Coronavirus prep
Replies
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The Tuscaloosa Alabama story -- students having Covid-19 parties, with a known infected person, putting money into a pot and the first one to officially "get it" gets the money -- makes me believe that we are the dumbest country in history. Sorry, there's no other way to look at it.
Went out to another outdoor concert last night, much better band this time. AZ rates are soaring. Only states worse are TX and CA, where my kids live! We went out again last night to eat and ate on a patio again.
I've resigned myself that there is no "back to normal" unless they find a vaccine for this. Or it could mutate so much that it won't be nearly as deadly. But once school is back in session, in the Fall, which I think is a terrible idea BTW, 1.5M dead doesn't seem too outrageous now. Perhaps 2M. The numbers don't lie. 5% have been infected and 130K dead. Multiply X 13. That's the point at which they say we will have herd immunity.
Our response as a country has been a pathetic combination of finger pointing, selfishness and incompetence.14 -
MikePfirrman wrote: »The Tuscaloosa Alabama story -- students having Covid-19 parties, with a known infected person, putting money into a pot and the first one to officially "get it" gets the money -- makes me believe that we are the dumbest country in history. Sorry, there's no other way to look at it.
Went out to another outdoor concert last night, much better band this time. AZ rates are soaring. Only states worse are TX and CA, where my kids live! We went out again last night to eat and ate on a patio again.
I've resigned myself that there is no "back to normal" unless they find a vaccine for this. Or it could mutate so much that it won't be nearly as deadly. But once school is back in session, in the Fall, which I think is a terrible idea BTW, 1.5M dead doesn't seem too outrageous now. Perhaps 2M. The numbers don't lie. 5% have been infected and 130K dead. Multiply X 13. That's the point at which they say we will have herd immunity.
Our response as a country has been a pathetic combination of finger pointing, selfishness and incompetence.
Yep.
My sister lives in Houston, and I'm here in northeast TN, which is itchin' to catch up to TX. We have in this country a large population of entitled, uncaring, thoughtless, brats of widely varying ages. I have friends (30s & 40s), inlaws (60s), a 19-year-old sister-in-law, aunts and uncles (50s-70s) who are being so belligerent, selfish and ignorant. They are proof that unfortunately we can't just blame the lack of leadership of our government. Though they have certainly contributed greatly.18 -
baconslave wrote: »MikePfirrman wrote: »The Tuscaloosa Alabama story -- students having Covid-19 parties, with a known infected person, putting money into a pot and the first one to officially "get it" gets the money -- makes me believe that we are the dumbest country in history. Sorry, there's no other way to look at it.
Went out to another outdoor concert last night, much better band this time. AZ rates are soaring. Only states worse are TX and CA, where my kids live! We went out again last night to eat and ate on a patio again.
I've resigned myself that there is no "back to normal" unless they find a vaccine for this. Or it could mutate so much that it won't be nearly as deadly. But once school is back in session, in the Fall, which I think is a terrible idea BTW, 1.5M dead doesn't seem too outrageous now. Perhaps 2M. The numbers don't lie. 5% have been infected and 130K dead. Multiply X 13. That's the point at which they say we will have herd immunity.
Our response as a country has been a pathetic combination of finger pointing, selfishness and incompetence.
Yep.
My sister lives in Houston, and I'm here in northeast TN, which is itchin' to catch up to TX. We have in this country a large population of entitled, uncaring, thoughtless, brats of widely varying ages. I have friends (30s & 40s), inlaws (60s), a 19-year-old sister-in-law, aunts and uncles (50s-70s) who are being so belligerent, selfish and ignorant. They are proof that unfortunately we can't just blame the lack of leadership of our government. Though they have certainly contributed greatly.
I'm so sorry. I'd pick you up and bring you here. No cases for now till the tourists show up I'm guessing. Everyone wants to come to Queensland worst luck. Hoping we keep boarders closed. Doubt it'll happen. Yeah.. come up and give us Covid.3 -
baconslave wrote: »MikePfirrman wrote: »The Tuscaloosa Alabama story -- students having Covid-19 parties, with a known infected person, putting money into a pot and the first one to officially "get it" gets the money -- makes me believe that we are the dumbest country in history. Sorry, there's no other way to look at it.
Went out to another outdoor concert last night, much better band this time. AZ rates are soaring. Only states worse are TX and CA, where my kids live! We went out again last night to eat and ate on a patio again.
I've resigned myself that there is no "back to normal" unless they find a vaccine for this. Or it could mutate so much that it won't be nearly as deadly. But once school is back in session, in the Fall, which I think is a terrible idea BTW, 1.5M dead doesn't seem too outrageous now. Perhaps 2M. The numbers don't lie. 5% have been infected and 130K dead. Multiply X 13. That's the point at which they say we will have herd immunity.
Our response as a country has been a pathetic combination of finger pointing, selfishness and incompetence.
Yep.
My sister lives in Houston, and I'm here in northeast TN, which is itchin' to catch up to TX. We have in this country a large population of entitled, uncaring, thoughtless, brats of widely varying ages. I have friends (30s & 40s), inlaws (60s), a 19-year-old sister-in-law, aunts and uncles (50s-70s) who are being so belligerent, selfish and ignorant. They are proof that unfortunately we can't just blame the lack of leadership of our government. Though they have certainly contributed greatly.
Totally agree. We need a national mask law with steep penalties. And strict enforcement.3 -
Locally, shortly after the in-person dining/drinking limited reopening, photos were published of a crowd of young people, waiting to get in to a local restaurant/bar.
