School and Other Closures to Control COVID-19 Pandemics

[Emergent, RN]

Here in Washington state we are in crisis mode. The governor has shut down schools until the end of April. Our way of life is being totally changed. Gathering of large crowds over 250 people are banned. People are panicking.

I'm currently working as a coronavirus screener. The protocol is being thrown together quickly and doesn't seem to be adequate. It doesn't appear to be comprehensive in any way shape or form. There isn't coordination between Health Care entities. Actual testing is rare.

I agree that the virus is a severe threat, yet I have mixed feelings about these things. What are your thoughts?

[VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN]

I think we are having a massive overreaction. Yesterday I was in a Walmart Supercenter, and there was not one. single. sheet. of toilet paper on the shelves. Zip, zilch, nada. Why are people panicking and buying up all the TP when this isn't even a GI illness?

Sure, COVID-19 is scary because of the quick way it spreads and the number of deaths since the pandemic began. But when you think of all the people who die from influenza each year, it's small potatoes. I'm in one of the high-risk groups (over 60 with underlying conditions) but I refuse to cancel my cruise next week even though I'm a little nervous about the ship getting stuck at sea like a couple of other cruise ships have. I figure you only live once, might as well enjoy it while you can.

[Davey Do]

On 3/14/2020 at 3:24 AM, VivaLasViejas said:

I think we are having a massive overreaction.

I second that.

And great big kudos to you, Marla, for living life and not cancelling your cruise! ?️

[NurseBlaq]

Schools are closing here in AL next week. I also couldn't find toilet paper and I actually need it! Walmart, Sam's Club, Dollar General, etc none. I understand if people are stockpiling water, canned goods, and whatnot but toilet paper?

[Davey Do]

5 hours ago, Emergent said:

What are your thoughts?

I just asked Fridgett LPN what she thought and she showed me this:

[Davey Do]

Oops!

Sorry.

[Emergent, RN]

I disagree that this is just an election-year ploy. In fact, I think the current president under reacted initially.

In Italy the healthcare system is beyond capacity. Their ICUs are full. They are putting makeshift uospital units in warehouse type situations.

Covid 19 is far more virulent then influenza. Over 20 people died in one nursing home in Kirkland Washington. I don't think the ordinary flu ever had that big of an impact in one location.

ICUs in hospitals I've heard about here in Washington are already at full capacity even Spokane where the virus has not hit yet. The ICU at Deaconess there is full and and is offering travel contracts to many nurses. They are absolutely understaffed. They're trying to open up more beds that don't have the staff.

Another hospital in central Washington is at ICU capacity with no covid19 patients. These are the areas where covid 19 is just starting to spread.

Five workers have contracted covid19 that work for Boeing. This threatens the rest of the workforce. All of these big companies are instituting screening the workers. They obviously don't want their operations totally shut down.

We don't know a lot about this virus yet. The influenza is seasonal. We don't know if this is just going to naturally go away in the warm weather like the flu does. It's spreading here in Washington very rapidly and are testing capacity is low. The CDC refused the test kits offered by the World Health Organization. They said that we wanted to do develop our own. We haven't been able to do that rapidly therefore we have very little testing capacity at the moment.

Now we are shutting down large segments of the economy. Obviously, we in healthcare are going to be very busy and making lots of money as long as we stay healthy. But, so many segments of the economy are being shut down. Parents are scrambling to figure out how to care for their children who are now out of school. Restaurants and tourist activities are being deeply affected affecting the livelihood of many people. The travel industry it has been virtually shut down. All these people are going to be thrown into unemployment, burdening the system. This crisis might throw us into a huge recession.

[caliotter3]

When I can’t get soup or toilet paper, I start to worry. Getting sick and losing my job is secondary. If I meet my demise, well, as was said on a talk show, “we all die”.

[brownbook]

We (4 adult household) were a little low on toilet paper. I thought I could handle it, not panic. The parking lot was more crowded than usual. First thing I see a shopper with his cart full of toilet paper. I didn't remain calm ?.

Before I left the house I was joking with my husband about toilet paper panic. He said why not get it on Amazon?

I just now checked Amazon there are some weird brands, carefully check what your buying, but I think you actually can get it.

I am keeping some of my newspapers handy as a backup.

[Emergent, RN]

I'm glad I just bought a big pack of scott toilet paper a week before this panic buying?

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

Everyone will eventually have a cause of death. I'm hoping for "eating raw cookie dough".

[tnbutterfly - Mary, BSN]

Moved to the Disaster Preparation Forum

I too went to look for TP yesterday at Walmart. The section for TP, paper towels, etc was completely bare. Luckily they still had baby wipes......so I am good with that.