Coronavirus/COVID in the U. S. & Elsewhere

[danb]

Here is a link to that video. Randy, Hope you don't mind me posting it:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5BZ09iNdvo

Edited May 1, 2020 by danb (see edit history)

[Randy W]

Here is a link to that video. Randy, Hope you don't mind me posting it:

 

 

Not at all - I had tried to post it, but didn't see it on YouTube. I guess I just didn't scroll down far enough - they've (Xinhua/NewTV) posted at least a dozen videos in the last 24 hours.

 

The embedding works only if you choose a YouTube URL format that our user-group sourced logic recognizes.

[eseum]

So the effort to avoid people on our morning walks continues. We had been getting started at 4:50 a.m. That lasted for about a week, and ended when we encountered eight people. So then we started at 4:30 a.m. That also lasted a few days and then changed to 4:20, which only lasted two days when we encountered five people. This morning we hit the trail at 4 a.m. Much to my wife's chagrin we still came across two people. I don't know if she will try to get out earlier, or just live with it.

 

I hit up the store yesterday to buy some orange juice and fruit. I noticed that the meat counters were low, but not completely vacant of meat. Fruit and vegetables are plentiful and for the most part cheap. I have recently purchased onions at 6 lbs/$1, carrots 3 lbs/$1, green apples 3 lbs/$1; and strawberries, blackberries and blueberries at pretty cheap prices. My granddaughter, who is four, is extremely happy about the green apples. I make a batch of baked apples once a week which she loves.

[Allon]

Where I am is a noticeable scarcity of pork but when it's there, the price is not out of line. We go during a "senior time" at 0600.

 

And it is now too hot (AZ) to walk. Really challenging my remote working attitude.

[eseum]

We just missed hitting 100 degrees a couple of days here in Las Vegas this past week. Overnight lows are mostly in the low 70's right now. The advantage of walking at 4 a.m. is not having to deal with the sun. We walk pretty much year round no matter the temperature. When it's really windy we stay in though. I still run as well. I used to run a 4 p.m. after getting home from work. With retirement I now run four days a week after we get back from our walk.

 

I've been taking advantage of senior hours as well. And I would also say that meat prices have been pretty stable here as well. The prices on frozen fish have been lower. Finding hand soap has been pretty hard.

 

My car insurance company notified me that they are going to rebate 25% of my April, and 15% of my May, car insurance payments due to reduced driving during the stay at home requirements. My current car registration and license plate expire towards the end of June, so I am considering purchasing a new car. That would take care of the insurance rebate. I looked on line to see what the car dealerships are up to now, and they are doing business, just not in person. They have it setup so that you can do the entire purchase process, including car trade in, online. Once the sale is complete, they deliver the car to your house. You have a five day grace period in which to return the car. That's nice but I still prefer going in and doing a test drive before deciding to buy. I have a while before needing to make a decision anyway.

[Randy W]

from the WSJ on Facebook

 

life aboard one of the infected cruise ships, "On a boat, with no place to go."

 

Jennifer Catron boarded Carnival’s Costa Luminosa on March 5 for a transatlantic cruise. Her video diaries provide a window into life on board the ship as the coronavirus scare became a full-blown pandemic.

 

 

https://www.facebook.com/8304333127/posts/10159888182643128/

 

https://www.facebook.com/8304333127/posts/10159888182643128/

 

[HotBaozi]

China knows, and is manipulating media

 

https://twitter.com/LouDobbs/status/1258154698747588609?s=19

[Allon]

Even the US intelligence community says the virus did not come from the lab. The genetic material from the lab is different from that which is out in dissemination, human engineered or not.

 

My question is: why does it make a difference:? It all came from China. Now there is is evidence that Chicago had cases as far back as November, 2019. The virus that hit New York came from Europe.

 

Blame is such a game that goes nowhere especially now. Are we going to get in a war because of this? We all want blame because of the way the court system works. We must have someone to blame. In this case, like ebola, or any kind of influenza, it happened.

 

I wish I could sue someone for the flu I had in Madrid or when I first got to Thailand. And I definitely don't think we did the best we could to prevent its spread. I wish we could listen to the scientists. We need pateince and empathy during this time.

 

Time for us to listen to each other.

