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Ok, time for serious talk: the virus and you

54K views 2K replies 105 participants last post by  gdb85 
#1 ·
Since this is the old persons forum, it makes sense to discuss how this virus affects a person differently based on age.

Plainly put: the older you are, the more lethal the virus is to you,

So here’s the thing about a virus: you make yourself sick by the actions you take.

#1: a virus is not alive, it uses your cells to reproduce
#2: a mask will not protect you from getting sick, masks minimize the spread of the virus from a sick person to their environment
#3: your hands are the primary vector of contagion
#4: your eyes, nose, and mouth are the way the virus gets into your body

So what can you do?

#1: Keep your fingers out of your eyes, nose, or mouth

#2: Clean your hands before putting your fingers in your eyes, nose, or mouth

#3: Avoid places where many people pass through, like movie theaters, public transportation, and grocery stores.

#4: Stay home if you are sick

#5: Don’t go to your doctor and ask to be tested, it doesn’t change a damn thing because there’s no treatment and there’s no cure.

#6: Only seek treatment if your condition is becoming life threatening.

This virus, like many before it, will ultimately infect everyone. Some will never even know they were sick, some will get really sick.

Social isolation is effective for this virus

Standard precautions are effective for this virus.

Don’t freak out, just be freakin safe, and stop picking your damn nose 🙄

Thank you.
 
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#2 ·
If you have a mask that is n95 rated however, this WILL help protect you from infection, altho not foolproof.

In addition to the above, if you do have to go out to a busy place, it is a good idea to spray outer clothing with a solution of whatever will kill the virus, but check for toxicity and fabric damage of course. My wife and I are very high risk so we have a little cleaning station in the garage before we go in the house. We are used to these measures as she is very mold allergic, so when I come back from a trip, I always clean and spray down with mold spray, then shower before having too much contact in the house. Clothing goes straight in the machine.
None of this foolproof of course, but will help minimize risk.
 
#3 ·
Since this is the old persons forum, it makes sense to discuss how this virus affects a person differently based on age.

Plainly put: the older you are, the more lethal the virus is to you,

So here's the thing about a virus: you make yourself sick by the actions you take.

#1: a virus is not alive, it uses your cells to reproduce
#2: a mask will not protect you from getting sick, masks minimize the spread of the virus from a sick person to their environment
#3: your hands are the primary vector of contagion
#4: your eyes, nose, and mouth are the way the virus gets into your body

So what can you do?

#1: Keep your fingers out of your eyes, nose, or mouth

#2: Clean your hands before putting your fingers in your eyes, nose, or mouth

#3: Avoid places where many people pass through, like movie theaters, public transportation, and grocery stores.

#4: Stay home if you are sick

#5: Don't go to your doctor and ask to be tested, it doesn't change a damn thing because there's no treatment and there's no cure.

#6: Only seek treatment if your condition is becoming life threatening.

This virus, like many before it, will ultimately infect everyone. Some will never even know they were sick, some will get really sick.

Social isolation is effective for this virus

Standard precautions are effective for this virus.

Don't freak out, just be freakin safe, and stop picking your damn nose ?

Thank you.
Good post. Thanks.
 
#5 ·
My nephew and his live-in are both potters and actually make their living at our local farmers market throughout most of the year. That event schedules for every Saturday has been cancelled until further notice, and that is their sole source of income other than sales on the side. Lots of people are going to be feeling this in the wallet.
In the big picture this virus is not the end of the world, unless of course it kills you. That part is just like the flu: many get it, few die. Most of us who get it will live on to die of something else, like cancer or Parkinson's, or if lucky, even old age.
 
#6 ·
Since this is the old persons forum, it makes sense to discuss how this virus affects a person differently based on age...
Thanks for that.

Sadly it is likely to carry away some of us, but maybe we can take comfort from this:



Best of luck folks.
 
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#9 ·
Nurse Ben, what do you think us over 65 gym rats should do? I've always suspected that my gym was a petri-dish. My current strategy is long pants, long sleeve T's or sweatshirts, and full-fingered gloves. I spray the gloves with lysol before I get back in my van. I'm working out to maintain my shoulder stability after a rotator cuff surgical repair failed.
Or should I just ride my bike?
 
#13 ·
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/201...coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/transmission.html

How COVID-19 Spreads

Person-to-person spread

The virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person.

Between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet).
Through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes.

These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs.

Can someone spread the virus without being sick?

People are thought to be most contagious when they are most symptomatic (the sickest).
Some spread might be possible before people show symptoms; there have been reports of this occurring with this new coronavirus, but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads.

Spread from contact with contaminated surfaces or objects

It may be possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes, but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads.
 
