Corona Virus: It's a Marathon, Not a Sprint

malchior · Post by **malchior** » Mon Apr 20, 2020 3:15 pm

YellowKing wrote: Mon Apr 20, 2020 2:31 pm We had a local woman in her 30s with ZERO underlying health conditions recount her battle with it. She was on a ventilator, put into a medically induced coma, and then had to spend a week learning how to walk again after her legs atrophied.

This is what some of the folks who think "I'm young, I don't have to worry" don't get. That woman on the ventilator in a coma who had to re-learn how to walk is in that 98% of "young people who didn't die." Just because you're in that category doesn't necessarily mean you're going to pop a couple of Tylenol and sleep it off.

I have a friend laid up at a hospital up in NY who has been in and out of the ICU for nearly 4 weeks. He was hospitalized but said he felt good. Then he went into the ICU onto a vent. He went into cardiac arrest 4 times trying to get him off the vent. He made it through that then was off the vent for about a week and a half and recently went back on the vent. He is 31. *IF* he makes it he has a long road back ahead of him. His wife is sitting on rounds of virtual chats with friends because this has been going on forever. That is why I wouldn't give a fuck about these moron protesters. The worst part is that they are just misinformed rubes being exploited by the wealthy. This country is sick. Deeply sick. I don't know what kind of future we have but it has to be better than these assholes.

YellowKing · Post by **YellowKing** » Mon Apr 20, 2020 3:40 pm

The one argument that drives me the most crazy is "if you're sick stay home!" Well no shit. The problem is you jackoffs that don't know you're sick and are out there spreading it like wildfire. Asymptomatic/pre-symptomatic spreaders are the entire reason we're in this mess in the first place.

Defiant · Post by **Defiant** » Mon Apr 20, 2020 4:36 pm

YellowKing wrote: Mon Apr 20, 2020 3:40 pm The one argument that drives me the most crazy is "if you're sick stay home!" Well no shit. The problem is you jackoffs that don't know you're sick and are out there spreading it like wildfire. Asymptomatic/pre-symptomatic spreaders are the entire reason we're in this mess in the first place.

Also, not everyone has a job where they give sick days.

Skinypupy · Post by **Skinypupy** » Mon Apr 20, 2020 4:54 pm

Defiant wrote: Mon Apr 20, 2020 4:36 pm
YellowKing wrote: Mon Apr 20, 2020 3:40 pm The one argument that drives me the most crazy is "if you're sick stay home!" Well no shit. The problem is you jackoffs that don't know you're sick and are out there spreading it like wildfire. Asymptomatic/pre-symptomatic spreaders are the entire reason we're in this mess in the first place.
Also, not everyone has a job where they give sick days.

Paraphrasing from a Tweet I saw earlier today:

- "Schools are closing! Where do I send my children?"
- "How will I afford healthcare if I get laid off?"
- "I can't afford to take time off work!"
- "I don't have any housing if I leave school!"

The issues the virus are causing are literally everything progressives have been trying to fix for years.

Max Peck · Post by **Max Peck** » Mon Apr 20, 2020 6:19 pm

Bolsonaro attempts to out-Trump Trump

Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro has come under criticism for joining protesters demanding that restrictions on movement introduced to stop the spread of coronavirus be lifted.

Mr Bolsonaro has clashed in recent weeks with state governors who have imposed lockdowns, denouncing the measures as "dictatorial".

As of Sunday, Brazil had more than 38,000 confirmed cases, the highest number in Latin America.

More than 2,400 people there have died.

President Bolsonaro addressed a crowd of a few hundred supporters outside army headquarters in the capital, Brasilia, on Sunday.

He said the protesters were "patriots" for defending individual freedoms.

Alefroth · Post by **Alefroth** » Mon Apr 20, 2020 6:32 pm

YellowKing wrote: Mon Apr 20, 2020 2:31 pm We had a local woman in her 30s with ZERO underlying health conditions recount her battle with it. She was on a ventilator, put into a medically induced coma, and then had to spend a week learning how to walk again after her legs atrophied.

