underpants
underpants's JournalI downloaded the COVIDWISE app
https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=13860012Pretty simple app - first screen tells you if you were near an exposure. Second screen allows you to mark yourself as having tested positive. Third screen let’s you notify VDH if you test positive or if you get an exposure notification.
Yes it highly reliant on people using it and self reporting.
Random ID assigned to each phone that changes every few minutes. Using Bluetooth the phones talk to each other if they are within a certain distance.
Staff meeting Zoom call today - we're going back in in two weeks
We’ve been teleworking since St. Patrick’s Day until the beginning of July. I’m basically in my office in one part of our building by myself.
Staff conference call this morning. I wasn’t sure if they were sticking with the proposed plan. They are. Next week and the next are all teleworking. August 24th everyone back in. Monday to Friday all day like, you know, work. I have just been going in two days a week since the beginning of July. An “administrative ‘presence’” they called it.
My wife isn’t happy about this. She probably won’t be going back in (corporate world) for the rest of the year. We just ordered her a permanent desk and chair and are making one of the extra bedrooms into her full time office. She’s been working out of our “library” the last 5 months. We should have done this a while ago. I work from my recliner in the main room of the house - TV room - it’s called a laptop for a reason. 😁
I work in the public sector and we have been providing services virtually. I understand the need to show our relevance and that we need to continue being employed. We’ll see. My boss thinks we are going to go back to some sort of virtual and teleworking not too long from now. I may need to start searching for other positions just in case. Sort of the low man on the totem pole again. Started back at this place 5 weeks before they closed the office for the pandemic. I’d been there previously for a few years.
Well I guess I’m packing a lunch and eating in my office soon.
Virginia's the first state to use new COVID-19 app from Apple, Google CORONAVIRUS
RICHMOND, Va. – Virginia has rolled out a smartphone app to automatically notify people if they might have been exposed to the coronavirus, becoming the first U.S. state to use new pandemic technology created by Apple and Google.
The Covidwise app was available on the tech giants’ app stores Wednesday ahead of an expected announcement from Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam.
“We’re using every possible approach to fight this virus and keep Virginians healthy,” Northam said in a statement provided to AP that encouraged all Virginians to download the app. “The COVIDWISE app is completely anonymous, protects personal privacy, and gives you an additional tool to protect yourself and your community.”
Once the pin is submitted, Stover said the app will notify other users of potential exposure, keeping the identity of the person who tested positive anonymous. He said the app notifies ‘close contacts’ using Bluetooth keys or ‘anonymous tokens’ that can determine which phones were within 6 feet of a positive case for 15 minutes or more–criteria based on CDC guidelines.
https://www.wavy.com/news/health/coronavirus/virginias-the-first-state-to-use-new-covid-19-app-from-apple-google/
Beirut update - CNN they still have a bureau there
Didn’t catch the reporters name. He was sitting alone in the bureau went the explosion happened. He was reporting from amidst the blown frame of a window.
Beirut is a disaster area. Officially.
Everyone around the country is being encouraged to give blood.
70% of food imports for the whole country come through that port. The port is closed.
The largest grain silo (wheat) in the country is destroyed.
Some GOOD NEWS! following up on my Bad News thread
Good god. This was only a month ago?
Bad News
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100213705206
Okay so this person is still testing positive for Covid after a month. They have been in the hospital and the hospital wants to get them out. The hospital is triaging in a tent in the parking lot. Georgia but not the Atlanta area.
There is a nursing home with Covid facilities but they are full. They are going back to the assisted living area of their retirement home. All of this is owned by the hospital. They’ve created a separate sealed off area (I think in some way negative pressure) for her and some others still testing positive. The staff really doesn’t have to do much for them but the staff will be full PPE head to toe for any interaction. They will be on the first floor and have a window so they can see their spouse and visiting family.
WHEW!!!!!
There is a facility with negative pressure rooms suited to Covid cases but it’s full. The alternative was a Medicaid facility which I frankly was not in favor of. Medicaid facilities get paid Medicaid amounts and have Medicaid budgets - I’m sure they do a good job but I didn’t what that.
"SOS" really worked. Three Micronesian sailors saved!
'SOS' in the sand saves Pacific island mariners
The three men had set out in a 23-foot (7 meter) boat last Thursday to make a 26-mile (42 kilometer) journey from Pulawat to Pulap atolls in the Federated States of Micronesia.
They went off course and ran out of fuel, landing on tiny, uninhabited Pikelot Island, 118 miles (190 kilometers) from their intended destination, according to US and Australian authorities.
"We were toward the end of our search pattern," the KC-135 pilot, Lt. Col. Jason Palmeira-Yen, said in the post. "We turned to avoid some rain showers and that's when we looked down and saw an island, so we decide to check it out and that's when we saw SOS and a boat right next to it on the beach. From there we called in the Australian Navy because they had two helicopters nearby that could assist and land on the island."
"After discussions between the responding partners it was decided the safest course of action for both the response agencies' crews and the mariners was to limit exposure to one another due to the COVID-19 Pandemic," a Coast Guard statement said.
https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/03/asia/us-australian-micronesia-sos-pacific-island-rescue-intl-hnk-scli/index.html
Bacon and free weights. It's a pandemic thing.
Bacon.
So I went to the grocery store yesterday to get bacon and pickles.
Bacon wrapped pickles. 425 degrees for about 20 minutes. HIGHLY recommended.
I see a sign that says “limit two per customer”. A young stock guy is nearby so I ask. “We can’t keep it in stock. That and hot dogs.”
My wife says you can freeze both and they are ready to go. Plus...it’s bacon.
Free weights.
I don’t think anyone realized how much people counted on having access to free weights at the gym. Not just mega lifters, it’s a regular part of a lot of people’s normal workout. It’s great for weight loss and bone strength. Suddenly no access. A coworker is setting up his own gym in a shed. He found a set of 600 pounds of weights at a Dick’s one night at 2 am.
The fight for these things has been epic. Craigslist for weights from small gyms closing. A guy at Dick’s Sporting Goods gave me explicit instructions for checking their inventory every night after 8. “Buy it. Don’t wait”. I ended up finding what I needed at a second hand sports equipment store - 45 lbs bench press bar - I can do a hole workout with that. I’m not a big lifter but I was tired to using a broom handle and two grocery tote bags with 10 lbs bags of rock salt in them. This second hand place had an extra storage place, a strip mall store front, and they clear the inventory every week. Lots of Weiber stuff. I mean a lot.
Who knew?
I feel for the swimming fanatics. I do mean fanatics in a good way. There is no substitute for the gym pool.
Battery powered scooters - need DU advise on Christmas gift
My wife mentioned this months ago. I would love to get one for her.
Any advice from DU scooterers?
Price? Mmmm I’d like to keep it below $500. That seems to be a good starting point.
What do I need to know about volts?
I think Trump is spelling out his healthcare plan
Sorry came to it late. The way he reads I thought it was just about telehealth.
Lots of things for “rural”.
“My order” so I guess it’s an Executive Order.
US East coasters - you might want to plug in and get charged up
Just a friendly reminder. This storm could very well knock out power all up and down the coast.
I’ve got all the extra battery packs I can find going. We also have two laptops that we can charge off of.
https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/
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