Coronavirus General Discussion

[vnatale]

Hmm, what does surrounding each person in mask-like material sound like? Remember the term "cocooning" from the 1980s & 90s?

I guess we could call what's happening now "advanced, government-mandated cocooning". To do it temporarily in response to an acute crisis is one thing, but this is looking like it's going to be the new normal. There's no concrete or achievable endpoint and the vast majority of the population has bought into it without question. I wonder what human life is going to be like? As an introvert/homebody/crazy cat lady nearing retirement age this isn't going to bother me all that much, but what about the generation now in their teens and twenties? Where will be their sense of adventure? When they read books like John Steinbeck's "Travels with Charley", "Into the Wild", or Jack Kerouac, what will they make of them?

Every time I read an article or hear about young people violating the rules, I'm thrilled. Good for them. My niece for example is traveling around Italy right now and having a wonderful time. Good for her too.

Did what I heard today have validity?

The caller stated that when they were in the company's paint room they have to wear a respirator as masks will not do the job.

And, they have a nurse train them on how to properly wear the respirator.

Some citrus aerosol is sprayed and if the wear can smell it then the respirator is not being properly worn / fitted.

Is this size of this virus similar to the size of what is in the citrus odor?

Vinny

[Maddy]

In what other context do educated, critically-thinking people debate the details of a proposition whose credibility has been strained to the breaking point? Does it make any sense at all to argue over whether the n of a particular study should have been 500 rather than 450 when the principal investigator was caught falsifying the data? The question was prompted by the news that state employees in Wisconsin will now be required to wear masks while participating in virtual Zoom meetings from their homes.

https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2020 ... -meetings/

[Libertarian666]

In what other context do educated, critically-thinking people debate the details of a proposition whose credibility has been strained to the breaking point? Does it make any sense at all to argue over whether the n of a particular study should have been 500 rather than 450 when the principal investigator was caught falsifying the data? The question was prompted by the news that state employees in Wisconsin will now be required to wear masks while participating in virtual Zoom meetings from their homes.

https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2020 ... -meetings/

What "other" context?
I would say there is by definition no context in which critically-thinking people would do that.
And of course "educated" doesn't mean what it used to.

[jalanlong]

In what other context do educated, critically-thinking people debate the details of a proposition whose credibility has been strained to the breaking point? Does it make any sense at all to argue over whether the n of a particular study should have been 500 rather than 450 when the principal investigator was caught falsifying the data? The question was prompted by the news that state employees in Wisconsin will now be required to wear masks while participating in virtual Zoom meetings from their homes.

https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2020 ... -meetings/

I have seen this already in my son's virtual "schooling." Whenever the teachers or staff record a video to send to students they are always wearing a mask even though they are the only ones in the room and on the video. I am pretty sure they were told to do so to make the mask wearing look acceptable to the kids for whenever they come back.

[jalanlong]

The crap I really hate about this is all of the awkward situations it puts you into. When I had to deliver a package to a business a few weeks ago and I went to hand it to the person who opened the door, once I got about 4 feet from her she yelled out "DON'T COME ANY CLOSER!!"

Just now I had a pizza delivery. When I open the door he sets the pizza on the ground and then looks at me and sheepishly asks "Umm..did you want me to hand it to you or just put it down." IDK really. If I tell you just to lay it down am I suggesting that you are a dirty Corona human? Although you did make my food so if I am going to consume the food you prepared does it really matter if I touch the box you touched?

[dualstow]

The crap I really hate about this is all of the awkward situations it puts you into. When I had to deliver a package to a business a few weeks ago and I went to hand it to the person who opened the door, once I got about 4 feet from her she yelled out "DON'T COME ANY CLOSER!!"

Just now I had a pizza delivery. When I open the door he sets the pizza on the ground and then looks at me and sheepishly asks "Umm..did you want me to hand it to you or just put it down." IDK really. If I tell you just to lay it down am I suggesting that you are a dirty Corona human? Although you did make my food so if I am going to consume the food you prepared does it really matter if I touch the box you touched?

Just out of curiosity, were you wearing a mask in either scenario? You didn't mention.

[vnatale]

The crap I really hate about this is all of the awkward situations it puts you into. When I had to deliver a package to a business a few weeks ago and I went to hand it to the person who opened the door, once I got about 4 feet from her she yelled out "DON'T COME ANY CLOSER!!"

