Coronavirus in the United States - news and thoughts

How many rare exceptions does it take to make it worth it?
If you knew one person would be persuaded by better dialog would you make the effort?
Because I promise you, ZERO people are persuaded by some of the nonsense posted here.

 

COVID death data: How many people have died in Florida?


COVID-19 killed one Floridian an average of about every four minutes last week, the second worst in the nation.

But for those wanting to know how many people are dying every day in their own communities – good luck. The state of Florida won’t say. Nor will most local public health officials. At least one county acknowledged it doesn’t know. Federal websites show either incomplete or inconsistent data for Florida's counties.

We know that Florida last week reported 2,345 COVID-19 deaths for the state. But, almost uniquely throughout the United States, Florida has not reported deaths at the county level for three months. The intensity of this worst wave of the pandemic in a given locale is anyone’s guess.

The state Department of Health says to look to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website for county death tolls. But the number reported on one CDC webpage undercounts Florida's tally by thousands, and the CDC’s most prominent map of county-level COVID-19 deaths shows only blanks for each of the state's 67 counties.

 

This. And isn't that the same incentive being pushed by some of those encouraging mask usage and vaccinations? Maybe it helps just one more person....

Go GATORS!
,WESGATORS

 

So we know that the Teachers union again used it's power to influence the CDC into changing policy. That sounds real "sciencey". Politics sucks. Let me see if I got this right:
1. CDC releases guidance
2. Teacher unions call to complain
3. CDC change guidance

CDC tightened masking guidelines after threats from teachers union, emails show

 

Not sure why FL isn't releasing where the deaths are occurring. They need to. I disagreed with your take on FL changin their reporting to go with what the CDC would prefer, but I want the data released. This isn't about Dem or Rep. Just release the data for all to see. Same reason i'm mad about the CDC changing their guidance. Garbage politics.

 

What is the “political” angle for the teachers unions to want masks?

 

The CDC shouldn't be listening to any union. They should be issuing guidance based off the science. They did that when they released the statement saying anyone who has been vaccinated doesn't need to wear a mask indoors. Then the Teacher's union stepped in and requested a meeting with the head of the CDC. The emails show that meeting happened. Then a change of guidance. The teachers union wanted masks mandated and threw their weight around and got it done. Really no debate what happened.

 

My disdain is for those perpetuating conspiracy on top of conspiracy and anti-rational thinking in response to a global pandemic. Although not limited to the right (see RFK Jr. e.g.) it is a big problem on the right and thus a big problem for the US.

I've seen what is has done to conservative family and friends.

RW *leaders* and influencers have been selling nothing but bs to the rw base. Yet this base has been primed for such messaging because the dynamic driving conspiracy-mongering and anti-science is one that has gone on for years, decades even.

 

Author loses all credibility when claiming to have life long immunity after having Covid. People have had it more than once. No one can claim "life long immunity"

 

Rick, Why cant you see that your sources are one sided with clear agendas? Town Hall is only going to give you one side. Period. End of story.
Call the vaccine whatever you want. Call it democratic Kool-Aid in a needle for all I care. It is saving a lot of lives. I call that....good news.

 

Executive Branch employees bill be required

 

Rick, those lying pharma companies....and they DO lie....are the reason you and the people you love never dealt with Polio, Small Pox etc.
People keep saying they have no liability, which is true from a legal standpoint, but Pfizer, Moderna and JJ have billions of future earnings at stake.
People act like if one of these vaccines turn into a killer that the pharma companies will just shrug and move on.

No. They will be bankrupt. If they fail on this major stage it will ruin them and the careers of thousands that work for them.
These guys have a vested interest in SUCCESS. Legal liability of not, they have EVERYTHING to lose if they get it wrong.

 

See this is why people cant trust our government.
I support the vaccines based on the data we are seeing...but the FDA and CDC have proven their lack of integrity when caving to pressure.

It's why Monsanto is allowed to poison our food and sue farmers out of business if the wind blows some seed across a property line.

If I am supposed to trust the CDC, then the teachers need to also. Pressure the local board if you want, walk out, protest...but forcing CDC change is illogical.

 

But what’s the political benefit to the teachers to want to wear masks? Do they get a kickback from 3M on mask sales?

Maybe their take was also driven by science, but with a higher focus on their members? That’s kind of how a union operates. It isn’t necessarily detached from science in a case like this. Actually, the union probably has its own science advisors.

 

I think you may be underestimating how radical the fanaticism is for the support of his argument. This is not a personal attack but he personifies the anti anything vaccine movement. Its a one way discussion and any attempt at refuting their claims with any mainstream source is shouted down as conspiratorial sheep fodder. There isn't a rational answer to this. Sometimes death or near death from Covid still isn't enough to change their minds.

 

I think the point is, It's political for the CDC to change based on pressure and not science.

 

I don't care what the POLITICAL benefit is to the teachers union. Who knows. But we are talking about the CDC. No one should have better data than them. End of discussion. You are part of the problem accepting the CDC being politically influenced. Everyone should be calling this out. But you don't see the MSM calling it out. Wonder why...

 

Not sure why this is so hard to understand.

 

Throughout this whole thing people here have mocked anyone that questions the CDC as being politically motivated. Then the teachers do it and suddenly it is OK?
Certainly both sides agree this is bad policy by the CDC right?

FTR, I support the teachers right to feel as they do and be concerned about a safe workspace, but I also think the CDC should only change their position on any subject for ONE reason.
The teachers should fight this the way we all would have to, through their bosses and leadership (School boards etc)

 

I guess one could argue it isn’t the right agency to debate this, if one expects the CDC should be silo’d as “pure science” without listening to stakeholders, then something like the “mask debate” should be determined by an agency like OSHA, which is supposed to be putting forth the guidelines for worker safety, and they might more appropriately want to listen to different stakeholders in at a workplace.

I guess for whatever reason if the CDC listens to stakeholders on a recommendation it becomes “politics”, but if it was an agency like OSHA or department of Ed then it would seem more normal for their recommendations because that is more their lane. But if we are being serious here, I think the anti-maskers and anti-vaxxers are going to do what they do regardless.