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

[Calthrina950]

Soooo how are today’s numbers looking??

I'd imagine Arch is going to post their daily update soon.

[Calthrina950]

Colorado is now under a stay-at-home advisory/safer-at-home advisory.
Basically, the government is encouraging you to not kill grandma, but isn’t going to make you.
Apparently Polis has decided to join the West-Coast pact, whether that will change anything really remains to be seen.
Today, 26 people have died, which is a slight spike. This could be just backlog considering this appears to be more of an outlier right now. Meanwhile over 13k are officially infected.
On the bright side, Colorado is finally ramping up testing for real. Hopefully that trend continues.

I got back from work today, and it was very busy, even with the capacity restrictions in place. I had an endless flow of customers for the better part of an hour at one point. When walking to and from home, I saw plenty of people about as well. Car traffic was also noticeably heavy, at roughly the volume one would expect in normal times. It seems like large numbers of people decided to come out of the house with the stay-at-home order lifted. One good thing about it is that the majority of people-around 70%, like before-were wearing masks or face coverings, but the substantial minority of non-mask wearers was larger in absolute numbers because of the increase in the numbers of people overall. And there seemed to be slightly more of them than over the weekend.

[Calthrina950]

The updated numbers for COVID-19 in the U.S. are in for 4/27 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.

Δ Change: Day-by-day Growth or Decline or COVID-19 Spread/Deaths.

• IE: 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?

<Last Numbers for 3/26-3/28 in this Post>
<Last Numbers for 3/29-4/4 in this Post>
<Last Numbers for 4/5-4/11 in this Post>

4/12: <Sunday>

• Cases: 560,323 (+27,444 | Δ Change: ↓10.20% | Σ Increase: ↑5.15%)
• Deaths: 22,108 (+1,531 | Δ Change: ↓17.33% | Σ Increase: ↑7.44%)

4/13:

• Cases: 586,941 (+26,618 | Δ Change: ↓3.01% | Σ Increase: ↑4.75%)
• Deaths: 23,640 (+1,532 | Δ Change: ↑0.07% | Σ Increase: ↑6.93%)

4/14:

• Cases: 613,886 (+26,945 | Δ Change: ↑1.23% | Σ Increase: ↑4.59%)
• Deaths: 26,047 (+2,407 | Δ Change: ↑57.11% | Σ Increase: ↑10.18%)

4/15:

• Cases: 644,089 (+30,203 | Δ Change: ↑12.09% | Σ Increase: ↑4.92%)
• Deaths: 28,529 (+2,482 | Δ Change: ↑3.12% | Σ Increase: ↑9.53%)

4/16: <Missing Older Cases & Deaths Added / Δ Change Calculations Misleading>

• Cases: 677,570 (+33,481 | Σ Increase: ↑5.20%)
• Deaths: 34,617 (+6,088 | Σ Increase: ↑21.34%)

4/17: <Δ Change Calculations Based on 4/15>

• Cases: 709,735 (+32,165 | Δ Change: ↑6.50% | Σ Increase: ↑4.09%)
• Deaths: 37,154 (+2,537 | Δ Change: ↑2.22% | Σ Increase: ↑7.33%)

4/18:

• Cases: 738,830 (+29,095 | Δ Change: ↓9.54% | Σ Increase: ↑4.75%)
• Deaths: 39,014 (+1,860 | Δ Change: ↓26.69% | Σ Increase: ↑5.01%)

4/19: <Sunday>

• Cases: 764,303 (+25,473 | Δ Change: ↓12.45% | Σ Increase: ↑3.45%)
• Deaths: 40,548 (+1,534 | Δ Change: ↓17.53% | Σ Increase: ↑3.93%)

4/20:

• Cases: 792,759 (+28,456 | Δ Change: ↑11.71% | Σ Increase: ↑3.28%)
• Deaths: 42,514 (+1,966 | Δ Change: ↑28.16% | Σ Increase: ↑4.85%)

4/21:

• Cases: 818,744 (+25,985 | Δ Change: ↓8.68% | Σ Increase: ↑3.72%)
• Deaths: 45,318 (+2,804 | Δ Change: ↑42.62% | Σ Increase: ↑6.60%)

4/22:

• Cases: 848,555 (+29,811 | Δ Change: ↑14.72% | Σ Increase: ↑3.64%)
• Deaths: 47,654 (+2,336 | Δ Change: ↓16.69% | Σ Increase: ↑5.15%)

4/23:

• Cases: 880,204 (+31,649 | Δ Change: ↑6.17% | Σ Increase: ↑3.73%)
• Deaths: 49,845 (+2,191 | Δ Change: ↓6.21% | Σ Increase: ↑4.60%)

4/24:

• Cases: 925,038 (+44,834 | Δ Change: ↑41.70% | Σ Increase: ↑5.09%)
• Deaths: 52,185 (+2,340 | Δ Change: ↑6.80% | Σ Increase: ↑4.69%)

4/25:

