COVID-19 5Mar20

While truly solid data won’t be available for 4-6 weeks yet, there is enough anecdotal out of the U.S. alone to note some interesting things. The people where it turns deadly all appear to be older, and have multiple underlying health conditions. A number of patients are reporting only very mild symptoms. Yet more reasons not to give in to panic, especially that driven by the media and other politicians. It is serious, but not a cause for panic.

As for practicing what I preach, I did have to go to a doctor yesterday. A couple of weeks ago, I did something that set my allergies off (though the work will help them in the long run). This led to a minor sinus infection, and it looks as though we have caught the nasty part of the infection fairly early. I had wanted to do it all by phone/telemed, but my doc insisted I had to have a person see me.

Want to avoid COVID-19? Take care of yourself. Have a medical issue? Take care of it in the most efficient way possible to get well as fast as possible, without tying up resources truly needed elsewhere. Meantime, wash your hands frequently and well. Here’s a video that shows the basics as well as some of the associated I’ve talked about.

This ties into one of the reasons I don’t recommend masks at this time: few wear them properly or know how to take them off without making things worse. Here’s a link to some good info, and here’s a video.

Remember, you have to treat all masks, gloves, etc. as hazmat. Are you prepared to do that?

As always:

Use the interactive graphic to keep track of things. Is COVID19 an epidemic? Yes. Is it a Pandemic? Not according to WHO, but most everyone else is saying yes, it is. Is there need for panic? No. Should you be paying attention? Yes. Hell yes. Should you be preparing? Yes, better late than never.

Want to avoid catching COVID19 here in the U.S.? Wash your flippin hands frequently, wash them thoroughly every time you use the bathroom, then follow with hand sanitizer after every washing, use hand sanitizer liberally when you can’t wash on a regular basis. Cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze, and stay away from those who don’t. Also, keep your bugger hooks out of/away from your eyes, nose, and mouth. Do NOT shake hands with anyone, and avoid touching or being touched by strangers. Or your strange friends.

Avoid travel if at all possible. Right now, there is no way I’m going to a trade show, major convention, etc. If you can telecommute, get that set up now. If you have to travel, use lots of hand sanitizer and go to full flu protocols. If you have to use a public restroom, take full precautions including using paper towels and such to handle faucets, doors,etc.  Believe it or not, this was highly recommended before now, and major grocery chains have long told employees to use those practices to avoid getting or spreading colds, flu, etc.  Not many actually do it, but…  

If you own a business, make sure your employees know the above protocols. Have someone who refuses to wash their hands or otherwise follow the protocols? Talk to them, write them up, and if necessary fire them as they now pose a risk of infection to you and your customers. Extreme? Yes, but while the CDC and others are working to slow it down, odds are it is already here and could hit hard and fast. Prepare for the worst and hope for the best.

I want to reiterate that there is no need for panic, but there is a strong need to be alert, be informed, and be prepared.

Other COVID19/COVID-19/2019-nCoV articles:

COVID-19 4Mar20

COVID-19 3Mar20

COVID-19 What Am I Doing?

COVID-19 2Mar20

COVID-19 1Mar20

COVID-19 29Feb20

Quick Additional Thoughts On The Bureaucracy

Panic Is Off And Running

COVID-19 28Feb20 Reasons To Hope, Reasons To Fear

COVID-19 A Plea To The Politicians (And Media)

COVID-19 27Feb20

COVID-19 Breaking A Chain?

COVID-19 26Feb20

COVID19 The Situation In China Gets Even Weirder

COVID19 25Feb20

COVID19 24Feb20 Raising DEFCON

COVID19 23Feb20

COVID19 22Feb20

COVID19 21Feb20: Just Look At The Blooms Dear

COVID19 Update 20Feb20

COVID19 Update

Update & Quick Thoughts On Preparedness

Expansion On A Theme

Well Maybe I Was Wrong

Some Quick Thoughts On Coronavirus 2019-nCoV

Why Should You Be Prepared?

Keeping Alert

Coronavirus And Practical Preparedness

Some Food For Thought

There is a lot going on, both here with me and in the world at large.

In the latter, the soft-coup against Trump is well underway. I said a while back that the Republic was dead, and that we just didn’t want to accept it yet. More than ever, I’m afraid I believe that. Why?

Well, here’s a group of physicians and other health professionals that one would have to be a fool to let treat you, even if you were a full-blown SJW as you could never be SJW enough for their best efforts. Don’t believe me? Then read their own words.

The rot that is the modern media has been on full show for a while, but you really should read this take (and I agree whole-heartedly with the thoughts presented on the reprehensible and self-centered Amy Robach) and this takedown of the ABC excuse for spiking the story. It makes no sense, from any standpoint, especially a true journalistic standpoint.

Here’s a good take on the CNN response to the Project Veritas story. There is a lot of effort to smear Project Veritas (not just at CNN), but unlike the major media, they have always put up the full info so you can learn and decide. Good people, doing a lot of good work — and doing the journalism the media is unwilling to do. After all, there is a great deal of truth to the adage that the media covers the truly important stories — with a pillow, until they quit moving. Along those lines, something that hits a point that I glanced on in my ‘Saving Pvt. Journalism’ posts many years ago. The media has long paid lip service to “objectivity” but when there is no standard, there can be no real activity. Hat tip to This Ain’t Hell.

Finally, amid the smoke screen being deployed large and thick out Congresscritter Shitt’s ass, a major point that is frantically being hidden by those behind the latest front in the coup effort. Yes, it does matter and no, it is NOT against the law to name the whistleblower. Anyone want to place a bet that ABC (and possibly CBS) are going to do everything they can to name and destroy the (former) ABC whistleblower, and yet demand that the so-called Whistleblower in DC be protected? Hypocrisy much?

As for here, I had to give more blood on my lunch break the other day as one of the tests got screwed up somehow. Was told it was one vial, but it was three. Joy. Getting some results, and am interested in what the rheumatologist will say/want to do next. As for me, I want to get to the bottom of this, and find out what is going on. Meantime, if you care to hit either the Bard’s Jar or the wishlist in the top right corner, please do so. My current joint coctail seems to be doing at least some good, but at a cost.

Thanks for reading.