Ugg

Cancelling an event is also about controlling the "spread". In my view, one should not take cancellation policies as a personal affront, but attempts to take "control" of Covid-19.
Jus' sayin'

It was 26% of people over 60 who contracted the disease. But either % is too high.

My main point was “contain”, that word was used countless times in press Briefings yesterday

And then you have idiots like this to worry about! People, BE CAREFUL AND BE THOUGHTFUL!!!!!

Passenger tests positive for coronavirus on JetBlue flight

The “100 yards” analogy to shaking hands is absurd. Huge difference, Doc.

Just a hyperbole on how far people would be willing to go to "socially distance" themselves

A letter from a person who is stuck in Milan, Italy..
 

Stanford parent wrote and posted this. Very insightful...
It was posted on stsnford parents Facebook page.
********************
I am in Milan in the heart of the coronavirus red zone . I know we are all sick of hearing about it. I certainly am, but I wanted to share these thoughts because I feel like there is a lot of misinformation out there. Considering we've been in some form of lockdown for three weeks now (now drastic measures are being taken and we are quarantined at home), I feel like I've become somewhat of an expert on this. At least, this is my experience and what I've learned in these weeks.

We are fine physically (for now), but, mentally, quarantine conditions and the devastating news around us does take its toll. To anyone anywhere saying, “Hey, it’s just the flu” or “The flu causes more deaths per year,” STOP. The rate of transmission with coronavirus is much higher and none of us is vaccinated against it. Worse, it causes a type of pneumonia that can leave patients in intensive care for weeks. The idea that it only affects the elderly or those with immune disorders is also wrong.

No healthcare system in the world can handle the onslaught this virus brings with it, and we should not put our doctors and nurses in a position where they have to decide who gets the last bed in intensive care, who gets the last respirator.

The hospital down the road where my children were born has had to adopt a “selection protocol” whereby they decide who lives or dies, and this is something that hasn’t been enacted since World War II. As someone who has been mired in all of this since Feb. 24. I would just like to give some advice to anyone in the world in an area where coronavirus is starting to ramp up. First and foremost, you don’t necessarily need to hoard toilet paper but you should get stocked up on your prescriptions. Primary-care doctors are at great risk of being exposed to coronavirus, so if they are taken out of commission (and even once the madness reaches fever pitch), it makes it harder for you to get the things you need. Also, once this is widespread, medical offices, hospitals and pharmacies are not places you want to hang out.

Finally, we are all soldiers in this fight. The less we are out and about, moving around, the more this virus dies out. We may have to be inconvenienced or have to change our habits for a while, but our actions have a direct impact on the lives of everyone around us, with effects that are felt far and wide.

Michelle Schoenung, freelance journalist and translator living in Milan

One of THE most intelligent and concise replies I've ever read in this forum.

Thanks.

Nice advice, but The Villages is in a unique position that is unique inthe world. We are more suseptible to the extreme cases, when it hits. I expect The Villages to inform us that yhe are enough test kits for anyone who needs to be tested, as well as hospital personnel trained and ready to care for people who contract the virus. THAT's what we need to hear.

this article explains why cancelled events can save lives.

Coronavirus US: How canceled classes and events and self-quarantines save lives, in one chart - Vox

Unlike most seasonal flu and H1N1, Coronovirus (COVID-19) has no effective antiviral treatment drugs and Corona has had a lack of testing.

Undiagnosed illnesses means all of the statistics are understated. Both the numbers of those infected as well as those who have died have been under-reported. If someone had no positive diagnostic test and died at home, the cause of death would NOT have been reported as Coronovirus.

And why should we entrust our lives to China or Iran’s reports. They aren’t honest. They don’t want the economic issues and panic so why wouldn’t they report less infections and deaths?

PLEASE Use your own best judgment to protect yourself. If you get sick, ONE will be the only number you’ll care about. Denial increases your risk of exposure. And those who deny they are sick may inflict their illness on others.

We're not all that unique. We are one of many 55+ retirement communities in Florida and other states. And since the treatment at this time is purely supportive, medical personnel don't need any special training

If 1% death rate is accurate then that’s 3.3 million Americans who would die.

