Mostly Apolitical Thread for Discussing/Venting our Rational/Irrational COVID-19 Fears and Experiences in 2020

like there are literally people I know who believe that the virus is dying, wicked witch style, out in the heat rn

yeah I am avoiding my parents until i know for sure i don't have it xpost

xpost Also: "I bet we've all already had it, remember that cold that was going around two months ago?"

My roommate has a key to his friend's gym, and is there right now. It's closed, but I'm sure he's not the only person using it. He's also planning to go through with a weekend getaway with friends this weekend. My parents are having a friend over for dinner. I am going to murder everyone.

so what's the opinion about being around someone that you've already been around a ton in recent weeks if neither person is spending any other time with anybody else in the outside world?

I would think that would be fine; if you're both self-isolating then it would basically be like hanging out with members of your household.

i'm i allowed to see two of my friends today?

*am i

with a periscope, sure

This is minor compared to lots of issues people are dealing with, but my dentist has just closed their office until further notice, and I had an appointment to get some fillings and a crown replaced. Hopefully my (lousy) teeth will be able to hold it together until they reopen.

we are not going anywhere (except partner) to get food if needed) until it seems that it's declining. Totally prepared for it to be months. Luckily we have a terrace so I can sit outside. I would be horrified if I accidentally gave a bunch of people bedbugs, so you know...passing on covid would be worse.

Luckily we have a terrace so I can sit outside.

Yeah, SF isn't in true lockdown mode or anything but, if it ever came to it, we have a small backyard and we'll make full use of it.

with a periscope, sure

argh but these are cute friends

My mum was asking me the other day if she should go on her planeflight with dad to Sydney in a few weeks, dad is 75 and has a bad hip and possible parkinsons and I'm like wtf of course you shouldnt. Even more so cos mum's father who will be 101 next week is in hospital with a broken hip, I'm quite worried for him. I dont even know if mums allowed to visit him anymore, I should ask her.

There are now 2 confirmed cases in my home province (pop. 120k), and my parents are still just like... ignoring everything I’m telling them. I’m trying to figure out somewhere else for my sister to self quarantine bc I don’t trust them not to infect her. I feel like this situation epitomizes who they are as parents and people pretty well.

one of my co-workers shared this on Monday, and it took every bit of restraint for me not to break workplace decorum and go "lol what?"

https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/craigsilverman/coronavirus-drink-water-advice-debunk

I left the house for the first time in 2 days to get some booze and cat food. Felt amazing to get out the apartment. Will probably go into my office on friday to do some stuff that I cant do from home but there'll be only one or two other people around and I will be walking there so I feel fine about it

we went for a walk this evening & then got some to-go coffee nearby, mr veg was starting to get cabin fever

My (Hong Kong Born) Medical microbiologist friend called me up to ask about meat delivery services and we had a good chat. He's been on me about prepping for lockdown since Wuhan locked down and he had a few things to say (much of which has been echoed elsewhere)

If you have windows opening onto a poorly ventilated space (like a light well) keep them shut, especially if bathroom vents or windows open onto the space. Fecal transmission was a factor in similar conditions in Hong Kong during SARS and he's worried about this. Also close the lid on your toilet when flushing.

He was busy converting his lab to do Covid-19 tests, the best is straightforward for them butt the biosecurity to be able to it safely is no joke and they are getting through this. Some testing capacity issues are abut having enough labs with appropriate controls.

Separately had a long chaat with a Swiss friend who lives in Hiroshima. She's freaking out by how Japan is dealing (not dealing with this). She has a friend who was staying with one of the few people to get tested and yes positive. Friend had to travel back 300km on public transport to her home prefecture to get tested. Lot's of people in Japan still at thee 'it's just the flu' stage of things. (I promised to buy us front row tickets to the 100m finals at the Olympics, when they absolutely, definitely happen and we had a doleful laugh about that).

XPs but if you are acting like you 'assume you've got it' you and your household should be staying put and not going out even for food or meds or solo walks. everyone can't behave like that, especially not indefinitely.
People are already confused about the difference between social distancing and isolation - I'd rather not add to the confusion.

i still havent seen the advice that says nobody can leave their house tbh

minimise contact, wash yr hands, maintain distance

its a big outdoors out there!

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

If you have symptoms you stay in

ok fair

i think that the "assume youve got it" advice isnt meant to be treated maybe exactly the same as "you have symptoms"!

