wuhan - coronavirus

[Amira]

30 minutes ago, Arcadia said:

Mongolia https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-mongolia/mongolia-confirms-first-coronavirus-case-a-french-national-idUSKBN20X03F

“(Reuters) - Mongolia said on Tuesday that a French national working in the country has been confirmed to be infected with the coronavirus that has spread throughout the globe, marking the country's first case. 

The National Emergency Commission said in a statement the patient, a 57-year-old man, traveled to Mongolia from France and transited through Moscow. The government has identified 42 people the patient has met with and another 120 individuals who had close contact with the patient, who works for Badrakh Energy in southern Dornogovi province and is in stable condition.

Mongolia has suspended all local travel in Dornogovi province, the commission said.”

 

Mongolia took drastic measures very early to stop corona.  They weren’t as strict as Wuhan, but starting in early February they cancelled nearly all gatherings and school. You could visit a friend’s house, but that’s about it.  

[Matryoshka]

1 minute ago, Plum said:

She can fire her doctor and get a new one. The CDC opened up testing leaving it at the doctors discretion. Doctors are people and have just as many varying views as the general public. If she feels that strongly that she has it, she has to advocate for herself or find an advocate that can get her tested. 

Gah. This just isn't true. There are.no.tests to test with. They haven't even been able to get the staff at the place in Seattle where 13 people have *died* of it already tested. 😨 A big hospital in our city finally put out an official statement that NO, you cannot be tested unless you have travel history or documented direct contact, because there aren't.enough.tests. There have been tweets and other reports from doctors all over the country who have been begging for tests but can't get them. The PTB can SAY that it's at the doctor's discretion all they want, but it is a LIE. 

[Ausmumof3]

49 minutes ago, Pen said:

 

Iirc, University of Washington department of virology basically located in Seattle, which is right near Kirkland where the nursing home is,  has developed its own test kits and has said it can run 1000 tests per day. 

But needs them to be ordered run by physicians.   It can’t be patient self referral. 

So the test kits *should* get ordered by a physician with authority to do that, and *should* get over to somewhere that the employees can be tested. Or there should be a drive through, or people in hazmat suits should go to the residences of the workers...

but something seems to have gone awry? Or more dropping the ball?  Or maybe it is just smoke and mirrors and there is a real goal of not doing testing???   

It gets suspicious-er and suspicious-er. 

Maybe we are an experiment out here on West coast of USA to see what happens if close to almost no testing (to extent that can be gotten away with),  thus almost no effective contact tracing, nor effective quarantining, gets done? If it’s just sort of allowed to blow through the population for the most part, other than self care and self help, maybe that’s on purpose, rather than bungling.

 

Just realised it was in a post further up thread from Arcadia.  Quoting from channel Asia news so possibly a bit behind

[Arcadia]

1 hour ago, Pen said:

 

Really real? Or another theoretically possible , but if someone calls and hasn’t been to China or similar they won’t qualify, I wonder.

I hope it is real. 

I hope it starts to be more widely available option. 

Quest Diagnostics has high volume of business locally even before COVID19

https://www.questdiagnostics.com/home/Covid-19/

“When did Quest begin to offer testing for COVID-19?
Quest began to provide testing for COVID-19 on March 9, 2020.

What is the name of the test? 
The Quest Diagnostics’ SARS-CoV-2 RNA, Qualitative Real-Time RT-PCR (“Quest RT-PCR”).

How does the test work? 
The Quest Diagnostics’ SARS-CoV-2 RNA, Qualitative Real-Time RT-PCR (“Quest RT-PCR”)* aids the presumptive detection of nucleic acid in respiratory specimens of patients meeting the clinical criteria of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for COVID-19 testing. For more information, please read the fact sheets for healthcare providers and patients.

Where is the test performed? 
The test was developed, validated and now performed at our Quest Diagnostics Infectious Disease laboratory in San Juan Capistrano, California. Quest expects to expand testing to additional high-complexity Quest Diagnostics laboratories in the coming weeks.

How fast will doctors get results back? 
We expect results to be available 3-4 days from the time of specimen pickup; however, timing may be impacted by high demand.

