Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #68

[CSIDreamer]

Under the photo (your source) was the following statement: The task force’s suggestions for mitigating the risk of school openings would be expensive and difficult.Credit...Audra Melton for The New York Times. How much are our children worth???

So, a second stimulus is coming? Well, that's the rumor. Why isn't there money for schools to implement coronavirus standards?

The CARES act included school funding, I believe. Jmo

 

[dixiegirl1035]

<Mod snip: removed quoted post>

I searched and found a link explaining this at Fact check: Americans may get $4,000 tax credit for travel in stimulus

The U.S. Sun article stated that Americans could get a $4,000 tax credit to spur travel to be used by the end of 2021, a plan that may help reinvigorate the economy and lift the tourism industry. It is TRUE that such a plan has been proposed. But experts are skeptical the credit will make it into the next pandemic relief package.

 

[JerseyGirl]

I searched and found a link explaining this at Fact check: Americans may get $4,000 tax credit for travel in stimulus

The U.S. Sun article stated that Americans could get a $4,000 tax credit to spur travel to be used by the end of 2021, a plan that may help reinvigorate the economy and lift the tourism industry. It is TRUE that such a plan has been proposed. But experts are skeptical the credit will make it into the next pandemic relief package.

This makes me laugh!! Travel, during a pandemic?!? Where would I go? I can't travel outside the US, nor would I travel anywhere else in the US this year.

Speaking of which, I was driving on the Parkway this morning and noticed I don't see any Quebec license plates of families traveling to Wildwood this season.

 

[JerseyGirl]

Miami is now the coronavirus epicenter as cases surge, one expert says

With more than 2,000 patients hospitalized and hundreds in ICUs, "Miami is now the epicenter of the pandemic," one infectious disease expert said.

"What we were seeing in Wuhan -- six months ago, five months ago -- now we are there," Lilian Abbo, with the Jackson Health System said during a press conference hosted by the Miami-Dade County mayor.

The Chinese city of Wuhan, the original epicenter of the coronavirus crisis, went into a 76-day lockdown in late January after a deadly outbreak infected and killed thousands. The first known cases of the virus were first detected in the city in December. By mid-April, officials reported more than 50,000 infections. Miami-Dade County has recorded more than 64,000 infections so far, according to state data.

In the past 13 days, Miami-Dade County has seen staggering increases in the number of Covid-19 patients being hospitalized (68%), in the number of ICU beds being used (69%) and in the use of ventilators (109%), according to the latest data released by Miami-Dade County Government.

 

[Bravo]

Stimulus cheques should be for day to day living

 

[tresir2012]

This makes me laugh!! Travel, during a pandemic?!? Where would I go? I can't travel outside the US, nor would I travel anywhere else in the US this year.

Speaking of which, I was driving on the Parkway this morning and noticed I don't see any Quebec license plates of families traveling to Wildwood this season.

Disney?

 

[JerseyGirl]

In Houston, where hospitals are already overwhelmed with patients and hitting ICU capacity, Mayor Sylvester Turner said he proposed a two-week shutdown to the governor following a surge of cases. "I do think we are going to need to shut down for a period of time. I am proposing two weeks, or at the very minimum, to return to phase one," Turner said. "We need to reset, especially in light of the fact that next month, you know, kids, we are talking about returning to school."

In Atlanta, the mayor also tried to revert the city to the first phase of reopening -- where residents are ordered to stay at home except for essential trips. That decision was slammed by Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, who said it was "legally unenforceable."

"You don't necessarily need to shut down again, but pull back a bit. And then, proceed in a very prudent way, observing the guidelines of going from step to step," Dr. Anthony Fauci said during a webinar with the Stanford School of Medicine on Monday.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom said indoor activities at restaurants, bars, wineries, tasting rooms, movie theaters, family entertainment centers, zoos, and museums should shut down. The 30 counties that are on the state's watch list will need to close indoor operations for fitness centers, places of worship, offices for non-critical sectors, personal care services, hair salons and barbershops and malls.

In New Mexico, which has recorded at least 20% of its total infections in the past two weeks, an order from the governor puts in place restrictions on indoor seating at restaurants and breweries once again in response to more cases. The new orders also tighten restrictions on gyms and other businesses including tattoo parlors and salons. "Unfortunately, our state's dramatically rising case numbers reflect that those behavior modifications and precautions have either not been taken seriously or taken up by enough people," Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said in a statement.

Oregon Gov. Kate Brown also took new measures Monday, expanding face covering requirements and prohibiting indoor gatherings of more than 10 people. "Either people will adhere to this requirement and be a positive force for stopping Covid-19, or I will be forced to take more restrictive measures," the governor said.

In Texas, which pushed for one of the most aggressive reopenings, Gov. Greg Abbott warned residents "the worst is yet to come." Abbott has issued an executive order requiring residents in counties with 20 or more active coronavirus cases to wear face coverings in public.

Miami is now the coronavirus epicenter as cases surge, one expert says

 

[Trino]

Is there a link for this? Is he really giving money for going on holiday?

Just to post some stats I have seen quoted so take this as MOO.

