You'll love this one...!! A book club & more discussion
Off Topic Chat
>
Corona Chat
Jeez.. so many typos it is hard to read me...
Don't mind the typo's ;) I'm also trying to work more in my vegetable garden and reading has been difficult. I can't concentrate.I understand your feelings about all of this. It's like there's a huge bubble of 'anxiety, what if's?, being not at ease' that has been created and also that our freedom is a luxury and that's what struck me the most: that our freedom can be easily taken away, but difficult to be given back. That's what's upsetting me.
This week the stores went open and I went to buy some clothes for my son and the city has been so weird: no people, no tourists, nothing...Thankfully, the salespersons were friendly and understanding.
I try to avoid the media and the news as much as possible, because it makes me feel weird as they say that this is the 'new normal' and 'we're not going back to what was before. We've got to live with it'. It just makes me want to stand up and scream really loud.
Yes, that is right. I read an article that said that this is the post coronavirus era already, and it's not coronavirus free, but a time to just learn to live with it and with the measure it requires. It was horrible. How long it will take to come back to the life as we knew it? Is this going to be the normal for my kids? I'm usually positive and zero dramatic, but it's upsetting. I'm also trying not to be overwhelmed but the media. I check the news every day because I want to know how things are going, but I'm filtering what I read.
Saar The Book owl wrote: "@Sarah: with you're asthma, are you having trouble also because of the hay fever? I can understand too: it's the conversations with more depth that I miss. Are you a hypnotic therapist? Well, my th..."Yess hayfever is causing me a lot of problems, also dust coming off the fields as the farmers work on them. I had a call with the respiratory nurse a week or so ago and have anotherr this week. I'm going to start taking another tablet which should help more.
Yes I am a hypnotherapist.
It's good that wee have YLTO to be able to chat books and other stuff while this is going on.
There was an indigenous woman in Vancouver out walking her dog. She has allergies and sneezed. A man mistook her for Asian, screamed at her to go back to Asia and punched her in the face. This virus is bringing out the best, and it's bringing out the worst in people.
@Sarah: it doesn't help that it's very dry at the moment. I've noticed that I started late this year to have trouble with hay fever and it takes much longer until it's over. It gets worse. I hope your tablets will help.@Janice: that's just crazy!
Moving the conversation to the right thread:All my kids will stay in the same school and school buildings as last year. Changes can me make if necessary. It is always easy to change from in-school to remote learning than the other way around. It's still possible but it will depend on if there is room for more students in the building. They promised to do their best but of course it is not possible to redo the plans at the middle of the year.
We are inclined to send them to school, but still discussing it. The thing is that our area hasn't been hit too badly. The pandemic was declared during Spring Break when the students weren't here and they never came back. Being the town a college town essentially, and the students half the population, it was easy to avoid problems. Now, the pandemic will start for us when all the students come back for the fall semester in late August. They come from everywhere in the country, and at that age they are immortal and difficult to make respect measures. So, if it were today I wouldn't have any doubt, but it is uncertain what will happen. At the same time my husband will be teaching in person at the university, so we will be at some point exposed, and sending the kids to school or not might not be a huge difference.
My husband bets that when school starts we will have in-person classes for 2 weeks, maximum a month, then a peak in cases and everyone locked in again. That is why he thinks I am worrying too much. :) I hope he is wrong.
Understand the anxiety and the trying to pre-plan, Sandra. It's a but important when we have some idea of what's going on.Melbourne here has gone back into lockdown for 6 weeks. We were opening back up, and things were looking normal-ish. Then a security guard bonked someone in quarantine and 5 million people are now not allowed to leave their houses for 6 weeks.
Today Melb had a rate of 288 cases, which is higher than any other day over all of \Aus since the outbreak started. And that's terrifying. Yet it's a positive rate of 0.7%. Appparenly Arizona has a positivity rate of 27%.
So it's a weird world were I am preparing protocols to open campus up, but Victorian students are locked in their homes. But it could be a hell of a lot worse.
