Coronavirus prep

slimgirljo15 wrote: »

ythannah wrote: »

ExistingFish wrote: »

Coughs do so much for our bodies, and there are so many reasons to cough. I hate that coughs have been stigmatized.

I've noticed at work that we all, myself included, explain our coughs now. Before we just coughed but now it's "something went down the wrong way", "just my allergies again", "tickle in my throat".

I've never been so afraid to cough, ya get the stink eye from everyone😬

Yeah, a friend and I were just talking about this, after I swallowed water the wrong way on a call and had to cough. I know from being a long-time symphony-goer that trying not to cough can make it worse too.

jenilla1 wrote: »

autumnblade75 wrote: »

I am not prepared, now, for the new work guidelines.

As of today, we are required to do a Prework Health Check. Well, I woke up with a headache, so the system told me to stay home and I can't come back until I'm cleared by my health care provider. So I called Teladoc. Who are not authorized (nobody is) to clear me for Covid. Over a headache. No fever, no cough, no nothing, but a headache.

Of course, calling the Teladoc managed to trigger an anxiety attack. So that was lovely.

I'm not sure how to resolve this.

I'm locked out of performing the next Prework Health Check until I contact a manager. I have no idea who is actually a manager, vs a supervisor, and I definitely don't have any contact information. I texted my supervisor, but like he already told me, all he got was the same flyer they handed me at the door.

I guess I just walk in with the Teladoc diagnosis of "headache" printed out as proof that I sought care, and hope for the best. Super system we got here, keeping everyone safe. I half hope they fire me. Maybe I should try harder.

This kind of system encourages people to lie. It's like at my husband's work. The first day they implemented screening like this, he was asked, "have you come in contact with a covid positive person?" He answered, "I don't know. I don't think so. How would I know that?" The employee screening him sent him home and told him he was supposed to say "no" definitively. Sent the next guy home because of his allergies. Asked if he had a cough. The guy said he just had the usual allergy cough he had every morning of his life. Nothing new or any other symptoms. He got sent home. Half the staff was sent home that first day. Managers had to call everybody back in and "coach" them how to respond to the screening questions. Everybody basically learned to lie after that. The coworker with the frequent migraines straight up lies to the screener's face multiple times per week. If this becomes a habit, actual sick people might start lying. Maybe they need more than just strict yes/no questions as your ticket into work.

Right now, I'm waiting out the clock. I have followed the next steps, as outlined by the app. My manager is now required to reset the app so I can pre-screen for work. I am allowed/required to do this "no later than one hour before scheduled start time" which is 2:40am today. The app is not yet reset, and I don't expect them to reset it. I have already started looking for a new job. This is a stupid game that brings me no joy, and I don't know why I'm playing it.

jenilla1 wrote: »

autumnblade75 wrote: »

I am not prepared, now, for the new work guidelines.

As of today, we are required to do a Prework Health Check. Well, I woke up with a headache, so the system told me to stay home and I can't come back until I'm cleared by my health care provider. So I called Teladoc. Who are not authorized (nobody is) to clear me for Covid. Over a headache. No fever, no cough, no nothing, but a headache.

Of course, calling the Teladoc managed to trigger an anxiety attack. So that was lovely.

I'm not sure how to resolve this.

I'm locked out of performing the next Prework Health Check until I contact a manager. I have no idea who is actually a manager, vs a supervisor, and I definitely don't have any contact information. I texted my supervisor, but like he already told me, all he got was the same flyer they handed me at the door.

I guess I just walk in with the Teladoc diagnosis of "headache" printed out as proof that I sought care, and hope for the best. Super system we got here, keeping everyone safe. I half hope they fire me. Maybe I should try harder.

