Sunnely Loc: Wisconsin

The main goal is to educate and inform one another in our community on how to cope/deal/combat this problem. Everybody is free to join but please be civil with your postings, responses, reactions. Please avoid posting "conspiracy" theories about the virus or any political, religious, ideological biases. This will only create more negative and inflammatory responses and sure to relegate the topic to the Attic. If you disagree with one's post, please response in a civil manner and if possible, provide a legitimate reference to your own view. We are all in this together. Coronavirus is the enemy, not one another.

I will start with my own post, an update as to the number of cases/deaths and preventative measures avoid coronavirus. A bit long:

UPDATE CORONAVIRUS COVID-19: March 3, 2020 @ 1:00 ET

The coronavirus COVID-19 has now affected 77 countries and territories around the world and 1 international conveyance (the Diamond Princess cruise ship harbored in Yokohama, Japan). Countries reporting their first cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours are: UKRAINE with its first reported case. COVID-19 is now present in every continent except Antarctica.

WORLDWIDE: Infected cases: 92,798; Deaths: 3,164; Recovered: 48,469

CHINA: Infected cases: 80,152 (+126); Deaths: 2,945 (+33 past 24 hr); Recovered: 47,397
SOUTH KOREA: Infected cases: 5,186 (+851); Deaths: 34 (+6) There are 851 new cases and 4 new deaths in South Korea.
ITALY: Infected cases: 2,502 (+466); Deaths: 79 (+27). There are 466 new cases and 27 new deaths in Italy, for a total of 2,502 cases and 79 deaths to date. Among the 2,263 active cases, 1,034 (46%) are hospitalized, 229 of which (representing 10% of active cases) are in intensive care. Among the 239 closed cases, 160 (67%) have recovered, 79 (33%) have died.
IRAN: Infected cases: 2,336 (+835); Deaths: 77 (+11) Lots of reports regarding continued pilgrimage to Qom, despite the coronavirus outbreak there. (The actual numbers may even be higher.)
JAPAN: Infected cases: 293 (+19); Deaths: 6
FRANCE: Infected cases: 204 (+13); Deaths: 4 (+1)
GERMANY: Infected cases: 196 (+31); Deaths: 0
SPAIN: Infected cases: 153 (+33); Deaths: 0
UK: Infected cases: 51 (+12); Deaths: 0 There are 12 new cases in the UK. The government is working on the basis that it will take 2 - 3 months months after the first sustained human to human transmission for the outbreak to peak. That potentially key point on time frames was spelled out by Britain’s chief scientific adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance. After that, it would take another 2 - 3 months for it to taper off.
SWITZERLAND: Infected cases: 47 (+17); Deaths: 0
NORWAY: Infected cases: 32 (+7); Deaths: 0
NETHERLANDS: Infected cases: 24 (+6); Deaths: 0
SWEDEN: Infected cases: 24 (+9); Deaths: 0
BELGIUM: Infected cases: 13 (+5); Deaths: 0

USA: Infected cases: 104 (+4); Deaths: 6
4 new cases in the United States: 1 in New York; 2 in Georgia: an individual who was in Milan, Italy and a close contact in the household. 1 in Massachusetts: a woman in her 20s who lives in Norfolk County and recently traveled to Italy with a school group. She is recovering at home.

A great article from the New York Times on “How to Prepare for the Coronavirus” (your home and family, in case your community is affected). https://www.nytimes.com/article/prepare-for-coronavirus.html?te=1&nl=morning-briefing&emc=edit_NN_p_20200303&section=topNews&campaign_id=9&instance_id=16439&segment_id=21811&user_id=5184c1e507504fd9cff581cac52a101f&regi_id=45147806tion=topNews
If you can open the link, NYT wants you to subscribe, here’s the gist:

• Keep your hands clean
Wet your hands with clean running water and then lather with soap; don’t miss the back of your hands, between your fingers or under your nails. Make sure to scrub at least 20 seconds (or about the time it takes to sing “Happy Birthday” twice), and dry them with a clean towel or let them air dry. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers, which should be rubbed in for about 20 seconds, can also work, but the gel must contain at least 60% alcohol. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.

