"Our vaccine effectiveness is high enough, and omicron is mild enough, that practically none of the vaccinated cases require hospital care."
While this is true, we still have a significant portion of our population who is unable to make the choice to get vaccinated. Here in Chicago, we're seeing a surge of children at the local children's hospital:
"The number of children testing positive for Covid-19 at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago is 'incredibly high,' Dr. Larry Kociolek, an attending physician and infectious disease specialist there, told CNN Monday."
"Case numbers are three times as high as the hospital’s previous peak in December of 2020, Kociolek said."
"'Hospitalizations have quadrupled over our baseline over the past week,' Kociolek told CNN. 'Fortunately, a lot of these infections are either mild infections or incidental positives, since we screen all children before procedures and at the time of admission, and we've actually not seen any change in the number of children being admitted to the ICU.'"
"Half of the hospitalizations were in children under the age of five, Kociolek said. Those children are not yet eligible to be vaccinated."
"'I think we’re definitely seeing the impact of vaccines in kids older than 5. The kids that are hospitalized are essentially all unvaccinated,' Kociolek said."
"Kociolek said about 7% of the kids who test positive don’t have any symptoms at all. The sharp rise in cases shows how contagious the Omicron variant is."
"'Our community activity just shut up very, very quickly,' Kociolek said."
"Kociolek said the hospital is also concerned about a surge in multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children, known as MIS-C, in the near future. MIS-C is a rare, but serious Covid-19 related condition that can affect kids. The condition typically occurs after there has been a surge of Covid-19 cases. Even children who have had mild Covid-19 cases can develop MIS-C, usually several weeks after infection."
"'We did not see an increase in MIS-C following the Delta peak, but there’s reason to believe the Delta variant might be different than the Omicron variant in terms of causing MIS-C, so we are cautiously observing these cases,' Kociolek said."
"Kociolek said it is also important for parents to keep in mind that even mild Covid-19 cases can be contagious. To keep schools open, parents have to remember to keep their sick children home from school or any other activity. He also suggested parents may want to get their children tested or use a home test before they return to school. 'That way you can ensure that they’re not carrying Covid-19 back to the classroom,' Kociolek said."
The situation isn't as dire as some folks are making out and the local folks seem to have it under control - for now - but we're not yet at the point where everyone that wants a vaccine can have one, so the vaccine effectiveness in preventing severe symptoms isn't something that everyone can take advantage of. (In addition to children, this includes immunocompromised folks.) Once we get to a point where we have something where everyone can be immunized or we have effective therapeutics to combat an infection (I mainly have the immunocompromised in mind here), then it makes more sense to revert to a "my body, my choice" attitude (ideally with higher insurance rates for those choosing to skip the shot) and let natural selection do its thing. We may be close to that point, but we're not there yet until we have protection that spans from the cradle to the grave.
It seems these are rather thorny hospital policy issues. They will sort themselves out but yea, when literally everyone is catching this, and the goal at a hospital is to keep people from being sick, you’re going to have flow issues. Perhaps that’s a good case for at home tests. If you’re going to head to a hospital or large indoor gathering, a negative home test seems the best strategy.
It's also worth noting that there are plenty of folks who are still pushing for the vaccine, BUT also aren't living in a bubble with fourteen masks on at once.
Just like anything else, there are plenty of us who are managing our risk accordingly so that we're not living as shut-ins. Just not all of us are posting about it on Facebook and Twitter and opening ourselves up to criticism that way.
As a point of observation, when I was out and about hunting for Christmas strudel last week, downtown Chicago was as busy as I've seen it, and certainly close to prepandemic levels of folks going about their business. This includes both indoor activities (shopping centers and movie theaters) and outdoor activities (the local Christmas market).
Just a reminder that media food-fights are often not reflective of reality and primarily there to gin up viewers on slow news days.
Rare special cases have to take care of themselves. Half of the people who recognize them as special do not care. Almost no one will know they are special
While COVID zero is an extreme position/example, it should be noted in the article that a number of countries pretty successfully kept their COVID cases low in the first part of the pandemic (South Korea for example) to the point where vaccines and successful therapies are available.
It'd also be great to note that what may be a more acceptable risk as of now was not necessarily an acceptable risk a year ago - and that those that took those risks helped contribute to a large number of avoidable deaths.