Ridiculous That assumes 100% of the population gets infected. Get real and stop adding to the panic

I'm with you Mrs. Heck 100% percent!!

That was from a man (FDR) who had POLIO—a communicable illness that had no vaccine nor treatment at the time he contracted it.

He was not referring to a virulent communicable illness when he said that.

Since he personally suffered lifelong after-effects, I doubt FDR would have been cavalier about viral illnesses.

Let me know when public schools close. That is the true litmus test on what the government considers safe. Not saying if it is right or not. Just what government thinks is safe or not. Hey, just saying.

Attendance is not mandatory
 

Didn’t keep my son from becoming seriously ill from H1N1 and did not keep my cousins 24 year old healthy daughter from dying from seasonal flu type B in 2018.
herd immunity did not help them.

It will matter a lot more to you if it infects you or someone you love.

When I hear about annual flu deaths I always think that one of those was her.

South Korea took drastic action and cut the spread. We all give up certain liberties , we use seatbelts because it’s mandated by federal law. It’s called living in civilization

And flu vaccine isn't 100% effective, and not every storm ends with a rainbow, and bad things happen to good people. Was there a point in there, since the post shows a complete lack of understanding of immunity and epidemics. Basically, the post is what the media does all the time---find the worst case, or the worst outcome of anything and feature that on the news, even if it's the minority result

In one sense wearing a mask as a preventative of catching the disease is true. however it is a good reminder to keep your hands away from your face. So in that sense wearing any type of mask can aid some people

Good point about masks. If masks didn’t protect you, why do healthcare workers wear them?

To prevent them from spreading anything to the patient. Would like your surgeon not to wear a mask???? BTW, I have this strange sense of deja vu since I've answered this about 4 times

Because a) they spend 8-14 hours every DAY very physically close to, and touching, and being breathed on, coughed on, spit on, sneezed on, slobbered on, and bled on by sick people and the risk of catching ANYTHING from sick people is so preposterously high compared to the average housewife at the supermarket, it's ridiculous to even ask the question.

and b) because they should not be spreading THEIR germs to their patients, even if they're not sick with an illness. Everyone - including healthy doctors - harbors bacteria in their mouths, noses, on their skin, in their pores, in their digestive systems, in the fluids of their eyeballs. Exhaled breath contains microscopic specks of bacteria. Most of it is benign. But combined with someone who is deathly ill, in the hospital, and your patient, it could be a death sentence.

Those two reasons are why hospital staff wear masks in hospitals. Just the question itself is - insanely ridiculous.

It's like asking why you don't carry an air compressor in your car, but auto mechanics keep one in their shops all the time.

Well, yes and no. People spent good money on those tickets and I guess many would like (expect?) a refund. But that sort of thing might make a business go under, too. From my perspective, I would prefer places like the Sharon survive the pandemic and still be there when the coast is clear. I really feel sorry for the small businesses and restaurants and their employees. We retirees might see our retirement accounts take a temporary hit, but people like servers are really going to be hurting. If you do go out to eat, tip well!

We were supposed to go see the band America in Orlando a week from Sunday. (I have a writer friend whose husband is in the band and she got us tickets). She just let me know America has canceled its whole tour because of Coronavirus. A band member (not her husband) was at the same large event in Australia that Tom Hanks and his wife attended. (You've probably seen that they're now stuck in Australia because they both tested positive?) That'll be a TON of refunded tickets and both the band and the venues (LOTS of venues, WAY bigger than any in The Villages) will lose a ton of money. That's what happens when you have a pandemic. Better lost money than lost lives.

We have NO way of knowing how many cases are already here in The Villages because THEY HAVEN'T DONE ANY TESTING here yet. This disease has a long incubation period, up to 14 days, when people can spread it without symptoms. We have an unusually vulnerable population here with the vast majority over 55. It's absolutely nuts to assume we can just ignore this and it will go away. Sure, it's a nice thought, but it's one that's likely to kill a lot more people here than necessary.

hand sanitizers
 

I was told yesterday at one of our rec centers that the hand sanitizers were being stolen so they keep them behind the desk, but they still have them there for us.

