[Health] The Infectious Diseases Thread

Daehawk · Post by **Daehawk** » Wed Mar 11, 2020 3:01 pm

gameoverman wrote: Wed Mar 11, 2020 2:54 pm
Daehawk wrote: Wed Mar 11, 2020 2:45 pm I was out amongst my fellow peons today shuffling here and there touching and breathing.
You're such a rebel. I'm doing the same...by touching you meant yourself and not other people right?

My lawyer advises I do not answer that.

Post by **ImLawBoy** » Wed Mar 11, 2020 3:03 pm

They've announced a confirmed case at the Prudential Plaza office complex in downtown Chicago. With two towers, it's got a lot of people working there (including Tribune Media and the Chicago Tribune). With word that there's now a confirmed case downtown, I'm wondering if we'll start seeing even more suggestions to work from home and a reduced crowding on public transportation.

pr0ner · Post by **pr0ner** » Wed Mar 11, 2020 3:16 pm

Ohio is ordering all indoor sporting events to be played behind closed doors. Dunno about outdoor events there yet, but I imagine it's only a matter of time, with FC Cincinnati and the Columbus Crew scheduled to play this weekend at home and MLB and Ohio State's spring game soon to come.

LordMortis · Post by **LordMortis** » Wed Mar 11, 2020 3:19 pm

pr0ner wrote: Wed Mar 11, 2020 3:16 pm Ohio is ordering all indoor sporting events to be played behind closed doors. Dunno about outdoor events there yet, but I imagine it's only a matter of time, with FC Cincinnati and the Columbus Crew scheduled to play this weekend at home and MLB and Ohio State's spring game soon to come.

https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/blu ... mendation/

And Blue Jackets as of yesterday say this is a recommendation and not follow it. Should be interesting.

pr0ner · Post by **pr0ner** » Wed Mar 11, 2020 3:21 pm

LordMortis wrote: Wed Mar 11, 2020 3:19 pm
pr0ner wrote: Wed Mar 11, 2020 3:16 pm Ohio is ordering all indoor sporting events to be played behind closed doors. Dunno about outdoor events there yet, but I imagine it's only a matter of time, with FC Cincinnati and the Columbus Crew scheduled to play this weekend at home and MLB and Ohio State's spring game soon to come.
https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/blu ... mendation/

And Blue Jackets as of yesterday say this is a recommendation and not follow it. Should be interesting.

That was yesterday. It's an order from the governor as of this afternoon.

hentzau · Post by **hentzau** » Wed Mar 11, 2020 3:30 pm

Archinerd wrote: Wed Mar 11, 2020 2:37 pm
hentzau wrote: Wed Mar 11, 2020 1:51 pm We are in full scramble mode to get everything set up to allow EVERYONE to work from home. They're even talking about pushing down a VPN client to all of our desktop machines and allowing users to take them home with them. Crazy times.

We did that, but there are only 23 of us.

Yeah. 25,000 is a bit more to deal with.

Holman · Post by **Holman** » Wed Mar 11, 2020 3:58 pm

U. Penn, which is currently on spring break, just announced that students are now not permitted to return to campus for the remainder of the semester. They're extending the break by a week to allow faculty time to train and transition to online formats. (The only exceptions are a few specialized graduate programs already based in the hospital, where precautions are already rigid.)

My wife is at Penn and my campus is nearby, so I'm guessing we'll follow suit.

This is going to be a mess.

EDIT: typo

stessier · Post by **stessier** » Wed Mar 11, 2020 4:01 pm

are NOW permitted or NOT permitted?

Smoove_B · Post by **Smoove_B** » Wed Mar 11, 2020 4:04 pm

Yes, yes it is. I've been teaching online courses since ~2011 and it honestly took me a few years to figure everything out (formatting, assignments, etc...) and that's not even accounting for getting comfortable with the CMS. I cannot imagine starting at square 0 right now and being told to figure it out in a week. It's just...not possible. To be clear, switching to online instruction is the right move, but logistically I think it's going to be a complete cluster f everywhere - colleges, universities and K-12.

