Quoted from loneacer:

The USA dropped the ball and has a very stupid population.

Quoted from Jaybird815:

Arrogance and ignorance go hand and hand-Holier than thou Metallica Black Album

Quoted from loneacer:

Axe throwing has gotten popular here in the midwest in the last couple years. I don't really get it, but I hear a lot of people talking about it.

Quoted from Spyderturbo007:

This might have been posted already, but it looks like scientists in Germany have successfully mapped the virus’s protease.
Apparently now that it’s been mapped, they are working towards finding an inhibitor to prevent binding.
Good thing there are some really smart people on this planet with the resources to do something like this so quickly.
https://www.drugtargetreview.com/news/57834/preliminary-sars-cov-2-protease-inhibitor-shows-efficacy-in-mice/

Quoted from BobSacamano:

Well, I know what I'm going to be spending my afternoon searching the "Dark Web" for....
Thanks for sending me down this rabbit, or should I say... monkey hole.

Quoted from Lermods:

There was a rumor flying around near me that NJ and the rest of the country was going to be put on a military lock down. NJ governor just stated he knows about the rumor, it’s not true and that it came from foreign sources, specifically noting China and Iran. Be careful where you get your info, there are forces trying to start panics and destabilize things. Governor announced that many things that are essential will remain open, like grocery stores, liquor stores, pet stores, hardware stores, restaurants with takeout and other places. Hardly worth panicking over. If you have to go to those places that are open continue thinking about social distancing. Only place we are going to is grocery store and we are trying to do that no more than once every 10 days and only for essential items and we aren’t stockpiling.

Quoted from Lermods:

right. Italy has a higher proportion of older people, 23% compared to 16% in the US. You’d expect Italy to have much higher deaths.

Quoted from cottonm4:

I am going to partially disagree with you on some of this info. I was born in 1952. I grew up watching reruns of WW2 movies where everyone was a hero. Hollywood came to the rescue with all of these patriotic movies, such as John Wayne in the Fighting SeeBees, for example. Hollywood's Frank Capra was contracted to make all of these propaganda movies about how eager people were to enlist and serve. But this was after Pearl Harbor. Pearl Harbor is what galvanized the country into action because we had been attacked.
Before Pearl, FDR had to do all kinds of dancing around to help out Britain with the lend-lease program. Many, not all, people who had had their fill of WW I were not happy with the the thought of the U.S. getting caught up in another European war. Sedition was a problem. Also there were a lot of Jew haters in this country. America did not want to go to war. We can thank FDR for having the foresight to see what was coming and having the smarts to get some of his programs through Congress.
And we had the draft. Yeah, sure, you can read where a group of high school kids took off to join up. And we can read about the underage kids that lied so they could enlist, but a lot of people were reluctant to sign up. So, it took the draft, and a whole lot of Hollywood to turn many into the patriots we think they were. Not taking anything away from them, but there were a lot of reluctant heroes.
You go back and look at the newspapers of the day and it was pretty much business as usual. The factories were humming making war machines, Rosie was busy riveting, etc. But various and sundry items were still being sold sold. And the newspapers turned into geography instructors as battles in Europe took place.
Other than the rampant patriotism, I will agree with you on everything else.
No action was spared to get the American public involved and supporting the war. Propaganda posters were placed that vilified all Germans as the enemy. There was scrap metal drives for the housewives to give up their pots and pans to support the war. Ladies, save your bacon grease as it can be used in the production of ammunition.
Celebrities were employed to encourage patriotism. Celebrities in uniform were highlighted and the public was made aware of those celebs who were in uniform.
Bond drives were put on around the country, using celebrities, telling you to buy bonds to help with the war effort. The govt. did not need your help to finance the wary your buying of bonds. Instead, with all of the soldiers going overseas and the people left behind, who came out of the depression and found theirselves working 12 hours days suddenly had money to burn and not much to spend it on as most items were for war production. The primary purpose of the bond drives was to get money out of circulation in an effort to help keep consumers goods price in check.
So, on this side to WW2, it looks like a lot patriotism, and there was, after Pearl Harbor.
Oh yeah, oner other thing: Those guys who did go to war did go in to battle fighting for you here at home. That's poppycock. They were fighting for their buddies who were going into battle with them.

Quoted from DBLM:Let's clear up one misperception about the WHO and CDC testing. The US did not turn down tests because it was never offered them. From the CNN article below:
"No discussions occurred between WHO and the CDC about providing tests to the United States, WHO spokesperson Tarik Jasarevic told CNN on Tuesday, and WHO did not offer coronavirus tests to the CDC."
If you dig into the article and others, it appears that the US did single thread for waiting for the CDC test, which the first one was flawed. This created delays and combined with other redtape, is the reason we are behind in testing. It's ok to be upset about testing, but lets make sure that we have facts straight.
https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/18/health/who-coronavirus-tests-cdc/index.html

Quoted from Psw757:

It is a fact that the WHO took for f’ing ever to declare a pandemic when it fit the criteria of a pandemic for several weeks prior to being lableled such.
On a different note, everyone was up in arms about the war powers act not being fully implemented.
It is happening folks, GM is no longer producing at the moment..they are building ventilators as we speak. Many other industries are rapidly being repurposed in the short term as well.

