The Covid-19 Thread: News, Preparation Tips, Etc

itsallaboutattitude

Cancer Support in Health
I am so behind on this thread.

I was told a target near me had TP. My neighbor was able to get a 20 pack.

Convinced my dad to go with me to get some. I didn’t want to depend on delivery service and someone grab the last pack before they got there.

I now have TP for two people. My original prep was only for one person.

ETA: and this man is using toilet paper and paper towels for every and anything. I have very nice wash cloths to dry hands. Multiple! He will use one and then switch back to paper towels. I’m used to a two pack of bounty lasting me 12 months.

There is Kleenex but he has multiple rolls of TP in use instead of just asking for a replacement Kleenex box.

it’s his first time in GA during pollen season and it has him messed up.
 

Black Ambrosia

Well-Known Member
I’m trying to keep my butt at home for 2 weeks stretches. Unfortunately grocery delivery is harder as more folk attempt to use it. Plan B is to go shopping earlier when there are much fewer people about.
Agreed. I've been trying to place an order with Kroger for pick up. When I started there were available slots on Sunday. By the time I was ready to check out there were no slots for the next 7 days and it doesn't let you push the date out beyond that. I switch stores and it's the same thing. I'm hoping it's a timing issue and I can schedule for pick up for the next day in a few hours. I really don't want to start over with Instacart or Shipt because Kroger seems to have the best selection even when they shop the same store. And neither service has any delivery dates available.
 

Black Ambrosia

Well-Known Member
I am so behind on this thread.

I was told a target near me had TP. My neighbor was able to get a 20 pack.

Convinced my dad to go with me to get some. I didn’t want to depend on delivery service and someone grab the last pack before they got there.

I now have TP for two people. My original prep was only for one person.

ETA: and this man is using toilet paper and paper towels for every and anything. I have very nice wash cloths to dry hands. Multiple! He will use one and then switch back to paper towels. I’m used to a two pack of bounty lasting me 12 months.

There is Kleenex but he has multiple rolls of TP in use instead of just asking for a replacement Kleenex box.

it’s his first time in GA during pollen season and it has him messed up.
Ma'am why are either one of you at Target? Aren't you both high risk?

And how is a 2 pack of bounty lasting you 12 months?
 

itsallaboutattitude

Cancer Support in Health
Ma'am why are either one of you at Target? Aren't you both high risk?

And how is a 2 pack of bounty lasting you 12 months?
Yes. We are both high risk.

I use dish towels and wash cloths to dry my hands. I have white cleaning cloths and micro fiber cleaning cloths. There is just no need to use paper towels that often.

He literally tears a piece off then tears that piece in half. Doesn’t matter if it’s select a size or not. Then promptly forgets about the torn half and goes and gets another piece.

My OCD is fully triggered. This man doesn’t believe that supplies are limited or low. Thinks we just need to go to a Costco or BJ’s and everything will be fine.

I did a delivery order earlier. It seemed the store had TP however when the shopper went none to be found at the Publix.

We are wearing masks when we go out.
 

Black Ambrosia

Well-Known Member
Yes. We are both high risk.

I use dish towels and wash cloths to dry my hands. I have white cleaning cloths and micro fiber cleaning cloths. There is just no need to use paper towels that often.

He literally tears a piece off then tears that piece in half. Doesn’t matter if it’s select a size or not. Then promptly forgets about the torn half and goes and gets another piece.

My OCD is fully triggered. This man doesn’t believe that supplies are limited or low. Thinks we just need to go to a Costco or BJ’s and everything will be fine.

I did a delivery order earlier. It seemed the store had TP however when the shopper went none to be found at the Publix.

We are wearing masks when we go out.
It seems a lot of older people are just now realizing how serious this is. A friend was telling me his aunt in Alabama was planning a party for this weekend. He and his brother flooded her with info on what's going on and convinced other family members not to attend. She only decided against the party once everyone else decided they weren't going.
 

Maguerite

Well-Known Member
Sickening. I read the US also seized a shipment of ventilators bound for a European country- Belgium I think. It’s raised a diplomatic row.
What a morally bankrupt, evil leadership. Karma will prevail.

Anyone here from Barbados? Sounds like they're going through it with this Trump mess.

Ventilators destined for Barbados seized by U.S.

