Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #103

[ilovewings]

Boston Implements Proof of Vaccination Requirement for Restaurants, Other Indoor Venues
More at link
The proof of vaccination requirement for indoor venues will go into effect starting Jan. 15 for everyone ages 12 and up. All patrons and employees will be required to show proof that they have received at least one dose of vaccine. Beginning Feb. 15, everyone will have to show proof of two doses. Starting in March, children will be required to be vaccinated as well.

The proof of vaccination requirement covers three categories:

• 
  
  
  • Indoor dining, including bars and restaurants
  • Indoor fitness venues like gyms
  • Indoor entertainment, recreational and event venues, including theater shows or sports games

She also said all city employees must be vaccinated along that same timeline, eliminating a weekly testing option that had existed previously.

All that protocol notwithstanding, you couldn't pay me to sit
in a restaurant with lots of people--- and let me say I really really
miss dining out!!

 

[Arkay]

Two years in, with everything worse than ever. Record breaking cases in places with the highest vax rates and most draconian mitigation measures. Hard to blame people for deciding to live in the moment when nothing else has worked.

The problem is that despite whatever measures are in place, it is up to people to follow through.

Here is what I have seen from the trenches of always-on-the-frontline NYC.

We have very strict laws about vaccine proof before entering any indoor establishment. We have a fairly high vaccination rate. We have mandatory masking.

In reality the only ones following these laws are the people who take Covid seriously. Each time.

From massive NYC events to the stores on my block and even in my apartment building of 23 stories, some follow the laws and some don't.

We have neighbors entering the elevators and lobby who aren't wearing masks; this despite our state, our city and my apartment complex all having rules and laws mandating masks indoors.

Every restaurant here has signs saying no entry without masks and that vaccination proof is required. But my friends who do go indoors (I don't) say that no one really checks. The owners lost money over these two years and don't want to turn away customers.

Even in my own doctor's office, where I had to go, there were patients and the doctor's own receptionist with their masks on their chins. For which I raised hell.

Then, despite de Blasio instituting all these laws about masks and vaccine proof, and our governor too who replaced Cuomo, they still allowed Santa-con here. That brought people from everywhere who crowded the streets and then went drinking, obviously maskless, in every bar in Manhattan. There was the Anime-Con that started the surge in NYC although we were going to get it one way or another. It goes without saying that there are people arriving here from all over the world and a negative test is either not steadily done in real life or it's inaccurate. They bring Covid here and they bring it back to their cities, states and countries.

Every second of every day in NYC there are crowds indoors and out, without the scrupulous checking of our "draconian" requirements.
People want to go out and the stores, restaurants, bars and massive venues like stadiums want customers.

So it's a mirage. If what was preached was in fact practiced, we wouldn't always be the epicenter.

IMO

 

[Cool Cats]

All that protocol notwithstanding, you couldn't pay me to sit
in a restaurant with lots of people--- and let me say I really really
miss dining out!!

To a restaurant we went on an "off" day and time so hardly anyone there.

Same with movie, no one else was sitting in the theater.

I feel pretty safe with 2 vaccines but like to do things when less crowded.

Have to go out and enjoy ourselves sometimes.

 

[mickey2942]

"Symphony of the Seas cruise ship: 48 passengers test positive for Covid-19 | CNN Travel" 48 test positive for Covid on world's biggest cruise ship

Bet that stock will take a dive today.

 

[CharlestonGal]

Omicron Variant: Molecular Tests That May Be Impacted
The FDA's analysis to date has identified certain EUA-authorized molecular tests whose performance may be impacted by mutations in the SARS-CoV-2 omicron variant.

Tests Expected to Fail to Detect the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant
Due to the inability of these test to detect the SARS-CoV-2 omicrom variant, the FDA recommends that these test should not be used until this issues is resolved.

Meridian Bioscience, Inc. Revogene SARS-CoV-2
Tide Laboratories DTPM COVID-19 RT-PCR Test
Applied DNA Science Linea COVID-19 Assay Kit

SARS-CoV-2 Viral Mutations: Impact on COVID-19 Tests

 

[CharlestonGal]

The ZOE COVID Symptoms Study, which tracks symptoms recorded from participants using a smartphone app, reported on Thursday that the top five symptoms for Omicron were runny nose, headache, fatigue, sneezing and sore throat.

Unlike with other strains of the virus, symptoms of fever, cough and loss of smell were less common. The ZOE analysis found that only 50 per cent of those with Omicron had these three "classic symptoms."