Quoted from ForceFlow:

I'm going to give into a little bit of what seems to be happening with "stay at home" orders in NY. This is changing on a day-to-day basis, so what I typed up might be outdated in a few hours.
Yesterday (Friday), the NY governor announced a "stay at home" order for all non-essential businesses, which effectively shuts a lot of businesses down.
https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-cuomo-signs-new-york-state-pause-executive-order
https://esd.ny.gov/guidance-executive-order-2026
Some businesses are fortunate enough to have roughly a 30-day operating cost emergency fund in place, and are continuing to pay staff as long as possible, but many businesses don't have that cushion. So, depending on the type of business and how healthy it is, some people are still getting full pay, I've heard of a few cases where people are getting partial pay, and some people are getting no pay. A sick leave bill was working its way through the system, but I'm not quite sure where things stand with that. I've also heard of a few cases of people being in limbo with trying to apply for welfare. Employees who haven't officially been laid off, terminated, or fired don't seem to be able to actually apply for benefits. The term "zero hour schedule" has been thrown around for people still being listed as an employee, but not actually working or getting paid.
There's nothing in place yet for people who still have to pay rent & property taxes, other than a freeze on evictions. Foreclosures are still proceeding normally. There is supposedly a 90-day waiver on mortgage payments going into effect, but details are unclear at the moment--it appears to be some sort of postponement of payments for 90-days.
Some landlords are saying that renters (both business and residential) still have to pay full rent, some are saying they'll work with people on a case-by-case basis, some are offering reduced rent....there's really no plan in place right now, and a lot of people are concerned about financial ruin if they have no income to pay.
In the scenario where people simply stop paying rent under the eviction freeze, there doesn't appear to be plan in place for what happens after the freeze is lifted. There is concern about landlords hitting renters with a giant bill that they have to pay or face immediate eviction.
In turn, landlords who have mortgages and property taxes to pay are expressing concern as well. Most of them probably couldn't survive or keep their properties with no income.
Then there's the concern about income and property taxes that fund state/county spending, and if that is paused, what happens with government spending if there's nothing left to spend.
The NY governor put a pause button on one section of society, but not on other areas, which is putting a lot of people in a tough spot.
The NY governor also mentioned that he expects that this "stay at home" order could last 2-4 months at least. While some people and businesses might be able to weather a couple weeks of no income, going 2-4 months is not going to end well for a lot of people here.
There are a lot of offers for low interest loans, but that really isn't going to help much with people who are already in debt.
So, things are a mess and anxiety is somewhat high in NY state right now. I'm sure other NYers can chime in as to where things stand for them or their communities.
I expect other states will do similar shut down scenarios soon like NY, CA, and IL when they see the number of positive cases rise in their states. Although that's kind of like closing the barn door after the horse has bolted.
Positive cases in NY are skyrocketing. A lot of people still aren't taking this seriously. They are using the time off to hang out, gather with family and friends, play contact sports. That is all the wrong thing to do. The point of social distancing/isolation is to put as much space as possible between you and other people so that you don't catch the virus from other people and so you don't spread it to others. Be aware that mail, packages, groceries, etc are not immune from carrying the virus, so handle and wash/disinfect all that stuff appropriately.
https://www.seattletimes.com/life/food-drink/how-should-you-best-wash-produce-a-guide-to-home-food-safety-tips-amid-the-coronavirus-pandemic/
Given the developing events, I would suggest everyone be smart about their spending try to save as much money as possible to try to stretch things out as long as possible. We might be shut down for longer than people think. It might be better to start limiting unnecessary spending now to avoid struggling later. I'm not trying to panic anyone, but especially for people who are not on solid financial footing and/or living paycheck to paycheck, they really should do this now as a precaution.

Review your spending. If you don't keep track of your spending, it's a good time to start doing that. Make a list--rent/mortgage, food, clothes, subscriptions, electric, heat, insurance, taxes, medical costs, etc.
Try to reduce spending, and cancel as many subscription services as possible. Magazines, premium cable channels, possibly even cable service altogether. Club and gym memberships. If you have multiple video streaming service subscriptions, maybe drop down to only one. If there are multiple levels for streaming services (like with netflix), maybe drop that down to a lesser plan. If your family is leasing more than one vehicle, maybe consider contacting the leasing company for relief, or possibly look into what it would take to end the lease early. Review your credit card statements to check what might be hitting your card if you don't know off the top of your head.
Keep in mind that if you're stuck at home, your electric, heat , and water bills might be increasing due to your increased usage, and the general increased demands on the electrical grid. So, try to conserve electricity by turning off anything not in use, unplug energy vampires, and lower the thermostat. Avoid using large appliances as much as possible (drier, oven, etc). Try to run large appliances during off-peak times when electric is cheaper. Try to conserve water. You will probably be flushing the toilet a lot more if you're home all day. Try to avoid the urge to run the dishwasher or washing machine more than necessary.
If you have car insurance renewals coming up, think about making changes to your coverage--you're probably not going to be going much of anywhere if you're staying home and just making runs to the grocery store. If you have more than one car, figure out which vehicle will be for primary use, and maybe drop coverage for the other(s).

Obviously, use your best judgement. These are just some suggestions and ideas I pulled off the top of my head. Some might work for you, some might not.

