One thing I find interesting, and this is particular to AMT is that there's very little division in this thread. I believe one person popped in with a conspiracy theory, but for the most part, our differences here are pretty minor.
Out in the real world, there's a critical mass of people who feel the virus is a hoax, or they parrot inflated survival rates (based mostly on the fact that a lot of people who die had some other medical condition so it doesn't count), won't wear masks, etc. But here? Everyone seems to be pretty much on the same page, moreso than on the other hot topics. I wonder why...
to underscore your point, there is that 6% CDC thing that went semi-viral and is making some people believe that covid deaths are highly over-reported, due to the finding that 94% of covid deaths had a comorbidity. However, it's not that simple. This article outlines it in a very understandable way.
Unless you’re hit by a bus when you’re 22, almost all deaths involve comorbidities.
can you give an example?
The average age of death in Canada currently is just over 81 years. As we get older, even if we lead an exemplary lifestyle (and how many of us do?), we almost inevitably accumulate health issues, which are worsened by a multitude of lifestyle choices, our genetics, and bad luck. If someone gets ill with pneumonia as a young and healthy adult their odds of recovering are very high because they usually haven't accumulated a bunch of other health issues . If someone gets ill with pneumonia as a middle aged or older adult, they may well also be dealing with diabetes, or limited respiratory function from smoking, or reduction in cardiac function due to some clogged arteries, maybe reduced kidney function. All of those things make it more likely that they will tip into respiratory failure, or have an MI, or go into multi-organ failure, and not recover, because there is less reserve to draw on. They used to call pneumonia "the old man's friend", because it was a relatively painless way that old and already sick individuals would finally die. Determining the exact cause of death in these circumstances is tricky because it's multifactorial. So yes, no surprise at all that 94% of covid deaths would have a comorbidity, since the majority of those who died are over 65. That doesn't diminish the importance of the covid infection, since many/most of those people wouldn't have died then without it.
ok, yes, since you are drawing from the pool that are of a certain age group, but doesn't covid cause death proportionally more in younger adults than any other virus that we've known?
Most, though not all, of whom do have comorbidities.
And when I said “almost all deaths”, I really meant almost all deaths, not just COVID deaths. It was a general comment on the issue of comorbidity and why the fuss that some people seem to be making about it just shows lack of understanding.
my small self... like a book amongst the many on a shelf
One thing I find interesting, and this is particular to AMT is that there's very little division in this thread. I believe one person popped in with a conspiracy theory, but for the most part, our differences here are pretty minor.
Out in the real world, there's a critical mass of people who feel the virus is a hoax, or they parrot inflated survival rates (based mostly on the fact that a lot of people who die had some other medical condition so it doesn't count), won't wear masks, etc. But here? Everyone seems to be pretty much on the same page, moreso than on the other hot topics. I wonder why...
to underscore your point, there is that 6% CDC thing that went semi-viral and is making some people believe that covid deaths are highly over-reported, due to the finding that 94% of covid deaths had a comorbidity. However, it's not that simple. This article outlines it in a very understandable way.
Unless you’re hit by a bus when you’re 22, almost all deaths involve comorbidities.
can you give an example?
The average age of death in Canada currently is just over 81 years. As we get older, even if we lead an exemplary lifestyle (and how many of us do?), we almost inevitably accumulate health issues, which are worsened by a multitude of lifestyle choices, our genetics, and bad luck. If someone gets ill with pneumonia as a young and healthy adult their odds of recovering are very high because they usually haven't accumulated a bunch of other health issues . If someone gets ill with pneumonia as a middle aged or older adult, they may well also be dealing with diabetes, or limited respiratory function from smoking, or reduction in cardiac function due to some clogged arteries, maybe reduced kidney function. All of those things make it more likely that they will tip into respiratory failure, or have an MI, or go into multi-organ failure, and not recover, because there is less reserve to draw on. They used to call pneumonia "the old man's friend", because it was a relatively painless way that old and already sick individuals would finally die. Determining the exact cause of death in these circumstances is tricky because it's multifactorial. So yes, no surprise at all that 94% of covid deaths would have a comorbidity, since the majority of those who died are over 65. That doesn't diminish the importance of the covid infection, since many/most of those people wouldn't have died then without it.
ok, yes, since you are drawing from the pool that are of a certain age group, but doesn't covid cause death proportionally more in younger adults than any other virus that we've known?
Most, though not all, of whom do have comorbidities.
And when I said “almost all deaths”, I really meant almost all deaths, not just COVID deaths. It was a general comment on the issue of comorbidity and why the fuss that some people seem to be making about it just shows lack of understanding.
correct me if i'm wrong, but are you saying that we are making more of covid than it actually is?
