Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #63

[10ofRods]

Isn't it just simple physics? Seat belts and airbags are there to protect you, because while travelling you are a moving object, within a moving object, and when that object is forced to come to a sudden stop due to any kind of impact (whether or not you apply the brakes if you hit a pole, or another car, or go over a cliff it's going to happen, right?), your inertia will carry you forward until you hit a stationary object yourself.

I've had people (students) argue with me about this one, too. So have many teachers.

One woman insisted that the faster you go, the safer you are when you hit something - she was a downhill skier. She was video'ed saying it during a presentation. All the science majors just rolled their eyes and didn't even bother. Was not my student.

The prof did tell the class that physics was a thing, though. Same student thinks driving a car faster is safer and says so many times in class. I have no idea whether other people believe her when she says it, it's in line with many other non-scientific views that are popular.

Ah..Lake Wobegon..."where all the women are strong, all the men are good-looking, and all the children are above average." We listened to that every Saturday evening on Public Radio. I confess - I don't remember the shoulder-to-shoulder talking. I does make sense though, to let the virus proceed from the mouth downwind.

It's in the book. Don't think he mentioned it on the show. It's in the Norwegian Bachelors material.

 

[gitana1]

Ah, I see where you found that.

I was using executive order 20-13

Governor Eric J. Holcomb: Executive Orders

I see!

 

[gitana1]

I’m scratching my head, protests and marches - safe, beaches - not safe.
Neither are social distancing but maybe because no masks at the beach? IDK

Who said protests and marches were safe?

Of course protesting murder is a better reason to risk health than going to the beach.

And thankfully, about 90% of the protestors are wearing masks. No one at the beach really is.

I see a difference. Don’t you?

 

[ZoriahNZ]

New Zealand is doing well, with the occasional new case or two. Most of those appear to be travel related (at the border, or someone who has arrived in the country and been under quarantine/in isolation). So far, no resurgences.
Population roughly 5 million, total infected 1526, total deaths 22.

We have a physical advantage of being ocean locked, and relatively isolated from the rest of the world. But I also think that our collective mindset has always been more "let's roll up our sleeves and do this together", and one big extended family (whanau) oriented. We pride ourselves in our kiwi ingenuity and fortitude.

From the beginning the focus was always to protect others, to be responsible ourselves so that our family and neighbours would be safe. This mindset worked for us. We hunkered down, even gave our essential workers raises as 'hazard' pay. But, like many others we still dropped the ball with our nursing homes, who were worst hit.

It certainly wasn't perfect but the majority of us took the pandemic seriously and complied with government guidelines. It helped that the government offered wage subsidies, small business loans, mandated rent freezes and bank mortgage holidays. Plus our healthcare is universal and socialised. Our hospitals don't have a bottom line or profit margins to worry about vs quality of care.

It also should be noted that people here tend to respect scientific experts/data. Mask wearing and social distancing on the whole have helped flatten the curve and keep it that way. Aggressive contact tracing, informing the public about local clusters, and having widespread free testing has also helped keep things well under control.

When I had a covid scare a few weeks ago, I was tested the same day that I spoke to my doctor on a phone appointment, was texted the results the next day. From Jan 22nd to June 21st we have had 305, 265 tests run, with 0.4% infection rate.

We had a pretty strict lockdown for a couple of months but it was worth it. Our easing up of restrictions has been measured and I think we are better off because we didn't rush it. JMO.

 

[Bravo]

My City of 110,000 has had 157 cases. 2 deaths. Presently none in Hospital and 7 active cases. I want these kinds of numbers for all of you.

 

[MrX]

It's going to take roughly 3-4 weeks before the impact of these bar closings will be felt. Assuming that is a major contributor to the recent increases, then better late than never. If not, we're still whistling past the graveyard on the cause of exponential spread, and we won't see a significant change in the #'s over the coming weeks. But all the impact through now, are already baked in, so it's likely we'll still see increasing #'s over the next couple of weeks.

And if it's not, who cares, right? Always someone else's skin in the game.

 

[ZoriahNZ]

A small request: if anyone is planning to watch the 60 Minutes episode tonight investigating the coronavirus response issues, could they leave a quick summary here for those of us that can't watch it? Or a link if it's available online. Thanks, and virtual hugs in advance.

 

[gitana1]

And if it's not, who cares, right? Always someone else's skin in the game.

Or we can have no bars closing and if keeping them open kills someone and ends up causing several people to endure the ICU and possibly permanent or long-term health complications, who cares, right? It’s always someone else’s skin in the game?

I believe it is our responsibility to ensure health and life over profit, but to make sure people can weather the storm economically, with as little damage to their incomes and businesses as possible.

Like other nations have done.

What I’m seeing is a difference in priorities. My business has taken a frightening hit. But I can hopefully rebuild that. I couldn’t bring my mother back to life though, if I gave something to her. And my business would be in even worse shape if I got sick for weeks or months. Of course my business would be gone altogether if I die from COVID, which is a possibility given my asthma.

I have family to support. How would they fare then?

 

[jjenny]

Who said protests and marches were safe?

Of course protesting murder is a better reason to risk health than going to the beach.

And thankfully, about 90% of the protestors are wearing masks. No one at the beach really is.

I see a difference. Don’t you?

