Grounded in self isolation

Well pretty much that`s what we are faced with here in New Zealand and from what I can see....the rest of the world. So this is going to be the safest place to have a conversation.....bug free.
My wife carol is very susceptible to any respiratory virus so has elected to stay put at home for the current duration so I am now the chief hunter and gatherer, ques in supermarkets and any crowds in general are a big no no. I fortunately have plenty of work left to do in the shed so when not doing `duty` will have plenty to keep me occupied. We can still get out for a drive, just no face to face socializing, New Zealand is still a beautiful green place to enjoy. After some discussion, we have managed to get the youngest grand child back home from Sydney where she has only just (5 weeks ago) moved to for her big OE.
Better here at home after 2 weeks of self isolation to ensure she has no bugs. The Covid 19 bug is just starting to ramp up here mostly from people returning from travels thru the hot spots and not being aware of their infection. This country has closed its borders to all but returning citizens in an attempt to stem the flow.
We are all going to experience life like it probably was during war time with closures and food shortages....we will never see this again in our lifetime.
How are others coping with this once in a lifetime event.
Russell
 
We're home with our 4 kids (4-11 years old). I venture out for work duties and occasional store stop. A little cooped up inside waiting for spring to arrive here in Northern Indiana. It was 65 F and sunny this morning... Will dip to 25 F tonight! Typical equinox weather for us! :p
 
Down the other end of NZ, same issues Russell & Carol are facing. Living on a lifestyle block always plenty to do to keep mind occupied, made a trip into town for groceries & pick up scripts for Donna, all pharmacy staff in white gloves & Supermarket bread/ toilet paper shelves bare at 3pm in afternoon. Took me twice as long searching for other food stuff that I would normally walk past... spose we will both end up healthier with all the fruit etc! Quite weird in mornings ( I live on State Highway 1) the heavy freight traffic & road noise in a fraction of say two weeks ago. We are limited to 500 people outdoors & 100 indoors for gatherings which virtually stops any form of sport or concert/meetings etc.... Might have to start a downhill gravity racer series here at home to have some (non- motorised ) 499 people fun!!
 

David Morton

Lifetime Supporter
Here in the UK it's a case of at least 12 weeks isolation from midnight tonight though I think it may be extended to 24 weeks because the NHS does not have time to recover at all - even in a year. My wife Vivien and me are prepared for the long haul so no matter how long it takes, we'll get there. My underlying health problems mean it could get to me at any time so if you don't hear from me for a while, it's the Virus. I'm hoping that the pneumonia I had twice the latter stages of 2019 mso expect to hear from me again. might have given me some immunity but that is hoping against the odds. Secretly I know it hasn't. But, I'm a survivor .
 

Ian Anderson

Lifetime Supporter
In the UK all pubs, restaurants, theatres and cinemas now closed till further notice.
i am an accountant at a private school, school closed today, sent all pupils home On instruction by the government. Next week they will teach and review via internet. School may get used as a safe place for essential workers children (nurse doctor etc) to allow them to work. Which is weird we had to send “our” pupils home and they could be replaced by others! Or the kitchens could be used to make meals for infirm and elderly in the community. Now seeing how long we keep going with limited revenue and big expenses. Of course the parents may be in industries with zero revenue so may be unable to pay till after everything moves on again.
supermarket shelves are cleared of certain items like bog rolls, dry pasta, fresh meat. other items seem to be ok like milk eggs cheese. Vegetables cleared out today but the greengrocer had a good display when I drove past earlier.

Coming from Zimbabwe many years ago it looked just like those shop shelves.

Wife is in NHS, and works in the laboratories, they have been told to expect peak in 2 to 3 weeks and 4 to 6 weeks after that to drop off. So from now 6 to 9 weeks. But believe the tail off could be sooner as the weather warms.

We feel reasonably confident that we will ride out the storm.

ian
 

Larry L.

Lifetime Supporter
.
How are others coping with this once in a lifetime event.
Russell

As I'v previously mentioned elsewhere on this site, the Mrs. and I have also chosen to simply stay at home...which is, for the most part, not really all that much different than what was our 'normal' before all this garbage started anyway. She misses going to her favorite local casino every week or so and having lunch with "the girls" periodically...I miss having coffee with the guys...we both miss going out for dinner every Friday...and flying to 'Vegas or Arizona whenever the whim strikes. We're saving a lot of money though!

The Mrs has a couple of "underlying conditions"...so, I'm our designated 'go-fer'. I pick up any prescriptions needed (at the drive-up window)...'do whatever transactions are necessary at the bank (also at the drive-up) and do whatever other running around is needed. (No need for grocery runs right now. 'Currently have at least two months supply of everything on hand.) We've cancelled and rescheduled the annual checkups that had been set up for this month and moved 'em down the road to May (later in a couple cases)...'could reschedule 'em again if things aren't improved considerably. The last thing either one of us want to do these days is to sit in a "petri dish" (waiting room) for a hour or more.

Everyone we know is doing pretty much the same.
 
Well, I suppose it was going to come sooner rather than latter.
Today we (NZ) went onto 24 hrs notice of a 4 plus weeks total lock down excepting essential services. Got plenty of paint so the lounge and dining will get a make over, may even get to finish the Formula Junior. Exciting times.
 
My employer (US based Tech Company) 2 weeks ago made the call to globally inform all staff to work from home until at least 7th April so I have been working from home - now NZ is lock down not a lot changes for me on the work front - I keep working on the project and case work I have. However now have the 4kids to deal with now that schools are closed on top of the work load. The traffic was nuts this afternoon (my niece informed me) at Silverdale. At least I can go for walk around the farm and be isolated even if I am still in "Auckland"

I don't get some people panic buying - the government has clearly stated that supermarkets will remain open - NZ produces lots of food (in fact we make so much we sell it other countries) so there is no need to panic buy. I heard that Countdown (one of the larger supermarket chains here) sold enough food last week for 10 million people in a country with 4.4 million people and just one of the supermarket chains...calm down people :)

Enjoy your isolation and stay safe/healthy everyone.
 