Loss of appetite as well as brain fog were also commonly reported symptoms.

Omicron symptoms may differ from those of other COVID-19 variants

 

[IceIce9]

All that protocol notwithstanding, you couldn't pay me to sit
in a restaurant with lots of people--- and let me say I really really
miss dining out!!

I miss dining out as well.

We have identified several local mom & pop restaurants that do a nice job with carry out meals, and we support them very frequently. And I tip the amount I would normally tip for a dine-in meal.

We have also discovered some of the chain restaurants do very nice with carry out. Texas Roadhouse, Chili’s, and Red Lobster always pack carry out carefully, with cold items in one bag and hot entrees in another.

We have learned which foods are more suitable for carry out, so we order baked potatoes instead of fries, for example.

 

[nightowl1975]

No, they do. Their vaccination status is never even mentioned in the charts, specifically to avoid any issues like this. Honestly, once someone is a patient, they are just all treated the same.

It's not the unvaccinated patients that are the problem.

It's their relatives who refuse to obey hospital rules and threaten to sue if they don't get some exotic and unwarranted treatment (for free), experimental drugs (that are not available at hospitals), holistic treatments ( unsupported and for free), and start trying to dictate what the MD's and RN's need to do.

This is a huge nightmare for the really responsible people that are doing their jobs to get people out of the hospital.

It depends on the level of care being received as to if vaccine status is mentioned in the chart or not. Per CMS guidelines, skilled nursing facilities (where the elderly typically go after a hospital stay to get rehab if they’re too weak or sick to go straight home), non-vaccinated patients are put in a separate area on isolation for 10 days before being allowed to interact outside of their room for anything. It is 100% obvious who is vaccinated and who is not. It is also entirely possible someone that’s not vaccinated cannot be admitted to their top choice facility if that facility doesn’t have an isolation room available when they leave the hospital. I’ve seen some discharged to facilities many miles from home to questionable facilities they would never choose to go to because it’s the only place with an iso bed open.

 

[ilovewings]

Boston Implements Proof of Vaccination Requirement for Restaurants, Other Indoor Venues
More at link
The proof of vaccination requirement for indo

I miss dining out as well.

We have identified several local mom & pop restaurants that do a nice job with carry out meals, and we support them very frequently. And I tip the amount I would normally tip for a dine-in meal.

We have also discovered some of the chain restaurants do very nice with carry out. Texas Roadhouse, Chili’s, and Red Lobster always pack carry out carefully, with cold items in one bag and hot entrees in another.

We have learned which foods are more suitable for carry out, so we order baked potatoes instead of fries, for example.

We have done carry out since the pandemic began--- baked potatos are very suitable for carry out- also we've done Olive Garden a few times--love their
chicken alfredo!

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

I could try and feign surprise, but really, GASP- Covid
spreading on a cruise ship with Delta and Omicron circulating---
Shocking!!!!!!

DH and I have friends in Boston who will be embarking on a New Year's cruise that sets sail from Fort Lauderdale on 12/29. They are vaxxed and boosted, but I still worry about their safety on the 10-night cruise. As much as we miss cruising, I'm glad that we didn't plan a trip anytime soon. Maybe things will be better in 2023.

 

[musicaljoke]

NHL COVID news, updates: Canadiens to play without fans in arena.

NHL teams won't be doing any cross border travel for a couple weeks. There is still quite a bit of variation on what's happening in the stands, from no fans in Montreal, to business as usual in some states.

 

[ilovewings]

DH and I have friends in Boston who will be embarking on a New Year's cruise that sets sail from Fort Lauderdale on 12/29. They are vaxxed and boosted, but I still worry about their safety on the 10-night cruise. As much as we miss cruising, I'm glad that we didn't plan a trip anytime soon. Maybe things will be better in 2023.

I can understand your concern for your friends--- hope by 2023 things will improve

 

[anneg]

Little did we know two years ago what we would be facing with this virus and its variants. And now we are hoping that things will be better in 2023! I’m grateful for all the WS members posting on this thread and wish you all well!

 

[IceIce9]

Another thing, and this is JMO bc it was told me to me by someone on the front lines directly treating Covid patients, observing coworkers, so jmo moo, some health care professionals have resentment and frustration and anger at people who are not vaccinated, understandably, and therefore some unvaccinated may not be prioritized for a hospital bed or get the best care when there are capacity issues, jmo, moo, I know they all take an oath to treat everyone, and equally, and I’m sure many do treat them all equally, but honestly, I’m not sure this is always the case, or will be the case, that unvaccinated people will always be treated with as much care as vaccinated persons.

