COVID-19 Megathread 6: Return of the Omicron

[Horus]

I am tired of people pulling the, "but my 96 year old grandmother" card.

I am tired of being told I should work from home when I am not able to work from home and a majority of jobs can not be worked from home. And many jobs that can be worked remotely still need in person on site work.

I am tired of being labeled a sociopath just because I oppose draconian lockdowns. I do support rotational regional lockdowns !

It's hard for me to find sympathy when you're supporting someone as toxic as Jill schupp so adamantly.

[jamestroll]

I am tired of people pulling the, "but my 96 year old grandmother" card.

I am tired of being told I should work from home when I am not able to work from home and a majority of jobs can not be worked from home. And many jobs that can be worked remotely still need in person on site work.

I am tired of being labeled a sociopath just because I oppose draconian lockdowns. I do support rotational regional lockdowns !

It's hard for to find sympathy when you're supporting someone as toxic as Jill schupp so adamantly.

Jill schupp of all people is someone you will focus on?

[Horus]

I am tired of people pulling the, "but my 96 year old grandmother" card.

I am tired of being told I should work from home when I am not able to work from home and a majority of jobs can not be worked from home. And many jobs that can be worked remotely still need in person on site work.

I am tired of being labeled a sociopath just because I oppose draconian lockdowns. I do support rotational regional lockdowns !

It's hard for to find sympathy when you're supporting someone as toxic as Jill schupp so adamantly.

Jill schupp of all people is someone you will focus on?

Yes. There are enough Republicans in Congress who hate women. We don't also need a Democrat who hates men.

[Progressive Pessimist]

I am tired of people pulling the, "but my 96 year old grandmother" card.

I am tired of being told I should work from home when I am not able to work from home and a majority of jobs can not be worked from home. And many jobs that can be worked remotely still need in person on site work.

I am tired of being labeled a sociopath just because I oppose draconian lockdowns. I do support rotational regional lockdowns !

Take that up with people who refuse to wear a mask or don't abide by any other social distancing guidelines.

[It’s so Joever]

At a certain point, I care more about my mental and physical health than I care about stopping the spread of a virus that we can’t seem to contain. I’ve developed severe anxiety, depression, body dysmorphia and other issues. I haven’t had a good nights of sleep in weeks. I’ve lost a lot of weight and now look frail. I’m constantly stressed out and get angry over little things. I’m scared of talking to people. I’ve been very good at isolating myself and socially distancing, but I’m starting to reach a breaking point. My plan at UGA is to mostly isolate myself until October, but I honestly will probably only be able to do it until mid September.


I need to know that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. I don’t want to sacrifice my health and youth for much longer. This virus isn’t bad enough for me to want to do that. There actually is a lot of negative harmful effects of socially distancing for so long. How much more do you guys want me to sacrifice?

Hey, I’m sorry to hear that.
This is honestly a tough time for someone like you, and your mental health does matter. Are you seeing a therapist? I would suggest you look into it. As for socializing, since it does seem you actually need to socialize (as opposed to the excuses a lot of people gave in March) I encourage you to do such. That being said, I would try to stay in a “pod” of friends, a lot of high schoolers I know did this over the summer. That way, you can enjoy extremely close social interaction with a few people, while reducing the impact for the community.
FWIW, I support exceptions to online schooling in cases of poverty, home situation, and health (your case is clearly in the third category) but the majority of students who can should be online. Thing is, I am in the opposite situation. My district does not offer half of my courses online, so I have been essentially coerced into in-person. I am for equitable (to the greatest extent possible) online schooling with exceptions. Your feelings are valid, and even as an ardent “tough on virus” poster, I do recognize your needs exist and may not be fulfilled currently.

Otherwise, just respect basic rules regarding social distancing and masks. If that is the cause of your symptoms, my sympathy ends there, unfortunately.
You can only get so much during a pandemic, and while your needs matter, they don’t matter more than those of others.