This kind of system encourages people to lie. It's like at my husband's work. The first day they implemented screening like this, he was asked, "have you come in contact with a covid positive person?" He answered, "I don't know. I don't think so. How would I know that?" The employee screening him sent him home and told him he was supposed to say "no" definitively. Sent the next guy home because of his allergies. Asked if he had a cough. The guy said he just had the usual allergy cough he had every morning of his life. Nothing new or any other symptoms. He got sent home. Half the staff was sent home that first day. Managers had to call everybody back in and "coach" them how to respond to the screening questions. Everybody basically learned to lie after that. The coworker with the frequent migraines straight up lies to the screener's face multiple times per week. If this becomes a habit, actual sick people might start lying. Maybe they need more than just strict yes/no questions as your ticket into work.

What would really help is an abundance of rapid-result tests and robust contact tracing, rather than relying on self-assessment of symptoms that, even in the best case scenario of expert self-assessment and utter honesty, will only catch cases after you've been at the height of virus-shedding for a day or two, because unlike the flu, individuals infected with COVID-19 are most infectious before they are symptomatic.

This whole divisive thing between polarized politics is just interfering with progress and, quite literally, killing people.

The whole recent thing about the "Frontline Docs" was both terrifying and hysterical at the same time. Add to it, you have a Yale Epidemiologist saying that Z-Pak, Hydroxychloroquine and Zinc (all together) are the answer to saving lives. Mind you, not a cure, but an effective therapy to keep the virus from spreading. I'm not a scientist, so if something I say is inaccurate, I apologize in advance. But what the Yale doc is saying is that Hydroxychloroquine is a zinc ionophore -- which means, in very simple terms, that the hydroxychloroquine simply opens up the cells enough where zinc can pass through the cellular membrane. So it's not really the hydroxychloroquine, it's the zinc that's the real secret sauce. Well, between all this "I was right...", "he wasn't right" and "you don't need to wear a mask" crazy talk, very few are talking about other, safer (by nature) zinc ionophores. Namely, ECGC (green tea extract) and Quercetin (a flavonoid). So hypothetically, if Hydroxychloroquine and Zinc works to stop the virus, so should Quercetin and Zinc, without the very dangerous side affects that Hydroxychloroquine has.

There is actually a study going on in Saudi Arabia looking at Quercetin, Vitamin D, Vitamin C and Zinc.

All of this going on with two countries (Brazil and the US) where their leaders are touting Hydroxychloroquine and these two countries lead the world in deaths.

What really chaps my rear is that Fauci and his family are getting death threats because, allegedly, he's withholding the "cure" from people. The Brazilian study on Hydroxychloroquine -- another country where their leader is very high on it, BTW -- was halted due to heart attacks, permanent heart changes, kidney and retina damage that is permanent. But things like this are inconvenient facts to those pushing conspiracy theory agendas.

Furthermore, the entire theory that is being pushed relies on early testing and results within days. We can't even get testing right as a country. Another irony is that these scientists are looking at polyphenols/flavonoids now as a possible solution/treatment. Wow, that's a novel idea! NOT. The Chinese have many studies on this that are now four and six months old. Some Chinese herbs were found to be around 90% effective as well. They were also powerful polyphenols known to be Zinc Ionophores. Wonder how all the conspiracy theorists (the ones I know also are VERY vocal with their Chinese racism) would react when they knew that most of what they are touting had the ideas originate in Far Eastern ancient medicine??

Just observations. I feel like Chief at times from "One Flew over the Cuckoos Nest", watching all the crazy people around me trying not to say anything, being one of the few sane people. Folks are completely off the flippin' rails right now.

ExistingFish wrote: »

baconslave wrote: »

janejellyroll wrote: »

kimny72 wrote: »

jseams1234 wrote: »

So, I don't get it... the CDC is right when it aligns with what people want to believe, but they are horribly misinformed when it goes against? ... or are we saying that we can't trust the CDC because their guidance is politically motivated?

