Coronavirus prep
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rheddmobile wrote: »Changing the subject... twice recently I have run past playgrounds, at two different locations, which are now open and full of children from different households playing together, sharing slides and climbing tubes, hugging and wrestling, no masks, no distancing. Since schools are now open I guess parents figure they might as well throw caution to the winds? Since yesterday we had 115 new cases in the county, it’s making me a little angry that our governor and others are pretending this is over when it’s not.
My mom, meanwhile, is desperate to get a flu shot, but the problem is she can’t get one without doing something much more risky than she has done previously - going to a building full of sick people and waiting for half an hour, then being within arm’s reach of a probably infected health care worker giving the shot. Since she’s completely isolated and isolation will prevent flu transmission as well as Covid, it is much less risky for her NOT to get a flu shot, but she’s hearing the news saying everyone should get one this year.
Just some ideas that you can look into in your area. For me, I got my flue shot at a pop up at my grocery store exit. (Doubt that helps your mom) But a couple hours earlier, at a local Walgreens I saw them hosting something they called flu shot friday and they had an open air tent set up in the parking lot with social distanced seating for those receiving and those waiting for their shots. My husband got his flu shot at walgreens (store is pretty darned empty every time I go in) and set up an appointment online in advance. In my parents case, 85 and 83, they called the local senior center that turns out is running flu shot clinics. Now I don't know if you are seeking the senior shots as they are harder to find. My parents are getting that at the senior center, and my community facebook group announced when our local walgreens got another supply in.
Based on these experiences, with a few phone calls and/or facebook posts, you might be able to track down a local business that is offering flu shots without your mom going into a medical facility. Good luck!
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on holidays,
-Halloween, i am making goodie bags 2 weeks in advance and quarantining them in boxes. then hopefully the weather is kind and I am going to set up a table at the end go the driveway. I am going to have hand sanitizing supplies setup and available, and I have skeleton salad tongs to dole out the bags. If no one comes, I will have confessions coming in my MFP diary afterwards. :P last year we had 76 kids. No COVID but also not a Saturday.
- Thanksgiving, conversations have begun. It is either going to be very small or not at all. Regardless, everyone that has ever come is local so no distance travel considerations. We'll sort it out for real in a month
- Xmas - too far way.8 -
paperpudding wrote: »paperpudding wrote: »Here in Australia, people coming from overseas are put into hotel supervised quarantine for 2 weeks.
People travelling from some states into other states - self isolation at home for 2 weeks.
Police can and do randomly check that you are doing so.
anyone getting tested - self isolation at home until test result (usually next day results)
anyone positive - self isolation at home for 2 weeks. (unless hospitalised, of course - then complete the 2 weeks after discharge)
Self isolation means you stay at home and do not mix with other people masked or not. You stay in your own home, you do not go out in cars or public promotions and nobody visits you.
What Trump is doing post discharge would certainly not be allowed here.
No political statement - just facts about Covid rules.
Not that I am from australia, but from a story about a woman there, even state to state requires the hotel isolation as one end is likely not your second home. And the two week hotel cost is on the individual's dime. The story that I read was about a women who was supposed to fly to her boyfriend and hotel quarantine first and then instead skipped the flight where should could be tracked and hitch hiked directly to her boyfriend and avoid the quarentine and its cost. Or at least, that was the spin in the article.
The international incomers quarantining for 2 weeks in supervised hotels is national across Australia; the state rules about interstate incomers vary between states, that is true
As the Covid situation itself varies greatly between states.
The hotel accomodation was initially paid for by the govt and all overseas citizens had until x date to return and have accomodation paid for.
anyone returning after that date, must pay for their hotel accommodation themselves.
Have not heard of case you mention so cant comment on that.
There have, as in all countries, I suppose, been a few stupid people breaking the travel restriction rules.
Nice that your government was paying for their overseas citizens' returns. As for the crazy woman, this is not the article I originally saw, but another covering the same story that I found. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-539034980 -
Theoldguy1 wrote: »To steer the Rose Garden scenario towards a "prep" discussion.... DH and I are thinking of creating an outdoor living room in our carport. While it is really nice spending time outside now, we are thinking about December-January when our 2 college students will be living at home.
Disease vector considerations:
- short term: Both girls have excellent access to Covid testing and will test before returning home. They will isolate and retest, but that won't happen by Thanksgiving so we will be celebrating that outside. I think it will be nice. Different, but ok.
- longer term: The 3rd sister will be teaching 7th graders up until Xmas eve practically, and the 3 will gather over the months everyone is in town. I learned from the first shelter in place that I just cannot keep them apart. They need each other more than ever with reduced social outlets. So they need a place to do that safely in more inclement weather.
