How Worried Should We Be?

[Lumpy1106]

Speaking of protests, I have to take back my earlier statement to a certain extent. I saw footage of a different type of protest today & there were many more people not wearing masks.

Honestly, I don't think you can look at the size protests we have been having, then say, "oh, but they were all wearing masks", and that makes it OK. We all know people don't wear the masks correctly, and that masks do nothing in comparison to proper distancing. Unlike the pictures when the beaches first opened, the pictures from the protests are not a camera trick - people really are packed in together for long periods.

But that is not what bugs me - what bugs me is that the protests have been lauded, and in fact encouraged by the very people who have shut the schools and businesses and told us all to stay home. Not only that, but then they twist the data and headlines to make it look like opening of the same businesses is causing the latest deaths - like This Headline that we saw all over So Cal this past weekend. Well you know what also happened this weekend? They painted "All Black Lives Matter" On Hollywood Blvd., then held THIS GIANT RALLY on the same street. Why doesn't the headline read "Los Angeles County Reports 58 more COVID Deaths Amid Giant Permitted All BLM Protest"? Of course - for this particular rally it's unrelated and that would be irresponsible reporting. Exactly.

Don't get me wrong, in any other circumstance I'd be happy to see the protests. Not only that, but I really hope that the numbers don't go up. It's already been 2 weeks, but maybe after a month of protests I really hope the media will finally start to ask why anything is closed if the worst has not happened. What is happening now is not right though. The businesses that are finally allowed to open have sacrificed everything, been looted in some cases, and have bent over backwards to meet the guidelines. Tying their openings to any COVID deaths is just wrong, even if, or maybe especially if it is just a cheap play on words to get an alarming headline to sell papers and get clicks on the internet. SHAME ON THEM.

 

[Planogirl]

It's interesting to read the last few pages of this thread. It's just a back and forth on how bad the virus is and also a comparison of words. It's true that none of us really know what will happen though so I can see the logic of assuming the best. It's hard for a pessimist like me though.

Houston and to a lesser extent Dallas are seeing uncomfortable numbers. Watching that unfold will tell me the most i think.

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

It's interesting to read the last few pages of this thread. It's just a back and forth on how bad the virus is and also a comparison of words. It's true that none of us really know what will happen though so I can see the logic of assuming the best. It's hard for a pessimist like me though.

Houston and to a lesser extent Dallas are seeing uncomfortable numbers. Watching that unfold will tell me the most i think.

Because I haven’t been following Texas, in cases, hospitalizations, deaths or all?

I can only speak for myself, but part of my showing numbers is to get past the fear mongering headlines @Lumpy1106 was just talking about. People see those and freak out - and I get it, some truly paint it as the end of days. So I’m just encouraging people to look at the actual numbers, the actual percentages. They may come out of that feeling exactly the same as they did and that’s totally fine, but for me, really analyzing the data helped me put the context around it so that I stopped freaking out. Having the whole picture allows me to better assess my personal risk and what I’m willing to do.

 

[Lumpy1106]

It's interesting to read the last few pages of this thread. It's just a back and forth on how bad the virus is and also a comparison of words. It's true that none of us really know what will happen though so I can see the logic of assuming the best. It's hard for a pessimist like me though.

Houston and to a lesser extent Dallas are seeing uncomfortable numbers. Watching that unfold will tell me the most i think.

I think the far more important question is why? Why are the numbers going up? Just as importantly, why AREN'T the numbers going up in other areas? My zip code for example has been practically untouched, and I live in a large city that has had substantial numbers. My zip code though, we have a population of about 15,000, and have had a TOTAL of 53 cases - not deaths, cases. Not only that, but 40 of those cases were all in one nursing home. That brings the greater community spread down to less than 1/10'th of one percent. What are we doing differently? I have some guesses, but nobody of any importance is even asking the question - so we just continue doing what everyone else is doing.

 

[RamblingMad]

I think the far more important question is why? Why are the numbers going up? Just as importantly, why AREN'T the numbers going up in other areas? My zip code for example has been practically untouched, and I live in a large city that has had substantial numbers. My zip code though, we have a population of about 15,000, and have had a TOTAL of 53 cases - not deaths, cases. Not only that, but 40 of those cases were all in one nursing home. That brings the greater community spread down to less than 1/10'th of one percent. What are we doing differently? I have some guesses, but nobody of any importance is even asking the question - so we just continue doing what everyone else is doing.

