Coronavirus in the United States - news and thoughts

Ok, I'll pretty much be reporting every post this guy makes then, because virtually every post contains insults, either directly or indirectly. Just read his posts on this page alone. They almost all have insults in them to varying degrees. And yeah people get frustrated and push back, I know I have. But you can't just debate the issue without this guy immediately getting personal.

 

It’s funny how some people try to rationalize their behavior. I never start something. I have had respectful back and forth with some on here. Yet you and others behave like know it alls and talk down to people and expect others to take it. Though luck. So since you want to follow the science, then do it and get behind opening schools since almost all the science says schools can safely open. I’ve posted 2 of the biggest studies from Wisconsin and NC yet you won’t even discuss them because they shoot down any argument you make. Just own it and move on.

 

Couple of things from this article. Either Biden was lying about listening to science or he’s pandering to the teachers unions. Don’t see middle ground here.

Biden at odds with CDC director over teachers after promising to follow science

“Most research suggests that the risk of getting the virus in school is very low for teachers. In late January, three CDC researchers wrote in the Journal of the American Medical Association that “there has been little evidence that schools have contributed meaningfully to increased community transmission.” A recent study in the Journal of Pediatrics of 11 school districts with a total of 90,000 students found that “no instances of child-to adult transmission of SARS-CoV-2 were reported within schools.””

Yet, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky, a Biden appointee, has said it is safe for teachers to return to the classroom.

“I want to be clear. There is increasing data to support that schools can safely reopen and that safe reopening does not suggest teachers need to be vaccinated,” Walensky said Wednesday.

 

Let's try to stick to the subject: Schools. Let's not shift to vaccination of the elderly and medical workers because you can't respond to the meta analysis or Trump. We are discussing policy and your opinions.

You can begin by reading what is linked; the studies are not the CDC's studies. They are analysis of studies. And the JAMA article is also not referencing CDC studies.

For example, why don't you explain the poor experiences in Israeli schools that had poor ventilation and inadequate social distancing, and discuss the public policy implications of that study for similar schools in the United States? And compare those results to the conditions that were applicable in the Wisconsin and California studies? and identify why the CDC analysis is wrong? As well as the assessment in the JAMA article on the meta studies?

That is how science works. That is why I posted the links.

But, today, you have just gone on and on with our personal opinions and snark without any discussion. Other than to concede that a type 1 diabetic should not go to a school under conditions not conducive to virus spread. Thereby acknowledging that there are conditions where the virus spreads in schools and people are vulnerable.

As for your comments about janitors, you don't get off that easily. Janitors, kitchen staff, delivery people-- everyone in a school is a risk factor.

Finally, whatever the CDC says has more credibility than you do. So, i will let them assess safety criteria, since you have not been able to articulate any and just want to fiat away any risk.

And, you should not be insulting anyone.

 

I come here for information because our posters have been great at posting links. And, nice to have it in one place.

But the thread is being spammed with insults and people are not posting as much.

And, I don't like the non-stop insults for people who do.

 

Rather that post a Washington Examiner article taking the JAMA article out of context, why don't you try reading the JAMA article in full. I posted it at post 21756.

Here it is again. The Washington Examiner is a right wing rag, its report is out of context and misleading. And, in any event, the primary source is a superior source. Here is the link to the JAMA article again.

In-Person Education and the Spread of SARS-CoV-2 Infection

As many schools have reopened for in-person instruction in some parts of the US as well as internationally, school-related cases of COVID-19 have been reported, but there has been little evidence that schools have contributed meaningfully to increased community transmission.4 A case-control study of exposures among children aged 0 through 18 years with (n = 154) and without (n = 243) SARS-CoV-2 infection in Mississippi found that having attended gatherings and social functions outside the home as well as having had visitors in the home was associated with increased risk of infection; however, in-person school attendance during the 14 days prior to diagnosis was not.5 In the fall of 2020, 11 school districts in North Carolina with more than 90 000 students and staff were open for in-person education for 9 weeks.6 During this time, within-school transmissions were very rare (32 infections acquired in schools; 773 community-acquired infections) and there were no cases of student-to-staff transmission. Similarly, in a report released by CDC on January 26, 2021, with data from 17 K-12 schools in rural Wisconsin with high mask adherence (4876 students and 654 staff), COVID-19 incidence was lower in schools than in the community.7 During 13 weeks in the fall of 2020, there were 191 COVID-19 cases in staff and students, with only 7 of these cases determined to result from in-school transmission.

