I work in state government in a large office tower. There has been absolutely no leadership or reassurance that measures are being pursued to address this pandemic.
Out bathrooms are not cleaned regularly. Door knobs, elevator button, the paper towel lever, the stall doors... NEVER cleaned. There has been the same pubic hairs in the sink all week.
Our floors are not vacuumed. Employees are responsible for cleaning their own cubicle areas.
We have been sent an email reminding us to wash our hands and to stay home if sick - and to call HR with any further concerns. We are afraid to call HR because they will know who's phon the call is from and they will regard you as a complainer and trouble maker.
I am experiencing severe anxiety going to work every morning.
There is no leadership and complete disregard for proactive preparation.
Over three months late to act upon.
Another problem to attack is what to do with young children of healthcare workers when schools are closed to stop the spread of the corona virus. Nurses and housekeeping staff, in particular, don’t have the resources to both work and look after young children at home simultaneously. This will be a big staffing problem. Family support exists for some but not all of the healthcare establishment. Hard to run medical facilities without enough nurses or housekeeping and support staff.
Someone needs to be thinking of solutions. Too bad the Trump administration eliminated all the pandemic committees and related offices. His ad hoc solution is so far not encouraging.
5
A society means people interacting with each other. All the proposed ideas are about isolation. While crowds mean higher chance of contagion but is the situation overblown?
To be clear, I am no Trump and anti-science deniers. Science is real. Even if you don't know much about the more technical aspect of science, vaccines and medicines save lives; prayers don't even if they too can give you a psychological boost and good for morale. Science and faith are two wings of a bird.
But I also remember the hysteria of AIDS in the mid 80s. HIV positive individuals were treated terribly then. And that lasted for a long time. Until the disease got de-mythified and there are better medicines to treat and manage it.
So, don't be cavalier like the Trump gang on one hand and don't panic yourself to hysteria on the other. One should still be able to go to work and live with others. Most of the infected will get cured and live. The old and vulnerable will die one way or another. Be sensible!
If "no one has a playbook for this" than quite a few corporate risk management officers, boards of directors, and small business owners have failed in their responsibilities. This isn't the first time we've been in this type of a situation, nor will it be the last. This is exactly why scenario planning should be a critical aspect of any organization's operations.
6
Many businesses and information technology divisions do in fact have existing policies, procedures, and playbooks for handling a variety of scenarios, emergencies, and disasters.
Many industries already have the technologies to enable employees to telecommute (work from home) via remote access, voice conferencing, video conferencing, etc.
Modern data centers and the equipment they house are already remotely managed. In times like these, Cloud computing is a boon for businesses that have already converted to this technology.
Government and supply chains need to ensure facemasks, disinfectant hand cleaner, and sterile gloves are available in abundance.
We'll get through this. Yes, some businesses will see a temporary decline in revenue, such as airlines, movie theaters, indoor concerts, amusement parks, and other places where people are in close proximity.
But if everyone pitches in to protect themselves and stay healthy, we will get through this. We always do.
Who pays for quarantine?
1
Business travel is mostly an unnecessary waste of time and money & a big addition to pollution. Most office hours and requirements to do jobs in a certain place at a certain time is another scam. And lastly, when forced to be home with partners and kids for days on end, it’s going to get ugly. All sorts of new lessons will be learned.
7
Dear Mr. President,
Please stop pretending you know what to do -- now -- about the spread of the coronavirus. You don't, and we are beginning to be certain you don't know what you are talking about.
Your happy talk will not help us or save us. We need experts. You know, the very people you have no respect for and whose jobs you abolished, jobs that had been created to save us from this situation. https://tinyurl.com/ufpweec
You apparently thought there would be no need for experts, real scientists. You seem to prefer the kind of "experts" who just utter whatever you want them to utter, so you can lull Americans into a sense of feeling safe.
We are not safe.
And your pretending and outright lying is not helping.
Infected people are infected, no matter what you say.
Sick people are sick, no matter what you claim.
And dead people are dead, no matter how much distraction you employ.
So, please: Turn this situation over to real experts, not to the Vice President, who has zero knowledge of how to deal with a pandemic.
Thank you on behalf of all people everywhere.
11
What I don't get is the surprise businesses and their employees are exhibiting.
I have masks in my supply room, along with hand sanitizer. Always have had. I started to store masks when Mt. St. Helens erupted.
Years ago I discovered that a side effect of my lung issues was pneumonia. Making me a high risk for respiratory illness. I have asthma. And I am over 65. These are not new circumstances for me. As a result I have necessary tools, like anti-bacterial solutions and wipes, cold meds. Etc.
25,000,000 people in this country have asthma. They didn't get it yesterday. Why wouldn't they all already have supplies. Why doesn't everyone?
Colds and flu aren't new and they can lead to illnesses that cause death which can be prevented by doing all the things suggested here.
I have asthma and pneumonia, yes, I have it now, because of a serious Bronchial infection I caught at work decades ago. It will likely shorten my life.
My employer, the US government, had no policy for preventing illness. None. Their policy was that three days was plenty of time off to keep from spreading any illness. It wasn't of course, that was why I got sick.
Today the law gives us 40 hours, but most illnesses need 80. But that would be really expensive. Expensive for who exactly. My illness has cost me a small fortune. I am sure it has cost my insurance company a few dollars too. What if some of that money had been spent up front to prevent me getting sick to begin with?
8
About masks, from an RN: Covid-19 is spread by droplets, from a sneeze, cough, or even speaking. Most (not all) droplets fall about 6 feet from the infected person. Caregivers spend most of their time in that droplet zone. Length of time spent exposed to an infectious person seems to matter, too. RN's frequently work 12hr (often longer) shifts. Risk of exposure is far greater than say, walking past someone in the grocery store. The mask used for isolation patients is an N-95 mask; filters out 95% of airborne particles. They are not 1 size fits all. RN's need to be tested for fit every year. Something like a weight loss/gain could change mask fit. Persons with facial hair may need different masks. My full bearded RN husband wore a very different mask than I wear. RN's also receive special training on proper use. They MUST be applied, and more importantly, removed correctly or you will contaminate yourself. Also- they are uncomfortable and can make it seem hard to breathe. There's a strong impulse to reposition or touch the mask to get some air flow in around the edge, which renders them useless. This is where the special training comes in- you must use them correctly for them to be of benefit! Loose fitting surgical masks won't prevent the inhalation of droplets. Finally, I saw an ad yesterday advertising a single mask priced at $20.00! If you're that desperate just duct-tape the twenty over your mouth and go wash your hands.
7
How much of the "work" that is done in 2020 is really necessary? Yes, we need to have paychecks, that's not what I am getting at. What exactly are most office workers doing all day that truly needs doing? Maybe this virus will take us a step away from what work has become and allow us to see it more clearly for the often completely farcical waste of time we all deep down know it is. If we are not doctors, farmers, caregivers, teachers, food providers, etc. are our jobs and meetings and business trips so necessary?
12
The article focuses on big corporations. What about restaurant employees? What about teachers? What about students? What about sales personnel in department stores? If you are an employee in the store and you have a cold, what do you do? What are the guidelines? As of today, our government has provided no clear answers.
8
It's really unfortunate that working in virtual worlds (think Second Life and OpenSim platforms) didn't take off like many thought they would. Although successful as entertainment and platforms for content creation, their power as places for really immersive and effective meetings and teamwork has never really been explored. Sure would be valuable now!
1
Poor people working low paying, no benefit jobs have the playbook. Go to work no matter. you've got to eat and pay the rent, virus or not.
8
@Patrick Stevens, so all those expendables paid a slave’s wage to go around sanitizing things for the supposed protection of elites carrying the disease themselves? They get what they pay for I’m sure.
2
Amazon and such must have Disaster Recovery Plans to address this kind of scenario and have in place detailed plns for working from home, and contracted Disaster Recovery Sites if necessary to guarantee continuity.
In 1993 , the bombing of WTC#2 rendered the building unoccupiable. We were up and running in New Jersey next morning, with hotel accomodations already arranged and alimo service.
@Merlin ,
I am like your mom. I am self isolating. I ordered my monthly groceries on the Fred Meyer app. And my husband picked it up. No water droplets were exchanged. No hands shaken. Six feet apart at all times. While this might not be a total solution, we are at least lucky to have the option. Many of us can avoid going out for at least awhile.
But, as a senior at high risk, how long to I need to stay in seclusion? Weeks, months, years?
I don't want to die. I have grandchildren I want to play with. I love life even though I have lung illness that has caused me to slow down a bit.
I would appreciate a government that hasn't written me off as the expendable 20%.
