Covid-19 miscellany

[lpetrich]

About That Terrible Johns Hopkins Lockdown “Study” – Skepchick by Rebecca Watson
noting video version
About That Terrible Johns Hopkins Lockdown "Study" (Now Higher Res!) - YouTube
The earlier link is to a page with a transcript of that video. What RW discovered is very damning.

They started out with 18,590 studies, which seems impressive. But they trimmed down this number very drastically using various criteria:

18,590 -> 1,048 -> 117 -> 34 -> 24

She then explains what a lockdown is.

Let’s pause there to talk about “lockdowns.” Lockdown has a very specific meaning apart from its colloquial meaning, and one would hope that a scientific evaluation would understand that, but this paper does not appear to. It’s important that in cases like this we avoid colloquial terms because there’s a huge difference between a lockdown, a quarantine, a vaccine mandate, a government-issued recommendation – lumping all these things under “lockdown” would be like a scientific paper on evolution discussing how it’s “just a theory” because the colloquial use of “theory” means “something we’re not totally sure of.” There’s a reason why scientists uphold a different standard of word choice and definitions.

An actual “lockdown” looks like what China did in early 2020 in the Hubei province: on January 23rd, they shut down ALL public transportation in Wuhan, including buses, ferries, and subways. The Wuhan airport was closed. Major highways leading out of Wuhan were closed. Residents could not leave the city without explicit government permission. Some cities only allowed one member of each household to leave the house every few days to get provisions.

New Zealand and Vietnam did similar drastic measures.

But not a single state in the United States ever came anywhere close to doing anything like that. That’s why it’s helpful to have words other than “lockdown” to precisely talk about what did happen: some states closed some businesses; some did not. Some states mandated masks indoors, and some states enacted bills stating private businesses could NOT insist their customers wear masks indoors. Some counties discouraged travel, but no state, county, or city strongly enforced the restriction of people’s movement around the country. Americans were encouraged to stay home if they could, but no one was forced to.

If the entire world were a public pool, New Zealand and Vietnam would be hanging out in separate submarines while Californians tried to swim to the deep end to avoid the Texans, who are pissing in the shallow end and chugging beers to refill their bladders as quickly as possible.

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

The abuse refers to the LAUSD denying children access to in person tuition based on their obsession with vaccine mandates. LAUSD (possibly the worst school district in the country) have been awful throughout this pandemic.

That was an evasion.

No it wasn't. The child abuse is denying 20,000 kids access to in person tuition.

Yes, it was. California joins liberal hell holes Mississippi and West Virginia in requiring immunizations for children to go to school, no exemptions other than Medical. So, the question was, are the children being abused because they had to have a measles vaccination, else they couldn't attend school? IE, child abuse has been rampant for decades?

Or does only a vaccination for a disease that kills a lot more people than measles rise to the level of abuse?

 

[lpetrich]

The authors' trimmed-down collection included 13 for the US, 2 for the US and Europe, and 1 for Italy.

"It’s very interesting, because New Zealand and Vietnam, who used strict, well-enforced lockdowns to demonstrably slow down the spread of COVID-19 in their borders and undeniably save countless lives."

Noting
Reduced mortality in New Zealand during the COVID-19 pandemic - The Lancet
and
In the interest of public safety: rapid response to the COVID-19 epidemic in Vietnam - PubMed

I didn’t cherrypick those studies – there have been dozens of peer-reviewed papers published in the past two years specifically looking at countries that had more success dealing with COVID-19, and all of them credit a few notable early and direct actions: contact tracing, the allocation of resources to medical professionals, and yeah, strict lockdowns.

This meta-analysis ignored all of that, choosing to focus primarily on the US, where our measures were neither early nor strict. So it’s no surprise that they found that (and I’m quoting them quoting one fo the studies they included) “The ineffectiveness [of lockdowns] stemmed from individual changes in behavior: either non-compliance or behavior that mimicked lockdowns.” You don’t say! A “lockdown” that isn’t really a “lockdown” and that people don’t adhere to doesn’t work. Huh!

