Beginning this morning, my employer (in downtown okc) started mandatory temperature readings each morning before employees are allowed to enter the office building.

And work from home is now mandatory for those who are able.

Any other organizations doing temperature readings yet?

Interesting. Are they using temp probe or temp gun? And are they trained in use of equipment?

As an aside I wonder if companies will do this for flu season next year?

The people I've seen posting it have said almost the exact same thing.... They know someone

Sort of like the mysterious "they say," "sources say", "some are saying."

WOW WOW WOW. Moved here 8 years ago didn't realize how Dumb this state was until now. At someone point we are going to get to the point where everything will have to close. So why not just do it now and hope 2 weeks things are better and have more test. The longer we wait to close everything the long we will have to be closed. Would you rather be closed for 2 weeks or 1-2 months.

For an other example, there are three COVID-19 cases in Kay County. One is hospitalized in ICU in Ponca City. But the Ponca City mayor feels there is no need to shut down anything, because his town is different as shown in this release:

"The City of Stillwater made the announcement on Tuesday that all bars, restaurants and fitness facilities would be closed until further notice. Ponca City Mayor Homer Nicholson said he would not do the same in Ponca City.

“We are not going to do that at this time. My belief is that Stillwater did this due to the fact that they are a college city with thousands of students that frequent restaurants and bars."

“I continue to urge the public to be cautious, wash your hands, keep your distance and our plan in Ponca City is to maintain business as usual and try to maintain a comfort level so that no pandemonium happens."

“We will not do what the City of Stillwater has done unless there is a reason to do so here in Ponca City.”

The mayor doesn't seem to know most college students are gone for Spring Break and many aren't expected to come back, unless they have to in order to come get their stuff, since OSU is asking students to vacate campus housing by April 3. Those who lease off campus housing will come later. Why come back any sooner, since much of Stillwater is shut down? Only online classes will be conducted for the rest of the semester.

https://www.ocolly.com/news/students-asked-to-leave-dorms-amid-covid--pandemic/article_2eb72f9a-6a22-11ea-9f66-63c6e78c668e.html

i think last week they were saying 97+ mil infected ..

I saw far higher estimates a month ago. Either way, we’re just at the tip of the iceberg. Right now, our pace is worse than Italy.

I've seen people on social media posting rumors that a shelter at home order will be made Sunday.... That may be triggering more panic and sending people out to get groceries/medications even though travelling to those places should not be restricted by a shelter at home order.

A bunch of these rumors gage already been debunked as intentional disinformation.

Having said that, lockdowns are coming just like in California. Cases are about to overwhelm the system.

Beginning this morning, my employer (in downtown okc) started mandatory temperature readings each morning before employees are allowed to enter the office building.

And work from home is now mandatory for those who are able.

Any other organizations doing temperature readings yet?

My wife's work isn't doing temp readings (they know they are not qualified to do that and don't have medical grade equipment), but they were proactive early on and outfitted each employ with a laptop that can connect to their servers. They are had 'practice days' where everyone worked remotely to make sure it would work. They have offices here, DFW, Austin and maybe a few other places. Right now it's voluntary work from home. Locally I think maybe 75% are exercising that option. All are being encouraged to work from home starting next week - primarily because someone in their office complex (employee with a different company) was tested positive.

Here is the problem with the check for fever thing. The virus spreads most easily when an infected person has symptoms. But some spread might be possible before symptoms start. It can take 2–14 days after someone is exposed to the virus for symptoms to show up. So while checking for fevers might help it's still best to STAY HOME. Why are people just not getting it. I know people still have to go to work but it pretty much should be work and back and that's it.

I saw far higher estimates a month ago. Either way, we’re just at the tip of the iceberg. Right now, our pace is worse than Italy.

Why is our pace worse than Italy's?

https://www.forbes.com/sites/valeriestimac/2020/03/20/former-astronauts-share-ways-to-cope-with-isolation--social-distancing/#69b631df1e18

I thought this was a great article for tips on staying mentally fresh while isolating at home. Astronauts are experts in this area.

Why is our pace worse than Italy's?

Because we had very few tests in the initial weeks. Now that we are testing more we're finding more positives. Expect this to continue until we get caught up on testing. The good news is the mortality rate is not going up as fast as the new case rate.

Because we had very few tests in the initial weeks. Now that we are testing more we're finding more positives. Expect this to continue until we get caught up on testing. The good news is the mortality rate is not going up as fast as the new case rate.

And the number of serious cases are still very low as a percentage, much lower than Italy.

That could change of course, but I'm hopeful this means, in general, our cases will be less severe.

