Texas to open 100%

[EveDallas]

A good portion of my family live in the Houston area. My sister, aunt, cousins have all had it and recovered. An Uncle passed away from COVID last year. So In no way do I not take this seriously.

But remember 2 weeks to break the curve? Then the new normal. I know many people that will NEVER be comfortable again without a mask or being around people.

At some point you have to get back to living though.

I remember 2 weeks. Then six weeks. Then "just a few months". Then "just a few more months". Then "it's just one year"' Sometimes it feels never-ending.

 

[lorilclevelandrn]

I’m a Freedom Loving Texan and hearing from multiple Professionals across the Medical Community that it’s not “Opening Texas” that heightens their concerns but, the failed Immigration Policy allowing 1,000’s of Immigrants across our Borders either untested or were tested and released into our State with Positive Covid Results.

We now have 1 year worth of data that confirms Lockdowns do not work. It’s time for Governors to believe in their constituents that they will make the responsible decision to do what’s best for themselves, their Family Members, and their Businesses. People who are fearful can stay home and Businesses have the authority to mandate their own mask poli but, what makes it great, it’s 100% up to their discretion.

Newest Stanford Study—

A new study compiled by experts from Stanford University, has found that severe lockdown restrictions, such as stay at home orders and closure of businesses, have no “clear, significant benefits” in preventing the spread of COVID-19, and may in fact increase infection rates.

https://wethepeopleconvention.org/articles/New-Study-Lockdowns-Dont-Work
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/eci.13484

Who’s eligible for a vaccine in Texas? Can frontline workers at restaurants, grocery stores, and retailers, etc, get vaccinated already?

If not, that’s really unfortunate for any one who’s stuck trying to make a living but has concerns for their health or that of potentially vulnerable family members.

 

[fancymouse]

I think the guy who runs FL and also I think GA, back when they did not want masks worn, said local governments could not mandate differently than dictated by the state. I think there were a number of outlier states like that.

I live in Fort Lauderdale and I’m not sure if it was the county (Broward) or the city, but our area required mask. The Keys (Monroe County) also had different requirements at different times. I’m pretty sure that the strategy was to leave it to the localities to decide instead of a blanket mandate.

 

[Dan Murphy]

www.kxan.com/news/coronavirus/gov-abbott-strikes-down-statewide-mask-mandate-but-youll-still-have-to-wear-a-mask-at-these-places/

 

[TLSnell1981]

I think the guy who runs FL and also I think GA, back when they did not want masks worn, said local governments could not mandate differently than dictated by the state. I think there were a number of outlier states like that.

It wasn't they didn't want people to wear masks. They believed it should be a choice. It's what Texas has done..given businesses and individuals an option.

 

[tinkerdorabelle]

The cynic in me just says this is to divert the news cycle away from the power grid debacle a few weeks back.

Yup that was my first thought

 

[tinkerdorabelle]

I live in SoFL and I’m pretty sure localities still have different requirements. Last summer north Florida had wildly different restrictions than SoFL. Bars weren’t allowed to open at all here for a long time, but they were definitely open in places like Jacksonville. Beaches were closed here, but open north of Palm Beach County. Honestly I haven’t paid much attention to how the official restrictions have changed (although I think bars are open now), but we went to dinner this weekend and the restaurant was still operating at a reduced capacity. I’m not sure if this is the rule or if this was voluntary on the restaurant’s part. Personally I thing this flexibility was great. SoFL was hit much, much harder than the rest of FL. Allowing places to open up at different times made much more sense than treating all of FL the same.

In general, FL was way more open than a lot of places in the country at most points during this pandemic. Sure, it wasn’t completely open, but I believe SoFL was operating at 50% capacity in restaurants since at least last fall. So yeah, our area hasn’t always been completely open, but compared to New York, we’ve been open.

How have you guys been doing being open? Do you have high Covid numbers?

