Topic: Corona Virus Panic/Discussion Thread

@RogerRoger Thanks. I'm sure she'll be fine. I don't think the area where the hospital is is totally overrun with cases yet, although, given our lack of testing, anything is on the table. She knows to wash/sanitize her hands frequently and to stay away from people when possible, and my sister will be with her during the visit.

@Gremio108 Oh crap, that "my wife is on fire" stuff was serious?! I'm glad she's not too badly injured. That's nuts.

@mookysam Some supermarkets have been prioritising deliveries to elderly and vulnerable, as well as limiting how much people can buy. I was in Aldi earlier and they had everything, even toilet roll, but it was very busy for a Sunday morning. I think we should see stock become full again this week with some of the measures in place. Although I did get irked at one couple that had 48 rolls of bog roll in their trolley.

@JohnnyShoulder if i was serving them i would have told them to stop being greedy selfish gits and put them all back

@RogerRoger @FullbringIchigo i hope so, I didn't stick around to find out however. I think this should've been in place a couple of weeks ago. If i was serving before all this was in place, I would have called my supervisor or manager if someone had a load of bum wipes, and let them confront the customer. I don't think it is fair for the person serving to get started in arguments with customers, especially as some people are on edge.

I shouldn't take pleasure in it - but I kinda do - when a politician who I shall not name - that was, only a week ago, downplaying the risks of the virus and telling people to not stay home, has now been diagnosed with the virus after bragging about how he was still going out to dinner and shopping and stuff.

On the other hand - I fear for all the people he probably spread it to while doing so.

Interesting how there's always a test available for politicians, celebrities, and the media elite, but I keep hearing stories of everyday people who keep getting turned down, despite reporting often alarming symptoms.

If this situation doesn't make the gross inequality of the United States crystal clear to ordinary people, and if it doesn't show to them the deadly consequences of electing extremists and incompetents to important political offices, then I don't know what will.

@Ralizah It’s a politicians job to always be around people, they can’t really isolate, so they kind of need a higher priority test.

Interesting info coming from Germany and S. Korea about loss of smell (anosmia) being an early sign and an indicator of COVID19. Between 1 in 2 and 1 in 3 of even asymptomatic infections have this feature. Ironic as that would be the only time you want to shop in a second hand game shop! Stay safe people

All nonemergency work this week has been cancelled for us.

@Foxy-Goddess-Scotchy Don't worry about it, we're running low on eggs anyway! There are a lot of things like that around. Butter is another one people say to treat burns with (don't by the way). If we listened to everyone them first aid would be more like a cookery class.

@Ralizah I'll admit it does sound like a half-baked stand up routine. Believe it or not, it's not even the first time I've had to put out someone on fire! Much scarier when it's in your own home though, with the kids and cats running about and what have you.

@JohnnyShoulder I went to the checkout in Asda yesterday to ask whether they had any toilet roll left, and was given a resounding 'no'. It was very embarrassing to have to waddle back to the customer toilets with my pants around my ankles (unlike the wife on fire tale, I may have made this story up)

@Gremio108 ha ha I'm not what song best fits that situation.

@Jaz007 In that case, you'd think "higher priority" tests would be available for people who, say, work in retail, or who spend a ton of time around other people as part of working in an "essential service."

Don't get me wrong: I'm not saying politicians shouldn't be able to get access to tests. They obviously should. My point is that our current situation is saying the quiet part of our celebrity worshiping culture out loud: the lives of the rich and famous are worth far more than Joe Normal's life. It's more important to test an asymptomatic basketball player than it is to get help to a normal housewife with a temperature of "only" 102 degrees. A rich socialite dying of this will be a national tragedy, whereas your death, or my death is just a number added to a statistic. I'm aware this is true of all societies and of all points in history, of course, but it becomes particularly infuriating in a country where millions of people lack health coverage and have to live in fear of becoming sick and drowning in debt as a result.

Every aspect of the American system inexorably drives home one point: if you're not rich or famous, then your life doesn't matter.

@LaJettatura @Foxy-Goddess-Scotchy How are you supposed to eat tiramisu if you can't eat raw eggs?

Don't worry by the way. The chances of egg being infected are very, very slim. And even then it's probably not the end of the world. Getting salmonella on your skin is even less dangerous, just make sure to clean it afterwards.

@Ralizah
It's crazy isn't it? We have emergency service staff going down with symptoms having dealt with incidents directly related to the virus, and yet celebrities are getting fast tracked to be tested for it over them as a priority. It really is taking celebrity worship to a whole other level, it's truly bizzare.

On the bright side, it’s 2:30pm on a Monday and I’m having a beer for lunch in my shorts in a sunny garden.

@JohnnyShoulder Yep I got an email from Sainsbury's so looked on the website and need to ring them, although the number is constantly engaged. It's eased my anxiety about this though as hopefully something can be sorted.

Thanks @RogerRoger and @Foxy-Goddess-Scotchy.

British eggs are from hens that have been inoculated against salmonella so should be safe to eat raw and perhaps even slather over a burn. All my Italian grandmother gave me was a propensity for passive aggression and a few sauce recipes.

My kids schools just got canceled for the rest of the year

@redd214 is that sad face because your kid is unhappy or because now you have to spend the rest of the year with the kid without a break?

@FullbringIchigo why would I be sad about spending more time with my kids, what a weird question lol.

Of course they're are the ones who are sad, already missing their friends, plus the teachers/counselors/workers state wide who built relationships with the kids, plus many people don't have the flexibility we have and will literally have to rearrange their entire lives around this. So many more important things than my personal feelings..