The Coronavirus Response in America - a Rant

Having a difficult time concentrating on writing, much less working to market my novel. I am at high risk of getting a severe case of the Corona virus because my immune system is compromised due to my TRAPS disorder. I know many on here who also are in the same boat as me because of their age or pre-existing health conditions. I am going to put myself in lock down starting today, leaving house only for essentials such as doctor appointments, or picking up prescriptions.

I urge everyone, no matter where you live, to stay home as much as possible. I understand that is impossible for many of us in the USA because not many people have sick leave, and cannot stop working or they will lose their jobs. Nor can many Americans afford to see the doctor even if they have insurance as most of us have high deductible plans (anywhere from $3000 - $14,000) which require us to pay the deductible amount out of pocket before insurance will pay a single cent. I fear that things will soon get out of control here, and we will see a wave of infections, with the worst cases swamping the hospitals, which don't have enough beds or ICU units to handle a major pandemic.

Our federal government has massively failed us, though the Federal Reserve is spending trillions of $$$ to prop up the stock market by extending 0% loans to big banks and other measures. It's unfortunate that we live in a country that does not value human life as much as it values the profits of banks and major corporations. A bill passed in the House of Representatives, which is still not a law yet, to provide sick leave payments for people. The catch is that even if passed by the Senate and signed into law by Trump, it will only cover 20% of American workers. It exempts all the largest corporations (500 employees or more), such as Amazon, Walmart, Apple, etc. from having to offer sick leave to their employees, and exempts most businesses with less than 50 employees, as well. We are already seeing GoFundme sites created to provide funds for workers already unemployed because the businesses that employ them have been forced to close. This is, to be blunt, an obscenity.

People where I live are panic buying to the extent nothing much is left in many supermarkets. Most medicines and all masks are sold out, and many hospitals are running out of them as well. We are not doing mass testing yet, so we have no clear idea how many people have already contracted the virus and are contagious. It seems that testing is available for the wealthy (see, e.g., testing done for rich NBA athletes in Utah, but no one else, but not many other people. The CDC keeps saying there will be 1.9 million tests available soon, but even that in a country of 350 million is a drop in the bucket. We are all in this on our own.

Stay safe. Don't go out of you can avoid it. Don't expect much from the government. All my best to all of you.

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OzoneTom's picture

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Steven D's picture

@OzoneTom But then so is our government.

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"You can't just leave those who created the problem in charge of the solution."---Tyree Scott

PriceRip's picture

          I will be picking up a prescription and (happy dance) my restored older laptop. Other than that we have been isolated for a couple of weeks now. And, most of the few I do encounter are being very cautious.

          Stay alert, safe, and sane.

RIP

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ggersh's picture

PSA

I've just heard that here in Illinois they might be calling out the National Guard
after the Tuesday Election

Whether true or not, I haven't heard, whether that means martial law or just
under curfew, again haven't heard

Went to the grocery store earlier today and many shelves were empty

Good luck and stay safe

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14 users have voted.

I never knew that the term "Never Again" only pertained to
those born Jewish

"Antisemite used to be someone who didn't like Jews
now it's someone who Jews don't like"

Heard from Margaret Kimberley

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Steven D's picture

@Marie Well, I would if it wasn't so predictable.

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"You can't just leave those who created the problem in charge of the solution."---Tyree Scott

A friend sent me this today. He's been a competitive bicycle racer for the last 30 or so years and coaches other racers. The email came in on his "coaches/trainers" email group and it is from someone who picked up COVID-19 racing in another (unspecified) country and was asymptomatic on his return to the USA. I thought this was interesting because it is a report from someone in excellent physical condition, though I don't know if it is a younger person or someone, like my friend, who races in a "masters" class (50/60 y.o.)

I received a positive test result for the virus today. I was chatting with XXXXX and we thought it would be helpful to just share my experience for those of you curious about how all went down for me. Some pertinent facts:

