Corona Virus

While this isn't totally related to SWing topics I just want to pray and hope that you all stay safe and healthy during this trying time.

Ditto Dale. It is a bit spooky over here.

It's a royal PITA to be honest.
Here in the UK we're preparing for the storm. I work in the NHS and we're setting ourselves up to deal with the inevitable influx.
The thing is for most of us it just going to be really horrible cold but after a few weeks will be fine. It's only a small percentage that will benefit from been in a hospital, but as none of us has any resistance a lot of us will get the bug at the same time so that small percentage will be a lot of people.
Of course the idiots are expecting armageddon so bulk buying everything leading to some shortages. I didn't realise how many idiots I had in my country. I wouldn't mind but most of them won't know what to do with flour, lentils or all the other stuff they've bought. They will be the source of the problems.
Longterm the global economy is going to take a serious kicking after all of this.

Hows it looking on the other side of the pond?

It's crazy here too. If you don't have a thermometer at home, might as well forget what they are because you won't see them on the shelves for a long time. Interestingly, there is dirt cheap and endless supply on eBay but of course, they're coming from China.
Unfortunately, our Dear Leader is still hoping that Canadians are immune to this pandemic because "diversity is our strength". There's still no medical screening at the airports, despite the fact that his own wife was diagnosed with Covid-19 a few days ago. Nice, eh?

Most flights have shut down over here now. The message is generally getting through, stay at home, keep your distance and wash your hands - although soap and water will be a new experience for some folks
We need a slow rate of infection, once recovered each individual then contributes the herd immunity, but it must be slow or else the health services are going to be swamped.
Take care out there folks, and look after each other.

And be careful on the bikes, the last thing the health services need is avoidable accidents taking up resources.

Use common sense this will pass and things will return to normal soon enough. Fear and hype are difficult to ignore. Nothing is certain but hope for the best.

It is affecting most of us in some ways. rustysdream is one. Best outcome for your wife that's tough to deal with when it hits you personally. Best outcome for you and stay positive.

Dale N. wrote:

While this isn't totally related to SWing topics I just want to pray and hope that you all stay safe and healthy during this trying time.

Amen Dale,o-HI-o is virtually shut down, store shelves getting bare, restaurants shut down except for drive thru's and carry out, a lot are offering free home delivery. We will get thru this if everyone does their part and not panic and try to buy up everything in sight. An interesting sign is popping up on some store fronts, NO RETURNS on any sanitizers TP, WATER ect. if you overbought and horded you are stuck with it. With all this going on fuel is the cheapest I've seen for a very long time some at a buck a gallon, all that and nowhere to go

Mech 1 twa wrote:

It is affecting most of us in some ways.  rustysdream is one. Best outcome for your wife that's tough to deal with when it hits you personally.   Best outcome for you and stay positive.

Oh, it's not my wife. Sorry if I wasn't clear. I was ranting about our Dear Leader in Canada. His wife was diagnosed.
I'm just mad as hell because people are still pouring into the country from everywhere including direct flights from China and Iran. No medical test whatsoever, business as usual.

oldwingguy wrote:

With all this going on fuel is the cheapest I've seen for a very long time some at a buck a gallon, all that and nowhere to go

True. I filled up yesterday morning and my wife said "Why? It's gonna be cheaper in the evening." She was right.

I've seen a sign outside a pub saying 'panic buy your beer here', which made me laugh.

Troops are now being deployed at various loacations over here now (to help on the medical issues ), and as steve_h80 said these "Panic buyers" are making things worse for everyone, especially the elderly living on there own, makes me sick to call these Ar$hols human. Like a lot of us on here being Retired, days are pretty much the same, mooch about here & there, doing odd jobs etc. so it's no different on a day to day basis, but obviousley stating a good distance from people, I'm not even allowed now to go and visit the old watch at the Fire Station as there in 'Lockdown' apart from shout's !!!. Took the old Virago out the other day to get the dust off her and really enjoyed the ride out in the country, so "I was Self Isolating". Hope everyone stays safe & healthy and we all get through this
Kev

Africa was the last to be blessed with this virus but we are told that we're where Italy was 3 weeks ago and the Government is taking it seriously. Sanitizing, contact avoidance, working from home and the predictable rush to buy all kinds of 'essentials'. Luckily our stores are well stocked so there's no shortage. Ports & borders either closed or heavily manned.



