Vermont Skier Visits Down Significantly Due to COVID-19

[Dickc]

The variants are morphologically similar enough that there is almost surely some level of cross-immunogenicity, so while you might not be immune & can get sick, you will likely be substantially protected. This is the concept that sadly so many millions of people do not understand when they refuse to get the flu shot each year because, "they often get the strains wrong". They're missing the point entirely = another failing of the American public school system.

I recall that in the early stages there was some talk that other corona viruses, ones that cause only common cold symptoms, were thought to give people some level of immunity to COVID 19. So if you've had Covid 19 varient Alpha, you should be able to mount a pretty good immune response to any of the varients based on that early 2020 observation about the other corona viruses.

 

[abc]

This is certainly a disease process that has far more variables than constants!

This is a virus known to mutate (just like most virus). Its high transmissibility increase the chance of mutation quite a bit. Immunologist had long fear this type of virus outbreak. The root of the fear is exactly because we don't have a lot of tools to either stop the transmission or treat the sick. But it's hard to get non-scientist to take it seriously AND do what's necessary to prepare for it. So we're now living the reality of what the scientist fear.

We now have vaccines. We now have some treatments. Neither are 100% effective. But that's the best we can do for now. You know what? Most treatments for diseases aren't 100% effective either. It's just when you have a highly transmissible virus, a tiny percentage of a large number of sick is... still a very large number of people!

Lockdown bought us time for the above. And if people would take the vaccine, we would be pretty darn close to normal without too much worry. But with so many people not taking the vaccine, we're caught between continue lockdown, or just let the unvaccinated get infected. And if a small percentage of them have to die, it's the price we should be willing to pay.

Get the hell back to normal! Let the purposely unvaccinated fend for themselves. Weekly testing, "natural vaccination", elimination from the human race...

(those who are not able to be vaccinated, or those who know with some certainty they are Immunol compromised, will have to stay as socially distant from the rest. But most are used to that already. Life will be a bit more limited than prior, admittedly. Yes, sadly some will simply got unlucky and fell victim)

 

[jimmywilson69]

or just let the unvaccinated get infected. And if a small percentage of them have to die, it's the price we should be willing to pay.

there is no price that I have to pay, its the price those who are purposefully unvaccinated are rolling the dice with. I'm fine with it, the heard needs thinned anyways.

 

[gittist]

there is no price that I have to pay, its the price those who are purposefully unvaccinated are rolling the dice with. I'm fine with it, the heard needs thinned anyways.

I kinda of ok with that but what if the people dying were actually paying taxes? I realize the politicians will overspend the tax revenue no matter what but it's even worse if the tax revenue decreases due to people dying.

 

[jimmywilson69]

I think we were talking proverbial price and not actual price. But yes if 10% of the tax paying population dies off it does cost me money.

 

[drjeff]

I kinda of ok with that but what if the people dying were actually paying taxes? I realize the politicians will overspend the tax revenue no matter what but it's even worse if the tax revenue decreases due to people dying.

Some of that revenue answer likely is based a bit on how much one's estate may be subject to the Estate Tax (both at the current level and the current administratios higher level should it ever get passed as part of who knows what "COVID relief" and/or "Infrastructure" bill Congress may vote on, and how well, or not so well some may have tax sheltered their estates.

It does seem like anecdotally that while initially some significant tax payers/estates were passing away from COVID in larger numbers, that more and more currently arent likely to be as significant of an income tax payer (if at all) and/or have estates large enough to be subject to an Estate tax.

 

[BenedictGomez]

I kinda of ok with that but what if the people dying were actually paying taxes? I realize the politicians will overspend the tax revenue no matter what but it's even worse if the tax revenue decreases due to people dying.

Two posters took this seriously, but I assumed it was a joke.

 

[gittist]

Two posters took this seriously, but I assumed it was a joke.

Not really. I feel that the vaccinated are being punished because the people that are driving the new surge in COVID weren't. We were just notified that everyone has to wear a mask in order to attend one of our ski clubs picnic, inside or out! Our other ski club will probably follow suit in a day or so. I can see that this ski season is already heading for the crapper! I'm glad we didn't sign up for any trips, especially the bus ones!

I have no problem with people not getting vaccinated as long as the vaccinated aren't punished. I know, no good deed goes unpunished.

 

[abc]

I feel that the vaccinated are being punished because the people that are driving the new surge in COVID weren't.

This is the new America! Those who don't take personal responsibility gets rescued while those who take the trouble to be prepared are left to fend for themselves.

My cousin's company (happened to be the same company as mine, but at different part of the country) had just "invited" all the vaccinated workers back to the office! Only declining the "invitation" isn't an option. But those who haven't vaccinated? They get to continue to work from home!

Now I'm very glad I procrastinated in uploading my vaccination status. So far, no "invitation" to work in the office.

 

[abc]

Which university?

