It was just a few weeks ago that Donald Trump and his minions were doing press conferences and national interviews about how we had nothing to fear from coronavirus, that everything was fine and the administration had everything 100% in control. They even said that pandemic concerns were a Democratic Party hoax, and that Dems were hyping the threat to destroy Trump. Yeah. Now that people are dying and thousands of people are testing positive for the virus, everyone’s scared and the stock market crashes further every damn day. Finally, Trump is taking a more somber tone. He does not deserve a cookie for this. His presidency is over. He’s finally admitting the obvious too, which is this whole corona mess could last for months and months, “July or August.”
JUST IN: Pres. Trump says guidelines to combat coronavirus outbreak could last until July or August, if not longer. https://t.co/1TBAL8cn2G pic.twitter.com/XTSBDibhsJ
— ABC News (@ABC) March 16, 2020
If we’re stuck in this self-isolating, social distancing cycle for the next four or five months, the world is going to look SO different. My God. But… as scary as it is, I feel like, “at least this is a more realistic statement.” You know? We can all start mentally preparing for it. Anyway, here’s more about Trump’s new serious tone:
Last Thursday, as the stock market was on the way to losing nearly 2,400 points—its biggest single-day plunge since the 1987 Black Monday crash—Donald Trump was worrying about the fate of the football season. NFL players aren’t scheduled to report to training camp for months, but according to a source, Trump feared that the league might preemptively announce it was following the NBA and NHL and suspend or delay operations due to the coronavirus. So Trump called NFL owners to see if any action was on the horizon. “Trump begged them not to cancel the season,” a source briefed on the call said.
Trump’s concern for the NFL’s well-being was a stark reversal given that he spent the first two years of his presidency attacking the league and its kneeling players. It reflected Trump’s magical thinking that he could manage the coronavirus pandemic by convincing people life would remain normal and sports would be played. (Last week, Trump also spoke with Ultimate Fighting Championship president Dana White and advised him not to cancel UFC events.) “Trump thinks this is a media problem,” a Republican close to the White House told me.
With the markets in free fall despite emergency action by the Fed over the weekend, Trump is waking up to the reality that’s been clear to everyone: Coronavirus poses a once-in-a-hundred-years threat to the country. “In the last 48 hours he has understood the magnitude of what’s going on,” a former West Wing official told me. As Trump processes the stakes facing the country—and his presidency—he’s also lashing out at advisers, whom he blames for the White House’s inept and flat-footed response. Sources say a principal target of his anger is Jared Kushner. “I have never heard so many people inside the White House openly discuss how pissed Trump is at Jared,” the former West Wing official said.
Sources told me Trump is regretting that Kushner swooped into the coronavirus response last week. Kushner, according to sources, encouraged Trump to treat the emergency as a P.R. problem when Fauci and others were calling for aggressive action. “This was Jared saying the world needs me to solve another problem,” a former White House official said. One source briefed on the internal conversations told me that Kushner advised Trump not to call a national emergency during his Oval Office address on March 11 because “it would tank the markets.” The markets cratered anyway, and Trump announced the national emergency on Friday. “They had to clean that up on Friday,” another former West Wing official said. Trump was also said to be angry that Kushner oversold Google’s coronavirus testing website when in fact the tech giant had a fledgling effort. Trump got slammed in the press for promoting the phantom Google product. “Jared told Trump that Google was doing an entire website that would be up in 72 hours and had 1,100 people working on it 24/7. That’s just a lie,” the source briefed on the internal conversations told me.
Now that Trump is engaged and the crisis is accelerating—the Dow dropped nearly 3,000 points on Monday—Republicans fear he is operating without a playbook at a time when one is desperately needed. On Sunday night, with no unified message coming from the government, rumors swirled online that Trump would imminently announce a national lockdown (the White House tweeted that the rumor was false). But several former White House officials told me they believed the rumor to be true. “This is not what he likes to do,” a former West Wing official said. “There’s no boogeyman he can attack.” On Monday, Trump reportedly told governors they’re on their own. “Respirators, ventilators, all of the equipment—try getting it yourselves,” Trump said on a conference call, according to the New York Times.
Yeah, I have to stop there because these reports are going to give me a panic attack. The Kushner stuff is particularly galling – how different would everything look if Jared Kushner wasn’t even there. The White House also released new guidelines for social distancing, saying that people should avoid gatherings larger than 10 people, and that people should avoid shopping trips, restaurants and bars. Suddenly, the White House is all for social distancing. Mess.
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red.
Best wishes to the extroverts and I mean it sincerely.
I’ve been fantasizing about staying in my home for months since I was about 13 years old. I would never ever ever choose it at this cost, but at least it’s not something I dread at all. I am already soothed by how quiet my hometown and neighborhood has suddenly become. Again I would trade this in a minute if it meant people would be well and healthy and this pandemic would end. But… strange feelings for introverts right now.
Extroverts will have more mental health problems due to months of very little in-person contact. It’s terrible. And this president is just an absolute JOKE and a negligent criminal.
yes I agree, this is going to be very hard on extroverts. I’m an introverted extrovert if that makes sense … I like people but I don’t draw my energy from them, so I often need long moments of solitude. Today is day 9 of my self-isolation and to be honest I’m going a bit mad. I think i may go for a walk tonight late at night when there’s no one out, just to get outside and get some air.
As for Trump, I just hope his about-face isn’t too little too late
My twins home after university closed Friday. Boys who will be 19 in about a week & a half. 6’1 & 6’2, 165#.
They were *literally* at each other’s throats last night. I mean a scary, physical altercation. Over stupid crap.
It’s a pretty sunny, nice day today. I hope they will work some of that angst out on their mountain bikes.
I’m an extroverted introvert! People in general exhaust me, and I always need breaks, but I do get energy from very small gatherings with those I truly love. Everyone else is an energy suck. Outside of my husband, I won’t get that. So I’ve been texting them all as much as I can.
@Snazzy, My poor husband and son are introverts while myself and my daughter are major extroverts. I fear for their sanity through this because I know we’re going to drive them up a wall. My son was exposed and has quarantined himself in his room so he’s content as he’s asymptomatic (which I pray continues). We’re less than a week in and it’s already so bad that my husband rented me and my daughter a site at a mostly deserted state park, hooked up the RV, loaded up the kayaks, and sent us packing. At this point we’re just trying to stay busy and enjoy nature. For the sake of those who are vulnerable and elderly, I pray this social isolation works and the virus can be quickly contained. As a South Mississippian, I went through Katrina and the uncertainty that followed in her aftermath but I’m more scared about the future now than I have ever been before.
