Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #79

[MrX]

5 is the top. Weve went from 1 to 5 since March. We've been in a special 4.5 for awhile. At every stage we meet certain criteria and can go back or progress. 5 is the closest we will get until this is over for good. I'm linking our Back on Track page. It has all the stages and criteria.

Back On Track Indiana: Home

The only change for me is I have literally cried over our local Chinese buffet. We are very fond of the owners. She is like an honorary grandmother to my little granddaughter. Little squirt perches on her arm and smirks at us they parade by with suckers, ice cream . . . Lol.

That's awesome for you guys.

Our next stage is gyms being able to be at 50% capacity - they think that will be in a coupe weeks. Then, once percent positive is below 3, bars can stop pretending to be restaurants, but still only operate at 50%. They say we need a vaccine or effective treatment, after that, for things to go back to full normal. The Cardinals are letting "family and friends" attend Sunday's game, in order to test their Covid Protocols. After that I expect we will join the places that let 15K or 20K attend games.

 

[Cool Cats]

That's awesome for you guys.

Our next stage is gyms being able to be at 50% capacity - they think that will be in a coupe weeks. Then, once percent positive is below 3, bars can stop pretending to be restaurants, but still only operate at 50%. They say we need a vaccine or effective treatment, after that, for things to go back to full normal. The Cardinals are letting "family and friends" attend Sunday's game, in order to test their Covid Protocols. After that I expect we will join the places that let 15K or 20K attend games.

So if a gym can accommodate 100 people how is it helpful to limit that to 50 people?

So if a bar accommodates 70 people how is it helpful to limit it to 35 people inside with no masks on while they eat and drink?

Hmmm? Just asking.

What? The virus retreats 50% of it's aresol army? Not seeing it. But yah, people can now choose to go inside public places. Freedom of choice.


Coronavirus: WHO rethinking how COVID-19 spreads in air - The Business & Financial Times

 

[CSIDreamer]

So if a gym can accommodate 100 people how is it helpful to limit that to 50 people?

So if a bar accommodates 70 people how is it helpful to limit it to 35 people inside with no masks on while they eat and drink?

Hmmm? Just asking.

Jmo but if you cut capacity to 50% people have twice as much room as before. Social distancing is twice as easy.

 

[SouthAussie]

‘You are not listening’: Fauci scolds Sen. Rand Paul for misconstruing New York’s coronavirus battle

Dr. Anthony Fauci put Sen. Rand Paul on blast during a testy congressional hearing Wednesday after Paul trash-talked New York’s coronavirus response.

Paul remains skeptical of face masks and social distancing despite contracting COVID-19 in March.

“You misconstrued that, senator, and you’ve done that repetitively in the past,” Fauci seethed. The doctor explained that New York’s death toll is particularly high because it “got hit very badly” at the outset of the pandemic, when “some mistakes” were made because very little was known about the virus.

Fast-forward to today, New York is seeing infection rates near 1% or lower because guidelines on disinfection, face masks and social distancing are being rigorously followed, Fauci said.

“Or they’ve developed enough community immunity that they’re no longer having the pandemic," Paul interrupted.

Fauci continued, “You are not listening to what the director of the CDC said — that in New York about 22%" of the population have contracted the virus. “If you believe 22% is herd immunity, I believe you are alone,” Fauci added.

Though Paul and some others insist that herd immunity is a viable strategy for fighting the virus, infectious disease experts have warned that there’s no evidence that it actually works. In fact, researchers recently said it appears people can contract COVID-19 more than once, a finding that would render the concept of herd immunity moot.

I am really impressed with how NY has overcome the huge problem they were having with the virus - and so are many people I associate with here in Oz.

I wish that the media would accentuate these stories. Put them out there as a 'gold standard' for others to achieve. These stories, and stories from other US areas that have had success in dealing with the virus. Far too few of these stories make it into media headlines.

People need something positive to strive for, something that works.

IMO

 

[SouthAussie]

Yes. This school district adopted a policy & they have the legal right to enforce it. Refusing to comply with a simple tiny policy prevented her from supporting her son for the remainder of his football game- and disrupted other parents’ ability to peacefully watch theirs. How pathetic parenting is that. Smh. Mo, jmo, etc.

Again, really impressed that the SRO took a firm stance in this issue.
How unimpressive that the woman filming kept repeating "rent-a-cop" "rent-a-cop" "they can't arrest her for not wearing a mask".
Instead of thinking it through and realising why she was being removed ... for not complying with school regulations, and leaving the premises quietly when asked.

IMO

 

[Cool Cats]

Jmo but if you cut capacity to 50% people have twice as much room as before. Social distancing is twice as easy.

But the virus is still in the air regardless if its 50 or 100 people. Or if it's 35 or 70 people. Virus doesn't care if your 6 feet apart, but I get what your saying, thanks.