 

[TLSnell1981]

I own a medical practice in Texas. My partners and I decided last night to stick with science and require masks to be seen. We'll be happy to reschedule you if you won't wear a mask.

This morning, the largest hospital chain in Houston sent out a letter saying nothing has changed for them and they will require masks in all hospitals and clinics until the science supports otherwise.

Medical facilities are more likely to have sick people therefore at higher risk for illnesses. The decision is understandable.

 

[lorilclevelandrn]

Because children can be carriers.

I have 3 children and they have sports, school, and friends.

I agree. My family resides in Texas in a very large school district outside of Houston. Our district has had over 18,000 students return to school beginning day after Labor Day and their case positivity rate remains at 0.14% for students and 0.41% for teachers.

Infectious Disease Physicians have spoken out about MMR Vaccine possible having a protective effect against Covid-19 in Children and for those children who have contracted the virus, contributing to the decrease in severity of symptoms and viral load.

https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2034765

 

[MillauFr]

allowing 1,000’s of Immigrants across our Borders either untested or were tested and released into our State with Positive Covid Results.

I think the flow of people goes both directions across the border. Weren't some Texans heading off to Cancun during the freeze?

 

[DLgal]

I’m a Freedom Loving Texan and hearing from multiple Professionals across the Medical Community that it’s not “Opening Texas” that heightens their concerns but, the failed Immigration Policy allowing 1,000’s of Immigrants across our Borders either untested or were tested and released into our State with Positive Covid Results.

We now have 1 year worth of data that confirms Lockdowns do not work. It’s time for Governors to believe in their constituents that they will make the responsible decision to do what’s best for themselves, their Family Members, and their Businesses. People who are fearful can stay home and Businesses have the authority to mandate their own mask poli but, what makes it great, it’s 100% up to their discretion.

Newest Stanford Study—

A new study compiled by experts from Stanford University, has found that severe lockdown restrictions, such as stay at home orders and closure of businesses, have no “clear, significant benefits” in preventing the spread of COVID-19, and may in fact increase infection rates.

https://wethepeopleconvention.org/articles/New-Study-Lockdowns-Dont-Work
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/eci.13484

I can't say I completely disagree with you. I mean, I live in CA..."lockdown central."

What I want to know is, why can't there just be a place in the middle? Why can't we just be careful but also allow things to open? Why is that concept so difficult for our leaders to grasp? Let's do something halfway between "no masks, no restrictions on businesses or gatherings" and "shut it all down."

I agree that it is well beyond time to give people the ability to choose what they are comfortable with and what they are not. I also continue to believe in the right of individual businesses to set their own rules.

 

[BrianL]

I remember 2 weeks. Then six weeks. Then "just a few months". Then "just a few more months". Then "it's just one year"' Sometimes it feels never-ending.

There were definitely communications issues with that. Some were saying it would be a long time early on, but they were dismissed. There were a lot of mixed signals early on, and of course the science changes as we understand more. I think that has gotten better. To me, we've gotten to a pretty good place - numbers down, vaccines rolling out - NOW is not the time to rock that boat, but to bring it safely into the dock.

 

[DLgal]

There were definitely communications issues with that. Some were saying it would be a long time early on, but they were dismissed. There were a lot of mixed signals early on, and of course the science changes as we understand more. I think that has gotten better. To me, we've gotten to a pretty good place - numbers down, vaccines rolling out - NOW is not the time to rock that boat, but to bring it safely into the dock.

Exactly. Also, comparisons to the 1918 pandemic started very early on, and no one pretended that that one didn't last for 2 YEARS. We have precedent with something like this and should have expected a similar timeframe this time. It seems like that will hold and we won't see "normalcy" until sometime in 2022.

Anyone who expected this to only last a couple weeks to a few months is, frankly, not very astute.

 

[sam_gordon]

I can't say I completely disagree with you. I mean, I live in CA..."lockdown central."