As for your “light at the end of the tunnel” do take solace in the fact that we are rapidly developing a Covid-19 vaccine that will either reduce severity, the ability to get infected, or both. Never before has the World so viciously poured resources into a vaccine and it shows. This is a historic moment, and we will have a vaccine by the end of 2021 (I suspect sooner) It won’t mean everything goes back to before, but a lot of restrictions will ease.

I do actually suffer from anxiety and body dysmorphia/eating disorder, so I know just how devastating these can be to a person. I would encourage you to find creative ways to help yourself without hurting others. I’m not going to recommend anything with that because I don’t know you as a person to make a good judgement, although a professional may help.

[It’s so Joever]

Please explain your novel epidemiological theory as to how reducing social contact increases cases and deaths from Covid-19.

Why were there so many more cases when lockdowns were worse (at least in the U.S.)?

I can see basic statistics wasn’t taught in Hicktown, KY.

[Interlocutor is just not there yet]

Any thoughts on the "big announcement" regarding convalescent plasma?

I'm not seeing much coverage on this. CNN has been covering the Steve Bannon arrest, MSNBC isn't talking about it, FOX is talking about the COVID relief stalemate & the RNC, LA Times has a small headline below ones about the NBA Playoffs & Biden/Harris, NY Times & Washington Post have small headlines below larger ones for the RNC & it's not gaining tons of traction on my Twitter feed.

I'm mainly asking due to how some folks here (Really 1 or 2) were claiming last night this announcement would be "big"

[Roll Roons]

Any thoughts on the announcement regarding convalescent plasma?

Hasn't it been in use for quite some time?

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

Any thoughts on the announcement regarding convalescent plasma?

This is news?

This is a treatment for viral diseases that long predates coronavirus. If it weren't gonna work, we'd all be screwed since it would mean we'd be unlikely to be able to develop effective vaccines.

Anyway, I fully expect Trump will oversell it, in which case it politically bites him in the ass. Politically, he'd have been better off if the announcement had waited until October so there would be no time for his exaggerations to be exposed.

Hasn't it been in use for quite some time?

On an emergency, experimental basis. What this announcement means they've verified that it works the way it was hoped it would.

[Interlocutor is just not there yet]

Anyway, I fully expect Trump will oversell it, in which case it politically bites him in the ass. Politically, he'd have been better off if the announcement had waited until October so there would be no time for his exaggerations to be exposed.

Or hell, announce it for the convention when more eyes would be on it and he'd claim he's "showing leadership regarding COVID"

[Dr. Arch]

The updated numbers for COVID-19 in the U.S. are in for 8/23 per: https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/us/

I'm keeping track of these updates daily and updating at the end of the day, whenever all states finish reporting for that day.

New - Substituting the Δ Change metric as of 7/13 on dates starting from 7/5:
ΔW Change: Comparisons of Weekly Day-to-day Growth or Decline of COVID-19 Spread/Deaths.

• IE: Comparing the numbers to the same day of last week, are we flattening the curve enough?

Σ Increase: A day's contribution to overall percentage growth of COVID-19 cases/deaths.

• IE: What's the overall change in the total?

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8/16: <Sunday>

• Cases: 5,566,632 (+36,843 | ΔW Change: ↓25.90% | Σ Increase: ↑0.67%)
• Deaths: 173,128 (+522 | ΔW Change: ↓4.57% | Σ Increase: ↑0.30%)

8/17: <M>

• Cases: 5,612,027 (+45,395 | ΔW Change: ↓12.71% | Σ Increase: ↑0.82%)
• Deaths: 173,716 (+588 | ΔW Change: ↑2.26% | Σ Increase: ↑0.34%)

8/18: <T>

• Cases: 5,655,974 (+43,947 | ΔW Change: ↓19.38% | Σ Increase: ↑0.82%)
• Deaths: 175,074 (+1,358 | ΔW Change: ↓12.78% | Σ Increase: ↑0.78%)