The seizure of 20 ventilators destined for Barbados appears to have thrust the Mia Mottley administration into a growing global battle for critical supplies to fight the outbreak of COVID-19.


But Minister of Health and Wellness, Lieutenant Col Jeffrey Bostic on Sunday morning assured there is no shortage of the critical supplies, dismissing such suggestions as “absurd”.

During a press conference at Ilaro Court, Bostic revealed that the ventilators donated to the Barbados Government as an act of philanthropy were barred from exportation.

“They were seized in the United States. Paid for, but seized, so we are trying to see exactly what is going to transpire there,” Minister Bostic disclosed.

“But I remind you that ventilators are one of the most in-demand items in the world today and Barbados is merely wrestling with the other 203 countries and territories around the world seeking to secure as many of these pieces of equipment as possible,” he added.

While initially indicating they were part of the $1.4 million in assistance pledged by Barbados-born international pop star Rihanna, he later corrected this and added that five of the ventilators sent by Rihanna would soon reach the country.


The Health Minister did not disclose the U.S. city or state where the seizure took place. But reports of such seizures made news as recently as Friday in New York, where Governor Andrew Cuomo vowed to seize unused ventilators from private entities through an executive order in the hard-hit city.

It is still unclear how Barbadian authorities will respond, but at least for now, the 48 ventilators on island that are currently at government’s disposal appear to be more than enough with only three of the country’s 56 COVID-19 patients in need of ventilators.

“So it is absurd for anyone to say, suggest, imply or insinuate that there is a shortage or could in the foreseeable future be an acute shortage of ventilators on the island,” the Lieutenant Colonel declared.

“We have an adequate amount of ventilators at this point and ventilators have been arriving almost daily over the past two weeks or so. But up to this point, we have only had to use three ventilators,” Bostic added.

On Saturday, Democratic Labour Party President, Verla DePeiza questioned whether enough ventilators are on the island and demanded to know when more would arrive.

The Health Minister, however, disclosed that over 150 ventilators had been ordered and paid for from more than five different sources through five different sources and stressed that Prime Minister Mottley had made an “open cheque” available for the purchase of such critical supplies. (KS)



Link: https://barbadostoday.bb/2020/04/05...vRAqwlBNqYnudB0J-Mb1KevKWbyW7Oypdayo56fjuptIc
 

Chicoro

5 Year Shea Anniversary: Started Dec 16th, 2016!
I have heard of and seen Dr. Drew but never paid him too much attention. So he says the coronavirus is no big deal on his show and as a guest on other shows, at least 8 to 10 different times.

If he went on his show and said you know folks, I was wrong, I could respect that. But no..

That video is a good record to have to see what he said before and the new changed tune. Thanks for posting @Black Ambrosia . I certainly wasn't aware of this.
 

msdeevee

Well-Known Member
I have heard of and seen Dr. Drew but never paid him too much attention. So he says the coronavirus is no big deal on his show and as a guest on other shows, at least 8 to 10 different times.

If he went on his show and said you know folks, I was wrong, I could respect that. But no..

That video is a good record to have to see what he said before and the new changed tune. Thanks for posting @Black Ambrosia . I certainly wasn't aware of this.


@Chicoro ..thank you so much.

My friend had so much to live for. She had a loving husband and 2 grown children. She just threw a fabulous anniversary party where we all had to gown & tux up. She was sweet and very generous. Her loss will be hard to get past but we will.

@Black Ambrosia ...condolences on your friend also. I feel horrible for all the folks we’ll lose from this killer disease..
 

winterinatl

All natural!
:cry3::cry4:
1. At least half of the states refusing to lock down are sparsely populated. That may work in their favor if/when there’s an outbreak. My concern lies with vulnerable populations on reservations with very little resources. I understand some are banning outsiders to protect themselves.

2. California and Washington State have flattened the curve. Their economies may rebound much sooner than red states who are resisting. I wonder how that will play out in an election year?
In WA our folks are still being hardheaded. But we are doing better at staying home.

Gov. Inslee just announced schools we’re closed for the rest of the school year. I called it over a month ago, but it still felt like a sucker punch. I worry for my students. My school has a high poverty, high trauma population. For some, school is their only constant. This is awful for them.
 

