Not light relief—Europe, Covid-19

[Nick Vittum]

I'm just wondering how things are going on your side of the pond? Over here, a lot of proactive action, but as near as I can tell the "pandemic" itself is no worse than a new virulent strain of flu. But that appearance may only be because it's early days here.

How are you, over there?

[HansV]

With over 250,000 known cases of infection and over 10,000 deaths world-wide, it's not "just" flue.

Here in The Netherlands, we are still allowed to go outside, but all museums, art galleries, theaters, cinemas, pubs, cafés and restaurants are closed, and more and more stores are closing because nobody goes shopping except for food and other essentials

[Rebel]

as near as I can tell the "pandemic" itself is no worse than a new virulent strain of flu. But that appearance may only be because it's early days here.

Currently (Mar. 20) in the US alone, there are over 16000 confirmed cases and over 200 deaths. Borders are being closed, states of emergency are being declared, etc. - I don't think I would classify this as "no worse than a new virulent strain of flu".

[Nick Vittum]

With over 250,000 known cases of infection and over 10,000 deaths world-wide, it's not "just" flue.

No, Of course, I didn't mean to suggest that. I only meant to say that so far, here in the US (and so far as I can see—clear statistics I have not seen) the actual effects seem to have been no worse than a new and severe strain of flu. But again, it's early days here, and the information available changes daily.

Here in The Netherlands, we are still allowed to go outside, but all museums, art galleries, theaters, cinemas, pubs, cafés and restaurants are closed, and more and more stores are closing because nobody goes shopping except for food and other essentials

Much the same here, at least in my state.
So how are folks (individuals) actually doing? Isolation is hard.

[HansV]

I keep in contact with friends through WhatsApp...

[stuck]

Most of the team I'm in at work is working from home now. Out of about 25 of us there are only about 6-7 left. I've been given a laptop and have spent a frustrating day trying to work from home, it's been hopelessly inefficient.

Ken

[Nick Vittum]

. . . I've been given a laptop and have spent a frustrating day trying to work from home, it's been hopelessly inefficient.

Because of the laptop, or because you don't have your office around you?

[Nick Vittum]

as near as I can tell the "pandemic" itself is no worse than a new virulent strain of flu. But that appearance may only be because it's early days here.

Currently (Mar. 20) in the US alone, there are over 16000 confirmed cases and over 200 deaths. Borders are being closed, states of emergency are being declared, etc. - I don't think I would classify this as "no worse than a new virulent strain of flu".

Okay. I really wasn't trying to stir up anger. I was genuinely worried and concerned for the folks on this forum in Europe, and hoping to hear more from them.

Edit: but just so you know I'm not completely talking through my hat: By comparison to those 200 deaths you cite in the US (for which you may well have more complete information than I have access to here)—

• Two examples of new (at the time) and virulent strains of flu:
  1) The 2009 pandemic claimed 12,469 lives in the US. Worldwide death toll estimate range widely from 150,000 to 575,000.
  2) The 1968–69 epidemic (the sickest I've personally ever been in my life) claimed 100,000 lives in the US, and one million worldwide.

But again—it's early days, and I'm not trying to downplay Kovid-19. Only to offer some perspective.

[stuck]

Because of the laptop, or because you don't have your office around you?

A bit of both. I couldn't get the laptop to connect to my router via wifi which means I have to set it up one the end of a cable but if I use my really long (20 m) cable it again won't connect (it's a very cheap cable) so I had to use a short cable, meaning it's situated in a less than ideal location. Then there is the lack of screen space. On my desk in the office my main monitor is a 24" one with two 22" ones on either side, three screens in total. You very quickly get used to that amount of real estate. Having to work on only 24" monitor plus the a 13.3" laptop screen is quite a come down.

Ken

[Nick Vittum]

Having to work on only 24" monitor plus the a 13.3" laptop screen is quite a come down.Ken

Yes. I can't work on my laptop monitor any more, my eyes are too bad. But I do use my laptop, with two larger monitors plugged into it, and wireless keyboard and mouse. I've never figured out a way to plug three monitors into it, or I would...

[BobH]

Back to COVID 19 . . .

My daughter and her husband are ER nurses. They have been exposed but are asymptomatic and will not be tested unless that changes.

I monitor the Johns Hopkins dashboard daily. The number of cases in the US was reported as less than 2500 last Monday - 5 days ago - and now shows over 16,000 cases. It is that rate of infection that makes this a very serious concern to Americans. It is too early yet to tell what the mortality rate will be or how long it will take to recover and what, if any, lasting effects there might be.

So far there have been 216 deaths attributed to the virus in the US and only 121 reported recoveries; but, as I said, it's too early to know what the recovery rate will be.

[viking33]

The word seems to be that the big jump in cases is due to more testing performed thatsimply finds more.

