42 thoughts on “C-19 Chat Post – September 14 2021”

  1. There are now near empty shelves of canned vegetables in stores now. Yesterday a worker (Star Market) happened by and told me that due to the pandemic, production is way down. It’s the same at Stop & Shop as well.
    Even last year, shelves were always consistently full of canned vegetables. I am out of rice and the shelves have been bare lately at Stop & Shop. Later today, I’ll try Star Market. Not having a good feeling now.

    1. So far, we have been able to get all that we need. Because of what you have been saying about rice, we picked up 2 boxes
      last week, which the store had.

      But what you are posting is scaring me.

      When the food chain breaks down, we are screwed!

      IF the virus gets bad enough, that “could” happen. It has been one of my biggest fears all along. Let us hope that what you are seeing is just temporary.

      1. Yikes. I have yet to have trouble, but I just placed a grocery order and will add rice. Thank you. We get veggies at a local farm or our garden. I know they were having trouble last year and the rain this summer played havoc with some of their fields. But wow on canned veggies.

        1. Even toilet paper “may” be on the endangered list again as well. Those shelves aren’t like 2020 yet but you can’t just pick and choose anymore either.

      1. Also to add to that, I believe the positivity rate has decreased since last week as well. If only the rest of the nation would trend down as well.

  3. I watched a UK government Covid winter plan live. See below. I assume that this link will also take you to the archived version. It’s worth viewing. The British are simply better than we are at brevity. Concise, clear statements that don’t beat around the bush. Mind you, this is a conservative government. But, Republicans in this country (US) don’t take Covid nearly as seriously as the Tories (conservatives) in Britain. I must say I don’t fully understand this. https://twitter.com/BloombergUK/status/1437787305897570304

    1. It is a pleasure to just listen to these gentlemen. Distinguished grace comes to mind.

      I like to think most true republicans (conservatives) in this country (US) appreciate the severity. Sadly, most of the party is now a far right fringe group. You are so right that it is beyond understanding.

  4. The tragedies of this Covid pandemic are incredibly sad. Every day dozens of stories are posted. I’ve included a few on this blog, including one below. It’s hard not to shed tears when you see so much anguish, so many people – often young – snuffed out by a largely preventable disease. We lost 2,430 people yesterday. I can’t bear seeing these numbers. It’s taking a toll on me. https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2021/08/18/texas-couple-declined-covid-19-vaccine-died-orphans/

  5. Vicki, I shouldn’t have generalized on Republicans. I’m sorry about that. Your statement is much more accurate. I just feel that a branch within the party has taken control, if you will, seeding doubt on vaccines, masks, and safety for children, even questioning the severity of the pandemic.

    1. But Joshua, I have yet to hear of any Dems refuse to be vaccinated or whine about mask mandates. Those sad stories you have posted have all been from the typical “red” states. Having said that, no doubt there are a precious few here in this state as well.

    2. Right.

      I used to have many disagreements with Republicans, but they were decent people who cared that just happened to have a different view. That branch of the Republican party has been overtaken by a group of uncaring, selfish, fascist pigs. We need the old republican party, not the current one.

      1. I have only voted for 1 Republican in my entire life
        and that was: Edward W. Brooke III

        Wait a minute, I may have voted for Frank Seargent for Governor as I always like him.

        Both persons mentioned above were kind, decent and caring people, very much Unlike so many republicans of today.

        1. Ha. Ed Brooke was a family friend. I spent many hours talking with him. I admired him greatly. Frank S was a friend but not as close. Every governor has a series of license plates issued with the first initial of his last name. I still have the S plate he gave me on my car for working on his campaign

          You are right about what was the party. I sure knew it as I worked as part of it from a young age. True Republicans are now mostly left of center.

          1. My father used to always mention that when I was young I shook Frank Seargent’s hand during a parade in Downtown Boston. I still don’t remember it to this day, unfortunately. Not even vaguely.

            1. Very cool. He was a very nice man. My oldest rode at several horse shows with his daughter. Mac got a kick out of it when he helped Frank’s wife fill a water bucket because she was having trouble with the pump.