Look after you guys
Maybe hard, but this is something we need to learn to live with, I think. People also need to be more responsible and look for each other. They can't put cities, countries,...every time in lockdown. This won't work when there are people not taking their responsibilities. Now, after all these months, from one day on another the Belgian governement is making mouth masks obligated from tomorrow on. Now they think it'll help, because before that they keep on saying it has no use for the particles, because they can get in. It was obligated in public transportation, stations...But now it'll be in shops and every public building. Even in the cinemas! Can you see yourself sit, watching a movie, with something to drink/eat and putting it of and on again?
Saar The Book owl wrote: "Maybe hard, but this is something we need to learn to live with, I think. People also need to be more responsible and look for each other. They can't put cities, countries,...every time in lockdown..."Ha, no popcorn!
Face masks will have to be worn here in ireland from monday, in places where it's not poss to social distance. It is very suspicious that when there was a world wide shortage of masks we were being told that they weren't much help but now that they're more available they are the thing will stop the second wave! Our R rate went up over 1 on saturday which is worrying. We have been back to normal (almost) for less than 2 weeks and this is the result.
Our Gyms are planned to reopen in a few week and Pete was thinging of off going back but today he was saying that with all the puffing and panting of the people on the exercise machines, any virus would be shooting into the air. I think that if they make masks mandatory during exercise you would have people keeling over from lack of oxygen.
My big problem with the masks is that I wear glasses and my breath keeps fogging up my lenses. I've heard a lot of others complain of the same thing.
Rusalka wrote: "Understand the anxiety and the trying to pre-plan, Sandra. It's a but important when we have some idea of what's going on.Melbourne here has gone back into lockdown for 6 weeks. We were opening b..."
Thinking of you all in Auss Rus, it is not good news.
It makes me wonder what this is going is going to mean for singletons. Will sex on a first date become socially unacceptable or even illegal? Now how would that one be policed 😂
Our university is making us wear masks in and outside. So if you are working outside roofing or doing landscaping in the summer you will roast. I feel bad for them at least inside we have air conditioning.
I'm okay with public advice changing as we understand the disease more. I know early on, they weren't sure how it spread through airborne particles. Now they have down studies that show that it can be. So happy to mask up if needed.We don't have to here, although they are recommending it in Melb if you have to leave your house. We'll use cloth masks, as want to leave the medical ones for the doctors/nurses, and limit the plastic waste. I'll use them on campus though, with the immno issues in this house, it's just better to be safe. I completely would wear them in a cinema or theatre, So many randoms breathing in the one space. Ick.
I think random lockdowns to control outbreaks will just be normal until there is a vaccine. You can completely do it. And the choice is to have a major uncontrolled public health emergency which overwhelms the medical system (and we can see how well that is going in some places...) or you lockdown.
I'm worried about how things are progressing here in the UK . I'm still not comfortable with how quickly lockdown has been relaxed. The government basically ditched the scientists. Tthe R raate has gone up again andd here in the south west it is just above 1. Leicester in the Midlands went into local lockdown last week. Yet beaty salons, gyms, swimming pools are due to open up and people can go on holiday and return without quarantine from loads of countries . It's just a matter of time before it kicks off again . What scares me is so many people are just going about their lives again like nothing happened . I went in to the little town near me last week and it was horrible . People are just not social distancing around others. I wore a mask and did see a few others wearing them. It's only compulsory on public transport and advised where social distancing is not possible .I think that might change soon though. Shielding advice finishes 1st August which is ridiculous .
I live in Virginia and we were one of the few states that had a handle on this, but now with summer and living in a tourist town my town has spiked in cases especially age group 20-29 (they are all partying at the beach and at home pools). Bars are still closed. Our governor is going to talk on Tuesday about the possibility of going back to phase 2. Masks are mandatory here and most people that I see at stores are wearing them. My family has decided to still keep to quarantine rules and only going out when necessary. We are lucky because we have a pool to help beat the heat. It would be harder to quarantine here if we didn't have it.
Strangely our spike was in 35-44 year old age group. The thinking is that is from transport, hence the making masks mandatory. Sarah, here people are advised NOT to go on foreign holidays whereas in the North you can go where you like without quarantine. One side making a nonsense of the other again.