4
My retired, immune compromised mother thinks she can ride out the coronavirus by ordering from Instacart and Amazon. I told her good luck, but she’s one infected employee at the grocery store or delivery service from having the virus in her home. We need better solutions for workers, I don’t want her to get sick, I don’t want sick people having to work, I want the health and security of the people to be uppermost in the response. But look at our leadership— they equate convenience with safety, and are encouraging the right wingers on my Facebook feed to repeat the “hoax” and “it’s not so bad” lines. If there isn’t great suffering in store I’ll be shocked.
10
@Farina Still better to touch a box or bag after someone else has touched it than going out to a crowded store or mall and breathing and touching all those people and door handles and carts and counters and cans and bottles ...
Nothing will keep you 100% safe, but it's a sensible precaution to stay in as much as possible and limit outside contact if you're vulnerable.
7
It would be helpful, when you mention an employee “who was also infected,” to understand their status. Is he/she at home, recovering from classic flulike symptoms?
What does “also infected” mean for the general population?
3
Almost all the actions being taken in the U.S. has been by the private sector The federal response has simply been inept. Ten days ago President Trump called a hoax perpetrated by his opponents. Now he's put his top man, V.P. Pence, on the job.
Crikey! Trump can't even fire him!
5
The tracks of any infected persons need to be published. Most mobile phones track their movements. An app should be developed wherein you can see if your track crossed the infections track. This must start soon if it to work. My phone asks me once a week if I want to see my tracks. This is not rocket science. People...Please, FOCUS!
3
Six stories in a row on Covid-19.
1
@Slipping Glimpser
I will be looking for an organization that is reputable that has plans to help people like you. Then I will make a nice donation.
2
In NYC ( Manhattan )many meetings are being cancelled, travel has been curtailed, large numbers of people are working from home and every precaution is being taken.
Why? Because a case of a midtown lawyer being badly stricken showed how his family, his friend’s family and the neighbor who took him to the hospital all have the Coronavirus.Both of his kids schools/colleges have cancelled classes, his synagogue closed for two weeks and hundreds of people have been put in quarantine.
Today my husband had two meetings cancelled because two of the participants have kids who are friends with those stricken. They are afraid they might expose others. And so it goes.
Not even six degrees of separation in such a densely populated city with so many overlapping communities.
It is no wonder people are being overly cautious.
6
The entire brick-and-mortar retail sector has been devastated by online purchases, but a bunch of office workers can't work from home?
5
I believe the UK is offering money to help those thrown out of work because of the virus. A badly needed safety net that in the end will save money for the government...saving people from being homeless but especially enabling people who feel sick to get tested without fearing they’ll not survive without an income from work.
6
Who's gonna pay my rent, utilities, car insurance, co pays if I'm forced to not come into work? Those are the questions normal people with working class jobs are asking themselves. Forget the tech grads in their little shiny Google bubbles; I'm sure those people already have large 401ks and huge savings accounts. People living pay check to pay check are the ones in real peril. I can't tell my crooked landlord "Oh, I can't pay this month because corona." It's because of rampant capitalism that we're in this mess in the first place. Greed will destroy mankind, mark my words.
29
@Keely "It's because of rampant capitalism that we're in this mess in the first place."
Really the virus is constrained by an ideology? So people in Cuba won't get it?
Why is your landlord "crooked"? Find a new one?
1
@Dave If I need to elaborate on the myriad ways capitalism causes global outbreaks then perhaps you should not be reading the NY Times.
3
This virus seems to have a very high transmission rate. I think it would be prudent to discourage public gatherings for a certain amount of time in areas where there are confirmed cases of community spread.
For example, canceling school, jury duty, community events, etc., for a few weeks, in order to try and mitigate the spread of the virus, especially in areas where there are cases of unknown origin.
10
@Ashley
It is a phase approach being taken by county health departments in counties where there are confirmed cases.
In my county, they have raised the alert status this week as follows: people in higher risk groups (ie: elderly, those with chronic health conditions, or lung condition including asthma) have been advised to avoid large public gatherings where person to person distance cannot be maintained. Examples: any sports or entertainment events of any kind.
This will continue to shift incrementally upward if more cases are identified... but again.. in incremental fashion. Currently there is no quidance to stay away from grocery stores (because people in shopping are usually keeping safe distancing anyway (courtesy of a shopping cart between them and other shoppers).
Personally, I am more conservative, and have kept to off hours in stores and I carry professional grade BKZ hand wipes with me and I clean my hands both before and after exiting a store and I keep strict attention to not putting my hands anywhere near my face until I am home and have washed them properly with soap and water. I simply assume anything I touch may be contaminated, and when picking items off of store shelves I pull from the back, not the front, of the shelf.
We all have a duty to apply daily common sense, be mindful and aware, and take precautions to avoid infection AND avoid possibly infecting anyone else.
2
What happens when college students leave and return back to campus from spring breaks starting in next few weeks?
I worry that routine "spring break" travel will kickstart a mass epidemic across the US.
This needs to be addressed promptly.
10
You worry about them when they get back. Those of us who live near Cancun will be watching very closely while they're here. (If they come.)
1
Corporations should let employees work from home even when there is no coronavirus threat.
Would get a lot of cars off the road and be good for both the environment and for relieving traffic congestion.
15
@Matt
I’ve been working from home full time since January 2017.
Happy Amazonian
One action step State Legislators could take would be to pass a law that would enable lawmakers who are sick to vote by skype if the meeting of the State Legislature, County Legislature, City Council, Town or Village Board, School Board, Planning or Zoning Board is televised. Lawmakers who are sick shouldn't contaminate citizens who attend meetings. And, their colleagues. PAUL FEINER, Greenburgh town Supervisor
3
As a subscriber, I ask NYTimes to cover Covid19 better. Cover more of what's happening around the U.S. Raise awareness for families. There is a press conference by family members in Washington State. It is heartbreaking. They need to be heard. This is the media's responsibility.
8
So much junk science being foisted on us these days – a joy to see something that could actually make sense…
And typifies what had been exceptional – Obama’s views notwithstanding – about American STEM prowess…
https://spectrum.ieee.org/the-human-os/biomedical/bionics/darpas-firebreak-treatment-for-the-coronavirus
It’s also the sort of health care-related thinking that’s been absolutely stifled and strangled by our pharma industry – and its congressional handmaidens…
Think this is ranting – usually a safe guess…
But read this – and note the date (March 2008) – within a year of the iPhone’s introduction…
https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB120541276814133269
“…It will be available by prescription starting in the second quarter…
You all know the state of iPhones in 2016 – here’s what the state of CGM’s was in 2016…
https://www.wsj.com/articles/tech-savvy-families-use-home-built-diabetes-device-1462728637
“…His backpack isn’t just filled with books, it is carrying his robotic pancreas…
“…The device, long considered the Holy Grail of Type 1 diabetes technology, wasn’t constructed by a medical-device company…
“…It was put together by his father…
“…The [FDA] has made approving such devices a priority and several companies are working on them. But the yearslong process of commercial development and regulatory approval is longer than many patients want, and some are technologically savvy enough to do it on their own…
if it is a ‘deadly disease’ like you say, why has not everyone who has been infected by it died?
1
@reuben cordeiro Because that isn't what "deadly disease" means.
2
‘Too many cooks spoil the soup’. Control freak trump needs to back away from his personal comments, hunches. I think his mental illnesses really stand out in this medical scenario. His hubris and pences’ science denial is really the formula for screwing up a lot of information. But hopefully not killing anyone. Blue alert folks, get rid of this bunch of amateurs. Trump will hurt us in every way possible if he gets the chance. VOTE BLUE
4
Very few of us work for these companies. Their services are more than superfluous. Who cares? Seriously. Where is the important question? What happens to us work-a-day losers when the virus hits our workplace? I just had to fight tooth and nail with my boss to be able to go home with the flu (confirmed). I followed all the rules and was still argued with, guilted, and lectured. Then I had to get a doctor's note which is not required by policy. Retail, foodservice, grocery (my case), generally all behave this way. What happens when they face multiple long term absences?
17
@Max Deitenbeck If we all have to stay home, you can bet Amazon is far from superfluous ... as long as they can keep providing us toilet paper and candy bars to live off of.
Re: use of masks -
It’s not just about whether someone’s sneeze or cough reaches your face...
i) masks stop you from touching your mouth and nose which we are told is one way of preventing infection;
ii) masks remind others to keep their distance - another way to prevent infection.
These are two good reasons to wear a mask that are not being discussed.
57
@Nomind7
masks are ineffective with the general public.
