There was good news from Pfizer recently. This messenger RNA technology may be good beyond the current pandemic. I think there were start-ups trying to develop this stuff pre-pandemic but had trouble in finding funding. Capitalism is sometimes shortsighted.
Given that the vaccine is this far into phase 3 testing and that there's a pretty standard formula for vaccines, there's an incredibly low chance there are safety issues that weren't caught (which is essentially the only concern at this point). Pfizer is so confident they are already beginning large-scale production of the vaccine. So it's almost certain this is a done deal, the only question will be whether this has to be a yearly vaccine or a one-time one.
So there is light at the end of the tunnel here. And thank god. I've worn masks whenever I Leave my house (except when running, but our sidewalks aren't super crowded and I'd always give a wide birth to people), but just yesterday I had to do an in-court hearing with witnesses and a fairly long argument, and got winded from trying to breath and talk through the mask + the usual nerves. The ultimate first world problem, I know, but god will it be nice when we can stop wearing these.
It’s really encouraging news about the vaccine, although it’ll take a while for manufacturing and distribution. Still, it’s so nice to think about the light at the end of the tunnel.
In Florida being Florida news, it’s not as encouraging... our numbers are going up. Not to worry though, because our supergenius governor has hired a new data analyst...
"When Gov. Ron DeSantis needed to hire a data analyst, his staff picked a little-known Ohio sports blogger and Uber driver whose only relevant experience is spreading harmful conspiracy theories about COVID-19 on the Internet.
In his own words, Kyle Lamb of Columbus, Ohio, has few qualifications for the job at the state’s Office of Policy and Budget, which pays $40,000 per year.
“Fact is, I’m not an ‘expert.’ I’m not a doctor, epidemiologist, virologist or scientist,” Lamb wrote on a website for a subscribers-only podcast he hosts about the coronavirus. “I also don’t need to be. Experts don’t have all the answers, and we’ve learned that the hard way.”
Plucked from the obscurity of the blogosphere, Lamb, 40, broadcasts his lack of scientific training in his theories about the pandemic.
In frequent posts on Twitter and sports message boards, Lamb has said that masks don’t prevent the coronavirus from spreading; that lockdowns are ineffective; that hydroxychloroquine, a drug touted by President Donald Trump, can treat the virus; that COVID-19, which he said might be part of a Chinese “biowar,” is not more deadly than the flu; and that the virus isn’t dangerous for children to contract.
“Fact is, I’m not an ‘expert.’ I’m not a doctor, epidemiologist, virologist or scientist,” Lamb wrote on a website for a subscribers-only podcast he hosts about the coronavirus. “I also don’t need to be. Experts don’t have all the answers, and we’ve learned that the hard way.”
Honestly, why do we even bother having experts in anything anymore when there are so many bloggers around.
“Fact is, I’m not an ‘expert.’ I’m not a doctor, epidemiologist, virologist or scientist,” Lamb wrote on a website for a subscribers-only podcast he hosts about the coronavirus. “I also don’t need to be. Experts don’t have all the answers, and we’ve learned that the hard way.”
Honestly, why do we even bother having experts in anything anymore when there are so many bloggers around.
I know Dunning-Krueger gets thrown around a lot these days... but wow is it ever relevant to the way people are treating something as serious as a worldwide pandemic! The lack of self-awareness so many of these people display is mind-boggling.
Yeah, much like some of the people I’ve unfriended on Facebook after they wouldn’t shut up about all “the research” they’ve been doing about COVID-19... meaning they watched crackpot conspiracy videos on YouTube.
Yeah, much like some of the people I’ve unfriended on Facebook after they wouldn’t shut up about all “the research” they’ve been doing about COVID-19... meaning they watched crackpot conspiracy videos on YouTube.
I've been a part of the flat-earth debunking community for the last few years (I feel strange writing that because the only sane response is "what do you mean? why does such a thing need to exist?" but trust me, we're needed!) and one of every flat-earther's favorite sayings is "do your own research" by which they mean "watch the same batshit crazy video on youtube that fooled me".