Yes it's ridiculous that the North is not doing the same as everywhere else. The virus doesn't recognise borders. I also think it's stupid that Wales and Scotland are doing different things to England. I know it's because they don't agree with Boris (who does?!) but I think UK and Ireland could haave benefited from a united approach or at least Noryhern Ireland and Ireland together and England, Scotland and Wales together due to shared land mass .
Sarah wrote: "Yes it's ridiculous that the North is not doing the same as everywhere else. The virus doesn't recognise borders. I also think it's stupid that Wales and Scotland are doing different things to Engl..."Totally agree Sarah - this should not be political.
I was in Edmonton on Thursday & Friday for medical tests. On Wednesday night, I was reading a news release that the Misericordia Hospital in Edmonton was shut down to incoming patients and visitors due to an outbreak there. 20 patients, 15 staff have been tested positive, and 3 people have died. I told my son that it was a good thing I was going to the UofA hospital and not the Miz. I wore my cloth mask to the hospital and was screened at the door. I had to remove it and put on one of theirs. I was screened 3 times there - at the entrance, at the check-in at diagnostic imaging, and again before they started the procedure. Yesterday morning, I met with the specialist. I was screened at the entrance and again had to replace my mask with one of their's. One of the screening questions I had there was "Have you been to the Miz in the last 2 weeks?"
Very few people here in GP wear the masks. I will be from now on. I did before but sporadically. But now, I have a medical need to do so. There are a lot more people in Edmonton wearing them.
I'm due to a back operation at end of august. I was at the hospital yesterday and will have to to make at least 3 visits between now and then. Finally I have to cocoon for 2 weeks before the procedure. Like Janices experience, they are being extremely careful but each visit is nerve wrecking!
Here IN Chicago we are required to wear masks. It has surprised me to see who the people are that refuse to wear masks. I thought it would be the young. It is actually the seniors who are refusing to wear masks.It blows my mind that those who are the most vulnerable are refusing to protect themselves.
I do wear the mask where I'm required to but as a chronic asthmatic I don't actually have to. It does restrict my breathing when I'm wearing glasses. I can understand why people with lung problems might balk at not having a choice.....and then you idiots who just refuse because they're above the law!
Masks and glasses are not a practical combo, but I do wear them too. Now we need them to wear at work when we're leaving our reception and walk in the hallway. We need to wear them now in the city, even when riding a bike. The infections are getting higher here in Belgium, but it's more local now. Still, tomorrow the safety cell will have an extra meeting, because they want to make the restrictions more strict now.
I must admit, I've been feeling a bit ill for the past week now. My collegue had the stomach flue, but she only had it for a day. I now have it for a week, with tiredness and around 37°C
I know these are symptoms, but you can panic so easily now. Maybe it's just the work load since the last weeks/months. My 'staycation' will start tomorrow for 3 weeks. Hopefully I'll get better.
Saar The Book owl wrote: "Masks and glasses are not a practical combo, but I do wear them too. Now we need them to wear at work when we're leaving our reception and walk in the hallway. We need to wear them now in the city,..."Can you get tested just to ease your mind?
I don't know for sure. The last time wasn't possible.
Mask are mandatory here as well. Irony is they announced it the same say my region went to 0 known case. We are now up to 8 known cases. Most people seems to adhere to the mask, Still they are manifestations against it.
Saar The Book owl wrote: "Masks and glasses are not a practical combo, but I do wear them too. Now we need them to wear at work when we're leaving our reception and walk in the hallway. We need to wear them now in the city,..."As someone who had the virus, Saar, stay hydrated, rested, take walks around your house (don't stay motionless), and get tested. When I was first diagnosed I was given vitamin C, thiamine and zinc, Tylenol for fever. There are better treatments now. But you should really get tested.
Thanks, Roz. How are you feeling now? I'll call the doctor tomorrow and see what he says.
I got sick back in March and was hospitalized for a short while in April. It's taken me a long time to recover. Now I can go for a walk (about 1/2 mile a day), go up and down stairs without huffing and puffing, and do pretty much everything else I used to do as long as I don't over do it. But, I still tire easily, and can't take deep breaths yet. There are still some problems with my right lung (just some scarring we hope). I've had tests to check it out and I'm having another on Wednesday. Never had a pulmonologist before but I have one now. My recommendation? Wear a mask no matter how annoying it may be. I've heard all the stupid excuses -- it's hot, it's uncomfortable, it messes up my make up, don't tell me what to do, "he" said I don't have to. It pisses me off. I know what can happen when you don't protect yourself and it isn't good. It's the virus that just doesn't want to go away. And yes, get tested if you have any symptoms. Please.
