Health Issues The Everything Covid 19 Thread

[Val]

Blin, 6 new cases of covid have been detected in Russian cities within the last 24 hrs. It looks like it's spreading now with a speed of light. 1 case is in Krasnodar area (at Black sea), 1 - is in Krasnoyarsk city (where Elijah's family live!), and 4 new cases - in Moscow. All those people have recently came back from the countries with bad epidemic situation. The question is: who made them go there?? People are really dumb: i know that, when it all started,- instead of sitting at home, a lot of russians rushed to tour agencies in order to get the "last chance" to go for a trip. And now we get what we get.
Very soon Moscow will become a walking zoo for covid. The largest number of cases are registered there. Because Moscowits are the most wealthy people (compared to other russians), and they travel to exotic (and not so very) countries a lot.
That's why i decided to stop "attending" a restroom at Moscowsky railway station at all, because it's the place where you can meet a lot of Moscowits and people from other contries, like Italy. They still may come here (by train), despite that airway connection is cancelled. Moreover, i don't want to put my stuff into the x-ray control machines that you need to overpass when you're entering the area for long-distance trains. Plus now we have to avoid Moscowits. Who knows, maybe very soon i'll have to stop going home by Martlet train, and start avoiding everything that involves crowds.
...Tbh, it sounds a little depressing: when we get on Martlet train, every single time we have to listen (from a speaker inside the carriage) about covid, its symptoms and its consequences. And when i buy tickets at electronic ticket machines (i pay there with my debit card, - it's very convenient), the first thing that i see on its screen is this ****ing covid, the list of its symptoms and the info about horrible death of it. One has to dab the screen twice until he gets an access to the menu. I'm sure that the IT staff of "Russian railways" had an order - to make people read this stuff and pay attention and blah-blah-blah, and they did a good job having reprogrammed these vending machines this way (within a couple days, there was a red star on the screen - in order to remind people about the "Day of homeland defenders", which was on Feb.23rd). ...But... isn't it a little "too much"??
Today, at work, when there were 2 of us in the classroom (me and Mrs.Sogreyeva),- there came Larisa (our lyceum's konzertmeister, who works with Mrs.Sogreyeva as well). They started talking about covid and quarantine in other countries. I also asked if they know something regarding those Germans who were supposed to come in April. They said they hope that Germans won't come. And then Sogreyeva said that everything that's going on is very "oppressive" (if i understand this word correctly, then that's what she called this situation). She's 70y.o., and she's a strong and intellegent woman with quite healthy mindset. Having heard her saying that made me and Larisa pretty disturbed. Mrs. Sogreyeva had seen a lot of cr@p in her life, but when she was saying it, she looked frightened.
P.S. Unghshu is on Martlet train now, going to my hometown. Got a ticket. Just look at this sh*t :


It's written here: "Medicine of RZHD. What do you need to know about coronavirus?", etc. etc.

 

[Val]

I realized that i had changed one more habit quite some time ago, despite that it causes me certain inconvenience. But it was something that my subconscious mind demanded, and i've always trusted my subconscious mind. When i get off a suburban train (off Martlet train), i rush to the automatic control at the exit of the platform. (If you don't have your ticket checked one more time when you leave a railway station, you won't be able to go out! At least, that's how it works over here). And there is always a huge crowd of passengers at these few automatic control machines at the exit. A good target for terrorists, btw(!)... So, passengers in this crowd literally "breathe into each other's nape" because they're in a hurry. I don't want it anymore - to be jammed in a crowd of strangers who "are breathing me into my nape". So, from now on, i prefer to wait until this crowd goes away. Only then i pass the automatic control and continue my way. After getting off the train i always walk on foot (for ~20 min.) to Okey mall (that's where i buy food). And if i come later than at 10p.m., i can't use an escalator (moving staircase),- because securities switch it off at 10! It's hard to drag my blocky carcass upstairs, but i think it's better to waste a couple minutes waiting while the crowd at the exit disappears and then to have to crawl upstairs, than to be stuck in this sweaty crowd of passengers who are breathing at you.

 

[Chryssie]

I just got home from work and checked my email. I have a message from the library bookstore that it will be closed for the next two weeks. TJ Maxx was not very busy today either but I doubt they will close unless an employee gets the virus.

 

[Tom L.]

I wash my hands more often than I used to- and I did it quite a bit (OK, about as much as most people seem to).

I agree that it's REALLY hard not to touch your eyes and nose, which are main entry points for germs.

 

[Danielle]

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control now recommend that people avoid all non-essential travel, including plane trips.

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a virus (more specifically, a coronavirus) identified as the cause of an outbreak of respiratory illness first detected in Wuhan, China.

www.cdc.gov

.

