So what are the positives surrounding the Covid19 coronavirus?

Snow Garden · 11-03-2020 8:17pm #1

It's all doom and gloom on the main thread but what are the positives surrounding the Covid19 coronavirus?

Top of my head...

- More employers will start working-from-home policies (where possible) and there will much less stigma around it in the future

- People will get to spend more time with their families and local communities this Spring

- Due to home working, there will be less traffic congestion on the roads and less people commuting for excessive hours every week

- People will develop better hygiene practices

- People will eat healthier, drink less and sleep more in order to build up their immune system

- The reduction in economic activity will have a positive effect on the environment and help countries meet their climate change targets

- Less pointless consumerism

- Food retailers will make increased profits due to stockpiling (much of which will probably get binned in the long run)

- The number of people that contract flu this year will diminish due to better hygiene standards at all levels

- We will finally fully acknowledge how inadequate our health service is and perhaps do something meaningful about it

- We may even get a national government who will focus on fixing major problems in Ireland rather than votes in the next election7

- People will eat more locally produced food

-

landofthetree · 11-03-2020 8:20pm

Snow Garden wrote: »

So what are the positives surrounding the Covid19 coronavirus?

Top of my head...

- More employers will start working-from-home policies and there will much less stigma around it in the future

- People will get to spend more time with their families and local communities this Spring

- There will be less traffic congestion on the roads and less people commuting for excessive hours every week

- People will develop better hygiene practices

- People will eat healthier, drink less and sleep more in order to build up their immune system

- The reduction in economic activity will have a positive effect on the environment and help countries meet their climate change targets

- Less pointless consumerism

- Food retailers will make increased profits due to stockpiling (much of which will probably get binned in the long run)

- The number of people that contract flu this year will diminish due to better hygiene standards at all levels

- We will finally fully acknowledge how inadequate our health service is and perhaps do something meaningful about it

- We may even get a national government who will focus on fixing major problems Ireland rather than votes in the next election

If I comment on some of your points I will turn this into a politics thread! Is that Ok?

Wesser · 11-03-2020 8:22pm

You list these things as though they are facts.

Probably everything will go back to normal afterwards.

Thelonious Monk · 11-03-2020 8:25pm

It might make us all slow down a little and realise the economy isnt everything

JP Liz V1 · 11-03-2020 8:30pm

My post count on boards is high

one world order · 11-03-2020 8:30pm

To turn back to God and make yourself right, giving the increasing atheist society we now live in that's controlled by the mass produced mainstream media.

4068ac1elhodqr · 11-03-2020 8:31pm

Wesser wrote: »

Probably everything will go back to normal afterwards.

Ideally, however that Spanish Flu malarky did make an unpleasent 2nd visit.

There are few benefits, but the only meaningful longer-term one may be establishing worker's protections (sick pay, zero-hour giggers, self-employed, freelancers, and even regular civil servants).
That in turn might herald the future coming of 'UBI' (automation is a huge factor in this also), for many decades to come.

In the immediate term, healthcare workers will be recognised for their sterling work: often above and beyond the call of duty.
Many folks will also pause and ask themselves 'what's it all about', this little dance called life.

dubdaymo · 11-03-2020 8:35pm

There'll be no greedy pilot unions threatening strikes.

freshpopcorn · 11-03-2020 8:35pm

I actually think people will drink more at home and possibly eat junk food.
Subscriptions and online viewing will increase.
Retailers will push online sales and offer free delivery and we may see an increase in this.
Couples who are working from home possibly will have relations and we might see a few extra babies in nine months.

o1s1n · 11-03-2020 8:39pm

one world order wrote: »

To turn back to God and make yourself right, giving the increasing atheist society we now live in that's controlled by the mass produced mainstream media.

If god exists, it means he made this virus.

In that case he can go **** himself.

dan1895 · 11-03-2020 8:47pm

one world order wrote: »

To turn back to God and make yourself right, giving the increasing atheist society we now live in that's controlled by the mass produced mainstream media.

No he asked for positives, this would be another negative.

alchemist33 · 11-03-2020 8:48pm

Less reliance on China for manufacturing

lawred2 · 11-03-2020 8:50pm

one world order wrote: »

To turn back to God and make yourself right, giving the increasing atheist society we now live in that's controlled by the mass produced mainstream media.

I just knew this was coming

notobtuse · 11-03-2020 8:51pm

My stock in Proctor & Gamble won't tank.

KungPao · 11-03-2020 8:53pm

Can picture some mighty piss ups in fairness. It's how we do things in Ireland.

markjbloggs · 11-03-2020 8:54pm

After binging on Netflix over their confinement period, many people will realize that it is ****e and cancel their subscriptions once the coronavirus has passed.