It's also interesting to note that in Oklahoma, only about 10% tested have come back as positive. Since the only people being tested now are those either thinking they have symptoms or have been in contact with positive cases, this bodes well as testing is expanded.

Because we had very few tests in the initial weeks. Now that we are testing more we're finding more positives. Expect this to continue until we get caught up on testing. The good news is the mortality rate is not going up as fast as the new case rate.

The only reason I can assume someone would say our rate is worse than Italy's is because everybody fixated on the chart that showed the US as a comparison to Italy from a "Day Zero" perspective and it looked like we were almost lock-step with them give or take a dozen people.

Thing is, The US is over 5x the size of Italy. We've actually grown at a SUBSTANTIALLY slower rate than Italy, people just tend to be really bad with painting the correct pictures with numbers. The number should be painted as a percentage of population because 10k in Italy = 0.01515% of the population and 10k in the US = 0.00303%

This chart from reddit shows the picture as it should actually be interpreted.

https://i.redd.it/zkmvt7a4r4n41.jpg

The US is also far less dense than many other countries, especially those in Europe and China. This increases time between interactions as well as decreases the total interactions. Both of which I would assume would slow this down. I also read an interesting point that China's terrible air quality increased the severity of this as it is a respiratory virus. Our relatively cleaner air may make marginal cases here fall on the less severe side, where in China marginal cases fell on the more severe side.

The US is also far less dense than many other countries, especially Europe and China. This increases time between interactions as well as decreases the total interactions. Both of which I would assume would slow this down. I also read an interesting point that China's terrible air quality increased the severity of this as it is a respiratory virus. Our relatively cleaner air may make marginal cases here fall on the less severe side, where in China marginal cases fell on the more severe side.

Not only are we far less dense, as a society we have far less social interactions.

For better or worse, very few people take public transportation. Far fewer people congregate in public spaces. Most Americans have home computers, great A/V systems and other amenities; families with kids often have better backyard playground equipment than most parks. Most people rarely even see their own neighbors; garage door goes up, car pulls in, door down, person walks directly in the house. People aren't even out front doing their own lawn work.

We may eat out more often but it's a ton of drive-thru stuff and you don't get nearly the local bar/pub/cafe scene you see in Europe.

And there is less physical contact in the states vs. Europe; certainly less kissing on the cheek.

Yea, that will never happen for a variety of reasons, the most obvious of which being that no branch of the federal government has the constitutional or statutory authority to mandate such a lockdown.

The President can impose Marshall Law, or he can request/require every Governor to impose it. A National lock down will occur, hopefully before its too late to do any good.

And the number of serious cases are still very low as a percentage, much lower than Italy.

That could change of course, but I'm hopeful this means, in general, our cases will be less severe.

It's also interesting to note that in Oklahoma, only about 10% tested have come back as positive. Since the only people being tested now are those either thinking they have symptoms or have been in contact with positive cases, this bodes well as testing is expanded.

Italy has a large number of elderly residents as well, and as we know they are more susceptible to the virus’s effects.

In another thread, I mentioned air pollution, as measured by particular matter 2.5, as a potential amplifier of the virus’s severity. We know air pollution weakens the immune system and the respiratory system. Northern Italy, where the virus outbreak has been the worst for that country, has severe air pollution problems. China has even worse air pollution problems. We have relatively pristine air compared to them.

We’ll need to see a lot more data to determine if air pollution is playing a role in the virus’s spread and severity, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it is.

I knew 3 people personally that are showing mild symptoms. They called to get tested and they said no only if your have major symptoms will you be tested. So how many people are walking around with it right now that have a small cough and a mild fever. Why are we not testing more?

The President can impose Marshall Law, or he can request/require every Governor to impose it. A National lock down will occur, hopefully before its too late to do any good.

there is no such thing as “Marshall Law.” It’s called Martial Law.

And, no, the president has no authority to declare it or require such from governors.

There is no federal police power. It is reserved to the States. 10th Amendment and all that Jazz.

Why is our pace worse than Italy's?

The most recent chart (I'll have to go find it) I saw we are still spiking higher than them... we're not leveling off. We're just behind them. As of now, we should expect to have a similar situation in about a week.

Italy has a large number of elderly residents as well, and as we know they are more susceptible to the virus’s effects.

Every country has it's advantages and weaknesses. In the U.S., for example, higher obesity and poor health could result in an increase in cases as they are a more susceptible group.

The most recent chart (I'll have to go find it) I saw we are still spiking higher than them... we're not leveling off. We're just behind them. As of now, we should expect to have a similar situation in about a week.

In # of cases, but not nearly the same number of serious ones.