Is it available nationally? 
We are launching the test service nationally using a phased approach. Due to expectations of high demand, our initial focus is providers in states closest to our performing laboratory in California, including Washington, Oregon, Nevada and California. This is a quickly evolving situation, and we are scaling up testing at other Quest Diagnostics high-complexity laboratories across the U.S. to broaden availability nationally.

Is the test approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)? 
The test has not been FDA cleared or approved or authorized. The test has been validated according to CLIA (Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments), but FDA’s independent review of this validation is pending.”

[Matryoshka]

5 minutes ago, Plum said:

That's ridiculous. 😟 Hopefully, they are coming soon!

Well, the rest of the world has had tests for months and multiple countries now have drive-through testing in full swing, but we gots... nuthin'.  Why we are not using those tests has never been explained anywhere I've seen.  We can't possibly learn anything from the rest of the world, we have to start ourselves from scratch. Rugged independence?

Edited March 10, 2020 by Matryoshka

[Pen]

Have I pushed Vitamin D recently? Forbpeople who weren’t reading back when I did, Dr John did a video on it today:

 

[Pen]

@prairiewindmomma @Ali in OR And other Oregon people— March 9 Dr John video specifically called out Oregon for decision to keep schools open (not a big part, but caught my attention as an Oregon resident)

 

also talks about International travel

...

case updated in some countries ( obviously there  are too many now to follow them all)

 

 

[Ausmumof3]

People classified green in Hubei will be able to move around.

From a Twitter post:  Yes Xi Jinping is in #Wuhan today but the big story comes from Hubei’s #coronavirus epidemic control centre: People classified ‘no risk’ (green) according to a gov app, who live in ‘low’ or ‘medium’ risk areas will now be allowed to travel around the province.

[Ausmumof3]

Singapore have started charging visitors for Coronavirus treatment after 3 imported cases

https://mobile.reuters.com/article/amp/idUSKBN20X0EW?__twitter_impression=true

Two were from Indonesia.  Australia also had a case from Indonesia yesterday.  

[Ausmumof3]

Australia’s coronavirus hotline is getting overloaded (20,000 calls) and people are lining up outside the hospital where tests are done

https://www.9news.com.au/national/coronavirus-victoria-hotline-overwhelmed-by-calls-for-medical-assistance/5a2d7a81-3fbe-4c72-b951-6ae4a5dd780f

[Ausmumof3]

https://mobile.twitter.com/silviast9/status/1236933821414719488
 

not sure if anyone can verify this?  It sounds real.  Doctors account from ICU in Bergamo

[Ausmumof3]

https://mobile.reuters.com/article/amp/idUSKBN20X01R?__twitter_impression=true
 

more on the lack of testing at the Seattle nursing home 

[Ausmumof3]

2 minutes ago, StellaM said:

 

In NSW there seems to be absolutely nothing. No public health announcements, at least not any I am seeing. WA is setting up Covid clinics, SA has drive thru testing, we are behind the curveball big time here. An ED doctor from the hospital in Ryde has written an article saying that in her opinion, Sydney needs to shut down for a fortnight as much as possible.

Looks like in vic they are running testing in a car park.  Sort of almost my drive through testing.

I guess NSW emergency services have already had a pretty bad year and are probably a bit fatigued.   I hope they get accurate messaging and good strategies in place.  We are probably only shielded a bit here because of not being such a popular destination for travellers.  We have an older population and if it does get going our hospitals already overload very easily so it won’t be good. 

[Jean in Newcastle]

19 minutes ago, StellaM said:

@Jean in Newcastle, @TravelingChris, @Pen and others dealing with chronic illness or who have thoughts - can I ask your advice?

I just looked up the advice from the Lung Foundation - it's pretty much stay home if at all possible, avoid public transport if you can, don't fly, don't go to public gatherings, keep up with your treatment plan, then diet, hygiene, hydration etc. 

I don't know what to do. I can avoid all leisure outings, that's fine. I don't care about that. 

But if I go to work I can't avoid public transport (bus all days, trains some days - I spend roughly 2-2.5hrs a day on public transport  weekdays), nor can I avoid groups of people, as I work in a confined space (breakout rooms) with groups of children, or side by side with a single child, or in a small room with groups of homeschooled children.

Schools look like they won't be shutting down any time soon, which is the only way I can stay home without penalty.  The school I work at is 4km from the hot spot in the city.

