The Virus - Are You Affected?

[DrZoidberg]

https://10daily.com.au/news/world/a...ronx-zoo-tests-positive-for-covid-19-20200406

Not quite the thread for it, but spreading.
Did we know previously the virus could do this?

viruses going from one species to another isn't unheard of. That's how the Coronavirus went from bats to pangolins to humans. I listen to the TWIV podcast (this week in virology). And they were talking about a likely future for the Covid-19 strain. They said that it'll infect about 70% of all humans then almost completely die out. But before dying out it'll likely go from humans into another species. That species will then be a vector (an animal that carries a disease) which will reintroduce the Covid-19 disease to humanity every generation.

They said this right at the start of it. It's normally how it works for new viruses in the human population. Which animals that we infect, is a bit random. But tigers are a mammal. So why not?

The answer to the question is, yes, we knew. It's normal

 

[DrZoidberg]

The guy in my office, first (presumptive) case of C-19 in the county, got better and was discharged!
Then was re-admitted...
Then discharged again!
A fucking roller-coaster ride with this guy... Today's his birthday so the card they whipped 'round was electronic. With a gif of flowers.

Tests for Covid-19 aren't great. That's all that means. Aparently they're hard to administer on people with mild symptoms. A lot of unqualified personel are now doing tests and it's not going great.

 

[Politesse]

https://10daily.com.au/news/world/a...ronx-zoo-tests-positive-for-covid-19-20200406

Not quite the thread for it, but spreading.
Did we know previously the virus could do this?

viruses going from one species to another isn't unheard of. That's how the Coronavirus went from bats to pangolins to humans. I listen to the TWIV podcast (this week in virology). And they were talking about a likely future for the Covid-19 strain. They said that it'll infect about 70% of all humans then almost completely die out. But before dying out it'll likely go from humans into another species. That species will then be a vector (an animal that carries a disease) which will reintroduce the Covid-19 disease to humanity every generation.

They said this right at the start of it. It's normally how it works for new viruses in the human population. Which animals that we infect, is a bit random. But tigers are a mammal. So why not?

The answer to the question is, yes, we knew. It's normal

Not only is it possible, but overwhelmingly likely. When in their original reservoir, diseases are seldom fatal to their host, there is no evolutionary advantage in murdering your own habitat. But a disease which is well adapted to one organism may be fatal to another, and this may well even be beneficial to the orginal population of the organism given that the next in line for transmission is apt to be one of its predators. Most of the worst plagues humans have experiences have been zoonotic, and most came from our livestock or other animals tied to us by economic necessity.

 

[The Colourful Jester]

Got it. Knew they could go between species, just couldn't recall if it was said the same about this one.

 

[Worldtraveller]

My daughter, high school senior, had a bit of a freakout this evening. She's mad at the virus, mad at social distancing, mad at no school, mad that it is messing up her last few months at high school, mad that graduation probably won't happen.

She freaked for a while outside in the yard and then came in and went to bed.

Tell her this is history in the making and she will have stories to tell her grandchildren.

Yeah, my version of this was a 58 mile ride in the velomobile yesterday. :/

 

[southernhybrid]

Does my county have an epidemic?

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/04/03/us/coronavirus-county-epidemics.html?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtype=Homepage

As the coronavirus spreads silently through American cities and towns, people are struggling with questions about the benefits of social-distancing guidelines — especially in places that still have few reported cases.

Is the epidemic here yet? Is staying home and limiting contact with others really worth the trouble?

A new study by disease modelers at the University of Texas at Austin gives an answer: Even counties with just a single reported case have more than 50 percent likelihood that a sustained, undetected outbreak — an epidemic — is already taking place.

The link has a map of the US that included all counties. You can click on your county and see the chances of an epidemic developing in your area. My country currently has a 98% chance of developing an epidemic. I think there are something like 25 confirmed cases in my county. During the pandemic, the NYTimes has made any article related to COVID-19 free to non subscribers so anyone interested can check out the map.