One thing I find interesting, and this is particular to AMT is that there's very little division in this thread. I believe one person popped in with a conspiracy theory, but for the most part, our differences here are pretty minor.
Out in the real world, there's a critical mass of people who feel the virus is a hoax, or they parrot inflated survival rates (based mostly on the fact that a lot of people who die had some other medical condition so it doesn't count), won't wear masks, etc. But here? Everyone seems to be pretty much on the same page, moreso than on the other hot topics. I wonder why...
to underscore your point, there is that 6% CDC thing that went semi-viral and is making some people believe that covid deaths are highly over-reported, due to the finding that 94% of covid deaths had a comorbidity. However, it's not that simple. This article outlines it in a very understandable way.
Unless you’re hit by a bus when you’re 22, almost all deaths involve comorbidities.
can you give an example?
The average age of death in Canada currently is just over 81 years. As we get older, even if we lead an exemplary lifestyle (and how many of us do?), we almost inevitably accumulate health issues, which are worsened by a multitude of lifestyle choices, our genetics, and bad luck. If someone gets ill with pneumonia as a young and healthy adult their odds of recovering are very high because they usually haven't accumulated a bunch of other health issues . If someone gets ill with pneumonia as a middle aged or older adult, they may well also be dealing with diabetes, or limited respiratory function from smoking, or reduction in cardiac function due to some clogged arteries, maybe reduced kidney function. All of those things make it more likely that they will tip into respiratory failure, or have an MI, or go into multi-organ failure, and not recover, because there is less reserve to draw on. They used to call pneumonia "the old man's friend", because it was a relatively painless way that old and already sick individuals would finally die. Determining the exact cause of death in these circumstances is tricky because it's multifactorial. So yes, no surprise at all that 94% of covid deaths would have a comorbidity, since the majority of those who died are over 65. That doesn't diminish the importance of the covid infection, since many/most of those people wouldn't have died then without it.
ok, yes, since you are drawing from the pool that are of a certain age group, but doesn't covid cause death proportionally more in younger adults than any other virus that we've known?
Most, though not all, of whom do have comorbidities.
And when I said “almost all deaths”, I really meant almost all deaths, not just COVID deaths. It was a general comment on the issue of comorbidity and why the fuss that some people seem to be making about it just shows lack of understanding.
correct me if i'm wrong, but are you saying that we are making more of covid than it actually is?
No
my small self... like a book amongst the many on a shelf
I was tested in May. At that time, I went on my health insurance company's website, answered a few questions about symptoms, etc., scheduled an appointment for a drive-up test that afternoon, got tested, and had the (negative) results the next day.
I'm thinking about getting tested again...I have the same symptoms I've had since May, so I'm likely OK (making me a less-than-top-priority, I suppose) and I have to make a video appointment with my Doc, who will decide whether I should get tested. "Due to a national shortage of testing supplies."
I'm not on top of things enough to know much about it...I believe the quote is true...but I wonder about why. Is this because people are getting tested and we're using supplies at a faster rate than they can be produced? Or is there something more nefarious at hand to create the shortage?
It's going to weed some people out (and I don't just mean any unnecessary test, but people that don't want to jump through the hoops)...which may or may not be the goal.
Post edited by OnWis97 on
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I was tested in May. At that time, I went on my health insurance company's website, answered a few questions about symptoms, etc., scheduled an appointment for a drive-up test that afternoon, got tested, and had the (negative) results the next day.
I'm thinking about getting tested again...I have the same symptoms I've had since May, so I'm likely OK (making me a less-than-top-priority, I suppose) and I have to make a video appointment with my Doc, who will decide whether I should get tested. "Due to a national shortage of testing supplies."
I'm not on top of things enough to know much about it...I believe the quote is true...but I wonder about why. Is this because people are getting tested and we're using supplies at a faster rate than they can be produced? Or is there something more nefarious at hand to create the shortage?
It's going to weed some people out (and I don't just mean any unnecessary test, but people that don't want to jump through the hoops)...which may or may not be the goal.
Didn’t experience this in NYC. My wife and I got tested with no appointment or doctors approval. My employees got tested with no symptoms, just based on that they might have been exposed. This was in the past 2 weeks.
I was tested in May. At that time, I went on my health insurance company's website, answered a few questions about symptoms, etc., scheduled an appointment for a drive-up test that afternoon, got tested, and had the (negative) results the next day.
I'm thinking about getting tested again...I have the same symptoms I've had since May, so I'm likely OK (making me a less-than-top-priority, I suppose) and I have to make a video appointment with my Doc, who will decide whether I should get tested. "Due to a national shortage of testing supplies."