This embarrassment of a meta-analysis actually did look at some independent “lockdown” measures, and EVEN THEY found that mandating facemasks reduced COVID deaths by 21.2%, though they discount that because it was only based on two of the studies they decided to include. Which is weird, because that’s almost 10% of all the studies they looked at. You’d think that would be significant.

They also found that closing nonessential businesses like bars and restaurants reduced mortality by 10.6%. But for some reason, that figure got buried when it came time for outlets like the Daily Mail to breathlessly write headlines that “lockdowns” only reduce mortality by a measly .2%.

It’s simply not true, but that won’t stop credulous conservatives from spreading this cherrypicked, non-peer-reviewed self-published dumpster fire all over your Q-Anon uncle’s Facebook page.

 

[TSwizzle]

Yes, it was.

No it wasn't. Jog on.

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

Yes, it was.

No it wasn't. Jog on.

So you got nothing other than evasion and hyperbole.

Either measles vaccination requirements are child abuse or Covid-19 vaccination requirements are not child abuse.

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

About That Terrible Johns Hopkins Lockdown “Study” – Skepchick by Rebecca Watson
noting video version
About That Terrible Johns Hopkins Lockdown "Study" (Now Higher Res!) - YouTube
The earlier link is to a page with a transcript of that video. What RW discovered is very damning.

They started out with 18,590 studies, which seems impressive. But they trimmed down this number very drastically using various criteria:

18,590 -> 1,048 -> 117 -> 34 -> 24

She then explains what a lockdown is.

Let’s pause there to talk about “lockdowns.” Lockdown has a very specific meaning apart from its colloquial meaning, and one would hope that a scientific evaluation would understand that, but this paper does not appear to. It’s important that in cases like this we avoid colloquial terms because there’s a huge difference between a lockdown, a quarantine, a vaccine mandate, a government-issued recommendation – lumping all these things under “lockdown” would be like a scientific paper on evolution discussing how it’s “just a theory” because the colloquial use of “theory” means “something we’re not totally sure of.” There’s a reason why scientists uphold a different standard of word choice and definitions.

An actual “lockdown” looks like what China did in early 2020 in the Hubei province: on January 23rd, they shut down ALL public transportation in Wuhan, including buses, ferries, and subways. The Wuhan airport was closed. Major highways leading out of Wuhan were closed. Residents could not leave the city without explicit government permission. Some cities only allowed one member of each household to leave the house every few days to get provisions.

New Zealand and Vietnam did similar drastic measures.

But not a single state in the United States ever came anywhere close to doing anything like that. That’s why it’s helpful to have words other than “lockdown” to precisely talk about what did happen: some states closed some businesses; some did not. Some states mandated masks indoors, and some states enacted bills stating private businesses could NOT insist their customers wear masks indoors. Some counties discouraged travel, but no state, county, or city strongly enforced the restriction of people’s movement around the country. Americans were encouraged to stay home if they could, but no one was forced to.

If the entire world were a public pool, New Zealand and Vietnam would be hanging out in separate submarines while Californians tried to swim to the deep end to avoid the Texans, who are pissing in the shallow end and chugging beers to refill their bladders as quickly as possible.

The lockdown study was written by economists. That was pretty much all we needed to know.

Not a knock on Economists, but if I want to know about the economic impact of lockdowns, I'll seek an economist. If trying to figure out the best way to manage a pandemic, I'll seek medical professionals.

 

[lpetrich]

Economist Steve Hanke has some rather interesting opinions:

Steve Hanke on Twitter: "Italy is cracking the Fascist whip even harder. A Green Pass is now required to ride public transport & to enter hotels, & a new "reinforced" Green Pass required to take part in any leisure activities. The Fascist are back. (link)" / Twitter

Steve Hanke on Twitter: "What's the difference between #socialism and #fascism/ #communism? @BernieSanders should take a look at this. (pic link)" / Twitter

FASCISM: The government orders you to give the fruits of your labor to others. If you refuse, the government arrests you.

COMMUNISM: The government takes the fruits of your labor and gives it to others. If you refuse, the government arrests you.

