CT DPH is recommending that everyone mask indoors: CTALERT: Due to rapid increases of COVID-19, CT Dept. of Public Health recommends ALL CT RESIDENTS wear masks indoors. MORE: bit.ly/3fkn7CY
I'm hoping that my work goes to at least a hybrid schedule, there's no reason we need to be working in person every day especially with cases surging.
My husband's office is working some sort of hybrid opening right now. As the boss, he's not really doing the hybrid thing. He's been there pretty full time the past couple weeks. One of his co-workers went on a vacation (vaccinated) and still got a breakthrough infection. Fortunately, he was not feeling well before the initial opening and stayed home so there was no intra-office transmission from him.
We went to Moscow, ID (just across the WA border) last weekend for a birthday (beerthday?) party. Came back and immediately felt like we needed to COVID test. Fortunately it came back negative yesterday.
I'm hoping that we'll be able to fly to FL in September for a wedding that was already postponed a year. As I'm the MOG, I probably should do my best to be there this time. But with friends back east who came back COVID positive after a visit to Hilton Head and then a quick jaunt to FL just a couple weeks ago, and with the numbers climbing, I'm really worried that we'll be landing in the middle of a COVID maelstrom, no matter how cautious we and family might be. (Other family might not be as cautious so that's a worry too.)
Dr. Scott Gottleib seems to think we will peak soon, too. I really, really hope so!! My one bright teeny tiny ray of hope is the increase in vaccinations during this time. I hope this is enough to really scare people and this will be the last major wave. I can't take too much more.
melmaria - I’ve been saying that forever. Americans are selfish. If we start saying you can’t do these things because you’re not vaccinated, people will get on board. I wish more places (sports stadiums, concerts, festivals) would do this.
"Hello babies. Welcome to Earth. It's hot in the summer and cold in the winter. It's round and wet and crowded. On the outside, babies, you've got a hundred years here. There's only one rule that I know of, babies-"God damn it, you've got to be kind.”
On Friday, my employer (a major state research university) mandated that all staff, faculty, and students be vaccinated by August 31. And we have to go back to wearing masks indoors for a while. I'm very glad about the vaccine mandate, and honestly don't mind masks since one of my family members is not eligible to get the vaccine.
I was on a really busy vacation last week so unable to dedicate time to digging into articles with all the changes. So I would have counted myself as a pretty low information reader. Just scanning headlines for example.
It took time this weekend to actually sit down and digest the actual information instead of relying on the headlines and twitter takes. I totally get why most people just check out on this. It is shocking how much time it actually takes to weed through the fear mongering or the down playing or what ever to get to real facts. And also how much other people's hot takes can influence you if you aren't able to spend time on the topic yourself.
Post by Velar Fricative on Aug 2, 2021 9:08:31 GMT -5
I listened to today's Daily and...I feel okay. The gist is, IF you get infected as an FV person, you can transmit. BUT, so far estimates show <1% of FV people are infected. This will still be a large number (over 1.5 million at least) so everyone will hear stories or know FV people infected. Nothing has changed in terms of what I'm willing to do or not do, except I'll wear a mask indoors in stores (which will probably be mandated again soon in NY anyway). I'm still not attending indoor weddings or other large indoor parties (unless they somehow require everyone to be vaccinated, and even then, it's still a maybe). I do still want to see my vaccinated family and friends. I'm still going into my office (please please please I hope they don't shut down). I'd obviously adjust if I or someone I knew or lived with were immunocompromised.
melmaria - I’ve been saying that forever. Americans are selfish. If we start saying you can’t do these things because you’re not vaccinated, people will get on board. I wish more places (sports stadiums, concerts, festivals) would do this.
Yeah, it's just interesting how much more effective punitive consequences appear to be (telling people what they CAN'T do if they're not vaccinated, vs. telling people what they CAN get - like a lottery ticket/free college tuition/cash).
The fact that so many people are just waiting for full FDA approval (when it seems inevitable) is interesting too.
