fly Posted March 17, 2020 Report Share Posted March 17, 2020 This topic is to communicate the impact the COVD-19 virus is having in your area and on you (if you choose to share). You probably all know me by now - I'm Frank and I live on the Illinois side of St Louis Missouri. I work as a professor at a public university. The following are the impacts in my area linked to the virus. 1. Most stores are being cleared out of meat, milk, toilet paper, and Tylenol. 2. The public universities and grade schools / high schools have extended spring break to online learning environments (likely until the end of the spring term). Grade school kids are now being home schooled (so much for common core) LOL 3. Restaurants and most bars are closed (for inside dinning). 4. Meetings at the university I work at are being conducted via an online platform or via phone. 5. The IL National Guard has been activated. 6. My girlfriend is a nurse at a St Louis Hospital and has received notification that she may be called in at any time and is being asked not travel more than 40 minutes away from the hospital. 7. Physicians and other clinicians working for hospitals in the St Louis area have been asked or told (Not sure of the mandate) to cancel spring break trips and stay in the area. 8. So far no one I know has contracted the virus. Hopefully it stays that way. I read the death toll in Italy has been rising quite high. It seems this bug is a bit worse than influenza and hopefully a vaccine may be available soon. The YMCA of the Rockies has cancelled all reservations until mid-April and maybe longer. This was to be our summer vacation destination. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted March 17, 2020 Report Share Posted March 17, 2020 My kids are out of school now indefinitely. No direction given for our 8 year old, our 14 year old says they gave her very little direction. We parents have not been given anything other than an automated phone call yesterday to inform us they were out starting today until at least April 3rd and something about a packet coming home with kids that we did not get.. Our 18 year old is now out of her dorm for the remainder of the spring term. She is between staying with us and staying with Christina our oldest. The college says in emails they will refund housing costs but no details. I went to Walmart Friday, was not crazy bad other than the toilet paper aisle being pretty well bare. With my heart issue I am going to try my best to limit my time in public places as much as possible. My Walmart trips will be only at their opening time. Catrina being the director of nursing at a medium sized nursing home, she has expectations that she may end up stuck at work. Her home is on lockdown. Sadly some folks are too ignorant to understand that is to protect their loved ones. Already has been a nightmare for her with staff, CNAs and nurses and CDC guidelines and the corporate guidelines rapidly changing. Tennessee has several cases, none to date locally. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dawg Posted March 17, 2020 Report Share Posted March 17, 2020 (edited) All area schools here are closed until further notice. My daughters teacher sent me a link to online programs she can do while out of school. I went to Walmart last night.....very little meats left in the coolers, frozen section was getting bare, no eggs, no toilet paper or paper towels in the aisle but they had some in the lay-a-way area and were rationing those limited supplies. Disposable/flushable wipes are out. Bread, cereal, ramen noodles, canned goods were all getting bare and some were completely out. Cleaning supplies are limited to one per customer and there's not much available. I lucked out and walked down the cleaning aisle just as they were stocking it with a few cases of Lysol so I grabbed a bottle. Found some sausage in one of the coolers and grabbed a few packs to throw in the freezer, still have some venison and sausage from my mule deer I killed in November. One of the local meat markets had a line of cars about 1/4 mile long waiting to get in yesterday. Restaurants are going to drive thru/carry out only. All community gatherings/festivals have been cancelled. My job is continuing with very little change in operations. We are taking extra steps in sanitizing work stations, forklifts and all other MHE. Any given day we have several OTR drivers in here from all over the country. Our own drivers make daily routes down to the greater Houston area, Beaumont, Tyler, Longview, Shereveport LA.....pretty much all over east Texas and west LA.....so their trucks are getting sanitized more than they have been as extra precautions. Texas has 105 active cases and one death so far. Edited March 17, 2020 by Dawg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted March 17, 2020 Report Share Posted March 17, 2020 Today's update has Tennessee with 73 total cases. Highest concentration in the