Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #70

[zecats]

SC did a good job with this. The unemployment site made it very clear that the $600 was taxable income and gave the choice to tax it now or pay the tax when filing returns. It forced people to select a choice, thus giving people no out to say they did not know the $600 was taxable.

I'm getting that $600 at the moment, and it's not that we haven't been made aware of it, it's that some don't pay attention. NJ DOL was hit so hard with applications (still is so) and trying to catch people up plus pay people who aren't normally eligible plus introduce the 13 week and then the 20 week extensions..., most seem fixated on just getting their claims to function properly.

 

[zecats]

One school is consulting with the parents to see what they want to do.
I have blacked out the school's name for privacy reasons. A friend of mine posted the school's notice to parents.


View attachment 256018
(I haven't provided a link, for privacy reasons. Hope that is okay)

I noticed on the webpage of the district where I currently sub (and formerly worked as a teacher) that there is such a thing...a form that went out to parents for input. Not so sure teachers were offered the same courtesy. I see many of my colleagues posting on FB about their fears in returning and in trying to understand the guidelines for reopening they have recently received.

 

[Simply Southern]

SC did a good job with this. The unemployment site made it very clear that the $600 was taxable income and gave the choice to tax it now or pay the tax when filing returns. It forced people to select a choice, thus giving people no out to say they did not know the $600 was taxable.

Virginia's site works the same way. If elected, deducted from the weekly amount prior to disbursement.

 

[SouthAussie]

I noticed on the webpage of the district where I currently sub (and formerly worked as a teacher) that there is such a thing...a form that went out to parents for input. Not so sure teachers were offered the same courtesy. I see many of my colleagues posting on FB about their fears in returning and in trying to understand the guidelines for reopening they have recently received.

My friend also expressed her fear for the teachers, even though she is not a teacher. In smaller communities, and grouped townships where the children attend the same school, I think many people personally know the teachers outside of school.

 

[tresir2012]

I noticed on the webpage of the district where I currently sub (and formerly worked as a teacher) that there is such a thing...a form that went out to parents for input. Not so sure teachers were offered the same courtesy. I see many of my colleagues posting on FB about their fears in returning and in trying to understand the guidelines for reopening they have recently received.

I found this from a DeKalb county Ga school and it seems like a good thing to do. This involved teachers, parents and students.


UPDATE #33 | School Re-opening Stakeholder Input Survey Results

Results are downloadable as a pdf file to review.

 

[dixiegirl1035]

That’s good to know. Is it a tax credit? My accountant didn’t mention that when he gave us estimated tax forms for 2020.

Agree, I'm with ya. I didn't know that it wouldn't count as "above the line" income either. Great information as I thought totally the opposite. Thanks to OP.

No taxes on that $1,200, and also that not putting into the realm of not qualifying as "just over the threshold of qualifying" for certain stuff (e.g. ObamaCare limits) is very important to know.

Seems more often these days I learn stuff from WS that I didn't know... that has nothing to do with cases (for which I'm very very grateful for everyone sharing)

 

[Satchie]

Yes, a holy mess! ....offering a different perspective.

CDC has issued guidance for reopening cities, states and schools. They are on the CDC website. I've read most.

Each state, city and county are encouraged by our health guru's to follow the guidance.

Cities, counties and states are arguing among themselves. Wear mask, don't wear mask, open schools, online schools, already lawsuits are being filed.

As some states, cities and counties do not apply or follow the guidance I ask myself..... How would the federal government go about enforcing an executive order to follow CDC guidance? Would the feds send in federal marshals? Would this it be handled in the court system? Would the Supreme Court decide?

There are many things I wish my elected state and local officials would do per the CDC guidance. I'm open here with my criticism. I'm just trying to invision federal intervention.

Moo....

I agree. I think the mask issue is getting bogged down by whether it can be legally forced on people by politicians, and that's not productive to stopping the virus. There is an important principle that you shouldn't make a law unless you have a method to enforce it.

IMO it's more important that all persons in leadership are seen wearing masks, and there's consistent messaging about why it's important for people to do it. Stores and schools, etc can require on their own premises (although that usually puts lowly store clerks in the position of trying to police the rule). IMO most people will bow to social pressure on this, whereas they will never change their minds once it has become a political issue.