At least she got to keep her legs.

Smoove_B · Post by **Smoove_B** » Mon Apr 20, 2020 6:40 pm

I am sorry for residents of Georgia:

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp announced Monday that certain businesses in the state would be able to reopen this week in a "small step forward" out of the social distancing measures meant to mitigate the novel coronavirus pandemic.
Kemp, a Republican, said specifically that fitness centers, bowling alleys, body art studios, barbers, hair and nail salons, and massage therapy businesses can reopen as early Friday, April 24. Theaters and restaurants will be allowed to open on Monday, April 27 while bars and night clubs will remain closed for now, Kemp added.
Notably, no local ordinance can restrict the openings, which will be implemented statewide.

Zaxxon · Post by **Zaxxon** » Mon Apr 20, 2020 6:52 pm

Colorado not going so far, but some things will re-open next week. The governor is still urging folks to stay home, but no longer requiring it.

https://coloradosun.com/2020/04/20/colo ... me-period/

El Guapo · Post by **El Guapo** » Mon Apr 20, 2020 6:59 pm

Zaxxon wrote: Mon Apr 20, 2020 6:52 pm Colorado not going so far, but some things will re-open next week. The governor is still urging folks to stay home, but no longer requiring it.

https://coloradosun.com/2020/04/20/colo ... me-period/

Zaxxon · Post by **Zaxxon** » Mon Apr 20, 2020 7:04 pm

Indeed, I am annoyed. I thought Polis had been doing a good job with this crisis up to now. This decision I don't agree with. He is getting a lot of pushback from the red areas of the state (which is most of the state by size if not population), so I imagine there was some pressure involved.

Skinypupy · Post by **Skinypupy** » Mon Apr 20, 2020 8:23 pm

Been thinking about how this is all going to play out. It’s fucking depressing, no matter what happens.

I see one of two scenarios:

1. Things open back up, the virus spreads significantly, the medical systems are overwhelmed, and tens of thousands more die. What we feared all along, basically. Trump simply deflects any blame back on the state governors like he’s already been doing, and the howling (well, wheezing) mob goes right along with it.

2. Through heroic efforts from the medical community, models that proved to be overzealous (but were based on the data available at the time), and increased general awareness from people, cases don’t spike significantly. Which then simply feeds right into the narrative that this all happened because liberals were “out to get Trump by destroying the economy” and significantly increases the growing anti-science, anti-data movement among the stupid. Which, lets be honest, there are a lot more of than even my cynical mind expected.

And in the end - after all the reprehensible, juvenile, and deplorable behavior that have literally cost tens of thousands of lives - there won’t be a single shred of accountability for any of it.

Daehawk · Post by **Daehawk** » Mon Apr 20, 2020 8:47 pm

I think the majority of slower folk in the country think lowering the curve means we've beaten the virus and its going away. They dont realize that a deadly contagious crippling virus is just waiting for them still.

hitbyambulance · Post by **hitbyambulance** » Mon Apr 20, 2020 9:23 pm

it's a country full of whiny magical-thinking idiots.

YellowKing · Post by **YellowKing** » Mon Apr 20, 2020 9:58 pm

The one silver lining about not having a cohesive national policy is that states that want to play chicken with the virus have the opportunity to screw themselves first while we watch the outcome. Hopefully there will be lessons learned from the "early adopters" that will prevent multiple states from opening up en masse.

And yes it is depressing. We're trying to fight a virus with people who try to pray mass shootings away.

Daehawk · Post by **Daehawk** » Mon Apr 20, 2020 10:00 pm

Saw the meme with a pic of preppers and it saying like "You folks were prepared to hunker in your bunkers for years yet you cant go 2 weeks in them without whining about not going to Applebees"

msteelers · Post by **msteelers** » Mon Apr 20, 2020 10:13 pm

YellowKing wrote: Mon Apr 20, 2020 9:58 pm The one silver lining about not having a cohesive national policy is that states that want to play chicken with the virus have the opportunity to screw themselves first while we watch the outcome. Hopefully there will be lessons learned from the "early adopters" that will prevent multiple states from opening up en masse.

