First Hand - If it is here, it's everywhere...

Well GLP, I have been here many years. Before the great Super Bowl ban, before TTown, when Brief used to be nice and before FatalWishes passed and when we could talk about pie man. A long time...

My first real sincere post and it will be as anonymous as can be due to how I know what I know.

Spouse is at the hospital here in North GA. Nice hospital. Big name. Spouse is ICU - where the negative pressure rooms are. They are full now.

Just today - 11 cases..in nowhere North Georgia. From roomates of people who have travel history, from the sick who have travel history. All possible cases of CV. One with a cardiac episode and fever of unknown cause.

The sick have to be interviewed, if possible. Then they have to have tests done for flu A and flu B before any next steps. If they have symptoms and do not have flu A or flu B, it starts point to the CV. Even then, the CV test will not be done. It will be treated as a viral infection until symptoms worsen if travel history/community involvement is a possible reality. Yes, doctors in the ward are on with the actual CDC asking for patients to be tested and tests are being declined due to various reasons. This is real.

As of this moment, no details on test results, not that I or spouse will know. Of the 11, only 2 were "allowed" to be tested. Results in days. The others don't meet criteria for whatever reason right now.

To the naysayers and nothing burgers - have your comments, fine. Likely all will survive. On the 80/20 rule, only 1 or 2 will require advanced care.

My sincere bottom line is that if it is here, in nowhere Georgia - it is everywhere. Hope you are in the 80% with mild to no symptoms. Pray you are not in the 20% that require advanced care.

And the mask issues and shortages - that's real. My spouse - who may have to take care of you...is left with 1-2 per day. And then spouse gets to come home hoping for health...just maybe spouse dodged a bullet...for today.

Naysayers and nothing burgers - when it is on your front door and you have no idea if you have underlaying health conditions that may comprimse your recovery...see how nothing burger it is to you. Get off the people preparing for the unknown, because that is exactly what this is right now...unknown. Get off your high horse and know-it-all BS. Your fear is trying to emerge but you bury it with your taunting to those who take this serious. Enough. 20% of us have to take this serious.

My takeaway is this - honesty and transparency do not exist. Numbers are lies. Press conferences are lies. Your doctors and nurses are working for YOU. They will do their absolute best to take care of you knowing they are being left to their own devices and results. They will. They are not being supported by the system that touts a national interest in your well-being. They will take this sickness home. Their families may get ill. Most will likely survive. But their families know that their spouse/mom/dad/bro/sis are taking care of sick people and it is their passion.

Be well GLP friends. Support those who support you.

By the way - I was kidding - Brief has never been nice.

Will update if I can, but Twitter and other channels may know before spouse does.