OT: COVID-19 thread #4

[Dresden]

Biden’s Covid-19 Plan Is Maddeningly Obvious
It is infuriating that the Trump administration left so many of these things undone.

"I wish I could tell you that the incoming Biden administration had a genius plan for combating Covid-19, thick with ideas no one else had thought of and strategies no one else had tried. But it doesn’t.

What it does have is the obvious plan for combating Covid-19, full of ideas many others have thought of and strategies it is appalling we haven’t yet tried. That it is possible for Joe Biden and his team to release a plan this straightforward is the most damning indictment of the Trump administration’s coronavirus response imaginable."

...

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/18/opinion/biden-covid-19-plan.html?action=click&module=Opinion&pgtype=Homepage

[Dresden]

Only 142K new cases yesterday, and 1,440 deaths. 14 day moving average for new cases was negative for the first time in probably a month, maybe two. Let's hope that trend continues. Maybe we are finally seeing end of holiday surge....

[jmajew]

Only 142K new cases yesterday, and 1,440 deaths. 14 day moving average for new cases was negative for the first time in probably a month, maybe two. Let's hope that trend continues. Maybe we are finally seeing end of holiday surge....

Illinois has seen the end of any surge. I'm starting to get excited. I don't plan on going to restaurants for a very long time, in all honesty, I never really enjoyed it so I'm hoping this becomes a permanent change. I do plan on wearing my mask for as long as it takes to get all this under control. As of right now I'm planning on requiring a mask be warn at work during flu season for next year as well. I just believe that it will help keep everyone healthier.

[TeamMan]

Just for everyone's information, I did not make a single post under the "OT: Storming of the Capitol/Coup Attempt" thread.

For me, it was just too disturbing to even think about.

However, there is one thing that has left me mystified over these past years, and it's that there seemed to be an overall lack of remorse (even a lack of interest) in all of those people who have died.

Not only from Covid-19, but in so many other ways, including those that died during that sad day in the Capital Building.

So, that's why it came as almost a shock when someone took that time to morn those many people who have died from Covid-19.

If you live long enough, one of the saddest things that will occur in your life is seeing the people around you pass away. I was lucky because I got the chance to talk to my mother on her death bed and she told me some things that she'd held back from telling me my entire life.

But some of my cousins didn't get the chance to be with their parents before they died, and it left them with a sense of emptiness.

And for that reason, I'm happy for all of those survivors of the Covid-19 dead, that someone gave them a chance to morn those loved ones that they weren't able to be with (or even come and look at) during their final time as they were passing away.

[Dresden]

Only 142K new cases yesterday, and 1,440 deaths. 14 day moving average for new cases was negative for the first time in probably a month, maybe two. Let's hope that trend continues. Maybe we are finally seeing end of holiday surge....

Illinois has seen the end of any surge. I'm starting to get excited. I don't plan on going to restaurants for a very long time, in all honesty, I never really enjoyed it so I'm hoping this becomes a permanent change. I do plan on wearing my mask for as long as it takes to get all this under control. As of right now I'm planning on requiring a mask be warn at work during flu season for next year as well. I just believe that it will help keep everyone healthier.

It makes a lot of sense to keep wearing mask, washing and disinfecting hands frequently, etc. Just good hygiene when diseases are going around.

Biden is aiming for 100 million doses of vaccine administered in his first 100 days. I hope he can deliver on that.

We had another day with under 200K new cases, and fewer than 3K deaths yesterday.

[TheEndIsNigh]

Only 142K new cases yesterday, and 1,440 deaths. 14 day moving average for new cases was negative for the first time in probably a month, maybe two. Let's hope that trend continues. Maybe we are finally seeing end of holiday surge....

Illinois has seen the end of any surge. I'm starting to get excited. I don't plan on going to restaurants for a very long time, in all honesty, I never really enjoyed it so I'm hoping this becomes a permanent change. I do plan on wearing my mask for as long as it takes to get all this under control. As of right now I'm planning on requiring a mask be warn at work during flu season for next year as well. I just believe that it will help keep everyone healthier.

It makes a lot of sense to keep wearing mask, washing and disinfecting hands frequently, etc. Just good hygiene when diseases are going around.

Biden is aiming for 100 million doses of vaccine administered in his first 100 days. I hope he can deliver on that.

We had another day with under 200K new cases, and fewer than 3K deaths yesterday.

You know what has been a pretty awesome side effect of following these basic protocols this fall and winter? Nobody in our household has gotten sick yet, at all. No flu, no colds, no coughs, no sniffles. Nothing. I'll wear a mask in public and wash my hands like I'm ocd for that. It really is a noticeable impact.

