Coronavirus prep

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  • earlnabby
    earlnabby Posts: 8,171 Member
    TonyB0588 wrote: »
    KrissCanDoThis wrote: »
    Congrats on snagging some toilet paper.

    What's the big deal with the toilet paper purchases?? I haven't been able to figure it out.

    Part of it is the herd mentality where people hear about possible shortages. The majority of it is that TP is a comfort necessity and people feel like they have some control over an uncontrollable situation when they have enough of a necessity. We see it every time a blizzard is predicted. Eggs, milk and bread make sense (aka the French toast run) but TP also sells out. I suspect there will be several doctoral theses in Psychology in the near future as people study this.
  • TonyB0588
    TonyB0588 Posts: 9,520 Member
    ReenieHJ wrote: »
    KrissCanDoThis wrote: »
    nutmegoreo wrote: »
    KrissCanDoThis wrote: »
    Speaking of reasons..

    The other day I went to the grocery store to pick up a few things, I didnt have many bags, unlike my last trip where it took me 7 trips back and forth to get everything inside...

    So I'm waiting for my cab, he shows up, and immediately walks right over to my cart right behind me pretty much shoulder to shoulder to grab some of my bags.

    I said "it's okay, I got them" but he took them anyway.

    So I get in the car and I see no disinfecting wipes or sanitizer, no masks no gloves.. nothing.

    We get to my place and after I pay him, I get out and go around to get the bags and again he gets out and comes right up beside me and grabs some bags

    Again I said "it's okay I can take them" and he said no no, I will carry them to your place, and I said no, it's fine, i can handle them.

    I basically had to pry my bags from his hands.

    I honestly wouldnt think.. at this point that i would have to be blunt and state the obvious about social distancing... as it's been everywhere you go for weeks. So it surprised me that twice he gave no thought to himself or me..

    In trying to be a gentleman he removed my ability twice to maintain my own 6 feet of space.

    I dont know if he just didnt get it? Or if he just didnt care. But it's people like that, that would make it hard to reopen parts of the city or county without them just coming into that space.

    I was pretty mad.. last thing I need is to catch this just before I return to work because someone else just didnt care or doesnt take it seriously enough.

    All i could think was... what if he had done this for all his passengers? Then by being that close to me, shared it with me cause he picked it up from someone else.... what if I was unlucky enough to bring something home from the store and by him grabbing my bags, hes got it and now sharing it with new passengers.

    I actually wrote a tiny rant about it on my main profile as a vent, and someone that is no longer a friend cause they deleted themselves, condescendingly told me that they Hope I find happiness in my life so I dont blame others.

    So besides the cab driver, here is another person who seems to think violation of space and potential infection from someone else should be invited with love and acceptance.

    I dont blame those who ended up with it, it spread so quickly, and it's been hard to control, but I will get mad at those who dont do their own part to work together to protect those who haven't yet. Its gonna spread enough as it is, just trying to maintain some essential services to live and work, why make it harder?

    Keep your distance. Wash your hands. And those red arrows on the floor at the grocery store indicating which direction the flow of the aisle is.. follow it, dont just barge down the wrong way because you're only getting 1 thing and you dont wanna walk down another aisle just to go in the right direction. It's not hard..

    Lol... so frustrating when I see things like this

    Perhaps a call to the cab company as a gentle reminder, since this has happened more than once.

    Oh, well no, only the once, lol you read my rant the other day I'm sure, that's who I'm talking about lol

    Did you have a mask on? To me, unless someone has been living under a rock for the last 3 months, it should've been obvious anyways but especially if you were wearing a mask. :/ Was he an older guy? I have found(and I hate to generalize here but....) a lot of the older men I've seen, have poo-poo-ed this whole thing. Macho maybe? Or just extra gentlemanly and impossible to change his ways?
    Either way, it's kind of unsettling. :( I had seen an uptake of wearing masks lately, which was making me feel much safer. But yesterday when I went to the grocery store, only about 1/4 of the shoppers were wearing one and even less of the workers. And not as much social distancing as I've been noticing either. :( Are people getting sick of it or becoming desensitized? :(
    My elderly neighbor keeps stopping over to visit. :/ He's 87 yo and I've spoken to him about staying home but he stayed away for 2 weeks and felt that was enough. :( And he sees that I'm not coughing, etc., so figures all is well. He feels this is all a ridiculous farce anyways. :( I'm afraid there are still way too many who aren't taking this seriously.