I'm not on top of things enough to know much about it...I believe the quote is true...but I wonder about why. Is this because people are getting tested and we're using supplies at a faster rate than they can be produced? Or is there something more nefarious at hand to create the shortage?
It's going to weed some people out (and I don't just mean any unnecessary test, but people that don't want to jump through the hoops)...which may or may not be the goal.
Didn’t experience this in NYC. My wife and I got tested with no appointment or doctors approval. My employees got tested with no symptoms, just based on that they might have been exposed. This was in the past 2 weeks.
Are you feeling like you and the lady made it through Covid ok @nicknyr15 ? Or still feeling like you aren’t quite out of the woods? At any rate I’m hoping the best for you guys.
I was tested in May. At that time, I went on my health insurance company's website, answered a few questions about symptoms, etc., scheduled an appointment for a drive-up test that afternoon, got tested, and had the (negative) results the next day.
I'm thinking about getting tested again...I have the same symptoms I've had since May, so I'm likely OK (making me a less-than-top-priority, I suppose) and I have to make a video appointment with my Doc, who will decide whether I should get tested. "Due to a national shortage of testing supplies."
I'm not on top of things enough to know much about it...I believe the quote is true...but I wonder about why. Is this because people are getting tested and we're using supplies at a faster rate than they can be produced? Or is there something more nefarious at hand to create the shortage?
It's going to weed some people out (and I don't just mean any unnecessary test, but people that don't want to jump through the hoops)...which may or may not be the goal.
Didn’t experience this in NYC. My wife and I got tested with no appointment or doctors approval. My employees got tested with no symptoms, just based on that they might have been exposed. This was in the past 2 weeks.
Are you feeling like you and the lady made it through Covid ok @nicknyr15 ? Or still feeling like you aren’t quite out of the woods? At any rate I’m hoping the best for you guys.
Thank you so much for those kind words. I’m feeling a lot better. Feel a little weak and still have no sense of taste or smell. My wife still has a very slight fever ,about 100.1, and slight tightness in chest. But it feels like we’re almost through.
I was tested in May. At that time, I went on my health insurance company's website, answered a few questions about symptoms, etc., scheduled an appointment for a drive-up test that afternoon, got tested, and had the (negative) results the next day.
I'm thinking about getting tested again...I have the same symptoms I've had since May, so I'm likely OK (making me a less-than-top-priority, I suppose) and I have to make a video appointment with my Doc, who will decide whether I should get tested. "Due to a national shortage of testing supplies."
I'm not on top of things enough to know much about it...I believe the quote is true...but I wonder about why. Is this because people are getting tested and we're using supplies at a faster rate than they can be produced? Or is there something more nefarious at hand to create the shortage?
It's going to weed some people out (and I don't just mean any unnecessary test, but people that don't want to jump through the hoops)...which may or may not be the goal.
Didn’t experience this in NYC. My wife and I got tested with no appointment or doctors approval. My employees got tested with no symptoms, just based on that they might have been exposed. This was in the past 2 weeks.
Are you feeling like you and the lady made it through Covid ok @nicknyr15 ? Or still feeling like you aren’t quite out of the woods? At any rate I’m hoping the best for you guys.
Thank you so much for those kind words. I’m feeling a lot better. Feel a little weak and still have no sense of taste or smell. My wife still has a very slight fever ,about 100.1, and slight tightness in chest. But it feels like we’re almost through.
Positive vibes((((((((((((((())))))))))))))))))) for you & loved ones!
I was tested in May. At that time, I went on my health insurance company's website, answered a few questions about symptoms, etc., scheduled an appointment for a drive-up test that afternoon, got tested, and had the (negative) results the next day.
I'm thinking about getting tested again...I have the same symptoms I've had since May, so I'm likely OK (making me a less-than-top-priority, I suppose) and I have to make a video appointment with my Doc, who will decide whether I should get tested. "Due to a national shortage of testing supplies."
I'm not on top of things enough to know much about it...I believe the quote is true...but I wonder about why. Is this because people are getting tested and we're using supplies at a faster rate than they can be produced? Or is there something more nefarious at hand to create the shortage?
It's going to weed some people out (and I don't just mean any unnecessary test, but people that don't want to jump through the hoops)...which may or may not be the goal.
Didn’t experience this in NYC. My wife and I got tested with no appointment or doctors approval. My employees got tested with no symptoms, just based on that they might have been exposed. This was in the past 2 weeks.
Are you feeling like you and the lady made it through Covid ok @nicknyr15 ? Or still feeling like you aren’t quite out of the woods? At any rate I’m hoping the best for you guys.
Thank you so much for those kind words. I’m feeling a lot better. Feel a little weak and still have no sense of taste or smell. My wife still has a very slight fever ,about 100.1, and slight tightness in chest. But it feels like we’re almost through.
