55 thoughts on “C-19 Chat Post – December 29 2021”
My Lord, fools is no longer an appropriate description. We are knowingly placing children and staff at risk.
Boston Globe.
“ As COVID rates soar, Mass. schools brace for a chaotic January — and lots of testing
Schools largely managed to stay open with relatively few COVID cases during the fall, after Governor Charlie Baker’s administration banned remote learning this year.
But officials are now preparing for the likelihood that December’s record-breaking number of infections among students and staff will continue — and even worsen — in January. And if they do, the continued outbreaks inside schools will test the state’s ban on remote learning to a far more challenging degree.”
Relatively few is laughable. We had 60,293 since September as opposed to 20,123 in ALL of 2020 school year
This is totally and completely RECKLESS and IRRESPONSIBLE!!
There is NO WAY schools should reopen after New Years.
They should be delayed at least 2 weeks and perhaps longer depending upon how things go.
Better still go remote for a few months and re-evaluate.
But that makes too much sense for anyone to persue
that action.
This country is F’d UP! Big time!!!!!
I wonder if staffing issues might cause this reasoning to switch.
Substitute teachers have been non-existent this year.
So, if you have 20-30% of staff not able to return from break and you have no subs, even with staff on a planning period trying to cover, you might not still have enough people, even if guidance and leadership team people are covering too, you might not have enough people to cover classrooms and then, that becomes a safety issue as well as a continuing education issue.
Agree with both of you. Nearly all schools have had major issues with staff…especially with nurses. The latter of course hinders testing.
It is pathetic that we bring it to the point where logic is forced and not simply the impetus.
Perhaps that will tip the scales. Hope so.
Here are yesterday’s Covuid Dashboard and updated graph:
That 9,228 ONLY represents those that made it to and were patient enough to wait in line for a PCR test.
How many others tested positive with an at home test.
I am willing to bet that the number of new cases is 10 times that number or over 90,000 new cases!!! Just my guess.
Joshua do you have a thought on that?
btw, Massachusetts topped 1,000,000 total cases yesterday.
That is nearly 1/6 the population AND that is only those
with a PCR test. How many more were there?
My thought is we’re in deep trouble. And officials are mostly in happy talk and ostrich mode. To put it in Trumpian words: SAD!
We’re at 1,707 hospitalizations in Massachusetts (increase of 70 yesterday); 79,000 nationwide (steep rises in recent days). There were 63 deaths reported in Massachusetts alone yesterday. The 7-day average number of deaths nationwide is rising and over 1,550. And, I haven’t even talked about Long Covid.
Only now is Baker planning for mass vaccination centers, which won’t even be operational until next week at the earliest. That’s called gross incompetence. We should have had these centers up and running in November. Placing most of the burden on pharmacies was unreasonable and insanely inefficient, in my view.
On schools, I find the idea of instituting bans on anything – from books in libraries, to home schooling, to remote learning, to the teaching of CRT – to be inconsistent with the values of America. At this stage, banning remote learning is negligent. I am in favor of in-person learning, but to require it, at this juncture and several others during the pandemic, is not a justifiable decision.
We’ve got the CDC caving to corporate demands. We have a President who’s mostly asleep at the wheel (and he’s driving a Corvette, so that’s pretty dangerous). And we’ve got Covid numbers that are alarmingly bad, worse than all of our peers. Sure, they’ve got similar and sometimes worse official case numbers. But that’s partly because they have functional testing systems – people are able to get tested in a timely fashion. Where it primarily counts – hospitalizations and deaths – we’re faring worse. No surprise. Yet, we’ve had ample warning and don’t do a darn thing.
Thank you Joshua for sound thinking and articulating that well. My wife would like you. You tell it like it is.
I am bitterly disappointed in Biden. I expected so much better. The corporations control America and that is DISGUSTING!!!!
I wish Biden would grow a pair!
I like Joe as a person. I think his heart is in the right place. But, he’s dropped the ball too many times on this issue.
I do not regret my vote for him. But, I think it’s important to offer constructive criticism, yes, also of those one supports.
