CR: COVID-19 --Political Talk

[DDD Dad 14,339]

1 minute ago, jimmyjazz said:

Is there evidence that this is true for omicron?  One would expect that to be the case, but I don't think we're far enough into the wave to know for sure, are we?  We certainly don't know how long acquired immunity via omicron might last compared to prior variants or the vaccine.

In the NY TImes Daily episode I posted last week, they reported that lab tests seemed to show that Omicron antibodies were effective against Delta and prior variants, much more so than Delta was against Omicron.  

[jimmyjazz 45,976]

9 minutes ago, DDD Dad said:

In the NY TImes Daily episode I posted last week, they reported that lab tests seemed to show that Omicron antibodies were effective against Delta and prior variants, much more so than Delta was against Omicron.  

Ah, I missed that.  Thanks.  Still, there is no way we have a good read on lasting immunity yet.  Hopefully it's substantial, because this is our only realistic path towards herd immunity at this point.

[Skipper 6,136]

3 minutes ago, jimmyjazz said:

Is there evidence that this is true for omicron?  One would expect that to be the case, but I don't think we're far enough into the wave to know for sure, are we?  We certainly don't know how long acquired immunity via omicron might last compared to prior variants or the vaccine.

The Texas Cares study estimated over 75% of Texans had either vaccine and/or natural immunity as of October (when we weren't finished with the Delta wave).  So considering addition of more vaccinations + continuing Delta + Omicron that number should be really high.  I would think we'll get an updated estimate for Texas sometime this spring from that study as volunteers should be starting round 3 of antibody testing soon (if not already, I would think mine is probably February).   I think you are right we don't know how long vax or omicron acquired immunity will last.  From what I have read assuming this virus continues to behave like every other virus, your antibody levels will fall off (which we've already seen) making you susceptible to reinfection but your memory b cells and t cell immunity "should" last for years.  Most likely we'll all be infected and reinfected numerous times with some strain of COVID-19.  Most will be fine, and just like both the cold and the flu every year, some people (mostly older and/or unhealthy) will get sick and die annually.  I guess all bets are still off if a new more lethal strain presented but from what I've read that would be a bit atypical and omicron presenting more mild is typical virus evolution.

[Skipper 6,136]

1 minute ago, jimmyjazz said:

Ah, I missed that.  Thanks.  Still, there is no way we have a good read on lasting immunity yet.  Hopefully it's substantial, because this is our only realistic path towards herd immunity at this point.

I haven't seen anyone that actually thinks "herd immunity" will ever be a thing. At least from an infectivity standpoint.  The "best case" (and also maybe most likely?) scenario I've seen described is a seasonal corona virus that we all get from time to time that is like a bad cold (i.e., how most vaccinated have felt with Omicron)

[Sawbonz 27,578]

1 hour ago, RDCanecutter said:

I dug the local language. Like learning the Ulster Scot version of French. Beer drank pretty good too. If they'd move Quebec someplace warm, I'd live there.

They did. It’s called Lafayette Louisiana 

[brakeman 28,375]

15 hours ago, brakeman said:

No beer mandates.

 

 

 

 

Edited January 10, 2022 by brakeman
It seems to have worked a little bit...

[Sawbonz 27,578]

2 hours ago, MC Fresh Breath said:

https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/california-issues-new-guidance-on-quarantine-and-isolation-for-healthcare-workers/2834540/

The anesthesiologist that I worked with today has a buddy in Arizona and apparently they are doing the same. If you’re asymptomatic you are good to go immediately after exposure even w positive test. 

[jimmyjazz 45,976]

3 minutes ago, Sawbonz said:

The anesthesiologist that I worked with today has a buddy in Arizona and apparently they are doing the same. If you’re asymptomatic you are good to go immediately after exposure even w positive test. 

Wow, that seems aggressive.  Is that just a concession to a reduced labor pool?

