1. Due to issues with external spam filters, QQ is currently unable to send any mail to Microsoft E-mail addresses. This includes any account at live.com, hotmail.com or msn.com. Signing up to the forum with one of these addresses will result in your verification E-mail never arriving. For best results, please use a different E-mail provider for your QQ address.
    Dismiss Notice
  2. For prospective new members, a word of warning: don't use common names like Dennis, Simon, or Kenny if you decide to create an account. Spammers have used them all before you and gotten those names flagged in the anti-spam databases. Your account registration will be rejected because of it.
    Dismiss Notice
  3. Since it has happened MULTIPLE times now, I want to be very clear about this. You do not get to abandon an account and create a new one. You do not get to pass an account to someone else and create a new one. If you do so anyway, you will be banned for creating sockpuppets.
    Dismiss Notice
  4. If you wish to change your username, please ask via conversation to tehelgee instead of asking via my profile. I'd like to not clutter it up with such requests.
    Dismiss Notice
  5. Due to the actions of particularly persistent spammers and trolls, we will be banning disposable email addresses from today onward.
    Dismiss Notice
  6. A note about the current Ukraine situation: Discussion of it is still prohibited as per Rule 8
    Dismiss Notice
  7. The rules regarding NSFW links have been updated. See here for details.
    Dismiss Notice
  8. The testbed for the QQ XF2 transition is now publicly available. Please see more information here.
    Dismiss Notice

Coronavirus COVID-19 Pandemic

Discussion in 'General' started by Biigoh, Mar 16, 2020.

Loading...
  1. OverReactionGuy

    OverReactionGuy The only Sane one left

    Joined:
    Oct 10, 2014
    Messages:
    25,288
    Likes Received:
    150,505
    Some people are calling for Michigan to be closed again, and my city is apparently the epicenter...again. Something about our covid is very high or something.

    Got my vaccine shot yesterday. The first one.

    Symptoms for the first shot include a sore arm that only hurts when you move it, a sinus headache, tiredness and dry mouth.

    The second shot is probably going to kick my ass.
     
    Last edited: Apr 15, 2021
    LurkingInTheDeceit likes this.
  2. Aleh

    Aleh Destroyer of Faith in Humanity

    Joined:
    Feb 20, 2014
    Messages:
    5,619
    Likes Received:
    42,431
    Courtesy of CovidActNow.org, here is a chart of Michigan's COVID rates over time:
    [​IMG]
    "Very high" is a bit of an understatement -- the virus is spreading uncontrolled there. Makes me wonder what changed in late February.

    Here is a map of the country, based on a color-coded breakdown of COVID rates:

    [​IMG]

    As you can see, the situation in Michigan is... pretty bad. Yeah, there's that bit of Northern Texas (and parts of Alaska), but those tend to be the most rural counties; the current record-holder for cases per 100k of population is Yakutat, Alaska... whose stunning rate of 1,505.1 cases per 100k of population is caused by a grand total of nine people getting the virus (out, apparently, 598). That dark splotch in Texas is generally similar.

    Michigan, however, is a massive clusterfuck.
     
  3. OverReactionGuy

    OverReactionGuy The only Sane one left

    Joined:
    Oct 10, 2014
    Messages:
    25,288
    Likes Received:
    150,505
    I can tell you from personal experience.

    People are being lazy jackasses.

    When I was out to get my vaccine saw multiple people not even wear their mask right until they were made to fix it.

    -edit-

    I mean seriously, it's not rocket science that your mask is supposed to cover your damn nose.
     
  4. Highlord

    Highlord Versed in the lewd.

    Joined:
    Apr 6, 2021
    Messages:
    1,293
    Likes Received:
    21,635
    You dealing with hordes of drooling idiots whos grasp of public health begins and ends with "DON'T TRED ON ME MUH FREEDUMBS." So yes, for them it is rocket science, and brain surgery at the same time. Both of which are completely beyond the capabilities of the smooth, pebble-sized brains that constantly tells them "Uhhhh, edecated folk seys mask gud so mask really bad bekuz muh flag phplbbbt no ELITE gets to tell ME what to DO!"

    I live with one of these fucking morons, so I know exactly how their "minds" work, and what you're dealing with.
     