Now, at least 34 new cases of Covid, most in people 19-23, have been traced back to this restaurant. Anyone who went there between June 12 and June 20 is being asked to self-quarantine for 2 weeks, and get tested even if no symptoms. The health department thinks more cases linked to that location will be discovered.
https://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/news/local/2020/06/24/harpers-bar-east-lansing-covid-19-coronavirus-outbreak-msu-michigan-state-university/3250800001/
This is a very large jump in cases in this county (though I'm not sure all 34 count in this county - not sure if they do if the people live elsewhere). Before this started kicking in, the incidence curve had been rising, but before the last couple of days when these cases started rolling in, it was moving up a couple of cases per day since a low in mid June. Here's where we are now:
Updating as this is sort of a local Covid soap-opera now. The cases traced to this restaurant/bar have topped 85, with a satellite outbreak in Grosse Point (near Detroit, about 100 miles/90 minutes away from the restaurant). A People from there came to the restaurant, and one gave it to a person who hosted a big house party (while beginning to be symptomatic). Party was on Friday, host got sicker over the weekend, was tested positive on Monday, and didn't tell others who were at the party until Tuesday.
Either through the party or the people who went to the restaurant, a bonfire party also spread it there, resulting in further cases. The new case counts down in that area are now jumping dramatically, possibly their biggest one-day jump seen so far, and it follows a flat trend there of a couple of new cases a day for a while previous.
As of Friday, 80 people who were infected had direct contact with the location, and 5 were secondary. Of those, 23 are asymptomatic or presymptomatic. It's assumed more will be identified, I gather. Last I heard, all the direct infections were in the 18-28 age group. Given the percentage of pre- or asymptomatic people, I suspect we'll start seeing more secondary infections in older, potentially more vulnerable groups - parents, grandparents, etc.
I should point out tha I have a number of friends locally in the under-30 age group. They're all pretty much in "Those people were behaving like idiots! What were they thinking?!" mode. I'm not demonizing young people as a class, over this. Dumb behavior is the enemy here, not an age group.
Another update to the soap opera: We're now up to 138 cases, traced to this one bar/restaurant (now closed again**). Of that, 119 are primary cases, i.e., people who went to the bar, and they are ages 18-28. The other 19 are secondary cases, i.e., they got it from people who went to the bar, didn't go themselves; they are ages 16-63.
So, as I expected, the demographic affected is broadening, and we're close to the start of the secondary-case stats rolling in, I'd expect, given the timeline.
All of this happening over a couple of weeks, set against a county where we had been down to around 2 new cases per day. The bar was open June 12-20. The cases started being identified on June 24, and it's up to 138 as of July 1. They'll presumably announce a higher number later today.
** Bar involved had closed to make improvements, but in this zone of the state, our governor now has ordered any business that makes 70%+ of their revenue from alcohol sales to close again, and this is in that category. Combo bar/restaurants with higher food revenues are allowed to remain open, under the previous cautionary practices (50% capacity, mandatory spacing, masks unless seated at table, servers masked, etc.). The county has added a 75-person capacity limit.
The (pre-existing) East Lansing hospitality business association has pulled together to share best practices, formally agreed on a collective hard line barring customers who won't wear masks, and more. Some have closed again, though not required to do so, out of caution and concern.
The stories that have somewhat spread in national news, saying that all East Lansing residents are required to be tested, is false. (I haven't tried to be tested, but publicity makes it sound like tests are quite easily available, and now to nearly anyone, but I can't confirm that from experience. I don't live in EL, but near.)
I'm not reporting this because I'm freaked out about it. I just think it's an interesting, very specific case study.
I do have young friends I'm concerned about, people who are trying to do the right things. One specific friend, who works in a meet-the-public role, is now working absurd numbers of hours, because many of his similar-age co-workers went to the affected bar, are now quarantined, and can't work. He's concerned and feeling stress, and I'm concerned for him, because he - of course - had contact with those perhaps-infected people at work before this all reached this point.11 -
MikePfirrman wrote: »The Tuscaloosa Alabama story -- students having Covid-19 parties, with a known infected person, putting money into a pot and the first one to officially "get it" gets the money -- makes me believe that we are the dumbest country in history. Sorry, there's no other way to look at it.
Went out to another outdoor concert last night, much better band this time. AZ rates are soaring. Only states worse are TX and CA, where my kids live! We went out again last night to eat and ate on a patio again.
I've resigned myself that there is no "back to normal" unless they find a vaccine for this. Or it could mutate so much that it won't be nearly as deadly. But once school is back in session, in the Fall, which I think is a terrible idea BTW, 1.5M dead doesn't seem too outrageous now. Perhaps 2M. The numbers don't lie. 5% have been infected and 130K dead. Multiply X 13. That's the point at which they say we will have herd immunity.
Our response as a country has been a pathetic combination of finger pointing, selfishness and incompetence.
I expected the initial 2 million expected deaths call may turn out to be closer than I first thought. The scientific community is going to have to figure out the MO of COVID-19 better I expect before a vaccine shows up.4 -
T1DCarnivoreRunner wrote: »baconslave wrote: »MikePfirrman wrote: »The Tuscaloosa Alabama story -- students having Covid-19 parties, with a known infected person, putting money into a pot and the first one to officially "get it" gets the money -- makes me believe that we are the dumbest country in history. Sorry, there's no other way to look at it.
Went out to another outdoor concert last night, much better band this time. AZ rates are soaring. Only states worse are TX and CA, where my kids live! We went out again last night to eat and ate on a patio again.
I've resigned myself that there is no "back to normal" unless they find a vaccine for this. Or it could mutate so much that it won't be nearly as deadly. But once school is back in session, in the Fall, which I think is a terrible idea BTW, 1.5M dead doesn't seem too outrageous now. Perhaps 2M. The numbers don't lie. 5% have been infected and 130K dead. Multiply X 13. That's the point at which they say we will have herd immunity.
Our response as a country has been a pathetic combination of finger pointing, selfishness and incompetence.
