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Here's an interesting article that puts the 3.4% mortality rate into perspective - as in the US, at least, which so far is only accounting for serious cases, if you took into account milder cases the mortality rate goes down dramatically. "Looking at data from countries with robust testing systems does support the idea that the disease’s mortality rate may be lower than 3.4%. Countries that have tested significant numbers of people are generally reporting lower mortality rates than those, like the U.S., that have tested in far lower numbers and with a stronger focus on severe cases. This suggests that when testing networks are broadened to catch people with less serious illnesses, and case counts then reflect this range of severity, mortality rates go down.
The mortality rate in South Korea, where more than 1,100 tests have been administered per million residents, comes out to just 0.6%, for example. In the U.S., where only seven tests have been administered per million residents, the mortality rate is above 5%.
Italy is an exception but one has to take into account that around 30% of their population is over 65, something I did not know. They have one of the oldest populations in Europe and that's the group that is most at risk.
Anyway, the full article is here: https://time.com/5798168/coronavirus-...
Veronica wrote: "Here's an interesting article that puts the 3.4% mortality rate into perspective - as in the US, at least, which so far is only accounting for serious cases, if you took into account milder cases t..."Thanks for the link. That's an interesting read.
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The amount of testing being done here in Korea is truly intense. Anyone with a fever or cough is being told to go and get tested. I went back to work today for the first time in two and a half weeks, and there are staff members going around checking everyone's temperature - students and teachers - multiple times a day. They have drive-thru test sites, and all the information about the places where people who are confirmed cases have been is published on city district sites, saying that if you went to any of those places, you should also get tested.
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Mail some this way, Jenna, lol. Entire aisles at the grocery store are bare. H.E.B., a big grocery store chain here in Texas, has reduced its hours just to give them time to restock their shelves. Same for Walmart.
The true nature of persons comes out in times of crisis. I had one of the baddest days ever, I think.
Saar The Book owl wrote: "The true nature of persons comes out in times of crisis. I had one of the baddest days ever, I think."You know we'll always be here to give support and sympathy if you need it, Saar!
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At least I don’t feel worried about my son right now being in school but everyone’s kinda without direction here.
Thanks, Shaitairn. I'm just overwhelmed.It's just something stupid or silly, but for me, I'm just sad about what happened. My pony is stabled 5 minutes from my home and I've been there for 15 years. Now, with corona there are measures that are taken there, which I totally understand, no doubt about that. The owner of the stables asked me when I planned on coming to see Lambic (my pony). I give her the hours and days, but some days/hours were not possible, so I gave other and asking if she wanted to take into account that I work shifts in health care, so my working hours/days are different every week. The next day I got a message from her saying that I was only allowed to go 4 days a week. Before that I said that I was only planning on not going on Wednesday. So, I said that I'm not going on Saterday also, but that wasn't good. I was getting annoyed (but still polite and understanding) and said to her that I normally came every day without seeing another person, so that wasn't a problem and I feed him myself. She got mad and saying that she was making the rules and that I couldn't come on Wednesday and in the weekends. That I should come when it's not that full of other people. I apologised (I don't know why, because I wasn't mad or so) and then she told me that she find my reaction bad, that I've got no respect for them and so on...I mean, come on...Normally the ostheopate had to come for Lambic, because he's stiff and limping and I've read on our group on Facebook that there can't be any external persons at the stable, so I had to cancel that appointment, even if he's in pain. Today I've come to a post on the Facebook group where she called me (without naming me) someone who does what she wants, who has a sour face that hangs on the bottom of the ground, that has no respect for the rules,...and someone refered to me that 'from donkeys you can't make racehorses' (that's a Dutch saying). I was shocked, but replied very politely, but as expected, no one from the group reacted to it. Since August last year everything has changed at the stable. The owner forms a little group with some other horse owners and they are very tight together and I'm left behind.
I mean, I'm 37 and I know it shouldn't bother me, but as an introvert it's hard to make friends and I know this may sound stupid, but I only have one best friend. Besides that my pony means everything to me and I know that I hate changes and I get irritated about it, this whole reaction of the stable owner was out of place.
