Because we are a global community, I would like to create a thread for talking about the COVID-19 how this has impacted you. 

I work for a smaller, Chinese-owned tool company. Our workforce after CNY and the extended break was only running at about 40%, of which this is actually on the higher side compared to what I've heard about other, much larger tech companies. While we haven't felt much of the impact here in the US, I am sure we will soon. The way that some companies flow in goods from overseas will really have an impact on store shelves; Stores like Walmart that have large DC's and reroute the flow and quantity of goods so that the shelves don't look as bare. Target specifically doesn't keep extra inventory outside of what it knows will sell in a specific amount of shelf-time and therefore bases reordering on that known formula. Given that orders from China are typically 30 days on a Boat just to arrive on the West Coast, and then separate amount of Customs and transport times to other places in the US, the effects will start to be apparent really soon.

Not trying to start a fear-mongering thread, but a place where we can talk about this like educated adults.

- Nathan

7 hours ago, brickolodon said:

 

actually pretty informative view, but pretty long

I think TSA (and global versions) needs to also check body temperature and prevent passengers from flying when they are sick. Yes, greatly inconvenience some but protects the WORLD. The history is there were ZERO pandemics or EVEN flu-season before it became affordable to fly. Even the Black Plague was limited to Europe (I believe).  

The flying culture internationally needs to change where potential passengers self-monitor and simply accept that flying/traveling sick is unacceptable...and it's in the airlines best interest (long term) to adopt policies  that support this change.

Very good read...

https://slate.com/technology/2020/03/coronavirus-mortality-rate-lower-than-we-think.html

 

https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/medical-screener-lax-airport-tests-positive-coronavirus-n1149986

A medical screener at LAX airport who is a trained professional w/ max protection, got it. Seriously, what hope is there for Joe Shmoe w/ no training and a N95 gonna have? 

 

38 minutes ago, $20 on joe vs dan said:

https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/medical-screener-lax-airport-tests-positive-coronavirus-n1149986

A medical screener at LAX airport who is a trained professional w/ max protection, got it. Seriously, what hope is there for Joe Shmoe w/ no training and a N95 gonna have? 

 

and this is how most of the panic spreads.. it reads quite easily within the article that at this moment its not sure whether he got sick in the line of his profession or due to the spread within the community.

8 hours ago, river41 said:

actually both kids tested positive so they also have it as does his wife and  the neighbor that drove him to the hospital

Yeah, found that out today.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_OECD_countries_by_hospital_beds

What do you think?

I think this article has a good point:

https://slate.com/technology/2020/03/coronavirus-mortality-rate-lower-than-we-think.html   

But the most straightforward and compelling evidence that the true case fatality rate of SARS-CoV-2 is well under 1 percent comes not from statistical trends and methodological massage, but from data from the Diamond Princess cruise outbreak and subsequent quarantine off the coast of Japan.

<.....>

This is where the Diamond Princess data provides important insight. Of the 3,711 people on board, at least 705 have tested positive for the virus (which, considering the confines, conditions, and how contagious this virus appears to be, is surprisingly low). Of those, more than half are asymptomatic, while very few asymptomatic people were detected in China. This alone suggests a halving of the virus’s true fatality rate.

On the Diamond Princess, six deaths have occurred among the passengers, constituting a case fatality rate of 0.85 percent. Unlike the data from China and elsewhere, where sorting out why a patient died is extremely difficult, we can assume that these are excess fatalities—they wouldn’t have occurred but for SARS-CoV-2. The most important insight is that all six fatalities occurred in patients who are more than 70 years old. Not a single Diamond Princess patient under age 70 has died. If the numbers from reports out of China had held, the expected number of deaths in those under 70 should have been around four.

I think the vietnamese government is really well dealing with the outbreak by informing their people that they have to wash the hands regurlarly and maintain personal hygiene. And they did it by a song. Thats exactly the way you reach people and prevent mass hysteria.

Officials here in Germany state that sanitizers wont help more than washing your hand regurlarly and thoroughly. It also cuts the supply for people that really need those, like hospitals and so on.(Because there are still those other deseases and accidents and so on.

And btw using sanitizers on a regurlar basis also really damages your skin for a long time. My wife and I had to use them while our son was in hospital for 5 weeks, and since then both our hands are really messed up. And that was 3 Years ago. So please remember this when using those sanitizers.

 

Here in Germany the desease also spreads thanks to people that are thoughtless/careless and cannot follow basic rules like:

Wash hands, dont sneeze in other faces, go to the doctors if you show signs of it.

Ahhh and: dont touch your face (Human touches his face over 200 times a day and thats a good way for a Virus to get into your System)

So stay calm and follow basic rules.

18 hours ago, exciter1 said:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8073541/Coronavirus-Amazon-bans-10-000-users-price-gouging-hand-sanitizer.html

Just a reminder for (newer) sellers with Amazon seller accounts: DO NOT RISK your Amazon accounts by doing something like this.  Once banned, it is very hard to get unbanned or even open a new one.  

King County tells 2 million workers to stay home.