Air flow considerations:
- The carport is open on one side (3-car) with walls on the other 3 sides. The walls alternate brick (load bearing) and wood panels with 2 foot gaps at ceiling and floor.
In light of the Rose Garden, I'm seriously doubting that this space will provide enough air flow. Of course, experts speculate transmission was more likely during the subsequent indoor reception, but still, I wonder if it is enough and if the effort is worthwhile. Is anyone else doing anything similar?
Restaurants around here are trying to come up with some sort of tent like option that might be similar.
Here, for my own back yard, I just think it will be too cold for anything useable that's largely outdoors. I'm pretty worried about how this is going to be when it gets cold again.rheddmobile wrote: »Changing the subject... twice recently I have run past playgrounds, at two different locations, which are now open and full of children from different households playing together, sharing slides and climbing tubes, hugging and wrestling, no masks, no distancing. Since schools are now open I guess parents figure they might as well throw caution to the winds? Since yesterday we had 115 new cases in the county, it’s making me a little angry that our governor and others are pretending this is over when it’s not.
Public schools aren't open for in person schooling here yet, but there are various sports going on, and so I see groups of kids reasonably often. Some parents are doing pods where a smaller group of kids are getting together, but otherwise socially distancing, so perhaps (thinking positively) it's something like that?My mom, meanwhile, is desperate to get a flu shot, but the problem is she can’t get one without doing something much more risky than she has done previously - going to a building full of sick people and waiting for half an hour, then being within arm’s reach of a probably infected health care worker giving the shot. Since she’s completely isolated and isolation will prevent flu transmission as well as Covid, it is much less risky for her NOT to get a flu shot, but she’s hearing the news saying everyone should get one this year.
Is there not the "make an appt at Walgreens" option there?
The Walgreens around here don't advertise appointments but to be honest I never really checked if you could get an appointment. I went in and got mine about 8PM on a Sunday night, nobody around, in and out in 5 minutes.
I had an appt. Monday at Walgreens to get my flu shot. I show up and they're all out.
Really?? I had an appt.? 10 -
janejellyroll wrote: »Can we not talk about Trump anymore? It's very hard to discuss him without it becoming at least somewhat political and quite frankly this is not the place for politics (regardless of your views).
This is obviously one of the biggest current US impacts of Corona. I think it's working well so far -- people who feel like they can't discuss this without getting obviously political are clearly restraining themselves (or just commenting other places online). I think it's okay to MENTION that the leader of our country has been diagnosed with this illness and it isn't necessarily going to get political beyond that.
That Trump and many members of his inner circle have now been diagnosed is going to influence how people approach this for the fall and winter, probably both for better and worse. Urging others to ignore the basic facts of the situation for the sake of "avoiding politics" is, in and of itself, a blatantly political choice.
Speaking of the inner circle, from what I consider to be a fairly centrist source:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/mattperez/2020/10/06/trump-adviser-stephen-miller-tests-positive-for-covid-19/#1e0cbba01d60
Trump Adviser Stephen Miller Tests Positive For Covid-19
https://www.forbes.com/sites/jemimamcevoy/2020/10/06/joint-chiefs-of-staff-quarantining-after-top-coast-guard-official-tests-positive-for-covid-19/#6efd3ecf30fa
The country’s top military leader, Gen. Mark Milley, and other members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff are quarantining after the Coast Guard’s second-in-command tested positive for Covid-19 amid a worsening outbreak on Capitol Hill.0 -
paperpudding wrote: »Here in Australia, people coming from overseas are put into hotel supervised quarantine for 2 weeks.
People travelling from some states into other states - self isolation at home for 2 weeks.
Police can and do randomly check that you are doing so.
anyone getting tested - self isolation at home until test result (usually next day results)
anyone positive - self isolation at home for 2 weeks. (unless hospitalised, of course - then complete the 2 weeks after discharge)
Self isolation means you stay at home and do not mix with other people masked or not. You stay in your own home, you do not go out in cars or public promotions and nobody visits you.
What Trump is doing post discharge would certainly not be allowed here.
No political statement - just facts about Covid rules.
Out of curiosity, @paperpudding, about the bolded: If someone gets a test for other reasons than symptoms or exposure, are they still required to isolate until results arrive? (For example, I had a test recently because it was required before my scheduled colonoscopy - I hadn't been in contact with anyone with Covid that anyone knew of, no symptoms, hadn't traveled, etc. - pure precaution.) Or is it that testing isn't done there unless symptomatic or exposed or something that those that would cause worry?1 -
on holidays,
-Halloween, i am making goodie bags 2 weeks in advance and quarantining them in boxes. then hopefully the weather is kind and I am going to set up a table at the end go the driveway. I am going to have hand sanitizing supplies setup and available, and I have skeleton salad tongs to dole out the bags. If no one comes, I will have confessions coming in my MFP diary afterwards. :P last year we had 76 kids. No COVID but also not a Saturday.