Just now I had a pizza delivery. When I open the door he sets the pizza on the ground and then looks at me and sheepishly asks "Umm..did you want me to hand it to you or just put it down." IDK really. If I tell you just to lay it down am I suggesting that you are a dirty Corona human? Although you did make my food so if I am going to consume the food you prepared does it really matter if I touch the box you touched?

In the rare times friends or other people have been on my property - really only once or twice a month - I maintain my distance from them and I do not touch the same things that they do. I just point them to the item to pick up.

Vinny

[jalanlong]

The crap I really hate about this is all of the awkward situations it puts you into. When I had to deliver a package to a business a few weeks ago and I went to hand it to the person who opened the door, once I got about 4 feet from her she yelled out "DON'T COME ANY CLOSER!!"

Just now I had a pizza delivery. When I open the door he sets the pizza on the ground and then looks at me and sheepishly asks "Umm..did you want me to hand it to you or just put it down." IDK really. If I tell you just to lay it down am I suggesting that you are a dirty Corona human? Although you did make my food so if I am going to consume the food you prepared does it really matter if I touch the box you touched?

Just out of curiosity, were you wearing a mask in either scenario? You didn't mention.

I wasn't. In the first scenario it was sort of before mask mania hit and everything was about social distancing. It is one thing to ask me to politely step back but she screamed at the top of her lungs.

In the second scenario I was coming out of my front door so no mask there either. I don't really care whether he hands me the pizza or not. It's just this whole thing seems to put people into a lot of Curb Your Enthusiasm situations.

[Kriegsspiel]

STOP THE SPREAD WE MUST ALL DO OUR PART DON YOUR MASK THE SPREAD OF THIS BLACK DEATH PANDEMIC MUST BE STOPPED DO NOT MURDER THE ELDERLY WITH YOUR FETID BREATH DON YOUR MASK

[WiseOne]

And the panic continues...

Recent email blast from a prominent NY university noted that comprehensive testing of tens of thousands of staff and students has yielded exactly zero positive results.

And the city reported 330 new cases today. It’s been like that since early May.

So naturally the email also announced the decision that all classes this fall will be virtual. The plague and all, ya know.

[Tortoise]

The crap I really hate about this is all of the awkward situations it puts you into.

No kidding. Accompanying my wife in the hospital when she gave birth to our daughter last month was interesting, to say the least.

They tested my wife for Covid-19 immediately upon admission, and because her result was negative she wasn’t required to wear a mask. But for some reason, the hospital’s policy is not to test the father (even though he shares the room with the mother for two days), so I was required to wear a mask anytime doctors, nurses, or staff came into our room — which was dozens of times a day.

So for two days, I had to take my mask on and off dozens of times a day in our own recovery room while I was also trying to cope with a lack of sleep and the excitement and stress of having a new baby. It was a bit much.

[Kriegsspiel]

And the panic continues...

Recent email blast from a prominent NY university noted that comprehensive testing of tens of thousands of staff and students has yielded exactly zero positive results.

And the city reported 330 new cases today. It’s been like that since early May.

So naturally the email also announced the decision that all classes this fall will be virtual. The plague and all, ya know.

If universities can do all online classes (and retain their students/tuition, I suppose) I'd think it would generate a massive profit this year. Eliminate or greatly reduce the expense of dining facilities, libraries, dorms, classrooms, and non-football sports.. plus their concomitant janitors, cooks, dishwashers, TAs, etc.

[Maddy]

My best friend died just over a week ago after her cancer, previously in remission for two years, returned with a vengeance. I was the closest thing she had to family, and I had her power of attorney. More on that later, because I learned some really important things about planning for incapacity.

Anyway, the whole CoVid thing had my friend literally hunkered down in her home for months, afraid to let anyone in and unwilling to seek medical attention for flat-out organ failure until she quite literally collapsed on the floor and couldn't get up.

My friend was admitted to nursing home/rehab facility direct from the ICU. During that time, no one--not even I--was allowed to visit. When she got very close to death, I was allowed in for two days--but only with full PPE, including mask, face shield, gloves, gown, etc. It was only then that I got a look at what was really going on in the facility, which was not at all okay. Anyway, I got her transferred out and into a hospice house, where things were more or less normalized, and I'm thankful for that. But the whole experience was extremely disconcerting--first, not being able to monitor what was going on in the nursing home, and second, not being able to have the kinds of interactions that people need to be able to have when someone they're close to is dying.

