PlagueWatch 2020-23 - Coronavirus

[DUKIECB]

Update — just went to our local grocery store, I bet only 10%-15% of people had masks. And of those, one lady had it below her nose and one employee was wearing it in his chin.

This may not end well.

I had the exact same experience yesterday. Not encouraging to say the least. Are mask wearers versus non wearers coming down the political divide in most of your experiences? I have found this to be very accurate from what I've been able to observe.

[OldPhiKap]

I had the exact same experience yesterday. Not encouraging to say the least. Are mask wearers versus non wearers coming down the political divide in most of your experiences? I have found this to be very accurate from what I've been able to observe.

That is my guess, although hard to say.

[Steven43]

I had the exact same experience yesterday. Not encouraging to say the least. Are mask wearers versus non wearers coming down the political divide in most of your experiences? I have found this to be very accurate from what I've been able to observe.

Well, the political divide is definitely there. But now young people are just out in droves not even considering wearing a mask, and I doubt political reasons have anything to do with it from their perspective. They’re just young and dumb. Maybe a nicer way of putting it is that they don’t yet have the wisdom that usually comes with experience.

[OldPhiKap]

Well, the political divide is definitely there. But now young people are just out in droves not even considering wearing a mask, and I doubt political reasons have anything to do with it from their perspective. They’re just young and dumb. Maybe a nicer way of putting it is that they don’t yet have the wisdom that usually comes with experience.

Certainly, some of that too.

[rsvman]

My wife said the exact same thing to me after giving me my first COVID at home haircut.

I had my second covid cut last night and with my new Beast Clippers, I was able to do the majority of it myself. I don't have a long-enough guard for the top of my head (not ready to rock the buzz cut just yet) but I have a longer guard on the way that should arrive in a few days.

This cut actually worked out pretty well. It is pretty much as good as what I was paying a lot of money for. I invested in the clippers because not only do I not want to go to a salon now, I also think I won't want to go this winter when covid probably ramps up again and flu is also circulating.

They cost me about seventy bucks. If I cut my hair three or four times they will pay for themselves. I figure I'll get better at it with practice, and I can already get a good cut.

These are cordless and they are designed with the motor, etc all atop the clipper, which makes it much easier to weild on oneself, especially the back of the head. No problem at all. No affiliation. Just think this design is pretty genius.

[MChambers]

I went to my local grocery store last night and everybody was wearing a mask, properly. Plexiglas "windows" have been installed between the cashiers and the customers even though if you pay with a credit/debit card, you don't have to directly interact with them. They still have employees bagging your groceries though and they aren't behind plexiglas but they are wearing masks. You can't bring your own bags anymore and they've gone back to using plastic.

I don't really understand the reasoning behind not being able to bring your own bag. My understanding was that the coronavirus doesn't live very long on cloth surfaces, so you would think the risk would be minimal. Perhaps it is that the stores want you to know that they are doing something. Coronavirus theater?

[devildeac]

My wife said the exact same thing to me after giving me my first COVID at home haircut.

LOL. Please, no photos.

[devildeac]

I had my second covid cut last night and with my new Beast Clippers, I was able to do the majority of it myself. I don't have a long-enough guard for the top of my head (not ready to rock the buzz cut just yet) but I have a longer guard on the way that should arrive in a few days.

This cut actually worked out pretty well. It is pretty much as good as what I was paying a lot of money for. I invested in the clippers because not only do I not want to go to a salon now, I also think I won't want to go this winter when covid probably ramps up again and flu is also circulating.

They cost me about seventy bucks. If I cut my hair three or four times they will pay for themselves. I figure I'll get better at it with practice, and I can already get a good cut.

These are cordless and they are designed with the motor, etc all atop the clipper, which makes it much easier to weild on oneself, especially the back of the head. No problem at all. No affiliation. Just think this design is pretty genius.

I'm honest to goodness not picking on you but this is a pretty funny typo, whether you meant "wield on oneself" or "wild on oneself."

[Troublemaker]

Update — just went to our local grocery store, I bet only 10%-15% of people had masks. And of those, one lady had it below her nose and one employee was wearing it in his chin.

This may not end well.

I had the exact same experience yesterday. Not encouraging to say the least. Are mask wearers versus non wearers coming down the political divide in most of your experiences? I have found this to be very accurate from what I've been able to observe.

Have I mentioned the H-Mart in Cary? You're going to find a much higher percentage of maskers there.

Honestly, folks, you may hate my politics (or what you assume my politics to be), but when I give out advice on DBR, it's usually dope, as the kids will say.

Anyone in the Triangle area who wants to shop in a great grocery store where almost everyone is masked up, go to the H-Mart in Cary.

[Troublemaker]

I don't think the threat is really about (not) holding the convention, I think it's just a political move to tweak governor Cooper and stir up the NC base, a state which I imagine will be closely contested.

I think that's right. Trump and the campaign know that they're likely going to have to change venues (and even states) at this point, but he can blame the NC Governor while hoping that will motivate Rs even more to go the polls in November.

Random prediction: The Republican National Convention will be held in an open-air football stadium in South Dakota. A convention like that has to be held outside, but since it'll be held in August unless they postpone, it has to be held in a state that is not too hot.

[Dr. Rosenrosen]

I think that's right. Trump and the campaign know that they're likely going to have to change venues (and even states) at this point, but he can blame the NC Governor while hoping that will motivate Rs even more to go the polls in November.

Random prediction: The Republican National Convention will be held in an open-air football stadium in South Dakota. A convention like that has to be held outside, but since it'll be held in August unless they postpone, it has to be held in a state that is not too hot.