My concern and thanks go out to all the medical staffers realy stacking up huge hours of work time. Has to be mentally and physically exausting for them.

[jonwallace]

I retired from my job as a Biomedical Scientist for the NHS in November, but the Registration people have just informed me that they have temporarily re-activated my registration to allow me to work again if required. Though as I have spent the last 20 years as an IT guy rather than a Lab Tech, I'm not sure what I could do if called up.

[Nick Vittum]

My concern and thanks go out to all the medical staffers realy stacking up huge hours of work time. Has to be mentally and physically exausting for them.

Amen to that!

[Nick Vittum]

Registration people have just informed me that they have temporarily re-activated my registration to allow me to work again if required.

Stay safe, stay healthy.

[RonH]

Keep safe.
When I Internet search, I am saddened to see how many citizens in so many countries think this virus is not their concern. Have a thought for Italy with many other countries following 'their curve'.
Nuff said

[HansV]

I went to do some shopping today. The greengrocer's allowed only 4 customers at a time, and the baker's only 2. There were no shortages there, but a friend of mine told that the supermarket still had many empty shelves, after more than a week of hoarding...

[Nick Vittum]

I went to do some shopping today. The greengrocer's allowed only 4 customers at a time, and the baker's only 2. There were no shortages there, but a friend of mine told that the supermarket still had many empty shelves, after more than a week of hoarding...

I have to go to the grocery store soon. I've been hearing a lot about bare shelves.... here's hoping.

[Argus]

as near as I can tell the "pandemic" itself is no worse than a new virulent strain of flu. But that appearance may only be because it's early days here.

Currently (Mar. 20) in the US alone, there are over 16000 confirmed cases and over 200 deaths. Borders are being closed, states of emergency are being declared, etc. - I don't think I would classify this as "no worse than a new virulent strain of flu".

Okay. I really wasn't trying to stir up anger. I was genuinely worried and concerned for the folks on this forum in Europe, and hoping to hear more from them.

Edit: but just so you know I'm not completely talking through my hat: By comparison to those 200 deaths you cite in the US (for which you may well have more complete information than I have access to here)—

• Two examples of new (at the time) and virulent strains of flu:
  1) The 2009 pandemic claimed 12,469 lives in the US. Worldwide death toll estimate range widely from 150,000 to 575,000.
  2) The 1968–69 epidemic (the sickest I've personally ever been in my life) claimed 100,000 lives in the US, and one million worldwide.

But again—it's early days, and I'm not trying to downplay Kovid-19. Only to offer some perspective.

Yes, recent flu season was mild here, but you have to remember, and when looking at those numbers, that a) we have some immunity and vaccine for flu (vaccine being a mix of what they think is this year's flu) (And yes, 1958 & 68/69 were bad.) b) it's a different virus (SARS-CoV-2).

And one has to remember that what is reported is confirmed cases. (And with a R0 of around 2.4 I think 60-70% will get it if no measures at all are taken.)
That said, it's true that an awful lot of people die in different diseases every year.

The number of cases in the US was reported as less than 2500 last Monday - 5 days ago - and now shows over 16,000 cases. It is that rate of infection that makes this a very serious concern to Americans. It is too early yet to tell what the mortality rate will be or how long it will take to recover and what, if any, lasting effects there might be.

So far there have been 216 deaths attributed to the virus in the US and only 121 reported recoveries; but, as I said, it's too early to know what the recovery rate will be.

The spread is more or less the same with no measures in place; some countries are larger, not as densely populated, will perhaps see clusters instead. A serious concern, as I see it, for Americans is the initial reaction with testing as I understand there were discussions, and the fact that, as in many countries, many people can't afford staying off work when they feel sick. (On the other hand, if people stay indoors a lot, it doesn't matter that much if a low-paid waitress is at work, there won't be any guests.)

I've been given a laptop and have spent a frustrating day trying to work from home, it's been hopelessly inefficient.

One person at SR, Swedish Radio (think BBC Radio, classic music) is recording a radio program from his home.

20200321_SRP2.jpg

I went to do some shopping today. The greengrocer's allowed only 4 customers at a time, and the baker's only 2. There were no shortages there, but a friend of mine told that the supermarket still had many empty shelves, after more than a week of hoarding...

Hamsteren, hamstring in Swedish. :/
https://jammeke.tumblr.com/post/6127435 ... dutch-sign" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

TP went empty on the shelves in the middle of last week here; people are crazy (we have plenty of wood, we export; and what not).
I could say one or two things to the people hoarding just about everything incl. paracetamol-things; older people can't travel around trying to find some basic things for their one-person household.

[silverback]

Worried? Watch this spookily prescient talk from Bill Gates in March, 2015.
Worrying doesn't come close.
Silverback
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Af6b_wyiwI