The Question begs — COVID-19

[javadog]

If you divide the population of the US by the number of known cases, the odds are real small that any given individual will get it. Like around 1 in 200,000 right now.

That doesn't allow for unconfirmed cases but I bet the number is still pretty low.

I'm less concerned about catching it than I am of the effects of the mass hysteria the media seems to be trying to ignite.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by cabmando

My RN wife would be like "That ain't sick ya big wuss"

That was a recommendation from Medicare. For younger people I'm told it's 103. Last time I had a 103 fever I couldn't think straight enough to drive myself to the Urgent Care shop.

[Rapewta]

Nobody wants to go into a hospital now with this crisis.
The V.A. has just offered a neat solution...
If you start getting any symptoms of the flu, you can stay home and communicate via virtual
hospital visit. A doctor talks to you while you are still at home. Video is also available.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by Rapewta

Nobody wants to go into a hospital now with this crisis.
The V.A. has just offered a neat solution...
If you start getting any symptoms of the flu, you can stay home and communicate via virtual
hospital visit. A doctor talks to you while you are still at home. Video is also available.

One of the first things they ask is "Do you have a fever?" That's why it is important to get yourself a thermometer.

[ckelly78z]

There is no way I want to sit for nearly an hour in a packed waiting room full of sick (hacking cough) people in order to see the doctor. I had an appointment the other day, and really tried to avoid sitting near anyone, touching anything, and exiting quickly (after I washed my hands). I would avoid the doctor's office if I thought I had this virus, as long as I could get medication without being seen (something my oncologist has done in the past because she trusts my judgement).

[flatbutt]

I was in my local library this morning making copies of tax forms when I sipped my tea and it hit the wrong pipe. I started coughing and 2 people walked out and one guy pulled his turtle neck shirt up over his nose and glared at me like I was a Typhoid Mary.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by javadog

If you divide the population of the US by the number of known cases, the odds are real small that any given individual will get it. Like around 1 in 200,000 right now.

That doesn't allow for unconfirmed cases but I bet the number is still pretty low.

I'm less concerned about catching it than I am of the effects of the mass hysteria the media seems to be trying to ignite.

Might be because we are overacting.

[stealthn]

Hopefully not me/us, I’m sure the schools will extend spring break and I won’t mind I can work from anywhere. Glad we’ve got 30 days of freeze dried food just in case grocery stores have to close.

Good luck everyone

[Tobra]

I never get sick, so I am not too worried.

Originally Posted by Rapewta

Nobody wants to go into a hospital now with this crisis.

Frankly, you should avoid hospitals at all times. That is where they keep all the sick people.


Seems like I have been going down there every day for the last month or two. Right when I get someone healed up enough to discharge, I get another call.

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by Tobra

I never get sick, so I am not too worried.


Frankly, you should avoid hospitals at all times. That is where they keep all the sick people.


Seems like I have been going down there every day for the last month or two. Right when I get someone healed up enough to discharge, I get another call.

Yeah, they want you out of there ASAP. The longer you stay the easier it is to get more sick. Visitations should be and are likely banned.

[red-beard]

Some of the reading I found (on the Internet) is showing these extreme numbers, 10 days survival on a surface, are bogus. A TINY amount might survive that long, but for the most part they are finding transmission is via airborne droplets from coughing. This was studied on the cruise ships, where only 20% became infected, once they locked down the passengers.

The virus, as shown in other threads, is similar to the cold & flu viruses. Once the air temp starts to warm up, the virus has a harder time transmitting in the air. The expectation is that the spread should slowdown sometime in April.

Again, if that is correct, then the primary reason to shut things down for 6 weeks, is to get past April to May.

[wdfifteen]

It would be interesting to see the difference in infections between the northern states and southern states. Texas weather is, what, a month or two ahead of Michigan in terms of temperature?

[74-911]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

It would be interesting to see the difference in infections between the northern states and southern states. Texas weather is, what, a month or two ahead of Michigan in terms of temperature?

We are running about 10 degrees above normal for this time of year... low to mid 80's rather than the normal 70's. Definitely hope the warm weather will help curtail the spread otherwise it is way to early to be this hot.

[plexiform]

Here is a post by an infectious disease specialist in Ontario Canada that is worth reading. As a physician I concur with this point of view.

——————————————————
I'm a doctor and an Infectious Diseases Specialist. I've been at this for more than 20 years seeing sick patients on a daily basis. I have worked in inner city hospitals and in the poorest slums of Africa. HIV-AIDS, Hepatitis,TB, SARS, Measles, Shingles, Whooping cough, Diphtheria...there is little I haven't been exposed to in my profession. And with notable exception of SARS, very little has left me feeling vulnerable, overwhelmed or downright scared.

I am not scared of Covid-19. I am concerned about the implications of a novel infectious agent that has spread the world over and continues to find new footholds in different soil. I am rightly concerned for the welfare of those who are elderly, in frail health or disenfranchised who stand to suffer mostly, and disproportionately, at the hands of this new scourge. But I am not scared of Covid-19.

