Corona Virus Crisis News, Information, Advice & Help Thread

**Zacha341** · March-17-20, 09:06 PM

^^^ I'm gonna send you ))hugs[[[[ and a refrigerator magnet from the D!

**old guy** · March-17-20, 11:20 PM

I’m on the same page Ray. It might be the formula for living a long life. In moderation of course.

**Bigb23** · March-18-20, 03:09 AM

Yup, life is good. I stocked up today for the next two weeks.

Ray - You should be my personal shopper. And Bong-man for ahem, other things.
[[Recuperating at home from foot surgery).

**Zacha341** · March-18-20, 06:48 AM

COVID-19 Global Cases by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering...

**Maof** · March-18-20, 07:53 AM

Originally Posted by Ray1936

Yup, life is good. I stocked up today for the next two weeks.

Smart man Ray. Cheers!

**jcole** · March-18-20, 08:48 AM

Are you suffering from Charmigeddon at your house?

Originally Posted by Pam

Anybody have any extra toilet paper?

**Honky Tonk** · March-18-20, 09:29 AM

Originally Posted by Zacha341

COVID-19 Global Cases by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering...

This information is 2 days old, but I find it interesting and useful. Basically it's compiled from several reliable sources and put into an easy to read/understand format.

https://informationisbeautiful.net/v...phic-datapack/

https://gisanddata.maps.arcgis.com/a...23467b48e9ecf6

**Lowell** · March-18-20, 09:40 AM

I don't think members of this forum, who are an intelligent lot, need this advise, but maybe someone you might know might.

While it makes sense to buy disinfectant wipes, hand sanitizers and face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic, toilet paper is flying off the shelves too, leaving many confused - and toilet paper-less.People have already started using common alternatives like wet wipes and cutting paper towel rolls into three pieces.

While the substitutes are creative, it's important to remember that these innocent alternatives can cause serious consequences because only toilet paper should be flushed.

The Macomb County Public Works Office and Great Lakes Water Authority remind residents that personal wipes, paper towels and other materials should not be flushed down toilets.

Personal wipes are especially misleading because they are often labeled “flushable” but they can clog sewer pipes and can create fatbergs - enormous piles of goop, grease and garbage in the municipal sewage system.
In 2018, an 100-foot-long, 11-foot-wide- 6-foot-tall fatberg that weighed about 19 tons was found in Macomb County's sewer line, which restricted flow and damaged sewer lines. It cost the county about $100,000 to remove.

https://freep-mi.newsmemory.com/?pub...0fb86e_13435a2

**Lowell** · March-18-20, 09:49 AM

"Mayor Mike Duggan's rude awakening will mean cleaner buses and free rides for the duration of the novel coronavirus crisis.

"The Detroit mayor said he learned at 5:30 a.m. Tuesday that few, if any, of the city's buses would leave the terminal because of a spontaneous work stoppage by drivers concerned about cleanliness and access to restrooms. At 7 a.m., the city announced that only 10% of buses would run. By 8 a.m., the city announced a complete shutdown - and Duggan was on his way to the bus terminal to talk to transit workers and union officials. ...

While Duggan said he will be sorry to lose fare revenues, he is more concerned about the loss of $600,000 a day the city receives from Detroit's three shuttered casinos, which have been closed.

The mayor said the city will rely on its financial reserves to help offset such losses. “I can't tell you how we'll be in 3-4 weeks, but we're OK for now,” he said.

https://freep-mi.newsmemory.com/?pub...cafe7e_13435a2

**Lowell** · March-18-20, 09:56 AM

Just announced...

This will be interesting as around 5000 commute from Windsor, many who are medical/hospital employees. I'm sure those will be let through but another sign of the times...

Canada had already closed their borders to all but Americans, this tightens things both ways.

**Pam** · March-18-20, 10:43 AM

Originally Posted by jcole

Are you suffering from Charmigeddon at your house?

Not yet.

**Trumpeteer** · March-18-20, 04:01 PM

Good for you!!

**Lowell** · March-18-20, 04:02 PM

Good hand-washing advice, but the paper towel should be obtained first, particularly if one needs to touch a lever to get it, and discarded last, after being used to open the restroom door handle.

**Trumpeteer** · March-18-20, 04:04 PM

Originally Posted by Lowell

Where to get free student food in metro Detroit during the coronavirus crisis

“During the coronavirus crisis, students will no longer have access to school meals for the next several weeks. To alleviate hunger, emergency food resources by local businesses and school districts are stepping in to ensure families and individuals are fed.

“We're compiling a running list of resources offering free food in metro Detroit.