Jaymann · Post by **Jaymann** » Wed Mar 11, 2020 4:05 pm

Thursday's NBA game of Nets at Warriors will be played without fans in attendance due to SF policy of no crowds over 1,000. I wonder if they will pipe in crowd noise.

LawBeefaroni · Post by **LawBeefaroni** » Wed Mar 11, 2020 4:07 pm

pr0ner wrote: Wed Mar 11, 2020 3:16 pm Ohio is ordering all indoor sporting events to be played behind closed doors. Dunno about outdoor events there yet, but I imagine it's only a matter of time, with FC Cincinnati and the Columbus Crew scheduled to play this weekend at home and MLB and Ohio State's spring game soon to come.

In don't get this. Why not just cancel the games? Sweating all over a dimpled sphere and passing it back and forth between players for 32-48 minutes seems as risky as just going to an event. Or wrestling or volleyball...

LawBeefaroni · Post by **LawBeefaroni** » Wed Mar 11, 2020 4:08 pm

Jaymann wrote: Wed Mar 11, 2020 4:05 pm Thursday's NBA game of Nets at Warriors will be played without fans in attendance due to SF policy of no crowds over 1,000. I wonder if they will pipe in crowd noise.

They should sell 1,000 tickets at massively high prices. That would be interesting.

Holman · Post by **Holman** » Wed Mar 11, 2020 4:18 pm

Smoove_B wrote: Wed Mar 11, 2020 4:04 pm Yes, yes it is. I've been teaching online courses since ~2011 and it honestly took me a few years to figure everything out (formatting, assignments, etc...) and that's not even accounting for getting comfortable with the CMS. I cannot imagine starting at square 0 right now and being told to figure it out in a week. It's just...not possible. To be clear, switching to online instruction is the right move, but logistically I think it's going to be a complete cluster f everywhere - colleges, universities and K-12.

I've done just enough in the way of online assignments to stay below the fear threshold.

I imagine I'll be OK using Canvas and Zoom. My courses are lit-survey/essay-writing, so I can probably make a live discussion and chat-room infrastructure work well enough. I can't imagine how (e.g.) a laboratory science course can move ahead right now, though.

I also expect to see students and parents nationwide complaining that they paid for close faculty attention, not remote IT support.

I'm also kind of wondering what happens to students who lack new enough computers or phones to hop onboard with remote systems.

LordMortis · Post by **LordMortis** » Wed Mar 11, 2020 4:22 pm

LawBeefaroni wrote: Wed Mar 11, 2020 4:07 pm
pr0ner wrote: Wed Mar 11, 2020 3:16 pm Ohio is ordering all indoor sporting events to be played behind closed doors. Dunno about outdoor events there yet, but I imagine it's only a matter of time, with FC Cincinnati and the Columbus Crew scheduled to play this weekend at home and MLB and Ohio State's spring game soon to come.
In don't get this. Why not just cancel the games? Sweating all over a dimpled sphere and passing it back and forth between players for 32-48 minutes seems as risky as just going to an event. Or wrestling or volleyball...

I think the larger fear is "community spread" with 20+ thousand in the seats night after night. Though honestly 15 people moving from high pop area to high pop area "sweating all over a dimpled sphere and passing it back and forth" is kinda Twelve Monkeys.

Smoove_B · Post by **Smoove_B** » Wed Mar 11, 2020 4:26 pm

Holman wrote: Wed Mar 11, 2020 4:18 pmI imagine I'll be OK using Canvas and Zoom. My courses are lit-survey/essay-writing, so I can probably make a live discussion and chat-room infrastructure work well enough. I can't imagine how (e.g.) a laboratory science course can move ahead right now, though.

IMHO asynchronous is the only way to go. Students are magically going to be unavailable during your previously scheduled time and unless you're planning on sitting on a Webcam for 22 hours a day to repeat the same material, I would highly recommend recording anything you'd typically need to lecture ahead of time (and stick to 15-30 minute chunks).

Communicate your availability and stick to it. I still get emails at 3am asking me questions like they expect an answer in the next 15 minutes. Maintaining office hours with a chat room or live discussion can work, but in my experience it'll be low attendance. And yeah, I have no idea how any of the STEM labs are going to make it happen, nope.