For the UK.

• 50's age bracket hospitalisation rate 8.2% (Imperial College)
  
  So based on 1 in 30,000 chance of getting it, your chance of getting it then needing hospital treatment is 1 in 366,219 (50's), or 0.00027%
  
  Chance of dying in a road accident in the UK in any year is 1 in 20,000
  
  Needs some proportionate sense of risk
  
  
• 1 /3,900 people has it atm =0.026%
  
  13% chance of catching it if within 1m of someone who has it (Imperial College)
  
  Therefore risk of not only coming across someone who has it, and getting it if within 1m and catching is 0.0033% - or 1 in 30,000
  
  Compared to other risks, minimal.

I am interested in anyone who has looked at risks and has calculated this.
Risk assessment and audit was part of my area of work (when I was working).

Here is an ICL from early on that estimated fatality rate from the disease could be 1%. The Worldometer info I quoted and linked seems to confirm that estimate.
Coronavirus fatality rate estimated by Imperial scientists | Imperial News | Imperial College London

If you consider McSally MOO, I guess it is.
Sources:
On Monday, Senator Martha McSally introduced the American Tax Rebate and Incentive Program (TRIP) Act that essentially offers a tax credit of $4,000 per adult to take a vacation at least 50 miles away from home. For couples, it increases to $8,000 plus you get an additional $500 for each qualifying child.

Another Travel Stimulus Proposal: Would You Take A $4,000 Tax Credit Vacation Right Now?

 

[tresir2012]

Miami is now the coronavirus epicenter as cases surge, one expert says

With more than 2,000 patients hospitalized and hundreds in ICUs, "Miami is now the epicenter of the pandemic," one infectious disease expert said.

"What we were seeing in Wuhan -- six months ago, five months ago -- now we are there," Lilian Abbo, with the Jackson Health System said during a press conference hosted by the Miami-Dade County mayor.

The Chinese city of Wuhan, the original epicenter of the coronavirus crisis, went into a 76-day lockdown in late January after a deadly outbreak infected and killed thousands. The first known cases of the virus were first detected in the city in December. By mid-April, officials reported more than 50,000 infections. Miami-Dade County has recorded more than 64,000 infections so far, according to state data.

In the past 13 days, Miami-Dade County has seen staggering increases in the number of Covid-19 patients being hospitalized (68%), in the number of ICU beds being used (69%) and in the use of ventilators (109%), according to the latest data released by Miami-Dade County Government.

I have a good friend in Florida. Hope and prayers to all in these states having this surge in cases.

 

[tresir2012]

Stimulus cheques should be for day to day living

I guess it can be spent on what they like, normally but this is specifically for vacations to help the businesses and the holiday firms. The tax will be clawed back after the crisis is over IMO. It is a bit like the BOGOF deal in August that the UK Gov has initiated. I am guessing it is called stimulus because it is designed to stimulate the economy IMO.

Stimulus (economics) - Wikipedia

 

[JerseyGirl]

Disney?

I am currently under a "stay away from these States order", based upon NY Governor Andrew Cuomo's Executive Order 205, the following states meet the criteria for required 14-day quarantine:

• Alabama
• Arkansas
• Arizona
• California
• Delaware
• Florida
• Georgia
• Iowa
• Idaho
• Kansas
• Louisiana
• Mississippi
• North Carolina
• Nevada
• Oklahoma
• South Carolina
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Utah

This is based upon a seven day rolling average, of positive tests in excess of 10%, or number of positive cases exceeding 10 per 100,000 residents.

COVID -19 Travel Advisory

Governor Cuomo Announces Travel Enforcement Operation at Airports Across The State to Help Ensure Travelers Are Following Quarantine Restrictions

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Masks for kids? Schools confront the politics of reopening | Xfinity

On one side are parents saying, let kids be kids. They object to masks and social distancing in classrooms this fall — arguing both could hurt their children’s well-being — and want schools to reopen full time.

On the other side are parents and teachers who call for safeguards that would have been unimaginable before the coronavirus pandemic: part-time school, face coverings for all or a fully online curriculum.

The impassioned tug-of-wars have put educators in the middle of an increasingly politicized debate on how best to reopen schools this fall, a daunting challenge as infections spike in the U.S. ...

 

[CSIDreamer]

I am currently under a "stay away from these States order", based upon NY Governor Andrew Cuomo's Executive Order 205, the following states meet the criteria for required 14-day quarantine:

• Alabama
• Arkansas
• Arizona
• California
• Delaware
• Florida
• Georgia
• Iowa
• Idaho
• Kansas
• Louisiana
• Mississippi
• North Carolina
• Nevada
• Oklahoma
• South Carolina
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Utah

This is based upon a seven day rolling average, of positive tests in excess of 10%, or number of positive cases exceeding 10 per 100,000 residents.

COVID -19 Travel Advisory

Governor Cuomo Announces Travel Enforcement Operation at Airports Across The State to Help Ensure Travelers Are Following Quarantine Restrictions

Come to Holiday World in Indiana, then. It's super clean.

