Coronavirus, how are you preparing for it and how it is affecting you so far?

[HoundDaddyLee]

Well, it looks like the hoarding crazies have infected our small town.  Wifey sent me out for eggs, hydrogen peroxide, mayo and I wanted to replenish my Vitamin C supply.

What a zoo!!  Went to seven stores today and was fortunate to buy the last jar of mayo.  For some reason my UA wife cannot live without it.

None of the 7 stores have any eggs.  None have any hydrogen peroxide.  I am surprised that so many people even know what it is or what it's for.  I did not bother to check for disinfectants or toilet paper but many shelves in the stores are empty.

I did manage to buy a bottle of Vitamin C.  It was only available in gummy format.  Not my first choice, but it will work.  Directions say to chew 3 of them per day.

Looks like the entrepreneurs are busy.  L.A. customs intercepted a large shipment from the UK that is full of fake Corona Virus test kits.  Hope people are prosecuted on both sides of the pond.
 http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/fake-coronavirus-testing-kits-seized-los-angeles-airport-69601035

Don't know how long the egg shortage is going to last but can only find baby chicks for sale.   

Doug,
I order all my vitamins from Puritans Pride (puritanspride.com). I just got some delivered last week. They often have a 3 for 2 sale.
Good luck,
HDL

[GQBlues]

...None of the 7 stores have any eggs.  None have any hydrogen peroxide.  I am surprised that so many people even know what it is or what it's for.  I did not bother to check for disinfectants or toilet paper but many shelves in the stores are empty....

Absolutely insane!! I remembered I was running low on oatmeal and debated with myself if I even wanted to go back to the grocery store since I was out there yesterday to get fresh vegetables. Maybe part of me was also curious to see if the madness I witness yesterday remained the same. Reluctantly, I went.

The flu and cold remedy section - bare. Cereal section - bare. Frozen food section (all variety) - bare, cake/pancake mix section - bare. Canned foods - gone. Grains/rice Section - bare. Pasta - almost (LOL)...bottled water - zip, and yes - toilet paper section - obliterated.

Someday, maybe weeks, months, even years from now...I would really like to know what was the mystery behind the 'toilet paper' phenomena. What caused people the world over to hoard this item as their security response to a viral pandemic. What comfort were these people finding in hoarding massive amounts of toilet paper today?

Does anyone know?

[rwd123]

Someday, maybe weeks, months, even years from now...I would really like to know what was the mystery behind the 'toilet paper' phenomena. What caused people the world over to hoard this item as their security response to a viral pandemic. What comfort were these people finding in hoarding massive amounts of toilet paper today?

Does anyone know?

It is herd behavior. People see others doing something so they do the same thing. Add an element of fear and people act completely irrationally.

Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan have both closed their borders for a month (similar to Ukraine). I know someone who got out literally at the last minute to return to Russia as it was enforced on the day it was announced. Russia has further borders closed (Norway, Georgia and train routes) and limited flights from Europe.

Russia has low numbers because they're not actively testing for the disease. The numbers are reported basically only if they are admitted to hospital. There was a confirmed case in Kemerovo so bugging out in Siberia won't be an option! The consumer panic hasn't hit there yet. I was told that there is an increase of pneumonia cases, so Russia was able to delay a mass outbreak but it will be coming soon.

It's worthwhile stocking up on basic medical supplies, supplements, and basic household goods. There will be massive impact supply chain issues. I figure it's worthwhile stocking up on basic things like shoes/socks, printing paper, hard drives/computer equipment, car maintenance gear, etc. All stuff you would purchase but bringing forward purchases so you can ride the dip.

I think the only thing I have bought that I don't normally buy is elderberry syrup and n95 masks.

Cleaning agents are worth buying even if they don't kill this particular virus. You still want to avoid a secondary infection such as a bacterial infection.

[fathertime]

latest guidelines in California. 

...65 and older told to stay indoors at home. 

....bars to close

...restaurants to cut capacity to 1/2

  I don't think restaurants will need to be concerned about capacities being reached.
My 74 year old buddy is ignoring the new restriction, and was hard at work today.

Sold out in generators and fuel storage devices, and numerous other items today.  I closed up shop about an hour ago, despite many more people clamoring.

  On a good note I didn't realize I shorted myself $100 on a sale and an honest Abe of a man *Probably illegal* came back after 20 minutes driving and informed me of my error and ponied up the $100.   

Fathertime!

[SANDRO43]

Some people are buying hydrogen peroxide, not for a disinfectant, but to drink. Some people think its good to beat cancer and aids. People are searching for their own cures and there's a lot of talk about hydrogen peroxide but I'm not buying it.

