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Corona Virus Blog - March 17, 2020

These are difficult times, and only getting more difficult. Let's continue the conversation.

Comments

Nutty Flavor said…
Well, the Archbishop of Canterbury has finally turned up, although it took him awhile.

Super-woke Justin Welby is out with a statement that doesn't mention Jesus for the first 37 paragraphs. (He gets to "pray" in paragraph 28).

Welby also brought along the Archbishop of York John Sentamu, who is originally from Uganda, for a bit of political cover.

Anyway, Welby's input definitely qualifies as "better than nothing", and he has some positive thoughts, including "Those who are leading our country are seeking the best advice and can be trusted to do all they can."

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-8118857/Archbishops-JUSTIN-WELBY-JOHN-SENTAMU-good-Samaritans.html

Ava C said…
The DM has (cuurently top story) what would otherwise have been a helpful article by the former chair of the Royal College of GPs (like MD in the US) who has had Covid-19. Headline blares "It's nothing like the flu!" Fine. What we expected. Then you read on to find that her experience of flu lasted "half a day". Cue infuriated readers, including me, who either lost or nearly lost their jobs in their one experience of actual flu when it takes weeks to recover and you feel you couldn't even leave your bed if the house was on fire. That comment invalidated the headline.

Well that is par for the course for 99% of the Express' royal articles, but this clickbait technique has no place here. Panic, fear and anger exhausts people when it continues day after day, as we are seeing now. Wears down your immunity. Can make you physically ill in itself over time. Yet they are doing this to readers NOW.

As I said in my comment to DM, if the wartime DM had been deliberately driving readers into a maelstrom of emotions (which it wasn't), 1940 front pages would have been "Nazis on our doorstep!" "RAF running out of planes!" "We are about to be invaded!"

Speaking of which, I spoke to my uncle on the phone yesterday. He was literally born in a hospital corridor in 1940. My grandmother had my two-year-old mother and gave birth to another child in the most cliff-hanging year of the war. While being evacuated with unfriendly strangers who didn't even unbend when she briefly saw her husband before he went back to London and the Blitz.
Portcitygirl said…
A family member has resort real estate and expressed concern over virus to agency and was told business as usual. Another has a retail business and fears it will be shut down. I'm afraid people will lose their homes if they can't pay their bills.

A periodontist that my brother knows shut his office until further notice.

Also, is it even safe to walk outdoors if the virus lingers in the air
for three hours?

I have wondered if this was intentional and is an act of war as global economies will collapse. Businesses will restructure to survive and never go back. Everyone that is able to work from home will do so going forward and restaurants, banks, and groceries will be curbside and delivery. People will continue to self isolate. Parents will insist children be taught at home via computers. The list is endless. Military presence will be permanent.

Hospitals should set up buildings for covid only and reroute accordingly from the patient's vehicle. This is Armageddon
level crisis and our rulers are letting on slowly.

Our govt is going to take over fedex, ups , and all grocery stores to manage the food and delivery supply. My advice is if you are able, order everything you need asap if it is available before this happens. May God be with us.
abbyh said…
This has a similar sense of waiting for a weather disaster - when? where? what will happen to me? my family? tension ratcheting up from the unknown.

It's interesting to see what's open still. And, it's interesting to see what people have left on the grocery shelf.

We have not completely self isolated but are heading in that direction.
Fairy Crocodile said…
My heart broke today. LA orders closure of animal shelters. They will put the animals down.

May be there will be kind people who will foster.
abbyh said…
Fairy Crocodile

This looks like they won't go quite that far.
https://ktla.com/news/local-news/l-a-to-shutter-city-animal-shelters-halt-adoptions-during-virus-outbreak/
SwampWoman said…
Yes, the animal shelter in daughter's county is closed to the public; however, they are still taking care of the animals. If it gets overcrowded, decisions will have to be made. At this point, nobody knows how long everything will be shut down. They *think* it is for two weeks; I think that this is just the beginning.
What's left on the supermarket shelves?

