Impact of the Coronavirus and Self-Isolation

[DinoToyForum]

@dinotoyforum I see that the Natural History Museum in London has just announced that it is closed to the public until at least the summer.  Perhaps your institution and mine will follow suit now.

It makes sense to close museums. They are incredibly important, of course, but ultimately non-essential in times like these. (Don't let anyone know I said that!)

Yes, our museum is following suit - closing to the public - with immediate effect. It is for the best.

[UK]

I work in a hospital in Dorset and there has been a lot of activity for preparation but very little contact with infected patients.

It's difficult to assess the health impact this will have but it's financial burden will be with us for years.

As it stands all staff at our hospital are carrying duties out as normal. I've requested to be added to a volunteers list to help with anything in reason that I can do outside of my normal duties.

Misinformation and rumours are adding to the anxiety and calls into question the integrity of social media. And as for the hoarders and bulk buyers, may you hold your heads in shame when we emerge from this. Today and individual had 112 rolls of toilet paper, depleting stocks for everyone else. Madness.

[DinoToyForum]

I work in a hospital in Dorset and there has been a lot of activity for preparation but very little contact with infected patients.

It's difficult to assess the health impact this will have but it's financial burden will be with us for years.

As it stands all staff at our hospital are carrying duties out as normal. I've requested to be added to a volunteers list to help with anything in reason that I can do outside of my normal duties.

Misinformation and rumours are adding to the anxiety and calls into question the integrity of social media. And as for the hoarders and bulk buyers, may you hold your heads in shame when we emerge from this. Today and individual had 112 rolls of toilet paper, depleting stocks for everyone else. Madness.

Best of luck, better to be prepared than surprised.

[Lanthanotus]

I am on forced "vacations" at the moment. My place of work is closed at least until the 19th of April. I have to do some "homework", but the temporal range of that is quite limited so to say. The good point is, I am - as of yet - paid and have to take no holiday days or overtime compensation - though that may change. The government suggested self isolation which is not a biggy right now, as I`ve got a lot of stuff to do around the house and garden, but my son obviously has to stay at home to and is not to see any friends which will be quite boring for him even with all the time me and my wife got, the toys, garden etc.. But right now, that seems like a problem that`s nice to have.... after all we are healthy (again, all of us got a cough or cold in Australia or right after, so maybe already had our mild Corona infection, I can`t say) and... yeah... life`s good. Last but not least, postal service still works and I got a first few figures of the 2020 lineup

[EmperorDinobot]

This is going to affect us through the summer. I was supposed to work some concession stands beginning in May and I now seem to be out of a job yet again.


I have two friends who are biologists, one of them works for WA and they say it's...worse than I think. I'm not one for being scared, but this, I think, may be it, folks.

[Faelrin]

I'm actually worrying about the state of the economy in my country/the US. Lots of people being laid off, lots of places shutting down indefinitely, etc. I'm already hearing fears of a depression in the near future. No doubt this will impact my family in time. I fear we (and many others) may face eviction if something doesn't change soon (such as pausing rent, etc). We are okay for this month, but it is the coming months I am worried about. At least we just got back on food stamps again for now.

Then there's also the fear of the virus infecting my parents (which could kill them as they have a lot of conditions that make them vulnerable to it), my other relatives, if not me as well. This is a truly horrific time and there is no telling how long this will keep up for.

Self isolation is rather easy for me. I rarely leave the house as it is. I get my social needs from family, pets, and online really, so at least I wouldn't need to worry about spreading it. However it is my parents I am really worried about in all of this who still go out to work and are at risk of encountering someone infected.

[Brontozaurus]

The museums here in Melbourne (Aus) have shut down indefinitely as of last week. I was considering getting back into the museum industry now that I've found my feet after moving here, but looks like that dream's on hold. Honestly, trying to get a career going post-pandemic seems downright impossible, even if (or especially if) I go back to studying, which I've also been thinking about. I'm worries for friends and family too, particularly as I know several people who are immunocompromised and really couldn't afford to catch corona.

I also have many thoughts about how my government is handling this, though the less said about them the better considering this isn't a political forum. 

[Syndicate Bias]

I've been increasingly day trading now that my job may lay me off soon. I'm not worried since the stock market is being good to me to where I have a seizable income from it, just don't like having a pay cut which paid for essentials so I guess I gotta tone down on my hobbies and expenses. Might still buy more dinosaurs because recession/Pandemic or not, it's always time for dinos. 

[Dinoxels]

My school has now moved to online learning till the end of March. My local aquarium also shut down, so it's new expansion might be delayed. Also apparently a guy who works at a semi-local museum got the virus, so that whole building could be infected.