Given that the vaccine is this far into phase 3 testing and that there's a pretty standard formula for vaccines, there's an incredibly low chance there are safety issues that weren't caught (which is essentially the only concern at this point). Pfizer is so confident they are already beginning large-scale production of the vaccine. So it's almost certain this is a done deal, the only question will be whether this has to be a yearly vaccine or a one-time one.
So there is light at the end of the tunnel here. And thank god. I've worn masks whenever I Leave my house (except when running, but our sidewalks aren't super crowded and I'd always give a wide birth to people), but just yesterday I had to do an in-court hearing with witnesses and a fairly long argument, and got winded from trying to breath and talk through the mask + the usual nerves. The ultimate first world problem, I know, but god will it be nice when we can stop wearing these.
The Pfizer vaccine requires 2 doses, spaced a few weeks apart. It spoils quickly and must be stored and transported at -80C from the time it is created until it is ready to be injected. This is a logistical hurdle we have never had to tackle before. Local doctors and pharmacies are very unlikely to have the equipment to keep the doses at that temperature.
On the bright side, now might be a good time to invest in laboratory freezer companies.
The Pfizer vaccine requires 2 doses, spaced a few weeks apart. It spoils quickly and must be stored and transported at -80C from the time it is created until it is ready to be injected. This is a logistical hurdle we have never had to tackle before. Local doctors and pharmacies are very unlikely to have the equipment to keep the doses at that temperature.
On the bright side, now might be a good time to invest in laboratory freezer companies.
Also, I was talking with my wife (a bio statistician in medical research) about this yesterday, and we actually got pretty lucky with this pandemic in a lot of ways. It's not actually that contagious (there are other diseases that are far easier to transfer) and not that deadly, so the world being woefully unprepared and/or unwilling to deal with a pandemic hasn't been as deadly as it could have been. If COVID was super contagious and/or more deadly, this would have been so much worse. Hopefully we learn from this and can be better prepared when an even more serious pandemic rears its head, because now we know the sort of response we had this time doesn't work.
Had a Covid scare this week. My brother started feeling bad Sunday night and woke up with symptoms on Monday morning. What a way to start this week after what we went through last week. Luckily his symptoms were mild enough for him to be able to drive himself to take multiple tests on Monday. And luckily we live on opposite sides of the house and we have our own restrooms. Wasn’t too bad considering, but man did my anxiety spike. Any sign of chest pain made me question whether my symptoms were creeping, but it was my worry-level rising. About him getting worse, and of the possibility of me having it. He stayed the same on Tuesday and got better Wednesday, both good signs. He’s 28 and is in relatively good shape but you can never get comfortable with something so unknown. His symptoms were very-very mild today but we still continued to take all of the precautions. Finally got his results about an hour ago, negative for Covid-19!
What weight off our shoulders. My parents were super worried, obviously. Feared they couldn’t get near him for a couple weeks or more. It just sucks. My heart goes out to anyone having to deal with this in any situation, especially when it isn’t as fortune as my experience was. Stay safe out there everyone.
Glad you and your brother are OK @Noel. We had a bit of a scare in my family this week too - my sister is a dietician and works in a hospital in NE Indiana. She doesn't deal directly with many patients, but they have so many COVID patients there now that they're diverting them to other hospitals. She's been under a lot of stress and has had a persistent headache and fatigue, so she realized that she better get tested because she was worried about spreading it to others. She was negative, but it took over 5 days to find out for sure. The stories she has told me about meetings with hospital administrators, where everyone goes into a conference room masked, then immediately removes their masks, are astonishing. Like, whyyyy??? These are health care professionals! A very close older friend of my sister's does have it and is very sick, and her husband has it too and he has all sorts of comorbidities, so she's really worried about them.
We're literally still doing the same thing we started doing in March - only going out for things like groceries or necessary medical appointments. I have a good friend I rode bikes with on Saturdays for something like 15 years but the last couple of years we both had issues with elderly parental care, so we fell off of our routine a bit and haven't ridden together much. She got really sick with it in March, but recovered well, but I'm fairly appalled to see her posting all of her travel on Facebook. She must be on her 6th or 7th domestic trip, posting pictures of her and several friends all smushed together or eating in restaurants as if absolutely nothing is going on. I just don't get it.