Positive vibes((((((((((((((())))))))))))))))))) for you & loved ones!
Love all you guys. Even if we all disagree sometimes, I always feel the love when it matters most. Much appreciated.
I was tested in May. At that time, I went on my health insurance company's website, answered a few questions about symptoms, etc., scheduled an appointment for a drive-up test that afternoon, got tested, and had the (negative) results the next day.
I'm thinking about getting tested again...I have the same symptoms I've had since May, so I'm likely OK (making me a less-than-top-priority, I suppose) and I have to make a video appointment with my Doc, who will decide whether I should get tested. "Due to a national shortage of testing supplies."
I'm not on top of things enough to know much about it...I believe the quote is true...but I wonder about why. Is this because people are getting tested and we're using supplies at a faster rate than they can be produced? Or is there something more nefarious at hand to create the shortage?
It's going to weed some people out (and I don't just mean any unnecessary test, but people that don't want to jump through the hoops)...which may or may not be the goal.
I’ve had four in the last two months for medical procedures. I have to go to my hospital’s drive-thru, but there’ve no issues whatsoever in availability or their 48-hour turnaround time.
I wonder if the shortages might be more of a regional thing?
I was tested in May. At that time, I went on my health insurance company's website, answered a few questions about symptoms, etc., scheduled an appointment for a drive-up test that afternoon, got tested, and had the (negative) results the next day.
I'm thinking about getting tested again...I have the same symptoms I've had since May, so I'm likely OK (making me a less-than-top-priority, I suppose) and I have to make a video appointment with my Doc, who will decide whether I should get tested. "Due to a national shortage of testing supplies."
I'm not on top of things enough to know much about it...I believe the quote is true...but I wonder about why. Is this because people are getting tested and we're using supplies at a faster rate than they can be produced? Or is there something more nefarious at hand to create the shortage?
It's going to weed some people out (and I don't just mean any unnecessary test, but people that don't want to jump through the hoops)...which may or may not be the goal.
Didn’t experience this in NYC. My wife and I got tested with no appointment or doctors approval. My employees got tested with no symptoms, just based on that they might have been exposed. This was in the past 2 weeks.
Are you feeling like you and the lady made it through Covid ok @nicknyr15 ? Or still feeling like you aren’t quite out of the woods? At any rate I’m hoping the best for you guys.
Thank you so much for those kind words. I’m feeling a lot better. Feel a little weak and still have no sense of taste or smell. My wife still has a very slight fever ,about 100.1, and slight tightness in chest. But it feels like we’re almost through.
Positive vibes((((((((((((((())))))))))))))))))) for you & loved ones!
Love all you guys. Even if we all disagree sometimes, I always feel the love when it matters most. Much appreciated.
Likewise I’ve learned an awful lot from posters that don’t agree with me on issues but that’s ok we should always show compassion and support each other!
I was tested in May. At that time, I went on my health insurance company's website, answered a few questions about symptoms, etc., scheduled an appointment for a drive-up test that afternoon, got tested, and had the (negative) results the next day.
I'm thinking about getting tested again...I have the same symptoms I've had since May, so I'm likely OK (making me a less-than-top-priority, I suppose) and I have to make a video appointment with my Doc, who will decide whether I should get tested. "Due to a national shortage of testing supplies."
I'm not on top of things enough to know much about it...I believe the quote is true...but I wonder about why. Is this because people are getting tested and we're using supplies at a faster rate than they can be produced? Or is there something more nefarious at hand to create the shortage?
It's going to weed some people out (and I don't just mean any unnecessary test, but people that don't want to jump through the hoops)...which may or may not be the goal.
Didn’t experience this in NYC. My wife and I got tested with no appointment or doctors approval. My employees got tested with no symptoms, just based on that they might have been exposed. This was in the past 2 weeks.
Are you feeling like you and the lady made it through Covid ok @nicknyr15 ? Or still feeling like you aren’t quite out of the woods? At any rate I’m hoping the best for you guys.
Thank you so much for those kind words. I’m feeling a lot better. Feel a little weak and still have no sense of taste or smell. My wife still has a very slight fever ,about 100.1, and slight tightness in chest. But it feels like we’re almost through.
I was tested in May. At that time, I went on my health insurance company's website, answered a few questions about symptoms, etc., scheduled an appointment for a drive-up test that afternoon, got tested, and had the (negative) results the next day.
I'm thinking about getting tested again...I have the same symptoms I've had since May, so I'm likely OK (making me a less-than-top-priority, I suppose) and I have to make a video appointment with my Doc, who will decide whether I should get tested. "Due to a national shortage of testing supplies."
