COVID-19 Megathread 6: Return of the Omicron

[100% pro-life no matter what]

https://twitter.com/FinancialTimes/status/1491412978700361734?t=e5lmMhfBeNA9Y9wu...

Whether you believe this is the right time or not, this should be the end goal. But how much difference would changing this rule make in the US, especially with people not being tested for Omicron due to its lesser symptoms?

An underrated part of this is not so much people who test positive and then don't quarantine, but people who intentionally don't get tested when they have mild colds so they have plausible deniability not to quarantine.  How many people with slight colds intentionally avoid getting tested because they don't want to quarantine?

[Calthrina950]

https://twitter.com/townhallcom/status/1491485602407190537
This administration is breathtakingly incompetent.

Walensky has also said that "it is not the right time" for masking requirements to be changed. Clearly, the CDC and the Biden Administration are doubling down on their prior recommendations, which is why, as I said earlier, Democratic efforts to proclaim victory over the pandemic will not save their congressional majorities.

[Zohranism is OUR future]

This tweet was from last week but I'm still posting it to make the point that despite what this forum thinks there is genuine grassroots support for masking from a substantial portion of the population.

There's no grassroots support. It's just a few elites, the media, and laptoppers.

Around here, it's never the blue-collar types who bop around in masks.

This cultural divide is tough to overstate. To this day, I have only met one blue-collar worker personally that wears a mask purely by choice, and even he is a college-educated blue-collar worker.

The support for masking is now more than ever a top down thing, as far as class and especially education goes.

Yeah it’s kinda sad that opposition to the possibility of seasonal mask mandates has gotten like this.

I think it’s pretty obvious at this point there is no point in keeping mandates. You can’t change Americans…they are incapable of being civilized and I think it might be a cultural thing. We may as well lift the mandates for political reasons at this point everywhere. It’s sad, but that is how it is. As long as none of my family or friends get too sick, I am okay with it.

[Hammy]

It's not 1980 anymore.

As far as I'm concerned, it is.

Your imagination does not dictate reality.

[Can't Bear]

https://twitter.com/townhallcom/status/1491485602407190537
This administration is breathtakingly incompetent.

[Can't Bear]

This tweet was from last week but I'm still posting it to make the point that despite what this forum thinks there is genuine grassroots support for masking from a substantial portion of the population.

There's no grassroots support. It's just a few elites, the media, and laptoppers.

Around here, it's never the blue-collar types who bop around in masks.

This cultural divide is tough to overstate. To this day, I have only met one blue-collar worker personally that wears a mask purely by choice, and even he is a college-educated blue-collar worker.

The support for masking is now more than ever a top down thing, as far as class and especially education goes.

Yeah it’s kinda sad that opposition to the possibility of seasonal mask mandates has gotten like this.

Isn't Japan pretty sexist (not to mention xenophobic and homophobic), albeit very polite, too? Yet, they raise a lot of bada$$ female doctors, engineers you name it.

[compucomp]

This tweet was from last week but I'm still posting it to make the point that despite what this forum thinks there is genuine grassroots support for masking from a substantial portion of the population.

There's no grassroots support. It's just a few elites, the media, and laptoppers.

Around here, it's never the blue-collar types who bop around in masks.

This cultural divide is tough to overstate. To this day, I have only met one blue-collar worker personally that wears a mask purely by choice, and even he is a college-educated blue-collar worker.

The support for masking is now more than ever a top down thing, as far as class and especially education goes.

Yeah it’s kinda sad that opposition to the possibility of seasonal mask mandates has gotten like this.

I think it’s pretty obvious at this point there is no point in keeping mandates. You can’t change Americans…they are incapable of being civilized and I think it might be a cultural thing. We may as well lift the mandates for political reasons at this point everywhere. It’s sad, but that is how it is. As long as none of my family or friends get too sick, I am okay with it.

I feel you on this. At least N95/KN95 masks, hand sanitizer, etc are freely available now. Now that the virus is on the decline, it might be a good idea to buy them up in bulk while they're cheap and easy to get so that when the virus comes back in force we'll have them ready and not have to pay inflated market prices to have them shipped to us weeks later.

