DC Tom

Why? Is the price too low?

We're social distancing, so we have to shout!!!!

For example: you're an idiot.

I was reading about that last night. This is very similar to Katrina, in that the federal government has tried to engage the state and local resources for preparation...but no one was interested because "it won't happen to us." Preparation requires a contextual shift of "it will happen to us." Federal officials tend to have that contextual shift early, because we provide so much support overseas (most CDC officials working this right now were involved directly, overseas, with SARS, MERS, and the 2014 Ebola epidemic.) State and local officials don't have that context - their view is much more parochial. Contrast to Superstorm Sandy, where we'd already had that context shift at state and local levels, from Katrina. And contrary to popular belief, the federal government cannot - does not have the equipment or the authority - to push aside, ignore, or supersede state and local responders. Particularly in matters of public health. It has never, ever, ever worked that way. The most recent example is the 2014 Ebola epidemic - the Americans who caught Ebola and became sick with it were treated with local resources; the epidemiology and public health actions (e.g. quarantine, contact tracing) were performed by state public health resources. The federal government - the CDC - provided advice, training, and laboratory support. Just like they're doing now.

Both of them, asshat. Total bull####. How do you enforce a nationwide lockdown or curfew? State, county, and city law enforcement are going to bother with that? And if they are...why not let the state, county, and local authorities, who know most about what's happening in their own regions, determine the needs themselves? People have gone from being terrified of fascism, to begging for it, in two goddamn weeks.

Wait...you mean they had the epidemiological and public health systems in place because this has happened to them before??????

Bob, if I know anyone with a disease caused by the coronavirus, will pot treat it? ***** off with your stoner bull####.

It shouldn't have. It was obviously happening in China, as a matter of casual contact (as opposed to close or intimate). A realistic appraisal of the administration's actions would be that they dithered for as much as four weeks on a casual assumption that p2p transmission wouldn't occur here. I don't even think that was an explicit assumption, just a matter of context. But it was still a bad assumption. Imagine if it were treatable by toilet paper...

Boomers have a different view of infectious disease than the rest of the country - they're the last ones to grow up with it, before widespread use of antibiotics and vaccinations. Our parents' attitudes like that are understandable, at least. Conversely, millennials and late Gen-Xers are the first generation to grow up with no concept of infectious disease. Their attitudes towards this are understandable as well. They're both stupid, of course.

Fake news. Trudeau not only had the coronavirus, he died from it. The current "Trudeau" is a deep-state clone, by the same people that cloned Ginsburg. Get your ***** together, man.

Important to remember: we've had cases in the US since about six weeks ago. But we've only had person-to-person transmission in the US for about two weeks. Until then, they thought they had it contained, like Ebola or SARS.

Key point, too. Eventually, this infects everyone. The current isolation and quarantine directives will slow, but not stop, it. They're really designed to not overload critical care settings with the dying all at once. All my prudence isn't intended to keep my SIL from getting ill, but to hopefully delay it long enough that treatment or a vaccine is developed to protect her. I'm...honestly not optimistic about that.

You're an idiot. ***** off. Still miss me?

Norwalk virus has been around since 1974. But only NOW you're going apeshit over stupid people going on cruises?

Been three weeks since I stocked up on non-perishables (yes, including toilet paper). Told my wife "No, I'm not panicking. This is prudence, because in about two weeks everyone else is going to panic." Also told my boss last week (Monday) that I would be full-time remote starting last Thursday, because I have a sister-in-law with COPD living with us, who I don't want to risk exposing to COVID. Not panic, prudence - I'm in close contact with a high-risk individual. Also, since last Monday, me, my wife, and my SIL have been taking our temperatures twice daily. Again, prudence, not panic. Also had to go out this morning. Wore bright green nitrile gloves from my workshop...less as a barrier against fomites than to make myself hyper-aware of what surfaces I touched, and what risks I might be encountering. Again, prudence. It's actually a pretty simple set of actions that keep my sister-in-law relatively safe, if you have half a brain. Clearly, most people don't.

Not true. They also want to deploy the military, because something something magic something what, you don't want to, why do you want everyone to die?

9/11? The USA PATRIOT Act was passed at the height of the 2001 Anthrax attacks.

Note: this is not a nuclear war. It is not a zombie apocalypse. Basic services, particularly those pushed to your house, are very unlikely to be disrupted. Such as water. You will have tap water. If your water service is disrupted, you will have warning, and you will have many other, greater problems to deal with before your water service stops. So for God's sake, you ***** morons, you will not run out of tap water, so DO NOT KILL PEOPLE OVER BOTTLED WATER.

Use it. Go out in public, blackmail people. "Gimme your toilet paper, or I'll cough on you."

Some places around here are banning the use of re-usable bags because "they spread coronavirus." Since ***** WEDNESDAY!!!

I'm rejoicing. I'm not a basketball fan, but I find college ball at least watchable. The NBA I can't tolerate. But NASCAR...where the hell am I going to go to watch cars turning left?

The Rock Hudson of the Coronapocalypse.

I went two weeks ago, stocked up for two months. Not because I'm afraid of the virus (I'm not), but precisely because I was afraid of people, when they started paying attention. I honestly didn't think it would be the NBA suspending play that would precipitate this panic, though. Ye Gods, people are ***** idiots. I've actually found myself hoping this virus kills me, so I don't have to deal with any of these mutton-heads anymore.

I have stopped touching my face these past few days. However, to make up for it, I am touching other people's faces much, much more frequently.

After the 1993 hantavirus outbreak in the Southwest, CDC named the virus the "Sin Nombre virus." Literally, "no name virus." Because to name it the Canyon del Muerto Virus was considered racist (to the Navajo.) Had no problem naming another hantavirus the "Prospect Hill virus," though. Because no one gives a ***** about Baltimore. "Wuhan virus" is perfectly acceptable to anyone with half a brain who's not trying to invent a false controversy. But I'll stick with "COVID," or "Kung Flu" if I want to piss people off.