Even 6 feet apart you are still walking through other people's air space to get where you are etc....But masks help with that thank goodness!

2 Cents...Not trying to be a Debby Downer.

 

[SouthAussie]

But the virus is still in the air regardless if its 50 or 100 people. Or if it's 35 or 70 people. Virus doesn't care if your 6 feet apart, but I get what your saying, thanks.

Even 6 feet apart you are still walking through other people's air space to get where you are etc....But masks help with that thank goodness!

2 Cents...Not trying to be a Debby Downer.

I think it is more about minimising risk, than having no risk at all. We do the same thing here. Everything is working at reduced capacity ... stadiums, restaurants, pubs, theatres, etc.

Keeping people further apart minimises risk. Having people remain seated minimises risk. Putting hand sanitiser on every shop counter, and/or near the doors, minimises risk. Keeping reminders on all the floors of what a safe distance is minimises risk.

 

[Cool Cats]

I think it is more about minimising risk, than having no risk at all. We do the same thing here. Everything is working at reduced capacity ... stadiums, restaurants, pubs, theatres, etc.

Keeping people further apart minimises risk. Having people remain seated minimises risk. Putting hand sanitiser on every shop counter, and/or neat the doors, minimises risk. Keeping reminders on all the floors of what a safe distance is minimises risk.

Agree, minimizing risk and to me viral load is what matters the most if you get Covid.

 

[musicaljoke]

I know. I thought aerosol transmission was settled. It’s common sense. But the people who are rehashing it probably don’t want to believe it because they don’t want to wear masks. So scientists have to keep beating that drum. Must be exhausting!
JMO

There may still be people who think that masks are worn to protect the wearer. Do you think that the message that masks protect others is well understood? It seems to be a really difficult concept to grasp.

I still hear people saying that they aren't afraid to catch covid, so they don't want to wear a mask.

 

[SouthAussie]

Could something like this be the hope that we all need for aged care home visits, airline travel, hospital visits?


The Therapeutic Goods Administration has approved the rollout of the NowCheck COVID-19 Antigen Test in Australia.

Dr Walsh .... "It’s a game-changer in the testing world," he said. "It takes 15 minutes to complete, requires no additional equipment, can be done anywhere, and it picks up asymptomatic and symptomatic COVID results."

An independent Brazilian study conducted by FIND – a non-profit diagnostics centre that has previously worked with the World Health Organisation – found the sensitivity of the NowCheck test was 94.3 per cent.

https://www.smh.com.au/national/vic...at-could-change-the-game-20200923-p55yk1.html

 

[musicaljoke]

How do your stages work - 5 sounds "high," but the restrictions look quite reasonable. I'm so jealous that you get to have buffets! (Yes, even though the guidance says they are not recommended.) That is probably the thing I miss most.

Today I was asked to make a fruit platter for a funeral reception for a dear friend. The family, which includes a medical doctor, a nurse practitioner, and a public health employee, was intending to have a buffet luncheon. When I suggested that I make individual fruit cups instead of a platter, the lights came on and they realised that a buffet style reception was out of the question, even when it was just a family gathering of 25.

I hate Covid.

 

[SouthAussie]

Today I was asked to make a fruit platter for a funeral reception for a dear friend. The family, which includes a medical doctor, a nurse practitioner, and a public health employee, was intending to have a buffet luncheon. When I suggested that I make individual fruit cups instead of a platter, the lights came on and they realised that a buffet style reception was out of the question, even when it was just a family gathering of 25.

I hate Covid.

Similar ... we went to lunch at dear friends' home ... he is high risk due to being on breathing apparatus (lung disease).

They put together serving bowls of food for us, serving bowls of food for them. Keeping us from mixing anything at all. It was like having two separate meals but all at the same large table. So thoughtful.

I have a feeling their beautiful golden lab probably got our leftovers for dinner.

 

[MrX]

I think it is more about minimising risk, than having no risk at all. We do the same thing here. Everything is working at reduced capacity ... stadiums, restaurants, pubs, theatres, etc.

Keeping people further apart minimises risk. Having people remain seated minimises risk. Putting hand sanitiser on every shop counter, and/or near the doors, minimises risk. Keeping reminders on all the floors of what a safe distance is minimises risk.

Right - that's the goal, and some places done everything right, but it must be way harder than it looks. We love Portillo's (a chain out of Chicago that started with one hotdog cart.) It was the first place we went when dine-in service was allowed. At first they had everything so marked and separated that it felt more like a visit to an industrial "clean room," or part of a hospital. Eventually all of that went and things swung back to totally normal. Now we noticed that they have started blocking off booths and tables, but it's all very haphazard - like having three booths in one area where the end ones are closed off and the middle one open - made no sense. This is an extremely well run and respected operation, so I'm guessing that finding the right balance is way harder than just tossing markers on the floor.

