Coronavirus prep

SeanD2407 · March 2020

Myfitnesspal journey prepared me for this. Been drinking almond milk for two years. That May expiration date welcomes the quarantine.

T1DCarnivoreRunner · March 2020

I've been at maintenance for awhile, but thinking about cutting back and finally getting around to losing that last 15 lbs.

ETA: Cutting back to conserve/extend resources.

amtyrell · March 2020

just_Tomek wrote: »

Ontario just declared state of emergency. Lots of places where ppl might gather are shutting down.

What does state of emergency mean there. Ie what exactly is being required to close

kshama2001 · March 2020

Nony_Mouse wrote: »

My main concern with encountering others when I'm out walking is can I pat their dogs? Like, obviously the dog isn't going to have the virus, but if their person has it, can the virus survive on pup's fur for a time? Is it even worth going for a walk if I can't pat all the dogs?

ETA: keeping my distance from people goes without saying.

Lol, when I used to walk in the main part of the park I'd say hello to the dogs and their people thought I was talking to them.

Unfortunately, their people did not pick up all their poop, so a few years back I moved my ingress point to a different part of the park, where I rarely see people during the week.

MikePfirrman · March 2020

Meditation for stress might come in handy. I started it last year. Some of the basic concepts, even just breathing, can calm down anxiety. I, for one, apologize for any anxiety that I have created in this thread.

There are free meditation resources on YouTube. The next month will get really crazy. Remember, take a moment, breathe. Understand this will pass.

Kaitie9399 · March 2020

This has been bringing out some of the worst in people. It's making me sad.

100% agree. I've had colleagues cheat me out of my place in line at the copier and today I had a colleague scold me like a 2 year old because I dared to help a kid who was lost. People are losing their minds. Really? You yell at me because I'm being helpful....yeah. Thanks.

snickerscharlie · March 2020

amtyrell wrote: »

just_Tomek wrote: »

Ontario just declared state of emergency. Lots of places where ppl might gather are shutting down.

What does state of emergency mean there. Ie what exactly is being required to close

The Premier of Ontario has just declared a state of emergency for our Province.

This means prohibiting organized events of 50+ people and closing:

• Facilities providing recreational programs
• Libraries
• Private Schools
• Licensed child care centres
• Bars and restaurants (takeout and delivery permitted)
• Theatres, cinemas and concert venues

For now, malls are allowed to operate, but the restaurants within them must close unless they have take-out or delivery services available.

In addition, Shopper's Drug Mart - our largest national drug store chain in Canada - has announced the following:

Shoppers Drug Mart

@shopprsdrugmart

Starting this week, Shoppers Drug Mart is dedicating the first opening hour of shopping at our stores to our customers who need assistance or consideration, including seniors and people living with disabilities.

We encourage you to check with your local store to confirm operating hours. Shoppers Drug Mart will also offer the 20% Seniors Day discount on regular priced items for the first hour each day every day. This is in addition to Seniors Days each Thursday.

This is wonderful. Seniors and the disabled only will be permitted in the stores for the first hour they're open. Thoughts are that this is when the stores will be at their cleanest, given that deep-cleaning is being done, especially overnight.

Shoppers also has a Senior's Day every Thursday - almost everything in the store is 20% off for seniors. So glad this is now being extended to the Seniors Only hour every day.

Supermarket chains here are following suit with similar programs to allow the most vulnerable to get the food and supplies they need in relative safety.

bmeadows380 · March 2020

moonangel12 wrote: »

Evidently WV isn’t even testing, at least where one person was sent with symptoms. No test, just a doctor’s note to self-quarantine for 14 days. Maybe that’s the reason for no confirmed cases - geeze Louise.

Got some Rainbow Chard seeds in the ground, at least if things persist we might have some fresh something to eat in the relatively near future.

WV is testing, but not many in the grand scheme of things - the WV health department's website says we've had 80 negative tests and 4 pending - not really a lot to be able to accurately say it's not here. I've heard of one case in the Beckley area that they thought for sure was it, but the test came back negative. I've also heard this morning of a case that looked very similar in Wheeling that was not tested because they didn't show the fever. If that one is true, that's the sort of thing that gets me frustrated. There is this note on the health department's website:

*NOTE: Now that COVID-19 testing is expanded and available through commercial laboratories and some hospitals, DHHR is only reporting those tests that have been processed through its state public health lab. All positive results obtained by commercial laboratories are reportable to DHHR and are included in the positive case counts.