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/reopening-schools.html

COVID-19 and Children

The best available evidence indicates that COVID-19 poses relatively low risks to school-aged children. Children appear to be at lower risk for contracting COVID-19 compared to adults. To put this in perspective, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as of July 17, 2020, the United States reported that children and adolescents under 18 years old account for under 7 percent of COVID-19 cases and less than 0.1 percent of COVID-19-related deaths.[5] Although relatively rare, flu-related deaths in children occur every year. From 2004-2005 to 2018-2019, flu-related deaths in children reported to CDC during regular flu seasons ranged from 37 to 187 deaths. During the H1N1pandemic (April 15, 2009 to October 2, 2010), 358 pediatric deaths were reported to CDC. So far in this pandemic, deaths of children are less than in each of the last five flu seasons, with only 64.† Additionally, some children with certain underlying medical conditions, however, are at increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19.*

Scientific studies suggest that COVID-19 transmission among children in schools may be low. International studies that have assessed how readily COVID-19 spreads in schools also reveal low rates of transmission when community transmission is low. Based on current data, the rate of infection among younger school children, and from students to teachers, has been low, especially if proper precautions are followed. There have also been few reports of children being the primary source of COVID-19 transmission among family members.[6],[7],[8] This is consistent with data from both virus and antibody testing, suggesting that children are not the primary drivers of COVID-19 spread in schools or in the community.[9],[10],[11] No studies are conclusive, but the available evidence provides reason to believe that in-person schooling is in the best interest of students, particularly in the context of appropriate mitigation measures similar to those implemented at essential workplaces.

Unfortunately there is no way (for me at least) to explain how I translate CDC info and how that has changed over time without getting political.

However I will give a couple of points.

1. This blurb discussed fatalities, but not long term health issues. In countries doing a much better job of tracing cases, evidence is starting to emerge that folks with mild cases can sometimes unexpectedly show evidence of serious damage, like lung scarring and reduced kidney function even if their mild symptoms didn't even hint at the damage. It is simply too early to tell whether this kind of silent damage is possible in minors as well.

2. It's kind of hard to gloss over this really important qualifier in the 2nd paragraph of the CDC statement: "when community transmission is low". Other countries' data may very well show low numbers because they had already largely controlled community transmission. This is objectively not the case in the US.

Yes, it would be foolish to ignore that in many of the areas where school re-opening is being encouraged, community transmission isn't low. Children would be going back in the context of medium or even high community transmission.

We are all in the Red. While a couple school systems are starting out of the gate online only, many are still insisting they are doing hybrid or even full. The problem with just going online here is low-income families. We also have pretty high poverty in this area, with lots of the folks essential workers that don't get paid well or time off or can't work from home and don't have anyone to watch their children. In addition, many either cannot afford internet or a computer, or there is literally no internet run to their neck of the woods or mtn. Schools locally are scrambling to order enough Chromebooks to give to students in those counties who are doing online or hybrid, but with schools across the nation all doing so, there aren't enough available now. They are asking students who actually already have a computer to not take a laptop to save it for someone who doesn't have one at all. And there's still the internet issue. Our schools need to establish a wi-fi hotspot in school parking lots. One local county has done so. But my county hasn't. I get the feeling that my county has spent all summer believing that this is a hoax and nothing would change and are now running around like chickens with their heads cut off.

The Governor is signing an executive order so we have contact sports. Football and soccer. Regular season.
So to recap, all surrounding counties except one are well in the Red for community transmission but some are actually still doing full or hybrid. And they've got their football, a full contact sport. In a section of the state that half doesn't believe in COVID and half just thinks it's the flu so everywhere else than Walmart they won't wear masks, and even there their noses are all hanging out, if they even agree to wear one at all.
This will go so well./s
Tennessee...winning.

I'm in Arkansas. Our Governor just announced yesterday a $10M grant (from one of the Covid relief packages, Govorner's discretion spending of some kind) to issue point of use Wifi spots across the states. It's mobile hotspot type devices, no data caps, available to students who do not have access to the internet. They will be good for 2 years. The providers (I believe, Verizon, T-moble, and AT&T, but I just saw the slide) have also agreed to sell more than the $10m to the schools at the same agreed-upon price if they need more out of their budgets.