[brakeman 28,375]

3 hours ago, PsychMike said:

 

 

 

[Chopper 17,238]

Impact of the boost in the UK through end of Dec. Rate of critical hospitalizations for the boosted is shown in green, almost zero.

 

Edited January 10, 2022 by Chopper
corrected chart

[jimmyjazz 45,976]

Fake limey science.

[Dutchrudder 11,141]

Interesting CDC data for US deaths. I'm surprised the mouthbreathers haven't started claiming this virus was engineered by China to kill white people. It's certainly going to have an effect on our demographics in the future, and possibly some swing state votes in 2024.  

[Brisketexan 105,156]

1 minute ago, Dutchrudder said:

Interesting CDC data for US deaths. I'm surprised the mouthbreathers haven't started claiming this virus was engineered by China to kill white people. It's certainly going to have an effect on our demographics in the future, and possibly some swing state votes in 2024.  

Seems like the safest thing to be is "other."  Thanking GOD for my 1% Armenian genes (don't tell me Armenia is in Asia, dudes.....that's just Turkish propaganda).

[Guest Lobo]

I can't tell if "Armenian One Percenter" sounds like your genealogy report, a new reality show on Bravo, or one of the terrorist groups that Hans Gruber told the FBI about in "Die Hard."  (I read about them in SkyMall magazine)

Edited January 10, 2022 by Lobo

[LurkingHorn 1,066]

9 minutes ago, Dutchrudder said:

Interesting CDC data for US deaths. I'm surprised the mouthbreathers haven't started claiming this virus was engineered by China to kill white people. It's certainly going to have an effect on our demographics in the future, and possibly some swing state votes in 2024.  

You have a link to this data?

[RDCanecutter 26,452]

2 minutes ago, Lobo said:

I can't tell if "Armenian One Percenter" sounds like your genealogy report, a new reality show on Bravo, or one of the terrorist groups that Hans Gruber told the FBI about in "Die Hard."  (I read about them in SkyMall magazine)

Don't be fooled by that "Armenian" smoke screen. The boy's a gotdam Hittite spy.

[Brisketexan 105,156]

2 minutes ago, Lobo said:

I can't tell if "Armenian One Percenter" sounds like your genealogy report, a new reality show on Bravo, or one of the terrorist groups that Hans Gruber told the FBI about in "Die Hard."  (I read about them in SkyMall magazine)

I mean....I don't even have that.  I'm all messican, spanish, french, and various british isles.  In short, when it comes to COVID susceptability, I are hosed.

[Biff Tannen 45,691]

3 minutes ago, RDCanecutter said:

Don't be fooled by that "Armenian" smoke screen. The boy's a gotdam Hittite spy.

[Dutchrudder 11,141]

9 minutes ago, LurkingHorn said:

You have a link to this data?

https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/vsrr/covid19/excess_deaths.htm

There are quite a few options for the charts. Someone else posted the original link a few pages back. 

[52-80 19,163]

6 hours ago, RDCanecutter said:

I do wonder why I haven't heard about any anti-maskers just using the magically-can't-spread-Covid-while-eating-or-drinking rule as a workaround.

I mean, just sit there for hours with mask down, "sipping" on a drink. Maybe have a doctor's note to stay hydrated. No need for all the screaming and yelling, just sip on a drink.

LOL what?  Have you been in a very public place in the last 2 years - airport, airplane, train?  Don't know their individual politics but many people have been doing that for a longggg time.  People use ineffective cloth masks; slip it below their nose; pretend to be eating/drinking; or flatly ignore mask policies.

The people 'screaming and yelling' are the ones who demand everyone else to mask up.  These are the public spats that blow up on YouTube.  And it's really silly in terms of effort v. effect.

If vaccinating and properly masking yourself reduces your chance of catching it, transmitting it, and succumbing to it, that's the easiest and best thing you can do for yourself and others.  Highest returns in terms of effort vs. effect.

Once you've done that, bemoaning what other people do is absolutely the least effective. 

