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.

covid
 

No...I personally know NO ONE who has gotten really sick or died from COVID. Just the facts.
This whole thing is blown out of proportion. How many people pass away during a year..and how many people passed away this past year?
I bet the number is close.

You may be right, however in an abundance of caution I will continue to wear a mask as our scientists and president have advised.
I wear a mask to protect myself but more importantly out of respect for others

The.experts say that you need to wear a mask after being vaccinated because they do not know if you can pass it on to others even if it doesn’t make you sick. You could give the virus to a loved one or a friend even after being fully vaccinated.

If you’re a Kansas City fan, I recommend you stay home. It’s dangerous out there. You could get Covid and die. Sincerely, Tampa Bay/Brady fan.

Immunity?
 

I have read that after having the virus you may be immune around 3 mo and after being fully vaccinated around 4 mo. My question is so do we need to go through all of the vaccination steps every 4 months?!?

Nor have I. I don’t deny the virus is real, but my life has continued on mostly as it was before this all started with outdoor activities here and just wearing a mask in the stores. Glad we live in a place that hadn’t been locked down and that the kids here have been in school where they belong.

Is this chart which compares the number of weekly deaths over several years what you are asking about?

Unrelenting fear mongering from the media is driving this.
I would not listen to the “medical experts” because they do not know which end is up.
Long term effects can happen with a vaccine which was developed 10 minutes ago.
I have know many people, of many ages, who got the virus and fully recovered. It is a flu.
It is good to take precautions.
It is most dangerous for people who or ill or debilitated, if you are not one of these, you should be okay.
Hope you leave lots of money to your grandchildren to pay the debt.
And I am really, really sick of hearing about it.

Just breathing in and out releases germs and tacks and germs to up to 6 ft according to many people. Just because you feel well does not mean you don't have covid germs in your body. And yes I have plenty of things to worry about in the world. Is global warming real, will my money last my retirement, will I have my fifth heart attack will I outlive my wife well some stupid senior hit me with their car tomorrow. So yes there's plenty of life to worry about but I would worry less if you wear a mask, any mask I really don't care at least it's something better than nothing. But the reality is if you'd stay in your house and not go dancing with a thousand other people who would make my life a lot safer and easier. Even with the vaccine they will always be a chance I'm catching covid and dying

The original stated purpose of masks was to prevent you from spreading it to others. It was said it would stop spittal, etc from being dispersed into the air. Now folks are saying to wear masks to keep from catching it. A N95 mask has exhaust vent ports built in so it does nothing to stop you from dispersing droplets into the air. The reality the germ is smaller than and filtering provided by any mask. So by who and why did the mask wearing benefit change?

Thank You!
 

Thanks for the charts, and particularly for again reinforcing the mask-distance recommendation of virtually every doctor and medical organization. If we get our shots, wear masks and stay apart, we’ll have COVID beaten by the Fourth of July!!

Actually No! I don’t know anyone who died OF COVID !

So sorry for the loss of your husband. Sincere condolences

The new variants of the virus that are rapidly moving across the country are far more transmissible than the original COVID. That’s why the new recommendations for the more effective N95 or KN95 masks.

Actually we are all dying at some point!!

Please Be Neighborly
 

Please, please, just wear one for the rest of us. If we’d all just be a community thinking of one another, we’d have the original virus and probably the variants beaten by the Fourth of July. Is that too much to ask, neighbor?

Seems like we have "just four more months to flatten the curve" facing off with "been there, done that, bought the T-shirt."

it would be interesting to see an analysis of mask wearing and shutdowns between different populations in the US; perhaps CA or NY compared with FL. It would also be interesting to see actual data on mask wearing and social distancing in our area. If masks were the answer then there should be some correlation between states with strict mandates and states without mandates. If the correlation does not appear, if states seem to be affected similarly regardless of compliance with mask wearing, then maybe we need to look for a better solution.

Thank you for that. Now i know why surgeons don't wear bandannas in the OR

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.

Dhdallas

Out of curiosity how do you know you have a natural immunity from having Covid?

I have seen CDC numbers in December that corroborate this.

Before you review the Food For Thought ... I found these number interesting. As reported by the CDC ... Here are the US deaths by year and the change from the previous year

Year 2017 2,818,503 Americans died

Year 2018: 2,839,205 deaths (20,702 more than the previous year 2017)

Year 2019: 2,855,000 deaths (16,300 more than the previous year 2018)

The year of the pandemic ...

Year 2020: 2,913,144 deaths (57,641 more than the previous year 2019)

BUT WAIT: There were zero deaths from Covid-19 during 2018, and 2019 and the jump from 2019 was only 57,641 ???

I've been told that Covid is responsible for now 400,000 + deaths. Shouldn't the 2020 number be a hell of a lot higher?

So the question becomes: How many people died OF COVID and How many died (of other causes) WITH Covid?:boom:

I have read ,true or not but makes sense. “ The testing for covide is done by degrees , test is set to detect the very smallest of any known presence of the virus, thus many positive test and so many false positives. Not to say the virus is not very serious but with so many testing with very minor or no effects of the virus the constant death headlines just fuels anxiety.

Please provide a link to your CDC numbers. I believe those numbers have been fact-checked as misleading.

Here is a link to a CDC page showing far more than 57,000 additional deaths in 2020.

Here is another graph from a different site that might be easier to read.

Fastboat's numbers
 

If you look at the annual increases in deaths, it would be expected to go up about 20,000 or so. With Covid in 2020, the 57,000 more deaths also includes increased suicides, drug overdoses and murders all caused by lock downs and restrictions on daily life. I think Covid has caused some to die but no where near the number that gets reported over the past year.

We are only 6 weeks into widespread distribution of the vaccines and only 3 weeks into 2nd shots given. It is way too early to tell just what the longevity of the antibodies are but remember the MRNA teaches your immune system (T cells) to respond to actual Covid if you get it by making more antibodies.

According to this data directly from the CDC the number of deaths had already increased by more than 20,000 by June 2020. The numbers fastboat provides, at least for 2020 deaths, appear to be incorrect.