The Covid-19 thread.

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This is sobering, depressing but important. The world has changed and we need to embrace it. Listen to the scientists, doctors and medical researchers and ignore the selfish, blow-hard politicians. From yesterday’s NYT.


“People often ask when things will return to normal, said T. Christopher Bond, an associate director at Bristol Myers Squibb. “At first I told them: ‘The world has changed and will be different for a long time. This is the crisis of our lifetime and we need to embrace it,’” he said. “But that depressed them. So now I say, ‘Well, we know more every day.’”


When 511 Epidemiologists Expect to Fly, Hug and Do 18 Other Everyday Activities Again

 
This is sobering, depressing but important. The world has changed and we need to embrace it. Listen to the scientists, doctors and medical researchers and ignore the selfish, blow-hard politicians. From yesterday’s NYT.


“People often ask when things will return to normal, said T. Christopher Bond, an associate director at Bristol Myers Squibb. “At first I told them: ‘The world has changed and will be different for a long time. This is the crisis of our lifetime and we need to embrace it,’” he said. “But that depressed them. So now I say, ‘Well, we know more every day.’”


When 511 Epidemiologists Expect to Fly, Hug and Do 18 Other Everyday Activities Again

I read that yesterday. It does seem that around here people’s attention spans maxed out around 3 months at least for the most careful measures. People are acting like it’s passed by when it’s not really changed. It just got warmer and the cases were lower because of the total lockdown. But I also think people had time to do a risk assessment of living vs lockdown. Maybe it’ll balance out after this first expression of relief, back to being more careful but not total, lifeless, lockdown.
 
I read that yesterday. It does seem that around here people’s attention spans maxed out around 3 months at least for the most careful measures. People are acting like it’s passed by when it’s not really changed. It just got warmer and the cases were lower because of the total lockdown. But I also think people had time to do a risk assessment of living vs lockdown. Maybe it’ll balance out after this first expression of relief, back to being more careful but not total, lifeless, lockdown.
There are a lot of people who realize that it has not passed by, but there are politicians who want to 'reopen the economy' in spite of the recommendations to NOT do so. I also think we're sitting on a ticking time bomb in those regions who decided to open early and have no contact tracing / testing regimen in place. One only has to look at what is happening in Brazil to see how it could go horribly wrong.
 
I read that yesterday. It does seem that around here people’s attention spans maxed out around 3 months at least for the most careful measures. People are acting like it’s passed by when it’s not really changed. It just got warmer and the cases were lower because of the total lockdown. But I also think people had time to do a risk assessment of living vs lockdown. Maybe it’ll balance out after this first expression of relief, back to being more careful but not total, lifeless, lockdown.
I may well be maxed out - I've been having to remind myself to be vigilant on the few occasions I go anywhere. Left a shop and pushed open a door with my hand instead of forearm. Dumb ass !
 
I am back in the office today for the first time since March 12. This is phase 2 in New York State, a maximum of 25% of the staff in the office on any given day. I volunteered for day 1, and there is hardly anyone here.

Those that are here are staying 6 feet or more away from each other, and wearing a mask when venturing into common areas such as the kitchen/break room, lobby, elevator/stairs, and the restrooms. The company has provided masks for those that need one, and hand sanitizer dispensers are everywhere. No visitors, including children are permitted. Evidently some employees who can't arrange childcare right now thought they might be able to bring their kids in to the office, which is absurd, instead they will be asked to continue working from home indefinitely.

This will work with just 25% of staff in the office, I'm not sure it will if they increase it to even 50% attendance. The corporate cafe remains closed, and while we have coffee and tea, we do not have milk for it as that came from the cafe. I'll bring milk with me tomorrow.

A baby step, but one that is sorely needed, let's hope it does not result in new virus spread. Each employee must fill out a questionnaire online every morning on their phone before they are permitted entry, 4 questions about whether or not you or anyone you've had close contact with has any symptoms whatsoever, or has any reason to think they need to be tested.

Regarding testing, only the NYC region has a 2% positive rate on testing as of today, all other regions of NY are at 1% or lower. If they see this rise, we'll be shut down again by the Governor.
 
I may well be maxed out - I've been having to remind myself to be vigilant on the few occasions I go anywhere. Left a shop and pushed open a door with my hand instead of forearm. Dumb ass !

