My preparation so far is the same as earthquake preparation - to be sure that I have a supply of food and water for a few days. It seems like a pretty reasonable generic preparation for disaster. I am interested in doing more, but it isn't really clear to me what else would be useful.
Ask HN: How are you preparing for COVID-19 disruptions?
271–280 of 566 posts
Re: Ask HN: How are you preparing for COVID-19 disruptions?
#272Earlier quoted context omitted.
It was just an idea. You're right that it may have adverse effects. Yet I wonder: Viruses live longer on a "clean-looking" doorknob than they do in a towel, for example. This was very counter-intuitive to me. So when it comes to a virus, would they live longer on skin or on a bandage or piece of tape?
Thank you for acknowledging this. I really appreciate it. The issue is that the adhesive from tape is a form of glue. It attracts and keeps hold of germs. Plus, it is extremely hard to get fully off in terms of disinfection purposes. I had a central line (dialysis catheter) in my chest for 4 months for a procedure called plasma exchange. You cannot take a shower with an exposed central line. A single drop of water on…
You got very lucky. Lottery level winning lucky.
Re: Ask HN: How are you preparing for COVID-19 disruptions?
#273Today I just bought 2 weeks stock of food for me and my mom. We don’t eat much. (NYC here)
Re: Ask HN: How are you preparing for COVID-19 disruptions?
#274Earlier quoted context omitted.
is it possible to reuse a mask if you put the mask through an autoclave?
I assumed the reason not to re-use them is that the paper mask structurally wears out and no longer creates the proper seal on your face.
what about the P100 filter cartridges used on half/full face respirators? Those have a plastic skeleton with a rubber gasket.
Re: Ask HN: How are you preparing for COVID-19 disruptions?
#275My father had the misfortune of being a civilian in Kuwait during the first gulf war. What I learned from his stories is that the line between normalcy and utter chaos is thinner than one would think. The war itself from the perspective of someone not actively participating is mostly boring (his words) - you can't really go outside, cable is down(no internet back then), not much is happening. But the brief transition…
Fat is actually one of the last things the body burns during starvation. Your muscles usually go first.
You do have a source? I d heard the opposite.
Re: Ask HN: How are you preparing for COVID-19 disruptions?
#276Earlier quoted context omitted.
> It doesn't seem to be an airborn virus, but it does survive on surfaces. I just read this last night, and from this I had the impression that it is an airborne virus, and that surface spreading is not the main vector: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/transmission...
The "airborne" transmission in that link is what I believe is called "aerosol transmission", not airborne. Because it relies on liquid droplets in the air, and not actually able to transmit on something like dist in the air.
Thank you for correcting that. Big difference between the two and people will happily play 'Chinese whispers' with these bits of information leading to a totally different overall picture.
Airborne transmission doesn't require any other medium than the air itself, even dust is optional.
Re: Ask HN: How are you preparing for COVID-19 disruptions?
#277Earlier quoted context omitted.
> It doesn't seem to be an airborn virus, but it does survive on surfaces. I just read this last night, and from this I had the impression that it is an airborne virus, and that surface spreading is not the main vector: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/transmission...
The "airborne" transmission in that link is what I believe is called "aerosol transmission", not airborne. Because it relies on liquid droplets in the air, and not actually able to transmit on something like dist in the air.
Is any virus truly airborne?
Re: Ask HN: How are you preparing for COVID-19 disruptions?
#278Earlier quoted context omitted.
significantly less deadly than sars but also significantly more contagious. sars was only contagious once you showed symptoms, which does not appear to be the case here. for covid, los alamos suggests a pre-intervention r0 of 4-6: https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.02.07.20021154v... the fatality rate increases with age, up to ~15% for >80. i don't know about you but i have older people in my family that i'…
Yes I agree with you, I am concerned with the elderly & infants. As these are the demographics which usually have higher fatal outcome both in diseases, and even adverse effects from drugs/surgery.
Young children are surprisingly resilient against Coronavirus infections, their mortality is so low that it hardly figures in the stats (on an individual level it is still just as much a tragedy).
Re: Ask HN: How are you preparing for COVID-19 disruptions?
#279I'm making preparations, but I think I'm going to have to make even more. Having one child under two, and another just about to be born, I really can't afford their exposure, when they'll still be in a developmental phase that leaves them especially prone to permanent damage.
I think you should take whatever reasonable precautions help you feel better, but just to put your mind at ease a little: one of the few bright spots with this virus is that it doesn’t seem especially dangerous to kids. To my knowledge there have been zero deaths of any kids under the age of 10. I have a 4 year old and I’m much more concerned about her parents and grandparents than her.
> I have a 4 year old and I’m much more concerned about her parents
Isn't that you? :)
Re: Ask HN: How are you preparing for COVID-19 disruptions?
#280Earlier 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…
>The annual Flu, MERS and SARS were far far worse This is NOT TRUE. I urge you to stop relying on the news and look at the literature that is being published in real time. I don't have time for a full response but 15% of cases require ICU care to survive. There are less than 100k ICU beds in the U.S. and the virus spreads 2-5x (R0 estimates from 3 up to 8 depending on source) more readily than SARS or MERS or the 191…
”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.