#16 ·
People unconsciously touch their facial area throughout the day. Since your hands are the primary vector of contagion, and the eyes, nose, and mouth are the way the virus gets into your body, a mask in fact can effectively block you from transmitting what you pick up on your hands to your mouth and nose. It may also keep you aware enough to keep your hands away from your eyes.

Agreed the mask won't stop airborne droplets someone coughs into the air in front of you, but the physical barrier in between your hands and your mouth/nose can make a difference.

Having said that, in a time of great shortage of protective gear, medical personnel should be fully stocked before these items are made available generally, IMO.
 
#20 ·
Since your hands are the primary vector of contagion, and the eyes, nose, and mouth are the way the virus gets into your body
Is there somewhere besides the CDC that has information on how the virus spreads?

Because the information I posted above doesn't suggest this. Sure it's a very good thing to wash your hands and not touch your face, but from what I gather from the CDC is that "this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads."
 
#17 ·
I want to attack the maroons who bought all the bananas at the super. If your family eats a dozen bananas a week, what are you going to do with 3 or 4 dozen? They're going to have to wolf down a lot of bananas, or bake them into something. That goes for all the other perishables that are sold out.

Compared to that, stocking up on TP makes a lot of sense. At least it won't go bad and you'll be able to use it...eventually.
 
#19 ·
I want to attack the maroons who bought all the bananas at the super. If your family eats a dozen bananas a week, what are you going to do with 3 or 4 dozen? They're going to have to wolf down a lot of bananas, or bake them into something. That goes for all the other perishables that are sold out.

Compared to that, stocking up on TP makes a lot of sense. At least it won't go bad and you'll be able to use it...eventually.
very true. it amazes to me as I walk through various stores. All the people stocking up on perishable items... don't the realize there is a shelf life?
How much of all the produce purchased will go rotten before eaten, thus depleting everyones supply for the next few weeks. That same person will be back at the store buying even more

What really amazed me, at Walmart, there was NO liquid cold medicine... and no aspirin/Tylenol / Advil on the shelves... wiped out... What is this going to do for you, except have a 10yr supply at your house.
 
#18 ·
#2: a mask will not protect you from getting sick, masks minimize the spread of the virus from a sick person to their environment
True; a mask will not filter out the airborne particles, but it will stop the spit that some will project when talking, it will also stop the sneeze from someone else from coming straight into your mouth. It is effective for that. Its a new procedure at the local Dr office. Its a 1st line of defense.
 
#22 ·
from all I have heard on the news from the medical reports, talking to my lady who is on the front lines at the Dr office she works at, the hands typically enter the body more than other means... rub you eyes, pick nose food in the mouth, those are the entry points. So far it will not enter through skin contact. Its a liquids transfer/transport,
 
#24 ·
A quick Google does show it entering those ways, so it must be possible to pick it up on your finger and rub it in your eye: https://www.nytimes.com/article/coronavirus-body-symptoms.html

How does this coronavirus cause infection?

The virus is spread through droplets transmitted into the air from coughing or sneezing, which people nearby can take in through their nose, mouth or eyes. The viral particles in these droplets travel quickly to the back of your nasal passages and to the mucous membranes in the back of your throat, attaching to a particular receptor in cells, beginning there.

Coronavirus particles have spiked proteins sticking out from their surfaces, and these spikes hook onto cell membranes, allowing the virus's genetic material to enter the human cell.

That genetic material proceeds to "hijack the metabolism of the cell and say, in effect, 'Don't do your usual job. Your job now is to help me multiply and make the virus,'" said Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease specialist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville.

You are correct.

This got away from them if it was not on purpose, because its airborne for 3 hour, generally the virus will enter from hands touching entry points. But it lives a long time out of the body, and in the air, and airborne is why they cannot get a handle on this.
I watched an interview with Michael Osterholm and I believe he said it didn't even have to be droplets, I could be floating in the air surrounding you, which is why so many people on the cruise ships got infected.

 
#29 ·
Meanwhile the UK govt has floated the idea of imprisoning everyone over 70 in their own home, and not providing any treatment to over 65s.

They're backing off from that now, but if there hadn't been such a reaction, I could see it having become policy.
 
#32 ·
Maybe one should read and redact a paragraph if one is copying and pasting unsubstantiated rhetoric.

Keep that negative rep coming, for those of you with IQ's below what a fence post possesses.

Fact is, it will NOT infect everyone. Those of you with low intellects questioning me, please feel free to post something credible that substantiates such, its not my job to substantiate your idiocy and imagination.
 
