home is a boon for them, I don't think that I'm alone though in saying that it is a potential nightmare of malaise for others. 

[Rothman]

So they're saying that we'll be stuck home for 18 months. 

www.businessinsider.com/us-coronavirus-warning-pandemic-will-last-18-months-multiple-waves-2020-3%3famp, et al

Stuck home, but you'll still be able to grocery shop.

[kalvado]

So they're saying that we'll be stuck home for 18 months. 

www.businessinsider.com/us-coronavirus-warning-pandemic-will-last-18-months-multiple-waves-2020-3%3famp, et al

Stuck home, but you'll still be able to grocery shop.

For one, there will be less grocery shopping. I could easily go to 2-3 places on Friday-Saturday, and do 2-3 small stops during the week on top of that, if milk runs low etc.
Will be one weekly stock-up in foreseeable future.

[kwellada]

An interesting blog article from a University of Washington meteorologist:
https://cliffmass.blogspot.com/2020/03/the-weather-sensitivity-of-coronavirus.html

[quote} it appears that warm temperatures and high humidity is bad for the virus (or similar viruses).  Also ultraviolet radiation from the sun is problematic for the virus.  Thus, in many populated locations in the northern hemisphere, the virus will experience a less favorable environment.[/quote]

Fingers crossed that this hypothesis turns out to be correct. And maybe it's time to relocate to Tucson like I've been thinking!

[stormwatch7721]

This is making me sick to my stomach

LGL322DL

[kalvado]

This is making me sick to my stomach

LGL322DL

Just wait until it makes you sick to your lungs....

[stormwatch7721]

*screams*

LGL322DL

[US71]

So they're saying that we'll be stuck home for 18 months. 

www.businessinsider.com/us-coronavirus-warning-pandemic-will-last-18-months-multiple-waves-2020-3%3famp, et al

404: Not Found

[Max Rockatansky]

Fresno declared a similar shelter in place to the Bay Area which starts at midnight.  Interestingly none of the surrounding cited nor Fresno County have acted in concert.  As of the moment the order is to the end of the month and isn't all that different than what has been going on already.  I had both cars worked on earlier today and it was a ghost town all over the City.  I'll be setting up my weight set in the garage, good thing I got the maximum number of days in I could.  Apparently it is cool to be outside as long as you stay 6 feet away from people. 

[hotdogPi]

Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart (FL-25; one of the few moderate Republicans) tests positive.

[kevinb1994]

So they're saying that we'll be stuck home for 18 months. 

www.businessinsider.com/us-coronavirus-warning-pandemic-will-last-18-months-multiple-waves-2020-3%3famp, et al

404: Not Found

That's the ATL for ya

[Bruce]

It surprises me Washington state is still allowing public libraries to stay open.  Four libraries in Kansas (including my own, as of today) are closed, and in Ohio, Cincinnati's is closed indefinitely (reviewable weekly).

So far, Tacoma and Seattle have closed their branches (maybe more, but I only have cards for these two library systems). 

We're supposed to have great weather this week so I'm glad to see outdoor activities are still fine.  I think a trip to Mt. St. Helens is in order since I can do the whole thing without interacting with another human.  Nature is one of those things that'll keep me sane during this Great Coop-Up

Basically every library system in Western Washington (and a few in Eastern Washington) have announced closures into April: Seattle, King County, Pierce County, Tacoma, Sno-Isle, Everett, Timberland, Kitsap, North Central, Whatcom, Bellingham, Spokane...

[Plutonic Panda]

This will likely affect tons of planned road projects. I know OkDOT is going to take a huge hit. Oklahoma, just from the loss of gaming, will take a 100 million budget hit alone and that doesn't factor in oil or other economic hits. I can't even imagine what the update to their 8yr plan will be this fall unless nothing short of a miracle happens.

[kalvado]

This will likely affect tons of planned road projects. I know OkDOT is going to take a huge hit. Oklahoma, just from the loss of gaming, will take a 100 million budget hit alone and that doesn't factor in oil or other economic hits. I can't even imagine what the update to their 8yr plan will be this fall unless nothing short of a miracle happens.

why, it is very easy to imagine.
***everything chacelled***

[J N Winkler]

Upthread, Kalvado spoke of countries where coronavirus testing can be finished within fifteen minutes.

