[Health] The Infectious Diseases Thread

em2nought · Post by **em2nought** » Thu May 21, 2020 5:00 pm

My 94 year old mother is jonesing to get her hair done. I would discourage it, but her stylist is smokin'. Hmm, maybe I could get her to shave my head and dispense with a little delayed gratification.

Anonymous Bosch · Post by **Anonymous Bosch** » Thu May 21, 2020 5:12 pm

RunningMn9 wrote: Thu May 21, 2020 4:26 pm They (NY and NJ) were being told weeks earlier by experts that the only way was a near total lockdown. I know this because Smoove was telling me all of this while I laughed and said it couldn’t happen, you can’t just shut things down.

They waited until it was bad enough that it was politically tolerable. I get why. But it cost a lot of people their lives.

Other states followed suit and locked down before there were widespread outbreaks like we had here. Much smarter, but they will be tricked into thinking it wasn’t necessary.

It's also worth remembering that California, New Jersey, and New York all forced nursing homes to accept patients infected with COVID-19, placing a staggering number of those most vulnerable to the virus at much greater risk.

Blackhawk · Post by **Blackhawk** » Thu May 21, 2020 5:20 pm

So... that vaccine that's going around.

I'm seeing a new conspiracy theory catching on that the vaccine will come with a tracking chip with all of the user's 'internet and banking data.'

We are still too stupid to survive.

LawBeefaroni · Post by **LawBeefaroni** » Thu May 21, 2020 5:41 pm

Smoove_B wrote: Thu May 21, 2020 4:09 pm
Blackhawk wrote: Thu May 21, 2020 3:57 pmThen, when I got home I had to take my elderly, diabetic mother-in-law to a hair appointment in a local barbershop the size of a large shed with multiple customers where nobody wore masks. I waited in the car.

My 76 year old aunt revealed to me that there's a whole underground network of women cutting hair in Northwest NJ - women that are retired former stylists. The don't fear losing their licenses so they're allowing women (and maybe men) to come into their homes and cutting their hair for cash. My aunt has friends that have been telling her about it and offering to give her the contact information. Retirees are risking their health to get a trim. You cannot make this stuff up.

My shitty mess of hair is like a badge of honor. I wore a hat to work for the first time in my adult life last week.

I have seen a lot of people with suspiciously well-coiffed hair and feel fine looking down my nose at them.

Blackhawk wrote: Thu May 21, 2020 3:57 pm

The blood work was at my own local hospital, a very small community hospital that is currently dealing with dozens of cases of COVID-19. I was checked by an employee with her mask under her nose, and masks were optional for visitors. In a hospital. With active cases.

This is shocking to me. We have a strict patients-only policy (no visitors, no kids), temperature checks at every entrance, and mandatory masks. It's likely that your small community hospital will be dealing with a severe shortage of workers in the near future.

LordMortis · Post by **LordMortis** » Thu May 21, 2020 6:05 pm

LawBeefaroni wrote: Thu May 21, 2020 5:41 pm My shitty mess of hair is like a badge of honor. I wore a hat to work for the first time in my adult life last week.

I don't remember my last haircut. 2006? Maybe. If I had any skills, I'd shave my head now and see how well it grows back during all of this. Alas, I could spend hours with a razor on my head and I cut myself shreds and still not do good job.

Kraken · Post by **Kraken** » Thu May 21, 2020 6:11 pm

Blackhawk wrote: Thu May 21, 2020 5:20 pm So... that vaccine that's going around.

I'm seeing a new conspiracy theory catching on that the vaccine will come with a tracking chip with all of the user's 'internet and banking data.'

We are still too stupid to survive.

I did read somewhere that about 25% of random people surveyed said they won't be getting the vaccine if/when it's available. Freedumb!

malchior · Post by **malchior** » Thu May 21, 2020 6:47 pm

RunningMn9 wrote: Thu May 21, 2020 4:26 pm They (NY and NJ) were being told weeks earlier by experts that the only way was a near total lockdown. I know this because Smoove was telling me all of this while I laughed and said it couldn’t happen, you can’t just shut things down.

They waited until it was bad enough that it was politically tolerable. I get why. But it cost a lot of people their lives.

Other states followed suit and locked down before there were widespread outbreaks like we had here. Much smarter, but they will be tricked into thinking it wasn’t necessary.

Right. Unfortunately someone had to draw the short straw and go first and that was NY and then NJ/CT. That gave other states cover. Despite it getting very bad we still have the whining. 20/20 hindsight being what it is...this pretty much played out the only way it could with the hand we were holding.