 

[crazyfingers]

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/04/03/us/coronavirus-county-epidemics.html?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtype=Homepage

As the coronavirus spreads silently through American cities and towns, people are struggling with questions about the benefits of social-distancing guidelines — especially in places that still have few reported cases.

Is the epidemic here yet? Is staying home and limiting contact with others really worth the trouble?

A new study by disease modelers at the University of Texas at Austin gives an answer: Even counties with just a single reported case have more than 50 percent likelihood that a sustained, undetected outbreak — an epidemic — is already taking place.

The link has a map of the US that included all counties. You can click on your county and see the chances of an epidemic developing in your area. My country currently has a 98% chance of developing an epidemic. I think there are something like 25 confirmed cases in my county. During the pandemic, the NYTimes has made any article related to COVID-19 free to non subscribers so anyone interested can check out the map.

Blame the lack of widespread testing for the low reported numbers in some places. And people who still don't get that this is a stealth decease with many people infecting others while having no idea they are carriers.

By the way, WoPo has also made their C19 coverage free.

Even tiny newspapers like the Bangor (Maine) Daily News are making C19 reporting free.

 

[Keith&Co.]

Dark Helmet Again.

So, a coworker's spouse tested positive for C-19. Co-worker reslizes they are going to be quarantined for two weeks. So over the weekend, they went in to work and got their laptop, some work materials, came home.
So, someone who KNEW they WERE EXPOSED, but not yet officially TOLD they gotta stasy the fuck home, went to the plant. Not only has the company sealed my office for deep cleaning, we now need to give 24-hour notice to our boss if we think we may want to go in for something we cannot do at home. He needs 24hr to evaluate the request, consider alternatives (but have you tried faulting the simulation on your desktop? Then how do you know it won't work?) and ask his boss to ask HIS boss for permission, and then get word back to us.

They're treating us like kids and i wish i could argue that it wasn't necessary, but clearly we cannot be trusted, as a group, not to use our tait as a facemask.

 

[TV and credit cards]

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/04/03/us/coronavirus-county-epidemics.html?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtype=Homepage

As the coronavirus spreads silently through American cities and towns, people are struggling with questions about the benefits of social-distancing guidelines — especially in places that still have few reported cases.

Is the epidemic here yet? Is staying home and limiting contact with others really worth the trouble?

A new study by disease modelers at the University of Texas at Austin gives an answer: Even counties with just a single reported case have more than 50 percent likelihood that a sustained, undetected outbreak — an epidemic — is already taking place.

The link has a map of the US that included all counties. You can click on your county and see the chances of an epidemic developing in your area. My country currently has a 98% chance of developing an epidemic. I think there are something like 25 confirmed cases in my county. During the pandemic, the NYTimes has made any article related to COVID-19 free to non subscribers so anyone interested can check out the map.

Blame the lack of widespread testing for the low reported numbers in some places. And people who still don't get that this is a stealth decease with many people infecting others while having no idea they are carriers.

Or even people with mild symptoms who necessarily go about their daily lives. I think except for the most sparsely populated areas, this will just work it’s way through the population. Now, testing seems moot, even counterproductive unless house to house visits were made.

 

[DBT]

Never mind folks, no need to fear, a cure has been given, the virus has been banished from the Earth:

[YOUTUBE]https://youtu.be/OSIrQBGfUtw[/YOUTUBE]

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

Well, he did stop that asteroid that nearly ended all life on Earth, but maybe that was luck.

 

[southernhybrid]

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/04/03/us/coronavirus-county-epidemics.html?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtype=Homepage

As the coronavirus spreads silently through American cities and towns, people are struggling with questions about the benefits of social-distancing guidelines — especially in places that still have few reported cases.

Is the epidemic here yet? Is staying home and limiting contact with others really worth the trouble?

A new study by disease modelers at the University of Texas at Austin gives an answer: Even counties with just a single reported case have more than 50 percent likelihood that a sustained, undetected outbreak — an epidemic — is already taking place.

