Covid-19 Pandemic Thread

[Joan]

Contributing to obesity, fatty liver and diabetes. Acting as a vector for infection.

Is this the worst possible thing a store could do? Whole Foods eliminated their bins of seeds last week!

[Regulator]

A noticeable difference on my morning walk with Jack this morning. Many of the driveways that would normally be empty are full.

[Joan]

Shit just got real. I have logged into Facebook for the first time in years to link up with mutual aid groups.

PS I seem to be running a mutual aid group

PPS I can hear a plane!

[LowlifeDes]

@Iris If this semi containment strategy doesn't work and we suffer a significant number of deaths, with those deaths impacting older people more than young. After accounting for any wealth imbalance in those age groups, would we see a noticeable shift of weath between generations?

[Mister Paul]

I'm on a call with my manager this morning. What's apparent is the disjoin between emergency planning teams and operational managers. Really struggling to understand what's being said after it's been filtered through someone who doesn't have a clue about response and planning.

[Joan]

Glad you have us to vent to @Mister Paul

On a lighter note, my residents association uses a heron as it's logo, so this is our corona logo

[Mister Paul]

Paperboys. Essential service? Potential to spread, but also a potential lifeline to the people who still have papers delivered.

Besides, the boy needs the money.

[Mister Paul]

Oh, and laptops.

Obvious one really but there's been a rush on laptops. Boy no.2 has a birthday next week and we're getting him Chromebook. I love them, and boy no.1 confirmed that he's done the last 3 years, including GCSE and 6th form, just off a Chromebook and never needed a pc/laptop. Could I find one? Only just. Amazon have been out of 14"+ machines for ages. Everyone else has sold out unless you want to pay hundreds.

Found and reserved the only one this side of Swindon, in an Argos the other side of Bristol. Decided to nip over yesterday afternoon to pick it up. So glad I did.

Now we have 4 people working at home, and 4 machines available.

[ransos]

We've reviewed our construction projects and concluded that none of them can operate with required social distancing, so we're closing them down. It does make me wonder how many construction sites could genuinely operate in compliance with current guidance.

[Lullabelle]

How's he doing?

Better thank you, still not brilliant but getting there, just waiting for me to catch it now.

[LowlifeDes]

Paperboys. Essential service? Potential to spread, but also a potential lifeline to the people who still have papers delivered.

Besides, the boy needs the money.

I knocked next door the other day to see if they needed anything. They are self-quarantined as she is in a particularly vulnerable group. Apparently the newsagents told them to phone if they need anything, and they bring it with the paper in the morning. That qualifies in my book.

[Regulator]

Just been issued with a 'Key Health Worker' letter. Basically, combined with my staff ID, it's to enable "freedom to travel" and access to "all preferential and complimentary services and dispensation" being afforded to NHS staff.

[LowlifeDes]

Just been issued with a 'Key Health Worker' letter. Basically, combined with my staff ID, it's to enable "freedom to travel" and access to "all preferential and complimentary services and dispensation" being afforded to NHS staff.

At the risk of sounding a bit rude, why? Does your role actually require it?

[Joan]

Second ever blanket text message emergency alert I have received. The first was during the 2009 bushfire disaster. That turned out OK, the rain came 6 hours early.

I wish I could think of an analogy for rain that applies now.

[Regulator]

At the risk of sounding a bit rude, why? Does your role actually require it?

I provide support to 39 hospitals - primarily remotely but often 'on the ground'. What people tend to forget (including in the NHS) is that doctors, nurses, medical supplies, etc. don't organise themselves. There's a whole raft of people who work behind the scenes who are just as key.

There is also a strong possibility I'll be redeployed to front line hospital work.