Yep.
My sister lives in Houston, and I'm here in northeast TN, which is itchin' to catch up to TX. We have in this country a large population of entitled, uncaring, thoughtless, brats of widely varying ages. I have friends (30s & 40s), inlaws (60s), a 19-year-old sister-in-law, aunts and uncles (50s-70s) who are being so belligerent, selfish and ignorant. They are proof that unfortunately we can't just blame the lack of leadership of our government. Though they have certainly contributed greatly.
Totally agree. We need a national mask law with steep penalties. And strict enforcement.
With no or reduced funding for enforcement in the USA who's going to be the enforcement ?6 -
GaleHawkins wrote: »T1DCarnivoreRunner wrote: »baconslave wrote: »MikePfirrman wrote: »The Tuscaloosa Alabama story -- students having Covid-19 parties, with a known infected person, putting money into a pot and the first one to officially "get it" gets the money -- makes me believe that we are the dumbest country in history. Sorry, there's no other way to look at it.
Went out to another outdoor concert last night, much better band this time. AZ rates are soaring. Only states worse are TX and CA, where my kids live! We went out again last night to eat and ate on a patio again.
I've resigned myself that there is no "back to normal" unless they find a vaccine for this. Or it could mutate so much that it won't be nearly as deadly. But once school is back in session, in the Fall, which I think is a terrible idea BTW, 1.5M dead doesn't seem too outrageous now. Perhaps 2M. The numbers don't lie. 5% have been infected and 130K dead. Multiply X 13. That's the point at which they say we will have herd immunity.
Our response as a country has been a pathetic combination of finger pointing, selfishness and incompetence.
Yep.
My sister lives in Houston, and I'm here in northeast TN, which is itchin' to catch up to TX. We have in this country a large population of entitled, uncaring, thoughtless, brats of widely varying ages. I have friends (30s & 40s), inlaws (60s), a 19-year-old sister-in-law, aunts and uncles (50s-70s) who are being so belligerent, selfish and ignorant. They are proof that unfortunately we can't just blame the lack of leadership of our government. Though they have certainly contributed greatly.
Totally agree. We need a national mask law with steep penalties. And strict enforcement.
With no or reduced funding for enforcement in the USA who's going to be the enforcement ?
If nothing else, a law would provide cover for business owners who want to enforce a mask requirement. If people come to your business establishment, and break the law, there's no question that you have the right to throw them out, and to (yes) call for law enforcement assistance if they get obstreperous.
The proposition that law enforcement will rapidly be dramatically reduced country-wide, and soon, is disingenuous, IMO.
The mask question is very much of this moment, and of the upcoming months, maybe a small number of years. Rethinking and restructuring public safety services may be urgent in some people's view, and may actually happen fairly quickly in a few places (some of it already has happened, BTW, before the current clamor) . . . but it will play out nationally over years, not weeks/months, IMO.
In the short run, the challenge of managing virus-related local budgetary shortfalls will probably have a higher impact on law enforcement funding than will ideology, but I doubt that that's the thought behind your comment.9 -
Shouldn't have used the term, "dumbest country". That's terrible. I'm grumpy today because I'm doing my 2019 taxes that I've put off! And the Accountant that I found seems to have fell off the radar. I lost my Accountant of 10 years when I moved from OH to AZ (she had been slowly lessening her individual practice as she's a CFO of a rapidly growing company). So it looks like I might be scrambling to find an Accounting firm last second or rely on a bigger box Accounting firm like H&R Block or Jackson Hewitt (not thrilled with either of them in the past).
But with all the simplified tax laws, my taxes shouldn't be too complicated now. My wife left the house today just to drive around and go to the grocery and bank to get away from me!
If anyone is wondering on taxes, you can still file HSA (medical expenses) up until July 15th as well. My old local city, though, still wanted taxes filed (which are based on Federal Tax returns) by April 15th, so I'm sure I'll get hit with a late fine from them.
Anyway, what I should have said is there are some of the best people and the worst people in the US. Many have come out of retirement to battle this on the front lines, risking their lives. We have researchers working tirelessly on a cure. We have people that have spoken the truth to citizens, like the Dr of Health in Ohio, only to have her life threatened (she retired last month). And don't forget Fauci and Bill Gates.
It reminds me of that old Dickens' line from a Tale of Two Cities, "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity."14 -
MikePfirrman wrote: »Shouldn't have used the term, "dumbest country". That's terrible. I'm grumpy today because I'm doing my 2019 taxes that I've put off! And the Accountant that I found seems to have fell off the radar. I lost my Accountant of 10 years when I moved from OH to AZ (she had been slowly lessening her individual practice as she's a CFO of a rapidly growing company). So it looks like I might be scrambling to find an Accounting firm last second or rely on a bigger box Accounting firm like H&R Block or Jackson Hewitt (not thrilled with either of them in the past).
But with all the simplified tax laws, my taxes shouldn't be too complicated now. My wife left the house today just to drive around and go to the grocery and bank to get away from me!
If anyone is wondering on taxes, you can still file HSA (medical expenses) up until July 15th as well. My old local city, though, still wanted taxes filed (which are based on Federal Tax returns) by April 15th, so I'm sure I'll get hit with a late fine from them.
Off topic here, kind of, but a little Covid related: My understanding is that delayed refunds will be earning interest after April 15 this year, including on returns not filed until after April 15. (Yes, I'm in that category; I don't get all of my tax docs in time to file early, and this year some corrections arrived dated 4/14/2020 (not postmarked then, dated then
).
https://www.forbes.com/sites/jimwang/2020/06/26/irs-to-pay-interest-on-your-late-tax-refund/3 -
GaleHawkins wrote: »T1DCarnivoreRunner wrote: »baconslave wrote: »MikePfirrman wrote: »The Tuscaloosa Alabama story -- students having Covid-19 parties, with a known infected person, putting money into a pot and the first one to officially "get it" gets the money -- makes me believe that we are the dumbest country in history. Sorry, there's no other way to look at it.