• Cases: 960,651 (+35,613 | Δ Change: ↓20.57% | Σ Increase: ↑3.85%)
• Deaths: 54,256 (+2,071 | Δ Change: ↓11.50% | Σ Increase: ↑3.97%)

4/26 (Yesterday): <Sunday>

• Cases: 987,160 (+26,509 | Δ Change: ↓25.56% | Σ Increase: ↑2.76%)
• Deaths: 55,413 (+1,157 | Δ Change: ↓44.13% | Σ Increase: ↑2.13%)

4/27 (Today):

• Cases: 1,010,299 (+23,139 | Δ Change: ↓12.71% | Σ Increase: ↑2.34%)
• Deaths: 56,797 (+1,384 | Δ Change: ↑19.62% | Σ Increase: ↑2.50%)

We've now officially crossed the 1 million case mark, but it does seem like the increase in the number of deaths has declined somewhat over the past weeks.

[Calthrina950]

File this under COVID-19-induced absurdity

https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/davidmack/gma-reporter-no-pants-will-reeve-work-home

https://twitter.com/grahamorama/status/1255108155182329859

This is the late Christopher Reeve's son. He's been an ABC News reporter for at least the past few years. However, this isn't the first time that I've seen something like this happening. One of the Five co-hosts on Fox News, Jesse Watters, has been anchoring from home, and was also photographed wearing a suit but not pants. You can't really bash people for not wanting to fully dress up if they aren't going into the studio; everyone makes mistakes.

[Calthrina950]

Mask orders continue to spread across the country. Andy Beshear is now mandating all Kentuckians to wear masks in public by May 11: https://www.wkyt.com/content/news/WATCH-LIVE-Gov-Beshears-daily-COVID-19-update-569985941.html. Apparently, the general public will not be cited if they don't wear them, but they will be "asked" to put them on, and it will be mandatory for essential employees in businesses. The city of Birmingham, Alabama, is also making masks mandatory in public: https://www.al.com/news/2020/04/birmingham-eyes-requiring-masks-in-public.html. And in Colorado, Aspen is also requiring masks: https://denver.cbslocal.com/2020/04/28/face-masks-mandatory-in-aspen/. Both Birmingham and Aspen will fine residents if they don't wear masks. Aspen is the first place in my home state that I am aware of that is making it mandatory.

[Calthrina950]

Mask orders continue to spread across the country. Andy Beshear is now mandating all Kentuckians to wear masks in public by May 11: https://www.wkyt.com/content/news/WATCH-LIVE-Gov-Beshears-daily-COVID-19-update-569985941.html. Apparently, the general public will not be cited if they don't wear them, but they will be "asked" to put them on, and it will be mandatory for essential employees in businesses. The city of Birmingham, Alabama, is also making masks mandatory in public: https://www.al.com/news/2020/04/birmingham-eyes-requiring-masks-in-public.html. And in Colorado, Aspen is also requiring masks: https://denver.cbslocal.com/2020/04/28/face-masks-mandatory-in-aspen/. Both Birmingham and Aspen will fine residents if they don't wear masks. Aspen is the first place in my home state that I am aware of that is making it mandatory.

How long do these mandatory masks orders last for I've seen as soon as they can last a year

The order in Aspen lasts until May 27; that for essential employees in Colorado, through May 17. And there's a correction due. Two other jurisdictions, Glenwood Springs and Wheat Ridge, have also mandated mask-wearing in public, in Colorado. The order in Wheat Ridge goes until May 30. I'm not sure about the other mask orders, but I wouldn't be surprised if the one affecting me (the essential employees order) is extended past May 17. It would be astonishing if masks were to remain the norm for the rest of the year, but given the nature and spread of this pandemic, it would be a necessary sacrifice, like I've said before.

Also, when Polis held his daily press conference on the first day of the "Safer At Home" order, he said that Coloradoans needed to "step up" with wearing masks in public, and that we couldn't afford to see a drop in the numbers of people who did. For now, mask-wearing is still advisory in Colorado (except for those jurisdictions that have now made it mandatory). I can easily see that changing, given the nationwide trends that have been taking place. El Paso County and Colorado Springs will never make it mandatory unless if the state does so.

[Calthrina950]

Mask orders continue to spread across the country. Andy Beshear is now mandating all Kentuckians to wear masks in public by May 11: https://www.wkyt.com/content/news/WATCH-LIVE-Gov-Beshears-daily-COVID-19-update-569985941.html. Apparently, the general public will not be cited if they don't wear them, but they will be "asked" to put them on, and it will be mandatory for essential employees in businesses. The city of Birmingham, Alabama, is also making masks mandatory in public: https://www.al.com/news/2020/04/birmingham-eyes-requiring-masks-in-public.html. And in Colorado, Aspen is also requiring masks: https://denver.cbslocal.com/2020/04/28/face-masks-mandatory-in-aspen/. Both Birmingham and Aspen will fine residents if they don't wear masks. Aspen is the first place in my home state that I am aware of that is making it mandatory.

