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Post by bixaorellana on Jul 14, 2020 5:30:17 GMT
Most interesting, Mich, and I identify with your very prudent nervousness.
It seems like everyplace opens the very second that things take a turn for the better. And as you said, it seems like every time they open too soon.
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Post by bjd on Jul 14, 2020 6:19:20 GMT
I think that reopening seems to be a function of politics and pressure. In France so far, at least as far as I know, there has not been a big resurgence of cases since the biggest easing of lockdown a month ago, and now complete reopening. From what I have heard on the news, any clusters seem to be either in situations were people are close together (like migrant workers picking fruit and vegetables and living in close conditions) or else large family gatherings. There is also a problem with raves, with lots of people getting together.
Any place where outbreaks are found, testing is quickly put in place. And some doctors signed a letter to the government asking that masks be obligatory in private places open to the public. So far, they are not obligatory other than in public transport although many smaller shops as well as public offices like the post office require them.
Here in the southwest, there are lots of tourists and I am quite surprised to see that there are Brits, since I thought things were not under control in the UK. But all local summer festivities have been cancelled this year.
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Post by onlyMark on Jul 14, 2020 6:53:30 GMT
Completely off topic (maybe a future one?) One of the things I like about Kerouac2 is his use of the D words...death, dying, died. No cover-up words which don't really mean what they say...'passed', passed over or away, gone to heaven etc. I think there is a generally inherent pragmatism amongst us that prefers to say it how it is.
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Post by whatagain on Jul 14, 2020 7:42:59 GMT
20% of the residents in that particular nursing home died of covid-19 in just a two week period. Since my mother was already dead Completely off topic (maybe a future one?) One of the things I like about Kerouac2 is his use of the D words...death, dying, died. No cover-up words which don't really mean what they say...'passed', passed over or away, gone to heaven etc. Back to subject... Depends on my mood. I hate the word 'décédé' deceased, i find it in French just admin and devoid of warmth. I prefer parti 'gone' to 'mort' dead. That is unless i am in a fool mood or plastered. Then it is dead. Or worse.
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Post by tod2 on Jul 14, 2020 11:45:06 GMT
Lugg, what do you think of Boris & Co., playing the waiting game before issuing a direct order to the UK population to start wearing masks for everyones good. I got the feeling they are afraid of the public at large. What the heck. I'll say one thing for our president Ramaphosa, he shutdown the sale of liquor immediately. No pussyfooting around saying he would give us all a chance to stockpile our tipple. I thought it daft for UK to wait. You don't have to use an actual medical type mask here. A scarf, old T-shirt or any cloth covering the mouth and nose will do until a person can't make or buy a mask.
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Post by kerouac2 on Jul 14, 2020 15:12:13 GMT
Here are lots of interesting interactive graphs showing what people in 26 countries are doing to avoid Covid-19. The one about "avoiding raw meat" made me laugh, because my first reaction just from the title was "why would anyone avoid raw meat?" and France is indeed at the very bottom of the graph on that point.
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Post by tod2 on Jul 14, 2020 15:20:48 GMT
Avoiding raw meat……well we're sunk then as every two weeks my husband makes a new batch of biltong , which is dry raw meat, specifically beef. If the spices and vinegar cure the meat somewhat it is still not cooked in anyway.
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Post by bixaorellana on Jul 14, 2020 20:11:28 GMT
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Post by tod2 on Jul 15, 2020 13:54:50 GMT
Oh my soul. I enjoyed reading through a couple of articles that I've never seen before - our local news broadcasts very rarely talk about Trump.. Instead they interview people that think drinking alcohol sanitises the inside of your body. The theory is that if a sanitiser has 70% alcohol and kills Corona virus then drinking alcohol must do the same. I'm not making this up…...
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Post by kerouac2 on Jul 15, 2020 14:33:57 GMT
If people can believe that drinking bleach can help them, they can believe anything.
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Post by cheerypeabrain on Jul 15, 2020 17:37:57 GMT
Well my face coverings are much in demand here. Running out of cotton! Yesterday I stopped to chat to a couple when I was out walking the dog. They were in their garden and I was across the road...we've always exchanged greetings but never really spoken. However, yesterday the chap was in a talkative mood...told me that he has cancer and is shielding...his wife worked in a care home. He was grumbling about face masks, how uncomfortable they were. So when I got home I picked up a couple that I had made and popped back with them. They were thrilled to bits. Making some for Jeff's nephews and nieces and their families atm...then I might call it a day. The local post office have got used to me turning up with parcels for all over the country !
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Post by kerouac2 on Jul 15, 2020 17:46:38 GMT
Your masks are brilliant except for people like me, who want to wear the mask that attracts the least attention, which in France is the one with the pleated blue front.
The African masks in my neighbourhood are fantastic, though. Lots of non Africans are wearing them, too.
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Post by questa on Jul 16, 2020 1:28:40 GMT
I am wondering if there would be a market for matching hijab and mask sets. The women like to match their hijabs with their blouse-type upper garments, this would add to the mix.