That’s just one of my fears, that others, and especially myself, will become too relaxed about this. Going into a store now has become a worried preparedness drill that has gone far beyond the usual spectacles/testicles/wallet and watch routine.
Cloth gloves over latex gloves, kerchief over medical mask, credit card in shirt pocket with stylus to avoid using store pen, know what I want and where to go, come out and put bags in trunk, get in car and remove gloves, use Purex, drive home and unload bags in basement with shelf goods left on the work table and freezer goods into reserved ‘don’t touch’ freezer area , refrigerated goods placed on 2 bottom ‘don’t touch’ shelves not to be touched for days, ‘store clothes’ placed immediately into dryer on high, shower, change clothes. Have a drink.

And I do not want to talk with you. I’ll acknowledge your friendliness, your helpfulness with a nod, I just want to get in and out of the store as quickly as possible.

Too paranoid you say? How about this. In the city we have occasional car break-ins and even less frequent house break-ins. That means during the night a stranger might have tried my car door handles and perhaps my house door handles as well. Yup, wipe the handles with a Clorox wipe in the morning.

So, yeah, I can see how someone can get maxed out on restrictions but I’m still trying to establish a new routine/exercise/drill for our new reality.
 
Yes, I’m as tired reading about COVID as the next person but again, this is important - and yes extremely depressing -information that should be shared. Too many people are becoming much too careless and cavalier, if not in complete denial. Just don’t shoot the messenger.

“We can expect COVID-19 to infect 60% – 70% of Americans. That’s around 200 million Americans.
  • We can expect between 800,000 and 1.6 million Americans to die in the next 18 months if we don’t have a successful vaccine.
  • There is no guarantee of an effective vaccination and even if we find one, it may only give short term protection.
  • Speeding a vaccination into production carries its own risks.
  • The darkest days are still ahead of us.”
 
So I need to get an antibody test. Back in January my business partner and I got really sick with the weirdest feeling sickness. Didn't feel like the flu, didn't feel like a cold. It came with a horrible dry cough that felt like needles in the lungs but no phlegm, and a crazy bit of feverish chills that wouldn't go away under 5 blankets. Lasted a week. I also lost my sense of taste for a few days. It wasn't the worst I've ever felt but it was near the tops for sicknesses that just felt weird, unlike anything else I'd ever had. Anyway, my partner and I joked we'd had "the 'rona" as him and I were both obsessed with news about it going back to December. Fast forward to today, his wife got the antibody test last week as part of a routine hospital procedure and it came back 98% positive. She has the antibodies. The only time she's been sick this year... was when she was sick the same time we both had our weird sicknesses, with the same thing.. Hmm....

I'm not saying I know I had it but it sure would be nice to know. And yes we both have one degree of separation from our other work partner whose boyfriend came back from China with "the flu" at the beginning of the year, and she got a sore throat....
 
I'm going to arrange an antibody test as well. Earlier this year/beginning of March I didn't feel right. Tons of fatigue and body aches all over. Very strange for me. Coupled with a cough I've had since early November of 2019 I think this warrants at least knowing if I have the antibodies.

My daughter and oldest son also had super high fevers this year and tested negative for the flu, but only my daughter got a strange rash all over her body after the fever had passed, which the dr confirmed wasn't roseola.
 
So I need to get an antibody test. Back in January my business partner and I got really sick with the weirdest feeling sickness. Didn't feel like the flu, didn't feel like a cold. It came with a horrible dry cough that felt like needles in the lungs but no phlegm, and a crazy bit of feverish chills that wouldn't go away under 5 blankets. Lasted a week. I also lost my sense of taste for a few days. It wasn't the worst I've ever felt but it was near the tops for sicknesses that just felt weird, unlike anything else I'd ever had. Anyway, my partner and I joked we'd had "the 'rona" as him and I were both obsessed with news about it going back to December. Fast forward to today, his wife got the antibody test last week as part of a routine hospital procedure and it came back 98% positive. She has the antibodies. The only time she's been sick this year... was when she was sick the same time we both had our weird sicknesses, with the same thing.. Hmm....

