Handy resources on COVID-19 · 9:31pm Mar 24th, 2020
Several folk with a better knack for outlining things than I have already spoken about COVID-19, and detailed what you ought to ken. It'd be remiss to not point their way.
First-up, if there was any ambiguity about what the symptoms of COVID-19 look like and how you ought to conduct yourself in light of it, please read through the guidance published by the NHS. Minimise your travel and avoid contact with anyone which isn't absolutely necessary. Wash regularly, and contain your coughs and sneezes. Work from home if you're able to do so. Stay vigilant for the symptoms, and if you show them, practise self-isolation.
Seriously, self-isolate and avoid travelling as much as you can. Both for the sake of your own health, and for the health of your family and friends. Do everything you can to avoid inadvertently either receiving the virus or passing it on. I'm exceedingly fortunate - I'm young and able-bodied, and I'm in a position where I can keep working from home. But I've family and friends who don't tick those same boxes, who have to keep working on the front-lines or are vulnerable, and to reduce the risk they face, I have to practise physical distancing. Do the same if you're at all able. If you'd prefer a description of the necessity of this with reference to hoplite warfare, Bret Devereaux has you covered.
Next, be aware that ratbags out there are trying to exploit the situation and scam people. Impossible Numbers has an excellent post describing what their attempts may look like. As a rule of thumb, assume that unless your life circumstances are unusually exciting, the World Health Organisation isn't rushing to get in touch with you personally.
However, there remain excellent folk out there doing their best by others and sparing what they can to fund the response. If you're able to swell their ranks, Impossible Numbers has another post linking to WHO's own response fund. On a more local level, do your best to keep in touch with anyone like elderly or disabled neighbours, or any acquaintances in an at-risk population. They may not be able to access the resources they need, or be able to risk going outside, or simply be left lonely without regular contact. If you're in a position where you can assist, keep in touch with them and lend an appropriate hand while avoiding inadvertent transmission.
For the duration, stay safe. Keep the heid. Keep your distance. And keep in touch. Human contact (if at a safe distance) will remain as necessary as it ever was. And solidarity will carry us through this.
(I'll have funner things to post about soon. Cross my heart.)
It always surprises me when worldwide issues get scam artists. I hope karma kills everyone they love with whatever they're trying to exploit and then kills them slow.
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Sadly, there'll always be nasty wee predators trying to exploit times like these, whatever the times may be. I wouldn't wish death on their loved ones, but on the scammers in particular, I cheerfully wish all the wretched frustration in the world.
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Don't get me wrong. I have no wishes against their family, technically. I just wish that level of suffering on them.
Thank you for reinterating this information and in particular urging others to stay in touch with one another.
We, as a community, are well aware of the power of friendship and helping one another. It is at the core of each one of us and can help more than anyone realizes.
Stay safe, my friend and my you and yours stay healthy.
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Same to you too, Olden. Hope you and yours keep well. And definitely keep in touch.
Joke's on you, coronavirus. I was always a shut-in.
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All my time spent shunning the great outdoors and hissing at people when they drew close is paying off. More than usual, even.
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Make them walk across the scattered contents of a bag full of D4's and Legos.
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De Sade himself would have liked the cut of your jib.
Good on you for spreading the word. Stay safe and vaguely sane in your neck of the woods.
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Your own timelier word-spreading was a good reminder that this sort of info ought to be shared. Shall do my utmost to remain safe, though I shan't insult your intelligence by making promises about sanity. Hope you're keeping alright as well, Fan.
Thanks for the zeldas!
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Nae bother.
There's also this.
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Saw that, and it's sobering stuff. Worth reading for anyone who's unsure of the scale of the cost this could have.
Stay safe, Carabas! At least you have Raricube to keep you company.
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Thank you, and stay safe likewise! Days of isolation with Cubity haven't taken nearly the toll on my sanity I feared they might. She's told me to burn down hardly anything.
Surprised not to see Holy's blog post on the subject. So far, it's been the go-to coronavirus resource for FIMFiction users, as far as I can tell, complete with its own given links to sources. Link to that blog post is below:
https://www.fimfiction.net/blog/893103/coronavirus-crisis-everything-you-should-know
Also, ta for the scamwatch alert. A virus outbreak is one thing, but people trying to exploit the public during such a critical time? That's just low. It's too much to hope all scammers get theirs anytime soon, but anything to make their job harder is fine by me.
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Hadn't seen Holy's post, and much obliged to you for drawing attention to it. That's good, thorough stuff right there, and definitely worthwhile reading for anyone.
Kudos to you for your own posts as well. The more informed folk are on the virus and anything associated with it, the better.