[News] Coronavirus

A place to discuss the now-global coronavirus outbreak.

OG_slinger wrote:

Who's ready for the coming explosion of Legionnaire's Disease and the like from all the HVAC systems that haven't been properly cleaned and maintained for over a year?

Pretty sure that's a souvenir I took home after a vacation in Italy a decade ago. The air coming out of the AC window unit smelled a bit mildewy to me. A few days later the pneumonia had me in its grip. Did not enjoy.

OG_slinger wrote:

Who's ready for the coming explosion of Legionnaire's Disease and the like from all the HVAC systems that haven't been properly cleaned and maintained for over a year?

Just had mine replaced yesterday. Hopefully I am not too late.

polypusher wrote:

The conversation about employers requiring remote workers to come back at all is frustrating (and it was predictable). We've proven over the past 15 months that the quality of work doesn't drastically drop from remote work. (it degrades in some areas, improves in others, and individuals have varying degrees of success) If you want us back, give us a reason to come back, not a penalty if we don't. Frankly I want to seize the opportunity to never go back to an office and get to move to some Canadian island or some other lovely place on earth while still providing excellent work to my employer.

Yeah my job has been fully remote since mid March 2020. Development has been kicking ass from home. The sales group even met quotas the last couple quarters doing remote presentations. And they have been giving us alternating Fridays off since last June, for mental health, family time, errands, whatever. So we've done more with less and it's been great.

This months all-hands meeting just spouted some BS about back to normal in July and if you were in office before you needed to be again. And the Fridays off are still in discussion. I figured those would vanish but we have unlimited PTO and if they don't give it to me I'm taking at least one Friday off every month as long as I work there.

The weird part is we closed a couple of offices from mergers that had like 30 people or less in them last year to save money. So those people get to stay fully remote. But because I'm at one of the big offices I have to go back? What nonsense.

Just want to chime in to agree with all this. We are expected to go back July 1 but no one has ever mentioned what wasn't getting done properly that will be fixed by being back. It is just return for return sake.

I expect people will write books/papers in future years about how this was a turning point and we wasted it.

Stele wrote:
polypusher wrote:

The conversation about employers requiring remote workers to come back at all is frustrating (and it was predictable). We've proven over the past 15 months that the quality of work doesn't drastically drop from remote work. (it degrades in some areas, improves in others, and individuals have varying degrees of success) If you want us back, give us a reason to come back, not a penalty if we don't. Frankly I want to seize the opportunity to never go back to an office and get to move to some Canadian island or some other lovely place on earth while still providing excellent work to my employer.

Yeah my job has been fully remote since mid March 2020. Development has been kicking ass from home. The sales group even met quotas the last couple quarters doing remote presentations. And they have been giving us alternating Fridays off since last June, for mental health, family time, errands, whatever. So we've done more with less and it's been great.

This months all-hands meeting just spouted some BS about back to normal in July and if you were in office before you needed to be again. And the Fridays off are still in discussion. I figured those would vanish but we have unlimited PTO and if they don't give it to me I'm taking at least one Friday off every month as long as I work there.

The weird part is we closed a couple of offices from mergers that had like 30 people or less in them last year to save money. So those people get to stay fully remote. But because I'm at one of the big offices I have to go back? What nonsense.

This is absolutely a wasted opportunity for society. That's been my biggest takeaway recently as my state passed a "no school or state board is allowed to mandate masks for COVID any more" law and districts are planning "complete return to normal" plans for next year.

This was a golden opportunity for us as a whole to be more focused on the whole of us. This was a chance to take a hard look at structures we took for granted as "the way it's always been." We could be modifying work-expectations, commutes, work-from-home, school schedules, masking-when-sick culture. But instead we're hamstrung by the urge to "return to normal" and the white-right crowd screaming about their "freedoms."

We could have used the COVID closures to rebuild something so much better. But we can't, won't, don't. And it's got me feeling really crappy and depressed.

I lost so many I considered good friends to the "me-first, me-only" attitude as they revealed their true natures. And now, I need to find new friends. But at least I know a few key questions to ask.

I'll be your friend.

Antichulius wrote:

This is absolutely a wasted opportunity for society. That's been my biggest takeaway recently as my state passed a "no school or state board is allowed to mandate masks for COVID any more" law and districts are planning "complete return to normal" plans for next year.

This was a golden opportunity for us as a whole to be more focused on the whole of us. This was a chance to take a hard look at structures we took for granted as "the way it's always been." We could be modifying work-expectations, commutes, work-from-home, school schedules, masking-when-sick culture. But instead we're hamstrung by the urge to "return to normal" and the white-right crowd screaming about their "freedoms."

We could have used the COVID closures to rebuild something so much better. But we can't, won't, don't. And it's got me feeling really crappy and depressed.

I lost so many I considered good friends to the "me-first, me-only" attitude as they revealed their true natures. And now, I need to find new friends. But at least I know a few key questions to ask.