· I returned from XXXXX on Friday 6th.
· Sunday 8th I woke up with a slight sinus discomfort but didn’t think much of it. With some Musinex D, it went away pretty fast and no other symptoms. I felt great all day.
· I woke up Monday 9th and felt perfectly fine and rode 2 hours. Once home, I was contemplating going to work but, given the slight sinus issue Sunday, I thought I would be super overly cautious and just work from home. Felt great.
· At 11am I developed a 100 degree fever that got to 101.5 by noon. I went down fast and felt like shit. Fought the fever until Wed morning. I was sweating profusely at night and crazy temperature fluctuations during the day. My temp varied from 95-101.8 for that period.
· Wed I felt a little better and thought I broke the fever. Then my body just about gave out on me from exhaustion. I actually blacked out in my home and work up on the floor. I was that destroyed by the virus.
· I never experienced a severe cough or shortness of breath.
· I went to the ER Wed morning and they treated me like Patient Zero for 6 hours in isolation. They did blood work, chest x-ray and EKG and all were perfectly good.
· Sent me home after testing me for COVID and informing me that results would take at least 4 days and up to 2 weeks – yes, that’s what they said.
· I had no energy Thursday or Friday – had to hold the hand rail in my house for stairs and almost fell over several times – that weak.
· I woke up today and FINALLY felt like I was recovering – and got my test result at 2 this afternoon – 4 days later.

XXXX was quick to tell me the good news is I now have immunity! Thankfully my spouse has been out of town the entire time.

The XXXX Department of Health called me today and told me I was under self-isolation INDEFINITELY. They will call me when I can go outside. Crazy journey.

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@MichaelSF There have already been reports of people who have had it getting re-infected. There's also concern that people who have been sick are still able to infect others afterwords.

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Idolizing a politician is like believing the stripper really likes you.

Bisbonian's picture

@Dr. John Carpenter
Will we ever know?

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"I’m a human being, first and foremost, and as such I’m for whoever and whatever benefits humanity as a whole.” —Malcolm X

@Bisbonian something like this:

[video:https://youtu.be/Ztu0M6PXp1g]

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Bisbonian's picture

@wokkamile

I'm serious. Does it end?

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"I’m a human being, first and foremost, and as such I’m for whoever and whatever benefits humanity as a whole.” —Malcolm X

Lookout's picture

@Bisbonian

John Campbell suggest we do build immunity when truly well for somewhere from a year to a lifetime.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOSwYGhmnwo in the first few min of the 16 min clip.

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“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

WoodsDweller's picture

@Bisbonian
Sometime in 2021 there will be a vaccine, probably, generally available. Get that vaccine and you are probably as safe to go about your business as you were three months ago. It might need to be incorporated into the formula for annual flu shots, or maybe we all need an extra shot every year, or maybe it will provide multi-year immunity. We don't know yet.
It also ends when you get it and recover. We don't know how long the immunity lasts. Today's John Campbell video touched on the reports that people have re-acquired the disease, speculating that they had it, became asymptomatic, but had not actually recovered, then relapsed. So it does look like it behaves normally and we will be immune for some period of time.
We also don't have any idea how it will mutate. We need a different formula for flu vaccine every year as new strains come into circulation. Will Covid-19 be the same? Or more like measles? We don't know yet.

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"The greatest shortcoming of the human race is our inability to understand the exponential function." -- Albert Bartlett
"A species that is hurtling toward extinction has no business promoting slow incremental change." -- Caitlin Johnstone

Bisbonian's picture

@WoodsDweller
I guess I am trying to figure out how long we are going to be confined. Much more than the "two weeks" that we are planning for here in Arizona.

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"I’m a human being, first and foremost, and as such I’m for whoever and whatever benefits humanity as a whole.” —Malcolm X

Steven D's picture

@Bisbonian It will be months. Many months.

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"You can't just leave those who created the problem in charge of the solution."---Tyree Scott

Steven D's picture

@MichaelSF what with the lack of tests available after Trump and CDC refused to use the WHO tests offered them so they could develop their own damn test.

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"You can't just leave those who created the problem in charge of the solution."---Tyree Scott

@Steven D
I didn't find this personal report any more helpful than what's already out there; most begging more questions than they answer. In this case, he went from a (early morning? unstated) bike ride and feeling great to taking his temperature at 11:00 am. Had he been monitoring his temperature since leaving XXX? If not, what prompted him to do so that Monday morning?
So, he sweats it out for two days before going to ER without a mask and thus, risks infecting others. Sounds as if he was checked more for a heart attack than any form of influenza (not even a quick test for A or B). Sent home with no instructions other than to wait for the CD-19 test?

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6 users have voted.

@Marie was that here's a person in great athletic condition and high aerobic function (as a competitive bicycle racer able to race internationally) who was basically "healthy" as far as he knew, enough to go out and do his usual 2 hour training ride, and then 2 hours later is slammed with the fever and feeling quite sick. There are a lot of us who can't claim to be in that condition (not to mention X decades older), so will it be worse for us? Who knows?

