OT: What changes are you and family making to your lifestyle due to coranavirus?

[NJHusky]

They aren't getting paid.....yet.

They have to treat, submit the claims, then wait for payment. But they likely don't have the cash-flow to handle purchasing everything needed (most business don't, most businesses try to keep as little cash as is necessary).

But they WILL get paid...are they paying for supplies with cash? Their suppliers have to wait too

 

[Giddyup5]

I'm talking about a hospital that can't pivot to provide an essential service. Isn't an unused hospital bed a better place to treat a critical patient than a tent in the park?? Can't a doc that specializes do general medicine during an emergency?

Am I mistaken or aren't there many non-profit hospitals? Maybe the issue is that we shouldn't have ANY for profit hospitals if they can't respond during a crisis.

There are non-profit hospitals but even they need to generate revenue. Elective surgeries that spend minimal time in the hospital is how money is generated. Think a total knee replacement that spends 1 night in the hospital. That money is then used for the non revenue generating specialties (ER, medicine, etc). Taking care of a Covid patient in the ICU for 2 weeks on a ventilator with expensive anti-viral treatment is incredibly costly and does not get fully reimbursed. It’s unfortunate but the reality.


The issue really is critical level of care beds. As of today Hartford hospital has 131 positive cases. The hospital has enough room for that and multiple contingency plans ( turning the post op recovery unit/OR into ICU level critical care units). If it needs, then plans have been discussed to pivot and use the children’s hospital icu units. But, a general medical or Peds bed currently is not what is needed.

Unfortunately it’s very hard for some specialists to practice general medicine. Many orthopedics/ plastics surgeons, radiologist, dermatologist, neurologists (and many others) haven’t used a stethoscope in over 10 years for example. They need critical care docs, anesthesiologist, pulmonologists, and ER physicians. Now, can specialists help out in ERs to offload them? Sure. For example, I could see MSK complaints so that ER docs can focus on the potential Covid patients. And I’ve volunteered to help if it gets to that.

Trust me, no health care provider is happy right now. We hope that this pandemic causes some desperately needed reform because our current health care system is a mess.

 

[Zanzman]

Turning the convention center into a Coronavirus hospital

 

[Jay-Bone]

Like many other things in life that can be used as a political weapon, I believe the truth lies somewhere in the middle.

I believe that the current covid is a real threat to many Americans who present certain risk factors. In fact I believe that I might fall into this category due to my hypertension and certain other genetic “gifts”. The few times I have had the flu or the norovirus have been particularly challenging for me even though I am in my early 40’s now. I could very well be one of those stories of seemingly healthy father of two that passes too soon.

I believe many of those who are at most risk to covid are also at risk for other unrelated afflictions, including but not limited to seasonal flu.

I believe that the mandatory quarantine effectively mitigates the risks of many of these afflictions. Maybe that explains the lower mortality rates - the vulnerable people that would be passing away in years past have lessened their exposure to the triggers that could initiate such a slide.

I believe that many but not all of the people who would secumb to covid would also secumb to the things that don’t generate the same press.

I believe the greatest gift that some people possess, which we often chalkup to the luck of reaching old age, are properly functioning parts.

As such, I believe that the we (the world) are overreacting to the covid threat. We cannot keep the inevitable at bay forever, and we will destroy our economy and many lives in the effort of trying.

The pivot to a way of life that is more sustainable, starting with a gradual relaxation of restrictions is coming.

I think everyone with a say in these decisions know this, and what happens in between are the game of politics.

succumb*

Sorry, I hate to do that. But secumb is just so cringe inducing, thought you could use the favor.

 

[Dream Jobbed 2.0]

Looks like today will break our streak of being below our highest day

 

[Dove]

It's not misleading at all. It is simply matching apples to apples for the purpose of drawing a comparison and everything is labeled. The conversation was about whether the non-corona death rate had risen. It hasn't.

