Coronavirus Community Watch

[FORD]

Goddamn it, now this thing is getting really serious.....

Washington breweries 'treading water' to survive
Beer commission says half of state's small to medium-size beer makers could close permanently if stay-home measures extend into summer.
Author: Drew Mikkelsen
king5.com

OLYMPIA, Wash — Hundreds of microbreweries are in danger of going out of business, according to the Washington State Beer Commission.

The commission's Executive Director Eric Radovich fears extending the stay home order could kill breweries already struggling to survive. .

“The stay at home order lingering into the summer months would be devastating for our breweries,” Radovich said. “We would probably see in the neighborhood of 50% of our state's 420 breweries have to close their doors permanently.”

He said the neighborhood breweries who rely on tastings and meal service are the hardest hit.

He said those that sell kegs have also taken steep losses, with most restaurants and bars closed.


Keith Ciani, co-owner of Olympia’s Headless Mumby Brewing Company, described his business as "treading water" right now.

“The only money we have is from people who walk in and buy stuff,” said Ciani, “We’ve decided to go day-to-day.”

He said they’ve had to lay off three of their five employees as keg sales have almost stopped.

Ciani said in one week in February the company sold more than $10,000 in kegs.

Since March, they’ve sold a total of about $500 worth.

He’s anxious for the stay home order to end, but he’s not sure business will get back to normal anytime soon.

“That’s what scares the hell out of me,” Ciani said. “I don’t know how many people want to come back in here on a packed Friday night and the keg sales aren’t going to come back in just like that.”

[Nickdfresh]

Corona Vaccine by September? Oxford Group Successful Animal Tests

In race for a coronavirus vaccine, an Oxford group leaps ahead
By DAVID D. KIRKPATRICK
THE NEW YORK TIMES |
APR 27, 2020 | 9:00 PM

In the worldwide race for a vaccine to stop the coronavirus, the laboratory sprinting fastest is at Oxford University.

Most other teams have had to start with small clinical trials of a few hundred participants to demonstrate safety. But scientists at the university’s Jenner Institute had a head start on a vaccine, having proved in previous trials that similar inoculations — including one last year against an earlier coronavirus — were harmless to humans.

That has enabled them to leap ahead and schedule tests of their new coronavirus vaccine involving more than 6,000 people by the end of next month, hoping to show not only that it is safe but also that it works.

The Oxford scientists now say that with an emergency approval from regulators, the first few million doses of their vaccine could be available by September — at least several months ahead of any of the other announced efforts — if it proves to be effective.

Now, they have received promising news suggesting that it might.

Scientists at the National Institutes of Health’s Rocky Mountain Laboratory in Montana last month inoculated six rhesus macaque monkeys with single doses of the Oxford vaccine. The animals were then exposed to heavy quantities of the virus that is causing the pandemic — exposure that had consistently sickened other monkeys in the lab. But more than 28 days later all six were healthy, said Vincent Munster, the researcher who conducted the test.
...
Rest of story at Chicago Tribune

[FORD]

[ZahZoo]

Here's the Phase 1 rules for restaurants reopening dining on May 11 in Arkansas...

Dine-in service may resume; however, seating shall be limited up to 33% of total seating
capacity. This includes indoor and outdoor dining areas.
 Seating shall be adjusted to maintain 10-foot physical distancing between tables so occupied
seats are six feet from seats at adjacent tables.
 Reservations should be encouraged when practical. If reservations are not made,
physical distancing must be maintained when customers are waiting to be seated.
 All staff who come in contact with patrons must wear a face mask that completely
covers their nose and mouth. Staff in the back are encouraged to wear a face mask.
 All staff are required to wear gloves. Gloves shall be changed out between each
customer, customer group, or task.
 Patrons must wear a face covering upon entrance and while in the restaurant until
the food or drink is served.
 All staff shall be screened daily before entering the facility. Any employee with a
cough, sore throat, fever, or shortness of breath shall be immediately excluded from
the facility.
 Signage must be placed at the front of restaurants to alert patrons not to enter the
facility if they are sick or have symptoms such as cough, sore throat, fever, or
shortness of breath.
 Monitoring of frequent handwashing and no bare-hand contact of ready-to-eat
foods by staff.
 Encourage customers to pre-order meals to reduce time spent in the facility. This
includes for takeout services.
 Groups shall be limited, not to exceed 10 people.
 Restaurants are encouraged to have a senior hour to provide exclusive access to
these high-risk individuals.
 Self-service operations, including, but not limited to, salad bars, buffets, and
condiment bars shall remain closed for patron access.
 Facilities with any employee testing positive shall be reported to the Arkansas Department
of Health immediately.
 Following each meal service, the tables, chairs, menus and any other frequently contacted
surfaces including, but not limited to, condiment containers, napkin holders and salt/pepper
shakers shall be cleaned and disinfected prior to seating the next customer.
o Products with an EPA-approved emerging viral pathogen claims are expected to
be effective against COVID-19. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for these
products. For a list of EPA-approved emerging pathogen sanitizers:
https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-regist...instsars-cov-2. (Non-food contact surfaces may be sanitized with 1/2 cup of regular,
unscented bleach per gallon of water followed by a 5-minute contact time.)
 Food contact surfaces shall be sanitized in accordance with §4-501.114 of the Rules
Pertaining to Retail Food Establishments.
 Single-Use items including, but not limited to, disposable silverware, condiment
packets, and straws shall be removed from public access and provided only upon
request.
 Bars and entertainment operations (such as live music, in-seat gaming devices, or
arcades) within restaurants are prohibited. Normal service of alcohol within the
restaurant seating area is allowed. This does not restrict the preparation of alcoholic
beverages in the bar area.
 Restrooms and other high-touch areas shall be disinfected frequently based on
customer volume.
 Service may be declined to patrons not wearing masks.
The above restrictions will be in place until the Secretary of Health determines epidemiological
data are sufficient to proceed to Phase 2 and then Phase 3. The requirements for Phase 2 and 3
will supersede the above-mentioned requirements. Phase 2 will include less restrictive measures
such as increasing the total available seating to 66% and opening bars and entertainment
operations while maintaining 6 feet physical distance among patrons. Phase 3 will include
returning to normal operations with full seating capacity.

