THAT was funny! My husband and I used to have bird feeders. We got rid of them because of the bears (they attract bears). When we did have them though we noticed the squirrels would always eat all the bird seed, so my husband bought a large container of vaseline and he greased the bird feeder pole and we watched the squirrels doing exactly what that little guy did. ? ?
Do you know what makes me even sadder about this virus? The fact that we now have to avoid hugging. I can do without the obligatory handshake, but there are people I know and care about -- a grocery store checker .. my neighbor ... even a stranger who, after you've entered into a conversation, feels like a long lost friend and ends with a mutual hug. I'm also thinking about people in nursing homes and the isolation many feel. Human contact is so important, and sorely lacking in our culture.
As I think about it, perhaps missing that human contact will make us realize how much we are connected, and how much we need one another. I strongly believe good will come out of this experience. But it still makes me sad.
My BFF lives in New Canaan CT, her husband works with the guy who was patient No. 1 in NYC. He also had a very severe URI about a month ago, and he never gets sick, and he does 90% travel for work all over the world (except China and Russia), which again is making me wonder if many have already gotten COVID-19 and recovered.
If I was you, I'd stay out of the office. Maybe forward your co-worker the info I posted from Italy.
Again, panicking doesn't help, but neither does avoiding calm urgency in actions.
My husband is approved to work 2 days/week from home, but needs to take the subway into the city the other 3 days. I've asked him to find out if his agency will be loosening their regulations. Either that, or I'm buying him a Hazmat suit.
My husband couldn't take Goldenseal. It made him short of breath.
And because I found other info from the doc in Bergamo, Italy, to be vital, I'm posting some more translation here, I will also post on social media, as I think some people need to wake up.
"I'm sorry, but to me as a doctor the fact that the most serious cases are among the elderly who have underlying conditions is not remotely calming. The majority of the population in our country [Italy] is elderly, and for this you would be hard pressed to find anyone over the age of 65 who isn't taking a pill for hypertension or diabetes. I can assure you that once you see young people hooked up to ventilators, laid low and in some cases having to be hooked up to a heart-lung machine to extract, cleanse and reinsert their own blood, in the hopes that their own body will heal their lungs, all of the tranquillity you have for your young age will pass."
NY Governor Announces 'Containment Area' in Suburb Home to Biggest Cluster of U.S. Coronavirus Cases
BY MARINA VILLENEUVE / AP
MARCH 10, 2020 2:06 PM EDT
(ALBANY, N.Y.) — Schools, houses of worship and large gathering places will be shuttered for two weeks in a “containment area” centered in suburban New Rochelle, the heart of what appears to be the nation’s biggest cluster of cases of the coronavirus, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Tuesday.
The state will send National Guard troops to help clean surfaces and deliver food in the area, a 1-mile-radius (1.6 km) around a point near a synagogue connected to some existing cases, Cuomo said.
The state and a private health system are setting up a testing facility in the area, schools within it will close for two weeks starting Friday and state and local officials are working to determine “large congregate facilities or gathering places” that also will shut down.
“It is a dramatic action, but it is the largest cluster of cases in the country,” he said at a news conference. “The numbers are going up unabated, and we do need a special public health strategy for New Rochelle.”
https://time.com/5800346/new-rochelle-ny-containment-area-coronavirus/
@deetoo Ha ha. Love that, except people have likely been panic buying that too. Hazmat suits and hand sanitizer.
@lauraF.
No, I am visiting my mom in Los Angeles right now. The NYC news came on my iphone news alert. Gov. Cuomo is sending in the National Guard.
. – Schools, temples, churches and other large gathering places within much of the New York City suburb of New Rochelle will be shut down for two weeks as the state battles to contain of one of the nation's worst coronavirus clusters.
The National Guard will be called in to help clean facilities and deliver food, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Tuesday.
Cuomo announced plans to enforce a "containment area" for a 1-mile radius around the center of the cluster, an area of Westchester County that includes much of the city of New Rochelle and stretches into the town of Eastchester. As of Tuesday afternoon, the state had 174 confirmed cases of the coronavirus, second only to Washington state.
"This is literally a matter of life and death," Cuomo said.
De Blasio said they were considering this last night( I think night, not this AM) but I don't think he mentioned this specific area.
My thought is it was announced as a possibility, to get people in the mindset it may happen, but they KNEW it would happen.
My advice, IF the local government is saying that something MIGHT happen, be prepared that it WILL happen. That is your few hours notice for your last run of supplies or...helping your neighbor or (fill in the blank) ...until it is lifted.
What I want to say is this...thank you for the medical and spiritual info.
I have to say this covid19 has pulled me out of a major depression.
Like other uncontrollable things it gives me a choice between fixating and deciding to live my new life wholeheartedly.
@laura f.
I have the option to work from home and I work in only one home and one school presently afterschool 1nce a week.
The school is in the district that tested folks. They all came back negative. It is proably now the most sanitary school in the US, I guess. I would be okay with ending the Art programs now for the school year.
My man likes to go out and find adventures but traditionally I am quite a hermit and prefer to be home.
Here is Georgia it is rising rapidly..17 confirmed cases to date..some teachers at schools...so many more coming I am sure...also..Hartsfield Jackson the busiest airport in the world here...and checking folks just now getting more serious... drs still having to fight to get people tested....I am pretty sure many have already had it.. just weren't tested for it.. and it's more widespread than we think. Governor Kemp announced yesterday that they are setting up trailers at Hard Labor Creek State Park to house COvid-19 patients.
"The governor and the departments of public health, public safety, and natural resources made the decision to prepare the site in case it is ever needed. Officials have already delivered and installed seven emergency trailers at the park, and related materials are en route for future use. Once established, the Department of Public Safety will provide security for this location.
Officials are utilizing an isolated section of Hard Labor Creek State Park where emergency trailers and operations will be separated from the rest of the property. To prevent the disruption of ongoing operations, access to this specific part of Hard Labor Creek State Park is strictly limited to official use.
Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John F. King issued a directive to insurance companies about COVID-19 testing.
“Now that there have been confirmed cases of coronavirus in Georgia, it is essential that we are doing everything we can to remove any potential barriers to care for our citizens,” said Commissioner King in a news release. “The Directive we issued this morning is meant to ensure that no Georgian is denied access to testing or treatment for this disease.”
The Directive calls on insurers to waive cost-sharing for in-network provider office, urgent care center, or emergency room visits when testing for COVID-19, particularly for those individuals with high deductible plans.
It instructs insurers to verify their provider networks are adequate to handle a potential increase in volume of COVID-19 cases and calls on them to provide access to out-of-network providers at an in-network rate if they are not."
Janet Napolitano is the former Sec. Of Homeland Security under Obama, a former Gov. of Arizona, and a former Arizona state attorney General. She is the current President of the UC university system in California.
Most UC Universities announced they would be closing their campus' today. I expect more by the end of the week. I have no doubt her understanding of the complexities of running a state, law and her understanding of Homeland Security issues, (think FEMA and other disasters issues ) have played a huge role in why these Universities are not going to be open and will switch to on line classes.
This is why we need competent people in charge of ...important organizations. We can't afford any more failures.