COVID-19 Megathread 5: The Trumps catch COVID-19

[Bandit3 the Worker]

After all these months of lockdowns, major business closures, and other restrictions, what sort of support has the government really offered to the people to at least make it bearable?

[Bandit3 the Worker]

1.) What is the ratio of cases to actual infections in the US?
2.) What is the current IFR among infected people over 70 years old?
3.) What is the current IFR among infected people under 50 years old?
4.) What percentage of infected people will remain immune to reinfection six months later?
5.) When is the most likely time frame for a vaccine with at least 90% effectiveness to become available to the general public in the US?
6.) To what extent have treatments such as steroids, plasma, and remdesivir reduced the IFR of the virus over the past three months?
7.) What is the effective reduction in Rt solely from universal wearing of masks in public places?

1.) 1:9
2.) 4%
3.) 0.2%
4.) 100%
5.) Oct. 2020
6.) 10%
7.) 0% (I really don't think masks are what they're cracked up to be)

[Bandit3 the Worker]

Apparently Fuhrer Kemp is all for small government unless it's something he disagrees with. Never seen a more narcissistic, dictatorial piece of ****.

https://twitter.com/ErinKPeterson/status/1283569716100030464

Masks is an issue that needs education and guidance, not punishment. Instead of requiring or discouraging them everywhere, it should be more of a continuum. It might be a proper thing on a city bus that's standing room only and you're 6 inches away from another passenger's face. But not in a wide-open outdoor space, let alone a big ranch in Montana.

We need to at least establish that masks aren't necessary outdoors, because this virus is pretty much an indoor thing.

[Bandit3 the Worker]

Yesterday did see the highest number of tests performed so far, at over 830,000. The national positivity rate is dropping a little.

The situation has been bad since March, but I keep saying today's Arizona is tomorrow's Connecticut. Look how much the Northeast has dropped.

[Bandit3 the Worker]

Makes me happy for personal reasons for sure. I have a friend who lives in Ohio and works at a library. Patrons have been pretty unreliable for mask wearing. Hopefully this increases people's willingness to protect the safety of others.

I worked at a library for years, and would never even dream of demanding patrons wear masks.

That said, my views on this have evolved slightly in recent weeks. I'm willing to encourage coverings in certain very crowded, enclosed spaces, because I can see how it can be of some benefit in very tight spaces. But I would never make it a rigid requirement, and would instead focus on educating the public.

A bus that's standing room only would be a good example. Never outdoors.

[Bandit3 the Worker]

The library system in my area made masks mandatory for all individuals at their locations a few weeks ago, before Polis issued his statewide mask mandate. And how has the mask mandate been playing out in your home state?

Compliance with masks in Kentucky seems to be slightly less than 50/50.

[Bandit3 the Worker]

Were you completely anti-mask before, Bandit?

Pretty much, except for medical workers. Now I can see masks have some use. I just don't fixate on it.

I've also tended to avoid indoor businesses lately, because things just aren't what they were before.

[Bandit3 the Worker]

I don't know how helpful this info is, but yesterday's positivity rate was the lowest since June 25, and the 7-day rolling average was the lowest since July 7.

[Bandit3 the Worker]

I just can't believe anyone thinks the states ended the lockdowns too early.

Apparently, New York is doing quite well since they ended the real lockdown stage. People are crowding beaches maskless, and the number of new cases is mighty low.

[Bandit3 the Worker]

I just can't believe anyone thinks the states ended the lockdowns too early.

Apparently, New York is doing quite well since they ended the real lockdown stage. People are crowding beaches maskless, and the number of new cases is mighty low.

Congraturitos to New York but there are other states too, and many ended the lockdown and are now surging in cases and deaths.

Cases in states like Arizona and Texas are dropping like a rock now too.

[Bandit3 the Worker]

I think the case numbers in the U.S. will slowly improve, but a lot of people just don't think about it much anymore. I've been to family events all over the Cincinnati area in recent weeks. I've noticed family members' neighbors have just been gathering like normal. The only thing different out there is that people will often put on a mask when they go to a store, but even that doesn't have full compliance.

A family member told me this virus will be pretty much gone by spring - either because of a vaccine or some level of herd immunity.

There's still people who are afraid to go out, but a lot of people still go on like normal, and the virus still hasn't been spreading that much around here. I don't think a second lockdown would be viewed very favorably.

[Bandit3 the Worker]

How many places in the U.S. have started having festivals again? About a month ago, I read that a festival in Pennsylvania went on like normal. A week ago, we had what was supposedly a small festival here, but nobody showed up. Riverfest is a festival in Cincinnati that takes place each Labor Day weekend, but that's already been canceled.

As of now, the Kentucky State Fair will still be taking place in late August.

[Bandit3 the Worker]

Then how come among people I know personally, it's always the more left-wing ones who are anti-lockdown?

[Bandit3 the Worker]

How depraved are these anti-mask people? Are they also not washing their hands? It's just disgusting to be honest.

The anti-mask crusade is just another way to show their resentment towards the "elites".

I gotta admit, the elites don't have a great track record in this pandemic.

[Bandit3 the Worker]

Cherokee County, Georgia, a few miles to my west, is opening schools today.  Some highlights:

Out of 43K students, 23% will be starting remotely.  Whichever option parents decided (home or remote), they have to stay committed to that for the first nine weeks for elementary schools, and the entire fall semester for middle and high school.

Face masks are mandatory for teachers and staff, but only recommended for students.

Due to space constraints, they will not be able to consistently maintain six feet of distance between students.

The district is not doing temperature checks. They ask parents to check their child’s temperature before coming to school and getting on the bus daily, and the same goes for school staff.

I expect this to be a disaster.

https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/this-1st-day-school-cherokee-county-will-look-very-different-than-other-years/SXIPJOW2JJG3VPJTMFBT3OJQEU/

Aug. 3 is much too early even in a normal year. Other than that, I don't think there'll be any problems. I guess somebody had to go back early just to prove school is doable.

A lot of people have already been interacting like normal this summer, so school probably doesn't pose any new risks.

[Bandit3 the Worker]

People are done listening to the "Lockdown! Lockdown! Lockdown!" types.