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

[Penn_Quaker_Girl]

https://mobile.twitter.com/NBCNews/status/1268885282172145670

[Penn_Quaker_Girl]

The democrats have no right to force stay at home orders down our throats for the resurgence that they caused by supporting the protests and riots.

Really going off the rails as of late, Grassy. 

[Penn_Quaker_Girl]

2020 is no longer short on manufactured crises. This is all so dumb.

Take it from someone who has had the coronavirus: it's hardly a manufactured crisis.  

If it takes a healthy & athletic 20-something out of commission for almost three weeks, imagine what it does to the 55+ population.  

[Penn_Quaker_Girl]

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1273597096105521155

Not to engage in this pissing contest, but:

[Penn_Quaker_Girl]

Are people still seriously citing case numbers?

Yes.

https://talkelections.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=370528.msg7405122#msg7405122

Again, I can't speak for everybody, but it definitely put me out of commission for about three weeks -- and I can confidently call myself an athletic-type with no *prior conditions*

2000 calories or less a day while watching the sodium and carbs, nearly-vegetarian (I do love chicken, though), and I run five miles five times a week.  

[Penn_Quaker_Girl]

Are people still seriously citing case numbers?

Yes.

https://talkelections.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=370528.msg7405122#msg7405122

Again, I can't speak for everybody, but it definitely put me out of commission for about three weeks -- and I can confidently call myself an athletic-type with no *prior conditions*

2000 calories or less a day while watching the sodium and carbs, nearly-vegetarian (I do love chicken, though), and I run five miles five times a week.  

IIRC you had a good idea of who infected you.  What ever happened to them (i.e. did they get symptoms as well)?

Yup, caught it from my roommate's ex-boyfriend.  He gave it to both myself and my roommate. 

I didn't follow his symptoms all that closely, but he was definitely under the weather for a couple of weeks (I haven't seen or spoken to him in person since then (a) because he's annoying and (b) because coronavirus). 

[Penn_Quaker_Girl]

Oh, and sorry to double-post, but:

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY, ATLAS!

I hope that everybody has a safe and spectacular day.  Please do take necessary precautions if celebrating with others!

[Penn_Quaker_Girl]

Yup, caught it from my roommate's ex-boyfriend.  He gave it to both myself and my roommate. 

I didn't follow his symptoms all that closely, but he was definitely under the weather for a couple of weeks (I haven't seen or spoken to him in person since then (a) because he's annoying and (b) because coronavirus). 

Just out of curiosity, I hope you are recovering well and feeling much better, but are you aware of any persistent effects that either you or anyone else you know who was infected is still feeling after having recovered? Just wondering due to various news reports that some patients are suffering from longer term/persistent effects if you have noticed anything at all. Of course, some effects (changes to lung tissue etc) may not be easily noticeable even if they are real, given that some asymptomatic patients have shown apparent lung abnormalities/other abnormalities without behaving any differently or knowing that there was any issue.

Just a little bit of wheezing here and there, but nothing egregiously worrisome. 

[Penn_Quaker_Girl]

Does the high blood pressure risk factor go away if it's lowered by medication?

It depends.  But, in general, if someone is on medication, the risk level decreases rather than being eliminated entirely.  

(IOW: said individual still needs to be careful.)

[Penn_Quaker_Girl]

*SNIP*

I'm not usually so directly opinionated, but I recently encountered someone who was going off on a rant about how he was getting fed up with PA bars/restaurants still being closed to dine-in clients and how mask-mandates were "unconstitutional" and "unfair".  This is something that I need to get off my chest:  

Believe it or not, health officials and professionals are not advising lawmakers to mandate the wearing of masks because they want to take away your rights or turn America into a police state.  

When I kindly advise people to wear masks when they enter enclosed public spaces, it's simply for two reasons:  (1) as a budding health-professional, I would be remiss if I didn't keep public health in mind and (2) I know first-hand what COVID-19 can do to even a young and healthy individual.  Between the two most serious illnesses I've had in my life (this and malaria), I would take malaria in a heartbeat.  At least I half-slept through most of that.  

