The coronavirus

dignin said:

JW269453 said:

dignin said:

Poncier said:

pjl44 said:

dignin said:

mcgruff10 said:

dignin said:

oftenreading said:

Massachusetts

How much the state improved:

Massachusetts started reopening on May 25. But since then, the rate of new cases has gone down, not up.

Between May 25 and July 10, the rate of daily new cases in Massachusetts has dropped by 75%, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

Between April 15 and July 14, Covid-19 hospitalizations have dropped by about 84%, and the rate of new deaths has dropped by about 95%, according to data from the Massachusetts Department of Health.

How they helped quell coronavirus:

Massachusetts waited to start reopening and was one of the last states to do so.

It also enacted a mask mandate before most other states did, on May 6. But unlike some states, the mandate in Massachusetts also applies to outdoor public areas where it might not be possible to stay 6 feet away from others.

How they're planning to keep Covid-19 under control:

Massachusetts is doubling down on testing to try to snuff out coronavirus in the state.

This month, Gov. Charlie Baker announced a "Stop the Spread" testing initiative that will last until mid-August.

The effort will focus on eight communities where the rates of Covid-19 are higher than the statewide average.

"The goal of this initiative is to provide widespread asymptomatic testing in an easy-to-access location within these communities" to help stop community spread, Baker said.

And Massachusetts is aiming to resume classroom education this fall -- but with face masks and distancing rules.

"Students in grade 2 and above are required to wear a mask/face covering that covers their nose and mouth," according to initial guidance from the state education department. The same applies to teachers and staff members.

For those unable to wear a mask, face shields may be used. And mask breaks should occur throughout the day if there's adequate distancing or ventilation.

New Jersey

How the state has improved:

New Jersey was hit hard early in this pandemic, with hospitalizations and deaths soaring. The state has the highest rate of Covid-19 deaths per capita: 175 per 100,000 people.

But now, New Jersey is among just a handful of states on track to contain Covid-19, according to CovidActNow.org, which tracks each state in four key areas: the infection rate, the test positivity rate, hospital capacity and contact tracing ability.

While testing has increased, the rate of new cases has decreased. New Jersey now has a test positivity rate of about 1.3%.

And the rate of transmission (Rt) is about 0.91, which means fewer and fewer people are getting infected.

How New Jersey helped changed its course:

In mid-March, Gov. Phil Murphy activated the National Guard and issued sweeping orders, including:

-- The closure of all schools and universities starting on March 18

-- The closure of all casinos, racetracks, theaters and gyms

-- The closure of all nonessential retail, recreational and entertainment businesses after 8 p.m. each day

New Jersey was the first state to issue a mask mandate, back on April 8.

Businesses must provide masks to employees and deny entry to any customer who refuse to wear them inside the business. Those riding public transit in the state must also wear face masks.

New Jersey also joined forces with New York and Connecticut on requiring visitors from hot-spot states to quarantine for 14 days.

How New Jersey is trying to keep Covid-19 under control:

Officials are urging residents not to get complacent just because the numbers have improved.

"Our rate of transmission is in a good place today, but only a week ago ... it was above 1.0," the governor said Monday.

"And if we change course, it's going to not only rise, but so will the number of positive test results, so will the number of hospitalizations, and so will the number, sadly, of residents who pass."

Vermont

How well the state is doing:

Vermont has the lowest test positivity rate in the nation -- 0.78% as of Wednesday, according to Johns Hopkins University.

It also has the 3rd lowest number of coronavirus cases per capita and the 10th lowest Covid-19 death rate of any state.

How they helped keep their numbers low:

Contact tracing has steadily improved in Vermont -- from an average of 2.7 contacts made per case in April to 4.8 contacts made per case in June.

As of last week, "2,469 contacts have been identified," the Vermont Department of Health said.

"172 contacts became a COVID-19 case. This means that this group of people knew to stay home, and likely did not spread the virus further."

How they're planning to keep Covid-19 under control:

When schools reopen this fall, "All staff and students are required to wear facial coverings while in the building, as well as outside where physical distancing cannot be maintained," according to guidance issued last month by state health and education officials. That guidance could change before the school year starts.