8/19: <W>

• Cases: 5,700,931 (+44,957 | ΔW Change: ↓17.27% | Σ Increase: ↑0.79%)
• Deaths: 176,337 (+1,263 | ΔW Change: ↓8.61% | Σ Increase: ↑0.72%)

8/20: <Þ>

• Cases: 5,746,272 (+45,341 | ΔW Change: ↓18.10% | Σ Increase: ↑0.80%)
• Deaths: 177,424 (+1,087 | ΔW Change: ↓2.95% | Σ Increase: ↑0.62%)

8/21: <F>

• Cases: 5,796,727 (+50,455 | ΔW Change: ↓16.74% | Σ Increase: ↑0.88%)
• Deaths: 179,200 (+1,776 | ΔW Change: ↑58.57% | Σ Increase: ↑1.00%)

8/22 (Yesterday): <S>

• Cases: 5,841,428 (+44,701| ΔW Change: ↓20.92% | Σ Increase: ↑0.77%)
• Deaths: 180,174 (+974 | ΔW Change: ↓9.06% | Σ Increase: ↑0.54%)

8/23 (Today): <Sunday>

• Cases: 5,874,146 (+32,718| ΔW Change: ↓11.20% | Σ Increase: ↑0.56%)
• Deaths: 180,604 (+430 | ΔW Change: ↓17.62% | Σ Increase: ↑0.24%)

[Middle-aged Europe]

Florida man who believed COVID to be a hoax loses wife to COVID

A Florida taxi driver, who believed false claims that coronavirus was a hoax, has lost his wife to Covid-19.

Brian Lee Hitchens and his wife, Erin, had read claims online that the virus was fabricated, linked to 5G or similar to the flu.

The couple didn't follow health guidance or seek help when they fell ill in early May. Brian recovered but his 46-year-old wife became critically ill and died this month from heart problems linked to the virus.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-53892856

[It’s so Joever]

So we have some good/bad news.
A man in Hong Kong was infected with Covid again after testing positive with symptoms previously.
There was a 4.5 month discrepancy. However, the second time he did not develop any symptoms, which makes me suspect that much like other diseases, his memory cells were able to figure out how to fight the infection even without the presence of antibodies at the beginning.

[GeorgiaModerate]

https://twitter.com/tarahaelle/status/1295524456585207811

[Darthpi – Anti-Florida Activist]

https://twitter.com/tarahaelle/status/1295524456585207811

When everything is definitely going according to plan.

[Dr. Arch]

The updated numbers for COVID-19 in the U.S. are in for 8/24 per: https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/us/

I'm keeping track of these updates daily and updating at the end of the day, whenever all states finish reporting for that day.

New - Substituting the Δ Change metric as of 7/13 on dates starting from 7/5:
ΔW Change: Comparisons of Weekly Day-to-day Growth or Decline of COVID-19 Spread/Deaths.

• IE: Comparing the numbers to the same day of last week, are we flattening the curve enough?

Σ Increase: A day's contribution to overall percentage growth of COVID-19 cases/deaths.

• IE: What's the overall change in the total?

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8/16: <Sunday>

• Cases: 5,566,632 (+36,843 | ΔW Change: ↓25.90% | Σ Increase: ↑0.67%)
• Deaths: 173,128 (+522 | ΔW Change: ↓4.57% | Σ Increase: ↑0.30%)

8/17: <M>

• Cases: 5,612,027 (+45,395 | ΔW Change: ↓12.71% | Σ Increase: ↑0.82%)
• Deaths: 173,716 (+588 | ΔW Change: ↑2.26% | Σ Increase: ↑0.34%)

8/18: <T>

• Cases: 5,655,974 (+43,947 | ΔW Change: ↓19.38% | Σ Increase: ↑0.82%)
• Deaths: 175,074 (+1,358 | ΔW Change: ↓12.78% | Σ Increase: ↑0.78%)

8/19: <W>

• Cases: 5,700,931 (+44,957 | ΔW Change: ↓17.27% | Σ Increase: ↑0.79%)
• Deaths: 176,337 (+1,263 | ΔW Change: ↓8.61% | Σ Increase: ↑0.72%)

