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Corona Virus Blog, March 31, 2020

Good afternoon - sorry I'm a bit late with the new blog today. Busy day.

Let's continue the conversation.

Comments

Hi Nutty,

Is it possible to block that time- & space-waster who's producing all the quackery about his/her panacea for damn' near everything?

Meanwhile in the UK, some people are getting hot under the collar about the police being `too zealous' in clamping down on those ignoring the rules. Derbyshire police in particular -

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-derbyshire-52095857

I hope to goodness our local police continue to turn back westbound caravans & trailers. We don't need our hospitals having to take care of people who should be elsewhere - it's bad enough in any summer with the holiday makers stressing out the system.

Also, the first NHS megahospital is on the point of opening: from standing-start 9 days ago to being ready to accept patients later thus week.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-52092253

If you're wondering about the chaps doing the fabrication - They're Gurkhas, recruited in Nepal, see the crossed-Kukri badge. There's enormous respect and affection for these men, they have such tremendous courage and determination - just what's needed in a tight spot!
More such hospitals are planned.

Also, there are reports of newly-developed kit that can help with breathing:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/30/f1-team-helps-build-new-uk-breathing-aid-for-covid-19-patients

My county, Devon (I'm including Plymouth & Torbay although they are no longer administratively under Devon County Council) was a `hotspot' to start with because a number of school half-term skiing groups brought the virus back from the Italian Alps. I think we've been more than overtaken by other places now.

Notes from the latest news (BBC1):

Nationally, the daily death rate fluctuates but is still creeping up - 393 today. Total deaths are now just under 1800.

Total Spanish deaths so far - 8189, Italian 12,428

Lots of criticism here over lack of testing - limiting factor seems to be availability of necessary chemicals - the reagents.

Military helicopters ready to give support - eg a medivac from Shetland to Aberdeen.

The situation's worst in London, followed by the Midlands (where it's been suggested elsewhere that `social distancing' is too alien for some communities).

Still worries about lack of effective personal protection equipment (PPE) for NHS staff. This should be coming through the system now.

Not out of the woods yet, can't relax the restrictions.
Shaggy said…
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Shaggy said…
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Sad news from the Oregon coast. The homeless have nowhere to go. They are desperate, and no accommodations have been put in place to house them out of the rain and wind here, sometimes getting down to the high 30s at night.

They are so desperate that they have taken to removing manhole covers and are sleeping in the sewers at night and riding the buses all day to keep warm during the day. One woman lives in a bus stop enclosure, which gives her a little bit of shelter.

The Oregon Secretary of Education has said that they are thinking that schools will be closed here until next fall and will make his decision shortly. Maybe they can use the schools to house the homeless or ill?

I still can't find masks, gloves or anti-viral soaps. The grocery store is out of lots of things, and even meats and produce are low.

A local bank has been closed down for even drive up services as one employee went home sick and they had to close for 72 hours for deep cleaning.

So far, we have 58 new cases yesterday, bringing the state total to 606.

That's all the news from the northern Oregon Coast. Stay safe and healthy, everybody!
Shaggy said…
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@Anon-Unknown,
Thanks! I'll look for gloves on Amazon, and I never thought of Etsy for soap. I just may get lucky!
abbyh said…


Gloves: watch out most of the ones higher on the list have a late ship date (I just went through that today).

Soap, I'm sticking to soap instead of making myself crazy for the antibac level. I will admit to having some Microban cleaner (I think I found at WF maybe 2 weeks ago).

JocelynB: watch out as it doesn't look like your state will peak for a long time

https://covid19.healthdata.org/projections
Wells Fargo bank just sent an email that they have closed some of their banks temporarily due to COVID. My local bank is closed, so any banking that I need to do means I have to drive 28 miles to the a larger city, even for a drive-up deposit.

If you bank at Wells Fargo, you might want to check if your local branch is open.
Portcitygirl said…
Trader Joe's is now offering curbside for under 10 or so items.
Got everything on my list except TP. He put everything in the trunk and was very nice about it!

This will be one of my go to's going forward. Found four more masks spring cleaning! We now have ten!!

My family member will for now stay on base during the day and come home at night for the next four weeks. Please pray for my family due to more and more bases getting the virus. Im so fearful that they will bring it home to their family. I know it's hard but I wish they would self quarantine while at home.
Our mayor has finally shut down all parks and people are to report large gatherings.
Portcitygirl said…
Forgot to add- the manager is wearing a mask and all employess are nkw wearing gloves.
Sandie said…
An update from South Africa:

An update on the mass Covid-19 screening project

Health minister Zweli Mkhize on Tuesday said the government's mass screening project, announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday, will target areas like Diepsloot and Khayelitsha. Testing will begin on Friday, with workers having conducted a dry run on Tuesday.