I'm on a contract, I have minimal sick leave (2 days).  If I take extended unpaid leave, they'll just terminate the contract and get someone else in, which means no $ and no job to go back to. 

I can't do any of my job from home, except one or two sessions of online tutoring per week. 

What do you ladies think? Should I be over-cautious and say screw the job? (This is my first job back in the paid workforce for 20 years, it's not ideal). Should I just throw caution to the wind and wait to get it, and either be sick and die, sick and recover, or not too sick? Someone help me out...what do you think I should do?

Btw, the Principal thinks it's all overblown hype, and she's off on an o/s vacation soon, so I don't think I'll get much of a hearing from her if I discuss my concerns. The school doesn't have any social distancing policies in place, like staggered lunch times or not having whole school assembleys etc.

I'll take my specialist's advice but I'm not seeing him for another ten days (and can't call - public hospital clinic).

That’s a hard one. What I would do:  mask (if possible) during commute. Wash hands well as soon as you get to school and then when you get home again. Get any vaccinations that you can get to lower the possible kinds of illnesses you could pick up. Do this until you can ask your doctor for specific advice for your situation. 

[Ausmumof3]

30 minutes ago, StellaM said:

@Jean in Newcastle, @TravelingChris, @Pen and others dealing with chronic illness or who have thoughts - can I ask your advice?

I just looked up the advice from the Lung Foundation - it's pretty much stay home if at all possible, avoid public transport if you can, don't fly, don't go to public gatherings, keep up with your treatment plan, then diet, hygiene, hydration etc. 

I don't know what to do. I can avoid all leisure outings, that's fine. I don't care about that. 

But if I go to work I can't avoid public transport (bus all days, trains some days - I spend roughly 2-2.5hrs a day on public transport  weekdays), nor can I avoid groups of people, as I work in a confined space (breakout rooms) with groups of children, or side by side with a single child, or in a small room with groups of homeschooled children.

Schools look like they won't be shutting down any time soon, which is the only way I can stay home without penalty.  The school I work at is 4km from the hot spot in the city.

I'm on a contract, I have minimal sick leave (2 days).  If I take extended unpaid leave, they'll just terminate the contract and get someone else in, which means no $ and no job to go back to. 

I can't do any of my job from home, except one or two sessions of online tutoring per week. 

What do you ladies think? Should I be over-cautious and say screw the job? (This is my first job back in the paid workforce for 20 years, it's not ideal). Should I just throw caution to the wind and wait to get it, and either be sick and die, sick and recover, or not too sick? Someone help me out...what do you think I should do?

Btw, the Principal thinks it's all overblown hype, and she's off on an o/s vacation soon, so I don't think I'll get much of a hearing from her if I discuss my concerns. The school doesn't have any social distancing policies in place, like staggered lunch times or not having whole school assembleys etc.

I'll take my specialist's advice but I'm not seeing him for another ten days (and can't call - public hospital clinic).

I know it sounds stupid given it just crashed but is it worth trying the hotline?  

[gardenmom5]

2 hours ago, Matryoshka said:

Gah. This just isn't true. There are.no.tests to test with. They haven't even been able to get the staff at the place in Seattle where 13 people have *died* of it already tested. 😨 A big hospital in our city finally put out an official statement that NO, you cannot be tested unless you have travel history or documented direct contact, because there aren't.enough.tests. There have been tweets and other reports from doctors all over the country who have been begging for tests but can't get them. The PTB can SAY that it's at the doctor's discretion all they want, but it is a LIE. 

there's something with making/distributing.  the UW *IS* testing employees and students - about 40 - 50 a day.  they made their own.  (they're expanding so they can have those outside the UW system   tested.  (they are offering to non-hospitalized patients, first responders, and nursing home staff by the end of the week.)

they're not the health dept, and that's is who is currently in charge of the nursing home.  the health dept has to have approval for their kits from the cdc - just like until the cdcp tests someone, it's only a "presumptive" positive - it's not considered positive.

[Ausmumof3]

2 minutes ago, StellaM said:

 

Maybe I'll try it later this evening, if it's open till late.

Is it just for Victorians though?