Reason: poor fitting, wrong kind of mask, person wearing mask gains a false sense of security and lets down their guard on hand sanitizing management (which is the most effective deterrent to the virus in public settings, other than close crowds.. which honestly a mask won't protect you there.. because of contact touching and bumping between humans).
Simply removing a mask from your face with contaminated hands is enough to self-infect as well.
Besides... the people who need masks are our emergency response and healthcare workers, and we should not be depleting supplies for public consumption. These same workers can and will issue/prescribe masks for those that are infected to inhibit them spreading the virus.
13
@Nomind7
Any person battling the sickness should were masks.
A healthy person should only use standard precautions recommended by general health agencies (wash hands frequently, donot touch your face with hands, avoid crowded places, etc). A healthy person wearing a mask is depositing unhealthy components in mask she/he is wearing with each exhalation; not a good idea.
1
Seriously if you’re in IT and you have poor posture from staring at a computer screen all day, you can work from home. We have Skype, FaceTime, slack, and so many other telework communication tools. Let your employees work from home! Cut down on commute and emissions. And be consistent! Why is it that some school districts in WA state will allow their students to learn remotely amidst the outbreak, and other districts are being super lax? One school in a district is canceling after school events but the school itself remains open. Teachers are calling out sick left and right. One school in the same district is closed, but the rest aren’t. And there has not been any communication about what people should do if they had been in direct contact with a student who has an infection. Itinerant staff, like physical therapists, move from school to school. There are medically fragile children in the district, who need G-tubes and may have poor immune systems. Please be firm, be consistent, and stop being so lax about this! And let people work from home and start learning remotely!
6
As I read other comments, it is clear that COVID has provoked many emotions. Unfortunately, people want answers that are not available, even with months of experience that has been shared from other countries.
This week's New England Journal of Medicine has two articles on COVID that answer some questions relating to planning. Person to person transfer of virus during the prodrome, the period before the serious symptoms occur, has been documented. We also know that some people will seem to have recovered from the serious aspects of the infection, but they may still shed virus. One case demonstrated that although the patient felt recovered, he still had a cough and positive viral markers.
In effect, these articles confirm the common-sense approach that has been advocated by the CDC and the WHO: People with any question of symptoms should stay home. People need to augment their hand washing techniques. Try to avoid touching the face, nose, eyes (a mask may help prevent such contact). No hand-shaking. Use a lot of alcohol-based disinfectant. If possible, limit social contacts, work from home.
Large employers should have made plans for a variety of business disruptors, including computer crashes and weather-related events. For a modern corporation not to have plans for a viral epidemic would almost be negligent, given that we have had three major threats since 2003, and there are many infectious disease consultants who can advise a business plan.
7
We are a twenty person, mostly seasonal, greenhouse ramping up for the season. A quarantine would flat put us out of business. And it would cascade through other small businesses. Who cares what Amazon does? They have the resources to weather this. Small businesses like ours are vulnerable in ways no one in government can imagine. And if they can't imagine it, I'll bet they won't help out either. Easier to help Bezos make sure he can buy another house.
28
@PaulaC. But there is no answer for you. If anyone had one, they'd offer it. Our economy is sink-or-swim, period.
2
Amusing to see the NYT forget companies that aren't Amazon, Facebook, and Microsoft exist in and around Seattle.
We are most certainly NOT going to get to work from home, it's not even an option. They sanitized our office, shut down out of office meetings & travel, and told us to wash our hands more often.
Big tech companies and their employees are privileged to be able to telecommute. Our company can't afford the laptops or the training.
7
@Zoe Laptops aren't required to work from home if your office system is still online (as it would have to be, regardless). Virtual desktops are a thing.
2
"Amazon’s corporate headquarters in Seattle were quiet on Thursday morning during rush hour as many employees work from home due to concerns over the coronavirus." Is it just me or is there something wrong with the tenses used in that sentence?
4
Oh dear, not Facebook and Amazon! Not those invincible young tech workers who are so superior to other humans!
4
Old Half Pence is on the job. No worries, mates.
4
Why would you title this article "the deadly disease..." This is unacceptable from NYT. Read Fauci' editorial in NEJM and you'll get the hint that this virus is not any deadlier than the flu for example. The press should stop spreading this unjustified panic.
8
Exactly. But the media benefits from panic, because the same stockholders who are loving that the stocks are going down are the same who control the media.
1
@Moi If it kills, how is it not deadly? Tell the thousands dead in China that it isn't deadly.
1
So... Facebook brought the virus to Seattle?
2
The Democrats with their open borders push--when we start letting anyone in--how is that going to work for virus containment?
2
Republicans with their greed didn’t want to have the resources to do one thing on this till its out of control.
8
The Federal Government has been NEARLY drowned in that proverbial Bathtub. The result: The TrumpFlu.
Thanks, GOP.
NOVEMBER.
8
Smallpox is deadly - not this virus - irresponsible reporting. Yes it is to the frail, medically compromised and young - like the flu or a cold. No one bothered when there was a measles outbreak - just articles on the hogwash that vaccines cause autism. This is not the only coronavirus. Ignorance is not bliss. The NYT needs to invest in some real science reporting.
2
@Barbara: to the young? I've heard the opposite.
3
I'm dumb as a plank so I don't know who to believe - a man who's told 20,000 lies in the last five minutes, or the CDC. I'm going with Lord God Trump... back to licking doorknobs just to prove my loyalty...
12
But our "president" said the virus "is going to go to zero". Move along folks, go about your business. Nothing to see here.
3
Imagine if we had a fully functioning government and covid response teams could visit affected companies and advise them about exactly how to respond, based on the best science we have at the moment.
Instead, it's just fear, uncertainty and doubt as our rudderless Titanic of a nation plows right into the virusberg.
59
@TonyRS no citations? quite strange.
I assume these are young, previously healthy workers who were infected. Contrary to what we're being told about at-risk groups.
1
@Mary Anyone is at risk for infection. The ones most likely to die are those with lung disease or other weaknesses that make them more vulnerable.
If there was ever a reason, a pertinent example, for why this nation needs universal healthcare this is it. What happens when those lucky enough to have employer provided health insurance start losing their jobs and choose to forgo testing and treatment. Seems as though this could spiral out of control.
8
It all boils down to this:
When you have the rare good fortune to be governed by a wise and courageous leader in a time of crisis -- someone like a Churchill at the onset of World War II-- you take heart, keep your cool and muscle up the courage to persist until a better day comes.
If, however, you have the great misfortune to be governed by a spineless, ignorant lout -- a Trump perhaps -- you hunker down in your cellar or your fallout shelter and imitate his worst behavior.
89
I am an attorney at a non-profit. I could do my work from home if that becomes necessary, but was just advised that employees will be expected to use PTO if they are sick, and that the office is ordering masks for those who aren't but who are worried about coming into the office during a pandemic.
I've already sent out a resume, but if there are any public interest law firms interested in picking up an incredibly hardworking, passionate lawyer who would like to work virtually if there is a pandemic...let me know?
America's workaholism is a sickness.
19
@Michael It's not workaholism, it's capitalism. Slave 24/7, or you're crushed by the juggernaut that ensures the rich stay rich while the poor ... get ploughed under.
2
I believe many of us have already had it and treated it like a nasty cold or a flu. What I see in the news now is hysteria.
5
@Brooklyn : yes, that's what I keep thinking too!
1
Getting away from Trump for a minute (whew!) it's interesting to get a fresh view of how overtly political the NYT's coverage is, and how out of touch its readers are.
Yesterday the head of the WHO indicated that the virus is about 10X more deadly that the flu (bad but already known), less transmissible than the flu (good news) and not generally transmissible by asymptomatic subjects (good news). But the bulk of reporting emphasizes the the first without the context of the other two facts in order to foment public panic and undermine the economy to affect the election.
Comments from those starting to feel that panic seem to imagine a world where everyone works at a desk, without an understanding of the physical, proximal reality of most of the economy. Those of us who serve you and protect you and make and deliver the things you order on Amazon don't have that luxury. While it may be that Amazon could afford to stop doing business for a month (or a year) while paying its employees, the bulk of our economy is in small businesses -- shops, tradesmen, salons, dentists -- that would be put out of business by a lost month of revenue.
If you feel sick, stay home. Minimize French kissing strangers. Wash your hands. You'll be fine.
4
No one has a playbook for this? Ask ANY big company in China and learn from the best.
3
The CDC is bungling this too. Why are protocols not firmly in place, sent around (especially to hospitals!), online, clear as can be? Where is leadership?? Why can the CDC not, at this very late, get their act together? Robert Redfield clearly needs to step down.
