OT: Coronavirus

@"StickyBun" said: Went out yesterday to Delray Beach with friends to day drink as its the official St. Patrick's Day Parade day (it was cancelled) and had a guy at a bar tell me the whole thing is a democratic hoax. He was serious. Its mind blowing that people can be this stupid. We weren't talking politics or anything, he just threw it out there. SMFH. 

I wonder where he heard that message, between POTUS and Fox News shows having sent that message repeatedly in last few months.

I live in a deep red state in a blue collar industry (construction).  I hardly have a tongue left I bite it so much.

The mis-information and amount of people not taking this more seriously has only accelerated the issue.

@"Vikergirl" said: https://twitter.com/jacknicas/status/1238849786356224000?s=19

That asshole went around the several state areas, PROBABLY ours (since we’re an hour away and the last thing on our minds is covid19) while we recover from an EF4 tornado that destoryed 200+ houses and another 750+ with damage. I hope he rots in hell. In fact rotting in hell might be to easy for scum like him. 

In fact, Im not a big .gov guy but isnt there anti price gouging rules?  Couldnt the long arm of the .gov confiscate it all and give it to the hospitals and doctors offices that need it?

@"suncoastvike" said:

@"Vikergirl" said: https://twitter.com/orlandosentinel/status/1238984853787488256?s=19

Yeah read this. 25 new cases reported yesterday. It still seems to be growing. With highs in the mid to upper 80°s down here warmer weather doesn't seem to be the fix that was hoped for.

So china locked down their country better the what we’ll do but most of us will NOT get covid. The high estimates is around 40% which is fantastically higher then it’s going to be under the worst of cases. China had 81k cases with a population of 1.4B or 0.002% infection rate within their population. 

Lets keep this whole thing in perspective. 

@"AGRforever" said: So china locked down their country better the what we’ll do but most of us will NOT get covid. The high estimates is around 40% which is fantastically higher then it’s going to be under the worst of cases. China had 81k cases with a population of 1.4B or 0.002% infection rate within their population. 

Lets keep this whole thing in perspective. 

I think this is a good perspective too...

There are some things China (and So Korea) did that we need to emulate here in US - now since it wasn't done weeks ago. 

Why we're not using testing gold standard tools that the WHO leverages across the globe is beyond my understanding. 

@"purplefaithful" said:

@"AGRforever" said: So china locked down their country better the what we’ll do but most of us will NOT get covid. The high estimates is around 40% which is fantastically higher then it’s going to be under the worst of cases. China had 81k cases with a population of 1.4B or 0.002% infection rate within their population. 

Lets keep this whole thing in perspective. 

I think this is a good perspective too...

There are some things China (and So Korea) did that we need to emulate here in US - now since it wasn't done weeks ago. 

Why we're not using testing gold standard tools that the WHO leverages across the globe is beyond my understanding. 

@"JimmyinSD" said:

@"purplefaithful" said:

@"AGRforever" said: So china locked down their country better the what we’ll do but most of us will NOT get covid. The high estimates is around 40% which is fantastically higher then it’s going to be under the worst of cases. China had 81k cases with a population of 1.4B or 0.002% infection rate within their population. 

Lets keep this whole thing in perspective. 

I think this is a good perspective too...

There are some things China (and So Korea) did that we need to emulate here in US - now since it wasn't done weeks ago. 

Why we're not using testing gold standard tools that the WHO leverages across the globe is beyond my understanding. 

This country would have flipped shit if their had been a radical approach to this virus before it really had become something in this country.  We are a nation of selfish people and until something affects us personally we are all slow to react on a regular basis.  Sure we will have empathy for those that are affected,  but until shit starts to hit home for most Americans it will be business as usual and any attempts to interrupt our daily wants and desires will be met with spite and anger.  

It's a lot easier in smaller countries or those that arent as accustomed to their freedoms to impose mandates to slow the spread of something that isnt even an issue at the time.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz says K-12 schools closing; state now has 35 confirmed cases of COVID-19
State indicating that schools could be shut down even longer.