[EmperorDinobot]

I've been increasingly day trading now that my job may lay me off soon. I'm not worried since the stock market is being good to me to where I have a seizable income from it, just don't like having a pay cut which paid for essentials so I guess I gotta tone down on my hobbies and expenses. Might still buy more dinosaurs because recession/Pandemic or not, it's always time for dinos. 

...How do you buy stocks? I've got nobody in my life who'll answer that.

[Syndicate Bias]

I've been increasingly day trading now that my job may lay me off soon. I'm not worried since the stock market is being good to me to where I have a seizable income from it, just don't like having a pay cut which paid for essentials so I guess I gotta tone down on my hobbies and expenses. Might still buy more dinosaurs because recession/Pandemic or not, it's always time for dinos. 

...How do you buy stocks? I've got nobody in my life who'll answer that.

I don't buy stocks I buy/sell contracts for shares aka Options Trading. Two different things but to help you out just download ThinkOrSwim or Etrade but since you're a beginner do Robinhood or Webull to understand the basics more easily. Stocks right now are a no go because things will get worse but either way buying Disney shares and Apple and Tesla and so on wouldn't be bad for the long run.

[DinoToyForum]

I've been increasingly day trading now that my job may lay me off soon. I'm not worried since the stock market is being good to me to where I have a seizable income from it, just don't like having a pay cut which paid for essentials so I guess I gotta tone down on my hobbies and expenses. Might still buy more dinosaurs because recession/Pandemic or not, it's always time for dinos. 

...How do you buy stocks? I've got nobody in my life who'll answer that.

I don't buy stocks I buy/sell contracts for shares aka Options Trading. Two different things but to help you out just download ThinkOrSwim or Etrade but since you're a beginner do Robinhood or Webull to understand the basics more easily. Stocks right now are a no go because things will get worse but either way buying Disney shares and Apple and Tesla and so on wouldn't be bad for the long run.

Seriously, though, just as @Stegotyranno was chastised upthread, I think what you've been saying is equally provocative and insensitive. You correctly described it as "vile" yourself, so you know this. I'm sure many members are holding their tongue, and going forward I'd appreciate it if you refrain from explaining how you're profiting from this serious global pandemic. Thanks.

@ceratopsian, I see your museum is closed now, too. I'm in the midst of a major renovation of our galleries, so although we're closed to the public, that work is still continuing behind the scenes.

[terrorchicken]

 why the hell are people hoarding toilet paper? I get stuff like hand sanitizers and soap but is it going to get so bad that toilet paper companies are gonna shut down? My mom is elderly and well lets just say she's always in need of tp, we're down to 6 rolls. I cant find the stuff anywhere here, I feel like the friggin' Great Cornholio.

[Crackington]

You could try online office supplies as they sometimes also sell loo rolls and other things like cleaning materials for offices. They tend to be in larger sizes but will last you a while. This may also help them economically as offices close and they can still get some business. Also takes pressure off supermarkets.

Other places to check are online restaurant suppliers etc as they are feeling the pinch as their customer base closes.

Not sure of ethics of all this, but it may help in long run. Suspect they'll all be part of overall supply chain if rationing brought in.

[Shonisaurus]

I think that as the situation in Spain is getting, it is a critical situation, the ration card will have to be imposed, the same that my parents and grandparents suffered after the Civil War in Spain and after the Second World War, which lasted for many years later, although in this case the ration card for those of us who live in Madrid or other places in Spain would be temporary. It is my opinion but the deaths and the saturation of hospitals and the number of patients is skyrocketing. What is happening in the world is a punishment of nature literally speaking.

[MLMjp]

I think that as the situation in Spain is getting, it is a critical situation, the ration card will have to be imposed, the same that my parents and grandparents suffered after the Civil War in Spain and after the Second World War, which lasted for many years later, although in this case the ration card for those of us who live in Madrid or other places in Spain would be temporary. It is my opinion but the deaths and the saturation of hospitals and the number of patients is skyrocketing. What is happening in the world is a punishment of nature literally speaking.

Shonisaurus, the situation is bad but they won't impose ration cards! Supermarkets are still supplying groceries with maybe some exceptions.

The main issue is the lack of medical material like gloves, mask, protective equipment for the medical stuff... etc. And that because of the increasing number of cases the hospitals are beyond crowded. Also some medical stuff are already infected, so that also another problem.

