Post by Velar Fricative on Aug 11, 2021 9:38:57 GMT -5
Yeah rubytue, and it doesn't help that he is a doctor. So they latch onto credentials when it suits them. I did contribute to the number as well because I was all wtf is this thing circulating???
I have a concert next Friday and while I still feel okay going (it's in an outdoor stadium, and I can wear a mask for more safety)...I'm just so meh about it right now. I was excited about it just a month ago and now I just don't care. It was originally scheduled for last August on a Saturday and now they moved it to a Friday at 5:30. The concert's in Philly and I'm driving from NYC, and anyone who knows this area knows a Friday afternoon drive in the summer through New Jersey is just not fun. The money for the ticket is gone no matter what so I may just eat it. This sucks.
I have a concert next Friday and while I still feel okay going (it's in an outdoor stadium, and I can wear a mask for more safety)...I'm just so meh about it right now. I was excited about it just a month ago and now I just don't care. It was originally scheduled for last August on a Saturday and now they moved it to a Friday at 5:30. The concert's in Philly and I'm driving from NYC, and anyone who knows this area knows a Friday afternoon drive in the summer through New Jersey is just not fun. The money for the ticket is gone no matter what so I may just eat it. This sucks.
I know it's not a reasonable thing for bands to do, but I really wish that when they rescheduled dates, they would pick the same day of the week as what it was originally scheduled for. I'm going to a concert on a Tuesday, which also happens to be the first day of a graduate class I am taking, that was originally scheduled on a weekend. At least it is in the same town I live in - if I had to travel I don't think I would be going. But it's still super inconvenient and although I want to go, I probably wouldn't have bought tickets if it was scheduled for that particular Tuesday.
which I was thrilled to see because I'm supposed to go to the one nearest me at the end of the month, but I'm still just not sure about it. several photos from recent stuff there make it look totally manageable - plenty of space around blankets on the lawn. But...I dunno man.
Post by cattledogkisses on Aug 11, 2021 10:24:21 GMT -5
I'm just so discouraged. Our state CDC posted a few days ago that we're at 80% of the state population with at least one vaccine, and yet today I have medical friends posting that all our major hospitals currently have no beds available and people waitlisted in the ER. Things felt so hopeful at the beginning of the summer and now everything's awful again.
Post by sillygoosegirl on Aug 11, 2021 10:26:59 GMT -5
Governor Brown of Oregon is expected to announce a new statewide mask mandate today. I am so relieved. I'm also afraid people won't follow it. Our numbers are nearing the peak we hit last winter, and while on the face of it they are still relatively low compared to elsewhere in the country, we also have the fewest hospital beds per capita, and they are almost full.
Post by Velar Fricative on Aug 11, 2021 10:33:06 GMT -5
If you check the NYT tracker, the 7-day average number of hospitalizations in Florida as of yesterday has exceeded the peak 7-day average number in New York from LAST SPRING. WTF. Very similar populations so the raw numbers compare well.
I imagine the hospitalizations are more spread out in FL versus here, where the vast majority were in the NYC metro area, but still. This is a travesty.
Post by litebright on Aug 11, 2021 10:34:09 GMT -5
I went to an outdoor concert and sat on the lawn last week, and I wore a mask coming in/out and when I wasn't eating (which was most of the time). Honestly, I felt fine about the risk level before and during the event, but afterwards I have found myself super anxious that every tickle in my throat is covid, that I shouldn't have gone, etc. Even though it was outside, I'm fully vaccinated in an area with a very good vax rate, and I was mostly masked and reasonably distanced from others.
One of my favorite bands is coming next week, though, and I am debating going again. I'm just not sure if the enjoyment of the event is worth the two weeks of post-event anxiety/regret.
I'm just so discouraged. Our state CDC posted a few days ago that we're at 80% of the state population with at least one vaccine, and yet today I have medical friends posting that all our major hospitals currently have no beds available and people waitlisted in the ER. Things felt so hopeful at the beginning of the summer and now everything's awful again.
Man, if your state is hurting, that does not bode well.
A German nurse who worked for the Red Cross and had shared anti-vax posts on social media admitted to giving 6 patients saline instead of the COVID vax. After antibody testing of some of those who received a vax from her, more were found. They are now recommending that almost 9,000 people need to be re-vaxed
Yeah rubytue , and it doesn't help that he is a doctor. So they latch onto credentials when it suits them. I did contribute to the number as well because I was all wtf is this thing circulating???
