Coronavirus in the United States - news and thoughts

Here is the first example I could find of that:

 

The live number wasn't "accurate" before by that criteria. In fact, we have a pretty good sense that it was biased lower than the true number at that point. At this point, we can't be sure if there is still a bias or if the misses are symmetric and random.

No idea what "confirmed +/ tests" means.

Numbers aren't "scientific" or not "scientific." So no clue what that means either.

 

I think it’s fine the more I think about it as long as we limit travel. Cautiously open up remote places but then really emphasize the component of people in high infection areas not traveling to low infection areas unless absolutely essential. And no big gatherings of people.

 

So just let it spread?

 

Maybe due to a lack of something called social distancing, I'm not so sure that the heat, humidity and UV rays have been a huge factor in Florida's numbers not being anywhere close to what they could have been with all the factors potentially against us.

 

In addition to the hot + sunny weather probably helping mitigate most "outdoor" spread, if a person is sick with a respiratory illness in FL right now you can almost assume COVID. I know smokers and such probably wheeze all the time, but in terms of the seasonal/contagious stuff. If you see a person coughing, run the F away LOL.

When there's all kinds of other colds and flus going around, then you don't really know which ones are the COVID people. In the hot summer months, assume COVID. That'll help a little bit, even though the issue of "asymptomatic spread" is obviously still going to be a big issue to get a handle on.

 

Any idea why the Flu is seasonal? Does it have to do with sunlight, heat or humidity? I don't know which is why I ask.

 

Comparing this to the flu is more dangerous than telling people to shoot up bleach. You have to be a complete idiot to drink (or whatever Trump recommended) with bleach.

I could see how a very uninformed individual, could potentially see the headline flu killed 60k C-19 killed 60k. "Oh, so this is just the flu". For reasons nearly every poster has pointed out this isn't just the flu, so won't repeat them.

The drinking bleach stuff is just funny, but people lacking enough information to assume this is just the flu is scary.

 

Well I'm one of those moderate right stupid people you are looking for. Never had a flu vaccine and have not had the flu in over 20 years that I am aware of.

 

You are lucky, I didn't get it one year and had it awful. My interactions with anti vaccers, (mainly my wife's friends) have left a bad taste in my mouth as they have those beliefs based off some articles they read online, so now they think they know more than doctors. They will argue it to their death and no matter what type of evidence I show them they think they are right. Shouldn't of made the broad inclusive statement.

 

Article from Harvard:
Wherever there is winter, there is flu (3). In fact, even its name, “influenza” may be a reference to its original Italian name, influenza di freddo, meaning “influence of the cold” (4).

A common misconception is that the flu is caused by cold temperatures. However, the influenza virus is necessary to have the flu, so cold temperatures can only be a contributing factor. In fact, some people have argued that it is not cold temperatures that make the flu more common in the winter. Rather, they attest that the lack of sunlight or the different lifestyles people lead in winter months are the primary contributing factors. Here are the most popular theories about why the flu strikes in winter:

1) During the winter, people spend more time indoors with the windows sealed, so they are more likely to breathe the same air as someone who has the flu and thus contract the virus (3).

2) Days are shorter during the winter, and lack of sunlight leads to low levels of vitamin D and melatonin, both of which require sunlight for their generation. This compromises our immune systems, which in turn decreases ability to fight the virus (3).

3) The influenza virus may survive better in colder, drier climates, and therefore be able to infect more people (3).

 

Just saw on local news that brevard county has done 1,000 anti body tests and found only 1% had immunity. Volusia will start these tests next week, think I might get one. Might as well

 

that's not good?

 

Learned something new, thanks.

 

Doesn't sound like it. I don't know enough about it to know if that's good or not, news said it was a low number compared to recent test number in NY and CA so there's not much immunity built up .

On the other hand it is good that not many have been exposed to it so maybe it isn't as wide spread as we think here?

 

Vaccines are are hotly debated topic and there have been some horror stories of vaccines gone bad but there have been many success stories as well. I may breakdown and start getting them at some point in the future if my health status dictates it but I have no plans in the immediate future. I'm pretty confident I had COVID in early March after being in cramped bars in Nashville and Memphis for a week the end of February supporting a local South Florida band who was in the International Blues Challenge. The only symptoms I had were three days of mild fever.....never really felt bad. I will know soon enough as my girlfriend is getting tested for antibodies today.

 

Were they only testing first responders, medical staff, teachers etc?

 

Didn't specify.

 

You would know if you had it.
I had influenza A in 2018 (never had a flu shot) that sucked.
10 days of hell and another few weeks of feeling like crap.

Still don't get the shot.

 

I’ve never gotten the flu shot and have never had the flu but if there is a Coronavirus Vaccine I will for sure get it. I’m trying to figure out why opening the country back up in spots is so political. And it’s almost drawn down party lines. Crazy.