Corona Virus: It's a Marathon, Not a Sprint

[malchior]

I got a rather stunning example of the power of the MAGA cult today.


I was floored. This is a woman who had just buried her husband of 50+ years, almost died herself, and said that the whole COVID-19 ordeal was the most horrible illness she’d ever experienced. Yet she was still 100% adamant that people shouldn’t take any precautions to prevent the spread because “muh freedoms”. I honestly had no idea how to respond, other than a quick “wow” before frantically trying to change the subject.

This why I follow my "canaries". My former co-worker said it was one of the worst things and had daily facebook video updates recounting how bad it was. Now it is the flu is more deadly, the Chinese attacked us, masks don't help, etc. It is insane what they believe *in their bones*. It's complete fantasy land nonsense. It really shows how dangerous groupthink can be and how it can be weaponized. And I agree it can't be fixed. At least not easily. How do you de-program 30% of the population? It took decades to get here. We just have to somehow make it through this alive.

[Kraken]

The administration position is that coronavirus has been controlled and good Americans do not speak of it anymore.

To burnish my standing as a good American, I went out to dinner tonight. We went to the same Mexican restaurant that we patronized the night before the lockdown. I figured Republicans hate Mexicans, so it was probably safe. People were being cautious and keeping distance, so I'm not worried about the covid. Mosquitoes were out in force, though, so EEE is on my radar now. I got chewed up.

Also, draft beer is disappointing in a paper cup.

[Skinypupy]

https://twitter.com/MaxCRoser/status/12 ... 16673?s=19

[malchior]

What is interesting is that it is generally "sideways" from mid-May onward in the US because NY/NJ fell at the same rate that it increased in several other states and offset each other.

[Grifman]

It's an insane world in which the US president plans to hold a series of crowd filled public rallies that disregard his own administration's pandemic health guidelines - and not only does he not care but his own followers don't care.

That said, I predict this will backfire on him. I predict that people will get infected from these rallies, it will hit the press, and will do him huge damage with the electorate at large. What will become interesting is when this happens, the pressure to curtail the rallies will run up against Trump's inability to make rational decisions. It's another act of self sabotage by Trump.

But it's still insane.

[Unagi]

I feel like the harbinger of bad news lately, but I'll keep at it -- HELLO, ALABAMA:

Montgomery County, Alabama, home to the state's capital, is quickly emerging as a hot spot in the state’s battle against COVID-19, according to a leading health expert.

With nearly 3,000 people diagnosed with the coronavirus, Montgomery County now has more cases than any other county in the state, Dr. Don Williamson, the head of the Alabama State Hospital Association, told ABC News Tuesday.

...

As of Sunday, the intensive care unit (ICU) bed occupancy rate for Montgomery and Tuscaloosa Counties were each at 96%, according to the memo.

...

Hospitals statewide are now hitting their worst "trifecta" yet: the largest number of new hospitalizations in one day; the highest total number of hospitalized patients; and the lowest ICU capacity since the pandemic began.

Just 16% of ICU beds are still available statewide, Williamson noted. And according to the latest data available, some counties have even more worrisome figures: Tuscaloosa County has just one ICU bed available and Montgomery County has only three.

Our plant manager spent the last week in Alabama. They drove from South Carolina and she said that going from GA to AL was like entering a different wold. In GA, most people were masked, they maintained their distance, and stores were setup to aid in that. In AL, she said less than 5% were masked and stores and people milled about as normal. Also, many people expressed the belief that it was a hoax (although that may have been more of a function of who she was around). So yeah.

Maybe I am horrible, but I wish the most horrible ills on these people - so that the ones that live, may perhaps, go on to live lives with some amount of understanding at what is at risk.

[LawBeefaroni]

It's an insane world in which the US president plans to hold a series of crowd filled public rallies that disregard his own administration's pandemic health guidelines - and not only does he not care but his own followers don't care.

That said, I predict this will backfire on him. I predict that people will get infected from these rallies, it will hit the press, and will do him huge damage with the electorate at large. What will become interesting is when this happens, the pressure to curtail the rallies will run up against Trump's inability to make rational decisions. It's another act of self sabotage by Trump.

But it's still insane.

Nah, the ones who get "sick" are crisis actors.

[$iljanus]

It’s sad to be looking forward to reading these stories but it’s not like there hasn’t been any lack of information about the value of masks and social distancing so go reap what you sow.

As the rest of Arizona followed a stay-at-home order imposed by the governor in May, Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb proclaimed that the state’s attempt to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus was unconstitutional.

