COVID-19 Megathread 6: Return of the Omicron

[Skunk]

I don't have an issue with those who personally decide to continue wearing a mask and mind their own business when it comes to other people but I'm already seeing a growing trend on social media of people trying to shame others for being excited to go without masks or saying the CDC is too premature for doing this when they've been preaching "listen to the science!" for months. All I have to say is f**k those people.

[Skunk]

I don't have an issue with those who personally decide to continue wearing a mask and mind their own business when it comes to other people but I'm already seeing a growing trend on social media of people trying to shame others for being excited to go without masks or saying the CDC is too premature for doing this when they've been preaching "listen to the science!" for months. All I have to say is f**k those people.

"Twitter isn't real life"

I mean yeah I fully expect these people to shut up and go back outside within the next couple of weeks but unfortunately right now these types of people make up a large share of small private liberal arts college students.

[Skunk]

They're still zero cost! Why oppose a zero cost mitigation measure that works? We mandate people put clothes on outdoors, and clothes cost money. We mandate people put on seat belts in cars, and those cost money and are uncomfortable. It's still irrational to oppose mask mandates and it is incredibly disappointing that many Democrats have fully embraced the Trumpist position on this issue. Seems even Trump haters have fallen victim to Trumpist brainwashing.

You do realize when we're talking about the cost effectiveness of masks that we aren't just talking about the literal price of them, right? They aren't comfortable to wear for extended periods of time, especially in summer heat with how muggy the air gets, and not being able to fully read people's facial expressions makes regular day to day interactions with people stiff and awkward.

After over a year of having no other option, of course people are going to be excited about having the possibility of taking them off. This is why many of us, and not just "Trumpists," are telling you why extending mask mandates would be an awful idea- the idea of not wearing a mask is a vaccine incentive to many people. That's why so many people waited for mask mandates to be lifted to get their vaccines in the first place. Most places have no real way of enforcing mask mandates so if you enacted one nowadays, the only people who would be wearing them are people like you who are vaccinated but paranoid out of their minds from doomscrolling on social media and not the unvaccinated people who would actually benefit from wearing one.

[Skunk]

I'm sure people in rural Arkansas and rural Missouri care a lot about what the CDC has to say about this.

Anyway, removing one of the most popular vaccine incentives for people is a dumb policy. They should really just recommend vaccine mandates since that would, you know, actually work instead of a mask "suggestion" that only vaccinated doomers will follow. But CDC and the rest of society would rather coddle anti-vaxxers than actually try and end this pandemic.

[Skunk]

Even people who are fully protected have cause for concern when it comes to Covid variants, Offit said. While the vaccines protect well against severe disease and death, they may not protect as well against mild disease or spreading Covid to others, he said. No vaccine is 100% effective, he noted.

Emphasis mine. Finally public health officials are starting to drop the untenable and false position, espoused by many here, that the vaccine is a virus repelling force field that allows one to do whatever they want safely, without any mitigation, regardless of the exposure. Finally they are acknowledging reality, that the vaccine is not 100% effective and the effectiveness is fluid and may be lower now than it was before, and are warning of the danger of breakthrough infections. It took way too long but better late than never.

So what? There have been around 5,500 hospitalizations or deaths of fully vaccinated patients according to CDC. Around 160,000,000 Americans are fully vaccinated. And most of those aforementioned deaths are those over 65. You have a significantly higher chance of dying in a car crash, so if you're driving anywhere you're putting yourself at a greater risk of injury or death than being hospitalized from COVID.

[Skunk]

Some of the posts here about the media are hyperbolic and kind of cringy but I absolutely see where they're coming from. https://twitter.com/CNBC/status/1421209879629422594
You see headlines like this? A majority of readers are only going to see "125,000 people test positive" and wrongfully assume that vaccines aren't working. Emphasizing the 125,000 people testing positive and not the fact that they represent less than .08% of vaccinated Americans is just going to promote vaccine hesitancy when vaccines are proven to be the most effective way of combatting COVID.

[Skunk]

Kate Brown is gonna put in a new statewide mask mandate tomorrow. What an idiot.

Mask mandates are shaping up to be an issue in next year's midterms.

Democrats would be committing mass political suicide if they're still imposing mask mandates by November 2022.