Nashville area with the highest percentage age group between 18 and 49. Still none in our county or the counties immediately around us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NS whitetail Posted March 17, 2020 Report Share Posted March 17, 2020 I’m still in the Dominican Republic but my flights are finally booked for home on Thursday, earliest I can get out of here. When we get home the gf and I have to stay home for two weeks by law ,self isolation, not allowed out of house. She is a school teacher but schools are closed anyway so she gets a longer paid vacation. Our lobster season does not close to May 31 but as far as I know we are done for this season, I receive EI which pays ok so we will survive. When I left home last Friday things were ok holy poop how they have snowballed and gone down hill in a hurry. This is very serious but between social media and the news they are causing major panic which is not helping the situation. As of today there is less than 10 cases in the whole province of Nova Scotia where I live. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ravin R10 man Posted March 17, 2020 Report Share Posted March 17, 2020 I have hand wipes and sanitizer in my work truck. Only thing I do is wipe down fuel/gas pumps and handle. that is only thing I come in contact with daily. I only have to swipe a card, push a few buttons, get a receipt. Little change here. Wife is at more risk, as she went back to work after early retirement,(she got bored), she works as a cashier for Kwik Trip. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dawg Posted March 18, 2020 Report Share Posted March 18, 2020 Some of the best info I've read about this virus:WHAT YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND, PLEASE READ:Feeling confused as to why Coronavirus is a bigger deal than Seasonal flu? Here it is in a nutshell. I hope this helps. Feel free to share this to others who don’t understand... It has to do with RNA sequencing.... I.e. genetics.Seasonal flu is an “all human virus”. The DNA/RNA chains that make up the virus are recognized by the human immune system. This means that your body has some immunity to it before it comes around each year... you get immunity two ways...through exposure to a virus, or by getting a flu shot. Novel viruses = new, may come from animals= zoonotic.... the WHO tracks novel viruses in animals, (sometimes for years watching for mutations). Usually these viruses only transfer from animal to animal (pigs in the case of H1N1-Swine Flu) (birds in the case of the H1N1-Spanish flu). But once, one of these animal viruses mutates, and starts to transfer from animals to humans... then it’s a problem, Why? Because we have no natural or acquired immunity.. the RNA sequencing of the genes inside the virus isn’t human, and the human immune system doesn’t recognize it so, we can’t fight it off. Now.... sometimes, the mutation only allows transfer from animal to human, for years it’s only transmission is from an infected animal to a human before it finally mutates so that it can now transfer human to human... once that happens..we have a new contagion phase. And depending on the fashion of this new mutation, thats what decides how contagious, or how deadly it’s gonna be..H1N1 was deadly....but it did not mutate in a way that was as deadly as the Spanish flu. It’s RNA was slower to mutate and it attacked its host differently, too. Fast forward. Now, here comes this Coronavirus... it existed in animals only, for nobody knows how long...but one day, at an animal market, in Wuhan China, in December 2019, it mutated and made the jump from animal to people. At first, only animals could give it to a person... But here is the scary part.... in just TWO WEEKS it mutated again and gained the ability to jump from human to human. Scientists call this quick ability, “slippery”This Coronavirus, not being in any form a “human” virus (whereas we would all have some natural or acquired immunity). Took off like a rocket. And this was because, Humans have no known immunity...doctors have no known medicines for it.And it just so happens that this particular mutated animal virus, changed itself in such a way the way that it causes great damage to human lungs..That’s why Coronavirus is different from seasonal flu, or H1N1 or any other type of influenza.... this one is slippery. And it’s a lung eater...And, it’s already mutated AGAIN, so that we now have two strains to deal with, strain s, and strain L....which makes it twice as hard to develop a vaccine.We really have no tools in our shed, with this. History has shown that fast and immediate closings of public places has helped in the past pandemics. Philadelphia and Baltimore were reluctant to close events in 1918 and they were the hardest hit in the US during the Spanish Flu. And let me end by saying....right now it’s hitting older folks harder... but this genome is so slippery...if it mutates again (and it will). Who is to say, what it will do next. Be smart folks... #flattenthecurve. Stay home folks.Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fly Posted March 18, 2020 Author Report Share Posted March 18, 2020 Today's update: I read that the earliest a vaccine will be available will be spring 2021. The county I live in reported the first case of the virus. The state of IL is reporting one death so far. I went to the store and milk was back on the shelves, some bread, and some meat. Not a lot, but better than previously. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted March 18, 2020 Report Share Posted March 18, 2020 On 3/18/2020 at 10:07 AM, fly said: Today's update: I read that the earliest a vaccine will be available will be spring 2021. The county I live in reported the first case of the virus. The state of IL is reporting one death so far. I went to the store and milk was back on the shelves, some bread, and some meat. Not a lot, but better than previously. FDA approval may go out the window like it has with the tests. Seems they are looking at fast tracking efforts and trying some therapies as well as some old drugs like hydroxychloroquine. Heard yesterday that some physicians think there may be some potential even possibly as a propholactic. Probably gonna make an early trip to Walmart for groceries tomorrow morning. Hoping our routine weekly items are on hand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ravin R10 man Posted March 18, 2020 Report Share Posted March 18, 2020 hearing more and more talk from TOP Military, that it may have got out of the lab at WouHan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted March 18, 2020 Report Share Posted March 18, 2020 22 minutes ago, Mathews XT Man said: hearing more and more talk from TOP Military, that it may have got out of the lab at WouHan This was a conspiracy theory that some senators felt may have some credence. That was a couple months ago, supposedly there is a bio lab right there at Wuhan. With China's way they have dealt with this honestly would not surprise me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fly Posted March 19, 2020 Author Report Share Posted March 19, 2020 Today's Update: The township I live in has closed all parks until further notice. Three people in the hospital my girlfriend works at have tested positive. Little to nothing is being done to safeguard health care workers. I know one nurse that just completed chemo and is having radiation (immunocompromised) that must work or take sick time to get paid as they no longer allow any staff to take vacation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted March 19, 2020 Report Share Posted March 19, 2020 Trip to walmart this morning was somewhat enlightening. Before ever even getting in the store, there were nutcases racing through the parking lot, probably going close to 45 crossing through the parking area lanes diagonally across the lot towards the door. Seriously interesting to see how people in the community act. Seeing educated folks act in a way that fits the hysteria and in the process being inconsiderate of others. Principal of my kids middle school about ran over my 8 year old son as he raced down the aisle with his buggy full of all the stuff that has been high demand(bottled water, toilet paper, sanitizer, cleaning supplies), he did say excuse me sir though. Sure he recognized me. The guy has his doctorate degree, would not seem the type to fall into the hype. Have to wonder if folks are buying stuff they truly need or are buying for the hype and fear. Then the hoarders that cleaned out the canned goods, leaving nothing for others. Pretty sad state really. There was signage at many items saying limit of one, did not see any at the canned goods aisle which was pretty well bare. Waited at the single open register for over 20 minutes, there were only 2 people in front of me, the hoarder guy with a buggy full of canned goods had that much!!! I usually do our grocery shopping for our family once a week, then make a trip to sams once or twice a month. Will be glad when things settle down, this madness seems to only be getting worse. There was some packages of toilet paper in the store, guessing it was gone by the time I checked out. Every single cart I saw had at least one package of toilet paper and there were a few people carrying packages of toilet paper. Total number here went up to 98 confirmed cases, fully expect that to rise dramatically as drive up testing sites are now operational. Still no confirmed cases in our immediate area, but 5 pending in the county just to our south. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ravin R10 man Posted March 20, 2020 Report Share Posted March 20, 2020 William, we are busy cutting wood to keep the demand for "TP" from running out!...lol When you spin the roll, I'd be honored if you thought of us out here! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted March 20, 2020 Report Share Posted March 20, 2020 TN Dept of health update does not come out until 2 pm but local news station reports a case in our county now. Number of cases in the Nashville area is really taking off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ravin R10 man Posted March 20, 2020 Report Share Posted March 20, 2020 cases are starting to appear near here too now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted March 20, 2020 Report Share Posted March 20, 2020 Strange how local county mayor's are confirming they have positives however the states health dept is not counting them. Local news station and paper both confirm these. That would make the numbers on the state website here inaccurate. Report I saw last night said some serious complications from this bug in people with cardio issues. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ravin R10 man Posted March 21, 2020 Report Share Posted March 21, 2020 Full time employees are now staying home, either because of health issues, or a spouse that has them, and not wanting to get infected and spread it to them. Amazing to see people out who should not be. Much less traffic than normal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted March 21, 2020 Report Share Posted March 21, 2020 Definitely seeing some of the worst in some people while seeing some absolute good in others, a huge THANK YOU to all our health care workers and to all those stepping up. Times like this sure show true character!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muff Posted March 21, 2020 Report Share Posted March 21, 2020 MY PLACE OF EMPLYMENT WONT SHUT DOWN. they have sent all day works (staff) home with pay....BUT us shift works are still working with about 150 per crew coming and going all using same time clock, sharing break rooms and bath rooms and working next to each other.....ITS ALL ABOUT THE $$$$$$. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ravin R10 man Posted March 22, 2020 Report Share Posted March 22, 2020 I did Social Distancing Sat. WENT ICE FISHING! Lake to myself!..lol 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fly Posted March 22, 2020 Author Report Share Posted March 22, 2020 Update: Been busy moving my girlfriend (Beth) in since her condo sold. We close April 10th but cant get inspectors out to follow up with the new fuse box they wanted installed. Beth has been reassigned from working the Operating Room to screening people for the virus. The state park I was issued a turkey tag for (Pere Marquette) is closed. I have a second tag for my property so maybe I'll get lucky. The Governor issued a stay at home order that started yesterday at 5pm. If I need to go to my office at the university I have to get cleared by campus police first. A close friends wife is symptomatic and was tested. Takes 4-5 days. A doctor she works with tested positive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hogwild63 Posted March 22, 2020 Report Share Posted March 22, 2020 This is Dallas County, Texas. There are now 95 cases across the county. Of all the county residents who have tested positive, officials said in a news release on Saturday, more than 40 percent haven’t come into contact with someone known to have coronavirus or traveled recently out of Texas. They are now saying there may be asymptomatic carriers of the virus. My work is going to split shifts starting Monday. I took Friday off but I received a text saying I am to report to work at 1pm Monday and there is a "packet" that one of the supervisors will review with me when I get there. Our Walmarts are relatively calm during the day but out of eggs, paper goods, most meats, etc. I haven't been there in the early hours when they open and there is new stock from the overnight restocking. The stores have implemented 7am to 8am for 60 years or older to get their items first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted March 22, 2020 Report Share Posted March 22, 2020 1 hour ago, hogwild63 said: They are now saying there may be asymptomatic carriers of the virus. Heard this quite a while back. This is a huge concern with the younger adults and college kids who are congregating and then exposing older adults. 1 hour ago, hogwild63 said: Our Walmarts are relatively calm during the day but out of eggs, paper goods, most meats, etc. I haven't been there in the early hours when they open and there is new stock from the overnight restocking. Honestly the store here at 7am was not well stocked at all, not so sure what they are stocking overnight, looked like they were starting to stock stuff at 7am. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NS whitetail Posted March 22, 2020 Report Share Posted March 22, 2020 The grocery stores here are open at certain hours for seniors only. They are also putting in plexiglass dividers between the cashiers and the public. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.