Jmartjrmd

Well-Known Member
Have you all seen this video? Apparently Dr. Drew took the position of the Fox pundits and completely dismissed the coronavirus before doing a complete 180. Then he got the video yanked from YouTube by claiming it violated his copyright. I didn't have an opinion of him before but I'm surprised for some reason.

I had a heated argument with a travel agent over this at the time he said it a month or so ago. As the stay at home orders and warnings were coming down she was still pushing people to take advantage of the deals and travel even advising people it's ok to cruise smh. Of course the more people she booked the better for her wallet. And she is a nurse which blew my mind.
Several people pointed out to her that while he is a doctor his specialty is addiction not infectious diseases.
I was disappointed that he couldn't read statistics from flu vs coronavirus and analyze the data or recognize this was a different beast from the seasonal flu.
 

Everything Zen

Well-Known Member
Have you all seen this video? Apparently Dr. Drew took the position of the Fox pundits and completely dismissed the coronavirus before doing a complete 180. Then he got the video yanked from YouTube by claiming it violated his copyright. I didn't have an opinion of him before but I'm surprised for some reason.


He’s the reason I didn’t take it seriously at first and now I can’t deprogram FH. Absolutely irresponsible. SMH
 

oneastrocurlie

Well-Known Member
I’m trying to keep my butt at home for 2 weeks stretches. Unfortunately grocery delivery is harder as more folk attempt to use it. Plan B is to go shopping earlier when there are much fewer people about.

Grocery pick up is like a week out here. So basically you have to know what you want for a week or two a full week in advance before you can pick up.

I'd had been able to stay out of the grocery for almost 2 weeks up until this last weekend.
 

sunshinebeautiful

Well-Known Member
Have you all seen this video? Apparently Dr. Drew took the position of the Fox pundits and completely dismissed the coronavirus before doing a complete 180. Then he got the video yanked from YouTube by claiming it violated his copyright. I didn't have an opinion of him before but I'm surprised for some reason.


I remember this. One of my FBFs must have posted a video clip of Dr. Drew downplaying the whole thing because I saw something like this and don't follow the man like that. I also remember being surprised that he was taking such a strong stance, even alluding that the media should be sued for causing hysteria over something that's not a big deal. :nono:
 

Everything Zen

Well-Known Member
I don’t understand people leaving the house unless you can absolutely avoid it. I was sweating bullets in my face mask having to pick up a prescription for FH at the Walgreens drive through last week bc he was over the road driving truck. I’ve only left the house three times in the last 5 weeks besides letting the dog out in the yard. I’m securing food through Amazon, jazzing up Top Ramen with poached eggs, meats and veggies that I have laying around eating pop tarts, carbs and stuff I would turn my nose up at and draining all this house’s supplies before I set foot in the grocery store again and then I plan on using delivery for fear of coming in contact with a sick delivery person. I ran out of wine a few weeks ago- guess who ain’t drinking? Alcohol is not a necessity!

I’m extremely blessed to have a great job that allows me to work from home so I could do this as long as necessary. The only risks I’m willing to take invokes taking care of my parents, family and friends.
 
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Peppermynt

Defying Gravity
We haven't been in a store in over a month. :look:

No plans to either. We have TP, towels and tissues from the last Costco run late Feb, and in the next few weeks I'm sure one of our shopping cart companies will get us some. Sis in law actually mailed us two extra TP rolls and step son is gonna try to send us some from Brooklyn just to be safe - apparently their stores are stocked.

Since we consolidated and moved to a smaller home DH has less space for his garden, but at least the backyard is fenced in (and locked lol) and he's already got tomatoes, cukes, lettuce, kale, chard already growing.

Sadly the freezer we bought arrived damaged :cry3: so it is being returned and I have to find another option ...
 

yamilee21

Well-Known Member
I think we are all aware that COVID-19 cases, including deaths, are being seriously undercounted, but the degree may be far greater than we realize. Normally, 20-25 people in New York City die at home every day. Recently, 200 people have been dying at home every day.

Staggering Surge Of NYers Dying In Their Homes Suggests City Is Undercounting Coronavirus Fatalities
BY GWYNNE HOGAN, WNYC
APRIL 7, 2020 6:00 A.M.

If you die at home from the coronavirus, there’s a good chance you won’t be included in the official death toll, because of a discrepancy in New York City’s reporting process.