That matters a lot because everyone else can just stay home and get through it like most illnesses. The big concern is overwhelming our hospitals and we are nowhere close to that. It could all change but that is not the current trend.

I knew 3 people personally that are showing mild symptoms. They called to get tested and they said no only if your have major symptoms will you be tested. So how many people are walking around with it right now that have a small cough and a mild fever. Why are we not testing more?

Well, if they gave a single crap about those around them, they would not be outside with any symptoms at all (you know, common courtesy). As to the testing, there just aren't any available. I think it is important to stay home if you have any minor symptoms, and not flood the ER, since there is no treatment anyway for a virus. Especially since adequate testing won't be here for a month.

But really, if people are walking around even with a fever caused by something else, they should be thrown in solitary confinement in jail. That is almost criminal negligence, to me.

I knew 3 people personally that are showing mild symptoms. They called to get tested and they said no only if your have major symptoms will you be tested. So how many people are walking around with it right now that have a small cough and a mild fever. Why are we not testing more?

Because we are triaging our resources. Asymptomatic people, people with mild symptoms are not being tested at this time. Persons who believe they have been exposed and are symptom free, or persons with mild symptoms that can be managed at home are asked to please self-quarantine and cease all contact with others.

Here is rates. I think as more are tested rates come down. I think most of us realize this has been spreading long before thought. And thats the silver lining if more already had it without knowing and survived it means the bark is worse than bite.

15858

Updated numbers for Saturday 3/21:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/corona032120a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/corona032120b.jpg

The most recent chart (I'll have to go find it) I saw we are still spiking higher than them... we're not leveling off. We're just behind them. As of now, we should expect to have a similar situation in about a week.

If we grow to 50,000 cases on day X and Italy had 25,000 cases ton their day X, then we had less cases than Italy because a raw number is miscontextualized. Divide all of our numbers by 5 and that paints a more realistic picture.

ON EDIT: A more realistic picture if we're using Italy as a reference point for where we are at in this process.

So many variables...I don't know that any comparison makes sense.

For instance, population density in the US is 94 people per square mile. Italy 532. OKC Metro 220.

So many variables...I don't know that any comparison makes sense.

For instance, population density in the US is 94 people per square mile. Italy 532.

I could get down with comparing NYC to Italy, but not the US as a whole.

And we continue to find that there are large number of factors in play that we need to understand better (i.e. the pollution argument things like the blood type determining risk factor etc.)

Hopefully we have some news this week that can help alleviate the concerns that we are unable to treat or manage a widespread infection without a curative vaccine and it sounds like some of the more recent information with smaller insights are giving us a shot to be able to release a wide swath of the public back into the world.

This is probably the one time you will hear me be glad that we are a more sprawled out city, because that should help us return to a more normal life quicker.

Updated numbers for Saturday 3/21:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/corona032120a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/corona032120b.jpg

The great trend in these numbers, one I obviously hopes persists, is that the rate of increase in positives is flattening/decreasing as *more* test results return. This, to me, is very hopeful! If that rate of increase continues to slow, it definitely a positive for OK!

In particular, we went from 44 to 49, then from 49 to 53. That's a percentage delta from 11.3% to about 8.1%. That's the direction we want it to go!

Wondering why the heck so many are going to the grocery stores as couples, with kids, etc. need to designate a shopper. Stores limiting numbers of shoppers and there’s really not a reason for social shopping

Wondering why the heck so many are going to the grocery stores as couples, with kids, etc. need to designate a shopper. Stores limiting numbers of shoppers and there’s really not a reason for social shopping

Some folks may not have options. I went this morning for what I hope is the last time for at least a week. Went to Crest at SW 104 and May and it was really busy, and lots of "group* shoppers. Fortunately, I was able to do the " distance" issue fairly easily.

To the discussion on the last page, here are some charts that show both our trajectory of cases and deaths.

This Biuzzfeed site is a week old, but helpful: https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/peteraldhous/coronavirus-updating-charts-us-world-compare

The Atlantic has really good state-by-state data: https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2020/03/how-many-people-tested-sick-coronavirus-covid-each-state-america/608413/

What are some other good sites for tracking COVID-19?

What are some other good sites for tracking COVID-19?


https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/

coronavirus.jhu.edu
That's the John Hopkins site. Solid science only.

Wondering why the heck so many are going to the grocery stores as couples, with kids, etc. need to designate a shopper. Stores limiting numbers of shoppers and there’s really not a reason for social shopping

Both me and my wife go (no kids, so it's just us), have done that forever, because there are always decisions to be made for recipes we're making - what if they don't have that meat, they're out of this specific veggie that goes in it, do we adapt the recipe or blow it off and fix something else, do we try another store, now what do we fix, let's figure this out..... Saves us a ton of time calling each other and taking pics of things and sending them and asking "what about this?" or "they're out of this Lean Cuisine, what do you want instead?" if we went alone.