Totally agree. My extroverted friends are going crazy already. Some of them are not social distancing because they just don’t have it in them to do so. They are putting themselves and others at risk.
This situation highlights how important hobbies are!
Yes many aren’t able to ‘entertain’ themselves and are bored alone. It’s definitely a tool worth having
Hobbies, yes, but also technology is helpful right now. I have been having google hangouts with six friends every day at 5:00, our virtual “unhappy hour.” So many laughs, stories, info tidbits, and it’s becoming the highlight of my day.
Yes, technology is handy!!! Tell me more about the google hangouts – how are you doing this? TIA
Vava, my friend has it set up on our google calendars and we just click on a link. I think if you click on the google hangouts icon on the google home page they will walk you through the set up. Apparently you can get to it through Gmail, too.
It’s like a video conference call or Face Time, you can include as many people as you want and everyone’s face appears in a square on a grid. You have to take turns talking, though, and be careful about muting or background noise can interfere. It’s very user friendly. Good luck!
Extrovert here! Tell your friends they have no excuse… facetime, zoom, skype etc will just have to do!
Have virtual wines with friends, dance parties, whatever…
Extroverts don’t NEED contact to be irl to survive (just make sure they’re being checked in on socially via tech lol)
🙂
Agreed. I’m an introvert and on top of that, grew up an only child. I’m used to entertaining myself, spending time lost in thought, watching movies and reading books to pass the time. And on top of THAT, I already work remotely. I don’t like this feeling of being trapped, but this was not a transition for me AT ALL tbh.
I see so many people on social media REALLY struggling with this though, and I feel bad that this period of isolation could last so long for those folks, for the people stuck indoors trying to entertain young kids, etc. The world will be forever changed when all of this is over.
Same here. I already work from home and am totally content by myself for long stretches of time. Problem here is I’m not alone for this. I’ve got two kids AND an extrovert spouse who is already claiming the walls.
Same. I already work from home and have for years. And I prefer to be at home watching tv or reading books, so this is practically my dream. I have 3 kids, but while we live not too far from a lovely town, we are somewhat isolated as being on an acre of land and only have 1 other house around us, which is a nice retired couple. So they are used to entertaining themselves and aren’t climbing the walls. Though, I honestly wish I could be completely alone for a day or 2 just to catch up on some tv. Except for my kids being home all day from school, this self isolating isn’t really disrupting my life.
We need a new hashtag…like #SaveTheGrannies.
That’s exactly me…only child and work from home and single. I’m enjoying not feeling pressured to be social!
Thank you. As an extrovert I’m already turning weird and I’m not even alone, I have my husband and kids. I’ve already started throwing virtual happy hours so I don’t go full Shining.
I appreciate the way you phrased this – I am realizing that I am more of an extroverted introvert than I thought and even though I am only 2 weeks into this, I am indeed turning weird. Well, weirder.
As an overthinker, this much isolation is not ideal.
Yeah, although not religious, as a young girl I mused about becoming a nun because the solitude looked so inviting to semi-hermit me. I hate that this self isolation is coming at such a cost, though.
OMG I still dream of becoming a nun and living in a convent where we’ve all taken a vow of silence. And I just tend to the gardens, especially the vegetable gardens, and I bake bread and just live in a simple little room in the convent with loads of books.
I think we are all wishing of a much simpler time right now. I had that exact thought today. I would like to move to the country, have a garden..This is a wakeup call I feel that we need to go back to the basics, learn the ways of the land.
I wanted to be a goatherd playing my little flute to my flock all day if the scientist thing didn’t pan out. I’m sure the flock would stay as far away from me as possible once I started playing, though. But goats are ok with that.
Another job that appealed to me was a water meter reader. Around here they don’t have to go inside houses, the meters are at the street.
Can you see a pattern here?
This is my 4th day.. I’m a high-school teacher… I’m also introvert / extrovert – like teaching and talking to the kids, can’t imagine being stuck in an office in front of a pc not interacting with people, but I like my peace and quiet too, loud environments, discos, clubs , no thanks..
Going a little insane… Preparing online classes (new experience and having to learn everything) while correcting tests (school ended abruptly), while answering emails from colleagues and students and… God.. I’m working more now than on a normal day.. Want to organize but I can’t…
School only opens in a month (IF it opens – MAJOR IF)…
I’ll loose my mind.. Yep…
It is so interesting to read these responses. Yeah I love people a lot but I’ve also done extended silent meditation retreats where I didn’t talk for over a week (shootout to the non religious lady fantasizing about becoming a nun, I had the SAME idea as a teenager haha). I need quiet and alone time and it takes me about twenty times as long as most people to start to miss or need others, which I learned the hard way by hurting some people that way.
But anyway. Get outside if you can! I have two little kids so there’s still plenty of chatter, and getting out back and just being in any amount of a natural setting helps if you’re feeling too cloistered. Go for a walk! Just avoid people, keep more of a distance than before, if you can.
Really wishing us all the best, people of every personality type haha.
Heck, even for introverts like me, it’s one thing to CHOOSE to stay inside, but it’s quite another to have to. There’s a small highway near my house on which you can normally hear the muffled sound of trucks most of the day, but I just realized it’s been so incredibly quiet today. I live in a rural area, so it’s always pretty quiet, but not like this.
It didn’t really hit me until I went to a big grocery store in town and found most of the shelves empty. It wasn’t just toilet paper. And I live near a HUGE city. (Well, within about a 40 minute drive.) That city has about 3.7 million people.
I’ve been trying to stay busy. Husband is working remotely upstairs. I did all the laundry, cleaned every floor. I guess I’ll bake some bread!
Good luck to everyone out there!
I’m a ‘home hermit’ at heart, as soon as im home, my pyjamas are on and I’m nexflixing. So being at home wouldn’t bother me expect I live with other people, and being cooped up with them all day long is going to drain my energy. Not to mention I like to be out of the house during the day even for just a few hours. It would be fine if I lived by myself or with just one other person. Introverts need quiet, so it depends if you live in a quiet house or not. I think any people who are stuck at home together will eventually drive each other mad.