The link has a map of the US that included all counties. You can click on your county and see the chances of an epidemic developing in your area. My country currently has a 98% chance of developing an epidemic. I think there are something like 25 confirmed cases in my county. During the pandemic, the NYTimes has made any article related to COVID-19 free to non subscribers so anyone interested can check out the map.

Blame the lack of widespread testing for the low reported numbers in some places. And people who still don't get that this is a stealth decease with many people infecting others while having no idea they are carriers.

By the way, WoPo has also made their C19 coverage free.

Even tiny newspapers like the Bangor (Maine) Daily News are making C19 reporting free.

Yes. Although I subscribe to WaPo, I am aware that it and most papers are making coverage of the virus free. Even, my town's little POS paper is giving free access to virus coverage.

I also realize that we have no idea how many cases are really out there, due to low testing as well as asymptomatic cases. I think the point of the map is to show that even when there are a very low number of known cases, the chance of an epidemic in a specific area is much higher than what it appears to be. I'm quite sure there must be a lot more cases in my small country that what is being reported.

 

[ronburgundy]

So, today for the first time ever, my wife and I ordered groceries online to be delivered. We had planned to go ourselves this morning, and it would have been our first time leaving the house in 2 weeks. Then at the last minute I decided, fuck it, let's not risk it. I was torn, b/c it means a "shopper" will be touching all our groceries, but I figured that still less risk than a likely crowded grocery store, especially since we aren't ordering any unpackaged produce.

 

[Politesse]

So, today for the first time ever, my wife and I ordered groceries online to be delivered. We had planned to go ourselves this morning, and it would have been our first time leaving the house in 2 weeks. Then at the last minute I decided, fuck it, let's not risk it. I was torn, b/c it means a "shopper" will be touching all our groceries, but I figured that still less risk than a likely crowded grocery store, especially since we aren't ordering any unpackaged produce.

We did that a fortnight back, but were frustrated by the results as only about half of what we ordered arrived. We did get a refund for the items on which they were out of stock, but it is still difficult to plan around a grocery bag that might be half empty, so we went back to the old Mad Max theory of shopping. We may try again once things settle down some. If they settle down some.

 

[Elixir]

So, today for the first time ever, my wife and I ordered groceries online to be delivered. We had planned to go ourselves this morning, and it would have been our first time leaving the house in 2 weeks. Then at the last minute I decided, fuck it, let's not risk it. I was torn, b/c it means a "shopper" will be touching all our groceries, but I figured that still less risk than a likely crowded grocery store, especially since we aren't ordering any unpackaged produce.

We did that a fortnight back, but were frustrated by the results as only about half of what we ordered arrived. We did get a refund for the items on which they were out of stock, but it is still difficult to plan around a grocery bag that might be half empty, so we went back to the old Mad Max theory of shopping. We may try again once things settle down some. If they settle down some.

You say fortnight out there in Chochenyo Territory?
I made a guerilla run to Wallyworld this morning at 7:30. More crowded than I'd have thought, but nearly everyone was wearing masks (incl me) and hand sanitizer and antiseptic wipes were staged plentifully and in many locations. Got everything critical on the list except apple cider vinegar (goes in horses' mash). I can't believe people are hoarding that stuff for cleaning - there was plenty of white vinegar but only tiny bottles of apple...

 

[Politesse]

So, today for the first time ever, my wife and I ordered groceries online to be delivered. We had planned to go ourselves this morning, and it would have been our first time leaving the house in 2 weeks. Then at the last minute I decided, fuck it, let's not risk it. I was torn, b/c it means a "shopper" will be touching all our groceries, but I figured that still less risk than a likely crowded grocery store, especially since we aren't ordering any unpackaged produce.

We did that a fortnight back, but were frustrated by the results as only about half of what we ordered arrived. We did get a refund for the items on which they were out of stock, but it is still difficult to plan around a grocery bag that might be half empty, so we went back to the old Mad Max theory of shopping. We may try again once things settle down some. If they settle down some.

You say fortnight out there in Chochenyo Territory?

Well, I do.