I’m supposed to go back home in April, but if I really have to maybe I don’t have to go home

 

[Chryssie]

The theme parks in Orlando just announced they are closing for at least two week. This doesn't affect me but will greatly affect the economy of this area.

 

[Val]

The theme parks in Orlando just announced they are closing for at least two week. This doesn't affect me but will greatly affect the economy of this area.

Geez! This is so sad to hear that! I somewhat got to love the theme parks in Orlando, though i'd never seen them IRL. That sounds weird, but i've watched tons of videos about the parks (a.k.a. reviews on the parks) filmed by the famous (formerly Ukranian) Youtube vlogger "FloridaYalta" (meaning that she comes from Yalta city). Her name is Ludmila actually. She lives in a suburb of Orlando (i don't remember which one). Her reviews are very interesting and entertaining. [She has also filmed hours and hours of her journeys by cruise ships and of adventures on tropical islands]. I do not agree with her on a lot of things, but it doesn't mean i can't watch her videos and enjoy many of them.
When i was in hospital, i used to watch her videos about trips across Florida, and it helped me to fight depression. But i also got pleasant bonus of this "weird leisure": i realized how beautiful Florida is in every aspect: wildlife, landscapes, culture, history, people, etc...

 

[shyvas]

The government has decided to shut down all schools, universities and kindergartens as from Monday for two weeks. This is going
to be problematic for working parents.

 

[PTree15]

The government has decided to shut down all schools, universities and kindergartens as from Monday for two weeks. This is going
to be problematic for working parents.

The same thing is happening here. Universities are going to have classes online only after spring break. Our governor just banned gatherings of more than 250 people, among other things, and he's telling people to work from home if they are able. I feel bad for people who don't get paid if they can't go to work. I think the economy is going to be rough for a few months as well.

 

[Andy_T]

I am very lucky in that my wife and I both work in IT, so we are now both working from home.

 

[Max Caulfield]

No, this hysteria doesn't affect me internally just externally just by virtue of other people making a big fuss about it. Even if I caught it I would have overwhelming chance of recovery, this is primarily the killer of old people, not some deadly disease that will decimate humanity. The black death this is not. So it's only matter of reducing death of vulnerable individuals not some cataclysmic event.

 

[Val]

No, this hysteria doesn't affect me internally just externally just by virtue of other people making a big fuss about it. Even if I caught it I would have overwhelming chance of recovery, this is primarily the killer of old people, not some deadly disease that will decimate humanity. The black death this is not. So it's only matter of reducing death of vulnerable individuals not some cataclysmic event.

I think, the biggest part of this hysteria among ordinary people is about the fears of losing their loved ones. One cannot understimate this threat (if he has someone to lose, of course). And the second biggest fear, i believe, is about encountering the unknown, something you cannot control, something dark, unpredictable and inevitable. People subconsciously fear that the mankind, as we know it, may come to an end. Very soon most of world economics may collapse (some are agonizing already). If people were smart enough, they would have united against this threat, but as soon as it's impossible within of conditions of hostility that rules the world,- the mankind is helpless in front of death. That's what my fears would be about (me, as a small human being), even if i were absolutely lonely in this life. The mankind is at the door of big (not good) change, and no one loves change. Things will never be the same for the mankind, even if the biggest part of it survives this time, which is questionable.

 

[Andy_T]

No, this hysteria doesn't affect me internally just externally just by virtue of other people making a big fuss about it. Even if I caught it I would have overwhelming chance of recovery, this is primarily the killer of old people, not some deadly disease that will decimate humanity. The black death this is not. So it's only matter of reducing death of vulnerable individuals not some cataclysmic event.

Max, please try to re-read your lines and consider how they would sound from the point-of-view of a "vulnerable individual" a.k.a. old or immunocompromised human being.

You might understand why "people make a big fuss about it".

 

[Andy_T]

Another interesting article:

Coronavirus Shows Us America Is Broken

We are seeing the collapse of civic authority and public trust at what is only the beginning of a protracted crisis.

nymag.com

 

[shyvas]

Further to yesterday's announcement of schools closing, apparently there were 4 hours queues at the local hypermarket's checkout.

 

[Max Caulfield]

I think, the biggest part of this hysteria among ordinary people is about the fears of losing their loved ones. One cannot understimate this threat (if he has someone to lose, of course). And the second biggest fear, i believe, is about encountering the unknown, something you cannot control, something dark, unpredictable and inevitable. People subconsciously fear that the mankind, as we know it, may come to an end. Very soon most of world economics may collapse (some are agonizing already). If people were smart enough, they would have united against this threat, but as soon as it's impossible within of conditions of hostility that rules the world,- the mankind is helpless in front of death. That's what my fears would be about (me, as a small human being), even if i were absolutely lonely in this life. The mankind is at the door of big (not good) change, and no one loves change. Things will never be the same for the mankind, even if the biggest part of it survives this time, which is questionable.