From the folks I saw critiquing him, I assumed he was a “functional medicine” woo doctor. But I looked him up, and actually MD. *grumble* health.usnews.com/doctors/daniel-stock-479689
Post by neverfstop on Aug 11, 2021 11:17:27 GMT -5
I really wish there was a trendline for a 7-day average, but it appears that here in the Houston area, we are WAAAAY over the numbers for our highest peak from January. That's a lot of red scary bars...
which I was thrilled to see because I'm supposed to go to the one nearest me at the end of the month, but I'm still just not sure about it. several photos from recent stuff there make it look totally manageable - plenty of space around blankets on the lawn. But...I dunno man.
August 31? I have tickets to that, but am totally questioning going. And my friend who was going to join also is hesitating. So, I may be going by myself. Or not at all. *sigh*
Post by picksthemusic on Aug 11, 2021 11:20:03 GMT -5
My county announced yesterday that starting tomorrow there will be a public space mask mandate. I'm so glad - our cases have been going up a lot and it's getting scary.
which I was thrilled to see because I'm supposed to go to the one nearest me at the end of the month, but I'm still just not sure about it. several photos from recent stuff there make it look totally manageable - plenty of space around blankets on the lawn. But...I dunno man.
August 31? I have tickets to that, but am totally questioning going. And my friend who was going to join also is hesitating. So, I may be going by myself. Or not at all. *sigh*
We could have a CEP GTG, I'm going to that one too
I am 99% sure I'll go, especially with the vaccine or testing requirement. I would probably feel differently if it was indoors but since it's outside, I think it will be fine.
ETA: Lol, you edited your post while I was tying this. Yep! I'm happy about the requirement for sure.
A German nurse who worked for the Red Cross and had shared anti-vax posts on social media admitted to giving 6 patients saline instead of the COVID vax. After antibody testing of some of those who received a vax from her, more were found. They are now recommending that almost 9,000 people need to be re-vaxed
I really wish there was a trendline for a 7-day average, but it appears that here in the Houston area, we are WAAAAY over the numbers for our highest peak from January. That's a lot of red scary bars...
I am really not understanding how the vaccines aren't putting more of a dent in these surges in case numbers. I looked at Harris County's numbers and it looks like 45% of the population (55% of 12+) is fully vaccinated. Okay, that's maybe not widespread-immunity levels, but I am struggling to wrap my mind around how case counts can be so much higher than previous surges, even though now there is a significant portion of the population fully vaccinated. And didn't schools just barely start? So it feels like they can't be contributing that much to spread just yet?
Did human behavior really change that much between the last surge and now, even in Texas? Is this what Delta's increased transmissibility looks like? Are breakthrough and repeat infections way, way higher than we think they are? I don't know what's happening.
August 31? I have tickets to that, but am totally questioning going. And my friend who was going to join also is hesitating. So, I may be going by myself. Or not at all. *sigh*
We could have a CEP GTG, I'm going to that one too
I am 99% sure I'll go, especially with the vaccine or testing requirement. I would probably feel differently if it was indoors but since it's outside, I think it will be fine.
ETA: Lol, you edited your post while I was tying this. Yep! I'm happy about the requirement for sure.
LOL, if it's a GTG maybe I will go. LOL I'm supposed to be going with a crew of friends. unclear what everybody's plan is. But the mandate does make me feel better for sure. I was at a triathlon last weekend and for the most part the nature of the event is such that i was never worried (all outside, naturally spaced out. required by rule to space out on the bike leg....) but the swim start turned into a pretty crowded situation and I was super eeeehhhhhhh about it. I decided not to go to the office this week just to give it a few days after that unexpected level of exposure.
I really wish there was a trendline for a 7-day average, but it appears that here in the Houston area, we are WAAAAY over the numbers for our highest peak from January. That's a lot of red scary bars...
I am really not understanding how the vaccines aren't putting more of a dent in these surges in case numbers. I looked at Harris County's numbers and it looks like 45% of the population (55% of 12+) is fully vaccinated. Okay, that's maybe not widespread-immunity levels, but I am struggling to wrap my mind around how case counts can be so much higher than previous surges, even though now there is a significant portion of the population fully vaccinated. And didn't schools just barely start? So it feels like they can't be contributing that much to spread just yet?
Did human behavior really change that much between the last surge and now, even in Texas? Is this what Delta's increased transmissibility looks like? Are breakthrough and repeat infections way, way higher than we think they are? I don't know what's happening.
