Coronavirus in the United States - news and thoughts

I HATE working from home. As in me, myself. I would even prefer to work from school even if kids are at home. It’s mostly psychological, as I make great efforts to separate work from “life.” I do not like to mix those things. When allowed to and we have a week or two in which the kids aren’t allowed in the building due to outbreaks, I still go in. It’s about a 40 or so minute drive.

And I don’t even find a convo about kids being in the room to be of any value. Other than this unique situation it isn’t even a discussion. Virtual classes have existed for many years, but those are their own things.

I am sure you can find teachers who like it at home since there are millions. But my own experience is that essentially all teachers want to be in the room, with students. Again, without a raging pandemic, this is not even a topic of discussion.

I teach science and STEM classes out of a lab. Doing it any other way than all of us going to that lab creates an enormous burden for me. This week I boxed 12 minerals in 17 separate boxes to send home to students in Earth science. I also had another 11 in the room. I also had to create digital lab reports to go with them. All of that for maybe 2-3 total classes. I will also have to get all of those boxes back. I don’t know how many hours went into creating 3-4.5 hours of class. And that is a typical scenario.

And I don’t know a single teacher who prefers working from home. Some lessons or subjects may be more home-friendly than science, I don’t know. As I mentioned I am sure you can find some. But if it were me I’d have to look hard.

 

I would gladly get “jabbed” if it meant a normal classroom experience.

@g8trjax, your post is insulting.

 

German children suffer from psychological issues in pandemic

1 in 3 is a scary number. Let’s hope the vaccine can let everyone get back to normal.

 

Thanks - and sorry I had your username wrong!

 

Estimated that over 180k deaths could have been prevented. Trump is responsible for these deaths, most prolific mass murderer in US history

US could have averted 40% of Covid deaths, says panel examining Trump's policies (msn.com)

The US could have averted 40% of the deaths from Covid-19, had the country’s death rates corresponded with the rates in other high-income G7 countries, according to a Lancet commission tasked with assessing Donald Trump’s health policy record.

Almost 470,000 Americans have died from the coronavirus so far, with the number widely expected to go above half a million in the next few weeks. At the same time some 27 million people in the US have been infected. Both figures are by far the highest in the world.

In seeking to respond to the pandemic, Trump has been widely condemned for not taking the pandemic seriously enough soon enough, spreading conspiracy theories, not encouraging mask wearing and undermining scientists and others seeking to combat the virus’ spread.

 

LOL insulting?, I really wonder how some of y'all make it through the day. Just a 2 second search...Teachers' unions should just admit they don't want to come back to school until the pandemic is over

 

You do realize that this article is not saying what you think it's saying, right? Teachers want proper mitigation measures like PPE and adequate ventilation among other things.

How do you get through day with your poor reading comprehension and inability to discern fact from opinion?

 

Yeah but you were insulted by me asking if teachers unions really wanted to go back to the classroom? Don't know what to tell you.

 

We want to go back to work in a safe (as possible) environment, period. I don't know what to tell YOU. As an aside, I have been at work since August.

Again, the article you cited doesn't say what you think it does and it is an opinion piece.

 

Hey, I'm happy you are working and hopefully like you, most want to. The kids really need you guys in person. I was wondering out loud about some of the unions, that's all.

 

Same 3-month window as for those who have had COVID and developed natural immunity.

Go GATORS!
,WESGATORS

 

Good point. I think the vaccine will continue to be snapped up, but if they don't drop the quarantine requirement at some point if you have the vaccine I think adoption rate will slow down.

I'm assuming they are studying immunity in the vaccinated people and as evidence of lasting immunity (hopefully) comes in they will revise that upward or eliminate it altogether.

I may be wrong, but if you tell me today even with say 75% of population vaccinated, we still have to mask, quarantine when exposed, practice social distancing---I think the majority of folks will revolt.

I understand why they wouldn't announce any sort of end date with the measures once some % is vaccinated, but if for instance there is no end date unless it's eradicated (which seems almost impossible), then I think the majority of people will finally say enough is enough.

 

No you weren't - your "got to wonder" comment made the purpose and direction of your thinking quite clear.

 

so after 3 months do those people get back in line for another vaccine?

 

I was wondering what that meant too, but I assume that timespan will lengthen as we see how the vax is holding immunity.
We really don't know yet how it will stand the test of time.

 

Great question. As people who have natural immunity are still told to get the vaccine. Hopefully better answers will be available within 3 months of a given individual's second shot.

Go GATORS!
,WESGATORS

 

75% should drive the numbers way down, unfortunately that seems like a hill to climb.

Just like with “shutdowns”. If 100% participated, we could have literally ended the pandemic in months. Or at least drive it down to very low levels such that contact tracing and testing had a chance to manage outbreaks more locally. But the problem is the jackasses that can’t sacrifice their baby back ribs for public health.

So it really depends on what happens with the numbers. Nobody at this point thinks we’ll eliminate the virus. But maybe even if we “only” get 60-70% vaccinated we see the total infections go way down. I think the mask wearing needs to be mostly tied to those infection numbers. If there’s still community spread, then you need masks. If there isn’t, then you don’t. It’s really as simple as that (unless something else happens, like a mutation with the virus that makes the numbers down to something more commonly dealt with).

 

But you have to open up at the same time. Requiring masks and closed/reduced businesses at some point will stop making sense.