Take care of yourself, Roz, step by step. I wear my mask when I'm going outside everytime, I desinfect my hands and wash them all the time. You should see my hands...and I get really uncomfortable when people are coming too close.
Oh, Roz, that is a long time to feel unwell. Hopefully you are in the last part of this nightmare. Excuse me asking (and it's ok if you don't feel like answering) were you in any of the risk groups? Or that is how it was even without previous health issues? It is a scary virus.I'm all about masks. I used them all the time outside my home. My family too.
Back in March, we weren't really wearing masks. It was a hit or miss issue. My husband and I have tried to pinpoint when we contracted the virus. He was also sick but not as bad as me. My husband has an autoimmune condition and the one of the treatments is retuxan infusions. On the day of the treatment (in March) I waited for him in the waiting room (sans mask but seated away from others). Or it may have been that one time I went food shopping to stock up. I did stay away from people as much as possible and took Clorox wipes with me to wipe down surfaces I came in contact with. So it's up in the air who gave who the virus. Probably me since I showed symptoms first. For a while he could take care of me, but by April we were both in bad shape and I called for an ambulance to take us to the hospital. If a risk group is slightly overweight 69 yr old woman in general good health minding her own business, then I guess that's me. Otherwise, I had no previous health issues that would make me a target. This is a non-discriminating virus. Everyone is a target. Old, young, fat, thin, male, female, it doesn't care. I post tested negative for the virus and I have antibodies. My husband, however, still tests positive for covid, no antibodies. The retuxan and medications he takes for his other condition compromise the tests. So for cancer patients who get the virus, it's a very long time before they will test "well". It's a very scary disease. Masks, Masks, Masks.
Thank you Roz, it's good to hear from someone with first hand experience of the virus. I hope that your recovery continues and yes, I will carry on wearing my mask and think that I'm lucky to able to be able to be out and about.
Still testing positive! Wow.I know another person who doesn't know how he got it. He started having symptoms after 3 weeks quarantined. He'd been out only once for groceries shopping during that time and took all the measures possible. It was also back in March-April, when the use of masks weren't really a thing.
We've been pretty safe here in our small college town, because the students have been gone for months. We are all scared of what it's going to happen in late August, when they are back.
That is a long time for recovery, Roz. I hope you continue to mend.A month ago, I needed my prescriptions refilled so went to my doctor's office. There are 3 doctors in that clinic and 3 nurses. Not one was wearing a mask.
Last week, I had to go to my regular doc to get the pre-op form completed for the neurosurgeon. The 3 nurses were sitting shoulder-to-shoulder, not wearing masks. I was shown in to the treatment room and my doctor entered, not wearing a mask. I asked him why they were not wearing masks. He replied, "Because it isn't mandatory." I said, "Seriously?? I'm appalled."
Two days later, I had to go back because there was an error on the report he gave me. The nurses still weren't wearing masks, but he was. I thanked him for his consideration.
I have a life threatening condition which needs to be treated. I was told that if there is no ICU bed for me on August 5th, that the procedure will be cancelled. Covid is on the rise in Edmonton (where I'll be going). All I can say, is people look at the big picture and wear a mask!
I understand what you're saying, Janice, and I'd be appalled too. When I went to my GP a couple of weeks ago because of my lung issue, I had to call the office when I got there and wait until my turn came up before entering the office. No mask, no service. All staff was wearing masks, doctor as well (he had recovered from having covid so he was well aware of the need for masks). Same thing at the pulmonologist's office. You'd think medical personnel would know better. So what if masks aren't mandatory. Common sense, idiots!!! It makes me crazy watching tv and seeing all those people partying, running around, like it was last year. They're putting everyone around them at risk. I hope your hospital stay goes smoothly and successfully. You know we all wish you well, and good health. You hold a dear place in our hearts, Janice. Wear your mask and stay safe.
