BigLoad
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Post by BigLoad on Nov 20, 2021 0:52:01 GMT -8
Woohoo, I scored a booster appointment. I had to provide all my insurance info, which I didn't before, so I wonder if the Government isn't picking up the tab this time.
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davesenesac
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Post by davesenesac on Nov 20, 2021 8:29:18 GMT -8
An issue one is likely to increasingly read about is the CDC evaluation of how bad COVID-19 is regionally by using the metric of weekly positivity rates. The reason that is an issue is many people, especially more knowledgeable upper/middle class people have increasingly been using inexpensive over the counter self testing kits. Lower class people, poor, homeless, rural, especially in some ethnic groups don't tend to understand, buy, or use those kits and have always had higher positivity rates. Most of the test kit users testing with such that show negativity are not being counted in regional metrics because they have no reason bothering to report such.
Here in California, regional is county data upon which local health authorities base decisions on policy like masking. Accordingly, such people if testing positive only then go into actual clinics where they skew data making stats worse than reality. Our local San Francisco Bay Area rates have consistently been among the lowest in the country however there have always been pockets of lower class ethnic communities with higher rates. The result is our weekly positivity rates have remained at the yellow-orange concern boundaries despite hospitalization rates that have significantly dropped and are consistently among lowest in the country.
One might expect health authorities as a group since their job is evaluated for keeping rates low, generally tend to promote more severe policy, preferring restrictions but then a whole lot of we fully vaccinated are increasingly weary of endless mask restrictions where venues are already checking vaccination status entering. Clubs, restaurants, sporting events, concerts, organized events, etc. That is different from indoor situations like public buildings and public transportation where there is no checking thus continuing to mask has logic.
What is positivity rate? An explainer on a frequently-cited coronavirus statistic
www.phillyvoice.com/covid-19-positivity-rate-definition-coronavirus-pandemic/#:~:text=Positivity%20rate%20refers%20to%20the%20percentage%20of%20all,transmission%20than%20simply%20looking%20at%20daily%20case%20totals.
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gabby
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Post by gabby on Nov 20, 2021 8:29:45 GMT -8
COVID was reported to be detected in deer in NJ at least a year ago. I don't know if it has had much impact, especially compared to their most feared predator: cars. When I posted that a few days ago, I hadn't seen the thread on the subject in the "Environmental Issues" forum. I have to admit that I wasn't specifically thinking about the effect of the disease on the deer, but more the possibility of retransmission back to humans through yet another animal in a chain, possibly with mutations. But, yes, the effect of the disease circulating in groups of animals seems, at least to me, to have the potential for further decimation of wildlife on top of that caused by human use of wildlife habitat - that's certainly a possible major impact, though, no, I haven't heard of a problem, other than the few reports I've seen on animals in zoos, like the snow leapards, and now the deer. I doubt that mortality of wild animals is widely quantified or qualified by anyone, but I could be wrong about that. Someone is working on it, or we wouldn't have seen the "deer reports". AFA the other consideration, it's possible that there are many fewer ways, outside of direct contact, for disease to travel between wild species and humans (esp. in the case of covid), but there is at least some indirect possibilities for transmission because of the direct contact between wild animals and domesticated stock and pets. Ever since I started putting food out for the local feral cats in my neighborhood, I've seen an increase in the number of possums and raccoons around my yard. This is, in fact, the reason local authorities advise against feeding domesticated animals (pets) outside, or feeding any wildlife at all. But I, and most people I know around here, get some joy out of feeding birds, and that starts a chain of connection with other animals more likely to get, and transmit, disease. There's a trio of raccons who surfaced about 2 years ago to eat both the food I put out for feral cats and the seed I put out for birds and squirrels. They came for the cat food a number of times in just the last week, despite ample lighting on the my back patio and even yours truly out there making a video of them. Since the ferals have closer contact with me (and other people in the neighborhood, I presume), and then are obviously exposed to wildlife like the possums and raccoons that live in the green areas around our neighborhood and travel around using the storm sewers, it's possible disease could be yet another thing, along with the usual fleas, ticks and blood diseases (there's a form of leukemia in cats that is present in all the ferals I've ever taken to be cared for at a vet who will accept them) that are transmitted by contact and injuries that stem from "street confrontations", which I also occasionally hear. I suppose that someone, somewehere is studying these "contact patterns", but I don't know.