Went out to another outdoor concert last night, much better band this time. AZ rates are soaring. Only states worse are TX and CA, where my kids live! We went out again last night to eat and ate on a patio again.
I've resigned myself that there is no "back to normal" unless they find a vaccine for this. Or it could mutate so much that it won't be nearly as deadly. But once school is back in session, in the Fall, which I think is a terrible idea BTW, 1.5M dead doesn't seem too outrageous now. Perhaps 2M. The numbers don't lie. 5% have been infected and 130K dead. Multiply X 13. That's the point at which they say we will have herd immunity.
Our response as a country has been a pathetic combination of finger pointing, selfishness and incompetence.
Yep.
My sister lives in Houston, and I'm here in northeast TN, which is itchin' to catch up to TX. We have in this country a large population of entitled, uncaring, thoughtless, brats of widely varying ages. I have friends (30s & 40s), inlaws (60s), a 19-year-old sister-in-law, aunts and uncles (50s-70s) who are being so belligerent, selfish and ignorant. They are proof that unfortunately we can't just blame the lack of leadership of our government. Though they have certainly contributed greatly.
Totally agree. We need a national mask law with steep penalties. And strict enforcement.
With no or reduced funding for enforcement in the USA who's going to be the enforcement ?
In the vast majority of places in the US, law enforcement funding is unchanged. Even those places that are having serious conversations about defunding haven't yet implemented it.5 -
Florida here... one day record of new cases w/ over 10,000 new positives...
Some local counties (mine included) have an ordinance of mandatory face masks for those 18+ when indoors of more than 10 people and social distancing can't be maintained. They've left the enforcement of this to the businesses basically. They should be the ones to say "No mask, no entry"
Desantis closed the bars again. Well, anyone that makes 50% or more of their profit from alcohol sales, isn't allowed to be open. Some breweries are back to selling their to-go ready packaged brews. Our local beaches aren't closed for the holiday weekend so I imagine that may be decently busy. Fireworks displays were canceled to avoid crowds.5 -
GaleHawkins wrote: »T1DCarnivoreRunner wrote: »baconslave wrote: »MikePfirrman wrote: »The Tuscaloosa Alabama story -- students having Covid-19 parties, with a known infected person, putting money into a pot and the first one to officially "get it" gets the money -- makes me believe that we are the dumbest country in history. Sorry, there's no other way to look at it.
Went out to another outdoor concert last night, much better band this time. AZ rates are soaring. Only states worse are TX and CA, where my kids live! We went out again last night to eat and ate on a patio again.
I've resigned myself that there is no "back to normal" unless they find a vaccine for this. Or it could mutate so much that it won't be nearly as deadly. But once school is back in session, in the Fall, which I think is a terrible idea BTW, 1.5M dead doesn't seem too outrageous now. Perhaps 2M. The numbers don't lie. 5% have been infected and 130K dead. Multiply X 13. That's the point at which they say we will have herd immunity.
Our response as a country has been a pathetic combination of finger pointing, selfishness and incompetence.
Yep.
My sister lives in Houston, and I'm here in northeast TN, which is itchin' to catch up to TX. We have in this country a large population of entitled, uncaring, thoughtless, brats of widely varying ages. I have friends (30s & 40s), inlaws (60s), a 19-year-old sister-in-law, aunts and uncles (50s-70s) who are being so belligerent, selfish and ignorant. They are proof that unfortunately we can't just blame the lack of leadership of our government. Though they have certainly contributed greatly.
Totally agree. We need a national mask law with steep penalties. And strict enforcement.
With no or reduced funding for enforcement in the USA who's going to be the enforcement ?
If nothing else, a law would provide cover for business owners who want to enforce a mask requirement. If people come to your business establishment, and break the law, there's no question that you have the right to throw them out, and to (yes) call for law enforcement assistance if they get obstreperous.
The proposition that law enforcement will rapidly be dramatically reduced country-wide, and soon, is disingenuous, IMO.
The mask question is very much of this moment, and of the upcoming months, maybe a small number of years. Rethinking and restructuring public safety services may be urgent in some people's view, and may actually happen fairly quickly in a few places (some of it already has happened, BTW, before the current clamor) . . . but it will play out nationally over years, not weeks/months, IMO.
In the short run, the challenge of managing virus-related local budgetary shortfalls will probably have a higher impact on law enforcement funding than will ideology, but I doubt that that's the thought behind your comment.
Local mask law in Memphis requires business owners to take reasonable steps to inform customers (such as posting signs) but stops short of asking them to risk their lives by confronting recalcitrant people. However, customers who refuse to wear masks are not allowed to be served, and a business faces a fine if caught serving such a customer.
No penalty other than a warning for members of the public not wearing masks, just businesses.2 -
rheddmobile wrote: »GaleHawkins wrote: »T1DCarnivoreRunner wrote: »baconslave wrote: »MikePfirrman wrote: »The Tuscaloosa Alabama story -- students having Covid-19 parties, with a known infected person, putting money into a pot and the first one to officially "get it" gets the money -- makes me believe that we are the dumbest country in history. Sorry, there's no other way to look at it.
Went out to another outdoor concert last night, much better band this time. AZ rates are soaring. Only states worse are TX and CA, where my kids live! We went out again last night to eat and ate on a patio again.
I've resigned myself that there is no "back to normal" unless they find a vaccine for this. Or it could mutate so much that it won't be nearly as deadly. But once school is back in session, in the Fall, which I think is a terrible idea BTW, 1.5M dead doesn't seem too outrageous now. Perhaps 2M. The numbers don't lie. 5% have been infected and 130K dead. Multiply X 13. That's the point at which they say we will have herd immunity.
