Coronavirus

[#1]

So, today this happens.

[#2]

Here is what things look like in Georgia. (I live about 50 miles east of the giant circle in the southwest region. Our circle is medium-sized.) Local hospital is begging people to stay home.

For details on the regional perspective, see https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/what-the-coronavirus-is-doing-to-rural-georgia

[#3]

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Phyllis G wrote:

Here is what things look like in Georgia. (I live about 50 miles east of the giant circle in the southwest region. Our circle is medium-sized.) Local hospital is begging people to stay home.

For details on the regional perspective, see https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/what-the-coronavirus-is-doing-to-rural-georgia

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So... wild guess... you live in Tifton? My granddaddy was from Tifton.

[#4]

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Janean L wrote:

First-hand reports (to me, that I am passing along to you, second-hand) from (1) New York City; and (2) medical personnel in very-rural U.S. :

(1) While public hospitals in New York City are overwhelmed, a doctor friend (medical resident) at a private hospital in NYC (Lenox Hill) says that they are still okay; not yet in crisis mode. (This was as of Saturday, 4/4/20.)

(2) Two of my children in NYC boroughs tell me that the general situation there has not yet deteriorated. Streets are eerily quiet, but stores remain stocked and panic hasn't set in. They are choosing to stay in place for now (despite pleas from mother/mother-in-law that they decamp).

(3) Doctor who practices in West Virginia reports that they are very, very quiet there. No chaos. Likely that many medical practices will go bankrupt, however, due to the slowdown in elective cases. (This is as of this morning, Monday, 4/6/20.)

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New Yorkers are quite resilient.

[#5]

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Christine A wrote:

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Phyllis G wrote:

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What I took away from my initial quick read of that tutorial is the most important things are snug fit, breathability, layers, fabric texture that will catch virus cells, and cleanability. So, I think any design that meets those criteria is fine. I own a sewing machine but have negative aptitude for sewing, so am on the lookout for the most idiot-proof design. And trying to figure out the best thing to use for the nose piece.

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Agreed. Washability is an important factor because they should be cleaned after each use, so I abandoned the idea of using vacuum filters (even though I've heard that it's the most effective material). But a friend who's a nurse pointed out that the design from the link that I sent you is problematic, because by sewing seams down the centre, you're putting tiny holes in the fabric right where your nose and mouth are. This pattern is easier anyway if you're a beginner, so I've gone back to that now, but I'm experimenting with some kind of pleating around the nose to fit better, and using ties that go around the head instead of elastic. I'll share the results when I get something that I'm happy with.

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That is the pattern I see most. Elastic has become very scarce here and people are using narrow elastic hairbands, ponytail elastics, and someone figured out that bungee cords are actually bundles of narrow elastic. Also cutting elastic bands from old underwear -- anything that can be found.

I like the idea of a removable filter layer but am not sure I could breathe through two pleated thicknesses of cotton plus a layer of waffle-weave tea towel!

[#6]

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Phyllis G wrote:

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I like the idea of a removable filter layer but am not sure I could breathe through two pleated thicknesses of cotton plus a layer of waffle-weave tea towel!

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I am not even going to go there. When the normal surgical masks mother sent me (she is an ex pharmacist and has  a bunch of tame doctors and pharmacies on speed-dial) run out, I will just stay indoors. I put them on when a delivery arrives (as well as latex gloves) and can't WAIT to rip them off again, and that's just after crossing the carpark and back again, which is as far as I have ventured since late February.

Not doing not breathing. No No No

[#7]

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Petra R wrote:

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Phyllis G wrote:

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I like the idea of a removable filter layer but am not sure I could breathe through two pleated thicknesses of cotton plus a layer of waffle-weave tea towel!

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I am not even going to go there. When the normal surgical masks mother sent me (she is an ex pharmacist and has  a bunch of tame doctors and pharmacies on speed-dial) run out, I will just stay indoors. I put them on when a delivery arrives (as well as latex gloves) and can't WAIT to rip them off again, and that's just after crossing the carpark and back again, which is as far as I have ventured since late February.

Not doing not breathing. No No No

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Food delivery is not available to me. (Hopefully, it will be soon -- I subscribed last night to something called Misfits Market which sells boxes of perfectly good but cosmetically defective produce. I will get a box every other week and a friend swears by the quality and reliability. Sadly, new subscriptions are backlogged by several weeks. And I'll still have to go out for meat, eggs, and gin!) I have a box of disposable masks left over from a medical situation a couple of years ago and am using those for now, whenever I am indoors anywhere other than my home, e.g. the grocery store, the post office.

[#8]

How scientists are rushing to create a coronavirus vaccine

[#9]

The British Prime Minister is now in intensive care. Whatever people's feelings (including mine) are about him, I hope that he pulls through. I pray that he pulls through. 

Apart from governing and politics, he has a family and a baby on the way. 