What I want to know is, why can't there just be a place in the middle? Why can't we just be careful but also allow things to open? Why is that concept so difficult for our leaders to grasp? Let's do something halfway between "no masks, no restrictions on businesses or gatherings" and "shut it all down."

I agree that it is well beyond time to give people the ability to choose what they are comfortable with and what they are not. I also continue to believe in the right of individual businesses to set their own rules.

California's chart looks very similar to Texas & Florida (I posted those earlier - page 1 if anyone wants to go back and look).


So if California is "lock down central", Florida has been "open" for a number of months, and Texas is getting ready to open, why do all the charts look very similar?

 

[TLSnell1981]

There were definitely communications issues with that. Some were saying it would be a long time early on, but they were dismissed. There were a lot of mixed signals early on, and of course the science changes as we understand more. I think that has gotten better. To me, we've gotten to a pretty good place - numbers down, vaccines rolling out - NOW is not the time to rock that boat, but to bring it safely into the dock.

They went too far. It's why we are in this position now. Severe lockdowns for long periods of time have damaged our society in multiple ways. IMO

 

[lorilclevelandrn]

Yup that was my first thought

They have initiated a full investigation, as well as, legal action into the failure of Texas power grid during historical cold temperatures. There is no new information to disseminate until the investigation is completed.

 

[DLgal]

California's chart looks very similar to Texas & Florida (I posted those earlier).
View attachment 560170

So if California is "lock down central", Florida has been "open" for a number of months, and Texas is getting ready to open, why do all the charts look very similar?

Because it is a virus and it will spread regardless in large population centers?

I am saying I AGREE that the harsh lockdowns didn't help. They certainly drove people into private homes to gather. I disagree with California's methodology, but I also disagree with the other end of the spectrum.

I fully believe that masking and ventilation are key. Doing silly things like banning OUTDOOR dining and activities is counterproductive. On the other hand, completely ignoring masking and ventilation issues is also counterproductive to halting virus spread.

We can probably surmise that population density in CA and severe lockdowns drove spread there when people were forced to gather in private homes rather than places like restaurants. And in FL and Texas, the lack of mask compliance and "open bars, churches, and movie theaters" led to increased spread there. This is just a generalization, but it can be true that both techniques failed equally well.

 

[TLSnell1981]

They have initiated a full investigation, as well as, legal action into the failure of Texas power grid during historical cold temperatures. There is no new information to disseminate until the investigation is completed.

We were stuck in Prague a few years back due to a little ice. Shut the entire rail system down for days until they pulled out a few remaining diesels for important routes. Big problem was the electric ones were blocking the tracks.

 

[BrianL]

They went too far. It's why we are in this position now. Severe lockdowns for long periods of time have damaged our society in multiple ways. IMO

I can agree that measures were extreme, especially in some places. Early on they closed everything here - but after a few weeks we found a place where things could be open with reduced capacity, masks, and general common sense precautions. That is my personal preference. Some states have kept things more locked down than others, though they have higher population density than mine does (technically we didn't have state mandates, but the governor did allow counties/cities to enforce their own). Anyway, there totally needs to be a balance and I feel like we found that balance. What I am saying, if we are doing reasonably well right now then why make drastic changes to the system?

 

[angelmav]

We have taken draconian measures here in Italy with little effect. Deaths went down in relation to infection numbers something they have had a hard time understanding and that’s about it for progress.

it doesn’t appear the virus is going anywhere. It also appears the vaccine is a bandaid due to mutations and having ‘recovered’ from COVID only provides a very short term immunity.

Some people think we should never go without masks and Purell stations, social distancing etc pretty much ever again. Others have a what will be will be mindset.

I certainly don’t have any answers, I just know that you can’t keep in this posture forever and that for something that’s not going to be leaving, you have to at some point allow people to function.

I guess I’d feel differently if the vaccine was definitely the answer or it was mutating to a less dangerous version but nothing so far indicates this won’t still be a problem 10 years from now.