The March numbers are the March numbers. You are trying to make something political that is not political at all. In fact, I can not tell what you are trying to say at all.

Do you have a point?

You seem to have a weird interest with death meters.

 

[Jaker]

Is this a joke?

(face in palm)

Of course it's a joke.

 

[87Xfer]

I've been active on another forum for 15+ years. It's a pretty mature place. But like here, threads on Coronavirus can go off the rails and get pretty confrontational. The mods have taken an interesting approach. If it gets too heated, a couple of times they've said ok, we're shutting this down for today, and closing this thread. Everyone take a deep breath (no pun intended) and anyone who wants to start a new Coronavirus thread tomorrow is more than welcome to.

It's actually been a revelation. It kills almost all of the personal one-on-one, off track back and forth nonsense. But keeps actual information flow going. It's pretty cool.

I think it would be a good practice in the BY recruiting threads, but may be useful here too.

 

[Kitaman]

Wife and I out early today (its her birthday as well as my oldest daughter), went to the grocery store for cake and stuff. Just reporting that practically everyone had a face mask on and wearing gloves. Even saw a woman with a damn plexiglass shield / helmet thingy.

I was proud to see so many conscientious people, including those in their cars riding around in masks. Not sure why they wore them inside the car, but hey its good to see masks period.

I had my deck redone, and the carpenter 2 weeks ago only had gloves (of course). This morning he came to haul away the debris and he and his co-worker had masks on. Nice!

Also stopped at the Cumberland Farms and self serve coffee is out, a worker is making coffee for people. Also can't use your own cups anymore. Clerks had no protection , management can do better.

I will say 2 months ago I would have been scared shirtless living like this in America, but this new norm is a great thing for now.

Just saying Fairfield County representing, taking care of business and trying our best to flatten that damn curve!

 

[Dream Jobbed 2.0]

Wife and out early today (its her birthday as well as my oldest daughter), went to the grocery store for cake and stuff. Just reporting that practically everyone had a face mask on and wearing gloves. Even saw a woman with a damn plexiglass shield / helmet thingy.

I was proud to see so many conscientious people, including those in their cars riding around in masks. Not sure why they were them inside the car, but hey its good to see masks period.

I had my deck redone, and the carpenter 2 weeks ago only had gloves (of course). This morning he came to haul away the debris and he and his co-worker had masks on. Nice!

Also stopped at the Cumberland Farms and self serve coffee is out, a worker is making coffee for people. Also can't use your own cups anymore. Clerks had no protection , management can do better.

I will say 2 months ago I would have been scared shirtless living like this in America, but this new norm is a great thing for now.

Just saying Fairfield County representing, taking care of business and trying our best to flatten that damn curve!

I stopped in a cumbies yesterday for the first time in a month man it was weird in there. I wonder if they’re going to go back to prepare foods when this passes. Their chorizo egg wrap is a big guilty pleasure.

 

[87Xfer]

I stopped in a cumbies yesterday for the first time in a month man it was weird in there. I wonder if they’re going to go back to prepare foods when this passes. Their chorizo egg wrap is a big guilty pleasure.

For some reason this reminded me of something else I miss from the northeast - linguica pizza.

 

[Palatine]

You seem to have a weird interest with death meters.

The death metrics are the most important. But I am interested in all the metrics. New York had it's first negative ICU bed count on Thursday (meaning 17 ICU beds came open). That was avery important milestone.

The metrics contain the real information. That is the data that tells us what is really happening. Many of the stories are interesting or enlightening. But slicing and dicing the data gives us the best view of reality. And they are the best predictor of the future.

 

[TRest]

Wife and out early today (its her birthday as well as my oldest daughter), went to the grocery store for cake and stuff. Just reporting that practically everyone had a face mask on and wearing gloves. Even saw a woman with a damn plexiglass shield / helmet thingy.

I was proud to see so many conscientious people, including those in their cars riding around in masks. Not sure why they were them inside the car, but hey its good to see masks period.