Quoted from Frax:

Yeah, good luck with that. Also, stop being a prick. My wife works at a vape shop, and Gen Z is not even remotely close to being their biggest market. They're stupid in their own way, just like every other generation before them, but vaping hardly has anything to do with it. You going to tell me that cigarettes is better? I don't see you pissing on other smokers.
Oil? Only in your illegal weed cartridges, bud.

Quoted from Utesichiban:

Your mayor could have and should have done a lot better. He is largely responsible for the mess right now in NYC.
Acted like an adult? He ignored everyone around him for days begging him to close schools, etc while showing a blatant disregard for public health and showing a terrible example bu going to his favorite YMCA every day.
Sorry but you cant just point fingers at the feds and not look at the glaring incompetence and mistakes made at the local level by your mayor.
Both have made blunders but unfortunately those made by your mayor have have a much bigger impact on the current uncontained spread in your city than any other one person.

Quoted from Spyderturbo007:

Thanks. I'm glad you explained that to me.
It's not like I'm a Metallurgy Chemist or anything.....Oh, wait, I am.

Quoted from RWH:

You miss understood when I said "greatest generation" it included all Americans not just the soldiers fighting the war.

Quoted from BobSacamano:

Who exactly is Anthony Fauci? If this guy doesn't get a Presidential Medal of Freedom (or equivalent)... WE RIOT!

Quoted from RTR:

It was a soft toss that anyone should have been able to knock out of the park. Just restate your plan and your faith in the team and the American people.

Quoted from fosaisu:

So the WHO declaring a pandemic vs a global emergency would somehow have affected what we were doing in the US to prepare? I haven’t seen these articles (too much reading on the topic gets depressing), but I’d think this administration wouldn’t let a globalist entity like the WHO impact its policies in the slightest.

Quoted from cottonm4:

That's fine line, Who-Dey. I do not recall anyone calling it a hoax, save one who made the reference in a rally speech. I wish I could play the movie.

Quoted from PinJim:

Yeah, that’s better. I guess your state is helping fund a better education system in my state. Thanks! Maybe we can send your state some tents for the mass population of homeless people?
And for what it’s worth, I pay more than my fair share in taxes.

Quoted from Oaken:My wife also is using paper suit, face shield, respirator method here in Minnesota.
It is comically oversized on her.[quoted image]

Quoted from OLDPINGUY:

Part of the New Deal that took us out were Govt funded Jobs, of infrastructure, Bridges, Damns, Roads, and National Parks.
Perhaps that is what will happen, A works program to get future unemployment issues.
I dont think we will be building any new parks, we seem to be selling them off.

Quoted from Utesichiban:

Then who do you consider to be the "greatest generation?"

Quoted from CrazyLevi:

Damn it’s gonna be like Silkwood with a bar over at your place!

Quoted from CrazyLevi:

[quoted image]

Quoted from FYMF:

This is how I feel but he said they told him it wasnt Covid and it was some other virus.
Negative on both Influenza test.
No Covid test given. Wtf.
At this point I wonder if he should call ahead and bring her in elsewhere?
Florida is the only state to get 100% of their medical request filled by the government. They should be able to test her no?
Shit

Quoted from CrazyLevi:

Damn. Suicide by mod!!!!

Quoted from Wickerman2:Rand Paul, Senate typhoid mary:
During the Senate GOP lunch today, Moran told colleagues that Rand was at the gym this morning, per two sources briefed on the lunch, and that he was swimming in the pool. Rand got his COVID-19 results back this morning.

Quoted from Wickerman2:

Agreed. Not following the guidelines that they established. Effing Idiot. The senate are predominantly old ass men which is the highest risk group for serious health issues with covid

Quoted from Oaken:

sataneatscheese pulled up Target inventory for our formula for Towson just for fun and said 2 in stock. (I know nothing of Baltimore just pulled that store up at random). That’s 2 more than are available here!
Twin Cities getting shorted by our own home grown company.
Might have to request a favor if things get dire.

Quoted from bwill:

I believe this is untrue. On March 15th it was reported that Rand Paul was at a ball at the speed museum here in Louisville with people who tested positive.
https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/local/2020/03/15/louisville-coronavirus-cases-museum-speed-ball-guest-tests-positive/5054435002/
My guess is that this is why he got tested. He knew he had contact with people who had the virus and was tested for it.

Quoted from o-din:

If this shit gets way out of control, there are plenty of gangs and other armed people that will be taking matters into their own hands. Thumbs up to those that are ready to protect themselves. Although a gang might be a little hard to fend off by one's self, it might make them go after easier prey. Or it could piss them off even more.

Quoted from PinJim:

There are going to be a lot of people out of work. There is serious potential for people to loot, riot, etc. While I do not live in an area where I think that will occur - it’s not outside the realm of possibility. If people get desperate, crazy shit can happen. I’ll leave it at that.

Quoted from o-din:

And I lived through the LA riots. What a show they put on.

Quoted from BobSacamano:

I've got a WW2 era grenade in the basement ready for anyone who tries to set foot on my property and take my carton of TP.

Quoted from wesman:

Is this a recommendation for HIS immune system, his baby's....or both?

Quoted from Jaybird815:

It’s unfortunate, and childish, he only does it to get a rise, but I’m still not understanding how being called your nationality is deemed offensive.