That's not really rational fear. First, t's pretty much much serious risk in case of older people, rest is bound to exclusive and rarely occurring circumstances, hence it's extremely low lethal factor among low-middle aged people. In those cases pretty much you should come to terms with significantly increasing odds of death anyway, as it's inevitability. Second, mankind isn't going to end now or close future (decades ahead), most certainly not because of this virus.

@Andy_T

If I'm an old person I would have to deal with significant odds of death anyway, if person didn't learn how to cope with such fact it's time to start by the time you hit 60's.Not to mention old people are probably of much lower risk of an infection as they don't tend to socialize as much.

 

[KLS52]

I don’t see the fear of death/getting sick as the main issue. I think it’s more the inconvenience of being quarantined and having activities/classes, etc., cancelled. For the most part we are selfish/spoiled creatures and we don’t like having an interruption in what we perceive to be “the norm”. I think that’s what the hoarding is all about.

And if I may address the issue of old people, I am 68 years old and I don’t think that qualifies me for being more expendable or people not taking this situation seriously enough because they are not likely to get really sick and/or die because they are younger so, therefore, have more of a right to live.

Many senior-aged people have very active social lives.

I do not think Covid19 is going to be the beginning of the “end of days”.

 

[Val]

I don’t see the fear of death/getting sick as the main issue. I think it’s more the inconvenience of being quarantined and having activities/classes, etc., cancelled. For the most part we are selfish/spoiled creatures and we don’t like having an interruption in what we perceive to be “the norm”. I think that’s what the hoarding is all about.

And if I may address the issue of old people, I am 68 years old and I don’t think that qualifies me for being more expendable or people not taking this situation seriously enough because they are not likely to get really sick and/or die because they are younger so, therefore, have more of a right to live.

Many senior-aged people have very active social lives.

I do not think Covid19 is going to be the beginning of the “end of days”.

I'm not saying it will necessarily be the end of days. I'm only saying that people have this fear on a subconscious level, which corellates with their basic instinct of survival and compromises it, making them feel constantly insecure about the very nearest future. Because that in order to fight this kind of threat effectively, our society would need to possess certain features that it doesn't possess, unfortunately. The mutual feeling of an approaching chaos (including cancelled... everything), gives birth to more and more fears. This virus may not be deadly for the whole mankind, but it has already demonstrated how unprepared and fragile we are. Sorry if i'm repeating myself, but the fear of the unknown and also being in the state of uncertainty have always been the most significant fears for a human being.
I'm sorry if i said something compromising and unpleasant. I'm not addressing these "thoughts on a subject" directly to you. You only have mentioned an important subject (and i appreciate that you did it), so some (disturbing) thoughts on it raised in my mind.

 

[Val]

That's not really rational fear. First, t's pretty much much serious risk in case of older people, rest is bound to exclusive and rarely occurring circumstances, hence it's extremely low lethal factor among low-middle aged people. In those cases pretty much you should come to terms with significantly increasing odds of death anyway, as it's inevitability. Second, mankind isn't going to end now or close future (decades ahead), most certainly not because of this virus.

@Andy_T

If I'm an old person I would have to deal with significant odds of death anyway, if person didn't learn how to cope with such fact it's time to start by the time you hit 60's.Not to mention old people are probably of much lower risk of an infection as they don't tend to socialize as much.

Fears rarely occur to be completely rational.

 

[Val]

Blin, Annie has been calling me. She said she can't go to the competition with the kids! She has 2(!) another jobs, so she'll have to be somewhere else. So it's me who's obligate now to spend 3 days (Mar.23rd, 24th and 26th) in the crowded Sviridov's school, looking after the kids and managing their recitals and preparations for them. On Mar.23rd - is the 1st tour; the 2nd one is on Mar.24th. ...Mar.26th - is the closing ceremony and Gala-concert. (Also, on Mar.21st, i'm going there in order to attend a rehearsal and see what's going on - to be able not to mess up within those rest 3 days without Annie). That Sviridov's school is not only on the same street with the quarantined dorm where 780 students are kept, but these buildings are basically 1300 meters away from each other. Not the best neighbourhood. We're aware that for now, large events in SPb are already cancelled, and there is a possibility that all of these dancing competitions may be cancelled too, but this particular one is a local event (allegedly, without anyone from outside SPb), so it's not likely to be cancelled. I don't want to go there 4(!) times in a row, but i have no choice.