Minnesota now has 35 cases of COVID-19, Gov. Tim Walz said Sunday as he announced that all of Minnesota’s K-12 schools will closed for at least eight school days starting Wednesday to try to slow the spread of the virus.
Walz and state Education Commissioner Mary Cathryn Ricker made the announcement Sunday morning in St. Paul.
“My top priority as governor is the safety of Minnesotans. As a former teacher, and father of two teenage kids, I’m especially focused on the safety of our children,” Walz said. “Closing schools is never an easy decision, but we need to make sure we have plans in place to educate and feed our kids regardless of what’s to come.”
The governor signed an executive order to close schools starting Wednesday through Friday, March 27.
Ricker said schools need to prepare in case they need to close schools for even longer than eight days.
“We are not accommodating for a couple snow days, we are planning for the potential for weeks of distance learning,” she said.
She said the state expects schools to continue to pay hourly workers like nutrition staff and school bus drivers and they are “incorporated into our state’s distance learning plans.”
The closing will “accommodate planning between school staff, teachers, and administrators with guidance from the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) and the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH),” the governor’s initial release said.
The executive order requires schools to provide care for elementary-age children of health care professionals, first responders, and other emergency workers during previously planned school days.
On Friday, state officials said schools would remain open, partly so that health care workers don’t have to stay home to provide child care, and partly due to epidemiological evidence that COVID-19 is not spreading rapidly among children and that school closures haven’t been effective in this global outbreak.
However, Walz and state Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm said then that school closures could be ordered as the pandemic unfolds
http://www.startribune.com/minnesota-schools-will-close-for-eight-days-due-to-coronavirus-pandemic/568812082/

If anyone believes there is only 35 Covid-19 cases in this state, I've got a bridge in Bklyn to sell cheap. Rant over, for now. 

@"StickyBun" said: Trump mentioned the possibility of reducing/banning domestic travel.....just a matter of time, methinks.

Methinks you're right...Our brightest minds know we need to lessen that arc slope...

Top infectious disease expert doesn't rule out supporting temporary national lockdown to combat coronavirus

Vegas is going to feel the pinch...

@"purplefaithful" said:

@"JimmyinSD" said:

@"purplefaithful" said:

@"AGRforever" said: So china locked down their country better the what we’ll do but most of us will NOT get covid. The high estimates is around 40% which is fantastically higher then it’s going to be under the worst of cases. China had 81k cases with a population of 1.4B or 0.002% infection rate within their population. 

Lets keep this whole thing in perspective. 

I think this is a good perspective too...

There are some things China (and So Korea) did that we need to emulate here in US - now since it wasn't done weeks ago. 

Why we're not using testing gold standard tools that the WHO leverages across the globe is beyond my understanding. 

This country would have flipped shit if their had been a radical approach to this virus before it really had become something in this country.  We are a nation of selfish people and until something affects us personally we are all slow to react on a regular basis.  Sure we will have empathy for those that are affected,  but until shit starts to hit home for most Americans it will be business as usual and any attempts to interrupt our daily wants and desires will be met with spite and anger.  

It's a lot easier in smaller countries or those that arent as accustomed to their freedoms to impose mandates to slow the spread of something that isnt even an issue at the time.

I went to do some grocery shopping this morning at the local Hy Vee...

I should have grabbed pix...

The paper aisle? Completely empty. No chicken left, all the frozen pizza's sold out, hamburger by the lb? gone...Loaf bread? Canned anything, frozen vegetables - gone..

Zero hand sanitizer, hand soap etc.

Now Hy Vee has an excellent supply chain, right up there with Publix, Costco and WM. The fact that they're out of this stuff just underscores how yes, people are losing their shit (and how bad the Amercian diet is too). 

@"JimmyinSD" said:

@"purplefaithful" said:

@"JimmyinSD" said:

@"purplefaithful" said:

@"AGRforever" said: So china locked down their country better the what we’ll do but most of us will NOT get covid. The high estimates is around 40% which is fantastically higher then it’s going to be under the worst of cases. China had 81k cases with a population of 1.4B or 0.002% infection rate within their population. 

Lets keep this whole thing in perspective. 

I think this is a good perspective too...

There are some things China (and So Korea) did that we need to emulate here in US - now since it wasn't done weeks ago. 

Why we're not using testing gold standard tools that the WHO leverages across the globe is beyond my understanding. 

This country would have flipped shit if their had been a radical approach to this virus before it really had become something in this country.  We are a nation of selfish people and until something affects us personally we are all slow to react on a regular basis.  Sure we will have empathy for those that are affected,  but until shit starts to hit home for most Americans it will be business as usual and any attempts to interrupt our daily wants and desires will be met with spite and anger.  

It's a lot easier in smaller countries or those that arent as accustomed to their freedoms to impose mandates to slow the spread of something that isnt even an issue at the time.

I went to do some grocery shopping this morning at the local Hy Vee...

I should have grabbed pix...

The paper aisle? Completely empty. No chicken left, all the frozen pizza's sold out, hamburger by the lb? gone...Loaf bread? Canned anything, frozen vegetables - gone..

Zero hand sanitizer, hand soap etc.

Now Hy Vee has an excellent supply chain, right up there with Publix, Costco and WM. The fact that they're out of this stuff just underscores how yes, people are losing their shit (and how bad the Amercian diet is too). 

Not surprising at all,  Walmart's across the country have been this way all week and their supply chain is unrivalled,  but the govt imposing bans and such weeks before this virus really arrived here wouldn't have been received calmly by anybody and would likely have made things even worse as it might have slowed the initial spread,  but then the virus would have been taken even more casually than it is/was and the effects would potentially have been even more devastating. 