Unfortunately, this world is full of idiots .

Although usually sold in dark bottles (light decomposes it), even there it slowly loses its  antiseptic effectiveness since it is an unstable molecule.

[krimster2]

the virus will have at LEAST
5 growth phases....

I call them

1. linear
2. exponential
3. peak
3. decline
4. plateau


USA just entered exponential phase today....
the longer we wait before "total shutdown"
the larger AND longer steps 2 and 3 will be.....

look fellas....
in the exponential phase
your chance of getting it in a random public contact
is gonna double in just 3 days from now....
and 3 days after that it'll be 4 times higher (and so will I!)
and 3 days after that it'll be 8 times higher (and so will I!)
and 3 days after that it'll be 16 times higher (and so will I!)
and 3 days after that it'll be 32 times higher (and so will I!)
and 3 days after that it'll be 64 times higher (no...not this time, maybe 40%)

this means in less than two weeks, your chance of infection will have increased by 64 times...
and three days later it'll be 128 times more
and...
the in another 3 days it'll be 256 times more....

and your calendar still has a long, long way to go....

ok...

most of the people reading this board will have had at least one strain of Covid by the end of Spring 2021 a year from today...

[BillyB]

the exponential phase

Digital coins have already taken a big hit. If it goes exponential in America, digital coins will exponentially go downhill. Since you invest in digital coins, how much has the virus set you back?

[Gator]

the virus will have at LEAST
5 growth phases....

1. linear
2. exponential
3. peak
3. decline
4. plateau

 

The tracks of a man in a high state of anxiety.  You are getting closer to understanding this, keep reading.   

You could have saved a lot of time explaining mathematics of viral outbreaks by referencing this simple graphical demonstration of a viral disease infecting a town of 200 people. 

The interactive charts cover different scenarios (uncontrolled, forced quarantine, and different degrees of social distancing).

 http://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2020/world/corona-simulator/?utm_campaign=wp_post_most&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&wpisrc=nl_most

Please show me the "plateau." 

[2tallbill]

the virus will have at LEAST
5 growth phases....

I call them

1. linear
2. exponential
3. peak
3. decline
4. plateau

If your prediction were true then the last several viruses would have
wiped us out. This latest virus is a difficult one for sure, but many will
be somewhat immune to it, others will get mildly sick and others will
not catch it.

We would have all died from the last several contagions otherwise.

Your math absolutely adds up, but even the flu which is much more
easily transmitted and more deadly doesn't wipe us out each year
but the math says it should. 

Humans are like cockroaches we survive.

A year from now, in my non-expert opinion we will be discussing
something else.

Udachi!

Bill

[BillyB]

Trump took actions that were considered racist back in January to prevent exponential growth of infections. Trump seen it coming and didn't trust China and WHO that stated China had it under control and advised against travel restrictions

14 Vegas Hotels to close. I'm impressed with the amount of private businesses and organizations that are willing to shut down without being told by the government to save lives. Is that happening anywhere else in the world? I do think the American government will have to order complete shutdowns if hot spots pop up because not every business will shut down without being told.

http://www.latimes.com/travel/story/2020-03-15/14-vegas-strip-hotels-and-casinos-to-close-tuesday-because-of-coronavirus

Two more cruise ships under quarantine. Haven't people learned cruise ships are an ideal place for viruses to spread?

http://www.yahoo.com/news/chile-quarantines-1-300-aboard-two-cruise-ships-183226852.html

My State is shutting down bars, restaurants, places of entertainment and recreation statewide, and cap all public gatherings at 50 people. Still no lockdown though.

[fathertime]

It seems the goal is to spread out the cases for americans, so the hospital doesn't get slammed all at once.
 ...apparently the virus is everywhere (But I haven't seen it).    If that is the case, it is just a question of when many if not most people get ill from it.  If it is more gradual, more people can be saved.   If it all comes at once it is incredibly unpleasant to realize it may come down to some old people being sacrificed so the younger ones can be saved with scarce resources.   

Fathertime! 

[fathertime]

14 Vegas Hotels to close. I'm impressed with the amount of private businesses and organizations that are willing to shut down without being told by the government to save lives.
 

the casinos probably pretty much had to close.  can you imagine having to deal cards in very close proximity  to a bunch of dirty sneezing nose pickers at the table?  I think the dealers were all about to call in sick, and I wouldn't blame them.    In addition to this, the casinos were reporting around 17% occupancy, they can't operate like that so they may as well shut down . 

Fathertime! 

[krimster2]

No Beel....

Flu is VERY temperature dependent!
in Austin this past year, Flu season began on September 19, 2019
I am sure you will be delighted to learn from the following useful information that I have carefully prepared JUST for YOU pertaining to EXACTLY where you live!
I will put your name on the bottom of the page so you know I’m not joking!
I even put a chart in there for YOU!!!

