Spreads so easily......

[audreyh1]

I’m not happy about Texas especially because I live here! We haven’t even gotten back down to the Oct lows yet, and my county is doing poorly.

I don’t care about bars and restaurants reopening to 100%. I don’t know that 50% or 75% indoor capacity made that much difference anyway. Other TX businesses have already be opened to 100% for a long time.

It’s the masking and social distancing in public that we still really need so that we can go about our activities with lower risk while we get enough people vaccinated.

 

[W2R]

I’m not happy about Texas especially because I live here!

I don’t care about bars and restaurants reopening, whatever.

It’s the masking and social distancing in public that we still really need so that we can go about our activities with lower risk while we get enough people vaccinated.

Well, you have every right to not be happy about Texas if you don't want to be! Maybe it's time to get out the RV again..

Here, we don't seem to be making much progress at all in getting people vaccinated.

 

[audreyh1]

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Unfortunately, the number of infections in the USA has started to rise again in the last few days.

Unfortunately, I believe that recent dip which has now since rebounded, was simply due to many testing stations closed due to the great freeze and aftermath, as well as delays in reporting deaths. Especially in TX where our huge power and water fiasco shuttered so many facilities for a week.

 

[audreyh1]

Well, you have every right to not be happy about Texas if you don't want to be! Maybe it's time to get out the RV again..

Here, we don't seem to be making much progress at all in getting people vaccinated.

And go where exactly? I’m desperately hoping to get vaccinated but have to wait to be eligible.

 

[W2R]

And go where exactly? I’m desperately hoping to get vaccinated.

I don't know! Where would be the easiest place for you to get vaccinated, I wonder? I have no clue but I keep reading posts about people just calling and getting vaccinated really quickly.

Here that just doesn't happen. It's almost impossible to get an appointment even if eligible, unless you have connections or work at a hospital or something. Surely it's easier in one of the other states. Or Mexico?

 

[Montecfo]

I’m not happy about Texas especially because I live here! We haven’t even gotten back down to the Oct lows yet, and my county is doing poorly.

I don’t care about bars and restaurants reopening to 100%. I don’t know that 50% or 75% indoor capacity made that much difference anyway. Other TX businesses have already be opened to 100% for a long time.

It’s the masking and social distancing in public that we still really need so that we can go about our activities with lower risk while we get enough people vaccinated.

Hi Audrey,

What do you mean by public spaces? I assume major national retail stores will continue mask mandates.

I see some people masking outdoors, but I do not except in crowded areas, as I do not see any benefit or risk. But I do distance like crazy. And will continue to do so.

 

[audreyh1]

Hi Audrey,

What do you mean by public spaces? I assume major national retail stores will continue mask mandates.

I see some people masking outdoors, but I do not except in crowded areas, as I do not see any benefit or risk. But I do distance like crazy. And will continue to do so.

Public spaces - in public. Yes, I am hoping even local chains will continue to require masks and social distancing, to protect their employees serving the public at least, as well as other customers. We pretty much only go out to public venues for grocery shopping and gas. Other than the rare doctor’s office visit or vaccination, that is.

 

[Telly]

I'm not "Happy for Texas" either! I too live there! I don't see any science in today's proclamation.

But what I do see is an attempt to shift the Texas public's focus off of the miserable effect of electrical deregulation, onto something else, because of the 2022 election coming up.

The worthless show trial "hearings" on the power disaster wasn't enough to do it. Need bigger candy, so...

 

[MrsHaloFIRE]

Put me down as also not happy for Texas, as an ineligible Texan. Many 65 plus with comorbidities remain unvaccinated. And I guess screw the rest of folks ineligible for vaccines BC its fine if we get sick and/or develop life changing long hauling symptoms since we may live a super long time to enjoy them to their fullest. 6pct are fully vaccinated so the remaining 94 pct are inconsequential. Rip off the masks and open it wide up.

I think I would be ok with the 100pct opening if we kept masking. But both simultaneously before the big Easter barbeques popular in my area and lets not forget Spring Break sounds like an ideal breeding ground for variants.

 

[Koolau]

I don't know! Where would be the easiest place for you to get vaccinated, I wonder? I have no clue but I keep reading posts about people just calling and getting vaccinated really quickly.

Here that just doesn't happen. It's almost impossible to get an appointment even if eligible, unless you have connections or work at a hospital or something. Surely it's easier in one of the other states. Or Mexico?

Same problem here. Doc's offices do not have the shots. It's places like Blaisdell center - our "performing arts" center and concert venue. It all depends how many doses we receive which has been problematic. I'm not yet eligible, but there are tons of horror stories about folks NOT able to sign up, mix-ups once one is signed up, dropped phone calls after waiting an hour on hold, simply running out of doses before they get to your "number" or how ever they call you for your turn to get your shot, holding back doses to cover those needing the 2nd shot, etc. etc. It's been a bit of a cluster flop.

I understand needing to set up appointments since supplies are limited, but that system of sign up needs to be a lot easier for us "old" and "confused" people without "advocates." I'm hoping if/when our "turn" comes we'll be able to figure it out. YMMV

 

[twaddle]

Not sure about the best thread for this, but a nice summary of what we know about some of the variants. (Source=Eric Topol, famous scientist at Scripps)

 

[ExFlyBoy5]

Unfortunately, I believe that recent dip which has now since rebounded, was simply due to many testing stations closed due to the great freeze and aftermath, as well as delays in reporting deaths. Especially in TX where our huge power and water fiasco shuttered so many facilities for a week.

But hospitalizations are down too, no? Those trends aren't just in TX, they are reflected all over the US. In my non-scientific opinion...it's finally petering out.

 

[Sunset]

But hospitalizations are down too, no? Those trends aren't just in TX, they are reflected all over the US. In my non-scientific opinion...it's finally petering out.

