July-Covid Politics

[dc2london]

greykitty I hope everything goes well with your endoscopy

[mrsweasley]

I'm so sorry clucky

[greykitty]

Well, right now the Chicago Public School system is planning masks for everyone, vaccinated or not.


chicago.cbslocal.com/2021/07/22/chicago-public-schools-to-require-masks-for-everyone/

[cakewench]

I'm so sorry, clucky - sending so much love <3

[elle]

Omg all of this. It was tiresome to hear (not here) that I wasn't following the science by continuing to mask up in indoor spaces even after being fully vaccinated. Being cautious wasn't an attempt to virtue signal either.

[Deleted]

No one recommends testing daily. Pooled testing and random community testing on a weekly or biweekly basis would be ideal. Knowing how many asymptomatic cases and symptomatic cases are occurring in vaccinated vs unvaccinated people is important, as is the incidence of long COVID. Hospitalizations are important, but so is the chance that a vaccinated person will infect an unvaccinated person (e.g., a person who can’t be vaccinated, like my child). And long COVID is debilitating.

The CDC deciding not to track infections right when they lifted mask guidelines is bad science and bad policy. Period.

[Deleted]

“It’s not about you” continues to be a necessary mantra in this fucking country.

[cnf]

❤️@clucky

[cnf]

So, uh, have we all seen this?

I'm getting more and more nervous and uncomfortable about delta. Add me to the list of people terrified of long covid.

CNBC: Delta variant is one of the most infectious respiratory diseases known, CDC director says.
www.cnbc.com/2021/07/22/delta-variant-is-one-of-the-most-infectious-respiratory-diseases-known-cdc-director-says-.html

[elle]

Jul 22, 2021 18:56:14 GMT -6 cnf said:

So, uh, have we all seen this?

I'm getting more and more nervous and uncomfortable about delta. Add me to the list of people terrified of long covid.

CNBC: Delta variant is one of the most infectious respiratory diseases known, CDC director says.
www.cnbc.com/2021/07/22/delta-variant-is-one-of-the-most-infectious-respiratory-diseases-known-cdc-director-says-.html

Yeah, I don't think I shared it here but about a month ago an epidemiologist broke it down and showed that it's likely that the R0 factor of the delta variant is higher than that of the measles. So yeah.

The silver lining is that it's not showing that it's any more deadly. Obviously still deadly enough, so it's still a huge problem,, and I do think the contagiousness is going to impact how many kids get sick. *breathes into a paper bag*

[oceanblue]

Jul 22, 2021 18:12:06 GMT -6 easier said:

No one recommends testing daily. Pooled testing and random community testing on a weekly or biweekly basis would be ideal. Knowing how many asymptomatic cases and symptomatic cases are occurring in vaccinated vs unvaccinated people is important, as is the incidence of long COVID. Hospitalizations are important, but so is the chance that a vaccinated person will infect an unvaccinated person (e.g., a person who can’t be vaccinated, like my child). And long COVID is debilitating.

The CDC deciding not to track infections right when they lifted mask guidelines is bad science and bad policy. Period.

This sums up my thoughts. Not counting breakthrough cases unless they’re hospitalized just doesn’t make sense. It’s not a true reflection of the numbers so how do we really know the real world efficacy of the vaccine?

Also, the CDC recommendation of vaccinated people not being tested if they have a known exposure unless they’re symptomatic never made sense to me from a data standpoint. They’ve been tracking those cases in unvaccinated people and adding it to the total case count, so they should also be tracking it in the vaccinated group to have accurate comparisons. i didn’t know about them only tracking the hospitalizations until reading it here today though, so that’s probably partly where that recommendation comes from.

[oceanblue]

I’m sorry clucky.

[hugsfordrugs]

Jul 22, 2021 13:21:23 GMT -6 dc2london said:

I like this simile for the vaccines:

“Seatbelts reduce risk, but we still need to drive carefully,” said Dr. Scott Dryden-Peterson, an infectious disease physician and epidemiologist at Brigham & Women’s Hospital in Boston. “We’re still trying to figure out what is ‘drive carefully’ in the Delta era, and what we should be doing.”

www.nytimes.com/live/2021/07/22/world/covid-variant-vaccine-updates/heres-why-even-vaccinated-people-are-getting-breakthrough-infections

I saw someone asking on Twitter if we would be able to pass the seatbelt law in today's day and age. I’m thinking no.

[cakewench]

Who's surprised? Hands?

[jaygee]

Jul 22, 2021 18:12:06 GMT -6 easier said:

No one recommends testing daily. Pooled testing and random community testing on a weekly or biweekly basis would be ideal. Knowing how many asymptomatic cases and symptomatic cases are occurring in vaccinated vs unvaccinated people is important, as is the incidence of long COVID. Hospitalizations are important, but so is the chance that a vaccinated person will infect an unvaccinated person (e.g., a person who can’t be vaccinated, like my child). And long COVID is debilitating.