8/20: <Þ>

• Cases: 5,746,272 (+45,341 | ΔW Change: ↓18.10% | Σ Increase: ↑0.80%)
• Deaths: 177,424 (+1,087 | ΔW Change: ↓2.95% | Σ Increase: ↑0.62%)

8/21: <F>

• Cases: 5,796,727 (+50,455 | ΔW Change: ↓16.74% | Σ Increase: ↑0.88%)
• Deaths: 179,200 (+1,776 | ΔW Change: ↑58.57% | Σ Increase: ↑1.00%)

8/22: <S>

• Cases: 5,841,428 (+44,701| ΔW Change: ↓20.92% | Σ Increase: ↑0.77%)
• Deaths: 180,174 (+974 | ΔW Change: ↓9.06% | Σ Increase: ↑0.54%)

8/23 (Yesterday): <Sunday>

• Cases: 5,874,146 (+32,718| ΔW Change: ↓11.20% | Σ Increase: ↑0.56%)
• Deaths: 180,604 (+430 | ΔW Change: ↓17.62% | Σ Increase: ↑0.24%)

8/24 (Today): <M>

• Cases: 5,915,630 (+41,484| ΔW Change: ↓8.62% | Σ Increase: ↑0.71%)
• Deaths: 181,114 (+510 | ΔW Change: ↓13.27% | Σ Increase: ↑0.28%)

[Crumpets]

Florida man who believed COVID to be a hoax loses wife to COVID

A Florida taxi driver, who believed false claims that coronavirus was a hoax, has lost his wife to Covid-19.

Brian Lee Hitchens and his wife, Erin, had read claims online that the virus was fabricated, linked to 5G or similar to the flu.

The couple didn't follow health guidance or seek help when they fell ill in early May. Brian recovered but his 46-year-old wife became critically ill and died this month from heart problems linked to the virus.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-53892856

It's crazy how long this virus can take to kill someone. We need to not only fight against the myth that COVID is a hoax, but also the much more prevalent misconception that, if infected, it will only be a couple days to at most a couple weeks until you're totally fine again.

[GeorgiaModerate]

Responding to an outcry from medical experts, Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Stephen Hahn on Tuesday apologized for overstating the life-saving benefits of treating COVID-19 patients with convalescent plasma.

Scientists and medical experts have been pushing back against the claims about the treatment since President Donald Trump’s announcement on Sunday that the FDA had decided to issue emergency authorization for convalescent plasma, taken from patients who have recovered from the coronavirus and rich in antibodies.

Trump hailed the decision as a historic breakthrough even though the treatment’s value has not been established. The announcement on the eve of Trump’s Republican National Convention raised suspicions that it was politically motivated to offset critics of the president’s handling of the pandemic.

https://apnews.com/a7f0e8aac34a860ad502912564681b7c

[Darthpi – Anti-Florida Activist]

Responding to an outcry from medical experts, Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Stephen Hahn on Tuesday apologized for overstating the life-saving benefits of treating COVID-19 patients with convalescent plasma.

Scientists and medical experts have been pushing back against the claims about the treatment since President Donald Trump’s announcement on Sunday that the FDA had decided to issue emergency authorization for convalescent plasma, taken from patients who have recovered from the coronavirus and rich in antibodies.

Trump hailed the decision as a historic breakthrough even though the treatment’s value has not been established. The announcement on the eve of Trump’s Republican National Convention raised suspicions that it was politically motivated to offset critics of the president’s handling of the pandemic.

https://apnews.com/a7f0e8aac34a860ad502912564681b7c

Yes it "raises suspicions" in the same way that toilet paper stuck to someone's shoe raises suspicions that they were recently in a bathroom.

[GeorgiaModerate]

Tuscaloosa closes bars as coronavirus wallops University of Alabama

A sudden spike in new coronavirus cases is threatening to derail on-campus classes at the University of Alabama.