Quoted from vex:

I think he said China virus, indicating the origin of it. A virus is not a race, but its passport was clearly stamped in China.

Quoted from Eightball88:

So where is Iceman these days?

Quoted from Pablito350:

It shouldn't be used as a term because Asian people are being harassed. Throwing meat to his base by being a "Bad Boy" is not helping those people in their everyday lives. Those are his people too.
Just because he can't have his hateful rallies does not excuse his behavior during this crisis. He needs to be a calming factor, not an inciter.

Quoted from swampfire:

I wanted to avoid politics, but it kind of enrages me to hear “we inherited an obsolete system” over and over again. When you’re 3 years into your term, you own what you have. It hits home, because any engineering manager who pulled that shit would be fired. You might get 6 months to blame your predecessor, but after that you own it.

Quoted from JodyG:

They caught him and he has been charged with something like Terroristic Threats. Happened in Missouri.

Quoted from Tranquilize:

Looks like we have a giant aid package that just passed. I wonder if we're going to see inflation or if it will be all relative. If we do see it, I hate the fact that I'll be punished for being a good manager and saver with my finances.

Quoted from Tranquilize:

let's start with Goldman Sachs? I'm talking the big guys who have stolen from the coffers in the past.

Quoted from zr11990:Now that is funny right there.

Quoted from Zablon:I get that in the scenario we are in things are in an unknown area. The point is we don't need to hand them free money. We've already seen what they do and who they care about. It isn't the employees.
My thoughts are:
Any provisions need to be a loan with strict conditions. No stock buybacks, no CEO bonus/raises - maybe even drop in pay, until it's paid back.
Not one cent should go to a company that is not based in the US.
We cannot guarantee they won't have to cut employment, but we should have a guarantee that if they have health coverage they get to keep it (for a period of time - due to the current crisis)

Quoted from bwill:

I assume you don't know or have ever met people who work in the performing arts. Just so you are aware, most of the stagehands, designers, actors, etc are not earning huge salaries doing this work. They are not working and not earning at this time and since most are independent contractors they don't get unemployment.
Here is the bill text: 'funds provided in this Act shall be made available to cover operating expenses required to ensure the continuity of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and its affiliates, including for employee compensation and benefits, grants, contracts, payments for rent or utilities, fees for artists or performers'
The amount is a pittance compared to what is being handed out to major industries and much will go into protecting people who create art for living.

Quoted from CrazyLevi:Thanks!
Now summarize the "close the top 100" thread for us please.

Quoted from PtownPin:I think u need a heavy dose of Hannity ....

Quoted from Tranquilize:We all hate liars. It's just a human quality that we do not tollerate on a day-to-day basis.

Quoted from Ericpinballfan:I get your point, but you missed mine.
So there is a ton of Pork Barrell fat on the Board of directors and over, hugely over paid people that don't even come to work there.
Trust me I know! The payroll for most of that building is outrageous and so many titles and vice presidents of this and that and, really. The cash bleed at that building is overwhelming.

Quoted from PantherCityPins:

If you take the selfish route and decide your personal need for an N-95 with low risk of exposure is higher than an ICU doc who is swimming in virus during a procedure while trying to save someone else’s life....well I don’t know what to say to that.

Quoted from flynnibus:

Because we are a consumer society - not a country of sustainers. Virtually the entire economy is based on the production and consumption of services and goods to sell to someone else. The vast majority of the country must be able to consume or sell to sustain it's status quo... you take away that loop of purpose and money.. and the whole thing implodes.
We are not a society of self-sustaining, or even locally sustaining entities. We rely across the board on items that come from afar.
People's purpose and daily substance relies on this economy of selling and buying.

Quoted from dirkdiggler:

Guess he's special and doesn't have to follow rules? Or he's extremely stupid and selfish. I'm going with the later.

Quoted from vdojaq:

BRAVO!!!

Quoted from Bryan_Kelly:NSFW because of language.
A good friend of mine has a 7 year old that's not allowed to have friends over. He keeps asking dad why his friends get to play outside together.

Quoted from Atari_Daze:

