20 thoughts on “C-19 Chat Post – December 22 2020”
Good morning. Thank you again , TK, for this page
I urge folks to read heather Cox Richardson’s email from late last night. It is all chilling, but Please note the fourth and third to last paragraphs with regard to Trump folks within CDC trying to block or alter documents.
Thanks Vicki for bringing this to our attention. Even though Nixon left office “in disgrace” more or less, Trump will likely leave in a “deranged” state. Sad. I also believe that his family is enabling him as well.
I just hope there will be no “embarrassing” moments on January 20th. I am holding my breath.
Even the majority of those of us who worked for Nixon’s election stood fir country first. It is a sadly different time
I absolutely agree. It’s a different time for sure.
Vicki, thank you for alerting me and the others to Heather Cox Richardson’s messages.
We’re in a dystopian world right now. Feels very strange.
Tomorrow is the day my daughter is supposed to arrived from England. We’ll see what happens. She’s arranged for a test at Heathrow, has her boarding pass, says the plane is practically empty with only 25 people on board (you can see that when you go to select a seat). She’ll be quarantining the entire time she’s here – 6 days – in my apartment. Weather permitting she and I will take walks in the park. If there’s a person at risk for getting the new variant it’ll be me or the cat. But, I’ll be masked and distanced as much as I can while she’s here, provided she actually makes it here tomorrow.
Nice that your daughter will be able to finally visit, but a bummer that you and her will have to “mask up” in your own home. I thought pets were immune.
Agree with a disparate group of politicians, including Tulsi Gabbard, and Ilhan Omar who oppose vaccinating politicians and federal officials BEFORE nursing home residents. It’s insane to be doing this. The distribution and administration of shots are going VERY slowly as is: About 4.5 million doses distributed and only 550,000 shots given. This is just the 1st dose in a 2 dose regimen. A FAR cry from what was advertised by the government and Pfizer following FDA EUA approval. Given the scarcity, those most at risk must be vaccinated first. This includes nursing home residents and healthcare workers. Politicians are not an at risk group. I know several people in assisted living facilities in Massachusetts. One is a very good friend of the family. She is due to get her first dose 3 weeks from now, AFTER Massachusetts politicians get their shots. I find this shameful, but also not evidence-based in terms of allocation protocol.
With the politicians getting the vaccine first, I believe it gives their constituents more incentive to get the vaccine. The latest polls still show many with little/no confidence in the vaccine to begin with. The medical community expects 70-80% compliability for herd immunity. I would hope that seniors will get theirs very soon.
Baker speaking at 1:00–expect things to roll back.
Not so many changes…
Always a good thing.
Baker at least did something. Hospitals have disaster protocol manuals. And they have crisis care manuals. They are in crisis care now.
It seems tomorrow they will lay out a plan for small business. That is awesome. It is no surprise that IMO He is a joke re schools. But then as long as families have a choice for full remote, that is a good thing for kids…sucks for teachers and staff. He is 100% incorrect that covid is not spreading in schools. And to believe that of the just under 1000 cases in MA schools (591 students and 418 staff) in six days were all from outside contact of schools is foolish. He may be right that his rollbacks can cut down in-school cases. I pray he is.
Now for people to actually do what is right….ok, I hear you laughing.
I want to repeat clearly. It is my opinion that schools should be remote (with SAFE exceptions)…which includes all teachers and staff. Doesn’t mean it is right. Doesn’t mean those who want in school are wrong. We don’t know who is right or wrong or what the most is. Everyone is entitled to his or her view.
I understand the reasoning for referring to percents. However, people are not percents. Over 300,000 people have died in the US with a population of 331mm. That is a frighteningly small percentage.
Going over the global data today and one thing puzzles me: Rising case fatality rate; especially across Europe (Germany and Italy, for example – numbers there really stand out). Remember how the case fatality rate had been decreasing steadily for many months. Well, that has stopped, also in the U.S. but to a lesser degree than Europe. Need to keep an eye on this, as it may have to do with a different variant of the virus. I emphasize “may” because we don’t know at this point in time.