I just found out that a coworker tested positive. He works in the secondary building on our site though (where there is only his office and two others), and I've only been near him once lately when he came to my office to bring me his debit card receipts. We were both masked though, and he was there only for a quick minute. I think my chance of exposure is super low, but am going to get tested anyway asap, Monday if possible.
I just found out that a coworker tested positive. He works in the secondary building on our site though (where there is only his office and two others), and I've only been near him once lately when he came to my office to bring me his debit card receipts. We were both masked though, and he was there only for a quick minute. I think my chance of exposure is super low, but am going to get tested anyway asap, Monday if possible.
So I live in a small town with maybe 500 people tops in it and at least 50% of them have caught Covid by now and seemingly still don’t think it’s a big fucking deal. Literally all of my cousins and most of my aunts/uncles caught it and they still want to have big get together like Thanksgiving. Fortunately I’ve managed to convince my Grandma to skip holidays and get togethers this year, probably solely by dirth of me getting it first despite all the precautions, and my parents aren’t to keen on those either but it’s been a mind numbing experience all around. They’re all hardcore Trumpers as well so nothing I’ve done to try and convince them has had any effect. I’ve basically given up on them to focus exclusively on my most at risk family like aforementioned grandma and some great aunts and the parentals who have been considerably more cautious about all of this.
We’ve had no community transmission in months, only a few cases here and there with people coming back from overseas and going into quarantine. But over the weekend there were four cases all from the same family, one of whom works in one of the medi-hotels where travellers have been quarantining. They went shopping and out and about before realising they were infectious too.
It’s nothing compared to what US and UK and India and whatnot are going through, but it’s made me nervous about how easily it can get out there. I haven’t been out much other than work, but now I’m shutting back down again and not going anywhere I don’t absolutely have to for a while longer. Especially because no one here is social distancing, even though we are still supposed to be. :-/
Edit: Ugh, 17 new cases overnight from this cluster. It’s happening again. :-(
Last I heard we have 21 active cases in my little province (pop. less than 1M hu-mons).
Had a news notification on my phone that I didn't bother to read, but was titled something like:
"Experts don't know how Covid is getting into Canada"
The three Atlantic provinces were down to ZERO cases a few months ago, and we have the "Atlantic Bubble". The story in July-September is how was the government enforcing it (ie: they weren't).
One thing Covid has shown me is how little self control the average person has, all over the world and particularly in the U.S. All it takes is a little restraint to be safe and only make essential trips, but so many people either don't care or lack the willpower to make safe choices. Following some simple rules shouldn't be that hard. It explains why most people in the U.S. don't have anything saved for retirement and are compulsive buyers of anything that costs money. Just to be clear I'm not trying to point the finger at anyone, I'm talking about seeing this from people in my family and my wife's family who are for the most part pretty normal people. Going to weddings, eating out at restaurants, refusing or complaining about masks, etc.
I really fear what the holidays hold for us, because most people seem to be acting like things are fairly normal. It seems to be true that the majority of U.S. people won't act responsibly until they either die or know someone who dies. Even then it's no sure guarantee, a family member kept saying these deaths are no worse than the flu and people dying from it would have died due to other reasons any way. So who knows, maybe even if a close family member dies they'll convince themselves it was for whatever conspiracy theory is out there.
The whole thing has really made me disappointed in humanity.
We’ve had no community transmission in months, only a few cases here and there with people coming back from overseas and going into quarantine. But over the weekend there were four cases all from the same family, one of whom works in one of the medi-hotels where travellers have been quarantining. They went shopping and out and about before realising they were infectious too.
It’s nothing compared to what US and UK and India and whatnot are going through, but it’s made me nervous about how easily it can get out there. I haven’t been out much other than work, but now I’m shutting back down again and not going anywhere I don’t absolutely have to for a while longer. Especially because no one here is social distancing, even though we are still supposed to be. :-/
Edit: Ugh, 17 new cases overnight from this cluster. It’s happening again. :-(
Yikes, I saw that news this morning. Hopefully the contact tracing will be successful and a lockdown can be avoided. Really rough timing for christmas though.
