Semi-OT: Coronavirus (COVID-19) Discussion Thread III (Info. Post 1)

[SichtingLives]

Testing is at the forefront of containment and we are unfortunately not equipped at all to be testing at the levels necessary and the hurdles to get there are immense and not going to get any easier. So all these numbers coming out aren't really anywhere near how many people are actually infected in real time, at least not in the US.

Just a little anedcdotal from RI. My wife contracted symptoms last week with dry cough and fever but really, not much more. Mind you she is a nurse for the VA (odds are where she got it as she was screening people coming in all last week), has a long history of respiratory illness ie. bronchitis and pneumonia and she still didn't qualify for testing. So after a week out, she (probably, I guess) doesn't have it and goes back to work next Monday without even getting an answer whether she is infected or not. This after her PCP and RI DoH played their typical "who me" game that we all know so well from American healthcare. We as a country are not remotely prepared for whats about to happen, from a health or economic front. Upside is us those of us who are moderately young and healthy with good immune systems will mostly be alright. It's everyone who isn't that is being put in the crosshairs.

Here's a good read

https://www.gq.com/story/inside-americas-coronavirus-testing-crisis?utm_source=pocket-newtab

[zonedefense]

Why did China use antibiotics to fight this though? You'd think they are smarter than pumping everyone full of antibiotics for a viral condition?

Cant find article now to share, but it was related to how China turned this around so quickly. It basically said they pumped people with antibiotics too. Which at the time I questioned, but didn't think to post

Probably trying to prevent a secondary infection. Not uncommon when it comes to pneunomia or immun suppressed patients.
In general I don´t think the current discussion over potential treatments is helpful. I am a physician myself but not an expert on respiratory diseases. Right now I don´t know enough about the virus and the potential complications to give out advise and I highly doubt that other people on this board do.
Nothing wrong with asking questions but promoting unproven medications isn´t helping. Most importantly try not to self medicate.

Would really appreciate it if we could keep the vitamin, zinc and antibiotics talk out of this thread. That obviously doesn´t include expert advise or announcements from federal or state agencies, the WHO or international institutions.

[XTC]

I had a close friend who recently got diagnosed with CoronaVirus.

We played basketball every Friday- Sunday. I haven't seen him in a couple weeks as he is self quarantining himself. I'm starting to feel symptoms, and the first one was a shortness of breath and I'm starting to get a dry throat.

I want to get medical attention, but the hospitals are so packed where I reside and the local health hotline is just busy until no end (waited 4 hours until I finally gave up).

All I can really so is self quarantine and just pray right now my body can fight this off, if in fact I am infected.

[azcatz11]

I had a close friend who recently got diagnosed with CoronaVirus.

We played basketball every Friday- Sunday. I haven't seen him in a couple weeks as he is self quarantining himself. I'm starting to feel symptoms, and the first one was a shortness of breath and I'm starting to get a dry throat.

I want to get medical attention, but the hospitals are so packed where I reside and the local health hotline is just busy until no end (waited 4 hours until I finally gave up).

All I can really so is self quarantine and just pray right now my body can fight this off, if in fact I am infected.

I had swine flu in 2009. I'm not saying it's the same thing but it was horrible and I couldn't move for a week. We didn't have this social media that we have now so I never knew what was the normal. Stay strong man

[OkcSinceSGA]

Read on Twitter

Sent from my LM-Q710(FGN) using RealGM mobile app

[bwgood77]

Read on Twitter

Up to 6362 cases and 108 deaths

I’m purely speculating, but would anybody be shocked if 1 million people were infected here?

Not at all. That would only be .3% of the population. Less than a third of 1%. It's probably more likely than not. That would mean 1 out of every 320 people you encounter is infected....and in fact, probably less, since those that have symptoms (at least severe ones) are probably at home, if not in the hospital.

[bwgood77]

Also please consider doing take out or delivery and supporting local restaurants instead of hording frozen chicken breast. I'll be doing that also and leaving a generous tip to my doordash driver.

This doordash driver is going to be standing next to a lot of people and probably coming into contact with a lot of people. Restaurant, house, restaurant, apartment, etc.

Much safer to go through drive thru if the company is practicing good sanitation which is probably pretty difficult in a restaurant. They should have gloves on (those clear plastic ones) and need to not sneeze or cough....but you have those same risks with delivery but have a driver who is around a lot of people, along with the restaurant staff around a lot of people.