But are they? I get the sense that people talking about no FDA approval are mostly people who will refuse anyway and just throw that out as a reason. I assume it will help though, just not as much as it might seem.
Post by Velar Fricative on Aug 2, 2021 9:29:57 GMT -5
The fact that hospitalizations and deaths are so much lower for older people (plus the fact that those hospitalized or dying are overwhelmingly unvaccinated) just makes me so confused at all the people who believe the vaccines don't work. What do they think is actually happening?
Also another thought on being on vacation- it was kind of nice because I totally missed out on the initial emotional roller coaster part. Where I normally would have freaked out. By the weekend everything had settled down and people were being much more reasonable lol.
And yes the Nytimes daily podcast this morning was very helpful. I swear I say that at least once a week lol.
The fact that hospitalizations and deaths are so much lower for older people (plus the fact that those hospitalized or dying are overwhelmingly unvaccinated) just makes me so confused at all the people who believe the vaccines don't work. What do they think is actually happening?
The latest I’ve seen is that “they” believe delta is fueled by the vaccinated shedding...also if anyone wants to help me figure out why Facebook isn’t flagging posts that I’ve seen that say this, please let me know. I’ve f-ing had it.
The fact that hospitalizations and deaths are so much lower for older people (plus the fact that those hospitalized or dying are overwhelmingly unvaccinated) just makes me so confused at all the people who believe the vaccines don't work. What do they think is actually happening?
The latest I’ve seen is that “they” believe delta is fueled by the vaccinated shedding...also if anyone wants to help me figure out why Facebook isn’t flagging posts that I’ve seen that say this, please let me know. I’ve f-ing had it.
Oh yeah. I saw someone say she'll wear masks in public to avoid the vaccinated people's shedding. I mean...okay! Please wear a mask then!
probably a dumb question but i wonder if between the people who are vaccinated and the people who have had it, are those areas approaching herd immunity?? (really, you can call me dumb if this is way too optimistic.)
Yeah, it's just interesting how much more effective punitive consequences appear to be (telling people what they CAN'T do if they're not vaccinated, vs. telling people what they CAN get - like a lottery ticket/free college tuition/cash).
The fact that so many people are just waiting for full FDA approval (when it seems inevitable) is interesting too.
But are they? I get the sense that people talking about no FDA approval are mostly people who will refuse anyway and just throw that out as a reason. I assume it will help though, just not as much as it might seem.
I think most people who say that say that because it doesn't make them sound like crazy people.
Once that stops being a valid reason, they won't change their minds.
But are they? I get the sense that people talking about no FDA approval are mostly people who will refuse anyway and just throw that out as a reason. I assume it will help though, just not as much as it might seem.
I think most people who say that say that because it doesn't make them sound like crazy people.
Once that stops being a valid reason, they won't change their minds.
Yup!
This is a lesson learned from concerns regarding mercury in vaccines. Vaccine formulations without mercury didn't change anything in anti-vax circles. Evidence of safety and retraction of papers didn't help either. The anti-vax folks just pivoted to being concerned with a different ingredient or just with the vaccine itself.
probably a dumb question but i wonder if between the people who are vaccinated and the people who have had it, are those areas approaching herd immunity?? (really, you can call me dumb if this is way too optimistic.)
I like to check the stats in Vermont because it's the most vaccinated state (67% of residents of all ages are fully vaccinated), even if other things are reflective of the rest of the country (low population, low density, not socioeconomically diverse, etc.).
Their cases are increasing too, but the numbers are still very small. Only a handful of hospitalizations and almost no deaths, and no demonstrable increase either.
The overwhelming argument from Trumpers in my area is that illegals are bringing in the virus and are the main reason for the increased positivity numbers. I just can't. Meanwhile, SC's trend went from an average of 100 cases a day and a 4% positivity rate at the beginning of July to 2400 cases today and a 15% positivity rate. I also listened to the Daily podcast today and it made me feel OK until I saw today's numbers.