I like your idea about Halloween. It is more effort into being safe than I expect most will put in. My neighborhood Facebook page indicates many will be taking their children trick-or-treating as usual this year, and see masks as sufficient. I made the mistake of remarking that trick or treating may not be prudent this year and no one agreed (at least publicly). I would rather turn off my porch light and just be the neighborhood grinch, but maybe putting a bowl of candy out on the porch is a lower effort compromise to appease the self-appointed Guardians of a Normal Halloween.3 -
paperpudding wrote: »paperpudding wrote: »Here in Australia, people coming from overseas are put into hotel supervised quarantine for 2 weeks.
People travelling from some states into other states - self isolation at home for 2 weeks.
Police can and do randomly check that you are doing so.
anyone getting tested - self isolation at home until test result (usually next day results)
anyone positive - self isolation at home for 2 weeks. (unless hospitalised, of course - then complete the 2 weeks after discharge)
Self isolation means you stay at home and do not mix with other people masked or not. You stay in your own home, you do not go out in cars or public promotions and nobody visits you.
What Trump is doing post discharge would certainly not be allowed here.
No political statement - just facts about Covid rules.
Not that I am from australia, but from a story about a woman there, even state to state requires the hotel isolation as one end is likely not your second home. And the two week hotel cost is on the individual's dime. The story that I read was about a women who was supposed to fly to her boyfriend and hotel quarantine first and then instead skipped the flight where should could be tracked and hitch hiked directly to her boyfriend and avoid the quarentine and its cost. Or at least, that was the spin in the article.
The international incomers quarantining for 2 weeks in supervised hotels is national across Australia; the state rules about interstate incomers vary between states, that is true
As the Covid situation itself varies greatly between states.
The hotel accomodation was initially paid for by the govt and all overseas citizens had until x date to return and have accomodation paid for.
anyone returning after that date, must pay for their hotel accommodation themselves.
Have not heard of case you mention so cant comment on that.
There have, as in all countries, I suppose, been a few stupid people breaking the travel restriction rules.
Nice that your government was paying for their overseas citizens' returns. As for the crazy woman, this is not the article I originally saw, but another covering the same story that I found. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-53903498
Serves her right - am 100% behind such sentences for people blatantly flaunting laws- and that wasnt a little flaunt, like having 2 more people at your gathering than allowed or somesuch - it was very planned deliberate and serious breaking of the law.
as you can see by that link - different states have different rules about their borders and people coming in from other states.
although these are constantly changing - so what were the rules in the article, in August, have since been changed.
But still different state by state.5 -
paperpudding wrote: »Here in Australia, people coming from overseas are put into hotel supervised quarantine for 2 weeks.
People travelling from some states into other states - self isolation at home for 2 weeks.
Police can and do randomly check that you are doing so.
anyone getting tested - self isolation at home until test result (usually next day results)
anyone positive - self isolation at home for 2 weeks. (unless hospitalised, of course - then complete the 2 weeks after discharge)
Self isolation means you stay at home and do not mix with other people masked or not. You stay in your own home, you do not go out in cars or public promotions and nobody visits you.
What Trump is doing post discharge would certainly not be allowed here.
No political statement - just facts about Covid rules.
Out of curiosity, @paperpudding, about the bolded: If someone gets a test for other reasons than symptoms or exposure, are they still required to isolate until results arrive? (For example, I had a test recently because it was required before my scheduled colonoscopy - I hadn't been in contact with anyone with Covid that anyone knew of, no symptoms, hadn't traveled, etc. - pure precaution.) Or is it that testing isn't done there unless symptomatic or exposed or something that those that would cause worry?
Keep in mind that Australia has 6 states and 2 mainland territories
(some small faraway island territories like Norfolk Island - but I have no idea what Covid situation is there)
so rules are not same in all of them.
Here in South Australia you get tested if you are symptomatic,no matter how mild, or if you have any direct or indirect contact with a case.
and self isolate until results - usually next day.
that is separate to returned travellers or exempt interstate workers (truck drivers, for example)
You do not need to get tested prior to procedures - my husband went to hospital as an outpatient for an echocardiogram last week and my mother goes to hospital for outpatient chemotherapy - they were not tested.
Keep in mind that community transmisson in SA is next to nil now.
There are currently 3 active cases in the entire state (about 1.8 million people) and all of those are returned travellers in self isolation or quarantine.
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Everybody's talking about testing but call me skeptical. Exactly how reliable are the tests?? I hear so much about false positives/negatives or where they test negative this day but positive the next or vice versa. I guess I'm not putting all my faith in every test of positive/negative that I hear about. 3
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Everybody's talking about testing but call me skeptical. Exactly how reliable are the tests?? I hear so much about false positives/negatives or where they test negative this day but positive the next or vice versa. I guess I'm not putting all my faith in every test of positive/negative that I hear about.