“The numbers don’t justify the actions anymore,” the defiant Republican sheriff told the Arizona Republic at the time, vowing not to arrest people or shut down businesses that violated the order. “Three hundred deaths is not a significant enough number to continue to ruin the economy.”

On Wednesday, less than two months after publicly challenging the state’s efforts to slow the spread of a virus that has now spiked in Arizona, Lamb announced he had tested positive for the coronavirus before a scheduled meeting with President Trump.

In a Facebook post, Lamb wrote that he was invited on Tuesday to the White House as part of Trump’s meeting with law enforcement officials and the signing of his executive action on policing. As part of a mandatory coronavirus screening for all White House visitors, he learned he had the virus.

The sheriff, who is asymptomatic, said he believes he got infected during a campaign event on Saturday, speculating that it was “likely I came into contact with an infected individual.”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2 ... ts-wrapper

As the wise Nelson said on The Simpsons, “Ha,ha!”

[LordMortis]

It’s sad to be looking forward to reading these stories but it’s not like there hasn’t been any lack of information about the value of masks and social distancing so go reap what you sow.

What's sad is that I want him to suffer because if he doesn't then he will say the outbreak is no big deal because if it was no big deal to him then it must be no big deal to everyone. He's already shown, he doesn't know what it means to be sheriff, where he thinks he legislator, not a cop and he's already shown he has no concept for civic responsibility irrespective of the position he holds in a civil society. He'll be directly responsible for deaths in his jurisdiction yet he won't be accountable.

[malchior]

"Stabilized"

https://twitter.com/Mike_Pence/status/1 ... 2493166600

[Paingod]

"Stabilized"

It gives me warm fuzzies to know that we're not trending down, but holding steady until the next eruption comes along because of restrictions being lifted.

Down is the direction we're looking for here. Not sideways. Not up. Down.

[LordMortis]

"Stabilized"

It gives me warm fuzzies to know that we're not trending down, but holding steady until the next eruption comes along because of restrictions being lifted.

Down is the direction we're looking for here. Not sideways. Not up. Down.

Stabilized in that 20K is really 26,000 yesterday and that if you look at this week we are trending up at a noteworthy rate based primarily on explosions in southern states and California.

California +4,179
Texas +3,511
Florida +2,610
Arizona +1,827
North Carolina +1,027
Georgia +952
Louisiana +928

= 15,034 of +26,071

If he had said this last week (nor even Monday), I'd have been on the "technically correct" side of dubiousness. Not so much after these last four days reporting, which you could see coming.

[malchior]

To be fair to Pence, it is hard to have a consistent view since they only meet once or twice a week and had not at the time of that article updated Trump in over two weeks. And that was a week ago. Maybe they've done it since then. But let's be honest, he is too probably way too busy readying to spread coronavirus to be bothered with those kind of details.

[Punisher]

I feel like the harbinger of bad news lately, but I'll keep at it -- HELLO, ALABAMA:

Montgomery County, Alabama, home to the state's capital, is quickly emerging as a hot spot in the state’s battle against COVID-19, according to a leading health expert.

With nearly 3,000 people diagnosed with the coronavirus, Montgomery County now has more cases than any other county in the state, Dr. Don Williamson, the head of the Alabama State Hospital Association, told ABC News Tuesday.

...

As of Sunday, the intensive care unit (ICU) bed occupancy rate for Montgomery and Tuscaloosa Counties were each at 96%, according to the memo.

...

Hospitals statewide are now hitting their worst "trifecta" yet: the largest number of new hospitalizations in one day; the highest total number of hospitalized patients; and the lowest ICU capacity since the pandemic began.

Just 16% of ICU beds are still available statewide, Williamson noted. And according to the latest data available, some counties have even more worrisome figures: Tuscaloosa County has just one ICU bed available and Montgomery County has only three.

Our plant manager spent the last week in Alabama. They drove from South Carolina and she said that going from GA to AL was like entering a different wold. In GA, most people were masked, they maintained their distance, and stores were setup to aid in that. In AL, she said less than 5% were masked and stores and people milled about as normal. Also, many people expressed the belief that it was a hoax (although that may have been more of a function of who she was around). So yeah.

Maybe I am horrible, but I wish the most horrible ills on these people - so that the ones that live, may perhaps, go on to live lives with some amount of understanding at what is at risk.

+1

[Punisher]

It's an insane world in which the US president plans to hold a series of crowd filled public rallies that disregard his own administration's pandemic health guidelines - and not only does he not care but his own followers don't care.