Our public is taking the 'work from home' seriously too; and for those of us riding to work on the bike, the trip has been heavenly all week!

I am certain that my wife and I had this virus. All the symptoms fit and it kept coming back...feel better and in a few days it was back with a vengeance. We were in the process of moving and could not slow down much but the good news is we survived and overall it was similar to any of the usual flu type illnesses. I wish the media would quit SCARING the populace, hence the panic buying and the assault on medical facilities. People don't usually hit the clinics and hospitals for flu but not with this one. Thanks CNN

Let me be absolutely clear!
I am private researcher who is with a 2 man team for 10 hours a day since January following the real data and the real mostly fast removed information.
I will not post anything here except this:
If you want to stay official informed just follow your mainstream media.
If you want to get a glimpse of the truth according to over 1200 man hours of research, give me a shout via PM, but be warned YOU WILL NOT LIKE IT, but I will share all my resources, so you can check for yourself.
Curious people stay away and do not waste my time.

For the rest of you greetings from the Islands, we are on lock down since Monday but the enforcement started already on Sunday.
If you want to see for yourself how it looks, check out https://www.skylinewebcams.com/ and look for Spain, Italy is worth seeing too.

As for our self, we adapted a new look where the helmet comes in useful



p.s. this is a video worth seeing.
How To See Germs Spread (Coronavirus)

When, oh when will the government put a stop to this panic buying? They are 'encouraging' people not to do it. As we know, governments have no idea what real people actually are, nor what they actually do.

Enforce an emergency law and stop it right now!

Rant over....

Loosemarbles wrote:

When, oh when will the government put a stop to this panic buying? They are 'encouraging' people not to do it. As we know, governments have no idea what real people actually are, nor what they actually do.

Enforce an emergency law and stop it right now!

Rant over....

Supermarkets themselves could go some way to stop it by placing strict limits on EVERY item on their shelves, it wouldn't stop it but may slow it down.

OMG they've closed the pubs!!!
But we're encouraged not to be total prisoners in our homes (because is is psychology bad for us), but to keep a distance from everyone when out. A minimum of 2m (6 - 7ft) is suggested while outside.
So walks are good, cycling is approved, going for a drive... hang on, drive = riding. I'm been advised by Her Majesty's Government to go for a ride! And NOT to go to work!!!
I think this cloud might have a silver lining :-)

Who would have thought that riding keeps you healthy?

So much I want to say.

I'll have a bit more riding time now. Laid off from work. Car dealers in PA. are banned from selling new cars !!. but service is still open so what the F---.

I'll be doing some riding soon SW is ready to go after a little winter maintenance. No traffic and self distancing are great. F it. No one lives forever.

The reason for the big TP by out isn't so much that you get the chits from it but it's when one person coughs that ten crap their pants.

Over in Italy the country of scooter culture personified and where Coronavirus is taking a terrible daily toll on the population. I doubt very much if any scooter mad Italians living in the current nightmare that their country is going through, are seeing it as an ideal opportunity to get out on their scooters.

A valid point & I hope that Country survives in some shape or form. So today is the day that all the businesses that intaila gathering of people are banned from being opened, Pubs, Clubs, Cinema's, Theatre's, Restraunt's, Gym's etc. And yet my wife who is a teacher, has to continue to work as 6 children (4-6 year olds) that she looks after have parents that are Key-Workers, Police, Law Court & Medical profession so they need looking after from 8.30-18.00, so in turn she now runs a risk of this virus as she has to greet those individual parents to make sure they are being picked up by the right person, Iv'e told her to wear a mask or something !!. These are eye opening times for everyone now, stay safe peaople.