Of course, if this forum had its way, these things would be made controlled substances, depriving us the means to protect ourselves just so they can avoid being triggered by being reminded that the pandemic is not over.

[Can't Bear]

https://twitter.com/AP/status/1491558591387557888

A nice quote from Dr. Leana Wen there

The White House offered no timetable for the review or an indication of what it will recommend. And some critics say that’s not good enough.

“The tragic thing is that these are governors that would probably have followed the White House’s guidance,” said Dr. Leana Wen, a former Baltimore health commissioner. “They wanted CDC input and asked for it, but without a clear timeline, at some point they had to decide that they couldn’t wait any more. The fault is not theirs, but the CDC’s and by extension, President Biden’s, which, with each passing day, is making itself less and less relevant.”

Haha, this!

[Wrong about 2024 Ghost]

https://twitter.com/townhallcom/status/1491485602407190537
This administration is breathtakingly incompetent.

The hypocrisy is so immense it really is funny.

I'm sorry, but Republican complaints about incompetence don't get to be taken seriously until the next century. Try again in 2101 (if your party hasn't died off or collapsed civilization by then).

[Zohranism is OUR future]

https://twitter.com/townhallcom/status/1491485602407190537
This administration is breathtakingly incompetent.

The hypocrisy is so immense it really is funny.

I'm sorry, but Republican complaints about incompetence don't get to be taken seriously until the next century. Try again in 2101 (if your party hasn't died off or collapsed civilization by then).

Don’t be ridiculous, they won’t be that bad!
They only will destroy American democracy.

[Dr. MB]

This tweet was from last week but I'm still posting it to make the point that despite what this forum thinks there is genuine grassroots support for masking from a substantial portion of the population.

There's no grassroots support. It's just a few elites, the media, and laptoppers.

Around here, it's never the blue-collar types who bop around in masks.

This cultural divide is tough to overstate. To this day, I have only met one blue-collar worker personally that wears a mask purely by choice, and even he is a college-educated blue-collar worker.

The support for masking is now more than ever a top down thing, as far as class and especially education goes.

That describes my dad. I think it's a little different here in Oregon just because it's a much more culturally liberal place. Observation is key but time and venue can drastically differ even within the same town or the same street. If you're out on Friday night here in Eugene nobody is gonna have a mask on while that same street during the daytime could be mostly masked up. I had to pickup some food from a restaurant over the weekend and I wore a KN95 mask because I was recently exposed to Covid (next day I took a test and it came back positive) but waiting at the bar were a bunch of burly biker-looking dudes who looked at me like I was some freak. Go literally three miles out into Springfield or west Eugene and a solid 10-15% of people are defying mask mandates inside stores and hit any rural area and that number skyrockets.

[Trump Is A Maoist]

This tweet was from last week but I'm still posting it to make the point that despite what this forum thinks there is genuine grassroots support for masking from a substantial portion of the population.

There's no grassroots support. It's just a few elites, the media, and laptoppers.

Around here, it's never the blue-collar types who bop around in masks.

This cultural divide is tough to overstate. To this day, I have only met one blue-collar worker personally that wears a mask purely by choice, and even he is a college-educated blue-collar worker.

The support for masking is now more than ever a top down thing, as far as class and especially education goes.

That describes my dad. I think it's a little different here in Oregon just because it's a much more culturally liberal place. Observation is key but time and venue can drastically differ even within the same town or the same street. If you're out on Friday night here in Eugene nobody is gonna have a mask on while that same street during the daytime could be mostly masked up. I had to pickup some food from a restaurant over the weekend and I wore a KN95 mask because I was recently exposed to Covid (next day I took a test and it came back positive) but waiting at the bar were a bunch of burly biker-looking dudes who looked at me like I was some freak. Go literally three miles out into Springfield or west Eugene and a solid 10-15% of people are defying mask mandates inside stores and hit any rural area and that number skyrockets.