  5. MadGreenSon

    MadGreenSon Verified Devil Tiger, The Childish Yandere

    Joined:
    Aug 3, 2014
    Messages:
    38,838
    Likes Received:
    437,318
    Got the first Pfizer shot. No side effects thus far, once I get the second shot I hope I can quell some of my paranoia because paranoia is hard to live with.
     
  6. evildice

    evildice (emotionally stable clown posse)

    Joined:
    Jan 10, 2015
    Messages:
    18,387
    Likes Received:
    295,627
  7. MadGreenSon

    MadGreenSon Verified Devil Tiger, The Childish Yandere

    Joined:
    Aug 3, 2014
    Messages:
    38,838
    Likes Received:
    437,318
    Strangely, I've lost weight because I'm cooking more and eating out less and I tend to cook leaner and more healthy.
     
  8. Aleh

    Aleh Destroyer of Faith in Humanity

    Joined:
    Feb 20, 2014
    Messages:
    5,619
    Likes Received:
    42,431
    Today in massive assholes, I submit this guy.

    To quote:

    He, of course, came out positive. Five of his co-workers (and three of their family members) apparently caught COVID as a direct result of his actions. Three more people caught it at the gym.

    As of last I heard, he was released pending trial.
     
  9. bryanfran36

    bryanfran36 Experienced.

    Joined:
    May 10, 2015
    Messages:
    3,045
    Likes Received:
    21,724
    The Philippines just surpassed the 1 million mark in total cases today.

    I don't know what to feel.
     
  10. MadGreenSon

    MadGreenSon Verified Devil Tiger, The Childish Yandere

    Joined:
    Aug 3, 2014
    Messages:
    38,838
    Likes Received:
    437,318
    It's a bad feeling, yes.
     
    Xicree likes this.
  11. bryanfran36

    bryanfran36 Experienced.

    Joined:
    May 10, 2015
    Messages:
    3,045
    Likes Received:
    21,724
    Yeah.

    Sure, about 925,000 recovered... But damn we had to reach that milestone.
     
    Xicree likes this.
  12. MadGreenSon

    MadGreenSon Verified Devil Tiger, The Childish Yandere

    Joined:
    Aug 3, 2014
    Messages:
    38,838
    Likes Received:
    437,318
    From what I understand, there's also been difficulty with a vaccine rollout there too?
     
    bryanfran36 likes this.
  13. bryanfran36

    bryanfran36 Experienced.

    Joined:
    May 10, 2015
    Messages:
    3,045
    Likes Received:
    21,724
    Yes, we don't have sufficient storage space and infrastructure throughout the country to ensure speedy and smooth rollout of vaccines.

    Everything needed is concentrated in Manila, a weakness that's been biting us in the ass.

    Factories? Manila.

    Important government institutions and bureaucracy to do important paperwork? Manila. (You're shit out of luck if you're in a regional province)

    Supply centres and trade hubs? Manila. Hells, even Cebu and Davao need their trade flow come from Manila before reaching other provinces like where I am.
     
  14. Aleh

    Aleh Destroyer of Faith in Humanity

    Joined:
    Feb 20, 2014
    Messages:
    5,619
    Likes Received:
    42,431
    Meanwhile, Miami is host to one of the most blatantly antivax schools I've ever heard of -- one that recently made headlines by... well...

    Here's the NYT headline: "A private school in Miami, citing false claims, bars vaccinated teachers from contact with students."

    Or The Hill: "Miami private school, citing false claims, tells vaccinated teachers they can't be around students."

    To lightly paraphrase, “It is our policy, to the extent possible, not to employ anyone who has taken the experimental COVID-19 injection until further information is known,” about whether or not, among other things, whether or not vaccinated people “may be transmitting something from their bodies” that "impact[s] unvaccinated individuals."

    Their claims are ridiculous. E.g.: "Tens of thousands of women all over the world have recently been reporting adverse reproductive issues from being in close proximity with those who have received any one of the COVID-19 injections."

    This is technically legal: Centner Academy is a private school, and Florida is an "at-will" state.

    When CBS requested an interview, Centner Academy simply sent an e-mail back. Said letter stated: "We’re doing what we think is in the best interest of the children because children shouldn’t be around teachers who are vaccinated."