How long do these mandatory masks orders last for I've seen as soon as they can last a year

Honestly why would this be a big deal? Mandatory masks in public spaces are much less intrusive than various closure/lockdown/stay-at-home rules.

Because you're telling people what to do.

My own views aside, people -- especially Americans -- get very touchy about being told what to do (or when they sense that they're being told what to do).

This is certainly true. For example, as I'm sure you're aware, this has arisen in your home state of Texas. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo issued an order last week mandating that all residents there wear masks in public, or face a $1,000 fine for not doing so. Governor Abbott, however, in issuing his executive order today outlining Texas's gradual reopening process, explicitly overruled the fine requirement, stating that local jurisdictions in Texas cannot fine or penalize people who don't want to wear masks. In addition to Harris County, Bexar, Travis, and Dallas Counties, and the city of Laredo had also issued mandatory mask orders. Any penalties from those orders are overridden as well.

I've also seen a number of articles discussing the traditional hostility in this country to wearing masks, which have typically been associated with government intrusiveness and with criminality (i.e. black inner-city "thugs", the Ku Klux Klan). Nevertheless, it seems like the majority of Americans have accepted it, and there is of course the example of the Spanish Flu from a century ago, when mask-wearing became common in many cities.

[Calthrina950]

Mask orders continue to spread across the country. Andy Beshear is now mandating all Kentuckians to wear masks in public by May 11: https://www.wkyt.com/content/news/WATCH-LIVE-Gov-Beshears-daily-COVID-19-update-569985941.html. Apparently, the general public will not be cited if they don't wear them, but they will be "asked" to put them on, and it will be mandatory for essential employees in businesses. The city of Birmingham, Alabama, is also making masks mandatory in public: https://www.al.com/news/2020/04/birmingham-eyes-requiring-masks-in-public.html. And in Colorado, Aspen is also requiring masks: https://denver.cbslocal.com/2020/04/28/face-masks-mandatory-in-aspen/. Both Birmingham and Aspen will fine residents if they don't wear masks. Aspen is the first place in my home state that I am aware of that is making it mandatory.

How long do these mandatory masks orders last for I've seen as soon as they can last a year

Honestly why would this be a big deal? Mandatory masks in public spaces are much less intrusive than various closure/lockdown/stay-at-home rules.

Because you're telling people what to do.

My own views aside, people -- especially Americans -- get very touchy about being told what to do (or when they sense that they're being told what to do).

This is certainly true. For example, as I'm sure you're aware, this has arisen in your home state of Texas. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo issued an order last week mandating that all residents there wear masks in public, or face a $1,000 fine for not doing so. Governor Abbott, however, in issuing his executive order today outlining Texas's gradual reopening process, explicitly overruled the fine requirement, stating that local jurisdictions in Texas cannot fine or penalize people who don't want to wear masks. In addition to Harris County, Bexar, Travis, and Dallas Counties, and the city of Laredo had also issued mandatory mask orders. Any penalties from those orders are overridden as well.

I've also seen a number of articles discussing the traditional hostility in this country to wearing masks, which have typically been associated with government intrusiveness and with criminality (i.e. black inner-city "thugs", the Ku Klux Klan). Nevertheless, it seems like the majority of Americans have accepted it, and there is of course the example of the Spanish Flu from a century ago, when mask-wearing became common in many cities.

Regarding the last part, Georgia actually has a law that makes it a misdemeanor to wear a mask in public (with a few exceptions), dating from the Klan days.  Kemp suspended it during the state of emergency after concerns were raised that people could be prosecuted under it.

I recall reading that Virginia has a similar law, but the law provides exceptions for states of emergency and public health emergencies, and Governor Northam invoked those provisions when recommending all Virginians to wear masks in public.

[Calthrina950]

Mask orders continue to spread across the country. Andy Beshear is now mandating all Kentuckians to wear masks in public by May 11: https://www.wkyt.com/content/news/WATCH-LIVE-Gov-Beshears-daily-COVID-19-update-569985941.html. Apparently, the general public will not be cited if they don't wear them, but they will be "asked" to put them on, and it will be mandatory for essential employees in businesses. The city of Birmingham, Alabama, is also making masks mandatory in public: https://www.al.com/news/2020/04/birmingham-eyes-requiring-masks-in-public.html. And in Colorado, Aspen is also requiring masks: https://denver.cbslocal.com/2020/04/28/face-masks-mandatory-in-aspen/. Both Birmingham and Aspen will fine residents if they don't wear masks. Aspen is the first place in my home state that I am aware of that is making it mandatory.

How long do these mandatory masks orders last for I've seen as soon as they can last a year

Honestly why would this be a big deal? Mandatory masks in public spaces are much less intrusive than various closure/lockdown/stay-at-home rules.

Because you're telling people what to do.

My own views aside, people -- especially Americans -- get very touchy about being told what to do (or when they sense that they're being told what to do).