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gabby
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Post by gabby on Nov 20, 2021 9:16:28 GMT -8
Supply chain issues, arguments about masks and vaccines, along with so much hatefulness from so many. I'm so very tired of it. I kind of “sat down with myself” on this issue at the very beginning and figured, given that I’d been expecting an outbreak of this sort for some time - back at least to the H1N1 flu outbreak of 2009 – and given my age (76), I can’t really take any chances with this. My daughter was in Japan for a couple of years, and masks are pretty much a part of life there: you see them in crowded streets, and especially on crowded commuter trains, everywhere and all the time. I decided that, regardless what decisions were made (or not made, as it turned out) at the governmental/institutional level, I was resigned to wearing a mask and taking all the other social distancing measures for an indefinite time. But, of course, being the paranoid I am, I suspect that this is just the beginning. We need to get used to the idea that we will need to take precautions from now on, probably forever. (Or, at least, “forever” for me, since that isn’t really all that much time. :^D) a lot of the venues like jazz clubs, concerts, etc., have either a proof of vaccine or everybody masked policy I don’t want to push “covid misinformation”, but I believe that every situation is “fluid”, since we have had multiple seasons of ebb and flow of this particular disease now that dictate one’s general response to protection measures day-to-day, and, at least for me, every local/micro situation is a sort of version of this view. I don’t wear a mask at home or while walking on streets and trails in my neighborhood (though I did wear one the whole time I was out 2 days ago, but that was because it was chill and there was a stiff wind that resulted in my swallowing a lot of chilled and dusty air otherwise – masks are good for that too!), but I do wear a mask when I’m in an enclosed area with other persons, when I’m shopping or going to the doctor or visiting anyone outside of my own family. In all situations, I carry a mask in my back pocket (even on the trail, because you never know when you might meet someone you know and start chatting) and I’ll “double mask” in indoor situations when it’s a) crowded, b) covid rates are going back up (again) or c) people are being stupid and not adhering to social distancing or not wearing a mask (this happens a lot more often than it should, but, hey, this is Texas). To this purpose, I use the mask in my back pocket, but, when entering a closed shopping environment, I take and wear one of the masks I store in my car while keeping the one in my back pocket as a “double”. My masks are KN95 almost always, and the “double” depends on what I have with me – either another KN95 or one of those flimsy blue things. I’ve even used a bandana (which I also seem to carry everywhere) to “double”. This should be the way anyone - at least anyone my age - does this (IMHO), because there is varying protection from masks and mask combinations. Finally, it has been my sense of “why we wear masks” that it’s not just for me, but for the community. I don’t believe most people see it this way – at least based on how I see people wearing masks. Many are downright irresponsible, and thus we get the ebb and flow of infection rates everywhere. I have also read that, despite being vaccinated, you can still transmit covid simply because that's how viruses work: they're everywhere, including (possibly) your own nasal passages from exposure to others and, though your heightened antibodies pretty much neutralize them for yourself, you can still expel them and infect someone else. One study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that a standard surgical mask only protected the wearer from about 7.5 percent of the particles generated by a simulated cough. But knotting the loops and tucking in the sides of the medical mask reduced exposure by nearly 65 percent. (Watch this video to see the “knot and tuck” method.) Covering the surgical mask with a cloth mask, a technique known as double masking, reduced exposure to the simulated cough particles by 83 percent.
…
The laboratory studies showed that a high-quality medical mask, like an N95, KN95 or KF94, works best. While vaccination is the best protection against Covid-19, even vaccinated people are advised to avoid crowds or large groups indoors when the vaccination status of others isn’t known. Given that the Delta variant is far more contagious than other variants, Dr. Marr also recommended wearing the highest-quality mask possible when you can’t keep your distance or be outdoors — or when nobody around you is masking up. www.nytimes.com/article/covid-masks-protection-stats.html Woohoo, I scored a booster appointment. I had to provide all my insurance info, which I didn't before, so I wonder if the Government isn't picking up the tab this time. I have had both of the original Pfizer shots, plus a booster back in September around the time I got my annual flu shot. I paid for the flu shot (through Medicare, so I’m “cheating” here on that statement), but I have yet to pay for a covid shot. (I’m mostly oblivious to what is obvious to everyone else, so maybe the government is also paying for those through Medicare or through grants to those giving the shots?) however there have always been pockets of lower class ethnic communities with higher rates. And this right here is why universal health care is not at all “optional”. The health of everyone in any community is tied to everyone else’s health, regardless how rich or poor. This should be obvious to anyone, but there are so many out there who are “consciously and spitefully stupid”.
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Travis
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Post by Travis on Nov 20, 2021 10:59:05 GMT -8
I got the Moderna booster shot about 10 days ago but find myself pessimistic that even a broad area of the country will reach herd immunity. There are far too many unvaccinated people that continue to provide a pool of virus potential, and the longer that potential persists, the greater the opportunity for the virus to mutate into more dangerous varieties.
Meanwhile the community and school district continues to host spreader events for the unvaccinated to show again the foolishness of refusing the vaccines.
A popular T-shirt in Wyoming claims "Wyoming, Social distancing since 1889." But that's not what I see happening now.
