General COVID-19 Talk #4 MOD Warning

[Lt Dan]

Cases way down from yesterday, hopefully it is a trend, but it is only one day
Hosp only up 1
ICU down 1

 

[Buddy The Elf]

ICU is filling up. More than half full in two days which his right on time with about 7-10 days after infection.
Floor admissions are heavy. Our admissions are almost beyond Delta.

Staff is sick but we're working through it because we're forced to work if positive and/or mild symptoms. The prize is they give you all the COVID patients. If you're positive with Omicron and they have Delta.... I get it, the hospitals need staff. We didn't let people go d/t any mandates but should have before because now that's an issue on a floor. Staff is putting patients at risk. Nurses who got Alpha or Delta but decided not to get the vaccine are now getting sick again.

This was preventable. I would like to thank media outlets on the right who have done everything to cause chaos and question science and medicine and vaccines. Imagine playing with a 16-17 man roster where 1/3 of them are sick. That's what it feels like.

I read something last night on Twitter from another nurse which should make a meme.

She said, "Chase your horse paste with a shot of your own piss, as you sit there with a hard on from your viagra".

I'm not there but hey nurse humor. At least we can still laugh.

Rand Paul is an idiot. Can't believe he's pushing the theory to get Omicron and calls it natures vaccine. People are going to believe it.

And why do they promote doctors like Radiologists in the back who don't work bedside that get push their ideas to the forefront. No disrespect to those not at bedside, but a ton of them work from home and instead of putting on Infectious Disease Docs, or ICU docs, they promote theories from people not in the specialty.


Rand Paul Comes Out as Pro-Omicron
Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), who has failed to follow the science for much of the pandemic, on Wednesday called Omicron, the Covid-19variant responsible for record-setting number of positive cases, “nature’s vaccine” during an interview with Fox & Friends.
“We’ve got 150 million people in our country that have already had this,” he said. “Now in the last couple of weeks, we’re adding millions of people every week who have already gotten this. And the one thing we know is if you get this mild variant, the Omicron, it’s actually going to protect you against the more serious variants.”
“This is basically nature’s vaccine that is running through the community,” he added, echoing comments made on the network last month by Dr. Nicole Saphier, a radiologist, who advocated for letting omicron “circulate.”

This guy is one of the most spineless grandstanding charlatans in congress and that's saying something. If he's wrong about "nature's vaccine" then what? He'll just move the goal posts like every other one of these dopes that have chosen to make this an ideological topic.


I think he should go to Olive Garden with Dr. Fauci and have him administer his natural vaccine after their Tour of Italy. Just get it over with already.

 

[KINGS17]

Some things we already suspected:

Omicron causes less severe disease than delta, leads to fewer hospitalizations, new data shows

Compared to patients who had the delta variant, omicron patients had a 53% reduced risk of hospitalization, a 74% reduced risk of ICU admission and a 91% reduced risk of death. The study has not yet been peer-reviewed.

Also, Walensky said, none of the people infected with omicron required mechanical ventilation. This backs up another study from researchers in Hong Kong who found that while extremely contagious, omicron isn't as good at replicating in the lungs as delta, likely leading to less severe disease.

But shorter hospital stays doesn't mean no hospital stays, and it doesn't mean no deaths. The huge number of people getting infected with COVID-19 will strain hospital systems -- already struggling in some states -- which could affect care and the outcomes for people who do need to be hospitalized. And overwhelmed hospitals don't only affect COVID-19 patients, they affect everyone who needs care for something that could turn serious or even fatal if left untreated.

Here is hoping the relatively swift decline in cases we have seen in other countries following the peak will start to be the trend in America. As many have learned avoiding the omicron variant is difficult. Omicron will lead to increased herd immunity.

I suspect we are entering the endemic stage of this corona virus, and eventually everyone will catch it at some point in their life. It is here to stay.

 

[johnjm22]

Hope you pull through ok!

Best to you. Get well soon, man.

I'm much better now, thanks.

It turns out I didn't even have it. I just assumed I did because I was around people who got it, and my symptoms matched.

I have some kind of Strep/Flu thing. It's been pretty rough, COVID probably would have been easier.

 

[Schrute farms]

I'm much better now, thanks.

It turns out I didn't even have it. I just assumed I did because I was around people who got it, and my symptoms matched.

I have some kind of Strep/Flu thing. It's been pretty rough, COVID probably would have been easier.

Interesting -- i had the same conversation with a co-worker today. He was out the last week and thought it was CV. Pretty much the same as what you said.

 

[KINGS17]

I'm much better now, thanks.

It turns out I didn't even have it. I just assumed I did because I was around people who got it, and my symptoms matched.

I have some kind of Strep/Flu thing. It's been pretty rough, COVID probably would have been easier.

I understand your situation with the flu. I have two nieces, one had omicron the other had the flu, and the one with the flu had a much tougher time of it.

Glad you're feeling better.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Little bit scary, several of my buddies that were treating patients last year as well as this year are actually more worried now than they were during last year's surge around here.

