Coronavirus pandemic - how are you affected?

[Reprise]

A lot of stores around here, including most of the supermarkets, are doing this curbside pickup thing. You either call in an order or place one online, then when you get to the store someone will bring it out to your car. You pop the trunk and the load your order, then you drive away without coming into contact with a single person.

Oh they do that here. It's awesome, but unfortunately people have taken the piss and every single slot for the next 3 or 4 weeks is all booked up and you can't book any further ahead.

[Reprise]

UK heading for a full lockdown. A big announcement is happening tonight.

Hopefully at some point some sane person will realize the economic and societal impact of these extreme measures, not to mention the effect on family relationships, mental health and the isolation of vulnerable people, far outweighs the impact of the virus.

I don't know about that, it's a difficult balancing act.

Compare the approaches of Italy vs. South Korea. South Korea took strong measures early and have managed to keep their healthcare need under capacity. Italy did not and is now forced to face quarantines anyway on top of having its medical capacity overwhelmed.

Now that's what frustrates me the most. We could have and should have acted sooner. Last month I was watching what was happening around the world and I was bloody telling people we needed to act. It is far easier to contain and isolate it when you have low numbers. I said in late January/early February this would blow up! I keep saying now it's too late and people say "it's never too late", but we'll see... Here in the UK there's got to be thousands and thousands, at least 50-150 thousand cases (I mean, who knows? They have only been testing those who have been hospitalised), it will just spread in supermarkets.

To think this could have been managed fr the beginning and hospitals might not be so overwhelmed in the wider societal and socioeconomic impacts would not be so great.

[Ziggy]

Now that's what frustrates me the most. We could have and should have acted sooner. Last month I was watching what was happening around the world and I was bloody telling people we needed to act. It is far easier to contain and isolate it when you have low numbers. I said in late January/early February this would blow up! I keep saying now it's too late and people say "it's never too late", but we'll see... Here in the UK there's got to be thousands and thousands, at least 50-150 thousand cases (I mean, who knows? They have only been testing those who have been hospitalised), it will just spread in supermarkets.

To think this could have been managed fr the beginning and hospitals might not be so overwhelmed in the wider societal and socioeconomic impacts would not be so great.

Yes, in retrospect, everyone should have acted sooner. But I disagree that's it's too late to do anything (although I really don't know the situation in the UK). Social distancing will, at the very least, slow down the spread.

[Reprise]

Now that's what frustrates me the most. We could have and should have acted sooner. Last month I was watching what was happening around the world and I was bloody telling people we needed to act. It is far easier to contain and isolate it when you have low numbers. I said in late January/early February this would blow up! I keep saying now it's too late and people say "it's never too late", but we'll see... Here in the UK there's got to be thousands and thousands, at least 50-150 thousand cases (I mean, who knows? They have only been testing those who have been hospitalised), it will just spread in supermarkets.

To think this could have been managed fr the beginning and hospitals might not be so overwhelmed in the wider societal and socioeconomic impacts would not be so great.

Yes, in retrospect, everyone should have acted sooner. But I disagree that's it's too late to do anything (although I really don't know the situation in the UK). Social distancing will, at the very least, slow down the spread.

I do agree. But the impacts on people's businesses, people's lives and other wider societal impacts are going to be huge. Many businesses will simply not return. It will not be sustainable to live like this in the long run, but the second we start to relax rules a little and leave our homes again, it'll all start up again. The worst is probably to come once we enter the months of November and December. A vaccine is at least 12 months off, but we can't live like this for 12 months. It is simply not sustainable.

[Markies]

Thanks for all the help!

I was just informed that it is now mandatory to work from home.

Starting Tuesday, I will be working from home.
I found out how to log into my Work Computer from my Home Computer.
I will call into a phone number and that will log me in and out.

And with the Stay at Home Policy, I won't be going out anymore.

So, I'm officially trapped at home for the time being.
Time to play as many video games as possible.

[samsonlonghair]

Yesterday Evening Governor Northam announced a closure of non-essential businesses midnight Tuesday night. The list of "essential" businesses is a little funny as it includes liquor stores and laundromats. The official press release closed by saying that any business in violation of this order can be charged with a misdemeanor.

In response, the president of my company sent out a company-wide email indicating that we are somehow essential. Her justification is that because DoD is staying open, and DoD is our customer, that somehow justifies keeping us open. It's clearly grasping at straws to buy more time. Looks like they're going to shut down the whole office on Friday "until further notice". Which kinda sounds like they may never re-open the office. A couple more of the high salary people got "furloughed" today as well.

On a more positive note, my ex was sent home from the hospital yesterday. I'm glad she's alive.

Edit: I'm on a video conference now in MS teams with the regional boss. She's talking about "tough decisions" and "picking up the slack" now.

[Ack]

It's actually not that strange that liquor stores and laundromats are considered essential. In the case of laundromats, enabling people to clean clothes who don't have easy access to washers and dryers means you can continue to support general hygiene. Yes, it's possible the coronavirus can spread in a laundromat, but it's also possible it or other diseases could spread on dirty clothing.

As for liquor stores, folks have been using higher proof alcohols to manufacture sanitizers. So long as you're using something over 120 proof, you can make it. Even higher, and you have a level of sterilizer for emergencies. Liquor is good for more than just drinking...though it is certainly good for that too.

[samsonlonghair]

It's actually not that strange that liquor stores and laundromats are considered essential. In the case of laundromats, enabling people to clean clothes who don't have easy access to washers and dryers means you can continue to support general hygiene. Yes, it's possible the coronavirus can spread in a laundromat, but it's also possible it or other diseases could spread on dirty clothing.

As for liquor stores, folks have been using higher proof alcohols to manufacture sanitizers. So long as you're using something over 120 proof, you can make it. Even higher, and you have a level of sterilizer for emergencies. Liquor is good for more than just drinking...though it is certainly good for that too.

I don't believe hospitals source their medical-grade alcohol from the ABC store. I think they're keeping the liquor stores open so that they don't have bunches of alcoholics going through withdrawal to compound a medical emergency.

Also, just speaking for myself, I've washed laundry in the bathtub more times than I can count. It was inconvenient, but it wasn't an emergency.

From listening to this video conference, it seems like corporate is planning to stop paying rent on this building when we go to telework. Either the landlord is going to let that slide, or they won't. If the landlord isn't going to let that slide, then we might just close down this office.

[Ack]

Man, you work for a janky place. You sure you're really a DoD contractor and not some shell company for Russian spies?

[Gunstar Green]

As for liquor stores, folks have been using higher proof alcohols to manufacture sanitizers. So long as you're using something over 120 proof, you can make it. Even higher, and you have a level of sterilizer for emergencies. Liquor is good for more than just drinking...though it is certainly good for that too.

I also don't think law enforcement and emergency services want to deal with desperate alcoholics.