 

[Sawbonz 27,578]

3 hours ago, jimmyjazz said:

Wow, that seems aggressive.  Is that just a concession to a reduced labor pool?

Not sure probably somewhat but also  most all of us are vaxed and many have also had Covid and just feel the need to get on with life. 

[aggie08 21,505]

22 minutes ago, 52-80 said:

LOL what?  Have you been in a very public place in the last 2 years - airport, airplane, train?  Don't know their individual politics but many people have been doing that for a longggg time.  People use ineffective cloth masks; slip it below their nose; pretend to be eating/drinking; or flatly ignore mask policies.

The people 'screaming and yelling' are the ones who demand everyone else to mask up.  These are the public spats that blow up on YouTube.  And it's really silly in terms of effort v. effect.

If vaccinating and properly masking yourself reduces your chance of catching it, transmitting it, and succumbing to it, that's the easiest and best thing you can do for yourself and others.  Highest returns in terms of effort vs. effect.

Once you've done that, bemoaning what other people do is absolutely the least effective. 

 

I agree with a lot of this, but you've got to be kidding me with the bolded. The loudest and angriest--and most willing to make a scene--are undoubtedly the "masks are useless" crowd. I've yet to see anyone yell at someone to wear a mask. It's almost always Mr. Independent Thinker flipping out on the poor 17 year old door greeter for asking him to please put on his mask before entering.

[Brisketexan 105,156]

5 minutes ago, Sawbonz said:

Not sure probably somewhat but also  most all of us are vaxed and many have also had Covid and just feel the need to get on with life. 

Weighing public sentiment is actually a pretty important element of setting sound policy, particularly when it comes to public safety.

E.g., if we wanted to make driving SUPER safe, we'd set the speed limit everywhere for 20 mph.  Injuries and deaths would go way down if people would drive 20.  What a win!

Of course, balance that with 1) the economic cost of all transport and commuting being super-slow, and 2) the fact that a shitload of people just won't follow it.

Instead, we need to find a speed limit that will do a reasonable job of keeping people from very dangerous speeds, still allow for economic travel, and people will be comfortable following it.  Don't listen to the fringes -- I'm sure we can find people screaming that we should all drive 20, or walk, or what have you, as well as people who think ANY speed limits are fascist tyranny.

For the other 95% of us, a highway speed limit of, say, 65-70 provides a reasonable guide to our speed that we'll follow.   Maybe we go a few miles over, but we keep it below 90, mostly.

Our ultimate approach to COVID -- and we're getting there QUICKLY these days -- needs to take these into account.  We COULD tell everyone to stay home, get 4 shots, and wear double N95 masks everywhere they go.  But while that may reduce transmission and harm, it would be crippling economically, and people (even otherwise reasonable people) would bristle against it.

I think that you'll get buy-in if the long-term plan is:

1) stay home if you're sick, and get tested with an easy at-home test

2) get an annual COVID vax/booster around the same time you get your flu shot -- that is, in the fall, get your annual  "viral respiratory illness shots."

3) in periods of significant localized outbreaks resulting in serious illnesses/hospital pressure, contemplate short-term closures (seriously, schools have closed for a week before when flu is spreading badly in that school -- that's happened for decades), etc.

4) understand that some countries will have vaccination requirements for entry.  Don't get a COVID shot, you don't get to go.  That's not new, either -- nations have required immunizations and other health measures for entry for centuries.  Don't like it?  Stay in the USA.

With those four elements, we have a picture of what the world should look like going forward.

[Sawbonz 27,578]

12 hours ago, HenryJames said:

 

I wonder what the optimal concentration is

[workswithseed 2,112]

7 hours ago, Brisketexan said:

You've just told us that you have zero fucking idea how "liberty" works.  When your exercise of your "liberty" impacts OTHERS (such as making it more likely that you'll transmit a deadly illness, and much more likely that you'll 1) use limited medical resources, meaning they won't be available for others who need them, and 2) you'll impose the costs of your decisions on others, either through government payment for your treatment OR through payment by private insurance pools of which the rest of us are a part and have to fund), then it's not fucking "freedom."  It's petulant childishness where YOU get the "freedom," but the REST OF US bear a bunch of the consequences.