Sudy · Post by **Sudy** » Thu May 21, 2020 7:48 pm

My hair's starting to get annoyingly fluffy. I have very thick, wavy hair. (Not really a humblebrag... I'm happy to have it, but it never does what I want it to.) I've been considering bringing back metal-length hair, but that doesn't really work for me either. I always had to wear it in a ponytail to keep me from trying to strangle myself with it.

msteelers · Post by **msteelers** » Thu May 21, 2020 9:07 pm

Florida is of course reopening back up. Officially it's opening up little-by-little, but in reality outside of restaurants and bars we're pretty much back to where we were before the lockdown. And people are over taking any precautions. So I can't say I was terribly surprised when I saw this in the morning news:

May 20 marked the end of the ninth week since the first confirmed case on March 19. The count of new cases for this week exactly matched the region’s peak week of April 2-8. However, total tests reported for the week ending May 20 were 4,601, while total tests reported for the week ending April 8 were 1,863.

dbt1949 · Post by **dbt1949** » Thu May 21, 2020 10:06 pm

Arkansas started opening back up this week and new cases are skyrocketing.
Idiots.

Blackhawk · Post by **Blackhawk** » Fri May 22, 2020 12:51 am

Indiana is going to phase 3 tomorrow. It was supposed to be Sunday. The Governor surprised everyone by opening two days early late last night, giving everyone 24 hours to prep everything that was supposed to be opening Sunday to open tomorrow. Michelle works for a state park, and this opens up their cabins, campgrounds, facilities, and everything else. They had plans in place and people scheduled to get everything rolling Friday and Saturday, so she was the only one of her team actually there today - meaning that she had to power through three peoples' jobs in one day in order to get things ready.

Good plan, Gov. Good plan.

Ralph-Wiggum · Post by **Ralph-Wiggum** » Fri May 22, 2020 8:39 am

Memorial Day is going to be a shitshow.

Daehawk · Post by **Daehawk** » Fri May 22, 2020 8:53 am

Each day I check the numbers on CNNs tv channel and it appears that in the US that around 2000 a day die.

Imagine if that was all from your town. How long would it take in days before your town was empty? Its bad. And it will only get worse with the opening up.

pr0ner · Post by **pr0ner** » Fri May 22, 2020 9:04 am

msteelers wrote: Thu May 21, 2020 9:07 pm Florida is of course reopening back up. Officially it's opening up little-by-little, but in reality outside of restaurants and bars we're pretty much back to where we were before the lockdown. And people are over taking any precautions. So I can't say I was terribly surprised when I saw this in the morning news:

May 20 marked the end of the ninth week since the first confirmed case on March 19. The count of new cases for this week exactly matched the region’s peak week of April 2-8. However, total tests reported for the week ending May 20 were 4,601, while total tests reported for the week ending April 8 were 1,863.

"However, total tests reported for the week ending May 20 were 4,601, while total tests reported for the week ending April 8 were 1,863."

To play devil's advocate, how many positive tests would Florida have gotten in the last week if 1863 people had been tested rather than 4601?

LordMortis · Post by **LordMortis** » Fri May 22, 2020 9:20 am

Daehawk wrote: Fri May 22, 2020 8:53 am Each day I check the numbers on CNNs tv channel and it appears that in the US that around 2000 a day die.

Imagine if that was all from your town. How long would it take in days before your town was empty? Its bad. And it will only get worse with the opening up.

The site I have been using, checking "yesterday" has been pretty stable around 1,500 for a while. Which states dominate the 1,500 has been changing.

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/#countries

If we take March 16th as the first reported death day (well before the first peak two to three weeks later) and accept 96,000 as an accurate accounting, that's an average of 1,450 per day.

Cold metrics suck. I try to watch my local municipality to remain empathetic and get a sense for reality for me and those literally close to me. 80,000 people. 774 have fallen ill. Of those 76 have passed.

em2nought · Post by **em2nought** » Fri May 22, 2020 3:59 pm

I need a small air conditioner built into my mask, then I'd happily wear it instead of unhappily. Read a piece that made it sound like if we'd all wear the masks we could have dispensed with the lock down all together. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhQw7vLNsDA Surface contact not being as much a worry as previously thought.

Maybe I could make a swamp cooler out of a snorkel???

hitbyambulance · Post by **hitbyambulance** » Sat May 23, 2020 9:23 pm

headline i just saw: "With restaurants closed, CDC warns of increasingly aggressive rodents looking for new food sources"

Daehawk · Post by **Daehawk** » Sat May 23, 2020 9:25 pm

em2nought wrote: Fri May 22, 2020 3:59 pm I need a small air conditioner built into my mask, then I'd happily wear it instead of unhappily. Read a piece that made it sound like if we'd all wear the masks we could have dispensed with the lock down all together. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhQw7vLNsDA Surface contact not being as much a worry as previously thought.