I hope this helps with the internet access situation in our state. Maybe other states will follow suit, or find some other way that works for them to solve this issue for students.

Our schools really need this. But they don't care about the rural folk here, other than to gather their votes. Instead of getting laptops for students and doing wifi hot spots at schools, they've decided to print out paperwork packets for the rural kids affected. That's what they tried to do in March and blew up their copier. It was a mess. This county's county schools are about the worst in the state I'm pretty sure, that's why hubby and I decided to homeschool. Some of these kids are going to be even more behind. Can I blame the County School Board? There's no leadership here apparently. I bet there is funding, but did our Governor tell them that? Nope. What garbage! Governor Lee, come on!

SuzySunshine99 wrote: »

corinasue1143 wrote: »

Is anyone else as tired of hearing “in these uncertain times”, “in these trying times”, etc. as I am. When was life ever certain? My life is more certain now than it ever has been. I am more in control of my own fate than I ever have been. Divorced, kids grown, parents and siblings deceased, retired. Things are written in stone more than ever before in my life. I am certain. Trying times? Let me tell you about trying times! No, you don’t really want to know. But trust me, these aren’t trying times. I’ve seen trying times, and I know some of you have, too.
Rant over. Deep breaths. It’s all good.

While I am quite sick of hearing these phrases that have become advertising buzzwords...

Many people are not as lucky as you are to have such certainty and control right now. My husband is out of work, I'm in danger of being furloughed, and unemployment benefits were just slashed. I have no idea when we'll be able to go back to work. My father is in cancer treatment, and I'm worried about everyone I know who is in a high-risk category.

So, yeah, I'm sorry, but for many/most people these are "trying times".

Well said. We just had one of the worst economic quarters in US history. Those people who haven't been impacted or don't know anyone impacted are in the MINORITY right now. My mom is facing risk every day in her hospital job. My brother has no idea when he'll be able to resume his career. Multiple industries are facing decimation. In my previously thriving neighborhood, businesses have been closing their doors for good and others are hustling just to stay afloat.

If these aren't trying times for someone, that's great! It's not like I WANT people to suffer. But for many people, this is a big deal even before we factor in the thousands and thousands of dead people.

I was heartened when I ran to the store this a.m., needing a few things we're out of. A sign on their door read something to the affect that if you're not wearing a mask, you cannot enter the store. THAT made me happy. But then I go in and there are still 5 out of maybe 25 people NOT wearing a mask. WTH? Back up your signage and make them go home to get their mask or have disposables on hand to offer them! Otherwise, you lose all sense of credibility. And why bother posting a sign at all??
My sister and I went to a book store yesterday that posted a sign on their door, 'Please wear a mask covering nose and mouth at all times'. My sister had a mask and we'd just entered but she forgot to pull it up. The worker came right over and politely asked her to cover her nose; my sister apologized and the lady was very polite.
What a difference in how store policies are being handled.

ReenieHJ wrote: »

I was heartened when I ran to the store this a.m., needing a few things we're out of. A sign on their door read something to the affect that if you're not wearing a mask, you cannot enter the store. THAT made me happy. But then I go in and there are still 5 out of maybe 25 people NOT wearing a mask. WTH? Back up your signage and make them go home to get their mask or have disposables on hand to offer them! Otherwise, you lose all sense of credibility. And why bother posting a sign at all??
My sister and I went to a book store yesterday that posted a sign on their door, 'Please wear a mask covering nose and mouth at all times'. My sister had a mask and we'd just entered but she forgot to pull it up. The worker came right over and politely asked her to cover her nose; my sister apologized and the lady was very polite.
What a difference in how store policies are being handled.

Given that there have been multiple reports of people being assaulted or even killed for trying to enforce mask policies, I don't at all blame store employees for not saying something. What do we expect them to do if someone says "no"? What do we expect them to do if the person hits them or brandishes a weapon or makes a false claim about the ADA exempting them? This is expecting too much of retail employees.