Take a look at this https://www.theverge.com/2020/3/17/21183919/food-take-out-delivery-order-safe-restaurants-coronavirus

Drive thru is also a fantastic option as you said. DoorDash will also deliver food and leave it outside (take a picture) advising you when it's ready.

Yes, if they leave it outside, that's good. I'd probably open the packaging with a paper towel, or if more difficult, gloves, and then throw those in the washer. Or get ones you can discard, or wash a few times and discard, like these...

https://www.amazon.com/MedPride-Powder-Free-Nitrile-Gloves-Large/dp/B00GS8VGP6/ref=sr_1_1?crid=38R5XKKMAHNQB&keywords=latex+gloves&qid=1584508808&sprefix=latex%2Cstripbooks%2C185&sr=8-1

[Diop]

It’s ok Tom Hanks is fine now

[Knicks7Tape]

When I'm in quarantine you know I'm doin' somethin'

Watch on YouTube

[bwgood77]

my building's gym closed an hour ago. i ordered some dumbells and a bench instead of going to long island to stay with my boomer parents. im worried about getting them sick in case im carrying.

is that irrational, rational or just going with what everyone is saying i should do?

It's definitely not irrational to stay away from your parents, unless you want to risk giving them the virus....few people know if they have it or not and they are more at risk. It's also definitely not irrational to get a bench and dumbbells. I have one along with a stationary bike. I can ride the bike and watch netflix or whatever.

[jason bourne]

I had a close friend who recently got diagnosed with CoronaVirus.

We played basketball every Friday- Sunday. I haven't seen him in a couple weeks as he is self quarantining himself. I'm starting to feel symptoms, and the first one was a shortness of breath and I'm starting to get a dry throat.

I want to get medical attention, but the hospitals are so packed where I reside and the local health hotline is just busy until no end (waited 4 hours until I finally gave up).

All I can really so is self quarantine and just pray right now my body can fight this off, if in fact I am infected.

Sure self-quarantine (and wear a mask if you have one), but you can do more to help get better faster.

WebMD has:

"A coronavirus is a type of common virus that can infect your nose, sinuses, or upper throat. You treat a coronavirus infection the same way you treat a cold:

A humidifier or steamy shower can also help ease a sore and scratchy throat.

Get plenty of rest.
Drink fluids.
Take over-the-counter medicine for sore throat and fever (but don't give aspirin to children or teens younger than 19; use ibuprofen or acetaminophen instead)."

https://www.webmd.com/lung/qa/how-is-a-coronavirus-infection-treated

If you're in the danger age, then you have to contact somebody. I think what the medical people can do is test you to make sure you have it and then treat you if you are in the danger age or give you priority if symptoms get worse. I'm not sure about the last part.

[bwgood77]

I had a close friend who recently got diagnosed with CoronaVirus.

We played basketball every Friday- Sunday. I haven't seen him in a couple weeks as he is self quarantining himself. I'm starting to feel symptoms, and the first one was a shortness of breath and I'm starting to get a dry throat.

I want to get medical attention, but the hospitals are so packed where I reside and the local health hotline is just busy until no end (waited 4 hours until I finally gave up).

All I can really so is self quarantine and just pray right now my body can fight this off, if in fact I am infected.

Sucks to hear that. Hopefully it doesn't get too bad. I've been sick too and it was really bad in the chest for a couple of days over a a week ago. Like nothing I have ever felt before. I'm hoping I had/have it and am getting over it and am developing immunity.

[azcatz11]

I’d like to urge everyone to donate the $1k check they will be receiving if they don’t need it. I believe it’s for anyone who earns less than $1m a year. I think paying it forward if possible to the local restaurant / small biz of your choosing is the way to go

[Metallikid]

PLEASE WATCH THIS EVERYONE!!

Watch on YouTube

[KrisPol]

So many clickbait titles, spreading fear and panic, massive overwhelming hysteria which is going to cause problems in global economy which will in the end cause more deaths and difficulties than this coronavirus. So many people have already lost their job, and many many are going to. You can't just stop working for a couple of months and expect nothing to change. Viruses have always been the part of humanity. We were being scared by Sars, Swine Flu, Spanish Flu, all probably more dangerous than this coronavirus, and none of them brought this kind of panic.