The CDC deciding not to track infections right when they lifted mask guidelines is bad science and bad policy. Period.

Yes and also the waste water monitoring. That’s how they’ve kept an eye on the levels in the college town we both know and they are raising the alarm bells because of the levels there right now.

[thatgolfb]

Jul 22, 2021 14:54:28 GMT -6 greykitty said:

I keep thinking the important numbers to keep an eye on are hospitalizations and mortality. We will never know how many asymptomatic or very mild cases existed since COVID evolved, right, now including the fully vaccinated?

I guess perfect world we'd all be testing every single day no matter what to compile data. And if I'm sitting at home with a mild case of COVID, well - the vaccine worked? Would be nice to have those numbers, but how many people will not even know they had COVID?

As I understood it, VAERS collects all sorts of self-reported info. I mean, I reported to VAERS too but no one called me to check anything.


VAERS Limitations
Because VAERS allows anyone to report possible side effects from vaccines, it includes reports that might or might not be caused by vaccines. VAERS is not designed to identify cause and effect. VAERS reports alone cannot be used to determine if a vaccine caused or contributed to an adverse event or illness. Some reports may contain information that is incomplete, inaccurate, coincidental, or unverifiable. Most reports to VAERS are voluntary, which means they are subject to biases. Data from VAERS reports should always be interpreted with these limitations in mind.

www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/safety/vaers.html

Yep, anyone can report anything to VAERS. Things like gun shot wounds, homicide, and turning into the Incredible Hulk have been reported (lol).

But, VAERS is mainly used to track trends. Like if something starts to happen at a rate higher than at the rate in the regular population, it will hopefully be apparent. That’s the main benefit to it.

But another issue is that some people never submit claims to VAERS. A lot of times, the same people that claim they have a vaccine injury are the ones who haven’t submitted to VAERS. Obviously that’s not true for everyone. But I have seen it several times.

[ldubhawksfan]

I’m really disappointed how Biden admin seems to be fumbling the messaging and testing with delta.

[jaygee]

Jul 22, 2021 17:55:47 GMT -6 elle said:

Omg all of this. It was tiresome to hear (not here) that I wasn't following the science by continuing to mask up in indoor spaces even after being fully vaccinated. Being cautious wasn't an attempt to virtue signal either.

One of my friends was relentless about the mask thing about 6 weeks ago. He kept making fun of people still wearing masks and asking why people were wearing them. I was like “why do you care??”

[dc2london]

Jul 22, 2021 17:55:47 GMT -6 elle said:

Omg all of this. It was tiresome to hear (not here) that I wasn't following the science by continuing to mask up in indoor spaces even after being fully vaccinated. Being cautious wasn't an attempt to virtue signal either.

Exactly.
My choice to get vaccinated or to wear a mask harms literally no one.
Someone else's choice not to get vaccinated or not to wear a mask can kill someone.

You're also not allowed to drink and drive, bc it's not just YOUR life at risk.

:best Eleanor Shelstrop voice: DUMMIES

[dc2london]

Jul 22, 2021 18:12:06 GMT -6 easier said:

No one recommends testing daily. Pooled testing and random community testing on a weekly or biweekly basis would be ideal. Knowing how many asymptomatic cases and symptomatic cases are occurring in vaccinated vs unvaccinated people is important, as is the incidence of long COVID. Hospitalizations are important, but so is the chance that a vaccinated person will infect an unvaccinated person (e.g., a person who can’t be vaccinated, like my child). And long COVID is debilitating.

The CDC deciding not to track infections right when they lifted mask guidelines is bad science and bad policy. Period.

During a Senate hearing this week Walensky did clarify this a tiny bit saying that they have cohorts of vaccinated people in various locations and professions that they are routinely testing to monitor for breakthrough infections.
Just to be totally clear.

[willow]

I hope that with other blue states and major cities starting to make masks required for fall in schools, that MN will follow. I am so worried about my kids.

[Minerva]

Jul 23, 2021 7:37:09 GMT -6 willow said:

I hope that with other blue states and major cities starting to make masks required for fall in schools, that MN will follow. I am so worried about my kids.

Right now, Virginia is strongly recommending it, but leaving it up to individual districts. I’m pretty confident it will be mandated at the elementary level in NOVA and I hope that Northam chooses to do so across the state.

It’s a Gubanatorial election year in VA. I worry that will influence how Northam handles things this fall.