We definitely did not do a good job of that: you've pointed it out plenty, but in different postings rather than tying them together to help reinforce a nuanced view. This makes this posting come off as a dunk attempt.
This post’s purpose was to try and offer an explanation for some of the anger I’m seeing from people who don’t think we should try to resume normal lives until there is no risk at all. I point out the fallacy of that approach and the fact that messaging has been wrong all along.
Do you run into any of those people in real life (not on the Internet)?
I live in Deep Blue Chicago, and haven't run into anyone visibly angry that others are trying to live normal lives. I'd be very surprised to hear that you run into folks like that in Georgia. (Then again, it may be a city vs. suburb vs. rural thing, where it's the suburbanites that are getting the most worked up?)
Yes. I run into them. The glances at grocery stores where everyone is masked (except me). Parents of kids who force 3 year olds to wear masks at preschool. Schools that require kids to wear masks outside while playing soccer. And many of these people don’t know how to properly wear PPE so they’re really not doing any good except to their feelings.
Interesting. We still have indoor mask mandates here, so that has the net effect of making us annoyed at our politicians instead of our neighbors around us.
Well....yeah. Those are a couple of the worst examples you could have provided.
It's literally one of the best examples of the type of venue that makes sense to continue masking for the near future: indoors with people that you don't know are vaccinated or not.
3 year olds can't get vaccinated: so yeah, parents are doing their best to make sure their kids don't get sick.
The soccer thing makes no sense, but that's the only good example you've provided.
I'm surprised to hear that you are one of the few unmasked in a grocery store. Maybe it is an urban thing. Even where I live, about 30% of the grocery shoppers wear masks. I attribute that to a dearth of grocery stores and a nearby small university. And we still have people in the condiments aisle mumbling loud enough to disparage the unmasked. At least they are muttering instead of loudly voicing their disapproval.
And this is it. My last theracketnews article. You would rather be angry at those who tried to save lives than those who endangered and prolonged this outbreak. And its easy to say now that you can look at this variant and see a mild sickness instead of Delta killing millions. I'm just at a loss for words at how evil this is. Backwards, ignorant and evil. I mean did you want them to say at the outbreak that well this is just a virus that's going to run over us and there's nothing we can do about it?
No, you once again picked the wrong side and you will stubbornly defend it until it blows up in your face. Just like with Trump. I wonder who will have to die because of this idiocy. Or more accurately how many.
I don't have to guess at it. Steve was nice enough to post it himself.
"“COVID-zero” was always a fantasy. I know that now and many others are coming to that conclusion. There never was a choice. Eventually, practically everyone will get COVID-19, and the only choice we have in getting vaccinated is how severe our symptoms will be. If you want to continue being angry at people who accept this, and angry at people scared of the vaccines, then that’s on you. I’d rather be angry at the people who knew better but sold us something else."
Be mad at the people who tried to saves lives and be forgiving of the people who tried to murder you with their stupidity. Steve is a walking reminder of how shitty christians are.
Who is saving lives? Whoever they are they are not being effective at it. But they are good at being self righteous. Not everything is framed as Christians vs the world. Plenty of heathens are actively anti-vaxx and plenty of Christian’s like Samaritan’s Purse are willing to go anywhere and disrupt their own lives at their own expense to save others. Sorry it doesn’t fit your black and white worldview.
Your partner on this site is a great example of a Christian. I was speaking directly to you. And those precautions we have made these last couple years have saved countless lives. Masking has saved lives. Shutdowns saved lives. Fauci saved lives. It's not on him whether you are smart enough to listen to him. It's not Biden's fault that the unvaccinated have filled up ICU units and morgues throughout his presidency. He told the truth, he pleaded. And you put the blame on him and excuse everyone who joyously lied as people died. The numbers are in this isn't a guess. Since the vaccine the majority of people who have died, a big majority, have come from the heaviest Trump counties. Why isn't your anger there?
I don't hate Christians as a whole. Their people. But the religion makes people arrogant, ignorant and encourages bigotry. Congrats you only exhibit 2 out of 3. But we have numbers on this as well. The social group most likely to not get vaccinated or wear masks is white christians. Your religion has constantly been a danger to humanity, you are just carrying on that proud tradition.
Scott was speaking of you, Steve, as a declared Christian. As a practicing Christian myself, I even wonder about you with every single piece you write about covid anything. I am glad I don't have to try to explain your Christian position to nonbelievers I know. Lord knows I already do enough of that about my local churches' recklessness in regard to caring for the least of these. Maybe stick to political pieces.
