n95 dust masks

[Ridgerunner]

I don’t get it. More people of all ages die from flu every year. This is killing the very aged and immune depressed. Both high risk already.

That's part of the concern Seed. More people die of the flu because, so far, more people get the flu. I'm not convinced that they have real good data as to how many percentage-wise of the people that get this die. The data they have so far says it is much stronger than the flu but not every country has enough tests kits to test everyone with any symptoms. Some places like Australia seem to have enough so we may get some reliable data as time goes on.

It does target mostly the elderly and immune suppressed. I don't want to be the one that passes this virus on to them or to people that pass it on to them. I'm kinda into that age group myself but don't have any underlying issues that causes me to worry about me. My wife is younger but has enough issues that I'd be more concerned with her. She is not taking any immune suppressing drugs so she'd probably be OK.

As far as I'm concerned it is spreading, we can't stop it. But if we can slow it down they may be able to develop a vaccine that can prevent it or develop something like Tamiflu to treat it more effectively.

My wife and I have discussed this. We have tickets to a play that has not yet been cancelled, still a few weeks off. We probably won't go, not because of the seating but it's really packed as you go in and get out. We will continue to eat out once a week as normal. We are cutting out shopping trips back, she used to go to the store pretty much every day for some groceries but now she's buying more in bulk. Maybe two trips a week instead of daily. I'm planning my shopping trips a little more carefully but still go when needed. She is scheduled for an airplane trip in a couple of months, She's undecided about that. We've both always been into washing our hands, I'm sure we are paying more attention to that. We are making some adjustments but have not panicked yet.

 

[flowerbug]

the recent cruise ship incident was a one test case for a better estimate of the death rate in a more modern health system. .5%

Cruise ship outbreak helps pin down how deadly the new coronavirus is

Infections and deaths on the Diamond Princess suggest that, in the real world, 0.5 percent of COVID-19 infections in China end in death.

www.sciencenews.org

which is still 5x the estimated death rate from the flu in similar circumstances.

i'm not sure how much stock i would put into that one incident as i can see several problems with it:

- what happens when your modern system gets swamped by too many cases all at once? like in Italy we see them being pushed to the brink right now with the number of cases they have.

- we're still learning and this could be a lucky incident caught sooner than it might be otherwise in a more general population.

- the people on the ship were healthier than the normal people who are not able to get out and around (older folks in care facilities).

i'm sure there are other issues too, but i'll leave it at those...

i wish i could say that this isn't a big problem and that everything will be fine. i'm not at that level of confidence yet though. i don't see any signs that the infection rate is leveling off yet or that it is under control and there are a lot of people in the country who are struggling with health issues that this could easily be the last straw for them (COPD, asthma, etc). i know in my own family i have three elderly parents with one at severe risk if this gets to them. i also have a few siblings that are at risk due to various issues current or on-going. none of this is good. heck, i may even be at risk with my own lung issues plus it is starting up on tree pollen allergy season which is always fun in and of it's own right.

 

[seedcorn]

@Ridgerunner Those are reasonable actions to take every cold/flu season-as well as those with compromised immune systems-fits my wife as well. As populations grow and are denser in areas, there will always be something. What people fail to understand is that there are viruses and bacteria always around us, it just takes correct trigger to start it.

 

[ducks4you]

A virus will enter your body just as easily as the weasel got through my chain link fencing to kill my chickens last Fall. I am ALWAYS washing dishes, etc., every day. I get a cold/flu about every 3 years. We live in a land grant university town with the highest international population in the world. DH and DD's had their cruise cancelled fro next week bc of this hysteria, but they are more likely to get it HERE, than in SC. Yeah, @majorcatfish , they would have driven kinda sorta past Your House on the way to Charleston. Lucky you!!!!

 

[Rhodie Ranch]

Our Gov just cancelled all K-12 schools from next week to the 31st. I'm shuddering to think of all the kids that were on free breakfast and lunches. What will they do?

I'm still ready and yes, I bought some SPAM and canned corned beef. SPAM was on sale at Costco - low sodium to boot!

Edited to add: I just sent an em to the district saying if they need a healthy 65 yr old with 35 years plus food service biz in her background, to please call me. My time can be their time.

 

[majorcatfish]

Our Gov just cancelled all K-12 schools from next week to the 31st. I'm shuddering to think of all the kids that were on free breakfast and lunches. What will they do?

I'm still ready and yes, I bought some SPAM and canned corned beef. SPAM was on sale at Costco - low sodium to boot!

Edited to add: I just sent an em to the district saying if they need a healthy 65 yr old with 35 years plus food service biz in her background, to please call me. My time can be their time.

they are closing school districts left and right till the 6th of april and some maybe longer....
went to the store this afternoon and really looked over some carts they where filled with food for their kids...

no tp
no paper towels
no cleaners
no white vinegar
no bulk rice or beans
the meat dept was pretty picked though, did find a couple corn beefs and a pork roast..dinner is covered
very little bottled water..
NO TOP RAMAN....wtf

im still trying to figure out the tp and bottle water hoarding ??????

 

[Ridgerunner]

Major, if you take all the toilet paper and don't leave any for other people, you are still coming in contact with the people that now have no toilet paper because you took it all. Think about that a minute.

I have seen the suggestion that people hoarding toilet paper not be allowed to breed. Haven't decided if that's too harsh or not. Any opinions?

 

[majorcatfish]

thats what i'm saying how many rolls do you need?

unless america just looked all at once under the bathroom sink and thought ..."wow we need tp" it's stupid the way people hoard things....
as for the human population over breeding...not going to touch that one, but after 2 snip and clip your done anymore and your taxed after that.... works in other country's.....

 

[Rhodie Ranch]

It'd be immaculate conception if I was to try to breed anymore...

 

[thistlebloom]

Our Gov just cancelled all K-12 schools from next week to the 31st. I'm shuddering to think of all the kids that were on free breakfast and lunches. What will they do?

Maybe their parents will have to actually take responsibility for their own offspring and feed them.