[Minerva]

I got to chat with one of the teachers at my daughter’s preschool last night. All adults and kids will be masking. She also said that all of the preschool teachers are vaccinated. E really needs preschool - she’s been getting up to an incredible amount of mischief at home. Last night she managed to pull off the lid to the toilet tank, pour handsoap into it, and and unhook the thingy that keeps the toilet from running while H was supposed to be keeping an eye on her in the basement (his eyes were clearly more focused on his video game, but she is also very quiet and quick with these things).

[byjove]

Jul 23, 2021 9:18:53 GMT -6 Minerva said:

Jul 23, 2021 7:37:09 GMT -6 willow said:

I hope that with other blue states and major cities starting to make masks required for fall in schools, that MN will follow. I am so worried about my kids.

Right now, Virginia is strongly recommending it, but leaving it up to individual districts. I’m pretty confident it will be mandated at the elementary level in NOVA and I hope that Northam chooses to do so across the state.

It’s a Gubanatorial election year in VA. I worry that will influence how Northam handles things this fall.

DC went with masks for any/everyoneone inside a DC public school building. That's encouraging.

[Deleted]

Jul 23, 2021 5:41:18 GMT -6 dc2london said:

Jul 22, 2021 18:12:06 GMT -6 easier said:

No one recommends testing daily. Pooled testing and random community testing on a weekly or biweekly basis would be ideal. Knowing how many asymptomatic cases and symptomatic cases are occurring in vaccinated vs unvaccinated people is important, as is the incidence of long COVID. Hospitalizations are important, but so is the chance that a vaccinated person will infect an unvaccinated person (e.g., a person who can’t be vaccinated, like my child). And long COVID is debilitating.

The CDC deciding not to track infections right when they lifted mask guidelines is bad science and bad policy. Period.

During a Senate hearing this week Walensky did clarify this a tiny bit saying that they have cohorts of vaccinated people in various locations and professions that they are routinely testing to monitor for breakthrough infections.
Just to be totally clear.

Right, but that info isn’t available to the public is it? That was my understanding.

[willow]

Our gov said that he anticipates the DOH following CDC guidance and recommending masks for school since they can't mandate it without reinstating his emergency powers. I sure hope that is the case and that the school districts largely follow it.

I can tell my anxiety and triggers are majorly high right now and I'm doing everything I can to distract myself from it. Last thing I need is more panic.

[Ls2012]

I'm right there with you, willow. Ever since the stupid Michigan GQP rescinded Whitmer's emergency powers, I've been terrified of the lack of compliance to even health department orders. Too many people that just don't give a damn about the strain and worry on parents/ kids are in local control here. Makes me want to vomit.

[richard]

Jul 23, 2021 11:11:33 GMT -6 willow said:

Our gov said that he anticipates the DOH following CDC guidance and recommending masks for school since they can't mandate it without reinstating his emergency powers. I sure hope that is the case and that the school districts largely follow it.

I can tell my anxiety and triggers are majorly high right now and I'm doing everything I can to distract myself from it. Last thing I need is more panic.

I was just going to say that I don't think he can mandate it since the emergency authority is over. We've heard diddly squat from our district but they suck at communication. 

My kids will be wearing Happy Masks indoors no matter what.

[willow]

Jul 23, 2021 11:21:50 GMT -6 Ls2012 said:

I'm right there with you, willow . Ever since the stupid Michigan GQP rescinded Whitmer's emergency powers, I've been terrified of the lack of compliance to even health department orders. Too many people that just don't give a damn about the strain and worry on parents/ kids are in local control here. Makes me want to vomit.

Yeah, Senate is GQP controlled as well and they bitched throughout the whole pandemic, even though our state has consistently been in the top states for vaccination rates and lower infection rates so clearly our Gov did something right. It all just sucks. I WISH he could still mandate masks in schools because he 100% would, as a former teacher himself.

[willow]

Jul 23, 2021 11:25:55 GMT -6 richard said:

Jul 23, 2021 11:11:33 GMT -6 willow said:

Our gov said that he anticipates the DOH following CDC guidance and recommending masks for school since they can't mandate it without reinstating his emergency powers. I sure hope that is the case and that the school districts largely follow it.

I can tell my anxiety and triggers are majorly high right now and I'm doing everything I can to distract myself from it. Last thing I need is more panic.

I was just going to say that I don't think he can mandate it since the emergency authority is over. We've heard diddly squat from our district but they suck at communication. 

My kids will be wearing Happy Masks indoors no matter what.

Right now our district is saying no masks required but just encouraged for fall, but that this is subject to change. So I am hoping the "subject to change" part will ACTUALLY change. I will be sending mine with a mask as well, especially since he has to wear it on the bus anyway, but I am worried about compliance once they get into school.