Our response as a country has been a pathetic combination of finger pointing, selfishness and incompetence.
Yep.
My sister lives in Houston, and I'm here in northeast TN, which is itchin' to catch up to TX. We have in this country a large population of entitled, uncaring, thoughtless, brats of widely varying ages. I have friends (30s & 40s), inlaws (60s), a 19-year-old sister-in-law, aunts and uncles (50s-70s) who are being so belligerent, selfish and ignorant. They are proof that unfortunately we can't just blame the lack of leadership of our government. Though they have certainly contributed greatly.
Totally agree. We need a national mask law with steep penalties. And strict enforcement.
With no or reduced funding for enforcement in the USA who's going to be the enforcement ?
If nothing else, a law would provide cover for business owners who want to enforce a mask requirement. If people come to your business establishment, and break the law, there's no question that you have the right to throw them out, and to (yes) call for law enforcement assistance if they get obstreperous.
The proposition that law enforcement will rapidly be dramatically reduced country-wide, and soon, is disingenuous, IMO.
The mask question is very much of this moment, and of the upcoming months, maybe a small number of years. Rethinking and restructuring public safety services may be urgent in some people's view, and may actually happen fairly quickly in a few places (some of it already has happened, BTW, before the current clamor) . . . but it will play out nationally over years, not weeks/months, IMO.
In the short run, the challenge of managing virus-related local budgetary shortfalls will probably have a higher impact on law enforcement funding than will ideology, but I doubt that that's the thought behind your comment.
Local mask law in Memphis requires business owners to take reasonable steps to inform customers (such as posting signs) but stops short of asking them to risk their lives by confronting recalcitrant people. However, customers who refuse to wear masks are not allowed to be served, and a business faces a fine if caught serving such a customer.
No penalty other than a warning for members of the public not wearing masks, just businesses.
IMO, law doesn't do anything unless it give power to fine the non-maskwearer.3 -
GaleHawkins wrote: »T1DCarnivoreRunner wrote: »baconslave wrote: »MikePfirrman wrote: »The Tuscaloosa Alabama story -- students having Covid-19 parties, with a known infected person, putting money into a pot and the first one to officially "get it" gets the money -- makes me believe that we are the dumbest country in history. Sorry, there's no other way to look at it.
Went out to another outdoor concert last night, much better band this time. AZ rates are soaring. Only states worse are TX and CA, where my kids live! We went out again last night to eat and ate on a patio again.
I've resigned myself that there is no "back to normal" unless they find a vaccine for this. Or it could mutate so much that it won't be nearly as deadly. But once school is back in session, in the Fall, which I think is a terrible idea BTW, 1.5M dead doesn't seem too outrageous now. Perhaps 2M. The numbers don't lie. 5% have been infected and 130K dead. Multiply X 13. That's the point at which they say we will have herd immunity.
Our response as a country has been a pathetic combination of finger pointing, selfishness and incompetence.
Yep.
My sister lives in Houston, and I'm here in northeast TN, which is itchin' to catch up to TX. We have in this country a large population of entitled, uncaring, thoughtless, brats of widely varying ages. I have friends (30s & 40s), inlaws (60s), a 19-year-old sister-in-law, aunts and uncles (50s-70s) who are being so belligerent, selfish and ignorant. They are proof that unfortunately we can't just blame the lack of leadership of our government. Though they have certainly contributed greatly.
Totally agree. We need a national mask law with steep penalties. And strict enforcement.
With no or reduced funding for enforcement in the USA who's going to be the enforcement ?
My brother is mentally ill. Every so often his meds stop working. Several times the police were sent to intervene, which escalated the situation and made things worse. "Reduced funding" actually means reallocating funding to people who are trained to help, in this case, mental health workers. Our police shouldn't be dealing with mental health crises, especially when there are no weapons involved.
There's a feature in Google docs called "version history." In May, I was checking this in an assignment turned in by one of my company's freelance writers and noticed she had written suicidal ideation, complete with a plan and a gun. (She was unaware of the version history feature, and wrote over her suicidal thoughts with her assignment.)
I spoke to several mental health agencies in her county and was told repeatedly that my only option was calling the police, which I did not want to do, as I could see several scenarios how this could go terribly wrong. I did eventually find a solution that involved no governmental agencies, but I wasn't happy with law enforcement as my only option.
Like others have said, reduced funding to police isn't going to happen overnight. For example, in Boston the police contract just expired but nothing is going to change anytime soon.
https://www.bostonherald.com/2020/06/30/boston-police-union-contracts-expire-tuesday-amid-funding-battle/
...The expiration of the contracts has little practical effect in the day-to-day operations in the near term; the terms of the contracts will continue until the unions ink new ones with the city.
But it does come amid continued protests following several high-profile police killings of black people. One of the demands of activists is to “defund the police” — a rallying cry that different protesters mean in different levels, but generally calls for some police funding to be reallocated to social programs.
Walsh’s budget will take $12 million from the $60 million police overtime budget and reallocate that money to other programs — but five councilors voted against the budget, saying they needed more comprehensive reforms.11 -
Afterthought on Michigan and restaurants/bars: Cocktails to go (carryout/delivery) are now legal, as are (potentially, if localities permit) designated 'social districts' where alcohol can be taken out of the establishment into the 'social district'. Both of these are new, here. There are additional, more detailed regs about packaging and such **.
Outdoor alcohol has been allowed previously on the restaurants' own patios only. Packaged beer/wine has been allowed. The new cocktail thing is for custom cocktails, in small (I think it's 1-2 serving) sealed packages.