Wibbs · 11-03-2020 8:55pm

alchemist33 wrote: »

Less reliance on China for manufacturing

Hopefully or at least more "local" manufacturing of medical equipment and drugs. And hopefully world attention and pointing of fingers at cultures in Asia(not just China) that insist on having open air food markets with wild animals in appalling conditions. Damn near every flu and "bug" that springs up on the regular originates there because of that set up. Such practices are literally virus making factories. I can understand it in some parts of Africa where people are dirt poor and bush meat is a survival thing, but east Asia has few excuses on that score. It's generally the older generations and more local primitive cultures around food, but it needs to stop and in China at least the young are asking WTF about these retarded practices.

Wheety · 11-03-2020 8:56pm

Well according to the Telegraph in the UK, some old people will die.

Exclamation Marc · 11-03-2020 9:01pm

Wheety wrote: »

Well according to the Telegraph in the UK, some old people will die.

Not a positive. And evidence of any of the total lack of respect for the elderly and what they've done, economic benefit or otherwise.

That's along the same lines as saying the positive of a mass shooting is that a company will reap money from selling the ammunition.

lawred2 · 11-03-2020 9:02pm

Wheety wrote: »

Well according to the Telegraph in the UK, some old people will die.

Half the telegraph readership down the swanee then

Jenbach110 · 11-03-2020 9:05pm

Wheety wrote: »

Well according to the Telegraph in the UK, some old people will die.

Its awful but the aging population has become a huge issue, people kept alive in nursing homes with no quality of life!

Ipso · 11-03-2020 9:06pm

alchemist33 wrote: »

Less reliance on China for manufacturing

Less reliance on facebook for news.

SCOOP 64 · 11-03-2020 9:07pm

Don't have to go to a St Patricks day parade with the family.

Wheety · 11-03-2020 9:08pm

Exclamation Marc wrote: »

Not a positive. And evidence of any of the total lack of respect for the elderly and what they've done, economic benefit or otherwise.

That's along the same lines as saying the positive of a mass shooting is that a company will reap money from selling the ammunition.

What are you telling me for?

Ipso · 11-03-2020 9:11pm

lawred2 wrote: »

I just knew this was coming

And without an ironing warning.

ArnoldJRimmer · 11-03-2020 9:12pm

The Premier League may be suspended before Liverpool mathematically win the league

Exclamation Marc · 11-03-2020 9:16pm

Wheety wrote: »

What are you telling me for?

I'm not. Just referring to the Telegraph article

banie01 · 11-03-2020 9:18pm

The move to online led learning and support services across 2nd and 3rd level will be a huge payoff IMO.

The Irish student has generally quite a poor online support and learning experience.
Be it via Moodle or any of its clones it just really is drab and unengaging.

Hopefully the move to off-site delivery will push an increase in the quality.

Labs, seminars and tutorials are a vital part of learning but a move to online delivery for some lectures could also pay a big "green" dividend in reducing travel.

Tele-medicine, it's been knocking around for years without ever making big penetration for anything other than repeat prescriptions in the majority of the population.

Smartphones can now take pulse, many have Sp02 monitoring available in their camera, the price of BP monitors and good quality thermometers have dropped to a point where many homes have them available.

A very good set of the basic obs can now confidently be taken at home and have relevance to a remote Doctor for diagnostic and triage purposes.

Potentially a huge volume of our routine GP interactions could be moved online with a good degree of confidence.

Similarly a fair proportion of routine OPD department consultant appointments could feasibly now be managed via tele-medicine too.

I'll use myself as an example.
I see an Endocrinologist every 6 months. They review my BG numbers.
Numbers that are saved to an app on my phone, that has the option to share with my Dr.
No Doctor or clinic I'm aware of in Ireland yet uses the option but if they did, they could review remotely.

Now there is a need for a blood test in the week before I attend clinic, but phlebotomy services generally have you in and out very quickly.

Generally it's a 5/10 minute chat with the clinician, but due to the way the clinic is set up.
I could be 3hrs in the hospital.

That time has cost, for the hospital even in just providing waiting areas and for me in potential lost income or study time.

Imagine a clinic that uses the access my app provides?
They have any and all BG readings and insulin doses without having to read the diary or scroll my phone!
I attend the phlebotomy clinic get the blood draw as usual.
Then rather than attend the clinic the following week.
I get emailed the standard questionnaire that the clinician usually fills in by hand!
I answer the questions via form, update my meds.
Can even provide BP and weight thanks to very cheap and accurate home tech.

The clinician reviews, forwards me on his update or calls me in for face to face review.

This Corona epidemic could be the trigger to so much change!

Change that has far better student and patient outcomes.
Change that has secondary environmental benefits too.

Yester · 11-03-2020 9:33pm

Less bats used to make soup.

NSAman · 11-03-2020 9:48pm

one world order wrote: »

To turn back to God and make yourself right, giving the increasing atheist society we now live in that's controlled by the mass produced mainstream media.

