DON'T PANIC.... well, maybe a little bit.

[Balifrog]

This whole obsession with face masks is borderline ridiculous. They are entirely ineffective at stopping any virus, corona or otherwise. The best analogy I can think of is like trying to use prison bars to stop a swarm of mosquitos.

Fully agreed. Always made me laugh.
Meanwhile the spitting and use of open air meat markets seems to be ok and continues....

 

[dafluff]

Overheard at the local warung:

A: I don't know what all this panic is about: this Wuhan virus is not going to last very long.

B: Why? How can you know this?

A: It's Made in China.

 

[make_batik_great_again]

Swimming goggles are also getting popular.

A smart investor tries to anticipate the future. So, I will invest in diving suits. Two more weeks of corona and everyone will wear it

 

[Euc-]

Overheard at the local warung:

A: I don't know what all this panic is about: this Wuhan virus is not going to last very long.

B: Why? How can you know this?

A: It's Made in China.

 

[Euc-]

 

[harryopal1]

Ouch! The Corona Virus is about to bite my hip pocket. I need to transfer 50 Juta Rupiah and it will cost me $600 more than it would have not very long ago. The fall in the value of the Australian dollar is linked with the expected loss of income from trade and tourism.

 

[make_batik_great_again]

Ouch! The Corona Virus is about to bite my hip pocket. I need to transfer 50 Juta Rupiah and it will cost me $600 more than it would have not very long ago. The fall in the value of the Australian dollar is linked with the expected loss of income from trade and tourism.

But this is only one reason. Rupiah appears to be stronger for a few months now. IDR compared to Euro for example, the trend of last 6 months is not good for people who transfer Euro to IDR regularly (like me...ouch...). From close to 16.000 down to 15.000 Rp per Euro within 6 months.

Especially since the beginning of 2020, rupiah is becoming stronger. I read the main reasons are investors' increasing faith in Indonesia's potential and stability and also the end of Trump/China's phase one deal of the trade war is good for rupiah's value since investors are more willing to invest into somehow riskier investements (like currencies which have higher volatility). If you take a look at the Asian currencies ... USA/China deal seems to have a positive impact on most of them.

 

[harryopal1]

Of course, as the likely impact of the loss of Chinese tourists to Indonesia becomes more evident it may well lead to a weakening Rupiah. But who knows? The cleverest of speculators often lose massive amounts of money. I am not a speculator I just hate to see the dollar falling.

 

[make_batik_great_again]

I am not a speculator I just hate to see the dollar falling.

Same here...we think about buying land and building a house and euro's exchange rate keeps falling and falling Bad timing But Asia taught me to keep my good mood.

 

[make_batik_great_again]

Back to topic: I just read that Japan flies Japanese people who are in Wutan out. In the first airplane there were circa 200 people and 3 of them were tested positive. In the second airplane (also circa 200 people) 9 showed symptomes like fever (test results pending). If this reflects the ratio of infected people in Wutan, it would be really dramatical (1.5 to 4.5 %). Very small sample, of course.

 

[Dave70]

Does hand sanitiser prevent the spread of coronavirus?
Yes. Alcohol-based hand sanitisers are not only effective at preventing the transmission of coronavirus, but the transmission of viral infections in general. According to Public Health Canada, they need to have around 60 or 70 per cent alcohol content, which is the case for most over-the counter hand sanitisers.

Hand Sanitiser, Washing Hands Prevents Spread Of Coronavirus

Whether you have symptoms or not, hand sanitisers prevent the spread of viral infections.

www.huffingtonpost.com.au

Some years ago alcohol-based hand sanitisers were widely-available in Indonesia but now it has disappeared in many Indonesian supermarkets replaced by halal-certified products. Wet Tissues too are alcohol-free now.

 

[R Cameron]

Just a couple days ago the US FDA gave Purrell a stern warning about their claims: https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/fda...rs-stop-the-flu-ebola-and-mrsa-221645168.html

It seems it can work, but it takes about 4 minutes of contact time to be effective, which isn't how people typically use such products.

 

[gemima]

Does hand sanitiser prevent the spread of coronavirus?
Yes. Alcohol-based hand sanitisers are not only effective at preventing the transmission of coronavirus, but the transmission of viral infections in general. According to Public Health Canada, they need to have around 60 or 70 per cent alcohol content, which is the case for most over-the counter hand sanitisers.

Hand Sanitiser, Washing Hands Prevents Spread Of Coronavirus

Whether you have symptoms or not, hand sanitisers prevent the spread of viral infections.

www.huffingtonpost.com.au

Some years ago alcohol-based hand sanitisers were widely-available in Indonesia but now it has disappeared in many Indonesian supermarkets replaced by halal-certified products. Wet Tissues too are alcohol-free now.