We have a large number of oldies here, of whom I am one, so the thought of `being confined to barracks' or `under house arrest' is a bit daunting.

I've noticed that locally there's been a `run' (if that's not too apt a word...) not only on toilet rolls but also laxatives - but the shelves with lavatory cleaner are full!

Funny old world.

Our rector in Hampshire used to say, from his experience in Bournemouth, that when people retire to the seaside, they not only concrete over their gardens but also their minds.
SwampWoman said…
Since there are multiple grandchildren here and we had THREE gallons of milk, we thought that was adequate. We were wrong. I made a grocery store run this morning, and it looked....BAD. No milk. No half and half for my coffee. No paper products, whether toilet or paper towel or facial tissues. No potatoes. No carrots. (Probably picked up to go with those roasts because no meat in the meat department. No fish, either.) No canned meats. Not much in the way of canned veggies, either. I had gone there thinking "Well, I forgot to get trash bags when I was stocking up, I'll pick up some of those." Guess what? None of those, either.
I had an irritating boss who always claimed `flu' when he took a day off. I don't believe in `24 hr flu' - it trivialises influenza.

What is the result of the `£50 note' test?

Imagine someone puts a large sum of money on the bedroom floor - it's yours if you get out of bed to pick it up.

If you can manage it, it's not'flu.

If you groan `I don't care - go away,' it's at least a flu-like illness.

If you haven't the strength to move or say anything, it's 'flu.


Perhaps the current lurgi can strike hard for a brief time, but of course it's not flu.

Nutty Flavor said…
My apologies to the people who have had trouble posting here.

I have reset the blog to "full page comments", which should make it accessible to everyone.
brown-eyed said…
Seeing if my comment shows up. Thanks, Nutty.
Animal Lover said…
I'm looking at local news to get good information. I was looking to order online but was told most items I want you need to come into the store for or the store is out of stock!
Meowwww said…
Thanks Nutty! My posts in the other format went off into the ether. :)

My Walmart is sold out of everything. No paper products, no meat except for ground turkey, no pasta, nothing. It’s a very strange world out there.
Now the media here is all about how the gun stores are empty, everyone is panic buying guns. Way to scare everyone even more with that hype.
@Meow
The Walmart closest to me just sent an email that they are delivering in my area on the Oregon coast for $20. They've never done delivery in my area before. I wonder if they have anything to deliver?

@Elle,
My response to you got eaten by Blogger, so sorry this is late. It's so quiet here, but it looks like some of people who own second homes have escaped the city and are staying here instead. I'm glad I was here rather than in at my home in Seattle, so will stay here for the duration. Just a few locals are strolling on the beach.

I think it took awhile for the seriousness of this to sink in here, but finally people are being sensible. I'm self-isolating due to age, so I don't know what's going on out there, but a friend is going to do my shopping for me today, and I'll earn more from her. Will there be anything left to buy at the store? Is the liquor store open?

Stay safe, everybody!

@Nutty, You were mentioning that police and fire personnel will get sick. I read in the Seattle news that 13-15 firefighters who went into the Kirkland, WA nursing home (ground zero in Seattle) to help out, have contracted COVID. So sad for them and their families.

Trying to get up to date news here is impossible. Everything, except for the governor's speeches, is one or two day old news, and with things changing so quickly, it's difficult to get the latest info. Even the Oregon health official pages aren't being updated regularly, so thank you, Nutty, for providing this blog for the most current info.



CatEyes said…
My Walmart is likewise devoid of any paper products, bottled water, pasta, rice, sugar and most canned goods. However, surprising there is a good amount of produce which is a wonderful food to eat! There is also plenty of flour which would also make needed bread many depend on, Also flour could be used to make biscuits (which we in the South love), pancakes, pasta and even tortillas. Instead of using white sugar try brown sugar, coconut sugar, stevia and even molasses So people need to start making food items from scratch and learn to bake. This crisis could bring about people learning to be a little self-sufficient and creative in feeding themselves and their families.
Nutty Flavor said…
Interesting you say that, @CatEyes. I recently read about a Brazillan study which found that the homes that bought the most raw sugar were the healthiest.