One of my relatives has the 'Rona. Running 103 degree temps for over 10 days now. They traveled all over the country exposing all of the relatives as they tooled along before and after the 4th. Choosing to forgive is tough business. I flew over the cuckoo's nest before they arrived and went into hiding. There are no more words now.

Diatonic12 wrote: »

@MikePfirrman Chief was a beautiful man.

Wow, a hug! This feels x-rated.

ReenieHJ wrote: »

I was heartened when I ran to the store this a.m., needing a few things we're out of. A sign on their door read something to the affect that if you're not wearing a mask, you cannot enter the store. THAT made me happy. But then I go in and there are still 5 out of maybe 25 people NOT wearing a mask. WTH? Back up your signage and make them go home to get their mask or have disposables on hand to offer them! Otherwise, you lose all sense of credibility. And why bother posting a sign at all??
My sister and I went to a book store yesterday that posted a sign on their door, 'Please wear a mask covering nose and mouth at all times'. My sister had a mask and we'd just entered but she forgot to pull it up. The worker came right over and politely asked her to cover her nose; my sister apologized and the lady was very polite.
What a difference in how store policies are being handled.

Others have mentioned the shooting/stabbing (which happened around here).

I suspect that in addition to differences in store policy or employee assertiveness, there may be differences in the nature of the average shopper in particular kinds of stores, that comes into play. Obviously, any kind of person may go anywhere, but there's a reason bars frequently have bouncers, and bookstores rarely do.

Grocery stores get everyone in them, though different chains may appeal to different sub-markets. Bookstores, though there's variation of course, may on average have a narrower range of probable habitues.

ahoy_m8 wrote: »

busyPK wrote: »

ReenieHJ wrote: »

janejellyroll wrote: »

Theoldguy1 wrote: »

My large multinational corporation just said we are delaying our planned start of return to the office from 9/1 to no earlier than 10/1.

My large corporation told us not to expect anything earlier than January.

When I read things like this, I wonder how we can even think about sending 'our' children back to schools in good conscience. Am I the only one who feels that's incredibly hypocritical??

Grown-ups working from home is relatively easy for a lot of positions (depends on the job duties and technology), but children home for virtual learning is totally different. They will need supervision, assistance with technology, etc.. If the government wants to help working parents by job protection / some wage protection then I'm all for virtual learning, but right now that is not the case.

While I agree with ReenieH's sentiment that there are lots of factors suggesting in person school is a bad idea in some areas, I do not necessarily think it's hypocritical for businesses to keep workers remote if they are able. There is a principle that people who can stay home doing so lowers the risk for those who cannot, making the community safer for everyone. This logic suggests that companies extending remote work makes it safer (maybe even makes it possible) to open school in person. While I'm constantly disheartened about how low a priority "common good" seems to be for individuals, companies & even policy makers in the US, there is a legitimate common good angle to keeping workers remote.

There is, of course, a self interested angle. The following are expensive: workers getting sick or dying, their dependents getting sick or dying, and even just the administrative shuffle of flip-flopping work protocols in different places at different times (and ensuing confusion). Schools opening and re-closing (which you know will happen in some places) is going to take a toll on worker productivity, too. Having a predictable plan for keeping workers working (even sub-optimally) is less costly than constant churn and chaos. This way if areas get slapped with successive shelter in place orders, companies are prepared with minimal impact. It's a decent business continuity plan.

I'm not sure why my company doesn't let some of us keep WFH. I've proven most of my job can be done from home. Employees in the factory wouldn't be able to WFH, but I could get all my on-site stuff done in 1/2 day per week and stay home the rest of the time... why not?!

Anyway, we have some production shut down due to absenteeism from employees who got infected. I feel like sending office employees like me home could maybe help a little bit to prevent spread and with no down-side for the company. We proved we could WFH for a almost 3 months already. Now that production is running, I have some on-site work, but not enough to come in every day.

ahoy_m8 wrote: »

busyPK wrote: »

ReenieHJ wrote: »

janejellyroll wrote: »

Theoldguy1 wrote: »

My large multinational corporation just said we are delaying our planned start of return to the office from 9/1 to no earlier than 10/1.

