Covid is going down BUT.....
 

After following many discussions in TOTV, I see there are still lots of COVID deniers. COVID is going down, but not very fast and it is still very much of a threat. It went way up over the holidays, as so many people travelled, partied etc. But look at this chart that I put together from data published on The Villages News, which they get from the government. It shows the 7 day average of new cases, and the trend line. Average new cases from July to October were under 10 - even in July. They have dropped from a daily high of 65 beginning of January to 30 over the past week. That is still too high everyone!!!!! Wear your masks, and try social distancing for awhile to see if we can beat this. This would be a terrible way to die. And the death rate for us over 65's is 5% and gets higher as you get older.

Warmer weather should bring a reduction in the virus activity. It’s the variants that might keep us wearing masks for years.

The only protection that really works is a N95 facemask that has been properly fitted, discarded & replaced routinely. All of your homemade cloth & surgical masks are of little to no help and can be potentially harmful. Once you wear a mask, that mask is now considered contaminated and should be discarded or disinfected with a bleach solution. If you touch the outside of the mask and touch your face, you just gave a contaminant a way inside your body. In reusing a mask you are breathing through a petri dish of bacteria and worse being fed with your warm humid exhalations.

Now that many people have been vaccinated or have natural immunity the "mask mandates for all" needs to be changed. Just those who have not been vaccinated or do not have natural immunity should wear a mask but one that works, as in a N95.

People who have been vaccinated or have natural immunity from having COVID (like I have) do not need to be masked; it would be pointless.

- David H. Dallas RN, EMT-P (retired)
I am a retired RN, EMT-Paramedic with an ASN degree graduating summa cum laude, a member of 2 national honor societies, with past American Heart Association certifications in Advanced Cardiac Life Support and Pediatric Advanced Life Support.

Getting erroneous & questionable information from the government and putting together homemade charts is not helping anyone but continuing to feed the hysteria & fear. I worked during the onset of AIDS/HIV and H1N1 and never have I seen such a level of misinformation and a bombardment of articles that focus on rare atypical cases.

I have yet to meet a "denier", but there are many who refuse to live their lives according to "experts" who change the rules almost daily. Just because someone chooses not to wear a mask where it isn't required or requested does not make them a "denier" and no one should assume that they are no more than an individual who chooses not to respond to "the sky is falling" people who are scared $hitless.

If someone goes around without a mask and doesn't sneeze or cough on you or something you touch(and if you do touch I assume you're applying a sanitizing solution of at least 70% alcohol)then you have nothing to worry about.

Stay home, stay safe if you fear covid

Vaccinated carriers?
 

I’ve read that vaccinated people can still be infected. They should be immune but I read they can carry the virus home or elsewhere and pass it to others who are still vulnerable. If true, shouldn’t they continue to wear a mask to reduce the potential to spread it?

I will say it for the thousandth time. It isn't fear. It is awareness that causes us to attempt to do all we can not to catch it.

It IS killing real people. Haven't you lost anyone you know or care about???

While N95 masks are most effective, doctors I’ve spoken to say leave em for the hospitals and wear the three plys!

No, I haven't.

From all the research reports I have read, 3-6 months seems to be the consensus for antibody protection, before their effect begins to reduce.

And most of us are aware and go on with our daily lives as before...and I am not fearful either...

Are you *really* doing all you can not to catch it? Have you only eaten the very healthiest of food?, have you exercised each and everyday (getting in at least 10K steps?), have you refrained from drinking alcohol and exposure to all carcinogens?, do you stay at or below your recommended weight? ..... you are demanding that people do everything not to catch it or become ‘spreaders’ - but - really - have you done everything you can do?
*** I am not saying you have to do anything - that is totally your choice .... I am just saying everyone should just demand the best of themselves. ***
All we really have the power to do is be kind and respect the opinions of others.

BTW - just from personal experience - I know MANY people who have died in the last year or two - from many things! I know of someone who fell in their home and died of complications from the fall - yet their cause of death stated ‘Covid’ - merely because they tested positive when admitted to the hospital. I know people in their 80s and 90s who have died of ‘Covid’ - but, I know the severe health issues they had been struggling with for many years. My opinion only - it is unfortunate that their last several months on earth weren’t as enriching as they should have been - because of all the fears and restrictions due to “Covid”. In my opinion, a 96 year old is going to die (it is a blessing they lived to 96!!!) why can’t we make their last weeks on earth as enjoyable as possible - we can’t because people are saying it is more important to fear a virus and stay locked up - than being comforted and surrounded by friends and family in their final days (yes, my opinion - we can and should wear masks to do that).

I am in my 70s and I wear a mask and distance in public - but, I am not angry or hateful of those who do not. I have travelled (by plane) and attended large gatherings many times in the past year - I have lived life - because I know I will die - maybe sooner than later. I want to live into my 80s and 90s - like those I know who have died this past year - but - I certainly do not want to die alone - with only strangers tending to me.

I welcome your opinions - but, please do not be critical of those who simply want to live life - in the short time they have left (and yes, we are doing that wearing mask).

Yes, this virus is no diff than other flus you get vaccines for. It never proposed to insulate you against the virus, you were just open to a milder case and you can spread it.

I asked someone to put a mask on in the grocery store the other day and the scruffy, dirty old man said he did not believe in the virus. They are definitely around because they all watch the same news feed.

I am so glad that it has not affected you as it has me. On January 9th I lost my husband to this damn virus so yes everyone needs to be scared.