[HomoSapien]

My uncle who is a doctor and is now fully vaccinated, tested positive for Covid. He's completely symptomless but unfortunately gave it to his 9-year-old daughter (or at least he believes he did). She's feeling it pretty hard, day four of a high fever, unable to keep down food or water (for the first two days...slightly better now), and pretty bad headaches. Thankfully she isn't experiencing any respiratory issues.

[Chi town]

My uncle who is a doctor and is now fully vaccinated, tested positive for Covid. He's completely symptomless but unfortunately gave it to his 9-year-old daughter (or at least he believes he did). She's feeling it pretty hard, day four of a high fever, unable to keep down food or water (for the first two days...slightly better now), and pretty bad headaches. Thankfully she isn't experiencing any respiratory issues.

That sucks. Sorry to hear. Hope she recovers quickly.

[Chi town]

Illinois has seen the end of any surge. I'm starting to get excited. I don't plan on going to restaurants for a very long time, in all honesty, I never really enjoyed it so I'm hoping this becomes a permanent change. I do plan on wearing my mask for as long as it takes to get all this under control. As of right now I'm planning on requiring a mask be warn at work during flu season for next year as well. I just believe that it will help keep everyone healthier.

It makes a lot of sense to keep wearing mask, washing and disinfecting hands frequently, etc. Just good hygiene when diseases are going around.

Biden is aiming for 100 million doses of vaccine administered in his first 100 days. I hope he can deliver on that.

We had another day with under 200K new cases, and fewer than 3K deaths yesterday.

You know what has been a pretty awesome side effect of following these basic protocols this fall and winter? Nobody in our household has gotten sick yet, at all. No flu, no colds, no coughs, no sniffles. Nothing. I'll wear a mask in public and wash my hands like I'm ocd for that. It really is a noticeable impact.

I think there are spaces where this will become the future... Public Transport etc.

As for the downside to mask wearing... How do you meet new people in new environments?
How do you connect with people you know with the masks on?

Relationally IMO it hinders connection.

[Dresden]

My uncle who is a doctor and is now fully vaccinated, tested positive for Covid. He's completely symptomless but unfortunately gave it to his 9-year-old daughter (or at least he believes he did). She's feeling it pretty hard, day four of a high fever, unable to keep down food or water (for the first two days...slightly better now), and pretty bad headaches. Thankfully she isn't experiencing any respiratory issues.

Does he think he infected his daughter AFTER he was vaccinated? I think that's pretty rare.

[HomoSapien]

My uncle who is a doctor and is now fully vaccinated, tested positive for Covid. He's completely symptomless but unfortunately gave it to his 9-year-old daughter (or at least he believes he did). She's feeling it pretty hard, day four of a high fever, unable to keep down food or water (for the first two days...slightly better now), and pretty bad headaches. Thankfully she isn't experiencing any respiratory issues.

Does he think he infected his daughter AFTER he was vaccinated? I think that's pretty rare.

Yes, he received his second dose several weeks ago.

[TheEndIsNigh]

It makes a lot of sense to keep wearing mask, washing and disinfecting hands frequently, etc. Just good hygiene when diseases are going around.

Biden is aiming for 100 million doses of vaccine administered in his first 100 days. I hope he can deliver on that.

We had another day with under 200K new cases, and fewer than 3K deaths yesterday.

You know what has been a pretty awesome side effect of following these basic protocols this fall and winter? Nobody in our household has gotten sick yet, at all. No flu, no colds, no coughs, no sniffles. Nothing. I'll wear a mask in public and wash my hands like I'm ocd for that. It really is a noticeable impact.

I think there are spaces where this will become the future... Public Transport etc.

As for the downside to mask wearing... How do you meet new people in new environments?
How do you connect with people you know with the masks on?

Relationally IMO it hinders connection.

I actually find it easier. Eyes speak volumes. Then again, I'm admittedly a different kind of cat.

[Dresden]

Hopefully Biden's team can initiate a more robust federal response to the pandemic in the coming days and weeks:

WASHINGTON — President Biden will use his first full day in office on Thursday to go on the offensive against the coronavirus, with a 200-page national strategy that includes aggressive use of executive authority to protect workers, advance racial equity and ramp up the manufacturing of test kits, vaccines and supplies.

The “National Strategy for the Covid-19 Response and Pandemic Preparedness,” previewed in a 21-page summary on Wednesday evening by Mr. Biden’s advisers, outlines the kind of muscular and highly coordinated federal response that Democrats have long demanded and President Donald J. Trump refused.