I'm not on top of things enough to know much about it...I believe the quote is true...but I wonder about why. Is this because people are getting tested and we're using supplies at a faster rate than they can be produced? Or is there something more nefarious at hand to create the shortage?
It's going to weed some people out (and I don't just mean any unnecessary test, but people that don't want to jump through the hoops)...which may or may not be the goal.
Didn’t experience this in NYC. My wife and I got tested with no appointment or doctors approval. My employees got tested with no symptoms, just based on that they might have been exposed. This was in the past 2 weeks.
Are you feeling like you and the lady made it through Covid ok @nicknyr15 ? Or still feeling like you aren’t quite out of the woods? At any rate I’m hoping the best for you guys.
Thank you so much for those kind words. I’m feeling a lot better. Feel a little weak and still have no sense of taste or smell. My wife still has a very slight fever ,about 100.1, and slight tightness in chest. But it feels like we’re almost through.
Positive vibes((((((((((((((())))))))))))))))))) for you & loved ones!
Love all you guys. Even if we all disagree sometimes, I always feel the love when it matters most. Much appreciated.
Difference of opinion are 1 thing. Life and death is another. Stay strong.
I was tested in May. At that time, I went on my health insurance company's website, answered a few questions about symptoms, etc., scheduled an appointment for a drive-up test that afternoon, got tested, and had the (negative) results the next day.
I'm thinking about getting tested again...I have the same symptoms I've had since May, so I'm likely OK (making me a less-than-top-priority, I suppose) and I have to make a video appointment with my Doc, who will decide whether I should get tested. "Due to a national shortage of testing supplies."
I'm not on top of things enough to know much about it...I believe the quote is true...but I wonder about why. Is this because people are getting tested and we're using supplies at a faster rate than they can be produced? Or is there something more nefarious at hand to create the shortage?
It's going to weed some people out (and I don't just mean any unnecessary test, but people that don't want to jump through the hoops)...which may or may not be the goal.
Didn’t experience this in NYC. My wife and I got tested with no appointment or doctors approval. My employees got tested with no symptoms, just based on that they might have been exposed. This was in the past 2 weeks.
Are you feeling like you and the lady made it through Covid ok @nicknyr15 ? Or still feeling like you aren’t quite out of the woods? At any rate I’m hoping the best for you guys.
Thank you so much for those kind words. I’m feeling a lot better. Feel a little weak and still have no sense of taste or smell. My wife still has a very slight fever ,about 100.1, and slight tightness in chest. But it feels like we’re almost through.
Positive vibes((((((((((((((())))))))))))))))))) for you & loved ones!
Love all you guys. Even if we all disagree sometimes, I always feel the love when it matters most. Much appreciated.
Difference of opinion are 1 thing. Life and death is another. Stay strong.
I was tested in May. At that time, I went on my health insurance company's website, answered a few questions about symptoms, etc., scheduled an appointment for a drive-up test that afternoon, got tested, and had the (negative) results the next day.
I'm thinking about getting tested again...I have the same symptoms I've had since May, so I'm likely OK (making me a less-than-top-priority, I suppose) and I have to make a video appointment with my Doc, who will decide whether I should get tested. "Due to a national shortage of testing supplies."
I'm not on top of things enough to know much about it...I believe the quote is true...but I wonder about why. Is this because people are getting tested and we're using supplies at a faster rate than they can be produced? Or is there something more nefarious at hand to create the shortage?
It's going to weed some people out (and I don't just mean any unnecessary test, but people that don't want to jump through the hoops)...which may or may not be the goal.
Didn’t experience this in NYC. My wife and I got tested with no appointment or doctors approval. My employees got tested with no symptoms, just based on that they might have been exposed. This was in the past 2 weeks.
NY is very different from many states. They are testing about 100,000 per day. Overall testing in the US is trending down. Glad to hear you are doing better.
On the Fourth of July, I drove across the border from the United
States into Canada. Two months later, I drove the other way. Both times,
I crossed at the same point: just east of Lake Ontario, amid the
Thousand Islands of the St. Lawrence River. Both times, I was driving a
rented U-Haul, carrying household effects I was swapping between city
and vacation house. And there the similarities stopped.
When
I entered Canada, the single official I encountered wore a high-quality
face mask. She asked me to lower my mask briefly so she could inspect
my face, then probed with three questions: By what right did I enter
Canada? (I was born there.) What was in the truck? (Personal effects.)
And what was my plan for quarantine and self-isolation in Canada?