    The old guy is lonely and needs good neighbours. At that age he doesn't mind if he dies of COVID-19, some other disease, or simply of old age.
  • lemurcat2
    lemurcat2 Posts: 7,885 Member
    spiriteagle99 wrote: »
    One of my neighbors has a daughter having a 16th birthday party. Only 8 cars when I passed by, but still.

    One of my nextdoor neighbors has two young boys (around 8 and 10). Over the weekend one had a birthday, and so the tree in front of their house was filled with balloons and a big "Happy Birthday, _______!" sign (obviously the kid's name instead of the blank). It was nice. They did not have anyone over.

    They have been playing together in the backyard a lot with a basketball hoop and occasionally run into mine to grab balls. Their parents and I wave at each other and smile.
  • lemurcat2
    lemurcat2 Posts: 7,885 Member
    SuzySunshine99 wrote: »
    whoami67 wrote: »
    Has anyone been to Costco recently? I know when the Safer at Home order first came down, Costco was reportedly a nightmare. I'm thinking to go there next week, probably looking for canned tuna and a few other things I like to buy in bulk. Has anyone braved it lately? In your town, have the lines outside and the supplies inside normalized like they have at the grocery store?


    I've been to Costco a few times and had different experiences:

    The week before last, there were only a few people waiting in line outside. They had a white board at the door listing what was out of stock....a relatively short list, just disinfectants, gloves, hand sanitizer, and dried beans. They had toilet paper. Once inside, it was not crowded at all, and no other items were in short supply, other than what was listed on the board.

    I went again this week and it was different. Loooong line to get in (still only took me about 15 minutes). The white board noted that, in addition to the items from the previous week, they were currently out of toilet paper and rotisserie chicken. It seemed the store was way more crowded. I think they metered in too many people because of the long line outside. It was uncomfortably crowded.

    Both times, I went on a weekday afternoon (I had heard the mornings were more crowded).

    A few things to note: Don't be too intimidated by a long line outside. It looks worse than it is because people are standing 6 feet apart, and it moves quickly. Don't grab a cart in the parking lot...they are wiping down carts as they hand them to each individual entering customer. They are requesting that no more than 2 people per membership enter the store (leave the kids at home if you can). Checkout lanes were good...no lines as they had enough of them open. That's been my experience anyway...it might be different in other cities.

    Good to know. I haven't tried to do Costco (I find Costco overwhelming when there's not a novel virus), but I have been discouraged about dealing with the lines at other stores, and maybe I am being silly.
  • lemurcat2
    lemurcat2 Posts: 7,885 Member
    T1DCarnivoreRunner wrote: »
    missysippy930 wrote: »
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    KrissCanDoThis wrote: »
    I think people take out their thoughts on the wrong people.. which is unfortunate.

    In times like that people often hear bad news like that and are instantly overcome by the problems they have in their own lives, debt, cost of kids, insurance, etc.. it often leaves people thinking that the burden is solely put on them only and not anyone else in a higher position.

    The fear and anger and sudden-ness of the news doesnt leave much room for stopping and wondering if higher ups are also going to have to deal with the same thing.

    People also often think that because they make more money they would have it easier, but honestly, people often live on the edge of or outside their means.. and as upper management, Its often deemed inappropriate for them to discuss their pay, their Bill's, their home life with the people they are managing.. I know some do it, but it can often back fire on them also..

    So were blind to their struggles and consumed by the problem in front of us, that we criticize them for what's happening and are even more harsh behind their backs..

    I'm guilty of it too sometimes.. I'm sorry that you're having to deal with that.

    I'm mostly frustrated right now because my proposal has most employees missing the total of a pay check spread across the year, which sucks...but the alternative is just canning people. Do you want a job but you'll miss a paycheck over a year or have no job, no insurance, etc? But apparently that doesn't translate...I can only do one or the other. Hopefully it will all become clear for my peeps over the weekend. I'm quite literally trying to find a way not to have to fire you for something that's not your fault...

    I’m curious. Isn’t laying off, a better term? What are the grounds for firing?
    Back in 2008, we had to take a 20% pay cut, and a cut back of hours, and some people were laid off. Many people did. Through no fault of our own, because of mismanagement by businesses. Time will tell, but universal health care may become critical during this crisis. Affordable health care is a joke for most people in the US. A friend that has been furloughed during this, will have to pay just under $1600/month for Cobra starting in May. Not many people can afford that.

    Yes, I think terminology is important. Here, "fire" is different than "lay off." However "furlough" is often used regardless of fault. "Temporary lay off" is used exclusively in a no-fault situation, but many are using "furlough" in a no fault situation now also despite that furlough has a historical use that can also mean there is potential fault on the employee's side.