And despite having the lowest test positivity rate in the country, Vermont's state of emergency will be extended for another month, Gov. Phil Scott announced Tuesday.

"It's the vehicle we need to keep certain protections in place (and) control outbreaks as they come up, so we can keep the economy open and manage this ongoing crisis," Scott said.

"As long as the data stays consistent, we will stick with our effort to incrementally lift restrictions and get closer to a point where this order is no longer necessary."

It's  interesting because some people on this forum have argued that leadership doesn't really matter. That Americans will do what they are going to do regardless. These states show the opposite.

I always believed the state level was more important than the federal level.

It has been but I think that's probably more to do with a lack of leadership from the top. The governors that ignored Trump and did their own thing are currently in much better shape than those who took their lead from Trump.

Also, if we think macro governing level has more of an impact, why is a Repub Trumpy governor ordering cities in his state to not make masks mandatory? Taking away their choice. It kinda defies conservative logic to me. If states know best to handle their unique situation, wouldn't we further conclude that cities would know even better? I'm left scratching my head.

This makes no sense unless you're saying Cuomo and Murphy took their lead from Trump

I took it just the opposite. Cuomo, Murphy, Baker etc. ignored Trump and Kemp, Ducey, Abbott and DeSantis followed him rather blindly early on.

Thank you. That was obviously my point.

So NY, NJ & MA are the 3 highest death states and obviously those with early infection. Maybe and this is a huge stretch, those states are in a better place right now because they are not in the middle of the spread but rather on the tail end. Crazy of me to view this from a non political position, I know.

Haha, yeah, that must be it.

This makes way more sense than what all the experts have been saying for months.

DeSantis is the victim of miss happenstance. There was nothing he could have done to curb the virus, nobody saw it coming.

Haha.

JimmyV said:

The question of whether or not to return kids to school is our Kobayashi Maru.

nicknyr15 said:

Halifax2TheMax said:

Nobody stopped nobody from “criticizing their mayor.” #cancelculture

You’re so funny. Honestly. Borderline insane with your weird phrases, nicknames and now hashtags. Never said you stopped me, nor would you ever. I just said it went right to Trump. If I brought up a roll of Duct tape, you’d bring up Trump. It’s who you are. You can’t help it. It’s all good. 

Poncier said:

JW269453 said:

dignin said:

JW269453 said:

dignin said:

Poncier said:

pjl44 said:

dignin said:

mcgruff10 said:

dignin said:

oftenreading said:

Massachusetts

How much the state improved:

Massachusetts started reopening on May 25. But since then, the rate of new cases has gone down, not up.

Between May 25 and July 10, the rate of daily new cases in Massachusetts has dropped by 75%, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

Between April 15 and July 14, Covid-19 hospitalizations have dropped by about 84%, and the rate of new deaths has dropped by about 95%, according to data from the Massachusetts Department of Health.

How they helped quell coronavirus:

Massachusetts waited to start reopening and was one of the last states to do so.

It also enacted a mask mandate before most other states did, on May 6. But unlike some states, the mandate in Massachusetts also applies to outdoor public areas where it might not be possible to stay 6 feet away from others.

How they're planning to keep Covid-19 under control:

Massachusetts is doubling down on testing to try to snuff out coronavirus in the state.

This month, Gov. Charlie Baker announced a "Stop the Spread" testing initiative that will last until mid-August.

The effort will focus on eight communities where the rates of Covid-19 are higher than the statewide average.

"The goal of this initiative is to provide widespread asymptomatic testing in an easy-to-access location within these communities" to help stop community spread, Baker said.

And Massachusetts is aiming to resume classroom education this fall -- but with face masks and distancing rules.

"Students in grade 2 and above are required to wear a mask/face covering that covers their nose and mouth," according to initial guidance from the state education department. The same applies to teachers and staff members.

For those unable to wear a mask, face shields may be used. And mask breaks should occur throughout the day if there's adequate distancing or ventilation.

New Jersey

How the state has improved:

New Jersey was hit hard early in this pandemic, with hospitalizations and deaths soaring. The state has the highest rate of Covid-19 deaths per capita: 175 per 100,000 people.