Wondering why the heck so many are going to the grocery stores as couples, with kids, etc. need to designate a shopper. Stores limiting numbers of shoppers and there’s really not a reason for social shopping

I used to do a bulk of the shopping. But we also would shout out items to Alexa as needed and a couple of times a week I'd go to WalMart and pull up my Alexa shopping list. However, I'd do the shopping at about 4am and the wife isn't about to go with me then.

Now that Walmart doesn't open until after I'm usually at work, we shop together because I go during normal business times. We won't stop going together until where we go institutes a limit on the number of people allowed inside at any one time.

I personally don't get the logic behind WalMart shortening their hours. They've always restocked in the middle of the night and at least at that time it allowed some people to shop when hardly any other shoppers were present.

Both me and my wife go (no kids, so it's just us), have done that forever, because there are always decisions to be made for recipes we're making - what if they don't have that meat, they're out of this specific veggie that goes in it, do we adapt the recipe or blow it off and fix something else, do we try another store, now what do we fix, let's figure this out..... Saves us a ton of time calling each other and taking pics of things and sending them and asking "what about this?" or "they're out of this Lean Cuisine, what do you want instead?" if we went alone.
I just had my first laugh in days! (Thanks)
This sounds ohhh so familiar over here!

I just had my first laugh in days! (Thanks)
This sounds ohhh so familiar over here!Here too! We’ve shopped together since we’ve been married.

State by state "Point Of No Return" to hospital overload

Oklahoma: https://covidactnow.org/state/OK

3 months is well past the point of no return for the economy

My 2 Cents:

The main issue is that we are 2 weeks behind the virus, before we implemented measures to suppress the spread. The federal government is now playing catch up in a reactive rather than preventative measure. You can't fight this type of virus from the hospital room and behind a desk. You need people on the ground actually going to communities & homes, testing people, and providing treatment. Other countries, like China, South Korea, and Japan had a mobile task force on the ground, going to communities, homes, and businesses, sanitizing and testing. They set up checkpoints on major thoroughfares taking people's temperature.

Being in Oklahoma we have an advantage of not being so populating and congested like bigger cities, making it easier for us to contain the virus. If Governor Stitt will quit just following Trump's footsteps and implement new practices, Oklahoma can beat the virus. Stitt needs to use the resources available and set out mobile task forces in the most infected communities and provide testing and care. Disinfect communities while everyone is inside. Order the directive for the whole state to lock down for 14 days. Set up mobile hospital tents now in major communities in OKC & Tulsa now, not when we get overrun.

https://youtu.be/qi6jxKda8qI

My 2 Cents:

The main issue is that we are 2 weeks behind the virus, before we implemented measures to suppress the spread. The federal government is now playing catch up in a reactive rather than preventative measure. You can't fight this type of virus from the hospital room and behind a desk. You need people on the ground actually going to communities & homes, testing people, and providing treatment. Other countries, like China, South Korea, and Japan had a mobile task force on the ground, going to communities, homes, and businesses, sanitizing and testing. They set up checkpoints on major thoroughfares taking people's temperature.

Being in Oklahoma we have an advantage of not being so populating and congested like bigger cities, making it easier for us to contain the virus. If Governor Stitt will quit just following Trump's footsteps and implement new practices, Oklahoma can beat the virus. Stitt needs to use the resources available and set out mobile task forces in the most infected communities and provide testing and care. Disinfect communities while everyone is inside. Order the directive for the whole state to lock down for 14 days. Set up mobile hospital tents now in major communities in OKC & Tulsa now, not when we get overrun.

This is correct. While I consider the current shutdowns to be necessary, they are useless unless we take the time they are giving us to vastly improve our testing. That's the only way we get our lives (and by extension, the economy) back to anything resembling normal anytime soon.

I feel like I've mentioned this half a dozen times before at this point, but regardless of whether or not the government was mandating these shutdowns, people are just going to start locking themselves down on their own accord en masse as case numbers, hospitalizations, and deaths continue to skyrocket. I agree that there's no way we can expect people to stay inside and everything to remain closed for more than a couple of months, much less the 12-18 months it'll likely take to develop a vaccine, and the way we get out of this current state as soon as possible is by developing the testing system needed to make people feel comfortable about leaving their houses and living some sort of normal life once again.

a much better plan would be for everyone to just go back to normal life

Okay, please name a country where COVID-19 cases are skyrocketing, yet the country's response to it is to continue on as normal. And how their hospitals are doing.