You used the word disappointment, and I think that’s apt.
You may recall when Aaron Rodgers got Covid and the media gave it and him so much attention. Rodgers went on shows and declared he was opposed to the vaccine, to mandates of any kind, etc … I am sure he influenced a lot of people, in the wrong way. Well, right then and there was a moment for the Biden Administration to step into the fray, if you will, with spots on TV in prime time, during football games, promoting vaccinations and boosters. And not with Fauci or Walensky as the persons delivering the message, no, a former famous football player. This would have had impact at the time – October – and it was one of many missed opportunities.
Agree. Sport on as usual. Thank you.
JPD. This has been on my mind for a bit bit cannot recall whether I mentioned it here. My guess is your daughter has considered. I wondered about her tutoring until this settles. I know some parents are home schooling and might want teacher support. Just a thought. I hate that our approach is causing us to loose great teachers.
Interesting. No you didn’t mention. And Our daughter has never mentioned tutoring at all. I think the only way should would have time to tutor would be if she quit her teaching job. She has no time to herself during the school year. It teach, come home and correct and prepare. Wash, rinse and repeat every day.
Sounds familiar. 🙂
Sorry. I was not clear. I think you said your daughter was considering stepping down. I was thinking of this for a temporary option. I don’t know if teachers can take an extended leave this year. I thought it was a 2020 option but May have made that up
Awesome comments, Joshua.
We are caving to the loudest voice which far too often is self serving and could care less about the whole.
Precisely. Sad, oh so very sad. And it is costing lives needlessly!
One would think, but I guess that particular mindset is like a cult.
To admit one is wrong on something so incredibly important requires both deep maturity and real humility. Need I say more re: that particular subset of Americans?
As a parent I am flabbergasted that as of now public schools plan to reopen as business-as-usual. I had naively hoped when it started hitting our kids people would finally give ground / take their heads out of the sand.
I’m horrified and frightened also that the number being tossed around re: percentage of cases ending in long covid is 50 percent – or even anything near that.
If that 50 percent is anywhere close to accurate for long covid we are in deep sh*t – as in my experience among our other many significant deficits in our healthcare system is our lack of ability to effectively manage care for chronic illnesses that cross different areas – sub specialties. Because or system is so specialized wholistic care is very much an Achilles heel here.
I follow trends in many countries worldwide. I am not liking what I’m seeing out of Mumbai, India. Sharp increases in cases in the past 3 days. India had been registering very low numbers of cases for a while. This tranquil period is ending.
A guy on Twitter wrote this satirical tweet about how Covid skeptics view the world and the progression of each wave. It applies to every wave we’ve had. It’s remarkable how stubborn people can be (myself included sometimes, by the way).
There are only a few cases of Omicron.
Cases are up but not hospitalizations.
Hospitalizations are up but not ICU admissions.
ICU admissions are up but not deaths.
Deaths are up but nobody could have predicted this would happen.
Terrifying. …especially ventilators for children. I have been seeing comments by health experts that omicron is not worse for children ….I posted this yesterday…..and numbers are up simply because it is so contagious and more are getting it. Is this beginning to show the opposite?
Stubborn? I suppose we all can be when we feel strongly about something. I don’t think of you as stubborn. I’d say passionate about a view would be more accurate
Another jump in the positivity rate in CT now up to 17.78 percent. That number could be higher as at home tests are not counted. The people in the hospital up to 1,113. I wonder if our governor will put indoor mask mandates in place. He has said he looks at the hospitalization number and when it gets to 1,000 or higher things may have to change.
Frightening. I know RI has a mandate. I’m hoping your Governor will for you and also for us…..maybe something will blast baker out of hiding.
JJ. When do you say you will get your booster?
Vicki I am getting my booster on Friday. I am getting Phizer. I got Johnson and Johnson back in April. I am curious what governor Lamont does as he has been saying all along I look at the hospitalization numbers and when they get to 1,000 or more changes may have to be made. Back to back days we have set records for positivity rate.
Good luck Friday. Hopefully your governor will stand by that.