I also expect to see students and parents nationwide complaining that they paid for close faculty attention, not remote IT support.

Yes. Never mind all the housing and food plans they paid for that are now on hold.

I'm also kind of wondering what happens to students who lack new enough computers or phones to hop onboard with remote systems.

We were told to ask our students if they anticipated any remote connection issues. I'm a wiz with Canvas now - it's the 3rd CMS I've taught myself to use. You can feel free to send me a PM if you want any other info - happy to help!

Holman · Post by **Holman** » Wed Mar 11, 2020 4:37 pm

Smoove_B wrote: Wed Mar 11, 2020 4:26 pm
Holman wrote: Wed Mar 11, 2020 4:18 pmI imagine I'll be OK using Canvas and Zoom. My courses are lit-survey/essay-writing, so I can probably make a live discussion and chat-room infrastructure work well enough. I can't imagine how (e.g.) a laboratory science course can move ahead right now, though.
IMHO asynchronous is the only way to go. Students are magically going to be unavailable during your previously scheduled time and unless you're planning on sitting on a Webcam for 22 hours a day to repeat the same material, I would highly recommend recording anything you'd typically need to lecture ahead of time (and stick to 15-30 minute chunks).

Communicate your availability and stick to it. I still get emails at 3am asking me questions like they expect an answer in the next 15 minutes. Maintaining office hours with a chat room or live discussion can work, but in my experience it'll be low attendance. And yeah, I have no idea how any of the STEM labs are going to make it happen, nope.

My plan is to hold live discussions/lectures that will be cloud-recorded and available later to students at their leisure. The carrot/stick is the participation grade, but I don't think I need to be especially punitive under the circumstances. If someone is missing and not later viewing the sessions (which I believe Canvas will let me see), I can contact them about it. Fortunately I only have small sections, not huge lecture courses.

If they really want me to lecture over a Power Point, that's not so bad for me--I love the sound of my own voice. And there are tests later.

Too optimistic, probably. I think we're all about to learn some lessons.

We were told to ask our students if they anticipated any remote connection issues. I'm a wiz with Canvas now - it's the 3rd CMS I've taught myself to use. You can feel free to send me a PM if you want any other info - happy to help!

Yeah, I think Canvas is my third, too. I can't seem to recall what came before BlackBoard.

pr0ner · Post by **pr0ner** » Wed Mar 11, 2020 4:40 pm

The NCAA will play the entirety of it's men's and women's DI basketball tourneys behind closed doors.

LawBeefaroni · Post by **LawBeefaroni** » Wed Mar 11, 2020 4:43 pm

pr0ner wrote: Wed Mar 11, 2020 4:40 pm The NCAA will play the entirety of it's men's and women's DI basketball tourneys behind closed doors.

TV revenue is all that matters anyway but I wonder how it will affect viewership and enjoyment when a basketball game is quieter than a tennis match.

Skinypupy · Post by **Skinypupy** » Wed Mar 11, 2020 4:45 pm

This is gonna be SO weird. "March Sadness"

Here's the official statement.

https://twitter.com/NCAA/status/1237838583630721027

Defiant · Post by **Defiant** » Wed Mar 11, 2020 4:51 pm

Smoove_B wrote: Wed Mar 11, 2020 4:26 pm
Communicate your availability and stick to it. I still get emails at 3am asking me questions like they expect an answer in the next 15 minutes. Maintaining office hours with a chat room or live discussion can work, but in my experience it'll be low attendance. And yeah, I have no idea how any of the STEM labs are going to make it happen, nope.