2
Testing not Isolation seems to work in Korea
South Korea is experiencing the largest virus epidemic outside of China, where the pneumonia-causing pathogen first took root late last year. But unlike China, which locked down a province of more than 60 million people to try and stop the illness spreading, Korea hasn’t put any curbs on internal movement in place, instead testing hundreds of thousands of people everywhere from clinics to drive-through stations.
It appears to be paying off in a lower-than-average mortality rate. The outbreak is also showing signs of being largely contained in Daegu, the city about 150 miles south of Seoul where most of the country’s more than 5,700 infections have emerged. South Korea reported the rate of new cases dropped three days in a row.
Perhaps the United States should think about really extensive testing rather than focusing in isolation.
3
@John B Maybe someday we'll have enough test kits. We're laughably short now - shamefully short.
1
In the article right next to this one, we're told by a health authority, “Similarly,” he said, “while masks are not very effective for preventing virus transmission, they can be quite helpful for providing a physical barrier against touching the nose or mouth.”
But those same authorities are telling us NOT TO BUY MASKS to keep them for medical workers!!!!!!!!!!!!
3
These are smart people, they will figure it out.
only believe that.
8.3 billion for corona virus. That ought to build a mile or two of big beautiful wall!
People are clamoring for paid time off at local, state and federal government expense but there is no money. (wink wink)
Trump slashed taxes so severely our deficit is through the roof. This is compounded by the recession that will occur if this virus sticks around.
The cost of containing this thing along with bailing out those “too important to fail” will be grotesque. The GOP is not here for you. They exist for themselves.
45
It is a times like this that the inequalities and the lack of a national health care system show its ugly face. If you are not insured or have high copayments or deductibles, are you going to show up at a hospital or a doctors office if you have a cold or flue like symptoms? knowing that a simple blood test and nasal test is going to cost you 1500 $ if you are insured and over 3000 if you're not. A year ago a I went thru surgery that required an 8 day stay a hospital, my deductible was 3000$, not including medical charges that amounted to 2000 more $. If you are forced in to quarantine for say 14 days who is paying for the cost?
63
@Manuel Suarez Or what if you work in a low wage, hourly service job with no sick leave? I work in a restaurant in a big tourist area. If I get sick, I still have to go to work.
8
@Jenny
If you are detected to have the virus by your county health department... you, as a food service worker, will be banned from your job, like or not, and they can and will enforce the ban.
Reason: you represent a serious health hazard to the public. And YES.. they have the power to do what I described above.... in the interest of public health and safety.
And if they force you into quarantine, it will be most often at-home quarantine, while they monitor you daily on symptoms and health. If they mandate a facility style quarantine by county health order, they will provide you a facility for this at no change.. again.. because of interest in public health and safety.
3
@Chuck by the time that ban happens he would possibly have already infected hundreds of people.
4
Not to mention all hospitals. My experience at my local hospital this week when i went in and was tested for the flu which it turns out that i have type A influenza, is that the Er staff aren't prepared and many are dismissive of the Corvid-19 virus. their protocols quite frankly, stink. No mandated use of masks while in the hospital ER area ore in areas open to the general public. they have security guards and volunteers who just stand there as you enter.. no masks or handsanitizers available and only the most dillgent of staff wil ask oyu to put a mask on in the ER area. the hospital itself is not designe dot handle infectious disease patients , not even just one, nevermind dozens or hunderds if a huge outbreak were to occur. And this hospital is brand new, opened just for a couple of months now. one partial solution: prevention by mandating mask use and hand sanitizer use when you first enter. Next, a separate intake for ER infectious disease patients, whether they may have a cold or flu. Keep them away from otherwise healthy ER patients who are there for other emergencies. you will walk in healthy and leave a sick person. Now, is this the way our health care system really works?
9
“When I talked to some state officials, there was a sense that the tests would not be administered to people that were mildly symptomatic,” Vice President Pence said in an off-camera briefing. “We’re issuing clear guidance that subject to doctors’ orders, any American can be tested.”
This is the reason why we need a coronavirus czar from CDC or NIH health officials rather than a politician. You have to test everybody with symptoms mild or severe so that the patient can be quarantine if found positive to avoid spreading to other people in a pending epidemic here.
South Korea carries out an aggressive surveillance test drive through, anybody wants to be tested can be tested. The health official have identified double digits cases to 5238 confirmed cases with 33 deaths in two weeks. The mortality rate is 0.6%. US has reported 12 deaths so far, even with mortality rate of 1% ( the range is from 1-4% ), you know that there are at least 1200 infected patients not being identified.
8
I think working from home is the best remedy not only to avoid spread of infections but also for slowing climate change by not commuting in gas guzzlers and for paying more attention to kids and pets. I applaud all corporations and businesses that have already being encouraging their employees to work from home and getting s much done on their home computers for most of the times as sophisticated or even more sophisticated. Speaking for myself, I have a faster computer at home than provided to me in my office and I get a lot done faster. I also take lunch breaks that are much shorter and make healthier meals for myself and walk around the neighborhood during my breaks. I hope working from home becomes a continuing trend that increases even after Corona is wiped out from the face of our planet.
11
For health workers who are not frontline ER and intensive care workers, there is almost no direction on what is necessary to prevent spread and protect employees and patients. I suspect the people working the front lines have been told next to nothing useful either.
I am astonished that we have come to the point where there are cases in the region, and no directives offered by the CDC on what precautions and protocols should be observed in doctor's offices. I think we added "wipe down door knobs" to "wash your hands." That is true preparedness.
For our own practice, one or two of our coworkers are in an at risk class, and a huge number of our patients are. They skew elderly and with underlying health problems.
I don't want to get sick, but figure I'll likely just feel bad for a week or two. I really don't want to find I exposed our patients to something so dangerous to them.
Nature may abhor a vacuum but our government thrives in one. Nothing useful is escaping Washington.
8
One challenge is that people will inevitably lose their jobs at some point. Blue collar and white collar workers. This is taking a hit on the economy. Businesses will have to reduce hours, manpower, etc. I understand that this seems wrong but it’s inevitable. I am a small business owner, if I don’t make any income for three months, do you think I can keep up payroll? Airlines are reducing flights - ie everyone from captain to service crew have fewer shifts.
We can decry the lack of social safety net but thats not a constructive complaint at this time.
Not everyone can get bailed out, small businesses are certainly not TBTF (too big to fail), and the reality is that many people will suffer (not just warehouse workers and manual labor).
5
@FFNY So true, my local hair salon, dry cleaner & sports bar have seen a major drop in business. I really hope they survive the next 3 weeks.
Now my gardener is doing fine, customers still need you to cut the grass & you are outdoors.
1
An idea is perhaps for FB, Google, the NY Times, other employers and governments is to have their non-essential employees telecommute. This would prevent the rapid spread of the viral infection thereby reducing the time shops will be closed. Plus the potential for lawsuits from employees that were required to report to work while the potent virus was making havoc. Prevention is the best course of action. China had a slow reaction but then it took decisive action reducing the spread of the virus. So what about employers and government being proactive and taking responsibility for their work environment rather than insisting than employees wash their hands while the workplace is virulent? Washing hands goes only so far!
5
@Hoping For Better FB, Amazon, Microsoft, and others in Seattle have already asked that employees telecommute where possible (not just the "non-essential" employees).
Beside keep people out a shared workplace, it'll reduce the number of people on public transit.
3
Rather than our government and the Trump admin telling us little people to stop buying and hoarding masks and safety gear because health professionals need them they should start telling the 1 percent to stop hoarding cash and wealth because the country needs more investment in affordable Public health, education and a rock
solid safety net for workers and a modernized infrastructure. Health insurance companies and health conglomerates need to cut their CEOs salaries and equip their hospitals with equipment for their employees for crises like this.
If the GOP didn’t restrict Obama’s budgets of investing in health care and infrastructure during his years and didn’t focus solely on cutting taxes for the uber rich during the Trump years as well as gutting our agencies that keep the American public and the environment safe we would have plenty of masks and equipment for our frontline health workers and be more prepared.
This is what hoarding of resources looks like. this is what the 99 percent feel like when we see wealth being siphoned off to the top and our Gov. doing zero to stop it.
And it if it’s ok for the rich and corporate America to hoard then it’s ok for working American to hoard in order to protect themselves.
Only the little people are expected to sacrifice themselves and their resources for the greater good.
The rich never are.
26
@PP
Have you noticed yet that Covid 19 is entering countries through travelers? In order to travel internationally you must have some level of wealth. It's now in South Africa, and like climate change, the people with the least amount of wealth will get sick without ever enjoying the relative luxury of travel, home heat/air, or car ownership.