[Skunk]

If that doesn't convince you, how about this: mask mandates are supported by a majority of the public (source: https://www.monmouth.edu/polling-institute/documents/monmouthpoll_us_080221.pdf/), including 85% of Democrats. Do you really want to associate yourself with the Trumpist pro-COVID forces, who stormed the Capitol, believe the vaccine is a conspiracy for Bill Gates to mind control the world, and take horse dewormer for COVID? No? Then get in line with your party.

This might be a foreign concept to you but people are capable of thinking for themselves. People with common sense pointing out that current mask mandates are largely unnecessary because the areas more likely to enact and enforce them are high vaccinated areas where individuals are less susceptible to COVID, including mUh DeLtA vArIaNt that you're losing your mind over, aren't on the same level as the unvaccinated morons taking horse medicine no matter how much you repeat it.

[Skunk]

Since you're on this forum, you should know all about and be a big believer in political polarization. Finally it's time to put it to good use. You're either on the side of the Trumpist pro-COVID forces, or you're on the side that supports mask mandates. Pick one.

The politicization of a global pandemic is bad, actually. The fact that you're actively encouraging it to justify your beliefs is incredibly revealing.

[Skunk]

Remote learning once a week sounds ok.

No, it doesn't. Kids do not "learn" remotely until they are at least high school age. Even then it should be used sparingly. You need to be among your peers, because we thankfully are not yet a completely virtual Black Mirror society.

I've read every post in this thread. It's once a week. I'm fine with it, and even think it's probably better for the kids.

Even if you think it's better for kids, which I can't imagine why, it's undoubtedly worse for the parents, many of whom who work in-person jobs where remote work isn't feasible, who will now have to either take time off work, hire a babysitter, or leave their children home alone because a schoolboard somehow thinks showing up in person four times a week instead of five times a week is going to stop the spread of COVID.

[Skunk]

Oh good another scariant is dominating the news cycle. At this point if you're concerned about COVID-19 bringing about the "end of civilization" or whatever, you might as well just go hide in a bunker for the impending zombie apocalypse too while you're at it.

[Skunk]

I am about to roll around on the floor and scream!!

Relax.

https://twitter.com/sailorrooscout/status/1464622927333232640?s=20

Chise has consistently given the most level headed and professional responses to COVID-19 compared to most public health officials, which is incredible given she's a furry on Twitter.

[Skunk]

Chise has consistently given the most level headed and professional responses to COVID-19 compared to most public health officials, which is incredible given she's a furry on Twitter.

We don't know that she's right though.

She helped work on the Moderna vaccine so I trust her opinion much more than talking heads freaking out about Omicron being "vaccine proof."

https://twitter.com/snolen/status/1464226629530624017

[Skunk]

Guess what, CNN? Nobody cares. I've been vaccinated, so what else does CNN want me to do? Wear 3 masks?

Just because you don't care does not mean that nobody cares.  You do not speak for the entire population.

CNN doesn't speak for the entire population either.

[Skunk]

Your leader has spoken! He asks that you continue to wear masks. Do you want to be a Trumpist numbskull? I know you don't, 90% of this forum opposes Trump. Wear the mask.

President Biden on masks

“I know that for some Americans, a mask is not always affordable or convenient to get. So next week, we’ll announce how we’re making high-quality masks available to American people for free,” he said in remarks about the administration’s COVID-19 surge response.

He touted the work done already to make sure there is a supply of N95 masks for health care workers and first responders.

“We also helped make sure that high quality masks are widely available and an ample supply at affordable prices sold online and in stores,” he said, regarding masks for the public.

Biden on Thursday also addressed the frustration among Americans with continued mask wearing mandates and guidance.

“I know we all wish that we could finally be done with wearing masks. I get it. But there is a really important tool to stop the spread, especially the highly transmissible omicron variant. So please, please wear the mask,” he said.

You are equating opposition to mask mandates for support with Trump? That doesn't seem to be a fair evaluation of where this forum stands on the issue. But at this point, it's obvious that the majority of posters are at odds with you on this, as you are with them. You won't retreat from your viewpoints, and they won't retreat from theirs.

Now that President Biden unambiguously supports masks, if you oppose them you oppose him. Then since we are in a two party FPTP system, if you oppose Biden you support Trump. The anti-maskers here now must decide, do they oppose Biden here and allow Trump to get a win, effectively turning into a Trump supporter? Or do they close ranks behind Biden to form a united front against Trump?

This makes no sense, whatsoever. A Democratic or Republican voter should not be required to support every position that their candidate or their leader holds.

He's a CCP shill. Of course this would be how he views American politics.