But now, New Jersey is among just a handful of states on track to contain Covid-19, according to CovidActNow.org, which tracks each state in four key areas: the infection rate, the test positivity rate, hospital capacity and contact tracing ability.

While testing has increased, the rate of new cases has decreased. New Jersey now has a test positivity rate of about 1.3%.

And the rate of transmission (Rt) is about 0.91, which means fewer and fewer people are getting infected.

How New Jersey helped changed its course:

In mid-March, Gov. Phil Murphy activated the National Guard and issued sweeping orders, including:

-- The closure of all schools and universities starting on March 18

-- The closure of all casinos, racetracks, theaters and gyms

-- The closure of all nonessential retail, recreational and entertainment businesses after 8 p.m. each day

New Jersey was the first state to issue a mask mandate, back on April 8.

Businesses must provide masks to employees and deny entry to any customer who refuse to wear them inside the business. Those riding public transit in the state must also wear face masks.

New Jersey also joined forces with New York and Connecticut on requiring visitors from hot-spot states to quarantine for 14 days.

How New Jersey is trying to keep Covid-19 under control:

Officials are urging residents not to get complacent just because the numbers have improved.

"Our rate of transmission is in a good place today, but only a week ago ... it was above 1.0," the governor said Monday.

"And if we change course, it's going to not only rise, but so will the number of positive test results, so will the number of hospitalizations, and so will the number, sadly, of residents who pass."

Vermont

How well the state is doing:

Vermont has the lowest test positivity rate in the nation -- 0.78% as of Wednesday, according to Johns Hopkins University.

It also has the 3rd lowest number of coronavirus cases per capita and the 10th lowest Covid-19 death rate of any state.

How they helped keep their numbers low:

Contact tracing has steadily improved in Vermont -- from an average of 2.7 contacts made per case in April to 4.8 contacts made per case in June.

As of last week, "2,469 contacts have been identified," the Vermont Department of Health said.

"172 contacts became a COVID-19 case. This means that this group of people knew to stay home, and likely did not spread the virus further."

How they're planning to keep Covid-19 under control:

When schools reopen this fall, "All staff and students are required to wear facial coverings while in the building, as well as outside where physical distancing cannot be maintained," according to guidance issued last month by state health and education officials. That guidance could change before the school year starts.

And despite having the lowest test positivity rate in the country, Vermont's state of emergency will be extended for another month, Gov. Phil Scott announced Tuesday.

"It's the vehicle we need to keep certain protections in place (and) control outbreaks as they come up, so we can keep the economy open and manage this ongoing crisis," Scott said.

"As long as the data stays consistent, we will stick with our effort to incrementally lift restrictions and get closer to a point where this order is no longer necessary."

It's  interesting because some people on this forum have argued that leadership doesn't really matter. That Americans will do what they are going to do regardless. These states show the opposite.

I always believed the state level was more important than the federal level.

It has been but I think that's probably more to do with a lack of leadership from the top. The governors that ignored Trump and did their own thing are currently in much better shape than those who took their lead from Trump.

Also, if we think macro governing level has more of an impact, why is a Repub Trumpy governor ordering cities in his state to not make masks mandatory? Taking away their choice. It kinda defies conservative logic to me. If states know best to handle their unique situation, wouldn't we further conclude that cities would know even better? I'm left scratching my head.

This makes no sense unless you're saying Cuomo and Murphy took their lead from Trump

I took it just the opposite. Cuomo, Murphy, Baker etc. ignored Trump and Kemp, Ducey, Abbott and DeSantis followed him rather blindly early on.

Thank you. That was obviously my point.

So NY, NJ & MA are the 3 highest death states and obviously those with early infection. Maybe and this is a huge stretch, those states are in a better place right now because they are not in the middle of the spread but rather on the tail end. Crazy of me to view this from a non political position, I know.

Haha, yeah, that must be it.

This makes way more sense than what all the experts have been saying for months.

DeSantis is the victim of miss happenstance. There was nothing he could have done to curb the virus, nobody saw it coming.

Haha.