We are not immune here in the Villages. Anyone who recently returned from a cruise through Port Everglades needs to be especially cautious. Broward County has declared a State of Emergency after the 3rd Port Everglades employee (now 4) tested positive for COVID-19. They are employed by Metro Cruise Services. This company is responsible for guiding people off cruise ships and providing other guest services.
it can be difficult to find information specific to Florida. The Florida Department of Health has a page, updated daily, that provides statistics by county, by age. Here is the link: COVID-19 | Florida Department of Health

There will be a number of cancellations announced this afternoon. Don't know how broad they will be but there will be cancellations until March 22nd.

but if it happens to you, who cares if your are in the minority. the poster wasn't claiming to be an expert in epidemics and immunity, but shared personal experiences as is his or her right. I understand you are a physician but that does not mean everyone else can not read what the experts are saying.

have you read the reports in Italy about how the hospitals are unable to keep up with serious cases and running out of ICU beds and have to make decisions on who gets a respirator, that younger people are not coming in as critical?

we can "flatten the curve" by choosing to avoid large functions. we don't need to panic, but it's like when a hurricane threatens and then turns away at the last minute. People complain that all the preparations were unnecessary but it's a matter of "hope for the best but prepare for the worse".

Didn't your real estate agent explain to you that The Villages is GOD's waiting room?

It’s not only about you . It’s about the safety of others. Some people will go to these events get the virus snd then spread it to others who chose not to go. That’s why mandatory closings are in effect.

No, the poster was extrapolating 2 personal experiences to the population as a whole, which is a fallacy. No, "herd immunity" and histocompatibility antibody testing is not going to save many, my point was that there is always some immunity running around to these viruses. It's an epidemic---resources may get exhausted and people will die, period. Hard choices may have to be made, we cannot control the trajectory of this pandemic, but we can mitigate it somewhat.
There are 5 or 6 coronavirus threads (and one carona virus thread. My problem with them is that this is a serious, and potentially very serious public health threat. However, about 1/2 of the posts are purely political in nature, 20% are ignorant, 20 % are irrelevant and God only knows what the rest are. Add to that the overlay of out of control media hype so that now you can't find a roll of TP.
People, just turn off the TV, ignore the political pundits, and follow what the CDC and the Florida DOH state. They may be conservative with their recommendations, but they are not "lying" or "hiding" the truth

It’s only a matter of time until the virus hits our Villages. Catastrophic when it does. The Villages should start taking precautions now. With over 140,000 residents many will be infected...too late to take public precautions once the break out occurs. Good luck everyone. World health has called it pandemic....occurring over a wide geographic area and affecting an exceptionally high proportion of the population...again it’s just a matter of time.

You just hit the nail on the head! How unfortunate for all of us.

My wife who spends two days a week helping a teacher in the classroom received this today->

Wildwood Volunteers Canceled Week of March 16, 2020

Tutors for Kids received the following information from Mr. Temple, principal of Wildwood Elementary School:


"We are asking all volunteers not to come in next week (3/16-3/20).

This is only precautionary, there are no known cases in Sumter at this time.

Please let all our tutors know, our staff is working to make sure we take all precautions to keep everyone healthy and safe."

You may also hear from your teacher and STC but we'd rather you receive this information several times than miss anyone. We will keep you informed if there are updates.

I "overheard a conversation in a bar" that the Sumter county health department director has for several days been trying to get the Family to issue orders to stop large group events. And that the Family is beginning to see the wisdom of that action. It is not going to be a good look if the virus hits here hard and it turns out that public health had asked the Family to be proactive and instead they felt it was dollars over disease prevention. It may turn out that the compromise will be that the health department, if the state allows, will issue the edict and then the Family will be able to say, we didn't stop you from having fun, it was the government.

I will ask my postman's cousin barber to confirm.

I agree with those who want to make their own decisions. Any one afraid of catching it stay at home and just don’t go out. As for me, I am going to continue enjoying my life, as we all have go at some point.