Therein lies the the newest threat to Christianity. If people of the world do not see us as living up to up to our own Bible, in everything from Love your neighbor as yourself, care for the least of these, etc....we have permanently damaged our witness thru hypocrisy. The mere fact that you get looks because people, right or wrong, few you as a threat to them should be enough for a behavior change. Even if you don't agree. It was Paul, I believe, that said to be all things to all people, right? People will know us by our love, not our defiance. Also, I Corinthians 10:23-24 "Everything is permissible, but not everything is helpful. Everything is permissible, but not everything builds up. 24 No one should seek his own good, but the good of the other person." The rest of the chapter describes giving up your preferences. Vs 32 "Give no offense to the Jews or the Greeks or the church of God." If people are giving you dirty looks, you are giving offense. Do better.
I also left a lengthy comment about obeying civil authority in your Omicron and God thing.
Spend some time in minority communities who have been devastated by covid thru no fault of their own, in food pantries with the low socioeconomic folks that have suffered and lost many loved ones. It makes you think before cavalierly (sp?) marching thru a store where you make people uncomfortable by refusing an minor inconvenience. That's the worst thing about covid; those with means think it was all overblown, as we had the ability to be safer and didn't see the worst of it. Everyone else has suffered greatly, and are understandably extra cautious. We, especially as Christians, should honor that.
And don't get me started on churches. Unbelievers watch everything Christians do, and don't do. The reckless behavior of many churches is the final straw that will permanently keep unbelievers from ever darkening our door. Because we flaunt rules, recommendations, guidelines, etc. I am constantly in the community, and I am ashamed for our churches' collective witness. The things they say about our lack of concern, our holier than thou attitude, and more is spot on. We have blown the biggest opportunity to demonstrate the love of Christ to the world in the last century.
"Our vaccine effectiveness is high enough, and omicron is mild enough, that practically none of the vaccinated cases require hospital care."
While this is true, we still have a significant portion of our population who is unable to make the choice to get vaccinated. Here in Chicago, we're seeing a surge of children at the local children's hospital:
"The number of children testing positive for Covid-19 at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago is 'incredibly high,' Dr. Larry Kociolek, an attending physician and infectious disease specialist there, told CNN Monday."
"Case numbers are three times as high as the hospital’s previous peak in December of 2020, Kociolek said."
"'Hospitalizations have quadrupled over our baseline over the past week,' Kociolek told CNN. 'Fortunately, a lot of these infections are either mild infections or incidental positives, since we screen all children before procedures and at the time of admission, and we've actually not seen any change in the number of children being admitted to the ICU.'"
"Half of the hospitalizations were in children under the age of five, Kociolek said. Those children are not yet eligible to be vaccinated."
"'I think we’re definitely seeing the impact of vaccines in kids older than 5. The kids that are hospitalized are essentially all unvaccinated,' Kociolek said."
"Kociolek said about 7% of the kids who test positive don’t have any symptoms at all. The sharp rise in cases shows how contagious the Omicron variant is."
"'Our community activity just shut up very, very quickly,' Kociolek said."
"Kociolek said the hospital is also concerned about a surge in multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children, known as MIS-C, in the near future. MIS-C is a rare, but serious Covid-19 related condition that can affect kids. The condition typically occurs after there has been a surge of Covid-19 cases. Even children who have had mild Covid-19 cases can develop MIS-C, usually several weeks after infection."
"'We did not see an increase in MIS-C following the Delta peak, but there’s reason to believe the Delta variant might be different than the Omicron variant in terms of causing MIS-C, so we are cautiously observing these cases,' Kociolek said."
"Kociolek said it is also important for parents to keep in mind that even mild Covid-19 cases can be contagious. To keep schools open, parents have to remember to keep their sick children home from school or any other activity. He also suggested parents may want to get their children tested or use a home test before they return to school. 'That way you can ensure that they’re not carrying Covid-19 back to the classroom,' Kociolek said."
The situation isn't as dire as some folks are making out and the local folks seem to have it under control - for now - but we're not yet at the point where everyone that wants a vaccine can have one, so the vaccine effectiveness in preventing severe symptoms isn't something that everyone can take advantage of. (In addition to children, this includes immunocompromised folks.) Once we get to a point where we have something where everyone can be immunized or we have effective therapeutics to combat an infection (I mainly have the immunocompromised in mind here), then it makes more sense to revert to a "my body, my choice" attitude (ideally with higher insurance rates for those choosing to skip the shot) and let natural selection do its thing. We may be close to that point, but we're not there yet until we have protection that spans from the cradle to the grave.