 

[Lavender Moon]

Unless testing is coordinated nationally by the Federal Government (as it should be but isn't), i don't see the horrible testing situation changing. The United States of America is conducting itself like a third world country. There is no getting around that. As you pointed out, if the testing situation remains as it is, we are in very very deep trouble.

I think about this constantly. I think we need to prepare ourselves for this trouble.

 

[Simply Southern]

One school is consulting with the parents to see what they want to do.
I have blacked out the school's name for privacy reasons. A friend of mine posted the school's notice to parents.


View attachment 256018
(I haven't provided a link, for privacy reasons. Hope that is okay)

Our schools did online surveys, FB Live question and answer, etc. They voted to open on Monday. Friday they and the surrounding area announced online only with no explanation. Moo....we have a 12% positivity rate, greatly exceeding the CDC guidance.

I have more faith this am, they are starting to follow CDC guidance.

 

[Darling136]

Message from Tricia, thank you!
***

Dear Everyone,

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This is urgent. Any donation is appreciated.

Thank you,
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Owner Websleuths.com

 

[CoverMeCagney]

What’s going on with the UK death figures? I read that “deaths with Covid” are being reported in the numbers even if the person died weeks after recovering from it. As such, it seems PHE are not reporting death numbers until this is resolved.

A patient who has tested positive, but successfully treated and discharged from hospital, will still be counted as a COVID death even if they had a heart attack or were run over by a bus three months later.

Why no-one can ever recover from COVID-19 in England – a statistical anomaly - CEBM

Can some statty people take a look, am I getting the wrong end of the stick?

Coronavirus cases in the UK: daily updated statistics

 

[zecats]

Virginia's site works the same way. If elected, deducted from the weekly amount prior to disbursement.

I see what you're both saying. NJ never gave the option to have taxes taken from the $600, I thought because it's federal money and not from the state. I'm also getting regular UI, as I do every summer as a seasonal employee, and that money I elect to have taxes taken from weekly.

 

[WichitaFalls]

Not sure if this information has been posted yet . . .
Israeli Data Show School Openings Were a Disaster That Wiped Out Lockdown Gains

Of 1,400 Israelis diagnosed with COVID-19 last month, 657 (47 percent) were infected in schools. Now 2,026 students, teachers, and staff have it, and 28,147 are quarantined.

JERUSALEM—Israel’s unchecked resurgence of COVID-19 was propelled by the abrupt May 17 decision to reopen all schools, medical and public-health officials have told The Daily Beast.

“We know Israelis have terrible discipline, but now, it’s the leadership. ”
— Galia Rahav, Sheba Medical Center in Tel Aviv
The assessment of Israel’s trajectory has direct bearing on the heated debate underway in the United States between President Donald Trump, who is demanding a nationwide reopening of schools for what appear to be largely political reasons, and health authorities who caution it could put the wider population at risk.
Israeli Data Show School Openings Were a Disaster That Wiped Out Lockdown Gains

 

[Sundog]

7 USPS workers at West Sacramento processing plant test positive for COVID-19

https://www.sacbee.com/news/coronavirus/article244299002.html?

Across the country, thousands of postal workers have been infected with the coronavirus. At the end of April, more than 2,000 postal workers, including 142 mail handlers, had contracted the virus, National Postal Mail Handlers Union president Paul Hogrogian said in a blog post. At least 46 postal workers have died from COVID-19, Hogrogian reported at the time.

 

[BlueShoe]

Here’s what I would like to say to those politicians who don’t want to mandate the wearing of masks. Please tell your constituents the following: “The Covid-19 pandemic is real and many people are dying. If you are a good patriotic American who wants to do the right thing during a national crisis, you must wear a mask. I’m certain that all good Americans will find this a small price to pay in order to ensure the health and future prosperity of our great nation.” This is just my humble opinion and suggestion and MOO.

This is the least that those who run our government should do. It does not involve all that much. Let’s stop the wishy-washy, “It could be a good idea to wear a mask.” IMO

Also, this is not a mandate, just changing the narrative away from those who think only wimps wear masks.

 

[tresir2012]

What’s going on with the UK death figures? I read that “deaths with Covid” are being reported in the numbers even if the person died weeks after recovering from it. As such, it seems PHE are not reporting death numbers until this is resolved.

A patient who has tested positive, but successfully treated and discharged from hospital, will still be counted as a COVID death even if they had a heart attack or were run over by a bus three months later.