They chalk it up to attitudes, burnout, and staffing issues, while their hospitals are full.

Not to sound morbid but patients not dying also has an impact, since they end up with people with longer harder stays on top of the population.

These are solid dudes in their mid 30s who run Ironmans and they're talking about burnout and walking away. It's partially duration taking a toll I'm sure but also people being a bit more flippant and letting their guards down (which I am as guilty of as anyone).

 

[DryIslandBartender]

I'm much better now, thanks.

It turns out I didn't even have it. I just assumed I did because I was around people who got it, and my symptoms matched.

I have some kind of Strep/Flu thing. It's been pretty rough, COVID probably would have been easier.

Glad you are doing better. I’m in day 3-4 of quarantine, getting a little worse than mild symptoms with coughing fits. Tonight’s blowout of the pens helped a good deal. Just need to get a good nights rest, last couple nights were rough. Just going to sleep in a lounge chair tonight, should be better.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Glad you are doing better. I’m in day 3-4 of quarantine, getting a little worse than mild symptoms with coughing fits. Tonight’s blowout of the pens helped a good deal. Just need to get a good nights rest, last couple nights were rough. Just going to sleep in a lounge chair tonight, should be better.

I always have trouble sleeping even when fully healthy but yeah a lounge chair is good for that--I had also gotten a large wedge pillow that helped because can use it to 'sit up' in a lounge position if you want but I actually used it for dangling over the edge in a prone position which seemed to keep my chest clear.

I also remember my bout was during the WJC and good hockey helped so much...those times of day were much less agonizing. 1am-7am was the absolute worst because there was nothing going on to distract me except the entire Community series twice haha.

 

[RonM11]

Little bit scary, several of my buddies that were treating patients last year as well as this year are actually more worried now than they were during last year's surge around here.

They chalk it up to attitudes, burnout, and staffing issues, while their hospitals are full.

Not to sound morbid but patients not dying also has an impact, since they end up with people with longer harder stays on top of the population.

These are solid dudes in their mid 30s who run Ironmans and they're talking about burnout and walking away. It's partially duration taking a toll I'm sure but also people being a bit more flippant and letting their guards down (which I am as guilty of as anyone).

I get it. I don't think the point is that they are physically exhausted (although that too), I think there must be nothing in the tank mentally. I try to put myself in their shoes and I'm mentally exhausted just thinking about it. I can't imagine doing that job...given the last major pandemic was over 100 years ago, no one is alive today to tell the story.

But we all have stories now for the next generation.

 

[apocalypse]

Is Crypto operating at partial capacity? When I look into the stands, it seems kind of sparse. I thought that maybe they just weren't selling out, but Crypto should be selling out right now. Anybody know?

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

I get it. I don't think the point is that they are physically exhausted (although that too), I think there must be nothing in the tank mentally. I try to put myself in their shoes and I'm mentally exhausted just thinking about it. I can't imagine doing that job...given the last major pandemic was over 100 years ago, no one is alive today to tell the story.

But we all have stories now for the next generation.

Oh for sure. I even used the Ironman reference to point out the mental/training side of it too, they're in great physical shape but aren't strangers to a grind that's a mental battle either and they're at wit's end.

I think of how annoyed and concerned we collectively are as a general public when the waves rise but on the inside walls of the hospital it represents a relapse into long hours and danger yet again, that's mental waterboarding.

 

[BigKing]

Is Crypto operating at partial capacity? When I look into the stands, it seems kind of sparse. I thought that maybe they just weren't selling out, but Crypto should be selling out right now. Anybody know?

Full capacity. Mix of still not caring, unvaccinated and those in COVID jail.

Last Saturday was supposedly pretty full though. I got a better return for my tickets than usual.

 

[RonM11]

Is Crypto operating at partial capacity? When I look into the stands, it seems kind of sparse. I thought that maybe they just weren't selling out, but Crypto should be selling out right now. Anybody know?

I think it's pretty obvious that most people are not attending games due to the Omicron surge. I can't think of a more transmissible venue than a hockey rink...the virus thrives in the cold and most of the characters I see in the crowd are not wearing masks.

I haven't attended a hockey game at "crypto" since early March 2020, unfortunately. I would have loved to been there in their most recent homestand, which was very successful.

I also have Rams season tickets, and I've missed every game for two seasons now (everyone missed the first season). It is what it is...I know at some point in the near future I will be able to safely attend Rams games.

 

[Lt Dan]

I am traveling so.. I can't post the pic like I can on my PC
So...

New cases: 8257
Big jump in Hosp: 1072 -----> 1154
ICU: 168---->171

 

[Papa Mocha 15]

Admissions in the hospital are slowly moving up among children and according to COVID board on the school district, they are continuing to increase at school too so this will continue to go up. A kid tested positive in the class. The school gave us the option to hold him out (10 day quarantine) so I took it and yanked my kid. If one more kid hits positive, the class goes virtual for a few weeks.

