Covid-19

[JL25and3]

I’m not saying I agree with this logic, but the thought process is a number of jobs require workers to work in person (construction, grocery store, police, firefighters, etc). All these people are forced to risk their health/health of their families to work. Why should teachers be the one group of essential workers that doesn’t have to work in person, even if that teacher is in a very low risk category for disease? Especially now with cases dropping and unlikely to increase again, it seems like the right time to start to open up schools.

What I wish happened is that all teachers above ~50 or in super high risk categories were prioritized earlier for the vaccine, while teachers <50 should not have been. I also wish there was more access to drugs like the monoclonal antibody therapy for everyone-these drugs could have saved many lives if they were deployed more. The rollout of everything was a complete disaster, as if there was barely any planning over the past 11 months. Basically, the whole situation is crappy and there are no good/right answers though.

The push has been all about vaccines, with little attention paid to treatment.

[billyhoyle]

Re: Covid-19

Well because it's pretty difficult to build a house, give people groceries, arrest someone, or put out a fire via zoom. On the other hand, teaching via zoom while probably not ideal is clearly a viable alternative.


Also opening schools has resulting in 18% to 25% spike in cases in areas where schools have opened. That is even if the risk to kids seems somewhat low relative to the general population - they seem to be exceedingly good disease vectors.

I think NYC has found low spread in schools. Certain schools without mask mandates and density limitations are likely death traps though. And a lot of parents disagree passionately with remote learning being effective-they would argue teaching in person is as critical as any other essential service. Like I said, not saying I agree with opening schools, but I do understand why many are passionate about doing it at this time.

[Tyler Durden]

Re: Covid-19

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/artic...age-calculator

When Will Life Return to Normal? In 7 Years at Today's Vaccine Rates



I just...

Can't.

I don't want this to come across as ghoulish, but their math is flawed because they are only looking at vaccination rates and aren't accounting for whatever natural herd immunity might already exist in pockets of the world where the virus has been running rampant.

I would bet we get there sooner than 7 years because of that.

[billyhoyle]

Re: Covid-19

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/artic...age-calculator

When Will Life Return to Normal? In 7 Years at Today's Vaccine Rates



I just...

Can't.

The 75% is a bit of an overestimate I’d say. About 1/4 to 1/3 of the country has already been infected, and that number will increase (although rates of infection are going down). Because of the variants seemingly able to cause mild disease in those previously infected or vaccinated, I don’t think “herd immunity” will be a thing. We will probably get back to normal sooner than people think, but we will have to live with some level of disease among the anti vaxxers and certain immunocompromised people for a decent amount of time.

Edit: Tyler durden beat me to the point-completely agree.

[Texsahara]

Re: Covid-19

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/artic...age-calculator

When Will Life Return to Normal? In 7 Years at Today's Vaccine Rates



I just...

Can't.

Hard for me to look at Israel as a role model.

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/04/w...s-vaccine.html

Israel quickly became the world leader in vaccinating its population against Covid-19, but almost all Palestinian residents of the occupied West Bank are still waiting for their first doses of the inoculation.

[Yankee Tripper]

Re: Covid-19

I think NYC has found low spread in schools. Certain schools without mask mandates and density limitations are likely death traps though. And a lot of parents disagree passionately with remote learning being effective-they would argue teaching in person is as critical as any other essential service. Like I said, not saying I agree with opening schools, but I do understand why many are passionate about doing it at this time.

How about an actual study of the subject rather than anecdotal evidence.

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/l...785-4/fulltext

[billyhoyle]

Re: Covid-19

How about an actual study of the subject rather than anecdotal evidence.

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/l...785-4/fulltext

That study is for school closures between Jan and July 2020. NYC has been monitoring the spread in their schools with current safety precautions and has not found it to be significant. Obviously you can’t open schools like it’s January 2020, that’s for sure.

[jlw1980]

Re: Covid-19

The 75% is a bit of an overestimate I’d say. About 1/4 to 1/3 of the country has already been infected, and that number will increase (although rates of infection are going down). Because of the variants seemingly able to cause mild disease in those previously infected or vaccinated, I don’t think “herd immunity” will be a thing. We will probably get back to normal sooner than people think, but we will have to live with some level of disease among the anti vaxxers and certain immunocompromised people for a decent amount of time.

Edit: Tyler durden beat me to the point-completely agree.

The anti-vax crowd are the people who infuriate and scare me. What needs to happen is that the vaccine must be mandated for public schools, public transportation, boarding flights, etc. They can't get away with screwing the rest of us over for who knows how long.

Hard for me to look at Israel as a role model.

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/04/w...s-vaccine.html

Their government is a role model for vaccinating their own population. Being humanitarians? Not so much. I recently read that story and it made my blood boil.

[billyhoyle]

Re: Covid-19

The anti-vax crowd are the people who infuriate and scare me. What needs to happen is that the vaccine must be mandated for public schools, public transportation, boarding flights, etc. They can't get away with screwing the rest of us over for who knows how long.



Their government is a role model for vaccinating their own population. Being humanitarians? Not so much. I recently read that story and it made my blood boil.

I think the vaccine situation in Israel highlights the harm of the land dispute and the importance of having two functioning states in the region. The Palestinian Authority has autonomy over the health system of Palestine under the Oslo accords, but that agreement has obviously fallen apart in the decades since. All this because ardent followers of two different religions can’t agree to split up a piece of land. But I guess this a story we see throughout the world, and even possibly starting to appear in Northern Ireland again.

[Casey at the Bat]

Re: Covid-19

Finally got my appointment for my first shot... this thursday. Some people at work are freaking out and thinking about not getting it. That's fine with me, just get out of the way and put me in the front of the line.

[jlw1980]

Re: Covid-19

Finally got my appointment for my first shot... this thursday. Some people at work are freaking out and thinking about not getting it. That's fine with me, just get out of the way and put me in the front of the line.

I hope they ultimately make better decisions. I was rushing to get mine. Zero hesitancy.

[jlw1980]

Re: Covid-19

Seeing photos and videos from Tampa yesterday has all but made me give up hope. Selfish trash. Florida needs to be cut off from the rest of the planet. And I say this as someone from a pretty crappy state.

[Texsahara]

my understanding is that it has to be on the honor system for underlying conditions and that's been some of the reasons for delay. HIPAA prevents them from requiring you to provide proof. Could be wrong though.

My understanding was incorrect. At least in NY. Looks like proof will be required either in the form of an official diagnosis (whatever that means) or a doctor letter. Rolls out next week and I'll be trying to get the husband an appointment so I'll be finding out for sure.

[YankeePride1967]

Re: Covid-19

My understanding was incorrect. At least in NY. Looks like proof will be required either in the form of an official diagnosis (whatever that means) or a doctor letter. Rolls out next week and I'll be trying to get the husband an appointment so I'll be finding out for sure.

As luck would have it, I have my quarterly follow up with my transplant team Thursday so I will ask then.

[Louisville Slugger]

Re: Covid-19

Seeing photos and videos from Tampa yesterday has all but made me give up hope. Selfish trash. Florida needs to be cut off from the rest of the planet. And I say this as someone from a pretty crappy state.