That surprised the scientists behind the study, until they realized that buying sugar meant people were making sweets from scratch instead of buying processed food.
I agree about the flu and people’s take on it...oh I’ve a touch of the flu etc., is complete and utter nonsense! I’ve had flu only once, it bought on asthma (which I never suffered from) and I had a chest infection. I was off work for weeks and wasn’t truly well until after 3 months.

@Wild Boar, I’ve been told ‘if you can get out of bed for a £5 note on the floor, then you don’t have flu. The answer was a flat no for any amount, let alone £50 if you have flu. 😩😂😩

COVID 19 is not flu and is far, far worse. To read and hear you can have it but show no symptoms or can be the complete opposite of this, just shows how deadly and truly unpredictable this is. To hear and read it won’t even die out when the hot weather comes is not comforting, the hot countries dealing with it now aren’t feeling those effects. 😩
SwampWoman said…
I'm not worried about the bare shelves at the supermarkets; they'll be restocked, but it may take awhile. I don't recall the grocery store shelves being stripped nationwide before! I am a little worried that I won't be able to go pick blueberries in May in Georgia; I may have to ask my brother, who lives at and takes care of our late mother's house, to make my portion into wine. Hopefully we are not under travel restrictions into other states then, but I wouldn't be surprised.

Portcitygirl said…
I cried when I read about the pups. They don't deserve this.

On a happy note, I have bluebirds nesting in my box. They are such a joy. This is off topic, but when I was at my lowest, my therapist suggested I get a box. I really got into it and had four groups of fledglings the first year. I draw and paint and they gave me a new subject. I also bought binoculars and my first digital camera and developed a love for capturing them mid flight with worms in their mouths. My therapist was right, it took my mind to a happier place.

My hope for all of us is that we can find joy in something to distract us while we get through this.

Read on DM that Trump is going to open MASH like hospitals to treat the Sars 2 epidemic which I think is smart as hospitals are petri dishes for this disease. Also, private companies have offered to make ventilator tubes and construction business owners are being asked to donate masks. Hopefully, this will help. We are no longer going to the grocery stores, only drive throughs and our NC Gov has shut down restaurants. I feel so sorry for owners and employees. Trump and Congress have also created a stimulus package and are giving those in need 1000$ in 2 weeks?
CatEyes said…
Big Announcement from Trump and his Treasury Secretary. They want to send $1,000 checks to Americans to help them during this crisis. Lawmakers are to proceed later today with this plan. Let's hope it comes to fruition.

>>>“We are looking at sending checks to Americans immediately,” Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said during a news conference at the White House Tuesday.
“Americans need cash now,” Mnuchin said. “And I mean now in the next two weeks.”

This was reported on MSN.
SwampWoman said…
Raspberry Ruffle said: COVID 19 is not flu and is far, far worse. To read and hear you can have it but show no symptoms or can be the complete opposite of this, just shows how deadly and truly unpredictable this is. To hear and read it won’t even die out when the hot weather comes is not comforting, the hot countries dealing with it now aren’t feeling those effects. 😩

RR, Florida cases jumped to 192, of which 19 are not from Florida. What the UK considers a heatwave would be our usual mild spring temperatures (grin). Our temps have been in the high 80s to 90F (27C to 32C); I no longer believe that it is going to go away in warm temperatures BUT I'm still hoping (I know, I know) that the sunny weather and vitamin D will help keep people from becoming desperately ill. We have had 5 deaths thus far and one of those was in California and a cruise ship quarantine. (Many of our most ill patients were on cruise ships.) The way that they (government and medical types) are getting ready for mass casualties would seem to indicate that the Top People think otherwise.