I do this, because one time you made a funny cartoon and it made me laugh, and your wife collects minerals, and I do that as well, and use it to make simple Jewelry for all the women I try to impress with it, because I have a small penis, I don’t mind saying that now, it’s true....
it doesn’t matter any more

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/burden/preliminary-in-season-estimates.htm

if you look at the chart I made of the flu infection rate for Austin, from the start of flu season on Sept 19, until March 7, and then compare the covid-19 virus infection rate in Wuhan, China from December 1 until March 7, you will see a very similar pattern...

earlier, it sure looked like Covid-19 was gonna be temperature sensitive like the flu
but NOW it seems NOT TO BE....
OR
it really is!
and it’s gonna just blow up like an atom bomb at the end of September
when the weather changes to Flu Season!

BTW, the Chinese Flu rate increased by 50% during the Dec to March time period
so both viruses seemed to like something in China this past winter....

but...
while Flu is not spreading NOW in the US of A
Covid-19 is blowing up....

the only thing that will slow down covid....
is that over time, as more and more people are infected from a particular strain
and become immune, they will not become carriers, so the rate of infection begins to slow

the bottom line
we are all going to have to accept death
maybe even something approaching extinction

and this will become clear to the survivors in a year or two

Beel,

this past year, Flu infected 40 to 50 million people in the USA
covid-19 is 50% more infectious than the flu
and no resistance
that's why the latest models are saying 50 to 70% infection rate a year from now
we're ALL GONNA get this
and multiple strains of it
then we're either gonna be dead
or immune

but what kinda world will the living be living in?
NO IDEA!!!
but it's NOT gonna look like this one at all....

Beel,
I am freaking sorry, don't blame ya for clinging to the denial
but within a week or two from now Bill
I promise you will see that what I'm telling you is TRUE
100% you and your wife, me and my wife, and everyone else and their wife
is GONNA GET SICK in the next year



Beel,
almost certainly by this time next year, you and your wife will have already had at least one strain of covid already

[BillyB]

Two emergency room doctors, one in his 40's, in Critical condition after getting infected. Photo in the link below shows what I see outside medic clinics and hospitals in King County. There's an effort to first screen people outside to protect medical staff inside.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/two-emergency-room-doctors-are-in-critical-condition-with-coronavirus/ar-BB11ecaw?ocid=spartanntp

[krimster2]

yeah, I had my "last supper" tonight with a doctor friend...
he told me he doesn't expect to survive the year, he's old, could retire and buy a little extra time
but he's a doctor, damn it, not a mechanic

[GQBlues]

14 Vegas Hotels to close. I'm impressed with the amount of private businesses and organizations that are willing to shut down without being told by the government to save lives. Is that happening anywhere else in the world? I do think the American government will have to order complete shutdowns if hot spots pop up because not every business will shut down without being told.

In more ways than one, they were - technically. Social distance recommendation for starters is one. The pending Senate Phase one bill approval early Monday, followed by Phase Two Relief package. Many will call this ‘bailouts’, but I suppose this is part and parcel in these instances.

[GQBlues]

It seems the goal is to spread out the cases for americans, so the hospital doesn't get slammed all at once.
 ...apparently the virus is everywhere (But I haven't seen it).    If that is the case, it is just a question of when many if not most people get ill from it.  If it is more gradual, more people can be saved.   If it all comes at once it is incredibly unpleasant to realize it may come down to some old people being sacrificed so the younger ones can be saved with scarce resources.   

Fathertime!

Yes but....how does the toilet paper phenomena fit into this scenario? I’m still struggling with the plot. I know BillyB, FP, Cal and GenM are so far the only ones that hoarded Vit C, yet didn’t really got involved with the toilet paper mode, so these dots didn’t connect.

[Trenchcoat]

That is the next step to beating the virus. After the medical community gets enough kits, governments will be making kits for people to take home just like a pregnancy test. It's important to find people with little or no symptoms that are carriers to get them identified so they can be quarantined.

Indeed, and you'll probably find many of those stocking up on disinfectant and hand sanitizer have got it despite their efforts, lol.

Today I did a small shop, I visited two stores a large supermarket, Sainsbury's and a small one, Aldi. Both surprised me in being out of vitamin C tablets, so many people must be incredibly anxious about this whole thing. The large supermarket was completely out of toilet paper, while the small one had a small supply, I got a six pack to use and am keeping the rest in reserve. Both were very low on kitchen towel but I don't use that as I prefer a dish cloth. I managed to get my hands on some more disinfectant at a cheap price, all the good stuff was sold out, Dettol, etc. Hand wash was completely out in the large store and only the non antibacterial stuff in the small store. I got to both supermarket at opening time, 7am & 8am as did a few others. They should have both had way more stock of these in demand items as the shelf filling usually happens over night. Looks very much like they didn't get any deliveries though. Those businesses are probably doing very well. I can see a lot of other businesses going under though.