This is certainly true. For example, as I'm sure you're aware, this has arisen in your home state of Texas. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo issued an order last week mandating that all residents there wear masks in public, or face a $1,000 fine for not doing so. Governor Abbott, however, in issuing his executive order today outlining Texas's gradual reopening process, explicitly overruled the fine requirement, stating that local jurisdictions in Texas cannot fine or penalize people who don't want to wear masks. In addition to Harris County, Bexar, Travis, and Dallas Counties, and the city of Laredo had also issued mandatory mask orders. Any penalties from those orders are overridden as well.

I've also seen a number of articles discussing the traditional hostility in this country to wearing masks, which have typically been associated with government intrusiveness and with criminality (i.e. black inner-city "thugs", the Ku Klux Klan). Nevertheless, it seems like the majority of Americans have accepted it, and there is of course the example of the Spanish Flu from a century ago, when mask-wearing became common in many cities.

Ah, part of the continuing Republican Saga of believing local government rules best, until they start doing things we don't like, then federalism and Community control be damned.

Say what you will about it, but the local Police Union in Harris County, in addition (of course) to the local GOP, protested vigorously when Hidalgo issued her order, as did many of that county's more conservative-leaning residents. Neighboring Montgomery County, to the north of Houston, which is a very Republican suburban county, explicitly announced around the same time that it would not mandate its residents to wear masks in public. And the vast majority of rural counties in Texas aren't doing so, either.

This all feeds back to a point I've made before: that wearing masks are more likely to be mandated in Democratic-controlled areas than in Republican-controlled ones. Democrats (and rightly so) see masks as a necessary measure to contain the pandemic, while Republicans are concerned about the inconveniences that they pose, as well as more legitimate concerns about personal freedom. One other thing. I saw an article that in your home state, Governor DeWine was originally going to mandate mask-wearing in public, but he walked back on that. Probably due to those same concerns I've noted.

[Calthrina950]

The updated numbers for COVID-19 in the U.S. are in for 4/28 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.

Δ Change: Day-by-day Growth or Decline or COVID-19 Spread/Deaths.

• IE: 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?

<Last Numbers for 3/26-3/28 in this Post>
<Last Numbers for 3/29-4/4 in this Post>
<Last Numbers for 4/5-4/11 in this Post>

4/12: <Sunday>

• Cases: 560,323 (+27,444 | Δ Change: ↓10.20% | Σ Increase: ↑5.15%)
• Deaths: 22,108 (+1,531 | Δ Change: ↓17.33% | Σ Increase: ↑7.44%)

4/13:

• Cases: 586,941 (+26,618 | Δ Change: ↓3.01% | Σ Increase: ↑4.75%)
• Deaths: 23,640 (+1,532 | Δ Change: ↑0.07% | Σ Increase: ↑6.93%)

4/14:

• Cases: 613,886 (+26,945 | Δ Change: ↑1.23% | Σ Increase: ↑4.59%)
• Deaths: 26,047 (+2,407 | Δ Change: ↑57.11% | Σ Increase: ↑10.18%)

4/15:

• Cases: 644,089 (+30,203 | Δ Change: ↑12.09% | Σ Increase: ↑4.92%)
• Deaths: 28,529 (+2,482 | Δ Change: ↑3.12% | Σ Increase: ↑9.53%)

4/16: <Missing Older Cases & Deaths Added / Δ Change Calculations Misleading>

• Cases: 677,570 (+33,481 | Σ Increase: ↑5.20%)
• Deaths: 34,617 (+6,088 | Σ Increase: ↑21.34%)

4/17: <Δ Change Calculations Based on 4/15>

• Cases: 709,735 (+32,165 | Δ Change: ↑6.50% | Σ Increase: ↑4.09%)
• Deaths: 37,154 (+2,537 | Δ Change: ↑2.22% | Σ Increase: ↑7.33%)

4/18:

• Cases: 738,830 (+29,095 | Δ Change: ↓9.54% | Σ Increase: ↑4.75%)
• Deaths: 39,014 (+1,860 | Δ Change: ↓26.69% | Σ Increase: ↑5.01%)

4/19: <Sunday>

• Cases: 764,303 (+25,473 | Δ Change: ↓12.45% | Σ Increase: ↑3.45%)
• Deaths: 40,548 (+1,534 | Δ Change: ↓17.53% | Σ Increase: ↑3.93%)

4/20:

• Cases: 792,759 (+28,456 | Δ Change: ↑11.71% | Σ Increase: ↑3.28%)
• Deaths: 42,514 (+1,966 | Δ Change: ↑28.16% | Σ Increase: ↑4.85%)

4/21:

• Cases: 818,744 (+25,985 | Δ Change: ↓8.68% | Σ Increase: ↑3.72%)
• Deaths: 45,318 (+2,804 | Δ Change: ↑42.62% | Σ Increase: ↑6.60%)

4/22:

• Cases: 848,555 (+29,811 | Δ Change: ↑14.72% | Σ Increase: ↑3.64%)
• Deaths: 47,654 (+2,336 | Δ Change: ↓16.69% | Σ Increase: ↑5.15%)

4/23:

• Cases: 880,204 (+31,649 | Δ Change: ↑6.17% | Σ Increase: ↑3.73%)
• Deaths: 49,845 (+2,191 | Δ Change: ↓6.21% | Σ Increase: ↑4.60%)

4/24:

• Cases: 925,038 (+44,834 | Δ Change: ↑41.70% | Σ Increase: ↑5.09%)
• Deaths: 52,185 (+2,340 | Δ Change: ↑6.80% | Σ Increase: ↑4.69%)

4/25:

• Cases: 960,651 (+35,613 | Δ Change: ↓20.57% | Σ Increase: ↑3.85%)
• Deaths: 54,256 (+2,071 | Δ Change: ↓11.50% | Σ Increase: ↑3.97%)

4/26: <Sunday>

• Cases: 987,160 (+26,509 | Δ Change: ↓25.56% | Σ Increase: ↑2.76%)
• Deaths: 55,413 (+1,157 | Δ Change: ↓44.13% | Σ Increase: ↑2.13%)

4/27 (Yesterday):

• Cases: 1,010,299 (+23,139 | Δ Change: ↓12.71% | Σ Increase: ↑2.34%)
• Deaths: 56,797 (+1,384 | Δ Change: ↑19.62% | Σ Increase: ↑2.50%)

4/28 (Today):

• Cases: 1,035,454 (+25,155 | Δ Change: ↑8.71% | Σ Increase: ↑2.49%)
• Deaths: 59,252 (+2,455 | Δ Change: ↑77.38% | Σ Increase: ↑4.32%)

With today's update, more Americans have now (officially) died from coronavirus (59,252) than in the Vietnam War (58,220).

[Calthrina950]

This is certainly true. For example, as I'm sure you're aware, this has arisen in your home state of Texas. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo issued an order last week mandating that all residents there wear masks in public, or face a $1,000 fine for not doing so. Governor Abbott, however, in issuing his executive order today outlining Texas's gradual reopening process, explicitly overruled the fine requirement, stating that local jurisdictions in Texas cannot fine or penalize people who don't want to wear masks. In addition to Harris County, Bexar, Travis, and Dallas Counties, and the city of Laredo had also issued mandatory mask orders. Any penalties from those orders are overridden as well.

[...] I'm not responding to anything Badger wrote

Say what you will about it, but the local Police Union in Harris County, in addition (of course) to the local GOP, protested vigorously when Hidalgo issued her order, as dd many of that county's more conservative-leaning residents. Neighboring Montgomery County, to the north of Houston, which is a very Republican suburban county, explicitly announced around the same time that it would not mandate its residents to wear masks in public. And the vast majority of rural counties in Texas aren't doing so, either.

This all feeds back to a point I've made before: that wearing masks are more likely to be mandated in Democratic-controlled areas than in Republican-controlled ones. Democrats (and rightly so) see masks as a necessary measure to contain the pandemic, while Republicans are concerned about the inconveniences that they pose, as well as more legitimate concerns about personal freedom. One other thing. I saw an article that in your home state, Governor DeWine was originally going to mandate mask-wearing in public, but he walked back on that. Probably due to those same concerns I've noted.

The Police Union was upset after Hidalgo ordered the county jail to release inmates charged with violent crimes, including murder. Now she is in essence ordering the police to enforce her edict. They will likely be required to use racial quotas in enforcement.

Hidalgo is likely upset that Mayor Turner has pushed back on closing businesses such as construction and big box stores dealing in contraband such as cucumber seeds.

Democrats likely see imposition of masks as controlling the populace, a mark of submission. Republicans are more concerned about liberty and economic freedom.

I don't think this is true. As I've said previously, I think Democrats see it as a necessary measure to control the pandemic (though I've also expressed my unease with the mandatory orders that have been issued, as I understand the objections people have to them from a personal liberty perspective). And this argument (that masks are a control mechanism applied to the public by Democrats) is one that I've seen frequently when scanning the comment boards of right-leaning websites such as The Federalist, Townhall, and Newsbusters. To me, it's just another indication of how partisan considerations have marked the debate over this virus, if you will.

[Calthrina950]

Additional progression with the mandatory mask orders. Starting May 4, Costco will be requiring customers to wear masks or face coverings inside of all their stores: https://www.kktv.com/content/news/Costco-to-require-masks-inside-stores-570041281.html. I've heard of some other store chains that have made the same requirement, but this is the first one to be made by a nationwide chain. I expect other store chains to follow suit. Like I've said, at the rate things are going, the vast majority of Americans will be mandated to wear masks or face coverings in at least some context-whether it be at work, in particular stores, or in particular jurisdictions-by the middle of next month.

[Calthrina950]

https://mobile.twitter.com/CBSLA/status/1255699561399619584

Here come the fun police.