Hey All, I am not an alarmist, I'm not a fear monger and I have a healthy skepticism about things ... especially when they are new to me and I don't know much about them.  I've always tried to balance common sense and intuition with science and data and I can state unequivocally this COVID19 virus and its negative side effects and consequences are very real.  

It can be deadly and it's in all of our best interests to combat its spread as best we can.  The reality is many of us are either seniors or heading into that life phase and we are more vulnerable than those who are younger, healthier and ailment free.

It only makes sense to listen to what the global and national medical and public health experts have learned about this virus from those countries who have been in the battle for some time already and to be smart and follow their advice.  Although inconvenient, it only makes sense that when possible:

* Practice self-quarantine/isolation of possible;
* Avoid crowded, public places;
* Practice social distancing keeping a minimum of 4 feet distance from others --- 6 feet is better;

* When absolutely necessary, greet others with a simple nod of the head or if you have to, an elbow bump or toe tap ... do not shake hands, hug or kiss etc.;
* Wash your hands often ... especially when touching items & people outside of your native environment;

* Use hand sanitizer liberally and often;
* Avoid touching your face (this one is really, really hard to do).  If you have a facial itch, use a tissue when scratching;
* Sneeze and cough into your elbow ... away from others;

* Do not share food or drinks with others;
* Avoid visiting with vulnerable people i.e. the elderly and infirmed and take precautions when you do;
* Clean and disinfect the environments you live and work in and;
*** Help those who cannot help themselves.

I've received first hand reports from people who are stuck in some of the Mediterranean countries.  They all advise me to do whatever I can to "flatten the curve" and help all of us get through this nasty thing.  Every generation has their defining events and moments, this may be ours.

It would be so sad to read about any of our SWing community being adversely affected by this virus ... especially if there are simple albeit inconvenient precautions we can take to lower our risk towards contracting or spreading it.  

Be smart -- stay healthy.  All-Ways!

^^^ Excellent summary and sound advices.

I was at my local Walmart this morning to get some cat food. The aisle is near the TP asile so I looked. NOTHING on the shelves. A couple was walking by and I told them it's a disgrace that so many want to horde the paper towels and TP. He agreed. I told him that it will now be another week before I can take a crap...

As you know, I am reporting from a little Spanish Island group.
As of today it looks like our hospitals on the mainland will have to triage in less than a week, in Italy they are already in this situation.
China did the world a bad favor in miss reporting the numbers and the WHO is full responsible for deleying for 6 weeks to prospone what was realy going on.
Now every idiot who parroted mainstream media (MSM) "it’s just the flu" should get an idea how retarded they were.

I am sorry guys I am totally upset, we are in Quarantine since a week and it is horrible to see that 2 week we were at below 500 cases and a few dead - and millions of **** Spanish women were on the street protesting for womens rights hugging an kissing each other and the government thought it more important to keep the fiestas going because we need the money from the tourists.

One week later the whole country is shut down. and after onother week we have 21,871 cases, 1,612 in ICU and 1,378 dead and 2,125 recovered. We had a 30 something year old policeman in perfect health who got into the hospital and died 3 days later.

I am in tears right now to see what the CCP and its dog the WHO doing to the world. China send with full knowledge all the spreaders around the world after they came home for new years fest (remember it was on ali express).
The epicenter for the Europe infection is that part of italy where the most Chinese people work in sweatshops to make Gucci and co things.
I can not write no more, I am too upset
look at these **** numbers of Italy and Spain and than look the Chinese numbers. When the doctors in January told the world that the numbers are 10 to 50 times higher as reported, they spoke the truth, but they were silenced by MSM , Social Networks, the WHO, and China.

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/

click on the countries with links and compare the curve of the graphs with the lying Chinese CCP bull**** numbers.

