FMF - Friends of Minerals Forum, discussion and message board

[Pete Richards]

[Jordi Fabre]

[lluis]

I side with Pete thinking....

Main trouble is a possible collapse of heath system.
So, to try to be uncontaminated is a must.
But for health risks, well, seems that is like flu, that even been mortal in many cases, no one cares for it. And each year we have an episode..

On another side, there has been announced that in Clinic Hospital in Barcelona, an strategy to deal with infected ones would be tried, and seems that is very promising (well, in short, doses of antiretrovirals (like if it was an AIDS case...), to low level of viruses in blood, and then being the person safe for rest.
Also, a vaccine is nearly to be tested, but that is already for next year to be distributed...

For medicines, has been said that paracetamol is far better than ibuprofen, for side effects.
Maybe aspirine would be better, because is less toxic, but I have no idea.

With best wishes (and remain safe and care!)

Lluís

[Jordi Fabre]

Second day, Sunday March 15 2020

Big surprise. Today in Barcelona hardly anyone is seen on the streets, not even on the large avenues on the outskirts of the city center. We have gone here from indifference to fear and it seems that what remains is the fear.

[alfredo]

Two different internet mineral dealers in the USA reported on Facebook that they were surprised to see their sales have doubled this month from what they normally are this time of year. That does not surprise me, however, because with mineral shows being cancelled all over the world, and many mineral collectors being addicts who need to get their "fix" from somewhere...

So those dealers who mainly sell at shows will suffer great hardship this year, and those who deal over the internet may actually benefit from the virus (as long as the post office and banking systems hold up).

Interesting times. Sorry for those who will inevitably lose loved ones, and those millions who will suffer financially. On Friday I saw a café waitress almost in tears, already anticipating that her place of work would be closed down (It was, one day later.), and her with two kids at home and no other income - It‘s not going to be easy, for very large numbers of people.

As for me personally, I‘m in a small mountain town north of Barcelona. The entire population here has been admirably sensible and cooperative. There is still plenty of toilet paper in the stores, no huge panic shopping. City Hall is coordinating volunteers to do the grocery and pharmacy shopping for the most vulnerable older residents, so that they don‘t need to risk exposure to viruses in busy stores. Apart from food shopping, we‘re pretty much locked down at home. Time to make some micromounts, and finish a Mineralogical Record article, and my book on minerals of Japan... all the things stuck on the back burner for too long.

[Ricky hartzog]

What I mean by nothing going on is all schools are closed all events canceled

[Bob Harman]

A few more facts, both medical and otherwise about the Coronavirus.

Where did this virus come from? The first recognized cluster of cases appeared about early December 2019 in Wuhan China. Whether those were really the true first human cases is difficult to say. The generally accepted appearance had to do with a filthy dirty meat market that was selling bat meat......in China virtually anything is eaten by somebody! The virus seems to have jumped from being found in a population of bats to humans. Not, in and of itself, unusual. Lots of viruses have been known to jump from animals to humans.
Conspiracy theories are common with any major situation. One with this virus is that it was either accidentally or purposefully released from a biological warfare lab in China or North Korea. There is absolutely NO evidence of this.
Can we believe current reports from China that there is improvement? Personally, I and many other health professionals, take all these reports from there with a large grain of salt. China is still a relatively closed society from a political point of view. The government does not take popular dissent lightly, so they send everyone back to work etc, saying that all is "getting better" and "back toward normal". Maybe their people and all of us are lead to believe it, but.....well, who really knows!

Infected individuals can release virus particles for several days to at least a week after infection. The virus infectivity potential is very high, several times higher than the usual flu virus. About 6 feet between folks is recommended as a safe space, but in a crowded area with multiple infected individuals, the air all around will contain particles.....no space might be safe.

Young children seem to be less affected, but, to date, we don't have much info on this. Older individuals, those over 60 yo, especially those with other health conditions are really at risk of serious disease. The death rate is several times higher than that of the seasonal flu. The actual death rate might change.....going up or down.....as more case statistics become available. I have not heard much about smoker's risk; however I assume that since pneumonia is common in seriously ill individuals, long term smoking further increases the risk.

The UK, to my understanding as of yesterday, seems to want to expose hi numbers of low risk younger individuals to the possibility of being infected with this virus. This is so called "herd immunity". The theory being, if most everyone is exposed, most all will develop a mild disease with some level of immunity over a short period of time and the actual disease rate will decline quicker. Health officials are skeptical. The biggest risk is the unknown about this virus. There is a significant chance that older, at risk folks, will get seriously ill in large numbers, straining and overwhelming the health care system and hospitals. There is evidence of this adverse outcome right now in Northern Italy.