Workers will go out to people to screen them for Covid-19, then refer the person to a hospital depending on the severity of the case.

Mkhize added that mobile testing units will be rolled out across the country from Thursday.

The minister said he was cautiously optimistic about the country's progress in curbing the spread of the virus.

As of Tuesday, the country had 1 353 cases. There have been five coronavirus-related deaths.


I can see two problems with this strategy:

1. How are people going to get to hospital? These are poor areas. If they use public transport, they are going to spread the infection.

2. These are crowded areas. People who are not referred to hospital live in crowded conditions and will infect others.

I know my country and my people. If poor people start dying by the dozens, if not hundreds, there will be rioting in the streets no matter how many police or army are deployed.
Dallas Alice said…
As a cold process soap maker who used to sell on Etsy, proceed with caution. Many, many people make claims that are not true or legal.
CatEyes said…
FYI for those wanting to make face masks. I found out Hobby Lobby has a waiver to stay open even though they would not be considered an 'essential business' here in Texas. I called and inquired and was told they got the waiver because they sell supplies so people can make face masks.

As I mentioned the other day (and Swamp Woman I believe gave some great suggestions about using 'spun interfacing and other tips) there are a multitude of fabric masks that can be made by hand sewing or more easily by hot gluing. I am going to do it for my elderly brother and myself as most people in grocery stores Do Not wear masks (I was the only one I saw in Walmart wearing a mask). I think we have a ways to go with this virus. Heaven help us!
@abbyh,

Thanks for that site. I've bookmarked it for future reference. I think we're just in the beginning stages here in Oregon, and it will get much worse before it gets better. The smaller towns like mine will be hit last.

@Dallas Alice,
Good point on the soap ingredients in Etsy (and elsewhere). It's a shame that some companies will outright lie just to make a buck during a crisis of these proportions.

All of the masks I see on Amazon are made in China. Does that worry anybody else?
Dallas Alice said…
In my neck of the woods, school is now out until May. I’d be shocked if they resume “in-schooling” before the school year is complete. @JocylynsBellinis I saw a fabulous tutorial for no-sew masks on Facebook. Sorry I don’t have the link handy.

As far as soap goes, anything that claims it does something other than cleaning is illegal (or at least it was when I was active). Lather, scent, suds-totally legal. Anti-microbial, etc? No.
Shaggy said…
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Shaggy said…
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Mimi said…
Well, since I can’t get a decent mask I will have to resort to making my own.....you wear your diaper on your face and I’ll wear my coffee filters on mine!😂😂😂😂
Mimi said…
There is a very clever way to make a “dust mask” using an old t-shirt 8 saw on pinterest. It looks like hell when it’s on but looks very secure.
Mimi said…
There is also a tutorial to turn your old bra into a mask! That will be my last option.
SwampWoman said…
Y'all, it isn't disposable diapers, it is cloth diapers, and not the gauze type.
CatEyes said…
@Anon-Unknown

I think a bandana folded (not triangular) into a rectangle and the ends wrapped with rubber bands (along with a rubber band for each ear) could make two masks. The thing with fabric is that they are washable and reusable.

If you google 'how to make a mask' a number of websites pop-up, many with detailed instructions and photos even videos.
Mimi said…
We KNEW that didn’t we Anon-Unknown! 😤
SwampWoman said…
We're now moving into some real bad territory. Our hospital admissions are going up by at least 100 per day. Our deaths were going up by 1s and 2s every other day, now it's 10+ per day. Well, the guys doing the models did say we were movin' into exponential territory this weekend.