While these data are encouraging overall, large outbreaks have occurred with apparent transmission in schools. In Israel, within 2 weeks of schools reopening in mid-May 2020, a large high school outbreak occurred when 2 students with epidemiologically unrelated infections attended classes while mildly symptomatic.8 Testing of more than 99% of at-risk students (n = 1164 eligible; 1161 tested) and staff (152 eligible; 151 tested) identified 153 and 25 cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection, respectively (attack rates of 13.2% and 16.6%). Contributing factors to this outbreak included crowded classrooms with insufficient physical distancing (eg, student density in classrooms exceeded recommended values), exemption from face mask use, and continuous air conditioning that recycled interior air in closed rooms during a heat wave.

However, the preponderance of available evidence from the fall school semester has been reassuring insofar as the type of rapid spread that was frequently observed in congregate living facilities or high-density worksites has not been reported in education settings in schools. Preventing transmission in school settings will require addressing and reducing levels of transmission in the surrounding communities through policies to interrupt transmission (eg, restrictions on indoor dining at restaurants). In addition, all recommended mitigation measures in schools must continue: requiring universal face mask use, increasing physical distance by dedensifying classrooms and common areas, using hybrid attendance models when needed to limit the total number of contacts and prevent crowding, increasing room air ventilation, and expanding screening testing to rapidly identify and isolate asymptomatic infected individuals. Staff and students should continue to have options for online education, particularly those at increased risk of severe illness or death if infected with SARS-CoV-2.

Nonetheless, some school-related activities have increased the risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission among students and staff. Numerous media reports of COVID-19 outbreaks among US high school athletic teams suggest that contact during both practices and competition, and at social gatherings associated with team sports, increase risk. On January 26, 2021, CDC released a brief report describing the initial investigation of a COVID-19 outbreak associated with a high school wrestling tournament that occurred in December 2020 and included 10 schools and 130 student-athletes, coaches, and referees.9 Among the 130 tournament participants, 38 (30%) had laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection diagnosed, but less than half the participants were tested. At least 446 contacts of these cases have been identified: 62 household contacts and 384 school athletic, classroom, and other contacts. Secondary transmission occurred among household contacts (18 SARS-CoV-2 infections among 30 tested) and other contacts (23 SARS-CoV-2 infections among 65 tested) and 1 death was reported in a contact, but the full investigation of secondary transmission is ongoing. In recognition of the risk for increased transmission, some states have halted or postponed school athletics.10

 

I stopped reading after I read this this that was posted by you:

“As many schools have reopened for in-person instruction in some parts of the US as well as internationally, school-related cases of COVID-19 have been reported, but there has been little evidence that schools have contributed meaningfully to increased community transmission.”


My case for opening schools rests. Thanks.

 

I reply in kind to how I’m treated. So maybe stop being rude and disrespectful and you will be treated in kind. You keep listening to everything the CDC says like it’s gospel. I posted the NYT article showing the disaster that the CDC has been during the pandemic.

I’m not giving personal opinions I post data to back up what I say. Sorry you don’t like the facts.

 

I think duchen and gator95 need to go to neutral corners for awhile.

 

That is the quote from the Washington Examiner. The problem is that science doesn't stop in one sentence soundbites taken out of context.

You likely then missed the JAMA recommendations for school openings.

And, you evidently also missed the evidence of spread under certain conditions and with certain activities.

 

That isn’t a quote from the Washington Examiner. It’s from your article you cited. When you don’t even read what you post don’t get defensive when others put it right back in your face.

 

No neutral corner for me. Pretty sure the ref is going to call the fight soon.

 

The term Danth's Law comes to mind...not sure why...

 

Don’t say that about yourself. I wouldn’t call you that. At least you know a little better than to keep fighting the school closures unlike some on here.

 

i am sure alot of this is still weather related, new cases around 89,000 lowest since nov.1st. hospitalizations lowest since nov.19th.hope the sunshine pumping is appreciated.

 

Stating numbers isn't sunshine pumping.

 

terrible. 4th grade, minor symptoms, dead 3 days after covid test

4th grade girl dies in her sleep 3 days after positive COVID-19 test, family says (msn.com)

According to Makenzie’s maternal aunt Victoria Southworth, 37, of Boonville, Missouri, Makenzie’s mom took her to Brooke Army Medical Center to get a COVID-19 test, strep test and flu test later that day. While the strep and flu tests came back negative, the COVID-19 test was positive.

“Kenzie did not have any respiratory issues,” Southworth said. “There was nothing major going on. All the symptoms were mild.”

Gongora told TODAY: “The doctors told my sister-in-law (to) take her home and to make her comfortable, to monitor her fever, and if it got over a certain point, or if there were any other major issues that occurred, to go ahead and bring her back to the hospital.”

“There was no labored breathing or anything like that, at that point,” Gongora added.

 

Holy smokes. There has to be something underlying. Just terrible.

 

Well I have been accused in the past of overstating numbers in a 3 or 4 day span as not enough for a trend,so if I post a 1 day summary I would assume some would have trouble with that.

 

Sunshine pumping is when you tell others how to judge the numbers.