And yes it is depressing. We're trying to fight a virus with people who try to pray mass shootings away.

Unfortunately I'm very much in one of those states that could say "open it back up!" way too soon. And I run an entertainment business, which makes money by encouraging people to gather into groups. We're in emergency survival mode now, doing anything we can to try and raise enough revenue to pay salary. We've had multiple internal discussions about what we will do when that jackalope Ron DeSantis inevitably opens the state up too early and our clients come clamoring back to us asking for entertainment. We're trying to make sure that if/when that happens, we can say no if needed. Time will tell though. May is coming up really quick.

msteelers · Post by **msteelers** » Mon Apr 20, 2020 10:16 pm

Daehawk wrote: Mon Apr 20, 2020 10:00 pm Saw the meme with a pic of preppers and it saying like "You folks were prepared to hunker in your bunkers for years yet you cant go 2 weeks in them without whining about not going to Applebees"

Every once in awhile my wife and I will fall asleep watching Doomsday Preppers on Netflix. I would love to see video of those families right now. You know they bugged out back in March to their "secret bunker". And I would love to be a fly on the wall to see if they are handling things anywhere close to the way they thought they would.

Smoove_B · Post by **Smoove_B** » Mon Apr 20, 2020 10:24 pm

msteelers wrote: Mon Apr 20, 2020 10:13 pmWe're trying to make sure that if/when that happens, we can say no if needed. Time will tell though. May is coming up really quick.

I cannot even imagine the insurance liability and the lawsuits that are going to happen if someone throws a wedding or concert, there's a COVID-19 outbreak and then someone dies. I'm sure the President has already thought of this though.

https://twitter.com/kylegriffin1/status ... 6564408321

Asked by CNN's @kaitlancollins whether companies who re-open and have employees get sick will be liable for that, Trump says he'll get a legal answer on that.

Collins follows up: "You guys haven't discussed that yet?
Trump responds: "Nobody's discussed it, no. But we will now."

Zarathud · Post by **Zarathud** » Mon Apr 20, 2020 10:45 pm

There will be a lot of “followed applicable guidelines” and the victim “didn’t take precautions” so “assumed the risk.” The people who complain about lawsuits are often the first ones to sue.

At this point, I’m starting to assume the ironic worst thing will happen — because this must be worst timeline.

msteelers · Post by **msteelers** » Mon Apr 20, 2020 10:51 pm

Smoove_B wrote:I cannot even imagine the insurance liability and the lawsuits that are going to happen if someone throws a wedding or concert, there's a COVID-19 outbreak and then someone dies.

We DJ weddings too, and have been subtly encouraging our scheduled weddings to postpone. We messaged everybody in early March and told them that if anything gets rescheduled we’ll do the wedding and there won’t be any extra charges. Every April and May wedding immediately postponed except for 2. Both were scheduled for the first weekend in May. One wedding finally postponed it until 2021 after they realized none of their friends or family were going to be there. The other wedding postponed for... exactly 20 days. I have a bad feeling that wedding is going to happen. I hope they have some face mask party favors to hand out!

Daehawk · Post by **Daehawk** » Tue Apr 21, 2020 1:03 am

Cant your employees wear masks and gloves?

Madmarcus · Post by **Madmarcus** » Tue Apr 21, 2020 3:16 am

I hate to sound like a broken record but I'm very glad to be out of Georgia right now. My son is an introvert. He'll stay at home. I worry about my mother in law who talks like she wants to do the right things but then wants to have a friend over to talk on the deck.

stessier · Post by **stessier** » Tue Apr 21, 2020 7:26 am

SC is reopening many stores and restrictions have been lifted from boat docks and beaches, but local governments can impose their own. Stores must only allow 20% occupancy or 5 people per 1000 sq ft, whichever is less. And stores must not allow people to congregate.

Later this week they will decide about reopening the schools. (Spoiler - they are totally going to reopen the schools. )

This will totally not be a problem.