Florida Numbers:

Total Cases
6,741

Positive Residents
6,490

Hospital Admissions
857

Deaths
85
SwampWoman said…
OTOH, the alligator breeding season warning went out today. They're horny and less chill than usual. At least the tornado warning expired.
SwampWoman said…
If any of you have access to a veterinarian hospital, they use the same sort of surgical wrap for their instruments as the hospitals do and discard them. University of Florida hospital is sewing that into N-99 masks. I'm trying to get some (grin).
Shaggy said…
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Portcitygirl said…
https://mol.im/a/8171521

Article in DM suggests virus lingers in air long after the patient leaves. This definitely seems like a bioweapon.
Portcitygirl said…
Anon-Unknown

We must have read the same article.
Shaggy said…
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Shaggy said…
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Mimi said…
Anon-Unknown, the bra masks that are on pinterest aren’t jokes! I draw the line at wearing my panties over my face! 😅
Mimi said…
Masks along with all the other precautions should have been made a must from the very beginning!!!!!
Shaggy said…
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Mimi said…
Anon-Unknown, you’re terrible!!!!! 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
Scandi Sanskrit said…
Replying the March 28 thread~

@SwampWoman: I will, sorry I'm not on here often.

Trying to be as business-as-usual as I can about the whole thing! Just catching up with everybody now!

https://www.aljazeera.com/amp/news/2020/03/korea-fires-missiles-coronavirus-pandemic-200329043852437.html?__twitter_impression=true

http://www.ipsnews.net/2020/03/coronavirus-biological-weapon-not-distant-future/#Covid_19
Scandi Sanskrit said…
Indonesia as per 3/31

Positive/confirmed: 1,528
Cured: 81
Deaths: 136
Scandi Sanskrit said…
Lol at the bra/knickers over our heads 💜💜😂😂
PaisleyGirl said…
@SwampWoman, thank you for your kind and encouraging words in yesterday's post. It is true that the people of The Netherlands are resourceful. Apparently, the universities of Rotterdam and Leiden have already come very far both in developing a vaccine and an antibodies test, which is good news.

However, when looking at the fatalities per million inhabitants The Netherlands is tied with Belgium for third place in the world. Only Italy and Spain have more fatalities per million inhabitants than we do. I find this a very worrying statistic.

Everyone, thank you for the laughs re toilet paper and masks made out of various materials. You all are so funny!
CatEyes said…
@Mimi said..

>>>We KNEW that didn’t we Anon-Unknown! 😤<<<

I am sorry Mimi if I posted something you and Anon-Unknown already knew about masks. I was only trying to be helpful. Guess I won't bother anymore.
Mimi said…
Oh. Cat Eyes, nooooooooooo, I was trying to be funny! I’am sorry, I thought you get.it right away! 😞
Mimi said…
Cat Eyes, My comment about already KNOWING the diapers used to make the masks were the cloth kind was meant for SwampWoman. Unfortunately it posted right after your comment and I did ‘t address my comment to SwampWoman. Again, please, Forgive the miscommunication.

p.s. I thought you knew me better 😓.
CatEyes said…
@Mimi

Yes I did think I knew you so I was kinda surprised about what you said. Unfortunately it was posted after my comment. I am sorry. I should not have reacted and just asked. Won't do it again.

Now here's the real kicker...right after my reactionary post to you I spent about 45 minutes writing a helpful post on the new blog (today's virus blog) to help people with ideas on what people could do while at home. I went to publish it and it was *gone, completely *GONE...well right then I thought God was punishing me for being unkind to you in part. :(

So I'm your friend (unless you keep 'Gollum') lol
CatEyes said…
PS I am joking about Gollum. But isn't weird that he only appears when Tatty is around for awhile?
Mimi said…
Cat Eyes, o.k. so we’re good then? Great! ☺️. I wonder where your post ended up? That happened to me once. The longest comment I have EVER posted on here. I know it went SOMEWHERE but don’t know where!

I know I joked about drawing the line at wearing my “knickers on my noggin” yesterday but today on pinterest there are all kinds of face
masks. that look just like someone just cut the crotch out of their lacy panties and made the rest into a face mask!

p.s. If I remember correctly Gollum was quite smitten with YOU? He said he likes pretty SMART woman like you. 😜
CatEyes said…
@Mimi

I am happy we are good...you are my favorite poster (except when you are talking to Gollum. lol)
Yes he did say that but I think he likes your spunk and you like to imbibe (but so do I, hmmm maybe I need to advertise it).

