Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #74

[beatrixpotter]

Trump says AGAIN that coronavirus is 'disappearing'

Trump says AGAIN that coronavirus is 'disappearing'

Keith Griffith and Emily Crane For Dailymail.com

1 hour ago
President Donald Trump has highlighted declining new coronavirus cases and hospitalizations in former hotspots Florida, Texas and Arizona, asserting that the pandemic 'will disappear' - even as deaths topped 2,000 in 24 hours for the first time since May.

Trump said at a press conference on Friday night at his golf club in New Jersey that the pandemic 'is disappearing,' adding, 'It will disappear.
It was unclear how Trump was defining 'jurisdictions,' but coronavirus deaths are still rising in 23 states, while cases are increasing in 20 states, according to a Reuters analysis comparing data from the past two weeks to the previous two.
It came as Dr Anthony Fauci warned there is 'trouble ahead' for some cities if they don't act now to stop the spread.

Deaths in the US exceeded the grim 160,000 mark on Friday, which is nearly a quarter of the global COVID-19 death toll. The number of positive cases across the US is now at nearly 4.9 million.

The US added 2,060 deaths in 24 hours as of 8.30pm on Thursday, AFP reported, citing the Johns Hopkins University live tally. The last time the US recorded more than 2,000 deaths in a 24-hour period was on May 7.

Wow. I've been following worldometer and never saw us hit 2,000 deaths in 24 hrs?

 

[CSIDreamer]

No paywall here:

40% of people with coronavirus have no symptoms; might they be the key to ending the pandemic?

It just blows me away to think how many people have had this, no symptoms, so never got tested. Jmo

 

[ilovewings]

Isn't that crazy? Meanwhile, folks like us don't even go out to dinner. I looked at my car the other day, I have not driven even 1,000 miles since February. And for living in Montana, that is practically unheard of.

I cant see going to a restaurant for dinner for the forseeable future--hardly any miles on our car!! we do takeout

 

[10ofRods]

NY Times on Sturgis:

https://twitter.com/i/events/1292144017912860673

Attendance is way down this year - incredibly, it's been 500,000 in the past. No clear estimates on how many are there right now.

60% of Sturgis residents told the city they did not want the event to take place.

 

[10ofRods]

That's because they are allowed right? Only some states have closed their borders.

This link has info about which states are doing what and whether they are open, closed, pausing or re-opening etc.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Travel Restrictions by State

It's because they are ignorant or have magical beliefs. Not everyone who is allowed to travel is doing so.

Some of them may not mind dying, I suppose is another reason. The ones I'm seeing talk to cameras look to be in their mid-70's. There are always motorcycle accidents on the way, as well, so these are risk-taking types of people.

As one campground owner said, "They risk their lives at every intersection." He also claims they "know how to prevent the virus."

But no one is wearing masks. That's the magical thinking part.

 

[beatrixpotter]

They can 'survive' food wise. The states have been giving out meals like they do during summer.

The main problem is the regression in learning, compared to other students with situations that make it more conducive to progressing with their studies.

"Four out of 10 of the poorest U.S. students are accessing remote learning as little as once a week or less, ....

From the beginning, experts in distance learning warned that it can magnify inequities, with the most able and highly advantaged learners humming along while learners who need more support fall far behind."

The issue is more about a large segment of students missing out on teachers, who are needed by many students, when trying to learn difficult concepts. If they do not have people who can help them with fractions or long division at home, and don't have wifi access at home, they are at a big disadvantAge.

So poor kids should have their parents or grandparents dead or disabled so they can go to school? That won't help long term. I don't understand why the heck they can't figure out ways to get these children the means to school at home and have enough food at home?

Their situation is sad. But it's so shortsighted to try and force these kids into a situation that's just as dangerous for their family members and solves nothing long term. No way can we have rampant transmission and keep these kids in school. It's simply not possible. The schools will just shut down and the kids are then sent home and they could have instead planned properly to help them at home from the beginning. Half arsing it after the fact just leaves the kids in a more untenable situation.

 

[ilovewings]

No paywall here:

40% of people with coronavirus have no symptoms; might they be the key to ending the pandemic?