Re Biden…..my youngest has a view I had not thought of (at least fully) and think she might be right. She said it is better for Biden to stay quiet. Her reason is that covid has become very political, and there are many Americans who have shown they will absolutely do the opposite of anything he says. Because of that she thinks folks who will not get the vaccine for political reasons will simply triple down no matter how many unvaccinated they see die.
73.9 percent of the people in CT are those who are not vaccinated.
Meant to say 73.9 who are in the hospital in CT are those who are not vaccinated.
In England, another record day – last updated day; 12-27 – for hospital admissions of children. Vast majority are Covid admissions, not so-called “incidental” admissions. https://twitter.com/jneill/status/1476253591677587456
From a relative who is front line. If it were not so true, it would make you laugh
15,163 new cases today in MA!)(@&#(&!)(@&#)*!&@)(#&!)(@&#)(!
OMG I should know the answer but what is the highest day total
Worldometer has slightly different numbers, but they seem to be consistent:
Previous high: 13,791 on 12/27/21
Today: 16,165
Many states are reporting astronomical numbers today, for example NY with 67,129.
13,791
I’m not sure how I ended up with that extra number at the end – must have been an errant paste!
Thank you. I really am out of words as I feel heartsick
If we ignore cases – many people say they want to do that, as they say the only thing that matters is hospitalizations and deaths – we’re already seeing in Massachusetts significant increases in deaths this month. Today there were 45 (average age was 75). The 7-day average shows roughly a doubling since late November. Hospitalizations are steadily rising (3.7 times the number in early November. This includes ICU usage, where another 9 patients were added today. Just the sheer number of cases in recent days suggests hospitalizations will continue to rise steadily.
US hospitalizations now well over 80,000. If all states were to report today (unlikely) the number would be over 81,000. We may reach 100,000 by the end of next week. That would roughly be the Delta peak.
And baker sleeps. I am for the first time thinking we have absolutely no one at the helm and it is terrifying
Joshua, in one of your posts recently, you said one country wss not vaccinating under 16. I think. If I read correctly, do you know why?
Both SILs finally have booster appt. one Jan 5 and the other Jan 11
Vicki, some countries are not (mass) vaccinating 5 to 11 year olds. Only vaccinating at-risk children 5 to 11. These countries, like the Netherlands, are also being cautious about vaccinating 12-15 year olds, only recommending vaccinations for “medically vulnerable” children. What’s the difference between “at-risk” and “medically vulnerable”? I don’t know. Do I know reasons for not vaccinating children? No, other than the possibility of heart complications (very small risk, but perhaps more of a risk than the risk of severe Covid in a child – this may change with Omicron).
Thank you, Joshua. I saw the UK does now recommend a second vaccine for 12-18 but at 12 weeks between. My guess is my daughter will see how her oldest does with the first.
The saddest part is, no matter how well recommended a pediatrician is, he or she will not vary from the written recommendations. I find it beyond irresponsible since every single child is different. Parents are left in the dark.
Now >84,000 hospitalizations in the U.S. Folks, this isn’t just Omicron. Delta is still competing, better than CDC initially estimated. We’re getting a double whammy. Who knows, maybe a Delta + Omicron super variant is next.
I spoke to a friend tonight who said his friend who is vaccinated and boosted was positive for covid. He just lost his hearing….completely. He is heading to mass eye and ear but my good heavens
My Lord, fools is no longer an appropriate description. We are knowingly placing children and staff at risk.
Boston Globe.
“ As COVID rates soar, Mass. schools brace for a chaotic January — and lots of testing
Schools largely managed to stay open with relatively few COVID cases during the fall, after Governor Charlie Baker’s administration banned remote learning this year.
But officials are now preparing for the likelihood that December’s record-breaking number of infections among students and staff will continue — and even worsen — in January. And if they do, the continued outbreaks inside schools will test the state’s ban on remote learning to a far more challenging degree.”
Relatively few is laughable. We had 60,293 since September as opposed to 20,123 in ALL of 2020 school year
This is totally and completely RECKLESS and IRRESPONSIBLE!!