I think this stop start thing is going to continue to hold work back too. If parents have to stay home, they can't go back to work and will need to have someone there.

I don't think too many kids are going to die from this but I hope that the percentage of those who likely fall in that net will get vaccinated.

 

[Statto]

I'm not a scientist and im not going on anything but a gut feeling, sunshine and rainbows, and the patterns of past pandemics but I'm going to guess Omicron is the 'last' truly dangerous surge before this thing is endemic like the flu--dangerous but ultimately yearly background noise.

I think you are right. It seems we may have peaked in Southern England with the rest of the UK beginning to plateau. They are not quite ready to announce it but it’s looking like it’s heading that way.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Admissions in the hospital are slowly moving up among children and according to COVID board on the school district, they are continuing to increase at school too so this will continue to go up. A kid tested positive in the class. The school gave us the option to hold him out (10 day quarantine) so I took it and yanked my kid. If one more kid hits positive, the class goes virtual for a few weeks.

I think this stop start thing is going to continue to hold work back too. If parents have to stay home, they can't go back to work and will need to have someone there.

I don't think too many kids are going to die from this but I hope that the percentage of those who likely fall in that net will get vaccinated.

The school districts are failing miserably at this too, btw.

Their measures suck and their counts are off. one of my best friends has a class of 35 that had FIVE students today as the others were out 'sick'. Lots of similar examples of 60% missing, etc.

 

[Fishhead]

At my school we've had around infections since the break, we just hold them out for a week then they can come back. We are still on campus, but don't have anything other than classes (no lunch, etc.). About 15 staff have had it, no one has gotten really sick. The vast majority of those infections were acquired between Xmas and New Years, so we really haven't seen many transmissions on campus, if at all. They keep their masks on and they leave instead of taking them off to eat. Seems to be working.

We have no plans of going virtual, I live stream and record for students who aren't there. We do have a shitload of absences though, 10x more than we usually see. We have around 2,200 students, and we've had between 300 and 400 out for the last week. Our typical absences in a day are around 30.

 

[Papa Mocha 15]

The school districts are failing miserably at this too, btw.

Their measures suck and their counts are off. one of my best friends has a class of 35 that had FIVE students today as the others were out 'sick'. Lots of similar examples of 60% missing, etc.

Yup, I saw that too in the way they handled the surge in students. We had 3 students the whole year at our school and now we're almost at 20 since Jan 4. I think they're scrambling. Admin wants butts in seats because that's how the school gets paid. Teachers want to help but also want to be safe since they are in the classroom with the kids.

 

[Papa Mocha 15]

At my school we've had around infections since the break, we just hold them out for a week then they can come back. We are still on campus, but don't have anything other than classes (no lunch, etc.). About 15 staff have had it, no one has gotten really sick. The vast majority of those infections were acquired between Xmas and New Years, so we really haven't seen many transmissions on campus, if at all. They keep their masks on and they leave instead of taking them off to eat. Seems to be working.

We have no plans of going virtual, I live stream and record for students who aren't there. We do have a shitload of absences though, 10x more than we usually see. We have around 2,200 students, and we've had between 300 and 400 out for the last week. Our typical absences in a day are around 30.

My sister works for the district and what you're saying is mirrored on the number of absences. Some have young siblings too young to get vaxxed and don't want to get them exposed. I'm hoping this wave is short.

 

[RonM11]

Lost an infant child in Riverside yesterday. It's hitting the infants and toddlers hard...apparently, Omicron has a detrimental effect on very immature immune systems.

 

[Fishhead]

Finally (maybe) some hope after looking at the weekend's data. We are definitely on the other side of the peak and cases are starting to slide as are hospitalizations. Deaths rose a bit but are still under 6 per day here in OC. I don't expect that to be mirrored everywhere around the country, but the worst may be past us - for good.

There is always the chance of a rebound and cases start going up again, but I don't really expect it in this case.

 

[Rumpelstiltskin]

Finally (maybe) some hope after looking at the weekend's data. We are definitely on the other side of the peak and cases are starting to slide as are hospitalizations. Deaths rose a bit but are still under 6 per day here in OC. I don't expect that to be mirrored everywhere around the country, but the worst may be past us - for good.

There is always the chance of a rebound and cases start going up again, but I don't really expect it in this case.

Yeah, it looks like Omicron is ebbing in both South Africa and the UK - now, the "trick" will be whether or not an even less severe strain replaces it <?>

South Africa is over Omicron, and their good news may be a harbinger of hope for the U.S. - CBS News

 

[RonM11]

L.A. County sees 10-month high in COVID death rate

Such is the folly of comparing South Africa, with a younger population to the United States, in summertime there vs. wintertime here, and with such population with a high natural immunity to COVID thanks to an earlier Delta surge, primarily because the vaccination rate is so low (28%). South African comparisons are useless. We should be comparing ourselves to the U.K., if any comparisons at all are going to be made.