I think it’s Australia wide but crashed in Vic?

https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/coronavirus
 

there is a general info line.  This may just be a nightmare to navigate.  But the soon people start calling and asking the sooner people going to realise this needs a solution.

[TravelingChris]

5 hours ago, Jean in Newcastle said:

Chris, as someone in the same boat, I call/text friends and family for social interaction. It’s not the same as seeing people but it’s something. 

I am going try to start doing that. On Facebook, I posted about this and the first person who responded was a college classmate who thought it would be a good time to better connect with other college classmates.   

Edited March 10, 2020 by TravelingChris

[Ausmumof3]

1 hour ago, StellaM said:

 

Maybe I'll try it later this evening, if it's open till late.

Is it just for Victorians though?

Another thought, there’s a bit on ABC looks like ACTU are fairly aggressively going for some kind of payment for casual workers.  I wonder if you are under any kind of union umbrella - teachers union or something that could help?  It may be worth raising the specific scenario or workplace safety for workers with underlying conditions.  Because that is related to the finance issue but a slightly different angle.

[Ausmumof3]

https://mobile.twitter.com/billbirtles/status/1237263980491505670
 

so during president Xis visit they had police officers on the residents balconies.  No chance of a repeat of the heckling.  That said I suspect most western leaders would have a level of security in a similar situation.

[Ausmumof3]

All temporary hospitals are closed in Wuhan according to Chinese state media 

https://mobile.reuters.com/article/amp/idUSKBN20X0RT?__twitter_impression=true

also there are some ex WuhAn flights listed for sale in a couple of weeks.  Obviously they aren’t flying yet but it seems like a positive sign.

[Carrie12345]

6 hours ago, dmmetler said:

Some of the radiology students at DD's CC doing clinicals were apparently involved in initial care for a patient who tested positive. They're shutting the buildings where the students took classes until the 14 day incubation period is up for deep cleaning. It overlaps Spring Break, and DD doesn't overlap, but it's a little unnerving. 

Ugh. I’m sorry.  
DD finished her patient contacts for EMT just a few days ago, and it’s had me nervous. Of course she’s in (a small) class with other students who also did or are doing theirs.  

[Ausmumof3]

Listening to a panel with a bunch of medical experts on 7 live.  The epidemiologist said the death rate is usually calculated at the end of the outbreak and often goes up as with SARS.  I can’t scroll back to listen again because it’s live but I’m sure she said it may not be as low as 3?  Did anyone else listen

[TravelingChris]

2 hours ago, StellaM said:

@TravelingChris, many hugs. So tough to be isolated. 

I like to have the radio on when I'm home alone for company - often a station with arts programs etc. Would that help a tiny bit? Doing the 30 for 2020 reading challenge and joining the FB group that goes with it. Will try to post the link later when I can find it.

 

Yes, I do have the radio on at times and will do that more.  And yes a link would be nice.  

I have had to be isolated and alone during the day for months before.  But I was always able to go to church if my dh was going (sometimes he was caving or away), and he and the kids that were around at that time (dd2 was in college and for one of those times, dd1 was living in another state) would take me out to a restaurant or coffee.  I was still able to attend concerts at times or movies at night.   Go to street festivals that I really enjoyed,  etc, etc.   But this is so much worse.  

HOwever, I am much more worried about you, StellaM and your family.  You can't self isolate, and I hear you so well about the ableist attitudes.  I posted on Facebook and everyone was supportive but one person who said I needed to take vitamin D and Vitamin C and wash hands, etc and I would be fine.  With a second post, I found out her issues- she doesn't understand math.  She is not an ableist.  She just has been listening to the wrong people and also is lousy at math.  She is the mother of a homeschooler who I met at a co-op where her dauighter started taking stat but had to drop out because her math understanding was too low.  That lady, who has much more stress in her life, is much more at risk.  She really believes that if she gets the disease, she will be okay------I know she won't .  Yes she has less diseases than I do but she is struggling financially, depressed because of her husband\s sudden death two years ago who really helped her navigate life (she is a little person and he was normally sized), has asthma like me, but I think she developed a heart condition this year too.  i do not have any heart condition and the people with cardiac issues are the ones who, in China, had I believe, something close to 10% mortality rate.