But recently when I had long posts (at least 3) they disappeared. This time I know I pressed the 'publish' button. I am sick about it since I think they were a lot of suggestions that people might have not thought of otherwise. I have a lot of time on my hand while many here probably have families and many obligations so don't have time to dream up ideas. I might try to reproduce the post. However the other night I spent a huge amount of time reproducing a lost post and it disappeared a 2nd time, I was steamed.
CatEyes said…
So Mimi did you saw my post sympathizing with you about no rice and your husband (is an unsung hero) being a long haul trucker delivering needed goods to us Americans in these times. God Bless him and you (who has to put up with him being way in these awful times).
CatEyes said…
@Mimi

Well any fabric such as soft used panties (that you want to discard) could be made into masks. The fabric would be so soft on the face rather than scratchy paper. And they would be washable. Of course, Miss Spunky Mimi probably has the pretty sexy kind (TMI...don't need to tell me) while I have 'old lady briefs' lol, to make into masks.
Mimi said…
CatEyes, yes, I read, and responded, to your post about about my post (the rice, my husband, etc.). did you not read it? it was one of my LONGER ones!

p.s. I live 15 miles from Ontario...from where your daughter lives (?)
Mimi said…
Cat Eyes, I bet my “granma” panties arewaaaay worse than yours!!!!!! 😂😂😂😂😂

i am a bit of a semi-professional seamstress and have 3 different types of sewing machines so I could probably whip out a few hundred to donate and/or use for myself when this self quarantine lifts..... but noooooooooooooooooooo I’d rather spend $100 on cheap ol nasty ones that can’t even keep bugs out much less microscopic particles from hell,
CatEyes said…
Oh Mimi, I am sorry but I am going back to read it as I love your posts!! Wow, you remembered where my daughter lives (Ontario, border of Chino), I'm very impressed.

I envy your sewing talent. After taking home economics in 7th grade I only have made a few things (no zipper dresses and shorts). I bought an old sewing machine in a wooden stand and never got around to getting it serviced. I would like to sew now. I even bought a pattern for a doggy jacket but have resigned myself to sewing by hand.

Since you live in the Ontario area my daughter told me there was an Asian market in Chino Hills (maybe you can get rice there). There is a large Asian population in Diamond Bar and just down the street from my daughter there is a huge Eastern religious temple with monks and an associated complex for Asian residents so maybe Ontario/Chino stores will have rice. Bound to think Hispanic markets would try to keep rice in stock (maybe too much demand). To think I had bags and bags of rice from food pantries over the last couple of years and I gave it and dozens of cans of fruit away just months before this hit. However the poor are the poor and as Jesus says they will always be with us.

CatEyes said…
@Mimi

Did you say you lived in Rancho Cucamonga or Fontana? I used to live in Ontario for 11 years and worked for San Bernardino County.
CatEyes said…
I worry about anyone living in So. Calif. due to maybe close quarters with a lot of people. @poartcitygirl just reported there was a violent break-in (I believe she is in SC) and there are probably going on in NYC and maybe LA to follow. You know with authorities releasing low level offenders (I hate that term because any offender is by fact a criminal) there are bound to be an uptick in crime.

@Mimi I don't mean to monopolize your attention by writing posts to you because you probably have better things to do! I will try to go back and find your older long post.
Mimi said…
Cat Eyes, Go back to maybe yesterdays page and look for my LONG response to your comment. Mr. Mimi has been able to pick up supplies here and there in the month he has been out....yes, rice and t.p but he just thought a few more bags couldn’t hurt as I need the supplies for my children and grandchildren......and boy!!!!!!! are in for the most rude awakening of their lives. My one daughter thinks she is a Kardashian and has that kind of mentally...she loves luxury, designer things, lives like he has millions when in reality they are POOR!!!!

Anyway, I have 3 sewing machines and a garage filled to the rafters with fabric and all the time in the world. What I DON’T have is motivation. I have been in this deep funk since I learned several member of my family lost their jobs recently due to the virus. I need to up my Prozac. but hate doing that.........side effects.


And of course I remembered where your daughter lived. I was thinking...wouldn’t it be nice if I could be pen pals with. Cat Eyes.

Nutty might have to change this to the Cat Eyes and Mimi blog! 😅. Sorry folks!
Mimi said…
Cat Eyes, forgot...I moved to Fontana about 10 years ago. Came from Whittier, CA
Mimi said…
Cat eyes, y long response is on the March 30 page.
CatEyes said…
@Mimi

You are not going to believe the coincidence...when my father moved us to California inm 1963 we settled in Whittier. We lived in an apt, on Pickering street across from I believe it was a Safeway grocery store. I went to Whittier high school. My brother graduated from there but my father moved us in 1970 to Diamond Bar and that is where I graduated, 1970 Pomona High School (as DB had not yet built a H.S.).