Pick up a copy of "On Liberty," and come back when you have read and understand it.

What, I chose not to go to one bar, and went to another that didn't care? Seeing how I've already had it, and didn't use one resource then it seems you're wrong. Seeing how there is a pandemic of the vaccinated seeing from all your posts here that said you're vaccinated and got it. Your fear porn got us this. You're going to have to explain to me that this is good, because y'all are cult like.

 

 

[52-80 19,163]

CDC: “of 1.2m vaxxed, severe illness occured in 0.015% of people.  (15 in 100,000)

75% of deaths occured in people who had atleast 4 co-morbodities; people who were unwell to begin with”

 

If youre vaxxed…do whatever the fuck you want to do.  Almost like what some have said for a long time.

[Immaculate Vibes 114]

4 minutes ago, 52-80 said:

CDC: “of 1.2m vaxxed, severe illness occured in 0.015% of people.  (15 in 100,000)

75% of deaths occured in people who had atleast 4 co-morbodities; people who were unwell to begin with”

 

If youre vaxxed…do whatever the fuck you want to do.  Almost like what some have said for a long time.

This is obviously how most people are feeling. Polling must be scaring Democrats. A coordinated retreat by the government and media. Shortened quarantine, suddenly we need to differentiate if hospitalizations are for Covid or with Covid, vaccinations don’t really help stop transmission. They’re trying to reset expectations, improve the optics. 
 

Even have Pfizer CEO today saying they can improve the safety profile of mRNA treatments. That would’ve never been spoken earlier in the pandemic. Again, seems all very coordinated. 

[Chopper 17,238]

5 minutes ago, workswithseed said:

Seeing how there is a pandemic of the vaccinated seeing from all your posts here that said you're vaccinated and got it. Your fear porn got us this. You're going to have to explain to me that this is good, because y'all are cult like.

 

 

 

 

You're 17x more likely to have to go to the ER if you're unvaxxed and 20x more likely to die from it. Or something like that. But, sure, it's a pandemic of the vaccinated per the short-bussers.

[Brisketexan 105,156]

9 minutes ago, workswithseed said:

What, I chose not to go to one bar, and went to another that didn't care? Seeing how I've already had it, and didn't use one resource then it seems you're wrong. Seeing how there is a pandemic of the vaccinated seeing from all your posts here that said you're vaccinated and got it. Your fear porn got us this. You're going to have to explain to me that this is good, because y'all are cult like.

What on earth are you blathering about?

I'm vaccinated, and haven't gotten it -- but maybe I will, I know several vaxxed people who have contracted COVID.

BUT THEY DIDN'T END UP IN THE HOSPITAL.  THEY DON'T TAKE UP PRECIOUS RESOURCES (unless they are morons like in the link you posted below -- I agree, those folks with no symptoms or no serious illness shouldn't clog up ERs either).  That doesn't change the fact that almost all of the COVID cases actually using hospital and ICU beds right now are unvaxxed.

Congrats, YOU didn't use a hospital bed.  But statistically, your unvaxxed brethren are the ones doing so.

Get.  The fucking.  Shot.  It is safe and effective at keeping people out of the hospital/morgue.  If you don't, and your illness takes a turn for the worse, don't use the resources needed by your fellow Americans (most of whom need hospital beds for non-COVID reasons; a man with serious heart issues may not get an hospital bed fast enough because too many are occupied at the moment by unvaxxed COVID patients).

I'm not pushing "fear porn."  The numbers on vaxxed vs. unvaxxed falling seriously ill and needing hospitalization aren't even close.  A single, simple step can make a difference.  But a shitload of people won't take it, 1) asserting their individual freedom, but 2) they're perfectly willing to put the costs of their "freedom" onto society as a whole.  That's not "liberty," and never has been.

