How is COVID-19 affecting you?

[sir_blacksoutalot]

I'm kind of surprised we don't already have a thread going about this dire situation. I can appreciate the insular nature of our game world (i.e., escaping to the "happy place"...heh), but since our BG community unites people from so many different countries, it seems a perfect opportunity to share how we're each weathering the storm. So I guess I'll broach the subject.

Not trying to get political here. I'm more interested in hearing how each of us is affected on a personal level. Like how is the pandemic and associated safety measures affecting your daily life?

And let me start off by saying I really, really hope no one from our community (or anyone in their family) has been diagnosed with the virus. The stats paint a grim picture: https://www.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboar ... 7b48e9ecf6

As for myself, I live in San Diego, California (US). I'm an architect by profession and work in the planning department of our local school district. My wife works for the local humane society. We were both told to start working from home this past Tuesday. Technology such as VPN and videoconferencing apps have made it possible to stay productive. I feel like I've been about as busy working from home as I was working at the office. We'll see how that holds up over time.

On Thursday of this week, the governor of our state issued a directive for all citizens to stay inside our homes. Yesterday, New York and other states did the same. Grocery stores and pharmacies are still open. Many of our neighborhood restaurants, mostly small businesses, are still open but doing takeout orders only. And I'm still getting out for my daily 30-minute walks in our residential area, but I of course keep my distance from other people.

True boredom and monotony have yet to set in. We're still in our early days of self-quarantine, but I think this is going to last a whole lot longer than the three weeks my job told me to be away. I'm trying to see this as a great time to catch up on reading. And I've been looking into virtual board games so that we can connect with friend groups who are also bunkering down. Lots of movie watching too.

I also seem to be spending a good chunk of my time ducking into BG. The great escape! We are so fortunate to have this server. BG will get us through!

Stay safe and healthy and sane out there, my friends. I think we're going to be here awhile. I look forward to the virtual kegler one of you characters will no doubt organize. Cheers.

[gjallahorn]

On this end (Denmark, Scandinavia, Europe) things are slowing down to a halt.

I work as a leader in a autobody-repair shop (I am a trained panelbeater/autobody technician, former rescue worker and Sergeant in the Danish Army)
We've seen a drop in work by 75-85% .
My colleage and I have taken turns, one taking leave while the other works at the shop.
75% of the guys on the shop-floor have been sent home, same in our paint-shop.

By monday it's my turn to stay home, for the next two weeks.

I have 3 kids, 2 who are in the school-age. They have currently been home the last one and a half week, since all schools are closed.
Youngest one (9 months) is largely uneffected, he thinks it's awesome that his elder siblings are home to play with him
Wife, not working, is managing the kids like the boss she is

Stay safe, stay at home and keep your heads up

[Zanniej]

I was in doubt whether I'd start this topic.

I live in Europe, and we're in partial lockdown now. I think half of the stores are still open, food is only take-away, and all restaurants, clubs, schools, even the library, day-care, etc. are closed. The numbers rise daily, and I think this will indeed take longer than a couple of weeks.

I work in websites, so working remotely is quite easy for us. We're lucky in that regard. But we're told to stay at home too.


... These are strange times.

I hope everybody stays safe!

[cosmic ray]

It's impossible to fully comment on the current situation without breaking the no-politics rule on the forum.

[zan5bar]

I am starting on Monday at the internal medicine ER. So that's pretty much the place where all the suspected COVID-19 patients are brought to in Finland. Still enjoying my final healthy days. Luckily though, the disease is not dangerous to otherwise healthy young and middle-aged people.

[Galdinao]

I'm not sure if I can talk too much about the situation here in Brazil without break the rules about no-political posts. We are in our first days here, Brazil received the virus 3-4 weeks after the Europe. Our politics aren't seriously about the real problem, the first week statistics are worst then Italy and we will probably have big problems in the next 10-15 days if our State don't start to take measures to control the virus. Our president probably got infected because her son told to Fox News that he had, but now the president says he wasn't infected and the media is working hard to cover it.