!@)(&#()!&@)(#*!)(@*#)(!@*#)(*!@)(#*)(!@*#)(!*#()@*!()*#(!@_)#*
There is NO WAY schools should reopen after New Years.
They should be delayed at least 2 weeks and perhaps longer depending upon how things go.
Better still go remote for a few months and re-evaluate.
But that makes too much sense for anyone to persue
that action.
This country is F’d UP! Big time!!!!!
I wonder if staffing issues might cause this reasoning to switch.
Substitute teachers have been non-existent this year.
So, if you have 20-30% of staff not able to return from break and you have no subs, even with staff on a planning period trying to cover, you might not still have enough people, even if guidance and leadership team people are covering too, you might not have enough people to cover classrooms and then, that becomes a safety issue as well as a continuing education issue.
Agree with both of you. Nearly all schools have had major issues with staff…especially with nurses. The latter of course hinders testing.
It is pathetic that we bring it to the point where logic is forced and not simply the impetus.
Perhaps that will tip the scales. Hope so.
Here are yesterday’s Covuid Dashboard and updated graph:
https://ibb.co/Pz08y7k
https://ibb.co/6njytwd
That 9,228 ONLY represents those that made it to and were patient enough to wait in line for a PCR test.
How many others tested positive with an at home test.
I am willing to bet that the number of new cases is 10 times that number or over 90,000 new cases!!! Just my guess.
Joshua do you have a thought on that?
btw, Massachusetts topped 1,000,000 total cases yesterday.
That is nearly 1/6 the population AND that is only those
with a PCR test. How many more were there?
My thought is we’re in deep trouble. And officials are mostly in happy talk and ostrich mode. To put it in Trumpian words: SAD!
We’re at 1,707 hospitalizations in Massachusetts (increase of 70 yesterday); 79,000 nationwide (steep rises in recent days). There were 63 deaths reported in Massachusetts alone yesterday. The 7-day average number of deaths nationwide is rising and over 1,550. And, I haven’t even talked about Long Covid.
Only now is Baker planning for mass vaccination centers, which won’t even be operational until next week at the earliest. That’s called gross incompetence. We should have had these centers up and running in November. Placing most of the burden on pharmacies was unreasonable and insanely inefficient, in my view.
On schools, I find the idea of instituting bans on anything – from books in libraries, to home schooling, to remote learning, to the teaching of CRT – to be inconsistent with the values of America. At this stage, banning remote learning is negligent. I am in favor of in-person learning, but to require it, at this juncture and several others during the pandemic, is not a justifiable decision.
We’ve got the CDC caving to corporate demands. We have a President who’s mostly asleep at the wheel (and he’s driving a Corvette, so that’s pretty dangerous). And we’ve got Covid numbers that are alarmingly bad, worse than all of our peers. Sure, they’ve got similar and sometimes worse official case numbers. But that’s partly because they have functional testing systems – people are able to get tested in a timely fashion. Where it primarily counts – hospitalizations and deaths – we’re faring worse. No surprise. Yet, we’ve had ample warning and don’t do a darn thing.
Thank you Joshua for sound thinking and articulating that well. My wife would like you. You tell it like it is.
I am bitterly disappointed in Biden. I expected so much better. The corporations control America and that is DISGUSTING!!!!
I wish Biden would grow a pair!
I like Joe as a person. I think his heart is in the right place. But, he’s dropped the ball too many times on this issue.
I do not regret my vote for him. But, I think it’s important to offer constructive criticism, yes, also of those one supports.
You used the word disappointment, and I think that’s apt.
You may recall when Aaron Rodgers got Covid and the media gave it and him so much attention. Rodgers went on shows and declared he was opposed to the vaccine, to mandates of any kind, etc … I am sure he influenced a lot of people, in the wrong way. Well, right then and there was a moment for the Biden Administration to step into the fray, if you will, with spots on TV in prime time, during football games, promoting vaccinations and boosters. And not with Fauci or Walensky as the persons delivering the message, no, a former famous football player. This would have had impact at the time – October – and it was one of many missed opportunities.