Florida Gov. DeSantis has just ordered all bars/nightclubs to close effective this evening. I pity the people that have to patrol the city this evening. It is a murder zone on good days.
CatEyes said…
@SwampWoman

My Pharmacist who is pretty astute told me yesterday that he thought heat and sunlight will help kill the COVID virus (as it does most viruses). He thinks things will get better as our weather warms. I pray that he is right.
SwampWoman said…
CatEyes, our weather is pretty warm right now.
SwampWoman said…
Dang, I should have elaborated on my answer, I suppose. When our temperatures reach their summer range of 95 to 100 degrees daily for several months, we may indeed have reduced viral outbreak; however, what about the countries/states where it doesn't get that warm? While it has been awhile since I've been in the coastal Pacific northwest, when I brought my husband to Oregon when we were newly married, I mentioned going to the beach and we needed to bring jackets. "Don't be silly! It's JULY!" he said. Yes, he ended up purchasing a quite expensive jacket.
JHanoi said…
Things have changed in the warm weather states as well. Nearly everyone lives in air conditioning/ temperature controlled environments during the hot weather so I doubt the virus would be totally eradicated.

During the Spanish flu, i think the virus started in the spring , went away in the summer, and then came back with a vengence in the fall/winter.

I hope the Covid19 doesn’t follow that path.
@SwampWoman,’RR, Florida cases jumped to 192, of which 19 are not from Florida. What the UK considers a heatwave would be our usual mild spring temperatures (grin). Our temps have been in the high 80s to 90F (27C to 32C); I no longer believe that it is going to go away in warm temperatures BUT I'm still hoping (I know, I know) that the sunny weather and vitamin D will help keep people from becoming desperately ill. We have had 5 deaths thus far and one of those was in California and a cruise ship quarantine. (Many of our most ill patients were on cruise ships.) The way that they (government and medical types) are getting ready for mass casualties would seem to indicate that the Top People think otherwise.’

I wasn’t referring to UK weather, I was referring to what the experts are saying about warmer weather overall (not my opinion, I’m not an expert).They are saying unlike seasonal flu which dies away when the warmer arrives, COVID 19 isn’t.
It has so many unknowns...I feel it’s best to take each day as it comes. 🤗
Animal Lover said…
Washington Examiner reported the Trump Administration is granting waivers so more tele-health services for seniors and disabled can be reimbursed. I then went to the NY Times which buried the information. The Times use to be my go to paper, but now I have to check multiple sources.

Sorry if there are typos or missed words, I try to proof read but sometimes miss stuff.

Walmart is a disaster, Kroger stores and Trader Joe's are better stocked
Dawn said…
Thanks so very much for these comments! So helpful. I haven't been out of the house for about a week (self isolating) and I'd like to pick up a few things from the grocery store in the next few days. Now I know not to go to Walmart but to aim for Kroger, Trader Joes and/or Whole Foods where I might find what I want. By the way, I plan to go in the early morning and definitely before the weekend crowds.
@Swamwoman,
You're right about the Oregon Coast. Even in the summer, the weather rarely gets above 70 during the day and goes down into the 50s at night. Some parts of Washington State are like that, as are parts of northern Idaho. We may get days of 80-90 degree weather every few years.
BC, Canada, where The Harkles live, is about the same.

Today, the temp here on the coast is 49 degrees, going down to 37 degrees tonight.
SwampWoman said…
Sorry, RR, my mistake! I was worried that the UK would have false hope that it would go away at peak temperatures that are lower than what we are currently experiencing. I have those hopes, too; but I just don't know.
SwampWoman said…
Now up to 192 positive in Florida and six deaths. There are a surprising (to me) amount of late teens and early 20s testing positive.
Kate said…
I’m also in Florida. The Governor just closed the schools until April 15th.
I went to a bunch of stores today. Trader Joes and Whole Foods were well stocked. I hate Wal-Mart so I don’t shop there. I prefer Target and our local Target had toilet paper and chlorox wipes today. We have food stocked away for months, but we’re a house of 5 and go through things quickly when we’re all home. The good news is we have a pool so it helps keep the kids busy.
Anonymous said…
This comment has been removed by the author.
SwampWoman said…
Yes, the governor cancelled all the state testing, too. I don't really think that anybody will be going back to school, but we'll see.