I'm more than happy to keep 2 meters or whatever it is away from any member of the public even in normal life tbf

they keep coming up to me though, need to practise my scowl/ fake cough

Keeping 2 metres away from anyone else, that's really going to work in the most densely populated borough in the United Kingdom.

it will work tho

it just might be difficult to manage

Finally a use for stiltwalkers.

Assume you’ve got it means maintain distance from other people, avoid crowded areas, try to not put your hands in contact with too many things (though I have been shouldering doors and hopping things with the back of my hand forever), wear a mask if you have a cough. It means you can go out but you have to do everything you can to minimise spread.

Right, yeah, London, the population is the most dense in both senses the word ime.

Yeah, I’ve lived in London, Tom? And worked there for a while. I was responding to add to what deems said.

So was I.

The population density of Islington is 13,871/km2. The population density of my arrondissement of Paris is 32,000/km2. Yet the streets are empty here. This’ll happen in London soon enough.

Yes but you're not factoring in that London is the moron capital of Europe.

can one spread the virus by just throwing one's hands up into the air or shrugging i wonder

The French have problems if it can be spread by shrugging tbf.

bof is my toddler's word for cough
LE CONSPIRACIE

:D I love that word, I use it all the time

To all of you who have stubborn parents / friends going out and ignoring the warnings: where the hell are they going?. Serious question! I'm doing OK so far (I'm a hermit, anyway) but one of the things that makes this social distancing much easier is the fact that almost all of the places I'd normally go on an average day--work, restaurants, bars, record stores, library, dispensary, book stores, plant shop, gym--are closed. Isn't it the same almost everywhere? At this point imo anyone going out and acting like everything is normal is doing so to make a statement about freedom or some dumb shit. The only places I'm going are the drug store for meds (good till next month), the grocery store when I'm out of food (probably a week or two), and the post office to mail the Discogs orders that, thankfully, keep coming in. And I'm opening doors with my sleeve and avoiding human contact wherever possible.

5 Days on Lock Down in your own house..... And MFs claim they can Do Time... yeah right.

— ICE T (@FINALLEVEL) March 18, 2020

You aren't going to catch it or spread it by just walking within two feet of someone on the way to buy food, surely?

The only other place I can see myself wanting to go in the next few weeks is the park and that seems low risk as long as you avoid metal gates etc.

Irrational but I would prefer it if people didn't run / jog on narrow pavements, especially when there's a park and actual running track very nearby with a lot more space. But generally I wish some people would have more than no consideration for personal space.

I haven't been to the shops in days, will need milk tomorrow. I've got some disposable paper face-masks but am thinking of putting my old work-ppe double filter respirator on just for the lols, although it might be asking for a happy slapping with all these little scamps off school now!

#BeKind etc.

https://www.brightonandhovenews.org/2020/03/17/tesco-removes-food-bank-trolley-after-its-raided-by-panic-buyers

The only masks we’ve got are the respirator I bought for my wife during the bushfires or a Keffiyah, the later being the best I can probably do and recommended by my GP as better than nothing when I did a phone consult about my sore throat the other day.

My order for masks got cancelled in favour of sending them to someone who actually needed them which is fair enough.

I went to the Heath on a wild garlic mission very early this morning. All people out keeping a respectable distance, including not fussing other people’s dogs. Then a quick stop at Camden Sainsbury’s which was carnage (but with good stocks of veg, bread and milk). From what I gather, eggs are particularly hard to find atm so if you are affected by the concerns raised in this episode, I recommend shopping at local farmer’s markets - they are staying open as an essential service. Locations and traders here:

https://www.lfm.org.uk/what-can-i-buy/

Local farm shop has lots of eggs luckily. Also lots of loaves of bread, in no packaging, sitting open on the shelf next to where people queue, cough, sneeze etc. Avoided those...

If anyone is bored, on the ILX Sewing thread lily dale was working on a homemade face mask pattern she found. I haven't tried to make one yet (spent the day looking for a sports mask with activated charcoal filters that I suddenly remembered I had, and also found another 3m mask!). There was the nyt column she posted about how even homemade masks are better than nothing.

im going with I don't need a mask if im not sick

i guess it's the you won't know if you are sick and keeps you from touching your face and is a visual reminder to people to keep a distance.

I was trying to ride this out in a (basically desolate) beach town, but circumstances have worked out in such a way that I am staying in an apartment in Manhattan with my partner. Really hate being here