The problem means the city’s official death count is likely far lower than the real toll taken by the virus, according to public health officials.

It also means that victims without access to testing are not being counted, and even epidemiologists are left without a full understanding of the pandemic.

As of Monday afternoon, 2,738 New York City residents have died from ‘confirmed’ cases of COVID-19, according to the city Department of Health. That’s an average of 245 a day since the previous Monday.

But another 200 city residents are now dying at home each day, compared to 20 to 25 such deaths before the pandemic, said Aja Worthy-Davis, a spokeswoman for the medical examiner’s office. And an untold number of them are unconfirmed.

That’s because the ME’s office is not testing dead bodies for COVID-19. Instead, they’re referring suspected cases to the city’s health department as “probable.”

“If someone dies at home, and we go to the home and there [are] signs of influenza, our medical examiner may determine the cause of death was clearly an influenza-like illness, potentially COVID or an influenza-like illness believed to be COVID,” said Worthy-Davis. “We report all our deaths citywide to the health department, who releases that data to the public.”

But the health department does not include that number in the official count unless it is confirmed, a spokesman said.

“Every person with a lab confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis is counted in the number of fatalities,” the spokesman, Michael Lanza, said in an email. He said the city's coronavirus death tally does not break down who died at home versus who died in a hospital from the virus.

“While undiagnosed cases that result in at-home deaths are connected to a public health pandemic...not all suspected COVID-19 deaths are brought in for examination by OCME, nor do we provide testing in most of these natural at-home deaths,” Lanza said.

Typically, when someone dies at home, a loved one, acquaintance or neighbor calls the police or 911. First responders call in the medical examiner, who conducts a review to determine if there was foul play, then records a cause of death.

Worthy-Davis could not immediately provide a tally of how many “probable” COVID-19 deaths have been referred to the Health Department. The health department also could not provide the number of “probable” COVID deaths certified by OCME.

If a person had been tested before death, that record would be passed along, said Worthy-Davis. But testing protocols have generally excluded victims who are not hospitalized.

Statistics from the Fire Department, which runs EMS, confirm a staggering rise in deaths occurring at the scene before first responders can transport a person to a hospital for care.

The FDNY says it responded to 2,192 cases of deaths at home between March 20th and April 5th, or about 130 a day, an almost 400 percent increase from the same time period last year. (In 2019, there were just 453 cardiac arrest calls where a patient died, according to the FDNY.)

That number has been steadily increasing since March 30th, with 241 New Yorkers dying at home Sunday — more than the number of confirmed COVID-19 deaths that occurred citywide that day. On Monday night, the city reported 266 new deaths, suggesting the possibility of a 40% undercount of coronavirus-related deaths.

A spokeswoman for Mayor Bill de Blasio did not return a request for comment about the difference between probable and confirmed COVID-19 deaths. But the discrepancy troubled public health authorities and local elected officials.

“There’s no doubt we’re undercounting,” said City Councilman Mark Levine, who chairs the city’s Health Committee. “If the person had a confirmed test result before death then they were marked that was the cause of death on the death certificate. If someone did not have a confirmed test but it appears they had the symptoms, then OCME will flag them as a ‘possible’ [COVID death]. It’s unclear to me whether those are being counted in our total stats.”

Dr. Irwin Redlener, the director of Columbia University's National Center for Disaster Preparedness, called the discrepancy “a subset of the whole testing fiasco.” He said the city should be testing dead bodies and reporting the results.

“This difference between the [Medical Examiner] and the Health Department, that’s something that needs to be resolved urgently, that’s not okay,” Redlener said. “They have to be on the same page.”

Redlener said the city should also be tracking other deaths that occur as collateral damage.

“[People] may be dying because of reduced care for other non-COVID diseases” like diabetes, heart attacks or other chronic conditions, Redlener said. “Those to me, should be somehow tallied as we’re looking at the death toll of COVID.”

Meanwhile, city and hospital morgues and refrigerated trucks used to supplement them are nearing capacity, and first responders continue to answer unprecedented numbers of 911 calls every day. They’re averaging more than 6,400 a day over the last 11 days, compared to 4,500 before the pandemic, according to union officials.

To alleviate pressure on hospitals, last week the council that oversees emergency responders told paramedics and EMTs to try to revive a person whose heart has stopped beating in the field. If they can’t do so, the person is not taken to a hospital for further care.

