[Scottamemnon]

Originally Posted by WRnative

T
The state of Florida's method of calcuating the reported positivity rate is considered highly susptect by experts.

<<[Florida] excludes anyone who has tested positive in the past, even though people with previous negative tests are still included. That makes the method problematic, some experts say, because the number of people retested on a daily basis can be large, thus skewing the rate downward.

I generally have no issue with your post, but do take some issue with this part on a statistical analysis part.

If you are trying to count the number of people who have been infected, then if someone had previously tested positive, it would make sense to not count them as a positive test again. Nothing changed in their situation, they are still one of the people in the state that got Covid. I personally would only count the 2nd positive test if the two tests are more than 30 days apart, as this would reflect people who got Covid a 2nd time, which appears to be happening in a limited number of people.

As to the previous negative ones.. it probably would make sense to exclude those ones too unless this new test is now a positive one.

[Huasho]

With the Fuhrer Gone...Let's see what De Santis priorities will be in the near future.

[RowingFiend]

Originally Posted by boy3365

I think it is tough to compare countries with more centralized federal governments to the US. Based on my understanding, the feds have to get the states to buy into recommendations on COVID. Thank goodness the cities/states don't have total control over airports, or our response to 9/11 would have been disorganized. Nevertheless, cities and states did have buy-in to security recommendations for things they do control, which has helped America avoid a repeat attack on the same scale.

I did read an article yesterday that said that with a potentially stronger approach to COVID from Biden that more Republican governors will use Biden as cover to enact mandates such as mask-wearing, curfews, capacity restrictions, etc. I genuinely believe that many Republican governors, sans maybe those of TX, FL, and MS, want to be more active, but they don't want to risk angering the Trump base.

I think Florida will fare better than many places not because of some magical state government efforts or lack thereof, but because we are fortunate to be able to do things outdoors virtually year round. The Panhandle and a few weeks here and there in Central Florida would be the exception.

You can wear your mask/binky without Joe Biden telling you to do it. You can also wear it now when Trump is President.

[Huasho]

misnake

[beachmouse]

From that leftie publication Florida Trend

https://www.floridatrend.com/article...urism-industry

An estimated 1 million Canadians spend up to six months wintering in the Sunshine State, contributing an estimated $6.5 billion to Florida’s economy.

With Canada extending until Dec. 21 its ban on nonessential, cross-border traffic, which was set to expire Tuesday, and hinting no relaxation is likely until at least March, however, a significant component of Florida’s “snowbird” seasonal economy may not show up this winter.

I actually freakishly agree with Rick Scott, who is saying that, no, the state economy will NOT be able to really recover until tourists and second home owners feel truly same coming down here.

[Corrie22]

"While the U.S.-Canada border will remain closed to nonessential travel for another month, it only applies to land crossings.

Canadian citizens are permitted to travel to the U.S. by air as part of an agreement between Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s and President Donald Trump’s administrations.

"People can make their own decisions," Trudeau said recently. "But a travel advisory from the government of Canada to not travel outside the borders unless it's essential travel is about as strong as we can go."

The Canadian government, however, applies the restriction to all modes of travel coming into Canada and has issued a travel advisory cautioning citizens to avoid traveling to the U.S.

According to Canadian media accounts, there is a robust business in getting around the land-crossing restrictions by shipping cars – even by helicopter – across the border from Canada into the U.S"

[beachmouse]

Originally Posted by Corrie22

According to Canadian media accounts, there is a robust business in getting around the land-crossing restrictions by shipping cars – even by helicopter – across the border from Canada into the U.S"

It's robust but in absolute terms it's a small slice of border travel. Health insurance shopping being down by 50-75% is the bigger picture figure in trying to figure out likely numbers.

[WRnative]

Originally Posted by beachmouse

It's robust but in absolute terms it's a small slice of border travel. Health insurance shopping being down by 50-75% is the bigger picture figure in trying to figure out likely numbers.

I didn't understand your point until I read the article that you had linked.


<<
The biggest obstacle facing Canadians who opt to winter in Florida is concerns over health insurance, with a travel advisory cautioning “travel at your own risk” in the U.S., especially with the U.S. in general, and Florida in particular, seeing COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths steadily mounting.


Many wintering Canadians purchase travel insurance to augment their national insurance policies, which limits them to more than 185 days out of Canada.


Insurance brokers, however, have told various Florida media outlets that demand from Canadian snowbirds seeking travel insurance policies is down 50%-75%.>>


https://www.floridatrend.com/article...urism-industry


Canadians have national health insurance, and I never knew that it provided 185 days of coverage annually outside of Canada. Except that apparently it doesn't, according to the Canadian government:


<<

• Your Canadian health insurance may not pay your medical fees while you are outside Canada
• Your provincial or territorial health plan may cover none, or only a small part, of the costs of your medical care abroad. It will never pay your bills up front
• Foreign hospitals can be very expensive and may require immediate cash payment
• In some countries hospitals and clinics will not treat you if you do not have enough insurance or money to pay your bills
• The Government of Canada will not pay your medical bills>>

As a severe COVID-19 infection could require weeks in intensive care, I wonder how much comprehensive travel insurance for a visit to Florida or anywhere in Canada costs these days.


Tourism from North America might be booming in Australia and New Zealand, which have single digit new daily COVID-19 cases, except that I believe both countries ban tourists from North America.


Your article also contained this interesting information:


<<
Based on a Canada-Florida economic impact study produced by Canada’s Miami consulate in 2018, the border-crossing ban also could affect the $7 billion in goods traded between Canadian and Florida companies.


Canada is “responsible for upwards of 620,000 jobs in the state,” according to the report, adding, “Canadian tourism to Florida contributed $686.56 million to state and local coffers in 2016 alone.”


Those numbers are similar to figures in Enterprise Florida’s Florida-Canada 2015-17 trade profile, which said in 2017, “Florida and Canada enjoyed more than $7 billion in trade, which supported about 600,000 jobs in the state."


The Enterprise Florida report cited TradeStats Express statistics in noting Florida sent almost $3.6 billion in exports to Canada, second only to the nearly $4.1 billion exported to Brazil.>>

[Racer46]

Originally Posted by WRnative

”


Those numbers are similar to figures in Enterprise Florida’s Florida-Canada 2015-17 trade profile, which said in 2017, “Florida and Canada enjoyed more than $7 billion in trade, which supported about 600,000 jobs in the state."

That would be just under $12,000.00 each. Obviously either part time workers or just a small impact on regular full time workers. And that would be if the 7B all came to FL.

[WRnative]

Originally Posted by WRnative

As a severe COVID-19 infection could require weeks in intensive care, I wonder how much comprehensive travel insurance for a visit to Florida or anywhere in Canada costs these days.

Should be in the U.S.