Didn't Newsom say that it would be "months" before barbershops, hair salons, gyms, and theaters would be allowed to reopen? I'm also surprised that he hasn't implemented a mandatory mask order at this point-although much of California (i.e. the Bay Area, Los Angeles County) is already under one. Some governors definitely do seem determined to keep the shutdowns going beyond the point that they may be feasible for (which is for me is anytime later than June).

[Calthrina950]

Kemp to lift statewide shelter-in-place for most Georgians on Friday

Gov. Brian Kemp will lift a statewide shelter-in-place order for most of Georgia’s 10.6 million residents starting Friday as he continues to roll back coronavirus restrictions, though he urges Georgians to stay at home when possible to contain the pandemic.

The order requires elderly and “medically fragile” residents to shelter in place until June 12, and calls for businesses to follow a host of existing restrictions through May 13 in order to remain open.

It amazes me at how quickly Republican Governors are moving to reopen their states, while Democratic Governors (with the exception of Jared Polis) are moving much more slowly. We'll see what the results are from these two approaches.

[Calthrina950]

Continuing my coverage of the "mandatory mask rollout", Denver will soon require its residents to wear masks in public: https://denver.cbslocal.com/2020/04/29/coronavirus-masks-required-colorado/. Summit County and Boulder have also implemented mandatory mask orders. Frontier Airlines is requiring its passengers to wear masks as well.

[Calthrina950]

Mandatory mask orders continue to spread like wildfire. Governor Baker has now mandated masks in Massachusetts: https://www.wbur.org/commonhealth/2020/05/01/coronavirus-mask-order-massachusetts-baker, and Governor Mills has done the same in Maine: https://www.mainepublic.org/post/when-and-where-youre-required-wear-face-mask-under-mills-executive-order. More of our country's major airlines are requiring masks as well: American, Southwest, United, Delta, Alaska, Frontier, and JetBlue are all on that list now (https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/2020/04/30/coronavirus-temperature-scans-and-masks-here-stay-airports/3056659001/). Masks will now be part of the new normal for most Americans, probably for the remainder of the year.

[Calthrina950]

Newsom says that he is planning to lift some stay at home order restrictions soon.

https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/01/politics/california-reopening-newsom/index.html

Bad idea.

I still don't understand the logic behind the Oxford 'vaccine'. In 6 weeks they know if it's effective? And they know it's safe by September?

Then why, pray tell, do we spend years on vaccines?

I'm still of the belief that we'll never get one.

Well what the Oxford vaccine they already were working on a MERS vaccine and we're doing pretty good with it so they just used the base and made it for covid-19 vaccines take a long time because usually they don't have the funding and they don't have enough people to trial test them on but during the pandemic when you have unlimited funding and volunteers you can rush it

I still won't be getting it injected until it's been trialled properly, which 5 months cannot do.

You seem to be extremely pessimistic about this pandemic. And you're not the only one. While I certainly don't think we can take this lightly, and must impose all precautions that are practical and reasonable, I also think that the people who are on the extremes-those who believe this pandemic constitutes the end of human society as we know it, and those who believe that it is all a hoax-are operating beyond the realm of plausibility. Worrying too much about this isn't good for your mental health, and it isn't good for that of others.

[Calthrina950]

Mike DeWine was doing so good, and then he says today that making people wear masks 'went too far'. Ridiculous and a total slap in the face to the other many states who are doing it.

Actually, I think DeWine made the right call here. Like I've said before, I supported the mask advisories which the CDC and Surgeon-General issued at the beginning of last month, as well as that issued here in Colorado. But mandating that individuals wear masks, with all of the legal penalties and the rest attached to it, does invite questions of constitutionality. This is to say nothing of the fact that such a mandate in my view would be a "one size fits all" kind of solution, given the varying conditions present among local jurisdictions, to say nothing of the health/mental state of varying individuals.

[Calthrina950]

https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2020/05/03/nolte-they-told-us-lockdowns-were-about-flattening-the-curve-they-lied/

What had been a national effort to save lives, a noble effort of national unity, has been twisted by Democrat governors into something unnecessarily punitive that reeks of a partisan power play to destroy President Trump’s re-election chances. Give me a better explanation.  Because this is the bottom line…

Unless you’re willing to wait for a cure (that is at least a year away or might never come at all), when there is no risk the health care system’s going to crash, what is the point of waiting one more day to open up the country when waiting doesn’t make us any safer?

Normal, non-partisan people are asking this question as well.

This message will be denigrated because of its source. And in fact, it already has been. However, I certainly do see the value of what has been argued here. Oregon's lockdown, for example, seems unreasonable to me. As I've said before, lockdowns should not extend beyond June. At some point, we will have to reopen the economy, but do so with precautions in place, and with ongoing testing, until the vaccine is developed.