This has been going on for months now. Maybe her husband overheard the conversation that I had with another horse owner who finds the vibe that hangs there also changed for months now. But I dind't said anything bad, just the things I've said in my recent post above. He said that he's moving away with his horse, because of all the things happening. He's in his late 60's and I'm going to miss him and his horse.
Sorry for me going on...I know there are more important things now. I just wanted to vent.
I think that I won't see my horse for a couple of weeks now, as for now, Belgium is officially in lockdown. until 5th April..The governement is promoting activities in open air, but not in group, except for families. But I don't think that they will aplly that at the stable.
From now on everything is closed, except banks, pharmacies, supermarkets, stores for animal food and bookstores (yay!)...But we still need to go to work and I don't know if the emergency care for children is canceled. We've got now cancelation for the children camps in the Easter holidays...
Margret wrote: "Hey just checking in! We’re getting really strict here in my province. School is cancelled indefinitely, likely for the rest of the year as we are trying to flatten the curve at a vital time before..."Big hug, Margret! Please take good care of yourself.
Saar The Book owl wrote: "Thanks, Shaitairn. I'm just overwhelmed.It's just something stupid or silly, but for me, I'm just sad about what happened. My pony is stabled 5 minutes from my home and I've been there for 15 yea..."
Maybe it's time to look into a new stable for your pony? Not seeing your loved one for a couple weeks, whether they have 2 legs, 4 legs or no legs, is hard. A bad attitude/atmosphere from the stable doesn't help. No idea if that will be an option once the pandemic response is over, if there's any place else in your area that could work for you and your horse.
@Narilka: I've thought about that, but it will cost me more than I pay now and it's further from home. At this moment I don't know what to do, but if the attitude continues, then I'll leave.
Saar The Book owl wrote: "Thanks, Shaitairn. I'm just overwhelmed.It's just something stupid or silly, but for me, I'm just sad about what happened. My pony is stabled 5 minutes from my home and I've been there for 15 yea..."
Maybe you could move your horse to the same stable that the elderly man was moving to? At least he seems nice.
And it's not silly; sometimes the little things are the ones that really hurt. I've been left in tears after relatively trivial arguments or falling-outs with people before now. I think sometimes a small thing can be the last straw that breaks the camel's back.
Saar, those people who are tight with each other in the stables, in English we call that a "clique" and there's nothing worse. I hate it. And the worst part is you're left feeling stupid because they never say or do anything obviously bad/nasty, it's just little things that add up and make you feel awful. So I 100% understand how you feel, and don't ever let anyone (including yourself!) belittle those feelings.It doesn't matter how old you are, or how much you know you shouldn't care - it hurts. Especially when you're so worried about your pony too.
I hope the situation improves for you, or that you can find a new, happier place to keep your pony. Always here if you want to talk. ❤️
Saar The Book owl wrote: "Thanks, Shaitairn. I'm just overwhelmed.It's just something stupid or silly, but for me, I'm just sad about what happened. My pony is stabled 5 minutes from my home and I've been there for 15 yea..."
That's not silly at all! As a fellow introvert I can relate, I feel like whenever there's an issue involving other people, even if it might seem little it hits home even more because we don't have as many people to balance it out.
It's horrible when people act like those other horse owners because even when they don't do anything outright mean you still feel bad and additionally question yourself if you're just overreacting.
Maybe finding a different stable really is the better solution. Even if it's more expensive, such an important hobby should not be tainted like that. Hope you can find a solution! ❤
The governor has just closed all Florida schools until tax day.
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@Saar - so sorry to hear about the tricky situation with your pony, your feelings are completely valid - my fingers are crossed that you're able to find a workable solution :-)I had a very strange experience today - after weeks of trying to avoid the shops and all the panic buying crowds, I ventured into the supermarket to pick up a few essential items and the store was weirdly quiet, almost no one around!
Social distancing? Or, have folk run out of money from all the panic buying?