Edit: The more I think about it, the more they can't open the schools, right? I'm legally required to send my kid and there is no way to socially distance anyone in that environment. They have to keep them closed. Right? Please let sanity reign...

Paingod · Post by **Paingod** » Tue Apr 21, 2020 8:11 am

https://twitter.com/neiltyson/status/12 ... 2323526657

malchior · Post by **malchior** » Tue Apr 21, 2020 8:20 am

I'm right there with you Neil deGrasse Tyson...mostly. This has exposed all our problems and we've found that so much is lacking. This has been a poor showing for civilization...in America.

Unagi · Post by **Unagi** » Tue Apr 21, 2020 8:53 am

Paingod wrote: Tue Apr 21, 2020 8:11 am https://twitter.com/neiltyson/status/12 ... 2323526657

That would have a LOT more impact if he just said ‘Everyone in America to fight it’. And ‘Hope for America’ would be fine to substitute too.

morlac · Post by **morlac** » Tue Apr 21, 2020 10:34 am

Madmarcus wrote: Tue Apr 21, 2020 3:16 am I hate to sound like a broken record but I'm very glad to be out of Georgia right now. My son is an introvert. He'll stay at home. I worry about my mother in law who talks like she wants to do the right things but then wants to have a friend over to talk on the deck.

I dunno, Im pretty excited about sticking my fingers in a communal reciptical with other fine mericans not scraed of a little ole virus. I suppose some folk may bring their own bowling ball but them folks are pussies.

Born and raised in Georgia so ill have a front seat to this shitshow. I plan on swinging by a few bowling alleys to document the stupidity. Strange times my friends, strange times. Yall be safe.

Defiant · Post by **Defiant** » Tue Apr 21, 2020 11:00 am

https://twitter.com/JoshuaPotash/status ... 5591780352

Paingod · Post by **Paingod** » Tue Apr 21, 2020 12:45 pm

Unagi wrote: Tue Apr 21, 2020 8:53 amThat would have a LOT more impact if he just said ‘Everyone in America to fight it’. And ‘Hope for America’ would be fine to substitute too.

To be fair, the Trumpian style idiocy and rejection of science isn't unique to the US.

Unagi · Post by **Unagi** » Tue Apr 21, 2020 12:53 pm

Paingod wrote: Tue Apr 21, 2020 12:45 pm
Unagi wrote: Tue Apr 21, 2020 8:53 amThat would have a LOT more impact if he just said ‘Everyone in America to fight it’. And ‘Hope for America’ would be fine to substitute too.
To be fair, the Trumpian style idiocy and rejection of science isn't unique to the US.

Clearly. But I am not (currently) trying to fix the world.

Paingod · Post by **Paingod** » Tue Apr 21, 2020 12:55 pm

Unagi wrote: Tue Apr 21, 2020 12:53 pm
Paingod wrote: Tue Apr 21, 2020 12:45 pm
Unagi wrote: Tue Apr 21, 2020 8:53 amThat would have a LOT more impact if he just said ‘Everyone in America to fight it’. And ‘Hope for America’ would be fine to substitute too.
To be fair, the Trumpian style idiocy and rejection of science isn't unique to the US.
Clearly. But I am not (currently) trying to fix the world.

Unfortunately, I find myself as able to fix the world as I am able to fix the US.

Smoove_B · Post by **Smoove_B** » Tue Apr 21, 2020 1:32 pm

I think Trump is likely mad that someone went behind his back to get aid from a foreign government:

Trump was asked during his briefing on Monday about Hogan securing the tests, for which Maryland paid $9 million. The president suggested it was an unwise investment.

"The governor of Maryland could've called [Vice President] Mike Pence, could've saved a lot of money," Trump said.

Can't inflate his ego if you don't get on the phone and beg for his aid. F him. F Pence and F the GOP for enabling this insanity. I guess when you're a GOP governor in a coastal blue elite state you're also useless to him.

Skinypupy · Post by **Skinypupy** » Tue Apr 21, 2020 1:43 pm

Smoove_B wrote: Tue Apr 21, 2020 1:32 pm I think Trump is likely mad that someone went behind his back to get aid from a foreign government:

Trump was asked during his briefing on Monday about Hogan securing the tests, for which Maryland paid $9 million. The president suggested it was an unwise investment.