[Calthrina950]

https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2020/05/03/nolte-they-told-us-lockdowns-were-about-flattening-the-curve-they-lied/

What had been a national effort to save lives, a noble effort of national unity, has been twisted by Democrat governors into something unnecessarily punitive that reeks of a partisan power play to destroy President Trump’s re-election chances. Give me a better explanation.  Because this is the bottom line…

Unless you’re willing to wait for a cure (that is at least a year away or might never come at all), when there is no risk the health care system’s going to crash, what is the point of waiting one more day to open up the country when waiting doesn’t make us any safer?

Normal, non-partisan people are asking this question as well.

For every "normal, non-partisan" person who ask this, there are two or three also "normal, non-partisan" people who disagree and reject the premise. This is consistently supported by polling data.

The Right has so internalized the idea that it is the "silent majority" that it cannot fathom the idea that there would be an issue where it wouldn't only be in the minority, but in an overwhelming minority.

I haven't had the opportunity to ask you, but what is your opinion of what Governor Polis has done here in Colorado, thus far? I know from your posts that you are firmly of the "pro-measures" side: that is, the side which believes that the stay-at-home orders are necessary (which they are and have been), and that they take priority over those who want to throw society open (the "anti-measures" side).

[Calthrina950]

237k tests today 27.3k new cases today
Last Sunday: 206k tests and 27k cases that that

What are you trying to imply here?

[Calthrina950]

https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2020/05/03/nolte-they-told-us-lockdowns-were-about-flattening-the-curve-they-lied/

What had been a national effort to save lives, a noble effort of national unity, has been twisted by Democrat governors into something unnecessarily punitive that reeks of a partisan power play to destroy President Trump’s re-election chances. Give me a better explanation.  Because this is the bottom line…

Unless you’re willing to wait for a cure (that is at least a year away or might never come at all), when there is no risk the health care system’s going to crash, what is the point of waiting one more day to open up the country when waiting doesn’t make us any safer?

Normal, non-partisan people are asking this question as well.

For every "normal, non-partisan" person who ask this, there are two or three also "normal, non-partisan" people who disagree and reject the premise. This is consistently supported by polling data.

The Right has so internalized the idea that it is the "silent majority" that it cannot fathom the idea that there would be an issue where it wouldn't only be in the minority, but in an overwhelming minority.

I haven't had the opportunity to ask you, but what is your opinion of what Governor Polis has done here in Colorado, thus far? I know from your posts that you are firmly of the "pro-measures" side: that is, the side which believes that the stay-at-home orders are necessary (which they are and have been), and that they take priority over those who want to throw society open (the "anti-measures" side).

Thanks for asking. Rhetorically he's doing well, but for the reopening... it's an interesting federalism exercise but my expectation is that he reopened statewide too early and trusted some localities to be responsible where perhaps he shouldn't have (specifically thinking about Weld and El Paso).

I'm also very, very doubtful that many small businesses will truthfully comply with recommended protocols for reopening, but I also don't know what a good enforcement mechanism there would look like. I think this month we're going to start seeing more serious pressure mounting to reopen more nationwide, and a lot of places (including CO) seem pretty unprepared, but we're going to be at a point where it's not going to be realistic to ask people to follow strict stay-at-home for much longer. So, I'm disappointed by the move but I understand why they did it and most other places are going to start facing the same decisions soon. I'm prepared to be wrong, though, if we don't see a significant second surge.

Most of the (blue) highly populated areas took the initiative to extend their stay at home orders locally; I know several are set to expire this week so we'll see if they choose to extend. I'm very nervous about the Ft. Morgan and Weld outbreaks associated with prison and packing plants, and for the heightened community spread so far. I'm also glad the state is reopened after ski season is done but in the next month we're going to see increased travel in rural communities for mountain recreation and that has the potential to be very bad. But then again without some sort of strict blockading on highways I don't really know what options the state has.

Your thoughts?

I heard about Weld County, and I think that they are definitely going too far, moving ahead of the state's framework. And to an extent, you're right about El Paso County. The other day, the County Coroner, Dr. Leon Kelly, praised Polis' stay-at-home order and said that it bought additional time for us to ramp up our hospital capacity. At the same time, however, he claimed that all businesses could "reopen now", and that we would be able to meet any surge in cases. The County Board of Commissioners has also been thinking about making a request to Polis that they be allowed to lift additional restrictions, beyond what he has provided for in his plan. I haven't heard anything more about this, but wouldn't be surprised if they go forward with it. And as you know, El Paso County did not lockdown until Polis issued his statewide order; nor will it (or Colorado Springs) make mask-wearing mandatory, in contrast to Boulder, Denver, Aspen, and some other places, unless if an order comes from the Governor.

Overall, I think Polis has done a job with his response to this crisis. Obviously, there are things he could have done differently-i.e. acting ahead of the authorities in the Denver metropolitan area to issue a stay-at-home order. But overall, he's maintained a calm tone and has run his response in a professional manner. He has also been cognizant of the economic consequences for a shutdown that is too prolonged, and has been trying to balance them with the public health needs of our population.