#42 ·
Only time will tell for sure if Nurse Ben is right or not. But if it's anything like the flu (which comes back every year) then he is not that far off. Not everyone but just about most has the flu in their lifetime.

Maybe one should read and redact a paragraph if one is copying and pasting unsubstantiated rhetoric.

Keep that negative rep coming, for those of you with IQ's below what a fence post possesses.

Fact is, it will NOT infect everyone. Those of you with low intellects questioning me, please feel free to post something credible that substantiates such, its not my job to substantiate your idiocy and imagination.
 
#36 ·
It may not infect everyone, but it will infect most of us eventually. All the social distancing in the world isn't going to prevent that. The challenge is to slow down the infection rate so that medical care doesn't get overwhelmed. We should definitely take reasonable precautions, but we aren't going to be able to stop it. You can disagree with me all you want, but time will prove my point.
 
#41 ·
Thanks Nurse Ben...

My kid was attending a college semester abroad program in Florence, Italy and made it home last week. She is self-quarantining at my ex'$ house for two weeks.

I'm not as concerned about myself so much as inadvertently passing it on to an elderly parent/friend/etc. or someone who have may have a compromised immune system. So I am minimizing interactions with others for now.
 
#43 ·
Ben prob left out the word 'almost'. He seems a sensible person with common sense, so give him a break outhouse. Calling his intelligence into question is unnecessarily hostile and personal. The fact is, almost all of us will get it, and many will have no idea. You included. Everything else he says is eminently sensible.
 
#44 ·
Meh, if you're only getting your Corona virus news from Mtbr than good for you! If not than the news is pedaling more gloom & doom than nurse Ben. Being a nurse his outlook is probably a bit more realistic to his circumstances. Most of us will just be at home trying to find room for toilet paper.

We might all get it, most likely not. But getting the virus isn't a death sentence. Your stress levels do effect your well being. So I wouldn't worry about it.

Negatives: all pretty obvious. Oh your stocks have dropped in value more than your 27.5". Sell before they reach 26" levels.

Positives: Less travel = less CO2 = happy hippies. You've got enough toilet paper to last a year! After the stock market drops another 30% it's a buying opportunity. Plenty of 2020 bikes will be on fire sale at the end of the year.

If you get the Corona virus & survive you'll be a god among men/women/trans. Assuming you've built up immunity. The world will be your oyster. Travel and walk the Earth with your head held high. If you get it again, you know the drill. Rinse and repeat. Probably should have done more of that, you got cocky.
 
#47 ·
I am genuinely concerned about some very large companies at this point. Exxon has been steadily selling assets to cover its dividend for a few years now. They simply can't make money on $30 oil. No non-government oil company can.

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/exc...assets-to-focus-on-mega-projects-sources-2019

Ford is even worse. It doesn't really have assets to sell. It is close to maxed out on credit, and its stock is way in the tank.

A loss of a mega-company like Exxon or Ford would tip us way further into the hole. Of course, we may just print money to cover them, but that has consequences as well.

What about insurance companies? They can't be feeling good right now.
 
#49 ·
2007–2009 was a 17-month bear market that lasted from October 9, 2007 to March 9, 2009, during the financial crisis of 2007-2009. The S&P 500 lost approximately 50% of its value.

I dont think this is going to be any better. I'd assume worse as we've got another 6 months at least before the world moves on.

The Dow has already dipped to almost a 50% loss High of 29,958 low or 20,387 & this thing is in it's infancy.
 
#51 ·
2007-2009 was a 17-month bear market that lasted from October 9, 2007 to March 9, 2009, during the financial crisis of 2007-2009. The S&P 500 lost approximately 50% of its value.

I dont think this is going to be any better. I'd assume worse as we've got another 6 months at least before the world moves on.

The Dow has already dipped to almost a 50% loss High of 29,958 low or 20,387 & this thing is in it's infancy.
If you MUST sell to raise cash for something in the next 6 months, then it might be wise to sell now as it may go lower.

In 2008 if you had sold half way to the bottom, Dow at 10k it would have taken about a year to bottom and bounce back up to 10k. For most, that window was pretty small to sit it out.

One must also consider taxes. If one sells equities bought 4 years ago, there would be a good chance of capital gains.

I think the psychology of the this event is much different than the financial crisis and expect it to recover about as quickly as it went down. The quicker this is over the less structural financial damage.
 
#53 ·
If you have been nearing retirement your plan should have been rebalancing all of the gains to low risk every quarter. That is cushioning the fall and will provide income if needed. Meanwhile buy on a regular basis and ignore the herd from a position out of its path.
Life goes on.
Your time is just as limited as it ever was.
Most of the negative activity is a result of speculation, rumor, and posturing.
It all passes.
 
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