[Health] The Infectious Diseases Thread

[LordMortis]

Hey Smoove - what do you think about going to the dentist? Mine is opening back up and I have an appointment in a few weeks. It seems like a particularly bad idea to me.

My dentist said June at the earliest. July more probable. Later possible. I'm supposed to go 4 time a year for perio maintenance. My last appointment for May was cancelled. Knowing that they my cleanings are a higher priority, they rescheduled me for October.

Mind you, I live in SE Michigan and we are higher than average hit area of multinational travel.

[Paingod]

It seems like a particularly bad idea to me.

Dentists in my area were the first medical offices to shut down. Probably something about having you open your mouth as wide as possible and then leaning over you to root around in there. If you're dead-set on the appointment, ask if you can wear your mask the entire time.

[coopasonic]

I have a dentist appt (routine cleaning) next week and a couple days ago they called to confirm they were opening up and the precautions they were taking. They already wore masks, gloves and goggles in the before times, they are adding face shields and cleaning the space more thoroughly between patients along with closing the waiting room having you wait in your car. *shrug* if you don't hear from me after a couple weeks you'll know not to go.

[Paingod]

I have a dentist appt (routine cleaning) next week and a couple days ago they called to confirm they were opening up and the precautions they were taking.

If you need to, it's probably better to go now when people are being hyper-vigilant and just coming out of lockdown than in 2+ months when people get slack on taking precautions and are now grumbling about needing to go back into lockdown because reopening everything went so poorly.

It's part of the reason I nudged my wife to get her eyes checked and a fresh optical prescription done. Everyone's as healthy and vigilant as they're going to be right now for a long time coming.

[stessier]

My oral hygiene is pretty good and I don't mind going as the cleanings are relatively easy. Skipping one would probably be fine for me. But like you said, having your mouth open seems like a bad idea. I guess face shields would make me feel better, but I'd prefer a full hood or PAPR on the hygenist.

[em2nought]

They already wore masks, gloves and goggles in the before times,

Sounds like we're in an episode of original Star Trek.

[morlac]

Our re-open date is "not before July 1, likely late summer." I know why we have to wait, but man am I looking forward to being back in the office.

I am getting very tired of the chair at my computer desk at home. It's a high-quality office chair, but I am spending more time in it than I have ever spent in the same chair in my life. When I'm in the office, I regularly get up to visit other people at their desks and go to meetings. Working from home, I just sitting in this damn chair all day long.

Late summer seems very far away.

I would recommend a good gaming chair. I find the pricing to be about a quarter to half the cost of a comparably comfortable/designed for 8+ hours office chairs.

[morlac]

Daughter got 3 stubborn baby teeth removed yesterday from the Dentist. She has braces scheduled for next week. Our dentist did a great job of easing fears and taking all precautions so I felt pretty good about it. It all comes down to how each place handles it since of course there is no national consensus or mandates. It's the wild west out there folks you will need to do your own due diligence as things open back up.

[Kraken]

My dentist just called to reschedule my cleaning from 5/14 to sometime after then reopen on 5/18. Think I'll wait a month to give them time to perfect their safety protocols.

[Daehawk]

If only you could be the very first one in there'd be no worries.

[morlac]

My dentist just called to reschedule my cleaning from 5/14 to sometime after then reopen on 5/18. Think I'll wait a month to give them time to perfect their safety protocols.

Honestly, if they haven't spent the last month perfecting said protocol and need that extra month you might as well find a different one. Just my 2 cents

[Unagi]

My dentist just called to reschedule my cleaning from 5/14 to sometime after then reopen on 5/18. Think I'll wait a month to give them time to perfect their safety protocols.

Honestly, if they haven't spent the last month perfecting said protocol and need that extra month you might as well find a different one. Just my 2 cents

No battle plan survives contact with the enemy.

I’m sure Kraken just looks forward to take advantage of refinement of said plan.

[morlac]

While true he might want to go while he can before they close them down again .

[Kraken]

While true he might want to go while he can before they close them down again .

True dat. I'm sure they need the money, too. A year ago, they dropped out of the Delta Dental network, which is the 900-lb gorilla in MA. Delta had just reduced its payments to dentists, and they decided it wasn't worth the aggravation anymore. Consequently our out-of-pocket expenses went up. I wanted to find a new in-network dentist, but Wife was in the middle of her bionic mouth project, their office is barely 10 minutes from home, we both like the people and their work, and inertia.

