The Politics of Covid 19, mask wearing and the vaccination process

[malchior]

Yeah in our talks about national and state politics we often overlook how the local level issues are *EVEN WORSE SOMEHOW* in many places. I feel for you and Blackhawk and others who have to live under rule of the deplorables. It makes my corrupt, incompetent locals seem like a luxury in comparison.

[Smoove_B]

No the state school ethics committee is involved. You could try and guess what they are investigating, but you would be WRONG. They are investigating why the previous administration hired somebody with a no cause clause in the contract. No cause clauses should not be allowed. That is what they are investigating.

How is this not in the news? This seems like it should be in the news.

[malchior]

No the state school ethics committee is involved. You could try and guess what they are investigating, but you would be WRONG. They are investigating why the previous administration hired somebody with a no cause clause in the contract. No cause clauses should not be allowed. That is what they are investigating.

How is this not in the news? This seems like it should be in the news.

Edit: Too long - redacted.

It likely isn't news because much of the local news is in a major decline.

[wonderpug]

In contrast, I'm thrilled with how my school district (and the state for the most part) is handling things. For elementary school, masks are required for all kids and adults regardless of vaccination status. For middle school and high school, teachers and students can show proof of vaccine to get a 'mask pass' you need to show whenever asked in order to go maskless, otherwise you have to wear a mask. There are also 100% virtual school options available at any grade level at my district.

Other than wishing the vaccine was available to younger kids already, I couldn't have hoped for much more for my kids' schools.

[raydude]

In contrast, I'm thrilled with how my school district (and the state for the most part) is handling things. For elementary school, masks are required for all kids and adults regardless of vaccination status. For middle school and high school, teachers and students can show proof of vaccine to get a 'mask pass' you need to show whenever asked in order to go maskless, otherwise you have to wear a mask. There are also 100% virtual school options available at any grade level at my district.

Other than wishing the vaccine was available to younger kids already, I couldn't have hoped for much more for my kids' schools.

Our elementary school had its Parent-Teacher zoom meeting last night where they discussed all the changes that would be happening with kids going back to school next Monday. First, mandatory masking for everyone. Drop-off and pickup would not be in the school lobby - which is an indoor area and fairly crowded in the before times with parents and kids. Instead, they will be releasing kids to parents in a covered pavilion area right outside the cafeteria entrance. So it's outdoors, but with some protection from rain and snow because there is a roof over the pavilion.

They will also be doing temperature checks when kids come into school. High temperature? The kid gets set aside and their temperature measured after two minutes - in case the initial reading was a fluke or the kid was flustered while rushing to school. Still high temp? The kid gets put in the health annex and the parent has to pick them up.

No water fountains, so kids can't refill their water bottles. The school will have its own water bottle supply if the kid runs out or forgets to bring one. Also, free grab-and-go breakfasts and lunch. There is still a code payment system for special lunches.

All in all, I thought it was a well-thought-out plan. I'm hoping the middle school has thought this through as well; they haven't done the parent zoom meeting yet since they start at the end of August.

[stessier]

We, too, had parent orientation yesterday for our charter high school. Masks are recommended, but that's it per State law. We are asked to voluntarily fill out a vaccination notice and indicate if we'd like our child to wear a mask. It was stressed multiple times that this is not mandatory, but will help the principal and nurse who have to follow up with close contacts for any positive tests. If a child is vaccinated and a close contact, that is where the tracing ends. If an unvaccinated child is a close contact, then all of their contacts also have to be traced. Filling out the form is a kind of mercy on the administrators having to make the calls. We were also told that no teacher would mention vaccines or masks at any point during the day. There is no plan for remote learning per State law. The State health department will only intervene and shut down a school if 20% of the student body is sick. That's not counting students quarantining, but actively sick. So that's swell.

The only difference for our middle schooler is that she has to ride the bus. There is a federal law requiring all buses to require masks. Our governor made it a point to come out and say they can have the law but he will refuse to enforce it and that it's a parents' choice. So that's swell.

[malchior]

NY Times

With a new surge of coronavirus infections ripping through much of the United States, the Food and Drug Administration has accelerated its timetable to fully approve Pfizer-BioNTech’s coronavirus vaccine, aiming to complete the process by the start of next month, people familiar with the effort said.

President Biden said last week that he expected a fully approved vaccine in early fall. But the F.D.A.’s unofficial deadline is Labor Day or sooner, according to multiple people familiar with the plan. The agency said in a statement that its leaders recognized that approval might inspire more public confidence and had “taken an all-hands-on-deck approach” to the work.

Giving final approval to the Pfizer vaccine — rather than relying on the emergency authorization granted late last year by the F.D.A. — could help increase inoculation rates at a moment when the highly transmissible Delta variant of the virus is sharply driving up the number of new cases.

A number of universities and hospitals, the Defense Department and at least one major city, San Francisco, are expected to mandate inoculation once a vaccine is fully approved. Final approval could also help mute misinformation about the safety of vaccines and clarify legal issues about mandates.

