[paraclete]

Yes It is so here too, but the real blight has been cruise ships

[jlisenbe]

We can keep people at home and likely contain the virus, but we can't stay at home forever, so the big question is going to be this. What happens when people go back to work? That has to happen, and likely very soon, so what happens when that happens?

[jlisenbe]

Here are the official Coronavirus guidelines.

1. Basically, you cannot leave the house for any reason unless of course you have a really good reason.

2. Masks are useless, but maybe you have to wear one since it could possibly save you. It's useless, but maybe it is mandatory as well.

3. Stores are closed except the ones that are still open.

4. You should not go to hospitals unless you have to go there. Same thing applies to doctor visits. You should only go there in case of emergency, provided that you are not too sick.

5. This virus is deadly but still not too scary, except that sometimes it actually leads to a global disaster.

6. Gloves won't help, but they can still be very helpful in some cases.

7. Everyone needs to stay HOME, but it's important to GO OUT.

8. There is no shortage of groceries in the supermarket except that there are many things missing when you go there in the evening, but not in the morning, or at least sometimes.

9. The virus has no effect on children except for those it does affect.

10. You will have many symptoms when you are sick, but you can also get sick without symptoms, have symptoms without being sick, or be contagious without having symptoms. It's all very simple.

11. In order not to get sick, you have to eat well and exercise, but eat whatever you have on hand and it's better not to go out, well, but no…

12. It's better to get some fresh air, but you get looked at very strangely when you get some fresh air, and most importantly, don't go to parks or walk. But also don’t sit down, except that you can do that now if you are old, but not for too long or if you are pregnant (but not too old).

13. You can't go to retirement homes, but you have to take care of the elderly and bring food and medication.

14. You can get restaurant food delivered to the house, which may have been prepared by people who didn't wear masks or gloves which, of course, are not effective anyway other than when they are effective. But you have to have your groceries decontaminated outside for 3 hours. Pizza too?

15. Every disturbing article or disturbing interview starts with "I don't want to trigger panic, but…"

16. You can't see your older mother or grandmother, but you can take a taxi and meet an older taxi driver.

17. You can walk around with a friend, but you can't walk around with your family unless, of course, that they don't live under the same roof in which case it is allowable.

18. You are safe if you maintain the appropriate social distance, but you can’t go out with friends or strangers at the safe social distance.

19. The virus remains active on different surfaces for two hours, no, four, no, six, no, we didn't say hours, maybe days? But it takes a damp environment other than in cases where that is not the case.

20. We count the number of deaths but we don't know how many people are infected as we have only tested so far those who were "almost dead" to find out if that's what they will die of.

21. We have no treatment, except that there may be one that apparently is not dangerous unless you take too much (which is, of course, the case with all medications).

22. We should stay locked up until the virus disappears, but it will only disappear if we achieve collective immunity, so when it circulates… but we must no longer be locked up for that?

[talaniman]

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019...revention.html

I didn't see your version.

We can keep people at home and likely contain the virus, but we can't stay at home forever, so the big question is going to be this. What happens when people go back to work? That has to happen, and likely very soon, so what happens when that happens?

Seems that testing, and workplace safety equipment will dictate the new normal. TBA.

[paraclete]

seems like a great deal of indecision, which is not the case here. The message is stay home, avoid contact with others, and it seems to be working

[talaniman]

Of couse there is more confusion and indecision when a growing crisis is sweeping through large populations like we have, but we also have the areas in less populated states that are not as hard hit, but they are starting to show signs that should be heeded and dealt with.

It would seem after your wildfire experience you would be very cautious for we know it doesn't take much to get this thing started, and ramped up quickly in those less populated places.

[paraclete]

Of couse there is more confusion and indecision when a growing crisis is sweeping through large populations like we have, but we also have the areas in less populated states that are not as hard hit, but they are starting to show signs that should be heeded and dealt with.

It would seem after your wildfire experience you would be very cautious for we know it doesn't take much to get this thing started, and ramped up quickly in those less populated places.

There have been no reported cases in my region for two weeks and much of the state seems to be free of it, however, there are pockets in Sydney but infections are lessening. Still, we still have the accompanying pandemic of stupidity to deal with. indications the lockdown will remain for another month

[talaniman]

Why stop what's working because people are bored, and broke?

[paraclete]

There are other reasons to stop, like the low level of infections and the long unemployment queues.

[talaniman]

That's the same thing the dufus said today. I would think about doing anything he is pushing. Guess we wait and see how this works. There is the inherent possibility this virus can comeback like most viruses do. Everybody wants this over with, especially those growing number of unemployed losing everything they worked for, or those with elders in places we can't visit but at least alive for the moment. Think about the huge populations yet to have this virus hit, like Africa and Asia with less than stellar health resources.

Or in Australia's case, the next asymptomatic returning cruise ship or vacationer, or just a visitor from some innocuous place on business. You don't know what the catalyst is, or will be. I think we all need to stay on this one, for the foreseeable future any way.

[paraclete]

That's the same thing the dufus said today. I would think about doing anything he is pushing. Guess we wait and see how this works. There is the inherent possibility this virus can comeback like most viruses do. Everybody wants this over with, especially those growing number of unemployed losing everything they worked for, or those with elders in places we can't visit but at least alive for the moment. Think about the huge populations yet to have this virus hit, like Africa and Asia with less than stellar health resources.