It seems these are rather thorny hospital policy issues. They will sort themselves out but yea, when literally everyone is catching this, and the goal at a hospital is to keep people from being sick, you’re going to have flow issues. Perhaps that’s a good case for at home tests. If you’re going to head to a hospital or large indoor gathering, a negative home test seems the best strategy.
It's also worth noting that there are plenty of folks who are still pushing for the vaccine, BUT also aren't living in a bubble with fourteen masks on at once.
Just like anything else, there are plenty of us who are managing our risk accordingly so that we're not living as shut-ins. Just not all of us are posting about it on Facebook and Twitter and opening ourselves up to criticism that way.
As a point of observation, when I was out and about hunting for Christmas strudel last week, downtown Chicago was as busy as I've seen it, and certainly close to prepandemic levels of folks going about their business. This includes both indoor activities (shopping centers and movie theaters) and outdoor activities (the local Christmas market).
Just a reminder that media food-fights are often not reflective of reality and primarily there to gin up viewers on slow news days.
Rare special cases have to take care of themselves. Half of the people who recognize them as special do not care. Almost no one will know they are special
While COVID zero is an extreme position/example, it should be noted in the article that a number of countries pretty successfully kept their COVID cases low in the first part of the pandemic (South Korea for example) to the point where vaccines and successful therapies are available.
It'd also be great to note that what may be a more acceptable risk as of now was not necessarily an acceptable risk a year ago - and that those that took those risks helped contribute to a large number of avoidable deaths.
We definitely did not do a good job of that: you've pointed it out plenty, but in different postings rather than tying them together to help reinforce a nuanced view. This makes this posting come off as a dunk attempt.
This post’s purpose was to try and offer an explanation for some of the anger I’m seeing from people who don’t think we should try to resume normal lives until there is no risk at all. I point out the fallacy of that approach and the fact that messaging has been wrong all along.
Do you run into any of those people in real life (not on the Internet)?
I live in Deep Blue Chicago, and haven't run into anyone visibly angry that others are trying to live normal lives. I'd be very surprised to hear that you run into folks like that in Georgia. (Then again, it may be a city vs. suburb vs. rural thing, where it's the suburbanites that are getting the most worked up?)
Yes. I run into them. The glances at grocery stores where everyone is masked (except me). Parents of kids who force 3 year olds to wear masks at preschool. Schools that require kids to wear masks outside while playing soccer. And many of these people don’t know how to properly wear PPE so they’re really not doing any good except to their feelings.
Interesting. We still have indoor mask mandates here, so that has the net effect of making us annoyed at our politicians instead of our neighbors around us.
Well....yeah. Those are a couple of the worst examples you could have provided.
It's literally one of the best examples of the type of venue that makes sense to continue masking for the near future: indoors with people that you don't know are vaccinated or not.
3 year olds can't get vaccinated: so yeah, parents are doing their best to make sure their kids don't get sick.
The soccer thing makes no sense, but that's the only good example you've provided.
I'm surprised to hear that you are one of the few unmasked in a grocery store. Maybe it is an urban thing. Even where I live, about 30% of the grocery shoppers wear masks. I attribute that to a dearth of grocery stores and a nearby small university. And we still have people in the condiments aisle mumbling loud enough to disparage the unmasked. At least they are muttering instead of loudly voicing their disapproval.
Posting without comment (this is listed on Drudgereport):
COVID CASES USA
543,415 DEC 27 2021
152,089 DEC 27 2020
DEATHS
1,737 DEC 27 2021
1,230 DEC 27 2020
COVID CASES USA
380,751 DEC 28 2021
189,010 DEC 28 2020
DEATHS
2,494 DEC 28 2021
1,899 DEC 28 2020
And this is it. My last theracketnews article. You would rather be angry at those who tried to save lives than those who endangered and prolonged this outbreak. And its easy to say now that you can look at this variant and see a mild sickness instead of Delta killing millions. I'm just at a loss for words at how evil this is. Backwards, ignorant and evil. I mean did you want them to say at the outbreak that well this is just a virus that's going to run over us and there's nothing we can do about it?