"The governor of Maryland could've called [Vice President] Mike Pence, could've saved a lot of money," Trump said.
Can't inflate his ego if you don't get on the phone and beg for his aid. F him. F Pence and F the GOP for enabling this insanity. I guess when you're a GOP governor in a coastal blue elite state you're also useless to him.

Trump: Not my problem. States should have been prepared, governors need to figure it out on their own.

Also Trump: How dare the states go to someone else before asking us first!

Skinypupy · Post by **Skinypupy** » Tue Apr 21, 2020 1:58 pm

While I've been teetering for a while, today is really the first day that the hopelessness has started to set in. The reality that we're proper fucked, no matter what happens here. I'm hopeful that a shitload of us don't get sick and/or die, but it seems that's an acceptable outcome for most everyone in charge. Society at large seems perfectly happy to just Leroy Jenkins into the future in order to make a few bucks.

I've never had quite this level of general anxiousness and dread about the future. It's having a hell of an effect on my ability to concentrate and focus, which is absolutely what I need to be doing right now.

I know, I know...everyone's going through it, so just suck it up and deal. But damn if it isn't really hard right now.

YellowKing · Post by **YellowKing** » Tue Apr 21, 2020 2:07 pm

I'm somewhere in the gray area between "everything's going to work out" and "we're fucked." Because I think that's the most likely scenario.

The reason I don't think we're totally fucked is because we haven't hit that spot yet despite the administration's incompetence. I'm not saying things aren't bad, but they're not as bad as forecast, particularly on a national level. That's almost entirely because of the actions of state and local officials.

We're going to continue to see many people do the right thing in spite of - not because of - the federal government. And that's what's going to get us by. It's not going to be best case scenario, because the federal government has already screwed the pooch on that. But neither will it be worst case because the federal government fortunately doesn't have the authority to force states to make bad decisions.

Octavious · Post by **Octavious** » Tue Apr 21, 2020 2:09 pm

Skinypupy wrote: Tue Apr 21, 2020 1:58 pm While I've been teetering for a while, today is really the first day that the hopelessness has started to set in. The reality that we're proper fucked, no matter what happens here. I'm hopeful that a shitload of us don't get sick and/or die, but it seems that's an acceptable outcome for most everyone in charge. Society at large seems perfectly happy to just Leroy Jenkins into the future in order to make a few bucks.

I've never had quite this level of general anxiousness and dread about the future. It's having a hell of an effect on my ability to concentrate and focus, which is absolutely what I need to be doing right now.

I know, I know...everyone's going through it, so just suck it up and deal. But damn if it isn't really hard right now.

Well if it makes you feel any better it's not just you. I can't really focus at all today. I just don't see how we don't end up with a good 10 years of pain from all of this. And nothing will be learned from it either. This country used to rally together in a crisis and that's not happening at all with this.

LawBeefaroni · Post by **LawBeefaroni** » Tue Apr 21, 2020 2:15 pm

Skinypupy wrote: Tue Apr 21, 2020 1:58 pm While I've been teetering for a while, today is really the first day that the hopelessness has started to set in. The reality that we're proper fucked, no matter what happens here. I'm hopeful that a shitload of us don't get sick and/or die, but it seems that's an acceptable outcome for most everyone in charge. Society at large seems perfectly happy to just Leroy Jenkins into the future in order to make a few bucks.

I've never had quite this level of general anxiousness and dread about the future. It's having a hell of an effect on my ability to concentrate and focus, which is absolutely what I need to be doing right now.

I know, I know...everyone's going through it, so just suck it up and deal. But damn if it isn't really hard right now.

At work they're telling managers to start coming back due concerns about morale and productivity issues. Initially the idea was to clear the decks to allow clinical staff to do their thing but with revenues cratering and everything but the ER and ICUs slow, the ghost town feel is starting to cause issues. I'm working 10 hours a day at home and have no direct reports anymore and no one to report directly to (my boss left as did my AA due to merger). But I will now go in a few days a week to show my face and try to boost morale. Ironically, on the days I go in I will probably get less done. I will bring candy and gift cards so there's that.

