Octopus Overlords

By my count ~22,805 people died in the US of COVID-19 in October. That puts your total count conservatively at ~280,000 by the end of the year. If the death rate increases a bit as it is likely to do because of the increased case counts you might have upwards of 290,000 deaths by year's end.

Moat_Man wrote: Fri Nov 06, 2020 3:26 am By my count ~22,805 people died in the US of COVID-19 in October. That puts your total count conservatively at ~280,000 by the end of the year. If the death rate increases a bit as it is likely to do because of the increased case counts you might have upwards of 290,000 deaths by year's end.

We are such stupid, stupid people.

Thanks for posting your timeline Kurth. Glad to hear you're back to running!

Hope Mrs. RM9 is still doing well.

to Kurth

Kurth wrote:10/26 - 10/31 - My week in the basement; suffered through what felt like a bad case of the flu; monitored O2 levels with a pulse oximeter (hovered between 92 And 95 for much of the week); felt lousy, but never came close to heading to an ER.

Glad to hear you made it through! My wife’s doctor told her that if her O2 dropped below 95, go to the ER immediately. She’s been at 95+ the entire time though.

She’s still imprisoned in our master bedroom while I’ve been relegated to the main floor on the couch. Today is Day 12 with a 102 fever for her. Just that fever and the associated aches/pains, and every once in a while, a “weird” headache that “tingles”. But other than that, breathing is clear and as I said, O2 is good.

No cough that I’ve heard.

Most days she wakes up without a fever and then by mid-day she’s back to 102. It’s been controlled by meds, although I think on Tuesday night, it stopped responding to medication. Tylenol and Advil were ineffective, and the following morning she was still at 102, which started to get me concerned, but then later that morning meds brought it down again.

The rest of us are managing but are starting to get stir crazy. With no end in sight for us (we have to wait many days after her fever goes away to be sure, and then get tested to make sure we aren’t asymptomatic.

And to be clear, I have people on overwatch to make sure you don't exit that house until you get approval. If you look out your window, you might actually be able to see the scopes glinting in the sunlight.

RunningMn9 wrote: Fri Nov 06, 2020 1:50 pm

Kurth wrote:10/26 - 10/31 - My week in the basement; suffered through what felt like a bad case of the flu; monitored O2 levels with a pulse oximeter (hovered between 92 And 95 for much of the week); felt lousy, but never came close to heading to an ER.

Glad to hear you made it through! My wife’s doctor told her that if her O2 dropped below 95, go to the ER immediately. She’s been at 95+ the entire time though.

She’s still imprisoned in our master bedroom while I’ve been relegated to the main floor on the couch. Today is Day 12 with a 102 fever for her. Just that fever and the associated aches/pains, and every once in a while, a “weird” headache that “tingles”. But other than that, breathing is clear and as I said, O2 is good.

No cough that I’ve heard.

Most days she wakes up without a fever and then by mid-day she’s back to 102. It’s been controlled by meds, although I think on Tuesday night, it stopped responding to medication. Tylenol and Advil were ineffective, and the following morning she was still at 102, which started to get me concerned, but then later that morning meds brought it down again.

Sorry to hear she's not feeling better yet, RM9. Hang in there! My sister (the ER doc) told me that the O2 levels are important to watch, but different docs have different thresholds in terms of when a drop in O2 signals the need for hospitalization. She said that it really depends on what your baseline is, and that varies; she also said it's more important to watch the trend rather than the number itself. Staying stable at 95 is one thing; experiencing a downward trend in the O2 level is another.

RunningMn9 wrote: Fri Nov 06, 2020 1:50 pm The rest of us are managing but are starting to get stir crazy. With no end in sight for us (we have to wait many days after her fever goes away to be sure, and then get tested to make sure we aren’t asymptomatic.

Hard not to go stir-crazy. Curious why you need to wait so long following her fever and also get tested? That wasn't the guidance I got from my doctor. According to him, all we had to do was wait 10 days post onset of symptoms plus 48 hours from last fever. As long as those conditions were met, he said I was good to go to resume activity and discontinue quarantine without the need for further tests. I also checked with the boys pediatrician, who gave the exact same guidance. I wonder if this varies state to state depending on local conditions, although that seems strange to me. Maybe Smoove has some thoughts on this?

Anyway, here's hoping your wife feels better soon, RM9!

That really stinks - hope she feels better soon.

12 days of a 100+ degree fever?

Ugggghhhh....that sounds utterly miserable. My deepest sympathies to everyone in your house, RM, and especially your wife - I can't imagine how draining that is.

Oof, RM.


We are looking at reducing outpatient and electives again. Lots more COVID+ and sick COVID+.

This is what happens when you attend Trump rallies folks

A couple of reasons. While she is symptomatic, my understanding is that she can give it to us. So if she gives it to me today and then the fever breaks tomorrow, and she’s good for 48 hours, and then we all bust outta here...and then a day later I become symptomatic, our quarantine wasn’t very useful.