I totally agree. I was shocking by the info I had stumbled on like a week and a half ago and the level of accuracy or inaccuracy. I was looking due to approaching holidays and potential travels to our florida condo, trying to see if tests could broaden our options. We decided that we will likely stay with the quarentine route.3 -
Everybody's talking about testing but call me skeptical. Exactly how reliable are the tests?? I hear so much about false positives/negatives or where they test negative this day but positive the next or vice versa. I guess I'm not putting all my faith in every test of positive/negative that I hear about.
The type of test seems to matter a lot as far as accuracy. The original option of the nasal swab is still the best, from what I've read, followed by the saliva tests. The least accurate is those quick-tests that the government was relying on for people who, as an example, were going to have contact with the President. The quick-tests, with results in less than 15 minutes, possibly only have about 50 percent accuracy.
The other problem is that we are still not sure how long it takes from exposure to the virus to the time you would test positive. If you are known to be exposed today, you wouldn't get a positive test tomorrow. So, the timing of the test really matters, too.8 -
Massachusetts Governor Baker announced that he is not canceling Halloween this year, and this is what he said. “And the reason we’re not canceling Halloween is because that would have turned into thousands of indoor Halloween parties, which would have been a heck of a lot worse for public safety and for the spread of the virus than outdoor, organized, and supervised trick-or-treating.”
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Massachusetts Governor Baker announced that he is not canceling Halloween this year, and this is what he said. “And the reason we’re not canceling Halloween is because that would have turned into thousands of indoor Halloween parties, which would have been a heck of a lot worse for public safety and for the spread of the virus than outdoor, organized, and supervised trick-or-treating.”
He’s probably right, but if I had a child that age, I’d probably arrange some kind of virtual trick or treating event. Let them dress up, get treats they want, and hope for back to normal next year. Make it a special day and avoid possible exposure to other people you have no idea whether or not they’ve been exposed. It’s sad, but so many people have had to lose out on special events this year. With all the holidays coming up, a lot of occasions are going to be very different for many of us. 😷4 -
missysippy930 wrote: »Massachusetts Governor Baker announced that he is not canceling Halloween this year, and this is what he said. “And the reason we’re not canceling Halloween is because that would have turned into thousands of indoor Halloween parties, which would have been a heck of a lot worse for public safety and for the spread of the virus than outdoor, organized, and supervised trick-or-treating.”
He’s probably right, but if I had a child that age, I’d probably arrange some kind of virtual trick or treating event. Let them dress up, get treats they want, and hope for back to normal next year. Make it a special day and avoid possible exposure to other people you have no idea whether or not they’ve been exposed. It’s sad, but so many people have had to lose out on special events this year. With all the holidays coming up, a lot of occasions are going to be very different for many of us. 😷
In my neighborhood, houses are on a minimum of a acre of land. I am going to set up at the end of the driveway, with large table, pre-quarentined treat bags and sanitizing stations. Hopefully parents with be responsible for monitoring their kids the rest of the time. Hoping for no rain!2 -
To steer the Rose Garden scenario towards a "prep" discussion.... DH and I are thinking of creating an outdoor living room in our carport. While it is really nice spending time outside now, we are thinking about December-January when our 2 college students will be living at home.
Disease vector considerations:
- short term: Both girls have excellent access to Covid testing and will test before returning home. They will isolate and retest, but that won't happen by Thanksgiving so we will be celebrating that outside. I think it will be nice. Different, but ok.
- longer term: The 3rd sister will be teaching 7th graders up until Xmas eve practically, and the 3 will gather over the months everyone is in town. I learned from the first shelter in place that I just cannot keep them apart. They need each other more than ever with reduced social outlets. So they need a place to do that safely in more inclement weather.
Air flow considerations:
- The carport is open on one side (3-car) with walls on the other 3 sides. The walls alternate brick (load bearing) and wood panels with 2 foot gaps at ceiling and floor.
In light of the Rose Garden, I'm seriously doubting that this space will provide enough air flow. Of course, experts speculate transmission was more likely during the subsequent indoor reception, but still, I wonder if it is enough and if the effort is worthwhile. Is anyone else doing anything similar?
Restaurants around here are trying to come up with some sort of tent like option that might be similar.
Here, for my own back yard, I just think it will be too cold for anything useable that's largely outdoors. I'm pretty worried about how this is going to be when it gets cold again.rheddmobile wrote: »Changing the subject... twice recently I have run past playgrounds, at two different locations, which are now open and full of children from different households playing together, sharing slides and climbing tubes, hugging and wrestling, no masks, no distancing. Since schools are now open I guess parents figure they might as well throw caution to the winds? Since yesterday we had 115 new cases in the county, it’s making me a little angry that our governor and others are pretending this is over when it’s not.