Am sending all the healthy, positive vibes I can, and will stay away (even though I am closest lol). Be well Janice 😃
Roz wrote: "You'd think medical personnel would know better. "They not only should know better, they are definitively more exposed and at risk...
Sandra wrote: "Roz wrote: "You'd think medical personnel would know better. "They not only should know better, they are definitively more exposed and at risk..."
It's irresponsible. They should be setting the example. They should be encouraging patients to wear masks. It's pretty sad when the only people in the clinic wearing masks are some patients.
God help you though if you wear sandals into the clinic. I was told to remove my sandals. I told her I wasn't walking barefoot in a doctor's office. She said there were sox in the foyer. I told her I wouldn't put on a pair of sox that had previously been worn by god knows who else. But she wouldn't wear a mask.
I guess the best we can do is take responsibility for ourselves and stay away (as much as possible) from all the a-holes.
I'm shocked by your experience Janice. Here all GP are run as described by Roz and have been since mid March. I'm going to have a back operation (for pain relief) at the end of August and I have to self isolate for two weeks and have a covid test the day before my admission for protection of the staff and other patients. I know that Ireland has been criticised by at least one world leader for being overly cautious by I don't think you can be too careful until the country is Covid free.
There have been a lot of health care professionals die here of covid. At the beginning, they didn't have any PPE and that was the main cause of it. Now, they all have PPE and wear it and I haven't heard of any staff dying recently. Masks work!I will keep my fingers crossed that cases in Edmonton stay low so that none of the ICU beds get taken up Janice.
I have some difficult decisions to make about my working situation due to covid. Since just before lockdown, I stopped seeing clients face to face. I've basically been shielding all this time because of my asthma. Shielding advice ends on 1st August here. So I agreed to go back to face to face work then. But I don't want to be stuck in a room with someone for prolonged period of time. I've not even been in a room with my family, let alone a complete stranger who I've no idea whether they've been socially distancing or not. I would only be happy if both myself and my client wore a mask but they aren't conducive to effective therapy in my opinion and I'm not sure if I could wear one all day with my asthma. Short periods of time are fine though. I've been paying a holding fee to keep my room for when I return but it's not feasible to continue paying it, especially as I'm not sure when I will feel comfortable going back. The commute on public transport is not ideal. I'm concerned about the winter months, flu season (when I'm at my most vulnerable) and a potential second wave so even if I did end up going back, I'm not sure how long I'd feel comfortable being there. I just don't know what to do. Do I leave and risk not being able to get a slot back at the clinic when I want to go back? Do I keep on paying out? Do I reduce my slots so I pay out less and then at least I'm guaranteed a slot which is better than nothing? Ahhhhh!
That's a tough decision to have to make, Sarah! I hope you'll be able to find a workable solution.
I just had a phone consult with the anesthetist and he alleviated the concerns I had about the availability of an ICU bed. He said that there are no Covid patients in the UofA hospital. He also said that there are different ICU sections in the hospital. Any Covid patients would be in the medical ICU. I will be in the neuro ICU. I didn't realize how much I was stressing about that until I felt the relief wash through me.
@Sarah, tough decision indeed! I hope things get clearer and you can make a decision you are happy with. @Janice, Glad to know the anesthetist eased you worries. You don't need extra preoccupations right now.
It is a complicated time for making decision in every aspect of life.
Thanks guys!That is such good news Janice!
You'll love this one...!! A book club & more
Books mentioned in this topic
Catch-22 (other topics)The Yellow Wallpaper and Other Stories (other topics)
I think the biggest difference is that now you can visit people if in small groups, but again. Nobody feels safe doing it yet, specially "just because". We don't have a huge group of friends here, and everyone we know is like us juggling work, school and life. It's weird. In a way all of us want life come back to normal, but we don't feel safe doing the things that are now allowed. Nobody wants to expose the selves or others just because. I you have to, it's ok, but not just because you are bored.
I've also felt very sad the last few days thinking in when am I going to be able to see my family in Uruguay again. Who knows when travel will be normal and safe again... I'm struggling with the idea that it might be months or even a year until that is possible.
Not a good week for me. I've tried to distract myself working in my vegetable garden and taking care of my seedlings. I'm finding it difficult to read again.