Here is my city list taken from; https://www.click2houston.com/news/local/2020/03/24/these-are-the-16-essential-business-sectors-that-will-remain-open-during-the-stay-home-work-safe-order/
Ready, take a deep breath, can you hold it for as long as it takes to read this:
go
Essential Retail
Grocery stores
Warehouse stores
Furniture suppliers
Big box stores
Bodegas
Liquor stores
Gas stations
Convenience stores
Farmers’ markets that sell food products and household staples
Food cultivation including farming, ranching, fishing and livestock
Food production including the production of canned goods, bottled beverages and other grocery items
Businesses that ship or deliver groceries, food, goods or services directly to homes
Restaurants and other facilities that prepare and serve food, but only for deliver, drive-thru or carry out
Schools and other entities that typically provide free services to students or members of the public on a pick-up or take-away basis only
Restriction of delivery or carry-out does not apply to cafes or restaurants within hospitals or medical facilities
Laundromats, dry cleaners and laundry service providers
Gas stations, auto supply, auto and bicycle repair, hardware stores, and related facilities
Healthcare / Public Health
Workers providing COVID-19 testing; Workers that perform critical clinical research needed for COVID-19 response
Caregivers (e.g., physicians, dentists, psychologists, mid-level practitioners, nurses and assistants, infection control and quality assurance personnel, pharmacists, physical and occupational therapists and assistants, social workers, speech pathologists and diagnostic and therapeutic technicians and technologists)
Hospital and laboratory personnel (including accounting, administrative, admitting and discharge, engineering, epidemiological, source plasma and blood donation, food service, housekeeping, medical records, information technology and operational technology, nutritionists, sanitarians, respiratory therapists, etc.)
Workers in other medical facilities (including Ambulatory Health and Surgical, Blood Banks, Clinics, Community Mental Health, Comprehensive Outpatient rehabilitation, End Stage Renal Disease, Health Departments, Home Health care, Hospices, Hospitals, Long Term Care, Organ Pharmacies, Procurement Organizations, Psychiatric Residential, Rural Health Clinics and Federally Qualified Health Centers)
Manufacturers, technicians, logistics and warehouse operators, and distributors of medical equipment, personal protective equipment (PPE), medical gases, pharmaceuticals, blood and blood products, vaccines, testing materials, laboratory supplies, cleaning, sanitizing, disinfecting or sterilization supplies, and tissue and paper towel products
Public health / community health workers, including those who compile, model, analyze and communicate public health information
Blood and plasma donors and the employees of the organizations that operate and manage related activities
Workers that manage health plans, billing, and health information, who cannot practically work remotely
Workers who conduct community-based public health functions, conducting epidemiologic surveillance, compiling, analyzing and communicating public health information, who cannot practically work remotely
Workers performing cybersecurity functions at healthcare and public health facilities, who cannot practically work remotely
Workers conducting research critical to COVID-19 response
Workers performing security, incident management, and emergency operations functions at or on behalf of healthcare entities including healthcare coalitions, who cannot practically work remotely
Workers who support food, shelter, and social services, and other necessities of life for economically disadvantaged or otherwise needy individuals, such as those residing in shelters
Pharmacy employees necessary for filling prescriptions
Workers performing mortuary services, including funeral homes, crematoriums, and cemetery workers
Workers who coordinate with other organizations to ensure the proper recovery, handling, identification, transportation, tracking, storage, and disposal of human remains and personal effects; certify cause of death; and facilitate access to mental/behavioral health services to the family members, responders, and survivors of an incident
Law Enforcement / Public Safety / First Responders
Personnel in emergency management, law enforcement, Emergency Management Systems, fire, and corrections, including front line and management
Emergency Medical Technicians
911 call center employees
Fusion Center employees
Hazardous material responders from government and the private sector.
Workers – including contracted vendors -- who maintain, manufacture, or supply digital systems infrastructure supporting law enforcement emergency service, and response operations.
Energy
Electricity workers
Workers who maintain, ensure, or restore, or are involved in the development, transportation, fuel procurement, expansion, or operation of the generation, transmission, and distribution of electric power, including call centers, utility workers, reliability engineers and fleet maintenance technicians
Workers needed for safe and secure operations at nuclear generation
Workers at generation, transmission and electric blackstart facilities
Workers at Reliability Coordinator (RC), Balancing Authorities (BA), and primary and backup Control Centers (CC), including but not limited to independent system operators, regional transmission organizations, and balancing authorities
Mutual assistance personnel
IT and OT technology staff – for EMS (Energy Management Systems) and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems, and utility data centers; Cybersecurity engineers; cybersecurity risk management
Vegetation management crews and traffic workers who support
Environmental remediation/monitoring technicians
Instrumentation, protection, and control technicians
Petroleum workers:
Petroleum product storage, pipeline, marine transport, terminals, rail transport, road transport
Crude oil storage facilities, pipeline, and marine transport
Petroleum refinery facilities
Petroleum security operations center employees and workers who support emergency response services
Petroleum operations control rooms/centers
Petroleum drilling, extraction, production, processing, refining, terminal operations, transporting, and retail for use as end-use fuels or feedstocks for chemical manufacturing
Onshore and offshore operations for maintenance and emergency response
Retail fuel centers such as gas stations and truck stops, and the distribution systems that support them
Natural and propane gas workers:
Natural gas transmission and distribution pipelines, including compressor stations
Underground storage of natural gas
Natural gas processing plants, and those that deal with natural gas liquids
Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) facilities
Natural gas security operations center, natural gas operations dispatch and control rooms/centers natural gas emergency response and customer emergencies, including natural gas leak calls
Drilling, production, processing, refining, and transporting natural gas for use as end-use fuels, feedstocks for chemical manufacturing, or use in electricity generation
Propane gas dispatch and control rooms and emergency response and customer emergencies, including propane leak calls
Propane gas service maintenance and restoration, including call centers
Processing, refining, and transporting natural liquids, including propane gas, for use as end-use fuels or feedstocks for chemical manufacturing
Propane gas storage, transmission, and distribution centers
Water and Wastewater
Operational staff at water authorities
Operational staff at community water systems
Operational staff at wastewater treatment facilities
Workers repairing water and wastewater conveyances and performing required sampling or monitoring
Operational staff for water distribution and testing
Operational staff at wastewater collection facilities
Operational staff and technical support for SCADA Control systems
Chemical suppliers for wastewater and personnel protection
Workers that maintain digital systems infrastructure supporting water and wastewater operations
Transportation and Logistics
Employees supporting or enabling transportation functions, including truck drivers, bus drivers, dispatchers, maintenance and repair technicians, warehouse workers, truck stop and rest area workers, and workers that maintain and inspect infrastructure (including those that require cross-jurisdiction travel)
Employees of firms providing services that enable logistics operations, including cooling, storing, packaging, and distributing products for wholesale or retail sale or use.
Mass transit workers
Workers responsible for operating dispatching passenger, commuter and freight trains and maintaining rail infrastructure and equipment
Maritime transportation workers - port workers, mariners, equipment operators
Truck drivers who haul hazardous and waste materials to support critical infrastructure, capabilities, functions, and services
Automotive repair and maintenance facilities
Manufacturers and distributors (to include service centers and related operations) of packaging materials, pallets, crates, containers, and other supplies needed to support manufacturing, packaging staging and distribution operations