              He gave my dad the reverse of my license plate; but sadly, when my dad got ill, we were so focused on him that we had to let it go

              JPD, you are a great judge of character. I wish our politicians were more like the ones I grew up knowing

    3. Sorry Joshua. I absolutely didn’t intend to correct you. My thought as I watched the video was that is the decency I knew growing up. I’m just disgusted with the people who have taken over the party. But then I have little use for the far left fringe group either. I can hardly look at one of the new freshmen without my stomach turning.

  7. Philip….no minute rice at Hannaford either. The shopper sent me a photo of the rice shelves and they were about 50% empty. I found some at target…..although I’m not counting on it being a given that I get it.

    Thank you for the tip

    1. I got the last of minute rice at Star Market…4 of the smallest boxes (14 oz.) at that. Would not surprise me if next week this time that shelf is gathering dust. As JPD hinted, I hope this isn’t a sign of more shortages to come. From what I can tell, the store overall is still full for now.

      What the clerk told me yesterday regarding canned vegetables really threw me for a loop. At least I now know what’s going on.

  8. https://www.masslive.com/worcester/2021/09/increase-in-covid-hospitalizations-leads-to-strain-on-resources-increased-wait-times-at-worcesters-umass-memorial-medical-center.html

    Are they short staffed. I don’t recall hearing this last year at the height. But I AM UNDOUBTEDLY forgetting.

    My daughter said a NH hospital has stopped delivering babies because a bunch of nurses resigned due to the mandate. Sorry, but I would not want my baby delivered by someone not vaccinated.

  9. I can’t find a source that I can open so please correct if I am wrong. I’m reading the food shortage is due to worker shortage. I know there is a school bus driver shortage. Tufts small animal hospital is not accepting new patients because of a staff shortage. I posted two hospitals above although I understand they are also stretched with extra patients.

    Why other work force shortages?

    1. Yes. Also, the fact that Massachusetts is considered a state that’s doing relatively well – with 1,400 cases and 24 deaths today – is telling. Implicitly this reveals just how bad the rest of the country is doing. Well, outside New England.

      The baseline of 1,400 cases is too high, as we go into winter. You may recall what Chris Witty said during the UK government’s press conference. He warned that case levels – which are consistent with what Massachusetts is experiencing – are too high as we head into fall and winter. Hence, the “Covid action plan for winter.” Well, a plan in Britain. I don’t see any plan here, quite frankly. By the way, UK’s vaccination rate is very similar to the UK’s.

      1. I had the same thought. And I do recall Chris Wittys comment. You are so right that we are proactive rather that reactive.

      2. So we are at 84% + vaccination and infection rate in Mass 18 plus. probably one of the best in the world. What should we do now? There is going to have to an acceptable rate of infection like we have with the flu. Not sure what that is……

  11. Astonishing number of prominent – in the public eye – anti-vax folks are dying. See below for yet another sad story. You’d think this would boost the vaccination rate. But, we’ve barely budged in recent months, especially in the >55 category. The blip we had earlier, in August, was due in large part to high school and college students nationwide getting vaccinated prior to the start of the semester. https://www.cnn.com/2021/09/14/media/bob-enyart-death-covid/index.html

  12. I was shocked when I read Heather Cox Richardson’s email today.

    “ More than 243,000 children tested positive for the virus last week, the second highest number of pediatric cases since the pandemic started. About 2200 are currently hospitalized.”

  14. I must be tired. Typos and I’ve written some pretty dumb things, like the “UK’s vaccination rate is very similar to the UK’s.” It is indeed! I meant to say the UK’s vaccination rate is very similar to Massachusetts. Oh well, it’s been a long day.

    Vicki, thanks for posting the pediatric hospitalization numbers. While children with Covid do fare much better than adults on average, the Delta wave dispels the notion that the risk is extremely minimal. I’d say it’s a small risk, but not a negligible one. Furthermore, children (pupils) can be vectors for spread in schools, so to teachers and staff.

      1. Yes, long Covid in children shouldn’t be minimized, as it occurs quite often. One of the problems with Covid is that it’s impacts include multiple organs that go well beyond just the lungs.

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