What I am scared about is the loss of reason and wave of fear that has induced the masses of society into a spellbinding spiral of panic, stockpiling obscene quantities of anything that could fill a bomb shelter adequately in a post-apocalyptic world. I am scared of the N95 masks that are stolen from hospitals and urgent care clinics where they are actually needed for front line healthcare providers and instead are being donned in airports, malls, and coffee lounges, perpetuating even more fear and suspicion of others. I am scared that our hospitals will be overwhelmed with anyone who thinks they " probably don't have it but may as well get checked out no matter what because you just never know..." and those with heart failure, emphysema, pneumonia and strokes will pay the price for overfilled ER waiting rooms with only so many doctors and nurses to assess.

I am scared that travel restrictions will become so far reaching that weddings will be canceled, graduations missed and family reunions will not materialize. And well, even that big party called the Olympic Games...that could be kyboshed too. Can you even
imagine?

I'm scared those same epidemic fears will limit trade, harm partnerships in multiple sectors, business and otherwise and ultimately culminate in a global recession.

But mostly, I'm scared about what message we are telling our kids when faced with a threat. Instead of reason, rationality, openmindedness and altruism, we are telling them to panic, be fearful, suspicious, reactionary and self-interested.

Covid-19 is nowhere near over. It will be coming to a city, a hospital, a friend, even a family member near you at some point. Expect it. Stop waiting to be surprised further. The fact is the virus itself will not likely do much harm when it arrives. But our own behaviors and "fight for yourself above all else" attitude could prove disastrous.

I implore you all. Temper fear with reason, panic with patience and uncertainty with education. We have an opportunity to learn a great deal about health hygiene and limiting the spread of innumerable transmissible diseases in our society. Let's meet this challenge together in the best spirit of compassion for others, patience, and above all, an unfailing effort to seek truth, facts and knowledge as opposed to conjecture, speculation and catastrophizing.

Facts not fear. Clean hands. Open hearts.
Our children will thank us for it.

#washurhands #geturflushot #respect #patiencenotpanic

[Rawknees'Turbo]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

It would be interesting to see the difference in infections between the northern states and southern states. Texas weather is, what, a month or two ahead of Michigan in terms of temperature?

It was 88 in the DFW area yesterday, and miserably humid - now rain and storms forecast for the next 10 days.

[Tobra]

Originally Posted by Zeke

Yeah, they want you out of there ASAP. The longer you stay the easier it is to get more sick. Visitations should be and are likely banned.

Maybe should be, but are not.

[javadog]

What if we’ve already had it?

There are rumblings that this thing has been going on for longer than we think and there have been spikes in the flu rate noted in certain areas in December and January. What if those increased cases of flu weren’t flu at all, but this coronavirus?

I came down with something the Friday before Christmas, an unproductive cough mainly. Never got tested for flu, never took my temperature, just rode it out. It took weeks for the cough to go away completely.

It would be interesting to see if they can test for the presence of antibodies that might indicate whether or not you’ve had it before.

[nota]

I think I had cv-19 on jan 27 2020

early adopter or something
no idea from where I could have caught it
I mostly stayed in miami but did a few trips to the west coast of fla
in the 2-3 weeks before I got sick
I did go to a marine swap meet and normal garage sales
no out of country but the house across the street is full of Vietnamese

symptoms bad body aches and pain worse then the flu
fever and chills very bad
bad cough lungs hurt
gut was ok no runs or throw ups but did not want to eat lost about 15 lbs
very low energy just wanted to sit or lie down

major diff from flu was NO running nose NO sore throat at all
all the above close match to reported cv-19 symptoms
minor hick-cups very often only other effect but that maybe just me

I was down for about 10 days and weak for a few weeks after the aches and fever stopped

no tests just stayed at home
wife had very minor symptoms
my two kids who live at home did NOT get sick

recently tryed to get a anti-body test to check if I had cv-19
but NO test available for that in the USA [china has one ?]
not the live/active virus test that they do have and use here
as I no longer have the bug after over 6 weeks time so no point in the live test
so only the anti-body test was what I wanted to check if I had cv-19

did have recent blood test last week and check up and I am in good general health

posting now as the prospect of enforced Q at a military base is over now
with standard procedure to Q at home what I basically did

btw some say that was the "B" version of the flu not cv-19 I had

[KNS]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

It would be interesting to see the difference in infections between the northern states and southern states. Texas weather is, what, a month or two ahead of Michigan in terms of temperature?

I brought this up in another thread - about cases in the southern hemisphere (where it's plenty warm right now). There's CV down there too.

Interestingly, Arizona has small number but (slowly) growing. We'll see if it takes off there.

Edit: Florida has over 100 cases. Hot and dry weather vs hot and humid? May be a moot point...

Both states have high concentrations of seniors.

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

It would be interesting to see the difference in infections between the northern states and southern states. Texas weather is, what, a month or two ahead of Michigan in terms of temperature?

Of course it depends on where you are in Texas

Amarillo



Dallas



Houston



Brownsville