News item today said the network dentists are suing Delta because it's been collecting premiums without paying anything out for the past 6 or 8 weeks, and those dentists want a piece of that windfall to cover their losses. I imagine our dentist is chafing over that.

[Kraken]

In all seriosity, I wonder if I should wait until testing is more widespread before going back to the dentist. I'd kind of like to know that the hygienist is periodically testing negative (or immune). I'd rather not roll the dice on exposure from doing something I don't like to do anyway, and my cleaning isn't late yet.

[Daehawk]

Saw a local dentist interviewed on the news. She was saying something about their's are doing all cleaning by hand...just the manual tools. The device that vibrates plaque away easy is banned right now or something.

[AWS260]

https://twitter.com/brunmad/status/1258454451716841472

[Unagi]

Yeah. That immediately sounded like a bad idea to me too

[hitbyambulance]

Saw a local dentist interviewed on the news. She was saying something about their's are doing all cleaning by hand...just the manual tools. The device that vibrates plaque away easy is banned right now or something.

i looked this up and found the answer why: https://www.dentistryiq.com/dental-assi ... rk-already

COVID-19 spreads mainly through airborne particles, such as coughing and sneezing. It also spreads through aerosols such as those seen in dental offices when using a handpiece or ultrasonic cleaner.

[Blackhawk]

I had to be in Marion county yesterday to take Barry to the vet. Marion (Indianapolis) is the hotspot in the state for the virus, with thousands of cases and hundreds of deaths. I had to go into a Target in order to use the bathroom (everything else was closed.) I'd say maybe on in four people were wearing masks.

Somehow, in Indiana, not wearing a mask has become a symbol of power and strength, while wearing a mask has become a sign of weakness and conforming.

If only the massive death count would limit itself to the stupid that are spreading it...

[Daehawk]

Father and daughter recreate scenes from movies while stuck at home

Pretty good stuff like Beetlejuice and Rocky Horror.

[Jeff V]

Father and daughter recreate scenes from movies while stuck at home

Pretty good stuff like Beetlejuice and Rocky Horror.

At least they're not recreating Texas Chainsaw Massacre...

[Daehawk]

Father and daughter recreate scenes from movies while stuck at home

Pretty good stuff like Beetlejuice and Rocky Horror.

At least they're not recreating Texas Chainsaw Massacre...

Yet.

[Jeff V]

The nursing home where my wife's friend who died last week from Covid is now putting the hard sell trying to recruit my wife. She indicated she would take it if the signing bonus offered is $5000 or more. Their Covid stat line currently sits at 173 cases and 26 deaths.

[Daehawk]

Damn that nursing home has 3 times the infected that my entire county has and 26 times the deaths.

[Kraken]

Roughly half of the 5,000 deaths in MA have been in elder care facilities.

[Jeff V]

It's not just the extra cash that is motivating my wife, but a more favorable work schedule. Right now it seems our boarder will go to Kentucky next month for a trial live-in with a guy she met online a couple of months ago. Since she's been with us, I've not had to roust the kids early (although they do so of their own accord often enough) and do a parking lot hand-off with my wife, who gets out of work anywhere from 7:30-9:00 am. If school resumes in the fall, my son will start at 8:30 am. This other place would have her on a 10 pm-6:30 am shift, so she would be home in time for me to go to work at a normal time.

[Daehawk]

I]ve got to go to town tomorrow all while dodging the free face moron legion.

[LawBeefaroni]

My parents are in Eastern TN. They say most stores are mask free but their local Sam's Club requires masks and is limiting entry (only a certain number of people in-store at once).

So for the first time ever I told someone to shop at Sam's Club.

[KKBlue]

I picked up a job at Home Depot back in 2017 which falls under today's essential business title. The company has set a limit on people coming into the store and has reduced the hours of operation. Actually looking forward to going into work today so I can send a message to corporate requesting signs. We need more tools to help associates have more authority when working at the entrance and exits. Of course, this will be for those who take the time to read and want to follow directions. I've spent many hours thanking people for wearing a mask and happy to report there are more kind, thoughtful customers. However, not sure how much longer I can be/deal with the public at $12 an hour under this crazy Connecticut stress.