I had my deck redone, and the carpenter 2 weeks ago only had gloves (of course). This morning he came to haul away the debris and he and his co-worker had masks on. Nice!

Also stopped at the Cumberland Farms and self serve coffee is out, a worker is making coffee for people. Also can't use your own cups anymore. Clerks had no protection , management can do better.

I will say 2 months ago I would have been scared shirtless living like this in America, but this new norm is a great thing for now.

Just saying Fairfield County representing, taking care of business and trying our best to flatten that damn curve!

One of the things I have noticed is that most small contracting jobs/landscapers/tree removal etc. still seems to be going on everywhere. Is there an exception for construction projects, etc. or are people deciding for themselves that they are essential? Im not talking about road projects, more like someone getting siding replaced.

 

[Zanzman]

They could be considered essential I clean out house for staging or if someone passes and I’m considered essential for the real estate market

 

[superjohn]

One of the things I have noticed is that most small contracting jobs/landscapers/tree removal etc. still seems to be going on everywhere. Is there an exception for construction projects, etc. or are people deciding for themselves that they are essential? Im not talking about road projects, more like someone getting siding replaced.

There must be an exception because I live in Chicago where we've been pretty strict with stay at home and I still have workers building the house next to me. I have no clue how that's more essential than what most of us do.

 

[storrsroars]

One of the things I have noticed is that most small contracting jobs/landscapers/tree removal etc. still seems to be going on everywhere. Is there an exception for construction projects, etc. or are people deciding for themselves that they are essential? Im not talking about road projects, more like someone getting siding replaced.

OTOH, now would be a brilliant time for road construction with daily traffic down as low as we're ever going to see it.

 

[Jaker]

Construction is pretty much going on everywhere.

 

[Jaker]

What shortages are pissing you off?? For me it's flour, I wanted to fire up my piza oven this weekend and make a bunch of pies, went out yesterday and could not find any flour in the stores.

 

[Palatine]

One of the things I have noticed is that most small contracting jobs/landscapers/tree removal etc. still seems to be going on everywhere. Is there an exception for construction projects, etc. or are people deciding for themselves that they are essential? Im not talking about road projects, more like someone getting siding replaced.

Sunshine and fresh air are enemies to viruses. If workers like landscapers maintain ther distance from one another, they should be relatively safe. We just had a huge windstorm in DC and tree removal people were everywhere. But they seemed to be following guidelines and many wore masks.

 

[87Xfer]

Our garage door broke last week. As in the top panel actually broke, so the door just starts collapsing inward when you try to open it. Can't even open it manually. Kind of a PITA, but I'm inclined to just deal with it until until the COVID thing settles down rather than bring contractors in now.

 

[fatlucy]

Turning the convention center into a Coronavirus hospital

Started it yesterday.

 

[fatlucy]

Construction is pretty much going on everywhere.

Construction is essential. We cannot afford to lay off all the construction personnel. Especially by EO all at once. Job sites generally being safe. State is in constant contact with both industry and trades. It’s ok for now. May be able to get through if it doesn’t get too much worse.

 

[methodology]

Hospitals are asking the federal government because of incredible amount of shortage on masks and equipment. Especially in the harder hit areas.

For example, if I were to reuse a mask 2 months ago after seeing one patient with the regular flu and using that same mask for another patient I would likely get reported and suspended.

Now, they are asking us to use the same mask for weeks at a time because of the shortage. Distributors do not have enough supply and the little supply they do have is being price gouged as all these hospital systems bid for them. A 50 cent mask is going for $4-5.

My practice can not even buy and mask/gloves/cleaning equipment for the forseable future cause our vendors just do not have them to provide.

My small 15 person company just bought 1000 n95 masks and a case of Clorox wipes. I find it extremely difficult to believe companies with much larger purchasing power can't get these things from their supplier if I was able to. It was first come, first serve no back orders

 

[methodology]

I stopped in a cumbies yesterday for the first time in a month man it was weird in there. I wonder if they’re going to go back to prepare foods when this passes. Their chorizo egg wrap is a big guilty pleasure.