 Don't forget that testing is on a whole other level than it was early on as well, do you think if tests were being performed like they are now the overall case numbers wouldn't look drastically different? It is not rocket science and is another way of evaluating something without allowing political bias to control your thought process. 

If there was less testing, there'd be less confirmed cases, but the infection rate would be the same, or likely higher as some folks who didn't know for sure they had it would continue to interact with and infect others. Greater volume of testing isn't accounting for the increase in numbers now, poor adherence to social distancing and other safety protocols (especially mask wearing) is. That's why hospitilizations are surging in Ca, FL, TX, AZ and GA amongst others. And those who claim "the fatality rate is lower" like Trump, Pence DeSantis and kemp all have recently are ignoring the simple scientific fact of the lag. People don't contract the virus and drop dead immediately. The contract, get sick, get sicker, go to hospital, go to ICU, then die. Takes a few weeks on average.
And look at death tolls in those states this week compared to 2-3 weeks ago, they have risen dramatically (FL reporting triple digit deaths daily now), and will continue to do so.

JW269453 said:

Poncier said:

JW269453 said:

dignin said:

JW269453 said:

dignin said:

Poncier said:

pjl44 said:

dignin said:

mcgruff10 said:

dignin said:

oftenreading said:

Massachusetts

How much the state improved:

Massachusetts started reopening on May 25. But since then, the rate of new cases has gone down, not up.

Between May 25 and July 10, the rate of daily new cases in Massachusetts has dropped by 75%, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

Between April 15 and July 14, Covid-19 hospitalizations have dropped by about 84%, and the rate of new deaths has dropped by about 95%, according to data from the Massachusetts Department of Health.

How they helped quell coronavirus:

Massachusetts waited to start reopening and was one of the last states to do so.

It also enacted a mask mandate before most other states did, on May 6. But unlike some states, the mandate in Massachusetts also applies to outdoor public areas where it might not be possible to stay 6 feet away from others.

How they're planning to keep Covid-19 under control:

Massachusetts is doubling down on testing to try to snuff out coronavirus in the state.

This month, Gov. Charlie Baker announced a "Stop the Spread" testing initiative that will last until mid-August.

The effort will focus on eight communities where the rates of Covid-19 are higher than the statewide average.

"The goal of this initiative is to provide widespread asymptomatic testing in an easy-to-access location within these communities" to help stop community spread, Baker said.

And Massachusetts is aiming to resume classroom education this fall -- but with face masks and distancing rules.

"Students in grade 2 and above are required to wear a mask/face covering that covers their nose and mouth," according to initial guidance from the state education department. The same applies to teachers and staff members.

For those unable to wear a mask, face shields may be used. And mask breaks should occur throughout the day if there's adequate distancing or ventilation.

New Jersey

How the state has improved:

New Jersey was hit hard early in this pandemic, with hospitalizations and deaths soaring. The state has the highest rate of Covid-19 deaths per capita: 175 per 100,000 people.

But now, New Jersey is among just a handful of states on track to contain Covid-19, according to CovidActNow.org, which tracks each state in four key areas: the infection rate, the test positivity rate, hospital capacity and contact tracing ability.

While testing has increased, the rate of new cases has decreased. New Jersey now has a test positivity rate of about 1.3%.

And the rate of transmission (Rt) is about 0.91, which means fewer and fewer people are getting infected.

How New Jersey helped changed its course:

In mid-March, Gov. Phil Murphy activated the National Guard and issued sweeping orders, including:

-- The closure of all schools and universities starting on March 18

-- The closure of all casinos, racetracks, theaters and gyms

-- The closure of all nonessential retail, recreational and entertainment businesses after 8 p.m. each day

New Jersey was the first state to issue a mask mandate, back on April 8.

Businesses must provide masks to employees and deny entry to any customer who refuse to wear them inside the business. Those riding public transit in the state must also wear face masks.

New Jersey also joined forces with New York and Connecticut on requiring visitors from hot-spot states to quarantine for 14 days.

How New Jersey is trying to keep Covid-19 under control:

Officials are urging residents not to get complacent just because the numbers have improved.

"Our rate of transmission is in a good place today, but only a week ago ... it was above 1.0," the governor said Monday.