I find people who can’t handle being alone with their own thoughts pitiful. Yet they often think their inability to be on their own is a sign of their popularity when it’s actually codependency.
This is truly The Year of the Introvert. Finally we have an acceptable excuse to stay away from people…. It would be greater if the $#%# coronavirus weren’t so lethal for so many people..
I think an adult took him aside and explained the seriousness of it all in toddler talk for him – its too little too late, the world economy is tanking as a whole. I agree this is the end of his Presidency, he can’t lie or bully his way out of this. The MAGAT’s will turn on him when they start getting sick or, god forbid, dying of the virus because they can’t get access to affordable healthcare and proper testing. He’s going to continue to blame the Dems for this.
+1
Digital Unicorn, thank you so much!! The sad part is while it’s funny it’s also sad that this is the leader we Americans have and it’s even sadder that we have a health crisis, the likes that many of have never seen, and this clown needs “small words” in order to understand it.
He took a sharp turn from Monday’s press conference to yesterday’s. And in the meantime many listened to him and went out like nothing was wrong. I would say let that rest on his conscience, but he doesn’t have one.
Moscow Mitch knows it’s the end too- instead of holding a vote on a bill to help individuals affected by quarantine, he’s been out running around encouraging older judges to retire now while he still gets to pick their replacement. Disgusting.
Mitch is the biggest piece of garbage in all of this mess
I definitely agree someone gave him a talking to but who was it? Who actually managed to get through to him? Oh, flip, it was Tucker Carlson, wasn’t it?
I’m also curious about this. Who would get through his thick skull into the jello brain? He acted like a guy who’s seen scary aliens. His sudden somber persona frightened me a bit.
We haven’t heard anything about Daughter-Wife’s test. Maybe she’s infected. That’s about the only thing that’d penetrate that demented brain of his.
I’m voting Melania…(cue dramatic duh, duh, duh music)
The last time, he looked remotely somber was, when he met Obama at the White House, shortly after the election. Mmmph…
I agree with everything you say except I don’t think most MAGAts will turn on him. They’ll blame the Dems like he is. They are doing that.
They are. It is a “hoax by the Democrats to wreck the election” — this last night coming from my sister. She’s a Trump loyalist and high school biology teacher with a freaking masters degree.
Kim, oh no, so sorry. How can it be a hoax, though, if people are actually sick and dying? Not just here but around the world? What is her answer to that?
@Kim Our country is truly on the wrong end of an Invaders of the Body Snatchers scenario. That movie was a Cold War-era sci-fi horror story about Americans getting “taken over” by Communist propaganda, their minds infected, and now it has happened — Russian propaganda, in favor of Trump and Trumpism, has taken over the brains of many Americans. It is as scary as the movie.
That’s exactly what they’re doing. My father is a retired hospital administrator who oversaw labs. He believes that not only is Trump handling this correctly but that Trump never did anything to cut the CDC’s budget. He’s also pushing the Faux-News narrative that Coronavirus may be a bio-weapon developed by the Chinese in an attempt to force America to pay more for antibiotics.
I got my haircut last week and the only other woman in the place was telling her stylist that this wasn’t that big of deal, she worked in healthcare and it’s just about the election. I nearly lost it right there. You mean to tell me the NBA, NHL, college basketball, etc. all just cancelled and lost $$$ because of the election… in November?? Honestly, I cannot understand how some people can convince myself of this stuff.
I’ve just seen a load of MAGA twats on twitter calling in coronovirus ‘Kung-flu’. It’s beyond disgusting.
@Megs. My hairdresser had to cancel mine next week because the shop was closing. I usually go early when no one is around so would not have worried. NOW he may have a chop job to clean up as I don’t like my hair in my eyes. Someone on my FB page in a group call this Impeachment Part 2. I can’t with people anymore.
@Sean
your dad does realize antibiotics don’t affect viruses, right? Ugh I’m scared of all the stupid in this world. Trumpers at the top.
Agreed with everything except that the MAGAts will not turn on him. They’re blaming Communist China and the Democrats for creating a virus for the sake of hurting Trump. They are insane.
So totally agree with you Digital Unicorn. I find it speaks for itself that “We the People” had to lead the President to pretending to lead on this issue. He was his usual arrogant assh*** self during his press conference and seems to be talking the talk to protect his votes. I didn’t get any impression that he believed in or cared about the issue or the majority of Americans. Trump is at his best (sadly) when he can blame someone else for anything. That is not a leader in my opinion. I live in a golfing community with way too many Trumpsters and it is all about how much they are loosing in the stock market and still spouting the ‘same as the flu’ nonsense. These are intelligent, successful wealthy individuals who have led productive lives but for them it is all about keeping the country in the hands of white males and holding on to the money.
I watched that conference yesterday and, while I know everyone is saying he is finally serious, he really isn’t. He was still his flippant, arrogant self, interrupting the experts to brag about himself, present alternative history, and blame others. This is not an in foreseeable event: the Black Plague happened; small pox happened; the Spanish flu happened. It is not Obama’s fault that we’re unprepared; Trump dismantled the pandemic preparedness units and decimated the CDC all on his own with advice from Ivanka and Jared. And he and they have been looking for ways to profit over every aspect of this. I also firmly believe that Ivanka has it.
ETA and he had more than 10 people on stage with him while saying no more gatherings of 10 people
Interesting. If Ivanka does have it, that would explain why the clown-in-chief has now decided to take the virus a bit more seriously.
God, I loathe Trump and his confederacy with the intensity of a thousand suns.
I was wondering if one of his family has tested positive, maybe that’s why he made an about face from the nonsense he was saying for over a month. I have not seen FLOTUS, or any of the kids recently, anyone knows anything?
BnAfn, we go very long periods of time without seeing Melania. She only shows up when she absolutely must, depending upon whatever their contractual agreement is. Ivanka has quarantined. It was announced last week that she was “working from hone.” A week ago, she tweeted multiple pictures of herself with at least 4 people who were later discovered to be infected. She was completely missing all last week – no daily photo ops – until the announcement that she was “working from home.” She was silent on Twitter until the last few days when she has popped up again with platitudes, retweets of how wonderful daddy is to handle all this, and tips for handing kids with cabin fever.