The state's testing guidelines are this:

The state’s public health lab, West Virginia Office of Laboratory Services (OLS), is the primary facility for COVID-19 testing until commercial laboratories and hospitals develop testing capacity for COVID-19. The state public health lab has remained available 7 days a week to provide testing for any healthcare or public health provider submitting specimens. At present, all tests submitted to OLS are being processed within a 2-3-day timeframe, often earlier. Most states are seeing turnaround time increase as testing submissions rise and supplies remain on backorder.

Since early March, two groups have been and remain prioritized for COVID-19 testing through OLS. These groupings prioritize the likelihood of finding disease (testing those who are most likely to have been exposed), support care for those most at risk, and support proper infection control in the healthcare setting. Individuals prioritized for testing by OLS include the following:

1) Seriously ill individuals hospitalized or otherwise at high risk of complications: This includes seriously ill individuals with symptoms of COVID-19 who are hospitalized, near hospitalization or otherwise at highest risk of poor health outcomes (e.g., those who are elderly or have serious underlying chronic diseases, nursing home residents, etc.) AND who do not have another identified cause for their illness (e.g., flu, other respiratory viruses). No history of potential exposure is needed for these patients.
OR
2) Individuals at medium to high risk of having been infected: This includes any individual with symptoms of lower respiratory illness (fever, cough, shortness of breath) AND a history of likely exposure to COVID-19 within 14 days of symptom onset (e.g., close contact with an individual confirmed to have COVID-19 or recent travel history from or living in areas with widespread community transmission) AND do not have another identified cause for their illness (e.g., flu, or other respiratory viruses).

These are slight modifications of CDC Guidelines, focusing on those most ill in criteria one above, given that supplies are limited, and some products remain on backorder in West Virginia and nationally. They are subject to change. For current testing criteria, visit coronavirus.wv.gov.

“DHHR continues to actively work with providers to assure they are knowledgeable about specimen collection and submission protocols, and to adjust to changing supplies and supply chains,” said Dr. Cathy Slemp, State Health Officer and Commissioner of DHHR’s Bureau for Public Health. “We are also working with local and federal partners to build novel testing systems as supplies and resources are made available federally.”

All providers seeing patients meeting the above criteria and requesting testing through the state’s public health lab are asked to first obtain a public health consult in order to provide applicable patient information and coordinate specimen submission.

Most individuals who are seriously ill have testing arranged by their healthcare provider. Individuals with a likely history of medium or high-risk exposure (as per above) may contact their healthcare provider by phone or call the Coronavirus Hotline, 1-800-887-4304, to help determine their need for testing.

So based on that, I'm thinking its very likely its here and we just haven't gotten a confirmed case. On the other hand, we're not having an influx of people with pneumonia into our hospitals, either. A lot of people in my area are thinking that we might have already had it back in January when we had this pretty contagious version of the flu go around that had a dry cough with it, and I thought that too, but now that I really study it, I'm not so sure - a lot of people did get it, but certainly not half the population of the area. For instance: my mom got it back in January and was down for about a week and had the cough for about another week, but my dad and sister who live with mom never got it - especially my dad who insists on sharing a bed with mom, sick or not (he won't go to the guest room when she's sick). Knowing that he has weak lungs anyway and that my sister is in poor health, if what mom had was COVID-19, I would have expected both my dad and my sister to get it, so now I just don't know.

snowflake954 · March 2020

A new study says that 80% of COV19 infections come from people with no symptoms. So, you don't need a fever to pass it on. That's why it's taking us by surprise.

moonangel12 · March 2020

bmeadows380 wrote: »

moonangel12 wrote: »

Evidently WV isn’t even testing, at least where one person was sent with symptoms. No test, just a doctor’s note to self-quarantine for 14 days. Maybe that’s the reason for no confirmed cases - geeze Louise.

