Anyone following what’s happening in the United States?

[Redolent]

A lesson in how not to reopen.

20 states are seeing significant increases. Some like Arizona, Florida, California and Texas are breaking records of positive cases and covid hospitalizations. ICUs almost full in Texas. Indoor-dining restaurants and bars have been open for a month or so in some of these states. This is still the first wave for them ...

Will be interesting to see if they lock down some states again. It seems inevitable for Arizona (26% of those who had a Coronavirus test today were positive, which is insane).

Info from NYT:

www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/us/coronavirus-us-cases.html

Yeah it definitely feels like a choice for some states

What’s also worrying is places like California that seemed to have a handle on things now seeing huge consistent rises (LA especially).

Miami has made face masks mandatory with $500 fines... I guess that’s a start.

Well my recent post has just become outdated:

www.axios.com/texas-governor-closes-bars-coronavirus-dae8b7c4-2525-4b29-bdb9-31282abcbaa3.html?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=organic&utm_content=1100

www.axios.com/texas-governor-closes-bars-coronavirus-dae8b7c4-2525-4b29-bdb9-31282abcbaa3.html?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=organic&utm_content=1100

Sorry:

“ Texas Gov. Abbott orders all bars to close due to coronavirus surge”

"However, we can only slow the spread if everyone in Texas does their part. Every Texan has a responsibility to themselves and their loved ones to wear a mask, wash their hands, stay six feet apart from others in public, and stay home if they can."

It's just astonishing to me that people aren't doing this.

We're still doing this stuff in Maine, and our rate of infections is tiny, but we're not quite out of the woods yet so we're continuing to play it safe.

DH was supposed to travel to Florida for business soon - absolutely no way that trip is happening now.

As the link @TheMysteriousJackelope posted shows, there’s just no helping some people. The woman in that video named every single conspiracy theory going while claiming masks were the devil’s work. Jeez.

9000 cases in Florida.

Plus a claim that Florida was planning on fiddling their figures next week to make it look like they were improving before the 4th of July.

Christ the 4th July?

Add another multiple to this shit show. My god this is starting to get scary.

Yup - and all the hotels and tourism in Florida are now tanking once again.

As the link TheMysteriousJackelope posted shows, there’s just no helping some people. The woman in that video named every single conspiracy theory going while claiming masks were the devil’s work. Jeez.

We have crazies like that in Maine, and they're carrying on life as normal. But most people recognise that the right thing to do is socially distance, wear a mask, wash your hands etc. And it's working, despite the fact that a proportion of the population just won't do it because they're Trumptards.

Leadership and culture seems to be what makes the difference. Actually insisting on people doing the right things, and making it the cultural norm.

I have to say, I think the UK did a pretty good job there (although I still think you're mad not to wear masks).

Just read an article about how many of the new cases are younger people. Speculation as to whether they get symptoms. And whether this is because only now are they getting tested. Or whether it's because older people are staying home. Or what.

@tobee

Testing is far better than it was in March. Back then younger people with Covid were more under the radar. The problem is that younger people aren’t sealed off from older people... Hopefully, it’s been identified before this becomes as a major problem.

Just looking at the US figures.... looks like they’re going to exceed yesterday’s record by some margin. California and Texas only seem to complete their returns in the early hours.

[quote Derbygerbil]@tobee

Testing is far better than it was in March. Back then younger people with Covid were more under the radar. The problem is that younger people aren’t sealed off from older people... Hopefully, it’s been identified before this becomes as a major problem.[/quote]
Hospital bed usage is a better indicator than positive tests. But that is rising.

If this is memorial Day, then we will see BLM in a fortnight, 4th July in a month.

By August this will be cooking.

"By August this will be cooking."

It would be something if we knew whether young people were spreaders or not, or there was more clarity. But one day we hear speculation that the answer is yes. Then no. Then maybe. Which is not surprising since we're at each stages. But it's hard not to want to know everything at once.

Rueful face emoji required.

If this is memorial Day, then we will see BLM in a fortnight, 4th July in a month. By August this will be cooking.

I think there’s probably enough concern now that behaviour will change that will temper rises in cases over the coming week. I hope so anyway... that will mean a hit for their economy though.

*Early not each stages.

It would be something if we knew whether young people were spreaders or not, or there was more clarity.

Young people can spread Covid I believe... it will
depend on the infected individual though.

I don't really know anything about this but the fact that POTUS says less testing is a good way to go because then they have less cases to report is pretty damn terrifying. Then you look south to Brazil and Bolsonaro...

I was shocked (or maybe not) that Texas had packed bars and restaurants with cases still rising. This is the same state where ICU beds are running low.

Here in South Australia we are just about to go to 1 person per 2 square metres in restaurants and pubs and this seems like a huge gain in freedoms. We have been Covid free for 23 days!

@Derbygerbil

If this is memorial Day, then we will see BLM in a fortnight, 4th July in a month. By August this will be cooking.

I think there’s probably enough concern now that behaviour will change that will temper rises in cases over the coming week. I hope so anyway... that will mean a hit for their economy though.

It takes about a month before you see any reaction to change in behaviour, either positive or negative. With WH saying this is just down to extra testing, and with people being forced to work, I doubt there will be a reversal of increases within a month. Not enough to affect the economy. I fear it will be too little too late. I'm expecting another stock market correction July end. And then more debt stimulus? When does this become unsustainable?

It is such a shame too, as you were nearly there.

South Korea (poster child country for perfect covid response) had huge outbreaks in nightclubs. I was shocked they had crowded nightclubs open prefectly legally. I don't imagine people were masked up inside.

I wonder if air con is having an impact on Covid infection? The states most affected at the moment are the ones I expect where air con is routinely used in the summer.... Arizona, for instance, can get particularly hot. I read a study that indicated it can extend spread beyond the 2m range in the right circumstances...

@Derbygerbil

I wonder if air con is having an impact on Covid infection? The states most affected at the moment are the ones I expect where air con is routinely used in the summer.... Arizona, for instance, can get particularly hot. I read a study that indicated it can extend spread beyond the 2m range in the right circumstances...

Yes, these case studies I’ve previously linked to show someone contracting the virus while sitting 4.5 metres away in a restaurant. AC seems play a big role.

english.elpais.com/spanish_news/2020-06-17/an-analysis-of-three-covid-19-outbreaks-how-they-happened-and-how-they-can-be-avoided.html

@Derbygerbil

I wonder if air con is having an impact on Covid infection? The states most affected at the moment are the ones I expect where air con is routinely used in the summer.... Arizona, for instance, can get particularly hot. I read a study that indicated it can extend spread beyond the 2m range in the right circumstances...

It shouldn't, assuming the AC has adequate filters.

But, if it is very hot, it has the same effect as very cold, with people spending more time inside. Obviously, it is easier to transmit virus indoors rather than outdoor.

Air con/ventilation is being implicated in many outbreaks; uk guidance covers assessment of ventilation.

wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/26/7/20-0764_article

A simple thing like not realising that your building Management system has automatically reduced the air changes per hour as it knows the building is under occupied (due to social distancing), also.

Airflow doesn’t only happen with AC units though. It can happen with an open window.

If air is recirculated it it filtered so poses less of a risk. Sick building syndrome was a thing back in the 80s but filter technology has largely solved the problem.