Thread: The C. Virus and human reaction

It's a balancing act between going about our business without hysteria and being responsible to those more vulnerable. We who are relatively healthy are not the ones that this is about. It's about helping the system serve those who need it most. It's akin to giving a seat on the bus or train to a pregnant woman or an elderly person. This is not theoretical. The health system in Europe and Asia is already overwhelmed. We REALLY don't want that here, not for ourselves but for those who need it more than we do.

Originally Posted by PaulFLUS

It's a balancing act between going about our business without hysteria and being responsible to those more vulnerable. We who are relatively healthy are not the ones that this is about. It's about helping the system serve those who need it most. It's akin to giving a seat on the bus or train to a pregnant woman or an elderly person. This is not theoretical. The health system in Europe and Asia is already overwhelmed. We REALLY don't want that here, not for ourselves but for those who need it more than we do.

It is not just about the most vulnerable in society. Healthy young individuals who get infected and survive might take multiple months to recover/feel normal again and/or have their lungs scared up to the point they have diminished abilities. People are soft peddling what can happen.

Bob

https://www.newsweek.com/young-unafr...pinion-1491797

Many of the reactions to this hurt many of the more vulnerable.

To paraphrase our governor.

You might lose your job and income but we are passing a law that they can't disconnect your cell phone for not paying your bill during this crisis.

I think that people in the vulnerable status should do themselves a favor and stay indoors. Look at the facts. The news loves to sensationalize everything. But the facts say that the cases have and are increasing daily. So that is what Im basing my actions on. NYC is closing some businesses, reducing occupancy rates in buildings by half but leaving the schools and subways open. So a million kids will be out and about. Including the logistics of getting them there(school staff, transportation etc). Theres no school for some things, and as a person of authority they will be damned if they do and damned if they dont. Hindsight is 20/20. Mistakes will and have been made. And thats that. I think many thousands will die. But I dont think it will be millions. But then again that means nothing as I dont think anyone has any idea how this will play itself out.

"When in darkness, or in doubt, run in circles, scream and shout." I heard that on a Monty Python show once. It does sound a lot like Burma Shave though. The comments about the "thin veneer" of civilization are spot on. I really liked that news video about flattening the curve. That was good information.

Cynicism is self protective. We may not be pleasant to be around for them that are sensitive types, but we are rarely, if ever, disappointed. Sometimes you only get the choice between laughing inappropriately or vomiting. I'll laugh and move along.

As to the TP problem...I saw a meme that I'll spare the picture, but the words cover it well. "One person sneezes and one hundred sh*t themselves." Panic is more of an infectious disease than anything. Given that human beings are herd animals, something can spook the herd miles from the other side and everyone is on alert ready to stampede at the slightest impulse.

I live across the river from one of the largest ammunition manufacturers in the US. We are never going to run out of bullets. And all the stores that sell ammunition in town have mostly been stripped of everything modern. Like the last time.

Take care of yourself and your loved ones. Mostly good handwashing and avoiding crowds (flatten the curve locally), having common sense and COMPASSION will do more good than anything.

When it's time, Vote. Call to account those who made things worse by their lack of leadership no matter where they come from.

Originally Posted by BobH

...Healthy young individuals who get infected and survive might take multiple months to recover/feel normal again and/or have their lungs scared up to the point they have diminished abilities. People are soft peddling what can happen. Bob

Bob, we don't have enough information to know what the residual effects will be on lungs. I do notice that people who have a pre-existing lung disorder (COPD, asthma) are at much greater risk of the negative effects of this infection. But their lungs were affected before the Covid19 appeared. I agree that coughing without illness could persist for weeks. Each year I see a viral infection about this time of year too, where I work, that has older adults coughing quite longer than young people.

One of the best things to have in your first aid kit is GUAIFENESIN, plain no added extra stuff. The specialists recommend 1200-2400mg per 24/hr period. That's more than you would usually think of taking if you followed the box directions which is why I suggest PLAIN cough medication. You can get too much of the added junk when looking for enough to do the job on the guaifenesin.

Just ran some figures from WHO statistics listed. From what they have documented so far it puts the mortality rate at about 3.7%. The mortality rate of the Spanish flu was between 2.5-3% and somewhere between 50 million to 100 million people died worldwide from the Spanish flu. Not being an alarmist I'm just saying we need to not discount the effect that this can have.Now that rate will likely go down as they identify cases.

Originally Posted by Mike Blue

Bob, we don't have enough information to know what the residual effects will be on lungs. I do notice that people who have a pre-existing lung disorder (COPD, asthma) are at much greater risk of the negative effects of this infection. But their lungs were affected before the Covid19 appeared. I agree that coughing without illness could persist for weeks. Each year I see a viral infection about this time of year too, where I work, that has older adults coughing quite longer than young people.

Was only going by what the Doc in the link was saying in that it might effect some younger healthy individuals adversely too. Know what you mean by viral infections of the lungs. A while ago an old neighbour of ours was in intensive care for that. When he recovered his Doc told him if he had not been young and healthy it is likely he would have died. As it is the Doc told him it may take up to 2 years for him to feel normal again. From what I can gather most people who get infected by Covid 19 will have it so severely but some in even the younger healthy age groups may get a severe dose. Just thinking nobody should take this pandemic as lightly as they have been. I do not think governments around the world have done a good job of conveying the realities to the general public.

Bob

On the lighter side ...

Originally Posted by PaulFLUS

Just ran some figures from WHO statistics listed. From what they have documented so far it puts the mortality rate at about 3.7%. The mortality rate of the Spanish flu was between 2.5-3% and somewhere between 50 million to 100 million people died worldwide from the Spanish flu. Not being an alarmist I'm just saying we need to not discount the effect that this can have.Now that rate will likely go down as they identify cases.

The numbers for the 1918 flu are pretty scary, if Covid-19 reaches the same mortality percentage you would be looking at over 200,000,000 people world wide. Praying that doesn't even come close. With the speed of travel today I would think we would have many more infections at this point. Praying it doesn't mutate again, and get stronger for this fall flu season.
What is kinda baffling is that we lose 3-50,000 people a year from seasonal flu and there is no public out cry about the governments response and we have a vaccine for it.