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Ask HN: How are you preparing for COVID-19 disruptions?

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Re: Ask HN: How are you preparing for COVID-19 disruptions?

#441

Post by drcode »

pmoriarty wrote: post #331
drcode wrote: post #107

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You might be able to use UV-C light sterilization. Strangely, these types of lights are all suddenly sold out on amazon, wonder why... https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07W1PHS9P/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b...

Remember that light can only sterilize the surfaces it contacts. It can not sterilize beneath the surface. So if droplets containing viruses penetrate beneath the surface of the mask, sterilization with light will not be able to reach them.

Obviously something like this would only make sense under extreme circumstances, when you have to leave the house, but can't use a fresh mask every time, because of shortages.

Re: Ask HN: How are you preparing for COVID-19 disruptions?

#443

Post by l4yao »

allovernow wrote: post #330
irq11 wrote: post #280

Earlier quoted context omitted.

”Now is the time to be alarmed.” And this accomplishes what, exactly? Shortages of gloves and canned goods? Being “alarmed” is not a positive choice, even if your worst-case projections of the future turn out to be true.

If people start trickling into stores to stock up now, as the Canadian government is urging it's citizens, there will be less of a rush later. Perhaps we can avoid the chaos of empty store shelves.

Your wording seems a bit off mark. The Minister of Health is recommending everyone to always have an emergency reserve in case of any unforseen event, from illness to power blackout.

Re: Ask HN: How are you preparing for COVID-19 disruptions?

#444

Post by perl4ever »

ravenstine wrote: post #424
perl4ever wrote: post #413

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have a fireplace, a gas furnace, and an electric grid connection, but only one of these is definitely functional at the moment. If I were to stock up on supplies, I would have to know my situation in the event stuff goes kerblooie. Do I have water? Is it hot? Does it seem clean but actually is full of bacteria? Often people recommend that you prepare for disasters by buying things that you will periodically use up,…

That's why I have extra camp stoves, propane cans, sternos, lighters, etc. If you're worried about contaminated water, you can either sanitize it with some bleach or use a water filter from a brand like Sawyer or Lifestraw. Or distill it. > I really can't face eating the amount of spam that it would require to insure against a significant disaster, assuming there isn't one. Or peanut butter. Hah! Admittedly, I usuall…

"that means you'd have to eat 1 can every other month if I understand the math correctly"

Doing anything consistently over time sounds easier than doing it in a hurry.

Re: Ask HN: How are you preparing for COVID-19 disruptions?

#445

Post by dfsegoat »

heartofgold wrote: post #440
dfsegoat wrote: post #358

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What led you to believe I cited the news? I cite the WHO and CDC where I could. If I am interpreting that information incorrectly based on my previous experience in epidemiology, please educate me. - SARS case fatality rate = 15% (WHO - 1) - MERS case fatality rate = 34.4% (WHO - 2) - COVID19 case fatality rate = 2.3% (WHO - 3^) 1- https://www.who.int/csr/sars/en/WHOconsensus.pdf 2- https://www.who.int/emergencies/me…

You are citing case fatality rate for MERS and SARS, but not the flu (which is typically 0.1%), and yet in any given year the flu has killed many more people than MERS or SARS. Why? Because millions get the flu whereas MERS and SARS were contained. Now consider that COVID-19 is much more contagious than the flu and it has a significantly higher case fatality rate than the flu. Furthermore, people can and do protect t…

This was enlightening and has let me revise my original position. Thanks

Re: Ask HN: How are you preparing for COVID-19 disruptions?

#446

Post by kevas »

qrbLPHiKpiux wrote: post #242
Someone1234 wrote: post #2

I'm not. There's no meaningful preparations for avoiding what is essentially a really dangerous variant of the common cold at an individual level. Now governments and the medical field should be preparing for it. But most of that is logistical problems (e.g. number of hospital beds, preparing quarantine plans, test kits, etc). You can order a bunch of masks if it makes you feel better, but countries with common mask…

You should be. My business operation supply chains are disrupted. Without certain goods, I can't work. I am not without, but my suppliers have rationed some things I buy.

How bad are they disrupted? Any idea when they’ll be back up? If you have backup suppliers, are they down too?

Re: Ask HN: How are you preparing for COVID-19 disruptions?

#447

Post by mb_72 »

capkutay wrote: post #349
millettjon wrote: post #168

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You can maximize immune system functioning by making sure you get proper nutrition and plenty of sleep.

I know this sounds trivial, but there's data that suggests common immune-systems boosters such as zinc and vitamin C do help with covid-19. https://journals.plos.org/plospathogens/article?id=10.1371/j...

There's not really such a thing as 'boosting' your immune system - it's either working properly, or it's not. A 'boosted' / over-active immune system results in auto-immune diseases like Crohn's (which is what I have). Funnily enough I'm being treated with Stelara which actually suppresses my immune system - so it's no 'live' vaccines for me and other vaccines might not work effectively or at all, and I need to be extra careful to avoid getting ill. Working 100% remote is something I am appreciating more and more currently.

Re: Ask HN: How are you preparing for COVID-19 disruptions?

#448

Post by dfsegoat »

titzer wrote: post #258
dfsegoat wrote: post #97

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I find this to be pretty alarmist. "If the pandemic hits" ... the virus has already hit. The WHO itself has backed off the Pandemic classification [1]. The virus has an overall 98% survival rate, and most diagnosed cases in the US, are not actually showing any symptoms (which itself is a cause for concern re: spread). The annual Flu, MERS and SARS were far far worse. The flu kills between 26,000 and 52,000 annually i…

Thanks for editing your post, but given the nature of the subject matter, I would urge you to just take it down. It contains misinformation which can be dangerous. This is serious. You don't have to panic, but this is serious.

Nah I think it generated some good discussion, if nothing else. If you are coming to HN for emergency preparedness and health advice, I’d say you are screwed already. This site is for entertainment and discourse right? Relax.

And If the WHO and the CDC are “misinformation”- so be it.

Re: Ask HN: How are you preparing for COVID-19 disruptions?

#449

Post by theNJR »

watertom wrote: post #408
theNJR wrote: post #357

I’ve spent about $300 to prepare, that includes paying a lazy fee ordering some stuff off Amazon, and optimizing for things I’ll eat in April if this all blows over. Food and water: Added 25 gallons to my normal water delivery Protein bars, jerky, dehydrated cheese Peanuts, trail mix, peanut butter Big sack of rice (save for earthquake kit after April, don’t usually eat rice) Canned chili, canned stew, canned beans (…

You need to add Toilet paper to that list.

It’s on that list :)

Re: Ask HN: How are you preparing for COVID-19 disruptions?

#450

Post by BoiledCabbage »

liamcardenas wrote: post #310
atarian wrote: post #247

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Fat is actually one of the last things the body burns during starvation. Your muscles usually go first.

This makes no sense. Why would the body prefer to break down a functional store of energy when has access to a non-functional one?

Because the functional store requires energy to maintain? Getting rid of it reduces the daily caloric need.

Pure speculation

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