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Daily coronavirus-related chat, questions, and minor updates - March 20
This thread is posted daily, and is intended as a place for more-casual discussion of the coronavirus and questions/updates that may not warrant their own dedicated topics. Tell us about what the situation is like where you live!
My coworker told me that her toddler came down with a fever very early this morning and then had a seizure (febrile). They panicked and called 911, taken to the hospital. Toddler is fine. They were tested for flu and RSV, both negative. Doctor thought it was some type of respiratory virus given the toddler's symptoms, but wouldn't test for COVID-19 because they didn't meet criteria of being exposed to a confirmed case.
And now my coworker is wondering if they should self quarantine to be on the safe side (my recommendation was yes).
Really highlights the limitations of testing in the US.
They should, and it's … ridiculous that they wouldn't test for covid, but there are so extremely few cases in toddlers that it does seem unlikely.
Still, always self-quarantine.
I work for a healthcare company. I know plenty of people who are symptomatic and are not being tested including nurses and doctors who have had confirmed contact with COVID-19 patients. Basically if you don't end up in the hospital, you aren't getting tested right now.
This is mostly a supply issue right now - we simply do not have enough tests in the US. This is going to get much worse before it gets better.
That's so frustrating to read. I work with toddlers and the thought of one of them being sick and unable to get tested makes my blood boil. I can't imagine what it would be like for a parent. There are so many things that the US has had plenty of advance warning for, but simply didn't do. There is really no excuse other than ignorance or arrogance. This is a bit off topic, but I'm still shocked by the fact that TSA isn't taking temperatures as people go through security. Checking passengers for a fever and preventing those with a fever from traveling seems like such a basic thing to do. The other day I asked a TSA agent why they weren't checking temps and his response was that they didn't have any flights from Italy or Wuhan. This was after restaurants in the area closed.
The other day I wrote about going back to China and the serious quarantine that would take place. Unfortunately, I jinxed myself and missed the boat. Last night I got a message from one of the supervisors at my school and she told me that teachers and students that are currently outside of China are not permitted to return. As usual, there is a lot of confusion around this, and we aren't sure what the penalty is for refusing that mandate, but I'm not taking any chances with fibbing to an authoritarian government without plausible deniability. I'd rather be stuck here than risk deportation, losing my visa, or going to jail. I'm pretty sad that I wont get to see my students, and I'm kicking myself for not going back sooner, but it's nice to know I'll be around to help my parents if they get sick.
Czech republic (Population: 11M). Two days ago, I posted about us having about 470 cases. In two days, this number doubled to 833. Source
This is scary. The number of cases per day was slowing down, even though each day we tested more people than the previous one (about 2K tests per day right now). And out of nothing this jump. I though it was slowing down, but it hasn't even started.
At least our government seems competent for once. The things they did make sense by now, even though I thought they were unnecessarily harsh, they knew what they were doing. And we got a shitton of health material and tests from China. And fourth person in our country just got cured.
When I went to shop, there was everything, nothing was missing. I didn't notice anything out of ordinary, except for all the people keeping their distance and wearing surgical masks. There even weren't more people than pre-corona, everything was stocked and people seemed to buy normal number of items. I didn't see any hoarders so far.
On a positive note, I went to a forest. There were quite a few people, it looked like the whole city went to forests and parks. You know, first spring day, and the weather was great. In about a hour, rain started which lasted about 7 hours. Most of the people disappeared after it started raining, so I was about four hours in forest, completely by myself. It was really peaceful and refreshing, as I wasn't able to go out in last two days at all. I really needed a walk in the nature by then. There were so many beautiful birds in there, sitting few meters away from me. I think I've never seen so many birds from such a close distance.
Yep. Did one last week, friday and another one today. Nothing much is objectively different, but it feels so different. Also, Aldi usually has a cutout in their checkout lanes where you can park your cart so the cashier can put items in your cart directly.link, the right angle corner These were blocked with empty crates today, to enforce safe distancing. Disposable gloves for cashiers. Still flour and TP shortage, but I bet I could get some if I went to another store and I still have enough not to worry.
So, one of my best friends has left the country to go back to Australia. He messaged me at 1am to tell me. I was in fucking tears.
He was on a 1 year visa expiring in June, was hoping to find a stable job before then. With the virus, what little hope was left is no longer an option. :(
I shouldn't be so upset, he's not dead, he's not ill, and we'll probably do lots of online games together. His girlfriend is far more heartbroken. Still, I'm really upset.
anyone having any personal contacts with any illness? My gf has some flu symptoms right now. No fever yet but elevated temperature when measured orally. Hoping for the best.
No one I know personally with symptoms yet, only people exposed to others showing symptoms or exposed to a confirmed case of coronavirus. On a positive note, my mom just tested positive for type A flu, so let's hope your gf is coming down with something else like that.
Today is looking better, she still sometimes has stomach cramps, but other than that she seems much better.
Temperature is lower again. And I seem to be fine so far.
Around 10% of the people I know here in Brussels either have (or had) the virus, or are very likely to have it but can't get tested. (Which is to say, 7 people out of ~70ish contacts).
that's a lot of people. Wish you all the best
Multiple suspected, one confirmed
Only issue is they're not sure if exposure equals immunity to future exposures
Too late. It's quite likely that enough people are already infected to do this, but we don't know who they are. Hopefully we'll have enough testing to know by the time the first wave is over.
The press conference today got a little spicy, in more ways than one. First sean spicer?! wtf? then when trump attacked the nbc reporter for asking why he is panicking people with a fake "cure". Just a paraphrase.
I tuned in just as the reporter asked the question that was basically "what do you say to all the Americans who are scared and afraid?". Which is like the softball interview question of the decade. And instead of giving even a half assed response that could comfort people even a miniscule amount, he verbally attacks the reporter for seemingly no reason.
Had my over the phone therapist appointment. Wasn't as awkward as I thought it would've been. Everything city related is pretty shut down right now. Even the management at my place isn't around right now.
Feels very surreal. There is massive fog right now and it feels like the movie The Mist
Brazil. 651 cases in 24/27 'Federal regions' (states plus the capital), with 283 in my home state, São Paulo.
My parents went to a smaller and closer supermarket and she said that while the market is unusually full she said there's no serious panic buying going on,which is good but still flies in the face of social distancing, although the problem is total distancing would basically be the same as going to a bunker for a few months, which would mean needing to have supplies and the like to stay in said bunker and practically freeze the economy. Thing is, The alternative is still worse.
Some places here (like the bank) are having people line up outside. Banks would normally avoid that because they don't want rumors of a bank run, but it was a major bank so I guess they're not concerned.
Grocery stores could do that and allow only a few people in at once. Someone has to organize it, though.
I got the call from work, they want me to pick up my PC and work from home for an indeterminate time. So either protest works, or everyone is pretty hookey spooked right now and is covering their bases.
There are thirty-two cases in Nebraska, which isn't much more in absolute terms than the last time I talked about it. I'm guessing that's because of lack of testing though. I'm nervous about having enough food, I have no idea what's gonna happen.