[Seshmeister]

Working in a hot kitchen wearing a mask would not be fun.

[Nickdfresh]

One German researcher half-jokingly said drinking a shot of whiskey every 15 mins might kill COVID. He was kidding, but he said actually the science was real but not realistic or a good life plan...

[twonabomber]

Working in a hot kitchen wearing a mask would not be fun.

We're getting masks at work and feel the same way about wearing them on the shop floor when it's 95 degrees in August.

[Nickdfresh]

Been there done that, I wore full tyvek and a mask in the heat of a Virginia summer more than a few times working in the mid -90'sF in high humidity with no shade because of HAZMAT restrictions. I never passed out but almost did once, and when I would get home after a few beers my colored tee shirts would have white salt stains after drying out...

[Nitro Express]

Been there done that, I wore full tyvek and a mask in the heat of a Virginia summer more than a few times working in the mid -90'sF in high humidity with no shade because of HAZMAT restrictions. I never passed out but almost did once, and when I would get home after a few beers my colored tee shirts would have white salt stains after drying out...

Was that at Fort AP Hill? Been there in July. It’s definitely hot and muggy.

[Nickdfresh]

Was that at Fort AP Hill? Been there in July. It’s definitely hot and muggy.

Naw, never been there...

[FORD]

Well, the annual "May Day" protest parade just passed by FORD Country HQ. Did things a little differently this year..... it was all in cars, and most of the people were wearing masks.... so definitely a more responsible crowd than what happened a couple weeks ago at the Capitol.

Though it's ironic as Hell to see a "Death to Capitalism" sign on a vehicle powered by the international predatory oil companies (don't think it was an EV or even a hybrid)

[Nickdfresh]

Well, the annual "May Day" protest parade just passed by FORD Country HQ. Did things a little differently this year..... it was all in cars, and most of the people were wearing masks.... so definitely a more responsible crowd than what happened a couple weeks ago at the Capitol.

Though it's ironic as Hell to see a "Death to Capitalism" sign on a vehicle powered by the international predatory oil companies (don't think it was an EV or even a hybrid)

Commies refine oil and make hideous smog machines too, Ford...

[Nitro Express]

Well Lada's and Zil's were green vehicles when they didn't run and needed to be pushed which was quite often.

[FORD]

Jay's "revised" plan, effective 5/1

Public Information Officer, Washington Emergency Management Division AGENCY

The Extension of the Stay Home, Stay Healthy order will be through May 31, Gov. Inslee & Health officials announced today. There will be new allowances for retail curbside pickup; car washes; and landscaping. Also, drive-in spiritual services can go forward with one household per vehicle.
Moving forward, there will be four phases allowing more areas of the state to re-open after each phase based on a data-driven approach. Information on that here: https://coronavirus.wa.gov/what-you-need

These phases depend on continued success in slowing the spread of COVID-19 and meeting four capabilities including:
✔️health care system readiness
✔️testing capacity
✔️ability to do contact investigations
✔️ability to protect high-risk populations.

Not every part of the state is experiencing #COVID19 the same way. County variances are allowed. Smaller counties could reopen. Counties with fewer than 50,000 residents not hit hard by #COVID19 will be able to apply to the Department of Health for a variance that will allow the county to open to the second phase. Cities and counties can also take more strict actions than what the state is mandating. That is up to them based on their public health needs and local decision making.

While state parks and state land are re-opening May 5, before traveling, check with your destination. More information: https://parks.state.wa.us/1177/Novel-Cor...

Businesses are also expected to implement any additional requirements developed specifically for their industry such as those that have been established for construction.
The state is entering into Phase 1, with some aspects starting on May 5. More details will be announced on Monday. The governor has already allowed some construction to resume as well as reopening of some recreational activities including day use at state parks, playing golf, fishing and hunting. Officials are working with industries to develop new protocols that could soon also allow for retail curbside pickup; car washes; and landscaping and drive-in spiritual services with one household per vehicle.

When COVID-19 disease burden is low and decreasing and the four capabilities described above are met, the governor will move from Phase 1 to Phase 2.

▶️ Phase 2: Additional expansions of outdoor recreation activities would be allowed, as well as small gatherings of 5 or fewer people, new construction and in-store retail purchases with health restrictions. Barber shops and salons could reopen and house cleaning services. Restaurants could reopen with 50 percent capacity and table size no larger than 5. Some professional services and offices could open up as well, even though teleworking would remain strongly encouraged. Pet care services including grooming could resume.

▶️ Phase 3: Gatherings of 50 people or less, including sports activities, would be allowed, and non-essential travel could resume. Restaurants could move up to 75 percent capacity and tables up to 10 people, and bars at 25 percent capacity; gyms and movie theaters could reopen at 50 percent capacity; retail, libraries, museums and government buildings could reopen. Recreational facilities like pools could open at 50 percent capacity. Nightclubs and entertainment venues would still not be able to reopen.

▶️ Phase 4: Would involve resuming the majority of public interactions. Gatherings of more than 50 people would be allowed, but still while practicing social distancing.
A larger version of the chart, which is also screen reader compliant, can be found at: bit.ly/3aV44Kr

Watch the full press conference here: https://www.tvw.org/watch/?eventID=20200...

[FORD]