I’ve been reading a lot how COVID infection rates are once again exploding in Michigan, Pennsylvania, New York and California.
BUT it’s staying low in Texas and Florida.
Why is that? I haven’t read any reasoning why it’s bad in one place and good in the other? My only theory is it’s been said COVID doesn’t like warm weather and this time of year is usually significantly warmer in Texas and Florida than the other areas mentioned. What to the knowledgeable experts of TUSCL think?
Don’t know about other parts of the country, but in AZ we were the hottest spot per capita in the world last summer and then again this winter. Everyone we know has either contracted the virous or else gotten vaccinated so here immunity is close, and our case #s are way down.
My own belief is that the warm weather is a factor, not that the virus cares a lot about the temperature but people do, and when the weather is warmer and peoples movements aren't restricted, they prefer outdoor activities which make it easier, and more likely that social distancing is happening. My guess is that there are more indoor activities in those Covid hotspots, making it more difficult to allow for better social separation allowing the virus to easily jump from host to host.
Not a doctor but there seems to be a consistent increase with indoor gathering. Northeast/Midwest in the winter, south in the summer. It also seems Covid is susceptible to sunlight and not easily passed on beaches or outdoors generally. All of that is just a WAG on my part but would be consistent with why the explosions in NYC in feb/mar (subway), New Orleans (mardi gras nighttime and bars) were more severe than FL spring break, which was heightened but not devastating.
People in florida aren't as fat as in the northeast and midwest.
The Covid spike in Michigan is concerning. I don't have an explanation. I have wearing a mask and social distancing for a year, and so have most of the people I know. But not everyone is following best practices. Some reports say that Covid variants that are more infectious are now prevalent in Michigan.
COVID cases and, more importantly, positivity rates are edging up here in FL too. It's just that concern over it has gone down a lot. 37% of the state's population has received at least one vaccine dose, including the vast bulk of our seniors and other vulnerable people. Now it's mostly young people getting it and since it's not especially dangerous to them, our hospitalization rates and deaths are not spiking with the increased cases.
At some point common sense will need to take hold in the lockdown states. Here is Florida vaccine demand is starting to drop off already. It used to be hard to get an appointment but now it's readily available to anyone who wants it. I'll be surprised if we reach 50% by the end of June. There will come a time in every state where all this hyperventilating nonsense about young people getting COVID will have to end since it's doubtful that a high percentage of them will ultimately get the shot.
My son just got back from Spring Break in Florida. 8 out of 8 boys got Covid.
Scrubby, Tucker is an idiot. Best case is that vaccines are 95% effective. 95 does not equal 100. J&J is even less effective. CDC today said that 5800 people got Covid after being fully vaccinated. I agree that is a pretty low number and as more people get vaccinated and/or get antibodies from getting Covid, the masks can come off. We’re just not there yet, even though it may be soon.
Probably the more important reason is that you don’t know if someone has been vaccinated so everyone still has to wear a mask. We’ve very much demonstrated we can’t follow rules, so putting people on the honor system of you don’t have to wear a mask if you’ve been vaccinated won’t work. Just wear a mask for the next month or two and we’ll be in good shape. We’re at 100% bar and restaurant capacity and schools are mostly open here in Maryland and our governor was one of the strictest in the beginning.
Mask mandates will likely go away when a certain critical mass is finally reached. In other words, when the vulnerable people and less vulnerable panicky types get their shots and then learn to accept that not everyone is going to join them in that. Until then morons in certain states will keep focusing on vaccination rates that will never be achieved. Then once reality finally sinks in, they will eventually stop focusing on near meaningless transmission numbers and instead focus on low death and hospitalization numbers, which will support the removal of ongoing impositions on the population.
That if vaccines are effective, then we shouldn't have to wear masks, is the dumbest argument ever made that wasn't in defense of socialism.
Moderna efficacy has been reduced to 90%. Pfizer is 0% effective against variants. Astrazeneca, J&J, and the foreign vaccines are proven abject failures. Vaccinated people do not necessarily have immunity, recovered COVID patients are not necessarily immune, and too few people are being vaccinated. Widespread, unmitigated transmission around the world is fueling the creation and spread of these variants, and these variants are the biggest obstacle to having an effective vaccine to end this pandemic (idiot anti-vaxers are #2). You also have the creation and dissemination of fake and fraudulent vaccination cards. Without access to a database or catalog of lot #s and distribution sites, you cannot tell if a card is real or fraudulent.
Vaccination is not guarantee of immunity. Prior infection is not guarantee of immunity. There is no actual way to separate realnfrom fake vaccinated persons. That is why we must continue to wear masks and social distance.
===> "Vaccination is not guarantee of immunity. Prior infection is not guarantee of immunity. There is no actual way to separate realnfrom fake vaccinated persons. That is why we must continue to wear masks and social distance."
