COVID-19

[ZAFCorrection]

I do math for a living (well, engineering with a lot of data analysis), and I'm not particularly worried. I have a decent amount of food stored and I am 30 with no underlying medical issues. My biggest worry is avoiding hospitals for the next couple months. If history is any indicator, that should be easy.

That's a reasonable attitude for a lot of people, so I'm not a huge believer in the "only smart people are freaked out" narrative which has been expressed here at least a couple times. I'd say the bigger factor is the global pandemic is a Noah story, and now we are starting the second act. Except it's the discount version, so the idiotic townies are stockpiling bottled water and Noah gets to chill because his N95 stockpile will slightly reduce his risk of catching a disease that in rare cases will make him pretty sick.

[FRx]

@c40 It would make the most sense to be either in a country where you'll be totally left alone (if you're relatively healthy) and where there isn't a lot of corruption or better to be in a country where you have a ton of public health support and a strong gov't. Vietnam and the US fall into both of those categories so I can't imagine that you'll go wrong either way.
But generally I'd say stay put since this will blow over.

[Jean]

@c40, where would you rather be if for some reason, you'de have to stay there forever, because no planes are flying anymore and pirates are faring the seas again?

[ertyu]

@c40, where would you rather be if for some reason, you'de have to stay there forever, because no planes are flying anymore and pirates are faring the seas again?

This was essentially my criterion when making the decision. With unpredictable travel restrictions in place, I'd rather be close to my elderly parents who may not have much left. Thus I returned to country of origin even though my personal outcome salary + healthwise would've been in country of employment.

[Ego]

The "foreign virus" comment from the Presidential address rolled around in my head as I slept last night. I could be wrong but It felt like he was laying the groundwork for something.

China has been reducing the amount of US government debt it buys. I believe that reduction accelerated recently with the trade troubles. They now own about 5% of the debt if you factor Hong Kong's share into it.

[Ego]

Fábio Wajngarten, President Jair Bolsonaro’s communications chief, was at Mar-a-Lago, Mr. Trump’s oceanfront resort in Florida, as part of Brazilian government delegation. Members of that group dined with Mr. Trump (and Pence, Ivanka & Jared) on Saturday.

Mr. Wajngarten tested positive for the virus after returning home with flu-like symptoms.

Photo from Wajngarten's Instagram account of the meeting. He is the guy next to Trump wearing the "Make Brazil Great Again" hat.



ETA:The New York Times removed the paywall for all Coronavirus coverage.
https://www.nytimes.com/news-event/coronavirus

[den18]

Latest information on transmission. Three hours in the air is not good.

https://www.foxnews.com/health/coronavi ... -to-3-days

[Jason]

Mike knew not to touch the hats.

[ertyu]

Three hours in the air is not good.

Elevators.

[Ego]

The other thing Trump mentioned last night during the Presidential address that stuck with me was that banks are ‘very strongly capitalized’ and in a ‘great position in terms of liquidity’.

I am heading over to the ATM to stock up on cash.

[AnalyticalEngine]

No joke, floating viruses are the reason I now take the stairs up to the 5th floor everyday. The elevator has got to be the riskiest place in the building.

Good call on cash, Ego. It's worthwhile to have a decent stash on hand.

Now that it's in my town I'm limiting my grocery run to 6am. No leaving the house except for that.

The new company is going to send me a job offer and I made sure to confirm I can work remote during this despite the recruiter thinking it's a hoax. Kind of a stressful time to transition jobs but the offer was too competitive

[thrifty++]

@c40 - why don't you stay put until say June? They don't really know but there is a good chance the virus might start dissipating in summer, given that's what happens with other coronaviruses and flu/cold type illnesses. And regardless of whether it does, it will just be so much more unpleasant being in the midst of the virus in the winter cold than in summer.

[Ego]

State of California....

[George the original one]

Oregon governor Brown has banned gatherings of more than 250 people (excluding incidental work, shopping, etc.). Considering Oregon has just passed 21 confirmed cases, this is a rather bold move compared to most states.

[Riggerjack]

Yeah, governor Inslee banned public gatherings, too.

I have to say, I have been impressed with the governor's bravery in relentlessly pursuing press briefings where he has displayed confidence and concern in the face of this virus. That's what we need these days, more confidence and concern. The strongest antivirals known to man.

For reference to the efficacy of press briefings, Lombardy has been on lockdown since late last month. They tested 1500+ new positives yesterday.

Maybe they should have just applied confidence and concern, rather than quarantine. Or maybe we should have applied quarantine...

[Gilberto de Piento]

Other states are also limiting gatherings to 250 people. It must be a magic number from the CDC.

I also stopped by the atm today.

[theanimal]

Nvm.

Edited: Not widely confirmed news

[bigato]

I've not been training jiu jitsu for a while now, lazyness coupled with a good excuse. Today I just heard that the classes are suspended until monday for precaution.


Also, people started panicking in Sao Paulo and raiding supermarkets. Brasilia still looks the same but people now started getting worried. Supermarket pantries still fully stocked though.

[Seppia]

First example of virus impacting our close ones.
Best friend of my uncle passed today, his wife also in critical condition.
Walked around the park behind our apartment today, crossed 4 people in an hour or so, we kept our distance.
If the virus “lives” three hours in the air we are fucked.

[Stahlmann]

...