Agree. Sport on as usual. Thank you.
JPD. This has been on my mind for a bit bit cannot recall whether I mentioned it here. My guess is your daughter has considered. I wondered about her tutoring until this settles. I know some parents are home schooling and might want teacher support. Just a thought. I hate that our approach is causing us to loose great teachers.
Interesting. No you didn’t mention. And Our daughter has never mentioned tutoring at all. I think the only way should would have time to tutor would be if she quit her teaching job. She has no time to herself during the school year. It teach, come home and correct and prepare. Wash, rinse and repeat every day.
Sounds familiar. 🙂
Sorry. I was not clear. I think you said your daughter was considering stepping down. I was thinking of this for a temporary option. I don’t know if teachers can take an extended leave this year. I thought it was a 2020 option but May have made that up
Awesome comments, Joshua.
We are caving to the loudest voice which far too often is self serving and could care less about the whole.
Precisely. Sad, oh so very sad. And it is costing lives needlessly!
Must say, it’s really hard to utter RIP when talking about this guy. He intentionally did damage while sick. That’s criminal, in my view. https://www.thedailybeast.com/maurizio-buratti-dies-of-covid-after-boasting-of-maskless-store-stunt?via=ios
I would NEVER utter RIP to some creep like that.
One would think that by now, with so many prominent anti-vaxxers dying, there would be some serious dissent in the ranks of the anti-vax community. https://twitter.com/BNODesk/status/1476198911358472193
One would think, but I guess that particular mindset is like a cult.
To admit one is wrong on something so incredibly important requires both deep maturity and real humility. Need I say more re: that particular subset of Americans?
As a parent I am flabbergasted that as of now public schools plan to reopen as business-as-usual. I had naively hoped when it started hitting our kids people would finally give ground / take their heads out of the sand.
I’m horrified and frightened also that the number being tossed around re: percentage of cases ending in long covid is 50 percent – or even anything near that.
If that 50 percent is anywhere close to accurate for long covid we are in deep sh*t – as in my experience among our other many significant deficits in our healthcare system is our lack of ability to effectively manage care for chronic illnesses that cross different areas – sub specialties. Because or system is so specialized wholistic care is very much an Achilles heel here.
Oy!!
Agree
Also agree
Hospital admissions in England are up 54% in one week. Note, the steepness of the curve. Not quite as steep as NYC hospitalizations, but getting close. https://twitter.com/COVID19actuary/status/1476230510808637443
France’s graphs of hospitalized children 0 to 9 and children (again 0 to 9) on ventilators should give pause. https://twitter.com/VIRAL_FR/status/1476274767497990145
I follow trends in many countries worldwide. I am not liking what I’m seeing out of Mumbai, India. Sharp increases in cases in the past 3 days. India had been registering very low numbers of cases for a while. This tranquil period is ending.
A guy on Twitter wrote this satirical tweet about how Covid skeptics view the world and the progression of each wave. It applies to every wave we’ve had. It’s remarkable how stubborn people can be (myself included sometimes, by the way).
There are only a few cases of Omicron.
Cases are up but not hospitalizations.
Hospitalizations are up but not ICU admissions.
ICU admissions are up but not deaths.
Deaths are up but nobody could have predicted this would happen.
Terrifying. …especially ventilators for children. I have been seeing comments by health experts that omicron is not worse for children ….I posted this yesterday…..and numbers are up simply because it is so contagious and more are getting it. Is this beginning to show the opposite?
Stubborn? I suppose we all can be when we feel strongly about something. I don’t think of you as stubborn. I’d say passionate about a view would be more accurate
Another jump in the positivity rate in CT now up to 17.78 percent. That number could be higher as at home tests are not counted. The people in the hospital up to 1,113. I wonder if our governor will put indoor mask mandates in place. He has said he looks at the hospitalization number and when it gets to 1,000 or higher things may have to change.
Frightening. I know RI has a mandate. I’m hoping your Governor will for you and also for us…..maybe something will blast baker out of hiding.
JJ. When do you say you will get your booster?
