Ugh, the sneeze video is sobering. I like the coat over the head idea, though.
In terms of N95s, Michael Osterholm, MD an epidemiologist (and hero, in my view), who consulted with the Biden administration regarding COVID and who also has a podcast, says that N95s are pretty much the only safe masks. For a while they were difficult to come by and very expensive but no longer. They can be purchased on line and even at a variety of stores like Walmart but again, look for NIOSH certified and make sure they fit your face.
Purchase more than one because you will need to "clean" the masks you wear; if you are in public, the masks can have viral particles on the outside. Put them in the sun for several hours or, according to the man that invented them, put them in the oven at 165 degrees or on low, for 10 minutes. He came out of retirement during the worst of the crisis and volunteered his time to figure out how to help health care providers reuse masks during the shortage.
One early strategy was to cut a section of hosiery to pull over your head like a balaclava. One would look like a bandit but it forces the mask against the face creating a good seal. See the link below..
My travel group is alert and flexible. We cancelled last year's trip but Italy, having been ravaged, has impressively strict guidelines so I am not worried about being there, just getting there and back. Italy also requires COVID testing in advance of the trip even if vaccinated; I wish all airlines would require the same.
@bluebelle @lovendures @raincloud
I believe Hawaii is also requiring pre-flight testing regardless of vaccine status, I will double check.
Even though the tests are not 100% accurate for breakthrough infections (one of the cases I know they tested negative twice and positive only on the third try), that's helpful too.
The flight is 5 hours and I made sure to book non-stops to reduce risk of further exposures to more passengers.
I am leaning towards NOT cancelling and hoping that Delta dies down quickly as it has elsewhere, and I think Lambda will not get here significantly before the end of the year.
Also, there is a fair chance of booster shots happening before October too.
And then something that has just come to light: my husband is having some heart issues, and if he requires surgery or anything, we'd be able to cancel and use the insurance for such a medical issue. (It's not an emergency, and we'll know more in a few more weeks, past the cancel deadline.)
Anyone else who wants to weigh in, please do - more minds make for lighter work!
Found the link to Hawaii travel requirements, in case anyone else is interested. Looks like they just started allowing vaccinated folx to enter without testing, but everyone else is supposed to get tested. Hmmmm.... given the number of fake vax i.d. cards, this does not inspire as much confidence.
https://www.gohawaii.com/travel-requirements
thank you, and btw your typos made me giggle ;-)
I know, me too! I just noticed it. According to me, you were both faxed and taxed. Fortunately you were neither maxed, nor, god forbid, axed, nor waxed.
So here's the thing. Our society re-opened, but it isn't actually Post-Covid time. It is "Ride the Covid Wave" time. The wave keeps cresting and falling and right now there is a huge crest.
You would think most local governments would adjust accordingly, many don't. If you live in a city which currently requires a mask mandate, you should be very grateful they have one.
I actually think the upset over masks and non masks and vaccinated and un-vaccinated is growing bigger here in AZ.
And then their is Texas.
My teacher daughter will be going back shortly to a her elementary school. She will not be allowed to enforce a mask mandate this year per her GOVERNOR'S orders . Virtual education has been banned by her governor also so parents can't keep their children home. There is no longer any social distancing at her school. Her class sizes may go up to over 30 kids. She teaches elementary music so she sees the entire school population. Teachers will now be required to use their sick days if they have symptoms to quarantine or test positive unlike last year where they were allowed extra Covid days. It has been discussed on teacher social media boards that many will not get tested and will go to work with symptoms because they can't afford to not be paid. They have been told there will no longer be contact tracing at her school. The only help against Covid will be sanitizing measures.
I mentioned there was an AZ elementary school that recently went virtual for the 5th and 6th grades because there were 53 reported Covid cases since school began 2 weeks ago. They aren't allowed to require masks like TX but they have contract tracing and allow for Virtual ED if need be as in this case.
Can someone please explain what a state gains by having all of these horrible mandates? How does it benefit a Governor to ban masks in an Elementary School where children can not yet receive a vaccination???
Can someone please explain what a state gains by having all of these horrible mandates? How does it benefit a Governor to ban masks in an Elementary School where children can not yet receive a vaccination???
Two words. "Freedumb" and "libberdy"
Here's what I got from my kids school today. Better than I anticipated but I'm just blinking at the mask's optional piece.
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Students and staff will use the at-home screener and stay home if they are sick.
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Masks are optional for staff, students and guests.
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Masks are required on buses per federal order.
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Distancing efforts are based on the 3’ recommendation.
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Cleaning and sanitation measures are in place.
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Regular hand washing and hand sanitizing will be encouraged.
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Information regarding how to be vaccinated will be shared with staff and parents appropriately.
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Students will be excluded from school as deemed appropriate or as required (i.e. Any communicable disease.)
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Students and staff are not required to test for COVID (Student-Athletes will follow MHSAA requirements.)
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All classrooms have air purifications systems.
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Schools will conduct contact tracing and communicate with families as required.
Of course, last year they had every protocol going under the sun and didn't follow any of them.
I am so sorry for you, your daughter, for the students and staff in that, and every school in Texas and for all Texans. Insanity in action. I wonder if the governor could be sued? If there is a teacher's union, it would be worth investigating. Even a criminal charge like wanton endangerment would make sense to me, but then we are talking about Texas, the state that most resents any limitations; it is the dark side of freedom.
Sending warm light to you and your daughter.
Thank you!
Texas law does not allow for unions. Neither does Arizona.
The elementary school in AZ I just mentioned as having 53 cases of Covid on Friday, now has 64.
Our State Universities may not (by Law) require masks or vaccinations either, nor may they require random or not so random Covid testing. They may not ask for a student's vaccination status either.
I hope both Governors are able to be sued.
Some of our school districts are defying Governor Ducey and mandating masks anyway. It is time for some "good trouble" and I am happy they are taking up such an important "good trouble" cause.
Ducey is unable to run for another term so I am not sure why he is being the way he is. Abbott I believe is running again.
I am not one to call someone evil simply because I am upset with their actions. I can find no other word for their actions however. There is no compassion or love shown in their actions. The community they govern certainly isn't better off and there is no economic downside to requiring masks in a school, especially where children are too young for a vaccination.
So, it is what it is.
It is evil.
They know what they are doing and they know it will cost the lives of many. Their cities burn and they fiddle. Nero wouldn't be more pleased if he did the fiddling himself.
We should not be in the place we are right now as a society. Not now. Not with what we know and with what we can do.