LCVG Coronavirus Temperature Check

[JFo 1,916]

Just a quick update — the test for our older boy came back negative. Of course that just means that he didn’t have it on Friday when he got tested. Considering how much exposure he’s had to his little brother the past few days, there’s still a chance he’ll contract it as well. We just have to wait and see.

 

My wife, who is a CT Tech at a local heart clinic, spoke with the Minnesota Department of Health and received recommendations on when it would be appropriate for her to return to work. They said she should wait three days after our son is no longer symptomatic, then wait an additional 14 days — so 17 in total. That would put her back at work sometime mid-June, assuming she didn’t have any other exposure or got sick herself.

 

Fortunately, she was already taking time off this week to watch the kids, so we were prepared for that. Her employer is offering two weeks paid time off for people who contract COVID-19 or come into contact with someone who has it. She still needs to hammer out the details with the Employee Health department. She should know more tomorrow. No matter what, it looks like we’ll all be hanging out at home for a while.🙂

 

On a personal note, I just want to say thank you for everyone who’s reached out with messages and well wishes these past few days. It is greatly appreciated.

[Carlucci 707]

Jeff, with a confirmed case in your household, have any federal, state, local, county, or municipal authorities contact you to conduct contact tracing?   Just wondering if the reality is matching what the authorities say is happening.

 

 

Carlos.

[JFo 1,916]

5 minutes ago, Carlucci said:

Jeff, with a confirmed case in your household, have any federal, state, local, county, or municipal authorities contact you to conduct contact tracing?   Just wondering if the reality is matching what the authorities say is happening.

 

As I mentioned above, my wife spoke with the Minnesota Department of Health. She also spoke to the health department in our county. As far as I know, they didn’t ask her any questions regarding contact tracing though.

 

That’s not to say that no contact tracing is happening. I suspect it is just happening through my son’s daycare since that’s where his exposure was. That’s what originally prompted us to bring him home last Monday — the center confirmed that he had contact with someone who had tested positive.

[PackFan 56]

Stay well.  The things I continue to hear from my wife regarding cases she is seeing still concern me.

[kelley 860]

My local GP said she hadn't seen a potential case since late March. Now is that from people staying home or going to the ER instead of their GP, dunno but I thought that was an interesting observation.

[Carlucci 707]

1 hour ago, kelley said:

My local GP said she hadn't seen a potential case since late March. Now is that from people staying home or going to the ER instead of their GP, dunno but I thought that was an interesting observation.

 

If I went to the emergency room for it, I would still be on the phone with my GP.  It would be the only way to ensure I get Hydroxychloroquine and Zinc STAT!

 

 

Carlos.

 

 

[Carlucci 707]

WFHomers,

 

What type of splitter do I need?  I have Lenovo laptop with only one HDMI video out, and no other video outs, and no docking station.  If I want to stop using the laptop screen, and go with two external monitors, with the screen extended across both, which little gizmotron do I need?  Links to the right one on amazon would be most appreciated.

 

 

Carlos.

[iainl 694]

As far as I’m aware, HDMI won’t do that, only DP. 
 

Amazon have USB-C to HDMI adapters however?

[ChrisBardon 532]

Have you got a USBC/Thunderbolt port on there?  If so, that can drive multiple monitors, and you can get adapters for HDMI or even VGA that way. 

 

I upgraded to a Thunderbolt dock a while back and haven't looked back.  2 monitors, multiple USB ports, and power delivery all in one cable!

[Carlucci 707]

I have these. Does the lightning mean thunderbolt?

 

Carlos.

[AlbertA 728]

2 minutes ago, Carlucci said:

I have these. Does the lightning mean thunderbolt?

 

Carlos.

 

Yep that's a lighting port.

 

I currently use an UIltraWide monitor (Dell u3419w), which is nice because I just use one cable to my macbook pro, which provides power and the monitor has a few USB ports built-in as well.

[iainl 694]

Yes, that’s a Thunderbolt connector. I’d look up the model number to see which version before buying an HDMI adapter for it though. 

[kelley 860]

I bet big oil has a Lenovo thunderbolt dock in their catalog they could send you.

