Coronavirus

[#1]

So, today this happens.

[#2]

Petra, thinking about it, it's probabaly best if you don't come and visit anyway. Not that I mind dogs at all, but just in case you've gotten the virus. I wouldn't want to be responsible for bringing Malta's patient zero here.

[#3]

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Eve L wrote:

. I wouldn't want to be responsible for bringing Malta's patient zero here.

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It's getting a bit scary...

5 times as many new cases in little Italy than in China with its 1.4 billion people...

[#4]

After two years we decided was about time to go back and visit family and friends, we literally just bought our tickets to go back to Italy and Germany two days before this disaster happened...hopefully something good will happen in the next two months or I'm afraid we will have to cancel the trip.

Here in New Zealand the situation is not that bad but new cases are arising every day, the worst thing is hunting for toilet paper.

[#5]

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Valerio S wrote:

After two years we decided was about time to go back and visit family and friends, we literally just bought our tickets to go back to Italy and Germany two days before this disaster happened...hopefully something good will happen in the next two months or I'm afraid we will have to cancel the trip.

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I am so sorry your travel plans were screwed by this! Hopefully by then things will have calmed down and you can enjoy your travels as planned!

[#6]

I am basically at the epicenter of this disease here in the US. The majority of deaths in the US are coming from an assisted living facility not very far away. The first reported case here in the US was also not very far away. Our school district is closed and my two high school aged kids are now in "remote learning" from home although my wife, who works in the school district, still needs to go in. Sports activities continue because sports is of course more important than school. On the positive side, my kids can get a taste of what the freelancer lifestyle is like now that they are doing "work" away from the traditional building. Had major travel plans for the summer that are now likely not happening. That's a bit of a first world kind of problem though. We freelancers are ahead of the curve when compared with all of the office workers. Business as usual for us! 

[#7]

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Scott B wrote:

I am basically at the epicenter of this disease here in the US. The majority of deaths in the US are coming from an assisted living facility not very far away. The first reported case here in the US was also not very far away. Our school district is closed and my two high school aged kids are now in "remote learning" from home although my wife, who works in the school district, still needs to go in. Sports activities continue because sports is of course more important than school. On the positive side, my kids can get a taste of what the freelancer lifestyle is like now that they are doing "work" away from the traditional building. Had major travel plans for the summer that are now likely not happening. That's a bit of a first world kind of problem though. We freelancers are ahead of the curve when compared with all of the office workers. Business as usual for us! 

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Sorry to aggravate the panic, but I'm all for being matter-of-factly and not sugarcoating things.

Please note that stock markets have nosedived because of this virus.

Many IRL businesses - industries in fact, have closed their doors till further notice - workers have been told to go home.

These are the businesses freelancers are serving.

Rest assured that if the virus continues to escalate at the present rate, you'll soon see the jitters in your job feed (if you haven't already).

Nobody is thinking about how to post jobs and do things and things on Upwork during a deadly global pandemic.

[#8]

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Scott B wrote:

I am basically at the epicenter of this disease here in the US. The majority of deaths in the US are coming from an assisted living facility not very far away. The first reported case here in the US was also not very far away. Our school district is closed and my two high school aged kids are now in "remote learning" from home although my wife, who works in the school district, still needs to go in. Sports activities continue because sports is of course more important than school. On the positive side, my kids can get a taste of what the freelancer lifestyle is like now that they are doing "work" away from the traditional building. Had major travel plans for the summer that are now likely not happening. That's a bit of a first world kind of problem though. We freelancers are ahead of the curve when compared with all of the office workers. Business as usual for us! 

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If it's a concern for your kids, it should be a concern for your wife, too! If it were me ... I'd be taking sick and vacation days whether I had any or not.

[#9]

Just went online to  my supermarket's site ... and saw this banner at the top of the page.

[#10]

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Virginia F wrote:

Just went online to  my supermarket's site ... and saw this banner at the top of the page.

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Scammers are also cashing in on the whole thing, selling face marks and hand sanitizers at ridiculous prices....