"And if we change course, it's going to not only rise, but so will the number of positive test results, so will the number of hospitalizations, and so will the number, sadly, of residents who pass."

Vermont

How well the state is doing:

Vermont has the lowest test positivity rate in the nation -- 0.78% as of Wednesday, according to Johns Hopkins University.

It also has the 3rd lowest number of coronavirus cases per capita and the 10th lowest Covid-19 death rate of any state.

How they helped keep their numbers low:

Contact tracing has steadily improved in Vermont -- from an average of 2.7 contacts made per case in April to 4.8 contacts made per case in June.

As of last week, "2,469 contacts have been identified," the Vermont Department of Health said.

"172 contacts became a COVID-19 case. This means that this group of people knew to stay home, and likely did not spread the virus further."

How they're planning to keep Covid-19 under control:

When schools reopen this fall, "All staff and students are required to wear facial coverings while in the building, as well as outside where physical distancing cannot be maintained," according to guidance issued last month by state health and education officials. That guidance could change before the school year starts.

And despite having the lowest test positivity rate in the country, Vermont's state of emergency will be extended for another month, Gov. Phil Scott announced Tuesday.

"It's the vehicle we need to keep certain protections in place (and) control outbreaks as they come up, so we can keep the economy open and manage this ongoing crisis," Scott said.

"As long as the data stays consistent, we will stick with our effort to incrementally lift restrictions and get closer to a point where this order is no longer necessary."

It's  interesting because some people on this forum have argued that leadership doesn't really matter. That Americans will do what they are going to do regardless. These states show the opposite.

I always believed the state level was more important than the federal level.

It has been but I think that's probably more to do with a lack of leadership from the top. The governors that ignored Trump and did their own thing are currently in much better shape than those who took their lead from Trump.

Also, if we think macro governing level has more of an impact, why is a Repub Trumpy governor ordering cities in his state to not make masks mandatory? Taking away their choice. It kinda defies conservative logic to me. If states know best to handle their unique situation, wouldn't we further conclude that cities would know even better? I'm left scratching my head.

This makes no sense unless you're saying Cuomo and Murphy took their lead from Trump

I took it just the opposite. Cuomo, Murphy, Baker etc. ignored Trump and Kemp, Ducey, Abbott and DeSantis followed him rather blindly early on.

Thank you. That was obviously my point.

So NY, NJ & MA are the 3 highest death states and obviously those with early infection. Maybe and this is a huge stretch, those states are in a better place right now because they are not in the middle of the spread but rather on the tail end. Crazy of me to view this from a non political position, I know.

Haha, yeah, that must be it.

This makes way more sense than what all the experts have been saying for months.

DeSantis is the victim of miss happenstance. There was nothing he could have done to curb the virus, nobody saw it coming.

Haha.

 Don't forget that testing is on a whole other level than it was early on as well, do you think if tests were being performed like they are now the overall case numbers wouldn't look drastically different? It is not rocket science and is another way of evaluating something without allowing political bias to control your thought process. 

If there was less testing, there'd be less confirmed cases, but the infection rate would be the same, or likely higher as some folks who didn't know for sure they had it would continue to interact with and infect others. Greater volume of testing isn't accounting for the increase in numbers now, poor adherence to social distancing and other safety protocols (especially mask wearing) is. That's why hospitilizations are surging in Ca, FL, TX, AZ and GA amongst others. And those who claim "the fatality rate is lower" like Trump, Pence DeSantis and kemp all have recently are ignoring the simple scientific fact of the lag. People don't contract the virus and drop dead immediately. The contract, get sick, get sicker, go to hospital, go to ICU, then die. Takes a few weeks on average.
And look at death tolls in those states this week compared to 2-3 weeks ago, they have risen dramatically (FL reporting triple digit deaths daily now), and will continue to do so.

I was saying the confirmed cases in the northeast would look drastically different had testing been available as it is now. I don't care about case numbers because we all know it is not an accurate representation due to those who are asymptomatic, but it seems that is what many people focus on. I think deaths paint a more accurate picture when it comes to the widespread presence of the virus and the areas where it is currently moving through will undoubtedly see a major increase in death over the next month or so. Much like the northeast was when it was ravaging them.

bbiggs said:

static111 said:

Ledbetterman10 said:

bbiggs said:

pjl44 said:

nicknyr15 said:

pjl44 said:

dignin said:

mcgruff10 said:

dignin said:

oftenreading said:

Massachusetts

How much the state improved:

Massachusetts started reopening on May 25. But since then, the rate of new cases has gone down, not up.