Yes I had thought the same thing (another coincidence) about being able to communicate with you outside of this blog. I am willing to give you my email *I could create a temporary one and then eliminate it after I give you my permanent one. Got to be afraid of a few cranks here as some may not like me, but really I am not a paranoid person and could actually handle cranks writing me (would just ignore unless it was a Mean Gollum, the nasty one. I would hate to get a gazillions emails from that nut).

Oh I really sympathize with you about not having motivation. I have the same feeling/situation. Have great ideas and plenty of things here I could do but just no motivation. I have asked the doc for medicine and he just thinks I am strong because he never responds (not even for anxiety meds). He says I "am strong", which is basically true but it doesn't mean things couldn't be better. Besides in times past I developed side effects to the meds and he thinks I just can't take that class of drugs (and some I would not want to take, like one that gave me a symptoms of a stroke within 30 mins. of starting it; Geesh, the ER Doc said "I would still try it." I looked at him and said "you couldn't even see straight to take care of patients if you suffered these symptoms)

I got to run to the store for my brother but am coming right back.

PS. Yeah it isn't it wild how children now days are thinking they can live rich when their parents are just barely getting by. I knew a lady who was going to buy her girl $200 sports shoes and they were dirt poor. I am glad I'm not raising children in this age...too many temptations for the young and they don't by and large seem to have any sense of reality. They expect too much from their parents and are too wrapped up in celebrity culture (*whoops..guess I can be accused be being wrapped up in the M/H *sh@t show)

Will write here when I come back..or if I see you post on the new 'Virus April 1st blog' I will let you know my email in case you want to correspond or etc...

KnitWit said…
The New York times has a downloadable pattern for face masks. They have a limited number of free pages per month. I downloaded it if anyone needs it.

Still stressing about flying. I can stay or go ....
abbyh said…


PSA: please be careful about public contact information as there are lots of folks who read this because they are looking for something to use against you in your real life. This would be unsafe.

You are all people I care about and would hate to see you get hurt by people who want to see you punished for your views here.

Mimi said…
Cat Eyes, if you really don’t mind, then yesI would love to be able to connect with you via email.....I didn’t even want to mention such a thing for fear of being thought I am some kind of a weirdo. Plus, I had no idea how the logistics would work. So when you get a chance send me your email and we’ll take it from there. I am sure people on here are sick of me!!!!!! 😅
KnitWit said…
Here are some links for diy face masks ( the flu kind not the home spa kind)

https://bathnbody.craftgossip.com/7-medical-masks-you-can-make-at-home-to-help-avoid-flu-and-viruses/2020/02/27/

Article about particle size and diy masks

https://smartairfilters.com/en/blog/diy-homemade-mask-protect-virus-coronavirus/

https://www.craftpassion.com/face-mask-sewing-pattern/
Mimi said…
Does anyone know if the masks from Amazon are any good, or a worthless product and waste of money?
Mimi said…
I have questions about what kind of fabric to use.........also, what is non-woven material for? Does the silk, (scarf) cotton (t-shirt) crochet, paper towels work?
Mimi said…
abbyh, I appreciate your very real concern about putting out personal information out and having mentally unhinged people doing something bad with it. Cat Eyes seems to have come up with a solution that sounds safe so hopefully it will work and you folks won’t have to be bothered with our one on one conversations.
abbyh said…

Ok. peace

Mimi - best fabrics read this

https://smartairfilters.com/en/blog/best-materials-make-diy-face-mask-virus/
CatEyes said…
@abbyh

Yes thank you for your concern. I agree that a nut or crank might harass me because it has even happened on the regular Nutty Flavor blog.

@Mimi

Tell me when you are ready then I will post my temporary email address. Copy it down then you can send me a test email. When I receive your test email I will send you one of my permanent email addresses. And you can use that when you want to write.

Then for safety I will delete my temporary email. So if anyone weird gets the temporary email address it won't matter.
CatEyes said…
@Mimi

If I can figure it out easily enough I have thought about doing a blog. A limited blog where one has to get accepted as a member like the website 'RoyalGossipForum' which to this day I have not been accepted lol. I believe the membership is extremely limited because I have only seen a few new names in the last year. One can view the postings freely but one has to be a member to post.
Mimi said…
Cat Eyes, let me know whatever you come up with and if you change your mind about personal messaging I can certainly understand tnat.
Mimi said…
Cat Eyes, oooops...... read your comment going from last and worked my way up so didn’t see where you said to let you know when to send the email. send it now and I will copy it and let you know so you ca delete ASSP.
CatEyes said…
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Mimi said…
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