[#11]

No. Edit, in my case money was  a stop, beforehand, to simple decide to purchase tickets. and I wouldn't want to mind if my travel was to be from NZ to italy, that are in oppsosite sides of the Earth. Now I have more money, for example via accepting more hourly contracts (and having them, thanks God) and not many low price but time consuming contracts. but in this condition, is not to simply go and purchase tickets as you said, not only by the virus. **bleep** it. My wedding was about to be in June, and could not be. rescheduled to March,. but now, even if you pay a million, you are not sure that the party can be (well, with a million could be, paying corinavirus tests to all). And if Russians force the virus to mutate by force pushing a bad vaccine, worst. I  don't want to mind the hate I would have in my mind for Russia if they provoke that.

[#12]

Petra- assuming, of course, that the Chinese government is telling the truth about new cases.  But it may be a case of the virus burning itself out fairly quickly.  And maybe warmer weather will slow it down.

[#13]

Ugh, now even this thread is being infected by unwelcome organisms... (Edited to thank the friendly mod who removed the virus! Much appreciated)

Today's news:

The World Health Organisation informs us that taking hot baths does not prevent the virus

Actually, overall, this myth busting page is pretty useful considering all the fake news that is circulating on social media!

I am waiting for the updated numbers to see if yesterday's lower than trending number of new infections (977) in Italy was a blip or if the trend continues.

[#14]

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Eve L wrote:

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Petra wrote:

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Nor me, but frankly I have never understood why anyone would ever possibly want to be trapped on some glorified ferry with thousands of random people.

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Why not? I've been considering living on a cruise ship for a while, think it sounds perfect for us freelancers. You can work comfortably, and whenever you want to go out for a bit you're in a new city if you match your days off so that's when the ship is in a new place. Sounds perfect to me. Just a shame it's so expensive. I wish they had discounts for full-time passengers.

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It gets old after a while and it's mostly old people on cruises. It seems like a cool thing to do and it's not a bad experience if you go on one of the 3 day cruises, but you will feel like a rat in a cage after a while. Limited space, limited room unless you go for the expensive top-level rooms. You want the upper level for the deck and the view, because the low level feels like you're a poor on the Titanic and you know you gonna die if something happens.

I haven't been on one since I was like 18 (in Florida all you have to do is drive to the port, so everyone has been on a cruise), but I remember the food being Vegas levels of good and soo soooo much of it. You probably would get fat on a cruise because there is always so much food.

eta: $3k for the poor seats to fly to Rome. $13k for first class. My immune system is a gigachad. I ain't even worried.

[#15]

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Jennifer M wrote:

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. My immune system is a gigachad. I ain't even worried.

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My immune system is brilliant and I hardly ever get as much as a common cold (I just saw some moron describe the coronavirus as a cold, when it's not even the same kind of virus but that's another discussion altogether...). I have had antibiotics a grand total of 3 times in my life, of which twice was likely needless and under protest.

I have never been in hospital in my entire life except for stitches or x-rays- The last time I had x-rays I hopped to the tame equine vet next door because I could not face going to hospital and he x-rayed the foot for me, and let me interpret the images myslf as it would have been illegal for him to give medical advice.

I still self isolate, not just because I don't want to get it, I dont want to play a part iin spreading it either.

[#16]

Petra, I live near Rome and I can understand your feelings. I'm scared for what is happening and I can't neither count on my lessons of dance to relieve the stress, because all sport activity are closed. Let's hope all that can help to defeat this coronavirus.

[#17]

Let's hope! I live in a city in northern Ontario, Canada. It is quite isolated. However, I went to do some errands today and there is no toilet paper to be found. The city has been wiped clean of it! It seems everyone is preparing for the day where we are told not to leave our homes. I guess I better do the same...

[#18]

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Kristin R wrote:

Let's hope! I live in a city in northern Ontario, Canada. It is quite isolated. However, I went to do some errands today and there is no toilet paper to be found. The city has been wiped clean of it! It seems everyone is preparing for the day where we are told not to leave our homes. I guess I better do the same...