SOCIALISM: The government POLITELY takes the fruits of your labor and gives it to others. If you refuse, the government arrests you.

DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISM: At the request of 51% of voters, the government POLITELY takes the fruits of your labor and gives it to others. If you refuse, the government arrests you.

All described as acting like how Marxists view capitalism.

Steve Hanke on Twitter: "A 'freedom convoy' comprised of truckers and other Canadians has arrived in Ottawa to protest COVID restrictions and vaccine mandates. Trudeau's political overreach and endless lockdowns have pushed the Canadian public to the boiling point. (pic link)" / Twitter
With a cartoon of PM Trudeau dressed as a Nazi brownshirt with a truck with a Canadian flag on it falling onto him.

Steve Hanke on Twitter: "After nearly two years since the #COVID-19 outbreak, Dr. Facui has reported that he is "still not clear if the China lab leak caused COVID". Politicians & "experts" have made zero progress on cracking this nut. Clueless & incompetent! (link)" / Twitter
China hasn't made it very easy to tell, so one's hate objects can't be to blame for that. I don't expect Tucker Carlson or Ron DeSantis to be able to find out, for instance.

Steve Hanke on Twitter: "When it comes to COVID, high priest Dr. Fauci is most economical with the use of science. When his mask comes off, all we get are contradictions, mixed messages and a cherry-picking of the facts. (pic link)" / Twitter

Steve Hanke on Twitter: "Fauci is playing games with science. Hundreds of thousands of illegal, unvaxxed immigrants? Not a problem. Family Christmas gatherings? God forbid! With Fauci, forget science. He just puts his finger in the political wind to make his “scientific” calls. (link)" / Twitter

Earlier, however, he seemed to like Dr. Fauci:
Steve Hanke on Twitter: "#COVID19 is now being used as the #Left's #Political weapon against @realDonaldTrump. Inciting fear w/ their inflated, unreliable numbers. The #Media's stirring the pot of this witch’s brew. Best to listen to Dr.# Fauci or my @Johnshopkins colleagues. (link)" / Twitter

 

[lpetrich]

Vietnam not COVID-19 “rotten apple”: Nearly 300 sign and demand Prof. Steve Hanke correct his tweet | Vietnam Times -- June 2020?

Nearly 300 public health researchers and professionals and concerned citizens from around the world have written to John Hopkins University (JHU) to demand Professor Steve Hanke retracts his tweeted statement that Vietnam is a “rotten apple” in reference to its COVID-19 data, The Medium reported on June 17.

That's because of reporting zero deaths from the virus.

One of RW's commenters posted

Phillip Hallam-Baker says:
February 9, 2022 at 3:12 pm

Steve H. Hanke is a Cato institute fellow which means he is paid to paint whatever claims suit the pockets of the Koch brothers with a veneer of scientific respectability regardless of truth.

I don’t agree with using the term ‘prostitute’ to refer to sex workers but it is certainly applicable to anyone who takes money to do such work.

 

[TSwizzle]

How is this remotely justifiable?;

Video shows the moment a security guard forcibly dragged a New York father out of an upstate school board Tuesday night because he was not wearing a face mask. The footage shows unmasked Dave Calus sitting in a chair as he watches a presentation at the Webster School Board meeting when the security guard approaches him. The security guard reportedly tells Calus: 'Sir, you need to put a mask on.' Calus said he replied with 'thank you,' but the security guard persisted: 'No, you need to put your mask on right now.' The father said he thanked the guard again but was met with another demand to put on a mask. The guard is then seen grabbing the back of Calus' chair, dragging him backward across the floor and yanking him out of his jacket, forcing him to stand. Calus turns to face the guard, who is pointing to the door, before sitting back down in his chair. The guard - seemingly angry - grabs the chair, placing one hand under the seat and the other on the back as he tips the chair over. The guard then pushes the father-of-two out of the room as bystanders yell: 'What are you doing?! What are you doing?! That's assault!' Another questioned: 'Do you put your hands on our children, too?'
The alleged assault at the Webster School Board meeting occurred just one day before Governor Kathy Hochul announced she was letting the statewide indoor mask mandate - which was slated to expire Wednesday - lapse.