I totally get the economic anxieties.  There are millions of Americans who are afraid of what the future will bring for them in a financial sense.  There is legitimate reason to be concerned about that aspect of the COVID-19 fallout.  

But it just drives me up the wall when I hear healthy people whining about how "masks are hot and uncomfortable" and that they're bored/feeling oppressed.  

GET. OVER. IT.  

It's not going to kill you to wear a mask when you go to the grocery store.  You're not some valiant patriot if you proclaim that you "won't wear a mask" because you "refuse to foster the hysteria and panic." 

I can't believe these things STILL need to be said.  

[Penn_Quaker_Girl]

But it just drives me up the wall when I hear healthy people whining about how "masks are hot and uncomfortable" and that they're bored/feeling oppressed.

The problem here is that way too many Americans really are complete snowflakes.

I think this is the reason why the USA in particular is so bad at controlling the virus, because we have by far the highest per capita snowflake population and the biggest sense of personal entitlement.

It is a good thing that these people didn't have to live in the 1300s amidst the black death.

And while I'm in rant mode: wearing a mask over your mouth but not your nose defeats the whole damn purpose.  

I get it.  They're not the most comfy thing to wear.  

Still, it just BAFFLES me that people can be SO FREAKING STUPID.  Y'all know that I don't get mad or upset all that often and I'll step down off my soapbox.  But there were a dozen profanity-filled things I wanted to say to this aforementioned individual complaining about masks and that he hadn't "had a good burger in months" thanks to the "hysteria". 

[Penn_Quaker_Girl]

But it just drives me up the wall when I hear healthy people whining about how "masks are hot and uncomfortable" and that they're bored/feeling oppressed.

The problem here is that way too many Americans really are complete snowflakes.

I think this is the reason why the USA in particular is so bad at controlling the virus, because we have by far the highest per capita snowflake population and the biggest sense of personal entitlement.

It is a good thing that these people didn't have to live in the 1300s amidst the black death.

And while I'm in rant mode: wearing a mask over your mouth but not your nose defeats the whole damn purpose.  

I get it.  They're not the most comfy thing to wear.  

Still, it just BAFFLES me that people can be SO FREAKING STUPID.  Y'all know that I don't get mad or upset all that often and I'll step down off my soapbox.  But there were a dozen profanity-filled things I wanted to say to this aforementioned individual complaining about masks and that he hadn't "had a good burger in months" thanks to the "hysteria".  

One thing I've noticed is that many (though certainly not all) of those who don't wear a mask tend to be the most arrogant, rude, and crude people that you could deal with. They clearly don't care about anyone else other than themselves, and will persist in their obstinate behavior. What frustrates me even more is that even though employees at my job have been required to wear masks for two months, many of them still don't even bother to wear them when they are not on the clock. That is, they come in to work maskless, they go on break or lunch (through the store) maskless, and they leave work maskless. That defeats the purpose of it.

They have a chip on their shoulder because they're "a grown-ass man/woman" and "someone is trying to tell me what to do." 

"It's a free country!  I have rights!!!"

[Penn_Quaker_Girl]

They have a chip on their shoulder because they're "a grown-ass man/woman" and "someone is trying to tell me what to do."  

"It's a free country!  I have rights!!!"

I've made clear my opposition to mask mandates imposed by government, but have also emphasized my support for mask mandates imposed by businesses. As I've explained before, most of the employees at my job were not wearing masks before they were mandated to do so by the Governor's order back in April. One of my co-workers has constantly complained about it, says that he is "fine", and that he doesn't need to wear a mask. He goes maskless whenever he is not on the clock, and has it down much of the time even when he is on the clock. I saw another employee who had a scarf around his neck, but was maskless and interacting with customers. Many of these people are mental Neanderthals.

The whole macho complex surrounding these people is baffling. Attention seeking at its absolute worst.

I don't see it that way at all. I think it's that these people are literally stupid enough to think that they know better than the government and medical professionals, and they're also too simple-minded to question and challenge their own ideas and consider modifying them.