I don't know if you people know that, I didn't know, but this isn't THE coronavirus, there are coronaviruses that have been discovered long ago. And as viruses mutate every year this is a new kind of one, covid 19.

I suggest watching this video:

Watch on YouTube

;feature=share&fbclid=IwAR31djjz70ecmw9bc0Av7Ih3vmcI3nsyenE5dhIl6aSfwCmbtdrj0Jt5eOA

To be clear, I am not saying just ignore everything and act like the virus doesn't exist. I think we should act more responsible, but we should've done that long ago. Wash your hands more often, avoid crowded places, protect older people and people with weaker immune systems and chronic diseases. The older people should be isolated, they have more chance getting sick and die, and they don't work. The rest, especially young people who are working and providing for their families, should, in my opinion, keep on working if we don't want a big economic crisis.

[yogimvp]

I've been taking 2000mg vitamin c and around 5000 iu vitamin d for about the last 15 years or so. i cant even remember the last time i had a "cold." the stuff works.

[Ayt]

PLEASE WATCH THIS EVERYONE!!

Watch on YouTube

I'm gonna go with no.

[DoubleLintendre]

My sister may have coronavirus. She's self-isolating: it's been 4 days. All the main symptoms are present: dry cough, headache, breathing heaviness, fatigue, elevated temperature. I had dinner with her the other day, may be a carrier myself. I had a noticable dry cough and some fatigue the other day-- none of the other symptoms.

Nursing staff are telling people not to pick up asthma meds as others may need it. My sister has asthma. Clear indication there's not enough medical supplies or ventilation equipment for everyone if (or when) cases spike in the US. I'm located in SF.

Please take warnings seriously, even if you believe the fear is inflated. You don't want to spread the disease to less heathy people. Thing is a wildfire and we're like walking trees.

P. S. We need f***king testing sites. People are unknowingly passing the virus to others while others are overboard paranoid about having it themselves

[Cowbulls]

So many clickbait titles, spreading fear and panic, massive overwhelming hysteria which is going to cause problems in global economy which will in the end cause more deaths and difficulties than this coronavirus. So many people have already lost their job, and many many are going to. You can't just stop working for a couple of months and expect nothing to change. Viruses have always been the part of humanity. We were being scared by Sars, Swine Flu, Spanish Flu, all probably more dangerous than this coronavirus, and none of them brought this kind of panic.

I don't know if you people know that, I didn't know, but this isn't THE coronavirus, there are coronaviruses that have been discovered long ago. And as viruses mutate every year this is a new kind of one, covid 19.

I suggest watching this video:

Watch on YouTube

;feature=share&fbclid=IwAR31djjz70ecmw9bc0Av7Ih3vmcI3nsyenE5dhIl6aSfwCmbtdrj0Jt5eOA

To be clear, I am not saying just ignore everything and act like the virus doesn't exist. I think we should act more responsible, but we should've done that long ago. Wash your hands more often, avoid crowded places, protect older people and people with weaker immune systems and chronic diseases. The older people should be isolated, they have more chance getting sick and die, and they don't work. The rest, especially young people who are working and providing for their families, should, in my opinion, keep on working if we don't want a big economic crisis.

It's truly sad because nobody will watch this video. You will now be sorted into a group everyone hates because you aren't being a sheep. Good luck. Don't change though. The world doesn't need another damn sheep.

[Pennebaker]

My sister may have coronavirus. She's self-isolating: it's been 4 days. All the main symptoms are present: dry cough, headache, breathing heaviness, fatigue, elevated temperature. I had dinner with her the other day, may be a carrier myself. I had a noticable dry cough and some fatigue the other day-- none of the other symptoms.

Nursing staff are telling people not to pick up asthma meds as others may need it. My sister has asthma. Clear indication there's not enough medical supplies or ventilation equipment for everyone if (or when) cases spike in the US. I'm located in SF.

Please take warnings seriously, even if you believe the fear is inflated. You don't want to spread the disease to less heathy people. Thing is a wildfire and we're like walking trees.

P. S. We need f***king testing sites. People are unknowingly passing the virus to others while others are overboard paranoid about having it themselves

She could also have the flu. Did she get a flu shot this year?