Maybe I could make a swamp cooler out of a snorkel???

https://www.rideapart.com/articles/2451 ... your-face/

dbt1949 · Post by **dbt1949** » Sat May 23, 2020 9:57 pm

Sometimes it seems like the CDC and others are liking feeling important and is having a grand ole time predicting death and mayhem as much as possible.

Sudy · Post by **Sudy** » Sat May 23, 2020 10:31 pm

Yeah, my masks finally arrived and I went on a grocery run for the first time in ten days. Well, it sure beats the woolen scarf, but it's turned warm out and I had sweat dripping into my eyes by the time I was done. I love being fat.

Also, these masks were obviously designed for babies. The elastic loops bend my ears forward. Of course, they don't make hats in my size so maybe I'm part of the problem.

gameoverman · Post by **gameoverman** » Sun May 24, 2020 1:36 am

hitbyambulance wrote: Sat May 23, 2020 9:23 pm headline i just saw: "With restaurants closed, CDC warns of increasingly aggressive rodents looking for new food sources"

My top five 'aggressive rodent' movies:
Willard(1971)- rat as id
Of Unknown Origin(1983)- man vs rat
The Killer Shrews(1959)- wins the coveted title of 'best dogs dressed as rats' movie
The Princess Bride(1987)- rats bigger than usual
King Rat(1965)- we have met the rat and it is us

Ralph-Wiggum · Post by **Ralph-Wiggum** » Sun May 24, 2020 7:30 am

Went out to get some things over the last few days. Anecdotal mask reports:

Walgreens: ~ 90% were wearing masks

Grocery store (Publix): ~ 70% wearing masks

Walmart: ~ 40% wearing masks

Also Walmart: little kid without a mask coughing constantly.

AWS260 · Post by **AWS260** » Sun May 24, 2020 10:39 am

LawBeefaroni · Post by **LawBeefaroni** » Sun May 24, 2020 12:01 pm

Ralph-Wiggum wrote: Sun May 24, 2020 7:30 am Went out to get some things over the last few days. Anecdotal mask reports:

Walgreens: ~ 90% were wearing masks

Grocery store (Publix): ~ 70% wearing masks

Walmart: ~ 40% wearing masks

Also Walmart: little kid without a mask coughing constantly.

Now mandatory at all stores here. Even the range requires a mask now, despite all efforts to resist.

em2nought · Post by **em2nought** » Sun May 24, 2020 12:40 pm

Daehawk wrote: Sat May 23, 2020 9:25 pm
em2nought wrote: Fri May 22, 2020 3:59 pm I need a small air conditioner built into my mask, then I'd happily wear it instead of unhappily. Read a piece that made it sound like if we'd all wear the masks we could have dispensed with the lock down all together. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhQw7vLNsDA Surface contact not being as much a worry as previously thought.

Maybe I could make a swamp cooler out of a snorkel???
https://www.rideapart.com/articles/2451 ... your-face/

Man, I can't have an original idea without someone else already thinking of it. lol

Oh, they sooooo need to make a Darth Vader version of that. I now want one and I don't even ride, but if I did I'd really want one.

I did receive a mask yesterday in the mail that actually has a good seal unlike pretty much everything else out there. With two canisters on the sides it's not much smaller than that thing, I think it might be my "Walmart" only mask for that extra level of protection from the unwashed masses.

dbt1949 · Post by **dbt1949** » Sun May 24, 2020 3:41 pm

You're going to wear that thing in public?
You're braver than I thought.

LawBeefaroni · Post by **LawBeefaroni** » Sun May 24, 2020 3:57 pm

dbt1949 wrote: Sun May 24, 2020 3:41 pm You're going to wear that thing in public?
You're braver than I thought.

I'm waiting for the codpiece version.

Ralph-Wiggum · Post by **Ralph-Wiggum** » Mon May 25, 2020 10:28 am

Went out fishing yesterday at a semi-closed off beach; can only access by car with a work ID (which I have), but people can bike/walk in. There were a decent number of people on the beach and lots of boats anchored close together right offshore. But it was easy enough to find a place to fish that was far away from anyone else. But what I didn't count on is people walking right up to me to look at fish I caught.

Daehawk · Post by **Daehawk** » Mon May 25, 2020 11:23 am

Catch a lot of Covid fish?

gameoverman · Post by **gameoverman** » Mon May 25, 2020 12:58 pm

Ralph-Wiggum wrote: Mon May 25, 2020 10:28 am Went out fishing yesterday at a semi-closed off beach; can only access by car with a work ID (which I have), but people can bike/walk in. There were a decent number of people on the beach and lots of boats anchored close together right offshore. But it was easy enough to find a place to fish that was far away from anyone else. But what I didn't count on is people walking right up to me to look at fish I caught.

They're just trying to be sociable. If you can't be sociable during a deadly pandemic, when can you be?

