General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsVirus response - a tale of two homes
I live in western Washington, my spouse and I are in our early 60's. We live in a small town with homes on large lots. Our neighbors are in their late 50's, we are both retired, have similar homes, we both are college educated. We lead similar lives, enjoy a cocktail together at times and all are in good shape with no health issues. Although we really dont discuss politics much, we do know they are democrats. However, our response to the corona virus could not more different.
Our neighbors went into full lockdown mode. We watched them unload a whole bunch of supplies multiple times into their garage. They will not answer their door. We have not seen them come outside for over a week now. Their front gate is closed with a chain and padlock. The lawns have not been mowed and are ankle high. By all outward signs, they are seriously sheltering in place. We do know they are alive judging by the lights and movement by the windows. I finally called them to see what's up. Bottom line is that they intend to be among the living when this is all over.
We on the other hand have continued our normal routine. Grocery store once a week, walks in the park, seeing friends, golf and gardening. We are taking some precautions like regularly washing our hands but thats about it. We are doing nothing beyond our regular flu season precautions.
I suspect they look at us and think we are not taking it seriously, we look at them and think they went off the deep end.
jrthin
(4,837 posts)We isolated on the first of the month. My physician doesn't think its an over reaction and was happy to fill a prescription for an entire years supply at once. We don't want to be a part of the problem.
uponit7771
(90,364 posts)jmbar2
(4,908 posts)Overheard some folks talking about what would happen if the virus hits the homeless population. Scared the bejeebers out of me. I hit Costco on the way home, and made a couple of other store runs the next day. Stocked up to be able to avoid shops for at least a month.
Just ventured out today to a store for replenishments. I cut up disinfectant wipes into small squares and put in a baggy for opening doors, etc. Also set up a little handwashing station at the back of my vehicle which I used before and after each store visit.
Most of my neighbors are isolating as I am. But one is a former homeless guy who does small-time drug dealing on a corner several times a week to other homeless types. I think he sells his meds.
My calculation is that he's the biggest risk to this apartment building. Just one guy.
I'm taking no chances with human contact. However, spring is here, so walking outside is still a pleasure.
OhNo-Really
(3,985 posts)I think Id mow the lawn though. Yall wet grass is heavy!
I quickly scoot into & out of the produce department once a week because my health requires fresh veggies.
And who is that head bobbing woman always behind Mike Pence
And Azar is a pompous lying ass on Ari Melber right now
My Doctor acquaintance has used the SAME mask for four days because of Hospital shortages
We are not prepared for large numbers of seriously ill coronavirus patients
BlueJac
(7,838 posts)SCantiGOP
(13,874 posts)And is not over 75, I wouldnt take any more precautions than I do about the annual flu.
Kilgore
(1,733 posts)And exactly what we are doing.
Skittles
(153,202 posts)go figure
dawg day
(7,947 posts).. and buying cases of hand sanitizer, and..."
going through a dozen prep tactics like those of your neighbors...
and it ended...
"Don't ever ask why migrants flee war and famine."
dawg day
(7,947 posts)In my town, a neighbor would be calling the health dept if we let our grass grow so long. (I guess it's a vermin problem?)
marlakay
(11,498 posts)Would be way to far for anything airborne to reach them.
Self-isolation means staying in your home, but IMO doesn't mean that you can't go into your yard, do yardwork. I'm self-isolating too, but in a small suburban city with close neighbors. If I need to go to the store (I don't as of now), I will go, but in the mornings when the customers are light. No more browsing, window shopping, etc. though. I rarely did that anyway, but that's out for now. I'm 64 with a couple of mild underlying health conditions. My biggest worry, living alone, is my two elderly cats.
OhNo-Really
(3,985 posts)gldstwmn
(4,575 posts)Kilgore
(1,733 posts)After they emerge.
We probably are missing something.
gldstwmn
(4,575 posts)Turin_C3PO
(14,077 posts)I have cystic fibrosis with half lung function, so this virus will likely kill me if I contract it.
Squinch
(51,021 posts)Ms. Toad
(34,102 posts)for several years I would encourage you to step it up a bit. (The without a vaccine isn't encouragement to avoid vaccines - but if you are getting the flu vaccine being cold-free is a better measure of how effective your precautions are.)