[Ausmumof3]

Ok I managed to scroll back and she did say that.  May not be as low as 3.  She was talking about dividing final numbers so I’m assuming she means percent.

also confirmed what I wondered about which is that once the virus has progressed it may test negative in the upper respiratory tracts even though it’s present in the lungs.  They need to get serology testing (testing for antibodies) working.

apologies if this stuff is already obvious to others.

[Carrie12345]

I don’t think I posted this yesterday. (Sorry if I did, lol.)

One thing that got me yesterday: Our old school district in NJ hasn’t had a known case yet, or at least not when I last checked. But they sprayed down their busses and closed school yesterday in order to work on their plans for long-term closure. (Long-term closure being the term used in the article, but I don’t believe it was attributed as a direct quote.)

That feels like a pretty giant thing to me.  A good one, but strikingly proactive compared to a lot of what we’re seeing.

[Ausmumof3]

I can’t upload but if anyone can find channel 7 life Covid video it’s worth a watch.

also mentioned warm weather as a likely inhibitor 

[Pawz4me]

DS24 works for one of the very large tech companies, with offices in San Jose and Research Triangle Park, NC. Last week they said anyone who wanted to work from home could, no questions asked. Yesterday they made it mandatory for the San Jose employees.

[Ausmumof3]

Italy will suspend mortgage payments for individuals and households during quarantine 

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/coronavirus-italy-economy-mortgage-payments-symptoms-lockdown-latest-a9389486.html

im not sure how this would work but would have to help.  Although it does nothing for renters.

[Twolittleboys]

As far as the death rate in Italy is concerned, I don't think it is because Italian hospitals are significantly worse and I definitely don't think it is because other countries have lied/stated the death rate on purpose too low.

In my opinion the main reasons it is so hight are:

- Average age of Italians is higher than in many other countries

- Apparently they are running a lot of post-mortem-tests so identify cases that might be lumped under other causes instead

- Pretty sure the number of infected is seriously understated (probably not on purpose). Last week Germany designated South Tyrol as a risk area. Italy complained as they claimed that there had been only a handful of cases there. However, a fairly large number of Germans that have returned from skiing trips to South Tyrol have since been diagnosed with Covid19 which seems to indicate that a lot more people in South Tyrol are infected that is known. I would assume the same is true for other areas.

 

[RootAnn]

My DD is in a state that isn't testing  (from what I understand)--same state as @TravelingChris. She's worried about us (well, her favorite family members) because we have cases. She does still have her sense if humor, though. She sent a screenshot of a graphic where states with cases were colored in red & remarked that she never thought CA would be a red state. [I never remember the colors if the political parties or the animals associated with them, but I recognized the comment as a political joke. ]

I admit to not thinking through the ACT in April. There will hardly be any testers here because most will take it in school. DD#2 needs to get it taken though. Hopefully,  things will be clearer by then. 

[cintinative]

9 hours ago, alewife said:

My daughter’s college is going to all online at least through the end of March.   They are encouraging the kids not to return to campus after spring break but will house those who do return.   

i am hoping my son’s school cancels spring break and forces the kids to remain on campus so they can complete the semester 

 

Ohio State just announced this. Unfortunately my friend saw the news article before she received a parent email and before her daughter received a text. She is studying fine art--it's pretty hard to reproduce studio art via online classes. It will be interesting.  They just announced the first cases in Ohio yesterday--Cuyahoga County I believe.

[Ausmumof3]

https://mobile.twitter.com/Harvard/status/1237355109148954628
 

harvard transitioning to online classes 

[Joker]

I just read Harvard is switching to online learning after spring break. I'm thinking most here in the US will choose to do the same. Ds' university has spring break next week and many of his professors opted for online classes already this week.

[Ausmumof3]

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-51815907?at_custom2=twitter&at_custom1=[post+type]&at_medium=custom7&at_campaign=64&at_custom3=%40BBCNews&at_custom4=835E4392-62C7-11EA-8552-CEA14744363C
 

Austria blocking entry to Italians without a medical certificate 

[Guest]

3 hours ago, Carrie12345 said:

Ugh. I’m sorry.  
DD finished her patient contacts for EMT just a few days ago, and it’s had me nervous. Of course she’s in (a small) class with other students who also did or are doing theirs.  