3
All of this is making me question the value of so much that goes on in what makes up our so-called economy. How much production and travel and running around to meetings is really necessary? If it's so easy to stop, to stay home from work, maybe what we are doing isn't so important anyway. Have you seen the images of the clearing of pollution over China? Now the NYC subway system will be systematically cleaned with high grade cleaner. I'm not trying to see the bright side, but this is definitely a global wake up call. It's sort of like when you get a bad diagnosis and clean up your diet and start exercising--sometimes an illness is a gift, a motive to make needed changes.
45
Brilliant analogy. I hope you are right and this is the spark for some introspection from civilization.
14
@Clarice There definitely are many changes to the way we work that could have happened already. Tech was supposed to have freed many from brick and mortar buildings. Working from home is way less energy intense than having many drive to work to just sit at a desk.
I think they were just propping up the markets. The use of oil would have gone down, and when that happens prices drop and profits drop as well. Many companies own buildings that would be rather useless and devalued. Lower traffic would mean less frivolous drive by consumerism. At current wages, employees would spend way less on transportation and could save or afford to change jobs, making them less compliant and fearful. They wouldn't be able to gaslight employees as much if they didn't gather them into a flock.
They could have done a lot but then they would have had to take less, and they couldn't do that because more is all they cared about.
1
Everyone has always hated open work floor plans. They're riddled with distractions, provide 0 privacy, and now they will amplify the spread of disease. What tech and young people have yet to factor into reality is that sometimes things were that way for a reason. Let the lawsuits begin.
8
Young people!? You think we chose this? Do you think we reap the benefits of private equity buying four floors of employees, firing two, and cramming one in on top of the other to save a few bucks on SG&A?
Do you think we reap the benefits of systems optimized to within an nanometer of failure?
Do you think we reap the benefits of a system of employement that gives total flexibility to both employee and employer, but only one of whom starves and loses healthcare if the other chooses to exercise the flexibity?
You lump young people and tech together becuase what - you see us using phones to check our work emails 24-hours-a-day? Do you think we the young people reap the rewards of an economy that traffics in our very attention?
Check your defined benefit pension for FAANG before you look to assign some kind of blame for this virulent society.
4
American capitalism is fantastic at generating wealth, fostering innovation and encouraging efficiency. However, it has also helped to leave the nation highly vulnerable to a COVID epidemic. In swine flu, the working poor in the US were 7x more likely to be sick, which helped spread it nation wide relatively quickly. Sick leave provisions are a luxury and many will simply not be able to afford taking time off when sick. Healthcare is basically unavailable to a significant percentage of the population. The ICU capacity severely hampered from a lack of ICU doctors and nurses as it is a highly challenging and rewarding specialty, but one that is expensive to operate (~$5000 per bed per day) and relatively poorly remunerated in the US with highly unsocial hours and high stress levels to boot. Hence the country is short around 6000 ICU physicians alone, and triple that in regards to ICU nurses. Similar comments could be made about public health. They are essentially both very necessary specialties which are not valued in a capitalist model as they don’t generate income very well.
Hopefully COVID19 will bring a bit more socially minded thinking when this is over, but I have my doubts. Good luck everyone!
4
@Rob We'll forget all the lessons this thing teaches us within six months of it clearing. Guaranteed.
2
Influenza is a deadly disease. approximately 80,0000 (yes 80 thousand) in 2018. Hopefully, this number can also be reduced with increased vigilance.
1
@clarity007 Absolutely. What are your thoughts on that? Universal healthcare? Paid sick leave?
1
I don't mean to be insensitive to anyone with compromised immune response, but for healthy individuals, COVID-19 remains less of a threat than many ordinary risks. The CDC's recently announced 'death rate' exceeding 3.2% - based on reported cases - was loaded with caveats, ending with an expert assumption, based on experience, that the actual death rate may wind up being less than 1%. At this point, COVID-19 is less lethal than SARS and MERS; less contagious than influenza and less dangerous than driving your car. None of this means we treat it lightly. But it does mean that we need to put it into perspective and continue to pay attention to the opinions of medical professionals, and not just sound bites, and not social media, and not some news outlets that don't tell the full story.
7
@MWR
So the sick and the old are going to die anyway. Why bother having healthcare at all, right?
The medical professionals are telling us to be careful and what precautions to take. Perhaps some others aren't paying attention.
3
First it was the Chinese who were chided for not recognizing the impact of the virus followed shortly by accusations aimed at Iran for withholding true figures and infecting all and sundry neighboring countries. But after three months now we now are told that the U.S. mostly spent that time blaming others instead of gearing up for the inevitable
36
We are told that masks are useless and yet, for doctors and other health care workers they are necessary. Can someone please clarify how this is possible?
8
@ELBOWTOE My understanding (for what it is worth) is that once the disease is truly airborne, masks do nothing. While it is still on water droplets (spit, etc.) and such, masks will block it.
So, for people who are already sick, coughing into a mask helps keep the virus within the mask. People who have to work very close to the mouths of those who are sick, similar idea (except outside the mask).
If you are healthy, you are unlikely to be in contact with the spittle of those who are sick. They and medical workers need the masks more than you do.
16
@ELBOWTOE my thoughts precisely!
@ELBOWTOE From an RN- The primary way Covid-19 seems to spread is by droplets- from a sneeze, cough, or simply speaking. Most (but not all) of this falls in an area of about 6 feet from the person. Health care workers spend most of their time in very close contact with the infected person, in this droplet zone, which creates a much higher risk of contamination, than say walking past someone at the grocery store. Also the length of time spent with an infected person seems to increase the odds of infection. RN's are with patients constantly for shifts of 12 hours- sometimes more. The N-95 masks are designed to filter out 95% of airborne contaminants, not all. They must be fit tested- they are not 1 size fits all. RN's have to be fit tested yearly. Hospital workers also are trained in the proper use of masks. They must be applied in the correct manner, and more importantly, removed in a specific, correct manner, or they become useless. I can attest to the fact that they are uncomfortable and can make it seem really hard to breathe while wearing a properly applied mask. Any leakage of air around the edges negates the use of the mask. And believe me, after a few minutes in one you will want to touch the outside, reposition it, and adjust it to where you feel like you can breathe- all the things that render the mask useless. Also, if you have facial hair, they may not work. My RN husband, with a full beard, needed a special type of mask, very different from the type I wear.
As a preventive medicine specialist I encourage voters and taxpayers to remember that "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" for all future election cycles. Don't forget what all of our incumbents, left and right, didn't do to prepare for this over the past decade since swine flu. Don't forget budget cuts, funding passivity, and all the clamoring about AR-15s, transgender bathrooms, and third-trimester abortions when we should have been clamoring about things like our public health infrastructure and ecological defense.
Nobody wants to invest in public health and prevention infrastructure because, when it works, we all forget about it and take it for granted. It's not sexy for politicians clawing for your dollars, and it's a money loser when all goes well. But when it doesn't go well....refer to the next 18 months.
For all those tens of billions of dollars people have made on autonomous vehicle what-ifs, passive fund algorithms disasters, and foolish advertising apps like Facebook and Instagram, all I can say is I wish we had invested some of that in emergency preparedness, vaccine research, etc.
Ah well. At least all of our algorithm-traded 401k's will survive, even if we don't.
110
@Allentown Amen, sister.
2
I work for the federal government. I'm a low level career public servant, part of the deep state I suppose.
Over the past three years my colleagues have kept the federal functions we all rely on going - our organizations have a lot of built in resistance to change. That's been a good thing: we just keep on doing our work every day, as defined by the laws and policies created over the past century or so. Most of us have been able to do our work without paying too much attention to the chaos at the top of the government (with the exception of a few high-profile agencies targeted by the administration, of course).
But this epidemic demands fast adaptability to changing conditions, something the federal government machinery is not very good at. We need competent executive leadership for that. So while our built resistance to change has been good for the country for the past three years (in my opinion, of course), it isn't serving us well today.
I hope state governments will lead the way, because the federal government, in its current condition, does not have the capacity to respond to this crisis well.
76
Remote work isn’t possible in many sectors of the economy, but where it CAN be done there are many benefits to be had. These include increased productivity, attraction of top talent, reduction in costs, reduced employee turnover...
We may be witnessing a workplace transformation akin to women entering the workforce en masse during WWII — I think many of us may never really go back if this becomes the new norm for long enough that businesses actually learn to adapt.
24
@Rcosta
If 80,000 U.S. deaths from influenza in 2018 did not cause any workplace transformation why will this viral outbreak?
@clarity007 CDC says 34,000 deaths in the U.S. from influenza. Where is your number coming from? I won't speculate.
Don’t make this a class thing. More people working from home, the safer for those those whose jobs require showing up to work (less crowded public transportation and work place; if office is virtually empty, less risk to the cleaning lady).