Public schools aren't open for in person schooling here yet, but there are various sports going on, and so I see groups of kids reasonably often. Some parents are doing pods where a smaller group of kids are getting together, but otherwise socially distancing, so perhaps (thinking positively) it's something like that?My mom, meanwhile, is desperate to get a flu shot, but the problem is she can’t get one without doing something much more risky than she has done previously - going to a building full of sick people and waiting for half an hour, then being within arm’s reach of a probably infected health care worker giving the shot. Since she’s completely isolated and isolation will prevent flu transmission as well as Covid, it is much less risky for her NOT to get a flu shot, but she’s hearing the news saying everyone should get one this year.
Is there not the "make an appt at Walgreens" option there?
Or drive through flu-shot events, as there are here?
If you make an appointment at a Walgreens here you will be lucky if you only wait half an hour in the waiting area. It doesn’t mean they will keep your appointment in a timely fashion. We have searched in vain for a drive-through event.0 -
Everybody's talking about testing but call me skeptical. Exactly how reliable are the tests?? I hear so much about false positives/negatives or where they test negative this day but positive the next or vice versa. I guess I'm not putting all my faith in every test of positive/negative that I hear about.
Depends on the test. False negatives are actually very rare...false positives are more common. Testing negative one day and positive another doesn't necessarily indicate the test was faulty. Look at the NFL....they test every single day...negative, negative, negative...positive...just the nature of viruses.
The quick tests are the least accurate and definitely require a follow up confirmation...kinda like a pregnancy test. I would imagine at some point these types of tests will be available in drug stores which would actually go a long way and containment, even if they aren't as accurate as other tests...and again, you're far more likely to get a false positive than a false negative.
The nasal swab has a pretty high degree of accuracy as do the mouth swabs...
Also, be careful of "hearing stories"...at this point, there is so much urban myth floating around on social media by deniers that it's pitiful. I know several people in the healthcare field as well as a few that work for DOH and they pretty much roll their eyes at many of these stories...you will note, they are always "I know someone" or "a friend told me", etc.
If there were huge issues with testing it would be reported on by more than just a bunch of Facebook spreaders.9 -
Massachusetts Governor Baker announced that he is not canceling Halloween this year, and this is what he said. “And the reason we’re not canceling Halloween is because that would have turned into thousands of indoor Halloween parties, which would have been a heck of a lot worse for public safety and for the spread of the virus than outdoor, organized, and supervised trick-or-treating.”
That makes sense.3 -
Massachusetts Governor Baker announced that he is not canceling Halloween this year, and this is what he said. “And the reason we’re not canceling Halloween is because that would have turned into thousands of indoor Halloween parties, which would have been a heck of a lot worse for public safety and for the spread of the virus than outdoor, organized, and supervised trick-or-treating.”
Chicago isn't canceling either -- just trying to avoid traditional haunted houses (and parties too, I'm sure) and big groups. The focus is on keeping people in small, family groups, social distancing (not sure exactly how that works if one is actually handing out candy at the door, as 6 ft apart isn't realistic then), and masks. I think the risk is pretty low, really, but haven't decided yet if I'll put a light on and participate. I could just put some candy out on the porch and keep an eye on it so I can refill.1 -
rheddmobile wrote: »To steer the Rose Garden scenario towards a "prep" discussion.... DH and I are thinking of creating an outdoor living room in our carport. While it is really nice spending time outside now, we are thinking about December-January when our 2 college students will be living at home.
Disease vector considerations:
- short term: Both girls have excellent access to Covid testing and will test before returning home. They will isolate and retest, but that won't happen by Thanksgiving so we will be celebrating that outside. I think it will be nice. Different, but ok.
- longer term: The 3rd sister will be teaching 7th graders up until Xmas eve practically, and the 3 will gather over the months everyone is in town. I learned from the first shelter in place that I just cannot keep them apart. They need each other more than ever with reduced social outlets. So they need a place to do that safely in more inclement weather.
Air flow considerations:
- The carport is open on one side (3-car) with walls on the other 3 sides. The walls alternate brick (load bearing) and wood panels with 2 foot gaps at ceiling and floor.
In light of the Rose Garden, I'm seriously doubting that this space will provide enough air flow. Of course, experts speculate transmission was more likely during the subsequent indoor reception, but still, I wonder if it is enough and if the effort is worthwhile. Is anyone else doing anything similar?
Restaurants around here are trying to come up with some sort of tent like option that might be similar.