That said, I predict this will backfire on him. I predict that people will get infected from these rallies, it will hit the press, and will do him huge damage with the electorate at large. What will become interesting is when this happens, the pressure to curtail the rallies will run up against Trump's inability to make rational decisions. It's another act of self sabotage by Trump.

But it's still insane.

Nah, the ones who get "sick" are crisis actors.

I predict that they can have mass deaths from this and the majority of survivors will not change their ways or find some odd logic to make them feel better.

[YellowKing]

I have a feeling we're going to be experiencing a fall that will make March seem like the good old days.

[Smoove_B]

I had to re-read this like 4 times:

LINCOLN — At his regular coronavirus press conferences, Gov. Pete Ricketts makes a point of urging Nebraskans to wear a mask when they go to a store.

But when it comes to the state’s 93 courthouses and other local government offices, he doesn’t want local officials to require masks. In fact, he’s told local governments that they won’t receive any of the $100 million in federal COVID-19 money if their “customers” are required to wear masks.

[Punisher]

I had to re-read this like 4 times:

LINCOLN — At his regular coronavirus press conferences, Gov. Pete Ricketts makes a point of urging Nebraskans to wear a mask when they go to a store.

But when it comes to the state’s 93 courthouses and other local government offices, he doesn’t want local officials to require masks. In fact, he’s told local governments that they won’t receive any of the $100 million in federal COVID-19 money if their “customers” are required to wear masks.

do as i say, not as i do

[Enough]

https://twitter.com/MichaelCBender/stat ... 1398679554

Spoiler:

Trump to @WSJ: Covid testing is "overrated" and some Americans may be wearing masks to signal disapproval of him—not as a preventative measure. “I personally think testing is overrated, even though I created the greatest testing machine in history."https://www.

[malchior]

Next bailout may have a spread Coronavirus throughout the land tax credit.

President Donald Trump has endorsed an idea to give Americans a tax credit to be used toward a vacation to help boost the economy. It's called the "Explore America" tax credit.

The president talked it up during a White House roundtable on May 18. According to the Orlando Sentinel, the proposal could give up to $4,000 to Americans for vacation expenses in the U.S. "at hotels, theme parks, restaurants, and other tourism-related businesses through the end of 2021."

The credit would cover up to 50% of a household's total vacation expenses, up to a maximum of four grand.

[LawBeefaroni]

I had to re-read this like 4 times:

LINCOLN — At his regular coronavirus press conferences, Gov. Pete Ricketts makes a point of urging Nebraskans to wear a mask when they go to a store.

But when it comes to the state’s 93 courthouses and other local government offices, he doesn’t want local officials to require masks. In fact, he’s told local governments that they won’t receive any of the $100 million in federal COVID-19 money if their “customers” are required to wear masks.

do as i say, not as i do

"Don't do as I say."

Or, "I'll say to do this at a presser, but I won't require it and in fact I'll actively oppose it."

[Enough]

I had to re-read this like 4 times:

LINCOLN — At his regular coronavirus press conferences, Gov. Pete Ricketts makes a point of urging Nebraskans to wear a mask when they go to a store.

But when it comes to the state’s 93 courthouses and other local government offices, he doesn’t want local officials to require masks. In fact, he’s told local governments that they won’t receive any of the $100 million in federal COVID-19 money if their “customers” are required to wear masks.

do as i say, not as i do

"Don't do as I say."

Or, "I'll say to do this at a presser, but I won't require it and in fact I'll actively oppose it."

I feel like we've seen Pence work like this some other critical time for health and safety.... Edit: And I've quoted the wrong post lol. Sorry about that, you all obviously know what I meant to link to so I will just leave this up in shame.

[Kraken]

It's an insane world in which the US president plans to hold a series of crowd filled public rallies that disregard his own administration's pandemic health guidelines - and not only does he not care but his own followers don't care.

That said, I predict this will backfire on him. I predict that people will get infected from these rallies, it will hit the press, and will do him huge damage with the electorate at large. What will become interesting is when this happens, the pressure to curtail the rallies will run up against Trump's inability to make rational decisions. It's another act of self sabotage by Trump.

But it's still insane.

Nah, the ones who get "sick" are crisis actors.

I predict that they can have mass deaths from this and the majority of survivors will not change their ways or find some odd logic to make them feel better.

Contracting covid = patriotism. We're closing in on "Thank you for your service."

