People, just wash your hands, use hand sanitizer, stay away from people who are coughing, sneezing.

[shockey80]

That is the best protection. Panic does not help. This virus is going to spread and the best thing you can do is to use commonsense. Wash your hands all the time. Don't fly unless you have to. Don't go to events with large numbers of people.

We don't know yet how bad this is going to get. Until we know, don't panic.

[at140]

1. Yours is the BEST POST I have seen re:covid-19

and your recommendation makes the most practical sense.
Covid-19 is nowhere near fatal like pancreatic and liver cancer.

[Habibi]

15. Pancreatic and liver cancer are not transmissible. nt

[A HERETIC I AM]

18. Not so sure....

I got coughed on yesterday and today I am a Republican.

Oh...yeah.....not quite the same....


BUT STILL!!

[at140]

21. point is death rate from pancreatic cancer is 95%, covid less than 5%

and speaking of communicable diseases, syphilis, aids, polio, leprosy, TB, etc are communicable and more lethal.

[LisaL]

27. TB can be treated with antibiotics.

You can also be infected and not develop any symptoms-called latent TB. Leprosy is now treatable too.
Syphilis as you presumably know is an STD which means is not transmitted that easily, and neither is HIV.

[at140]

31. So is CoVid also treatable. which is why very few in US will die from it

when they receive treatment in a hospital. Death rate is much lower than many other communicable diseases.
I came down with small pox at age 9 in India and was near death with crazy high fevers and puss filled blisters over my whole body. I still have facial scars from it at age 79. And I had been inoculated before! But survived due to strong constitution and good care at home.

As for STD's those spread pretty fast even in Western countries, especially among the young.

Last point, the most vulnerable to covid-19 are the exact same people most at risk for common flu.

[LisaL]

33. Treatable with what? They don't know yet.

Those treated here mostly were receiving supportive treatment.

[at140]

34. Pretty much the same treatment given to serious flu patients

in hospitals. Majority of covid patients have recovered when hospitalized in time.

[GulfCoast66]

41. Yeah, I was pretty Sanguine about this disease. Sure, poor countries had a high death rate over 2%

But that won’t happen in the west. Then I saw Italy. A 2% death rate with over 1500 patients. Italy has a first world healthcare system where no one is afraid to go to the doctor due to receiving a big bill.

Not concerned about myself. If I get it I either live or die. I accepted that fact of life long ago.

But it has been over 100 years since we have had a very commutable disease with a death rate that high. And we we had no social media and we’re almost under military law and censorship due to WWI. And it still caused chaos.

And I have never, even on the internet talked to a smallpox survivor. That amazing. I wish both the US and Russia would destroy their remaining stock of smallpox virus. I’m a science major and understand the reasons for keeping them. But to me the risk outweighs the potential benefit.

[at140]

43. Italy has a large population of Chinese workers

who are called Italians! May be because they are permanent residents/citizens there.

[GulfCoast66]

49. Great. A xenophobic post on DU!

Less than one percent of the people in Italy are Chinese or of Chinese descent. Way less than the US. So the virus is a Chinese thing? No big deal unless ‘real Italians’ start getting it?

Have you ever been to Italy? I have. Several times. Last year was the most recent.

Lord, it feels like I am on FR, not DU.

[at140]

50. Chinese people operate several manufacturing facilities in Italy!

Nothing Xenophobic about that. My girl friend is Chinese, and I admire her character.
Are you sometimes afraid of your shadow as well?

[Blue_true]

45. The 1918 Flu.

Some treatments were to mist homes, have people drink shit that poisoned them. Sanitation was shitty. Hospitals then were TRULY for the rich, everyone else was lucky to have a home nurse drop by. Doctors could not literally look into people's bodies with scanning equipment. The state of medical "research" literally was not much better than boiling newts. A President had earlier died because the Doctor treating him believed that using unsterilized hands to search for bullet fragments increased his chances of healing.

I would not call Italy as a country having a first world healthcare system, that nation has had a host of really large problems for years now, hell, in some parts bandits still randomly rob people.

[GulfCoast66]

48. WTF? Have you been to Italy?

I was there last year. Pretty much totally first world. Been there several times since 1998 when I first visited.

I also regularly spend time in rural Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama. I guarantee you all of them are more 2nd world than Italy.

And there are no bandits I have ever seen. Nor been warned about. Maybe they are more concentrated on the websites you read? Pickpockets in tourist sites. Yeah. But roaming bands of bandits?