With the real numbers we would have had a chance to close the borders and prepare

It's good practise to use hand sanitiser when you can't get to soap and water, I've been using the small bottles for the last 20 years. But now it's just another item that's been stripped from the shelves of supemarkets and pharmacies in the last few weeks to be hoarded or sold on.

It's now common to hear of it being stolen from hospital wards or sanitiser dispensers being ripped off walls.

I made a brief visit to a supermarket a few days ago and there was no bars of soap on the shelves, no doubt it'll be the same all over. Kitchen rolls have disappeared, no doubt to cut down and pressed into use when toilet paper runs out. Only kitchen roll doesn't break down in water like toilet paper, so sooner or later it'll cause blockages in sewage systems.

Then there's the profiteering on eBay from sellers of hand sanitisers, toilet rolls and other basic items.

My daughter-in-Law who is a Sister at our General Hospital has said that 'sanitiser dispensers' are being replaced by the maintenance team on average 5 times a day, due to ar$holes ripping them out & stealing the loo rolls from the loo's..............Fu@king animals , correction, Animals are BETTER

Loosemarbles wrote:

When, oh when will the government put a stop to this panic buying?

Possibly will only understood by some 'Brit's' .........

Is it more cunning than a fox who has just been appointed 'professor of cunning' at Oxford University?

Love it

Just asking...is everybody gone on the other side of the duck pond? No posts since Sunday?
We're on 3 weeks lock down here in sunny SA.

On the proper side of the duck pond, we're officially on lockdown now because previous appeals to be responsible, stay at home unless it's essential and social distancing hasn't worked. We have to stay at home unless it's for food, medicines, a short period of exercise, or you're an essential worker.

Almost all retail outlets and leisure outlets, hotels, cafés and restaurants have had to close down to protect workers and stop the spread of Coronavirus.

We had nice warm spring weather at the weekend and that was the perfect excuse for countless numpties to head to the coast, national parks, seaside resorts and herd together seemly oblivious of the risk of infection.

Others headed from high risk areas to their second homes, holiday homes, and caravans in rural England, Scotland, and Wales thinking they would safely ride out the worst there. That's been widely condemned as being totally irresponsible, and naturally the locals don't want them there at all.

Anyone high risk health wise will now receive a letter or communication to stay at home for the next 12 weeks and not go out at all. Plans are being drawn up to supply these 1.7 million with food and medicine delivered to their homes.

Then there's those already complaining they'll go 'stir crazy' and of mental health issues due to being confined to their home for long periods. That's likely to be the current Snowflake generation, not us old Boomers.

Here in my Canadian province within the True North, we're about to start a 14 day, government mandated shutdown of all non-essential operations. (See Meldrew's list). Interestingly, our government regulated/run alcohol distribution outlets have been mandated "essential". We're doing this largely for the same reasons as cited above ... the DOHeads that still don't get it!

IMHO, I'd rather give up a couple week of income and inconvenience if it helps to significantly reduce the COVID19 spread and threat. Our parents/grandparents went to war ... we're being asked to stay home.

Seems pretty easy to me ... even for the Snowflakes who tend to bury their heads and minds in tech anyway.

Honestly, I don't see the outside world much at all because I have been self-quarantined since March 16th. I don't go anywhere unless it's absolutely necessary, including grocery store. I have no symptoms of Covid-19 and that's exactly the way I want to keep it.
What stresses me out is the statistics. The number of new cases was 44% higher yesterday than the day before (Canada). Like everybody else, I would like to see a decline instead of increase.
I feel that the chance of surviving this pandemic is mostly up to the individual and of course, pure luck because the Canadian government is incompetent and whatever they do is way too little and way too late.

Like Might Mouse, I noticed the silence on the forum, it was deafening!

Maybe we're all deep in contemplation. I sometimes wonder whether the whole world should have shutdown and isolated themselves (as a country to start with) as soon as this all started in China. Would such action have reduced the spread? Would a global lock down in the beginning have created more chaos than we're facing now

Anyhow, stay safe and get some riding in while the roads are so quiet and the sun is shining...well it is here....bit chilly though.

