Covid confusion

[Dan Murphy]

I'm still confused about why we had to close schools in March, but now that cases are at an all-time high in Pennsylvania we are in school? And every day I am working with children who are clearly sick with snot running down their face...during a pandemic.

Here in Illinois, schools are closing down about as fast as they are opening up. They open, the COVIDs start, they close them down.

 

[tvguy]

I have 2 competing theories on this:
1. In March much less was known so a lot of places shut things down until they could learn more. Our level of understanding of Covid19 has increased exponentially and some feel that we know enough to limit transmission and risk. Testing is also much higher than it was in March so it is possible the data set from that time period is not complete.
2. A lot of people have fatigue from the restrictions and consider risks acceptable today that they thought were unacceptable 7 months ago.

TBH, I don't think the staff are considered enough in the decision regarding putting kids back in schools. Kids generally do not get severe symptoms but teachers and other staff could easily be in a higher risk category.

Most schools are still closed here until next year. I agree with fatigue, but I think just as important are the people who never complied with restrictions. I wish I had a crystal ball but my sense is, if we had just had much higher compliance with stay at home orders and mask, even just for say, six weeks early on, we would be in a much better place than we are at today.
And at this point, it appears 2021 will be worse.

 

[spiders]

I really think we have split off into two groups:

Group A) The ones who have been working have learned how to deal with masks and being out in public

Group B) They've been working from home or unemployed and are now experiencing extreme anxiety at the thought of doing something they haven't done since March

 

[disneychrista]

if we had just had much higher compliance with stay at home orders and mask, even just for say, six weeks early on, we would be in a much better place than we are at today.

I am of the mind that if we'd had a 30 day strict lockdown we'd be much better off now. By strict lockdown I mean most everything closed/locked down, including most stores & businesses that were deemed "essential" early on.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I really think we have split off into two groups:

Group A) The ones who have been working have learned how to deal with masks and being out in public

Group B) They've been working from home or unemployed and are now experiencing extreme anxiety at the thought of doing something they haven't done since March

I'd add several more

C) They worked from home for a few months, went back to the office (may work from home again in winter), learned how to deal with masks and being out in public

D) Stay largely at home, but do get out, learned how to deal with masks and being out in public

E) Working from home now but do get out, learned how to deal with masks and being out in public


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My mom is still working from home and has been since March, will be working from home (so long as she's sill employed she recently got a voluntary severance package offer for all those 55 and up) until at least Jan 1st but she's learned how to deal with masks and being out in public, she along with one of my aunts and my uncle have been taking care of my other aunt for years. She'd fall into category E.

I fall into category D.

My husband falls into category C.

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Too many times people lump those working from home as NOT going out. You can in fact work from home and yet also be out in the world, you can be work from home and not go out at all, you can not hold a job and yet also be out in the world, you can not hold a job and not go out at all. Most of these decisions are personality-driven and responsibility-driven and by responsibility-driven I strictly mean caretakers not that not going out means you're responsibility-driven. It's not merely employment aspect-driven as that is clearly not driving the behaviors of people I know.

 

[kdonnel]

Here in Illinois, schools are closing down about as fast as they are opening up. They open, the COVIDs start, they close them down.

The local school system for my county in Georgia has just completed week 10 of in person learning. In that time there have been 399 confirmed covid cases between the 100,000 staff and students spread across 150 schools.

The district as a whole is averaging about 13 new cases a day that result in a rolling average of about 55 active cases causing quarantine for them and those considered close contact. There are an average of about 1000 staff and students on quarantine on a given day. Those with a positive must stay way for 10 days, those in close contact with a positive must stay away for 14 days.

Thus far it has been very manageable.

Is covid spreading more aggressively in other school systems or is the administration being more conservative in the response?

 

[Heigh-Ho]

I have been working from home for over 7 months. On the same day I got two phone calls giving a different view on the pandemic:

1) Cases have dropped to the level locally our corporate owners set months ago as a safe level to start adding people back to work in the building. I'm going back in next week.

2) I have a colonoscopy scheduled, and now I have to have a covid test 3 days before, AND quarantine for the three days before.

Well, it is NEW as of this week. It was not part of my endoscopy earlier. Other than checking my temperature and asking questions, I did not need a covid test for the Dentist

Well it looks like these are two different things; a corporate and a hospital-specific rule.

Corporate they are fine with you going back in, hospital-specific they may be trying to limit the chance of exposure in a way that they can now which is testing. If I had to guess a dentist office probably sees less people on average or at least have less interactions with people on average than the hospital setting. Even so one dentist office may have different procedures than another just like a hospital.

Quarantining and getting a test together makes sense. A test is only a moment in time so you could, if you didn't quarantine, pick up the virus between the time that you got the test initially and the time you arrived at the hospital.

Good luck on your procedure!

 

[sk!mom]

You want to talk about Covid hypocrisy, try being a teacher.

Basically, teachers are expected to do every previous responsibility plus additional disinfecting... plus manage virtual for anyone who has to quarantine but anything that would be inconvenient or costly for admin...invoke Covid.

 

[disneychrista]

I'd add several more

And then there is category F. Worked in the office the entire time but largely stays home except for work. Learned to deal with mask.

The fact that today I am having a contractor to my house to look at my bathroom floor is a HUGE step for me.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

And then there is category F. Worked in the office the entire time but largely stays home except for work. Learned to deal with mask.