And it's not just people who are considered "uneducated".  I've seen blue-collar-looking guys in dusty construction-company t-shirts and blue jeans who are properly wearing masks and appearing to take this seriously.  

These are all things I've recently heard uttered by friends, most of whom are pursuing professional degrees:

* "Oh it's okay.  My boyfriend hasn't been anywhere in the past couple of weeks."

* "If I get it, I get it.  I'll be fine.

* "I'm actually hoping to get it just to have that immunity.

* "We've been hugging and standing closer than six feet for a while now.  I think we're okay.

And checking my Instagram this morning, there were at least ten stories (time-limited pics/videos for the uninitiated) posted by med students, dentistry students, pharmacy students, nursing students -- "educated" individuals who should know better -- eating at outdoor establishments and taking group pics where they're piled on top of each other, leaning against each other, hugging, etc. with captions like "MISSED THESE PEOPLE" and "FINALLY!!!"

I'm really not trying to be high-and-mighty or preachy.  After all, it was my own stupidity and lack of safety that led to me contracting COVID-19.  There's practically no issue with eating outdoors and enjoying the summer weather so long as businesses observe proper social distancing standards.  

But people need to do their parts, too.

[Penn_Quaker_Girl]

They have a chip on their shoulder because they're "a grown-ass man/woman" and "someone is trying to tell me what to do."  

"It's a free country!  I have rights!!!"

I've made clear my opposition to mask mandates imposed by government, but have also emphasized my support for mask mandates imposed by businesses. As I've explained before, most of the employees at my job were not wearing masks before they were mandated to do so by the Governor's order back in April. One of my co-workers has constantly complained about it, says that he is "fine", and that he doesn't need to wear a mask. He goes maskless whenever he is not on the clock, and has it down much of the time even when he is on the clock. I saw another employee who had a scarf around his neck, but was maskless and interacting with customers. Many of these people are mental Neanderthals.

The whole macho complex surrounding these people is baffling. Attention seeking at its absolute worst.

I don't see it that way at all. I think it's that these people are literally stupid enough to think that they know better than the government and medical professionals, and they're also too simple-minded to question and challenge their own ideas and consider modifying them.

And it's not just people who are considered "uneducated".  I've seen blue-collar-looking guys in dusty construction-company t-shirts and blue jeans who are properly wearing masks and appearing to take this seriously.  

These are all things I've recently heard uttered by friends, most of whom are pursuing professional degrees:

* "Oh it's okay.  My boyfriend hasn't been anywhere in the past couple of weeks."

* "If I get it, I get it.  I'll be fine.

* "I'm actually hoping to get it just to have that immunity.

* "We've been hugging and standing closer than six feet for a while now.  I think we're okay.

And checking my Instagram this morning, there were at least ten stories (time-limited pics/videos for the uninitiated) posted by med students, dentistry students, pharmacy students, nursing students -- "educated" individuals who should know better -- eating at outdoor establishments and taking group pics where they're piled on top of each other, leaning against each other, hugging, etc. with captions like "MISSED THESE PEOPLE" and "FINALLY!!!"

I'm really not trying to be high-and-mighty or preachy.  After all, it was my own stupidity and lack of safety that led to me contracting COVID-19.  There's practically no issue with eating outdoors and enjoying the summer weather so long as businesses observe proper social distancing standards.  

But people need to do their parts, too.

Its certainly understandable. Just remember, there are a lot of "health experts" that abandoned any claim to legitimacy by flipflopping on the appropriateness of protests during the pandemic. One week they were yelling about terrorists killing granny in Michigan for protesting the lockdown the next week a large gaggle of idiot "health experts" said "racism is JUST as deadly as Coronavirus" and you were literally "violent" if you didn't pour into the streets for mass gatherings. I never had much faith in what "health experts" said before this all started but the incredulity of some others in this thread that more and more normies are ignoring the "experts" after months of garbage wolf-crying seems dense. Trust must be earned and the "health experts" have really schat the bed the past few months. I was legally prohibited from attending 3 different funerals and months of church. My grandfather is dying of cancer and the hospital still wont let us visit. My dad has chronic medical problems and the doctors are still hesitant to schedule his appointments. I have tons of friends unemployed. And this past month the experts all but demanded everyone break the rules that caused all of this and go out and destroy public art. If they now try to reimpose lockdowns after their month of politically-motivated advice, you really think most of us are going to give a damn what some moron in a white coat says?