I'm not surprised at the varied treatment taking place (or not) in the early days, especially in the USA where we abhor any kind of central planning as creeping socialism. Unless a local or state health department that has a clue and some enforcement power steps in a lot of what happens is probably up to the individual medical facility. As we know, some of those are quite good, and some have been crappified in the search for profits.

We older people are probably being reasonably cautious. The bicycle racer's story might be good for circulation among the younger "I'm in good health and invincible, I don't need no stinkin' medical advice or distancing" crowd.

In any event, take that report for what it is worth. The person who wrote it and those who shared it before I got it were trying to help get the word out that yes, there is actually a serious medical situation and yes, even people in great health and physical condition can be laid low. I don't think the original writer was intending to write a scientific report ready for peer review, but rather was trying to help encourage people s/he knew to take precautions with their health.

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@MichaelSF
and fit people under age 50 do in fact experience heart attacks and strokes that kill them. And that a range of diseases strike younger healthy and fit people.

Many viruses and other bugs don't respect the otherwise health and fitness of a host. The 1918 influenza pandemic is an example. This corona virus is behaving more like annual influenza A & B; in general younger people contract it, often become very ill, and recover on their own and older people and those with underlying health issues are more likely to require hospitalization and fewer recover. This anecdotal report is additional confirmation of the meager data we've seen so far on this virus.

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snoopydawg's picture

@MichaelSF

This is not just a disease for the elderly and people who have underlining health problems. It's affecting every age group and there have been deaths in younger people.

But as I mentioned in another essay here it doesn't help that our media has been lying to us and especially for the last 3 years since Trump became president. Now when they turn to the media to find answers they don't know what to believe. Of course they are bashing Trump every chance they get which just clouds their reporting even more.

Lay down with dawgs wake up with lies. You own this media folks as do the democrats for lying about Russia Gate and why your horrible candidate lost the easiest election in history to a game show host.

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Which AIPAC/MIC/pharma/bank bought politician are you going to vote for? Don’t be surprised when nothing changes.

snoopydawg's picture

@snoopydawg

Seriously LMAO here. Rachel is on the verge of tears because Mueller charged the 13 Russian trolls and was close to saving the country from Russia. Oh boy. But I'm sure Rachel didn't tell her viewers that a judge told Robert to quit saying that they had ties to the Russian government nor will she tell them that they dropped the charges.

Thanks for posting the tweet.

...still laughing...

..still.

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Which AIPAC/MIC/pharma/bank bought politician are you going to vote for? Don’t be surprised when nothing changes.

@snoopydawg
in younger adults been confirmed or is it rumor?

Of course younger adults are being infected. Many experience mild symptoms, some become very ill, and a few have been hospitalized.

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snoopydawg's picture

@Marie

If I find the article again I'll link it. There are two countries where that has happened.

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Which AIPAC/MIC/pharma/bank bought politician are you going to vote for? Don’t be surprised when nothing changes.

Daenerys's picture

@MichaelSF If we didn't live with my mom I wouldn't worry, but she is 73 now and will refuse to go in if she gets infected. She just won't listen to reason. What can we do?
My dad is in ICU now but stable; they tested him Thursday night and no results yet. They are still not allowing visitors.

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13 users have voted.

This shit is bananas.

ggersh's picture

@Daenerys

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I never knew that the term "Never Again" only pertained to
those born Jewish

"Antisemite used to be someone who didn't like Jews
now it's someone who Jews don't like"

Heard from Margaret Kimberley

Steven D's picture

@Daenerys Good luck.

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"You can't just leave those who created the problem in charge of the solution."---Tyree Scott

WoodsDweller's picture

Canada Closes Borders

“We will be denying entry to Canada from people who are not Canadian citizens or permanent residents. This measure will carve out some designated exceptions, including for aircrews, diplomats, immediate family members of Canadian citizens, and — at this time — U.S. citizens.”

I wonder how long the exception for US citizens will continue.

India closes Taj Mahal

India will close the iconic Taj Mahal to visitors from Tuesday as part of measures to try and combat the coronavirus pandemic, the tourism ministry said on Monday.

Most schools and entertainment facilities, including cinemas, have already been closed across India

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"The greatest shortcoming of the human race is our inability to understand the exponential function." -- Albert Bartlett
"A species that is hurtling toward extinction has no business promoting slow incremental change." -- Caitlin Johnstone

Once the virus spread overwhelms our neglected health Care facilities, the medical staff will have to make heavy use of triage. Thus will the dreaded Death Panels come to America, ushered in by the sycophants of greed normally known as the GOP and their fellow-travelers, the establishment DINOs. Ironic doesn't cover that nor the fact that in January a member of one of those pestilent groups likely will be POTUS.