Between May 25 and July 10, the rate of daily new cases in Massachusetts has dropped by 75%, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

Between April 15 and July 14, Covid-19 hospitalizations have dropped by about 84%, and the rate of new deaths has dropped by about 95%, according to data from the Massachusetts Department of Health.

How they helped quell coronavirus:

Massachusetts waited to start reopening and was one of the last states to do so.

It also enacted a mask mandate before most other states did, on May 6. But unlike some states, the mandate in Massachusetts also applies to outdoor public areas where it might not be possible to stay 6 feet away from others.

How they're planning to keep Covid-19 under control:

Massachusetts is doubling down on testing to try to snuff out coronavirus in the state.

This month, Gov. Charlie Baker announced a "Stop the Spread" testing initiative that will last until mid-August.

The effort will focus on eight communities where the rates of Covid-19 are higher than the statewide average.

"The goal of this initiative is to provide widespread asymptomatic testing in an easy-to-access location within these communities" to help stop community spread, Baker said.

And Massachusetts is aiming to resume classroom education this fall -- but with face masks and distancing rules.

"Students in grade 2 and above are required to wear a mask/face covering that covers their nose and mouth," according to initial guidance from the state education department. The same applies to teachers and staff members.

For those unable to wear a mask, face shields may be used. And mask breaks should occur throughout the day if there's adequate distancing or ventilation.

New Jersey

How the state has improved:

New Jersey was hit hard early in this pandemic, with hospitalizations and deaths soaring. The state has the highest rate of Covid-19 deaths per capita: 175 per 100,000 people.

But now, New Jersey is among just a handful of states on track to contain Covid-19, according to CovidActNow.org, which tracks each state in four key areas: the infection rate, the test positivity rate, hospital capacity and contact tracing ability.

While testing has increased, the rate of new cases has decreased. New Jersey now has a test positivity rate of about 1.3%.

And the rate of transmission (Rt) is about 0.91, which means fewer and fewer people are getting infected.

How New Jersey helped changed its course:

In mid-March, Gov. Phil Murphy activated the National Guard and issued sweeping orders, including:

-- The closure of all schools and universities starting on March 18

-- The closure of all casinos, racetracks, theaters and gyms

-- The closure of all nonessential retail, recreational and entertainment businesses after 8 p.m. each day

New Jersey was the first state to issue a mask mandate, back on April 8.

Businesses must provide masks to employees and deny entry to any customer who refuse to wear them inside the business. Those riding public transit in the state must also wear face masks.

New Jersey also joined forces with New York and Connecticut on requiring visitors from hot-spot states to quarantine for 14 days.

How New Jersey is trying to keep Covid-19 under control:

Officials are urging residents not to get complacent just because the numbers have improved.

"Our rate of transmission is in a good place today, but only a week ago ... it was above 1.0," the governor said Monday.

"And if we change course, it's going to not only rise, but so will the number of positive test results, so will the number of hospitalizations, and so will the number, sadly, of residents who pass."

Vermont

How well the state is doing:

Vermont has the lowest test positivity rate in the nation -- 0.78% as of Wednesday, according to Johns Hopkins University.

It also has the 3rd lowest number of coronavirus cases per capita and the 10th lowest Covid-19 death rate of any state.

How they helped keep their numbers low:

Contact tracing has steadily improved in Vermont -- from an average of 2.7 contacts made per case in April to 4.8 contacts made per case in June.

As of last week, "2,469 contacts have been identified," the Vermont Department of Health said.

"172 contacts became a COVID-19 case. This means that this group of people knew to stay home, and likely did not spread the virus further."

How they're planning to keep Covid-19 under control:

When schools reopen this fall, "All staff and students are required to wear facial coverings while in the building, as well as outside where physical distancing cannot be maintained," according to guidance issued last month by state health and education officials. That guidance could change before the school year starts.