[Randy W]

from the WaPo - Disney Shanghai is scheduled to re-open on Monday

 

. . . and the SCMP

 

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1119517615081968&id=355665009819

 

https://www.facebook.com/355665009819/posts/1119517615081968/

 

Disney is about to reopen its Shanghai theme park. It could be a lot longer before that happens in the U.S.

 

 

But the bigger impediment to reopening, even a mask-filled and socially distant one, is that even if Disney can, there’s not necessarily an economic reason that it should. Even if the parks open, they would need to hit certain numbers to make the effort profitable. And it’s not clear that can happen anytime soon.

 

Comcast executives recently told investors that they would need 50 percent attendance to break even on their Universal theme parks. Disney’s theme parks might not be allowed such numbers. (Florida restaurants are being told to limit service to 25 percent capacity.)

And even if they were, it’s far from certain whether Disneyland and Disney World would attract those crowds. Would 30,000 people be willing to stand in line for the likes of Twilight Zone Tower of Terror? Or would they, more likely, find it a queue of horrors?

A recent Reuters/Ipsos survey found that only 4 in 10 people would attend amusement parks before a vaccine for covid-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, was found. That means, as much as they want to ride the Incredicoaster, 60 percent of Americans aren’t comfortable with what it will entail to do so.

 

Just a random May the Fourth be With You post on Facebook

 

https://www.facebook.com/1415115485371907/posts/2499078463642265/

[Randy W]

from the SCMP on Facebook

 

Top Chinese tenor recovers from Covid-19 caught in New York.

 

 

https://www.facebook.com/scmp/videos/234315647898434/

 

https://www.facebook.com/scmp/videos/234315647898434/

[Randy W]

from China Pictorial on Facebook

 

The US objected to any mention of, or hint of a reference to the WHO in the resolution.

 

https://www.facebook.com/553929144732479/posts/2763645490427489/

 

https://www.facebook.com/553929144732479/posts/2763645490427489/

 

 

US Objects to UN Resolution on Coronavirus in Dispute With China – NBC New York

 

 

[eseum]

So there was this article today: https://www.aol.com/article/news/2020/05/11/as-us-meat-workers-fall-sick-and-supplies-dwindle-exports-to-china-soar/24270654/

 

As U.S. meat workers fall sick and supplies dwindle, exports to China soar

"CHICAGO, May 11 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump ordered meat processing plants to stay open to protect the nation's food supply even as workers got sick and died. Yet the plants have increasingly been exporting to China while U.S. consumers face shortages, a Reuters analysis of government data showed.

Trump, who is in an acrimonious public dispute with Beijing over its handling of the coronavirus outbreak, invoked the 1950 Defense Production Act on April 28 to keep plants open. Now he is facing criticism from some lawmakers, consumers and plant employees for putting workers at risk in part to help ensure China's meat supply.

"We know that over time exports are critically important. I think we need to focus on meeting domestic demand at this point," said Mike Naig, the agriculture secretary in the top U.S. pork-producing state of Iowa who supported Trump's order."

 

I saw this article and then saw Randy's post in current events about China possibly trying to rework the trade deal. I really don't understand why they would want to do that at this point. Whatever they are importing from the U.S. is not costing them a lot. The value of the yuan that they received in the deal, plus the current straights that farmers and oil producers are experiencing is also value added to their purchases. They are sincerely underestimating the stupidity of the current administration, by thinking that it would not rekindle a trade war before the election. There are many people here that would see any punishment of China as a winning strategy, even if it really wouldn't be. Just look at some of the comments to this article.

[Martin B]

Things are look to be returning to "normal". Our local supermarket is fully stocked, even with toilet paper and sanitizing wipes. For about two months the supermarket had almost no sales/discounts, they are now starting to come back. Not sure about Costco, as we rarely go there now. Once in a while I'll swing by the Costco business center to pick up milk for our 1.5-year old.

 

We had a scare with our toddler as she broke out in hives one night randomly. Our doctor now has video visits - can't tell you how awesome it was to not have to pack our shit, drive 15 minutes, wait in the waiting room, then do the reverse when we finished. What would be a 1.5 hour affair was now a 20 minute call from our kitchen table. Still, $150 to be told to give her some Benadryl that it will clear up on its own .