So what you are saying is that God created this to turn people back to him?

GM228 · 11-03-2020 9:55pm

Biggest (and realistically only) positive of all this thus far is the drop in oil prices.

Weepsie · 11-03-2020 9:57pm

More working from home isn't necessarily a good thing. You're employer can easily start to encroach on your own time.

Things like ah sure you're normally in traffic 7.30-9 and 5-6.30 , why not work extra hours.

Nah you can't go offline now, you're at home and can work through your food and toilet breaks.

I know of at least 1 home job that was treated like that, but was an extreme example.

I'd hope it would just wake people up to being cleaner and think about where there stuff comes from, but I doubt it.

Purple Mountain · 11-03-2020 9:59pm

There will be a massive baby boom next year!

lawrencesummers · 11-03-2020 9:59pm

I got out of going to the paddy’s day parade with the kids.

What a dose.
No parking
Always cold
Can’t get a table anywhere for food
Pissed people around the place.

The other side of it is that If things do shut down communities Will start to be communities, Like the snow a few years back people will look out for their elderly neighbour, Have any non Italian Europeans round for a few beers.

Gorteen · 11-03-2020 10:00pm

I have it on good authority that the perennial trolley crisis in A&E seems to have disappeared! Where have all the emergencies gone?

banie01 · 11-03-2020 10:00pm

Purple Mountain wrote: »

There will be a massive baby boom next year!

That's what she thinks...
But I've had the snip

If she comes in pregnant...
Shít will turn more EastEnders than Ian Beale :pac:

Weepsie · 11-03-2020 10:04pm

banie01 wrote: »

The move to online led learning and support services across 2nd and 3rd level will be a huge payoff IMO.

The Irish student has generally quite a poor online support and learning experience.
Be it via Moodle or any of its clones it just really is drab and unengaging.

Hopefully the move to off-site delivery will push an increase in the quality.

Labs, seminars and tutorials are a vital part of learning but a move to online delivery for some lectures could also pay a big "green" dividend in reducing travel.

Tele-medicine, it's been knocking around for years without ever making big penetration for anything other than repeat prescriptions in the majority of the population.

Smartphones can now take pulse, many have Sp02 monitoring available in their camera, the price of BP monitors and good quality thermometers have dropped to a point where many homes have them available.

A very good set of the basic obs can now confidently be taken at home and have relevance to a remote Doctor for diagnostic and triage purposes.

Potentially a huge volume of our routine GP interactions could be moved online with a good degree of confidence.

Similarly a fair proportion of routine OPD department consultant appointments could feasibly now be managed via tele-medicine too.

I'll use myself as an example.
I see an Endocrinologist every 6 months. They review my BG numbers.
Numbers that are saved to an app on my phone, that has the option to share with my Dr.
No Doctor or clinic I'm aware of in Ireland yet uses the option but if they did, they could review remotely.

Now there is a need for a blood test in the week before I attend clinic, but phlebotomy services generally have you in and out very quickly.

Generally it's a 5/10 minute chat with the clinician, but due to the way the clinic is set up.
I could be 3hrs in the hospital.

That time has cost, for the hospital even in just providing waiting areas and for me in potential lost income or study time.

Imagine a clinic that uses the access my app provides?
They have any and all BG readings and insulin doses without having to read the diary or scroll my phone!
I attend the phlebotomy clinic get the blood draw as usual.
Then rather than attend the clinic the following week.
I get emailed the standard questionnaire that the clinician usually fills in by hand!
I answer the questions via form, update my meds.
Can even provide BP and weight thanks to very cheap and accurate home tech.

The clinician reviews, forwards me on his update or calls me in for face to face review.

This Corona epidemic could be the trigger to so much change!

Change that has far better student and patient outcomes.
Change that has secondary environmental benefits too.

Most students travel by bus or cycle.

300 students sit at home, plug in 300 laptops, stick on home heating in 300 properties, maybe stick the kettle on a few times too maybe, possibly have a TV on and lights and various things charging. Then there's the server power and energy demands for delivering so many things repeatedly.

Do less and less walking too, less fresh air. More social isolation.

I'd be interested in finding out how much greener it really is.

A lot of it is lecturer driven anyway, good ones can do great things with Moodle and its various plugins etc, but so many are traditionalist. Here's what to read, listen, and that's it.

Ulysses Gaze · 11-03-2020 10:05pm

Ideally that there would be less offshoring of key industries such as pharma and some manufacturing.

That won't happen though.

Weepsie · 11-03-2020 10:06pm

Purple Mountain wrote: »

There will be a massive baby boom next year!

How massive will these babies be?