I dont think there is a magic wand or a crystal ball when it comes to the right time to make unpopular decisions for the safety of a massive population of free people.

@"purplefaithful" said:

@"JimmyinSD" said:

@"purplefaithful" said:

@"JimmyinSD" said:

@"purplefaithful" said:

@"AGRforever" said: So china locked down their country better the what we’ll do but most of us will NOT get covid. The high estimates is around 40% which is fantastically higher then it’s going to be under the worst of cases. China had 81k cases with a population of 1.4B or 0.002% infection rate within their population. 

Lets keep this whole thing in perspective. 

I think this is a good perspective too...

There are some things China (and So Korea) did that we need to emulate here in US - now since it wasn't done weeks ago. 

Why we're not using testing gold standard tools that the WHO leverages across the globe is beyond my understanding. 

This country would have flipped shit if their had been a radical approach to this virus before it really had become something in this country.  We are a nation of selfish people and until something affects us personally we are all slow to react on a regular basis.  Sure we will have empathy for those that are affected,  but until shit starts to hit home for most Americans it will be business as usual and any attempts to interrupt our daily wants and desires will be met with spite and anger.  

It's a lot easier in smaller countries or those that arent as accustomed to their freedoms to impose mandates to slow the spread of something that isnt even an issue at the time.

I went to do some grocery shopping this morning at the local Hy Vee...

I should have grabbed pix...

The paper aisle? Completely empty. No chicken left, all the frozen pizza's sold out, hamburger by the lb? gone...Loaf bread? Canned anything, frozen vegetables - gone..

Zero hand sanitizer, hand soap etc.

Now Hy Vee has an excellent supply chain, right up there with Publix, Costco and WM. The fact that they're out of this stuff just underscores how yes, people are losing their shit (and how bad the Amercian diet is too). 

Not surprising at all,  Walmart's across the country have been this way all week and their supply chain is unrivalled,  but the govt imposing bans and such weeks before this virus really arrived here wouldn't have been received calmly by anybody and would likely have made things even worse as it might have slowed the initial spread,  but then the virus would have been taken even more casually than it is/was and the effects would potentially have been even more devastating. 

I dont think there is a magic wand or a crystal ball when it comes to the right time to make unpopular decisions for the safety of a massive population of free people.

But this is exactly why we have experts like Fauci - to make those decisions leveraging science and intuition. 

We're going to just have to disagree that the actions taken to date in measuring and managing this in the USA has gone well or just plain badly...

one of my colleagues in the history department (a fairly new teacher) asked why I thought people were freaking out and hoarding....I told him he didnt want to know my answer....

long story short I relented...

”Beacause weve become a nation of pussies”.

personally, id rather die, than live my life in fear 

yeah, Ok....lemme hear what an Ass I am.

@"AGRforever" said: So china locked down their country better the what we’ll do but most of us will NOT get covid. The high estimates is around 40% which is fantastically higher then it’s going to be under the worst of cases. China had 81k cases with a population of 1.4B or 0.002% infection rate within their population. 

Lets keep this whole thing in perspective. 

 I don't trust China or  the data they have recorded and shared.

@"Mattyman" said:

@"AGRforever" said: So china locked down their country better the what we’ll do but most of us will NOT get covid. The high estimates is around 40% which is fantastically higher then it’s going to be under the worst of cases. China had 81k cases with a population of 1.4B or 0.002% infection rate within their population. 

Lets keep this whole thing in perspective. 

 I don't trust China or  the data they have recorded and shared.

So is this where I can talk a bought “country boy can survive”???

Lock this shit down. My family and I are good for a long time without outside support. 

@"Vanguard83" said: one of my colleagues in the history department (a fairly new teacher) asked why I thought people were freaking out and hoarding....I told him he didnt want to know my answer....

long story short I relented...

”Beacause weve become a nation of pussies”.

personally, id rather die, than live my life in fear 

yeah, Ok....lemme hear what an Ass I am.

Not an ass. FDR was almost right when he said "the only thing we have to fear is fear itself." I say "almost right" because it's not the only thing we have to fear. But it will do the most damage. A little bit of fear is healthy. It keeps us from making foolish decisions. It keeps us safe. 

Not that the world needs more reminders of dystopia right now, but I keep thinking of Stephen King's novel The Stand, where 99% of the world's population is killed by a virus and the rest are divided by calls to either the dark side or the good side. 

We're already seeing examples on both sides...evil people hoarding, price gouging, pulling knives on one other, increased violence and xenophobia...And others donating supplies to the elderly, Jack Ma donating masks and test kits, restaurants feeding kids affected by school closures, etc. 

Now, this virus is nothing even remotely close to King's fictional one. Still, virus or no, we're all called to make a "stand" in how we treat each other. We just need to decide which side we're going to be on.