That
last topic occupied probably six or seven minutes. She asked where I
would stay, who else would be there, how I would get groceries and other
necessities. She took my email address and phone number. The entire
process—including the wait time for the one vehicle ahead of me when I
halted—occupied approximately 15 minutes. Over the following two weeks, I
would receive daily messages by text or robocall to confirm that I was
complying with quarantine rules. Once, I received an in-person call. I
don’t know that there was really any follow-up beyond these contacts,
but they reminded me that I had given a promise and that somebody cared
whether I honored that promise.
On
the return trip, I was halted at a checkpoint a couple of hundred yards
before the inspector booth. I showed my U.S. passport, answered a
question about residence, and rolled forward. None of the three officers
at the checkpoint wore a mask.
The U.S. station was much larger
and busier than the Canadian station, crowded with trucks, and much more
heavily staffed. More than one lane was open, and it took me a minute
to ascertain the correct one. The officer at the inspection booth also
did not wear a mask. He told me to remove my mask and keep it off for as
long as we talked. He asked as many questions as his Canadian
counterpart, but his focus was very different. We talked in detail about
the contents of the truck. Was I carrying marijuana? Cash? Weapons? He
did not ask a single question about COVID-19 or quarantine. He then
waved me forward to a secondary inspection, an electronic screening of
the truck. A police car, its driver unmasked, led me to the station. Two
officers there, again unmasked, explained how to drive my truck past an
X-ray machine. Afterward, an eighth officer, unmasked like the others,
asked me to step out of the cabin so he could look around. Then I was
sent on my way. Total time elapsed: 50 minutes.
All the U.S.
officers were professional and courteous, and a couple went out of their
way to be pleasant. One apologized for a delay at the secondary
screening; something had gone wrong with the machine for a few minutes.
But nobody seemed to reckon with the whole reason that the border had
been closed in the first place. Here I was, a potential disease carrier
crossing a border, and nobody seemed interested or concerned enough to
do anything about it. And none of them was taking the elementary
precaution of mask wearing to protect themselves and one another.
It
was an apt introduction to the transition between the United States and
Canada. On one side of the border, almost everybody took the virus
seriously—and few people had it. On the other, the reverse.
The
good news is that in the U.S., the rate of new infections has declined
somewhat from its early summer peak. Vaccines do seem to be on their
way—not as fast as President Donald Trump insists, but perhaps sometime
in the first part of 2021.
Until that day, however, it’s pretty
obvious that the real policy of the United States is to claim the
rewards of successful virus management—a return to schools and
universities, reopened bars and restaurants, resumption of
sports—without first doing the work of successfully managing the virus.
On my first day home, September 3, my city of Washington, D.C.—population 705,000—reported 58 new COVID-19 cases. That same day, the province of Ontario, which I had just left—population 14.57 million—reported 132 new positive tests.*
Despite
this depressing comparison, the District of Columbia is actually doing a
better job fighting the coronavirus than most of the United States is.
The seven-day average here in D.C. is less than one-third of what it was
at the peak in early May. For the U.S. as a whole, the seven-day
average in early September is fully two-thirds of what it was at the peak in mid-July.
It did not have to be this way. But as Trump aptly said
of himself and his policy, “It is what it is.” He accepted more disease
in hopes of stimulating a stronger economy and winning reelection. He’s
waiting now for the return on that bet. As so often in his reckless
career, his speculation seems to be that if the bet wins, he pockets the
proceeds. And if the bet fails? The losses fall on others.
As a
businessman, he played with other people’s money. As a politician, the
stakes have been other people’s lives. In both his careers, his gambles
have usually failed.
On the Fourth of July, I drove across the border from the United
States into Canada. Two months later, I drove the other way. Both times,
I crossed at the same point: just east of Lake Ontario, amid the
Thousand Islands of the St. Lawrence River. Both times, I was driving a
rented U-Haul, carrying household effects I was swapping between city
and vacation house. And there the similarities stopped.
When
I entered Canada, the single official I encountered wore a high-quality
face mask. She asked me to lower my mask briefly so she could inspect
my face, then probed with three questions: By what right did I enter
Canada? (I was born there.) What was in the truck? (Personal effects.)
And what was my plan for quarantine and self-isolation in Canada?
That
last topic occupied probably six or seven minutes. She asked where I
would stay, who else would be there, how I would get groceries and other
necessities. She took my email address and phone number. The entire
process—including the wait time for the one vehicle ahead of me when I
halted—occupied approximately 15 minutes. Over the following two weeks, I
would receive daily messages by text or robocall to confirm that I was
complying with quarantine rules. Once, I received an in-person call. I
don’t know that there was really any follow-up beyond these contacts,
but they reminded me that I had given a promise and that somebody cared
whether I honored that promise.
On
the return trip, I was halted at a checkpoint a couple of hundred yards
before the inspector booth. I showed my U.S. passport, answered a
question about residence, and rolled forward. None of the three officers
at the checkpoint wore a mask.