From the flip perspective, I was a student in a few online course about ten years ago (to take classes not offered that semester, not for distance purposes). For most classes, there was an actual TA or Professor on campus that held office hours I could go to, but for one, the professor was on vacation on the other side of the world, and I would be forced to email them and wait a day or two for a response, which was pretty annoying - I would have been very glad to have a live chat room. Testing also required going some place to take the test (although that same professor forgot to submit the exam and the test was delayed a few days - my whole experience seriously turned me off to online classes.). I would imagine under the current situation, emphasis on homework, or making any test a take home test would be what they'll be doing.

gameoverman · Post by **gameoverman** » Wed Mar 11, 2020 5:03 pm

LawBeefaroni wrote: Wed Mar 11, 2020 4:43 pm
pr0ner wrote: Wed Mar 11, 2020 4:40 pm The NCAA will play the entirety of it's men's and women's DI basketball tourneys behind closed doors.
TV revenue is all that matters anyway but I wonder how it will affect viewership and enjoyment when a basketball game is quieter than a tennis match.

If I was in charge I'd have fun with it. First, I'd offer 'seat space' for ads. We'd put a cardboard person with your ad printed on it in a seat to be shown during the game. Any time the camera shows the 'crowd', the ads are visible. Since these aren't video ads you could price them so low just about anyone could buy one. Guaranteed entertainment. Also, I'd add humorous audio to the video of the game. Fake crowd noise would be boring. I'd add canned laughter every time a player screwed up. I'd occasionally replay a sample of what an announcer said earlier in the game at a moment where it bears no relationship to what's happening on the screen. This is the ONE time sports can be shown in a completely wacky way and they have an excuse to do it.

Daehawk · Post by **Daehawk** » Wed Mar 11, 2020 5:45 pm

This is for Xmann

Daehawk · Post by **Daehawk** » Wed Mar 11, 2020 5:46 pm

E3 2020 officially cancelled.

morlac · Post by **morlac** » Wed Mar 11, 2020 6:10 pm

gameoverman wrote: Wed Mar 11, 2020 2:28 pm it was the chance to say that we are alive

He phrased it more romantically than I would have, he's French, but it amounts to the same thing more or less. How does anyone know that all those Smurfs weren't already exposed to the virus? Canceling SmurfFest 2020 might not have accomplished anything other than ruining everyone's good time.

I heard from a friend who plays a doctor on tv that smurf berries are even than elderberries. I suspect the vaccine will be based on it.

Daehawk · Post by **Daehawk** » Wed Mar 11, 2020 6:36 pm

even what???

And what about boo berries?

Jeff V · Post by **Jeff V** » Wed Mar 11, 2020 6:58 pm

Smoove_B wrote: Wed Mar 11, 2020 4:26 pm And yeah, I have no idea how any of the STEM labs are going to make it happen, nope.

They get virtualized as well, leading to students graduating with what is truly a paper degree/certificate. I rescued a contractor on a high profile job once when he had the paper (CCNP cert) but I didn't -- he never touched an actual router before and my paperless ass programmed hundreds of them.

Holman · Post by **Holman** » Wed Mar 11, 2020 8:29 pm

https://twitter.com/jennafranke/status/ ... 19168?s=20

link

em2nought · Post by **em2nought** » Wed Mar 11, 2020 8:53 pm

I wonder if it might not be a good idea to get the pneumonia shot even if you're a bit under the recommended age of 65?

Holman · Post by **Holman** » Wed Mar 11, 2020 9:15 pm

Tom Hanks tests positive for Coronavirus.

Goddammit.

$iljanus · Post by **$iljanus** » Wed Mar 11, 2020 9:39 pm

Holman wrote: Wed Mar 11, 2020 9:15 pm Tom Hanks tests positive for Coronavirus.

Goddammit.

I guess if you need a test and quick verification, Australia is the place to do it!

Skinypupy · Post by **Skinypupy** » Wed Mar 11, 2020 9:41 pm

NBA just suspended the season.

gameoverman · Post by **gameoverman** » Wed Mar 11, 2020 9:55 pm

Skinypupy wrote: Wed Mar 11, 2020 9:41 pm NBA just suspended the season.

I think this is one of the more mind boggling things to see happen in my lifetime. That's because now that one major sports league has done it I expect more will follow. This is because we are going to see more confirmed cases and deaths before things settle, so there will be more pressure to suspend seasons in various leagues.

Ralph-Wiggum · Post by **Ralph-Wiggum** » Wed Mar 11, 2020 10:03 pm

If the NCAA tournament is canceled, then UNC won’t miss it.