That photo with 16 people when they’re saying 10 or less… It’s the social modeling “leadership” come to expect from this administration but galling and infuriating nonetheless. That and the fact McConnell is, yet again, not voting on an air package.
That was mindboggling to me.
I’m in Maryland, with a Republican governor who can be kind of an ass at times, and he is handling this so well, as these things go. He had a press conference yesterday AM, and had it outside, with minimal press (maybe 5 or 8 reporters?) and he has said that he’s handing over all “normal” duties to the Lt governor and he is going to completely focus on CODVID-19. He’s listening to the experts, following their advice, and it shows.
he also made some digs at Trump yesterday that were kind of funny, all things considered.
@Becks – I’m in Maryland too, and Hogan has been doing a great job. I’m not a fan of his, didn’t vote for him, but he is doing all the right things in this situation. Right now I’m just grateful that my parents are taking this seriously, and that our daycare provider is still open. She only has three children in her care, so hopefully that can continue. Otherwise, like so many others, my husband and I are going to be in a tough spot.
Agree that he’s not serious but he did change his tone a little bit, conceding at least that this is real and wouldn’t be gone in a day or two like previously. The bar is, after all, so incredibly low that it doesn’t take much for him to be praised.
Commented yesterday on a different post. Asked if there will be more than 10 people at the Republican luncheon today. Of course there will be. They feel like they don’t have to follow the rules that they themselves set.
Perhaps several of them will win Darwin Awards:
https://darwinawards.com/
Totally agree Lightpurple. Trump cannot Tweet this away.
I can’t wrap my mind around reality right now. I can’t fathom how this is going to affect hourly workers and small businesses. And I’m trying to comprehend how our lives are going to be vastly different than 2019.
I’ve also decided not to watch anything from the president on this topic. I’m only listening to experts.
I heard that Canada is suspending mortgages and rents at this time for Canadians. Let’s see what Moscow Mitch and the Republicans/Democrats decides to do to help us. Sen Romney is trying to get a bill passed to help for $1,000 to help every adult Americans.
The UK did that last week – there is apparently going to be an announcement talking about funds to people and business who will be directly affected by the virus and closures.
I can’t believe I’m typing this but I am in favor of Mitt Romney right now. I hope he gets that bill passed. Though we also need bill suspension, like Canada and France are doing.
Canada has not suspended mortgages and rents (Canadian renter here). The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation said it will support lenders in letting people affected by COVID-19 defer their mortgage payments for up to six months, but the CMHC CEO has confirmed there aren’t currently any similar plans for renters. There are a number of petitions going around to the provincial and federal governments but it’s still a wait-and-see situation.
I am not listening to trump. I look to my state and local officials for information. After all, they are the ones who started taking action last week while trump was still telling us to relax because the virus will just go away.
I live in Texas – I’m listening to the governors of Ohio & New York. And Dr Fauci. That’s all.
I am a small business owner (tiny, really) and this is it; we can’t survive this. Sales were horrible before this and now? Nothing; I’m trying to remain positive but this is devasting to me and others like me. I honestly don’t know what I will do since it will be impossible to find a job now. Life as we and many others know it is over.
Hugs, @Callie. I’m in the same boat.
I own a small business. My business is related to tourism/travel. I have no income coming in. I will live on my savings (not much, it buys me two months, maybe). Our stupid AF governor in Florida has not declared our state an emergetncy, so small business cannot apply for SBA loans. De Santos is a Trump boot licker.
Go to his de Santos’ Twitter, he’s getting roasted for that and not closing the beaches. I may drive out to CO and stay with family, as that state is doing it right. Lord, help us all with 45 in charge.
I’m truly sorry H. We’re stuck with a problematic congressperson but are fortunate to have Gov Newsom who does not engage in Drumpf Dysfunction. The current administration can’t end soon enough for me.
@H, I am in Florida as well. I hate da santis with a passion. I’m eating in my car, avoiding people as much as possible. Watching spring breakers in their swimsuits getting some lunch. CLOSE THE BEACHES ALREADY DE SANTIS. everyone keeps mentioning the blow to the economy, well, imagine the blow to the economy if there’s a serious outbreak.
I’m so sorry H! It feels so surreal at the moment and I’m sending you love. Hope things get better for you soon.
It’s his karma! he a treated this health crisis like he has dealt with all his other problems since his presidential election:
– He completely lies, saying it’s a Democrat plot, or his favorite lie ” is a fault of Obama and Obama’s administration”
– He interested only in the economy
– Entrusts the task to Kusher who has no experience or qualification
I work in a bank and some people are really freaking out. Withdrawing large sums of cash. I don’t think that’s necessary. On the other hand, the mall was busy and so were the other shopping places when I get off. Maybe they are trying to stock up? Not sure cause there were cars outside tj max and bed bath and beyond? One co worker keeps going on and on about how the Democrats have caused this. So some are really taking it seriously, others not at all.
They’re trying to find sanitizers. And because everybody is sold out of sanitizers, they’re trying to make their own. Now, all the ingredients are sold out everywhere (rubbing alcohol, aloe vera gel and maybe an essential oil). Every place, everywhere is out of everything.
He’s not serious, he’s just temporarily flustered. Give it a day or two and he’ll be right back to being a childish braggart and blaming Democrats or whoever on Twitter.
At the end of the day, he still thinks he’s doing a great job and is responsible for none of the bad things that have happened. Kushner is just the latest convenient scapegoat, but he’s married to the daughterwife so he’s not going anywhere anytime soon.
Yeah, when they asked him how they thought he’s handled this, he gave himself a 10. JFC. Stupid question in the first place — did anyone think he’d be reflective or humble in any way?
He was on Twitter last night and again this morning raging at NY Gov Cuomo. Oh and calling it the “Chinese” virus again. He is such a small man. Filled with nothing but hate.
This is what happens when an idiotic narcissistic moron is elected to a position he was never qualified for and then surrounds himself with sycophantic unqualified morons. Jared Kushner has no business being in the white house let alone directing policy on anything. My father is a 66 year old asthmatic that takes steroids daily for his asthma. He’s also an emergency room doctor so he’s high risk for both exposure and death, so I’m especially angry at this because it may cost me more than my sanity.
I’m so sorry, GreenBunny. Your dad should be pulled from work based on his risk factors (age alone is enough!) but I’m guessing he is too devoted to patient care to do that. But please tell him, if his employers give him the opportunity, to take it.