And despite having the lowest test positivity rate in the country, Vermont's state of emergency will be extended for another month, Gov. Phil Scott announced Tuesday.

"It's the vehicle we need to keep certain protections in place (and) control outbreaks as they come up, so we can keep the economy open and manage this ongoing crisis," Scott said.

"As long as the data stays consistent, we will stick with our effort to incrementally lift restrictions and get closer to a point where this order is no longer necessary."

It's  interesting because some people on this forum have argued that leadership doesn't really matter. That Americans will do what they are going to do regardless. These states show the opposite.

I always believed the state level was more important than the federal level.

It has been but I think that's probably more to do with a lack of leadership from the top. The governors that ignored Trump and did their own thing are currently in much better shape than those who took their lead from Trump.

Also, if we think macro governing level has more of an impact, why is a Repub Trumpy governor ordering cities in his state to not make masks mandatory? Taking away their choice. It kinda defies conservative logic to me. If states know best to handle their unique situation, wouldn't we further conclude that cities would know even better? I'm left scratching my head.

This makes no sense unless you're saying Cuomo and Murphy took their lead from Trump

It’s weird to hear people saying NY did a great job. We lost what, 30k people? I think actual NYers were scared shit then did a good job wearing masks and staying home. If NY was a red state I’m sure people would be all over our death count and the nursing home debacle. 

There's this weird desire to make it a red/blue thing or attempt to look at success/failure through the lens of Trump. It always results in a fundamental misunderstanding of what is happening. 

There’s scattered logic all over the place on this. Look at CA currently.  Blue as blue gets, strict early lockdowns, didn’t open too early, not a “mouth breather” state, yet they’re getting hammered.  The red/blue argument doesn’t carry weight there. 

So what makes a state a "mouth-breather" state? 

I’d like to know this as well

As I mentioned in my post above, this is presumably a term commonly used around here for people that reside in red states.  Republicans = mouth breathers.  At least according to some of the 10C faithful. 

Poncier said:

bbiggs said:

static111 said:

Ledbetterman10 said:

bbiggs said:

pjl44 said:

nicknyr15 said:

pjl44 said:

dignin said:

mcgruff10 said:

dignin said:

oftenreading said:

Massachusetts

How much the state improved:

Massachusetts started reopening on May 25. But since then, the rate of new cases has gone down, not up.

Between May 25 and July 10, the rate of daily new cases in Massachusetts has dropped by 75%, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

Between April 15 and July 14, Covid-19 hospitalizations have dropped by about 84%, and the rate of new deaths has dropped by about 95%, according to data from the Massachusetts Department of Health.

How they helped quell coronavirus:

Massachusetts waited to start reopening and was one of the last states to do so.

It also enacted a mask mandate before most other states did, on May 6. But unlike some states, the mandate in Massachusetts also applies to outdoor public areas where it might not be possible to stay 6 feet away from others.

How they're planning to keep Covid-19 under control:

Massachusetts is doubling down on testing to try to snuff out coronavirus in the state.

This month, Gov. Charlie Baker announced a "Stop the Spread" testing initiative that will last until mid-August.

The effort will focus on eight communities where the rates of Covid-19 are higher than the statewide average.

"The goal of this initiative is to provide widespread asymptomatic testing in an easy-to-access location within these communities" to help stop community spread, Baker said.

And Massachusetts is aiming to resume classroom education this fall -- but with face masks and distancing rules.

"Students in grade 2 and above are required to wear a mask/face covering that covers their nose and mouth," according to initial guidance from the state education department. The same applies to teachers and staff members.

For those unable to wear a mask, face shields may be used. And mask breaks should occur throughout the day if there's adequate distancing or ventilation.

New Jersey

How the state has improved:

New Jersey was hit hard early in this pandemic, with hospitalizations and deaths soaring. The state has the highest rate of Covid-19 deaths per capita: 175 per 100,000 people.

But now, New Jersey is among just a handful of states on track to contain Covid-19, according to CovidActNow.org, which tracks each state in four key areas: the infection rate, the test positivity rate, hospital capacity and contact tracing ability.