Daily Mail

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

How is this remotely justifiable?;

Video shows the moment a security guard forcibly dragged a New York father out of an upstate school board Tuesday night because he was not wearing a face mask. The footage shows unmasked Dave Calus sitting in a chair as he watches a presentation at the Webster School Board meeting when the security guard approaches him. The security guard reportedly tells Calus: 'Sir, you need to put a mask on.' Calus said he replied with 'thank you,' but the security guard persisted: 'No, you need to put your mask on right now.' The father said he thanked the guard again but was met with another demand to put on a mask. The guard is then seen grabbing the back of Calus' chair, dragging him backward across the floor and yanking him out of his jacket, forcing him to stand. Calus turns to face the guard, who is pointing to the door, before sitting back down in his chair. The guard - seemingly angry - grabs the chair, placing one hand under the seat and the other on the back as he tips the chair over. The guard then pushes the father-of-two out of the room as bystanders yell: 'What are you doing?! What are you doing?! That's assault!' Another questioned: 'Do you put your hands on our children, too?'
The alleged assault at the Webster School Board meeting occurred just one day before Governor Kathy Hochul announced she was letting the statewide indoor mask mandate - which was slated to expire Wednesday - lapse.

Daily Mail

I know right? "Forcibly dragged"? I mean when has anyone ever been dragged because they wanted too?

I mean yes, Sadness in Inside Out, but other than that.

 

[Metaphor]

THERE IS NO VACCINE MANDATE FOR ALMOST ALL PEOPLE IN NORTH AMERICA!

Currently it is workers where spread is an issue, health care and people who can help transmit the virus across national borders. And this isn't about a "mandate", it is about just about every mitigation effort for dealing with the pandemic, masks, distancing, public events, etc...

The virus doesn't stop at national borders because it respects international covenants.

I don't doubt that many in the convoy oppose all measures, but the fact that they oppose a vaccine mandate (a medical procedure performed on them without their consent, solely for the benefit of others) would be sufficient for them to be hated and reviled by some.

 

[Jarhyn]

The virus doesn't stop at national borders because it respects international covenants.

Especially not when the border does not require vaccination for those who cross it frequently.

They don't have to take the vaccine. They can choose to do something else other than frequently crossing borders.

They are committing terrorism, shutting down a border, for the desire to cross it frequently as an active vector.

 

[Metaphor]

They are committing terrorism, shutting down a border, for the desire to cross it frequently as an active vector.

Sure Jan.

 

[TomC]

"The security guard reportedly tells Calus: 'Sir, you need to put a mask on.' Calus said he replied with 'thank you,' but the security guard persisted: 'No, you need to put your mask on right now.' The father said he thanked the guard again but was met with another demand to put on a mask."

This is easy to explain.
Calus didn't think that rules apply to him. Security explained him again, just in case Calus is too stupid to understand simple things like "Wear a mask or leave. Your choice". Calus made a scene.

He could have put on a mask, left, or caused a security issue. He chose to make a security issue.
Emphasis on "He chose". It was entirely his choice.
Tom

 

[ZiprHead]

How is this remotely justifiable?;

Video shows the moment a security guard forcibly dragged a New York father out of an upstate school board Tuesday night because he was not wearing a face mask. The footage shows unmasked Dave Calus sitting in a chair as he watches a presentation at the Webster School Board meeting when the security guard approaches him. The security guard reportedly tells Calus: 'Sir, you need to put a mask on.' Calus said he replied with 'thank you,' but the security guard persisted: 'No, you need to put your mask on right now.' The father said he thanked the guard again but was met with another demand to put on a mask. The guard is then seen grabbing the back of Calus' chair, dragging him backward across the floor and yanking him out of his jacket, forcing him to stand. Calus turns to face the guard, who is pointing to the door, before sitting back down in his chair. The guard - seemingly angry - grabs the chair, placing one hand under the seat and the other on the back as he tips the chair over. The guard then pushes the father-of-two out of the room as bystanders yell: 'What are you doing?! What are you doing?! That's assault!' Another questioned: 'Do you put your hands on our children, too?'
The alleged assault at the Webster School Board meeting occurred just one day before Governor Kathy Hochul announced she was letting the statewide indoor mask mandate - which was slated to expire Wednesday - lapse.

