How COVID-19 is affecting society

Clara D.

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those masks don't work much - but hey - at least some feel safer when everyone fakes wearing protection - and this is all that counts in post factual dystopia

they will either hinder breathing and not be worn airtight (guess what, this won't help much)
or not filter the fine particles (you know, the ugly small ones that can keep adrift in the air for minutes - it will only filter those that fall to the ground by themselves due to gravity)

Technical filter membranes normal folks like you and me have no access to
Hell, doctors can't get enough of 'em. :(

I figure it's at least a sneeze muffler.
 
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Fionalein

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Hell, doctors can't get enough of 'em. :(
Well, it keeps the patients calm.
I figure it's at least a sneeze muffler.
Sadly it won't stop the smaller particles - Those handsewn masks are not approved for no reason, but in a crisis no one will look. I fear we will soon see an increase in infections (not just CoVid 19, and both in staff and patients) thanks to medical staff having to resort to them.
 
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Clara D.

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well it keeps the patients clam

sadly it won't stop the smaller particles - Those sewn masks are not approved for a reason, but in a crisis no one will look. I fear we will soon see an increase in infections (not just CoVid 19, and both in staff and patients) thanks to medical staff having to resort to them.
I don't see the social distance being all that effective either, the small stuff stays airborne, besides a sneeze going *way* further than 6' (2m ). Not that people here are paying attention to it anyways, I'm really surprised Phoenix hasn't become another NYC with the people being all arseholes-and-elbows in the Walmart.


I figure if I wear the bandana mask, it might make people at least not jostle me cause they'd be afraid I'm sick.

IMHO, impromptu masks and "social distancing" are just the latest "duck and cover drill." Best thing is to minimize going out at all.
 

Sid

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I don't see the social distance being all that effective either,
It takes 3 weeks+ before you start to see results of the lock downs and social distancing.

Here in NL we are in the situation now, that the number of daily hospitalizations goes slightly down, instead of up like during the last weeks.
So yes, social distance, washing hands and stay at home seems to help.



Purple the reported numbers. Yellow additional (later) reportings.
mrt = March
apr = April
Aantal = number of hospitalizations
 
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Isabeau

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The purpose of staying two metres away from others, wearing masks/coverings (I.e. remind you about coughing, spitting, mouth open breathing), staying at home as much as possible isn’t to keep you from ever catching the virus but to just lower the possibility as much as possible, to flatten the curve, stretch out all the hospital visits that are eventually going to happen.

Most of us (70%?++) WILL catch it. No matter how good your mask is. Do whatever you can, as much as you can, to NOT get it all at the same time. That’s it. There’s really no need to obsess about a possible particle escaping someone’s subpar mask, you will simply drive yourself crazy with stress.

If you are one with existing health problems, get the best possible protection you can. If you believe you may have it or even simply could have it. Stay as much away from people you can. Everyone follow the washing instructions, keep your distances. That’s it.

Will someone catch it from some fluke particle floating. Maybe, but the chances are low. It’s much, much more likely from contact.

Stress lowers your immune system’s ability to function well. Don’t obsess about what others are doing - about what is out of your control. Do what YOU are able to do so that we can lower the curve.
 

Aribeth Zelin

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Just as an aside, has anyone heard from bronxelf? I sent her a message over twitter yesterday to see if she's okay, but I'm not sure if she even checks her account anymore.
I hear from her on Patreon, let me see when the most recent one was... Near the end of march. Hopefully we'll get another check in soon.
She's on the book of faces.

Quarantined and taking a break from social media because people are thoughtless asshats :/
And this is why I hate faceboop - I never see this sort of thing that I'd care about; instead I see all of the political stuff that stresses me. And I'd love to know who these musicians are so I can snub their music.... ugh.
 
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Sid

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De Keukenhof NL, that world famous flower exhibition/garden, attracts normally around one million paying visitors in the six to eight weeks that it is open around Eastern. This year it is due to the corona virus not opening for the public at all.
So 2020 is a year without any income and only expenses for them.





Let's hope the company will survive this year.
 

Maggy Hazelnut

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De Keukenhof NL, that world famous flower exhibition/garden, attracts normally around one million paying visitors in the six to eight weeks that it is open around Eastern. This year it is due to the corona virus not opening for the public at all.
So 2020 is a year without any income and only expenses for them.





Let's hope the company will survive this year.
The same thing is happening in my area Sid. We have the annual Skagit Valley Tulip Festival that attracts over 300,000 people every year from all over the world. I think it's second in size compared to the festival in the Netherlands. The tulip growers here don't know if they'll survive either - same with the businesses in the area that benefit from the tulip festival. It'll really be an added financial blow to the county.


Ooops! forgot to post the link with it.
 

bubblesort

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There isn't a lot out there on best fabrics for a mask yet. Has any one found good data so far?
those masks don't work much - but hey - at least some feel safer when everyone fakes wearing protection - and this is all that counts in post factual dystopia

they will either hinder breathing and not be worn airtight (guess what, this won't help much)
or not filter the fine particles (you know, the ugly small ones that can keep adrift in the air for minutes - it will only filter those that fall to the ground by themselves due to gravity)

Technical filter membranes normal folks like you and me have no access to
Actually, according to a Cambridge University study, they do work on smaller particles. They don't need to, because to stop tiny 0.14 micron sized COVID19 particles, they just need to stop water droplets that are 70-350 microns in size, because that's how COVID19 travels outside the body. Cambridge tested different materials and found them to be effective against small particles at various levels. The strategy is not to completely block everything, though. The strategy is to reduce viral load.

Here's my canned response to people who doubt the effectiveness of masks. That blog post goes over the numbers, using various materials, how non-woven polypropelyne fabric works, how to disinfect it without destroying it's effectiveness, how to make your own mask, and how to make masks for hospitals.
 

Sredni Eel

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There was a heartbreaking video circulating Twitter last night. It was an interview on CNN with a woman whose 44 year old husband had died, and she described in vicious detail what was happening to him. I watched the journalist in the split screen video and you could see the exact moment her heart broke. She held it together through most of the eight minute explanation from the woman, but the pain in the journalist's eyes was palpable. She finally broke out in tears near the end.

I've never seen any journalist or news broadcaster do this. The closest moment I can think of is when the Hindenburg exploded.
 

Sredni Eel

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Meanwhile I got this from my landlord:

We are committed to:
  • Avoiding rent increases for 90 days through June 2020 by offering a 12-month lease renewal option with no rent increase on conventional leases to help residents weather the crisis.
  • Creating payment plans for residents who are unable to pay their rent as a result of the outbreak and waive late fees for those residents.
Please use this form to make your declaration if you meet the following criteria:
  • You are financially impacted by COVID-19, and;
  • You are unable to pay all or a portion of your rent, and;
  • You have objectively verifiable proof of COVID-19's impact on your finances, where applicable.
Please review your local, county, or state rules, where applicable, to understand the requirements and deadlines to submit written notification to your landlord of an inability to pay rent due to COVID-19 financial hardship, the proof necessary to request a rent deferral, and the deadlines to submit such proof.
If you do not follow the guidelines as set by local, county, or state rules, eviction proceedings may be initiated against you. Submission of this form does not waive existing or future rent payments – rent will continue to accrue per the terms of your lease.



So basically, pay your damn rent, you sick freeloaders. There was a bit more on the website provided, but it all amounts to "Fuck you, peasants."

I expect a lot of people to be moving out of here by June because they have no choice.