    I've not been given the option... some employees at my company were temporary layoff and the rest of us had temporary pay cuts. Originally when this was announced, I am losing 2 weeks of pay spread over 90 days. Compared to those laid off for 2 weeks, I am worse off because we lose the same amount of income from the company directly and yet the laid off employees can get some of that back through unemployment. Now, as lay off continues (as does my pay cut), the unemployment amount becomes more relevant. In my state, starting unemployment was so small that even adding $600 per week doesn't replace an entire paycheck for most workers. The extension causes many who were previously laid off the go from a better situation than my pay cut to a worse situation than mine when total situation is considered.

    Interesting. Pre coronavirus, I'd only heard furlough in the context of the gov't shut downs and furloughs of non essential gov't workers.

    Here's a good piece on it: https://www.thecut.com/2020/04/what-is-a-furlough.html

    In my field, one is either laid off (due to the economy being bad) or fired (usually because you were not sufficiently successful at your job, which doesn't actually mean for cause). However, usually they frame even firings as layoffs and give you time to find a new position unless you truly did something egregious.

    Looks like furloughs retain health insurance, which is pretty important.

    From the piece:

    "a furlough is an employer-mandated, temporary unpaid leave from work, which employers typically resort to as a cost-saving measure. Both public and private employees can be placed on furlough. (Government employees are often put on furlough during shutdowns.) But the specific terms of a furlough depend on where you work. You can be furloughed for as short a time as a few weeks, or as long as months. During this leave, you’ll likely retain your health-insurance benefits, though that’s not guaranteed.

    If you are furloughed, you technically retain your job, whereas if you’re laid off, you are no longer employed at your job. However, furloughed workers still typically qualify for unemployment benefits, which have expanded under the $2 trillion coronavirus relief package."

    So far my company has not laid off anyone. Most of the lawyers can work fully (or close to it) during the stay at home period, but the concern is that clients won't or will be unable to pay on time. Some support staff has been able to work, some has not (like the receptionist), but we are keeping them on the payroll with the hope that the Paycheck Protection Program will support that. The main concern is no layoffs if at all possible, and also keeping people working as much as possible.
  • lemurcat2
    lemurcat2 Posts: 7,885 Member
    T1DCarnivoreRunner wrote: »
    TonyB0588 wrote: »
    KrissCanDoThis wrote: »
    Congrats on snagging some toilet paper.

    What's the big deal with the toilet paper purchases?? I haven't been able to figure it out.

    Me neither, but there still isn't any where I live. Still as best as I can tell, stores will be able to get some in late May.

    Plenty where I live although amount one can purchase is limited.
  • lokihen
    lokihen Posts: 382 Member
    TonyB0588 wrote: »
    KrissCanDoThis wrote: »
    Congrats on snagging some toilet paper.

    What's the big deal with the toilet paper purchases?? I haven't been able to figure it out.

    I saw a news piece from Australia where someone tried to return 150 large (over 30 rolls each) packages of TP to the store because they couldn't sell it for huge profits like they expected.
  • Unicorn_Bacon
    Unicorn_Bacon Posts: 491 Member
    I heard that there was misinformation spread at first that toilet paper was made mostly in markets like China and that someone claimed that this would make toilet paper hard to obtain, so people went absolutely ballistic trying to buy as much as they could. =/

    It even happened here... and we make toilet paper here in this country, it doesnt even come from China lol
  • GaleHawkins
    GaleHawkins Posts: 8,160 Member
    Things may tighten around here. We went from 4 cases 10 days ago to 62 positive cases today with 40+ from one nursing home.
  • corinasue1143
    corinasue1143 Posts: 7,467 Member
    @galehawkins, had to look and see if you were from Oklahoma. We had numbers something like that. They tested people who had symptoms in one nursing home, 20 positive, so they tested everyone. Some of the results came in the next day, brought it to over 40. I forgot to check the next day for the total.
  • jo_nz
    jo_nz Posts: 548 Member
    Nony_Mouse wrote: »
    New Zealand had it's announcement on moving from Level 4 to Level 3 (which is a slight loosening of our quite strict lockdown rules) this afternoon. We were originally scheduled to come out of Level 4 this coming Thursday at the earliest. Level 3 comes in on Tuesday week, which gives an additional five days of hard core lockdown to really solidify the low transmission/new case numbers, and also means that those businesses that can resume are doing so at the start of the work week (Monday is a public holiday for ANZAC Day).