I don't think virus actually cares if people have a good reason or not. But so far we haven't heard of a protest causing a large spread of covid. Protests were outside, and most of the people did wear masks. Unlike in a church, where 100 of people are singing without masks on. If people were spread apart on the beach it probably would be relatively safe, but we see they are too many people and they are too close to each other.

 

[SouthAussie]

Our deputy chief medical officer is on TV right now <sigh> and is telling us that we are now offering a fast-tracked mouth saliva swab for those who won't tolerate a through-the-nose swab. So we can swab children comfortably, and adults who are baulking at the uncomfortable nose swab.

He said that it is almost as effective as the through-the-nose swab, and concludes in the same PCR test.

He also said that young adults must get in the program (meaning that they need to stop feeling that they are infallible) and realise that they will pass the virus to their older relatives easily. And that would be a very serious situation.

 

[MimosaMornings]

Who said protests and marches were safe?

Of course protesting murder is a better reason to risk health than going to the beach.

And thankfully, about 90% of the protestors are wearing masks. No one at the beach really is.

I see a difference. Don’t you?

Yes, I see the difference - that was the discussion I was having with my family and trying to explain the nuances. Sorry I meant to finish that post but got busy with the parents.

 

[10ofRods]

I don't think virus actually cares if people have a good reason or not. But so far we haven't heard of a protest causing a large spread of covid. Protests were outside, and most of the people did wear masks. Unlike in a church, where 100 of people are singing without masks on.

But people care. We're primates and we imitate each other. Once the anti-mask/open up people were out in force and all over the media, we learned that way, way more people care about a different issue.

And both sides are still actively protesting in various ways, esp. in the US.

 

[Deleted member 39678]

But people care. We're primates and we imitate each other. Once the anti-mask/open up people were out in force and all over the media, we learned that way, way more people care about a different issue.

And both sides are still actively protesting in various ways, esp. in the US.

Back in March I didn't imitate people when I wore a bulky funny looking N100 mask to the grocery store even though it wasn't mandated.

Hardly anyone was wearing any kind of mask at the stores I had to go to in order to purchase food and other essentials.

 

[gitana1]

Because some people find being trapped, alone, at home, for extended periods of time to be a living Hell. The great thing about bars is that no one has ever been forcibly pulled from their home and dragged to one. And the reason they are being singled out is because it's "safer" than blaming churches. Look at Miami-Dade - bars there never reopened.

My family in Spain were trapped in a worse hell than most here could comprehend (except in NY city). Two months without going outside. Kids had to stay in small apartment-sizes homes, all that time. Dogs could only go out a couple feet from the door, to poop. Only one household member could leave the house at all, only once per week, to get supplies, unless they were essential workers (which was a much stricter list than ours).

You know how many people complained?

Instead of being jerks, they rallied. Boosted each other’s morale. Yelled encouragement from rooftops. Sang out of their windows. Helped feed each other. Even the little kids handled it with grace and patience.

But we need to go to a bar?

What’s interesting is that by following the rules without much complaint so that they could protect one another, now they’re all out- back at the cafes, in vacation homes at the beach, in BARS, etc.


It’s relatively safe there now. They flattened the curve enough to be able to track, trace and isolate any new cases.

So forgive me for not having much sympathy for people who can walk outside but think not being able to go to a bar is a “living hell” and not worth the lives and health refraining from doing so could save.

 

[SoCalDavidS]

2 States have decreasing rates. Connecticut & Rhode Island.

 

[SoCalDavidS]

Palm Beach Mayor just announced on CNN that beaches will be closed on 4th of July.

 

[CSIDreamer]

2 States have decreasing rates. Connecticut & Rhode Island.

Decreasing rates of which statistic?

 

[Bravo]

Decrease in new cases
US coronavirus: Only two states are reporting a decline in new cases

 

[oviedo]

Or we can have no bars closing and if keeping them open kills someone and ends up causing several people to endure the ICU and possibly permanent or long-term health complications, who cares, right? It’s always someone else’s skin in the game?

I believe it is our responsibility to ensure health and life over profit, but to make sure people can weather the storm economically, with as little damage to their incomes and businesses as possible.

Like other nations have done.

What I’m seeing is a difference in priorities. My business has taken a frightening hit. But I can hopefully rebuild that. I couldn’t bring my mother back to life though, if I gave something to her. And my business would be in even worse shape if I got sick for weeks or months. Of course my business would be gone altogether if I die from COVID, which is a possibility given my asthma.

I have family to support. How would they fare then?

I’ve been staying home except for work (law firm - lawyers go out to lunch most every day-sigh) and grocery store / Lowe’s - and have been watching social media for my family’s friends and the younger ones -21-30- all going out - bars until they were closed - beach etc/ same with teenagers- running around posting in SM everywhere they have been- since April when phase 2 opened - and now ? They are testing positive and their families are now very afraid- but what could they have done? Take their keys - then they can’t run around - FL is a scary place now
JMO

 

[CSIDreamer]

Decrease in new cases
US coronavirus: Only two states are reporting a decline in new cases

Thank you. That comment was a bit confusing. But I see Indiana is on the "holding steady" list. Our % positive keeps going down, deaths have plunged, hospitalizations are down.

I hope all the holding steady continue.

Jmo