COVID-19 updates

[Bart_van_der_Wolf]

As I posted in another thread, the charts for one.  They appear to be flattening out, turning a corner.  Plus some experts have said deaths seem to be declining in areas that were hit earlier.  So based on the curves and time frames in the charts,  NYC should level off in a couple of weeks then start going down.  So based on those things, my estimate is the whole thing will fade out in 4 or 5 weeks or so.

Months, rather than weeks, if we're lucky.

[Alan Klein]

Months, rather than weeks, if we're lucky.

We should have a contest and everyone picks a date and the person closest wins. I say May 5th.

[Alan Klein]

We each kick in $10 or EU11 and the moderator holds the money. 

[JoeKitchen]

We should have a contest and everyone picks a date and the person closest wins. I say May 5th.

I say earlier than that. 

The Imperial College study, the UK study that caused the UK to loose their shit and go on full lock down, is revising the number of predicted deaths down from 100,000s to under 20,000.  That is an order of magnitude lower then what they were predicting just last week. 

[Alan Klein]

Is there anyone out there actually working?  What kind of an environment?  How do you stay safe?

[Craig Lamson]

Is there anyone out there actually working?  What kind of an environment?  How do you stay safe?

I'm still making image files for a customer who is shut down.  Their Marketing department is still working from home but there is little they can do with the images at this point.  I have about a day and a half left and then I can get to the garage where I have a pile-o-parts waiting to be installed on my hobby car.

I work from home when I'm not shooting so this is same-o same-o for me, other than the hankering for a nice thick ribeye from my favorite steakhouse and some Mex from my favorite place...and no, no takeout for me thanks.  The grill and the smoker will be seeing a orkout next week though.

My wife and I have been 24-7 for since 2000 so this is not a big chage in that department.

[MattBurt]

Is there anyone out there actually working?  What kind of an environment?  How do you stay safe?

I'm a software engineer and already work from home. Currently all of our clients are closed so from a business perspective we are also hoping things will pick up asap.
We recently went to 80% hours and pay to keep costs down without reducing staff. So I'm lucky to be able to limp along without assistance for a while but it still hurts.
We are considering ways to adapt our existing technology to the new demands this crisis has presented our clients with.

I also do real estate photography and I expect that may have dried up for a while. Real estate has been hot here for a number of years so it might be time for a lull anyway.

[Craig Lamson]

I also do real estate photography and I expect that may have dried up for a while. Real estate has been hot here for a number of years so it might be time for a lull anyway.

Doing any drone work with your real estate photography?  I just got my part 107 licence and was thinking about trying to do a bit of real estate work to earn a few extra bucks in my off season. Plus retirement is not that far away on the horizion and drone work might be a great way to fill my time and checkbook.

[MattBurt]

Doing any drone work with your real estate photography?  I just got my part 107 licence and was thinking about trying to do a bit of real estate work to earn a few extra bucks in my off season. Plus retirement is not that far away on the horizion and drone work might be a great way to fill my time and checkbook.

Not yet but I have been toying with the idea as well. My clients are mixed between wanting drone shots and thinking they are a passing fad. It would be fun for landscapes too. I'll probably get one (and the cert) in the next year.

[Robert Roaldi]

Both retired here so daily life hasn't changed that much in some ways. I miss having cappuccino and croissants though.

I photograph lots of local bicycle races and April to June are busy months, all cancelled now or about to be. I'm going to miss that. I sell a few pics to that group, enough to pay for coffee and gas, all for fun really.

I like deserted street pics so things are good that way for the moment although it has been cool recently. I see a lot of small contractors still out and about, roofers, floor installers, etc. The malls and most retail are shut down of course. I like the Senior Shopping hour at my local grocery store, but honestly I doubt anyone under 60 bought groceries before 9:00 am before. There is still no toilet paper available, very bizarre, but they had flour and baking soda again so I can bake all the muffins and focaccia I want.

[Jonathan Cross]

On the east of the pond in the UK, the situation today has changed in 2 respects.

1) The Government announced this evening that for self-employed people who have lost earnings, it will pay 80% of profits up to a maximum of £2,500 per month for those whose average profits over the last 3 years are less than £50,000 per year.  This brings the self-employed into line with employed people.  The idea with employed people is to get employers to keep staff on so that the economy can recover more quickly when the restrictions can be relaxed, and to offset against benefit payments.  It will be financed by borrowing within the current fiscal rules.