We want him to be around for you and to be able to take care of patients in the future!
Thanks. And the irony is, he’s set to retire in December so if it kills him, he’s gonna be pissed. I asked him about early retirement and his response was “I knew the risks when I became a doctor so if this kills me, so be it”. So that’s comforting /s
All I can think about is how lucky we are that this isn’t something more virulent like SARS or, God forbid, Ebola or a bioweaponized smallpox. From a pragmatic perspective, we are fortunate it’s only fatal to a narrow demographic and that the larger toll is on the hospitalization side. I’m praying this wakes up a lot of governments to how badly prepared they are for a worse pandemic.
I mean the current mortality rate & its ability to overload our health care systems is already tragic and terrible, but the caveat that everyone who studies the Spanish Influenza epidemic points out is that the first wave was not terribly destructive, and then only to the typical demographics. It was the second wave that killed people 15-30 at huge rates. So just because COVID-19 currently seems to target a “narrow demographic,” we _cannot_ assume it will remain so.
Spanish flu also hit at the tail end of a world war when countries were rebuilding their economy and infrastructure, which in no small part contributed to its virulence – and we’re seeing that same effect in countries that don’t have updated medical infrastructure right now. My statement is not to suggest this virus should not be taken seriously – it absolutely should be. I’m saying industrialized nations should count their blessing this isn’t something like SARS (whose fatality rate can range between 20-50%) or Ebola (in some cases, as high as 90%). If it was killing everyone at equivalent rates, we’d have a far more panicked sense of anarchy than we already do.
That the majority of the fatalities have been in the 50 and older demographic, many of whom had comorbidities, is part of why people aren’t taking it as seriously as they should, but governments absolutely should be using that as a warning of what’s to come, whether it’s a second mutated COVID wave or a different disease. They’ve already fumbled the ball. Regroup and address it properly now before it gets worse.
Thanks for elaborating: I agree entirely.
This isn’t exactly true. Young people in their 20s who were otherwise healthy with no pre-existing conditions have been admitted to hospitals with the virus and are experiencing multiple-organ failure. My sister is a nurse who’s in constant contact with other health care providers around the country has told me of this.
Here’s a really good article on how severe it can be:
https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2020/03/where-do-you-go-if-you-get-coronavirus/607759/
There are also frightening stories on Twitter regarding younger people with no health issues contracting the virus.
A 40 year old with no prior conditions is in a coma.
https://twitter.com/JamesStewartNYT/status/1239305959337537536
A healthy 38 year old is in respiratory failure.
https://twitter.com/pankisseskafka/status/1239317220934569984
Yes, thank you. I feel like the narrative that young people won’t be severely affected has got to be shut down.
A newborn baby in the UK died from it last week – am glad that my fellow posters on here are taking heed of the warnings. What you see happening in Europe is coming your way – the UK press are reporting that over 250K of people are likely to end up contracting the virus. However testing is still not widely available here so who knows if that figure is conservative or not.
It is scary times indeed.
Where did you hear a newborn died????
I know they caught it but there have been no further reports on either the mother or child.
The baby tested positive – my apologies I thought I’d read it had died.
Thank you for alerting me of those articles. It’s hard to keep up with everything coming up, though I am aware we are seeing more cases of younger people having stronger reactions to the virus, I wasn’t aware that we’ve gotten to comatic states with some of them.
I should clarify, however, that I did not mean to suggest it isn’t serious – my family is sequestered at home and are following protocols to limit our outside contact because we are taking this seriously, as we are privileged in work in an industry that can be done remotely. I’m including young people in those hospital case loads – even the less serious cases are still resources that have to be dedicated, straining the system. My point was more about the gross negligence of the government who should count themselves lucky this wasn’t something that immediately began wiping out young, old, and perfectly healthy right out the gate. They have time to regroup and at least attempt to stem it from being even worse than it will likely be.
Thank you for stating this so clearly. My cousin’s wife is in quarantine with COVID-19 in a Seattle hospital. She’s quite ill and we’re waiting for updates. She’s 25 and they’ve been married for 3 weeks.
From the peds perspective, an article that recently came out of China with these statistics:
Severe and critical cases – 15y/o (presumably to <21 or something like that), 3%.
Sobering percentages, especially when you're starting with a large N.
Not only will the fatality% climb but it will likely surpass the SARS rate by the year’s end. Don’t get comfortable w/ “well at least it’s not ___”There are people in their 30s/40s without ANY underlying health conditions that have died from this. Just bc it isn’t the majority or reported on the news does not mean it isn’t happening. Also, the ppl who recover from it? They’re finding out their lung capacity is affected for life, 20-30% less function. And that’s 20s/30s demo.
This will get worse & likely a million people will die in the United States alone. We have 300 million people & under 100,000 ventilators.
Honestly, I hope some of the *partying* 20somethings die to give a wake up call to the other ones. Im talking about the idiots who are packing in bars beaches etc w/o a care in the world & “it’s all about ME” . I’m in my late 20s & seeing the spring breakers etc makes me wish they’ll succumb to it. Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.
The prize? Death. Runner-up? Loss of 20-30% lung function for life. They won’t care until it’s too late.
If everything except basic necessities – groceries and pharmacy- closed for three weeks, we would flatten the curve much faster and get through to the other side. But people are idiots and Spring Break MUST GO ON, so until or unless certain elected leaders grow a pair and put people ahead of profits, this won’t stop. Yes, people are hurting for income. But the impact will be so much worse if this continues to spiral out of control and people become afraid to go out for the next two years. SMDH.
Exactly! To me, there’s no point shutting down schools and asking people to work from home if we’re not deciding as a nation to shut down EVERYTHING. Don’t do it halfheartedly. Shut it all down now, and maybe this WON’T last until August.
I agree. The time to act is now. I think many Americans still have their head in the sand. And why are they not banning all elective surgeries yet? My 68 year old neighbor is still scheduled for knee replacement surgery on Friday! At a hospital with an ER. And an ICU. I mean, shouldn’t we be saving beds for the inevitable wave of sick people to come?
Your neighbor can call and cancel the surgery. She/he is in a high risk category there is no reason to go through with surgery and six week of physical therapy.
My stepmother canceled her rotator cuff surgery, scheduled for tomorrow. I wouldn’t be near a hospital/rehab facility now if I had the option.