Although the shelves were a bit bare, it was kind of blissful (if surreal) having the place to myself. And to my amazement I was actually able to buy most of the things I needed - because apparently not many other people actually want gluten free pasta, organic brown rice or dark sourdough rye bread! Lol ;-)
@Shaitairn: he's indeed a nice man, but due to the corona, ha can't move now. So that's on hold. Because I've got no drivers license, I'm limited in distance, that's why I stay put there and hope everything will settle down. It's just the one small thing after the other. When it gets to big, I crack. I can handle a lot, but enough is enough.@Siobhan: thank you so much for your kind words. We call that a 'clique' here too. We're not with many there, I think around 15, but besides the elderly man, I'm the oldest. They are between 16 and 34. The stable owner is 34. They still chat ahead in the group chat with underlying comments, but I try to ignore it. I have no idea what changed since August, but I can't ignore it. It shouldn't hurt me, but it does. But, for now, I know when I can see my horse next week. So, I'm relieved and happy.
@Bea: you're so right. It's like, as being an introvert, we've got those extra 'antenna's that feels other moods, underlying things...and sometimes it's very exhausting.
@Margret: thank you. These are just the litle things that keeps an important place in my heart. I worry about the people and animals who are important to me, the rest (me including) follow later.
@Shae: thank you for your kind words.
Thanks, everyone, for the support. It makes me feel warm :)
@Nyssa: how long is that? I don't know what tax day is.
@Shae: quiet stores? We don't know that here! People are acting like hamsters!
In my other reading group, someone had an alternative term for 'social distancing': 'distance socializing'. Sounds much better!
About the corona - situation in Belgium:
The rules are more severe than a few days ago. When I came home from groceries, I found my son and partner suddenly at home. My partner said that he was obligated to stay home. I immediately thought he was sick and quaraintained, but he needs to work from home and our osn is home from the emergency care. He has almost no work, because he works for the department of education and all the schools are closed.
I went for food for my chickens, but it was all gone! People act like hamsters over chicken food! Normally they'll have it again Saterday. Then I went to the supermarket: people were all in a row all over the parking and were let in one by one. I had no time and needed to go to work, so I went to another supermarket.
Police are patrolling in the streets, asking why you're out.
Because I work in health care, the managing board made a document that we need to be out for our work and cannot work from home. Also, apparently, we can use this to be not in the waiting line for the supermarket.
I get the feeling now how it must be for people in the WW I and II.
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Ah, I get it. In Belgium the paper version of the income taxes are due by 30th June and the digital version by 7th July.
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The US isn't quite there, yet, but the situation is quickly ramping up... 10k cases now, right on track with the predictions from last weekend, when I was reading how the US is a week behind Italy in infection detection...
Today, I also see news outlets covering the Research Paper I heard about yesterday, that indicates this could last 18 months, with waves of infection, if we want to keep the infection rate below the ventilator capacity and avoid millions of deaths in the US alone... from what I read yesterday, that could mean social distancing for 2 out of every 3 months through the end of 2021, basically, until the vaccines make it through testing and can be used on the whole population (I hear this process takes 14 months, to avoid vaccines that do more harm than good)...
Every day the news just gets more dire... especially since, as the source I read this from initially pointed out that success will mean it just looks like everyone overreacted...
I'm also hearing that the US government is well on it's way to passing a bill to give every American money to handle the pandemic (gonna cost $1 trillion dollars, and is an attempt to stave off a recession)... I'm not sure how much money they think is enough to offset this upheaval...
I don't think that it'll last until 2021, if you see that now, after 2 months, there isn't a new case in China, so I'm a bit optimistic that it will be better when the Summer is there. But on the other hand, an internal document of the UK or was it China, leaked information that it'll last until next year.They're now testing the vaccins from ebola, malaria and reumatoid in Belgium against corona.
I thought it was 1000 dollar that the U.S. will give to each person?
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Italy just passed China in deaths... but China has much more control over citizen lockdowns, I think...
I saw the $1000 number after posting...
But the high rate of death in Italy is also because of everyone who is above 60 years don't get reanimated, because they don't have enough equipment. It's scary to hear that.