A woman here designed a series of modest swimsuits that she has copyrighted as "Burkini" All the rage among the Muslim women, and non-Muslim women are wearing them because they look good
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Post by bjd on Jul 16, 2020 6:05:47 GMT
"Burkini" or "burquinis" made the news in France a few years ago when they were forbidden in public swimming pools.
Matching masks and hijabs? Isis/Saudis will be happy when women are completely covered up, although I supposed their preference is for black to make them suffer even more in the heat.
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Post by cheerypeabrain on Jul 16, 2020 6:46:11 GMT
Jeff's nephew's wife is Muslim and she wears a hijab...but she would like colourful 'funky' masks. She is a delight, over the last 2 years lost TWELVE stone, has 7 children under 10 and works out like a mad woman at the gym.
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Post by bjd on Jul 16, 2020 12:52:23 GMT
I have been scrolling back looking for Cheery's mask-making instructions. If they are becoming obligatory in public places, I'll have to look for some cotton and make one to replace the municipal one I have. It's 65% polyester and it's too warm.
How big is the rectangle you use, Cheery?
This morning at the market outside, there was a sign that masks are now obligatoryd. I had to go home and get one since up to now they haven't been. Now that we have a lot of tourists from elsewhere...
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Post by tod2 on Jul 16, 2020 13:12:10 GMT
I have just come back from the supermarket and was confronted by hundreds of masked and unmasked individuals queuing up with NO social distancing at all. There is no doubt in my mind that a great number of them will have contracted or passed on Corona to a large percentage in the queue. All for what?….. A government hand out of R350-00 for the month. Life is cheap in S.Africa. Very cheap. They are so hellbent on getting this money that the supermarket car park was brimming with vehicles packed with people coming to join the long long queue into the building.
"All other grant beneficiaries will receive an extra R250 per month for the next six months. In addition, a special Covid-19 Social Relief of Distress grant of R350 a month for the next 6 months will be paid to individuals who are currently unemployed and do not receive any other form of social grant or UIF payment."
Thats all very well, but the government knows full well that it is a great opportunity for Covid to spread because there is no management of the crowd waiting to get this money. Pay points should and must be manned by either appointed officials or the police. I am sure they think if they wear a mask you can get close to somebody.
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Post by kerouac2 on Jul 16, 2020 13:13:06 GMT
Although President Macron mentioned August 1st as the date of obligatory masks in all public indoor spaces, it was decided that it was ridiculous to wait until then, so they will be obligatory indoors in France starting next week.
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Post by tod2 on Jul 16, 2020 15:47:02 GMT
Up until a few days ago I did not know that you can get Corona Virus just in your nasal passages or just in your throat and that's it. I have always believed it starts there and then goes to the lungs as severe Pneumonia. Now I read in our daily newspaper that however mild you get the virus, it starts affecting the brain immediately and destroying brain cells. WTF!!
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Post by bixaorellana on Jul 16, 2020 16:22:54 GMT
Your niece-in-law sounds like a remarkable woman, Cheery! Although President Macron mentioned August 1st as the date of obligatory masks in all public indoor spaces, it was decided that it was riciulous to wait until then, so they will be obligatory indoors in France starting next week. I feel about these future dates for imposing masks the way I feel reading about the designated end of WWI. Start sooner & save lives! Yesterday Walmart & Kroger in the US announced compulsory mask-wearing in their stores across the US and today other chains are following suit. www.usatoday.com/story/money/2020/07/16/target-face-coverings-requirement-free-masks-provided-coronavirus/5450555002/The governor of Oklahoma, one more rabid Republican overly hot to re-open his state, has tested positive for coronavirus. Another USA Today story announces that at least half of all the states are pausing re-opening or taking other steps. A Florida testing statistic: One third of children (18 and under) tested are showing positive test results. Many have displayed lung damage. Really frightening. Let's hope this gets through to all those people who think it's a good idea to hustle kids back to school so their parents can go to work. If you don't mind my asking, Huckle, how are you coping with the steadily rising bad news coming out of Florida? Some time back in one of the corona discussions you told about how you're spending your time and maintaining your composure during quarantine. It was admirable and encouraging. I think all of us who are retired, live alone, and enjoy our own company are at a great advantage right now, although the daily news can certainly grind us down at times.
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Post by kerouac2 on Jul 16, 2020 16:27:04 GMT
I'm just hoping that huckle has enough to eat, because the way things look, the grocery deliverers could get sick and have to stop.
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Post by Kimby on Jul 16, 2020 17:15:00 GMT
Our neighbors on Sanibel Island, which is across the Florida peninsula from the worst hotspots and separated from the mainland by a causeway with a $6 toll, report that things are still pretty good there. The City of Sanibel update has less than 30 CASES there in total at last count.
When we were there in May, it was 8-11 cases, so not exploding like parts of the state.
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Post by bixaorellana on Jul 16, 2020 23:54:14 GMT
Huckle, how are you coping with the steadily rising bad news coming out of Florida?Nice of you to ask. I know there are a couple of other Anyporters with a Florida interest. Generally, I'm in denial. It is impossible that that many people can be that stupid . . .and they're earning big money, my money included, on this stupidity. Firing squads are in order. Hmmm. You have been stuck in the US too long. I'd have thought that all that time you've spent in France would having you saying "Off with their heads!" instead.