Why no-one can ever recover from COVID-19 in England – a statistical anomaly - CEBM

Can some statty people take a look, am I getting the wrong end of the stick?

Coronavirus cases in the UK: daily updated statistics

Apparently it is part of an investigation announced the other day by Matt Hancock. I did post something on last thread - it was just the PH England figures being investigated. I'll see if I can link to it.

I posted this yesterday in post 766 as part of a UK roundup. Here is the relevant bit and link again below.

Full article Hancock calls for urgent review on Covid death data

"Health Secretary Matt Hancock has called for an urgent review into how coronavirus deaths have been recorded in England.

It follows confirmation from Public Health England that reported deaths may have included people who tested positive months before they died.

The other UK nations are only thought to include those who die within 28 days of having coronavirus.

There have been 40,528 deaths linked to the virus in England.

• How many confirmed cases are there in your area?

"Prof Carl Heneghan from University of Oxford, who spotted the issue with the data, told the BBC there was "huge variation" in the numbers of daily deaths reported in England by PHE.

While NHS England currently reports 30-35 deaths per day, Public Health England's data often shows double that or more, he said.

The reason is that anyone who has tested positive for coronavirus but then died at a later date of another cause would still be included in PHE's Covid-19 death figures.

"By this PHE definition, no one with Covid in England is allowed to ever recover from their illness," Prof Heneghan says."

Well this is interesting. Could this mean England deaths are overstated? It will be interesting to see what Dr. Campbell says about this in his next update. And maybe the US data needs reviewing too?

I didn't have any comments yesterday about this anomaly so haven't looked into it further as I was hoping Dr. Campbell might address it. Perhaps people are awaiting the review results?

 

[Simply Southern]

Open with my criticism here too...Federal example might go a long way. When the top is battling the recommendations of the science, then there will surely be (and are) battles over "rights." JMO

Our county was founded on rights and we've been battling over rights since.

This is a good thing, think how far we have come since 1776 and we still have a long way to go to be fair and just for all.

Agreed, listening and following the direction of our health leaders should come from the very top. If not, then our next layer - our state, next our local level.

My biggest disappointment is my local leaders. These are the folks I go to church with, served on PTO, see regularly in my small community, they are my friends.

I always been confident they have the best interest of our citizens. Most feel that they do, by keeping the tax base flowing and businesses open. Some of us feel they've put money over public health.

This is even dividing communities, destroying long term friendships, and breeding hate.

I've come to accept some folks ain't gonna wear a mask no matter who says to. Virginia now has the State Mask Patrol and folks still won't wear a mask.

Moo...

 

[Satchie]

There is no national plan to quell the virus-- and i do not see one on the horizon: it is dog eat dog out there: each state for itself: each governor for him or herself, and even more on a local level, each mayor for him or herself and from what we are seeing, discord between governors and mayors. Clearly, this is not the way to get the virus under control. Combine this with masks being politicized and we have a holy mess.

It certainly looks that way from the news media. From up here in Canada, the mainstream US media reports so much on division, political conflict, scandal, incompetence and conspiracy. The words used in the headlines are warlike: "attack", "force", "battle", "opponents", rather than calming words like "problem-solving", "negotiation", "cooperation","colleagues". It creates the perception that the US is in a civil war on practically every subject under the sun. I don't know whether those headlines genuinely reflect the reality that everyone is at war with each other, or do they inflame or even create that perception?

I don't think it's any surprise that all governments, everywhere, are feeling their way through this pandemic, it's not a situation anyone really expected to go through. And people were not necessarily elected because they had the qualities that would be needed in this circumstance. IMO it's more important to muddle through together than have mutiny on board the ship.

 

[CoverMeCagney]

Apparently it is part of an investigation announced the other day by Matt Hancock. I did post something on last thread - it was just the PH England figures being investigated. I'll see if I can link to it.

Sorry if you already posted it, I’m struggling to catch up properly!! Are we likely to see a reduction in the overall death rate, as a result? I hope so

 

[Seenit]

My granddaughter is so much better today! The prednisolone made a huge difference!
Crisis averted. It was really scary. The before and after pics are amazing!
She is on the mend! Thank you for all your comments. Maybe, I'll sleep tonight!
I edited my avatar. This is my sweet grandbaby!
Moo

Hurray!
She's a cutie.