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WoodsDweller's picture

is under lock down now. Here's a comment from today's Dr. John Campbell video (YT comments, take it for what it's worth).

I am living in Madrid. The fear is horrendous. We are unable to leave our homes unless going to buy food or medication. They are going to close the borders now. One week ago we were laughing at the Coronavirus. Now we are terrified. Military police are now on the streets in all major cities. I urge you to take this seriously in the UK. It went from 500 to 1600 in a weekend at the beginning. We are now reaching 10,000 with full house arrest

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13 users have voted.

"The greatest shortcoming of the human race is our inability to understand the exponential function." -- Albert Bartlett
"A species that is hurtling toward extinction has no business promoting slow incremental change." -- Caitlin Johnstone

@WoodsDweller

The fear is horrendous.

From Naomi Klein:

The “shock doctrine” is the political strategy of using large-scale crises to push through policies that systematically deepen inequality, enrich elites, and undercut everyone else. In moments of crisis, people tend to focus on the daily emergencies of surviving that crisis, whatever it is, and tend to put too much trust in those in power. We take our eyes off the ball a little bit in moments of crisis.

What she doesn't add there is how in all instances fear is ramped up by TPTB, iow exploiting that aspect of a genuine crisis. i.e. 9/11 the actual crisis was over before most people knew about it, but still much of the country shut down for a few days and the 9/11 fearmongering went on for years.

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@Marie
Here's the exact $54 billion bailout plan that airlines are demanding of the US government as coronavirus wreaks havoc on the industry

And the line behind the airlines is forming fast.

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WoodsDweller's picture

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"The greatest shortcoming of the human race is our inability to understand the exponential function." -- Albert Bartlett
"A species that is hurtling toward extinction has no business promoting slow incremental change." -- Caitlin Johnstone

Lily O Lady's picture

@WoodsDweller

problem right there. Unless the purpose is to spread the disease. Is it any wonder I think our overlords have it in for us?

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"The object of persecution is persecution. The object of torture is torture. The object of power is power. Now do you begin to understand me?" ~Orwell, "1984"

Steven D's picture

@Lily O Lady is my guess.

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"You can't just leave those who created the problem in charge of the solution."---Tyree Scott

Lily O Lady's picture

@Steven D

WHO, things might not be so bad. We import nearly everything, but this time we had to have American test kits this time. Grrr

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"The object of persecution is persecution. The object of torture is torture. The object of power is power. Now do you begin to understand me?" ~Orwell, "1984"

PriceRip's picture

          While Nunes encouraged people to visit local bars and restaurants, another California politician urged people to "ignore the morons" and "stay at home as much as possible."

                                                                                www.washingtonpost.com
                                                                                Warning: This link will open in a new window

RIP

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Lily O Lady's picture

@PriceRip @PriceRip @PriceRip

a-hole Nunes is.

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8 users have voted.

"The object of persecution is persecution. The object of torture is torture. The object of power is power. Now do you begin to understand me?" ~Orwell, "1984"

CB's picture

@Lily O Lady
are going to call this period in American history "The Great Culling".

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Lily O Lady's picture

@CB

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"The object of persecution is persecution. The object of torture is torture. The object of power is power. Now do you begin to understand me?" ~Orwell, "1984"

WoodsDweller's picture

San Francisco area residents ordered to stay home

Millions of San Francisco area residents on Monday were ordered to stay home to slow the spread of the deadly coronavirus as part of a lockdown effort covering a section of California including Silicon Valley.

Six counties in the region and the city of Berkeley joined the effort after data showed 258 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with four deaths in the jurisdictions with some seven million people.

A “remain-in-place” order announced by San Francisco Mayor London Breed will go into effect at the end of Tuesday here and remain in force until April 7, with the possibility it will be extended.

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"The greatest shortcoming of the human race is our inability to understand the exponential function." -- Albert Bartlett
"A species that is hurtling toward extinction has no business promoting slow incremental change." -- Caitlin Johnstone

WoodsDweller's picture

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3 users have voted.

"The greatest shortcoming of the human race is our inability to understand the exponential function." -- Albert Bartlett
"A species that is hurtling toward extinction has no business promoting slow incremental change." -- Caitlin Johnstone