The state’s flagship school reported 531 confirmed cases among students, faculty and staff since classes resumed in Tuscaloosa last week, according to an online COVID-19 dashboard that was unveiled Monday.

[YE]

https://twitter.com/cnn/status/1298582772932648960?s=21

[It’s so Joever]

https://twitter.com/cnn/status/1298582772932648960?s=21

I eagerly await for Del Tachi to find some excuse for this atrocious and horrifying move.

[Mr. Morden]

Interesting poll results here:

https://twitter.com/ArgoJournal/status/1298639971730051072

[Dr. Arch]

The updated numbers for COVID-19 in the U.S. are in for 8/25 per: https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/us/

I'm keeping track of these updates daily and updating at the end of the day, whenever all states finish reporting for that day.

New - Substituting the Δ Change metric as of 7/13 on dates starting from 7/5:
ΔW Change: Comparisons of Weekly Day-to-day Growth or Decline of COVID-19 Spread/Deaths.

• IE: Comparing the numbers to the same day of last week, are we flattening the curve enough?

Σ Increase: A day's contribution to overall percentage growth of COVID-19 cases/deaths.

• IE: What's the overall change in the total?

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8/16: <Sunday>

• Cases: 5,566,632 (+36,843 | ΔW Change: ↓25.90% | Σ Increase: ↑0.67%)
• Deaths: 173,128 (+522 | ΔW Change: ↓4.57% | Σ Increase: ↑0.30%)

8/17: <M>

• Cases: 5,612,027 (+45,395 | ΔW Change: ↓12.71% | Σ Increase: ↑0.82%)
• Deaths: 173,716 (+588 | ΔW Change: ↑2.26% | Σ Increase: ↑0.34%)

8/18: <T>

• Cases: 5,655,974 (+43,947 | ΔW Change: ↓19.38% | Σ Increase: ↑0.82%)
• Deaths: 175,074 (+1,358 | ΔW Change: ↓12.78% | Σ Increase: ↑0.78%)

8/19: <W>

• Cases: 5,700,931 (+44,957 | ΔW Change: ↓17.27% | Σ Increase: ↑0.79%)
• Deaths: 176,337 (+1,263 | ΔW Change: ↓8.61% | Σ Increase: ↑0.72%)

8/20: <Þ>

• Cases: 5,746,272 (+45,341 | ΔW Change: ↓18.10% | Σ Increase: ↑0.80%)
• Deaths: 177,424 (+1,087 | ΔW Change: ↓2.95% | Σ Increase: ↑0.62%)

8/21: <F>

• Cases: 5,796,727 (+50,455 | ΔW Change: ↓16.74% | Σ Increase: ↑0.88%)
• Deaths: 179,200 (+1,776 | ΔW Change: ↑58.57% | Σ Increase: ↑1.00%)

8/22: <S>

• Cases: 5,841,428 (+44,701| ΔW Change: ↓20.92% | Σ Increase: ↑0.77%)
• Deaths: 180,174 (+974 | ΔW Change: ↓9.06% | Σ Increase: ↑0.54%)

8/23: <Sunday>

• Cases: 5,874,146 (+32,718| ΔW Change: ↓11.20% | Σ Increase: ↑0.56%)
• Deaths: 180,604 (+430 | ΔW Change: ↓17.62% | Σ Increase: ↑0.24%)

8/24 (Yesterday): <M>

• Cases: 5,915,630 (+41,484| ΔW Change: ↓8.62% | Σ Increase: ↑0.71%)
• Deaths: 181,114 (+510 | ΔW Change: ↓13.27% | Σ Increase: ↑0.28%)

8/25 (Today): <T>

• Cases: 5,955,728 (+40,098| ΔW Change: ↓8.76% | Σ Increase: ↑0.68%)
• Deaths: 182,404 (+1,290 | ΔW Change: ↓5.01% | Σ Increase: ↑0.71%)

[jimrtex]

Interesting poll results here:

https://twitter.com/ArgoJournal/status/1298639971730051072

Looks like Black women and Latinas are going hard for Trump.