The hospital where I was working in September and October had a completely full ICU and was on diversion, turning ambulances away. ICU beds and vent counts were being updated constantly so ER would know if any patients could be admitted.

The medical ethics committee met and determined that if there was more than one patient needing a bed and/or vent, priority was to be given per vaccination status. Vaccinated patients had priority over unvaccinated patients.

 

[IceIce9]

No, they do. Their vaccination status is never even mentioned in the charts, specifically to avoid any issues like this. Honestly, once someone is a patient, they are just all treated the same.

It's not the unvaccinated patients that are the problem.

It's their relatives who refuse to obey hospital rules and threaten to sue if they don't get some exotic and unwarranted treatment (for free), experimental drugs (that are not available at hospitals), holistic treatments ( unsupported and for free), and start trying to dictate what the MD's and RN's need to do.

This is a huge nightmare for the really responsible people that are doing their jobs to get people out of the hospital.

Now that is interesting. In our hospitals here vaccination status is determined before admission. It takes less than a minute to look up vaccination status on our state vaccine registry. Then we document in our records whether they are vaccinated, which vaccine they received, and dates of vaccination.

Even during primary care office visits, whether sick visits or well visits, vaccination status is documented in each patient’s record.

 

[ilovewings]

The hospital where I was working in September and October had a completely full ICU and was on diversion, turning ambulances away. ICU beds and vent counts were being updated constantly so ER would know if any patients could be admitted.

The medical ethics committee met and determined that if there was more than one patient needing a bed and/or vent, priority was to be given per vaccination status. Vaccinated patients had priority over unvaccinated patients.

IMO that is the way it should be!

 

[Satchie]

The problem is that despite whatever measures are in place, it is up to people to follow through.

Here is what I have seen from the trenches of always-on-the-frontline NYC.

We have very strict laws about vaccine proof before entering any indoor establishment. We have a fairly high vaccination rate. We have mandatory masking.

In reality the only ones following these laws are the people who take Covid seriously. Each time.

From massive NYC events to the stores on my block and even in my apartment building of 23 stories, some follow the laws and some don't.

We have neighbors entering the elevators and lobby who aren't wearing masks; this despite our state, our city and my apartment complex all having rules and laws mandating masks indoors.

Every restaurant here has signs saying no entry without masks and that vaccination proof is required. But my friends who do go indoors (I don't) say that no one really checks. The owners lost money over these two years and don't want to turn away customers.

Even in my own doctor's office, where I had to go, there were patients and the doctor's own receptionist with their masks on their chins. For which I raised hell.

Then, despite de Blasio instituting all these laws about masks and vaccine proof, and our governor too who replaced Cuomo, they still allowed Santa-con here. That brought people from everywhere who crowded the streets and then went drinking, obviously maskless, in every bar in Manhattan. There was the Anime-Con that started the surge in NYC although we were going to get it one way or another. It goes without saying that there are people arriving here from all over the world and a negative test is either not steadily done in real life or it's inaccurate. They bring Covid here and they bring it back to their cities, states and countries.

Every second of every day in NYC there are crowds indoors and out, without the scrupulous checking of our "draconian" requirements.
People want to go out and the stores, restaurants, bars and massive venues like stadiums want customers.

So it's a mirage. If what was preached was in fact practiced, we wouldn't always be the epicenter.

IMO

Santa-con and Anime-con. Spiderman movie.
etc.
One is not supposed to make value judgements, but seriously, are these people old enough to be out on their own? Who pays their allowance? Where are all the grown-ups? (Answer, behaving like adults by following the guidelines).

Time to rewatch It's a Wonderful Life, and sigh. The world is full of Uncle Billys.

JMO.

 

[ilovewings]

Little did we know two years ago what we would be facing with this virus and its variants. And now we are hoping that things will be better in 2023! I’m grateful for all the WS members posting on this thread and wish you all well!

Two years ago the word "variant" wasnt part of my vocabulary!!!!

 

[IceIce9]

IMO that is the way it should be!

Yeah I don’t understand why COVID vaccination wouldn’t be documented in the patient’s chart. It is pertinent to their medical treatment. We always update and document all vaccinations, including tetanus, hepatitis, etc.

 

[IceIce9]

Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center posted an update on Facebook saying its emergency departments and urgent cares are "incredibly full".

In the post, it advises that parents should call their primary care doctors and ask for advice before going to the emergency department or urgent care.

Cincinnati Children's emergency departments 'incredibly full'