Daily Mail

Did Dave Calus own the building? Was he in charge of anything in that Building. He was informed of the conditions that needed to be met to remain in the building. Refusal to comply with those conditions meant he was trespassing.

Are you for letting trespassers remain on your property?

 

[Jarhyn]

They are committing terrorism, shutting down a border, for the desire to cross it frequently as an active vector.

Sure Jan.

Yes, they sure are.

They are not being forced to take a vaccine. They are being asked to take a vaccine if they wish to engage in a specific and otherwise more risky behavior of frequent border crossings.

They can turn down the ask, and they can do turn down the right to the behavior.

 

[TSwizzle]

It's really strange how quickly these mandates are being binned;

Nevada became the latest blue state to drop indoor mask mandates on Thursday, leaving President Joe Biden increasingly isolated in insisting that tough COVID-19 restrictions stay in place. The White House says it is following the lead of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). But with cases falling 43 percent across the nation in the past week as the Omicron surge fades, it puts Biden out of step with Americans who say they are ready to try to live with the virus and with allies, such as the United Kingdom, where Prime Minister Boris Johnston on Wednesday announced plans to lift all restrictions.

Daily Mail


There must be a reason for this other than "the science". What could it possibly be I wonder.

 

[Loren Pechtel]

Today's right, making their kids sick from vanquished diseases to own the libs.

Have you any idea how incoherent your above statement is?

Let's break this down. You believe people want to abolish vaccine mandates for children in order to 'own the libs'. Why wouldn't a more obvious reason be 'they don't want to be forced to give their children the COVID vaccine'? How does abolishing a child vaccine mandate 'own the libs'? It doesn't prevent 'the libs' from vaccinating their children. Hell, it doesn't mean the anti-mandate children can't give their own children the vaccine. If your immediate reaction is "of course they don't want to give their children the vaccine!", it's because they don't believe in giving the vaccine to their children, mandate or not.

In other words, they might be making their kids sick because they don't understand the science of vaccines, but they're not doing it to 'own the libs'. Abolishing or preventing a child mandate doesn't stop them vaccinating their own children.

Note that it's not just Covid, but all required vaccinations. The reason those diseases are not a problem is people are vaccinated to the herd immunity level. Quit vaccinating and they'll come roaring back when some traveler brings them in.

 

[Trausti]

It's really strange how quickly these mandates are being binned;

Nevada became the latest blue state to drop indoor mask mandates on Thursday, leaving President Joe Biden increasingly isolated in insisting that tough COVID-19 restrictions stay in place. The White House says it is following the lead of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). But with cases falling 43 percent across the nation in the past week as the Omicron surge fades, it puts Biden out of step with Americans who say they are ready to try to live with the virus and with allies, such as the United Kingdom, where Prime Minister Boris Johnston on Wednesday announced plans to lift all restrictions.

Daily Mail


There must be a reason for this other than "the science". What could it possibly be I wonder.

And the CDC can’t revise its mask guidance because nothing has changed. It was always political.

 

[Loren Pechtel]

With flu vaccines they don't need to do an RCT for each years shot before they release it. Because it is a prediction.

So why does Pfizer need to test their Omicron booster?!? This is better than with a flu prediction, they have the exact virus on a major upswing. Two months ago they were seeing the breakthroughs and knew how much fertile field that omicron had. The boosters could have been out in weeks.

The FDA etc.. need to get out of the way and allow updated boosters right away,

I would have taken an omicron booster instead of taking a two year old booster that would get me MORE locked into an outdated immune response

View attachment 37176

They are testing the Covid boosters the same as they test the flu shots. The flu stuff isn't just immediately released, there is a small-scale test before it's rolled out for the population. It's nowhere near the initial test, though--that's why it's a few months instead of a year to release.