Postal and shipping workers, to include private companies
Employees who repair and maintain vehicles, aircraft, rail equipment, marine vessels, and the equipment and infrastructure that enables operations that encompass movement of cargo and passengers
Air transportation employees, including air traffic controllers and maintenance personnel, ramp workers, aviation and aerospace safety, security, and operations personnel and accident investigations
Workers who support the maintenance and operation of cargo by air transportation, including flight crews, maintenance, airport operations, and other on- and off- airport facilities workers
Public works
Workers who support the operation, inspection, and maintenance of essential dams, locks and levees
Workers who support the operation, inspection, and maintenance of essential public works facilities and operations, including bridges, water and sewer main breaks, fleet maintenance personnel, construction of critical or strategic infrastructure, traffic signal maintenance, emergency location services for buried utilities, maintenance of digital systems infrastructure supporting public works operations, and other emergent issues
Workers such as plumbers, electricians, exterminators, and other service providers who provide services that are necessary to maintaining the safety, sanitation, and essential operation of residences
Support, such as road and line clearing, to ensure the availability of needed facilities, transportation, energy and communications
Support to ensure the effective removal, storage, and disposal of residential and commercial solid waste and hazardous waste
Communications and Information Technology
Communications
Maintenance of communications infrastructure- including privately owned and maintained communication systems- supported by technicians, operators, call-centers, wireline and wireless providers, cable service providers, satellite operations, undersea cable landing stations (including cable marine depots and submarine cable ship operators), Internet Exchange Points, and manufacturers and distributors of communications equipment
Workers who support radio, television, and media service, including, but not limited to front line news reporters, studio, and technicians for newsgathering and reporting
Workers at Independent System Operators and Regional Transmission Organizations, and Network Operations staff, engineers and/or technicians to manage the network or operate facilities
Engineers, technicians and associated personnel responsible for infrastructure construction and restoration, including contractors for construction and engineering of fiber optic cables
Installation, maintenance and repair technicians that establish, support or repair service as needed
Central office personnel to maintain and operate central office, data centers, and other network office facilities
Customer service and support staff, including managed and professional services as well as remote providers of support to transitioning employees to set up and maintain home offices, who interface with customers to manage or support service environments and security issues, including payroll, billing, fraud, and troubleshooting
Dispatchers involved with service repair and restoration
Information Technology:
Workers who support command centers, including, but not limited to Network Operations Command Center, Broadcast Operations Control Center and Security Operations Command Center
Data center operators, including system administrators, HVAC & electrical engineers, security personnel, IT managers, data transfer solutions engineers, software and hardware engineers, and database administrators
Client service centers, field engineers, and other technicians supporting critical infrastructure, as well as manufacturers and supply chain vendors that provide hardware and software, and information technology equipment (to include microelectronics and semiconductors) for critical infrastructure
Workers responding to cyber incidents involving critical infrastructure, including medical facilities, SLTT governments and federal facilities, energy and utilities, and banks and financial institutions, and other critical infrastructure categories and personnel
Workers supporting the provision of essential global, national and local infrastructure for computing services (incl. cloud computing services), business infrastructure, web-based services, and critical manufacturing
Workers supporting communications systems and information technology used by law enforcement, public safety, medical, energy and other critical industries
Support required for continuity of services, including janitorial/cleaning personnel
Other community-based government operations and essential functions
Workers to ensure continuity of building functions
Security staff to maintain building access control and physical security measures
Elections personnel
Federal, State, and Local, Tribal, and Territorial employees who support Mission Essential Functions and communications networks
Trade Officials (FTA negotiators; international data flow administrators)
Weather forecasters
Workers that maintain digital systems infrastructure supporting other critical government operations
Workers at operations centers necessary to maintain other essential functions
Workers who support necessary credentialing, vetting and licensing operations for transportation workers
Customs workers who are critical to facilitating trade in support of the national emergency response supply chain
Educators supporting public and private K-12 schools, colleges, and universities for purposes of facilitating distance learning or performing other essential functions, if operating under rules for social distancing
Hotel Workers where hotels are used for COVID-19 mitigation and containment measures
Critical manufacturing
Workers necessary for the manufacturing of materials and products needed for medical supply chains, and for supply chains associated with transportation, energy, communications, food and agriculture, chemical manufacturing, nuclear facilities, the operation of dams, water and wastewater treatment, emergency services, and the defense industrial base. Additionally, workers needed to maintain the continuity of these manufacturing functions and associated supply chains.
Hazardous materials
Workers at nuclear facilities, workers managing medical waste, workers managing waste from pharmaceuticals and medical material production, and workers at laboratories processing test kits
Workers who support hazardous materials response and cleanup
Workers who maintain digital systems infrastructure supporting hazardous materials management operations
Financial services
Workers who are needed to process and maintain systems for processing financial transactions and services (e.g., payment, clearing, and settlement; wholesale funding; insurance services; and capital markets activities)
Workers who are needed to provide consumer access to banking and lending services, including ATMs, and to move currency and payments (e.g., armored cash carriers)
Workers who support financial operations, such as those staffing data and security operations centers
Chemical
Workers supporting the chemical and industrial gas supply chains, including workers at chemical manufacturing plants, workers in laboratories, workers at distribution facilities, workers who transport basic raw chemical materials to the producers of industrial and consumer goods, including hand sanitizers, food and food additives, pharmaceuticals, textiles, and paper products.
Workers supporting the safe transportation of chemicals, including those supporting tank truck cleaning facilities and workers who manufacture packaging items
Workers supporting the production of protective cleaning and medical solutions, personal protective equipment, and packaging that prevents the contamination of food, water, medicine, among others essential products
Workers supporting the operation and maintenance of facilities (particularly those with high risk chemicals and/or sites that cannot be shut down) whose work cannot be done remotely and requires the presence of highly trained personnel to ensure safe operations, including plant contract workers who provide inspections
Workers who support the production and transportation of chlorine and alkali manufacturing, single-use plastics, and packaging that prevents the contamination or supports the continued manufacture of food, water, medicine, and other essential products, including glass container manufacturing
Defense Industrial Base
Workers who support the essential services required to meet national security commitments to the federal government and U.S. Military. These individuals, include but are not limited to, aerospace; mechanical and software engineers, manufacturing/production workers; IT support; security staff; security personnel; intelligence support, aircraft and weapon system mechanics and maintainers
Personnel working for companies, and their subcontractors, who perform under contract to the Department of Defense providing materials and services to the Department of Defense, and government-owned/contractor-operated and government-owned/government-operated facilities