It’s still really early.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

My hospital covid inpatient numbers are down 70% from its peak and still dropping. Even after Memorial Day and the protests. All good signs and we are going into phase 2 today.

Overall beds are low because we are catching up on all of our elective procedures that weren’t done for 3 months.

 

[spiders]

The American Cancer Society is laying off 1,000. We are now more afraid of COVID than we are of diseases that are much more fatal and non-preventable.

 

[Lumpy1106]

The American Cancer Society is laying off 1,000. We are now more afraid of COVID than we are of diseases that are much more fatal and non-preventable.

That's distressing. We have most definitely been more touched by cancer than COVID - even since the outbreak started. My wife and I know 3 people who have died since that date - all cancer.

 

[spiders]

That's distressing. We have most definitely been more touched by cancer than COVID - even since the outbreak started. My wife and I know 3 people who have died since that date - all cancer.

I find it sad as well. I’m not advocating people stand shoulder to shoulder anytime soon but we have lost our perspective on the whole situation.

 

[RamblingMad]

I find it sad as well. I’m not advocating people stand shoulder to shoulder anytime soon but we have lost our perspective on the whole situation.

That’s what people forget. Pandemics distract from other illnesses. It’s not just the number of people who die from COVID that we have to worry about. It’s also all of the other people that die because COVID has used up resources that could be used to treat other illnesses.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I find it sad as well. I’m not advocating people stand shoulder to shoulder anytime soon but we have lost our perspective on the whole situation.

It's been written about throughout this pandemic but immunization rates are on average down and this is also speaking globally.

For global coverage this story just came out-- https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/14/health/coronavirus-vaccines-measles.html

For U.S. there are various sources throughout the time of the pandemic.

 

[CrimsonRave]

I think the far more important question is why? Why are the numbers going up? Just as importantly, why AREN'T the numbers going up in other areas? My zip code for example has been practically untouched, and I live in a large city that has had substantial numbers. My zip code though, we have a population of about 15,000, and have had a TOTAL of 53 cases - not deaths, cases. Not only that, but 40 of those cases were all in one nursing home. That brings the greater community spread down to less than 1/10'th of one percent. What are we doing differently? I have some guesses, but nobody of any importance is even asking the question - so we just continue doing what everyone else is doing.

So I can say the issue in Texas is a couple of things, from Governor Abbot lifting mask requirements back at the beginning of May. To the opening of restaurants, water parks (with what looks like no requirements), bars this week, etc.

Plus when we opened we were starting to see a small dip down, but then we tore the bandaid off and the flood gates open. What I find more interesting than anything else is the % based on race. In many many locations here in Texas, Hispanics make up just over 50% of the sick. Thats from Dallas, to Austin, to Houston, to even my small town I live in.

I don't think we have even seen this start yet.

 

[FairestOfThemAll37]

That’s what people forget. Pandemics distract from other illnesses. It’s not just the number of people who die from COVID that we have to worry about. It’s also all of the other people that die because COVID has used up resources that could be used to treat other illnesses.

It’s not even that Covid has used up all the resources. Other areas of hospitals have been shut down (and hemorrhaging money), people are afraid to go to the hospitals delaying needed medical treatment, and hospitals are now losing staff.

I’m not some Covid denier who thinks it’s just the flu, but I do think some of the authorities (and the media) have been a bit reckless in how the risks have been presented. The fear is disproportionate to the reality even with the numbers. People are so afraid and so focused on preventing Covid that we’ve gone blind to everything else that continues amidst the pandemic.

I’m watching numbers in my area and doing what I’m comfortable doing (which is still pretty limited admittedly), but I’m actually more afraid of what we’re going to uncover when this subsides than the actual pandemic. It feels like we’ve flattened the curve and watching areas but people have gone without routine and needed medical and dental for months, the bans on evictions will eventually expire, deferments will end and health and finance issues will all explode.

Nothing else has stopped moving because of the pandemic, we’ve just been collectively ignoring it.