Federal regulators have been under growing public pressure to fully approve Pfizer’s vaccine ever since the company filed its application on May 7. “I just have not sensed a sense of urgency from the F.D.A. on full approval,” Dr. Ashish K. Jha, the dean of the Brown University School of Public Health, said in an interview on Tuesday. “And I find it baffling, given where we are as a country in terms of infections, hospitalizations and deaths.”

[Smoove_B]

On that article:

https://twitter.com/Bob_Wachter/status/ ... 4195895302

Even if vax mandates (plus upcoming formal FDA approval https://nytimes.com/2021/08/03/us/polit ... roval.html) turn the tide, it’ll be months before we get to high enough vaccine rates to tamp down the virus. Until then, anything other than universal indoor masking is simply bonkers.

[Blackhawk]

Our elementary school had its Parent-Teacher zoom meeting last night

We, too, had parent orientation yesterday for our charter high school.

Our school doesn't communicate much with parents. At some point we'll get a 'Welcome back' letter emailed out to all parents from the stuporintendent that won't make a single mention of COVID or of masks. Beyond that, it's clear they intend to party like it's 2019.

The thoughts I have toward local officials throughout the area are wildly short of kind. 'Malicious' would be be a better word. But this is where I live, and there are no alternatives. I just have to hope the collective pack of idiots doesn't kill too many innocent people on their way out. I try not to think about it too much - there's nothing I can do, and thinking about it just makes my jaw ache and my face turn funny colors.

[Smoove_B]

Illinois stepping up

https://twitter.com/craigrwall/status/1 ... 2560589825

BREAKING: Governor Pritzker will be announcing a statewide school mask mandate today, per sources. It will apply to public and private schools, K-12. It is in response to rising Delta cases including in kids, and differing approaches being taken by school districts.

[LawBeefaroni]

Illinois stepping up

https://twitter.com/craigrwall/status/1 ... 2560589825

BREAKING: Governor Pritzker will be announcing a statewide school mask mandate today, per sources. It will apply to public and private schools, K-12. It is in response to rising Delta cases including in kids, and differing approaches being taken by school districts.

My son is in year-round pre-school and they just reimplemented all COVID protocols. Full masking, temp checks, screening at drop-off, 3 foot minimum distancing, lunch/snack outdoors, etc.

[Zaxxon]

Now do Colorado.

[Blackhawk]

And, hey, there's the updated guidance from the schools. Masks are optional, classrooms are 'set up to maintain a distance of 3' (so... normal), all activities, events, and gatherings are mask-optional and unrestricted, and distance education is available, but only if you have documented health concerns and a doctor says they can't be in school.

Ok, deep breath. Calm down. Don't punch the monitor. Just quietly hope that the fuckers die quietly without taking my family out with them.

[Zaxxon]

And, hey, there's the updated guidance from the schools. Masks are optional, classrooms are 'set up to maintain a distance of 3' (so... normal), all activities, events, and gatherings are mask-optional and unrestricted, and distance education is available, but only if you have documented health concerns and a doctor says they can't be in school.

Ok, deep breath. Calm down. Don't punch the monitor. Just quietly hope that the fuckers die quietly without taking my family out with them.

Truly sorry. Your district is something else.

[Smoove_B]

More on FL and what can only be described as evil.

https://twitter.com/kylegriffin1/status ... 8131405825

Warning: Florida's second-largest school district says it will no longer impose a mask mandate after Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis threatened to withhold funding from districts that require face coverings.

EDIT: Update on what's happening in FL:

12,408 now hospitalized w/COVID in Florida, setting new record, per updated HHS data.

>1 out of every 1,750 residents in a bed right now, >90% because they didn't get the free, effective vaccines.

[Octavious]

There really should be a travel ban to Florida at this point. Just imagine how many people are visiting and then spreading it all over the damn place.

[Skinypupy]

And, hey, there's the updated guidance from the schools. Masks are optional, classrooms are 'set up to maintain a distance of 3' (so... normal), all activities, events, and gatherings are mask-optional and unrestricted, and distance education is available, but only if you have documented health concerns and a doctor says they can't be in school.

Yep, same guidance here. Infuriating.

[YellowKing]

I will tell you the next county over from us not putting in a mask mandate for the new school year has been an unmitigated disaster. Kids are dropping like flies. Fortunately our county is not full of rural hillbilly dumbasses and is requiring masks and cleaning procedures K-12 the same as they were during the heights of the pandemic.

[Octavious]

I will tell you the next county over from us not putting in a mask mandate for the new school year has been an unmitigated disaster. Kids are dropping like flies. Fortunately our county is not full of rural hillbilly dumbasses and is requiring masks and cleaning procedures K-12 the same as they were during the heights of the pandemic.

My county is 90 % hillbilly dumbasses. The school year is going to be super fun. For marching band they have MANDATORY band camp which is sleepover for 4 days. There's zero precautions on covid. No testing... No masks... and I know for a fact most of the kids aren't vaccinated as they proudly proclaim it. So ya my daughters school is going to kersplode.