10
@Cindy H
Businesses, especially medical and dental offices can hire cleaning services that will deep clean carpets with microbial cleansers.
Buy Purell in bulk and concentrate on antibacterial and disinfectant cleaning.
Medical offices in particular will benefit and reassure.
3
@Cindy H
"Don’t make this a class thing," nicely put Marie Antoinette! It actually does become a class thing when the rich are chartering flights, subscribing to private ERs, have access to high level masks, can travel to secluded locations, etc. Let them eat cake.
39
The House and Senate buildings as well as the White House are workplaces. What are Azar, Pence, Trump, McConnell, and other government heads telling their own employees?
8
@PABD
The President who is a germaphobe has confined himself to his bedroom while dispatching his doubles to carry on the duties that he performed. It is not that hard to sound Presidential like Trump.
3
@SM
Duties that he performed?
Like what? Staying in bed till 11a.m.? Watching Fox News? Tweeting all afternoon? Eating buckets of KFC and McDonald's double bacon cheeseburgers?
Yes, I'm sure getting those duties performed accurately would be hard.
3
What is the end game here? Are we all supposed to sit at home for the next 6 months? Is that sustainable?
15
@Reasonable Person And what if folks' kids are also supposed to sit at home for the next 6 months with their parents? Then even parents who can telecommute, can't work.
3
@Reasonable Person
The end game is to avoid spreading germs and tge virus in particular.
Don't you know even that?
4
@Reasonable Person well put an exercise video, Mary Kondo your house, write the next great American Novel... just a few ideas I’m pondering ;)
3
OK, we have all been bragging about being nimble and adaptable and flexible.
We will shortly see who really is.
A battle for survival.
7
For the very first time in the last Fifteen Years, since our first Visit, I’m glad to NOT be in Seattle. And that’s sad. But here’s the thing: an Outbreak in a major American City was Inevitable. And Seattle has the outstanding Medical Care, World Class Hospitals, Personnel and extremely driven Talent to overcome the challenges. The State and Local Governments are truly Science and Data driven, and will respond to a logical and rational manner. The Public will stand firm, follow directions and avoid Panic.
In other words, this CITY will put up a fight, in a most polite and non-ostentatious manner.
Best Wishes, and hope to see you again soon.
27
@Phyliss Dalmatian
The key to surviving a viral outbreak is to be young and healthy
2
@Phyliss Dalmatian Just curious, why do you capitalize random nouns?
4
@R
So that random people will ask me why.
Cheers.
2
The biggest problem with this outbreak is going to be sick leave and medical coverage. If people do not have paid sick leave, they will NOT feel obligated to stay home. Why should people stay home when they are exposed, but do not feel sick? And when they are sick and cannot afford to be tested, will they be tested?
This thing is going to spread through our greedy capitalistic country, because the cost of actually offering good benefits and health coverage, did not seem beneficial for companies or our country for the short term.
87
@Dr. Girl
Humble art supply store clerk here. I asked to stay home because I'm 62 and the local authorities want me to, presumably for the greater good.
I have about 32 - 40 hours of paid leave. Then nothing. No savings. Nothing.
Ha ha ha ha ha.
And there are many, many more with nothing at all. Nothing.
10
@Dr. Girl Because decency demands it so you don't infect others?
Too farfetched?
This panic-inducing news coverage just annoys me more than anything. The vast majority of people are NOT at serious risk. Why not focus on the people and places who ARE at serious risk: the elderly. Focus on nursing homes, senior citizen centers, hospitals, and others who work with the elderly.
The rest of us just need to wash our hands a lot.
13
@FivebyFive
A close relative of mine may have been exposed at their job. Several people came in contact with someone during the normal course of work and are now showing symptoms and being tested. In the mean time, we are waiting to know whether the relative was exposed. However, for now they, I, we are all free to walk around, work and go about our business as normal.
The system is overwhelmed, because the virus got through, long before they realized it was around. They never stopped it. They never slowed it. It is coming to every community. It is just a matter of time...
35
If it was that easy do you think Europe would behave as they do?
1
@Dr. Girl
Why no panic in 2018 when an estimated 80,000 Americans died from influenza?
It's really quiet in downtown Seattle today. More than just the big businesses asked their employees to work from home. I feel for the small cafes and shops, who rely on this daily influx of workers to earn a living. Tough times ahead for many.
52
What are we waiting for? Large firms should immediately tell ALL employees to work from home except for essential services required for pubic health and safety. Further, large firms should guarantee salaries for ALL workers if they are unable to work anytime over the next 6 months. Federal and State government should IMMEDIATELY guarantee and provide adequate temporary unemployment benefits to ALL workers at small companies. Likewise, Federal and State governments should provide IMMEDIATE cash grants to small businesses so they don't go bankrupt.
If we do that now, we greatly mitigate the impact of a potential recession that will come in a few months in the event of a serious pandemic.
And if the pandemic doesn't materialize - we saved some jobs, small businesses and people from the suffering the short term fallout from the virus - and that's not a bad thing.
98
@Joseph L You echo my sentiments exactly! Americans want to minimize this to their peril. The only way we can try to contain this spread is to take the steps you suggest. Please keep expressing these thoughts.
8
@Joseph L
This is America! It's all me, me, me! Whoever heard of, "We're all in this together"?
4
Consultants and vendors are hearing from their clients that meetings should be done remotely by videoconference.
And it's not just workplaces, the conference and convention industry is also shutting down - major trade shows being cancelled, industry conferences as well. In Chicago the International Housewares Show was cancelled, they expect area hotels to lose 47K days of bookings. Ditto a lot of air travel.
The travel and hospitality industries are going to be hit pretty hard until this mess 'miraculously' clears up. In April, right?
19
@D
The stock market is again reacting to the airlines and other related businesses slowing down.
Gee Donald, why don't you care about the stock market losing trillions?
2
While it's beneficial for individual companies to see what they can do, it's seems we a sorely missing unified central leadership from our government.
Reagan was so very wrong on that issue.
30
@Foxrepubican
Tune in to almost daily briefings from the CDC, NIH and FDA. All federal government agencies
1
“If it’s unsafe for people to have them on site, that definitely impacts my business,” Mr. Luft said. “Unfortunately there isn’t any type of contingency plan. Those technicians are there for their labor. If they can’t perform their labor, that takes away their earning potential.”
In other words, "We don't need a contingency plan because I don't particularly care about your health, I care about my bottom line."
24
@Whatever That's capitalism. Same as it ever was.
Testing is very important, yet the federal government has not yet distributed the number of kits necessary to initiate wide-area testing. I guess we will have to wait until some cases pop up in D.C. You will have never seen the feds move so fast when that happens. The only bright spot will be to view the president rolling around in a plastic bubble.
45
@gcinnamon We know that's why Pence was chosen to be the 'lead' on this. Potus isn't going anywhere near sick people. And I imagine after the VP's visit to Washington State if he begins sniffling the response will be swift and we will see top-notch healthcare … for him.
Just got done writing my new pandemic policy and procedure for my small rural non profit. It’s very surreal to write about staff working virtually and have to specify “unless they are ill, caregiving or dealing with other unpredictable pandemic exigencies.” Like, growing vegetables for food? Standing on endless lines for medicine ? Warding off zombies?
18
People who are sick stay home, government needs to protect them from being fired or not paid. Private companies thoroughly clean your premises, much cheaper then closing down for good, same for government facilities like schools etc. Ensure all hospitals are fully equipped and then lets all take a DEEP breath and not panic.
10
@Gary
Exactly how are we to "ensure all hospitals are fully equipped?" Many hospital items, medicines, etc are produced wholly or partly in Asia and other parts of the world. There are already shortages. Not to mention the dwindling blood supply because people aren't donating. No, we don't need to panic, but we do need to open our eyes to the reality of the situation.
5
@Yertle I assume we can fully educate the public as to actually needs to go to the hospitals. Second, if hospitals aren't fully prepared then we need to look directly at the CDC to find out why and vote to correct that problem.
2
@Gary
Yep.
The buck stops with Trump but of course he's passed that buck to Pence while he's hiding out in his bedroom with a case of Purell and a gross of masks.
1
The Health care industry thought it would live another day/many more years with Biden’s victories. It thought that making huge profits on the backs of the sick and dying (oftentimes because they deny treatment, or because the poor (and the middle class) cannot afford their rip-off prices), will last into eternity. This pandemic makes a humane, functioning healthcare system, ie Universal healthcare, all the more necessary. Is America too selfish and pig-headed to adopt what every other industrial nation already has, that is healthcare for all, with sensible price controls.