Stop and shop you can't order deli meat at the counter. You have to download an app and place your order. They recommend doing it before you leave to shop as it takes 45 min to fulfill order. Their kiosks in the store are also turned off (branford)

 

[Jay-Bone]

Construction is pretty much going on everywhere.

My company does work on high rise buildings. Boston commercial construction has been shut down for a while. I believe there was a stipulation that single family residential could continue. NYC commercial construction has been shut down about 2 weeks ago. However, they deemed low income housing to be able to continue as essential. Go figure. We are still working on a housing project renovation that is gigantic and occupied. Not sure why that loophole is allowed. Meanwhile half my company has gotten sick. NYC developers do not gaf about laborers. Our sole job in CT has continued throughout.

One of the low income new projects just got shutdown for a week while they clean the site after a worker tested positive. That will be a hefty cleaning bill as its a massive job site.

We just got a sizable bailout too, of which will mostly translate to bonuses as we're still operable.

 

[Zanzman]

Started it yesterday.

Posted it yesterday

 

[Kitaman]

One of the things I have noticed is that most small contracting jobs/landscapers/tree removal etc. still seems to be going on everywhere. Is there an exception for construction projects, etc. or are people deciding for themselves that they are essential? Im not talking about road projects, more like someone getting siding replaced.

In CT landscaping companies can still operate. Its part of public safety the Gov't claims. Construction is still going on, I assume unfinished projects (particularly big buildings and the like) need to get finished for payments to be made, hence contract fulfillment.

I know my carpenter is busy with so many home improvements going on. I guess with people being at home 24/7, a lot of undone or prolonged jobs become more noticeable. My wife is bringing up stuff from 3 years ago that I kept putting off. Honey Do lists are impossible to put off nowadays, especially if one wants peace while quarantining.

Also people want their prisons to be much more comfortable (as in my case with remodeling my deck).

 

[Giddyup5]

My small 15 person company just bought 1000 n95 masks and a case of Clorox wipes. I find it extremely difficult to believe companies with much larger purchasing power can't get these things from their supplier if I was able to. It was first come, first serve no back orders

That’s what our COO told us last week. Hopefully your right and it’s easier now. Thanks

 

[browndog319]

In CT landscaping companies can still operate. Its part of public safety the Gov't claims. Construction is still going on, I assume unfinished projects (particularly big buildings and the like) need to get finished for payments to be made, hence contract fulfillment.

I know my carpenter is busy with so many home improvements going on. I guess with people being at home 24/7, a lot of undone or prolonged jobs become more noticeable. My wife is bringing up stuff from 3 years ago that I kept putting off. Honey Do lists are impossible to put off nowadays, especially if one wants peace while quarantining.

Also people want their prisons to be much more comfortable (as in my case with remodeling my deck).

I get it. I would ordinarily pay someone to paint interiors but that seems dangerous. But I’m a pretty good painter, actually. My daughter wants her room painted so I might do it while I’m cooped up.
Is it essential, however, to go to Home Depot to get paint mixed? I’m wearing a mask now so I don’t know. I’m sort of torn. And I can only buy gas for the grill at a place like Home Depot, so if I was going there anyway, is it really wrong?

 

[storrsroars]

I get it. I would ordinarily pay someone to paint interiors but that seems dangerous. But I’m a pretty good painter, actually. My daughter wants her room painted so I might do it while I’m cooped up.
Is it essential, however, to go to Home Depot to get paint mixed? I’m wearing a mask now so I don’t know. I’m sort of torn. And I can only buy gas for the grill at a place like Home Depot, so if I was going there anyway, is it really wrong?

No it's not wrong and it's pretty safe if you follow all the safety recommendations. Doesn't sound like you're going out every day for a few things and being careless.