[Sawbonz 27,578]

4 minutes ago, Immaculate Vibes said:

This is obviously how most people are feeling. Polling must be scaring Democrats. A coordinated retreat by the government and media. Shortened quarantine, suddenly we need to differentiate if hospitalizations are for Covid or with Covid, vaccinations don’t really help stop transmission. They’re trying to reset expectations, improve the optics. 
 

Even have Pfizer CEO today saying they can improve the safety profile of mRNA treatments. That would’ve never been spoken earlier in the pandemic. Again, seems all very coordinated. 

Or, you know, things are objectively getting better, and we have more data, warranting a change in policy. Why might they be getting better?

[Celery Man 20,968]

837,000 dead Americans and you dumb fucking idiots acting evolved and rational because now (due to the incredible selfishness and shitheadedness of people like you, the true plague on our nation) it really is too late to do anything but live with it is priceless. The only people you are fooling is yourselves, get fucked.

To be clear - the people I’m talking about know who they are, and yes at some point hopefully soon we move on. I’m all for insurance companies gouging the idiots and companies showing them the door.

Edited January 10, 2022 by Celery Man

[Neonmoon 38,129]

10 minutes ago, Immaculate Vibes said:

This is obviously how most people are feeling. Polling must be scaring Democrats. A coordinated retreat by the government and media. Shortened quarantine, suddenly we need to differentiate if hospitalizations are for Covid or with Covid, vaccinations don’t really help stop transmission. They’re trying to reset expectations, improve the optics. 
 

Even have Pfizer CEO today saying they can improve the safety profile of mRNA treatments. That would’ve never been spoken earlier in the pandemic. Again, seems all very coordinated. 

Did you read this on Facebook?

[GreenspointTexas 9,649]

Im still struggling with why people still dont wanna get vaccinated….

[NameAlreadyInUse 5,114]

So Austin is back to stage 5 which means we're supposed to wear our masks inside stores.  As I was picking up some supplies at Lowe's yesterday, I saw something that made me want to be a dick.  This motherfucker was walking around unmasked with his unmasked wife and their unmasked baby (too tiny to be a toddler) and he was wearing a 3XL shirt with the quote "Don't be a dick" covering the entirety of his sizeable back. 

I wonder if he woke up that day and said "I'm going to go out and public and be a dick while I'm wearing my don't be a dick shirt" or if he was just totally unaware.  Stupid or evil, I can never decide which one I struggle with the most.

[NameAlreadyInUse 5,114]

Just now, GreenspointTexas said:

Im still struggling with why people still dont wanna get vaccinated….

Keep struggling.  Except for a very very very tiny minority of people who actually do have medical reasons for not getting vaxxed, the others have no rationale and can not give you a concrete answer, at least not one based in reality.    

[hobbes2702 13,045]

2 minutes ago, GreenspointTexas said:

Im still struggling with why people still dont wanna get vaccinated….

Seriously what reason is there not to? I truly don’t understand. 

[Pig Bellmont 8,719]

Just now, hobbes2702 said:

Seriously what reason is there not to? I truly don’t understand. 

It’s 100% about owning the libs. It’s why there’s no republican platform to govern. No other motivation exists other than pissing off democrats

[aggie08 21,505]

36 minutes ago, Immaculate Vibes said:

This is obviously how most people are feeling. Polling must be scaring Democrats. A coordinated retreat by the government and media. Shortened quarantine, suddenly we need to differentiate if hospitalizations are for Covid or with Covid, vaccinations don’t really help stop transmission. They’re trying to reset expectations, improve the optics. 
 

Even have Pfizer CEO today saying they can improve the safety profile of mRNA treatments. That would’ve never been spoken earlier in the pandemic. Again, seems all very coordinated. 

Whichever poster this sock belongs to fucking sucks.

Edited January 11, 2022 by aggie08

[52-80 19,163]

 

53 minutes ago, 52-80 said:

…do whatever the fuck you want to do. 