• Keep your distance from sick people
If someone else is showing flu- or cold-like symptoms, try to stay six feet away. If that’s not possible, even a little distancing is helpful, according to experts, as the virus seems to spread through droplets in the air from a cough or sneeze.
Sneezing or coughing yourself? Direct it into your elbow so as to avoid leaving germs on your hands, which can then quickly spread to other surfaces. Other ways to be smart include using the “Ebola handshake,” where you greet others with elbow bumps, and pushing elevator buttons with a knuckle instead of a fingertip.

• Unless you are already infected, face masks won’t help you
But if you’re infected, masks can help prevent the spread of a virus. Face masks have become almost synonymous with the coronavirus outbreak overseas, but they don’t do much to protect you – most surgical masks are too loose to prevent inhalation of the virus. The CDC and infectious disease specialists do not recommend face masks if you’re healthy. But if you are a health care worker or are caring for sick people at home or in a health care facility, you should wear one. If you’re infected, masks can help prevent the spread of the virus. The most effective are the so-called N95 masks, which block 95% of very small particles. The surgeon general urged the public to stop buying masks, warning that it won’t help against the spread of the coronavirus but will take away important resources from health care professionals.

• Stock up on home supplies, medicines and resources
Skip the masks, but don’t skimp on your household supplies – and that goes for prescription and over-the-counter medicine, too. Experts suggest stocking at least a 30-day supply of any needed prescriptions, and you should consider doing the same for household items like food staples, laundry detergent, and diapers, if you have small children. Remember, alcohol is a good disinfectant for coronaviruses so make sure to keep surfaces in your home clean. Throw out those tissues in a wastebasket after you blow your nose. The CDC also recommends cleaning “high touch” surfaces, like phones and tables. Beyond physical items, prepare your home for a potential outbreak in the US by staying up-to-date with reliable news resources, such as the website of your local health department.

• Prepare your family and communicate your plan
Create a family emergency checklist that answers basic questions about evacuations, resources and supplies. Make sure every member of the family is up-to-date on any and all emergency plans. Be sure to be in communication with your child’s school on what types of plans are established for any sort of schedule change, including early dismissals or online instruction. And if you have elderly parents or relatives, or family members with any special health concerns, make sure you have a plan for caring for them if they get sick. There’s also some reassurance that could be had by creating a family emergency checklist, which could answer basic questions about evacuations, resources and supplies – especially if you have any preconditions or illnesses. The CDC provides a checklist here. https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/hemophilia/documents/familyemergencykitchecklist.pdf

• With your children, keep calm and carry on – and get the flu shot
The good news is that coronavirus cases in children have been very rare. Protech your child by taking the same precautions you would during cold and flu season: encourage frequent hand washing, move away from people who are coughing or sneezing and get the flu shot. Experts recommend getting the flu vaccine, noting that vaccinating children is the best protection for older people against bacterial pneumonia. Right now, there’s no reason for parents to worry, the experts say, and the good news is that coronavirus cases in children have been very rare. When talking to your children about an outbreak, make sure you first assess their knowledge of the virus and that you process your own anxiety. It’s important that you don’t dismiss their fears and speak to them at an age-appropriate level. So keep calm, and if there’s an outbreak in your community, practice what’s known as “social distancing,” which means more TV bingeing at home and fewer trips to the park.

• About to go on vacation? Consider your destination and how you feel about risk
“Cancel for any reason” travel insurance could protect you, but it will cost you. Experts say that people currently should feel “very comfortable” traveling to destinations in the US like California and Florida, “but that could quickly change.” (NOTE: As of 3/3/2020, there are 37 cases in CA and 2 in FL.) For travel outside the country, check travel warnings from the CDC, which is recommending that travelers avoid all nonessential travel to China, South Korea, Italy, and Iran. The CDC is also asking older adults or those with compromised immune systems to consider postponing nonessential travel to Japan. “Cancel for any reason” travel insurance could protect you, but it will cost you. Be sure to know all the fine print to understand the terms.

• Take a deep breath when thinking about the stock market
There’s little reason to be alarmed long-term even with the declines this week. Despite financial markets falling all week, Times financial columnist Ron Lieber says there’s little reason to be alarmed long-term. After all, “stocks are how your savings fight inflation, the market is not an absolute proxy for your personal finances, and you’re playing a long game.”

Take care.