Also, I cannot go back on base without a verified negative test that was taken at least 5 days after symptoms were gone. Them’s the rules.

Originally we were told 10 days for her, or 24 hours fever-free without meds - whichever comes later, and we were told 14 days for us, with a sliding scale if she goes longer.

I just do what I’m told.

Little Raven wrote:12 days of a 100+ degree fever?

Ugggghhhh....that sounds utterly miserable. My deepest sympathies to everyone in your house, RM, and especially your wife - I can't imagine how draining that is.

She seems to be more or less ok with it. Any fever I’ve ever had over 101 has sucked, but about 70% of ever day she’s at 102 and is still managing it in decent spirits. It’s weird being in the same house and only really talking on the phone.

Eke! Hang in there!

Colorado was doing relatively well for a while, but it looks like they're losing grip.

can't believe that Kentucky and Arkansas are soon going to surpass WA state in 'total infections'...

Not a single virus voted for Biden.

hitbyambulance wrote: Fri Nov 06, 2020 7:53 pm Colorado was doing relatively well for a while, but it looks like they're losing grip.

Yep. At the rate the cases - and hospitalizations - are spiking, Colorado will exceed its ICU capacity in mid-December or possibly sooner.

Mark Meadows has been reported as being Covid-19 positive. Meadows not being a big mask wearer I’m wondering who else among the mask mockers that surround Trump will be positive next...

https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/06/politics ... index.html

gilraen wrote: Fri Nov 06, 2020 9:32 pm

hitbyambulance wrote: Fri Nov 06, 2020 7:53 pm Colorado was doing relatively well for a while, but it looks like they're losing grip.

Yep. At the rate the cases - and hospitalizations - are spiking, Colorado will exceed its ICU capacity in mid-December or possibly sooner.

And yet our school district sent an update basically saying things suck but we're sticking to full in-person despite our guidelines.

Sometimes living in the reddest county in the Denver metro area is tiring.

Isgrimnur wrote: Fri Nov 06, 2020 8:04 pm Not a single virus voted for Biden.

Where's Holman?
He's passing out tone-deaf awards and I think this post may qualify you for one.

A couple of weeks ago I shut down outdoor dining for the year. Tomorrow it's going to be 75 degrees and gorgeous in the way that only New England Indian summers can be. The latest map from the state shows our brunch place in a green town, so I'm going to roll the dice one more time.

Is "Indian summer" another thing I'm not supposed to say anymore, or am I in before the ban?

Kraken wrote: Sat Nov 07, 2020 1:10 am A couple of weeks ago I shut down outdoor dining for the year. Tomorrow it's going to be 75 degrees and gorgeous in the way that only New England Indian summers can be. The latest map from the state shows our brunch place in a green town, so I'm going to roll the dice one more time.

Is "Indian summer" another thing I'm not supposed to say anymore, or am I in before the ban?

As a former long time Mass-hole, I love this post. And good luck with your outdoor dining. It's a personal decision, but I say, go for it!

Kurth wrote: Sat Nov 07, 2020 1:13 am

Kraken wrote: Sat Nov 07, 2020 1:10 am A couple of weeks ago I shut down outdoor dining for the year. Tomorrow it's going to be 75 degrees and gorgeous in the way that only New England Indian summers can be. The latest map from the state shows our brunch place in a green town, so I'm going to roll the dice one more time.

Is "Indian summer" another thing I'm not supposed to say anymore, or am I in before the ban?

As a former long time Mass-hole, I love this post. And good luck with your outdoor dining. It's a personal decision, but I say, go for it!

The Cottage Bar's picnic tables are as safe as anyplace you'll find, so I'm confident about that. Glad you know what I mean about Indian summer -- the dry air, low sun, trees shedding their last leaves, which are blowing around everywhere...it's great to be out in shorts when winter's just a breath away, and you know you can't do this again for 5-6 months. It's worth rolling one more saving throw for an Irish omelette at the Wee Pub.

Kraken wrote: Sat Nov 07, 2020 1:25 am

Kurth wrote: Sat Nov 07, 2020 1:13 am

Kraken wrote: Sat Nov 07, 2020 1:10 am A couple of weeks ago I shut down outdoor dining for the year. Tomorrow it's going to be 75 degrees and gorgeous in the way that only New England Indian summers can be. The latest map from the state shows our brunch place in a green town, so I'm going to roll the dice one more time.

Is "Indian summer" another thing I'm not supposed to say anymore, or am I in before the ban?

As a former long time Mass-hole, I love this post. And good luck with your outdoor dining. It's a personal decision, but I say, go for it!

The Cottage Bar's picnic tables are as safe as anyplace you'll find, so I'm confident about that. Glad you know what I mean about Indian summer -- the dry air, low sun, trees shedding their last leaves, which are blowing around everywhere...it's great to be out in shorts when winter's just a breath away, and you know you can't do this again for 5-6 months. It's worth rolling one more saving throw for an Irish omelette at the Wee Pub.