Daehawk · Post by **Daehawk** » Mon May 25, 2020 4:27 pm

COVID afraid of Betty White 98

Betty White, 98, is 'doing very well' despite the COVID-19 pandemic

'The virus is afraid of Betty!' a representative for the iconic actress told TODAY.

morlac · Post by **morlac** » Tue May 26, 2020 11:15 am

gameoverman wrote: Sun May 24, 2020 1:36 am
hitbyambulance wrote: Sat May 23, 2020 9:23 pm headline i just saw: "With restaurants closed, CDC warns of increasingly aggressive rodents looking for new food sources"
My top five 'aggressive rodent' movies:
Willard(1971)- rat as id
Of Unknown Origin(1983)- man vs rat
The Killer Shrews(1959)- wins the coveted title of 'best dogs dressed as rats' movie
The Princess Bride(1987)- rats bigger than usual
King Rat(1965)- we have met the rat and it is us

You forgot:

Ben (sequel to Wilalrd with Michael Jackson singing the them song)
Ratboy (ok a quasi rat movie)

Daehawk · Post by **Daehawk** » Tue May 26, 2020 11:28 am

Went to the doctor for tick removal. Took it off and gave me Doxycycline since it had been there a few days and I was having my normal bad reaction to a tick bite. Said it would help prevent Lyme and Rocky Mountain. They swell up, ooz clear, and itch like a mofo for nearly a month.

Notes of town visit.

Doctor - 2 in waiting room no masks, 3rd entered no mask. 4th came in looked to be high school age kid with mask. No reception staff wore masks. In back all nurses and doctor had masks. Gave me one too when I asked. Plenty of hand sanitizer.

Food store - usually they sanitize the buggies and have more wipes out. This time no sanitation of any type. When I asked they said people were coming in and taking 5 or 6 wipes at a time so now nothing. I felt dirty the entire time I was pushing that buggy.

LawBeefaroni · Post by **LawBeefaroni** » Tue May 26, 2020 11:32 am

Daehawk wrote: Tue May 26, 2020 11:28 am
Food store - usually they sanitize the buggies and have more wipes out. This time no sanitation of any type. When I asked they said people were coming in and taking 5 or 6 wipes at a time so now nothing. I felt dirty the entire time I was pushing that buggy.

I've seen two solutions for this locally. 1 is to dedicate a worker to cleaning carts/baskets and handing them off to customers. The other is a roll of paper towels and a spray bottle by the carts. Of course that adds in the issue of touching the spray bottle that everyone else touches.

Unagi · Post by **Unagi** » Tue May 26, 2020 11:35 am

LawBeefaroni wrote: Tue May 26, 2020 11:32 am
Daehawk wrote: Tue May 26, 2020 11:28 am
Food store - usually they sanitize the buggies and have more wipes out. This time no sanitation of any type. When I asked they said people were coming in and taking 5 or 6 wipes at a time so now nothing. I felt dirty the entire time I was pushing that buggy.
I've seen two solutions for this locally. 1 is to dedicate a worker to cleaning carts/baskets and handing them off to customers. The other is a roll of paper towels and a spray bottle by the carts. Of course that adds in the issue of touching the spray bottle that everyone else touches.

The best idea, IMO, is to accept that you are indeed dirty - have liquid sanitizers/wipes in the car if you can (and do full wipe down when you get in) - and wash hands when you get home.... all the while picturing your hands covered in black paint.

LawBeefaroni · Post by **LawBeefaroni** » Tue May 26, 2020 11:43 am

Yeah, I don't even bother with cleaning the carts because by the time you leave you need to wash hands regardless.

Just noting that those seem to be the grocers' solutions to everyone taking a handful of sanatary wipes.

Smoove_B · Post by **Smoove_B** » Tue May 26, 2020 11:45 am

Daehawk wrote: Tue May 26, 2020 11:28 am gave me Doxycycline

Please finish the prescription; don't stop halfway through and save it for another time. Thanks.

Daehawk · Post by **Daehawk** » Tue May 26, 2020 11:57 am

Smoove_B wrote: Tue May 26, 2020 11:45 am
Daehawk wrote: Tue May 26, 2020 11:28 am gave me Doxycycline
Please finish the prescription; don't stop halfway through and save it for another time. Thanks.

Oh I am. Last thing I need is Lyme or RMSF or something.

Daehawk · Post by **Daehawk** » Tue May 26, 2020 12:48 pm

Oh and since it bled they stuck a bandage of some type on it....which I cant reach to remove. So guess Ill die with that on me one day.

morlac · Post by **morlac** » Tue May 26, 2020 2:01 pm

Haha, that is like my daughter with band-aids. At least yours is unintentional. I have to wait till she is asleep and rip those suckers off. Sure she wakes up a tizzy but compared to the horror of removing one while she is congizant, ill take it! She has gotten better as she ages but if she had her way she would keep them on forever.