The U.S. station was much larger
and busier than the Canadian station, crowded with trucks, and much more
heavily staffed. More than one lane was open, and it took me a minute
to ascertain the correct one. The officer at the inspection booth also
did not wear a mask. He told me to remove my mask and keep it off for as
long as we talked. He asked as many questions as his Canadian
counterpart, but his focus was very different. We talked in detail about
the contents of the truck. Was I carrying marijuana? Cash? Weapons? He
did not ask a single question about COVID-19 or quarantine. He then
waved me forward to a secondary inspection, an electronic screening of
the truck. A police car, its driver unmasked, led me to the station. Two
officers there, again unmasked, explained how to drive my truck past an
X-ray machine. Afterward, an eighth officer, unmasked like the others,
asked me to step out of the cabin so he could look around. Then I was
sent on my way. Total time elapsed: 50 minutes.
All the U.S.
officers were professional and courteous, and a couple went out of their
way to be pleasant. One apologized for a delay at the secondary
screening; something had gone wrong with the machine for a few minutes.
But nobody seemed to reckon with the whole reason that the border had
been closed in the first place. Here I was, a potential disease carrier
crossing a border, and nobody seemed interested or concerned enough to
do anything about it. And none of them was taking the elementary
precaution of mask wearing to protect themselves and one another.
It
was an apt introduction to the transition between the United States and
Canada. On one side of the border, almost everybody took the virus
seriously—and few people had it. On the other, the reverse.
The
good news is that in the U.S., the rate of new infections has declined
somewhat from its early summer peak. Vaccines do seem to be on their
way—not as fast as President Donald Trump insists, but perhaps sometime
in the first part of 2021.
Until that day, however, it’s pretty
obvious that the real policy of the United States is to claim the
rewards of successful virus management—a return to schools and
universities, reopened bars and restaurants, resumption of
sports—without first doing the work of successfully managing the virus.
On my first day home, September 3, my city of Washington, D.C.—population 705,000—reported 58 new COVID-19 cases. That same day, the province of Ontario, which I had just left—population 14.57 million—reported 132 new positive tests.*
Despite
this depressing comparison, the District of Columbia is actually doing a
better job fighting the coronavirus than most of the United States is.
The seven-day average here in D.C. is less than one-third of what it was
at the peak in early May. For the U.S. as a whole, the seven-day
average in early September is fully two-thirds of what it was at the peak in mid-July.
It did not have to be this way. But as Trump aptly said
of himself and his policy, “It is what it is.” He accepted more disease
in hopes of stimulating a stronger economy and winning reelection. He’s
waiting now for the return on that bet. As so often in his reckless
career, his speculation seems to be that if the bet wins, he pockets the
proceeds. And if the bet fails? The losses fall on others.
As a
businessman, he played with other people’s money. As a politician, the
stakes have been other people’s lives. In both his careers, his gambles
have usually failed.
That right there is a perfect picture into why the USA is in the downward perils we find ourselves in battling this CV19.
Thank you for posting I'll try and post this on the forum for RUSH. Many there are pro Trumpers but last I checked the more verbal members have gone silent.
Peace
*We CAN bomb the World to pieces, but we CAN'T bomb it into PEACE*...Michael Franti
*MUSIC IS the expression of EMOTION.....and that POLITICS IS merely the DECOY of PERCEPTION*
.....song_Music & Politics....Michael Franti
*The scientists of today think deeply instead of clearly. One must be sane to think clearly, but one can think deeply and be quite INSANE*....Nikola Tesla(a man who shaped our world of electricity with his futuristic inventions)
Comments
And when I said “almost all deaths”, I really meant almost all deaths, not just COVID deaths. It was a general comment on the issue of comorbidity and why the fuss that some
people seem to be making about it just shows lack of understanding.
www.headstonesband.com
BC Government data, Sept 3
Who here will jump at getting the vaccine the Covidiot will be pushing?
I'm thinking about getting tested again...I have the same symptoms I've had since May, so I'm likely OK (making me a less-than-top-priority, I suppose) and I have to make a video appointment with my Doc, who will decide whether I should get tested. "Due to a national shortage of testing supplies."
2013 Wrigley 2014 St. Paul 2016 Fenway, Fenway, Wrigley, Wrigley 2018 Missoula, Wrigley, Wrigley 2021 Asbury Park 2022 St Louis 2023 Austin, Austin
There are no kings inside the gates of eden
I’m glad I work in a hospital during this time I get better information from professionals I can trust!
Damn poor teacher,.