Yep. We know how as a society we'll deal with climate change. I'm glad I never had kids.

Antichulius wrote:

We could have used the COVID closures to rebuild something so much better. But we can't, won't, don't. And it's got me feeling really crappy and depressed.

Your right but I just see this as another way we are just animals. No one would expect wolves to change based on say a disease outbreak or over population.
We are the same. We will only change as much as we are forced to.

You know, I honestly expected that I would never be in a position to say this, but the way my employer has handled every aspect of the past year (pandemic, BLM, screwed up national situation, etc) has earned a f*ckton of loyalty and respect from me.

I already liked my job, but after the past year I can see myself sticking with it permanently unless leadership changes significantly in the future.

I'd been an IT consultant for the State of Minnesota for several years, and wound up taking a permanent position which, just due to timing, happened to start the day the state went into lockdown the first time. They let us take everything home we wanted, have been flexible with schedules, support people needing time to educate their kids at home, and gave everyone the option to continue working remotely as it had worked so well. I see no reason to ever go anywhere else at this point.

MilkmanDanimal wrote:

They let us take everything home we wanted

"Thanks for your Bentley, Boss!"

My company is going to (eventually) go back to two days a week in-office. I know I really appreciate the fact that we’re actually looking to take the opportunity to change.

farley3k wrote:
Antichulius wrote:

We could have used the COVID closures to rebuild something so much better. But we can't, won't, don't. And it's got me feeling really crappy and depressed.

Your right but I just see this as another way we are just animals. No one would expect wolves to change based on say a disease outbreak or over population.
We are the same. We will only change as much as we are forced to.

That’s a terrible copout. This isn’t the pack being forced to a new habitat. There is nothing natural or intrinsic about the way the workplace has historically been organized, and the only “pressure” to go back to “normal” is from employers that don’t like that things changed.

Farscry wrote:

You know, I honestly expected that I would never be in a position to say this, but the way my employer has handled every aspect of the past year (pandemic, BLM, screwed up national situation, etc) has earned a f*ckton of loyalty and respect from me.

I already liked my job, but after the past year I can see myself sticking with it permanently unless leadership changes significantly in the future.

I would have said the same last week. But this recent talk about getting back to normal has me questioning things.

Rat Boy wrote:
MilkmanDanimal wrote:

They let us take everything home we wanted

"Thanks for your Bentley, Boss!"

While I am in the IT group at the Department of Transportation, it's not like Bentleys are exactly standard. That being said, when I roll up to the Whole Foods in a snowplow, it really catches a lady's attention.

MilkmanDanimal wrote:
Rat Boy wrote:
MilkmanDanimal wrote:

They let us take everything home we wanted

"Thanks for your Bentley, Boss!"

While I am in the IT group at the Department of Transportation, it's not like Bentleys are exactly standard. That being said, when I roll up to the Whole Foods in a snowplow, it really catches a lady's attention.

That might be because it's almost June and you're still driving a snowplow.

Its like we both don't want anything to go back to normal yet will mob rush over each other to get back to it as soon as we get the slightest hint that "normal" is around the corner.

Victoria, Australia back into lockdown for 7 days.

The only reasons we are allowed to leave home are:

- Food and supplies (one person per household, once per day)
- Authorised work
- Care and caregiving
- Exercise for up to two hours with one other person (within a 5km radius)
- Getting vaccinated

Rat Boy wrote:
MilkmanDanimal wrote:

They let us take everything home we wanted

"Thanks for your Bentley, Boss!"

Haha.

Ain't no public sector boss driving no Bentley.

UK Update:

A week last Monday our lockdown rules relaxed again to allow sitting indoors for pubs/restaurants, and allowing the mixing of two households indoors too (or 6 individuals from different households) I made use of that a little to see my brother for the first time in nearly a year, and take Mrs Sorb out for a well deserved meal.

However we also now have several outbreaks of the ‘Indian Variant’ which is even more infectious than the UK variant we’ve spread to pretty much the rest of the world now.

Infections have been increasing. However, although there’s been a small increase in hospitalisations, it’s nothing like it was before our vaccination program started, and there’s been no corresponding increase in deaths.

This is good because we’re at about 70% of the adult population having had at least one dose of the vaccine here. Hesitancy isn’t really a big deal and right now, if your aged over 30 you can ring a number and book a slot. Pretty much anyone over 40 has had theirs now. It also shows that the vaccine(s) work in terms of keeping people alive and out of hospital.

However it sucks if you’re under 30 and happen to be one of those statistical unfortunates who do get severely ill from the virus, or are vulnerable and can’t take it for whatever reason. They are basically now expendable.

Immunity to the Coronavirus May Persist for Years, Scientists Find

Immunity to the coronavirus lasts at least a year, possibly a lifetime, improving over time especially after vaccination, according to two new studies. The findings may help put to rest lingering fears that protection against the virus will be short-lived.