The worst case case scenario that this could lead to is that they might have to decide which patients are "priorities" and which one are not, which might result in more victims. BUT AGAIN, worst case scenario. WE DONT KNOW IF THIS WILL HAPPEN.

And I also live in Madrid, so I know what I am talking about.

[terrorchicken]

Crackington I was finally able to score two tp packs today, though I may have to give one to my sis if she cant find any this weekend and she has a family of four. I have thought of office supplies stores too, though I didn't think they'd have toilet paper. I still need hand sanitizer though.

Shonisaurus most stores here are only allowing 2 of each product per person, but Im sure larger families can probably get around that by having  family members buy the products individually. I was thinking of the rationing method too, we did it here during WW2 but I have a feeling there will be some who will object to it for some reason or other.

The worst case case scenario that this could lead to is that they might have to decide which patients are "priorities" and which one are not, which might result in more victims

that has me horrified! My mom is a 77 yr old diabetic, I worry she'd come out losing in that kind of situation.   

[Shonisaurus]

I think that as the situation in Spain is getting, it is a critical situation, the ration card will have to be imposed, the same that my parents and grandparents suffered after the Civil War in Spain and after the Second World War, which lasted for many years later, although in this case the ration card for those of us who live in Madrid or other places in Spain would be temporary. It is my opinion but the deaths and the saturation of hospitals and the number of patients is skyrocketing. What is happening in the world is a punishment of nature literally speaking.

Shonisaurus, the situation is bad but they won't impose ration cards! Supermarkets are still supplying groceries with maybe some exceptions.

The main issue is the lack of medical material like gloves, mask, protective equipment for the medical stuff... etc. And that because of the increasing number of cases the hospitals are beyond crowded. Also some medical stuff are already infected, so that also another problem.

The worst case case scenario that this could lead to is that they might have to decide which patients are "priorities" and which one are not, which might result in more victims. BUT AGAIN, worst case scenario. WE DONT KNOW IF THIS WILL HAPPEN.

And I also live in Madrid, so I know what I am talking about.

It is a personal opinion and totally exaggerated on my part. I live in Madrid and I know that I am very exaggerated in all aspects of my life but honestly I am scared, tomorrow I will have to go from my home to the supermarket to buy food and cleaning materials and then I will go to the pharmacy to buy medicine and tape for my father's tube (he has old benign bulbous urethral stricture) and he preferred not to have surgery.

I am honestly afraid of taking the coronavirus and I am going to wear a mask, but last Saturday I bought food stocks there was a sincerely excessive crowd. I think that in Madrid (I am the first) and other people (perhaps a minority) we have not taken the coronavirus problem seriously at first, but this disease is not a flu. Yesterday a national police officer who could almost be my son died, he was ten years younger than I was 38 years old.

@MLMjp I apologize, it was not my intention, but if the infection continues to progress so greatly, it will be necessary to choose which patient has to be saved and who should leave it to their fate as it has happened in Italy. What was said about food rationing was an exaggerated comment on my part, I made that comment at work and a coworker was funny and told me that as long as I had to eat for free I was sure that I would want the system of ration card. It was an unfortunate comment and I apologize to my countrymen in Spain for this exaggeration on my part.

[Pachyallosaurus]

Hello everyone, it's been a while since I was last active on this forum, but I just wanted to get everyone's opinions on this situation. So I might be going through withdrawal at the moment and I've been itching to buy some new figures. However, I'm not sure if I should due to the possible risk of getting covid from the package. I've heard some people say to just wait it out, and yet at the same time many others are continuing to buy stuff. I'm really on the fence right now. I could wait until the pandemic calms a bit, but I'm worried that certain figures will disappear or skyrocket in price before that happens.

[stargatedalek]

Hello everyone, it's been a while since I was last active on this forum, but I just wanted to get everyone's opinions on this situation. So I might be going through withdrawal at the moment and I've been itching to buy some new figures. However, I'm not sure if I should due to the possible risk of getting covid from the package. I've heard some people say to just wait it out, and yet at the same time many others are continuing to buy stuff. I'm really on the fence right now. I could wait until the pandemic calms a bit, but I'm worried that certain figures will disappear or skyrocket in price before that happens.

A package that goes through shipping will kill any viruses on the items. In stable conditions the exact length the virus can survive is indeterminate (not likely more than a few days), but transporting a package (especially airmail) changes the temperature significantly and for long enough periods so as to kill it with certainty.

The concern is with local contamination after arrival. The virus can be asymptomatic, meaning postal workers may not know they have it. To avoid this you can simply wipe down a package after receiving it, or wash your hands (and the item) after opening it and disposing of the box.