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Post by autumnmist on Nov 21, 2021 12:16:30 GMT -8
Local news announced either last night or the night before that Michigan now has the highest rate of infections. I guess I'm going to have to use the graphs to decide when it's safer to be out in public and get medical appointments, etc. accomplished. I did notice that mask wearing decreased over the last few months but has increased again, and fortunately, more people are once again masking although there are still people with bare faces. www.clickondetroit.com/news/michigan/2021/11/17/data-michigan-seeing-highest-covid-case-numbers-in-us/
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walkswithblackflies
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Post by walkswithblackflies on Nov 22, 2021 5:56:52 GMT -8
I'm on the fence regarding a booster shot. But.... what I think I'll end up doing is "supplementing" with a J&J booster (I originally had Pfizer). From what I gather, because they are different types of vaccine (mRNA vs Vector), they can elicit different immune responses... B-cell vs T-cell. So getting a mix might be slightly better for overall immune response. I have a physical with my doctor on Wednesday and I'll discuss it with her.
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downriver
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Post by downriver on Nov 22, 2021 13:39:23 GMT -8
I’m in my truck in the Columbia River Gorge waiting to leave after I got my Moderna booster. Easy drive-thru process in Hood River County. Added bonus of scenic waterfalls...
Regards,
DR
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GaliWalker
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Post by GaliWalker on Nov 22, 2021 13:42:10 GMT -8
As I understand it, you need to get a booster shot! Moderna's efficacy is down to into the 60% range, Pfizer's into the 40s, and J&Js into the single digits. Moderna beats out Pfizer, not necessarily because of better technology but because its dosage for the first two shots was 100mcg compared to Pfizer's 30mcg (Pfizer was worried about side effects). Even now, Moderna's half-dose booster has a higher dose than Pfizer's full dose booster. I stuck with Pfizer for all three of my shots, but am now thinking I should have taken the Moderna as my booster.
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BigLoad
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Post by BigLoad on Nov 22, 2021 15:40:41 GMT -8
Southeast UT is nearly shut down still. Restaurants that don't normally close in off-season are closed altogether or are serving dinner only and only outdoors. A lot of hotels are closed, too, that otherwise wouldn't be.
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BigLoad
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Post by BigLoad on Nov 22, 2021 16:00:27 GMT -8
Also, Navajoland is strictly masks-on. Everywhere we've been there had a monitor at the door who also dispensed the required hand sanitizer.
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bcpete
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Post by bcpete on Nov 22, 2021 17:50:36 GMT -8
Visiting the in-laws in rural MN right now; and the main hospital in the region is broadcasting on the news that they are 97% ICU full. I'm gobsmacked by the lack of masking, social distancing, and overall vaccination rates in this county (61%). Compared to Canada, the differences in overall attitude in the US is truly disheartening.
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downriver
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Post by downriver on Nov 22, 2021 18:10:00 GMT -8
Woohoo, I scored a booster appointment. I had to provide all my insurance info, which I didn't before, so I wonder if the Government isn't picking up the tab this time. Today I went for my Moderna booster; it only required me answering several questions and I did not have to provide any insurance info. This was my third time using a county program open to all (I believe the state also had a hand in it). I was asked if I wanted a booster or a third dose. Super easy as I sat in my truck. Perhaps it’s different state to state. But here there are no insurance questions. They checked to make sure six months had passed since my second dose of Moderna. I was very happy to receive the Moderna doses and booster due to their efficacy. Regards, DR
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daveg
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Post by daveg on Nov 23, 2021 9:50:56 GMT -8
I got my Moderna booster a week ago and am very glad I did. Covid cases in my Michigan county are the highest they have been since last November and continue to increase. The data shows at least 1 in 7 of the county's residents have been infected so far.
The hospital where my daughter works (in an adjacent county) is at 100 percent capacity. She said they have had people wait in the emergency room, sometimes for days, for a bed to open up. One of her patients who recently died of Covid insisted to the end that there was no such thing as Covid.
Yet, despite all this, vaccination rates remain relatively low -- low 60% in my county and many of the surrounding counties are at less than 50%. I went grocery shopping this morning at a big box store (Meijers) and, at most, 10% of the customers were wearing masks.
I suspect it's going to get even worse for a while.
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Post by autumnmist on Nov 24, 2021 8:15:41 GMT -8
daveg , Meijer's is kind of a bellwether store in this area as well. It seems to draw the most customers, including beyond Kroger's, the only real competitor in that size of a store. After requiring complete masking, providing staff at the entries to actually pump a bit of sani wash and hand out one little sheet of sanitizing wash as customers entered the store, it reverted to just leaving a big jug of Mexican sourced handwash and the usual stand with handwipes on a roll for customers to get for themselves. Customers displayed a similar approach: from everyone being masked to only a few old diehards like me. Then gradually, more people masked, typically older ones. Next trip, more younger people were masked. After case decline, almost all customers appeared w/o masks, except the older folks. Then masking increased, gradually. On the most recent trip at the end of last week, almost all customers were again masked. I'm feeling positive at least that more people are masking again, but it was disappointing that masks were so quickly dispensed with once the infection rate lowered.
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