“We had one lieutenant in his 16-hour tour respond to 11 cardiac arrests, which is beyond abnormal,” said Michael Greco, vice president of Local 2507, the union representing the Fire Department’s EMTs and paramedics. On Sunday, they fielded 187 calls for cardiac arrest, where they would have to try to revive people on site. They used to get 20 of those a day, he said.
“None of us were trained for this,” he said. “None of us signed up for this.”

https://gothamist.com/news/surge-nu...ls-suspect-undercount-covid-19-related-deaths
 

naturalgyrl5199

Well-Known Member
Have you all seen this video? Apparently Dr. Drew took the position of the Fox pundits and completely dismissed the coronavirus before doing a complete 180. Then he got the video yanked from YouTube by claiming it violated his copyright. I didn't have an opinion of him before but I'm surprised for some reason.

Him, Dr. OZ, and that Surgeon General are Hacks.
Period.
 

naturalgyrl5199

Well-Known Member
Sticking my head in....
In my small town in North Florida, we are helping Hospital CEO's scout areas to build 1-2 Field Hospitals.
Yes we are getting in front of this eventuality. I'm still teleworking but having to go into the office. Telework is NOT intuitive because we are working with clients. So I am coaching my staff on it a lot. I came in to say that you all have the RIGHT attitude bc people continue to disregard the situation at hand. I've unplugged a TON in the last week or so.

It may be months from now but many areas WILL be a smaller yet potent version of NYC. Having plans in place is key. If you are making supply runs that's fine, I keep my run to 20 minutes tops. I try to outdo my last time. I shop super early when there is little to no one there. I call ahead so I'm not wasting my time and browsing. I continue to slowly stock up on essentials each time because I'm planning for now--November. Hurricane season starts in June so I'm not waiting for the Public Health and News Outlets to start talking about it (when everyone starts over buying water and batteries and lights), I'm getting ahead and slowly getting it now. My husband will be sole provider for our daughters most days as I am always deployed to work with the Emergency Manager during Hurricane landings due to where we are situated in FL. I have to make sure they have what they need. When I'm gone the only thing he has to buy is ice for the deep freezer chest. Its always Ft. Knox when I'm gone and they have all the non-perishable food they need while the rest of the city scrambles. My plan for water is just to fill up jugs. I ain't buying all those plastic bottles.

Oh and my nighttime sanitation routine is very tiring. I'm officially working full time AND homeschooling. Its been a bit much and my baby misses her classmates. IHAVE been able to squeeze in a glass of wine and we are getting the kids some backyard water activities. They are officially suffering from cabin fever every weekend.
 

Dposh167

Well-Known Member
I bought enough food 2 weeks (frozen, canned, meats, fresh veggies and fruit included). If some of the fresh veggies goes bad oh well. So far it's been keeping me in the house for that long. Then when I get seriously low...I pick 1 day to do all my shopping to re-up and that's it. And when that day comes, it's like preparing for gorilla warfare :armyhat::brucelee:
 

naturalgyrl5199

Well-Known Member
I bought enough food 2 weeks (frozen, canned, meats, fresh veggies and fruit included). If some of the fresh veggies goes bad oh well. So far it's been keeping me in the house for that long. Then when I get seriously low...I pick 1 day to do all my shopping to re-up and that's it. And when that day comes, it's like preparing for gorilla warfare :armyhat::brucelee:
Same...I do an inventory check, meal plans, etc, and we have the Grocery IQ App that we update regularly. We check-re-check and one of us goes. We are getting ready to do a Sams Club Run this weekend. I'm sending Hubby. Its been about 3-4 weeks.

Someone mentioned upthread they have lots of frozen meats. This is the best idea. We are blessed to still have power and water...its not like a Hurricane. But I better get hubby to invest in a Generator.....
We have frozen Fish and Shrimp as well, and For those that drink milk, you can freeze milk as well. On the day you defrost it (takes 24 hours), then you have like 7 days to drink it. I am not sure the freezer times for plant-based milks. However you can buy many shelf-stable plant based milks like soy and almond milk. Others can do Powder milk which is GREAT to have in the event you were to ever lose power. Every trip, you should consider adding a few canned goods as well as you build your stock piles.
 
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