Got some Rainbow Chard seeds in the ground, at least if things persist we might have some fresh something to eat in the relatively near future.

WV is testing, but not many in the grand scheme of things - the WV health department's website says we've had 80 negative tests and 4 pending - not really a lot to be able to accurately say it's not here. I've heard of one case in the Beckley area that they thought for sure was it, but the test came back negative. I've also heard this morning of a case that looked very similar in Wheeling that was not tested because they didn't show the fever. If that one is true, that's the sort of thing that gets me frustrated. There is this note on the health department's website:

*NOTE: Now that COVID-19 testing is expanded and available through commercial laboratories and some hospitals, DHHR is only reporting those tests that have been processed through its state public health lab. All positive results obtained by commercial laboratories are reportable to DHHR and are included in the positive case counts.

The state's testing guidelines are this:

The state’s public health lab, West Virginia Office of Laboratory Services (OLS), is the primary facility for COVID-19 testing until commercial laboratories and hospitals develop testing capacity for COVID-19. The state public health lab has remained available 7 days a week to provide testing for any healthcare or public health provider submitting specimens. At present, all tests submitted to OLS are being processed within a 2-3-day timeframe, often earlier. Most states are seeing turnaround time increase as testing submissions rise and supplies remain on backorder.

Since early March, two groups have been and remain prioritized for COVID-19 testing through OLS. These groupings prioritize the likelihood of finding disease (testing those who are most likely to have been exposed), support care for those most at risk, and support proper infection control in the healthcare setting. Individuals prioritized for testing by OLS include the following:

1) Seriously ill individuals hospitalized or otherwise at high risk of complications: This includes seriously ill individuals with symptoms of COVID-19 who are hospitalized, near hospitalization or otherwise at highest risk of poor health outcomes (e.g., those who are elderly or have serious underlying chronic diseases, nursing home residents, etc.) AND who do not have another identified cause for their illness (e.g., flu, other respiratory viruses). No history of potential exposure is needed for these patients.
OR
2) Individuals at medium to high risk of having been infected: This includes any individual with symptoms of lower respiratory illness (fever, cough, shortness of breath) AND a history of likely exposure to COVID-19 within 14 days of symptom onset (e.g., close contact with an individual confirmed to have COVID-19 or recent travel history from or living in areas with widespread community transmission) AND do not have another identified cause for their illness (e.g., flu, or other respiratory viruses).

These are slight modifications of CDC Guidelines, focusing on those most ill in criteria one above, given that supplies are limited, and some products remain on backorder in West Virginia and nationally. They are subject to change. For current testing criteria, visit coronavirus.wv.gov.

“DHHR continues to actively work with providers to assure they are knowledgeable about specimen collection and submission protocols, and to adjust to changing supplies and supply chains,” said Dr. Cathy Slemp, State Health Officer and Commissioner of DHHR’s Bureau for Public Health. “We are also working with local and federal partners to build novel testing systems as supplies and resources are made available federally.”

All providers seeing patients meeting the above criteria and requesting testing through the state’s public health lab are asked to first obtain a public health consult in order to provide applicable patient information and coordinate specimen submission.

Most individuals who are seriously ill have testing arranged by their healthcare provider. Individuals with a likely history of medium or high-risk exposure (as per above) may contact their healthcare provider by phone or call the Coronavirus Hotline, 1-800-887-4304, to help determine their need for testing.

So based on that, I'm thinking its very likely its here and we just haven't gotten a confirmed case. On the other hand, we're not having an influx of people with pneumonia into our hospitals, either. A lot of people in my area are thinking that we might have already had it back in January when we had this pretty contagious version of the flu go around that had a dry cough with it, and I thought that too, but now that I really study it, I'm not so sure - a lot of people did get it, but certainly not half the population of the area. For instance: my mom got it back in January and was down for about a week and had the cough for about another week, but my dad and sister who live with mom never got it - especially my dad who insists on sharing a bed with mom, sick or not (he won't go to the guest room when she's sick). Knowing that he has weak lungs anyway and that my sister is in poor health, if what mom had was COVID-19, I would have expected both my dad and my sister to get it, so now I just don't know.