[Blue_true]

56. An American tourist was killed by Italian bandits around ten years ago,

it was a problem in that part of Italy, according to the news article. Maybe you should continuously leave the more populated areas, then see how your luck hold up.

[edhopper]

2. I live in New York City

I can do some things, but staying away from crowds is impossible.

[LisaM]

3. I take the bus.

That's my biggest worry. And I don't really have a choice.

[nolabear]

6. Seattle is being great re public transportation.

I’m near the city so see all the local response, which is so reassuring. The city is sanitizing all public transportation and will do so daily. They’re monitoring suspected cases and getting testing facilities set up fast. Won’t keep you from the guy next to you but should help, and is a practical, on point response.

[LisaM]

8. I have seen no evidence of this.

No signage, no sanitizer on the buses. I have no reason to disbelieve you, but I ride Seattle buses 2-4 times a day and haven't heard a peep or seen a thing about this on any bus.

[nolabear]

14. I saw it on last night's news coverage.

I assume they were telling the truth.

[at140]

22. Your best defense against any lung related disease is.....

exercise those lungs daily expanding to maximum capacity 10-25 times, hold breath as long as possible and repeat.
In other words deep breathing exercises. Viruses & bacteria do not like oxygen rich air and you strengthen diaphragm to breath better and deeper.

And after touching anything public, before you get a chance to wash hands with soap,
avoid touching mouth, nose & eyes. Your skin on hands is tough and viruses can not penetrate easily.
But touch wet parts of your body, and they are in your body.

[Blue_true]

46. A guy coughed near me today and I held my breath for 50 feet.

Athens let out a big exhale once I was in "clean" air. Then the next isle, someone had farted and I walked right into it, I guess the silent things are the most problematic.

[at140]

52. You did exactly the right thing,

and deep breathing exercise enhances your ability to hold breath longer.
The sneezing was more likely just the common cold or allergy.
But why not play it safe.

[Trailrider1951]

54. Here is a link to the info at Sound transit.org

https://www.soundtransit.org/ride-with-us/service-alerts/responding-to-heightened-covid-19-concerns


And King County Metro:

https://kingcounty.gov/depts/health/communicable-diseases/disease-control/novel-coronavirus.aspx


Nothing from Pierce transit

[LisaM]

55. This says nothing about disinfecting buses

Unless In just missed it. I am on the bus now. There is no signage about it either.

Bus is less full than usual. One person (not near me) was coughing.

[Trailrider1951]

10. I live down near Tacoma and I take the bus/train to work everyday

The public transportation here is the best I've found anywhere. While the crowds do concern me, it's not enough to make me drive the 60 mile round trip every day (traffic sux here). On cold days, I wear those cheap stretchy gloves while I'm on the bus/train and remove them and wash my hands when I get to work/home. Also I have a small bottle of hand sanitizer in my bag. If people would just STAY HOME when they are sick, it would help tremendously. And on Friday, on the way home by train, I had to sneeze into my gloved hand. The guy in the seat next to me immediately got up and moved to the other end of the car.....maybe I should wear a sign that says, "I have allergies and it's pollen season!" LOL. It's good to know the city is making the extra effort to keep us safe.

[at140]

35. You discovered a new method of getting rid of unwanted people lol

with panic style fear of covid spreading, sneezing or coughing is enough to scare the shxt out of most people now.
I would guess 99% of people coughing have the common cold rather than covid.

[LisaL]

25. I do too.

If I get off every time somebody coughs or sneezes, I will never get anywhere.

[Backseat Driver]

32. Guess it's time for ladies to return to wearing dainty gloves

unstead if winter weight mittens; in lieu of a mask, wrap up in a tightly woven scarf, i.e., silk or supreme count cottons and/or handkerchiefs that can be washed daily? Minimal protection I realize in close contact but hardly as concerning as an approved respiratory mask. Keep that immune system well-fed with anti-oxidants and Vitamin C.

[snowybirdie]

4. Folks staying home

Will not calm markets. The Orange One will remain panicked and say stupid stuff. But it's very sound advice and we're following that too. Good luck folks.

[lame54]

5. And if your job puts you there?

[shockey80]

7. I don't have all the answers.

The best thing you can do is wash your hands often, don't touch your nose, eyes, mouth.

[Kaleva]

9. I'm about as prepared as I can be now so I'm not panicking.

[NewJeffCT]

11. staying away from crowds is not always an option for people

people that take public transportation to work, people in education, emergency services, etc.

