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  • Showing only topics with the tag "pandemics". Back to normal view
    1. New social isolation rules implemented in Australia

      Frustratingly (and in keeping with how confusing the messaging has been from the Australian government on all aspects of this pandemic), there is no single easy source that lists these new...

      Frustratingly (and in keeping with how confusing the messaging has been from the Australian government on all aspects of this pandemic), there is no single easy source that lists these new restrictions in a nice simple format.

      https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-03-29/public-gatherings-limited-to-two-people-coronavirus-covid-19/12101162

      https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-03-29/scott-morrison-coronavirus-covid19-two-person-rule-explained/12101212

      https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/elderly-australians-told-to-self-isolate-at-home-outdoor-gatherings-restricted-to-two-people-20200329-p54f1g.html

      • All gatherings, whether indoors or outdoors, are limited to 2 people. Exceptions apply for people you're living with (you're already sharing germs with them). However, previous limits of 5 people for weddings and 10 people for funerals still apply.

      • People should only leave the house for necessary activities, such as: shopping for supplies, exercising, medical care, work, school.

      • Elderly people should stay home and self-isolate. This applies to: healthy people over 70; unhealthy people over 60; indigenous people over 50. (And if we ever needed evidence that indigenous people have worse health than everyone else, this announcement proves it.)

      • Public playgrounds, outside gyms, and skate parks will close.

      These rules are all advisory, rather than legal. However, individual states can choose to enforce them legally.

      10 votes
    2. The Governments of New South Wales, Victoria, and the Australian Capital Territory will proceed to a more comprehensive shutdown of non-essential services over the next 48 hours

      News article: The Governments of New South Wales, Victoria, and the Australian Capital Territory will proceed to a more comprehensive shutdown of non-essential services over the next 48 hours in...

      News article: The Governments of New South Wales, Victoria, and the Australian Capital Territory will proceed to a more comprehensive shutdown of non-essential services over the next 48 hours in an attempt to slow the spread of coronavirus.

      For non-Australians: New South Wales and Victoria are Australia's two most populous states. Between them, they contain about 60% of the Australian population. They naturally also have the highest number of coronavirus cases.

      The Australian Capital Territory is a land-locked region totally surrounded by NSW. It's the home of our capital city, Canberra. It's small in population but, if NSW is clamping down, the ACT pretty much has to follow.

      10 votes
    3. Can I cycle outside?

      Sorry for the low effort post but my computer is broken and my smartphone is crap. My city in Brazil is basically closed for business. My mother was supposed to be in another continent but,...

      Sorry for the low effort post but my computer is broken and my smartphone is crap.

      My city in Brazil is basically closed for business. My mother was supposed to be in another continent but, THANKFULLY, flight restrictions prevented her from traveling.

      The downside is that she’s making me crazy like mothers do.

      I’m going bananas here, and cycling makes me sane. I also need the exercise. Am I crazy for wanting to get on my bike once a day? The streets are not totally empty, but a lot less populated.

      I’m in Salvador, Bahia. My state has 33 cases now.

      12 votes
    4. I wonder what the social media meta data is like right now

      Facebook et al. must be excited right now with this jackpot of acute behavioral data they're acquiring, in the context of a global catastrophe. I wonder if anyone has any insight here into what...

      Facebook et al. must be excited right now with this jackpot of acute behavioral data they're acquiring, in the context of a global catastrophe. I wonder if anyone has any insight here into what kind of research they are doing? I know it's all usually a tight secret.

      One idea that came to mind is that this would be excellent data to weaponize. Now we (as in social media corps.) can generate a pretty good model of what a global conflict looks like on the level of individual behavior and how that can be used for an advantage. The other edge of the sword would be this will help future public health initiatives but somehow I don't see this info being made publically available...

      7 votes