 

[RamblingMad]

So I can say the issue in Texas is a couple of things, from Governor Abbot lifting mask requirements back at the beginning of May. To the opening of restaurants, water parks (with what looks like no requirements), bars this week, etc.

Plus when we opened we were starting to see a small dip down, but then we tore the bandaid off and the flood gates open. What I find more interesting than anything else is the % based on race. In many many locations here in Texas, Hispanics make up just over 50% of the sick. Thats from Dallas, to Austin, to Houston, to even my small town I live in.

I don't think we have even seen this start yet.

It’s super early. Expected infected and recovered is under 10% in most states. We closed down before it really had a chance to spread. States like NY got it before everyone else.

 

[RamblingMad]

It’s not even that Covid has used up all the resources. Other areas of hospitals have been shut down (and hemorrhaging money), people are afraid to go to the hospitals delaying needed medical treatment, and hospitals are now losing staff.

I’m not some Covid denier who thinks it’s just the flu, but I do think some of the authorities (and the media) have been a bit reckless in how the risks have been presented. The fear is disproportionate to the reality even with the numbers. People are so afraid and so focused on preventing Covid that we’ve gone blind to everything else that continues amidst the pandemic.

I’m watching numbers in my area and doing what I’m comfortable doing (which is still pretty limited admittedly), but I’m actually more afraid of what we’re going to uncover when this subsides than the actual pandemic. It feels like we’ve flattened the curve and watching areas but people have gone without routine and needed medical and dental for months, the bans on evictions will eventually expire, deferments will end and health and finance issues will all explode.

Nothing else has stopped moving because of the pandemic, we’ve just been collectively ignoring it.

That’s the end of July and early August. I expect another stimulus bill because it’s an election year.

I’m overdue for dental cleaning.

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

The American Cancer Society is laying off 1,000. We are now more afraid of COVID than we are of diseases that are much more fatal and non-preventable.

This is upsetting and goes back to a question I have asked over and over again. Do people really believe that Covid deaths mean more than any other death because that's how it's been treated by many. My county has had 4 deaths from Covid. My SIL is an EMT and says they respond to a suicide call every single shift now. And we won't see the long lasting effects of shutting down routine care for 3 months. Even longer if we start looking at how far out mammogram and other health screening appts are.

So I can say the issue in Texas is a couple of things, from Governor Abbot lifting mask requirements back at the beginning of May. To the opening of restaurants, water parks (with what looks like no requirements), bars this week, etc.

Plus when we opened we were starting to see a small dip down, but then we tore the bandaid off and the flood gates open. What I find more interesting than anything else is the % based on race. In many many locations here in Texas, Hispanics make up just over 50% of the sick. Thats from Dallas, to Austin, to Houston, to even my small town I live in.

I don't think we have even seen this start yet.

In my county, 75% of all cases are in the Hispanic/Latino community. The last stats I saw 95% of all of our youth (under 18) are in the Hispanic/Latino community. But they only make up 23% of the county's population.

 

[CrimsonRave]

So my wife and I were talking about this. It hit New York hard and lasted a good month and a half to get where it is now. I think that is what a lot of us are going to start seeing starting this month. It's just crazy that as these numbers do increase, people in Texas are starting to return to work, I worry about that a lot. Especially in education.

 

[Lumpy1106]

I think what you would find if the data was ever released, is that population density has far more to do with the spread than any other factor. Wuhan, NYC, LA, even the more heavily hit parts of my city, multi-story, dense housing is the norm. The rapid spread in call-center-esque office settings is also well documented. The active cases in more rural areas you can count on one hand, and easily isolate to give them the proper care, even if they are toughing it out at home. Are we prepared to evacuate ever other apartment to decrease density? No - far from it. The one-size-fits-all, SiP orders are really making people stir crazy though and I think is adding to the size and duration of the protests.

 

[Feralpeg]

This is probably a silly question. Do the asymptomatic individuals run a fever? If not, what possible good are temperature checks? I realize they don't have anything better, but it seems a bit pointless.

 

[TLSnell1981]

That’s what people forget. Pandemics distract from other illnesses. It’s not just the number of people who die from COVID that we have to worry about. It’s also all of the other people that die because COVID has used up resources that could be used to treat other illnesses.

Or don't seek medical attention due to fear of contracting THE virus.