Here, for my own back yard, I just think it will be too cold for anything useable that's largely outdoors. I'm pretty worried about how this is going to be when it gets cold again.rheddmobile wrote: »Changing the subject... twice recently I have run past playgrounds, at two different locations, which are now open and full of children from different households playing together, sharing slides and climbing tubes, hugging and wrestling, no masks, no distancing. Since schools are now open I guess parents figure they might as well throw caution to the winds? Since yesterday we had 115 new cases in the county, it’s making me a little angry that our governor and others are pretending this is over when it’s not.
Public schools aren't open for in person schooling here yet, but there are various sports going on, and so I see groups of kids reasonably often. Some parents are doing pods where a smaller group of kids are getting together, but otherwise socially distancing, so perhaps (thinking positively) it's something like that?My mom, meanwhile, is desperate to get a flu shot, but the problem is she can’t get one without doing something much more risky than she has done previously - going to a building full of sick people and waiting for half an hour, then being within arm’s reach of a probably infected health care worker giving the shot. Since she’s completely isolated and isolation will prevent flu transmission as well as Covid, it is much less risky for her NOT to get a flu shot, but she’s hearing the news saying everyone should get one this year.
Is there not the "make an appt at Walgreens" option there?
Or drive through flu-shot events, as there are here?
If you make an appointment at a Walgreens here you will be lucky if you only wait half an hour in the waiting area. It doesn’t mean they will keep your appointment in a timely fashion. We have searched in vain for a drive-through event.rheddmobile wrote: »To steer the Rose Garden scenario towards a "prep" discussion.... DH and I are thinking of creating an outdoor living room in our carport. While it is really nice spending time outside now, we are thinking about December-January when our 2 college students will be living at home.
Disease vector considerations:
- short term: Both girls have excellent access to Covid testing and will test before returning home. They will isolate and retest, but that won't happen by Thanksgiving so we will be celebrating that outside. I think it will be nice. Different, but ok.
- longer term: The 3rd sister will be teaching 7th graders up until Xmas eve practically, and the 3 will gather over the months everyone is in town. I learned from the first shelter in place that I just cannot keep them apart. They need each other more than ever with reduced social outlets. So they need a place to do that safely in more inclement weather.
Air flow considerations:
- The carport is open on one side (3-car) with walls on the other 3 sides. The walls alternate brick (load bearing) and wood panels with 2 foot gaps at ceiling and floor.
In light of the Rose Garden, I'm seriously doubting that this space will provide enough air flow. Of course, experts speculate transmission was more likely during the subsequent indoor reception, but still, I wonder if it is enough and if the effort is worthwhile. Is anyone else doing anything similar?
Restaurants around here are trying to come up with some sort of tent like option that might be similar.
Here, for my own back yard, I just think it will be too cold for anything useable that's largely outdoors. I'm pretty worried about how this is going to be when it gets cold again.rheddmobile wrote: »Changing the subject... twice recently I have run past playgrounds, at two different locations, which are now open and full of children from different households playing together, sharing slides and climbing tubes, hugging and wrestling, no masks, no distancing. Since schools are now open I guess parents figure they might as well throw caution to the winds? Since yesterday we had 115 new cases in the county, it’s making me a little angry that our governor and others are pretending this is over when it’s not.
Public schools aren't open for in person schooling here yet, but there are various sports going on, and so I see groups of kids reasonably often. Some parents are doing pods where a smaller group of kids are getting together, but otherwise socially distancing, so perhaps (thinking positively) it's something like that?My mom, meanwhile, is desperate to get a flu shot, but the problem is she can’t get one without doing something much more risky than she has done previously - going to a building full of sick people and waiting for half an hour, then being within arm’s reach of a probably infected health care worker giving the shot. Since she’s completely isolated and isolation will prevent flu transmission as well as Covid, it is much less risky for her NOT to get a flu shot, but she’s hearing the news saying everyone should get one this year.
Is there not the "make an appt at Walgreens" option there?
Or drive through flu-shot events, as there are here?
If you make an appointment at a Walgreens here you will be lucky if you only wait half an hour in the waiting area. It doesn’t mean they will keep your appointment in a timely fashion. We have searched in vain for a drive-through event.
Here they're doing appointment only for flu shots this year, first by at risk groups, then seniors, then kids, then the rest of us can start getting them towards the end of the month. When my dad with COPD went he was in and out in about 5 minutes.8 -
cwolfman13 wrote: »Everybody's talking about testing but call me skeptical. Exactly how reliable are the tests?? I hear so much about false positives/negatives or where they test negative this day but positive the next or vice versa. I guess I'm not putting all my faith in every test of positive/negative that I hear about.
Depends on the test. False negatives are actually very rare...false positives are more common. Testing negative one day and positive another doesn't necessarily indicate the test was faulty. Look at the NFL....they test every single day...negative, negative, negative...positive...just the nature of viruses.