@Saar - you're right 'distance socialising' sounds so much better :-)One media outlet here recently ran a segment on how to socialise whilst giving others their space, it was hilarious; people playing ping pong from adjacent apartment balconies, people having a 'street BBQ' but staying on the verge of their own front gardens, choirs singing together over FaceTime, etc. I was pretty impressed by people's inventiveness!
I like it! All of us in this group have been distance socialising for years! :)
We had our first day of online classes and had to give presentations but no one could figure out how to show ppt slides on the Skype conference call and the teacher said, does the option for that even show?I said it did, and then he told me to go on first 😅 the rest of the class was pretty chill. No audio or video from our side, so the teacher couldn't know what we were doing. I got some reading done ;)
People just get really creative with ways of distance socialising. It's funny toe see at time.
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Every food item has a limit of 1 now, instead of 2 (and it's practically storewide, at this point instead of 2-3 groups of items)...
We finally have a decent amount of water, tho...
Looks like the company is paying everyone a bit extra for all the hard work, lately, similar to the government payout coming soon... and employees can shop from 6-8am, to get something before customers buy everything...
Just today, I saw the government has moved the tax deadline from April 15 to July 15 (probably because people are supposed to be distancing, and not visiting accountants/etc)...
I hit up a grocery store at lunch. Either the panic buying is reduced in my area or I got lucky. The shelves weren't full by any means but you could get TP and paper towels. Produce was at more normal stocking levels. I didn't check the meat department since I wasn't needing any. Wish I had now.
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Stock levels are low, but customers that talked to me were pleasantly surprised at how calm it felt...
If you want to get something that keeps running out, you need to be there early... people are waiting outside for hours to try and get things like disinfecting wipes and hand sanitizer...
I noticed something interesting just now.For a few days, ever since the self-isolation thing became really serious I've been feeling anxious and stressed when I was at home, like something was about to happen. I could not say why exactly I felt stressed. I believe I have now realized what's wrong.
So, I live near a railway track and I've been used the sound of trains passing by my whole life. When I was still a child and afraid at night I always used to wait for the next train to pass by and it was like a relief, this sign of normality. Even today, the train means I'm home, I'm safe, everything will be alright. And now there are almost no trains anymore (also no planes, too) and I think I'm subconsciously waiting for that relieving sound and it doesn't come even though I'm home, so it should be there.
Has anybody noticed something similar?
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For a few days, ever since the self-isolation thing became really serious I've been feeling anxious and stressed when I was at home, like something was abo..."
stop it... now you're making me anxious, lol... and I mostly notice the planes that are too loud that make me wonder wtf they're doing...
Bea wrote: "I noticed something interesting just now.For a few days, ever since the self-isolation thing became really serious I've been feeling anxious and stressed when I was at home, like something was abo..."
Haven't experienced that yet. My neighborhood is off a busy highway and I can still hear the random truck go by. Heck, the neighborhood kids have been playing outside a lot now that they're all being home schooled. We aren't under a flight path so planes aren't very usual nor are we near a train.
Bea wrote: "I noticed something interesting just now.For a few days, ever since the self-isolation thing became really serious I've been feeling anxious and stressed when I was at home, like something was abo..."
I haven't got anything specific like that, but I've been feeling more anxious and on edge at home since yesterday when I got back from a week away. I can't put my finger on why, just generally worried about the state of things I suppose. I can't relax.
Bea wrote: "I noticed something interesting just now.For a few days, ever since the self-isolation thing became really serious I've been feeling anxious and stressed when I was at home, like something was abo..."
I'm sorry to hear that you aren't well! Is it that bad in the south? Here the trains operate almost normal, the "extra trains" that travels additionally around work hours are mostly canceled, but otherwise they come and go every half hour or so. I'm not sure about the cargo-trains tho, but I have seen a lot of then still on my to and from work.
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Essential services are basically grocery stores, pharmacies and hospitals...
Timelord Iain wrote: "I got a piece of paper at work today, that confirms I work in an essential service job, as we barrel toward full lockdown...Essential services are basically grocery stores, pharmacies and hospita..."
Same here. With the addition of teachers, law enforcement/emergency services, delivery drivers and broadcasters.