Thanks!!!

 

[slowpoke]

Just a little “daily life in covid times” anecdote:

This morning, I hiked for exercise. I wore my mask the entire 1.5 hours, figuring it is better to leave it on rather than having to touch it repeatedly by putting it on and off as people came near.

I do this most days, but I don’t think I’ve discussed it here. Wearing the mask has really slowed me down. When going up hills, you have to breathe harder, and you all know or can imagine how more difficult it is with the mask on. So, I just take it slower and stop for a few moments, if I must.

A man on a bicycle crossed paths with me (going in the opposite direction), and he must not be in shape because he was huffing and puffing very hard. Before covid, it wouldn’t have bothered me, maybe I’d even applaud the effort. But today, it alarmed me, thinking of all the particles he was expelling by doing that. I got as far to the right that I could and turned my body to face away from him—but it made me uneasy, especially because he was unmasked.

I’m happy to say the great majority of those I encountered on the trail were masked. Some were like me and kept it on, some pulled it up when they came upon me. This is Southern CA, btw.

I’m not complaining. In a prior post of mine where seniors in a aged home were interviewed, one of them said something that touched me, and I’m going to remember her words whenever I think negatively:
”We should respect others that we meet as well as ourselves, and wear that mask joyfully”.

 

[10ofRods]

I think most schools have counselors. Otherwise, I'm not sure what you're talking about. Jmo

School counseling is, in nearly all states, licensed after a course of study of educational counseling. They are not social workers and their main course of study is just what it sounds like: educational counseling, which is a lot like occupational counseling. They are trained in how various majors, including advanced courses of study, work. They help students decide what courses to take. They remind students who are missing crucial units what they can do to graduate. They assist high school students in choosing colleges, if they are college counselors, they assist in transfer or advanced degree planning.

They are not psychologists, aren't licensed to practice psychotherapy and receive the same in-service training on suicide that the rest of teachers do (not much, but it's increasing). They do not do home visits, they do not do drug counseling (there are drug counselors to refer to).

School counselors counsel about school. They run workshops on study skills, time management, and sometimes, on "difficulties in the home." Some students may be mandated to attend some of these, but frankly, counselors have way less student contact than teachers.

All students see teachers, all full time students see teachers every day. Only about 30% of students will approach a school counselor (unless caught doing something against the rules - most of what the counselors do have to do with bad student behavior, tardiness and excessive absence).

 

[10ofRods]

Is there no free to air tv in the US ?

We have free TV channels in Australia, including the national broadcaster ABC.

The ABC used to have a lot of programmes for schools.

Doesn't use cable, just a tv antenna on your roof, or one small box one inside but reception from those can be patchy.
There used to be the ones they called rabbit ears.

It's a free service.

Not where I live. I've heard of special antennas, but know no one who has one. We can't get a single broadcast program on our old television that has an antenna. I see no special antennas on people's roofs (which is what it would take). It could be different in the parts of L.A. that are right next to the 2-3 local channels that aren't just on cable (KTLA, Local Fox). But most people live in apartments, and apartments come with cable (sometimes paid as part of the rent).

Everyone has a phone and internet. All of my students watch "TV" on their phones (it's a mix of various apps and of course Netflix and Youtube).

PBS app (which you need to download to your Apple box or Roku) has children's programming on demand - it would take quite an effort to get all the kids to watch the same thing and then be quizzed on it later. Watching TV, by itself, boosts learning some, but kids still need the dialogue and interaction around the subject matter. And some way for teachers to know who isn't learning - because it's crucial they actually learn to DO their math, not just watch it being done.

If any SoCalos know of broadcast TV in their area (maybe San Diego?) or live in a part of Los Angeles where they still get broadcast TV, I'd love to know. Too many hills and mountains between me and downtown LA for me to get broadcast. And that's been for more than 20 years.

Here's a service that can provide me with streaming local TV:

Home - Locast

I have to pay for it - but actually, it's quite intriguing. There's no way that all the students of SoCal will have parents who can get a streaming device and pay the money and figure it out, though. And school has to provide equal services to all.

 

[10ofRods]

Thanks, I thought there had to be something similar.