** More at https://www.mlive.com/public-interest/2020/07/to-go-cocktails-now-allowed-after-whitmer-shutters-indoor-bar-service-in-most-of-michigan.html2 -
T1DCarnivoreRunner wrote: »baconslave wrote: »MikePfirrman wrote: »The Tuscaloosa Alabama story -- students having Covid-19 parties, with a known infected person, putting money into a pot and the first one to officially "get it" gets the money -- makes me believe that we are the dumbest country in history. Sorry, there's no other way to look at it.
Went out to another outdoor concert last night, much better band this time. AZ rates are soaring. Only states worse are TX and CA, where my kids live! We went out again last night to eat and ate on a patio again.
I've resigned myself that there is no "back to normal" unless they find a vaccine for this. Or it could mutate so much that it won't be nearly as deadly. But once school is back in session, in the Fall, which I think is a terrible idea BTW, 1.5M dead doesn't seem too outrageous now. Perhaps 2M. The numbers don't lie. 5% have been infected and 130K dead. Multiply X 13. That's the point at which they say we will have herd immunity.
Our response as a country has been a pathetic combination of finger pointing, selfishness and incompetence.
Yep.
My sister lives in Houston, and I'm here in northeast TN, which is itchin' to catch up to TX. We have in this country a large population of entitled, uncaring, thoughtless, brats of widely varying ages. I have friends (30s & 40s), inlaws (60s), a 19-year-old sister-in-law, aunts and uncles (50s-70s) who are being so belligerent, selfish and ignorant. They are proof that unfortunately we can't just blame the lack of leadership of our government. Though they have certainly contributed greatly.
Totally agree. We need a national mask law with steep penalties. And strict enforcement.
What we really need is for the people to stop being such unmitigated a-holes. So many people claiming to be true patriots and followers of Christ, but can't be bothered to protect their fellow Americans. They want to get the economy going but won't do what it takes to keep it from shutting down again. It would be amusing if it weren't an actual crisis.22 -
Afterthought on Michigan and restaurants/bars: Cocktails to go (carryout/delivery) are now legal, as are (potentially, if localities permit) designated 'social districts' where alcohol can be taken out of the establishment into the 'social district'. Both of these are new, here. There are additional, more detailed regs about packaging and such **.
Outdoor alcohol has been allowed previously on the restaurants' own patios only. Packaged beer/wine has been allowed. The new cocktail thing is for custom cocktails, in small (I think it's 1-2 serving) sealed packages.
** More at https://www.mlive.com/public-interest/2020/07/to-go-cocktails-now-allowed-after-whitmer-shutters-indoor-bar-service-in-most-of-michigan.html
I think that's a good idea. Though I wouldn't frequent a bar or gym right now, that's a creative idea to try to help bar owners not go under. I wish there were more for gyms as well right now. AZ just shut down their gyms again. I heard in the news about the guy in Phoenix that didn't want to shut down. Though he wasn't requiring masks, you still feel for the guy and his employees -- donated to Covid-19 relief efforts, worked with local authorities on gym guidelines and yet, he's having to close again. Only so much small businesses can take.
If only these states had required masks from the start of it. You have to think they wouldn't be in this position of back tracking.4 -
Hope everyone is doing ok today. I got a message from my cousin in Chile. Wish he'd moved here but they are ok.6
-
T1DCarnivoreRunner wrote: »baconslave wrote: »MikePfirrman wrote: »The Tuscaloosa Alabama story -- students having Covid-19 parties, with a known infected person, putting money into a pot and the first one to officially "get it" gets the money -- makes me believe that we are the dumbest country in history. Sorry, there's no other way to look at it.
Went out to another outdoor concert last night, much better band this time. AZ rates are soaring. Only states worse are TX and CA, where my kids live! We went out again last night to eat and ate on a patio again.
I've resigned myself that there is no "back to normal" unless they find a vaccine for this. Or it could mutate so much that it won't be nearly as deadly. But once school is back in session, in the Fall, which I think is a terrible idea BTW, 1.5M dead doesn't seem too outrageous now. Perhaps 2M. The numbers don't lie. 5% have been infected and 130K dead. Multiply X 13. That's the point at which they say we will have herd immunity.
Our response as a country has been a pathetic combination of finger pointing, selfishness and incompetence.
Yep.
My sister lives in Houston, and I'm here in northeast TN, which is itchin' to catch up to TX. We have in this country a large population of entitled, uncaring, thoughtless, brats of widely varying ages. I have friends (30s & 40s), inlaws (60s), a 19-year-old sister-in-law, aunts and uncles (50s-70s) who are being so belligerent, selfish and ignorant. They are proof that unfortunately we can't just blame the lack of leadership of our government. Though they have certainly contributed greatly.
Totally agree. We need a national mask law with steep penalties. And strict enforcement.
What we really need is for the people to stop being such unmitigated a-holes. So many people claiming to be true patriots and followers of Christ, but can't be bothered to protect their fellow Americans. They want to get the economy going but won't do what it takes to keep it from shutting down again. It would be amusing if it weren't an actual crisis.
Damn, I like you!
Said from the vantage point of a country with a lot higher compliance and much less tantruming.
The countries that imposed strict restrictions early have fared much better in terms of positive case numbers and mortality. Countries that took a looser, "let's hope everyone is sensible" approach have not done so well.
I work in quite a bad area of town and while driving through the worst of it at lunch today, I was happy to see high mask wearing in the vulnerable "street" population. Worn correctly, too. I don't know if that's credit to education efforts by the community health center or various outreach services, but the message got across.9 -
That Tuscaloosa Alabama story has got to be the riskiest and dumbest thing I've heard yet. Ok, maybe not but it ranks up there.
This isn't a game people. Do you not see how sick some are getting from this? How it affects young and old, compromised systems as well as completely healthy people?? Argh. Yes, make masks mandatory. Just do it.