This is definitely what increased transmissibility looks like. Original virus had an R0 of 2, alpha was like 3-4, Delta is something like 6-7 (I was just reading about this this morning). That is a huge increase in spreading capability. And I know here in CO human behavior has seemingly changed a ton. Way more parties, way less masks in anyplace I go, places back to full capacity. My hospital doesn’t even test before surgeries anymore. We still had mitigation efforts going on during the last surge. There are now none, but with a much more transmissible virus. It sucks.
I really wish there was a trendline for a 7-day average, but it appears that here in the Houston area, we are WAAAAY over the numbers for our highest peak from January. That's a lot of red scary bars...
I am really not understanding how the vaccines aren't putting more of a dent in these surges in case numbers. I looked at Harris County's numbers and it looks like 45% of the population (55% of 12+) is fully vaccinated. Okay, that's maybe not widespread-immunity levels, but I am struggling to wrap my mind around how case counts can be so much higher than previous surges, even though now there is a significant portion of the population fully vaccinated. And didn't schools just barely start? So it feels like they can't be contributing that much to spread just yet?
Did human behavior really change that much between the last surge and now, even in Texas? Is this what Delta's increased transmissibility looks like? Are breakthrough and repeat infections way, way higher than we think they are? I don't know what's happening.
No human behavior hasn't really changed at all (here..in TX to be clear). The only thing different is the level of travel. I think there is some seasonality at play but also waning immunity. There are quite a few breakthrough cases. Like a lot. I personally know of two in the past week. I think getting vaccines to all age groups is going to be very important as well as booster shots.
Most of the hospitalized are still the unvaccinated though. If Harris County has 55% of the total population with one shot that still leave several million people Delta can infect. According to Covid Act Now and also the Texas Medical Center graphics our infection rate is dropping. Hopefully we have peaked.
I am really not understanding how the vaccines aren't putting more of a dent in these surges in case numbers. I looked at Harris County's numbers and it looks like 45% of the population (55% of 12+) is fully vaccinated. Okay, that's maybe not widespread-immunity levels, but I am struggling to wrap my mind around how case counts can be so much higher than previous surges, even though now there is a significant portion of the population fully vaccinated. And didn't schools just barely start? So it feels like they can't be contributing that much to spread just yet?
Did human behavior really change that much between the last surge and now, even in Texas? Is this what Delta's increased transmissibility looks like? Are breakthrough and repeat infections way, way higher than we think they are? I don't know what's happening.
No human behavior hasn't really changed at all (here..in TX to be clear). The only thing different is the level of travel. I think there is some seasonality at play but also waning immunity. There are quite a few breakthrough cases. Like a lot. I personally know of two in the past week. I think getting vaccines to all age groups is going to be very important as well as booster shots.
Most of the hospitalized are still the unvaccinated though. If Harris County has 55% of the total population with one shot that still leave several million people Delta can infect. According to Covid Act Now and also the Texas Medical Center graphics our infection rate is dropping. Hopefully we have peaked.
Companies have removed the option to work from home. Many stores are not requesting masks. People are out visiting. So behavior has changed in those ways. Abbott is banning mask mandates for government buildings and while a few are rebelling, threat of non funding is pretty significant.
I don’t think mask mandates are even going to help at this point. The people who aren’t wearing them by now are never going to wear them.
I think they will. We've had a few security-related incidents at work because we still require masks even though we don't have to. And people have just given up. It's almost like after Delta really started surging, people started wearing their masks even less. A restaurant I pick up lunch from on occasion no longer has its employees wearing masks even though they were doing so long after the mandate was lifted here. DH went to an ice cream shop last night and there was a giant sign saying everyone must wear masks, including those vaccinated, so after he went back to his car to grab one, he goes in there and only 1 other customer out of about 5 was wearing a mask. And I don't blame the young shop staff from not engaging. A mandate would help.
fumbalina that’s true. Masks were required in most stores until what March or April? It wasn’t until June that most people ditched them completely. So yeah thanks CDC.
I really wish there was a trendline for a 7-day average, but it appears that here in the Houston area, we are WAAAAY over the numbers for our highest peak from January. That's a lot of red scary bars...
