Life Under Coronavirus

[_Some Schmo]

Yeah, I'm not sold on hand sanitizer either (I rarely use it - something about it really bothers me). I prefer the good old soap and warm water method.

Hand sanitizer happens to be good at denaturing this particular virus.

If that's true, then it seems somewhat analogous to chemotherapy to me, napalming an area and wiping out everything.

Anyway, maybe we should gargle hand sanitizer instead of vinegar.

[_Doctor CamNC4Me]

Along the same lines, the governor of Oklahoma posted a tweet of him and his children at a crowded restaurant celebrating being out and supporting local businesses. It was taken down pretty quickly after it provoked an enraged response.

I sent her opponent $10.

#coronakatie

Edit in case anyone wants to help ensure Corona Katie doesn’t get elected:

https://donorbox.org/jeffrey-proffitt-f ... district-b

- Doc

[_Gadianton]

Uh-huh.

Was there some reason why you decided to ignore what are now normal precautions to avoid passing on infection to others, some of whom will be highly vulnerable to the virus in question?

Good Lord, Chap. See what I mean?

I didn't provide enough information to form any opinions whatsoever about my sanitation practices. I said I didn't participate in any pointless sanitizing rituals. I've seen several examples of this --- akin to burning through coke cans but throwing them in the recycle bin and feeling good about saving the planet.

It's effective practices that matter, not pointless rituals. I should be on the end for risk in contracting or transmitting in the coming weeks; but never say never.

[_Chap]

Uh-huh.

Was there some reason why you decided to ignore what are now normal precautions to avoid passing on infection to others, some of whom will be highly vulnerable to the virus in question?

Good Lord, Chap. See what I mean?

I didn't provide enough information to form any opinions whatsoever about my sanitation practices. I said I didn't participate in any pointless sanitizing rituals. I've seen several examples of this --- akin to burning through coke cans but throwing them in the recycle bin and feeling good about saving the planet.

It's effective practices that matter, not pointless rituals. I should be on the end for risk in contracting or transmitting in the coming weeks; but never say never.

Actually you said:

I didn't do any hand sanitizer rituals.

So, perhaps not unreasonably, I interpreted that as meaning that you did not use the available supply of hand sanitizer (gel), which would have been an effective practice.

[_canpakes]

How does one gargle water in one's esophagus and then ungargle it?

- Doc

You have to do this like the supermodels do.

[_EAllusion]

If that advise is as widespread on Facebook as ya'll are saying, it's worth remember most people who get the virus will have a normal or slight illness. So that means that some people will follow this advise, sail through the disease fine, and attribute it to gargling saltwater.

[_EAllusion]

If that advise is as widespread on Facebook as ya'll are saying, it's worth remember most people who get the virus will have a normal or slight illness. So that means that some people will follow this advise, sail through the disease fine, and attribute it to gargling saltwater.

Or I just thought of an even darker scenario. If it is indeed widespread, old people sharing that on Facebook probably will be advising each other to follow that advise. Some people will be dismissive of it, get really sick and/or die, and others will think, "I told them to gargle saltwater, but they didn't listen to me."

[_ajax18]

There's a very small part of me (and I do realize it's small) that feels ripped off by this. It's small because I know this inconvenience to my wife and me is nothing compared to how this will affect many, many others.

Most people in my circle who had to cancel trips feel ripped off by this the same way as you do. A large percentage of them still got refunds on their travel packages. But I doubt that can last for long. I've noticed the airlines using a huge disclaimer that all sales are final lately.

We can still work.

But will you have anyone to buy your product if this goes on for 6 months?

[_Jersey Girl]

for what it's worth I've been monitoring what Walmart is doing and I think it's overall impressive how they have taken control of their stock.

You no doubt noticed announcements in your area that grocery stores (in this case Walmart) have cut their hours to something like 6 am to 11 pm. This, so they can restock overnight and open as fully stocked as possible instead of employees stocking shelves while people are pulling things off at the same time--resulting in chaos and panic as customers see shelves become empty on the spot.

But here's the thing. Previously, you could order desirable products online and have them delivered to your home or pick up in store. They've completely CUT the ordering and delivery from their website, and every single item you can imagine (Clorox wipes, toilet tissue, etc.) is now only available for purchase in store.

What that tells me is that they are consolidating stock from warehouse directly to store storage in an attempt to better manage their ability to meet demands. Stock is going warehouse to store with no other route. With limits per customer (which I don't know if they've done that yet since I'm hunkered down over here and likely new stock didn't come in in any useful amount anyway) they'll be able to rise to demand over time and the supply chain will become functional again.

The only downside is that the stores will be more heavily trafficked due to limited hours thus increasing the potential for community spread. But...if they get to the point where you can make your orders online and pick up outside the store--that'd probably be the optimum situation in which to tamp down on community spread.

But yeah, it's been interesting to watch how they are managing business in an effort to restore the supply chain.

[_Gadianton]

perhaps not unreasonably, I interpreted that as meaning that you did not use the available supply of hand sanitizer (gel), which would have been an effective practice.

You interpreted me correctly. I meant a foam dispenser by the cash registers specifically, but I had in mind sanitation generally.

I followed my normal routine and washed my hands in the restroom, which every Burger King I've ever been to has, before and after I ate. The CDC seems to be okay with that, also here for coronavirus where soap and water gets priority over hand sanitizer. After a double Whopper, even a veteran like I suffers from "visibly dirty" hands (the CDC language). Mainly, my concern was with what happens after washing. I wiped down with a paper towel, and then used another paper towel to open the bathroom door and then to push open the glass doors as I left. Those doors everybody is forced to touch I'm guessing pose the greatest risk for transmission.

I watched a guy who was sat down with a burger in hand, quickly put it down and rush up to the dispenser. That's the image I had in mind, but I meant generally, performing a ritual doesn't magically make the problem go away. Other examples are several people I've seen walking around with gloves and masks. But even with what I did: it would have been better not to have gone in at all, and gone through the drive-through. That's on the agenda in the coming days. Perhaps I realized that going in was unnecessary, and so I was extra cautious with the job I did. People are good at performing token gestures for favor while knowing they're doing something that's wrong, or risky.