Larry L.

Lifetime Supporter
SUPPOSEDLY a French doctor has discovered that HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE and AZITHROMYCIN taken together ('not idea as to the dose for each) cured 100% of the people in his small study who actually HAD the virus...and did so within something like 5 or 6 days.

If TRUE...and pharma companies can get their butts in gear post haste...this whole thing could be over faaar sooner than anyone thought. It's not a PREVENTATIVE vaccine 'far as I know, though. The link below doesn't get into that.

Google:
Dr. Oz: My 'jaw dropped' at hopeful coronavirus trial results
 

Larry L.

Lifetime Supporter
I don't get some people panic buying - the government has clearly stated that supermarkets will remain open...

I'm not so sure it's "panic buying" (fear of not being able to buy) as opposed to 'stocking up' in order to limit the number of possible exposures to the virus one might encounter when in a supermarket (or any other locale wherein there are numerous people).

Some may see that as solely a diff in symanatics though, I guess.

Whatever "makes your barn dance", as someone once said. ;-)
 

Randy V

Moderator-Admin
Staff member
Admin
Lifetime Supporter
SUPPOSEDLY a French doctor has discovered that HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE and AZITHROMYCIN taken together ('not idea as to the dose for each) cured 100% of the people in his small study who actually HAD the virus...and did so within something like 5 or 6 days.

If TRUE...and pharma companies can get their butts in gear post haste...this whole thing could be over faaar sooner than anyone thought. It's not a PREVENTATIVE vaccine 'far as I know, though. The link below doesn't get into that.

Google:
Dr. Oz: My 'jaw dropped' at hopeful coronavirus trial results

From what I have read HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE is an anti malaria drug and may have some affect in regard to prevention... There have been no studies to support it.
AZITHROMYCIN is an anti-biotic used for bacterial infections and as I have read, it will have zero affect on a virus.
I urge all to seek out the professional advice of your doctor before jumping onto any type of treatment.
Your very best defense against any sort of virus is to have a very strong immune system.
If you are not eating healthy wholesome foods and taking multivitamins, start now!
Get off the sofa and start moving around to get some exercise.
Follow guidelines issued by CDC and the medical community!
Do not just sit and wait!
 

Larry L.

Lifetime Supporter
From what I have read HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE is an anti malaria drug and may have some affect in regard to prevention...

...and from what I've been told, one needs a prescription to get the stuff. So, exactly how that would work from a practical standpoint, I have no idea.
 

Terry Oxandale

Skinny Man
The rare times now that my wife gets out, she's observing a notable change in the politeness of folks she sees (people are starting to act civil again). Fewer people aggravating fewer people. Mother nature is probably breathing a big sigh of relief at this point, as it seems life has become much simpler and less stressed at this point. I've worked from home now for 2 weeks, and expect this to continue for another 6-8 minimum. Working in the electric utility trade, I've observed interesting load changes as a result of our societal changes, and we are all holding our breath as we watch generators (very few at this time) come offline due to personnel issues related to COVID-19. Hoping this continues to be a rare situation.
 

Ian Anderson

Lifetime Supporter
UK now in lockdown, can only leave home to get food, medicine and once a day to exercise, but only alone or with people from your same household and to care for vulnerable or work for essential service For three weeks.

Time to work from home if we can - hopefully the internet can cope.


Ian
 

Steve

Supporter
This disease is unprecedented and every nation has been caught unprepared. I don't think our administration is doing a bad job, but it is apparent how little emphasis public health has had in our govt. This isn't the fault of this admin. No one has been listening to the warning shots that SARS, MERS and ebola have presented in the past. Once the threat has gone, the "need" to heighten our preparedness wanes. This situation is not surprising to many of us who are in healthcare, but most people previously blew off such talk as alarmist. There's going to be a significant price to pay, both in terms of lives and economically. Most will feel the pain in some way or another. How we react and adjust will say a lot about us. So far, I've been impressed at the commitment on many levels (both individuals and state and federal govt) but there are some knuckleheads that still refuse to realize or accept the seriousness of this disease. They run the risk of totally screwing their fellow man due to their stubbornness and ignorance.

Ultimately, the true mettle of each nation will be how the move forward after this crisis is gone and what adjustments they make to stem future outbreaks. This is the new normal that we live in. The next outbreak will not be in a hundred years, it will be inside of 25 and most of you will live to see it.

Stay inside and stay safe
 

Neil

Supporter
"This disease is unprecedented..." ? Daniel Defoe wrote a very good book about the contagion of 1665, "The Journal Of The Plague Year". There was also an earlier and a later plague outbreak. Don't overlook the 1918 flu virus pandemic either.
 

Steve

Supporter
Neil, this is not a human virus. We understand virology much better than in 1918 and have many more tools at our disposal, but we’re unable to control its spread. The rapidity of spread of this disease far outpaces the Spanish flu.
 

Steve

Supporter
yersinia pestis is a pussy compared to this virus BTW. The most recent outbreak of pneumonic plague was in India. Even with substandard healthcare, it didn’t result in a pandemic.
 

Scott

Lifetime Supporter
I saw the excellent Ted talk below when it first came out several years ago. I remember thinking, we should really do something about it... then promptly forgot about it and moved on. So the world missed the boat and the only question is how we're going to react to it and change things going forward.

 
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