I can still find them in the supermarkets - the one I have with me today is made by PT Lion Wings - its 70% alcohol. My team have to interact with the public so we have hand sanitizer on every desk in my office too. I know its not as effective as proper hand washing but every little helps.

 

[fastpitch17]

The mask do not seal tightly and leave openings around the nose. Regular, totally unfiltered air is entering there. The particulate of the virus is smaller than the mask filters so of little use. You can not eat or drink through the mask so it seems the mask are doing little besides offering some peace of mind to the users. Has also been a great money maker for the manufacturers and outlets of the mask.

 

[R Cameron]

Typical cheap masks are certainly very limited in effectiveness, but are not completely without merit. They are a barrier and reminder for the wearer not to be touching their face with unwashed hands. They are even a social cue to remind others to be more diligent with cleanliness. They also help contain the mucus of the wearer from spreading (breathing, coughing, and sneezing).

 

[harryopal1]

I had previously made this point:

"..... unless there is a capability of separate quarantining of each individual this two weeks isolation. If a group of people are kept in one larger quarantine area and there is even one person already carrying the virus before their infection becomes apparent then two weeks isolation of the group will not be effective.

With one contagious person in the group it does not follow that every other person will be simultaneously endangered. It may be that one or more people may pick up the contagion near the end of the two weeks quarantine. They will not be displaying symptoms so will presumably then be released.... to take the virus home with them and spread it into the general population. "

I have yet to see this point being addressed with now various countries expatriating their nationals. Unless completely separate isolation for each person is available then just keeping people for two weeks will not contain the virus.

 

[serious_fun]

I can still find them in the supermarkets - the one I have with me today is made by PT Lion Wings - its 70% alcohol.

I strongly suggest buying a few extra bottles for yourself. From what my family in Indo is saying, the price of face masks and sanitizer is rising rapidly in Jawa Barat.

People here in HK are queuing up for HOURS in the hope of getting a box or two of masks or some hand sanitizer.* Tempers flaring. Counterfeit masks being sold. Just what you'd expect in this situation in this environment.

Schools may remain closed past 17th Feb. if Macau's example is followed. Duties of teaching staff differs from school to school: some teachers must report next week for meetings! Other schools are allowing teachers and staff to stay home through 17th Feb.

* also: dry noodles sell out quickly all over the city, as do tins of fish, frozen foods, etc., NONE of which happened during SARS. Nobody trusts the HK Gov't anymore.

 

[Dave70]

I can still find them in the supermarkets - the one I have with me today is made by PT Lion Wings - its 70% alcohol. My team have to interact with the public so we have hand sanitizer on every desk in my office too. I know its not as effective as proper hand washing but every little helps.

Good to know that your team have no problem with alcohol-based hand sanitiser because some Muslims will not touch it.

 

[Dave70]

I had previously made this point:

"..... unless there is a capability of separate quarantining of each individual this two weeks isolation. If a group of people are kept in one larger quarantine area and there is even one person already carrying the virus before their infection becomes apparent then two weeks isolation of the group will not be effective.

With one contagious person in the group it does not follow that every other person will be simultaneously endangered. It may be that one or more people may pick up the contagion near the end of the two weeks quarantine. They will not be displaying symptoms so will presumably then be released.... to take the virus home with them and spread it into the general population. "

I have yet to see this point being addressed with now various countries expatriating their nationals. Unless completely separate isolation for each person is available then just keeping people for two weeks will not contain the virus.

It is already happening in Japan, they isolate each one coming back from Wuhan, like solitary confinement until past 14 days. I don't think Indonesia can do that to evacuated Indonesians, and it will spread if just one of them is infected.

 

[Dave70]

I strongly suggest buying a few extra bottles for yourself. From what my family in Indo is saying, the price of face masks and sanitizer is rising rapidly in Jawa Barat.

People here in HK are queuing up for HOURS in the hope of getting a box or two of masks or some hand sanitizer.* Tempers flaring. Counterfeit masks being sold. Just what you'd expect in this situation in this environment.

Schools may remain closed past 17th Feb. if Macau's example is followed. Duties of teaching staff differs from school to school: some teachers must report next week for meetings! Other schools are allowing teachers and staff to stay home through 17th Feb.

* also: dry noodles sell out quickly all over the city, as do tins of fish, frozen foods, etc., NONE of which happened during SARS. Nobody trusts the HK Gov't anymore.

Anti-government protesters in HK are using social media to spread fear and hate of anything from China.