As surrounded as we are in our little patch of WV - MD, CA, and DC all within a stones throw - I don’t see any way it’s not here... and now that you mention it, We had something back in January with a really bad cough (started with my husband), mine was really funky and to the point that I felt like I was gasping for air. I used my inhaler and thankfully started coughing up crud... scared me! Then the crud my kiddos had at the start of this thread. I wish I knew for sure, but no way to know...

T1DCarnivoreRunner · March 2020

I know many of us are interested in reading straight from the source rather than media interpretation. Here is a new site created to "contain" research on Covid-19:

https://pages.semanticscholar.org/coronavirus-research

*As with all research, not everything is available for all users for free.

snowflake954 · March 2020

Just got an e-mail from my pool-gym that closed 2 weeks ago. They will add whatever time is lost with the closure onto our inscriptions, so we won't lose out. I didn't expect that at all. Very nice.

moonangel12 · March 2020

Pinterest has made a quarantine board/group with kid activities, at home workouts, info from WHO, and a few other things... thought that was a neat idea!

amtyrell · March 2020

moonangel12 wrote: »

Pinterest has made a quarantine board/group with kid activities, at home workouts, info from WHO, and a few other things... thought that was a neat idea!

My sister has assigned each of her kids to learn one irish pub song and send out to family a 5 minute video with researched facts about Irish history today. I am amused

mkculs13 · March 2020

DecadeDuchess wrote: »
I am not understanding all of those that're supposedly taken this seriously, yet plan to and/or already're doing outdoor activities. If we were to pass by each other upon a hiking trail, it's like passing by each other anywhere else needlessly. Actually it'd most likely be worse, due to our heavy breathing via exercise exertion. Than just casually walking via 1 room to another within a climate controlled environment, where our breathing intensity'd remain normal.

People touch things inside--tables, chairs, walls, light switches, door knobs, pens, you name it. The science says that community spread is coming from that touching--people who are asymptomatic for the time being will touch their own eyes, nose, or mouth, and then touch a surface. A few hours later, another person touches the same surface and then touches their face (b/c sooner or later, we all touch our face). So the newly infected person has no idea where they caught it.

I would encourage people to get outside and maintain 6 feet of distance. Even with forceful sneezing/coughing, that's the outermost distance droplets will travel. So heavy breathing from exertion is not a real reason for concern--plus the fact that you can almost always maintain distance unless you tend to frequent really narrow trails.

Playgrounds are a huge source of potential transmission, however, so keep kids away from them. And yourself too, of course.

I expect the areas I frequent will get much busier as temps warm up here in WI and people start getting out more. I think it will be a little bit heavier than normal "heavy" traffic, because some people who never went outside will start doing it. I also know I am pretty amenable to looking for less crowded times, simply b/c that is what I always do (I like having the whole trail to myself, or practically to myself). My biggest risk right now is opening/closing gates at the dog park entrance/exit. Using gloves and sanitizer should keep me safe. I'm honestly a lot more concerned about bringing in things from the store that someone might have touched before me, or even packages that have traveled fewer than 72 hours. Wipe down everything that comes into yur house.

Stay healthy out there, folks.

hesn92 · March 2020

Kansas City area is pretty much shutting down. restaurants, movie theatres, etc. are all closing. Gatherings of 10+ are banned. Schools are closed at least through April 3. I'm still at work though! I'm really annoyed with my work, there's no communication going on as to what the f we are planning on doing. Thankfully my coworker, the IT guy, has been working on getting me remote access to my computer. Unsuccessfully so far. My husband is in sales and is still working which I'm not happy about.

Regarding going outside, I was planning on running outside since I can't go to the gym. I thought that was ok.

moonangel12 · March 2020

My husband is working still, but they are rotating work-from-home days to attempt to limit exposure and also taking steps to try and limit shift to shift contact. His company provides lids for P&G’s Lysol containers - definitely in hot demand! Along with packaging for other cleaning supplies, (I think they still do Clorox lids), and other basic hygiene items... closing them down would shut down P&G’s production, leading to supply chain disruptions all around. Craziness...

janejellyroll · March 2020

kimny72 wrote: »

My parents are in their mid 70s and I typically go over twice a week to have dinner with them. Should I stop going? I can't tell if I'm being cavalier to go over or being overly anxious to not visit them the whole time this is going on. I know they'll say to come over, that's just how they are!

