People with chronic lung disease or moderate to severe asthma
People who have serious heart conditions
People who are immunocompromised
Many conditions can cause a person to be immunocompromised, including cancer treatment, smoking, bone marrow or organ transplantation, immune deficiencies, poorly controlled HIV or AIDS, and prolonged use of corticosteroids and other immune weakening medications.
People with severe obesity (body mass index [BMI] of 40 or higher)
People with diabetes
People with chronic kidney disease undergoing dialysis
People with liver disease
This is the list of underlying conditions from the CDC website.
Yesterday the LA Public Health director said that 92% of those who died in LA County had one or more of these conditions.
So IMO the vast majority of people could go about ‘normal’ life with frequent hand washing, masks, staying out of crowds, etc. Those who live or work closely with someone with an underlying condition would need to be tested frequently and take even extra precautions.
The resources need to be directed to protecting those with these conditions and those who live in congregate living facilities like nursing homes who likely have one or more of these conditions or are very old.
This lockdown of everyone is not the best method of either protecting the vulnerable or protecting those who are sinking into poverty as a result.
LA County has plenty of COVID tests. I signed up to get one today. There were 400 some spots open for testing at just the one test site in a one hour spot that I looked at. They are free with no contact. I will swab my cheek myself and put the kit into a barrel.
There may be a lack of testing in some places but not here.
The governor of Texas is requiring that every resident and staff member in every nursing home in the state be tested. I’m so glad my mom hadn’t moved in yet.
I see no way to stop more places opening up. We’re (Creeklanders) in the mode of stock up and watch. I’m not going to predict what’s going to happen because there are too many variables with summer/Vit D and who knows what else. I’d really like to see things go well, but what I want to see and what actually happens - who knows?
But we’re not going to be guinea pigs.
On the plus side, we’ll be able to save money because up until now we’ve been paying extra and giving extra to try to keep the economy going. Once “everyone” is out there that won’t be needed any longer. With our travel funds and restaurant funds cut we actually don’t spend very much. They were large parts of our budget.
I’m glad we’re heading into summer where the farm can feed us.
My main worry for us will be my med school lad. I’m pretty sure the rest of us can stay safe continuing to work from home and keeping our distance from others when we can’t. He will have no way to do this.
My main worry for the country/planet is all of those who aren’t as fortunate to be able to make the choice to watch as we can - essential workers, health care workers, & those who can’t afford to stay home.
“It’s become a common refrain in media reports that a Covid-19 vaccine is potentially 12 to 18 months away.
But as Stuart Thompson explained in the New York Times, this would be unprecedented. The previous record for developing a vaccine is four years. The actual timeline for a Covid-19 vaccine could span anywhere from six months — at the most hopeful end — to 16 years.
“It seems very optimistic to think we could have a vaccine this fall or even in the next year,” Josh Michaud, associate director for global health policy at the Kaiser Family Foundation, told me.”
If the current record for vaccine development is four years, why have scientists and the media bandied about the 12-18 month refrain for the past two months? On top of the other lies such as “masks don’t help” and “we’re only flattening the curve”, who could blame anyone for throwing their hands in the air?
Yesterday I was reminded that my old hair dresser is one of my LinkedIn contacts. I have been sitting on my hands fighting the urge not to send her a message ever since. Went to her for years. She had to close her salon to deal with a family emergency overseas. Once resolved months later, she went to work at a men’s sports clip place, never reopened her old shop.
ps As a cute bit of humor, it came up in our discussions that this is why there were only 8 people on Noah’s Ark.
“No way am I going to stay in that boat with all those animals for a year or more. I’d rather take my chances and die!!!”
But it was just humor, so don’t take it literally. We don’t think everyone who goes out is going to die. According to Worldometers the current highest death rate is in New York state with “only” one out of 720 people who call the state home having already passed away as of this typing. Not everyone has had it yet, of course, but still, most will survive, albeit no one knows who/how many will get lingering or lifetime issues from it either.
I have been a frequent poster challenging the oft cited 12-18 month goal for vaccine. Fastest ever was mumps–4 years, chicken pox vaccine took nearly 30 years.
Even if a vaccine is developed in 12-18 months, manufacturing 300+M doses for the US, having enough supplies, e.g., glass vials to package the vaccine, and actually getting people vaccinated could take months, or even years. That assumes it’s a US based company that develops the vaccine. We will wait longer if it’s a Chinese or EU company.
On the plus side, there are over 120 vaccines in development worldwide, and we are investing money, brain power and sweat equity at an unprecedented rate. Bill Gates is working on the glass vial issue.
That said, if a vaccine is ready in 12-18 months that means it is launching with far less than the typical level of safety data. Then the issue becomes…how many people will actually get it, especially if the death rate of covid-19 is 1% or less? And often, at risk individuals are not able to get vaccines, so that may not even be an option for some of them.
In VA you still need an order from a doctor to get tested. There’s a drive-thru testing facility we pass on our walks and hardly ever see any cars there, even though our county has a good number of cases. I’ve heard that more cars are there when they open for the day, but I can’t confirm that.
I live in a high-rise building. This morning, as we were going down in the elevator, we stopped on the floor below ours. A young man, preoccupied with his phone and not wearing a mask, was there. I politely asked him to wait for the next elevator, but he just entered. DH and I exited and I said, “Well, then we’ll wait for the next one.” As the elevator door was closing, he said, “They said we could have 3 in an elevator.” I’ve never seen building management say that, and, in fact, the signage in the elevators asks all residents to wear face coverings in public areas. An elevator seems to qualify as a public area, but not many residents, including this young man, see it that way.