The midwest also had a 2 week super freezing cold weather, we are now out of it, and I'm betting the cases will start to climb again as people leave their homes to mingle.

 

[Aerides]

But hospitalizations are down too, no? Those trends aren't just in TX, they are reflected all over the US. In my non-scientific opinion...it's finally petering out.

I think it's good, but the jury is out on how long it will be before we're back at sub-20k case days again. The slope of the decrease tapered off a lot quicker than the most hopeful projections showed, and, we're still in at the same rolling-7 average on cases, mostly, that we had last July when it was a peak. Not yet back to the sept/oct lows.

More than likely things will continue the right direction, even moreso if vaccines really pick up and expand to all ages, but not if everyone now acts like we're already there. We have heard that song before.

 

[Koolau]

Not sure about the best thread for this, but a nice summary of what we know about some of the variants. (Source=Eric Topol, famous scientist at Scripps)

Well, that certainly clears it up!

(Seriously, thanks for the info since YMMV.)

 

[twaddle]

Yeah, it's a little geeky, but most of us will be concerned with "immune evasion" and "vaccine efficacy." Brazil is being hit hard by V3, and it's infecting even those who were already infected.

 

[Koolau]

Yeah, it's a little geeky, but most of us will be concerned with "immune evasion" and "vaccine efficacy." Brazil is being hit hard by V3, and it's infecting even those who were already infected.

Now THAT is scary. YMMV

 

[Buckeye]

Now THAT is scary. YMMV

Variants are why, having received my 2nd vaccine a month ago, I still social distance and wear a mask. I'l be masking and distancing until our state case numbers go to nil.

I saw a headline that said long haulers felt better after a dose of the vaccine. Didn't read the article but that is great news if it helps a lot of the long haulers get back to normal.

 

[Koolau]

A fair amount of good news here of late. Just went to tier 3. There is talk of getting rid of the requirement for quarantine for inter-island travel. Today we only had about 20 new cases in the Islands and there are fewer than 700 active cases state wide. Also J&J vaccine just arrived (only about 5000 doses.)

I guess we'll just wait to see what happens next.

 

[W2R]

A fair amount of good news here of late. Just went to tier 3. There is talk of getting rid of the requirement for quarantine for inter-island travel. Today we only had about 20 new cases in the Islands and there are fewer than 700 active cases state wide. Also J&J vaccine just arrived (only about 5000 doses.)

I guess we'll just wait to see what happens next.

So happy to hear your cases are decreasing like that! Hope they feel that quarantine can be loosened soon.

 

[Katsmeow]

I’m not happy about Texas especially because I live here! We haven’t even gotten back down to the Oct lows yet, and my county is doing poorly.

I don’t care about bars and restaurants reopening to 100%. I don’t know that 50% or 75% indoor capacity made that much difference anyway. Other TX businesses have already be opened to 100% for a long time.

It’s the masking and social distancing in public that we still really need so that we can go about our activities with lower risk while we get enough people vaccinated.

Yes, I agree with this. The capacity limits were pretty much a joke. But the mask mandate did make a difference although sometimes customers ignored it and stores wouldn't do anything.

I do expect death rates to go down in Texas. A lot of people over 65 have been vaccinated and they are the ones most likely to die. 80% of deaths in an October report were 65 or older. 15% between 50 and 64. But only 15% of cases were in people over 65. Nursing home deaths have gone down sharply.

So I think deaths will go down as the people most likely to die will have been vaccinated. But, I'm not at all sure cases will go down as quickly since it is mostly younger people spreading it even though they don't tend to die.

I'm glad I am almost 2 weeks past my 2nd vaccination.... But, I will continue to mask when inside in public. A lot of the national stores here have already said they are keeping the mask mandate. Some grocery stores are not but Kroger (where we mostly shop) is keeping it. We usually get pickup anyway.

Sue -- I expect they will be expanding eligibility in the not too distant future. But, yes, I disagree with getting rid of the mask mandate.

 

[harllee]

Here in NC the Governor has eased up on some restrictions but we are keeping the mask mandate. I am very glad about we still have a mask mandate--it is required in all public buildings and outside if you cannot social distance.

 

[Montecfo]

Variants are why, having received my 2nd vaccine a month ago, I still social distance and wear a mask. I'l be masking and distancing until our state case numbers go to nil.

I saw a headline that said long haulers felt better after a dose of the vaccine. Didn't read the article but that is great news if it helps a lot of the long haulers get back to normal.

Well, everyone should still social distance and mask. It is just courteous. No one knows your vax status and they should not try to guess.

 

[sengsational]

Yeah, it's a little geeky, but most of us will be concerned with "immune evasion" and "vaccine efficacy." Brazil is being hit hard by V3, and it's infecting even those who were already infected.

I find the exploration of statistics on disease prevalence, disease severity, vaccination or recovery status, and the rest of it fascinating. I never bother with traditional media because they tend not to get deep enough, and often don't even get the basics right. There's a challenge in interpreting data across multiple sources to adjust for methodological differences that I enjoy wading through. The more I learn, the less I know

 

[twaddle]

I find the exploration of statistics on disease prevalence, disease severity, vaccination or recovery status, and the rest of it fascinating. I never bother with traditional media because they tend not to get deep enough, and often don't even get the basics right. There's a challenge in interpreting data across multiple sources to adjust for methodological differences that I enjoy wading through. The more I learn, the less I know

Amen. When this thing first started, I started reading research papers. There was already some good data from research on SARS, including mask efficacy, sanitation procedures, etc.

Of course, our trusted leaders came out with recommendations completely contrary to known data. And the way this entire thing unfolded was just maddening.

Anyway, I agree that there's no reason to have a newspaper reporter interpret the data for you.