2019 Novel Coronavirus Covid-19 Discussion

Forums › Health and fitness › 2019 Novel Coronavirus Covid-19 Discussion

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#2455799 6-Apr-2020 13:56

gchiu:
I'd like to see the modelling that tells us how influenza is going to be a problem this year with everyone in lockdown, and anyone coming into the country that might carry flu viruses are also being quarantined.

I was talking about it with my mother who's in her eighties, hard to say what to do since it's a tradeoff between exposure while getting the inoculation vs. greatly decreased risk of flu due to the lockdown - there's simply no-one she can catch it off, her food is being brought in by others so she doesn't go out. I've seen assorted discussions around it which are similarly nonspecific, you can choose to or choose not to.

neb

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#2455803 6-Apr-2020 13:59

Zepanda66:
Thats interesting. So they tested the tiger out of caution. Hmmm. Not normally a conspiracy theorist. But it makes you think. Is there another reason theyre testing animals when people are already struggling to get tests? Are they worried animals could be asymptomatic carriers?

You can invent any scenario you like. One possibility is that they're simply testing a wide range of (non-human) subjects to see what the test will turn up. Given the number of Covid19 publications being produced, I think Siouxsie Wiles mentioned something like 1,500 so far, people will be exploring every possible avenue to try and get data.

neb

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#2455804 6-Apr-2020 14:00

gchiu:
Keep your ferret out of your trousers!

Should I be worried about my hovercraft full of eels?

neb

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#2455805 6-Apr-2020 14:04

Fred99: In the case of felines, they can be infected with the same SARS-CoV-2 virus (Covid 19), and they live in close contact with humans - in almost every household in many countries.

Luckily our cat takes the social isolation warnings seriously, she doens't let anyone get within about five metres of her. If visitors come she'll jump out the window as soon as she hears their voices anywhere.

Mind you she was doing this long before Covid19. Maybe cats know something we don't.

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#2455806 6-Apr-2020 14:05

gchiu:

concordnz:

This could be a problem, if Felines, become CT vectors, transmitting it from one household to another.
Specially if it gets into the Stray Cat populations around NZ
We might have to start culling of stray cats, if we struggle to 'stamp it out'

Cats, as far as I know, still have the right under law to wander onto your property.

If one of the neighbour's cats strays on to my property, is it now a stray cat?

As a volunteer at the local Tauranga SPCA we see a lot of undomesticated cats. Mostly they are pregnant or have just birthed. We always adopt out the kittens which are fully spayed and micro chipped. The mothers however, if owner can not be found, are euthanised post weaning. They are just not safe to adopt out. There are exceptions to this rule.

My partner and I just recently adopted two sister kittens for the SPCA. Do not know about their mother. After the passing of our previous cats.

Stray versus Feral

Stray is a cat who is currently domesticated with a human and most in NZ are micro chipped, so therefore in theory be returned to their last registered owner.

Feral is a cat that was never domesticated with a human, born wild, or was a formerly domesticated with a human who has now lived way to long in the wild and not now associates with humans. Could be micro chipped. Either way they should be caught and euthanised.

Spay and micro chip your pets please

Whilst the difficult we can do immediately, the impossible takes a bit longer. However, miracles you will have to wait for.

neb

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#2455815 6-Apr-2020 14:17

MikeB4:
He should have been sacked from his portfolio

I know it's tempting to dogpile, but there's a difference between a momentary lapse of judgement and persistent stupidity/irresponsibility. Everyone's done something at some point where they realise, in hindsight, that it was a really bad idea and they shouldn't have done it, so everyone deserves at least one get-out-of-jail-free card without being crucified over it. AFAIK he's never done anything like this before, he certainly won't ever do it again, and it's provided a good talking point about things you shouldn't do.

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neb

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#2455822 6-Apr-2020 14:31

Just FYI if people missed this, Trademe has just informed me that some of my items are now classed as essential, and they're no longer subject to the closing-date-post-lockdown rule. I had no idea what I was selling that's essential but it seems to be IT gear (two Draytek routers and a Lenovo power supply) and health/medical (an ankle brace). For the IT stuff I'm not sure how essential that really is, I guess you could argue it either way, but just wanted to let people know that at least some categories of items are now unblocked for sale.

GV27

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#2455835 6-Apr-2020 14:45

neb:

AFAIK he's never done anything like this before, he certainly won't ever do it again, and it's provided a good talking point about things you shouldn't do.

Clark has had a chequered tenure as health minister but this isn't the thread for it.

mattwnz

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#2455854 6-Apr-2020 14:48

neb: Just FYI if people missed this, Trademe has just informed me that some of my items are now classed as essential, and they're no longer subject to the closing-date-post-lockdown rule. I had no idea what I was selling that's essential but it seems to be IT gear (two Draytek routers and a Lenovo power supply) and health/medical (an ankle brace). For the IT stuff I'm not sure how essential that really is, I guess you could argue it either way, but just wanted to let people know that at least some categories of items are now unblocked for sale.

Who gets in trouble if it isn't considered essential? What is essential can be subjective to the person that needs it.
I understand some fashion stuff maybe considered essential coming into winter as people need warmer clothes and shoes. But would all clothing and shoes be considered essential or just more basic items? I think the same applies to technology stuff. Common sense needs to be followed as to what is essential and what is not.

gchiu

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#2455855 6-Apr-2020 14:49

I was wondering whether all those who have been sentenced to home detention can surrender their ankle bracelets and they can be repurposed to track those who arrive in the country and are placed in quarantine at home.

Do we know how many ankle bracelets are in circulation?

MikeB4

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#2455870 6-Apr-2020 15:03

neb:
MikeB4:

He should have been sacked from his portfolio

I know it's tempting to dogpile, but there's a difference between a momentary lapse of judgement and persistent stupidity/irresponsibility. Everyone's done something at some point where they realise, in hindsight, that it was a really bad idea and they shouldn't have done it, so everyone deserves at least one get-out-of-jail-free card without being crucified over it. AFAIK he's never done anything like this before, he certainly won't ever do it again, and it's provided a good talking point about things you shouldn't do.

I don't want to make this a political thread but this is very relevant to this thread. If he were Minister of Trade or Tourism or similar I could wear that it was an innocent mistake however he is the Minister of the government department leading the battle against Covid-19 and probably the battle for our survival. There is no possibility that he was not aware of his actions with regards to his own departments directives, he would have signed them off. He should have tendered his resignation and it should have been accepted. We have enough muppets not following the directive now and mountain biking we don't need ministers of the crown joining that list.

Here is a crazy notion, lets give peace a chance.

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frednz

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#2455872 6-Apr-2020 15:04

I realise that public gatherings of any size are cancelled and public venues are closed. However, there has been doubt in some people's minds as to whether a private gathering of a small number of people who, for example, live in a little grove, are also prohibited.

When a friend asked me about this, I strongly suggested that a gathering of the residents of a private grove shouldn't proceed even if the residents are seated at least 2 metres apart and do not bring any food or drinks. I know how important it is for people to keep up social contacts, but to me, a private gathering of residents just didn't seem right in the current environment.

This view has received support today in this Newshub article in which Dr Siouxsie Wiles "begs Kiwis to stop meeting their neighbours for wine at the end of driveways." The article mentions that:

"I've seen people bending the rules slightly where they're meeting up with friends at the bottom of their driveways, staying two metres apart and having a glass of wine. Please, don't do that," microbiologist Siouxsie Wiles told radio station More FM on Monday morning.

There are some instances where outbreaks have happened - there was one at a choir where everybody maintained their distance, but they were all singing. Singing is an act where you could imagine droplets would be spread further than two metres.

"But if you are a person who is infected and don't know it, you know, you could be meeting at the bottom of your driveway with your neighbours, and that could be a way everyone could get infected."

It's worth reading this article as it discusses growing reports that the virus could be airborne, "which means it could hang around in the air after being expelled by an infected person".

Incidentally, section 70 (1) (f) of the Health Act Order includes "Permissions for essential personal movement" and the overall intention of this order should also be considered by people who plan to have a private street gathering.

My wife has just called out "can I have a private one-to-one chat with my next-door neighbour over the fence"? I replied "well, I guess so, but try and keep a lot further than 2 metres away if you must do this"!

frankv

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#2455880 6-Apr-2020 15:11

concordnz:

We might have to start culling of stray cats, if we struggle to 'stamp it out'

Forest & Bird will be pleased, no doubt. As will Gareth Morgan. ;)

frankv

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#2455885 6-Apr-2020 15:19

neb:
MikeB4:

He should have been sacked from his portfolio

I know it's tempting to dogpile, but there's a difference between a momentary lapse of judgement and persistent stupidity/irresponsibility. Everyone's done something at some point where they realise, in hindsight, that it was a really bad idea and they shouldn't have done it, so everyone deserves at least one get-out-of-jail-free card without being crucified over it. AFAIK he's never done anything like this before, he certainly won't ever do it again, and it's provided a good talking point about things you shouldn't do.

I agree. We should also consider the damage that would be done if he was removed... current projects and plans would get delayed or even derailed totally.

frankv

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#2455920 6-Apr-2020 15:25

frednz:

It's worth reading this article as it discusses growing reports that the virus could be airborne, "which means it could hang around in the air after being expelled by an infected person".

And could travel a great deal further than 2 metres downwind, or downhill. Conceivably, strong winds could create turbulence to carry the vuris upwards as well.

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