“Please email bhightower@freepress.com if you know of places offering free food as we support each other.“

See list of sites here: https://www.freep.com/story/news/loc...es/5056005002/

All school systems in GA are continuing to provide breakfast and lunch for all students. Curbside pick up is what they are doing.

**Lowell** · March-18-20, 10:20 PM

Just now on CBC's 'The National' a large aid package passed Parliament that will provide relief to civilians and businesses.

The emergency aid plan includes:

A temporary boost to Canada Child Benefit payments, delivering about $2 billion in extra support.
A new Emergency Care Benefit of up to $900 biweekly, up to 15 weeks, to provide income support to workers, including the self-employed, who have to stay home and don't qualify for paid sick leave or employment insurance. The measure could disburse up to $10 billion.
A new Emergency Support Benefit to provide up to $5 billion in support to workers who are not eligible for EI and who are facing unemployment.
A six-month, interest-free reprieve on student loan payments.
Doubling the homeless care program.
Extending the tax filing deadline to June 1.
Allowing taxpayers to defer until after Aug. 31 tax payments that are due after today and before September.
$305 million for a new Indigenous Community Support Fund to address immediate needs in First Nations, Inuit and Métis Nation communities.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/eco...irus-1.5501037

**Gistok** · March-19-20, 03:42 AM

For those of you that live metro East and metro North... Nino Salvaggio's Marketplaces... now open an hour earlier... at 7AM... with that first hour reserved only for senior citizens and immune compromised individuals.

**Maof** · March-19-20, 04:48 AM

GM, Ford...Discussions on possibly, producing much needed ventilators

https://www.detroitnews.com/story/bu...19/2871290001/

**Maof** · March-19-20, 04:56 AM

Originally Posted by Gistok

For those of you that live metro East and metro North... Nino Salvaggio's Marketplaces... now open an hour earlier... at 7AM... with that first hour reserved only for senior citizens and immune compromised individuals.

Randazzo too. Only 1/2 hour though starting at 7:30. Big Lots, first hour starting at 9:00 am. Best Buy limiting number of customers.

**Zacha341** · March-19-20, 05:06 AM

Dollar General is also reserving the first hour for seniors... 55 and above.

**Lowell** · March-19-20, 09:29 AM

We're cocooned in our residences, so how can we maintain community? Obviously we're are doing it right now through this forum, most of us for many years.

But what other ways are there to virtually congregate and and enjoy each others company?

I learned of one from my son last night. I asked him if he had seen the new first episode of Westworld and he replied, "Yeah, we had a FaceTime watch party with my friends."

He and his friends created a group meetup session using Apple's FaceTime app that allows one to view all others in a divided up screen. They then synced their TV's so they were all watching the show at the same time allowing them to ooo and ah, laugh and chat as if the were all together in real life.

I can't imagine this world of isolation without the internet. It's not the same as physical presence but a blessing nonetheless.

I think part of the stimulus package should be to insure all Americans have internet connectivity.

**Richard** · March-19-20, 09:52 AM

It’s definitely going to test the stability of our internet systems,I remember the early days when it tough to log on during peak hours.

People should also have a plan B of something to do if they lose service for an extended time.

**Lowell** · March-19-20, 11:20 AM

Originally Posted by Richard

People should also have a plan B of something to do if they lose service for an extended time.

Some may not know it but most have alternate home internet access via the cell network.

All phones two years old, and some older, can be set up as wifi access points that laptops and pads can use to connect to the internet.

Called 'tethering' it can be set up on iPhone via Settings>Personal Hotspot. [Turn on 'Allow others to join' and set up a password]. Android is similar but I don't have one to use to explain.

On your laptop or other device your phone will appear as a Wifi hot spot under the name you set up in Settings>General>About. Warning this will eat up your plan's data allowance

**Richard** · March-19-20, 11:42 AM

I am with T-Mobile and this was the message I got from them

To keep you connected T-Mobile is upgrading you to unlimited data for free until 5/13/2020. See our complete COVID-19 response plan here t-mo.co/uncap6

**313WX** · March-19-20, 11:48 AM

Originally Posted by Richard

I am with T-Mobile and this was the message I got from them

To keep you connected T-Mobile is upgrading you to unlimited data for free until 5/13/2020. See our complete COVID-19 response plan here t-mo.co/uncap6

I got the same message.

**Lowell** · March-19-20, 02:08 PM

Copied here from a post by Jimaz on another thread...

Michigan's Attorney General urges consumers to report price gouging: AG Nessel Warns Consumers of Price-gouging From COVID-19.

The offense can be reported online by following the "report any violation of the Consumer Protection Act online" link at the bottom of that press release then the "Consumer Complaint" link on the next page.