Philip, thanks for your note. I hope Lisa makes it tomorrow, but I’m prepared for anything.
Wearing masks in the household with Lisa will be different. But, I really don’t mind wearing a mask. If I was told that I had to wear a mask in indoor spaces outside my household for the rest of my life I wouldn’t mind if it had a public health purpose. I’d certainly get used to it. Right now, for me anyway, it’s second nature. I put on my jacket and scarf and next I put on a mask before heading out. The only time I’m troubled by the mask is when I’m jogging or biking. But even that is easy to get used to.
Joshua I very much agree with you regarding masks. It seems from the little I have seen that Lisa will have been tested and will be negative. But then she will be on the plane so you are smart to do what you can while she is here. I’m sure hoping for the best
May it be a reminder, it’s not a good idea to solely focus on vaccinating our way out of the pandemic. Yet, I believe the majority of people in our nation think that vaccines will do the trick. Of course, eventually they will, but not before tremendous loss of life occurs. We must do more to mitigate. As I write this, Pence is addressing a crowd of thousands of mostly young folks indoors in an arena in Flordia, many maskless, and all shoulder-to-shoulder. As I’ve said before I’m not very worried about the young, but they do pass it on to their folks and grandparents, especially during the holiday season.
We’re at 650,000 administered 1st doses nationwide 2 weeks after the emergency use authorization. About 5 million doses have been “distributed,” which means they’re in a facility ready to be administered, awaiting instructions as to whom to vaccinate. Fauci said today that he thinks that 225-250 million Americans can get vaccinated by the end of June 2021. Well, Tony, not at the snail’s pace we’re going. I’m actually stunned at how slow the vaccination process is right now. It should be bleeding obvious who to vaccinate: healthcare workers and the elderly. Yet, many – including all my siblings who are doctors and frequently see Covid-19 patients! – have no idea when they’ll be vaccinated.
Good morning. Thank you again , TK, for this page
I urge folks to read heather Cox Richardson’s email from late last night. It is all chilling, but Please note the fourth and third to last paragraphs with regard to Trump folks within CDC trying to block or alter documents.
https://www.facebook.com/241446929332714/posts/2543151435828907/?d=n
Thanks Vicki for bringing this to our attention. Even though Nixon left office “in disgrace” more or less, Trump will likely leave in a “deranged” state. Sad. I also believe that his family is enabling him as well.
I just hope there will be no “embarrassing” moments on January 20th. I am holding my breath.
Even the majority of those of us who worked for Nixon’s election stood fir country first. It is a sadly different time
I absolutely agree. It’s a different time for sure.
Vicki, thank you for alerting me and the others to Heather Cox Richardson’s messages.
We’re in a dystopian world right now. Feels very strange.
Tomorrow is the day my daughter is supposed to arrived from England. We’ll see what happens. She’s arranged for a test at Heathrow, has her boarding pass, says the plane is practically empty with only 25 people on board (you can see that when you go to select a seat). She’ll be quarantining the entire time she’s here – 6 days – in my apartment. Weather permitting she and I will take walks in the park. If there’s a person at risk for getting the new variant it’ll be me or the cat. But, I’ll be masked and distanced as much as I can while she’s here, provided she actually makes it here tomorrow.
Nice that your daughter will be able to finally visit, but a bummer that you and her will have to “mask up” in your own home. I thought pets were immune.
Both of you stay safe!
It was bound to happen. Covid-19 has arrived in Antarctica, at a Chilean research station. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-55410065?
Agree with a disparate group of politicians, including Tulsi Gabbard, and Ilhan Omar who oppose vaccinating politicians and federal officials BEFORE nursing home residents. It’s insane to be doing this. The distribution and administration of shots are going VERY slowly as is: About 4.5 million doses distributed and only 550,000 shots given. This is just the 1st dose in a 2 dose regimen. A FAR cry from what was advertised by the government and Pfizer following FDA EUA approval. Given the scarcity, those most at risk must be vaccinated first. This includes nursing home residents and healthcare workers. Politicians are not an at risk group. I know several people in assisted living facilities in Massachusetts. One is a very good friend of the family. She is due to get her first dose 3 weeks from now, AFTER Massachusetts politicians get their shots. I find this shameful, but also not evidence-based in terms of allocation protocol.