Eric Cartman · 11-03-2020 10:09pm

1) Im probably going to work while sh*tfaced sitting in my boxers for a few days
2) Enough old people may die for some tidy houses to go up for sale
3) Traffic is a lot lighter in the mornings
4) Been handed the ultimate excuse as to why I cant leave bed the day after paddys day
5) Some money to be made in the stock market after this is all over and things start climbing again
6) Helicopter parents keeping their little brats indoors
7) tables at the chinese are easy to get because of people being racists
8) Less anxious people in the pub wrecking the buzz.

locohobo · 11-03-2020 10:10pm

Purple Mountain wrote: »

There will be a massive baby boom next year!

OMG!!...Just the thought of a few dozen little "Corona's" running around wild.....

ILoveYourVibes · 11-03-2020 10:27pm

People won't eat more locally produced food ...actually might end up being the opposite.

ILoveYourVibes · 11-03-2020 10:27pm

Eric Cartman wrote: »

1)
6) Helicopter parents keeping their little brats indoors

:pac:

Clarence Boddiker · 11-03-2020 10:38pm

People reevaluate their position on open borders and the death knell for globalism hopefully.

ILoveYourVibes · 11-03-2020 10:51pm

Purple Mountain wrote: »

There will be a massive baby boom next year!

No there won't.

Firstly we won't have a vaccine by then anyhow. And i don't think this will produce a baby boom.

11-03-2020 10:56pm

Wibbs wrote: »

Hopefully or at least more "local" manufacturing of medical equipment and drugs. And hopefully world attention and pointing of fingers at cultures in Asia(not just China) that insist on having open air food markets with wild animals in appalling conditions. Damn near every flu and "bug" that springs up on the regular originates there because of that set up. Such practices are literally virus making factories. I can understand it in some parts of Africa where people are dirt poor and bush meat is a survival thing, but east Asia has few excuses on that score. It's generally the older generations and more local primitive cultures around food, but it needs to stop and in China at least the young are asking WTF about these retarded practices.

While I agree with most of what you said, you'll find large parts of China which are easily as poor as many places in Africa which practice the wet markets. People tend to look at the Tier 1 or 2 cities in China, and think of all the advancements and wealth available... but the countryside is still very different, and wouldn't be too different from when Mao was a kid. Even in the cities, once you step away into the suburbs, you'll find people living well below the poverty line, which is why restaurants for dog are still around (apart from those who eat it for traditional reasons)

The virus is a good thing because the exotic meat trade is under serious examination by all levels of Chinese society. SARS didn't really scare the Chinese much, and behaviors regarding hygiene didn't change. I'm expecting to see far more emphasis (both official and unofficial) on personal hygiene, and habits which are outright unhealthy. Which is fantastic, since it's one of my major gripes with living there.

I know the thread said positive things, but depending on your pov this could be either. As a result of the virus and the attitude of foreigners (non-Chinese) I'm getting reports of massive anti-foreigner sentiment. It used to be there well in the background, but it seems to have grown in a major way. The PRC attempt to bring in easier access for foreigners to get residency visas was shot down by the public, which generally doesn't happen. So, we could be seeing China turn isolationist, which will likely please a lot of posters here on boards. I wouldn't, personally, see it as a positive, since progressive movements in China needed foreign help to spread among the public there through the impact of western culture and ideals. An Isolationist China wouldn't be good for Asia, since it just encourages an echo chamber for their needs, rather than being aware of the consequences for what they do... A serious weakness to Chinese culture.

As for here, I'm hoping that the experience of the virus will encourage more investment in disease research. It remains one of the most dangerous ways for a species wide wipe, and needs real investment now, rather than waiting until a disease appears.

Hamsterchops · 11-03-2020 11:07pm

Snow Garden wrote: »

So what are the positives surrounding the Covid19 coronavirus?

1/ The more of us that contract Covid-19 & survive, the stronger 'The herd' will be next time it comes back & is met by our "ready 4 action" antibodies!

2/ Cheap flights, cheap holidays in China & Italy.

3/ A wake up call for the whole planet, which will have us much more aware & prepared, should a much more dangerous strain of virus arrive in the future.

BoJack Horseman · 11-03-2020 11:09pm

Hopefully it will be a hammer blow to the 'no borders / no nation's globalists.

combat14 · 11-03-2020 11:10pm

house prices drop

Ferm001 · 11-03-2020 11:10pm

Think a lot of companies will realise the savings to be made from staff remote working, less people flying all over the world for meetings.

Snow Garden · 11-03-2020 11:12pm

Weepsie wrote: »

More working from home isn't necessarily a good thing. You're employer can easily start to encroach on your own time.

Things like ah sure you're normally in traffic 7.30-9 and 5-6.30 , why not work extra hours.

Nah you can't go offline now, you're at home and can work through your food and toilet breaks.

I know of at least 1 home job that was treated like that, but was an extreme example.

Fair point. Some employers/managers would abuse it for sure.

So what are the positives surrounding the Covid19 coronavirus?

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