She won’t cancel it because she already took leave from work and is having to use all of her paid time off while she recovers. She can’t afford to take anymore time off this year of she cancels now. We sure do live in a great country, don’t we? This poor woman, who can’t afford to retire, is in danger of losing her home or going ahead with the surgery and risking contracting Covid19. It’s infuriating.
I was supposed to be in Orlando next week for the American Assn. Orthopedic Surgeons convention and it was cancelled because of the virus and the fact that many of their patients are over 60… this seems especially foolish considering the greater org knows not to be messing with this
Scientists are now predicting that social distancing will be necessary for a year or more. Without aggressive long-term social distancing, things will seem to calm down but not be entirely eradicated. Then the whole cycle starts over again, spreading like wildfire. The only way to eradicate it is to develop a vaccine which on average takes a year [optimistically] or two.
Just read another article saying Trump offered a pile of money to a German company working on a vaccine, to develop it EXCLUSIVELY FOR THE U.S.
Dear covid 19: please visit Donald and show him what you’re made of.
He would have stiffed that German company of the money anyways.
Could someone please put a muzzle on this idiot? Take away his twitter account too.
Every single day in office, he gets out there 2-3x a day and is just a lose cannon.
He has access to the brightest minds in America. Hire them and let them do press conferences for the rest of his term.
Is anyone ever still listening to him? About serious issues?
I check the Surgeon Generals twitter, local state Gov, local news..not Trump.
Trump makes senile Regan look competent.
Unfortunately, the current SG is just another Trump acolyte who sounds unhinged. He was on TV last week, telling everyone that this wasn’t a big deal.
As we all know, last week I had lung and breathing issues. No fever and my xrays were clear so I was not tested for Covid-19. I did not and do not believe I actually had it, however my state JUST STARTED running tests! I know hundreds and thousands of amazing people are working around the clock to get the tests and treatment we need and this is absolutely not their fault but WTF!!!! We should have been testing weeks ago!
Remember weeks ago, even last week 45 told us it was either a hoax or nothing more than the flu, or something like that.
His press conferences are comic relief. COMIC RELIEF. You can tell that he has no empathy or concern for people. He can’t even talk to his own young son. For information I watch Gov. Cuomo’s press conferences. THAT is how it’s done.
He was asked how was the test for the virus, he could not explain, one of the Drs had to rxplain how the swab was done. I don’t believe him that he was tested.
Yes, our governor in IL is doing a great job, too. Berating people for going out to the bars last weekend. Shading Trump, too, lol. But I don’t mind MAGAts seeing first hand how incredibly terrible he is, with zero “media/fake news” filter to blame.
I hate that he left it up to states to decide for themselves. His “Not It” approach to running this country is going to cause so much damage. The numbers, even with the limits on testing, continue to increase. The states that are sitting on their hands will be shutting down businesses in a few weeks, too, and it will be too late.
I already practice social distancing on a daily basis. The biggest change is I won’t go to the gym for a while. I’ll have to walk the neighborhood and lift weights in the basement. My cats can’t catch it so I’m all about staying home and snuggling. I have a stack of books I want to get through and I was taking a graduate class at the local uni and it’s been moved online so I’ll have plenty to do. Plus I just bought some paint to touch up my walls. I do feel for the service industry workers though. I’ll be ordering in from my favorite restaurants and tipping generously to to my part.
Very good ideas.
Despite what the governor of my state and now the White House advises, Wells Fargo call centers are still open despite over 70% of their staff not being able to work. I hate my job. I hate capitalism. It’s like companies like WF see you as nothing more than a money making robot, not a human.
I’m so sorry you have to deal with that. Please be careful!
I’m a faculty member at a university library (about 60 employees and student workers) and we are still open. None of us have been allowed to work from home. The library administration keeps dragging their feet on making a decision. Academia is nothing but a business and we are expendable. It’s all about the bottom line. Do whatever you have to do to keep the students happy. God forbid the library is closed during a pandemic. When the students return from their two week spring break, all classes will go online, but the dorms are still open on our campus so the library will be full of students unless our do-nothing library administration pulls their heads out of their asses. I’m so mad I could scream!
I don’t blame you. They should not even allow the students back on campus/into the dorms or library.
it’s good he’s being more ‘serious’ but honestly, i find it hard to believe that this will still be a thing in July or August. I certainly could be wrong- but I hope I’m not….I’m starting a 3-year around-the-world volunteering trip at the end of June, so maybe its just wishful thinking on my part haha.
There are some reports in the UK that the long term strategy will end up being locking everyone in until a vaccine is developed- at least a year away. They are more realistically hoping for school to run till Easter holidays, and then keep them shut until the beginning of the following academic year!
The fear is the 2and wave, which is likely to hit next winter.
So it looks like we might be stuck with this mess for a while.
I was meant to visit Australia/New Zealand at the end of October, I am still hoping it might happen but I am feeling less and less optimistic for summer plans.
My company (germany) is prepearing for a more or less lockdown until at least August/September, especially if flatting the curve works. Basically until at least 60% of the population have been infected.
In uncontrolled outbreak might be shorter (peak end of April/May) but with far mor death, due to a collapsing heath system.
Same! I just posted down thread that I thought this would be resolved (or at least getting better) by June. But I think I just chose that month arbitrarily because it made sense that it would be better in a couple months, lol. I have plans to travel in October that I’ve felt optimistic about up until now. Ugh. We shall see.
@Maite
“ i find it hard to believe that this will still be a thing in July or August.”
yea…you’re not gonna be able to do that. Im sorry but this being over by summer is scientifically unrealistic. It also will come back in the fall likely.
This is going to last all year.
And I mean that in a non-exaggerated way: whatever plans anybody had this year & beyond, you can best believe they can’t be guaranteed at all this point.
The economic fallout will continue for at least 18 months. In the US, it will be the second Depression (at least in the US) we’ve ever had. The only other one of course was 1929 etc
I wish people would either call it “social distancing” or “socially distancing” not both, and preferably the former because I’m not into split infinitives.
At first I was relieved I don’t live alone because I thought of how isolating that would be. But now my husband is starting to get on my nerves in these forced close quarters! I wish I had a house instead of an apartment.