My large corporation told us not to expect anything earlier than January.

When I read things like this, I wonder how we can even think about sending 'our' children back to schools in good conscience. Am I the only one who feels that's incredibly hypocritical??

Grown-ups working from home is relatively easy for a lot of positions (depends on the job duties and technology), but children home for virtual learning is totally different. They will need supervision, assistance with technology, etc.. If the government wants to help working parents by job protection / some wage protection then I'm all for virtual learning, but right now that is not the case.

While I agree with ReenieH's sentiment that there are lots of factors suggesting in person school is a bad idea in some areas, I do not necessarily think it's hypocritical for businesses to keep workers remote if they are able. There is a principle that people who can stay home doing so lowers the risk for those who cannot, making the community safer for everyone. This logic suggests that companies extending remote work makes it safer (maybe even makes it possible) to open school in person. While I'm constantly disheartened about how low a priority "common good" seems to be for individuals, companies & even policy makers in the US, there is a legitimate common good angle to keeping workers remote.

There is, of course, a self interested angle. The following are expensive: workers getting sick or dying, their dependents getting sick or dying, and even just the administrative shuffle of flip-flopping work protocols in different places at different times (and ensuing confusion). Schools opening and re-closing (which you know will happen in some places) is going to take a toll on worker productivity, too. Having a predictable plan for keeping workers working (even sub-optimally) is less costly than constant churn and chaos. This way if areas get slapped with successive shelter in place orders, companies are prepared with minimal impact. It's a decent business continuity plan.

Yep. When I was working in a grocery store, the safety training was very clear about the rule that we were never allowed to go after shoplifters, we always had to call the police or security company instead. This was to avoid violence or accidents related to an uncontrolled/heated situation. The main reason stated for this was that one sick leave day costs about 400€ for the store chain, and it’s not physically possible for a shoplifter to carry that much value out of the store. This was in 2011/2012 so inflation has done it’s part to raise the cost, and most office jobs probably pay higher salaries than grocery stores -> higher costs from sick leaves.

In the company I work for, a single person can bring in about 1000€ revenue per day. There’s about 25 people in our company, and one person could easily infect half of those people if everyone was at the office and we were in a bad luck. So, with 12 people out sick, it would be 12k lost revenue per day, and covid can easily last for weeks. Not to mention the long-term consequences of bad will from customers due to missed deadlines or project staff changing unexpectedly, the non-infected staff getting probably overworked and exhausted due to trying to cover for everyone, leading to bad quality of work and/or burnouts, and the long-term financial consequences of not being able to invest in anything, including recruitment, or in worse cases having to cut costs and possibly even lay people off.

Yes, this spring was difficult for many of my colleagues, especially those who have small kids at home and had to juggle work that requires intensive focusing with taking care of kids, supervising their schooling, cooking lunch etc. Still, nobody in our company got infected, sick days were on average level, and everyone’s family is safe.

I’ve been on vacation for the past couple of weeks, but reading this just made me realize I have to decide and write our next installment of covid policy as the previous one is in effect until mid-August. Luckily it’s a small company and we’re able to move quickly, but I still wish I had a crystal ball that showed the future and if/when the second wave will hit our corner of the world. It’s a small company and I’m in no way a health&safety specialist, it just happens to fall within my overly wide job description. I still feel like I’m just making *kitten* up while trying to remain as clear and rational as possible while scrambling to keep everyone safe. Fun times making these kinds of decisions.

Diatonic12 wrote: »

One of my relatives has the 'Rona. Running 103 degree temps for over 10 days now. They traveled all over the country exposing all of the relatives as they tooled along before and after the 4th. Choosing to forgive is tough business. I flew over the cuckoo's nest before they arrived and went into hiding. There are no more words now.

From my point of view you did the right thing regardless of what happened, happens. I'm doing the same and I'm going to keep staying as far away from this little SarsCov2 germ that I can. I want to live.