The fact that today I am having a contractor to my house to look at my bathroom floor is a HUGE step for me.

Good point

 

[DisneyHardin]

I think the requirements for doctors/dentists vary greatly depending on the provider. My DH had a surgery about 10 weeks ago and I not allowed to be in the waiting room. I had to stay in the parking garage and they called me periodically with updates. My Dad had a surgery at a different hospital 5 weeks ago and my stepmom was able to stay with him during pre and post op and waited in a waiting room during the surgery. Both places the patient had to have a negative Covid test prior to the surgery.

Our dentists office isn't allowing anyone in the waiting room and take your temp upon arrival.

 

[DebbieB]

I've been working at home since March 16, insurance company. At first I hated it, I missed my coworkers, felt isolated. I think it was also a combination of the fact that the only place I could go out to was the grocery story or takeout food. Over the months I have gotten used to it, plus more has opened up.

They announced they would open up some "pilot" offices in mid September. Voluntary basis, 20%, min 3 days a week. My office was not one of them. Then a couple weeks ago, they announced some more, same rules. When I pulled up the list and looked at it, I actually hoped mine was not on it so I wouldn't have to make a decision right now. It wasn't. At this point, I'd be happy to wait until Spring.

 

[luvsvacation]

I’m going to add catagory G...Those of us who are living our normal lives and don’t even remember there is a pandemic 95% of the time. I’m living/doing everything completely normal in life as is everyone I know around me. Suburban Midwest. Virtually everyone I know is living normally and no longer concerned about the pandemic. Occasionally someone I know tests positive, they may or may not feel sick for a few days and that’s it, it’s gone.

 

[Starport Seven-Five]

I’m going to add catagory G...Those of us who are living our normal lives and don’t even remember there is a pandemic 95% of the time. I’m living/doing everything completely normal in life as is everyone I know around me. Suburban Midwest. Virtually everyone I know is living normally and no longer concerned about the pandemic. Occasionally someone I know tests positive, they may or may not feel sick for a few days and that’s it, it’s gone.

Not surprised. People not taking it seriously is why we're currently seeing record numbers of cases and the outbreaks are centered in the middle of the country.

 

[mousefan73]

I have been working from home for over 7 months. On the same day I got two phone calls giving a different view on the pandemic:

1) Cases have dropped to the level locally our corporate owners set months ago as a safe level to start adding people back to work in the building. I'm going back in next week.

2) I have a colonoscopy scheduled, and now I have to have a covid test 3 days before, AND quarantine for the three days before.

Well I am not in the medical field but there are two major difference.. In one ( work) you can mitigate risk ore than the other. And result of transmission for one has more dire consequences..

1. At work, you can attempt to maintain distance AND can wear a mask..
2. In a procedure room you cannot and I ASSUME you are not able to wear a mask during this process due to either needed oxygen if you are sedated.. risk of spreading is higher. Especially is something happens and they need to intervine in any way...
3. If covid spreads at your work, there is no dire consequence in keep healthcare running. If your Drs. or Nurses get covid then the impact is greater for an "essential" industry.

 

[mousefan73]

I'm still confused about why we had to close schools in March, but now that cases are at an all-time high in Pennsylvania we are in school? And every day I am working with children who are clearly sick with snot running down their face...during a pandemic.

edit: Each state/district is different. Political reasons, economonic reasons, risk vs. benefit. some close down when numbers go up, some reopen like Covid doesnt exist ( Florida)

 

[jlwhitney]

I’m going to add catagory G...Those of us who are living our normal lives and don’t even remember there is a pandemic 95% of the time. I’m living/doing everything completely normal in life as is everyone I know around me. Suburban Midwest. Virtually everyone I know is living normally and no longer concerned about the pandemic. Occasionally someone I know tests positive, they may or may not feel sick for a few days and that’s it, it’s gone.

Same here, and we don't even wear masks that much. Church, dance, little gym, karate, heck even our walmart removed the requirement. We homeschool, be even with that we have 2 privates, 1 charter school in the county (charter still has normal 18 kids in a room) don't require them and public only require 3-12th.

We had the town fall festival, it was packed as normal. crop mazes and farms have been for normal fall activities. Kids are playing sports with people watching ( a bit less but still plenty, depends on organization).

And the amazing part is we aren't exploding in cases either, high population county over 200K, but a lot is concentrated in only a part of it (so its crowded) and the rest is rural.

 

[Immadismom]

Count me in with the confused bunch. DD started with cold-like symptoms last Saturday; congestion, headache, sore throat. I took her on Monday to be tested, as she works at our local Y with children and I did not want her to go to school or work without being tested. As of Friday we had not heard anything on her results, so I called to follow up. They’ve LOST her test. And here is the best part: the nurse I spoke with asked her symptoms, asked when they started, and said that as long as she remained symptom free as of Monday (tomorrow), she’s free to stop quarantining and it was “Likely just a cold” And had been 10 days since her first symptom.

 

[maxiesmom]

I'm glad the state I am in is still strict. Masks are required. Makes it simple.

 

[spiders]

Not surprised. People not taking it seriously is why we're currently seeing record numbers of cases and the outbreaks are centered in the middle of the country.

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Yeah, I’m sure there is an imminent outbreak in some of those states...

Literally, you could take every resident of some of those states and still not have the population of what many would consider a medium-sized city.