As was mentioned, cancelling shows, events, lectures, all gatherings etc is the way to go. But it affects not only the dealers/collectors, but the clubs, concession employees, motels, restaurants etc so there is a big economic ripple effect.
As was noted above, online dealers might benefit. Also prices on some mineral specimens might actually drop as the dealers still have to pay their bills so, to spur sales, they might have specimens on "special sales"

Best advice is still to stay home and watch the next few weeks happenings with this situation. Remember that in 1918, the Spanish Flu killed an estimated 50 million(!!) people.
Those numbers are "nothing to sneeze at" .....ho, ho, ho!. By mid April we will see if the disease progresses or begins to wane. BOB

[Ricky hartzog]

Hopefully it will be over soon and we can all get back to our lives without the fear of getting sick. I hope anyone who reads this doesn't get sick, and if you do I pray you get better. Stay healthy and be safe

[Don Lum]

I am an actively practicing MD physician (specialty dermatology) and former clinical professor of dermatology at the medical school. I won't discuss the COVID-19 as it has been very well covered by other members of the FMF.

This thread that Jordi started is eerily reminiscent of the post-apocalyptic novel and later movie of the 1950's, " On the Beach." The people of Australia were waiting and wondering when the radiation from the nuclear holocaust would reach them. People were trying to communicate with others all around the world. Different circumstances but similar mood. Back then long distance communications were done by ham radio and telegraph. Thankfully we have the internet now.

Antibodies have been isolated from a patient who was an early survivor of the COVID-19. Drug companies and biotech companies are working hard to develop a vaccine and/or an effective antiviral medication now that they have the complete genome sequence of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus.

These really are "Times that try men's souls."

Stay well.

[Peter Lemkin]

To the point about whether the 'reports' from China of having 'won the battle' over Covid-19, I think it is likely partly true and partly propaganda. They took draconian measures and that helped stop the spread. But, they realized that NO COUNTRY can remain in lock-down and retain a functioning economy or society...so are now relaxing the harsh measures. My educated prediction is that this will cause a new increase, even if at a less precipitous rate and then there will be new repressive measures. The exact same will happen in Europe and every other country that tries drastic measures. That is NOT to say that drastic measures are not warrented - I think they are, if some are ill-considered [and others not]....so this is a longhand way to say that this virus is going to be with us for a LONG time and it will appear in waves as repressive measures to close down most of normal life and congregations of persons are put in place and then relaxed. A virus like this does not just disappear after one 'lock-down' or other drastic measure. They are necessary, but NOT sufficient. It will be a year or two before most of the World population have some antibodies agains this novel virus. Prevention is an easier strategy and there is very little discussion of that. This came from bat-human contact [in this case, apparently the eating of bats in China]. Such must come to an end whatever the historic and cultural norms have been. Yes, a vaccine or anti-viral that works will help [but is likely months to a year away, unless some research team gets very lucky!], but in the 1918 pandemic the death toll rose and fell with weather [lesser in summer] and other factors, but lasted two years. I expect much the same here. Our interconnectivity is MUCH greater now than in 1918, so even remote S. Pacific Islands sadly will be effected.....even those at Antarctic research stations eventually. This is truely a major event in human history and one lessons need to be learned from. I'm sorry to say the lessons as I see them most will not like - such as overpopulation; destruction of natural habitat by humans, etc. We are all in this together and any nation that thinks it can 'go it alone' is being stupid. The numbers of cases in the USA are likely being under-reported by a factor of 10-20x due to the lack of testing [still!]....and the USA is just at the beginning of the curve upward that all epidemiologist are familiar with, as each person with the virus on average spread it to five other persons [as best as can be determined now - this may change up or down...most likely upward]...so there becomes an steep rise in case until drastic action is taken - as has now begun in many countries. Outside my window in Prague it is a ghost town, with people only walking their dogs or going for food and to the pharmacy. I happen to be in the middle of legal battle and even the Courts are now on leave....... reading a lot of mineral books lately and taking walks in the parks with my dog.

[Riccardo Modanesi]

Hi to everybody! As the biggest majority of you know, I live in Milan. Here in Lombardy the situation is dramatic. Just yesterday 369 people died. Schools have been closed since February 24 in Lombardy and since March 9 in the whole Italy. Just food stores and pharmacies are open, I am allowed to leave home just for food shopping or medicines by the chemist's. Police can stop me and make me fill a form to justify my exit. If not, I can be fined and arrested, up to 12 years jail! Twelve years! This is our situation.
Greetings from Italy by Riccardo.

[Peter Lemkin]

[Don Lum]

I woke up this morning to the news that Spain is now the new "hot spot" for the coronavirus.
The first case of COVID-19 diagnosed in Arkansas was in the hospital across the street from my clinic early last week.

To Jordi and all, stay well.

[R Saunders]

Michigan is shutting down many things including some outdoor places most likely mini golf and go-cart rides, well it is cold out, Gyms and more. A new directive out is that all Masonic Lodge Temple buildings are shuttered even to renters. At least I can still go rock hunting at the Lake Michigan beaches and work my fossil dig site.

[Philippe Durand]

One should consider that it will be long, very long

And do not consider hot spots as somewhere else than your city, because your city too, will be concerned as a hot spot; it is just a matter of time

The mortality is basically close to 2%, but it could grow with the saturation of the hospitals.

Be very careful