Covid-19 miscellany

[Elixir]

Lockdowns and mask mandates simply don't work

How do you explain the vastly lower case rate in counties that had mask mandates vs their neighboring counties? (Eg Kansas)

“the 7-day rolling average number of new daily cases per 100,000 population) decreased (mean decrease of 0.08 cases per 100,000 per day; net decrease of 6%) among counties with a mask mandate (mandated counties) but continued to increase (mean increase of 0.11 cases per 100,000 per day; net increase of 100%) among counties without a mask mandate”

Pretty stark, vs your barefaced unsupported assertion.

 

[Jarhyn]

Attention right: Shut the fuck up about natural immunity. It's busted:

Compare charts B and D, specifically the last column. Note how we get a pretty similar distribution between those with prior exposure and those without.

And from what I've seen that chart is outdated (and not in a good way), where unvax'd people who got Omicron BA.1 aren't particularly immune to Omicron BA.4 or BA.5. Hopefully the virus keeps weakening, because it is continuing to get more contagious.

While I agree that chart has been overtaken by the virus the point remains valid--"natural" immunity isn't providing protection.

Cue the next round of The Covidiot Pivot!

 

[repoman]

where are the four charts from, Loren?

 

[Loren Pechtel]

Sweden has logged one of the lowest pandemic death tolls in Europe despite its refusal to impose lockdowns, World Health Organization estimates suggest. The Scandinavian nation became an international outcast when it defied scientific advice and chose not to shut down in 2020 — instead relying on people's common sense and light social restrictions. Now, the WHO's analysis of excess deaths — people who died directly and indirectly from Covid — suggests the highly-controversial hands-off approach has been vindicated.
Of the 194 countries looked at by the UN health agency, Sweden's pandemic death rate ranked 101st with 56 per 100,000 — well below the average of 90. It also puts Sweden below most other major European nations that locked down several times, such as Italy (133), Germany (116), Spain (111), Britain (109), Portugal (100), the Netherlands (85), Belgium (77) and France (63).

Daily Mail

Lockdowns and mask mandates simply don't work.

The Daily Fail, as usual peddling crap.

Sweden should have been compared to it's neighbors--but that would show that it did much worse than them.

 

[Loren Pechtel]

where are the four charts from, Loren?

It's from a newsletter from an epidemiologist.

 

[ZiprHead]

 

[ZiprHead]

My brother-in-law is pretty sick with covid. And it looks like the rest of his family is coming down with it. The all got vaxxed but no boosters. And they are Trumpers.

 

[TSwizzle]

Bill Gates has tested positive for covid.

The outspoken vaccine advocate said on Twitter he's "experiencing mild symptoms" and he's "following the experts' advice by isolating until I'm healthy again." Gates added that he's "fortunate to be vaccinated and boosted."

The billionaire Microsoft (MSFT) founder also said Tuesday that the Gates Foundation was "coming together" for the first time two years and that he's meeting them virtually on Microsoft Teams (where else?). "We will continue working with partners and do all we can to ensure none of us have to deal with a pandemic again," he said. Gates has spoken often about mitigation efforts and how to prevent the next pandemic. He told CNN International anchor Becky Anderson late last year about his hopes of having the Covid-19 pandemic under control by 2023. He predicts that with expanded vaccine availability, that next year the world "won't have the level disruption we have had for the first three years of this."

CNN

Bill Gates can fuck right off.

 

[ZiprHead]

Bill Gates can fuck right off.

Why? Is there something he said that bothers you?

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

TSwizzle is pretty pro-malaria.

 

[crazyfingers]

Known cases in the public school where my kid goes are on track for May to surpass January case numbers. My son reports that maybe 10% of the people in the high school wear masks. I just shot off an email to the superintendent telling him it's time. I don't know if they care. "Kids don't get very sick" Wrong. And it's not just about the kids you moron. They live in a family.

I took the same kid to the doctor yesterday unrelated to this. A knee issue. The Dr Office requires masks but the receptionist had it down below her nose. I told her to put it on correctly.

A few days ago I had to actually go into a bank. I needed small bills that we use to tip the workers who deliver the groceries out to us in the car. Two tellers. One with a mask and one without. I said out loud I was going to the one with the mask and not the one without a mask.

I'm really tired of people who give no consideration for others.

 

[Loren Pechtel]

I was in a doctor's office yesterday. Masks optional, no employee was wearing one. Yet they ask the Covid questions. Hey, it spreads so well because it spreads before you have symptoms!

 

[TSwizzle]

Someone in our office tested positive for covid on Tuesday. They just got their booster on Saturday. They report flu like symptoms so far. They've been told to isolate until Saturday and stay off work until they get a negative test. Two people in the office took covid tests Tuesday and were negative. I'm not going to bother with a test unless I feel I have symptoms. We have about seven people in the office, nobody wears a mask. I haven't worn a mask since December 2021 I reckon.

The EU will no longer require passengers to wear masks at airport or on planes as of May 16th.

 

[bilby]

A few days ago I had to actually go into a bank. I needed small bills that we use to tip the workers who deliver the groceries out to us in the car

That's the most American thing I have read all week.

Literally everything in those two sentences is completely alien to me.

I was last in a bank when we bought this house. And I don't recall the last time I handled cash, or tipped anyone. Certainly not in the last decade.

 

[ZiprHead]

A few days ago I had to actually go into a bank. I needed small bills that we use to tip the workers who deliver the groceries out to us in the car.

I've tried to tip them at both Kroger and Meijer. They always say they aren't allowed to accept tips.

 

[Ruth Harris]

A few days ago I had to actually go into a bank. I needed small bills that we use to tip the workers who deliver the groceries out to us in the car.

I've tried to tip them at both Kroger and Meijer. They always say they aren't allowed to accept tips.

Same here at Gerbes (which is owned by the Kroger company) and a local chain. No tipping allowed. It always makes me feel a little uneasy to not be able to tip for service.

Ruth

 

[ZiprHead]

A few days ago I had to actually go into a bank. I needed small bills that we use to tip the workers who deliver the groceries out to us in the car.

I've tried to tip them at both Kroger and Meijer. They always say they aren't allowed to accept tips.

Same here at Gerbes (which is owned by the Kroger company) and a local chain. No tipping allowed. It always makes me feel a little uneasy to not be able to tip for service.

Ruth

I feel the same. Those people work very hard and are probably not paid that well.

 

[Metaphor]

I was in a doctor's office yesterday. Masks optional, no employee was wearing one. Yet they ask the Covid questions. Hey, it spreads so well because it spreads before you have symptoms!

Go to a different doctor if it bothers you so much.

 

[crazyfingers]

I feel the same. Those people work very hard and are probably not paid that well.

Yes and a tip demonstrates appreciation.

Early on one of two grocery stores and a Walmart tips were not allowed but we kept trying and whether policy changed or was ignored the individuals are now all taking our tips.

 

[bilby]

Yes and a tip demonstrates appreciation.

Around here, a tip would be a massively condescending statement of your low opinion of the recipient's ability to earn his own money. An insult, and an attempt to rub someone's nose in their low social status.

Although in tourist areas it would be excused with the thought that 'he probably doesn't know any better, being American'.

It's less of a faux pas here than in, say, Japan; But even here, the idea that someone won't do their best work except in anticipation of a tip; Or that they are a charity case who needs handouts to survive, is nevertheless highly insulting.