COVID-19 Outbreak Information Updates (Reboot) [over 150.000,000 US cases (est.), 6,422,520 US hospitilizations, 1,148,691 US deaths.] (9 Viewers)

Let's see if this works. It's a Washington Post article about Sturgis but it's an archived page due to their cancerous website.


I hadn't really been paying attention to Covid trends in recent weeks, so when I heard the Midwest was getting bad, I took a look on the CDC site, and sure enough. First thought that came to mind was the Sturgis event. Curious about bclemms' comments as well. Put those two together, and you get a pretty significant spike in that part of the country.
 
Pretty clear that Sturgis was a mega spreader event. But at least they could have their freedums.
 
I want to give this a better answer when I can get on a computer.

No.

Locally, areas like Wisconsin might want to consider it.

However, i wanted to see, and still want to see a much stronger coordinated federal response.

I'll flesh this out later.

@Saints 318 Getting back to this as promised, just later than I thought.

I'd have to go back to the original thread to see if I chimed in with this, and how early. I do know I was sort of paying attention in January.

First off, I think a stronger 'isolationist' move at the very beginning would have been wise. i.e. not just prevent Chinese Nationals from entering the country, but prevent everyone. All flights from China would be slowly cancelled, and everyone who returned from China would be put into a 14 day quarantine. I'd have also wanted eventually all international flights to have the same guidelines. Probably, more so to cancel all or most international flights, but really only allow folks that live in the US to return, but put them in quarantine, in an abundance of caution.

Secondly, you'd have to do the same thing for any cruises with international passengers. If you couldn't sort that out, then everybody.

The best way to control it was to avoid it. But, that didn't happen.

An early lockdown helped, but, it was too late, and, as we're seeing, the virus doesn't hit everyone at once. It's kind of like following a dollar around. Ok, it started in NYC, and on the west coast. Just looking at NYC, you have it spread to Jersey, then Florida and New Orleans, then other inland hubs, like Detroit, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Atlanta... Now it is hitting more regional central areas, like Wisconsin (Milwaukee and Green Bay, as well as rural), Tennessee, Kentucky, ND, SD, and others.

So, a lot of this second and third wave talk, is really the spread of the virus hitting new areas, while it's still a slow simmer in the original spots. However, some original spots are accelerating again. See the data below.

1603045051215.png

1603045086325.png

1603045119776.png

So, based on this, a National 'stay home' mandatory order isn't needed. However, areas of active outbreaks should strongly consider it. I do think people should avoid going to places they don't need to be. I think people should avoid seeing family, unless it's smartly done.. i.e. outdoors, open spaces, good distances. Indoors for some, especially if you know people have been strict about adhering to this stuff, but that's a trust thing. So in short, wear a mask, social distancing, good hand washing and hygiene, limit trips, limit indoor activities, limit/avoid gatherings, really isolate from family and friends, but do as much as you can to replace it virtually.

I do think a National Mask mandate, or at the last, very concentrated messaging encouraging mask usage, providing masks for those who can't afford it, and helping places install more sanitizer, will do a lot. I've see so many gas stations now with sanitizer outside and inside free to use. But, I've also seen people act very cavalier to it or ignore it completely. My home town is darn near in fantasy land.

I think we should have a concentrated effort to safeguard public transportation. i.e. can we easily retrofit busses, trains, etc to allow more fresh air? Mandate mask usages there. Can we add other germicide safeguards? i.e. safe chemicals that kill the virus hours after it was used? safe for humans UV light? (I believe they call it farfield UV-C). This would actually cut back and all kinds of viruses, like the flu, and others.

There are two economic realities. There is the major pain to various companies/businesses/workers due to people changing their habits, and local officials not allowing certain businesses to open fully. However, even with those regulations/rules removed, people are still mostly avoiding certain businesses. Exceptions to everything. But this economic impact is more medium/long term.

The second economic reality is when an area does have to go on a lock down, or our watered down "safer at home" type orders. In those cases, almost all non-essential economic activity dies. This is often more temporary.