Sitting here in Portland, OR, as the rains close in for the next six months, I am more than a little envious. I loved Fall in New England, and those Indian Summer days were the best. Enjoy!!!

$iljanus wrote: Sat Nov 07, 2020 12:19 am Mark Meadows has been reported as being Covid-19 positive. Meadows not being a big mask wearer I’m wondering who else among the mask mockers that surround Trump will be positive next...

https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/06/politics ... index.html

And now Matt "Gasmask" Gaetz.

Updated with the winning comment of the day.

https://twitter.com/StandTallFor/status ... 5960345602

Daaaaaaamn. (edit: Re: the @StandTallFor tweet)

Im sure OO doesn't do this but to the rest of my fellow Americans Id like to thank you for trying to wear a mask....now PLZ cover your damn nose with it too.

A stark reminder that we are in big, big trouble here.

https://twitter.com/RiegerReport/status ... 4447049728

US reports 134,377 new coronavirus cases, a new single-day record.

It is the country’s fourth-straight single day record.

1,147 deaths were reported on Saturday in the US.

To date, the virus has killed more than 237,000 people the in the US.

Seems like its going up a few thousand a day or more.

Isgrimnur wrote: Sun Oct 04, 2020 10:00 pm

We will hit 0.068% when we hit 228,160.

We're at 214,611 at the moment, and trending ~700/day, so... before Halloween.

WWI levels will take us 369,178.

WWI, here we come. At 1k per day, that gets us to March 21st, two months after Inauguration Day.

Nah. Biden has a plan. He'll have had almost a whole year of preparing to do all the things Trump should have done to get this under control.
He'll have those numbers dropping a few weeks, let alone a whole 2 months, after taking office.

What could possibly go wrong in the 74 days before he takes office?

Isgrimnur wrote: Sun Nov 08, 2020 2:31 am

Isgrimnur wrote: Sun Oct 04, 2020 10:00 pm

We will hit 0.068% when we hit 228,160.

We're at 214,611 at the moment, and trending ~700/day, so... before Halloween.

WWI levels will take us 369,178.

WWI, here we come. At 1k per day, that gets us to March 21st, two months after Inauguration Day.

FWIW I think we're nearly there when you factor in a decent undercount.

stimpy wrote: Sun Nov 08, 2020 2:55 am Nah. Biden has a plan. He'll have had almost a whole year of preparing to do all the things Trump should have done to get this under control.
He'll have those numbers dropping a few weeks, let alone a whole 2 months, after taking office.

I know you know this, but it will be 12 months that the virus will have had free reign to spread through a significant portion of America. No one is going to be able to unfuck the damage Trump has done quickly, but I'll certainly do my best to update this thread with what I'm being told the plan is when I find out.

At a minimum I'd expect a national mask mandate to be ordered on 1/20/21. How that works, I'm not sure, but I guess we'll see.

How that works, I'm not sure, but I guess we'll see.

It wont work is how it will work. the same doofuses will still not wear it and more wont wear it as a protest. They know it wont be enforced. Germany is slamming protestors even now for fighting against having their lives saved.

Kraken wrote:

Kurth wrote: Sat Nov 07, 2020 1:13 am

Kraken wrote: Sat Nov 07, 2020 1:10 am A couple of weeks ago I shut down outdoor dining for the year. Tomorrow it's going to be 75 degrees and gorgeous in the way that only New England Indian summers can be. The latest map from the state shows our brunch place in a green town, so I'm going to roll the dice one more time.

Is "Indian summer" another thing I'm not supposed to say anymore, or am I in before the ban?

As a former long time Mass-hole, I love this post. And good luck with your outdoor dining. It's a personal decision, but I say, go for it!

The Cottage Bar's picnic tables are as safe as anyplace you'll find, so I'm confident about that. Glad you know what I mean about Indian summer -- the dry air, low sun, trees shedding their last leaves, which are blowing around everywhere...it's great to be out in shorts when winter's just a breath away, and you know you can't do this again for 5-6 months. It's worth rolling one more saving throw for an Irish omelette at the Wee Pub.

Did you roll the dice and enjoy an outdoor meal? Today the family with the puppy are at Crane Beach. It's a little crowded but good social distancing and mask compliance along with a pleasant breeze.

The gentle sound of the surf is quite calming after a stressful election. Also nice to get this in before winter eventually comes and we turtle up.

stimpy wrote: Sun Nov 08, 2020 2:55 am Nah. Biden has a plan. He'll have had almost a whole year of preparing to do all the things Trump should have done to get this under control.
He'll have those numbers dropping a few weeks, let alone a whole 2 months, after taking office.

"I can't possibly see how. His Covid committee doesn't even have a dentist in the group."

- Donald Trump

A national mask ban would probably be more effective.