Quoted from RTR:

There are no strategies fully in place yet that allow us to think we are ok back at work. We still do not have adequate testing, no follow up plans for contact tracing/quarantine/follow up (like South Korea and others), we won't have adequate data until there is adequate testing for xx days/weeks, no proven treatments yet, and we have ZERO PPE available for non-healthcare workers to go back to work with.

Quoted from wrb1977:

Not sure if you read the whole thing, sorry it was so long, but I did say that it’s all about slowing it!

Quoted from beergut666:An hour after our governor announced a stay in place order, 25 dumb fucks lined up outside a liquor store (in the pouring rain) that will not be closing during the order.[quoted image]

Quoted from rwmech5:

This is why the numbers of actual cases are so much higher, if they posted the true numbers that are actually 10-40 times higher more people would take notice and follow the restrictions. My wife has been ill in bed for 6 days, called the 811 health line after 5 days and got told they are only testing health workers, hospitalized patients and extended care facilities so you know the true case totals are way off.

Quoted from ForceFlow:

3/26 NY Governor briefing

Quoted from manadams:

Spot on, slow down the exposure so hospitals are not overwhelmed but you will be exposed eventually and have to build an immunity towards it. The high risk and elderly need to quarantine until they find a vaccine or drug that helps.

Quoted from zr11990:

What is worse is what they are doing to the economy. It’s a upper respiratory virus. It’s death rate is what, 1.5%? More people die from the flue every year. More people die from obesity and/or car accidents. Watch how many people die from the fucked up economy due to blowing this out of proportion.

Quoted from finman2000:

You have a big puffy chest until one of your family or friends is infected. Then the reality will sink in. If someone had a bowl of 100 skittles and tells you a couple of them will cause you a certain death, are you going to eat one?

Quoted from PtownPin:

well said....theres no reasoning with that guy so don't even try....

Quoted from Wickerman2:

Stimulus calc, see if you qualify:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/business/coronavirus-stimulus-check-calculator/

Quoted from Utesichiban:

I typically judge people more by actions than words. I still have my doubts Cuomo did enough early on the outbreak and feel Diblasio completely dropped the ball in NYC.
I'm not absolving Trump or the feds for their shortcomings as it pertains to testing, and not doing enough early either. While admittedly not close to what is happening in New York and hearing daily press conferences, I can't say I understand why New Yorkers are so happy with how their state and local government has handled things to this point.

Quoted from Zablon:

It's official, that man still believes this is an overblown hoax, and he's petty (which we already knew). Someone give him the shit already. Force him to go shake hands, hug, and kiss the sick on the cheek. Walk his ass through an infected hospitals. Then when he asks for a ventilator say 'sorry, we don't have any more'.

Quoted from Utesichiban:

I get my news from a variety of sources. How about you?
https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/26/us/new-york-coronavirus-explainer/index.html
I am not defending Trump at all and have never defended his response to Covid19. I also voted 3rd party in 2016 btw so who is the partisan in this discussion?
This is my exact point. Some of you want to point that finger only at the feds but blow up at even the slightest insinuation that there have been guys at the state and local level that have dropped the ball as well.
I see the situation as one where there is plenty of blame to go around, and as the CNN article implies, that includes some of New York's officials.