So, without getting into politics, it would be nice to see a coordinated Federal approach that would have money for longer term issues, i.e. unemployment, underemployment, and 'sanitization'. Then also a pot of money for the short term, safer at home orders. i.e. if Wisconsin, as a state, or just 10 counties ordered a lock down due to hitting a certain infection rate, the government would give everyone in that zip code like $400-600. Enough to get by for 2 weeks with no income (to cover the basics). If we were smart enough, we'd account for local cost of living to make that amount flexible. $400 in the sticks can often get you further than $400 in Chicago. This would be a very targeted approach, to potentially conserve funds.

I do think, there had/has to be some level of coordination about interstate travel. Now, airplanes are relatively safe, it seems, due to recycling air, and people being in masks. However, I'm not sure how well our contact tracing is really working, since the numbers are overwhelmingly high.

I think there should be some federal coordination of state by state statistics, so that the proper guidance is given for closures and reopening.

There needs to be discussion about, if a vaccine is viable, how is it quickly brought up to scale and administered. I know the USPS has been an option at one point, the National Guard, just distributing it to medical centers, pharmacies, and sending a nurse to businesses, schools, like we do with the Flu shot. Obviously, nursing homes, hospitals, and anyone over 65, diabetic, etc should absolutely be first.

lastly, to reiterate something. There is useful power in just a clear, coordinate message. The lack of it leads to all kinds of problems, many that we see today. I understand what my state of florida is doing, i.e. not being in the way, and letting people decide. However, I think that's a bit too far. People make crappy decisions all of the time. Look at debt for the obvious one.
 
Interesting. Looks like non-U.S. Citizens can't travel here if they have gone to any of the listed countries in the last 14 days, but they are letting U.S. Citizens and family member return to the U.S. even if they visited one of those countries. I'm not sure how that makes sense.
Yup, that's how it's always been. That's why it was criticized.
 
The schools continue to be doing a good job with adhering to the policies. Masks, distancing, handwashing, cohorting, etc are having a real impact.

It's having a positive effect.

But our numbers are getting higher and higher and it's only going to get worse with flu season and winter coming on.

Toronto and Ottawa and Peel (area northwest of Toronto) have rolled back to earlier Stage 2 restrictions.

Two other areas - York (immediate to Toronto's north) and Halton (Toronto's west - where I am) - are next up for rolled back restrictions.
As usual, most adults could look to children for the right way to act. Kids respond to this kind of stuff so much better than most adults.
 
@Saints 318 Getting back to this as promised, just later than I thought.

I'd have to go back to the original thread to see if I chimed in with this, and how early. I do know I was sort of paying attention in January.

First off, I think a stronger 'isolationist' move at the very beginning would have been wise. i.e. not just prevent Chinese Nationals from entering the country, but prevent everyone. All flights from China would be slowly cancelled, and everyone who returned from China would be put into a 14 day quarantine. I'd have also wanted eventually all international flights to have the same guidelines. Probably, more so to cancel all or most international flights, but really only allow folks that live in the US to return, but put them in quarantine, in an abundance of caution.

Secondly, you'd have to do the same thing for any cruises with international passengers. If you couldn't sort that out, then everybody.

The best way to control it was to avoid it. But, that didn't happen.

An early lockdown helped, but, it was too late, and, as we're seeing, the virus doesn't hit everyone at once. It's kind of like following a dollar around. Ok, it started in NYC, and on the west coast. Just looking at NYC, you have it spread to Jersey, then Florida and New Orleans, then other inland hubs, like Detroit, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Atlanta... Now it is hitting more regional central areas, like Wisconsin (Milwaukee and Green Bay, as well as rural), Tennessee, Kentucky, ND, SD, and others.

So, a lot of this second and third wave talk, is really the spread of the virus hitting new areas, while it's still a slow simmer in the original spots. However, some original spots are accelerating again. See the data below.

1603045051215.png

1603045086325.png

1603045119776.png

So, based on this, a National 'stay home' mandatory order isn't needed. However, areas of active outbreaks should strongly consider it. I do think people should avoid going to places they don't need to be. I think people should avoid seeing family, unless it's smartly done.. i.e. outdoors, open spaces, good distances. Indoors for some, especially if you know people have been strict about adhering to this stuff, but that's a trust thing. So in short, wear a mask, social distancing, good hand washing and hygiene, limit trips, limit indoor activities, limit/avoid gatherings, really isolate from family and friends, but do as much as you can to replace it virtually.