I don't agree, Mr. Reactionary -- I mean, how could I? But nevertheless, you know I've always respected your views. 

Also, I'm sorry to hear about your grandfather and your dad.  These are difficult times and there is no easy solution.     

[Penn_Quaker_Girl]

Arizona is shutting things down again:

https://twitter.com/zekejmiller/status/1277730132074156032?s=21

Probably about 10 days too late.

Water parks are bad enough without the pandemic.  Giardia, cryptosporodium, N. fowlerii-- all the friendly water-born parasites!

[Penn_Quaker_Girl]

And Independence Day is right around the corner.

Arizonans, PLEASE PLEASE take this seriously. 

[Penn_Quaker_Girl]

And Independence Day is right around the corner.

Arizonans, PLEASE PLEASE take this seriously. 

They probably won't. The optics of basically demanding everyone go outside and celebrate slave emancipation day and mere weeks later declaring the 4th of july not important enough to celebrate (as Dems prematurely tweet its a racist holiday before hastily deleting that) are so apparently partisan and racialist that a lot of people aren't going to stand for being told to go inside. Im going to a cookout at my grandpa's since hes getting home hospice care now and i haven't seen him since pre-lockdown.

Taking things seriously doesn't mean staying indoors -- it's not an all-or-nothing kinda thing.  It just means just being mindful of physical contact and distances. 

[Penn_Quaker_Girl]

Governor Wolf (PA) expanding statewide mask order:

https://mobile.twitter.com/GovernorTomWolf/status/1278405412748959745?ref_src=tw...

According to the order, this includes outdoor public spaces IF the ability to maintain six feet of physical separation is not possible (so primarily aimed at outdoor promenades, restaurants, etc.)

[Penn_Quaker_Girl]

https://mobile.twitter.com/YahooFinance/status/1278667433679695875

https://mobile.twitter.com/USDOL/status/1278667295410262017

[Penn_Quaker_Girl]

Happy Fourth, y'all!

As always, I hope everybody has a fantastic day! If celebrating with others, please be careful and safe!

[Penn_Quaker_Girl]

I'd really like to see the partisan difference in COVID infections and deaths.  You can't figure out individual partisan leans, but maybe divide it up into counties/precincts and weight by Trump/Clinton vote %.

My guess?

The initial wave mostly hit Clinton voters, because it was spreading most quickly in big cities with very concentrated populations.

But this "second wave" (not really the second wave, we still have that to look forward to) is going to be 70-80% Trump voters.  Those are the people not wearing masks.  Those are the people not socially distancing.  Those are the people refusing to take this seriously.  And those are the people who are going to get infected and die.  And thanks to them, we won't be able to re-open.  Thanks to them, plenty of their friends and family will also get sick and die.  Ironically, thanks to them, Trump's odds of re-election will continue to dwindle as the crisis continues.

There is evidence that the new infectees are disproportionately young (in Hays County, Texas, over half are 20-29). The superspreader events were the protests/riots, followed by bar hopping to brag about their exploits. Those requiring hospitalization are likely to be heavier drug users.

Quite like leftist Democrats.

Some of us non-leftist-non-Democrats enjoy heavy drug use, thank you very much. 

[Penn_Quaker_Girl]

Another 10,059 cases in Florida's daily update. 

[Penn_Quaker_Girl]

It is illegal for those between 18-21 to go to bars.

What?? I never got that memo.  

[Penn_Quaker_Girl]

https://mobile.twitter.com/tbtnewspaper/status/1280245096009674753

[Penn_Quaker_Girl]

https://mobile.twitter.com/BNODesk/status/1280520660876492801

(For real, this time I think...?)