Lorini · Post by **Lorini** » Wed Mar 11, 2020 10:03 pm

Skinypupy wrote: Wed Mar 11, 2020 9:41 pm NBA just suspended the season.

Lorini · Post by **Lorini** » Wed Mar 11, 2020 10:04 pm

Dude was a frigging idiot. Bet he won't be able to go out in public even assuming he gets over it.

Skinypupy · Post by **Skinypupy** » Wed Mar 11, 2020 10:10 pm

gameoverman wrote: Wed Mar 11, 2020 9:55 pm
Skinypupy wrote: Wed Mar 11, 2020 9:41 pm NBA just suspended the season.
I think this is one of the more mind boggling things to see happen in my lifetime. That's because now that one major sports league has done it I expect more will follow. This is because we are going to see more confirmed cases and deaths before things settle, so there will be more pressure to suspend seasons in various leagues.

You can bet that the NBA didn’t make this decision based on “fake news” reports (tongue firmly planted in cheek). You can be sure they did their own research and called their own experts in to make the decision.

And even though they stand to lose millions (billions?) of dollars by cancelling games, they *still* decided there was enough of a risk from this virus to suspend the season.

That’s a big deal.

gameoverman · Post by **gameoverman** » Wed Mar 11, 2020 10:22 pm

Skinypupy wrote: Wed Mar 11, 2020 10:10 pm
gameoverman wrote: Wed Mar 11, 2020 9:55 pm
Skinypupy wrote: Wed Mar 11, 2020 9:41 pm NBA just suspended the season.
I think this is one of the more mind boggling things to see happen in my lifetime. That's because now that one major sports league has done it I expect more will follow. This is because we are going to see more confirmed cases and deaths before things settle, so there will be more pressure to suspend seasons in various leagues.
You can bet that the NBA didn’t make this decision based on “fake news” reports (tongue firmly planted in cheek). You can be sure they did their own research and called their own experts in to make the decision.

And even though they stand to lose millions (billions?) of dollars by cancelling games, they *still* decided there was enough of a risk from this virus to suspend the season.

That’s a big deal.

Well there are a lot of other factors besides the virus itself. If players refuse to play? If cities/counties refuse to allow large indoor gatherings? If people won't attend the games? Those would be enough to end the season regardless of the virus risk. The ripple effects of this are going to be harsh. Tv contracts and advertising money on one end, concessions/security guards/hotel employees/etc on the other end. What about player contracts? How do you get paid your incentive bonuses if you're not allowed to play? The NFL got lucky this happened when it did so the Super Bowl wasn't played in an empty stadium or not at all.

Lorini · Post by **Lorini** » Wed Mar 11, 2020 10:28 pm

Skinypupy wrote: Wed Mar 11, 2020 10:10 pm
gameoverman wrote: Wed Mar 11, 2020 9:55 pm
Skinypupy wrote: Wed Mar 11, 2020 9:41 pm NBA just suspended the season.
I think this is one of the more mind boggling things to see happen in my lifetime. That's because now that one major sports league has done it I expect more will follow. This is because we are going to see more confirmed cases and deaths before things settle, so there will be more pressure to suspend seasons in various leagues.
You can bet that the NBA didn’t make this decision based on “fake news” reports (tongue firmly planted in cheek). You can be sure they did their own research and called their own experts in to make the decision.

And even though they stand to lose millions (billions?) of dollars by cancelling games, they *still* decided there was enough of a risk from this virus to suspend the season.

That’s a big deal.

They made the decision because the players are too stupid to do the right thing. Damn I'm pissed. The Jazz and the Thunder are quarentined in the Utah arena.

dbt1949 · Post by **dbt1949** » Wed Mar 11, 2020 10:36 pm

I have to go to the grocery store tomorrow and the VA again on Friday. Looks like I'm gonna die.

Lorini · Post by **Lorini** » Wed Mar 11, 2020 10:38 pm

dbt1949 wrote: Wed Mar 11, 2020 10:36 pm I have to go to the grocery store tomorrow and the VA again on Friday. Looks like I'm gonna die.

Delivery service is your friend

Can't help you with the VA