I do think a National Mask mandate, or at the last, very concentrated messaging encouraging mask usage, providing masks for those who can't afford it, and helping places install more sanitizer, will do a lot. I've see so many gas stations now with sanitizer outside and inside free to use. But, I've also seen people act very cavalier to it or ignore it completely. My home town is darn near in fantasy land.

I think we should have a concentrated effort to safeguard public transportation. i.e. can we easily retrofit busses, trains, etc to allow more fresh air? Mandate mask usages there. Can we add other germicide safeguards? i.e. safe chemicals that kill the virus hours after it was used? safe for humans UV light? (I believe they call it farfield UV-C). This would actually cut back and all kinds of viruses, like the flu, and others.

There are two economic realities. There is the major pain to various companies/businesses/workers due to people changing their habits, and local officials not allowing certain businesses to open fully. However, even with those regulations/rules removed, people are still mostly avoiding certain businesses. Exceptions to everything. But this economic impact is more medium/long term.

The second economic reality is when an area does have to go on a lock down, or our watered down "safer at home" type orders. In those cases, almost all non-essential economic activity dies. This is often more temporary.

So, without getting into politics, it would be nice to see a coordinated Federal approach that would have money for longer term issues, i.e. unemployment, underemployment, and 'sanitization'. Then also a pot of money for the short term, safer at home orders. i.e. if Wisconsin, as a state, or just 10 counties ordered a lock down due to hitting a certain infection rate, the government would give everyone in that zip code like $400-600. Enough to get by for 2 weeks with no income (to cover the basics). If we were smart enough, we'd account for local cost of living to make that amount flexible. $400 in the sticks can often get you further than $400 in Chicago. This would be a very targeted approach, to potentially conserve funds.

I do think, there had/has to be some level of coordination about interstate travel. Now, airplanes are relatively safe, it seems, due to recycling air, and people being in masks. However, I'm not sure how well our contact tracing is really working, since the numbers are overwhelmingly high.

I think there should be some federal coordination of state by state statistics, so that the proper guidance is given for closures and reopening.

There needs to be discussion about, if a vaccine is viable, how is it quickly brought up to scale and administered. I know the USPS has been an option at one point, the National Guard, just distributing it to medical centers, pharmacies, and sending a nurse to businesses, schools, like we do with the Flu shot. Obviously, nursing homes, hospitals, and anyone over 65, diabetic, etc should absolutely be first.

lastly, to reiterate something. There is useful power in just a clear, coordinate message. The lack of it leads to all kinds of problems, many that we see today. I understand what my state of florida is doing, i.e. not being in the way, and letting people decide. However, I think that's a bit too far. People make crappy decisions all of the time. Look at debt for the obvious one.
Regarding Colorado, what a coincidence that the red spot where it's on the rise is around Colorado Springs, the home of Focus on the Family and generally the most politically/socially/religiously conservative part of the state.
 
Anyone have the skinny on mask usage in rural Tangipahoa and St. Helena Parishes? Thinking Amite, Monpelier, and points west.

The family has been itching to get out of the house. My wife saw an ad for the Cajun Country Corn Maze online (Facebook, I'm sure). It's about 8 miles west of Montpelier in St. Helena Parish.

So we drive (from the West Bank of Jefferson Parish) an hour and half up there. We finally make it, and we can see from our car the crowd for the maze and other activities. No one in masks. Yes, outdoors, and maybe not as dense as a Mardi Gras parade crowd ... but pretty darn dense.

Not a mask in sight.

So, after driving all that way, we don't even get out of the car. A quick poll of the family reveals that no one feels comfortable going to the corn maze, so we turn around in their parking lot and leave.

We make our way back to I-55 and drive to Hammond, planning to eat at Carreta's not too far from SLU. They have outdoor seating, but a little too dense, and no one really in a mask. People parking and walking to all the other nearby restaurants ... no one in masks. No one in masks. No one in masks.

Welp. Scratch Carreta's. Ended up eating in our car at a Sonic a few blocks north of Hwy 190 in Hammond (close to Target, Best Buy, etc.). Actually stopped at that Best Buy to shop a bit -- hardcore on the mask requirements, everyone in masks, no issues.

So ... what's the deal up there? Everyone's "back to normal" at restaurants in Hammond? The rural parts of Tangipahoa and St. Helena just aren't doing COVID?
 

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