Our local newspaper has a story earlier this week, about an annual festival being held at a campground last Saturday. While many events this summer had been cancelled, this one had not. The picture showed no masks and no social-distancing with many many people present. Their mindset is "live and let live, don't hurt others, and don't tell me what to do." But what happens if you're inadvertently hurting others by not doing such a simple act as wearing a mask? As AnnPT77 shared above, we can all see how quickly the virus spreads.
That event that was only about 30 minutes away, plus a sidewalk sale atmosphere the same day in our small town, will likely increase our numbers of cases. The number of out of state tourists have dramatically increased too. :Covid has only just begun, IMO. And the people who have not played safely with it have only themselves to blame. Again, IMO. 7 -
Unfortunately, in the US, states that were stricter early on have not necessarily done better than states that were more lax. I'm not saying that because I opposed my own state's strict approach -- indeed, I supported it, and was frustrated that it didn't seem to matter (and am annoyed the country was not pushing masks early on). But I suspect it's more to do with differences between the states (or areas within the states), such as how early the virus became community spread (I think in parts of the US that was clearly well before we saw more than a few cases, similar to Italy). It's also, unfortunately, becoming financially non feasible in many cases, absent relief from the fed gov't (same with the unemployment situation).
The homeless I see do have masks.
However, I was downtown again today and there were a ton of tourists in (from the burbs or even farther away) and they were walking Michigan Ave without masks. At least, they are strictly enforcing masks in buildings downtown from what I've seen.
Young people especially were breaking the rules in bars and restaurants last weekend (too much like the scene the weekend before St Patrick's Day that led to restaurants and bars here being shut down in the first place). Threat now is that if restaurants and bars don't make sure the rules about social distancing and occupancy are followed, and that includes not letting people line up down the street (which they were, without masks), they will lose their licenses for a while.5 -
Unfortunately, in the US, states that were stricter early on have not necessarily done better than states that were more lax. I'm not saying that because I opposed my own state's strict approach -- indeed, I supported it, and was frustrated that it didn't seem to matter (and am annoyed the country was not pushing masks early on). But I suspect it's more to do with differences between the states (or areas within the states), such as how early the virus became community spread (I think in parts of the US that was clearly well before we saw more than a few cases, similar to Italy). It's also, unfortunately, becoming financially non feasible in many cases, absent relief from the fed gov't (same with the unemployment situation).
The homeless I see do have masks.
However, I was downtown again today and there were a ton of tourists in (from the burbs or even farther away) and they were walking Michigan Ave without masks. At least, they are strictly enforcing masks in buildings downtown from what I've seen.
Young people especially were breaking the rules in bars and restaurants last weekend (too much like the scene the weekend before St Patrick's Day that led to restaurants and bars here being shut down in the first place). Threat now is that if restaurants and bars don't make sure the rules about social distancing and occupancy are followed, and that includes not letting people line up down the street (which they were, without masks), they will lose their licenses for a while.
It may be my Pollyanna streak talking, but it seems - from reading newspaper reports and such - as if there's a certain "scared straight" thing happening within the East Lansing restaurants/bars, since that big jump in cases from the one bar. That includes at least one formal resolution of their association (not sure if it was an emergency meeting, or a regular one).
I'm not saying the businesses weren't trying hard before (some were), but the rhetoric is up a notch, some have re-closed, there's been a drop in patronage because the public's sensible segment is staying away from the whole area so the restaurants' business dropped, they started having additional staffing problems (combination of staff fears and some quarantined because they visited the "problem" place), and more. So, the outbreak has had consequences and side effects besides sick people: PR and economics.
This - the economic/logistical side effects and their recognition and action - may be more likely to happen here than where you are. East Lansing is a smaller community, lots of bars/restaurants close together because of the university, and lots of publicity because cases had been dropping pretty low beforehand, and it's a smaller media market (less diffused) in the first place.
It seems conceivable - and I hope - that a certain amount of learning is taking place, and some resolve solidifying as a result. We'll see.7 -
GaleHawkins wrote: »T1DCarnivoreRunner wrote: »baconslave wrote: »MikePfirrman wrote: »The Tuscaloosa Alabama story -- students having Covid-19 parties, with a known infected person, putting money into a pot and the first one to officially "get it" gets the money -- makes me believe that we are the dumbest country in history. Sorry, there's no other way to look at it.
Went out to another outdoor concert last night, much better band this time. AZ rates are soaring. Only states worse are TX and CA, where my kids live! We went out again last night to eat and ate on a patio again.
I've resigned myself that there is no "back to normal" unless they find a vaccine for this. Or it could mutate so much that it won't be nearly as deadly. But once school is back in session, in the Fall, which I think is a terrible idea BTW, 1.5M dead doesn't seem too outrageous now. Perhaps 2M. The numbers don't lie. 5% have been infected and 130K dead. Multiply X 13. That's the point at which they say we will have herd immunity.
Our response as a country has been a pathetic combination of finger pointing, selfishness and incompetence.
Yep.
My sister lives in Houston, and I'm here in northeast TN, which is itchin' to catch up to TX. We have in this country a large population of entitled, uncaring, thoughtless, brats of widely varying ages. I have friends (30s & 40s), inlaws (60s), a 19-year-old sister-in-law, aunts and uncles (50s-70s) who are being so belligerent, selfish and ignorant. They are proof that unfortunately we can't just blame the lack of leadership of our government. Though they have certainly contributed greatly.
Totally agree. We need a national mask law with steep penalties. And strict enforcement.
With no or reduced funding for enforcement in the USA who's going to be the enforcement ?