Lock them up.

[Bandit3 the Worker]

My estimates of maskage at various places around here:

My local Kroger was maybe 60 to 80% masked at the height of mask mania. Now it's about 20 to 30%. Even some employees are unmasked.

Kroger stores in rich neighborhoods were almost 100% masked.

Convenience stores were often 0% masked even at the height of mask mania.

Outdoor areas are usually 0% masked, except for small groups who gather on the sidewalks in front of high-end specialty shops. Downtown Cincinnati where "serious" business and financial types go is usually more masky.

Festivals and big outdoor public parties are maybe 5% if that.

Restaurants have a low maskage rate.

Parks are 0% now and were maybe 5% at the peak. Playgrounds are and were 0%.

I haven't been to a library or the indoor part of a school or college since this started, so I don't know about those. The outdoor parts of colleges were maybe 20 or 30% at the peak.

I think the only sporting event I've been to since this started was a high school baseball game last March. It was maybe 10% among the fans, possibly 0% among players.

Masks actually were mandatory at some of the places listed here, yet usually there was not full compliance, because this isn't a military dictatorship.

[Pericles]

My estimates of maskage at various places around here:

My local Kroger was maybe 60 to 80% masked at the height of mask mania. Now it's about 20 to 30%. Even some employees are unmasked.

Kroger stores in rich neighborhoods were almost 100% masked.

Convenience stores were often 0% masked even at the height of mask mania.

Outdoor areas are usually 0% masked, except for small groups who gather on the sidewalks in front of high-end specialty shops. Downtown Cincinnati where "serious" business and financial types go is usually more masky.

Festivals and big outdoor public parties are maybe 5% if that.

Restaurants have a low maskage rate.

Parks are 0% now and were maybe 5% at the peak. Playgrounds are and were 0%.

I haven't been to a library or the indoor part of a school or college since this started, so I don't know about those. The outdoor parts of colleges were maybe 20 or 30% at the peak.

I think the only sporting event I've been to since this started was a high school baseball game last March. It was maybe 10% among the fans, possibly 0% among players.

Masks actually were mandatory at some of the places listed here, yet usually there was not full compliance, because this isn't a military dictatorship.

Or a society where people look out for each other. No wonder the results were so poor.

[Can't Bear]

https://twitter.com/townhallcom/status/1491485602407190537
This administration is breathtakingly incompetent.

https://www.lovethispic.com/uploaded_images/327979-Lol-Gif.gif

The hypocrisy is so immense it really is funny.

I'm sorry, but Republican complaints about incompetence don't get to be taken seriously until the next century. Try again in 2101 (if your party hasn't died off or collapsed civilization by then).

It seems like Roll Roons hit a nerve?

[DINGO Joe]

https://twitter.com/RepThomasMassie/status/1491441851748204546?ref_src=twsrc%5Et...

Mr. Masie is being roundly ridiculed for this because he is a moron, as he doesn't seem aware that old people make up the vast majority of deaths in the US, even before the pandemic.  I actually have an interesting fact that kind of blew my mind though.  In 2019 before the pandemic, people 65 and over made up 74% of all deaths in the US.  Last year, with like 99.5% of all deaths reported, 65 and over made up 72% of all deaths.  You see, the death rate actually rose at a faster pace for those under 65 than over, but since most people that always die are old, we didn't notice.

Also, on the Klandemic front,  in January 2022 the % of Covid deaths by white people 73%.  In January of 2021 it was 63%.   Good work Trumpers.

[DaleCooper]

My estimates of maskage at various places around here:

My local Kroger was maybe 60 to 80% masked at the height of mask mania. Now it's about 20 to 30%. Even some employees are unmasked.

Kroger stores in rich neighborhoods were almost 100% masked.

Convenience stores were often 0% masked even at the height of mask mania.

Outdoor areas are usually 0% masked, except for small groups who gather on the sidewalks in front of high-end specialty shops. Downtown Cincinnati where "serious" business and financial types go is usually more masky.