By that logic we would need to stay masked and distanced forever. That is highly unlikely, lol. People can only live like that for so long. At some point sanity has to take hold, with protecting the vulnerable and allowing others to go about their days unencumbered. Heck masks are already disappearing quickly in my local area.
Maybe you’re right Scrub. If so, it’s likely a pendulum swinging from overstrict to not doing anything. A few more swings in our future if the virus dissipates and comes back in spots. I do agree that we will learn to live with some measure of it. The MRNA technology and ability to quickly adapt to new vaccines is valuable so that hopefully we should not have 2020 type lockdowns again. The other benefit is that even though you can still get Covid after being vaccinated, it’s supposed to greatly reduce symptoms or make it asymptotic. The world is a lot less scary in that case, even for the most conservative health advocates.
It gets a little press that while the masks and lockdowns effectiveness against Covid is disputed/rationalized, it seems very clear that they were very effective against cold and flu. I saw the flu numbers a week ago and they were a fraction of typical years. Knock on wood, but none of my family and few of my friends got sick at all this year after the lockdowns/masks started, except for a few cases of Covid. Some people may choose to wear masks just to get that benefit.
Breaking news: the Pfizer CEO admitted that a third dose will be necessary for people to maintain their vaccination effectiveness. This is why we need to eliminate the current transmission and positivity rates, THAT is how this thing goes away. Sticking your head in the sand and ignoring/denying it is cowardly and ignorant. Many more Americans will be infected and reinfected; more and worse variants and mutations will emerge and spread; and the impact on individuals and the economy will never end. I am ready for this shit to end, but deniers and anti-vaxers are doing their best to make sure it never does. They must like wearing masks and not having to interact with people.
^ Leave the deniers and anti-vaxxers alone eventually they’ll be gone anyway
Pfizer CEO says third Covid vaccine dose likely needed within 12 months
Really, the need for additional doses is no surprise. They knew from the beginning that there was no lifelong effectiveness. I think it's by design. Why? Recurring revenue. Same principle as planned obsolescence. In that sense, the deniers and anti-vaxers have joined the ranks of useful idiots. Yes, they exist on the right as well as the left.
^ My bet is the vast majority of anti-vaxxers and deniers tilt right Jes sayin
Anti-vaxxers...deniers...oh me, oh my, oh no!
Look guys, I hate to interrupt this little self righteous circle jerk, but not everyone is going to do what you think they should in the same of some greater public good. The sooner you accept that, the sooner you'll stop obsessing about things that are never going to happen and adopt a more practical view of the situation.
Here in FL, with 37% of the population receiving at least one shot, demand is already starting to lighten. So much so that it's no longer difficult to get an appointment, even with the limited supply. Frankly I'll be shocked if we get above 50% by the end of the Summer. Young people are not likely to clamor for it because COVID is not especially dangerous to them and parents will likely be hesitant to give it to their young children for the same reason, even when it's approved for child use.
I suppose you can keep squealing, hiking up your skirts and climbing on chairs if you want with all of this masks forever nonsense and endless paranoia over variants, but at some point we're just going to have to find a way to cope with it like we do with the flu. Frankly I doubt that masks are going to be a thing for much longer, especially with what I'm already seeing here in NE Florida.
But to each his own of course. 😉
Yes, Ricky, you've proven your ignorance and me-first attitude many times over. Go back to working on your next half-assed system to deceive and screw over strippers and sex workers.
^ Hey Gam, I don't make the world, I just live in it. Only a moron thinks that a large group of people are going to line up for a biologic drug to protect them from something that's not dangerous to them anyway just to perform some larger civic duty. Maybe the world would be a better place if that were the case, maybe along with puppy dogs and ice cream for everyone. But it is what it is and the sooner we embrace reality, the sooner we can stop this squealing nonsense.
Also, for the record, I don't screw OVER dancers, I just screw them and pay them fairly in return. And both my ample fun with dancers and my ability to process the reality that mass COVID vaccinations are a silly fantasy both come from the same source - an understanding of basic human nature. 😉
"Flu infections are down nationwide, with a hospitalization rate of 0.7 per 100,000 people, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. During the last flu season, the rate was nearly 100 times higher — 66.1 per 100,000 patients. Pediatric deaths also decreased, from 189 last year to one this year." Houston Chronicle From 983 cases to 3 at Memorial Hermann.
There were 2 theories a year ago
No one, except maybe Sweden, followed theory 1. However, states like Florida, Texas, and Arizona started with a lock down but were among the first to really open up. Blue states, on the other hand, are still sticking with Theory 2. How’s that working out ?
if you notice, it is the always the blue state the pump up the covid numbers, and keep the american people under their thumb and lock down, you can not trust these lies from these power hungry control freaks. they dont care about the people, only about keeping their high paying career as a democommie in power, they let millions of illegals come into california without out any medical checks.... but that is ok because they will be future democommie voters, if the illegals were republican voters, they would close the border asap
it is all about politics, not the virus, plus if you notice the flu has disappear this year, it now call covid
if your smart, move out of a blue state
Just don’t come to Arizona. We’re full.