2) The very strong advice is to stay at home, being repeatedly said on the usual channels of communication.  Only leave the house to get essential supplies such as food and medicine and for one walk, cycle ride or a run each day.  Shops, other than food and pharmacies, are shut as are all entertainment venues.  People should only drive if absolutely necessary.  Obviously essential workers are exempt.  On-line sales are going through the roof.  Legislation has now been passed for the police to impose fines for drivers who ignore the driving restriction and today they are starting to spot check cars.

One other point, everyone is being encouraged to open a window and clap at 8pm tonight to say thank you to all in the National Health Service who are working so hard to deal with this situation.

Best wishes,

Jonathan

[Alan Klein]

On the east of the pond in the UK, the situation today has changed in 2 respects.

1) The Government announced this evening that for self-employed people who have lost earnings, it will pay 80% of profits up to a maximum of £2,500 per month for those whose average profits over the last 3 years are less than £50,000 per year.  This brings the self-employed into line with employed people.  The idea with employed people is to get employers to keep staff on so that the economy can recover more quickly when the restrictions can be relaxed, and to offset against benefit payments.  It will be financed by borrowing within the current fiscal rules.

2) The very strong advice is to stay at home, being repeatedly said on the usual channels of communication.  Only leave the house to get essential supplies such as food and medicine and for one walk, cycle ride or a run each day.  Shops, other than food and pharmacies, are shut as are all entertainment venues.  People should only drive if absolutely necessary.  Obviously essential workers are exempt.  On-line sales are going through the roof.  Legislation has now been passed for the police to impose fines for drivers who ignore the driving restriction and today they are starting to spot check cars.

One other point, everyone is being encouraged to open a window and clap at 8pm tonight to say thank you to all in the National Health Service who are working so hard to deal with this situation.

Best wishes,

Jonathan

The problem I see is why keep staff if the customers aren't there.  It's a way of paying employees.  But if they're not doing work, or at least many aren't, what's the point?  Just give unemployment insurance type payments.  Plus, would you as an owner have to reimburse the government?  They're doing something like that here in the US. 

Of course, when the economy continues to tank, they will have to print more money.  Neither party is concerned with inflation it seems.  The Senate vote was 95-0 for the rescue package.  Republicans, who were at one time the fiscally conservative party, have become socialists and spenders like the Democrats.  Both fear the public who wants stuff for "free".   Both sides have their eyes on the November election and don't want to do anything to piss off the voters.  So they'll keep printing and helicoptering and dropping in money to everyone making the dollar worthless.   I forget the name of the poet who said, "By the time this is all over, there won't be enough cheese left for a mouse to get a tooth in."

[degrub]

that's been true since the Reagan years, i think.

[Alan Goldhammer]

I don't know what it is like with other countries, but the shut down cost 3,000,000 people to loose their jobs in the last week alone here in the USA.  Or should I say, the jobless claims jumped up 3,000,000 above the average. 

That is one serious ramification to the economy that will have long term consequences, and we can not afford for this to get much worse either.

Maybe you should stop whining and propose some solutions.

[JoeKitchen]

Maybe you should stop whining and propose some solutions.

A math professor of mine once said we can all determine an invalid proof of therioms we can’t solve ourselves.  It’s not my job to come up with solutions, and if I did would people actually listen?  But that does not mean I can’t point out an obvious bad one.

[James Clark]

Is there anyone out there actually working?  What kind of an environment?  How do you stay safe?

Working-ish.  Both my wife and I own businesses that support/manage/create public events and conferences, so obviously we're not doing our primary jobs right now, but we're using the time to catch up on logistics fixes, marketing and website updates, updated business strategies and ideas etc.    I also do marketing and PR consulting for a few clients, and they're getting their money's worth (and then some) right now

It sucks losing 90% of two really solid incomes with little warning, but on the other hand, we're going to come out of it with two improved companies, so that's good. 

[KLaban]

Maybe you should stop whining and propose some solutions.

I'm sure The World Health Organization is awaiting AK's exit strategy with bated breath.

[Craig Lamson]

Not yet but I have been toying with the idea as well. My clients are mixed between wanting drone shots and thinking they are a passing fad. It would be fun for landscapes too. I'll probably get one (and the cert) in the next year.

The test is not too bad, I studied for about 2 weeks and got a 92%.  And I've not studied or tested for many decades.

[JoeKitchen]

Not going to lie, I’m forseeing a more positive reaction by the media then when Trump said practically the same thing two days ago. 

Cuomo: Not sure if closing all businesses, keeping everyone home was 'the best public health strategy'

[James Clark]

The test is not too bad, I studied for about 2 weeks and got a 92%.  And I've not studied or tested for many decades.

Did you take a prep class or anything, or just get the materials and then take the test?