56
@Alienist ...Indeed there are many "pig-headed, selfish" Americans roaming about, but that is NOT the ACTUAL reason for better health care policies not being adopted here. And if you travel or consider "every other industrial nation" you will find "pig-headedness and selfishness" within the populace. Instead, consider investigating deeper CULTURAL/POLITICAL "TRADITIONS" (hundreds of years worth) within the American psyche and you may discover the ACTUAL "problems" that are preventing general, logical movement in that direction. UNDERSTANDING is what you need so you can BEGIN to present more EFFECTIVE, SKILLFUL words and methods to CHANGE that portion of the populace, rather than hurling such LABELS with obvious vitriol which simply varnishes your comment with hateful, negativity and presents no positive effect. And positive EFFECT and PROGRESS is what I believe you really want.
Oh my god!! I absent-mindedly touched my face! Quick! Everyone go home! Someone call the Federal Reserve!
12
In reality, the tech industry (as well as most employers) are slow to adapt.
For example, Amazon and Facebook knew that Northern Ca. and Seattle were an epicenter with on-going community transmission last week.
That was the time to ask their office workforces to work from home, and to ask all of the many employees that continuously travel to and from their many other buildings across the world to also work from home lest they unknowingly transmit the virus before they are symptomatic --as it is known to be the case with some individuals.
Still now those employers are awaiting for crises vs pre-emptively asking all that can work from home to do so all across the country and all across their offices everywhere.
11
I was told at Starbucks that I could only use my personal cup if the barista prepared my order in a disposable cup and poured the order into my personal cup. Futile and public relation gestures are not helpful in combatting the Covid-19 pandemic.
6
@ML Sweet
Trouble is, in retail PR is everything. Especially when there are plenty of people waiting to pile on with complaints, bogus and otherwise. This the age of the online mob, with all the risks involved.
8
@ML Sweet
Somehow I feel like your personal cup is better than my having to alcohol swab off my plastic top every morning because the barista insists on pressing the lid down with bare hands on the part that I drink from. Go figure....
1
Here in Seattle, there's an official recommendation to employers to let employees stay home when possible, but it's very mildly worded, presumably to avoid creating panic. So it's basically left up to the employees to choose whether to work from home or not, and as a result a lot of people are going into work who don't need to.
14
All these comments show that we think we want to respond prudently to special threats, but the way our short-term society is set up is frustrated by any intrusion to the normal schedule that could last longer than a day or two. So we tend to cut corners on safety in hopes the odds will land in our favor. I hope those with “only a small cold” going to work anyway are right that it isn’t COVD-19. I hope the working poor can survive interruptions to their no-benefits multiple part time jobs that barely stretch as it is. I hope Wall Street gives businesses a pass on increased profits this quarter. I hope we can all afford to suspend our expectations of instant Amazon Prime gratification for a while. I hope we can overcome our very short-term orientation in all our society and build some resilience in for the day when we are faced with a threat that lasts longer than a month ot two.
59
@WhatshernameOne
Let me explain how healthcare works in socialist-capitalist (yes! there is such a thing) here where I have been living for the last 15 years:
Every! child as soon as born gets healthcare by law. Premiums are about half the price of American worker health insurance.
If someone is not able to pay government steps in and pays.
Doctors are about 1/10 as expensive as in the US. Same with medicine.
One can see any doctor any time.
Hospitals are government subsidised Meaning you can stay in hospital care and you pay approximately $1500 of witch you pay out of pocket 10% until your deductible is reached. $300 a year.
Insurance companies are privat but if government decides something they have to obey. Here even if We the people want something we can start a petition that will come in front of the 7 minister who form the presidency here. Out of x political (left, right, middle, green) party. At the end We the people vote for this petition. If yes it becomes law.
There are several other forms of healthcare here. Privat, semi privat, connected to alternative medicine and so on.
Now you tell me that is only because Switzerland is so rich. No This is because Switzerland is rich. It costs x more to have things not organised additionally to what chaos it creates. Save that money for payed sick leaves, unemployed money and so on.
Get your act together America. Stop wining. Be brave and! start! Start dreaming of getting Trump out and Change for the United States of America
3
@WhatshernameOne - Yes ... I was glad to hear my boss say this morning that he doesn't want anyone who's even a little sick to be here, clients or employees.
1
It was only 6 weeks ago the leaders of western nations were boasting about processes, procedures and advanced health system would keep the Coronavirus in check, but the truth is plain to see, no country is really prepared, shortages of essential equipment for health professionals, inadequate quarantine capabilities, the virus doesn’t discriminate. The mid term hope is the much maligned pharmaceutical and medical researchers. In the meantime failing to prepare is preparing to fail. Wall Street bounces up and down, between greed and fear, but down she will go - a long long way when people have to stop travel, work, spending. Just look at other countries to see where it’s heading.
12
The reality is that relatively well-off office workers will be fine working from home. It is, of course as always in the United States, the poorer who will be at a greater risk. Not only because of your country’s lack of sick leave and basic protections for workers, but also because those less well-off might be scared of the cost of testing for the virus.
Will be very insightful to see how this is handled in the US.
132
@S How is (or will be) this situation handled in the Netherlands
5
@S Our President is gaslighting the public saying "go ahead and go to work and don't worry about the virus, I don't believe the scientists anyway, it's not that bad", while our doctors are trying to inform the Public and being muzzled. This is how the US is dealing with the mess.
23
@NOYFB I know here in Italy, where I work for a manufacturer, the owners are doing everything they can to rotate workers, minimize exposure on the shop floor along with suggesting some workers stay home and do business. Consider, here in Europe, people don't go bankrupt because they have to see their doctor. The social safety nets are far better than the States. I think the Italian government has acted with great transparency and has sent directives to all citizens about how deal with this situation. As an ex-American, I can tell you, the only concern in the States is going to be keeping the corporations and the wealthy "comfortable." They don't care about regular folk.
19
The wit and wisdom of Larry Kudlow:
"We have contained this. I won’t say [it’s] airtight, but it’s pretty close to airtight,” said the director of the National Economic Council.
38
@BKNY Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades
1
Someone might want to clue in Mr. Trump who, in a call-in with Hannity, gleefully announced that most people had such mild symptoms that “they were getting better by, you know, sitting around and even going to work.” No mention that the CDC is encouraging people to stay home. His tone of voice reflected approval, and even a suggestion, that people just motor on. Listen to it. His subsequent protest that condemnation of his gross irresponsibility is “fake news” is absurd. This is your president, America. Vote Blue.
244
People will die because of the Trump administrations negligence and incompetence. Maybe people will finally realize that elections really do matter.
6
I'm thinking about people who are downstream of this disaster: cleaning people, many of whom don't have the luxury of losing a paycheck (or going to the doctor).
154
@K. Molyneaux ~
There are millions more who are, or will be soon, dramatically affected. And it can be scary.
People don't go to movies? We need fewer ticket takers. No one at theme parks? We need fewer. No associated food and beverage and snack sales? A domino effect up and down the line.
"Big box" department stores have been fighting Amazon and eBay and Costco and Walmart for decades. Turns out once a Carson's or Sears stops drawing clientele, they tend not to come back.
2
@K. Molyneaux
If this goes far enough, governments will have to step in and pay people's rent and so on. Or there will be mayhem.
3
@K. Molyneaux It’s already happening, a serious drop in business in my area of Seattle. The local bar, hair salon, dry cleaners. I know someone who went into work sick because she needs her pay. Tried to talk her out of it but she needs to pay her rent. Those living paycheck to paycheck in Seattle are going to be hit hard by this.
Sick workers work sick. Sick employees cannot afford to lose their jobs. Need Coronavirus moratorium on termination for sick time.
85
Breaking news: The Times discovers that not everyone can work from home or telecommute.
152
“No one has a playbook for this,” said Dan Levin,
That is true but this is not the first epidemic we are facing There were other epidemics recently similar to the COVID-19 like the SARS, MERS, did we learn anything from that? Those epidemics were quickly forgotten. what did we learn from the SARS epidemic of 2003, another coronavirus?
Transparency is the best policy but the Chinese did not learn this basic thing from the SARS epidemic.
Although nothing was known about the SARS coronavirus at the time when the disease first struck, we soon realized that some of the affected countries did not acknowledge openly and squarely the presence of SARS, downplayed its extent, and attempted to prove that it was something else.
Perhaps, if there had been prompt and accurate reporting of the full facts so that others could have been forewarned and taken preventive measures, history may have taken a different course.
9
@Padman SARS and MERS never went global. No one alive has dealt with a situation like this before.
I called a psychiatrist today to make an appointment. Her office said fine but said that I should not come in if I'm exhibiting any cold or fever symptoms. I said I do have a cold but that's the problem. I've become obsessed with the fact that I might have coronavirus. They told me not to worry about it and hung up.