I used my zip and found that this is the antenna I'd need:

https://www.tequipment.net/Aaronia/HyperLOG-20300-(EMI)/Antennas/?Source=googleshopping

Whereas if I lived in City of Commerce or DTLA, I might be able to use rabbit ears type - but not for PBS or most national channels - just a handful of local broadcasts (but I'd get news in Spanish, Mandarin and Korean).

The antenna above is about $10,000 which probably explains why I've never seen one in my city or nearby cities.

 

[MimosaMornings]

Not everyone has the option of high speed Internet also. Satellite internet is the only option and it’s awful. Forget TV or Internet when it rains. End up using phones as hotspots.

 

[Rocco]

If it's true that only 100,000 have shown up, using the US average positivity rate but also assuming that the symptomatic stayed home (or are stuck sick in a motel room), that's at least 500 people who have CoVid, with 400 being active spreaders.

We'll say Friday, August 7 was Day 1. Bars were packed last night, as shown on some youtube videos (and the streets are packed today). No masks to be seen. Lots of long conversations (I can only see the outdoor ones).

If half of those spreaders went to bars last night, that's 200, each of home probably infected at least 2 people.

It takes 2 days to become contagious, more or less. So tomorrow, Sunday, there will be 600 active spreaders. Some of these people will indeed become sick.

Tonight, those spreaders will infect at least another 200-300 (probably more, as there are way more people packed into Sturgis today than yesterday).

Tons of older people at Sturgis, many overweight or obese/high BMI. By Monday, there will likely be as many as 1000 spreaders. Maybe only 700-800 (some will cease to be infectious, some will become symptomatic and head to the ER, etc).

Given that the bowling alley is open (and huge), and there are enormous bars, and that nearly everyone goes into one of those places on Saturday night (there's live music, etc), it's truly a perfect event for CoVid spread.

One more factor: an awful lot of these people are staying at the Broken Spoke or some other g-normous RV campground just outside of town. Living and sleeping inside an RV with others will up the transmission to those others (looks like 2 occupants per RV is not uncommon, sometimes 4 - way more men than women).

Indeed, the number of older men at Sturgis is remarkable.

A lot of the RVers interviewed in one campground were there for the duration (10 days). I wonder where the nearest hospital is.

Found the hospital: there's one right in Sturgis (gets pretty poor reviews on Google). Not huge. I hope they are ready.

I'd love to know the transmission rate difference between the bar/restaurant visitors (with visits of more than an hour) and those who head back to a camp without a bar/restaurant experience.

Anyway, SD has 1024 active cases as of yesterday and 106 new cases yesterday (which is a jump already, for them). 1024 is more than 1% of the total population of SD (700,000+) Let's hope the active cases stay home, but if my county is any indication (similar size), that's not happening.

How is 1024 more than 1% of the total population? 1% of 700,000 is 7000.

Besides, the population of SD is closer to 900,000----23% more than what you've stated.
South Dakota Population 2020 (Demographics, Maps, Graphs)

 

[tresir2012]

If it's true that only 100,000 have shown up, using the US average positivity rate but also assuming that the symptomatic stayed home (or are stuck sick in a motel room), that's at least 500 people who have CoVid, with 400 being active spreaders.

We'll say Friday, August 7 was Day 1. Bars were packed last night, as shown on some youtube videos (and the streets are packed today). No masks to be seen. Lots of long conversations (I can only see the outdoor ones).

If half of those spreaders went to bars last night, that's 200, each of home probably infected at least 2 people.

It takes 2 days to become contagious, more or less. So tomorrow, Sunday, there will be 600 active spreaders. Some of these people will indeed become sick.

Tonight, those spreaders will infect at least another 200-300 (probably more, as there are way more people packed into Sturgis today than yesterday).

Tons of older people at Sturgis, many overweight or obese/high BMI. By Monday, there will likely be as many as 1000 spreaders. Maybe only 700-800 (some will cease to be infectious, some will become symptomatic and head to the ER, etc).

Given that the bowling alley is open (and huge), and there are enormous bars, and that nearly everyone goes into one of those places on Saturday night (there's live music, etc), it's truly a perfect event for CoVid spread.

