The Coronavirus Panic Thread

[MadMike]

A buddy of mine thought he had it back in the spring, but his test came out negative. Just found out that he caught it for real this time.

[EricKei]

Just got word that my brother's family has gotten exposed (EDIT: Apparently from someone at work). Sooo they're all getting tested ASAP. We live on the same plot of land, but in different buildings.
Le ARGH.

[NorthernZel]

Aaaaand we're on a lock-down again. Our PM announced today:

- as of tomorrow, all malls and department stores will be closed
- other non-essential shops (shops that don't sell food and/or medicine) will be closed between Xmas and New Year
- all school students that haven't been sent home to attend virtual classes (e.g. K-4th grade) will be sent home on Monday
- further restrictions re: public transport between counties and/or gatherings for New Year's Eve may be announced later this week /early next week

(Bars and restaurants have already been closed though takeout + delivery is allowed)

No hoardings of TP have been reported. Malls and shops within malls that function as post offices, on the other hand... *sigh* One of the larger chains of department stores extended their opening hours from 8 PM to 12 AM pretty quickly to handle the surge of panic shoppers.

[dalesys]

... "I have a pickup."

"I have a Prius. Our love is doomed!"

[Trixie]

Whelp, the clinic in my store is supposed to start covid testing on Monday. Our pharmacy is supposed to be getting the vaccine soon and the details are still being worked out. Basically, nobody knows how it's going to work. Like nobody is sure where to keep it.

In other news, our curbside pickup service is problematic. If it doesn't work through the app/online, idiots are ordering then coming in the store to get the order because they didn't realize the could stay in the car and we could bring it out to them. And don't even get me started when some ding-a-ling comes up to the photo counter and says "I have a pickup."

[Pixelated]

We're going into lockdown again here (southern Ontario), as of Monday. We blew right through red in a week or so and into grey.

No limits on the usual suspects at this time, but that could (and likely will) change quickly. Although as one customer said to me, "Why are people stockpiling toilet paper?? You can't eat it!" He said he didn't understand why people weren't buying canned goods, pastas, dried legumes, cereals, canned meats and fish ... you know, actual food.

I said "I dunno, sir, I just work here" and we both laughed. I also don't understand it because food stores don't close.

Rumour has it we'll be on lockdown for a month. Whether that is extended will depend on how the numbers go. Many areas of the country that seemed to be doing well (Saskatchewan) are suddenly doing ... not so well.

[MadMike]

Looks like we're getting locked down again. Great.

From what I've read, it's not exactly a return to the "red" phase, more like the "yellow." They're not making people stay at home -- at least not yet -- but dining in is off again, as are most indoor activities like fitness centers and casinos. Guess I'm not getting the weight that I gained during lockdown anytime soon.

It's only from this coming Saturday through January 4th this time -- hopefully it doesn't get extended. I took off work for two weeks during Christmas like I always do, but I'm not going to be able to really do anything. I guess they're just trying to keep it from getting worse over the holidays. I was hoping something like this wasn't going to happen, but I can't say I'm exactly surprised either. Back in early April, our peak was just below 2000. In the last few weeks, we've shattered that record and several after it. We were up around 13,000 about a week ago, but last I checked we were down around 8000. I can't believe I'm saying that like it's an improvement.

My family didn't do anything for Thanksgiving, and I'm sure Christmas is going to be the same. I was really hoping that things would be looking better by now. It's been almost 9 months since I've sat at my desk at work.

[NorthernZel]

So, the "regional lockdown" has been extended to approx. 2/3 of the country.

Lil'Zel's spec-ed school was exempt by restrictions since, well, it's a spec-ed school. Nevertheless two days ago I asked for (and got granted) that he could receive digital education the last 1½ week before xmas vacation, as he commutes himself to school and I wasn't too fond of the idea of a 30 min bus ride when the government discourages using public transport right now. The other students would have to attend as usual.

Until today....

I got a message saying that Lil'Zel's school now is a "corona hot-spot" due to multiple positive cases among the teachers, therefore the whole school is shut down and all students sent home.

We have been recommended to take tests, but waiting times are now so insane (4-5 days before you can get an appointment, and from there on up to 4 hours standing in line) so we'll wait and see what happens over the weekend. Government has promised to ramp up testing further with help from private companies, but the extra techs need to be trained first.

[Ironclad Alibi]

We have already stocked up on TP and sanitary wipes/alcogel so we won't have to go through hoarded supermarkets, but getting the last Xmas presents may be an issue as I fear most shops will be asked to shut down and it may be too late to order stuff online.

Order online anyway. If it is not here by Christmas it can be a New Year's Day present. Or an Old Christmas (Jan. 6) present. Or an MLK Day (Jan. 18) present. Or an Inauguration Day (Jan. 20) present. Or a Groundhog Day (Feb. 2) present. Etc.

[NorthernZel]

Our PM has announced that a "partial lockdown" will take place soon, details will be released tomorrow afternoon.

Lil' Zel hopes for an early Xmas vacation from school as some epidemiologists have suggested (from 8th elementary grade and up), but let's see.

We have already stocked up on TP and sanitary wipes/alcogel so we won't have to go through hoarded supermarkets, but getting the last Xmas presents may be an issue as I fear most shops will be asked to shut down and it may be too late to order stuff online.

Testing has been ramped up BIG time. I was recommended to do a test at a mobile lab a couple of days ago due to my Track & Trace app notifying me that apparently I had sat close to a person in a bus that tested positive later, and had to stand in a queue for approx. half an hour. Last time I had to do that I went straight through without any waiting time

[EricKei]

Of course it doesn't really exist. That's why they call it "Lie-sol."

[Dreamstalker]

Wait...Lysol actually exists?! We're seeing TV ads for it all the damn time....but no actual Lysol brand product to be found anywhere around here.

[KuariKaydrith]

Many of the stores here have also reinstated limits on tp, paper towels, cleaning stuff, and hand sanitizer as it appears that we're slowly heading into our second wave.

I'm so glad that I'm no longer working in retail because I might snap at a customer. Mind you, I'd likely get more hours than I do working at my hotel and I wouldn't lose my days off to bouts of depression that see me sleeping a good portion of the day. And that's even with a change in my meds to keep me from completely spiraling down.

I do have a couple of big packages of TP at home, but that's only because I forgot I already had an unopened package when I went shopping earlier this week. Oops. But I did pick up two big cans of Lysol spray.

[Dreamstalker]

We've reinstated limits on TP, paper towels, cleaning products, and hand sanitizer...but these limits have not actually been programmed into the registers. The only 'enforcement' is the shelf signs (which nobody reads) and cashiers are expected to police this. Only problem is, we're not told what brands/sizes are being restricted. If an SC gets shirty about it, a supervisor does explain it to them but is too apologetic.

My state positive test rate is hovering just under 5%

[Android Kaeli]

We are "required" to go to a supervisory-or-higher level person upon starting our shift and ensuring them that we feel well enough to work. Yeah, that disappeared pretty quickly (not that it was worth anything to begin with). My last three or four shifts, I completely forgot about it and nobody bothered to come ask me.

As for the masks, it's more than a bit ironic that you're not supposed to fiddle with your mask once it's in place ... but how else are we supposed to drink something at our stations? A modified water-boarding?

Grocery Store did that for a while, but has tapered off as well for a variety of reasons.


On the subject of Toilet Paper, Wally World is still out but the Grocery Store location I work at has quite a bit of it [and paper towels as well].