 

[Treedbear]

Tried to get into Costco last Thursday during the senior hour they have prior to normal opening. It's a nice idea, but when I got there at 8am there was already a line that snaked twice across the front of the building and was starting to head around the corner. I got a cart and got in line but after a couple minutes I handed the cart to the guy in back of me and told him this was too much for me. All these frail seniors standing out in the cold, blustery wind for maybe hours didn't seem to make good sense. I only wanted a 25 pound sack of KA flour and so I took a chance and went across the street to Walmart. Sure enough I got the last bag on the shelf and there was only a handful of customers there.

 

[Loren Pechtel]

Dark Helmet Again.

So, a coworker's spouse tested positive for C-19. Co-worker reslizes they are going to be quarantined for two weeks. So over the weekend, they went in to work and got their laptop, some work materials, came home.
So, someone who KNEW they WERE EXPOSED, but not yet officially TOLD they gotta stasy the fuck home, went to the plant. Not only has the company sealed my office for deep cleaning, we now need to give 24-hour notice to our boss if we think we may want to go in for something we cannot do at home. He needs 24hr to evaluate the request, consider alternatives (but have you tried faulting the simulation on your desktop? Then how do you know it won't work?) and ask his boss to ask HIS boss for permission, and then get word back to us.

They're treating us like kids and i wish i could argue that it wasn't necessary, but clearly we cannot be trusted, as a group, not to use our tait as a facemask.

For so many people the rules are for others.

I just had to venture forth for a water heater. (And I'm going to have to go again tomorrow--I forgot the stupid little nipple in the gas line.) I would say at least 10% of the people there had no respect for social distancing, and there was one ass standing in an aisle yakking on his phone.

 

[Ruth Harris]

No actual COVID infection here, but for sure things have changed because of it.

I have an autoimmune disorder so I started doing my grocery shopping online and had it delivered. Yes, it is very annoying to not get so much of what I ordered. I am reduced to ordering “just in case” things as replacements for items I actually need. No huge issues yet but still causes some problems.

I did try to get out and go grocery shopping during the hours our local stores have set aside for those of us who are older/immunocompromised/etc, but the parking lot was so full I didn’t even go in! Tried two different days with the same results. Our governor just recently issued a stay at home advisory and limited store access to certain numbers calculated by store volume, but that just means you get to wait outside and stand in line with all those possibly infected people...not a big help since my local population doesn’t seem to understand what “social distancing” means.

As for my work, I have telecommuted for 20 years now so nothing about that has changed for me. What has changed, though, is how my clients are working. I provide support for a non-cloud based construction specific accounting software, and our clients are typically not large companies. Many of them are just small “mom and pop” shops with less than 50 total employees. They are struggling with working remotely since the vast majority of them are not very computer savvy, but they live in areas under stay at home orders and really don’t have a choice. I expected many of them to have much less work but surprisingly that has not happened; projects are continuing on a normal schedule. And governmental construction projects are not being delayed either.

And then there is the issue of dealing with payroll under the Family First Act. They passed this relief package and didn’t include any guidance for how to actually process payrolls and related credits. So the IRS and the Department of Labor are dribbling out regulations bit by bit which we then have to try to explain to our client base. This has led to one email notice after another that we send to them - and of course, they get ignored until someone has to actually do something in payroll related to this.

There is absolutely no way any software company can update their payroll modules instantly to meet all the requirements they are blithely issuing, so we are in the middle again trying to help our clients work around the shortfalls when processing payrolls.

Please be kind to your software support people – they are doing the best they can under very trying circumstances. None of this is their fault.

Ruth

 

[Keith&Co.]

Please be kind to your software support people – they are doing the best they can under very trying circumstances. None of this is their fault.

we've always been kind to IT.
But on the gripping hand, i do have to tell management if i didn't finish a task because one of seven computers and servers between me and Pensacola are singing Daisy. Not saying anyone's at fault, but i cannot charge the 'fix government curricula' contract if a different government branch's computer isn't prepared for the load.