The quick tests are the least accurate and definitely require a follow up confirmation...kinda like a pregnancy test. I would imagine at some point these types of tests will be available in drug stores which would actually go a long way and containment, even if they aren't as accurate as other tests...and again, you're far more likely to get a false positive than a false negative.
The nasal swab has a pretty high degree of accuracy as do the mouth swabs...
Also, be careful of "hearing stories"...at this point, there is so much urban myth floating around on social media by deniers that it's pitiful. I know several people in the healthcare field as well as a few that work for DOH and they pretty much roll their eyes at many of these stories...you will note, they are always "I know someone" or "a friend told me", etc.
If there were huge issues with testing it would be reported on by more than just a bunch of Facebook spreaders.
Agreed. I also think it's useful not to think of testing's value as a rigid thing, i.e., that they're either perfect or valueless.
There are false positives and negatives, but odds are that a positive test means one has the virus, and that isolating will reduce spread. A few people may isolate unnecessarily. There may be some false negatives, so some people who shouldn't be out exposing others, but overall more testing shifts the odds toward fewer contagious people wandering around.
Reducing the number of spreaders walking around in the world has benefits at the population level - reduces the extent of future exposure and spread. It can also change the odds for one's immediate associates, even if there are some false positives/negatives.7 -
Massachusetts Governor Baker announced that he is not canceling Halloween this year, and this is what he said. “And the reason we’re not canceling Halloween is because that would have turned into thousands of indoor Halloween parties, which would have been a heck of a lot worse for public safety and for the spread of the virus than outdoor, organized, and supervised trick-or-treating.”
In my neighborhood, kids pretty much social distance in their "pods" when trick-or-treating, anyway. I'm prepackaging my handfuls of treats; I haven't come up with a way to deliver remotely, though.1 -
In my neighborhood, the parents usually drive the kids door to door at Halloween. Only a few walk the 50 feet or so between houses. (They also drive them 50 yards from the bus stop after school.) The last few years, there have been few kids going door to door because there were a lot of alternate "trunk or treat" events in town at churches and schools. Those would be much more crowded than going door to door - hundreds of people in one place over the two hours or so that they last - so this year may be different. OTOH, not many people in my area take Covid seriously, based on the number I see without masks or with masks worn badly.1
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cwolfman13 wrote: »Everybody's talking about testing but call me skeptical. Exactly how reliable are the tests?? I hear so much about false positives/negatives or where they test negative this day but positive the next or vice versa. I guess I'm not putting all my faith in every test of positive/negative that I hear about.
Depends on the test. False negatives are actually very rare...false positives are more common. Testing negative one day and positive another doesn't necessarily indicate the test was faulty. Look at the NFL....they test every single day...negative, negative, negative...positive...just the nature of viruses.
The quick tests are the least accurate and definitely require a follow up confirmation...kinda like a pregnancy test. I would imagine at some point these types of tests will be available in drug stores which would actually go a long way and containment, even if they aren't as accurate as other tests...and again, you're far more likely to get a false positive than a false negative.
The nasal swab has a pretty high degree of accuracy as do the mouth swabs...
Also, be careful of "hearing stories"...at this point, there is so much urban myth floating around on social media by deniers that it's pitiful. I know several people in the healthcare field as well as a few that work for DOH and they pretty much roll their eyes at many of these stories...you will note, they are always "I know someone" or "a friend told me", etc.
If there were huge issues with testing it would be reported on by more than just a bunch of Facebook spreaders.
Agreed. I also think it's useful not to think of testing's value as a rigid thing, i.e., that they're either perfect or valueless.
There are false positives and negatives, but odds are that a positive test means one has the virus, and that isolating will reduce spread. A few people may isolate unnecessarily. There may be some false negatives, so some people who shouldn't be out exposing others, but overall more testing shifts the odds toward fewer contagious people wandering around.
Reducing the number of spreaders walking around in the world has benefits at the population level - reduces the extent of future exposure and spread. It can also change the odds for one's immediate associates, even if there are some false positives/negatives.
QFT!1 -
Massachusetts Governor Baker announced that he is not canceling Halloween this year, and this is what he said. “And the reason we’re not canceling Halloween is because that would have turned into thousands of indoor Halloween parties, which would have been a heck of a lot worse for public safety and for the spread of the virus than outdoor, organized, and supervised trick-or-treating.”
Chicago isn't canceling either -- just trying to avoid traditional haunted houses (and parties too, I'm sure) and big groups. The focus is on keeping people in small, family groups, social distancing (not sure exactly how that works if one is actually handing out candy at the door, as 6 ft apart isn't realistic then), and masks. I think the risk is pretty low, really, but haven't decided yet if I'll put a light on and participate. I could just put some candy out on the porch and keep an eye on it so I can refill.