Or rainy...

[bundabergdevil]

Or rainy...

Or cicada-y...

[Bostondevil]

I had my second covid cut last night and with my new Beast Clippers, I was able to do the majority of it myself. I don't have a long-enough guard for the top of my head (not ready to rock the buzz cut just yet) but I have a longer guard on the way that should arrive in a few days.

This cut actually worked out pretty well. It is pretty much as good as what I was paying a lot of money for. I invested in the clippers because not only do I not want to go to a salon now, I also think I won't want to go this winter when covid probably ramps up again and flu is also circulating.

They cost me about seventy bucks. If I cut my hair three or four times they will pay for themselves. I figure I'll get better at it with practice, and I can already get a good cut.

These are cordless and they are designed with the motor, etc all atop the clipper, which makes it much easier to weild on oneself, especially the back of the head. No problem at all. No affiliation. Just think this design is pretty genius.

Wrestling with that for my sons who all need haircuts. The same woman has been cutting my hair for nearly 25 years. She now cuts my sons' hair too. The salon has, at most, 4 employees but most days only 3 are there. They have sent out notifications that they will be wearing see through plastic face shields with cloth masks underneath. They will be requiring clients to wear masks. They will only take clients by appointment, no walk-ins, and they are only going to book clients one at a time. They are asking all clients to come alone too. I'm guessing stylists will be alternating. With all of those precautions, I'm hoping for the best and making appointments for my sons for next week. (Hair salons in MA can open as of tomorrow.)

[DukieInKansas]

I don't really understand the reasoning behind not being able to bring your own bag. My understanding was that the coronavirus doesn't live very long on cloth surfaces, so you would think the risk would be minimal. Perhaps it is that the stores want you to know that they are doing something. Coronavirus theater?

Sprouts lets you bring your own bags but you have to bag the groceries yourself.

[dudog84]

I don't really understand the reasoning behind not being able to bring your own bag. My understanding was that the coronavirus doesn't live very long on cloth surfaces, so you would think the risk would be minimal. Perhaps it is that the stores want you to know that they are doing something. Coronavirus theater?

I don't understand either. I've been bringing my own bags for years. And since this started I've been putting my stuff straight into them in the aisles so I don't have to grab a buggy. Can get cumbersome but I've got a system.

Was trying to figure the reasoning and the only thing I come up with is that they don't want to handle what you've brought in and have been handling. But you've been handling all the groceries you've pulled from the shelves and then again to put on the conveyor belt (unless you can levitate them). So it is theater.

[El_Diablo]

I don't understand either. I've been bringing my own bags for years. And since this started I've been putting my stuff straight into them in the aisles so I don't have to grab a buggy. Can get cumbersome but I've got a system.

Was trying to figure the reasoning and the only thing I come up with is that they don't want to handle what you've brought in and have been handling. But you've been handling all the groceries you've pulled from the shelves and then again to put on the conveyor belt (unless you can levitate them). So it is theater.

There has been a big push by plastics manufacturers to upend state/local bans on plastics bags. They have funded “studies” finding that reusable bags are more likely to transmit viruses and have taken advantage of the current pandemic to make the case that plastic bags are somehow safer. Pretty nonsensical and clearly opportunistic, but some people have lapped it up.

More background here: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/26/climate/plastic-bag-ban-virus.html

[PackMan97]

I don't think the threat is really about (not) holding the convention, I think it's just a political move to tweak governor Cooper and stir up the NC base, a state which I imagine will be closely contested.

Personally, I'll be very happy if it moves. I really don't want folks from all parts of the country coming to NC and bringing their germs with them.

I get that it's a big deal to host, but just for this year, I'll happily pass for non-political reasons.

[cspan37421]

Hindsight may not be 20/20 but it's a lot clearer than making decisions under uncertainty.

What appears to be the case now is that, thus far, Covid-19 has had widely varying effects on the population depending on geographical location, age, and underlying health conditions. And that may still have been the case without shutdowns - but having a control group was basically impossible. We were cautioned that if we play our cards right it will look like we didn't need to enact serious measures to prevent hospitals from being overwhelmed. That said, there are some parts of the country where hospitals remained so far from overwhelmed that nurses have been laid off. In my state, the case rate is 1/6th that of NY and death rate is 1/30th of it. This suggests (again, in hindsight) a one-size-fits-all solution may not be optimal.

But I would suggest that at least some data collection (definitions) done on a one-size-fits-all basis might have been wise. We flew blind for several weeks and still don't know much about prevalence in asymptomatic populations.

In the next few weeks the non-essential parts of our economy are slated to be reopened. I asked Mrs. Cspan last night, when do you think it would be safe to have friends over again - or go see them? We really don't know - and I don't know how we're going to know. I'm still apprehensive about eating in restaurants, and air travel - not interested. But I'm wearing a mask and, based on some stuff I've read lately, I sure wish that hadn't been dismissed as a good idea early on. That may turn out to have been a monumental mistake.

[YmoBeThere]

Let's remember, the "lock down" was meant to prevent the hospitals and ICUs from becoming overwhelmed. It worked. Just barely in some locations.

Not every part of the country came close to overwhelming their medical systems but some did.

You speak as if the issue is over. In many parts of the US, it is just ramping up:

https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/21/us/mo...age/index.html

[budwom]

it's ramping up in NC but much of the state is behaving as if it isn't...just hit a new high for hospitalizations, 14 day trend of cases (5 day average) is clearly up, but it's still open up time, too much pressure I guess.