[Calthrina950]

Mike DeWine was doing so good, and then he says today that making people wear masks 'went too far'. Ridiculous and a total slap in the face to the other many states who are doing it.

Actually, I think DeWine made the right call here. Like I've said before, I supported the mask advisories which the CDC and Surgeon-General issued at the beginning of last month, as well as that issued here in Colorado. But mandating that individuals wear masks, with all of the legal penalties and the rest attached to it, does invite questions of constitutionality. This is to say nothing of the fact that such a mandate in my view would be a "one size fits all" kind of solution, given the varying conditions present among local jurisdictions, to say nothing of the health/mental state of varying individuals.

It's irresponsible. The CDC guidelines are to wear masks. It's not a lot to ask someone just to wear a mask in a restaurant or a store. Him saying that completely undermines the entire guidelines and everything that has come from health officials. I don't give a f**k whether he doesn't like the "government telling people what to do." This is a health crisis with thousands of people dying each day. People are just being selfish and ignorant - that's it. It's a ing mask.

So you want to make mask-wearing mandatory? That's your opinion, and your entitled to it. It amazes me how something as simple as mask-wearing has become such a cultural and political flashpoint during this time.

[Calthrina950]

Mike DeWine was doing so good, and then he says today that making people wear masks 'went too far'. Ridiculous and a total slap in the face to the other many states who are doing it.

Actually, I think DeWine made the right call here. Like I've said before, I supported the mask advisories which the CDC and Surgeon-General issued at the beginning of last month, as well as that issued here in Colorado. But mandating that individuals wear masks, with all of the legal penalties and the rest attached to it, does invite questions of constitutionality. This is to say nothing of the fact that such a mandate in my view would be a "one size fits all" kind of solution, given the varying conditions present among local jurisdictions, to say nothing of the health/mental state of varying individuals.

It's irresponsible. The CDC guidelines are to wear masks. It's not a lot to ask someone just to wear a mask in a restaurant or a store. Him saying that completely undermines the entire guidelines and everything that has come from health officials. I don't give a f**k whether he doesn't like the "government telling people what to do." This is a health crisis with thousands of people dying each day. People are just being selfish and ignorant - that's it. It's a ing mask.

So you want to make mask-wearing mandatory? That's your opinion, and your entitled to it. It amazes me how something as simple as mask-wearing has become such a cultural and political flashpoint during this time.

It should be mandatory. Republicans are the ones making it a political issue, since they are also driving the protests. Again, health officials say masks should be used. That should be the *end* of that.

So I take it that you support penalizing people if they do not wear masks? That's where my primary concern lies-imposing fines or other kinds of penalties for not donning them. But I digress. Like I've said before, I certainly think people should be wearing masks in public, but you're not going to convert everyone, and if you were to make it mandatory across the board, that would not take into consideration the differing conditions that may exist in differing jurisdictions. All that is besides the point.

[Calthrina950]

Mike DeWine was doing so good, and then he says today that making people wear masks 'went too far'. Ridiculous and a total slap in the face to the other many states who are doing it.

Actually, I think DeWine made the right call here. Like I've said before, I supported the mask advisories which the CDC and Surgeon-General issued at the beginning of last month, as well as that issued here in Colorado. But mandating that individuals wear masks, with all of the legal penalties and the rest attached to it, does invite questions of constitutionality. This is to say nothing of the fact that such a mandate in my view would be a "one size fits all" kind of solution, given the varying conditions present among local jurisdictions, to say nothing of the health/mental state of varying individuals.

It's irresponsible. The CDC guidelines are to wear masks. It's not a lot to ask someone just to wear a mask in a restaurant or a store. Him saying that completely undermines the entire guidelines and everything that has come from health officials. I don't give a f**k whether he doesn't like the "government telling people what to do." This is a health crisis with thousands of people dying each day. People are just being selfish and ignorant - that's it. It's a ing mask.

So you want to make mask-wearing mandatory? That's your opinion, and your entitled to it. It amazes me how something as simple as mask-wearing has become such a cultural and political flashpoint during this time.

It should be mandatory. Republicans are the ones making it a political issue, since they are also driving the protests. Again, health officials say masks should be used. That should be the *end* of that.

So I take it that you support penalizing people if they do not wear masks? That's where my primary concern lies-imposing fines or other kinds of penalties for not donning them. But I digress. Like I've said before, I certainly think people should be wearing masks in public, but you're not going to convert everyone, and if you were to make it mandatory across the board, that would not take into consideration the differing conditions that may exist in differing jurisdictions. All that is besides the point.

I personally think it should be no mask no service.  Of course, it's the choice of individual retailers/facilities to do this.  I'm not interested in fines, though if individuals refuse to leave a no mask no service establishment, they will be cited for trespassing.

I would agree with this. Individual businesses should have the right to decide whether or not they will require customers to wear masks while on their premises, but government should not, at least to the extent of fining, jailing, or otherwise penalizing people for not wearing them.