I'm a psychologist and work as a clinician for kids and teenagers, and one of my patients have the virus, but the situation is in control. He is a child and is doing well. I'm in quarentine for the next weeks, trying to ocupy my mind and be useful, because I still want to help people in some way but I can't at the moment. I'm trying to get a license to keep offering therapy, but on-line, via Skype or something. I hope I can get it. Meanwhile, I'm playing a lot and BGTSCC is been my refuge.

[zhazz]

Me personally? Not so much. Things are definitely slowing down here in Denmark. At least the majority of the populace are sane about the lockdown, and I haven't heard reports of any hoarding taking place, as it does elsewhere. It is a bit strange to buy any groceries, however, since the streets are barren, and there's barely any people in the shops I visit twice a week.

I am much more concerned about the global impact, and how that will affect everyone long-term. We all know that there are several . . let's call them intellectually challenged . . people, who ignore government guidelines about social gatherings; don't understand basic hygiene; or hoard stuff that those fighting on the frontlines could really use — not just right now, but in the weeks to come.

Does COVID-19 affect me personally? No.
Does the ramifications of it on a global scale scare me, and keep me awake some nights? Absolutely.

[cosmic ray]

European regimes are far too lenient with hoarders and speculators.

[Zanniej]

Let's keep the topic on how you are personally doing. I understand that this is a thin line, since politics have a lot of influence on it. But I think the main goal is to ensure the people in this community are doing alright, and if not, that we can support them as a community.


I hope everybody is doing alright, and that everybody will stay safe. Should you require shelter from the outside world, we always have shelter for you in Baldur's Gate!

[Hoihe]

I kind of wish this was the norm.

Classes from home, get to avoid the crowds on commute and around campus. My ears are singing praises to Covid for the silence.

I mainly worry about when I'll get to do my laboratory work and inability to do my part time job.

But the silence and peace it brings is golden. Seriously - how the hell can a group of 20+ year old people have no idea how to control their volume so it doesn't cause hearing damage?

[V'rass]

Don't necessarily trust stats that show the virus as being super lethal or unstoppable... there is a lot of misinformation and deliberate fear-mongering going on. Current source i trust says most people who get it will only be mildly ill and will fully recover. That's not to say the virus is weak or to be ignored, just that so far for most people its not been too bad. Indeed i may have just had the virus as i got a flu-like disease for a couple of days and am almost back to normal now.

[wangxiuming]

The mortality rate in Italy is between 5-10%. It definitely needs to be treated seriously. While it's true that people can get it and be asymptomatic, that doesn't mean they can't still become a carrier and spread it to others who are more susceptible.

Thousands of people have died across the globe, please don't sing the virus' praises.

[Almarea90]

I'm in the UK and although my office is still open, more than half of us are self isolating. Also public transport is less efficient and more and more places are shutting down. Not to mention all the delivery slots for grocery shopping are taken for the next two weeks and products like toilet paper are systematically disappearing from the shelves. Supermarkets started rationing them. Regardless, we carry on at the best of our possibilities.
My family, in Italy, has been in complete lock-down for two weeks now, but they are all fine and that's the most important thing.

[cosmic ray]

Let's keep the topic on how you are personally doing. I understand that this is a thin line, since politics have a lot of influence on it. But I think the main goal is to ensure the people in this community are doing alright, and if not, that we can support them as a community.


I hope everybody is doing alright, and that everybody will stay safe. Should you require shelter from the outside world, we always have shelter for you in Baldur's Gate!

The hoarding and speculation going on directly affect how I'm doing, as I'm having to pay up to double and triple for food now, while my income has been halved, and basic items for personal hygiene and disinfection are gone from shop shelves, as they've been taken by hoarders. I'm not worried about the virus so much as about the repugnant behaviour of my fellow humans.

[V'rass]

Its not 5-10%, maybe 1-2%. Only place its 5-10 is in less developed countries or countries which have excellent but very few hospitals.