[Pyperkub]

Some interesting scientific data today. Apparently even never-symptomatic patients develop lung issues:

The first in-depth, dedicated, immunologic profile of people who had #COVID19 but never developed symptoms—the asymptomatics (N=37)
https://nature.com/articles/s41591-020-0965-6.pdf
@NatureMedicine

—less immunologic & inflammatory response
—prolonged viral shedding
—most (59%) w/ abnormal lung CT scans

No apparent data on possible Heart conditions, as best I can tell.

[Punisher]

Some interesting scientific data today. Apparently even never-symptomatic patients develop lung issues:

The first in-depth, dedicated, immunologic profile of people who had #COVID19 but never developed symptoms—the asymptomatics (N=37)
https://nature.com/articles/s41591-020-0965-6.pdf
@NatureMedicine

—less immunologic & inflammatory response
—prolonged viral shedding
—most (59%) w/ abnormal lung CT scans

No apparent data on possible Heart conditions, as best I can tell.

I am going to my doc on Sat for possible COVID related heart issues. I've been getting hit with severe fatigue to the point of passing out ever since I had COVID in March. It got really bad last week where I was bedridden once again for about 3 days.

[Enough]

Some interesting scientific data today. Apparently even never-symptomatic patients develop lung issues:

The first in-depth, dedicated, immunologic profile of people who had #COVID19 but never developed symptoms—the asymptomatics (N=37)
https://nature.com/articles/s41591-020-0965-6.pdf
@NatureMedicine

—less immunologic & inflammatory response
—prolonged viral shedding
—most (59%) w/ abnormal lung CT scans

No apparent data on possible Heart conditions, as best I can tell.

I am going to my doc on Sat for possible COVID related heart issues. I've been getting hit with severe fatigue to the point of passing out ever since I had COVID in March. It got really bad last week where I was bedridden once again for about 3 days.

Yikes, I will be sending good vibes your way!

[TheMix]

Yikes, I will be sending good vibes your way!

Yeah. That's scary.

[LordMortis]

Some interesting scientific data today. Apparently even never-symptomatic patients develop lung issues:

The first in-depth, dedicated, immunologic profile of people who had #COVID19 but never developed symptoms—the asymptomatics (N=37)
https://nature.com/articles/s41591-020-0965-6.pdf
@NatureMedicine

—less immunologic & inflammatory response
—prolonged viral shedding
—most (59%) w/ abnormal lung CT scans

No apparent data on possible Heart conditions, as best I can tell.

I am going to my doc on Sat for possible COVID related heart issues. I've been getting hit with severe fatigue to the point of passing out ever since I had COVID in March. It got really bad last week where I was bedridden once again for about 3 days.

My best to you and yours. Here's to hoping the steroid hubbub is true and makes a difference or that there is something even better suited for you.

[Zaxxon]

Best of luck.

[Pyperkub]

Some interesting scientific data today. Apparently even never-symptomatic patients develop lung issues:

The first in-depth, dedicated, immunologic profile of people who had #COVID19 but never developed symptoms—the asymptomatics (N=37)
https://nature.com/articles/s41591-020-0965-6.pdf
@NatureMedicine

—less immunologic & inflammatory response
—prolonged viral shedding
—most (59%) w/ abnormal lung CT scans

No apparent data on possible Heart conditions, as best I can tell.

I am going to my doc on Sat for possible COVID related heart issues. I've been getting hit with severe fatigue to the point of passing out ever since I had COVID in March. It got really bad last week where I was bedridden once again for about 3 days.

OH man. Best of luck to you! 8-tentacle hug!

[LawBeefaroni]

Chicago COVID, catch it!

Chicagoans are being infected with a unique strain of COVID-19 that’s linked to the early coronavirus outbreak in China, according to new research.

...

In addition to the strain from China, researchers found what appears to be the most the predominant version of the virus in the New York area and globally, the statement says. That version generates more of the virus in the upper airways than the one that’s unique to Chicago.

(This is a preliminary study that hasn't been peer reviewed yet.)

[Isgrimnur]

[malchior]

Some interesting scientific data today. Apparently even never-symptomatic patients develop lung issues:

The first in-depth, dedicated, immunologic profile of people who had #COVID19 but never developed symptoms—the asymptomatics (N=37)
https://nature.com/articles/s41591-020-0965-6.pdf
@NatureMedicine

—less immunologic & inflammatory response
—prolonged viral shedding
—most (59%) w/ abnormal lung CT scans

No apparent data on possible Heart conditions, as best I can tell.