The large children's hospital (read: an incredibly solvent hospital) in the area has furloughed 20% of it's employees. Article says "with pay", I'm hearing "with substantially reduced pay." I wouldn't be surprised if they're losing $millions/day, possibly creeping into double digits.

LawBeefaroni · Post by **LawBeefaroni** » Tue Apr 21, 2020 2:25 pm

By the way, my method of coping is to focus on taking care of myself first so I can help others. Be that health wise, work wise, or financially. Whatever.

You know how when you fly they always tell you that if SHTF and you need oxygen masks to put yours on first and then help those around you; the kids, elderly, etc? Yeah, because if you don't, you start suffocating and they do too and then you can't help each other.

So that's my way of dealing with all this. I'm prepared as I can be, getting my shit done, and doing everything I can and then for my family/friends, for right now, and then worry about what comes next. Doesn't mean I won't get blindsided by a virus or a [n empty] bus but if I don't, I can help someone else who did. It also doesn't hurt that most of my hobbies are ideal for today's pandemic world.

All the talk about coming out on the other side though, I'm more inclined to think we we'll be living in this tunnel for a while and the other side is less important than where we are right now.

Also, when the 3 year-old sees a dead bird and says, "He got the cowonavirids and now he's dead!" I have to laugh and cherish it. That's where we are.

Zaxxon · Post by **Zaxxon** » Tue Apr 21, 2020 2:33 pm

malchior wrote: Tue Apr 21, 2020 8:20 am I'm right there with you Neil deGrasse Tyson...mostly. This has exposed all our problems and we've found that so much is lacking. This has been a poor showing for civilization...in America.

We are living in a failed state. Depressing-but-good piece in The Atlantic this AM (side note: The Atlantic has been crushing it lately, amirite?).

YellowKing wrote: Tue Apr 21, 2020 2:07 pm I'm somewhere in the gray area between "everything's going to work out" and "we're fucked." Because I think that's the most likely scenario.

The reason I don't think we're totally fucked is because we haven't hit that spot yet despite the administration's incompetence. I'm not saying things aren't bad, but they're not as bad as forecast, particularly on a national level. That's almost entirely because of the actions of state and local officials.

We're going to continue to see many people do the right thing in spite of - not because of - the federal government. And that's what's going to get us by. It's not going to be best case scenario, because the federal government has already screwed the pooch on that. But neither will it be worst case because the federal government fortunately doesn't have the authority to force states to make bad decisions.

November. November is when we determine whether / how fucked we are. Trump wins? We're totally fucked. Look at the damage done these past four years. Now imagine Trump starting here, with another four years, knowing from the start that he's untouchable, already having replaced competence with loyalty throughout the government below him. (And I'm even assuming a normal, non-rigged election here, which I don't even think is assured.)

Oh, and he'd almost certainly replace RBG, too.

State/local actions have been good to see, as you've mentioned, but there's only so much they can do under a renewed onslaught with a Trump re-election as the starting point.

Biden wins, but the Senate stays as-is? Still fucked, as we'll have another 4 years of impotent response to climate change, and we really, truly are out of time on that front. But the country will likely meander along throughout Biden's term more or less as normal (just our kids and their kids who'll be the actually-fucked ones).

Biden wins, and the Senate flips? I'll get off the fainting couch and attempt something other than abject misery for another few years. Maybe a small glimmer of hope.

Zaxxon · Post by **Zaxxon** » Tue Apr 21, 2020 2:35 pm

LawBeefaroni wrote: Tue Apr 21, 2020 2:25 pmSo that's my way of dealing with all this. I'm prepared as I can be, getting my shit done, and doing everything I can and then for my family/friends, for right now, and then worry about what comes next. Doesn't mean I won't get blindsided by a virus or a [n empty] bus but if I don't, I can help someone else who did.

Wise words.