I think the main reason why they are only closing specific buildings is that by the time you get to clinicals, the groups are small and mostly taking all classes together, so only the other radiology students are likely to have been exposed. I'm kind of glad DD wasn't able to get into A&P this semester!

[Kassia]

40 minutes ago, Joker said:

I just read Harvard is switching to online learning after spring break. I'm thinking most here in the US will choose to do the same. Ds' university has spring break next week and many of his professors opted for online classes already this week.

 

I'm worried about dd who is taking physics with lab.  How will they do the lab work online?  

@regentrude - any thoughts on this?

Edited March 10, 2020 by Kassia

[Joker]

Just now, Kassia said:

 

I'm worried about dd who is taking physics with lab.  How will they do the lab work online?  

I wonder if more will do like Berkeley? Their statement read they will still have some small in person classes, such as labs, the arts, and physical education.

[Guest]

1 hour ago, RootAnn said:

My DD is in a state that isn't testing  (from what I understand)--same state as @TravelingChris. She's worried about us (well, her favorite family members) because we have cases. She does still have her sense if humor, though. She sent a screenshot of a graphic where states with cases were colored in red & remarked that she never thought CA would be a red state. [I never remember the colors if the political parties or the animals associated with them, but I recognized the comment as a political joke. ]

I admit to not thinking through the ACT in April. There will hardly be any testers here because most will take it in school. DD#2 needs to get it taken though. Hopefully,  things will be clearer by then. 

I am thinking we'll wait on the ACT until later. DD has a high enough score to qualify for scholarships, and the extra value that might be placed on the extra point for competitive scholarships doesn't seem worth it right now. And she could still take it next fall (although I'm concerned about the automatic superscoring since many ofmthe scholarships she is likely to be in the running for count composite scores, and explicitly do not superscore). 

[El...]

I wonder if they'll refund everybody's dorm and cafeteria expenses if everything is online and the students return to their homes. 

[Guest]

DD has said she wants to drop one of her classes if it goes online, because she thinks it will not be effective (Specifically due to the professor's teaching style and the subject matter). I'm wondering if schools will be lenient on their withdraw dates for kids who feel this way, and would rather drop the class and try again in the future. 

[Ausmumof3]

BNO: Spain has reported 415 new cases of coronavirus and 5 new deaths so far today, raising total to 1,646 cases and 35 dead

[Ausmumof3]

Delta airlines will cut international flights by 20-25 pc and domestic by 15pc

https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2020/03/10/business/airline-flights-coronavirus/index.html#click=https://t.co/9iXF6ZxMjb

[Violet Crown]

It seems the president of Big State U. has made his top priority getting faculty ready for teaching classes online, and making sure they have all the resources they need and are ready to go the moment the first Covid case shows up on campus.

Dh learned this from the radio local news. He hasn't received any communications from the president, dean, or department chair.

[Chris in VA]

I am home in VA til at least March 30. I would be quarantined for 2 weeks if I returned after Thurs of this week. Unfortunately I have a cold and have not yet seen my friend with brain cancer. This is dh's update from a British NGO that works in Palestine.

"From One of our Partners, Friends of the Holy Land in Great Britain, about the Coronavirus causing Bethlehem to be completely shutdown: 

Coronavirus shuts down Bethlehem

The Palestinian Authority declared a state of emergency last Thursday and put Bethlehem in lockdown as cases of Coronvirus were detected. This means the Church of the Nativity and other places of worship in Bethlehem are shut, all tourism and religious sites across the West Bank are closed and all tourists banned from the West Bank. The Israeli army, in coordination with the Palestinian Authority, are enforcing a closure on Bethlehem; 13 checkpoints are set up to stop people from entering or leaving the sealed-off city. 24 cases of the virus have been detected in Bethlehem so far and the official quarantine period for the city is currently 30 days but could be extended.
 
Tourism is Bethlehem's main industry. More than 30% of the working population is employed in the industry with many more reliant on visitors’ business in shops, cafes, taxis etc.. Tourism accounts for approximately 65% of the city's economy with around 2 million visitors last year. Most of the 5,000 hotel rooms in Bethlehem which were occupied with tourists until last week are now empty.