I am really not understanding how the vaccines aren't putting more of a dent in these surges in case numbers. I looked at Harris County's numbers and it looks like 45% of the population (55% of 12+) is fully vaccinated. Okay, that's maybe not widespread-immunity levels, but I am struggling to wrap my mind around how case counts can be so much higher than previous surges, even though now there is a significant portion of the population fully vaccinated. And didn't schools just barely start? So it feels like they can't be contributing that much to spread just yet?
Did human behavior really change that much between the last surge and now, even in Texas? Is this what Delta's increased transmissibility looks like? Are breakthrough and repeat infections way, way higher than we think they are? I don't know what's happening.
Because that’s a dismal vaccination rate. There are still more than 2 million people who are unvaccinated in Harris County alone. The average number of daily infections in Harris County is 42 out of every 100,000 people — in absolute terms that’s a fairly small percentage. Then take a total lack of social distancing and a high infection rate and there are PLENTY of bodies that can easily overwhelm local hospitals. Remember too that most people who are admitted to the ICU will stay there for weeks, taking up scarce beds. Plus, they probably absorb patients from rural counties that don’t have the same healthcare infrastructure. Things can get messy very, very fast.
I don’t think mask mandates are even going to help at this point. The people who aren’t wearing them by now are never going to wear them.
I think they will. We've had a few security-related incidents at work because we still require masks even though we don't have to. And people have just given up. It's almost like after Delta really started surging, people started wearing their masks even less. A restaurant I pick up lunch from on occasion no longer has its employees wearing masks even though they were doing so long after the mandate was lifted here. DH went to an ice cream shop last night and there was a giant sign saying everyone must wear masks, including those vaccinated, so after he went back to his car to grab one, he goes in there and only 1 other customer out of about 5 was wearing a mask. And I don't blame the young shop staff from not engaging. A mandate would help.
A mandate would absolutely help where I am. our cases are only now starting to tick up (we just tipped over into "substantial" the other day), but we had fantastic mask compliance here generally and I have no reason to believe that people wouldn't just put them right back on if given the direction to do so.
Which...I guess now they have in terms of CDC guidance, but it's not been put back in place at the county level unless I missed something. (neighbors feel free to correct)
I am really not understanding how the vaccines aren't putting more of a dent in these surges in case numbers. I looked at Harris County's numbers and it looks like 45% of the population (55% of 12+) is fully vaccinated. Okay, that's maybe not widespread-immunity levels, but I am struggling to wrap my mind around how case counts can be so much higher than previous surges, even though now there is a significant portion of the population fully vaccinated. And didn't schools just barely start? So it feels like they can't be contributing that much to spread just yet?
Did human behavior really change that much between the last surge and now, even in Texas? Is this what Delta's increased transmissibility looks like? Are breakthrough and repeat infections way, way higher than we think they are? I don't know what's happening.
Because that’s a dismal vaccination rate. There are still more than 2 million people who are unvaccinated in Harris County alone. The average number of daily infections in Harris County is 42 out of every 100,000 people — in absolute terms that’s a fairly small percentage. Then take a total lack of social distancing and a high infection rate and there are PLENTY of bodies that can easily overwhelm local hospitals. Remember too that most people who are admitted to the ICU will stay there for weeks, taking up scarce beds. Plus, they probably absorb patients from rural counties that don’t have the same healthcare infrastructure. Things can get messy very, very fast.
NYC is 56% fully vaccinated with double Harris County's population. We're seeing an uptick in cases and hospitalizations, but not to anywhere close to what we saw last year or what hotspots are seeing right now. My theories:
1) Seasonality - summer is always hot as balls for me but we've had some pretty pleasant weather up until today for a bit so it's much more conducive to have outdoor gatherings here than I imagine it is in Harris County right now. So this could mean we just have to brace for a bad situation in the fall, ugh.
2) Masks are not mandated here but many businesses do still require them (not that everyone complies...). And many communities with majority non-white populations, while they may not have high vaccination rates, do wear masks a lot more often both indoors and outdoors voluntarily. I don't know if that's the case in Harris County, which is also very diverse and may see the same habits.
We won't know the true reasons for a while, if ever.
I think mandates work a bit better. Suggesting wearing a mask does very little.
I live in what once was a very compliant mask wearing city. Also a highly vaccinated city. People are not putting the masks back on and really depending on their vaccination. But we also can't mandate masks anymore.
I don't want to give any more anecdotes, but I am really seeing this in my job. Highly vaccinated population but unmotivated to return to masks unless mandated. Also a population that was once VERY compliant with mask wearing before vaccinations.