Coronavirus in Massachusetts (Medford: how much, schools, college)

[GeoffD]

Originally Posted by CaseyB

Restaurants are packed, grocery stores and malls.

The NY Times epidemiologist survey from 3 days ago, most responded that they're running errands. The relative risk of a grocery store off-hours where everyone is wearing a mask is very different from eating indoors in a restaurant where you have no sense for the quality of the HVAC system. I haven't been to a mall in easily a year but if I had to go to an Apple Store with a dead iPhone or iPad, I'd go to a mall off hours. At this point, the data is pretty good that most of the spread is from being close to other people where nobody is wearing a mask. The grocery store isn't zero risk but it's quite low.

[msRB311]

Just seems like people here want throw stones at those who go out to eat, go to the store, have people over but then it's like oh well to the people who actually go to a job instead of calling out sick when they have covid. Sorry but it makes no sense to me. Any employer should be understanding of people not going to work if they have covid.

And I think we all know that people aren't just headed out to work with covid. There are some scumbag people out there who going to restaurants and stores and friends homes with covid. Stop thinking they're just going out because they HAVE to.

[massnative71]

Originally Posted by GeoffD

The NY Times epidemiologist survey from 3 days ago, most responded that they're running errands. The relative risk of a grocery store off-hours where everyone is wearing a mask is very different from eating indoors in a restaurant where you have no sense for the quality of the HVAC system. I haven't been to a mall in easily a year but if I had to go to an Apple Store with a dead iPhone or iPad, I'd go to a mall off hours. At this point, the data is pretty good that most of the spread is from being close to other people where nobody is wearing a mask. The grocery store isn't zero risk but it's quite low.

People had been going to grocery stores and restaurants all summer, and the case count was low. Other stuff changed.

[timberline742]

Originally Posted by GeoffD

We'll turn you into a Libertarian yet. You have the key talking points down.

.

Why, bless your heart.

[AtkinsonDan]

Originally Posted by massnative71

People had been going to grocery stores and restaurants all summer, and the case count was low. Other stuff changed.

Things got really bad in October and November onward. We need to focus on what has changed between June-July-August and October-November.

[Cantabridgienne]

Originally Posted by msRB311

Just seems like people here want throw stones at those who go out to eat, go to the store, have people over but then it's like oh well to the people who actually go to a job instead of calling out sick when they have covid. Sorry but it makes no sense to me. Any employer should be understanding of people not going to work if they have covid.

And I think we all know that people aren't just headed out to work with covid. There are some scumbag people out there who going to restaurants and stores and friends homes with covid. Stop thinking they're just going out because they HAVE to.

How often are you getting tested?

[redplum33]

Originally Posted by massnative71

People had been going to grocery stores and restaurants all summer, and the case count was low. Other stuff changed.

Originally Posted by AtkinsonDan

Things got really bad in October and November onward. We need to focus on what has changed between June-July-August and October-November.

People still won't admit it, but the reason is extremely obvious.

[jtolpin]

Originally Posted by msRB311

Well we should have known this was going to spread the way it has since there seem to be so many people out there who can't stay home. It seems like many of your are forgiving of this? I guess i'm in the if you have corona you still stay home even if it means not getting paid.

I still find it weird that so many were overly critical of healthy people having close family in their home but you can understand why others were unable to quarantine because of corona. 'Unable' is always kind of up in the air. I'm sure there are simply selfish people out there who didn't quarantine and weren't just in dire straights.

Im sure, if I were an hourly person and needed money for rent for my family, Id sure go off to work. I need to pay the bills.

Disclaimer: Not me, but I certainly can see why someone goes off to work.

[htfdcolt]

Originally Posted by redplum33

People still won't admit it, but the reason is extremely obvious.

If you're talking about the return of college students, you've stated that previously. But the data don't support it. As you know, MA reports the data several ways...and the student population positivity rate has consistently been below the mean. BU and Northeastern, who have the largest resident population, test 2 - 3 x / week. Even if their students are partying off-campus, wouldn't that be reflected in the statistics?

I do think the main reason is indoor gatherings without masking--whether that's family & friends, indoor dining, or gyms. I also wonder how much the workplaces that have opened back up for business, and which allow people to be unmasked while in their cube or office, have contributed to this.

[AtkinsonDan]

Originally Posted by htfdcolt

I also wonder how much the workplaces that have opened back up for business, and which allow people to be unmasked while in their cube or office, have contributed to this.

^^^I tend to believe this is a contributing factor that is rarely mentioned anymore. Enclosed offices still share a much larger ventilation system, sometimes even with an entire floor of a building.