But seriously, I have found that a certain amount of denial is the only way to stave off depression. No one seems to be paying attention to the testing statistic for children. That appears to be the case. Obviously I miss stuff, but I do read several news outlets every day and knew nothing about that testing statistic until you posted it here. Another thing not paid attention to here is the fact that Florida, mainly south Florida, has the highest percentage of multi-generational households in the US. It's the culture. T here was a syndicated story about something similar in south Texas. There, even when not sharing a house, extended families carried on with get-togethers and large parties and paid a hard price for that behavior.Not requiring masks when the kids go out is not good for the parents and grandparents living in the same house. Because most of our jobs are low paying in the service and tourist industry without a lot of extra to pay babysitters, grandparents and other extended family members do the lion's share of the child care. These are not 2 to 4 person households. The Miami mayor is now looking for isolation facilities in the hotels that are empty because of the lack of tourists. A couple of months ago there was a story on poorly paid health care workers in California. They often held down more than one nursing home job, going directly from one to the other. Furthermore, they lived with extended family, including elderly members.
Using empty hotel space for isolation facilities seems like a good idea, while at the same time highlighting the extent of the virus and the nationwide unpreparedness. Why anyone would come down here at this time is a mystery. But people do and because they're on holiday, they don't need to mask or distance or comply with any guidelines what so ever. Like children running around with loaded guns! On local social media groups snowbirds keep asking wistfully about flying into Oaxaca, often to be told harshly to stay away. Gee, you love it here so much you want to import illness! For K2, if grocery delivery is stopped I can live on my stored fat for a while. Very wise. I myself maintain meaty thighs for that very reason.
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Post by tod2 on Jul 17, 2020 7:39:20 GMT
This week my grandsons school invited parents to send their kids back - but also said if parents wished to continue with the online schooling they have been doing for the past 2-3 months they may choose to keep them at home. To keep them at home was my son and their mother's decision. Probably very wise.
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Post by bixaorellana on Jul 17, 2020 15:51:06 GMT
Yes, thank goodness that was their decision!
I wonder how the teachers at the school feel about not only returning to the classroom, but doing double duty of classroom and remote teaching.
Conservatives in the US blare on about kids returning to school so their parents can go back to work. Makes perfect sense ...... if you leave out the part that there is a pandemic raging.
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Post by tod2 on Jul 17, 2020 15:56:41 GMT
Things are getting what South Africans refer to as 'hectic'….meaning bloody awful. My son spoke to us tonight and asked us to p-lease not venture off the property - we do stay home all the time but I do need to do food shopping. Looks like the next food shop will be large enough to last a month. The field hospital just down the road has climbed from 18 to over 40 in a week. They are all quarantine individuals. After seeing the mayhem of the queue for a social hand out I am guessing there are a number of new infections.
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Post by kerouac2 on Jul 17, 2020 16:14:59 GMT
In France, there is a relatively small increase of cases in certain areas -- except for those places which had very few cases before, where it might really be taking off: Brittany and Nouvelle Aquitaine. But at least not like in Florida. It seems a bit similar in the United States, where Montana is now one of the states with the highest increase in cases after being totally spared from infection in the previous months. Luckily, the low population of Montana means that a "big increase" in not really very big in raw figures, but it is still a problem.
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Post by cheerypeabrain on Jul 17, 2020 17:53:56 GMT
The lockdown in Leicester has been extended, altho some of the villages on one side of the city have been released. The government actually shared more detailed information with local government at last. It is awkward. The main pockets of infection are in areas with a very high percentage of people of Indian ethnicity. IF the council just shuts down these areas it would cause a lot of upset. So it is felt that 80% of the city is being locked down despite the fact that cases are significantly lower than other areas NOT in lockdown...mainly to avoid creating inter-community discord.
We have been receiving mixed messages about what it all means. We don't know when the review will be, some say 2 weeks others 3...but we haven't been told from when (we've had 4 different dates from 3 members of the cabinet and the mayor...in 24 hours). Shops other than food shops can open from 24th in Leicester...but the public aren't allowed to leave their homes aside from exercise or essential shopping for food (or medical reasons). No unnecessary travel allowed, police are stopping people if they're flouting the rules and can administer hefty fines.
Interestingly...our Mayor is saying that the decision to open up some villages but keep the majority of the city in lockdown is a political one. ALL the areas that have been released are Tory voting. Leicester City has been Labour for YEARS. I don't think that the government would stoop that low.
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Post by kerouac2 on Jul 17, 2020 18:01:41 GMT
I hope not. But when in doubt, it is obviously better to lock down.
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Post by questa on Jul 17, 2020 21:28:58 GMT
So it is felt that 80% of the city is being locked down despite the fact that cases are significantly lower than other areas NOT in lockdown...mainly to avoid creating inter-community discord. Yeah...can't have community discord, can we? Dead bodies can't fight back...or vote.
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