I can imagine some here will say it was our choice to get out and not ride the elevator with him, but why should those of us following guidelines be the ones to have to make accommodations.
I’m really starting to get scared now that our lock down provisions are starting to be lifted. I understand that we can’t sustain this indefinitely and the economic fall out has to be balanced against loss of life. The reality is that those who are going to contract this virus are going to do so either sooner or later. If we aim for latter are we willing to accept the economic fallout understanding that this isn’t some amorphous concept of GDP but real people’s lives. The economy has to restart and that means that more people are going to die. I’m not scared for me and the boys. I think we would be ok if we caught it. My parents and in-laws could die and while that would make me sad, they have lived long fulfilling lives. What terrifies me is I’m convinced Dh is going to die. He has been continuing to go into the office every day as an essential worker. Our infection rates here aren’t that high, he’s been driving everyday instead of taking transit, and over half of his office are WFH, so I haven’t been too concerned about him catching it. As things open up however he’s probably going to go back taking transit (right now his drive to work is fast but as more cars return to the road and rush hour traffic increases driving to work will become a nightmare) and with more people out and about and more staff back in the office I’m convinced that it’s just a matter of time before he catches it. His take on it is “if I catch it I catch it”. He will not be taking extraordinary precautions (he can be stubborn that way). He had a heart attack 3 years ago and while he is “healthy” it is an underlying risk factor. I just have this dread that he is going to end up being a casualty statistic.
If FIL or any of my aunts/uncles catch it they will likely die due to comorbidities and age. Two of the younger aunts have higher comorbidities.
I hope they all remain careful.
If H catches it I worry because he has high BP and has some extra lbs. We’re in our 50s, so age bumps up our odds some, but not as much as my older relatives. I, personally, want to stay away from any long term effects. I already live with some from my brain tumor. I don’t want any more. My son (20s) who likely had it is already starting to deal with the idea that his lung issues might be permanent. Hopefully they won’t be, but at this point, no one knows.
It’s not on the CDC list of co-morbidities, but all morning I’ve been reading studies/papers about Vit D deficiency and COVID morbidity/mortality. It has been correlated (note did not say causes) with more severe infections/deaths.
I’m NOT telling anyone here to take Vit D3 supplementation, but if you are black or have dark skin, you are at risk for being deficient. If you do not get enough sun, you could be deficient. If you are post menopausal or over 55, you could be deficient. If you are obese, pregnant or breastfeeding, ditto.
If you believe you may be Vit D deficient, you should seriously consider discussing with your physician how best to address this. Vit D deficiency is associated with all kinds of other serious conditions.
Its interesting that most of us are most concerned about our H’s. I agree that my H is probably the most at risk. He is 61, overweight, and has health conditions. But he does not seem concerned as I am. I am not concerned with S or D or myself as much.
Also this just showed up in my feed from a famous Bra store in my area. The only thing they did not address, is if someone will be checked for a temperature, and if they lose their deposit if their cancel due to illness. I asked.
LiviRae will be reopening under VERY STRICT GUIDELINES!! We will be taking appointments only while we first reopen. We will take walk ins only AFTER all appointments are finished. You cannot wait in store as a walk in.
All fitting appointments will require the client to wear a face mask during the duration of their time in store, and immediate washing of hands upon entering our business. Please come fresh and clean for your appointment as this is an intimate business and we are risking our health to be in close contact with you.
?Appointments have a $25 deposit which will be applied to your purchase the day of your fitting. If you do not cancel or reschedule your appointment 24 hours prior, then your deposit will be forfeited.?
LiviRae thanks you in advance for complying to these new procedures, and helping keep everybody safe! [BOOK YOUR APPOINTMENT VIA THIS WEBSITE]
Large businesses with large staff such as Costco and Home Depot are absolutely safer than small mom & pops. Free reign? If they have free reign in Maryland, no wonder you’re upset, but I certainly don’t see any free reign at these stores! I haven’t been to Costco since the SAH, but I have made 3 trips to Home Depot and was impressed. All the staff had masks and gloves, many also additional plastic face covers. They had staff to limit how many people go in, were turning away customers without masks (only a couple, where I live a good 95% of people wear masks, and that includes children) and were making sure people maintain social distancing.
As to why they’re open - that’s a state decision. Where I live construction has continued, and restaurants can do take-out. So Home Depot and Costco, which are major suppliers for these businesses are in fact essential.
As for Target, only the food section is open in my area, the rest of the store is cordoned off. Can’t comment on Walmart as I don’t patronize it.
Bottom line - it sounds like you’re either exaggerating about these big box stores – or else you guys have terribly lax Stay at Home policies in Maryland.
TBH if other people are feeling the same way I am our economy is in trouble because I’m not in the mood to buy anything beyond the absolute necessities. I certainly won’t be making any big ticket purchases and don’t envision travelling any time in the near future. It’s really brought home to me how much my standard of living is supported by a ponzi scheme predicated on having people continuously buying and consuming.
Well… we shall see. If he’s right, there will be lots of schools closing again come late fall. And College Confidential will once again explode with unhappy parents paying hefty tuition for the kiddo sitting in the next room unhappily doing online classes. Time will tell…