Quoted from jamesmc:

I read where Larry David and Lloyd Braun donated $100,000 for the caddies at Riviera CC. Pretty cool that they helped the caddies, and that there is a real Lloyd Braun.

Quoted from flashinstinct:Yup because the world is full of COVIDIOTS including here in Canada. Want an example..... My sister-in-law (SIL).
She had adopted a dog (17 years old) out of compassion about 1.5 years ago from an elderly couple that couldn't take care of the dog anymore. Flashforward to 3 days ago, the dog was crying and staying on the bed, peeing all over the place and clearly something was up.
My SIL calls her sister(my wife) and tells her to come over to her house to see the dog. She says "No. Under normal circumstances she would have but in the world of COVID, she can't risk getting infected because she has asthma and we don't want to compromise the kids".
Who is my SIL?
She's the type that kept getting visits up until 3 days ago from other people, kept going to McDonald's every morning to go pick up coffee, kept sending her kdi to other peoples places, kept going to see her parents (Her Dad: 75, heart conditions, high blood pressure and diabetic. Her Mom 72: Osteoporosis, diabetic and a weak immune system) every single day until the event.
What happened?
My SIL is deranged and also an alcoholic. At this point it's been a day since the dog has been put down. She has called the house around 10 times to give my wife shit and keeps telling her that she's a complete bitch for not going with her. Keeps trying to reinforce that she chose my family over hers and that she deserves to die with all of us in quote "all insert family name deserve to die". After roughly the 10th call I had had enough. I took the phone from my wife (who is incapable of giving her shit) and I gave her such a mouthful (not even sure where it all came from) and hung up the phone.
At this point, we know she is drunk but we fail to realize that she is yet again at her parents, completely wasted (2 bottles of red wine into her). Socializing for the last few hours with them (my in-laws are not the brightest either - I have no clue how my wife turned out the way she is). Her parents let her drink the last portion of her second bottle with them (they know fully well she's an alcoholic but don't intervene).
Now the SIL is all over herself....she doesn't want to go home (10 houses down) because she's too drunk. Instead of walking home what does she do? She calls her brother that works at Costco (prime COVID candidate) and tells him to come pick her up. So Covidiot #2 (BIL) shows up to pick her up. But instead of bringing her home, he brings her to his place. Covidiot #2 is probably the more stupid of the 2 and I wouldn't even want to step in his house (haven't since 6 years ago) since it's completely filthy. If you were to catch a disease you would go to his house.
At the house, she's so drunk that she slips on the concrete step and cracks her head open. Blood everywhere, huge gash in the back of her head, she's delirious. Covidiot#2 calls my wife. He's frantic doesn't know what to do and tells my wife to come help him. Again my wife says "no. Call 911". After 20 minutes she gets a call back. The paramedics are there and are pleading with Covidiot#1 to get into the ambulance so they can go to the ER for stitches and get a scan because they believe she has a serious concussion.
In typical fashion Covidiot #1 throws a tantrum scene. Covidiot#2 signs a waiver stating that he officially releases the paramedics. Covidiot #2 drives SIL home.
We get a phone call around midnight. My wife's father tells her that he is going to the ER with Covidiot #1. My wife says "No. You can't go. you are a prime target for this virus." Why doesn't husband of covidiot #1 go?...... he's high has a kite on pot.
At this point I'm lost, I've lost all compassion for anything in this situation. "I keep telling my wife it's not our problem....but at this point it is". My wife jets out of bed, grabs the keys and leaves. She picks up High husband and covidiot #1 and they drive her to the ER themselves. Once there get there they drop her off and leave her there. High boy and SIL go in H. He drops her offs, sanitizes himself and gets back in the car.
Fast forward now 3 days. We have been exposed more than we should have been. My wife has put her life in danger as well as mine and the kids because of at least 3 covidiots.
My SIL exposed everyone (13 people):
Herself
Her two kids
Her husband
Her brother
Myself
My wife
Our two kids
Her parents
The paramedics
Because of her lack of rational thinking.
I am now known in our family circle as "CAPTAIN COVID". Yet I am the one doing groceries for her parents and mine. I've been out of the house 3 times in the last 14 days to go to the grocery store 1 mile away from home. I wear gloves and safety glasses. I make sure to sanitize before I go in and when I go out. That's my footprint. That's the way I envision keeping it for the foreseeable future. and if everyone did the same instead of drive out to McDonald's and their hairdresser this thing would be over in 3 months. But it won't be I'm forecasting a pretty lonely Xmas this year because some people just don't get it.
What's the saying: You can pick the wife but not the in-laws?
Rant over. #FML

Quoted from Zablon:

People like to say that the majority of humanity is good. I think the internet is proving daily that the bulk of humanity are only good when forced to be. Actual 'good' people are rare.

Quoted from Utesichiban:Wish our government had isolated our hotzones. We stopped travel from Europe but tried to pretend it wasn't already breaking out domestically in NYC, Seattle, and some pockets of California. On top of that, they're still allowing people to leave or flee these areas which ensures spread into other pockets of the couhtry.

Quoted from PtownPin:

spoken like true and proud American.....

Quoted from JodyG:

Paywall

Quoted from Utesichiban:

Yeah, damn that electoral college and Constitution. It only applies with where I agree with it too.