I am going to my doc on Sat for possible COVID related heart issues. I've been getting hit with severe fatigue to the point of passing out ever since I had COVID in March. It got really bad last week where I was bedridden once again for about 3 days.

Jeez. Hope you feel better soon!

[Smoove_B]

Texas stuff

Good news - school will be resuming in the Fall.

"It will be safe for Texas public school students, teachers, and staff to return to school campuses for in-person instruction this fall. But there will also be flexibility for families with health concerns so that their children can be educated remotely, if the parent so chooses," said Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath.

When students return, school districts will not be required to mandate students wear masks or test them for COVID-19 symptoms, said Frank Ward, a spokesperson for the Texas Education Agency.

[raydude]

Some interesting scientific data today. Apparently even never-symptomatic patients develop lung issues:

The first in-depth, dedicated, immunologic profile of people who had #COVID19 but never developed symptoms—the asymptomatics (N=37)
https://nature.com/articles/s41591-020-0965-6.pdf
@NatureMedicine

—less immunologic & inflammatory response
—prolonged viral shedding
—most (59%) w/ abnormal lung CT scans

No apparent data on possible Heart conditions, as best I can tell.

I am going to my doc on Sat for possible COVID related heart issues. I've been getting hit with severe fatigue to the point of passing out ever since I had COVID in March. It got really bad last week where I was bedridden once again for about 3 days.

GAH!
I sincerely hope he is able to get you better.

[em2nought]

It is insane what they believe *in their bones*. It's complete fantasy land nonsense. It really shows how dangerous groupthink can be and how it can be weaponized. And I agree it can't be fixed. At least not easily. How do you de-program 30% of the population? It took decades to get here. We just have to somehow make it through this alive.

Very few seem to believe(groupthink) the level of evil which I believe your side's leadership is capable of so far. I'm sure that in the end your side will find it easier to just exterminate us all, and then spout some sort of justification for it.

Obviously, I see your "side" as winning in the "end".

[malchior]

It is hard to believe this is a real stat. If it is, I think Murphy has a lot to answer for. Heck my first thought is he should resign. I don't know what he knew and when he knew it but this is potentially a massive scandal. How is this not a headline somewhere. I can't find any other mention of it. 12% of *all* nursing home residents? How is that not a major story? That is unbelievable negligence.

Edit: It's real and Murphy blames nursing home owners. Despite the fact that the State didn't start supervising nursing home until after a bunch of bodies were found at one. And then he was slow to protect them despite a nursing home putting bodies in a shed behind the facility. Pathetic. Murphy is absolutely pathetic. He is the Jimmy Carter of NJ Governors. Weak, unpopular, and unlike Carter slimy to boot.

https://twitter.com/AriSchulman/status/ ... 2404828161

[Pyperkub]

It is insane what they believe *in their bones*. It's complete fantasy land nonsense. It really shows how dangerous groupthink can be and how it can be weaponized. And I agree it can't be fixed. At least not easily. How do you de-program 30% of the population? It took decades to get here. We just have to somehow make it through this alive.

Very few seem to believe(groupthink) the level of evil which I believe your side's leadership is capable of so far. I'm sure that in the end your side will find it easier to just exterminate us all, and then spout some sort of justification for it.

Obviously, I see your "side" as winning in the "end".

120k dead from an incompetent response (it's a hoax, we've stopped it, we have only 1 case, China, here's all our PPE because you are doing such a great job, etc.) seems to indicate that you need to look in the mirror first.

[Smoove_B]

Edit: It's real and Murphy blames nursing home owners. Despite the fact that the State didn't start supervising nursing home until after a bunch of bodies were found at one. And then he was slow to protect them despite a nursing home putting bodies in a shed behind the facility. Pathetic. Murphy is absolutely pathetic. He is the Jimmy Carter of NJ Governors. Weak, unpopular, and unlike Carter slimy to boot.

I kinda mentioned it a while ago, but there's definitely stuff going on behind the scenes at the state. This story is far from over. This is also related to the idea that everything has been pushed to locals. However, the state is the sole arbiter of oversight for these facilities. And what has been happening (and this is common) is a number of industries (including nursing homes) are pretty much self-reporting and the state does random audits. But if they're accredited or they submit the right paperwork it might be years between visits from a state inspector. And that's because there's bare minimum staffing at a state level to conduct the work.

So yeah, keep watching.

[malchior]

Yeah at this point I'm not going to just keep watching. I plan to go to a town hall sometime and ask him questions to his face about this. That this isn't a huge scandal is ridiculous. This state is a fucking travesty.