Topic: Hope everyone is ok...Wash your hands.

[the beteljuice]

UK - Just announced by the Prime Minister (21:30 local)

From tomorrow ...
(We go into lock down ...)

You cannot leave you home except for:
Medical reasons.
Shopping for basic necessities
Travel for essential work.

Non-essential shops to close.
No more than two people together in public unless same household.
Ban on ALL social events including weddings etc.

BTW. 'Travel' includes those lucky enough to to have 2nd / holiday home they think they can 'escape' to.

Suggestion is to make more use of on-line stores / delivery.
Except virtual shelves are empty and delivery 'slots' are over a week away !

[Aardvark]

I had to post this.

[the beteljuice]

the beteljuice has just returned from the local gas / convenience store.

I was the last customer under new hours regime.

Only one denomination of notes in the ATM.
No bread, No pasta, No ready meals, few tins etc. etc

I managed to buy a bag of potatoes as the youngsters have forgotten how to cook 

[ValentineWeather]

Rural Nebraska wasn't too bad yesterday other than food services like restaurants only having takeout. Gas stations looked busy fast food like MacDonalds also had multiple cars at the drive-thru.
Grocery stores look normal with 30-40 cars in each parking lot. 
Still, no positive cases in Cherry county which is sparsely populated most all cases are near the populated Cities Omaha, Lincoln exception North Platte 30k population has 3 cases.

The announcement here is school will start back up on March 31st. 

[ValentineWeather]

 [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]

[DoctorKnow]

If you are feeling like you need to do something, drink some tonic water... It has quinine in it, which is used in Cloroquine. Everything is going to be just fine... If you wipe down surfaces with the disinfecting wipes, wear gloves for handles and such, and proper masks in areas with a lot of people, there is nothing to fear but fear itself.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tonic_water
If you look at the map of infection, you can clearly see that areas known to take Cloroquine did not have but just a few deaths from the Virus.

[chief-david]

The announcement here is school will start back up on March 31st.

That surprises me. So soon.

[ValentineWeather]

The announcement here is school will start back up on March 31st.

That surprises me. So soon.

I guess it could change but announced yesterday on local radio and posted on school signs.
Arizona has extended start-up to April 10th according to family living there. They have options for each district to decide on its own beyond that date when to reopen.

Statewide of those tested with symptoms 5% positive.

Total number of cases – 52
Cases that tested negative – 975*

[the beteljuice]

Ah ...

The hidden powers of those that be, starting to be revealed ....

All mobile phones receiving text from UK Government on lock down measures !

[ValentineWeather]

Welp!

Shortly after 11AM today, Valentine Community Schools announced that classes would be suspended for the rest of the school year. The announcement stated that based on recommendations from NCDHD and Nebraska Department of Education, classes would be suspended. Students and staff will continue the alternative learning environment format. The situation will be monitored and adjustments will be made when possible.

[saratogaWX]

If you are feeling like you need to do something, drink some tonic water... It has quinine in it, which is used in Cloroquine.
..snip..
If you look at the map of infection, you can clearly see that areas known to take Cloroquine did not have but just a few deaths from the Virus.

Reminding all that anecdotal 'evidence' is not generally trustworthy.  NO ONE should self-medicate based on internet-circulated claims of  (unsubstantiated) efficacy. 

[waiukuweather]

why is Trump talking about wanting americans to go back to work and scaling back solcial distancing already?

[weather34]

why is Trump talking about wanting americans to go back to work and scaling back solcial distancing already?

$$$$$

[SnowHiker]

why is Trump talking about wanting americans to go back to work and scaling back solcial distancing already?

It's almost like he wants people who are sick to get better, and those who aren't sick not to get sick, and people to be able to get back to work and lead happy productive lives, and for the economy not to be completely destroyed.  Now isn't the time for our leaders to display optimism? 

[Jasiu]

Reminding all that anecdotal 'evidence' is not generally trustworthy.  NO ONE should self-medicate based on internet-circulated claims of  (unsubstantiated) efficacy.

In particular, read this story before you even think about self-medicating.

  https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/man-dies-after-ingesting-chloroquine-in-an-attempt-to-prevent-coronavirus/ar-BB11B8qd

[gwwilk]

why is Trump talking about wanting americans to go back to work and scaling back solcial distancing already?

It's complicated!  The daily White House briefings have been covering this in depth, and I don't want to paraphrase their arguments pro and con.  The press have tried repeatedly to pin the White House team down regarding a specific timetable, but they have explained ad nauseum why this isn't yet possible.  Still, a return to a semblance of normal MUST be talked about, don't you think?

[Jasiu]

It's complicated!  The daily White House briefings have been covering this in depth, and I don't want to paraphrase their arguments pro and con.  The press have tried repeatedly to pin the White House team down regarding a specific timetable, but they have explained ad nauseum why this isn't yet possible.  Still, a return to a semblance of normal MUST be talked about, don't you think?

The problem is that it's putting the cart before the horse. Or kinda like trying to have a baby in less than 9 months. If distancing measures are relaxed as early as a week from now (as mentioned yesterday), we are going to see both an epidemic and an economic meltdown. The economy can't function with so many sick and dying and with hospitals full (and if you think people are avoiding the public now...).

The best way to get back to normal is manage the current pandemic in an aggressive fashion and get the production of needed testing and protective equipment ramped up as fast as possible. Trying to do it any other way is going to be a disaster.

[waiukuweather]

till, a return to a semblance of normal MUST be talked about, don't you think?

no
simply because it will make people start to relax on the social distancing right at the wrong time...now

[SnowHiker]

So there's no place for optimism at a time like this. 

Nobody has been told to relax social distancing as of yet.

The fact is, no matter what is said or not said, what is done or not done, people always see a need to criticize.

[waiukuweather]

good luck america, you are going to need it then

[ValentineWeather]

Everyone has an opinion here is mine. We know for a fact the country can't keep shut down for an extended period without dire consequences. Just a reminder money doesn't grow on trees unless you are Venezuela with a 500,000% inflation rate. This can be done if carefully handled without a total nation collapse. 

[SnowHiker]

good luck america, you are going to need it then

But of course new zealand will be fine!

Covid-19: New Zealand government accused of 'flat-footed' response

Opposition claims not enough is being done to stimulate economy, despite Jacinda Ardern saying nation is in robust position to fight coronavirus

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/10/covid-19-new-zealand-government-accused-of-flat-footed-response

[Jasiu]

This can be done if carefully handled without a total nation collapse.

Agree. But, to do that, we need the tests. Until we get to the point where we get asymptomatic people tested, we won't know everyone who is spreading the virus. Returning to normal social mixing without that means the "R" value remains over 1 and the number of cases grow.

Until we get to that point, we're unfortunately stuck with brute force distancing methods.

[DoctorKnow]

If you are feeling like you need to do something, drink some tonic water... It has quinine in it, which is used in Cloroquine.
..snip..
If you look at the map of infection, you can clearly see that areas known to take Cloroquine did not have but just a few deaths from the Virus.

Reminding all that anecdotal 'evidence' is not generally trustworthy.  NO ONE should self-medicate based on internet-circulated claims of  (unsubstantiated) efficacy. 

I disagree. If someone is sick, drinking a little bit of tonic water could help them immensely. They are telling people not to go to a hospital, to stay home unless it is severe. If someone came out and said "stick yourself with a needle", that would be different. Some would probably form a line though...

[waiukuweather]

But of course new zealand will be fine!

NZ is going into national lock down in 18 hours time from now,and that was originally announced with only just over 100 confirmed cases