No, you once again picked the wrong side and you will stubbornly defend it until it blows up in your face. Just like with Trump. I wonder who will have to die because of this idiocy. Or more accurately how many.
So what is the summary message to take from Steve’s post?
I don't have to guess at it. Steve was nice enough to post it himself.
"“COVID-zero” was always a fantasy. I know that now and many others are coming to that conclusion. There never was a choice. Eventually, practically everyone will get COVID-19, and the only choice we have in getting vaccinated is how severe our symptoms will be. If you want to continue being angry at people who accept this, and angry at people scared of the vaccines, then that’s on you. I’d rather be angry at the people who knew better but sold us something else."
Be mad at the people who tried to saves lives and be forgiving of the people who tried to murder you with their stupidity. Steve is a walking reminder of how shitty christians are.
Who is saving lives? Whoever they are they are not being effective at it. But they are good at being self righteous. Not everything is framed as Christians vs the world. Plenty of heathens are actively anti-vaxx and plenty of Christian’s like Samaritan’s Purse are willing to go anywhere and disrupt their own lives at their own expense to save others. Sorry it doesn’t fit your black and white worldview.
Your partner on this site is a great example of a Christian. I was speaking directly to you. And those precautions we have made these last couple years have saved countless lives. Masking has saved lives. Shutdowns saved lives. Fauci saved lives. It's not on him whether you are smart enough to listen to him. It's not Biden's fault that the unvaccinated have filled up ICU units and morgues throughout his presidency. He told the truth, he pleaded. And you put the blame on him and excuse everyone who joyously lied as people died. The numbers are in this isn't a guess. Since the vaccine the majority of people who have died, a big majority, have come from the heaviest Trump counties. Why isn't your anger there?
But you hate Christians? Or just me?
I don't hate Christians as a whole. Their people. But the religion makes people arrogant, ignorant and encourages bigotry. Congrats you only exhibit 2 out of 3. But we have numbers on this as well. The social group most likely to not get vaccinated or wear masks is white christians. Your religion has constantly been a danger to humanity, you are just carrying on that proud tradition.
Not every unintended consequence is bad. I expect the comments referring to me as stupid and unprincipled to be cut in half.
Scott was speaking of you, Steve, as a declared Christian. As a practicing Christian myself, I even wonder about you with every single piece you write about covid anything. I am glad I don't have to try to explain your Christian position to nonbelievers I know. Lord knows I already do enough of that about my local churches' recklessness in regard to caring for the least of these. Maybe stick to political pieces.
So I am in agreement with your church, and you disagree with them?
Therein lies the the newest threat to Christianity. If people of the world do not see us as living up to up to our own Bible, in everything from Love your neighbor as yourself, care for the least of these, etc....we have permanently damaged our witness thru hypocrisy. The mere fact that you get looks because people, right or wrong, few you as a threat to them should be enough for a behavior change. Even if you don't agree. It was Paul, I believe, that said to be all things to all people, right? People will know us by our love, not our defiance. Also, I Corinthians 10:23-24 "Everything is permissible, but not everything is helpful. Everything is permissible, but not everything builds up. 24 No one should seek his own good, but the good of the other person." The rest of the chapter describes giving up your preferences. Vs 32 "Give no offense to the Jews or the Greeks or the church of God." If people are giving you dirty looks, you are giving offense. Do better.
I also left a lengthy comment about obeying civil authority in your Omicron and God thing.
Spend some time in minority communities who have been devastated by covid thru no fault of their own, in food pantries with the low socioeconomic folks that have suffered and lost many loved ones. It makes you think before cavalierly (sp?) marching thru a store where you make people uncomfortable by refusing an minor inconvenience. That's the worst thing about covid; those with means think it was all overblown, as we had the ability to be safer and didn't see the worst of it. Everyone else has suffered greatly, and are understandably extra cautious. We, especially as Christians, should honor that.
And don't get me started on churches. Unbelievers watch everything Christians do, and don't do. The reckless behavior of many churches is the final straw that will permanently keep unbelievers from ever darkening our door. Because we flaunt rules, recommendations, guidelines, etc. I am constantly in the community, and I am ashamed for our churches' collective witness. The things they say about our lack of concern, our holier than thou attitude, and more is spot on. We have blown the biggest opportunity to demonstrate the love of Christ to the world in the last century.