A small positive side effect of the pandemic
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325983)
Rockingham, Australia
August 27, 2020 7:50am CST
The photo has nothing much to do with the discussion.
I read the other day that an unexpected but beneficial side effect of COVID-19 has been a very marked decrease in cases of influenza and colds. This has been attributed to better hygiene practices and the wearing of masks. It’s a good lesson I guess and shows that we can do a lot to keep ourselves more free of some of the more common ailments.
I’ve been baking today, making mini quiches and anzac biscuits. The latter are oatmeal based and I used Splenda as a sugar substitute. Tomorrow, the men should finish installing our solar panels, a friend is dropping off his caravan as he is going to store it here for a while and another friend in calling in in the afternoon on her way to somewhere. I guess we’ll find out more when she arrives. The kangaroos won’t know what to think with so much activity about the place.
38 people like this
35 responses
@allen0187 (58444)
• Philippines
27 Aug 20
Air quality around the world has improved dramatically as well.
There is less pollution because there are no vehicles on the road and there is less companies/factories operating.
3 people like this
@allen0187 (58444)
• Philippines
27 Aug 20
@JudyEv true.
Humans though would find a way to ruin a good thing.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (325983)
• Rockingham, Australia
27 Aug 20
@allen0187 True. We're good at that, aren't we? 
2 people like this
It seems that flu are made into Covid.
@amitkokiladitya (171936)
• Agra, India
27 Aug 20
Yes ..this is so true. This rainy season used to be a hub of viral infections. And now we are safe
3 people like this
@amitkokiladitya (171936)
• Agra, India
28 Aug 20
@JudyEv yes..maybe less of stepping out and exposure and more washing of hands.
3 people like this
@JimBo452020 (42629)
• United Kingdom
27 Aug 20
JJ put into words what I was thinking
Cynic me too I guess
3 people like this
@JimBo452020 (42629)
• United Kingdom
27 Aug 20
@JudyEv People are hiding colds and flu. I dare you to cough in a busy store. People will be on your back to go home and not spread the virus lol.
2 people like this
@snowy22315 (170191)
• United States
27 Aug 20
Yes, improved hygenie should be able to help the disease rate alot.
3 people like this
@marguicha (215587)
• Chile
27 Aug 20
We are usually unaware of the bad thing we do to other people when we go to other places with contagious diseases. A cold can be a bad ailment depending on the person. But many people will not place their hands over their mouths when they sneeze and later on wash them with soap.
3 people like this
@much2say (53952)
• Los Angeles, California
27 Aug 20
Hopefully we all come out healthier after all this and that we continue to keep these practices (even the mask, as other countries have been doing for years already). I would like to place an order for your quiche and biscuits 
. Do kangaroos tend to scamper away like birds do when people come?
. Do kangaroos tend to scamper away like birds do when people come?2 people like this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
28 Aug 20
Sounds like good times are upcoming. I can't use Splenda, it makes me ill an allergy they tell me. Chlorine in created in the process of making it.
2 people like this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
28 Aug 20
@JudyEv When it first came out I tried it and had a bad reaction. At the time they were claiming it was real sugar without the calories. I contacted them and they told me no one has a bad reaction to it. They lied, I looked for others who had a similar reaction to mine and there were literally thousands of us. My body doesn't; like artificial things and this is one of them. Which is too bad because I would have loved to cook with it.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325983)
• Rockingham, Australia
29 Aug 20
@BelleStarr Vince doesn't like the taste of any of the other substitutes so this is a good option for us. I don't really use it a lot. Just sometimes I remember for a cake or biscuits (cookies).
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (62254)
• United States
27 Aug 20
In the US the CDC website has a statistic called “PIC,” meaning pneumonia, influenza, or COVID. The fatalities from all three are being reported as COVID deaths. That makes cold and flu stats look lower.
3 people like this
@Morleyhunt (21736)
• Canada
27 Aug 20
Another plus for the pandemic...fewer premature babies are born...neonatal units are virtually empty.
2 people like this
@Morleyhunt (21736)
• Canada
28 Aug 20
@JudyEv they think it is because moms are staying home....not rushing to the doctor for every little thing, so less interference,
2 people like this
@ptrikha_2 (45532)
• India
28 Aug 20
Yes, the Flu cases could also be lesser because public gatherings are rare or much lesser.
Many people are not going to Malls or Restaurants or offices where we used to catch cough and cold from others.
But yes, in crowded and hotspot areas, people are catching Covid 19. And I wonder where are all the precautions gone when I saw yesterday's India count if 76k!!!
This way India could have the dubious distinction of the highest cases!
Looks like many in India are copying the bad practices that happened in US.
For its defence, health ministry here says that most of the recorded cases have recovered, but we still have spread and people are dying as well.
2 people like this
@ptrikha_2 (45532)
• India
29 Aug 20
@JudyEv
Yes and now it is spreading, though with a good recovery rate.
Worries however do persist.
1 person likes this
@Downwindz (2537)
• Netherlands
27 Aug 20
While the photo has little to do with the discussion, it does put a little smile on my face. So thank you for that.
While we all would like COVID-19 to go away and back to our normal lives, I do pray that we will remember what we have learned about hygiene and have incorporated that as good habbits.
2 people like this
@Downwindz (2537)
• Netherlands
27 Aug 20
@JudyEv And we have learned the meaning of social distance again, a terminology I think many, especially those living in dense communities, had forgotten.
2 people like this
@oahuwriter (26780)
• United States
28 Aug 20
Nice picture! They probably dropped by to see what all the activity was about. You're going to save a lit and be good for environment! Yummy baked treats...guess it's for the hard workers & guest?
2 people like this
@jvicentevalera (13671)
• Santiago, Chile
27 Aug 20
Judy I believe that the confiment worldwide has helped to reduce the pollution in on the planet. One of the things that is worth mentioning is the environment pollution by cars.
2 people like this
@jvicentevalera (13671)
• Santiago, Chile
28 Aug 20
@JudyEv it is a shame that's a true fact!
1 person likes this