Or in Australia's case, the next asymptomatic returning cruise ship or vacationer, or just a visitor from some innocuous place on business. You don't know what the catalyst is, or will be. I think we all need to stay on this one, for the foreseeable future any way.

there won't be any more returning cruise ships, the last plague ship is scheduled to leave Sunday all others have been ordered out of our waters'. Anyone returning is placed in mandatory quarantine

I have no concern for other places at the moment, just the reality that I can do nothing for them, and there are governments with that responsibility and even the irresponsible WHO for that purpose. Our response has been nothing short of panic when the number of cases have been fewer than elsewhere and the death rate low, but the doom and gloom merchants have had a field day

[talaniman]

there won't be any more returning cruise ships, the last plague ship is scheduled to leave Sunday all others have been ordered out of our waters'. Anyone returning is placed in mandatory quarantine

I cannot say that the only danger of infection is the cruise ships passengers, or whether there are other people infected who are a symptomatic, have a stronger immune system so unknowingly infected, and without testing NO ONE can know either. While reported cases can be counted, it's no telling what is the count for those that have not reported for whatever reason. It's those unknown variables that can bite you.

I have no concern for other places at the moment, just the reality that I can do nothing for them, and there are governments with that responsibility and even the irresponsible WHO for that purpose. Our response has been nothing short of panic when the number of cases have been fewer than elsewhere and the death rate low, but the doom and gloom merchants have had a field day

The Who declared this virus a pandemic in early March but in January they had issued a statement of concern.

https://time.com/5791661/who-coronav...c-declaration/

During multiple prior press briefings, WHO officials maintained that COVID-19 had “pandemic potential,” but stopped short of declaring it one. The agency did, in January, call it a

public health emergency of international concern

, a slightly different label that refers to an “extraordinary event” that “constitute[s] a public health risk to other States through the international spread of disease.”

Many world governments were on notice to the events in China, so let's not scapegoat them, though like everywhere, we can see the slow response by all the normal human reactions to a virus that outspread everything we have ever seen.

For all the superiority bluster it's safe to say we were all caught with our pants down and scramble to catch up. Even the most sophisticated and advanced medical minds in the world are searching for answers. Many places like yours don't see the point, since you have not been so effected as other places, but to dismiss it would not be wise. As I have said erring on the side of safety and caution should be everybody's goal as more is learned.

Trust me Clete, enough time later to beetch, blame, and retaliate after it's a lot more certain that the crisis is indeed over and not just in remission.

[paraclete]

I cannot say that the only danger of infection is the cruise ships passengers, or whether there are other people infected who are a symptomatic, have a stronger immune system so unknowingly infected, and without testing NO ONE can know either. While reported cases can be counted, it's no telling what is the count for those that have not reported for whatever reason. It's those unknown variables that can bite you.

Cruise ships have for a long time represented a source of infection of various viruses but this time a large number of CV infections and indeed deaths here have originated in cruise ships. Some of these lines will not survive the actions that will be brought against them
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-04-...ruise/12158924

The Who declared this virus a pandemic in early March but in January they had issued a statement of concern.

https://time.com/5791661/who-coronav...c-declaration/

the WHO are culpable

Many world governments were on notice to the events in China, so let's not scapegoat them, though like everywhere, we can see the slow response by all the normal human reactions to a virus that outspread everything we have ever seen.

For all the superiority bluster it's safe to say we were all caught with our pants down and scramble to catch up. Even the most sophisticated and advanced medical minds in the world are searching for answers. Many places like yours don't see the point, since you have not been so effected as other places, but to dismiss it would not be wise. As I have said erring on the side of safety and caution should be everybody's goal as more is learned.

Trust me Clete, enough time later to beetch, blame, and retaliate after it's a lot more certain that the crisis is indeed over and not just in remission.

Our politicians erred on the side of caution and we have fewer infections and even fewer deaths, certain others did not and the results are catastrophic, but China bears blame and responsibility. What is happening in the US where lockdowns are being protested is shear lunacy

[talaniman]

1. Yes cruise ships are a veritable corona19 bredding ground, as are nursing homes, and prisons but that's the point. Any large gathering of humans in defined spaces is the same risk, and we don't know who is an infector and who is more susceptible. It could be a while before you find out. For sure letting your guard down is not a wise course at this time.

2. Should the focus be on WHO, or dealing with what you got? Seems what you got will keep you busy enough.

3. Agreed! I understand the fear though of those unemployed losing all they have worked for and unable to maintain it. Being powerless will make you crazy!

[paraclete]

What you are seeing is lack of trust in government, you are learning the hard lesson that absolute freedom can mean absolute destruction, people left to their own devices are dangerous, people left without direction become mobs. Trump masquerades as a strong leader but he is actually weak and indecisive there should have been a cohesive national plan to deal with CV but the pilate approach leaving it to individual governors was a recipe for disaster, you are either a nation or a collection of individual states

[talaniman]

What you are seeing is lack of trust in government,

There has always been a huge lack of trust in government here Clete, but we get to blow off some steam every two years, and plenty of rallies, protests, and marching in between.

you are learning the hard lesson that absolute freedom can mean absolute destruction, people left to their own devices are dangerous, people left without direction become mobs. Trump masquerades as a strong leader but he is actually weak and indecisive there should have been a cohesive national plan to deal with CV but the pilate approach leaving it to individual governors was a recipe for disaster,

When things don't work he can blame the governors, but the reality is he doesn't know what to do. Never did!

you are either a nation or a collection of individual states

[jlisenbe]

Our problem is too much trust in government. "In Government we trust."

[talaniman]

Trust but verify!

[paraclete]

Our problem is too much trust in government. "In Government we trust."

No, it is actually misplaced trust, in Trump you trust

[jlisenbe]

Not really. Our over reliance on government was going on long before Trump came along. That's why we have a 25 trillion dollar national debt.