I'm incredibly angry over the whole situation. If and when we find out that this situation was in any part contrived, it's going to take four-point restraints to keep me from clawing the perpetrators' eyes out.

[jalanlong]

For my part I am boycotting the virtual schooling my son is being force to do for 5th grade. 81% of parents here chose to send their kids back and the district decided on virtual learning anyway. So they have like 7 zoom meetings a day scheduled for a 9 year old. And since his mother and I both work full time (she worked 60+ hours last week) I am using that as my excuse as to why I cannot be there standing next to him every day making sure he logs on to all of his meetings and classwork etc.

That is a reason of course and it is a good one. But I am also doing my small part to express an opinion that for a 10 year old special needs child, this is not really school and I am not going to pretend that it is. It will probably mean nothing and may make me labelled by the school as one of "those" parents. But someone has to stand up to this. If everyone just goes along with virtual schooling and they get a high compliance rate then they will just keep it going. The only way to stop it is to not participate. Either refuse to do online learning or just withdraw from the ISD altogether. It wont matter unless they get a large number doing it. But it has to start somewhere and I am not going to wait to see if everyone else starts the ball rolling.

And as I stated in another post, they have already cancelled the annual 5th grade outdoor science overnight trip scheduled for April!! 8 months away!!
They are substituting virtual science modules instead. So my patience with the school system has about run its course. Unfortunately my property tax dollars have not.

[vnatale]

And the panic continues...

Recent email blast from a prominent NY university noted that comprehensive testing of tens of thousands of staff and students has yielded exactly zero positive results.

And the city reported 330 new cases today. It’s been like that since early May.

So naturally the email also announced the decision that all classes this fall will be virtual. The plague and all, ya know.

The NBA "bubble" seems to be working. No reported cases since I don't know when.

Vinny

[vnatale]

And the panic continues...

Recent email blast from a prominent NY university noted that comprehensive testing of tens of thousands of staff and students has yielded exactly zero positive results.

And the city reported 330 new cases today. It’s been like that since early May.

So naturally the email also announced the decision that all classes this fall will be virtual. The plague and all, ya know.

If universities can do all online classes (and retain their students/tuition, I suppose) I'd think it would generate a massive profit this year. Eliminate or greatly reduce the expense of dining facilities, libraries, dorms, classrooms, and non-football sports.. plus their concomitant janitors, cooks, dishwashers, TAs, etc.

Do you think all of this will result in a massive rethinking of what REALLY needs to be done in person? Classes, business meetings, and so on?

Vinny

[dualstow]

...
So for two days, I had to take my mask on and off dozens of times a day in our own recovery room while I was also trying to cope with a lack of sleep and the excitement and stress of having a new baby. It was a bit much.

Congrats on the baby! I knew one was coming but I completely missed cigar day.

The crap I really hate about this is all of the awkward situations it puts you into. When I had to deliver a package to a business a few weeks ago and I went to hand it to the person who opened the door, once I got about 4 feet from her she yelled out "DON'T COME ANY CLOSER!!"

Just now I had a pizza delivery. When I open the door he sets the pizza on the ground and then looks at me and sheepishly asks "Umm..did you want me to hand it to you or just put it down." IDK really. If I tell you just to lay it down am I suggesting that you are a dirty Corona human? Although you did make my food so if I am going to consume the food you prepared does it really matter if I touch the box you touched?

Just out of curiosity, were you wearing a mask in either scenario? You didn't mention.

I wasn't. In the first scenario it was sort of before mask mania hit and everything was about social distancing. It is one thing to ask me to politely step back but she screamed at the top of her lungs.

In the second scenario I was coming out of my front door so no mask there either. I don't really care whether he hands me the pizza or not. It's just this whole thing seems to put people into a lot of Curb Your Enthusiasm situations.

I nearly always put on a mask before answering the door. It may be doing nothing, and still I think it makes delivery people feel better. Where I live, they're mostly wearing masks, including the few times I ran to the door and forgot mine. I also put it on for me. Do I feel like I have to put one on when I answer my door? No.

[Tortoise]

Do you think all of this will result in a massive rethinking of what REALLY needs to be done in person? Classes, business meetings, and so on?

Not everyone is a super-introvert like you, Vinny.

For most people, “virtual life” is proving to be a hollow shell of the real thing.

[Mark Leavy]

My best friend died just over a week ago after her cancer,
...
horrific story.

Damn, Maddy.
I don't know where to start. Everyone on the fringe is being hurt.

[vnatale]

Do you think all of this will result in a massive rethinking of what REALLY needs to be done in person? Classes, business meetings, and so on?

Not everyone is a super-introvert like you, Vinny.

For most people, “virtual life” is proving to be a hollow shell of the real thing.

You are definitely correct on that one. About 75% of people are extroverts. And, this is all hard on them.

The remaining 25% are introverts. Not as hard on then but they most of them are not to the extreme as I am (which must be somewhere of only 1 to 5% of the total population).

Vinny

[Xan]

My best friend died just over a week ago after her cancer,
...
horrific story.

Damn, Maddy.
I don't know where to start. Everyone on the fringe is being hurt.

Yeah, that's a nightmare. :-(

[Mountaineer]

My best friend died just over a week ago after her cancer, previously in remission for two years, returned with a vengeance. I was the closest thing she had to family, and I had her power of attorney. More on that later, because I learned some really important things about planning for incapacity.

Anyway, the whole CoVid thing had my friend literally hunkered down in her home for months, afraid to let anyone in and unwilling to seek medical attention for flat-out organ failure until she quite literally collapsed on the floor and couldn't get up.

My friend was admitted to nursing home/rehab facility direct from the ICU. During that time, no one--not even I--was allowed to visit. When she got very close to death, I was allowed in for two days--but only with full PPE, including mask, face shield, gloves, gown, etc. It was only then that I got a look at what was really going on in the facility, which was not at all okay. Anyway, I got her transferred out and into a hospice house, where things were more or less normalized, and I'm thankful for that. But the whole experience was extremely disconcerting--first, not being able to monitor what was going on in the nursing home, and second, not being able to have the kinds of interactions that people need to be able to have when someone they're close to is dying.

I'm incredibly angry over the whole situation. If and when we find out that this situation was in any part contrived, it's going to take four-point restraints to keep me from clawing the perpetrators' eyes out.

Oh my Maddy, my condolences. That whole situation stinks.

[WiseOne]

My best friend died just over a week ago after her cancer, previously in remission for two years, returned with a vengeance. I was the closest thing she had to family, and I had her power of attorney. More on that later, because I learned some really important things about planning for incapacity.

Anyway, the whole CoVid thing had my friend literally hunkered down in her home for months, afraid to let anyone in and unwilling to seek medical attention for flat-out organ failure until she quite literally collapsed on the floor and couldn't get up.

My friend was admitted to nursing home/rehab facility direct from the ICU. During that time, no one--not even I--was allowed to visit. When she got very close to death, I was allowed in for two days--but only with full PPE, including mask, face shield, gloves, gown, etc. It was only then that I got a look at what was really going on in the facility, which was not at all okay. Anyway, I got her transferred out and into a hospice house, where things were more or less normalized, and I'm thankful for that. But the whole experience was extremely disconcerting--first, not being able to monitor what was going on in the nursing home, and second, not being able to have the kinds of interactions that people need to be able to have when someone they're close to is dying.

I'm incredibly angry over the whole situation. If and when we find out that this situation was in any part contrived, it's going to take four-point restraints to keep me from clawing the perpetrators' eyes out.

Maddy I'm so sorry. What a terrible situation. I'm surprised she wasn't discharged straight to hospice from the ICU, and good on you for getting that done. Yes, the lockdown of nursing homes, while medically justified given how vulnerable that population is from COVID, had some truly tragic results. But in this case, your friend didn't belong in a nursing home, and COVID shouldn't have been the most important concern. It was the hospital that screwed up (specifically the social workers who arranged placement).

I definitely would like to hear more about planning for incapacity. I'm in the process of getting a new POA for my mom, to cover her business as well as the personal POA I already have. I'm annoyed with her attorneys for not suggesting that at the start, and I'd assumed the POA I had would serve for both.

[dualstow]

Maddy, that sucks. So very sorry to hear it.

Vinny, I don’t know how you can embrace virtual meetings. There’re no subtitles.

[pp4me]

Just returned from my 10 mile bike ride that takes me through two city parks which have been nearly deserted since the start of the COVID lockdowns.

They have a basketball court in the park that's closest to me so I bought a basketball to shoot some hoops and get some exercise just before the lockdowns started only to discover they had removed all the rims and nets.

To my great surprise today there was a little league baseball game going on and one of the parking lots was completely full. People were sitting in bleachers and lawn chairs without social distancing and OMG, NOBODY was wearing a mask. They were all just acting normal and nobody had called the police yet.