I'm not saying I know I had it but it sure would be nice to know. And yes we both have one degree of separation from our other work partner whose boyfriend came back from China with "the flu" at the beginning of the year, and she got a sore throat....
If you do carry the antibodies it would be great if that affords you future protection. ( I realize there isn't any conclusive data about this) One of the big questions is why some people are affected so severely and others not. The answer to that might take years, if at all possible.

I read of a story today about a young woman who required a double lung transplant. She was treated in Chicago, so there must be a US news source for this as well. The photo of one of the removed lungs shows incredible damage.

 
I'm going to arrange an antibody test as well. Earlier this year/beginning of March I didn't feel right. Tons of fatigue and body aches all over. Very strange for me. Coupled with a cough I've had since early November of 2019 I think this warrants at least knowing if I have the antibodies.

My daughter and oldest son also had super high fevers this year and tested negative for the flu, but only my daughter got a strange rash all over her body after the fever had passed, which the dr confirmed wasn't roseola.
I've never wanted a test to come back positive before... Please please let me have had this thing so I can frolic in the check out aisles and cozy up to the bars....
 
If you do carry the antibodies it would be great if that affords you future protection. ( I realize there isn't any conclusive data about this) One of the big questions is why some people are affected so severely and others not. The answer to that might take years, if at all possible.

I read of a story today about a young woman who required a double lung transplant. She was treated in Chicago, so there must be a US news source for this as well. The photo of one of the removed lungs shows incredible damage.

I had read that in a news blurb but wasn't aware she was operated on here. Its crazy... some people have little or no symptoms, some just have a sniffle, some straight up go into cardiac arrest and die. It's bizarre. If what I had was it, and how knows, it certainly wasn't the worst I've ever felt but it was just about the weirdest I've ever felt. One of the worst coughs I've had in my life, though. I'm going to look into which of the places around here has the best track record for antibodies tests. Some are better than others. My partner's wife had it done at a hospital in Michigan.
 
I've never wanted a test to come back positive before... Please please let me have had this thing so I can frolic in the check out aisles and cozy up to the bars....
I recall well that nasty bug you had. I had something awhile after that, but it was pretty close to a "nothing". I often go years on end without even the slightest illness of any sort, so when even something minor comes along I notice it. No cough, but a tightness in my upper lungs and a weird mild-ish fever that spiked twice a day. It went on for a cou0ple of weeks, gradually tailed off and then was gone. I probably should have the anti-body test as well. I had a student had some weird thing in the period prior to that that kept her off school for about three weeks. It does make one wonder.
 
I recall well that nasty bug you had. I had something awhile after that, but it was pretty close to a "nothing". I often go years on end without even the slightest illness of any sort, so when even something minor comes along I notice it. No cough, but a tightness in my upper lungs and a weird mild-ish fever that spiked twice a day. It went on for a cou0ple of weeks, gradually tailed off and then was gone. I probably should have the anti-body test as well. I had a student had some weird thing in the period prior to that that kept her off school for about three weeks. It does make one wonder.

I hope you and John and Steven do decide to get tested and that you all find that you have the antibodies. It would be interesting/important to find out if you’ve actually been infected.
 
I hope you and John and Steven do decide to get tested and that you all find that you have the antibodies. It would be interesting/important to find out if you’ve actually been infected.
There seems to be some disagreement (which is kind of the theme for this thing) about whether or not everybody has antibodies after 3 months, though the body will have a 'memory' of how to fight the disease/make antibodies. Though that might be for asymptomatic cases. Either way I'm going to get the test as soon as I can get a free moment away from work to schedule it. A friend of a friend came back positive for antibodies after having a sickness back in early February... I really would love to know what the actual infection rate of this is. They say its currently less than 5% in the US but there's just not enough data.
 
There seems to be some disagreement (which is kind of the theme for this thing) about whether or not everybody has antibodies after 3 months, though the body will have a 'memory' of how to fight the disease/make antibodies. Though that might be for asymptomatic cases. Either way I'm going to get the test as soon as I can get a free moment away from work to schedule it. A friend of a friend came back positive for antibodies after having a sickness back in early February... I really would love to know what the actual infection rate of this is. They say its currently less than 5% in the US but there's just not enough data.
I think we can presume that the infection rate is a whole lot higher than the stats would have us believe. Of course there is a push from the top to reduce testing because it makes then stats look bad - possibly the most imbecilic nothing I've heard yet.
 
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