In the longer term the loss of restaurants are not a big deal as others will open and take their place after this mess is over, Hotels probably similar but possibly longer to come back from. Airlines I think are likely to have a much harder time and if there are any left it might just end up a few big players.

Peoples jobs in stuff like Supermarkets and hospitals will be as sound as a pound, the above businesses and others that will lose out I feel sorry for the staff and the owners are going to be hit hard. I'm in a job where it is probably on going and probably won't be affected much, difficult to tell as it depends on quarentine stuff, etc but there is generally a need for me to be there and is unlikely to be in the direct firing line of businesses that will be hit.

I still think that minimising the shut down of the economy is key in fighting this problem. Certain sectors will be hit hard and essentially shut down like restaurants but in general it is best that employment stays up to keep people & the country going.

[Trenchcoat]

I wonder if our Mobes is ok, he's normally arguing like an Oirishman here. I hope he hasn't come down with anything.

[Maxx2]

A few months ago I ordered and got 2 kilos of vitamin C. I also got nascent iodine and selenium for the thyroid. The best vitamin C (It's a complex) comes from sauerkraut. A cup of cabbage contains 30 mg of vitamin C. A cup of fermented cabbage, sauerkraut 700 mg

[Trenchcoat]

A reminder here that despite possible mild cases of how bad the virus can get, a paramedic aged 47 in Italy dies of Coronavirus:

http://www.google.com/amp/s/www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/italian-paramedic-dies-coronavirus-after-21697463.amp

He apparently had no underlying health problems either. I wonder though if he had been working long hours which put his heart under more strain in addition to the virus.

[Faux Pas]

Yes but....how does the toilet paper phenomena fit into this scenario? I’m still struggling with the plot. I know BillyB, FP, Cal and GenM are so far the only ones that hoarded Vit C, yet didn’t really got involved with the toilet paper mode, so these dots didn’t connect.

No hoarding for me brah. I actually keep VC on hand year 'round. I believe in it

[GenMish]

ISIS issues travel warning

ISIS’ al-Naba newsletter contains “sharia directives” urging its healthy members not to enter “the land of the epidemic” to avoid becoming infected . Ill members are encouraged to stay and infect others


Meanwhile, Vegas throws in the towel, all MGM and Wynn hotels close tomorrow. I heard Encore had only a 5% occupancy this past weekend

California, Ohio, Illinois, Massachusetts and Washington close bars and restaurants in effort to slow coronavirus

[Trenchcoat]

I don't know about you guys in the US but I think at the moment in the UK the worst part is waiting for an impending lockdown. It probably won't happen just yet, I imagine in a week or so's time probably starting off with London first then moving to the major cities and then finally the region's a few weeks from now at a guess. At the moment in the south of England & Wales region the numbers aren't that high yet. It's still relatively safe. Precautions are being made such as the cleaning of baskets in shops each day and some some staff wearing gloves.

I don't know how easy it will be to lockdown a large city like London as a lot of people commute in for work. Some will be able to work from home, some I'm guessing won't.

I live about 5 miles from where I work so drive in. A lockdown I don't think will affect that as I work in a fairly small town and not a big city. I will watch out to see if petrol might come under a shortage. Petrol prices are cheap at the moment and supply plentiful so it might be ok, but if it changes I will have to stock up a little. I might just get a big 20 litre can in advance just in case to prepare as I can always use it. Other than that I will have to get new tyres for my cycle. Warmer weather is on the way so I could cycle in if it got to it, I really would rather do that then risk public transport. How about you guys?

BC how are things with the lockdown in Italy?

[GQBlues]

Hard to believe Spain had surpassed So Korea in all categories already. Of course their hot zone is Madrid. Doesn’t bode well for LA.  😱

I can’t believe they’re still having spring break in Miami.

Apparently they’re already administering a vaccine to 4 volunteers in Seattle. But the most promising development is they’re harvesting anti-bodies from those who recovered and are slowly applying it to first responders. Constant observation and monitoring to see how successful this is for widespread administration. This therapy is still basically in what they call ‘clinical trial’ but apparently showing promising result.

This work is being done by John Hopkins, Baylor in concert with BARDA, BioMedical Advance Research development Authority.

http://www.phe.gov/about/barda/Pages/default.aspx