I Crossed Back Into a State of Denial
On the Fourth of July, I drove across the border from the United States into Canada. Two months later, I drove the other way. Both times, I crossed at the same point: just east of Lake Ontario, amid the Thousand Islands of the St. Lawrence River. Both times, I was driving a rented U-Haul, carrying household effects I was swapping between city and vacation house. And there the similarities stopped.
When I entered Canada, the single official I encountered wore a high-quality face mask. She asked me to lower my mask briefly so she could inspect my face, then probed with three questions: By what right did I enter Canada? (I was born there.) What was in the truck? (Personal effects.) And what was my plan for quarantine and self-isolation in Canada?
That last topic occupied probably six or seven minutes. She asked where I would stay, who else would be there, how I would get groceries and other necessities. She took my email address and phone number. The entire process—including the wait time for the one vehicle ahead of me when I halted—occupied approximately 15 minutes. Over the following two weeks, I would receive daily messages by text or robocall to confirm that I was complying with quarantine rules. Once, I received an in-person call. I don’t know that there was really any follow-up beyond these contacts, but they reminded me that I had given a promise and that somebody cared whether I honored that promise.
On the return trip, I was halted at a checkpoint a couple of hundred yards before the inspector booth. I showed my U.S. passport, answered a question about residence, and rolled forward. None of the three officers at the checkpoint wore a mask.
The U.S. station was much larger and busier than the Canadian station, crowded with trucks, and much more heavily staffed. More than one lane was open, and it took me a minute to ascertain the correct one. The officer at the inspection booth also did not wear a mask. He told me to remove my mask and keep it off for as long as we talked. He asked as many questions as his Canadian counterpart, but his focus was very different. We talked in detail about the contents of the truck. Was I carrying marijuana? Cash? Weapons? He did not ask a single question about COVID-19 or quarantine. He then waved me forward to a secondary inspection, an electronic screening of the truck. A police car, its driver unmasked, led me to the station. Two officers there, again unmasked, explained how to drive my truck past an X-ray machine. Afterward, an eighth officer, unmasked like the others, asked me to step out of the cabin so he could look around. Then I was sent on my way. Total time elapsed: 50 minutes.
All the U.S. officers were professional and courteous, and a couple went out of their way to be pleasant. One apologized for a delay at the secondary screening; something had gone wrong with the machine for a few minutes. But nobody seemed to reckon with the whole reason that the border had been closed in the first place. Here I was, a potential disease carrier crossing a border, and nobody seemed interested or concerned enough to do anything about it. And none of them was taking the elementary precaution of mask wearing to protect themselves and one another.
It was an apt introduction to the transition between the United States and Canada. On one side of the border, almost everybody took the virus seriously—and few people had it. On the other, the reverse.
The good news is that in the U.S., the rate of new infections has declined somewhat from its early summer peak. Vaccines do seem to be on their way—not as fast as President Donald Trump insists, but perhaps sometime in the first part of 2021.
Until that day, however, it’s pretty obvious that the real policy of the United States is to claim the rewards of successful virus management—a return to schools and universities, reopened bars and restaurants, resumption of sports—without first doing the work of successfully managing the virus.
On my first day home, September 3, my city of Washington, D.C.—population 705,000—reported 58 new COVID-19 cases. That same day, the province of Ontario, which I had just left—population 14.57 million—reported 132 new positive tests.*
Despite this depressing comparison, the District of Columbia is actually doing a better job fighting the coronavirus than most of the United States is. The seven-day average here in D.C. is less than one-third of what it was at the peak in early May. For the U.S. as a whole, the seven-day average in early September is fully two-thirds of what it was at the peak in mid-July.
It did not have to be this way. But as Trump aptly said of himself and his policy, “It is what it is.” He accepted more disease in hopes of stimulating a stronger economy and winning reelection. He’s waiting now for the return on that bet. As so often in his reckless career, his speculation seems to be that if the bet wins, he pockets the proceeds. And if the bet fails? The losses fall on others.
As a businessman, he played with other people’s money. As a politician, the stakes have been other people’s lives. In both his careers, his gambles have usually failed.
That right there is a perfect picture into why the USA is in the downward perils we find ourselves in battling this CV19.
Thank you for posting I'll try and post this on the forum for RUSH. Many there are pro Trumpers but last I checked the more verbal members have gone silent.
Peace
*MUSIC IS the expression of EMOTION.....and that POLITICS IS merely the DECOY of PERCEPTION*
.....song_Music & Politics....Michael Franti
*The scientists of today think deeply instead of clearly. One must be sane to think clearly, but one can think deeply and be quite INSANE*....Nikola Tesla(a man who shaped our world of electricity with his futuristic inventions)
Talk about idiotic bikers, most are just that typical arrogant!