Not sure what you are talking about. Many city police dept. are 1/3 to half of the city budget. Then there is county, state, and federal law enforcement. I've never heard that the government can't figure out how to collect fines and don't see why that changes now.3 -
T1DCarnivoreRunner wrote: »baconslave wrote: »MikePfirrman wrote: »The Tuscaloosa Alabama story -- students having Covid-19 parties, with a known infected person, putting money into a pot and the first one to officially "get it" gets the money -- makes me believe that we are the dumbest country in history. Sorry, there's no other way to look at it.
Went out to another outdoor concert last night, much better band this time. AZ rates are soaring. Only states worse are TX and CA, where my kids live! We went out again last night to eat and ate on a patio again.
I've resigned myself that there is no "back to normal" unless they find a vaccine for this. Or it could mutate so much that it won't be nearly as deadly. But once school is back in session, in the Fall, which I think is a terrible idea BTW, 1.5M dead doesn't seem too outrageous now. Perhaps 2M. The numbers don't lie. 5% have been infected and 130K dead. Multiply X 13. That's the point at which they say we will have herd immunity.
Our response as a country has been a pathetic combination of finger pointing, selfishness and incompetence.
Yep.
My sister lives in Houston, and I'm here in northeast TN, which is itchin' to catch up to TX. We have in this country a large population of entitled, uncaring, thoughtless, brats of widely varying ages. I have friends (30s & 40s), inlaws (60s), a 19-year-old sister-in-law, aunts and uncles (50s-70s) who are being so belligerent, selfish and ignorant. They are proof that unfortunately we can't just blame the lack of leadership of our government. Though they have certainly contributed greatly.
Totally agree. We need a national mask law with steep penalties. And strict enforcement.
What we really need is for the people to stop being such unmitigated a-holes. So many people claiming to be true patriots and followers of Christ, but can't be bothered to protect their fellow Americans. They want to get the economy going but won't do what it takes to keep it from shutting down again. It would be amusing if it weren't an actual crisis.
Yes, but I don't believe for a second that people will change their ways willingly. My suggestion for steep fines is to leave them no choice. Since they won't do the right thing on their own, they will have to be forced.4 -
Here in CA with spiking cases and new shutdowns, doing the best we can!
Speaking of COVID, I found out yesterday that my therapist has a patient who tested positive and they closed the facility down for about 5 days and tested all the therapists and staff. I missed one day of therapy when they cancelled my appt and I asked the receptionist if it was COVID related and she said no and that they would tell me if it was, liar! Luckily, everyone tested negative and I wasn't there the same time as his patient so I think I'm safe. Both of the therapists I worked with this week told me about it. Just a reminder of how quickly things can change though. The therapists all wear masks and change gloves with each patient and of course sanitize everything between patients so hopefully it will be just the one patient who presumably got it somewhere else. Hopefully he'll be okay, poor guy.
I've made an executive decision and decided to swim this weekend, I've never missed swimming on July 4th since we bought this house in 1987 and it's only 4 days earlier than my surgeon (hip replacement surgery) recommended so I think It'll be okay. I need something to cheer me up and look forward to this weekend so I'm going with swimming, a couple of margaritas and loud music. Just the 2 of us though compared to our normal 20+ crowd on the 4th!
Hope you're all doing well and looking forward to something this weekend!9 -
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/26/5/19-0994_article
This article is about influenza, but influenza is very much like covid in the fact that it is a contagious respiratory disease.
Thoughts?1 -
Pennsylvania has expanded the mask order here, possibly because so many thought that once we went to Green phase (mostly open) it was no longer a requirement. Anyone in public must wear a mask if they can't stay 6 feet apart. The Governor said they didn't intend to use police to enforce the rule; instead they would rely on the "good sense and cooperative spirit" of the public. Right! Good luck with that.4
-
GaleHawkins wrote: »T1DCarnivoreRunner wrote: »baconslave wrote: »MikePfirrman wrote: »The Tuscaloosa Alabama story -- students having Covid-19 parties, with a known infected person, putting money into a pot and the first one to officially "get it" gets the money -- makes me believe that we are the dumbest country in history. Sorry, there's no other way to look at it.
Went out to another outdoor concert last night, much better band this time. AZ rates are soaring. Only states worse are TX and CA, where my kids live! We went out again last night to eat and ate on a patio again.
I've resigned myself that there is no "back to normal" unless they find a vaccine for this. Or it could mutate so much that it won't be nearly as deadly. But once school is back in session, in the Fall, which I think is a terrible idea BTW, 1.5M dead doesn't seem too outrageous now. Perhaps 2M. The numbers don't lie. 5% have been infected and 130K dead. Multiply X 13. That's the point at which they say we will have herd immunity.
Our response as a country has been a pathetic combination of finger pointing, selfishness and incompetence.
Yep.
My sister lives in Houston, and I'm here in northeast TN, which is itchin' to catch up to TX. We have in this country a large population of entitled, uncaring, thoughtless, brats of widely varying ages. I have friends (30s & 40s), inlaws (60s), a 19-year-old sister-in-law, aunts and uncles (50s-70s) who are being so belligerent, selfish and ignorant. They are proof that unfortunately we can't just blame the lack of leadership of our government. Though they have certainly contributed greatly.
Totally agree. We need a national mask law with steep penalties. And strict enforcement.
With no or reduced funding for enforcement in the USA who's going to be the enforcement ?
Enforcement doesn't have to take the form of immediate physical restraint , tasering, and/or arrest. It can be in the form of consequences, such as "no-shop" lists like the "no-fly" lists airlines are saying they'll use for customers who won't wear masks. "No shirt, no shoes, no mask, no service."3 -
This outrageous!!!
Woman spits on 7-Eleven counter after being asked to wear a mask
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2020/07/02/7-eleven-mask-incident-viral-video-spits-counter/5368869002/5
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