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Haha, my bestie in Germany had to hunt around for toilet paper too. Seems people have priorities. Never mind food.... As long as there is toilet paper. I bought in bulk from Amazon.

The only thing my online supermarket had run out of completely was Basmati (rice) but I have a large bag of red quinoa left from when I ordered the wrong thing while under the influence so that can serve as a substitute for rice for the time being.

[#19]

Hi from Italy- Sardinia
Fortunately one of the regions of Italy, an island of it, that has yet only 2  contagion both in recovery and no other spread for a week now.

Schools have been suspended till March 15 in all Italy and all school grades and universities.
Parents are alowed to remote work if they can
SUpermarkets have posters  advising to keep at least 1 metter between clients, more would be great.
Things are not looking fine.
The old Ebola drug  arrived to Genova city to be tested. But  unfortunately the tester lady patien is dead so now we wait on the approval for another patient with covis 19.

I am safe, as safe as one can be but trust me it is hard to concentrate on the work with all this turmoil and anxiety growing day by day.

from Italy
stay safe you all
Antonia

[#20]

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Antonia B. V wrote:

I am safe, as safe as one can be 

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Same here. I could theoretically stay almost 100% safe for months but isolation is not exactly fun either.

I also worry about what this will do to the local economy if this goes on. The area of Italy I live in is heavily reliant on tourism and if this goes on into the tourist season the effects on hotels, restaurants, all the beach businesses etc etc would be devastating...

[#21]

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Petra R wrote:

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I also worry about what this will do to the local economy if this goes on. The area of Italy I live in is heavily reliant on tourism and if this goes on into the tourist season the effects on hotels, restaurants, all the beach businesses etc etc would be devastating...

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Bangkok/Thailand has been hit hard.

They have been relying heavilly on the Chinese for tourists, but now - there's none. Places that were once packed are now completely empty - and we're still in high season in some places. According to local forums, staff are being asked to work on lower wages, for fewer hours, or are losing their jobs outright. It's likely to get a lot worse before it gets better, and the ecomomy here was already struggling.

Stil, one man's loss is another's gain and all that. A weaker baht would be good news for me. Although I wish that were achieved without others losing their jobs. 

[#22]

All quiet here for now.  No cases in the state of Mississippi, nor in the states on either side of us.  However, I'm having surgery on Wednesday which is unsettling because a) I've never had surgery and b) who knows what can happen between now and then and c) we don't exactly have the most sophisticated medical care in the US.  We don't have cruise ships, although New Orleans 90 miles away has several lines that call there weekly.  UGH.  Petra, I think about you every day...

[#23]

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Mary W wrote:

  UGH.  Petra, I think about you every day...

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Don't worry about me. I'm just fine in my little bubble.  I am likely one of the people in Italy least likely to get infected right now.

And my mother sent me a care parcel containing some German food I could not get here even if I was so inclined to leave my bubble, and face masks I won't use  (and cash I can't spend because there is no way I am going near any shop for the forseeable future, but bless her!) 

It's like a million years ago when I was at boarding school and she sent a parcel with sweets and cash when things were tough. Some things never change,

[#24]

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Mary W wrote:

All quiet here for now.  No cases in the state of Mississippi, nor in the states on either side of us.  However, I'm having surgery on Wednesday which is unsettling because a) I've never had surgery and b) who knows what can happen between now and then and c) we don't exactly have the most sophisticated medical care in the US.  We don't have cruise ships, although New Orleans 90 miles away has several lines that call there weekly.  UGH.  Petra, I think about you every day...

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Mary ... you should voice your concerns ahead of surgery if you can. Hopefully you'll get info that will alleviate some of your anxiety. That's what I plan on doing - for whatever it's worth.

[#25]

Hoping for speedy recovery, Mary! 

My take on surgery is, go to sleep with a problem, wake up with problem gone. 🙂

[#26]

Yep I'm over here near Seattle, the mayor declared a state of emergancy for the city.  I'm being super careful and brought my 89 year old mom to my house since she lives close to where the outbreak was in the nursing home. 

I'm being very strict about hand washing before you enter the house and hand sanitizer when you are out and about.