31
@Jay Orchard
As a psychiatrist, my non-advice advice is that you start with a therapist instead and also download a mindfulness app such as Calm or Headspace.
And not tell them that you have a cold.
22
@D
Thanks for the non-advice advice D. And I suggest that you consider that maybe my comment was made tongue in cheek. Just as I am considering the possibility that so was yours.
11
@Jay Orchard I'm sorry for your experience! It sounds like you needed support and were turned away. Maybe you could look into a remote therapy session? I've heard of https://www.betterhelp.com/ --- (note: I have never tried this and heard about it on an advertisement)
2
People will blame Trump because that is the answer to everything, but this is a much more systemic problem. There wasn’t a good plan four years ago or fourteen years ago. You can always count on the government to be unaccountable and mismanaged. Politicians are never concerned about the future. Just the next headline. This is why the government should be involved in as little as possible. Don’t call for the federal government to take over healthcare. Don’t call on the government to take your guns and be your only protection. The federal government can’t take care of its basic constitutionally designated responsibilities. Why would anyone expect anything different this time.
9
@Chris sticking your head in the sand will not save you.
26
then are you really willing to pay much higher state taxes to fund the research to provide the vaccines to ward off this and future viruses?
6
@Chris Isn't there a fake wrestling match on TV you should be watching
23
"Now the emergency has begun." The COVID-19 virus is no doubt causing a health emergency in the US but the other emergency is caused by the Republicans and Trump who continue to play down the serious health condition in both the White House and Congress. Wearing a gas mask to Congress is deplorable when many families have loved ones who have lost their lives.
When Americans depend on their government to protect them, Republicans continue to gaslight and give fake information.
48
Don’t expect to be tested as VP Pence claims can happen. In Oregon the labs only have the capacity to test 80 people a day and only for hospitalized patients. At this rate we will never know the true spread of the virus. Glad America is great again.
164
@Carolyn today I got an email from Anthem Blue Cross stating "Your Anthem health plan will cover the care you get if you’re diagnosed as having COVID-19, based on your plan’s benefits. It’ll also cover testing for COVID-19. You’ll pay any out-of-pocket expenses your plan requires, unless otherwise determined by state law or regulation."
Translation: If you have a big co-pay or deductible, you'll pay it, as usual, unless the government decides to foot the bill. It's extortion.
1
As a pregnant woman with a lung condition, I'm concerned about what to do if your company is NOT offering to let employees work from home.
155
Phew. I feel better. CB is an expert on science.
63
@CB
NO> IT IS MORE TRANSMISSIBLE! The flu also has a mortality rate of 0.1%
Care to find out what the mortality rate is for Covid-19?
7
@CB
If your comment to a grown up, responsible woman expecting isn't another example of the decline of American compassion and decency, I dont know what is.
11
It's like 1982 in downtown Seattle this week. Reasonable commute times and no wait at coffee shop.
98
Love it, Laurie Jo !
2
That's nice that Amazon is letting their office workers telecommute, but let's see what happens when coronavirus reaches the distribution centers. Will they shut them down? Will they offer paid time off to those affected? Bezos has the money to do that; let's see if he has the decency.
237
@KH
It is nice. Now, how about the tens or hundreds of millions who have no such option, who have no paid time off?
Ugly, very ugly.
3
@KH
For the record the distribution center workers are doing a service to all of us. how many people are shopping for essentials right now, with no way to get them other than online (because there's a run on them in my local store)? thank goodness for the folks in the warehouses helping all of us!
10
@FFNY Exactly. Which is why they deserve paid time off should they get sick or their workplace shut down.
3
The absolutely crazy thing about all these precautions, risks and steps Americans are expected to take, is why didn’t our government do the same before this? I read how scientists were trying to get funding and support to complete a vaccine in 2016; why was there decline from government? Why weren’t major corporations doing everything they could to support the same, as they had to know how impacting an event like this would be? It makes me mad that us poor peons are now being expected to do more than our government, which exists to protect us? Is it realistic to expect 60 percent of families in America who earn less than $40,000. to do what our government should have done with our tax dollars and major corporations should have supported to protect us? Good government leaders, please be sure you do ALL you can to be sure this never happens again. This is the richest country in the world, and we were caught unprepared and unaware of the ramifications.
64
@GraceNeeded
To piggyback on what you say, while COVID-19 is apparently a new mutation, there are a lot of diseases that have been loosely contained in tropical areas for years (eg. Ebola) that have great potential to break out (like Ebola). Historically, significant money to develop treatments for these diseases has been denied. Innovative treatments are only sought for these when they threaten monied and white populations (see recent Ebola outbreak). Hmmmm, strange? If this doesn’t underscore how we devalue certain human lives over others, I don’t know what does.
19
There should be a playbook. I am sure there are plenty of playbooks. Nobody is bragging about theirs because it is not a winning playbook on the field yet. This is probably still in the first quarter of the match. The game may even up, it may get lopsided in the virus’ favor or a strong containment/vaccine comeback will close this chapter of pandemic epidemiological management may come through. The only way to the exit is going through to reach it.
4
@Suburban Cowboy
Brilliant! Especially your last sentence, which has immediately enriched and elevated my life, now, and far into our futures.
1
@Miles
LOL. So true.
1
The Small Business Administration, if it has not already done so, should set up a program for small businesses adversely affected by the coronavirus to get the kinds of loans that are available to businesses adversely affected by other natural disasters, such as hurricanes. Extensions of time to file and pay income taxes should also be granted to those in areas materially affected by the coronavirus. The time to act is now, before economic panic sets in.
34
Throwing good money after bad ? Who is to say a business is creditworthy prior to the event. Who is to say the money will make a difference other than owner’s personal welfare. Not a prudent idea.
2
@Suburban Cowboy
Is this your attitude when there's been a hurricane as well?
5
Actually, since you ask. 1. Homeowners should have insurance on their homes. If not, you really have no business owning the home and relying on moral hazard 2. Homes that are sited in areas prone to flood, not the wind damage, should not be given free financial aid to rebuild in the same position to repeat the cycle. Same good money after bad advice stands.
10
My wife, who works in Manhattan, had to stay home today because her office agreed just yesterday on a policy that if anybody comes in sick they’ll be asked to return home (so as to encourage staying home, naturally). She woke up this morning with a sore throat and froggy voice, the result of a slow-burn cold I got over a week ago.
Its not the Coronavirus. Its not. Its mild, low grade, long-lasting sniffles. Mine lasted two weeks. Mine was barely noticed by others. I had to blow my nose some. She has a deadline tomorrow (Friday). So...she takes two weeks off now??
This is going to happen with each of the employees in her office who haven’t yet gotten the flu during this flu season. Its going to be interminable.
20
@Aaron
In addition, the public school in our neighborhood closed (short-term) out of fears that one of their students may have been exposed. They are taking the day to sanitize the school. This seems wise, reasonable. However, if a public school, or many, close for any length of time, where are those kids going to go? Last night the neighborhood kids were out late in the woods partying it up because of no school. Keeping schools running throughout any outbreak might actually help contain the virus. The alternative is greater dispersal.
Are kids going to stay sequestered at home for an indeterminate time? Unless they’re very conscientious, definitely not. Everybody would lose their mind. All these kids, bursting (and their parents/caretakers) will find alternate venues to get out their energy: playgrounds, libraries, etc, and at this time of year indoor playgrounds.
8
@Aaron, don’t you think that sharing your “cold” or whatever you had with everyone in your office is selfish?
It doesn’t matter what illness a person has, they should not go to work sick and get other people sick, especially people who have a job that can be done from home.
33
@Rachel
No offense, and I’m not actually feeling personally defensive, but do you live in the real world? No I don’t think Im suggesting anything “selfish.”
I generally hold to the POV that dirtiness is good. Maybe that’s because I grew up on a farm?
Look, our immune systems need exercise. Gaining immunities is good. I used to work with developmentally disabled adults and guess what? I got sick all the time. It was in fact part of my hidden paycheck because building up my immunities when I was young means I’ll be less vulnerable when I’m old. There’s actually data to support that. A sniffle is not something to stop the world over. Indeed, lets distinguish that a deadly disease is another matter. Which are we talking about? Im talking about sniffles here. Do you take two weeks off for sniffles?
1
And the factory floor. Boeing is one of the largest employers in the area, with workers commuting from almost every corner of the Puget Sound area. And a management that has already shown a lack of concern and attention to detail.
20
Plus the downdraft of the financial conditions of the airlines who place the orders for new jets. Not a happy scenario for Boeing.
3