Obviously this lockdown is having a huge impact already on the fragile economy of Bethlehem. 76% of families assessed as living below the poverty line before this crisis, are now pushed beyond their margins of reserves by sudden unemployment. Employment conditions for most in the city are fragile, hand to mouth, with no safety net of family or social support. We expect our office in Bethlehem to be flooded with requests for support from those affected.
 
 The city is widely reported to have become a ghost town because many people are afraid to leave their homes and there is concern that the closure of the city will lead to an “economic disaster” from which the city economy will take a long time to recover especially as its timing coincides with the lead up to Holy Week and Easter, typically one of the busiest times of the year for the sector.
 
Our Bethlehem office reports a great sadness among the people and fear, they are isolated, feel under siege and are beginning to panic. “We ask you to pray for Our Lord’s mercy” Despite these challenges our staff in Bethlehem stand ready to provide front line support to the most needy."

Our diocesan pilgrim college, St. George's,  which is in the Cathedral Close where we live in Jerusalem, has had to cancel two 10 day long courses, and will, of course, be unable to function if the current policy of denying entry to all foreigners who cannot self quarantine continues. 

[Renai]

23 hours ago, dmmetler said:

There is a confirmed exposed school employee at a K-8 school in my area. Supposedly, they are discussing what to do right now-with all the kids in the cafeteria. Parents are going nuts on FB, NextDoor, etc-even those who's kids attend other schools. I sincerely hope no one leaks the poor employee's name. I'm keeping an eye on it because if the school district closes as a whole, my center will close as well, and I'll have to figure out options for my music students. I could probably do lessons online for my older kids, but I'm not so sure about my preschoolers and kindergartner, who  have lessons that look more like a preschool music class with some piano thrown in.

If you want to contact me and brainstorm how to do your prek classes online interactively, feel free to do so. I do a Spanish immersion prek online that has been popular for the past year, and it can be done successfully. I do just as I did in person, with a few tweaks. You can pm me.

[Ausmumof3]

“Don’t lick your mail in voting envelopes”

https://www.cnbc.com/amp/2020/03/10/coronavirus-washington-state-democratic-primary-voters-urged-not-to-lick-mail-in-ballots.html?__twitter_impression=true

[Ausmumof3]

WAPO:  Trump says he will seek payroll tax cut, relief for hourly workers as part of coronavirus economic package
 

paywalled for me (and not relevant) but might be of interest to some

https://www.washingtonpost.com

Does hourly workers equal casual workers?

 

[Pen]

 

 

I deleted on request for privacy

 

 

 

 

10 hours ago, Carrie12345 said:

I don’t think I posted this yesterday. (Sorry if I did, lol.)

One thing that got me yesterday: Our old school district in NJ hasn’t had a known case yet, or at least not when I last checked. But they sprayed down their busses and closed school yesterday in order to work on their plans for long-term closure. (Long-term closure being the term used in the article, but I don’t believe it was attributed as a direct quote.)

 

Very different than in our area. We are a state with pretty clearly community spread, but state has decided to do nothing regarding schools. Has advised that they should stay open. Even if there’s a case , idea seems to be a brief closure for cleaning, then right back open.  Even though others could have been infected already and be going right on contributing to higher R0 rather than shutting down awhile .  Really I think the contacts of the case themselves should be quarantined—not right back to school next day . 

 

 

Quote

That feels like a pretty giant thing to me.  A good one, but strikingly proactive compared to a lot of what we’re seeing.

 

Yes. We need more proactivity!

 

Edited March 10, 2020 by Pen
Edited parts for someone’s privacy

[73349]

10 minutes ago, Ausmumof3 said:

WAPO:  Trump says he will seek payroll tax cut, relief for hourly workers as part of coronavirus economic package
 

paywalled for me (and not relevant) but might be of interest to some

https://www.washingtonpost.com

Does hourly workers equal casual workers?

In the US, workers are either hourly (paid per hour of work on a time sheet) or salaried (paid by the year). Many hourly workers, such as those who are store clerks and food service workers, are at or below the poverty line. Hourly workers may have little or no vacation time or sick leave--if they don't work, they don't get paid, and they can be fired easily. Hourly workers are not especially likely to be temp workers and may be part-time or full-time; some businesses deliberately hire more part-time people even if they have work for full-time people in order to avoid paying for benefits.