This is a great site tracking all this that's frequently updated: https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/

5 hours ago, HandyHand said:

I think this article has a good point:

https://slate.com/technology/2020/03/coronavirus-mortality-rate-lower-than-we-think.html   

But the most straightforward and compelling evidence that the true case fatality rate of SARS-CoV-2 is well under 1 percent comes not from statistical trends and methodological massage, but from data from the Diamond Princess cruise outbreak and subsequent quarantine off the coast of Japan.

<.....>

This is where the Diamond Princess data provides important insight. Of the 3,711 people on board, at least 705 have tested positive for the virus (which, considering the confines, conditions, and how contagious this virus appears to be, is surprisingly low). Of those, more than half are asymptomatic, while very few asymptomatic people were detected in China. This alone suggests a halving of the virus’s true fatality rate.

On the Diamond Princess, six deaths have occurred among the passengers, constituting a case fatality rate of 0.85 percent. Unlike the data from China and elsewhere, where sorting out why a patient died is extremely difficult, we can assume that these are excess fatalities—they wouldn’t have occurred but for SARS-CoV-2. The most important insight is that all six fatalities occurred in patients who are more than 70 years old. Not a single Diamond Princess patient under age 70 has died. If the numbers from reports out of China had held, the expected number of deaths in those under 70 should have been around four.

Yes, I recommended this article yesterday.  Here is the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus "tracker."  

https://gisanddata.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/bda7594740fd40299423467b48e9ecf6

The anal wack job I am, I have been calculating the death ratio daily and it has been falling, which is great news!

3 minutes ago, Ed Mack said:

Yes, I recommended this article yesterday.  Here is the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus "tracker."  

https://gisanddata.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/bda7594740fd40299423467b48e9ecf6

The anal wack job I am, I have been calculating the death ratio daily and it has been falling, which is great news!

I don't know if the changes in mortality rate will change the take home lessons:

If over 70 and/or immuno-compromised absolutely take serious precautions (stay at home and avoid any unnecessary travel); folks need to be checking on their elderly relations. 

All else; stay home if sick and cover up if going out. 

If not sick; continue w/ normal life but feverishly wash hands (properly) at every opportunity..,,maybe defer travel plans and avoid congregations in tight spaces..folks that need to take a subway...you're F'd! 

11 minutes ago, $20 on joe vs dan said:

I don't know if the changes in mortality rate will change the take home lessons:

If over 70 and/or immuno-compromised absolutely take serious precautions (stay at home and avoid any unnecessary travel); folks need to be checking on their elderly relations. 

All else; stay home if sick and cover up if going out. 

If not sick; continue w/ normal life but feverishly wash hands (properly) at every opportunity..,,maybe defer travel plans and avoid congregations in tight spaces..folks that need to take a subway...you're F'd! 

All I am saying is that it is a positive, nothing else.  I think people are getting a better handle on the situation and concentrating on older and compromised individuals.  We all have older people in our lives and it matters, believe me.  Clean your hands.  Avoid large crowds.  And for God's sake, stay off the damn cruise ships!

Alright, s*** is getting real. There are around 40 cases in my area (5km radius). The math tutor of a friend actually got it & was escorted out of the building. I think all schools & universities will close here next week, pretty sure!

9 minutes ago, elmaslıefendi said:

Alright, s*** is getting real. There are around 40 cases in my area (5km radius). The math tutor of a friend actually got it & was escorted out of the building. I think all schools & universities will close here next week, pretty sure!

Where do you live?

21 minutes ago, Ed Mack said:

Where do you live?

Germany, near Stuttgart.

https://www.ktnv.com/news/potential-case-of-novel-coronavirus-in-nevada-reported-by-website-health-district-to-respond

Lol, so Ebay has completely blocked the sale of all N95 masks, hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes on it. I get blocking price gougers, but I started all my mask listings at a $0.99 no reserve auction. I wasn't gouging anything, simply letting the market decide the value. Oh well, off to Mercari...

9 minutes ago, Shortbus311 said:

Lol, so Ebay has completely blocked the sale of all N95 masks, hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes on it. I get blocking price gougers, but I started all my mask listings at a $0.99 no reserve auction. I wasn't gouging anything, simply letting the market decide the value. Oh well, off to Mercari...

I wonder how many eBay exec are crying over this decision.  There goes our record Q1 earnings from commissions

I wonder how many eBay exec are crying over this decision.  There goes our record Q1 earnings from commissions

What about regular sellers that always sell that stuff ?

10 minutes ago, brickolodon said:

What about regular sellers that always sell that stuff ?

eBay Exec: who cares about sellers? They are dime a dozen on our website

Yep, so after looking, all of my N95 mask auctions were removed. None of them had any of the key phases Ebay said that they were looking for in them... meanwhile there are still 20k other listings for N95 masks up....

And just in case any of you felt like climbing your high horse... I bought two cases of these 2 years ago at a hospital liquidation auction for $10... I do a lot of woodworking, and as I believe someone else had mentioned on here they are great for keeping saw dust out of your lungs. I still had 1 full case left and was selling the boxes of 20. So no, I did not further dwindle current supply for a profit.