^^ dude we’re so damn full that we even went blue this last election. This state is getting more dependent on government, and we will end up sacrificing some of our independence to higher tax rates via sales, property, and income rising. Inflation is another tax hike coming, too.
It's wise for travelers to stay far away from Michigan. I'm mostly recovered from covid now, but I still test positive for it (so no porn until I test negative). One of my friends who works at Players got it from one of her customers. My brother got it from working Doordash and handing food to a customer. Both of them have the severe kind of covid, while mine was more like a really, really bad cold.
The hospitals here are almost full. I had to call 911 for my brother today because he couldn't breath.
This State needs to be shut down again really bad. Three different Facebook friends today posted about three different people who passed away from covid within the last week.
I have no idea why it spiked in Michigan, but it's really unfortunate.
Sorry to hear that Waffle. Glad you are feeling better. Yes I heard elective surgeries are likely getting pushed back again due to hospitals hitting capacity again.
Here in Arizona, I was able to get elective surgery. They unexpectedly discovered something that probably saved my life. Lock downs have consequences.
Immunity is only temporary. I have spoken to someone who has had it three times.
A lot of colleges are requiring the vaccine for in-person classes, and many cities are requiring it (or a recent negative COVID test) to go to large public events like concerts or sporting events.
I wonder if the low rate in some areas is just a refusal in seeking medical service/testing in places like FL/TX. Many of the cases are mild and resolve on their own. Only those who can survive COVID naturally deserve to live!?!?
“ many cities are requiring it to go to large public events like concerts or sporting events.”
This is a dangerous line to cross. Government permission is required before we can exercise our right to assemble. What else will “cities” deem necessary, for the public good, before we can exercise actions previously considered our personal rights ? How long before emergency powers become permanent ( they’ve been in place for over a year at this point ) ?
You the right to refuse the vaccine. You do not have the right to attend live music events, live sports games, attend classes in person, dine or shop in private establishments, or watch feature films in a theater. I do not believe government should be making these decisions, rather the owners and operators of said venues and business should determine such. I would not be opposed to tax incentives and subsidies being offered to those who voluntarily reduce their revenue for the sake of public health.
The postponement of elective procedures had a catastrophic effect on the healthcare industry. We saw our revenue drop by 30% during that time period. Hospitals saw an even larger loss of revenue, and bean laying employees as required by budget constraints. Then, the surges returned, revenue had not increased to the point where furloughed employees could be re-hired, so existing employees have now been overworked for nearly a year and most hospitals have been running at a loss. Many private surgery centers have shuttered, including the best pain management practice in southwest Florida.
The only reason for the barring of elective surgeries was to ensure enough PPE for ICU and others providing care to COVID patients. If you are going to ICU after the OR, then the surgery was not elective. There is no longer a shortage of PPE (but there is a new problem of counterfeit PPE).
I’m sorry to hear about Waffle and her brother. It sounds brutal in Michigan. I hope you both can recover fully.
I’m in NJ another one of the hot spots. It seems we are in a third wave, and it’s forecast to peak in the next few days (or possibly in a few weeks - depending on the model used). This is a small state with a large population packed in the northeastern area. There is a lot of movement of people between Northeast NJ and NYC. Folks are starting to do more - and many folks have gotten at least 1 vaccine dose. I hope the cases start to decline soon.
One of my daughters attends college in Pa, and it’s a major concern, as she’s in an on campus dormitory. Most students are good with masks and keeping safe. I hope she gets through the semester safely, so I can get her vaccinated as soon as she’s back.
It’s truly stunning how the anti-vaxxers and Covid-19 deniers want to frame this argument as a freedom issue, especially with regards to showing proof of vaccination prior to admission to venues hosted by private businesses, just a few short years ago these same fools were using this same issue to let businesses refuse services to homosexuals does anyone remember the case where the Indiana bakery refused to serve a gay couple wanting that bakery to make a wedding cake. My how things have changed.
I think a lot of these places are under reporting cases / not doing as much testing as others.
As far as MI goes, I wonder if the drastically changing weather has anything to do with it. A couple weeks ago everyone was traveling and going on spring break. So much that I couldn't even get a rental to go out of town. All rental places were full. Add that in with the changing weather and you have people traveling for spring break and then coming back and huddling indoors because it's cold outside again. Bad recipe for a virus that seems to thrive on indoor spread.