Instead, Mr. Trump insisted that state governments take the lead. The Biden advisers said they were stunned by the vaccination plan — or the lack of one — that it inherited from the outgoing Trump administration, and said the Trump team failed to share crucial information about supplies and vaccine availability.

“What we’re inheriting is so much worse than we could have imagined,” said Jeff Zients, the new White House Covid-19 response coordinator, adding, “The cooperation or lack of cooperation from the Trump administration has been an impediment. We don’t have the visibility that we would hope to have into supply and allocations.”

It's really sick that the Trump administration failed to cooperate on such a life and death matter with the Biden team.

[Dresden]

The US did re-join the WHO yesterday, too.

[Dresden]

I heard a pretty convincing argument made the other day that what we really need is a 4-6 week national lockdown. A harsh one, like they did in so many other countries, including Australia. Do it state by state, city by city, neighborhood by neighborhood. Pretty much a complete shutdown, and then as soon as cases get down to 0, you can open back up without restrictions in each locale, as long as you keep it isolated (no one in and out without quarantining or being otherwise checked).

Cases can be brought down to zero in pretty short order if the lockdown is strict enough, and then when that happens, there is no danger in opening back up to the fullest extent, because there will be no virus present in that community.

It's some short term pain, but it can virtually stop the pandemic in it's tracks in 6 weeks or less if done properly. It made a lot of sense to me.

[jmajew]

I heard a pretty convincing argument made the other day that what we really need is a 4-6 week national lockdown. A harsh one, like they did in so many other countries, including Australia. Do it state by state, city by city, neighborhood by neighborhood. Pretty much a complete shutdown, and then as soon as cases get down to 0, you can open back up without restrictions in each locale, as long as you keep it isolated (no one in and out without quarantining or being otherwise checked).

Cases can be brought down to zero in pretty short order if the lockdown is strict enough, and then when that happens, there is no danger in opening back up to the fullest extent, because there will be no virus present in that community.

It's some short term pain, but it can virtually stop the pandemic in it's tracks in 6 weeks or less if done properly. It made a lot of sense to me.

I don't believe in the hard lock downs. I understand that is worked in some places like China, New Zealand, and Australia. However, we don't know how big the spread was in those countries before those hard lockdowns occurred. It is impossible to keep every person home for 6 weeks. You can lock down all you want but you still need to go get food. People will still need to go to laundromats. My guess is the spread wasn't as big originally in those countries and that led to their hard lockdowns working as well as they have.

[Dresden]

I don't believe in the hard lock downs. I understand that is worked in some places like China, New Zealand, and Australia. However, we don't know how big the spread was in those countries before those hard lockdowns occurred. It is impossible to keep every person home for 6 weeks. You can lock down all you want but you still need to go get food. People will still need to go to laundromats. My guess is the spread wasn't as big originally in those countries and that led to their hard lockdowns working as well as they have.

Obviously, you can't completely lock down. You'd still have to allow for essential workers, grocery shopping, etc. I don't know the details of how it would work in practice. But it has been proven to work in other countries.

[coldfish]

Not sure if you guys follow the numbers:

Read on Twitter

The US peaked for prevalence a few weeks ago and things are going down pretty strongly right now. This is something that the models I have seen predicted. Fatalities are still high but there is frequently a multi-week lag time on reporting for fatalities. The stuff reported today probably happened 2 weeks ago and any decrease isn't going to be seen quite yet.

Regardless of what the Biden administration does the prevalence was going to go down by a good bit. The real challenge is going to be figuring out what to do at the bottom. Is covid going to stick around forever? Can we totally get rid of it?

There are going to be some difficult choices to make in May or so. Up until then, get the vaccines moving as quickly as possible.

[TheSuzerain]

What should happen is that Vaccines should be made basically mandatory (even if we need the market to make that happen instead of overt government action because Americans are babies about that stuff).

That's how you prevent COVID from sticking around.

[coldfish]

What should happen is that Vaccines should be made basically mandatory (even if we need the market to make that happen instead of overt government action because Americans are babies about that stuff).

That's how you prevent COVID from sticking around.

To the best of my knowledge, we have never been able to get rid of a disease like covid. Even with a virus like measles with a lifetime 96% effective vaccine that most people take, it still keeps coming back. Coronaviruses tend to evade immunity in 6 months to a year and people will get them over and over and over.

I strongly suspect that if you got everyone in the US vaccinated, the virus would hang out at a low level for a while and then start coming back. Either we are going to have to do an incredible job globally to beat this or we are going to have to just live with it.

Like I said, there is going to be some tough decisions for the Biden administration once covid is beaten down but not gone.