Be safe.

luvmypets Loc: Born & raised Texan living in Fayetteville NC

Thank you for all the information you have provided and for the time you spent putting all of this together.

Dodie

Bob Mevis Loc: Plymouth, Indiana

Thank you for posting this.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Thanks, and PLEASE no political comments this time around - we don’t need this thread sent to the attic again.

fotoman150

I’ve noticed that when I had type A flu and was in the emergency room the doctors and nurses wore a mask when entering my room. If masks don’t help and are only for people who are infected, why were they wearing one and why didn’t they give me one. Something doesn’t add up.

I saw two news outlets that reported in two separate studies the masks prevented getting the flu at 80% and 70%.

I think they just want to save the masks for the doctors and nurses.

They have to keep people calm so they won’t always tell the truth.

The truth is that it is here to stay and everyone will eventually get it. A lot of people will die from it just like the flu until they get a vaccine. Period.

You can’t control a disease that spreads before a person has any symptoms. I’ve read where they are about to stop trying to quarantine people and trace the origin and just put all their effort into treating the infected.

therwol Loc: USA

They do help if worn properly. Having health care people infected with the flu is not a good thing. By they way, I worked for Kaiser Permanente for 27 years. There is a mandatory flu vaccine policy. Anyone who refuses to take it or who can't take it for some medical reason must wear a mask at work throughout the flu season. Since the flu vaccine is not 100% effective, some people with medical issues choose to wear the masks even though they took the vaccine.

And by the way, the N95 masks that are worn by medical people are the same as the N95 masks you buy at the hardware store to keep dust out of your lungs when you're sawing, sanding etc. They're sold out everywhere around me.

fotoman150

My understanding is that the masks are effective especially if you combine it with hand washing.

therwol Loc: USA

Yes, they are if you know how to wear them. I added the following to my post after you read it.

And by the way, the N95 masks that are worn by medical people are the same as the N95 masks you buy at the hardware store to keep dust out of your lungs when you're sawing, sanding etc. They're sold out everywhere around me.

fotoman150

Just think. If they weren’t effective against prevention then why are they telling us to save them for the medical professionals. Pure bulls***.

I heard one expert say don’t buy masks because they won’t help and you’re taking them away from the medical professionals. WTF?

braindamage Loc: Appley Bridge, Lancs, U.K.

I am in the UK and I am in the high risk group. I shop online for most things as i have limited mobility. An event this morning alerted me to a potential risk of spreading the Covid-19 virus. I had a delivery from a national carrier and was aasked to sign one of those digital screens with a stylus that could have been infected somewhere down the line and can stay active for up to four hours. I am know washing my hands after ANY contact with ANYTHING that has been in contact with other human beings.

jerseymike

daldds Loc: NYC

Great!!! summary.
As a retired health professional, and because of age only, strongly in the at-risk population, might I add this:
studies with medical students have shown that we touch our faces 90+ times per day. There's the rub, people.
The CORID-19 is a large droplet virus, spreading only by direct receipt of a cough or sneeze, or by touching a contaminated surface. The droplets do not hang around in the air. They fall to surfaces. That's one reason why masks are useless for everyday protection. Also, most viruses are capable of penetrating those masks anyway.
Therefore, whenever you come back home, touch nothing but soap and water first. Use proper disinfectant wipes properly whenever you can. Touch doors, etc, with elbows where possible.
In other words, try to keep your hands and fingers from touching anything...totally impossible, of course, but think always.
WASH, WASH, WASH, and do NOT touch any part of your face that's naturally wet until you've scrubbed your hands.
Be safe, everyone.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I'm not a medical professional, but I would assume that the masks work in both directions. They keep the bugs from getting out, and they keep them from getting in.

daldds Loc: NYC

The mask that one buys over the counter (that seem to be sold out everywhere now BTW,) do not, repeat not protect against inhaling the virus. They do keep you from touching your nose and mouth.

fourlocks Loc: Londonderry, NH

Exactly! However, studies have shown that people wearing masks tend to constantly reach up and move them to adjust their fit, talk on the phone, eat, drink, etc. thus bringing their hands in contact with their faces...one of the worst things you can do.

I skipped purchasing masks and instead stocked up on 3 cases of beer and 21 bags of pork rinds so I now feel pretty confident I can survive a 14-day quarantine.