[Carlucci 707]

35 minutes ago, kelley said:

I bet big oil has a Lenovo thunderbolt dock in their catalog they could send you.

 

Now that I know it's a thing, I will ask.  They are allowing everyone to spend up to $500 on ergo equipment, after a phone consult with the RSI team.  I want to get better chair and a 2nd external monitor. 

 

Carlos.

[Robot Monkey 510]

Carlos, which model Thinkpad is that? I want to replace my X1 Carbon (3rd gen).

 

I'd like to replace it with the current gen X1 Carbon, but I want to know if the speakers are incredibly tinny still.

[Carlucci 707]

4 minutes ago, Robot Monkey said:

Carlos, which model Thinkpad is that? I want to replace my X1 Carbon (3rd gen).

 

I'd like to replace it with the current gen X1 Carbon, but I want to know if the speakers are incredibly tinny still.

 

I've had it for a few years.  I think we're due for refreshes soon.  It's a T470.   Speakers are pretty bad.  

 

 

Carlos.

[Robot Monkey 510]

Looks like the sound is significantly better on the gen 7 -- I think that's what I'll go with as soon as I find a decent sale instead of a gen 8.

[kelley 860]

I don't know about the Gen 8 X1 units, but the Gen 7 X1 units still had disappointing sound.

[Robot Monkey 510]

Shoot

[JoeyN 1,321]

For now I use a 30 inch ultrawide Spectre monitor and my laptop screen as it’s 17 inches. When I get a new computer soon, I’ll get a second monitor as I am never going back to only one screen. 

[Orpheus 88]

I picked up a 29" LG ultrawide because of expanded telework.. It's so nice being able to have multiple pdf invoices and excel files open at once. It'll be hard going back to a single normal display at the office. Bonus that I can just swap my gaming laptop in the same spot. Also finally replaced my desk chair with a more ergonomic big and tall chair. Wish I had this at the office as well. All told it was under 600 and made a huge improvement in productivity and comfort for me

. 

[JoeyN 1,321]

Yeah i bought a new chair in Jan. The day i go into the office every week I always hint we need some new chairs.

[Carlucci 707]

Any recommendations for good, ergonomic chairs in the $250 or less range?

 

 

Carlos.

[ChrisBardon 532]

I thought about the ultrawides, but those can get really pricey.  I've got 2 23s plus my 15" laptop screen at home, but I don't really use the laptop screen much except as a "keep an eye on something peripheral" monitor.  I had 1 extra 27" at the office, which is now in the other room at my wife's work setup.  I'm also really glad that I wired the office for ethernet, although I regret not running a cable to the bedroom now, and have actually been contemplating how to best do it from the hub in the office.  Wifi in my whole house is pretty bad given walls and neighbors, and it made working from home and trying to handle calls on Teams a real problem. 

[JFo 1,916]

Quick update on my family’s situation. Our youngest boy continues to have a mild fever in the low 99s. He seemed like he was on the upswing late-Thursday and all day Friday. His temp was normal the entire day, but it jumped back up above 99 on Saturday. He has to be fever-free for three whole days without any medication before he can return to daycare. It’s looking like he may not go back this week, and if he does, it wouldn’t be until the end of the week. Aside from that, he continues to be fine, as if he doesn’t feel sick at all.

 

At the behest of her employer, my wife went in for a COVID test on Thursday. Yesterday, she received the result — NEGATIVE. At this point, I’m the only one in the family who hasn’t been tested. If I develop any symptoms, I’ll go in, but considering both my wife and our oldest son have tested negative and neither of them have any symptoms, I suspect there’s a good chance I haven’t contracted it either. Considering how contagious this disease is, it’s a wonder no one else in the family has tested positive. 

 

Additionally, it looks like they haven’t found any more positives at the daycare center since last Monday — only negatives. The total number of cases stands at 7 staff members and 14 children (21 total). Obviously, that’s a good sign. Hopefully all the cases have been caught so that there isn’t another outbreak when the center reopens tomorrow.

 

Anyway, that’s all for now. Thankfully, all the news from the past week has been good. Here’s hoping that the trend continues into the next week.