The Coronavirus thread

[Windsurfer]

On 2/27/2021 at 4:38 AM, gman430 said:

I see both the N.C. and S.C. governors are lifting Covid restrictions. About damn time. 

They just lifted some restrictions here in Oregon. And, overnight pools and bars are reopening.  We had to leave a pool yesterday because it became way over crowded and nobody was distancing. Parents weren't telling the kids to stay away from ours and it was a total mess. This is why common sense fails. Just because restrictions are lifted doesn't mean the coast is clear. My brother in law just tested positive this week and is in bed, and my morbidly obese mother in law is sick with fear.   Folks, it's STILL out there, regardless of restrictions.

[urbanlover568]

Meanwhile, New Zealand has vanquished COVID and life is returning to normal.

Jacinda won a second term. Well deserved. Everyone masked up and social distanced and they can enjoy their victory. 

[elrodvt]

14 minutes ago, urbanlover568 said:

Meanwhile, New Zealand has vanquished COVID and life is returning to normal.

Jacinda won a second term. Well deserved. Everyone masked up and social distanced and they can enjoy their victory. 

To be fair though they do have a huge geographic advantage over us.

Off topic- Anyone ever been to Able Tasman park at the north end of the south island. Ridiculously fun and beautiful.

[videtur quam contuor]

Fun fact about Abel Tasman. Dutch East Indies Company sent him to discover a large land mass rumored to be south of the tropic islands of (now) Indonesia. He circumnavigated Australia, discovered Tasmania, New Zealand, visited Tonga and discovered Fiji, returned to Batavia (Jakarta).  Never saw Australia. Not once. 

Second voyage was successful in sighting and visiting.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abel_Tasman

[DEnd]

On 2/26/2021 at 7:16 PM, Havemercy said:

Nice video but unclear as to what that has to do with my comment?   We were told not to wear masks in March of 2020.  That’s a FACT.   We were told 15 days to slow the spread but here we sit a year later.  That’s another FACT.   I had no political commentary in there whatsoever and never brought up Trump. 

However, I assume your post and video was another “orange man bad” commentary meant to end any discussion and debate that doesn’t fit a narrative or makes you uncomfortable.  Which is par for the course these days and a sad commentary on where we are.   

I would still like to understand from @Windsurfer the comment re: masks and how in March of 2020 not wearing them caused us to shutdown.  I’m curious and would like to engage in a discussion.   Don’t need a Trump video.  
 

No you were told not to buy surgical masks, or N95's and that mask wearing was not required.  Which based off of epidemiological studies of the Flu appeared to be true, at least for day to day activities outside of group living situations.  The reason for that was to preserve Masks for healthcare workers who were and still are facing PPE shortages.  

[DEnd]

On 2/27/2021 at 7:38 AM, gman430 said:

I see both the N.C. and S.C. governors are lifting Covid restrictions. About damn time. 

I highly disagree.  We are still at the same number of new cases we had early November.  Hospitalizations are way down, but I'd much rather see numbers go further down.  

[gman430]

 Everything is bigger in Texas: 

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/gov-greg-abbott-lift-texas-mask-mandate-open-state-100-n1259329

Edited March 2, 2021 by gman430

[urbanlover568]

Great news about the Johnson and Johnson vaccine!

 

[Vitamin_N]

On 3/2/2021 at 12:04 AM, DEnd said:

No you were told not to buy surgical masks, or N95's and that mask wearing was not required.  Which based off of epidemiological studies of the Flu appeared to be true, at least for day to day activities outside of group living situations.  The reason for that was to preserve Masks for healthcare workers who were and still are facing PPE shortages.  

https://edition.cnn.com/2020/03/02/health/surgeon-general-coronavirus-masks-risk-trnd/index.html

"Masks may actually increase your coronavirus risk if worn improperly, surgeon general warns"

https://www.forbes.com/sites/tarahaelle/2020/02/29/no-you-do-not-need-face-masks-for-coronavirus-they-might-increase-your-infection-risk/

"Even if there are cases next door, the answer is no, you do NOT need to get or wear any face masks—surgical masks, “N95 masks,” respirator masks, or anything else—to protect yourself against the coronavirus. Not only do you not need them, you shouldn’t wear them, according to infection prevention specialist Eli Perencevich, MD, a professor of medicine and epidemiology at the University of Iowa’s College of Medicine."

[DEnd]

Yes, not performing hand hygiene when putting on or taking off a mask greatly increases your risk.  Aside from that the other main concern stated in both of the  articles was making sure healthcare systems were able to get adequate supply.  During that time period there was not a good consensus on cloth masks either.  By April 3rd, when the coronavirus in the US was still at flu like levels (except in a few places) and with extreme supply shortages, and the CDC was recommending cloth face coverings when out in public.  In the Forbes article Perencevich recommends you wear a mask when at home if you or a family member are sick, which is a very good idea.  The largest vector of Coronavirus infection is in the home, more than 1/2 of all cases are contracted through a close family member.  I've seen some evidence that this works (reducing spread I mean not provide protection).  Early on we had a case when one spouse picked up the virus and self isolated even before getting tested.  That person did not spread it to any members of the household.  