I really don't know. I just hope it stays away from me. My dad just got his second vaccine. His wife, another daughter who lives with him, and son all got it but he didn't and he was partially immunized. I'm not sure exactly how much just the first dose can provide immunity but it does to some degree. My mom and grandpa got their first dose a couple weeks ago. I just got my first dose yesterday and I don't usually get vaccines but it seemed smart. I really hope I do not catch covid in between waiting for next dose. My boyfriend refuses to get the vaccine. Looks like I might be taking care of him in the future...
There does seem to have been a regional pattern with this pandemic but I don’t know that anyone really has it figured out, at least in any way that’s truly persuasive. I hope the numbers get better quickly for Michiganders.
In Arizona, we’ve turned a corner on vaccines. Just recently, many drug stores and doctors offices now have the vaccine. As a result, the big state run vaccine sites are seeing vacancies. The CoVid vaccine is now as convenient and easy to get as the regular flu vaccine. Within a few weeks, anyone who wants the vaccine will have gotten it.
That doesn’t mean we’ll hit 100%, or even 70%. Based on trends, it seems like 50-60% might be the final tally. I think that will be enough, at least to keep people from needing hospitalization.
Video of forced vaccination of disabled/homeless. Disturbing.
So people who are mentally ill or otherwise unable to fend for themselves should be left vulnerable to COVID? They don't deserve the same opportunity to be inoculated and immunized as other citizens?
“Offered the opportunity” to have a half dozen government officials hold them down against their will while they scream in terror ? Offered the opportunity indeed. Wording that belongs in the novel 1984.
There’s a well defined legal process for dealing with the mentally challenged. CoVid does not give the government the right to ignore the law and impose their will on the weak.
@nina Sounds like you need to tell your boyfriend that your private venues are closed to anyone who doesn’t have the vaccine.
Ba dum bum. Remember to tip your waitresses and bartenders. I’ll show myself out.
You are still dodging questions, because you know you are wrong and your sources are irreparably flawed.
Anti-vaxxers...deniers...oh me, oh my, oh no!
I hate to be the bearer of yet more bad news, but I strongly suspect that most for profit businesses will not be requiring proof of vaccinations in order to take customer money, lol. Shocking I know, but here we are. Now a handful of larger entertainment venues may ask for some type of vaccine passport for a while, and we may even see it required in a couple of crazier states for a time, but even that will go away when those places/states become uncompetitive due to the requirement.
The crazy shit that some people actual buy into, lmao.
I agree with Rick on the vaccine passports not being required for very long. It just doesn’t work if you want to be open to the public and can otherwise comply with distancing, masking, etc. We’re pretty much 100% open in Maryland so unless another spike vaccine passports are obsolete already.
I wouldn't want the government to mandate a vaccine requirement for every citizen. I think it is reasonable however to make it a precondition to receiving Medicaid. If you expect tax payer to pay for your healthcare, at least minimize the risks. Medicare is different. People bought into it throughout their working years. They can chose to vaccinate or not. Medicaid recipients can chose to receive Medicaid or not, but if you want it you need to get the jab.
mark94 those people should be vaccinated. Their reactions would be the same if they were getting a flu shot. I think it’s important to get as much of the population vaccinated as possible - in the shortest time possible.
There are a lot of things that should happen. My problem is the way it happens. Individual rights should be recognized. Legal process should be followed. Courts should weigh in on government powers. If the public need to vaccinate outweighs individual rights, let the courts decide. That’s the proper venue.
For the last year, a bunch of tinpot dictators in government have ignored rights under the law because........emergency. Enough is enough.
So you cannot get medicaid if you don't get a vaccine? Fine as long as smokers, drug addicts, obese people and people who refuse to take prescription drugs are banned.
Adipose tissue and small cell carcinoma are not going to mutate and perpetuate the pandemic.
Yeah Florida seemed normal plus mask. On the other hand NYC has been really locked down. It's frustating to somebody who's nocturnal to see everything closed at like just midnight. Usually a lot stuff just starts getting going at that time non covid.
A bit of "I told you so" here, especially for those dipshits who say younger folk don't spread the virus:
It's important to remember that the efficacy of any inoculation varies by the individual, but the vaccines also reduce the severity of a variant infection and the risk of hospitalization.
Nice straw man argument Gam, but I don't remember anyone saying that young adults don't spread COVID, merely that there are ample reasons to be less concerned when they do get it. At some point we need to rethink whether panicky squeals are warranted every time we hear about case spikes in population groups for whom COVID is less dangerous than the flu.
I say "dipshit" and Rick responds. At least he comes when called, unlike Rick the Cat.
Gam, since nobody ever made that argument in the first place on this board, who exactly were you saying "I told you so" to? I guess you don't see the irony in making a moronic straw man argument and then calling someone else a dipshit. 😉
Epidemilogists point out that many, many people in FL already had an actual infection and thus have the antibodies. Add to that the fact that, contrary to "60 minutes"'s lies (plain and blatant falsehoods that even democrats are refuting), the vaccine programs here have been a roaring success.
I don't know about TX.