We usually have lots of trick or treaters since we live near 5 schools but I suspect there will be fewer this year even though there has been no official cancellation notice for our area (I'm in Washington). We had already planned to not participate this year even though it's one of my favorite holidays - I love seeing all the kids in their costumes. But my husband is in an ultra high risk group and it's just not worth the chance (no matter how small) of him being infected.5 -
If the weather's fine I'm just going to bring a card table out to the front of the driveway, lysol wipe it down real good, dump a box or two of candy onto it and sit back 10 feet or so and read a book.10
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stevehenderson776 wrote: »If the weather's fine I'm just going to bring a card table out to the front of the driveway, lysol wipe it down real good, dump a box or two of candy onto it and sit back 10 feet or so and read a book.
That's a good idea, although like you said, dependent on the weather. Last year we had fewer kids than usual because it snowed, so it wouldn't have worked.
I have a bench on my front porch so could sit there and have the candy in a bowl on the stairs to the porch, which would be plenty far away. Or as mentioned before, I could trust the honor system and just have a bowl on the porch and a sign. I'm curious how many kids will actually show up. (Reminds me I should put my decorations out, such as they are, tonight.)2 -
stevehenderson776 wrote: »If the weather's fine I'm just going to bring a card table out to the front of the driveway, lysol wipe it down real good, dump a box or two of candy onto it and sit back 10 feet or so and read a book.
That's a good idea, although like you said, dependent on the weather. Last year we had fewer kids than usual because it snowed, so it wouldn't have worked.
I have a bench on my front porch so could sit there and have the candy in a bowl on the stairs to the porch, which would be plenty far away. Or as mentioned before, I could trust the honor system and just have a bowl on the porch and a sign. I'm curious how many kids will actually show up. (Reminds me I should put my decorations out, such as they are, tonight.)
When I was a kid, we had a neighbor that always put out a big bowl with a sign that said "Take One, Please". We would try to get there early, but it was always empty. We figured some rotten kids cleaned it out.
Years later, the neighbor admitted to my parents that he always just put out an empty bowl.
Hmmm...might be a good tactic this year.
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Everybody's talking about testing but call me skeptical. Exactly how reliable are the tests?? I hear so much about false positives/negatives or where they test negative this day but positive the next or vice versa. I guess I'm not putting all my faith in every test of positive/negative that I hear about.
Good piece on the problems with the WH testing method: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/06/health/covid-white-house-testing.html
"Other health experts noted that the tests deployed by the White House, manufactured by Abbott Laboratories, were given emergency clearance by the Food and Drug Administration only for people “within the first seven days of the onset of symptoms.” But they were used incorrectly, to screen people who were not showing any signs of illness. Such off-label use, experts said, further compromised a strategy that presumably was designed to keep leading officials safe from a pandemic that so far has killed more than 210,000 Americans.
“It’s not being used for the intended purpose,” said Syra Madad, an infectious disease epidemiologist based in New York. “So there will be potentially a lot of false negatives and false positives.”
Abbott’s rapid coronavirus tests, called the ID NOW and BinaxNOW, are speedy, portable and easy to operate, delivering results in minutes. But the convenience comes at a cost: The products are less accurate than laboratory tests that use a technique called polymerase chain reaction, or P.C.R., and they more frequently miss infections or mistakenly designate healthy people as infected, as happened to Gov. Mike DeWine of Ohio in August."...
...both Abbott rapid tests are intended for people with Covid-19 symptoms, early on in their illness. When Abbott submitted the tests for emergency authorization from the F.D.A., the company provided data only for people with symptoms. When used appropriately, the company has said, both tests perform about 95 percent as well as P.C.R. But how well the products do in asymptomatic individuals remains murky."
I don't see any reason not to trust tests in general. Also, testing negative one day and positive the next is to be expected, as you can always contract it, and it seems to be harder to detect sooner after exposure.8 -
Massachusetts Governor Baker announced that he is not canceling Halloween this year, and this is what he said. “And the reason we’re not canceling Halloween is because that would have turned into thousands of indoor Halloween parties, which would have been a heck of a lot worse for public safety and for the spread of the virus than outdoor, organized, and supervised trick-or-treating.”
In my neighborhood, kids pretty much social distance in their "pods" when trick-or-treating, anyway. I'm prepackaging my handfuls of treats; I haven't come up with a way to deliver remotely, though.
@oocdc2 I bought these (I see that only 2 are left) https://www.ebay.com/itm/Halloween-Skeleton-hand-dinner-salad-server-tongs-gray/380268811624?hash=item5889c99568:g:b5UAAOSwKtZZkIk21
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