Interesting. Any theories on why the death rate is falling so much and we are still pretty much plateaued on new daily cases? It is just that NYC hospitals are no longer over run and we haven't gotten to that point elsewhere? Or is treatment different after 3 months of this?
News Article: Good luck dealing with a pandemic, depending on this administration...
- Thread starter TIDE-HSV
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To some degree, it's a mystery. Here in HSV, cases don't lead to nearly as many hospitalizations. The CEO of the Huntsville Hospital mentioned it last week on one of the noon covid update panels. Then, he just said no one knows why...
Hospitalizations have started ticking back up in places as well. So you'd think deaths would go up. Maybe treatment is better when hospitals have capacity? Maybe just a reporting lag?
Could be that the virus has mutated to a less lethal form, or that the hot weather is producing lower initial exposure levels (lower viral load at the time of infection). No one really knows right now.
i would imagine that there is some effect from a (relatively) large number of people social distancing/masking at this point.
I will say that shoppers going into our local Walmart during senior hours are generally wearing masks. We, however are frozen in terms of what the future holds. It is difficult to see a time when things could return to something akin to normal. Have we seen any organized approach to communicating improved treatment protocols or selection of the few vaccine efforts that should receive public funding in order to be expedited. This administration made a weak effort then abandoned it altogether.
our redneck frat-boy governor is doing his best to emulate this approach in georgia
I'm sure that treatment is better. However, it's definitely not reporting lag. It's been steady at 5 or 6 for weeks now...
I'm sure you know this already, but adherence to masking seems to be much better in the stores which have senior hours, if you go during those hours. Offhand that's Costco (very strict on masks) Fresh Market and Whole Foods. My wife has been to the two latter both during early senior hours and later. She's said she will not go back except during those hours. Costco, it's all day...
Yes, Costco will not let you in without a mask but if you don't have one they'll give one to you. I was able to pick up a couple of extras this way......
I have N95s, which we disinfect after each use. However, I appreciate any coverage on someone else...
The masks could be lowering the initial viral load, if that is what you meant. But the spike in cases without a spike in hospitalizations and deaths is something to be celebrated, IMO. Even if we revert to the March norms, the current drop in mortality is saving countless lives.
Actually, hospitalizations have been rising in Texas, and especially here. I think you can figure social distancing has had some positive effect, and sadly, the most vulnerable fell victim in the initial ramp-up. NT17 probably has a better take on treatments, but you'd have to figure it has improved simply by trial and error.
Mentioned it in the other thread on the other board, but we had an HVAC tech in Friday who was young and unmasked. It turned out to be delayed thermostat damage from a lightning strike back a few months ago. I just didn't think to suggest a mask. He came back yesterday to install it and I asked him to wear a mask and he did. Both times, he used the "have a blessed day" remark, to me and also to my wife. I told her that the good thing was he probably wasn't hanging out in bars; the bad was that he was going to church...
Even across town, the number of people using masks is significantly different. In Midtown Mobile Publix, a friend said 70% wore masks, in West Mobile Walmart, it's probably 20%.
the comment about lower viral load at the time of infection is interesting. i have no idea if getting exposed to just a little is any different than getting exposed to a lot as it relates to how sick you will get but it sure makes me even more serious about wearing a mask and not being around people who don't. that comment is a good google question for later today. thanks!
i think ill share this with my pastor... via e-mail!Mentioned it in the other thread on the other board, but we had an HVAC tech in Friday who was young and unmasked. It turned out to be delayed thermostat damage from a lightning strike back a few months ago. I just didn't think to suggest a mask. He came back yesterday to install it and I asked him to wear a mask and he did. Both times, he used the "have a blessed day" remark, to me and also to my wife. I told her that the good thing was he probably wasn't hanging out in bars; the bad was that he was going to church...
They do indeed think that the greater the viral load, the worse the infection. BTW, Dr. Fauci just said that they had never been told to slow down testing, so joke or no, it was not true...
they are starting to tick up in georgia too. not sure if that trend will continue or not.
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