My mom was going to drive to visit me this weekend. I told her yesterday to cancel, I just couldn't handle it if she got sick as a result. I felt overly anxious asking her not to come and I know she was disappointed, but I feel like this is the time for us to be overly careful about our parents.

janejellyroll · March 2020

DecadeDuchess wrote: »

I am not understanding all of those that're supposedly taken this seriously, yet plan to and/or already're doing outdoor activities. If we were to pass by each other upon a hiking trail, it's like passing by each other anywhere else needlessly. Actually it'd most likely be worse, due to our heavy breathing via exercise exertion. Than just casually walking via 1 room to another within a climate controlled environment, where our breathing intensity'd remain normal.

I'm not coming close to the "danger zone" for personal contact when I'm running outside and it's something I'm even more conscious of now. I ran outdoors this morning and I noticed other runners were also being very careful to stay at least six feet away as well. Outdoors is big, we can afford to give each other space.

lemurcat2 · March 2020

MikePfirrman wrote: »

Meditation for stress might come in handy. I started it last year. Some of the basic concepts, even just breathing, can calm down anxiety. I, for one, apologize for any anxiety that I have created in this thread.

I had a streak on Calm (meditation app) going (starting 12/28) which I broke 3 weeks ago, and was just thinking that I need to get back to my morning meditation routine. It's very helpful even under normal conditions.

cmriverside · March 2020

janejellyroll wrote: »

DecadeDuchess wrote: »

I am not understanding all of those that're supposedly taken this seriously, yet plan to and/or already're doing outdoor activities. If we were to pass by each other upon a hiking trail, it's like passing by each other anywhere else needlessly. Actually it'd most likely be worse, due to our heavy breathing via exercise exertion. Than just casually walking via 1 room to another within a climate controlled environment, where our breathing intensity'd remain normal.

I'm not coming close to the "danger zone" for personal contact when I'm running outside and it's something I'm even more conscious of now. I ran outdoors this morning and I noticed other runners were also being very careful to stay at least six feet away as well. Outdoors is big, we can afford to give each other space.

I was out on my usually-deserted trail here the other day. There is a bridge. One 10 foot wide bridge within five miles. As I was approaching it I saw on the other side of it a group of people, like 8 people with kids and parents approaching from the other side. I did a ninja-run across before they got there (barely!) and bolted off to the side.

It's a good thing my spatial judgement is still working.

janejellyroll · March 2020

cmriverside wrote: »

janejellyroll wrote: »

DecadeDuchess wrote: »

I am not understanding all of those that're supposedly taken this seriously, yet plan to and/or already're doing outdoor activities. If we were to pass by each other upon a hiking trail, it's like passing by each other anywhere else needlessly. Actually it'd most likely be worse, due to our heavy breathing via exercise exertion. Than just casually walking via 1 room to another within a climate controlled environment, where our breathing intensity'd remain normal.

I'm not coming close to the "danger zone" for personal contact when I'm running outside and it's something I'm even more conscious of now. I ran outdoors this morning and I noticed other runners were also being very careful to stay at least six feet away as well. Outdoors is big, we can afford to give each other space.

I was out on my usually-deserted trail here the other day. There is a bridge. One 10 foot wide bridge within five miles. As I was approaching it I saw on the other side of it a group of people, like 8 people with kids and parents approaching from the other side. I did a ninja-run across before they got there (barely!) and bolted off to the side.

It's a good thing my spatial judgement is still working.

"Run, Zombies!" has been replaced by "Run, Other Humans!"

mkculs13 · March 2020

moonangel12 wrote: »

My husband is working still, but they are rotating work-from-home days to attempt to limit exposure and also taking steps to try and limit shift to shift contact. His company provides lids for P&G’s Lysol containers - definitely in hot demand! Along with packaging for other cleaning supplies, (I think they still do Clorox lids), and other basic hygiene items... closing them down would shut down P&G’s production, leading to supply chain disruptions all around. Craziness...

