Coronavirus in Massachusetts (Boston: bargain, rent, insurance)

[htfdcolt]

Originally Posted by mdovell

it might sound corny but I miss going to a place like Starbucks insuring out work or some type of paper.

Not corny...this used to be my Sunday ritual and I miss it!

[lrfox]

Originally Posted by BostonMike7

23 more towns/citied added to the high risk list. MA average is in the red zone

https://www.wcvb.com/article/massach...2020/34374098#

Anyone else think that it's unlikely we'll see anything approaching similar restrictions to what we had in March/April/May? It seems like the state is willing to tolerate a spike in new cases as long as it doesn't also mean a spike in deaths and hospitalizations. And so far, it appears as if the hospitalizations and deaths aren't really paralleling the new cases (probably because it's largely a younger demographic that's getting infected). And even with slight upticks in hospitalization numbers, deaths have remained fairly constant which is probably a combination of the age of those infected and better available treatments.

It's going to be an interesting few months, but barring the hospitals approaching capacity or a surge in the death rate, I doubt we'll see such drastic moves.

[yesmaybe]

Baker said he wasn't going to consider any changes unless it starts to hit 5%.

[sawyer2]

Originally Posted by lrfox

Anyone else think that it's unlikely we'll see anything approaching similar restrictions to what we had in March/April/May? It seems like the state is willing to tolerate a spike in new cases as long as it doesn't also mean a spike in deaths and hospitalizations.

It's going to be an interesting few months, but barring the hospitals approaching capacity or a surge in the death rate, I doubt we'll see such drastic moves.

Agreed, and medical knowledge, treatment options, testing capacity etc etc are far greater now than back in April/May.

It is going to be a see-saw of opening/increased restrictions for the forseeable future.

[bohemka]

Originally Posted by lrfox

Anyone else think that it's unlikely we'll see anything approaching similar restrictions to what we had in March/April/May? It seems like the state is willing to tolerate a spike in new cases as long as it doesn't also mean a spike in deaths and hospitalizations. And so far, it appears as if the hospitalizations and deaths aren't really paralleling the new cases (probably because it's largely a younger demographic that's getting infected). And even with slight upticks in hospitalization numbers, deaths have remained fairly constant which is probably a combination of the age of those infected and better available treatments.

It's going to be an interesting few months, but barring the hospitals approaching capacity or a surge in the death rate, I doubt we'll see such drastic moves.

I agree. I think we'll venture into the fold and only pull back if the bottom drops out and COVID hospital stays spike. Our town is finally going to a hybrid school plan (and the plan sucks, but it's something), and it has most parents wondering why there just isn't full-time school.

That said, we're taking this very seriously. I only leave the house to coach baseball, and I'm always masked up, but I've been coaching baseball for months with kids who don't follow the rules (we try, trust me), who are too close to each other, who let their masks slip, who even share catchers gear when we're not looking (herding cats), etc., and we haven't had a single case through it all on any team. I understand we are not in a classroom or indoors, but if 0.0003% of our community has contracted COVID, I think it may be time to roll the dice for education's and sanity's sake.

[BostonMike7]

Originally Posted by lrfox

Anyone else think that it's unlikely we'll see anything approaching similar restrictions to what we had in March/April/May? It seems like the state is willing to tolerate a spike in new cases as long as it doesn't also mean a spike in deaths and hospitalizations. And so far, it appears as if the hospitalizations and deaths aren't really paralleling the new cases (probably because it's largely a younger demographic that's getting infected). And even with slight upticks in hospitalization numbers, deaths have remained fairly constant which is probably a combination of the age of those infected and better available treatments.

It's going to be an interesting few months, but barring the hospitals approaching capacity or a surge in the death rate, I doubt we'll see such drastic moves.

I doubt we will see any changes unless things really take off. I also have noticed the uptick in cases hasn't resulted in a matching rate of hospitalizations/deaths. Those are up as well, but nothing like in Mar-May. My sis is a Covid ICU nurse and she's stated that they actually dismantled some of their Covid wings due to the lack of use. They are nowhere near the numbers they saw in Mar/April

I don't think shutting down everything again will matter. I do think mask policies make a difference, but two two scenarios where people don't wear masks may be (in my opinion) driving the new cases: Indoor dining, and home gatherings.

The only think I can see happening if the rate and cases keep climbing is a scale-back to eliminate indoor dining, but I don't see a full wide-spread closure. I don't think there needs to be (although going back to March 14th traffic, or lack thereof, would be nice.) Hell, even hybrid/inperson schools seem to be working.

I don't see the gov doing anything to restrict household gatherings through. I think people are tired of this and trying to get back to normal. It would be nice to see some data to support my opinion however. I have peers who host friends almost ever weekend. They think nothing of it. My neighbors had their daughters 22nd bday this past weekend and had about 10-20 young adults over all inside the house for 3-4 hours. I think that's what will drive the next influx, and shutting down businesses won't do much to curb that. I think the CDC is tring to educate people on this, but the message is not getting across. The shock factor just isn't there like it was back in Mar when our phones blew up with alerts such as "US declares pandemic; CDC urges American to prepare for significant disruptions to their daily lives' and not really knowing what that meant.

https://www.webmd.com/lung/news/2020...covid-increase

Remember drive-by bday parties? And people visiting friends pulling up with your own chairs and sitting out in the driveway chatting? That doesn't happen anymore. People got over it and moved on. That shell shock from Mar is faded and people (as I knew they would) did adapt.


For the most part, my family has been rolling the dice on several things as well. We are just as guilty at times. My daily routine is back to what it was pre-Covid. I go into the office 4-days a week now even though I can stay home if I wanted. I stop at all the stores I used to go to, run errands like I used to etc. Only now i'm mindful of sanitation, what I handle and wear a mask. We aren't hosting parties inside our house though, and likely won't. With colder weather, we likely will not be going out to eat indoors as well, and we've avoided outdoor eating at places with fully enclosed tents.

[mdovell]

Policies are going to have to be adjusted due to numbers. the regional policies of northern states to isolate for two weeks in other areas aren't going to work if Mass and CT are at 2%.

the positivity rating went up from 0.9% to 1.3%. If this continues like this on a monthly basis we're going to hit above 5% by February, a growth of 44% month over month. Of course that's at the current run rate and not factoring in what will happen with say Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years and snow...

[redplum33]

Look at what's going on in Wisconsin. Over 3700 cases today. During the past 6 weeks, the average daily cases have quadrupled, deaths have tripled, and they are running out of hospital beds.

Even next door in RI, cases are way up and hospitalizations have doubled in the past 4 weeks.

If nothing is done, it could quickly become a Wisconsin-like situation.

[redplum33]

Keep an eye on the number of cases. The percent positive doesn't mean much these days as the overwhelming majority being tested (and constantly retested) are healthy college kids. And yet the percent positive is the main consideration when making important decisions.

[wolfgang239]

Originally Posted by redplum33

Keep an eye on the number of cases. The percent positive doesn't mean much these days as the overwhelming majority being tested (and constantly retested) are healthy college kids. And yet the percent positive is the main consideration when making important decisions.

If you think that then you should really be looking at hospitalizations and deaths. They lag by a few weeks vs cases but you have yet to provide any reliable data that shows colleges as a source of increasing case numbers.