[Daehawk]

Seen protestors maskless with motorcycle helmets on, carrying guns, one even had a 50 cal mg, carrying signs. But these mindless folk are too puny to take the weight of a mask.

[Paingod]

At the grocery store over the weekend in rural Maine, I'd say almost all staff and patrons were wearing masks. The only people I saw not wearing them were 5 white males, between 35 and 50. One was whistling loudly as if to draw attention to himself as he stacked beer in his cart. Another one pulled up behind me in line and while the cashier was complaining about people being angry that no one's enforcing the mask requirement to enter the store, I loudly proclaimed that "Yeah, while I'm not worried about getting sick personally, I am worried about who I'd get sick. It's just irresponsible to go anywhere without a mask now" - loud enough for everyone within 15' to hear. The dude behind me who was standing proud a moment before suddenly turned his back to me and started re-arranging his items in his cart. I repeatedly glared daggers at another guy who I could tell wasn't enjoying the nasty looks I was giving him from three lines over.

I'm very close to walking up to each person I see without a mask and demanding they tell me who they want to kill so badly that they won't wear one.

[pr0ner]

I'm very close to walking up to each person I see without a mask and demanding they tell me who they want to kill so badly that they won't wear one.

Yeah, I don't think that's a good idea.

[Paingod]

I'm very close to walking up to each person I see without a mask and demanding they tell me who they want to kill so badly that they won't wear one.

Yeah, I don't think that's a good idea.

Which is really the only reason I haven't. I know it's not something I should do - but when I see 90% of people trying to avoid getting sick and know thousands are dying from this, the other 10% who are flouting it and think it's all a joke make me very angry.

[Smoove_B]

In theory, there are legitimate reasons for an adult to not be wearing a mask. For example, if they have COPD or asthma the mask might make breathing even harder. In a perfect world they shouldn't be out, but not everyone has the ability to remote shop.

[Daehawk]

I have to take my little dog to a vet today. Think he has a tooth infection. I asked if they were doing anything special with COVID that I need to know because I want to stay with him. They said nothing at all and they are back to normal . I couldn't even get in until this afternoon. So Im guessing lots of people sitting in there with no masks. Im wearing one but I still worry that me or my dog could get infected. Yet he needs to be checked.

[Paingod]

I still worry that me or my dog could get infected

I'm 99% sure research has proven that this isn't a K9 transmissible infection.

*Edit: According to the AKC, dogs can "contract" it, but it poses no threat to them.

[Kraken]

I have to take my little dog to a vet today. Think he has a tooth infection. I asked if they were doing anything special with COVID that I need to know because I want to stay with him. They said nothing at all and they are back to normal . I couldn't even get in until this afternoon. So Im guessing lots of people sitting in there with no masks. Im wearing one but I still worry that me or my dog could get infected. Yet he needs to be checked.

When I took Warren in last week the vet was still not letting owners inside. They come to the car, wearing full PPE, and get your pet. Consult and payment is over the phone.

I went in for my annual physical today. Doc said business is just starting to recover; they've had next to nothing for the past month. They haven't allowed any sick people inside since March, just wellness visits and injuries. (The good news is that my shoulder probably won't need surgery. I injured the rotator cuff but didn't tear it badly. He recommended physical therapy once those places reopen, probably in a couple of weeks.) Doc is of the opinion that it is time to start reopening. Aside from the economics, people are deferring care that shouldn't be deferred, and suicides and domestic abuse are up. Purely from a public health standpoint, he believes that the shelter-in-place is doing more harm than good now. I don't agree, but I don't have the expertise to disagree, either.

Home Depot was rocking on a Tuesday morning, and traffic has noticeably picked up.

[LawBeefaroni]

Home Depot was rocking on a Tuesday morning, and traffic has noticeably picked up.

Taking my mandatory PTO day yesterday, I noticed that traffic in front of our place at 1:15pm was just about back to normal levels. Which is to say a stead stream. Even as recently as last week it was eerily slow with just around 10 cars at the light every time.


The atmosphere seems to be a slow acceptance/push that it just has to end.

[Smoove_B]

The atmosphere seems to be a slow acceptance/push that it just has to end.

Reports I saw this morning suggested Illinois will peak "mid June", fwiw.