[Smoove_B]

My county is 90 % hillbilly dumbasses. The school year is going to be super fun. For marching band they have MANDATORY band camp which is sleepover for 4 days. There's zero precautions on covid. No testing... No masks... and I know for a fact most of the kids aren't vaccinated as they proudly proclaim it. So ya my daughters school is going to kersplode.

Maybe you know someone locally that is prepared to get nutty over it? If only that person was in a position to raise questions and cause problems.

[malchior]

My county is 90 % hillbilly dumbasses. The school year is going to be super fun. For marching band they have MANDATORY band camp which is sleepover for 4 days. There's zero precautions on covid. No testing... No masks... and I know for a fact most of the kids aren't vaccinated as they proudly proclaim it. So ya my daughters school is going to kersplode.

Maybe you know someone locally that is prepared to get nutty over it? If only that person was in a position to raise questions and cause problems.

[Octavious]

If only..If only...

[Daehawk]

Two women in front of me at Dollar General waiting to check out. Both maskless both coughing and not even covering. From their looks Im guessing they were in their mid to late 40s but im my opinion were smokers who looked 60+ because of it. At least Im hoping they coughed due to smoking.

[Ralph-Wiggum]

I think the Alachua County school system in Florida announced yesterday they were enacting a mask mandate, DeSantis be damned. Alachua County is the home of University of Florida, so it's a pretty liberal area. I hope they stick to their guns and see if DeSantis follows through on withholding funds.

[Daehawk]

Thats just evil devil's work to withhold funds for masking. It should be allowed even if it isn't the dimwit's policy.

As for the smokers...I really dont like smokers with smokers cough and no mask. I cant tell the difference in if they smoke or have Covid so cant tell if they're killing themselves or killing me.

[stessier]

If you're vaccinated, they are almost certainly not killing you. If you are not vaccinated, get vaccinated.

[LawBeefaroni]

Had CNBC on at the gym, CC only. It looked like they were talking about insurance penalties for the unvaccinated. It would be almost impossible to levy a surcharge but they could waive ER/inpatient/testing copays, coinsurance, and deductibles for COVID treatment if you're vaccinated. And not waive them if you aren't. Right now I think many are still waiving them for everyone but that's not going to last forever. Some have already stopped.

[malchior]

It sounds like realistic policy. Many Americans only care about money - certainly more than non-money things like children or other people - might as well roll with it.

[raydude]

I will tell you the next county over from us not putting in a mask mandate for the new school year has been an unmitigated disaster. Kids are dropping like flies. Fortunately our county is not full of rural hillbilly dumbasses and is requiring masks and cleaning procedures K-12 the same as they were during the heights of the pandemic.

My county is 90 % hillbilly dumbasses. The school year is going to be super fun. For marching band they have MANDATORY band camp which is sleepover for 4 days. There's zero precautions on covid. No testing... No masks... and I know for a fact most of the kids aren't vaccinated as they proudly proclaim it. So ya my daughters school is going to kersplode.

There's gotta be some ambulance chasers in hillbilly counties. Why aren't they salivating all over this?

[malchior]

Because they can't or don't think they will win the lawsuits.

[Smoove_B]

https://twitter.com/PressSec/status/1423016525225725953

23% of new COVID hospitalizations in the U.S are in Florida, and their hospitals are being overwhelmed again.

We are doing everything we can to help the people of FL, and they're stepping up by getting vaccinated – we hope @GovRonDeSantis
joins us in this fight.

[Octavious]

I wonder how bad it would have to get before they finally admit they were wrong? Oh wait no that's not a thing anymore.

[Smoove_B]

I hope this continues

https://twitter.com/kylegriffin1/status ... 5619184640

Two parents of school-aged children in Arkansas have sued the state in an effort to strike down its ban on mask mandates — the first major legal challenge against such a statewide order.

[Zaxxon]

Even tOSU has figured out how un-complicated this is.

[LawBeefaroni]

It's such an easy thing to do. Wear a mask.

[Zaxxon]

Meanwhile, our district superintendent is being shouted at (including 'child abuse') during the back to school meeting for recommending masks.

[hepcat]

There really should be a travel ban to Florida at this point. Just imagine how many people are visiting and then spreading it all over the damn place.

Again I say

[El Guapo]

Can't we just give it back to Spain?

[hitbyambulance]

We all agree that having them back to in-person learning is the goal and what is likely best for most. It's like...there's a belief that in person doesn't count unless it *looks* back to normal, regardless of the risk.

this gets to the root cause - fear ... (fear of, 'things have changed and look different o nooooo'. maintaining the facade of 'normality' helps assuage their fear and so they don't have to think about it. among other things, it's the usual 'if i don't think about it, it doesn't exist' of the average conservative)

[Unagi]

pretty sure it's as simple as: liberals want masks - so if we mask up, then the liberals have won.