If someone gives me a lemon, I’ll add a little sugar and water and make lemonade. I’m looking at the big picture, should I have company around, get sick and likely and die or self isolate for a few weeks and live to see another day.
I’m sitting in the ER right now waiting for Covid testing after running a fever every night since last Tuesday. Of course this is after days of calling the Ohio Covid hotline, health department and my doctor’s office to get testing approval. I work with the elderly and have had airbnb guests in and out of my house until a couple weeks ago yet they still wouldn’t test.
Wishing you well.
Please keep us updated.
I hope it’s not serious.
Best wishes to you.
Fingers crossed!
Im so sorry!!!
It is INFURIATING but they are quite literally RATIONING healthcare and gambling with peoples lives
Strange times. I now work from home and while I like being on my own, I can already feel the craziness creeping in. I’m in my 30s and healthy but my parents are not. My dad has multiple conditions, the main one in its late stage already anyway. So if he gets it, it’s almost certainly over. My parents can go a few weeks without shopping but then they do need to leave the house. They live almost 300km away but even if I drove there, I’d probably be more dangerous than a quick trip to the store.
I’m not one to panic and I’m not scared of getting it. If I do, I do. But the thought that I could infect others by just going for groceries is awful.
These days I’m especially grateful to have a President (I live in Germany) who years ago donated a kidney to his wife. These are people you want in charge of at least morale. My thoughts are with everyone who doesn’t have any sort of reliable leadership right now.
A little freaky to think this could last until August. For some reason my brain picked June as the month when things would start looking up, and I’ve really been believing that. I’m fine social distancing, happy to be home, and lucky to not have to worry about my job (yet) when so many people are losing their jobs and businesses. So I’m certainly not complaining. But wow, August. That’s a long time.
not even August. this will last the whole year. no joke. people thinking this will be over by the end of summer…..no.
My husband and I are incredibly lucky in yet we both work for tech companies, so we can work from home indefinitely and still receive salary, benefits, and everything we need to get our jobs done.
That said, like many parents, we’re on the struggle bus when it comes to getting work done and homeschooling our kids. We have an amazing 10yo who can stick to a schedule and loves to read. And we set him up to video chat his buddies. But we have a 2yo as well and… Yeah.
My biggest source of anxiety is that I share custody of my oldest with his dad. I have no control over how isolated he stays over there. His dad has a girlfriend who also has a daughter who goes over to her father’s house, and the fear and anxiety I have about having so little control of that situation is hitting me hard.
I have some risk factors (asthma and chronic sinus infections, and have had pneumonia several times) so I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t scared.
The fact that we have this president at the time of a crisis like this is terrifying.
Perhaps making a hard decision of one parent keeping custody for the duration with liberal FaceTiming/Skype? I know it’d kill me.. but as you say.. you don’t really have control when the other parent/partner is involved.
If I thought his father would be reasonable about that I would ask (and my kiddo would be safer over here with us for a number of reasons) but I’m not optimistic. He’s pretty hard-headed. I have several friends in the same boat with shared custody–it’s a tough situation.
I didn’t watch any of the pressers from him because I can’t stand his voice, so I’ve been reading just the basics.
The fact that you quoted him with the “democrats are doing this to destroy me” really struck me though, because yesterday I was talking with a neighbor who has always been kind and generous to us about a totally different topic (another neighbor died last week and there has been speculation that he had COVID19) and all of a sudden she just points at her flag and goes “I’m NOT taking my flag down. I am a PATRIOT. The democrats are RUINING THIS COUNTRY. They are trying everything they can to bring our president down and DESTROY HIM. They’re turning this country in to a socialist nation. I’m a republican! I’ll say it, I don’t care! I’m proud! I’m a republican! I’m an American! I served, and I’m armed and ready!”
I was like hmmmmm yes 😳 and skittered back across the street to my own home.
But my point is they’re still out there biding their time and parroting everything this pandering orange puppet says. It’s extremely alarming.
It feeds into their us against them mentality. Add in their religious dogma and you’ve got a nutter on your hands. Avoid at all costs.
Omg, Sass! That’s fricking terrifying. Trump’s Magats are lurking everywhere. And they are insane.
I’m glad you didn’t try to argue with him. They are not rational people and they scare me with their gun stuff.
Fear. Fear of change, fear of someone who looks, thinks, or acts different. Fear of dying in a pandemic by a virus you can’t see or control. Fear of a worldwide economic collapse. Fear can be a very scary thing when it leads people to start loosing there grasp of reality like your neighbor. Hitler was successful in turning his country against Jews because he used every resource at his disposal to instill fear of others. Trump is no Hitler, but the ugly frenzy he has excited in people like your neighbor is truly frightening; Especially given the number of loaded guns in our country. This us against them really bothers me. Our country was founded on the principle of “United We Stand, Divided We Fall” and yet the last decade especially seems to be all about us and them.
I truly fear for you all in the US, there seems to be an undercurrent of civil unrest that Dump and his cohorts are stoking for their own agenda of seizing complete control. I fear for what happens to you guys when the virus hits, here in the UK were are a few weeks (or less) away from Italy. Having the virus and the election is a recipe for disaster – Dump will do whatever is necessary to cling to power and GOP will help him. I fear for your democracy and constitution as once the GOP have control over your lives they won’t let go.
DU, this is like one of my worst fears. I wouldn’t put it past them to try it either.
I could handle this better if I wasn’t trying to entertain children who are used to always having something to do. We’ve been visiting our pool every day for fresh air and sunshine but it gets old fast. Yes, our community pool is mostly deserted. All the Canadians went home so it’s just the few of us locals who live here full time. I’m in the Florida Keys where it’s mostly business as usual (don’t get me started on that), so we’re doing our part to help stop the virus spread.
The last thing you should be doing right now is going to a pool! Chlorine only kills a number of things in a body of water, so many things get contracted in shared water! We don’t know how long this lasts before the virus dies and going to a community pool is very dangerous right now. I’m not shaming you at all, but a pool is not a safe place when there is a pandemic.
right now there are tons of educational websites offering stuff for free. Manga comics just did a huge free release – and some pay-for-movie areas are also going free. Check out Skillshare.org. Be safe.
How are people going to get by with not working until July or August? Not everyone works or can work remotely.