The positives jumped to 216 in a few hours. We had another death as well. About 20% of those tested are positive.
@Elle,
I had to laugh at that! All native PNWers are delicate little flowers when it comes to the heat. We just melt if it gets near 80 degrees, right? I broke up with a BF because he wanted me to move with him to Hawaii. All those sunny days would make me crazy! Vacation, yes, but moving there permanently- oh, no! That's why I love it here at the chilly and windy coast.

I think this virus is different than anything we've seen before, and nobody really knows what will happen, how long it will last and we're just now getting an idea of how fast it spreads. We're going to get a lot of misinformation until we can get some solid facts, and that's going to take some time that, unfortunately, we don't have.
Ian's Girl said…
I read on MSN that China is saying those with blood type A seem to be more susceptible to the virus, although medical community as a rule seems to think it was much too small of a sample size to draw conclusions from.

Passing it along, just in case. Type A peeps, double your efforts! :P
brown-eyed said…
I’m an A+. Scientists lI respect and follow say that this study is not well-done. That is also my impression as a researcher, now retired. Even if it were true, we can do nothing about it. Interesting, but it not worrisome to me.

Meowwww said…
A list, on the DM, of what states are doing as far as shutdowns go

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8121077/The-American-way-life-changed-List-states-lockdown-battle-against-coronavirus.html
Animal Lover said…
There is rumor that pretty soon parts of Washington State could also have a shelter in place order due to the rising infection rate that comes from more testing. Deaths are also rising.

Off topic he DM shod Kate out with her youngest children shopping for a dress. Not a good look when shopping needs to be limited to necessities.
Shaggy said…
This comment has been removed by the author.
No Time said…
My response to my friend's friend who is literally stuck in Guatemala with no way home whatsover to Canada, no plane, bus or even taxi to another country with airline access if there is any left. "Canada is paying for Harry and Megsy security to the tune of millions of dollars while they hole up in a supposed rich Russian oligarch's mansion on Vancouver Island for free whilst seeking to reach financial independence as two fully grown adults abutting middle age while receiving millions per year stipend in tandem from Charles but Debra Debra can't come home? Now that would make a headline." I also provided her with emergency federal/embassy numbers that she surely had already and they made no difference. Sorry for your luck I guess.
Ava C said…
I've mentioned my parents in their 80s having sold their English house and being due to move to Scotland shortly. What happens if they're legally obliged to vacate their house but are effectively quarantined?

I wrote to the Telegraph (not a reader's comment but actually to them) about the fact that the property market is only being covered in terms of property prices, not for buyers and sellers actually in the process of buying/selling/moving. The government hasn't addressed this yet as far as I've seen.

The Telegraph has written back wanting to do a story and asking if my parents would be a case study. This could be really helpful to other people so I hope we can do it as long as it doesn't jeopardise anything. I haven't replied for them yet, but we're thinking about it. As you can imagine, the pressure on them - on us all - is significant. On top of the virus that is.
CatEyes said…
@AvaC

Here in America our interest rates dropped for home loans so a flood of people are refinancing. Haven't heard what is happening for people actually buying and selling. I was considering selling my house but think it will be a waste of time as no one probably wants to make a huge decision like this during such an uncertain time. In addition. I wouldn't feel comfortable with a bunch of strangers coming into my home repeatedly to look it over.
KCM1212 said…
There is a great list of free entertainment resources on

https://youhavebeenmarkled.tumblr.com


brown-eyed said…
It is the annual drunken spring break in Florida. Watch this sickening video of students explaining why they aren’t going to quit partying until the beaches are shut down. I am actually wondering why FL is permitting this gathering this year. It is, of course, huge, huge, huge revenue every year. FL is filled with older adults who retire there or just go there in the winter. WHY isn’t this shut shut down?

https://youtu.be/IB44ZZda2G0
KCM1212 said…
@brown eyed

Those videos are shocking.

Fla governor de Santis just shut it all down.

How many of those kids will head home to infect their families?

Insanity


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