 

[drjeff]

So the university is making the marching band (who are all required to have vax) wear masks, outside in the fresh air, with holes cut in them while air is blown in and out right through them and the instruments.
This place which is allegedly full of intelligent individuals... meanwhile 100ft away the bars are standing room only

you can't make this shit up

Just because one may be academically intelligent in their specific area of study, doesn't make them street smart/sensible by any means.

My in-laws are both retired college professionals (one in planr biology and one in Earth Sciences). They are both right around 80 years old (78 and 83). They are both vaccinated and in general good health and active.

When they were over at my house this week, we started talking COVID, Delta, and real risk factors. They were both convinced that their mortality rate should they contract COVID was over 30%. They were still in disbelief when I showed them the CDC data that it was actually less than 5% for their general age demographic (and given that they are both relatively healthy, their real mortality rate is like much lowere given their lack of numerous co-morbidities. They still didn't belive the data, and these are 2 people who are well versed in data analysis and have written multiple academic texts and between the 2 of them have had hundreds of papers published in peer reveiewed scientific journals.

Their effective influential bias against what the actual data shows is that their primary news sources both before and during COVID are NPR and CNN.

How the data is presented often moreso than what the data actually shows, will often be how people view things

 

[abc]

They still didn't believe the data, and these are 2 people who are well versed in data analysis and have written multiple academic texts and between the 2 of them have had hundreds of papers published in peer reveiewed scientific journals.

Maybe they know something you don’t?

I’m only half joking. “Data”, even raw data, can itself be biased naturally. That’s half of data analysis is about. To account for all the natural biases & limitation in raw data, before the numerical analysis can then start. That part of the data analysis is very field specific. You or I typically don’t have the specific knowledge to judge how well that’s done. Nor do your in-laws. We have to trust those who did the work. But unfortunately, it’s more common than the general public realize how often bad conclusion came out of faulty data analysis. Those who work in academic are more aware of it than the general public. Given the time crunch, and human nature, I’m not surprised your in-laws are more skeptical of the recent papers on Covid.

Doesn’t justify their baseless “disbelief”. Still, in normal research, one stays skeptical until more research either support or refutes it. Maybe that’s what they were expressing, withholding judgment till more supporting evidence come along?

Only in this case, time is what we younger people (and policy makers) don’t have. While the older retired folks have more of than us.

 

[gittist]

This is the new America! Those who don't take personal responsibility gets rescued while those who take the trouble to be prepared are left to fend for themselves.
...
Now I'm very glad I procrastinated in uploading my vaccination status. So far, no "invitation" to work in the office.

I 100% agree with the new America statement.

 

[gittist]

Just because one may be academically intelligent in their specific area of study, doesn't make them street smart/sensible by any means.

I once had a Marine Gunnery Sergeant say "Officers have too much college and not enough high school." I think it applies here also.

 

[Hawk]

I'm still at work. Doing my normal job. Actualy have never left. Vacinated and eating at my favorite resturaunts. Leading my normal life. Nothing to see here.
Ignoring what is going on all around you is the new America where I stand. I'm not going to fix anything or convince anyone of anything. I gave up long ago and I find that I am way better off.

 

[raisingarizona]

There’s too many people right now anyways. A little thinning of the herd may be good overall.

 

[JimG.]

Only in this case, time is what we younger people (and policy makers) don’t have. While the older retired folks have more of than us.

So, older people have more time than younger people? That sounds illogical to me.

I must be living in a time warp.

 

[dblskifanatic]

Unfortunately the vaccinated are not being punished - people are hearing about vaccinated people getting COVID so the mask mandates are coming back, The vaccinated unmasked are super spreaders, technically. You may not know you have it or have minor symptoms and think you have an allergy, meanwhile you are exposing others both vaccinated and those who are not.

Addressing another topic - this country has always be lopsided on who they protect. The few that are offended often change the rules. the majority that are not offended do not complain. Once the rules are changed then the majority start to complain and then it is too late! In this case the vaccinated are the majority now and the unmasked procrastinators, anit-vaxers, and fearful of getting vaccinated are driving the agenda at the work place.

 

[BenedictGomez]

My cousin's company (happened to be the same company as mine, but at different part of the country) had just "invited" all the vaccinated workers back to the office! Only declining the "invitation" isn't an option. But those who haven't vaccinated? They get to continue to work from home!

This is specifically why I "failed" to email HR my vaccination status. It's a moot point as I'm now approved for forever remote, but I kind of foresaw the above being a possibility. It always felt like the cat was fishing for mouse hole locations.

 

[BenedictGomez]

So the university is making the marching band (who are all required to have vax) wear masks, outside in the fresh air, with holes cut in them while air is blown in and out right through them and the instruments.
This place which is allegedly full of intelligent individuals... meanwhile 100ft away the bars are standing room only

you can't make this shit up

That's not science, that is a version of masks as self-righteous performance art.