 

[CSIDreamer]

Could something like this be the hope that we all need for aged care home visits, airline travel, hospital visits?


The Therapeutic Goods Administration has approved the rollout of the NowCheck COVID-19 Antigen Test in Australia.

Dr Walsh .... "It’s a game-changer in the testing world," he said. "It takes 15 minutes to complete, requires no additional equipment, can be done anywhere, and it picks up asymptomatic and symptomatic COVID results."

An independent Brazilian study conducted by FIND – a non-profit diagnostics centre that has previously worked with the World Health Organisation – found the sensitivity of the NowCheck test was 94.3 per cent.

https://www.smh.com.au/national/vic...at-could-change-the-game-20200923-p55yk1.html

That would be amazing! Jmo

 

[SouthAussie]

Right - that's the goal, and some places done everything right, but it must be way harder than it looks. We love Portillo's (a chain out of Chicago that started with one hotdog cart.) It was the first place we went when dine-in service was allowed. At first they had everything so marked and separated that it felt more like a visit to an industrial "clean room," or part of a hospital. Eventually all of that went and things swung back to totally normal. Now we noticed that they have started blocking off booths and tables, but it's all very haphazard - like having three booths in one area where the end ones are closed off and the middle one open - made no sense. This is an extremely well run and respected operation, so I'm guessing that finding the right balance is way harder than just tossing markers on the floor.

Our restaurants are similar. Every other table empty, to maintain a social distance. Some have removed tables to make the distance between much wider. Some places still require you to go up to the counter and order, to minimise table service (floor markers to say how far away from the counter you need to be). Every place has sterilisable or disposable menus, or no menus at all and a chalkboard from which to order.

The markers on the floor are in reference to shops, doctors offices, motor vehicle dept, and the like. Not to restaurants.
In a seated venue, floor markers would make no sense. The seating is the key.

My aquafit pool has arrows on the floor to direct you in and out of the venue in a certain direction so that you don't cross paths with anyone. They also have x's around the pool to leave your things socially distanced, when you get out and dry off you are not too close to others.

 

[LadyL]

Today I was asked to make a fruit platter for a funeral reception for a dear friend. The family, which includes a medical doctor, a nurse practitioner, and a public health employee, was intending to have a buffet luncheon. When I suggested that I make individual fruit cups instead of a platter, the lights came on and they realised that a buffet style reception was out of the question, even when it was just a family gathering of 25.

I hate Covid.

sometimes I find myself forgetting key things too
my husband forgot a mask when he went into a gas station store - remembered as he was walking out - the clerk never said anything

 

[LadyL]

Doctor at 'mask optional' clinic in Melbourne dies; tests positive for coronavirus post-mortem

Patients shocked by death of Melbourne doctor; he had COVID-19

 

[10ofRods]

I’ve been thoroughly confused about the recent aerosol transmission controversy. Science confirmed this back in March or April. Numerous studies, numerous articles. And common sense. Who wants to be near anyone after a cough or sneeze these days? All this rehashing. Smh.

Aerosols are different from the products of sneezing or coughing or spittle, if it makes any difference.

We can often see droplets (spittle, etc) as described so well in the past couple of pages.

Aerosols are by definition very fine to invisible. You don’t have to sneeze or cough to produce them.

Which, if you are actively shedding COVID, you do each time you speak or exhale and more so if you sing or shout (during which both aerosols and droplets may be emitted).

Droplets go to ground faster, aerosols stay in the air, therefore are more likely to transmit COVID.

People without symptoms can readily emit enough COVID-containing aerosol ‘droplets’ to get someone sick in 6-10 minutes if they are unmasked and sitting face to face at a conversational distance.

 

[10ofRods]

Doctor at 'mask optional' clinic in Melbourne dies; tests positive for coronavirus post-mortem

Patients shocked by death of Melbourne doctor; he had COVID-19

Well, they shouldn’t be shocked. I’m following the posts of a couple of other “no mask” doctors (2 of whom are positive for COVID but think they’d scare all their business away if they wore masks). They try to stay away from the patients in their examining rooms - that’s it.

It’s actually just one doctor actively posting about his guilt in doing this, and ratting out the other one (but his observations of still other doctors aren’t for the faint of heart if you’re trying to avoid COVID).

 

[weepingangel]

Red Sox donating 60,000 masks to kids, COVID-19 tests for teachers in reopening Boston schools
More at link
The Boston Red Sox will contribute 60,000 masks to Boston school children and teachers, and will partner with Mayor Marty Walsh’s office to provide COVID-19 tests for city teachers. Both initiatives were announced Wednesday.

Boston schools began running remotely Monday but could convert to a hybrid model next month if conditions are appropriately favorable.

The masks are part of a joint donation with the Boston Pride of the National Women’s Hockey League and JetBlue Airlines.