Festivals and big outdoor public parties are maybe 5% if that.

Restaurants have a low maskage rate.

Parks are 0% now and were maybe 5% at the peak. Playgrounds are and were 0%.

I haven't been to a library or the indoor part of a school or college since this started, so I don't know about those. The outdoor parts of colleges were maybe 20 or 30% at the peak.

I think the only sporting event I've been to since this started was a high school baseball game last March. It was maybe 10% among the fans, possibly 0% among players.

Masks actually were mandatory at some of the places listed here, yet usually there was not full compliance, because this isn't a military dictatorship.

Or a society where people look out for each other. No wonder the results were so poor.

Lol, the masked communities are not looking out for each other either. The cozy suburbanites who cross the street to avoid walking past a homeless guy whenever they visit the city do not get to claim they're looking out for their fellow man just because they wear a mask when they go to Target.

[Trump Is A Maoist]

My estimates of maskage at various places around here:

My local Kroger was maybe 60 to 80% masked at the height of mask mania. Now it's about 20 to 30%. Even some employees are unmasked.

Kroger stores in rich neighborhoods were almost 100% masked.

Convenience stores were often 0% masked even at the height of mask mania.

Outdoor areas are usually 0% masked, except for small groups who gather on the sidewalks in front of high-end specialty shops. Downtown Cincinnati where "serious" business and financial types go is usually more masky.

Festivals and big outdoor public parties are maybe 5% if that.

Restaurants have a low maskage rate.

Parks are 0% now and were maybe 5% at the peak. Playgrounds are and were 0%.

I haven't been to a library or the indoor part of a school or college since this started, so I don't know about those. The outdoor parts of colleges were maybe 20 or 30% at the peak.

I think the only sporting event I've been to since this started was a high school baseball game last March. It was maybe 10% among the fans, possibly 0% among players.

Masks actually were mandatory at some of the places listed here, yet usually there was not full compliance, because this isn't a military dictatorship.

Or a society where people look out for each other. No wonder the results were so poor.

Lol, the masked communities are not looking out for each other either. The cozy suburbanites who cross the street to avoid walking past a homeless guy whenever they visit the city do not get to claim they're looking out for their fellow man just because they wear a mask when they go to Target.

That's not how it works. They're looking out for each other in regards to COVID by following scientist recommended safety procedures. What they do or don't do in regards to non-COVID things is totally irrelevant.

[Can't Bear]

https://twitter.com/ForecasterEnten/status/1491421262522064899

Tick-tack, Biden...

[Fmr. Gov. NickG]

The Las Vegas mask mandate has been lifted and America can finally breath (indoor cigarette smoke) again!

https://www.reviewjournal.com/news/politics-and-government/nevada/sisolak-ends-state-mask-mandate-2527378/

[Zohranism is OUR future]

In the future, I expect the RP to have a split between the “Old Guard” and the “Revolutionaries” on diseases because of Covid. I expect the Old Guard will obviously want to continue to fund medical research and prevent epidemics (they will want to keep the aristocracy alive) but I do expect the Revolutionaries to ignore pragmatism and seek a Cultural Revolution in America. If the former manages to retain their hold, medical advancement will likely continue albeit with many of those advances only being available to the rich. If the Revolutionaries take control, I expect them to eventually “provide” a degree of universal healthcare, but it will be terrible because most of the educated medical professionals will be locked up and…well I shudder thinking about what will happen to people like my parents once in prison, I probably will know as I will likely be a political prisoner anyways ig.

[Pericles]

https://twitter.com/ForecasterEnten/status/1491421262522064899

Tick-tack, Biden...

The Omicron variant was discovered about two months ago and the wave has now passed. It would have been silly to make that curve even steeper.

[OSR stands with Israel]

My estimates of maskage at various places around here:

My local Kroger was maybe 60 to 80% masked at the height of mask mania. Now it's about 20 to 30%. Even some employees are unmasked.

Kroger stores in rich neighborhoods were almost 100% masked.

Convenience stores were often 0% masked even at the height of mask mania.