@Ben Our state government has been really on top of things from very early on - even before the Federal government started doing anything useful. I’m cautiously optimistic that they will stamp it out early, but who knows. 17 people on a hot weekend could have been out and about anywhere. :-/
We have another coworker who is experiencing symptoms now. His office is next to our other coworker who tested positive on Friday. We’re all scrambling to get testing scheduled. In our area, almost everywhere is testing symptomatic patients only due to our recent spike in cases. We do have a large main testing site at our fairgrounds, available to everyone, but their next open appt isn’t until next Monday. CVS though is scheduling testing online so that’s where most of us are going.
Comments
hold it out parallel to the earth
tip the fingers up to the sky at about 45 degrees
That is West Virginia.
The world is looking up (sixish months from now).
So there is light at the end of the tunnel here. And thank god. I've worn masks whenever I Leave my house (except when running, but our sidewalks aren't super crowded and I'd always give a wide birth to people), but just yesterday I had to do an in-court hearing with witnesses and a fairly long argument, and got winded from trying to breath and talk through the mask + the usual nerves. The ultimate first world problem, I know, but god will it be nice when we can stop wearing these.
In Florida being Florida news, it’s not as encouraging... our numbers are going up. Not to worry though, because our supergenius governor has hired a new data analyst...
https://www.miamiherald.com/news/coronavirus/article247081417.html?fbclid=IwAR0zk_6LH1wWQV2htQylwBD5MJdUiKFHKIiTUxcKd8PCRgRoEUEfmPylcsI
Honestly, why do we even bother having experts in anything anymore when there are so many bloggers around.
I know Dunning-Krueger gets thrown around a lot these days... but wow is it ever relevant to the way people are treating something as serious as a worldwide pandemic! The lack of self-awareness so many of these people display is mind-boggling.
On the bright side, now might be a good time to invest in laboratory freezer companies.
Also, I was talking with my wife (a bio statistician in medical research) about this yesterday, and we actually got pretty lucky with this pandemic in a lot of ways. It's not actually that contagious (there are other diseases that are far easier to transfer) and not that deadly, so the world being woefully unprepared and/or unwilling to deal with a pandemic hasn't been as deadly as it could have been. If COVID was super contagious and/or more deadly, this would have been so much worse. Hopefully we learn from this and can be better prepared when an even more serious pandemic rears its head, because now we know the sort of response we had this time doesn't work.
What weight off our shoulders. My parents were super worried, obviously. Feared they couldn’t get near him for a couple weeks or more. It just sucks. My heart goes out to anyone having to deal with this in any situation, especially when it isn’t as fortune as my experience was. Stay safe out there everyone.
https://www.commentarymagazine.com/christine-rosen/pandemic-hypocrites-produce-pandemic-cynics/
I just found out that a coworker tested positive. He works in the secondary building on our site though (where there is only his office and two others), and I've only been near him once lately when he came to my office to bring me his debit card receipts. We were both masked though, and he was there only for a quick minute. I think my chance of exposure is super low, but am going to get tested anyway asap, Monday if possible.
Can we get this vaccine already?
Edit: Ugh, 17 new cases overnight from this cluster. It’s happening again. :-(
Had a news notification on my phone that I didn't bother to read, but was titled something like:
"Experts don't know how Covid is getting into Canada"
The three Atlantic provinces were down to ZERO cases a few months ago, and we have the "Atlantic Bubble". The story in July-September is how was the government enforcing it (ie: they weren't).
I really fear what the holidays hold for us, because most people seem to be acting like things are fairly normal. It seems to be true that the majority of U.S. people won't act responsibly until they either die or know someone who dies. Even then it's no sure guarantee, a family member kept saying these deaths are no worse than the flu and people dying from it would have died due to other reasons any way. So who knows, maybe even if a close family member dies they'll convince themselves it was for whatever conspiracy theory is out there.
The whole thing has really made me disappointed in humanity.
Current mood here today: