Coronavirus (COVID-19)

[Basil]

Yes,it could be around for years or forever.
I remember in one of the Adelaide Hospitals about 10 years ago where they disinfected the rooms for Golden Staph,spray ,gas etc. and when they tested it about a week later it was still there,they think it may have survived inside the Sandstone walls.
Not sure if it was Royal Adelaide or a smaller Hospital but this is the only link i can find.

https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/royal-adelaide-hospital-cuts-golden-staph-infection-rate-after-being-outed-as-worst-in-country/news-story/43d7a6b3d08e8746a807441cbdd94e49

[JeffH]

CONTACT MEASURING APP

The Government is proposing we download an app that will use Bluetooth to measure devices being withing 1.5 metres proximity for at least 15 minutes. Where someone tests positive this will allow tracing of contacts to be tested for possible infection. A good idea but will it work?

Bluetooth is not an accurate way to measure distance. Several references I checked give possible accuracy of measurement from 50% to "within 3 metres".
So what the app will really do is monitor close contact -within a few meters. Still desirable but not what the Chief Spin Doctor keeps telling us.

And, before someone starts saying that having Bluetooth activated will shorten the battery life and your phone will not last the day...........It is true the Bluetooth uses power but much less than making calls or sending texts. As I understand it (not much detail being given out on the technical aspects of the app) it will ping at intervals and rest between so actual energy use very small. If you normally have Bluetooth activated it won't make any difference; if you have to turn it on for the app to work it may increase battery darin by about 1%, or so.

[nealeffendi]

As a libertarian there is no way I'd have that tracking app on my phone. Not that the tracking will do much for detecting the virus what with over 90% of those infected being asymptomatic. According to recent numbers over 2 million in New York have had the virus and recovered without showing any symptoms. The deaths are mostly nursing home patients (over 50% of deaths even though nursing homes are just 0.5% of the population). Plus the death rate is inflated as most who die were felled by other illnesses such as the regular flu. So instead of the few percent of the population at real risk from this bug being assisted to shelter at home they instead made 100% of us endure this lockdown and coming Great Depression from the wrecked economy.
Just today found my flight back to Australia cancelled from the 1st May and they won't resume until the 16th. At least we are using our time here to improve our flat. I'll bet Bunnings is busy with all the people stuck at home catching up on home projects.

[Ozcoins]

Neal,
The scenario you described: where someone is asymptomatic and is spreading the disease is EXACTLY where the tracking application would help.
Consider a case where Neal is infected, but asymptomatic.
He goes near Bob, who gets sick,  Andrew who gets sick and Phil who gets sick.
If tracking shows Neal had been near all 3, then Neal can be contacted and asked to take a test.
Without that level of tracking there is no way to find Neal and for him to stop making other people sick.
The idea of a contact tracking application makes perfect sense for trying to stop the spread of covid19.
The details of how it's done and if I trust them to get it right, are a different issue that I have not decided on.

[gweidion]

Easy fix, do what I do. No mobile phone. Used to work for a company that repaired them. I know how dangerous they are.
In many years they will be saying "What were you thinking putting devices omitting radiation next to your brain."
The people who say they are safe have invariably been paid by the telecommunication companies and/or mobile phone companies.
All forms of radiation should be avoided.

[Basil]

Easy fix, do what I do. No mobile phone. Used to work for a company that repaired them. I know how dangerous they are.
In many years they will be saying "What were you thinking putting devices omitting radiation next to your brain."
The people who say they are safe have invariably been paid by the telecommunication companies and/or mobile phone companies.
All forms of radiation should be avoided.

Yes,but almost every piece of data from investigations around the world seem to think they are safe,we get more radiation from the Sun,and Space in general, every day than Mobile/Cell Towers.
Interesting obversation from my Dr. a few years back,in Aust the curve for Diabetes2 rose at around the same rate as the uptake of Mobiles Phones in Aust. since the 1990's.

[gweidion]

All forms of radiation should be avoided.

we get more radiation from the Sun,and Space in general

Not disputing that. See above.

[JeffH]

Plenty to worry about and things we can't do but one wonderful thing has come along....
The great streaming music and virtual concerts that have sprung up. The logistics of putting these event together must be incredible -just synchronising the multiple feeds from different parts of the world would be tricky.
I missed Music From The Home Front live but, never mind, it's available as a catch up. Started watching it earlier intending to see a few songs and come back later for another dose. Before I knew it an hour had flashed by!

[interest]

so after years of passing legislation to keep our internet and phone records, and raiding the home of a journalist who reported on plans to spy on us, and years of govt incompetence with robodebt etc, the govt now want us to trust them with this app?
If it becomes compulsory (which they say it won't...but,)   I will drop my phone into a bucket of water.

So no I won't be downloading the app

[autocoupler]

How long before it becomes compulsory to not just own a mobile phone but, to carry it with you at all times? What am I saying, they will be chipping us at birth before then  :shok:

[JeffH]

I have a mobile phone I bought for some specific purposes. I don't carry it with me normally, it just sits on the desk and gets a charge up every now and then. No point downloading the app. In fact I have never directly downloaded an app to the phone but have tried a few by downloading the APK file via my internet connection. So far only one app (a music player) has ever lasted more than a day on that phone. And most apps that came with the phone have been removed or, if unable to remove, disabled.
I am not paranoid about my privacy, just don't like the idea that organisations can collect data about me without specific permission from me.

[Triggersmob]

I use my phone for calls and text only, so I don't even have data.
so I can't download apps anyway.

[JeffH]

No data available on my phone either.

[fred lever]

I agree with Jeff!
I have a "smartphone" but have no idea what an "app" is and don't use them whatever they are!
I just SMS family and medical people, don't even speak now on the phone.
Maybe the SMS thing is an "App"?
After 20 years of being tech support and arguing with stupid people I am simply over talking on a phone.
So I'm not much use to the government.
Fred.

[gweidion]

How long before it becomes compulsory to not just own a mobile phone but, to carry it with you at all times? What am I saying, they will be chipping us at birth before then  :shok:

That is part of the book of Revelations isn't it?
We will all be required to have a tattoo that identifies us and you won't be able to buy or sell anything without it.
Soon after comes the Apocalypse.
That will ruin our coin collecting too.