Even if you believe that you are safe from serious consequences, based on your demographics - slowing the spread of COVID 19 is likely to be critical to ensuring that there are enough health care resources to protect those who are not safe from serious consequences beacase no one is immune and the more people who have it, the less likely it is that the vulnerable will be able to avoid it - no matter how perfect their own precautions are.
Stepping it up would include inceasing washing frequency (every time you move from one location to another, for example), avoiding touching door handles, maintaining social distance (no handshakes, hugs, standing farther away than is comfortable based on what you are used to), and minimizing time in crowds.
It doens't have to mean locking yourself in your house, but perhaps something between what you are doing now and what your neighbors are doing would be helpful.
Here's a perspective I find useful:
. . .
What does flattening the curve mean for the current COVID-19 threat facing us: the emerging pandemic of this human coronavirus? Epidemiologists often talk about two important numbers: R0 or how infectious a disease might be, expressed as the number of people that are infected by each person whos been infected; and the case fatality ratio (CFR): the number of people who die as a result of being infected. For example, an R0 of two means each infected person infects two people on average, while a number less than one means the disease is likely dying out in the population. Some diseases are deadlier than others: the average case fatality ratio for Ebola has been around 50 percent, for example, while the common cold is rarely deadly for otherwise healthy individuals.
But heres the thing. Such epidemiological numbers are not fixed or immutable. They are not constants that exist independent of our actions. Where they land depends on the characteristics of the pathogen but also our response. By preparing now, we can alter both of those key numbers and save many lives.
The infectiousness of a virus, for example, depends on how much we encounter one another; how well we quarantine individuals who are ill; how often we wash our hands; whether those treating the ill have proper protective equipment; how healthy we are to begin withand such factors are all under our control. After active measures were implemented, the R0 for the 2003 SARS epidemic, for example, went from around three, meaning each person infected three others, to 0.04. It was our response to SARS in 2003 that made sure the disease died out from earth, with less than a thousand victims globally.
Similarly, how many people die of seasonal influenza (or COVID-19) depends on the kind of health care they receive. In China, death rates are much higher in the overwhelmed Hubei province than the rest of the country exactly because of the quality of the care. Hospitals only have so many beds, especially in their intensive care units, and those who have a severe case of COVID-19 often need mechanical ventilation and other intensive care procedures. When they are out of beds, people end up languishing at home and suffering and dying in much larger numbers.
All this means that if we can slow the transmission of the diseaseflatten its curvethere will be many lives saved even if the same number of people eventually get sick, because everyone wont show up at the hospital all at once. Plus, if we can flatten that curve, there is more time to develop a vaccine or find antivirals that help.
https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/preparing-for-coronavirus-to-strike-the-u-s/
Kilgore
(1,733 posts)Has worked for us for years.
Ms. Toad
(34,102 posts)Mine has kept me flu-free 90% of the last decade, and cold-free about 50% of the years. So I'm stepping mu my game a bit. More social distancing, doubling my washing, adding sanitizer between washings.
Baitball Blogger
(46,758 posts)I think they might have a predisposition that concerns them. Maybe something that they haven't shared with you.
Kilgore
(1,733 posts)I'm looking forward to our first conversation when they emerge.
Mariana
(14,861 posts)If it turns out we have to stay home for a while, and we aren't sick, the garden will benefit greatly from the extra time I'll have to spend with it.
Kilgore
(1,733 posts)Quarantine with benefits!!
Cognitive_Resonance
(1,546 posts)Here's a link to the National Strategy for Pandemic Influenz, adoc prepared during W's second term that provides the strategy framework for responding to a pandemic:
https://www.cdc.gov/flu/pandemic-resources/pdf/pandemic-influenza-implementation.pdf
This is how it's supposed to work.
Claritie Pixie
(2,199 posts)I would probably be doing the same thing if I did.
tblue37
(65,490 posts)tblue37
(65,490 posts)yet, but when that starts happening, I will probably stop tutoring for awhile, since public school and college kids are disease vectors.
I am just glad I retired from teaching college a year ago.
Other than teaching and tutoring, I have always been a bit reclusive anyway.
At 69, and with relevant comorbities, I would be very much at risk.
Kaleva
(36,354 posts)I wouldn't go into total lock down within my own home but I'd go out and about off the property only if absolutely necessary.