Together, the studies suggest that most people who have recovered from Covid-19 and who were later immunized will not need boosters. Vaccinated people who were never infected most likely will need the shots, however, as will a minority who were infected but did not produce a robust immune response.

kazar wrote:

My take on libertarianism is your free to do what you want without outside intervention as long as you in turn do not take away others freedoms. The example that comes to mind is anyone is free to smoke cigarettes, but only so far as they are not causing others to breath in second hand smoke (unless those others are also ok with breathing it in). Given this, a libertarian could take the stance of not taking a vaccine, but if they don't they would be for mask wearing and keeping distance from others to prevent getting them sick with a deadly virus. So I wouldn't call Rand Paul a libertarian.

Libertarians are generally opposed to indoor smoking bans as a policy position though.

I wish Americans (crowded together in NBA arenas) would at least put masks on. They’re still running crematoriums 24/7 in India.

IMAGE(https://i.imgur.com/191JmFK_d.webp?maxwidth=640&shape=thumb&fidelity=medium)

Using dogs to detect SARS-CoV-2 infections, even mild and asymptomatic ones.

Lockdown extended another 7 days for us. They're increasing the 5km limit to 10km now though, so that's nice.

Covid Hope Over Fear

Many people worried that the change would cause unvaccinated people to shed their masks and create a surge of new cases. On the flip side, a more optimistic outcome also seemed possible: that the potential to live mostly mask-free would inspire some vaccine-hesitant Americans to get their shots.

Almost three weeks after the change, we can begin to get some answers by looking at the data. So far, it suggests that the optimists were better prognosticators than the pessimists.

Overall, daily new cases have fallen by almost 75 percent since mid-April and by more than 90 percent from the peak in January.

A crucial point is that the loosened guidelines probably did not cause many people to change their behavior in ways that created new risks. Vaccinated people went maskless more often, but they are extremely unlikely to get the virus. And even before the C.D.C. change, many unvaccinated Americans were already not wearing masks, particularly in Republican-leaning communities.

On the other hand, the C.D.C.’s change has had a noticeable effect on behavior in a positive way.

Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the agency’s director, announced the new mask recommendations at 2:17 p.m. Eastern on Thursday, May 13. Almost immediately, the number of visits to vaccines.gov — a website where people can research their local vaccination options — spiked, CNN’s Elizabeth Cohen has reported.

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Confidence works on people. Yes there is still risk but when the message is that we are so confident in these vaccines you can go back to almost normal that resonates with people. We played the caution message day after day and when Fauci was taking double masking earlier this year and then wearing masks even after full vaccination it really gave me abstinence-only education vibes. Was he correct there is still risk? Absolutely. But people are animals and logic doesn't scale. People have been uncomfortable for a long time now. And maybe even throwing the "no new normal" crazies a bone here helps calm the social tension.

Is it a mistake? Maybe. US may get hit hard with a variant and now we have everyone running without masks. Maybe vaccine liars will screw us but they weren't wearing masks consistently anyway.

US is pretty damn close to the positive effects of herd immunity that I doubt the variants will be as bad as the first go around. The numbers might be high for those testing positive, but the hospitlizations and deaths will stay in check thanks to re-infection + vaccinated individuals.

It's stupid, but the poor response of the American populace to the initial virus may be more beneficial sooner than in other countries. That and being rich certainly helps with the vaccines.

India, for instance, just went through a horrific period, but it was still a relatively small fraction of their populace who was sick. And their vaccination rate is incredibly low for an endless number of reasons, the primary one being it's tough to inoculate a billion+ people. Unless you're China and force folks. India, for all its problems, is still a democracy and can't go that route. Especially when countries were hoarding doses. But who does that? /s

US will boost global vaccine-sharing, Biden announces

AP wrote:

President Joe Biden announced Thursday the U.S. will donate 75% of its unused COVID-19 vaccines to the U.N.-backed COVAX global vaccine sharing program, acting as more Americans have been vaccinated and global inequities have become more glaring.

Of the first tranche of 25 million doses, the White House said about 19 million will go to COVAX, with approximately 6 million for South and Central America, 7 million for Asia and 5 million for Africa. The doses mark a substantial — and immediate — boost to the lagging COVAX effort, which to date has shared just 76 million doses with needy countries.

Overall, the White House aims to share 80 million doses globally by the end of June, most through COVAX. But 25% of the nation’s excess will be kept in reserve for emergencies and for the U.S. to share directly with allies and partners.

That move could very well save thousands of lives.

Hey, we're now magnetic!

A doctor falsely told lawmakers vaccines magnetize people: ‘They can put a key on their forehead. It sticks.’

Do you know what this means? We can now crawl on metal structures like freakin' Spiderman!

See you folks on the underside of the bridge.