Outdoor areas are usually 0% masked, except for small groups who gather on the sidewalks in front of high-end specialty shops. Downtown Cincinnati where "serious" business and financial types go is usually more masky.

Festivals and big outdoor public parties are maybe 5% if that.

Restaurants have a low maskage rate.

Parks are 0% now and were maybe 5% at the peak. Playgrounds are and were 0%.

I haven't been to a library or the indoor part of a school or college since this started, so I don't know about those. The outdoor parts of colleges were maybe 20 or 30% at the peak.

I think the only sporting event I've been to since this started was a high school baseball game last March. It was maybe 10% among the fans, possibly 0% among players.

Masks actually were mandatory at some of the places listed here, yet usually there was not full compliance, because this isn't a military dictatorship.

Or a society where people look out for each other. No wonder the results were so poor.

Lol, the masked communities are not looking out for each other either. The cozy suburbanites who cross the street to avoid walking past a homeless guy whenever they visit the city do not get to claim they're looking out for their fellow man just because they wear a mask when they go to Target.

That's not how it works. They're looking out for each other in regards to COVID by following scientist recommended safety procedures. What they do or don't do in regards to non-COVID things is totally irrelevant.

The same scientists who have lied or been misleading to the public throughout this pandemic. Like after the way they acted its no surprise they have lost trust with the public.


Maybe its time for the elites to start trusting people to make their own decisions again rather than demand respect just cause of a credential they have. They have to earn people's respect just like everyone else does and they just havent

[Trump Is A Maoist]

Lol, the masked communities are not looking out for each other either. The cozy suburbanites who cross the street to avoid walking past a homeless guy whenever they visit the city do not get to claim they're looking out for their fellow man just because they wear a mask when they go to Target.

That's not how it works. They're looking out for each other in regards to COVID by following scientist recommended safety procedures. What they do or don't do in regards to non-COVID things is totally irrelevant.

The same scientists who have lied or been misleading to the public throughout this pandemic. Like after the way they acted its no surprise they have lost trust with the public.


Maybe its time for the elites to start trusting people to make their own decisions again rather than demand respect just cause of a credential they have. They have to earn people's respect just like everyone else does and they just havent

Pleeeease. YES, the scientists haven't been perfect this pandemic. I'm the first to admit that. NO, the fact that they aren't perfect and that you don't happen to like what they're saying doesn't mean that pretending that they don't have any credibility is a serious position.

[OSR stands with Israel]

Lol, the masked communities are not looking out for each other either. The cozy suburbanites who cross the street to avoid walking past a homeless guy whenever they visit the city do not get to claim they're looking out for their fellow man just because they wear a mask when they go to Target.

That's not how it works. They're looking out for each other in regards to COVID by following scientist recommended safety procedures. What they do or don't do in regards to non-COVID things is totally irrelevant.

The same scientists who have lied or been misleading to the public throughout this pandemic. Like after the way they acted its no surprise they have lost trust with the public.


Maybe its time for the elites to start trusting people to make their own decisions again rather than demand respect just cause of a credential they have. They have to earn people's respect just like everyone else does and they just havent

Pleeeease. YES, the scientists haven't been perfect this pandemic. I'm the first to admit that. NO, the fact that they aren't perfect and that you don't happen to like what they're saying doesn't mean that pretending that they don't have any credibility is a serious position.

Maybe its time for them to start trusting the public to make their own decisions rather than lie to them.

The fact is it came out last year they hid the fact that COVID could have been made in a lab cause they didnt want to be viewed as siding with Trump. This by the way happened while social media companies were censoring anyone who posted that theory online, and cable news media smeared those people as racist.


Another fact is in the summer of 2020 , many of them went on tv to say that its ok to protest while they the previous week had went after anyone who ate outdoors during that time period. So this was another sign of how blatantly political they became


The Most egregious is how the goal posts of what the goals behind the restrictions were keep changing .





It is time for them for once to trust the people and stop demanding they deserve special respect just cause of their title. No they should have to earn it like everyone else