 

My stepdaughter's school is cancelled for the rest of the school year. They're doing homeschooling which has been so-so. So my wife and I do an extra 2 hours every day of Math and English. We also hired an online English tutor for her, she takes four 30-minute English classes a week, just so she can speak English to someone that's not us and build confidence. It is incredible how resilient she has been and in good spirits as well. The amount she has advanced in English is absolutely incredible. Her speaking good, but her comprehension is absolutely phenomenal. I bought a box of 100 flash cards, figured she'd knew about 50 of them, she got 85 correct on the first pass through with perfect pronunciation.

 

Our company office is closed until June, and we will likely offer unlimited work from home all summer. The probability of us renewing our lease in 3 years is about zero, as we've actually noticed an uptick in productivity. We already had 1-2 days work from home, no questions asked, but it's likely we'll go fully remote in the future. The lack of commute and the ability to work at anytime during the day (sans virtual meetings and calls) has made all but 1 employee very happy.

Edited May 11, 2020 by Barfus (see edit history)

[eseum]

The latest from my brother in Germany:

 

"In Germany we can meet with relatives again from May 18th. A Mask is required when shopping in stores. Cinema, theater and other events are still closed. With high hygiene measures, inns and hotels are also allowed to open. Here the waiters have to wear masks and gloves. The tables must be 2 m apart. Each guest must provide their address for tracking infection. If a city has more than 50 newly infected people per 100.000 inhabitants in a week, there are restrictions again. From June 15th we can travel to different European countries again. Only the countries with few new infections. Arrivals from non-European countries from June 15th must be quarantined for 14 days. Which non-European countries are allowed to enter Germany will not be announced until the end of May. We currently have only a few infected people. Only this number may not be increased, otherwise there are the old restrictions again. People understand the requirements, but are slowly getting the koller at home. We hope that it will be better and more open by the end of August."

Beginning today, a number of casinos will start to reopen this weekend here in Las Vegas.Casino employees will wear masks and gloves, and it appears that there will be no buffets at any of them for the time being. Patrons will be required to wear masks and must fill out a form that they do not have the virus, and waive liability against the casino. Slot machine players will be required to practice social distancing, so I assume only a certain number of slots will be active. Likewise they are asking that patrons refrain from being close to each other at the gaming tables. I'm not a fan of the casinos anyways, but this doesn't seem like it would be much fun. It will be interesting to see how this goes.

Still not seeing any problems here with meat at the grocery stores. It's plentiful and prices are steady, with no real increase in price. I'm still having problems finding bottles of hand soap though, so I have filled a couple that went empty with dish soap. Barbershops and hair salons are also opening up. Again, patrons are asked to at least wear masks, and some places are taking temperatures.

[Cale1953]

Things are look to be returning to "normal". Our local supermarket is fully stocked, even with toilet paper and sanitizing wipes. For about two months the supermarket had almost no sales/discounts, they are now starting to come back. Not sure about Costco, as we rarely go there now. Once in a while I'll swing by the Costco business center to pick up milk for our 1.5-year old.

 

We had a scare with our toddler as she broke out in hives one night randomly. Our doctor now has video visits - can't tell you how awesome it was to not have to pack our shit, drive 15 minutes, wait in the waiting room, then do the reverse when we finished. What would be a 1.5 hour affair was now a 20 minute call from our kitchen table. Still, $150 to be told to give her some Benadryl that it will clear up on its own .

 

My stepdaughter's school is cancelled for the rest of the school year. They're doing homeschooling which has been so-so. So my wife and I do an extra 2 hours every day of Math and English. We also hired an online English tutor for her, she takes four 30-minute English classes a week, just so she can speak English to someone that's not us and build confidence. It is incredible how resilient she has been and in good spirits as well. The amount she has advanced in English is absolutely incredible. Her speaking good, but her comprehension is absolutely phenomenal. I bought a box of 100 flash cards, figured she'd knew about 50 of them, she got 85 correct on the first pass through with perfect pronunciation.

 

Our company office is closed until June, and we will likely offer unlimited work from home all summer. The probability of us renewing our lease in 3 years is about zero, as we've actually noticed an uptick in productivity. We already had 1-2 days work from home, no questions asked, but it's likely we'll go fully remote in the future. The lack of commute and the ability to work at anytime during the day (sans virtual meetings and calls) has made all but 1 employee very happy.

Glad to hear your step daughter is doing well. That kind of transition is always difficult and these weird circumstances make it more so. Good luck to all of you.