Meanwhile, here in Kansas the state has just written off Johnson County, which has 12 cases and known community spread, because it is feared that any significant expansion of testing there will burn through the supply of test kits for the whole state.  Patients in the county will now be tested only when they are hospitalized.

At the moment, Kansas has a total of 23 cases (12 in Johnson, 5 in Wyandotte, 2 in Leavenworth, 1 each in Douglas, Franklin, Butler, and Ford Counties, all but the last two being in the northeast part of the state).

[kalvado]

Upthread, Kalvado spoke of countries where coronavirus testing can be finished within fifteen minutes.

Meanwhile, here in Kansas the state has just written off Johnson County, which has 12 cases and known community spread, because it is feared that any significant expansion of testing there will burn through the supply of test kits for the whole state.  Patients in the county will now be tested only when they are hospitalized.

At the moment, Kansas has a total of 23 cases (12 in Johnson, 5 in Wyandotte, 2 in Leavenworth, 1 each in Douglas, Franklin, Butler, and Ford Counties, all but the last two being in the northeast part of the state).

If you think about how the situation developed... US firmly joined the third world.
CDC reported early on that they shipped diagnostic kits - but restricted the use so that infection could spread. They banned research teams not certified for such from doing tests - and once they disobeyed and found infection spreading, banned the team from any tests.
Then it was reported one of 3 CDC primers gives uncertain results, whatever that means.
Now it is reported that second primer has high rate of false positives.
Foreign assistance, of course, got refused, and now US has no even poorly performing tests.

First time in my life when I think the death penalty is not just justified, but has to be liberally applied to those in charge. 

This is not current administration failure, this is systematic failure on many levels, and same problem goes to 737MAX, same goes to roundabout design.

[Max Rockatansky]

Upthread, Kalvado spoke of countries where coronavirus testing can be finished within fifteen minutes.

Meanwhile, here in Kansas the state has just written off Johnson County, which has 12 cases and known community spread, because it is feared that any significant expansion of testing there will burn through the supply of test kits for the whole state.  Patients in the county will now be tested only when they are hospitalized.

At the moment, Kansas has a total of 23 cases (12 in Johnson, 5 in Wyandotte, 2 in Leavenworth, 1 each in Douglas, Franklin, Butler, and Ford Counties, all but the last two being in the northeast part of the state).

If you think about how the situation developed... US firmly joined the third world.
CDC reported early on that they shipped diagnostic kits - but restricted the use so that infection could spread. They banned research teams not certified for such from doing tests - and once they disobeyed and found infection spreading, banned the team from any tests.
Then it was reported one of 3 CDC primers gives uncertain results, whatever that means.
Now it is reported that second primer has high rate of false positives.
Foreign assistance, of course, got refused, and now US has no even poorly performing tests.

First time in my life when I think the death penalty is not just justified, but has to be liberally applied to those in charge. 

This is not current administration failure, this is systematic failure on many levels, and same problem goes to 737MAX, same goes to roundabout design.

I would certainly hope that's a fringe use of sarcasm but given the way this thread seems to be going at times I'm not really all that sure. 

[webny99]

it appears that warm temperatures and high humidity is bad for the virus (or similar viruses).  Also ultraviolet radiation from the sun is problematic for the virus.  Thus, in many populated locations in the northern hemisphere, the virus will experience a less favorable environment.

Fingers crossed that this hypothesis turns out to be correct. And maybe it's time to relocate to Tucson like I've been thinking!

Actually, maybe not:
https://fivethirtyeight.com/videos/why-we-shouldnt-hope-covid-19-is-seasonal-like-the-flu/

Sounds great right now to think of warm summer sunshine melting the virus away, but if it goes away in summer, it will almost certainly be back in fall. We really need to just get this right and get rid of it for good.

[jeffandnicole]

In order to have had stopped this virus from spreading, the borders to the United States would have had to been shut down back in January. No one would have ever allowed that and would have crucified anyone who suggested it.

[kalvado]

Upthread, Kalvado spoke of countries where coronavirus testing can be finished within fifteen minutes.

Meanwhile, here in Kansas the state has just written off Johnson County, which has 12 cases and known community spread, because it is feared that any significant expansion of testing there will burn through the supply of test kits for the whole state.  Patients in the county will now be tested only when they are hospitalized.