While testing has increased, the rate of new cases has decreased. New Jersey now has a test positivity rate of about 1.3%.

And the rate of transmission (Rt) is about 0.91, which means fewer and fewer people are getting infected.

How New Jersey helped changed its course:

In mid-March, Gov. Phil Murphy activated the National Guard and issued sweeping orders, including:

-- The closure of all schools and universities starting on March 18

-- The closure of all casinos, racetracks, theaters and gyms

-- The closure of all nonessential retail, recreational and entertainment businesses after 8 p.m. each day

New Jersey was the first state to issue a mask mandate, back on April 8.

Businesses must provide masks to employees and deny entry to any customer who refuse to wear them inside the business. Those riding public transit in the state must also wear face masks.

New Jersey also joined forces with New York and Connecticut on requiring visitors from hot-spot states to quarantine for 14 days.

How New Jersey is trying to keep Covid-19 under control:

Officials are urging residents not to get complacent just because the numbers have improved.

"Our rate of transmission is in a good place today, but only a week ago ... it was above 1.0," the governor said Monday.

"And if we change course, it's going to not only rise, but so will the number of positive test results, so will the number of hospitalizations, and so will the number, sadly, of residents who pass."

Vermont

How well the state is doing:

Vermont has the lowest test positivity rate in the nation -- 0.78% as of Wednesday, according to Johns Hopkins University.

It also has the 3rd lowest number of coronavirus cases per capita and the 10th lowest Covid-19 death rate of any state.

How they helped keep their numbers low:

Contact tracing has steadily improved in Vermont -- from an average of 2.7 contacts made per case in April to 4.8 contacts made per case in June.

As of last week, "2,469 contacts have been identified," the Vermont Department of Health said.

"172 contacts became a COVID-19 case. This means that this group of people knew to stay home, and likely did not spread the virus further."

How they're planning to keep Covid-19 under control:

When schools reopen this fall, "All staff and students are required to wear facial coverings while in the building, as well as outside where physical distancing cannot be maintained," according to guidance issued last month by state health and education officials. That guidance could change before the school year starts.

And despite having the lowest test positivity rate in the country, Vermont's state of emergency will be extended for another month, Gov. Phil Scott announced Tuesday.

"It's the vehicle we need to keep certain protections in place (and) control outbreaks as they come up, so we can keep the economy open and manage this ongoing crisis," Scott said.

"As long as the data stays consistent, we will stick with our effort to incrementally lift restrictions and get closer to a point where this order is no longer necessary."

It's  interesting because some people on this forum have argued that leadership doesn't really matter. That Americans will do what they are going to do regardless. These states show the opposite.

I always believed the state level was more important than the federal level.

It has been but I think that's probably more to do with a lack of leadership from the top. The governors that ignored Trump and did their own thing are currently in much better shape than those who took their lead from Trump.

Also, if we think macro governing level has more of an impact, why is a Repub Trumpy governor ordering cities in his state to not make masks mandatory? Taking away their choice. It kinda defies conservative logic to me. If states know best to handle their unique situation, wouldn't we further conclude that cities would know even better? I'm left scratching my head.

This makes no sense unless you're saying Cuomo and Murphy took their lead from Trump

It’s weird to hear people saying NY did a great job. We lost what, 30k people? I think actual NYers were scared shit then did a good job wearing masks and staying home. If NY was a red state I’m sure people would be all over our death count and the nursing home debacle. 

There's this weird desire to make it a red/blue thing or attempt to look at success/failure through the lens of Trump. It always results in a fundamental misunderstanding of what is happening. 

There’s scattered logic all over the place on this. Look at CA currently.  Blue as blue gets, strict early lockdowns, didn’t open too early, not a “mouth breather” state, yet they’re getting hammered.  The red/blue argument doesn’t carry weight there. 

So what makes a state a "mouth-breather" state? 

I’d like to know this as well

As I mentioned in my post above, this is presumably a term commonly used around here for people that reside in red states.  Republicans = mouth breathers.  At least according to some of the 10C faithful. 

Its an ignorant way of painting folks with a broad brush and doesn't make liberals look very liberal or very affable.