Please tell him thank you--all the people working in factories producing the goods needed are so appreciated by me, my family, and all my friends. We've talked about these folks and pray that systems for protecting them (lowering output so fewer people have to report and can stay safe distance apart, constant cleaning, whatever is needed) are in place already or will be soon. And if his factory has to close--which could happen--I hope he and his fellow workers know that many of us will pitch in to help others with whatever we have in our possession, and no one will blame any worker who is at risk or lives with someone at risk, or whose job is put on hold. Each and every one of us needs to make the best choice for ourselves and our families, and then do what we can to help our neighbors.

Diatonic12 · March 2020

https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/03/16/coronavirus-infected-people-without-symptoms-are-driving-epidemics-fast-spread-says-new-study/

"People with mild or no symptoms of COVID-19 are the main drivers behind the spread of the coronavirus epidemic."

snowflake954 · March 2020

moonangel12 wrote: »

My husband is working still, but they are rotating work-from-home days to attempt to limit exposure and also taking steps to try and limit shift to shift contact. His company provides lids for P&G’s Lysol containers - definitely in hot demand! Along with packaging for other cleaning supplies, (I think they still do Clorox lids), and other basic hygiene items... closing them down would shut down P&G’s production, leading to supply chain disruptions all around. Craziness...

You'll find that they will not shut down any company that makes essential cleaning supplies. Just like they will not shut down the electric company, gas company, water company. Essential services will remain open. Sorry for your husband. I hope he's protected while working.

missysippy930 · March 2020

It doesn’t really matter how it’s being spread at this point. It’s what each of us are doing at this point that will limit the spread.
I’m so grateful for the people that are on the front lines, putting their, and their families health at risk for the common good. Health care workers, cashiers at vital merchants businesses, manufacturers, and government. Thanks to everyone here that’s getting information out to us. The children of elderly parents, who are making the tough decisions not to risk bringing the virus to their parents. I’m very sad to think that it may be a long time before I see my daughter again. Pulling together and making sacrifices for others. There’s still a lot of good in the world.

Thank you all❤️

moonangel12 · March 2020

snowflake954 wrote: »

moonangel12 wrote: »

My husband is working still, but they are rotating work-from-home days to attempt to limit exposure and also taking steps to try and limit shift to shift contact. His company provides lids for P&G’s Lysol containers - definitely in hot demand! Along with packaging for other cleaning supplies, (I think they still do Clorox lids), and other basic hygiene items... closing them down would shut down P&G’s production, leading to supply chain disruptions all around. Craziness...

You'll find that they will not shut down any company that makes essential cleaning supplies. Just like they will not shut down the electric company, gas company, water company. Essential services will remain open. Sorry for your husband. I hope he's protected while working.

They are taking preventative measures, but they are somewhat being made up on the fly... this is so unprecedented that his company didn’t have anything in place, but since they are on site with P&G they have given them their guidelines and that is what they are going with. The break room was extended and has smaller tables set up with single chairs in each spot (going with the 6’ spacing). They are figuring out procedures as they go in terms of what to do if someone is sick. He picked up a 4 sided pop up tent for a “quarantine” area. Cafeteria was shut down last week. This is when, looking back, the whole open-air office concept was maybe not the best idea.

ETA: I did ask him to start changing clothes completely when he comes home... he usually will wash hands, change shirts, etc. I need to start lysol-ing his PPE in the evenings, although I am running low on that after the kids last bug.

lkpducky · March 2020

Just heard on the news that someone at my husband's company (the local branch) tested positive. We don't know though if the person works in the same building though. The company will have a virtual meeting in a few hours.

ReenieHJ · March 2020

One of my 3 adult kids is now working from home; she's in NC. I wish my other 2 could work remotely.

Especially my dd who lives in Seattle.

ReenieHJ · March 2020

We all now know it doesn't really matter the age of the infected; they can still get seriously ill. But in the beginning you'd hear a lot of "only the vulnerable are at greater risk...." Someone posted a picture of herself and her 7 year old dd who has leukemia. It said "To you it's only the vulnerable, to me it's my everything".

Coronavirus prep

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