[#10]

https://www.nationalreview.com/2020/04/coronavirus-response-sweden-avoids-isolation-economic-ruin/

[#11]

Today's charts: 

 

[#12]

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Petra R wrote:

Today's charts: 

 

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UK seems to be levelling off.
The U.S. curve is alarming.

[#13]

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Abinadab A wrote:

**Edited for Community Guidelines**

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Can we try and keep politics out of it. What politicians said and did at any given time is a matter of public record. Please let's not derail this thread. Thank you.

[#14]

Hi All,

We've removed recent posts with political content from this thread. Please, refrain from posting inflammatory and disruptive comments on these boards.

Thank you.

[#15]

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Petra R wrote:

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Abinadab A wrote:

**Edited for Community Guidelines**

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Can we try and keep politics out of it. What politicians said and did at any given time is a matter of public record. Please let's not derail this thread. Thank you.

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I appreciate your using the pronoun "we" and the verb "try". It shows you appreciate how hard it is to talk about a matter this delicate, this serious, without going anywhere near the politics.

It's like walking on egg shells.

And I'm talking here as a very apolitical person.

Hopefully, I'll tread the fine line better.

[#16]

Good morning 🙂

Today's graphs. 

[#17]

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Petra R wrote: The ones I've seen were made from much thinner  and unlined?

material

That "letting things through the central seam claim is a bit ridiculous as the mask is open all the way around and isn't hermetically sealed.

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You've got a point there, Petra. I've been looking for thinner material in my closets. This one is lined with a different cloth because that's the way I wanted it. But all masks are lined, as they are made of 2 layers of cloth plus something to ensure a little protection from the virus. I'm going to try making another simpler model:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWI6Umbce6I

or

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWsnlKXC-u4

The most important parts of the face that need protection are the mouth and nose, so letting "things" through near the mouth and the nose is not too cool!

[#18]

Coronavirus Pandemic Update 50: Dip in Daily New Deaths; Research on Natural Killer Cells & COVID-19

[#19]

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Janean L wrote:

a little humor, here --

One of my sisters is an actuary by day, and a quilter by avocation. She creates gorgeous, award-winning, heirloom-quality quilts. She constantly buys new fabrics and adds these fabrics to her stockpile, ready to create quilts for which she has specific plans as well as quilts for which she entertains only vague ideas. Her husband keeps telling her that she has plenty of material already on hand, and that she needs to stop purchasing and hoarding additional quilting supplies.

Sister told me a few days ago that she sewed masks for a few friends and family members. "Oh, dear!" I responded in mock concern. "Wherever DID you find any fabric to work with?!?"

"I know!" she said. "I was very smug about it all. I said to my husband: 'See! I haven't been hoarding ! I've just been preparing !' "

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Haha!

[#20]

SA  confirmed cases 1749.

[#21]

Re: post-graduate studies at the Twitter and WhatsApp Schools of Misinformation and Conspiracy Theory Dissemination.

Hope they would eventually find out that what you learn inside the classroom, is not as valuable as what you observe and learn in the real world. 

Unfortunately, when they are done with post-grad, they would be hotter by one degree.

My heart goes out to you Reinier.

[#22]

Times like this I can go ahead and reap the benefits of not having much of a social life.

[#23]

Hello Everyone,

I hope you all are Safe & Sound !! You're like my professional friends as well as part of Upwork Family.

To be honest, I have never seen this type of Lockdown/Complete shut down in my entire life. At age of 29, I become the witness of this pandemic situation which cause a huge loss to HumanKind. Peoples are loosing thier lives because of no reason. While on other hand many of us are loosing thier jobs & savings without any cause..

I heartly pray to God this situation would get over soon and peoples can get back to the track of life again.. 

So stay home and stay safe from this DEMON KILLING VIRUS..

Regards,
Sumit 

[#24]

This sobering photo was posted by a friend in Sayulita, Mexico, where I had been spending the winter until recently. It's Semana Santa now, and this tiny beach town normally receives an enormous influx of tourists - there are usually so many people on the beach around Easter, you can't even see the sand. The locals are so worried about crowds spreading the Coronavirus, that they've formed human barricades to prevent any non-residents from entering the town. It's very sad that this is necessary (especially since the people in the photo aren't even practicing social distancing). I fear that the upcoming Easter long weekend will see even greater numbers of people trying to make their way to holiday destinations, putting locals at risk. Please, please, stay home!

[#25]

Italian numbers are out. 

Yet another day with the new confirmed infections down significantly. The increase has been the lowest since March 13th, the strong downward trend continues at 3039 new cases, almost 600 less than yesterday.  still just over 600 people died, but the deaths will always take longer to catch up.

France not out yet and I don't think Spain and Germany are final yet, they trickle in throughout the day until later into the evening.

So far, so good.

Edited to update: Germany looking good, Spain looking good but what in the world is happening in France? over 11,000 new cases and over 1400 dead in 24 hours? Thats one person dying every minute?

[#26]

Coronavirus Pandemic Update 51: State by State Projections; Ultrasound to Diagnose COVID19 Pneumonia