Mittens suggested giving every American $1,000 and while that’s a noble idea that’s not enough. I’m not being ungrateful I am being practical. So everyone gets $1,000, how much of that will stretch to food, car payments, school loan payments and utilities? My rent is way more than a $1,000 and I don’t even live in an expensive area of town. They need to go by the cost of living in every state and try to figure out an average.
My brother’s already out of work. He’s privileged that he has two family members who can work remotely and make decent money, so we’re covering his bills for him in the meanwhile. But make no mistake – I absolutely suspect this is heralding another major recession.
$1000 is a joke. That’s not even one month’s rent for people in big metropolitan areas.
Yeah, I don’t think $1,000 is going to help that much.
I don’t know what I’m going to do if my airline shuts down and I’m out of work for months. My husband makes too much for us to get any kind of assistance but it’s not enough to live on where we are. Being in a tourist area sucks when everything is shut down. So many people are going to go bankrupt. $1,000 would help but only for a month. What are we supposed to do for the rest of the time we’re out of work?
Trump’s not somber. Don’t believe the act. He’s just slow walking this. He’s buying time. Every day that passes is a day in which Jared Kushner and his minions are scrambing to capture the market on the production, marketing and distribution of tests, protective gear, ventilators and vaccines, so billions of our tax dollars will go in his pocket. Case in point, the newly announced “oscar” app for the location of test centers–the company making this is owned by Josh Kushner, Jared’s brother and Karlie Kloss’ husband. These villains are monetizing the pandemic. Vile!!
P.S. Trump was told about the oncoming pandemic in DECEMBER.
+10000000
🙁
This is right, They are a psychotic mob, they capitalize and profit on other people’s suffering. They’ll let people die until they can fill their pockets from this vírus.
We’re in the UK. If it were only me, I’d be okay with staying in the house but I have a very active and social 3 year old so good luck to us. His grandparents have started self isolating for 12 weeks. The secondary school where my partner works will be partially open for tomorrow, meaning only Y9-Y12 will have classes, the nurseries are still open and certainly the nursery where my son goes to.
It’s so difficult for the public, local businesses, vulnerable people, self employed, low wage earners, as we’ve got a prime minister who is a joke and is similar to Dump.
I read that Trump is now calling Covid-19 “The Chinese Virus” and I just about threw my computer across the room. WTF?!?!?!? I also read where a number of beaches in Florida are packed with March break partiers when the Governor has mandated a state-wide shut-down of bars and restaurants! A couple of partiers were interviewed and said…I kid you not….”Well I feel OK, I’m not worried” and “There aren’t a lot of doorknobs here…..”
I just spent the last 2 hours rage-cleaning my condo and drinking wine in the middle of the afternoon. I’m in Victoria BC where the health authorities just announced 7 new cases.
Because I’m Canadian maybe I don’t have the most accurate handle on the US political landscape the way Americans do but I think Trump has messed up SOOOOOOOO badly that, magats notwithstanding, he will get voted out of office come November.
I read something today that made me go..huh
And, what if…
If we subscribe to the philosophy that life is always working out for us, that there is an intelligence far greater than humans at work…
That all is interconnected.
What if…
the virus is here to help us?
To reset.
To remember.
What is truly important. the full blog post is by Gurpreet K. Gill and is worth a positive look at this. We are getting more quality time. I love that, along with cleaner air, waters in Venice canal don’t look muddy.. etc
http://gurpreetkgill.com/what-if/
@musiclover
“ If we subscribe to the philosophy that life is always working out for us, that there is an intelligence far greater than humans at work….That all is interconnected.“
ITS NATURE. ITS SCIENCE. That’s it. No, life isn’t guiding you. No, life isn’t “working out/for us” or there’s some grand plan or some ‘rapture’. There is no divine path or fate or “it’s meant to be” or “intelligence far greater than us” at work. Life just EXISTS. The virus just EXISTS. No big person in the sky or cosmic engine is doing this. Stop with this ignorance. You sound honestly like the other side of a Trumper coin. ENOUGH. Science & nature is ALL it is. You & all of us humans aren’t special or warrant anything more than any other living thing on earth. There is no higher power doing this, & it’s pathetic you would even go there. Seriously.
Oh – And the people who die? What if you’re one of them? How about your parents? Anybody you care about? Or maybe you only care about yourself. People cant handle the thought that this is all there is. You can’t handle that it’s science/nature without a divine puppetmaster.
Get over yourself. Science is it, your only god whether you like it or not. No higher power no fate no BS. You are born, you die. That’s it. Now wake up, cause this destiny, reset crap is disgusting & kills people. Maybe even you. But HEY, maybe that’s pArT oF tHe pLaN *kisses rosary, blows fairy dust*
I have no excuse now not to get any painting done or any writing done on my latest fantasy novel. It’s for the best, I guess, but I still took out an old puzzle and am redoing it to de-stress and break the workaholic monotony of being a cooped up introvert.
Introvert here. I’ve had several household projects on a to-do list for two or three years. I already have the supplies to do them, so this is going to be the “no excuses” year to finally get them done.
Best wishes to everyone worldwide, as we muddle through this together!
Fucking surreal. I can’t believe I’m part of this timeline.
His hair looks the best it ever has.
My husband & I are introverts. We can stay in indefinitely and be content. We don’t go out very much and when we do our errands take less than an hour. Going to stores makes my anxiety flare.
I do admit I am terrified. We are both in our 40’s. I have inherited lupus and he has diabetes. We both are not on medicines for it because we do not need to be. Our immune systems are strong. I don’t know how this virus attacks and it’s frightening. I was one of the original H1N1. I contacted it from an original source. I almost died from it.
DH & I are self isolating but he’s been deemed essential worker. He has to work in this. Truly frightening times and an idiot president who refuses to protect or calm us.
Wow. Never thought I would ever hear so much truth and accuracy out of Trump’s mouth.
Somebody really got to him and convinced him he won’t get re-elected if he keeps saying nonsense on this issue. Maybe pointed out that his voters would be decimated just like everybody else if we didn’t get our act together immediately.
A good source for simple international updates is the YouTube channel of Dr. John Campbell, a UK physician:
https://youtu.be/urPjrPBKZy4
is his update for March 18. If you subscribe, you can easily see what else he has posted, including on useful related medical subjects. He also passes along eyewitness accounts from colleagues and gives his own commentary as he goes over the details. He’s not a yeller and has a soothing voice…