One more factor: an awful lot of these people are staying at the Broken Spoke or some other g-normous RV campground just outside of town. Living and sleeping inside an RV with others will up the transmission to those others (looks like 2 occupants per RV is not uncommon, sometimes 4 - way more men than women).

Indeed, the number of older men at Sturgis is remarkable.

A lot of the RVers interviewed in one campground were there for the duration (10 days). I wonder where the nearest hospital is.

Found the hospital: there's one right in Sturgis (gets pretty poor reviews on Google). Not huge. I hope they are ready.

I'd love to know the transmission rate difference between the bar/restaurant visitors (with visits of more than an hour) and those who head back to a camp without a bar/restaurant experience.

Anyway, SD has 1024 active cases as of yesterday and 106 new cases yesterday (which is a jump already, for them). 1024 is more than 1% of the total population of SD (700,000+) Let's hope the active cases stay home, but if my county is any indication (similar size), that's not happening.

1% would be 7,000 so 1,024 is only 0.143 %.
Also, if they do infect people, it will be more likely fellow travellers who may not be from SD but out of state, who may well take it back to be absorbed into their home state statistics.

 

[tresir2012]

So poor kids should have their parents or grandparents dead or disabled so they can go to school? That won't help long term. I don't understand why the heck they can't figure out ways to get these children the means to school at home and have enough food at home?

Their situation is sad. But it's so shortsighted to try and force these kids into a situation that's just as dangerous for their family members and solves nothing long term. No way can we have rampant transmission and keep these kids in school. It's simply not possible. The schools will just shut down and the kids are then sent home and they could have instead planned properly to help them at home from the beginning. Half arsing it after the fact just leaves the kids in a more untenable situation.

I don't see how that was turned around to only poor kids infecting their grandparents and disabled relatives. All kids would be affected, not just poor ones. I don't know why the teacher can't wear a face shield and the kids social distance at school. It's being done in other countries.

 

[Cool Cats]

Thousands of bikers heading to South Dakota rally to be blocked at tribal land checkpoints

Motorcyclists ride down an empty road near Sturgis. Photograph: Michael Ciaglo/Getty Images

First published on Fri 7 Aug 2020 09.28 EDT

Motorcyclists ride down Main Street in Sturgis on Thursday.

 

[tresir2012]

It's because they are ignorant or have magical beliefs. Not everyone who is allowed to travel is doing so.

Some of them may not mind dying, I suppose is another reason. The ones I'm seeing talk to cameras look to be in their mid-70's. There are always motorcycle accidents on the way, as well, so these are risk-taking types of people.

As one campground owner said, "They risk their lives at every intersection." He also claims they "know how to prevent the virus."

But no one is wearing masks. That's the magical thinking part.

It's not magical thinking. Some people live where masks are not needed and so they are not worn. Sturgis is one of those places. I live in a place that is similar and we have hundreds visiting every day, no masks needed unless you want to wear one. In Sturgis there is a guy doing drone shots of the campground he is at as well as other areas of the rally and the area is very rural and spread out. It probably wouldn't be allowed to post on here but gives a good idea of the surrounding area.

 

[Simply Southern]

Isn't that crazy? Meanwhile, folks like us don't even go out to dinner. I looked at my car the other day, I have not driven even 1,000 miles since February. And for living in Montana, that is practically unheard of.

Had the car in for an oil change and tire rotation. A famliy in the neighborhood owns the garage.

They called me laughing and ask why? I said it was just over 6 months, and he said, yea. but you've ain't driven 250 miles.

My next errand run, I checked the mileage...6 miles round trip. I've only bought gas twice since March and still have a half tank.

Just didn't realize how little I have driven.

 

[Cool Cats]

How did it happen? America’s unique failure to control the virus

 

[Clair Louise]

I don't see how that was turned around to only poor kids infecting their grandparents and disabled relatives. All kids would be affected, not just poor ones. I don't know why the teacher can't wear a face shield and the kids social distance at school. It's being done in other countries.

Yes, that is true, but schools are reporting cases and have to close down again.