The overwhelming argument from Trumpers in my area is that illegals are bringing in the virus and are the main reason for the increased positivity numbers. I just can't. Meanwhile, SC's trend went from an average of 100 cases a day and a 4% positivity rate at the beginning of July to 2400 cases today and a 15% positivity rate. I also listened to the Daily podcast today and it made me feel OK until I saw today's numbers.
Yes, even when their communities are so far from the southern border lol.
Post by amberlyrose on Aug 2, 2021 15:17:53 GMT -5
I was excited for the fall but I think we're going to cancel some plans. We were planning on flying to Nashville, possibly another to Milwaukee, plus a few concerts that are indoors. I feel like I change my mind every other day.
Post by mrsukyankee on Aug 2, 2021 15:22:29 GMT -5
I would wait on celebrating the UK data because we have kids off school (who were testing regularly) and people have stopped testing because they are no longer required to do so or don't want to take off work. And there is less reporting by our gov't. I follow the Zoe app and, at least in London, it appears numbers are still going up. What we need to look at is hospital admissions (which just one week ago were reported as being the highest since January). The newspapers who are saying that we're leveling out are not the ones I'd utterly trust.
Huh. The one time I don’t wish ill on this fool. I hope he does swimmingly with covid to prove the vaccination does it job to his throngs of followers.
Post by basilosaurus on Aug 2, 2021 16:03:44 GMT -5
Malaysia is finally on its way to excellent vaccine compliance. A friend's brother is getting a 2nd dose tomorrow. Another friend gets his 2nd next week, and his parents are a week behind that. Oh, I had an "I'm old" moment when I've been fully vaccinated since mid June and thought surely his parents would have been ahead of me. They're apparently about 12 years older and don't count as elderly. Doh! So, I got vaccinated before 5 Malaysian citizens I know and on the exact same days as my landlady. They're starting to do walk in clinics on the island because compliance has been so high. We all register through the same federal system, and then it notifies us when there's an opening, and we get automatically scheduled. It was slower than the States but far less chaotic.
One of them was telling me about a FL variant that's not delta? I haven't seen that reported, and when I did a news search it pretty much only says FL's delta outbreak surge. Has anyone heard otherwise? I said we pretty much only have DeSatan to blame. Thankfully my relatives who are still there were vaccinated many months ago and still practice extreme caution. Friends work in schools and hospitals, so I'm sure they were also early vaccinators.
Malaysia is finally on its way to excellent vaccine compliance. A friend's brother is getting a 2nd dose tomorrow. Another friend gets his 2nd next week, and his parents are a week behind that. Oh, I had an "I'm old" moment when I've been fully vaccinated since mid June and thought surely his parents would have been ahead of me. They're apparently about 12 years older and don't count as elderly. Doh! So, I got vaccinated before 5 Malaysian citizens I know and on the exact same days as my landlady. They're starting to do walk in clinics on the island because compliance has been so high. We all register through the same federal system, and then it notifies us when there's an opening, and we get automatically scheduled. It was slower than the States but far less chaotic.
One of them was telling me about a FL variant that's not delta? I haven't seen that reported, and when I did a news search it pretty much only says FL's delta outbreak surge. Has anyone heard otherwise? I said we pretty much only have DeSatan to blame. Thankfully my relatives who are still there were vaccinated many months ago and still practice extreme caution. Friends work in schools and hospitals, so I'm sure they were also early vaccinators.
Wapo reported on the other FL variant today. I guess it hasn’t been assigned a letter yet, and the CDC is still working to figure out how concerning it will be?
Unsurprisingly, our mask mandate is back in the office. With further guidance about the vaccine mandate later this week.
I am curious about how companies are handling their mandates/return to work policies. We are supposed to return hybrid in September, masks not required and no proof of vaccination required to be maskless. I really want to email HR to see if there are any conversations happening with regards to reevaluating due to delta, but we are in a red state, so 🙄