Vicki I am getting my booster on Friday. I am getting Phizer. I got Johnson and Johnson back in April. I am curious what governor Lamont does as he has been saying all along I look at the hospitalization numbers and when they get to 1,000 or more changes may have to be made. Back to back days we have set records for positivity rate.
Good luck Friday. Hopefully your governor will stand by that.
Re Biden…..my youngest has a view I had not thought of (at least fully) and think she might be right. She said it is better for Biden to stay quiet. Her reason is that covid has become very political, and there are many Americans who have shown they will absolutely do the opposite of anything he says. Because of that she thinks folks who will not get the vaccine for political reasons will simply triple down no matter how many unvaccinated they see die.
73.9 percent of the people in CT are those who are not vaccinated.
Meant to say 73.9 who are in the hospital in CT are those who are not vaccinated.
In England, another record day – last updated day; 12-27 – for hospital admissions of children. Vast majority are Covid admissions, not so-called “incidental” admissions. https://twitter.com/jneill/status/1476253591677587456
From a relative who is front line. If it were not so true, it would make you laugh
https://imgur.com/a/ePEr1A7
15,163 new cases today in MA!)(@&#(&!)(@&#)*!&@)(#&!)(@&#)(!
OMG I should know the answer but what is the highest day total
Worldometer has slightly different numbers, but they seem to be consistent:
Previous high: 13,791 on 12/27/21
Today: 16,165
Many states are reporting astronomical numbers today, for example NY with 67,129.
13,791
I’m not sure how I ended up with that extra number at the end – must have been an errant paste!
Thank you. I really am out of words as I feel heartsick
If we ignore cases – many people say they want to do that, as they say the only thing that matters is hospitalizations and deaths – we’re already seeing in Massachusetts significant increases in deaths this month. Today there were 45 (average age was 75). The 7-day average shows roughly a doubling since late November. Hospitalizations are steadily rising (3.7 times the number in early November. This includes ICU usage, where another 9 patients were added today. Just the sheer number of cases in recent days suggests hospitalizations will continue to rise steadily.
US hospitalizations now well over 80,000. If all states were to report today (unlikely) the number would be over 81,000. We may reach 100,000 by the end of next week. That would roughly be the Delta peak.
And baker sleeps. I am for the first time thinking we have absolutely no one at the helm and it is terrifying
Joshua, in one of your posts recently, you said one country wss not vaccinating under 16. I think. If I read correctly, do you know why?
Both SILs finally have booster appt. one Jan 5 and the other Jan 11
Vicki, some countries are not (mass) vaccinating 5 to 11 year olds. Only vaccinating at-risk children 5 to 11. These countries, like the Netherlands, are also being cautious about vaccinating 12-15 year olds, only recommending vaccinations for “medically vulnerable” children. What’s the difference between “at-risk” and “medically vulnerable”? I don’t know. Do I know reasons for not vaccinating children? No, other than the possibility of heart complications (very small risk, but perhaps more of a risk than the risk of severe Covid in a child – this may change with Omicron).
Thank you, Joshua. I saw the UK does now recommend a second vaccine for 12-18 but at 12 weeks between. My guess is my daughter will see how her oldest does with the first.
The saddest part is, no matter how well recommended a pediatrician is, he or she will not vary from the written recommendations. I find it beyond irresponsible since every single child is different. Parents are left in the dark.
Now >84,000 hospitalizations in the U.S. Folks, this isn’t just Omicron. Delta is still competing, better than CDC initially estimated. We’re getting a double whammy. Who knows, maybe a Delta + Omicron super variant is next.
I spoke to a friend tonight who said his friend who is vaccinated and boosted was positive for covid. He just lost his hearing….completely. He is heading to mass eye and ear but my good heavens
American exceptionalism indeed
https://twitter.com/reneeygraham/status/1476377361948028932?s=21
This will make you laugh. NFL is taking extra precautions. One is lowering quarantining from 10 to 5 days
https://www.wcvb.com/article/nfl-teams-taking-extra-precautions-covid-19/38637907
C-19 for 12-30 is ready.