From what I’ve read, all an infected person has to do to infect someone is merely breath and the virus is airborne infecting those up to 5+ feet away. It also can linger in the air for hours and live on surfaces for days. With proper cleaning of tables I fail to see how allowing dine in would be any worse then what we are currently doing.

If the shutdown didn't include barber shops, then I hope the barbers are wearing M95 masks.

If the shutdown didn't include barber shops, then I hope the barbers are wearing M95 masks.

Where would they get these masks? The mask doesn't address your eyes - which is an exposed part of the body everybody seems to just ignore and is a potential infection point for the billions of droplets in the air.

Wondering why the heck so many are going to the grocery stores as couples, with kids, etc. need to designate a shopper. Stores limiting numbers of shoppers and there’s really not a reason for social shopping

Maybe because they're not hoarding. I'd say it's time for the hoarders to stay at home. Supposedly they were hoarding to build up a good supply so they could stop going to the stores and exposing themselves.

Where would they get these masks? The mask doesn't address your eyes - which is an exposed part of the body everybody seems to just ignore and is a potential infection point for the billions of droplets in the air.

Good points. I think I will venture with cutting my own hair.

Good points. I think I will venture with cutting my own hair.

Lol, I haven't had a haircut since July and I am already regretting not getting it at least trimmed a little bit before this all blew up. Might have to order some clippers and do it myself if this goes on long enough.

I'm going man-bun.

Sunday:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/corona032220a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/corona032220b.jpg

Doesn't seem to have any traction at all in states with metros smaller than 2 million people.

KFOR
@kfor
Crest Foods of Oklahoma says one of its workers at the Norman location has tested positive for coronavirus.

https://kfor.com/news/local/crest-foods-worker-tests-positive-for-covid-19/amp/?taid=5e77ebb25ef377000178376b&utm_campaign=trueAnthem%3A%20Trending%20Content&utm_medium=trueAnthem&utm_source=twitter&__twitter_impression=true

Sunday:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/corona032220a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/corona032220b.jpg
As these numbers continue to trend, I'm left wondering "Where's Oklahoma's Dr. Fauci?"
Why isn't there a face for public health or infectious disease in the state at this critical juncture?
Dr. Lawrence Burnsdue (sp?) felt like he was going to be a solid information source, right up until he was removed.

Doesn't seem to have any traction at all in states with metros smaller than 2 million people.

Louisiana?

Louisiana?

Mardi Gras has probably something to do with that.

This is correct. While I consider the current shutdowns to be necessary, they are useless unless we take the time they are giving us to vastly improve our testing. That's the only way we get our lives (and by extension, the economy) back to anything resembling normal anytime soon.

I feel like I've mentioned this half a dozen times before at this point, but regardless of whether or not the government was mandating these shutdowns, people are just going to start locking themselves down on their own accord en masse as case numbers, hospitalizations, and deaths continue to skyrocket. I agree that there's no way we can expect people to stay inside and everything to remain closed for more than a couple of months, much less the 12-18 months it'll likely take to develop a vaccine, and the way we get out of this current state as soon as possible is by developing the testing system needed to make people feel comfortable about leaving their houses and living some sort of normal life once again.

The problem is most people show little to no symptoms. So we wouldnt know to test them. We need antibody tests. Not sure where we are on developing that. It would be nice to a simple random sample across our population to figure out where exactly we are on the curve.

The problem is most people show little to no symptoms. So we wouldnt know to test them. We need antibody tests. Not sure where we are on developing that. It would be nice to a simple random sample across our population to figure out where exactly we are on the curve.

Exactly, testing, testing, and more testing. It's impossible to know anything without any data on how many are infected, yet asymptomatic and possibly contagious (among other data points), and without knowing anything, it's hard to have a plan in place for remediation - you can't fight what you don't know. That's what's baffled me about the entire lackluster response to getting tests out there.

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/

Has anyone graphed out all 50 states individually? We're at the point now where social distancing should start becoming visible. There may be a longer delay in seeing this on a national level because New York is weighing heavily on the data.

KFOR
@kfor
Crest Foods of Oklahoma says one of its workers at the Norman location has tested positive for coronavirus.

https://kfor.com/news/local/crest-foods-worker-tests-positive-for-covid-19/amp/?taid=5e77ebb25ef377000178376b&utm_campaign=trueAnthem%3A%20Trending%20Content&utm_medium=trueAnthem&utm_source=twitter&__twitter_impression=true
Everyone needs to wear a mask, infected or not. Leaving our crowded grocery stores open with folks not wearing masks will just spread the infection at ridiculous rates. We don't need N95, just enough to keep the respiratory particles in place is all that is needed.