Loosemarbles
Anyhow, stay safe and get some riding in while the roads are so quiet and the sun is shining...well it is here....bit chilly though.

You do mean of course, ride when you are getting food or medical supplies !

Oh, of course! Why else would you be out riding....just for fun?

It's fine saying that, but lots of riders can’t seem to function without being part of a group. I'd go as far as saying they are also programmed to ride to the same old  places they're always gone to. They're not going to go elsewhere if others have also had the same idea.

Anyway it's just another way of dodging your responsibility of staying at home. It's a bit like those asking on telly if it's OK to drive to a place they know that's secluded to walk and exercise. Even with the best intentions it likely to turn into a supermarket trip on the way home, just to see if there's any toilet rolls in or whatever.

Plus if you need prescription medicine you're in an at risk category anyway, and no one lives all that far away from a pharmacy.

The irony of it is, over the winter there's been ample opportunities to get out and ride as we've had a very mild winter, but cold weather, black ice, salted roads or whatever are the perfect reasons or excuse not to.

Then we had a few weekends of stormy wet and windy weather, floods, crud covered rural roads etc, more reasons not to to get suited up and out riding. All in the last three months when we all knew about Coronavirus but then it was only China's problem.

Now it's seriously becoming our problem and the biggest threat to our health since the 1918 Spanish Flu Pandemic. We're also aware of the high daily death rates from Coronavirus in Italy and Spain

But hey, we've had a week of Spring weather so let's forget everything we've been told not to do. It's OK to use meds and essential supplies to dodge lockdown restrictions to get out on our scooters and ride.

Maybe we need more rain to curb this stupidity.

Toilet roll shortages? Don't panic. Use a shower head to clean yourself and dry off with a hair dryer. It's more healthy and feels much cleaner. I know this for a fact after suffering an 'anal fissure' last year and I haven't used toilet roll since then.

Incidentally, an 'anal fissure' feels like *******ing broken glass and I couldn't sit down for weeks. Look it up.

Nothing to do with my SW but I thought it might be a useful hint

Not to make light of the Corona Virus but I have something for sale cheap!

I'll take half a dozen!

They said, a mask and gloves were enough to go to the grocery store.
THEY LIED!
Everybody else had clothes on!

Dale N. wrote:

Not to make light of the Corona Virus but I have something for sale cheap!

Bark is worse than the bite but in this case.

At the risk of getting my head bit off by Meldrew... I went for a short ride today for FUN! By myself and my destination, other than home was a fuel station which I paid at the pump; no chance of infecting anyone. I for one have NO problem riding alone and the weather was SO nice. My SWing ran beautifully, poor thing hadn't got ridden in two weeks!

Ride it. I'm bored day 4 of nothing to do and not ordered to stay home yet. SOON, I hope not.
I ride solo most of time it's my escape from life's stress . This will pass.

GHM-PM wrote:

At the risk of getting my head bit off by Meldrew...  I went for a short ride today for FUN! By myself and my destination, other than home was a fuel station which I paid at the pump; no chance of infecting anyone.  I for one have NO problem riding alone and the weather was SO nice. My SWing ran beautifully, poor thing hadn't got ridden in two weeks!

I'm not your mother, neither am I going to say riding helps me keep my sanity and all that nonsense. In places like the US Midwest and Canada they accept the long snowy winter months when their riding season is over without mental health issues.

So in these increasingly troubled times, if and when you do go out riding and have to refuel, just think of how many hands have touched the pump before you for long periods. Then pressed the buttons on the keypad, and pushed their plastic cards into the same slot.

You could use those disposable gloves used at diesel pumps or alcohol wipes to clean your hands afterwards before you put your gloves back on.

Keeping your riding gloves on might pick up something, and when you get home you'll take them off as normal, then pick them up with your bare hands again later.