[cyclonefence]

12. And this is one of the reasons the administration's firing of Obama's pandemic team

is hurting us already. A big part of that team's work involved helping schools, employers, municipalities, etc., plan for allowing people to work and do schoolwork from home; to reschedule work loads so that fewer people would be in a confined space at a time. An expert in contagious diseases who just wrote a book was interviewed on MSNBC the other day and said that at this point in the disease's spread, all kinds of preparations and accommodations should already be in effect.

I don't go out to work, so I am fortunate. I am in a double high risk group (old and sick), so I am going to the grocery store in the very early morning hours, when there's hardly anyone there, and using their hand sanitizers (which they've had around the store for years) like crazy. I think the advice to limit your exposure to other people, wash/sanitize your hands, and not panic is the best I've heard.

[Talitha]

13. "grocery store in the very early morning hours, when there's hardly anyone there"

That's an excellent idea!

[at140]

36. Yup, I get to Walmart food area before 8am and it is seldom crowded..nt

[Habibi]

16. I'm not panicking. I'm concerned.

Especially given this latest: https://www.democraticunderground.com/100213034103

[at140]

40. Ebola had 90% death rate! Covid is 1 or 2% death rate

Avoid Ebola!

[uponit7771]

17. 750 million people in China were quarantined for weeks (link) that's a big hit to world GDP

Be concerned, panicking isn't help full

[marlakay]

19. Everything is blooming here and people

Are sneezing all the time mostly from allergies but with this virus you can see people are not sure.

I am fighting sinus headaches right now, my husband is sneezing and using allergy meds.

That’s whats hard is you don’t know unless you test.

[meow2u3]

20. Hand sanitizers are all sold out in my part of town

I went to three different stores and every single one of them is out of hand sanitizer. The hoarders and panic buyers have hit the stores.

Thank God I could buy some tissue. I'd be up the creek without them.

[roamer65]

23. Tissues and isopropyl alcohol.

[GulfCoast66]

42. Well, soap and water are more effective and not in short supply.

Granted, can’t carry it in your car or purse.

[Hortensis]

53. NOT hoarders and panickers. You've heard of just-in-time

stocking, right? There is no big warehouse behind the swinging doors in the back any more. Money has time value, and stores now purchase and stock in amounts that will be sold quickly. That's why trucks are constantly rolling up to supermarkets. When it's done "well," current supplies are always close to running out.

Sensible people, like you, are just purchasing more than stores had planned for. Btw, purchasing on line delivers to the door, making fewer trips necessary.

[LisaL]

24. How exactly do you stay away from people who are coughing and sneezing?

They are everywhere, considering it's cold and flu seazon.

[roamer65]

39. Tell them you are sick.

Lie to them.

They clear a path for you. I am telling people that right now so I don’t hafta shake hands and seem like a jerk asking not to do it.

[USALiberal]

26. No one I know is "panicking" nt

[Hermit-The-Prog]

28. and scrub your screen -- I just sneezed on mine. Sorry.

Sure would help if we had a government more interested in informing rather than hiding.

[stonecutter357]

29. Cool Story, Bro , !

[apcalc]

30. All good, except many who have it are not

YET symptomatic...

[Talitha]

37. Has anyone heard if a disinfectant spray like Lysol would be useful?

In the home... doorknobs, refrigerator, phone, etc.
We touch things all the time without even realizing it.
TBH, I'd rather be ridiculously careful now than say 'oh-oh' later.

[MenloParque]

38. San Francisco

Drove into SF for dinner last night and our server has said that there has been a couple restaurant closures this past month due to decreased patronage. Chinese restaurants are really taking a hit due to fear and panic. Go out to your favorite restaurants! Be smart and wash hands frequently and keep fingers away from face. I’ve heard chatter of not spending money on purpose to help tank the economy....that’s dumb.

[Blue_true]

44. Ok, that should be simple when a person is out shopping or walking among

lots of people.

[herding cats]

47. Excellent advice. Unless you work service and can't avoid the public.

Then you're dependent on the people around you being hygienic. Which is not going to happen.

I guess everyone just has to hope they're heathy enough and that those they're exposed to respect basic epidemic hygiene.

[LAS14]

51. The idea I had in church yesterday.

Yesterday I caught myself rubbing my tickly nose. Rats! I thought. Then I asked hubby for the hand sanitizer he carries around and rubbed some on my nose and a tiny way into the nostrils.

That got me thinking about how often I touch my often itchy eyes and tickly nose. Most often when I'm sitting down. So I've promised myself to use hand sanitizer on my hands as soon as I sit down for a protracted period. Restaurant, car, public transport, concert, etc.