 

[ilovewings]

6 Places You’re Most Likely to Catch Coronavirus

6 places you are most likely to catch coronavirus--
of note, hair salons are not on this list and yet one of the first things governors close are hair salons and i don't get it

 

[JerseyGirl]

Governor says rising coronavirus case counts don’t warrant ‘hammer’ of mandates

Gov. Mike Dunleavy promised no state mandates would follow Alaska’s spiking confirmed coronavirus infections in his first appearance since Alaska hit a new record Sunday with more than 100 daily cases.

A combination of younger people getting the virus and limited outbreaks in care centers and prisons have so far kept hospitalizations and deaths relatively low here.

Sixty residents and 11 nonresidents tested positive for COVID-19, according to the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services COVID-19 dashboard updated Monday. That’s down from Sunday’s record daily count of 116 and 77 the day before.

In total, there have been 1,845 cases of the virus identified in the state. Nearly a third were confirmed in the past week.

The rising number of cases on Monday prompted the Alaska State Hospital and Nursing Home Association to warn that the state’s hospital capacity could be threatened by rising numbers of infected people.

 

[CharlestonGal]

If you consider McSally MOO, I guess it is.
Sources:
On Monday, Senator Martha McSally introduced the American Tax Rebate and Incentive Program (TRIP) Act that essentially offers a tax credit of $4,000 per adult to take a vacation at least 50 miles away from home. For couples, it increases to $8,000 plus you get an additional $500 for each qualifying child.

Another Travel Stimulus Proposal: Would You Take A $4,000 Tax Credit Vacation Right Now?

Why not cut out the middle man and just pledge your $4000 to the tourist destination of your choice? Seems much safer than spreading your $4000 in person.

ETA: Most of my family lives in the EU. Will they pay me $4000 to go there? Or is there some kind of US "approved" list of destinations?

ETA: Eh, I read it. Travel in US only.

 

[JerseyGirl]

Everything You Need To Know About The Travel Credit Stimulus

How The Travel Credit Could Work

So far, the Explore America tax credit is an idea floating around the Senate and House halls. No official legislation includes this credit (yet). The U.S. Travel Association provides the best insight on how the travel credit stimulus might work. This multi-layer credit can help travel-related companies with the best post-coronavirus travel deals and restaurants get some revenue back.

Travelers can deduct up to 50% of qualifying travel expenses (up to $4,000) for domestic travel on their federal income taxes. The current proposal lets them claim travel expenses between the date of enactment and December 31, 2021.

You don't get immediate reimbursement like you would with a credit card travel credit. But, this credit can help you get a larger tax refund (or avoid owing income tax) at tax time. People may want to travel but cannot due to unemployment or medical debt. The tax credit can help you afford to travel to domestic and international places that are open.

Deductible Food And Entertainment Business Expenses

Businesses are primarily relying on Zoom meetings to arrange business with new and existing clients. The credit may provide an incentive for business travelers to hit the road again for overnight trips. The current proposal is to fully deduct food and entertainment business expenses for up to three years. This deduction then reduces to 50% of eligible costs.

 

[tresir2012]

I am currently under a "stay away from these States order", based upon NY Governor Andrew Cuomo's Executive Order 205, the following states meet the criteria for required 14-day quarantine:

• Alabama
• Arkansas
• Arizona
• California
• Delaware
• Florida
• Georgia
• Iowa
• Idaho
• Kansas
• Louisiana
• Mississippi
• North Carolina
• Nevada
• Oklahoma
• South Carolina
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Utah

This is based upon a seven day rolling average, of positive tests in excess of 10%, or number of positive cases exceeding 10 per 100,000 residents.

COVID -19 Travel Advisory

Governor Cuomo Announces Travel Enforcement Operation at Airports Across The State to Help Ensure Travelers Are Following Quarantine Restrictions

So you have 31 states you can still visit? So you could travel to one of those states and so could your daughter and you could both have a holiday right? What would happen if you booked a holiday then it later had to go on the list? I guess you would have to quarantine on return.

 

[JerseyGirl]

Baby boy infected with coronavirus in womb

Doctors in France have reported what they believe to be the first proven case of Covid-19 being passed on from a pregnant woman to her baby in the womb.

The newborn boy developed inflammation in the brain within days of being born, a condition brought on after the virus crossed the placenta and established an infection prior to birth. He has since made a good recovery.

The case study, published in Nature Communications, follows the birth of a number of babies with Covid-19 who doctors suspect contracted the virus in the womb. Until now, they have not been able to rule out the possibility that the babies were infected during or soon after delivery.

 

[tresir2012]

Why not cut out the middle man and just pledge your $4000 to the tourist destination of your choice? Seems much safer than spreading your $4000 in person.

ETA: Most of my family lives in the EU. Will they pay me $4000 to go there? Or is there some kind of US "approved" list of destinations?

ETA: Eh, I read it. Travel in US only.

Or donate to a charity providing vacations for sick or underprivileged youngsters? I guess US gives tax credit for charity donations already. We do in the UK. This could probably be done under existing legislation IMO.