[Info-vax] [Totally OT] Covid-19, was: Re: Creating an open source version of VMS, was: Re: OpenVMS Hobbyist Notification

[Dave Froble]

On 3/13/2020 9:38 AM, Arne Vajhøj wrote:
> On 3/13/2020 9:17 AM, Simon Clubley wrote:
>> On 2020-03-12, Stephen Hoffman <seaohveh at hoffmanlabs.invalid> wrote:
>>> For those of us that survive 2020.
>>
>> I was reluctant to raise this, given that it is totally off topic,
>> but it affects everyone here and I was wondering what the situation
>> is really like on the ground around the planet compared to what the
>> media are and are not reporting.
>>
>> I've marked the thread as off-topic and started a new thread so that
>> it's easy to kill file or skip over.
>>
>> Here in Northern England in the UK, there's a lot of low-level concern
>> but not a massive amount of panic buying yet (apart from the various
>> hand gels). There is some concern that the UK government is not reacting
>> strongly enough or quickly enough yet and there's a real feeling that
>> things could escalate out of control over the coming weeks due to that.
>>
>> How are things in your part of the planet ?
>
> I follow US, Denmark, Poland and Italy pretty close.
>
> And the pictures seems very similar across:
>
> * Most orgs are ordering IT people and other "paper pushers" to
>   work from home

There are multiple benefits from this, but, it's not always optimal.

> * Many schools and universities are closed

We are at the point where much education does not require gatherings. 
However, as with many things, there are those who mis-use things, and 
will cry "foul" when their mis-use is gored.

One example is people who consider school a child care system.  It 
isn't, but some use it as such.

> * Many places has put restrictions on public gatherings
>   prohibiting either >1000 or >100 people

Under special circumstances this is the correct thing to do.  Disease 
respects no boundaries, or freedoms, or anything else.

> * Travel had come to a total standstill: some countries
>   does not allow entry, companies are cancelling business
>   travel, airlines are cancelling flights, people do not
>   want to travel

See special circumstances above.

> * politicians like to go on TV and pretend they can control
>   the situation

Politicians are almost always "theater"

> * people are stocking up on supplies, but true panic is
>   rare

I live out in the boonies and am not normally around people.  Yes, there 
is the requirement of shopping.  I think.  Amazon wants to deliver with 
drones.

This current problem is not new.  When I was young, STDs were not a 
major issue.  Then along came AIDS and such.  People have for the most 
part learned that when one sleeps with another, they also are sleeping 
with all other contacts, and all their contacts, and such.  One could 
argue that you're sleeping with most of the world.  Then there was other 
things, such as SARS.

Aviation and travel continues to grow.  One reads about future aircraft, 
pilot, and such needing to grow to meet the ever increasing demand. 
More and more people are traveling, and traveling often.  With something 
as contagious as Covid-19, this quickly becomes a distribution network 
that reaches everywhere on the planet.

We need to start thinking of solutions.  I seem to recall that travel to 
some locations requires one to have certain immunizations up to date. 
Perhaps more will be needed in today's and tomorrow's world.  Perhaps 
certain type of testing should be mandatory for all travelers.  Catch 
one person infected, and you can stop it there, before it becomes many.

I think containment is a decent solution.  At least one we can implement 
today.  If the human race is going to continue to globetrot, it should 
consider the problems and start to plan methods to address contagious 
diseases.

You never know when one might come along that is 100% fatal.

One thing pointed out is the number of deaths each year from flu.  A 
better plan could also reduce this.

Maybe give up handshakes and resort to a small bow, or such.

-- 
David Froble                       Tel: 724-529-0450
Dave Froble Enterprises, Inc.      E-Mail: davef at tsoft-inc.com
DFE Ultralights, Inc.
170 Grimplin Road
Vanderbilt, PA  15486