With the politicians getting the vaccine first, I believe it gives their constituents more incentive to get the vaccine. The latest polls still show many with little/no confidence in the vaccine to begin with. The medical community expects 70-80% compliability for herd immunity. I would hope that seniors will get theirs very soon.
Baker speaking at 1:00–expect things to roll back.
Not so many changes…
Always a good thing.
Baker at least did something. Hospitals have disaster protocol manuals. And they have crisis care manuals. They are in crisis care now.
It seems tomorrow they will lay out a plan for small business. That is awesome. It is no surprise that IMO He is a joke re schools. But then as long as families have a choice for full remote, that is a good thing for kids…sucks for teachers and staff. He is 100% incorrect that covid is not spreading in schools. And to believe that of the just under 1000 cases in MA schools (591 students and 418 staff) in six days were all from outside contact of schools is foolish. He may be right that his rollbacks can cut down in-school cases. I pray he is.
Now for people to actually do what is right….ok, I hear you laughing.
I want to repeat clearly. It is my opinion that schools should be remote (with SAFE exceptions)…which includes all teachers and staff. Doesn’t mean it is right. Doesn’t mean those who want in school are wrong. We don’t know who is right or wrong or what the most is. Everyone is entitled to his or her view.
I understand the reasoning for referring to percents. However, people are not percents. Over 300,000 people have died in the US with a population of 331mm. That is a frighteningly small percentage.
Going over the global data today and one thing puzzles me: Rising case fatality rate; especially across Europe (Germany and Italy, for example – numbers there really stand out). Remember how the case fatality rate had been decreasing steadily for many months. Well, that has stopped, also in the U.S. but to a lesser degree than Europe. Need to keep an eye on this, as it may have to do with a different variant of the virus. I emphasize “may” because we don’t know at this point in time.
Philip, thanks for your note. I hope Lisa makes it tomorrow, but I’m prepared for anything.
Wearing masks in the household with Lisa will be different. But, I really don’t mind wearing a mask. If I was told that I had to wear a mask in indoor spaces outside my household for the rest of my life I wouldn’t mind if it had a public health purpose. I’d certainly get used to it. Right now, for me anyway, it’s second nature. I put on my jacket and scarf and next I put on a mask before heading out. The only time I’m troubled by the mask is when I’m jogging or biking. But even that is easy to get used to.
Joshua I very much agree with you regarding masks. It seems from the little I have seen that Lisa will have been tested and will be negative. But then she will be on the plane so you are smart to do what you can while she is here. I’m sure hoping for the best
May it be a reminder, it’s not a good idea to solely focus on vaccinating our way out of the pandemic. Yet, I believe the majority of people in our nation think that vaccines will do the trick. Of course, eventually they will, but not before tremendous loss of life occurs. We must do more to mitigate. As I write this, Pence is addressing a crowd of thousands of mostly young folks indoors in an arena in Flordia, many maskless, and all shoulder-to-shoulder. As I’ve said before I’m not very worried about the young, but they do pass it on to their folks and grandparents, especially during the holiday season.
We’re at 650,000 administered 1st doses nationwide 2 weeks after the emergency use authorization. About 5 million doses have been “distributed,” which means they’re in a facility ready to be administered, awaiting instructions as to whom to vaccinate. Fauci said today that he thinks that 225-250 million Americans can get vaccinated by the end of June 2021. Well, Tony, not at the snail’s pace we’re going. I’m actually stunned at how slow the vaccination process is right now. It should be bleeding obvious who to vaccinate: healthcare workers and the elderly. Yet, many – including all my siblings who are doctors and frequently see Covid-19 patients! – have no idea when they’ll be vaccinated.
Today’s Covid-19 tracker update is sobering yet again. https://twitter.com/thehowie/status/1341554196332638213
C-19 for 12-23 is ready.