Except having sex with pangolins. Please dont do that. 

[Immaculate Vibes 114]

35 minutes ago, Sawbonz said:

Or, you know, things are objectively getting better, and we have more data, warranting a change in policy. Why might they be getting better?

The shortened quarantine was a political decision. 
 

How is reclassifying hospitalizations and deaths a byproduct of improving conditions? That’s just trying to change the narrative.
 

Also, I forgot cloth masks no longer work. Is that because things have gotten better? No, more optics. 

[Longhorn_Fan68 33,874]

57 minutes ago, 52-80 said:

CDC: “of 1.2m vaxxed, severe illness occured in 0.015% of people.  (15 in 100,000)

75% of deaths occured in people who had atleast 4 co-morbodities; people who were unwell to begin with”

 

If youre vaxxed…do whatever the fuck you want to do.  Almost like what some have said for a long time.

goddamn, 10/15 had 4+ comorbidities? that's similar in statistical nothingness as the amount of verifiable voter fraud

[52-80 19,163]

1 minute ago, Longhorn_Fan68 said:

goddamn, 10/15 had 4+ comorbidities? that's similar in statistical nothingness as the amount of verifiable voter fraud

The 75% is unrelated to the 15

she/they said the death was “point 003 percent”, i.e. 3/100k, or 36 of the 1.2M

So apparently 27+ of those had turboaids and such

[Longhorn_Fan68 33,874]

4 minutes ago, 52-80 said:

The 75% is unrelated to the 15

she/they said the death was “point 003 percent”, i.e. 3/100k, or 36 of the 1.2M

So apparently 27+ of those had turboaids and such

thanks for the clarification. still, dying of covid while being vaxed is next to zero.

[Sawbonz 27,578]

15 minutes ago, Immaculate Vibes said:

The shortened quarantine was a political decision. 
 

How is reclassifying hospitalizations and deaths a byproduct of improving conditions? That’s just trying to change the narrative.
 

Also, I forgot cloth masks no longer work. Is that because things have gotten better? No, more optics. 

Shortened quarantine is based on data that show current illness is less severe and of shorter duration. Thanks in large part to widespread vaccine

Nothing is being reclassified. That’s more of the bullshit narrative that people were coming in for broken ankles and being admitted for Covid so the docs and hospitals could make money. What is true is that, mostly due to vaccination efforts as well as a he increased transmissibility of omicron, people are popping positive for Covid on routine screening for elective procedures or when they come in through the ER for other problems. There are still plenty of sick as shit people (almost all unvaccinated) admitted for Covid. 
 

Who gives a shit about masks, cloths or otherwise if half of people refuse to wear them? More bullshit

 

 

[SaucyJack 3,488]

33 minutes ago, 52-80 said:

 

Except having sex with pangolins. Please dont do that. 

[Beantown Express 2.0 6,559]

20 minutes ago, Longhorn_Fan68 said:

thanks for the clarification. still, dying of covid while being vaxed is next to zero.

So, I have to go to a work event in FL next week with 1000 people at it for 4 days.  I am guessing most won’t be wearing masks.  I am vaxed and boosted but still feel like I could die from this.  Thanks media.

[Longhorn_Fan68 33,874]

11 minutes ago, Beantown Express 2.0 said:

So, I have to go to a work event in FL next week with 1000 people at it for 4 days.  I am guessing most won’t be wearing masks.  I am vaxed and boosted but still feel like I could die from this.  Thanks media.

define "have to"

[Beantown Express 2.0 6,559]

Expected to since my boss and direct reports will be there and its our biggest customer.  

[DefinitelyNotHollywoodColt 12,301]

1 hour ago, Pig Bellmont said:

It’s 100% about owning the libs. It’s why there’s no republican platform to govern. No other motivation exists other than pissing off democrats

That doesn’t explain the strong vaccine resistance in other countries.

[Bookman 4,639]

2 hours ago, GreenspointTexas said:

Im still struggling with why people still dont wanna get vaccinated….