I live in Virginia, and am wondering if my place will be considered essential if we go into lockdown. I work in the lab of a place that makes soap, shampoo, conditioner, that kinda stuff. Past week we've been busier for one customer.
Sir Anni wrote: "Bea wrote: "I noticed something interesting just now.For a few days, ever since the self-isolation thing became really serious I've been feeling anxious and stressed when I was at home, like somet..."
Thank you! I wouldn't say I'm unwell, I'm just very sensitive about things being not as they should be.
It's mostly a track for regional trains, so it's not that busy anyway, and those apparently have been mostly cancelled. It's only the occasional freight train now. I've been talking to my parents today and they both said they noticed it too, now that I mentioned it.
I'm living exactly under a flight path, so the lack of planes is indeed very noticeable here.
We also have more severe restrictions now and are only allowed to leave the house for a good reason (work, doctor, buying food etc.) and it was about time that happened. There have still been tons of people meeting in parks or cafes and going about their life just as usual who don't seem to give a damn about endangering others. And now they're complaining the politicians take away their freedom...🙄
I've been working from since the 12th. I work in the office for a manufacturing company. The whole social distancing/six feet apart thing was already out there and the company was going to start enforcing it. So the plant manager comes in to our office and says "we're going to need you all to get out." We just stared and then he started laughing. He then said, "You'll be getting an email from your boss, but everyone who can work from home is being sent home effective immediately." Sure enough as he was standing there the email from our boss came in. Anyone non-essential to manufacturing operations is working from home until 3/31, if it doesn't get extended. We are considered an "essential business" since products we make go in to both the food and sanitation supply chains so even though 3 of the 7 states we have locations in have some variant on a shelter in place order going, our operations are continuing.Its nice to be able to work in leggings though, not going to lie.
But people are just being idiotic at stores. You know its bad when the Secretary of Agriculture has to go on TV and tell people to calm down, the US isn't going to run out of food.
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I’ve made a plan that if we get a full on outbreak that I would move in with my friend from work temporarily to protect my family from me infecting them. I hope it doesn’t happen.
It’s scary seeing that the US government did no prepping on stockpiling N95 masks and other PPE for their healthcare workers. That’s the thing I’m worried about right now. I did not sign up to work without safety equipment. My supervisor assured me that our provincial health authority spent 2.3 million on masks alone in December when this showed up in China. I can handle the fact that we can’t save everyone, it’s a normal part of my job.
Margret wrote: "We are still bracing for impact at work. Our province shut shit down with only 59 cases when everyone else did, and it’s starting to show in the curve flattening here, and we only have 259 cases as..."Our government didn't prepare enough masks and PPE either. :/ They're talking about getting a "lorry load" delivered to every hospital now, but as some have rightly pointed out, that's probably not enough! We haven't been able to buy them for months already at my work.
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https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html
In the last 48hrs, we've gone from 13k cases to 41k cases... at one point, we had 27k, Spain had 54k, and China had 81k (multiples of 27...
Now it's 41k, 64k, 81k... we're gaining like 10k cases a day, and New York is the epicenter (altho it's in all 50 states now, especially the biggest cities / states/ airport hubs)...
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Yea... the whole thing's a shitshow... it's interesting/painful watching people's/coworkers' opinions on the situation seesaw... from thinking it's overblown to anger at people on the news for saying obvious precautions, etc...
It's like everything I see on the news, where people ignore precautions, then get mad the government isn't doing enough...
Everything is reactionary, instead of preparatory...
Fantasy Buddy Reads
Books mentioned in this topic
Once Was Willem (other topics)The Society of Unknowable Objects (other topics)
Elder Race (other topics)
Elantris (other topics)
Mistborn: The Final Empire (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Michael Lesley (other topics)Michael Lesley (other topics)
Michael Lesley (other topics)
Michael Lesley (other topics)
Michael Lesley (other topics)
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I think the other problem is that the OS is so big, these days... I think it's 4-5GBs on it's own... I'll definitely be looking for more storage space next time I get a phone... might have to finally switch to wireless headphones, then...