    People who are able to work from home must continue to do so, retail, bars, cafes, restaurants etc remain physically closed to the public, but any of them who can trade without physical interaction with the public are able to (so, all online shopping can resume - previously only essential goods were available/able to be delivered, restaurants can do delivery or contactless pick up, etc), early childhood centres and school for up to Year 10 is available for those who need it (ie parents going back to work with no other options for childcare), strict requirements for distancing and hygiene in place for any operational businesses, we can venture a little further afield for recreation/exercise but still expected to be at home the majority of the time if not working away from home.

    ETA: NZ is in really good shape, our number of new daily cases is down to single digits (actually oscillating between high single and low to mid teens), our number of recovered cases is nearly double the number of active (which sits at 454 as of this morning).

    I'd have liked to see Level 4 continued for an additional week longer (and coming out of it on May the 4th would have just been cool), but I think so long as people get the message that Level 3 is not a licence to go out and start socialising, we'll be fine.

    Will there be much difference for you at L3, Nony_Mouse?
    Personally, it will be more of the same here - working at home, kids schooling at home. Only going out for groceries and dog walks. I am missing my small gym, but it will be at least level 2 before that reopens.

    DH may be able to go back to some work, but not in a huge rush - will have to judge each job situation (he's a sparky, so "can" work at lvl 3). We do have a couple of jobs in hold that are perfect - eg empty floor of office building, would only be DH and one other co-worker on site.

    I was watching the start of today's announcement and was quite convinced it was going to be extended at least another week, not just a few days.
  • Nony_Mouse
    Nony_Mouse Posts: 5,646 Member
    jo_nz wrote: »
    Nony_Mouse wrote: »
    New Zealand had it's announcement on moving from Level 4 to Level 3 (which is a slight loosening of our quite strict lockdown rules) this afternoon. We were originally scheduled to come out of Level 4 this coming Thursday at the earliest. Level 3 comes in on Tuesday week, which gives an additional five days of hard core lockdown to really solidify the low transmission/new case numbers, and also means that those businesses that can resume are doing so at the start of the work week (Monday is a public holiday for ANZAC Day).

    People who are able to work from home must continue to do so, retail, bars, cafes, restaurants etc remain physically closed to the public, but any of them who can trade without physical interaction with the public are able to (so, all online shopping can resume - previously only essential goods were available/able to be delivered, restaurants can do delivery or contactless pick up, etc), early childhood centres and school for up to Year 10 is available for those who need it (ie parents going back to work with no other options for childcare), strict requirements for distancing and hygiene in place for any operational businesses, we can venture a little further afield for recreation/exercise but still expected to be at home the majority of the time if not working away from home.

    ETA: NZ is in really good shape, our number of new daily cases is down to single digits (actually oscillating between high single and low to mid teens), our number of recovered cases is nearly double the number of active (which sits at 454 as of this morning).

    I'd have liked to see Level 4 continued for an additional week longer (and coming out of it on May the 4th would have just been cool), but I think so long as people get the message that Level 3 is not a licence to go out and start socialising, we'll be fine.

    Will there be much difference for you at L3, Nony_Mouse?
    Personally, it will be more of the same here - working at home, kids schooling at home. Only going out for groceries and dog walks. I am missing my small gym, but it will be at least level 2 before that reopens.

    DH may be able to go back to some work, but not in a huge rush - will have to judge each job situation (he's a sparky, so "can" work at lvl 3). We do have a couple of jobs in hold that are perfect - eg empty floor of office building, would only be DH and one other co-worker on site.

    I was watching the start of today's announcement and was quite convinced it was going to be extended at least another week, not just a few days.

    Not really much different. I have been working from home, and could continue, but it's not ideal. The compound where my 'lab' is, is infrastructure construction-based (roading, etc) and will be operational, so I can slip in under that and go back to working there. It's very low risk, as not many people actually based there. I share my portacom office with one other, and we're at opposite ends (well over two metres apart!). May be some roadworks crew coming and going at breaks. I'm in a bubble of one, and due to illness spent much of last year in that bubble too, so some of going back is actually mental health.

    I figured we'd at least be extending to the Tuesday, because restarting so late in the week and right before a long weekend is a bit dumb, given that it makes crap all difference in economic terms, but potentially quite a lot in health terms.
  • TonyB0588
    TonyB0588 Posts: 9,520 Member
    KrissCanDoThis wrote: »
    I heard that there was misinformation spread at first that toilet paper was made mostly in markets like China and that someone claimed that this would make toilet paper hard to obtain, so people went absolutely ballistic trying to buy as much as they could. =/

    It even happened here... and we make toilet paper here in this country, it doesnt even come from China lol

    Oh!! So it was driven by fake news.

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