Edited March 3, 2021 by DEnd

[elrodvt]

On 3/2/2021 at 12:36 AM, DEnd said:

I highly disagree.  We are still at the same number of new cases we had early November.  Hospitalizations are way down, but I'd much rather see numbers go further down.  

Right. We have governor's making public health decisions based on politics. Despicable!

A prime example is TX's Abbot playing ” look squirrel” to distract from their myriad failures leading up to and during the cold wave. I think all states should impose 2 weeks of quarantine on anyone who's living in or recently visited TX.

Also don't think they should get disaster aid for the cold wave based on their statements when other states have needed help. That's for the politics thread though.

Edited March 3, 2021 by elrodvt

[DEnd]

1 minute ago, elrodvt said:

Right. We have governor's making decisions based on politics. A prime example is tx's Abbot playing ” look squirrel” to distract from their myriad failures leading up to and during the cold wave. I think all states should impose 2 weeks of quarantine on anyone who's living in or recently visited TX 

To be fair to the Governors, they are (partly) basing their decision on hospital capacities, and we are seeing more discharges than admissions, with more and more capacity each day (at least last I looked a couple of days ago).  It's not just politics.  I disagree with how aggressive they are being, but most Governors are using metrics to inform their decisions.   

[videtur quam contuor]

I was in LaGuardia Airport a year ago today returning from NYC and knew there was something happening but not really what. The NYTimes was full of hot spot breakouts in New Rochelle and elsewhere and the hotel was strangely silent with the elevator going up and down to and from my top floor room and the lobby without stopping, so few guests. (That hotel has been housing for homeless men for eight months now.) The airport looked normal-ish and some passengers had sani-wipes to use on surfaces but nothing else was different. Denial on my part, a bit, maybe yes?

That evening the world turned upside down. 

Thus it is another in the continuing episodes of how to distance oneself from reality to see this:

https://montrealgazette.com/news/quebec/dube-lashes-out-at-catholic-bishops-for-suggesting-some-vaccines-are-more-morally-acceptable

Canadian Catholic bishops believe one vaccine is morally inferior to another. Morally inferior.

[elrodvt]

Pretty nuts.

I mean there can't be many who listen to Bishops in the USA anymore right? Still against birth control?

[JHart]

1 minute ago, elrodvt said:

Pretty nuts.

I mean there can't be many who listen to Bishops in the USA anymore right? Still against birth control?

Was this supposed to be blue?

[elrodvt]

2 minutes ago, JHart said:

Was this supposed to be blue?

I don't get it?

[JHart]

Just now, elrodvt said:

I don't get it?

Blue text has been adopted as indicated sarcasm. There are a metric-fudge-ton of people in the US that listen to bishops and equivalent figureheads, at least when it suits them.

[elrodvt]

gotcha. A metric ton? LOL. 

I didn't word it well. I think reasonable people, even those of the catholic faith, would agree bishops have ceded the moral high ground to others on this and many other topics.  Just IMHO. Don't meant to touch any electric rails here. ;-) I'll STFU now.

[Exile]

41 minutes ago, elrodvt said:

Pretty nuts.

I mean there can't be many who listen to Bishops in the USA anymore right? Still against birth control?

Against contraception. You can be a good Catholic and "control birth" all you want, as long as you're not interfering with the act itself and its natural outcome.

But there are likely not a few bishops who don't have a problem with contraception.

[kermit]

I don't think post COVID changes in human behavior are going to be as predictable as most of us had originally assumed:

 

 

[gman430]

12 hours ago, kermit said:

I don't think post COVID changes in human behavior are going to be as predictable as most of us had originally assumed:

 

 

And I bet the 2020 saw the most units become available out of any previous year. It pretty much evens out. 

Edited March 12, 2021 by gman430

[kermit]

 

 

[kermit]

Lots of press today on COVID migration trends being a mirage:

 

Every time I read that someone is moving to Florida for warmer weather its clear that those people have never been to Florida in August.

Edited March 15, 2021 by kermit

[videtur quam contuor]

I spent July and August in Bradenton Florida one year. I was about five miles from the water. I knew someone who lived on one of the barrier islands there. I understand the Florida life if one lives close enough to the water to enjoy the morning and evening breezes as the temperatures change, which also reduce the insects significantly. One can walk to the water for whatever activity one wishes. The sunsets on the Gulf are so amazing. Even if far away that it is a short bicycle ride to the shore might be acceptable. Farther than that and I am out. 

I awoke one morning and the weather on the television showed dewpoint of 81. I did not know dewpoint could go that high.

[davidclt]

14 hours ago, kermit said:

Lots of press today on COVID trends being a mirage:

 

Every time I read that someone is moving to Florida for warmer weather its clear that those people have never been to Florida in August.

Here's the full article without the paywall: Homebuyers heading to Florida during COVID-19, but nearly as many moving out | Fox Business. Also, you're right, Florida summers from March to November (but really May to September) are fresh hell if you're not very near the ocean (within a few miles). As someone who grew up in the middle of the state (as one friend characterizes it: flat, hot and stupid) I relished the two days of spring we got in February and chuckle now at donning a ski jacket when the temperature dropped below 50 ℉.