At the moment, Kansas has a total of 23 cases (12 in Johnson, 5 in Wyandotte, 2 in Leavenworth, 1 each in Douglas, Franklin, Butler, and Ford Counties, all but the last two being in the northeast part of the state).

If you think about how the situation developed... US firmly joined the third world.
CDC reported early on that they shipped diagnostic kits - but restricted the use so that infection could spread. They banned research teams not certified for such from doing tests - and once they disobeyed and found infection spreading, banned the team from any tests.
Then it was reported one of 3 CDC primers gives uncertain results, whatever that means.
Now it is reported that second primer has high rate of false positives.
Foreign assistance, of course, got refused, and now US has no even poorly performing tests.

First time in my life when I think the death penalty is not just justified, but has to be liberally applied to those in charge. 

This is not current administration failure, this is systematic failure on many levels, and same problem goes to 737MAX, same goes to roundabout design.

I would certainly hope that's a fringe use of sarcasm but given the way this thread seems to be going at times I'm not really all that sure.

Well, bureaucracy and unqualified technical stuff result in deaths. I do think this has to be investigated as a crime, and that the death penalty is an appropriate sentence.
They usually argue that the threat of such a penalty should stop criminal minds from acting - which doesn't seem to be the case. But it can very well work for white-collar killers,  who should see their responsibility as a personal thing, not abstract matter as they are shielded by government immunity. Third world realities.

[Max Rockatansky]

Upthread, Kalvado spoke of countries where coronavirus testing can be finished within fifteen minutes.

Meanwhile, here in Kansas the state has just written off Johnson County, which has 12 cases and known community spread, because it is feared that any significant expansion of testing there will burn through the supply of test kits for the whole state.  Patients in the county will now be tested only when they are hospitalized.

At the moment, Kansas has a total of 23 cases (12 in Johnson, 5 in Wyandotte, 2 in Leavenworth, 1 each in Douglas, Franklin, Butler, and Ford Counties, all but the last two being in the northeast part of the state).

If you think about how the situation developed... US firmly joined the third world.
CDC reported early on that they shipped diagnostic kits - but restricted the use so that infection could spread. They banned research teams not certified for such from doing tests - and once they disobeyed and found infection spreading, banned the team from any tests.
Then it was reported one of 3 CDC primers gives uncertain results, whatever that means.
Now it is reported that second primer has high rate of false positives.
Foreign assistance, of course, got refused, and now US has no even poorly performing tests.

First time in my life when I think the death penalty is not just justified, but has to be liberally applied to those in charge. 

This is not current administration failure, this is systematic failure on many levels, and same problem goes to 737MAX, same goes to roundabout design.

I would certainly hope that's a fringe use of sarcasm but given the way this thread seems to be going at times I'm not really all that sure.

Well, bureaucracy and unqualified technical stuff result in deaths. I do think this has to be investigated as a crime, and that the death penalty is an appropriate sentence.
They usually argue that the threat of such a penalty should stop criminal minds from acting - which doesn't seem to be the case. But it can very well work for white-collar killers,  who should see their responsibility as a personal thing, not abstract matter as they are shielded by government immunity. Third world realities.

The fact that you're serious talking about executing people in my opinion shoots your credibility completely to hell.  People like you who suggest things like this are just as a big of a problem in terms of spreading fear and discontent as those who would do nothing.

[webny99]

I think we are to the point where it might be a good idea to take a chill and remind ourselves that things will be OK, and talk about some of the road-related impacts.

Impacts to some of the bigger, long-term projects were mentioned upthread: it is hard at this moment to envision such being needed.
Thinking more short-term, construction has already ramped up on the Thruway in the infamous Seneca Nation, which has to be completely reconstructed. There's also been work at several of the AET conversion locations. There's been a bit of local work too with filling potholes, etc. On balance, I think this is actually a good opportunity for construction crews to get things done with fewer people on the roads! Thoughts?

[kalvado]

In order to have had stopped this virus from spreading, the borders to the United States would have had to been shut down back in January. No one would have ever allowed that and would have crucified anyone who suggested it.

There was so much more that could be done. Isolation of community flares at early stages could be done. That would buy the most valuable thing - time. Time to setup mask production, if nothing else. Or, more likely, time to allow China to build up mask stock.