    While it may be technically legal, the teachers' unions are predictably unhappy. For instance, here's United Teachers of Dade on the subject:

    Of course, Centner's website contradicts this claim, citing certification and accreditation from multiple relevant authorities.

    Here's a letter they sent out to parents, just in case you think I'm making their woo-woo approach to things up or exaggerating. Twitter has, unfortunately, removed the copy I had of the letter to employees.

    Further coverage is available from the Miami Herald, Washington Post, NBC Miami, Yahoo News, the Portland Press Herald, WRAL Raleigh, the Huffington Post, Science Magazine, Insider, and a host more places if you use Google.

    At some point, I might do a bit of a deep dive on their site. The place is... impressive... and not in a good way.

    Edit: Okay. I keep editing over a formatting issue. I keep trying word censors and the like, but can't get the parser to correctly interpret that bit as a literal string, and Google isn't helping. I'll ask about on IRC later when people are actually on.

    Edit 2: Okay. Finally figured it out. Redone using the Plain and /Plain tags. This was a massive PITA.
     
    Last edited: Apr 27, 2021
  15. AllyDoodle

    AllyDoodle Lewd Cthulhu

    Joined:
    Dec 15, 2016
    Messages:
    10,461
    Likes Received:
    68,043
    Whelp while Western Australia isn't in lockdown anymore, we still have to wear masks until next Saturday at least.

    Fuuuuuun.
     
  16. alethiophile

    alethiophile Shadowed Philosopher Administrator

    Joined:
    Apr 26, 2013
    Messages:
    7,569
    Likes Received:
    52,859
    Antibody levels aren't identical to degree of immune protection -- the immune system has a memory, even once the antibodies have all gone the body can create them quickly again if it sees covid viruses. So you can't tell how long the acquired immunity lasts by doing an antibody test.

    I don't think there are any great studies about how long covid immunity (either vaccine-derived or natural) lasts. Currently it seems plausible that the vaccines are slightly more effective than natural infection, but natural infection is still very effective. Generally speaking, if someone has already had covid then there's no pressing requirement that they get a vaccine (though it might be a good idea).
     
  17. Pez

    Pez Spaceman

    Joined:
    Jul 22, 2020
    Messages:
    2,460
    Likes Received:
    85,989
    Family friend received his second vaccine shot a little over month ago. Last week, he tested positive. I don't know which brand, but it must have been Moderna or Pfizer. I believe he qualifies as immune system compromised, but still... Real shame that, even with the vaccine, you can still get it.
     
  18. Blacksoul

    Blacksoul I trust you know where the happy button is?

    Joined:
    Sep 23, 2016
    Messages:
    649
    Likes Received:
    3,591
    There is never a 100% effective vaccine, but unless this is one of the fringe cases that have a bad reaction that family friend has much better odds of not suffering the more severe effects of covid now.
     
    Prince Chrom, Vorian, Imabot and 3 others like this.
  19. litaispe

    litaispe -

    Joined:
    Jun 2, 2018
    Messages:
    912
    Likes Received:
    6,270
    Even for non-immune system compromised individuals, the various COVID-19 vaccine actual efficiency is vastly lower than what people are used to. Worse, the effective immunization rate needed for herd immunity is bloody high to.
     
  20. Aleh

    Aleh Destroyer of Faith in Humanity

    Joined:
    Feb 20, 2014
    Messages:
    5,619
    Likes Received:
    42,431
    *Cough* No. Sorry, but this is flat-out wrong.
     
    Prince Chrom, Xicree and rocket501 like this.
  21. rocket501

    rocket501 Versed in the lewd.

    Joined:
    Oct 21, 2016
    Messages:
    1,500
    Likes Received:
    1,840
    On average, the flu vaccine is 40-60% effective. The Johnson and Johnson vaccine is over 65% effective in preventing COVID and the Moderna and Pfizer are both over 90%. This is amazingly effective. However, even the less-effective vaccines still will generally mean that if you do get COVID, the symptoms are much less severe and you have a lower odds of even having to go to the hospital and vastly lower risk of death as well. Even 90%+ is not 100%, so still take some precautions especially when in public. I'd continue wearing my mask (partly to set a good example) and maintain some distancing and not over expose myself until community spread starts to die down.
     
  22. MadGreenSon

    MadGreenSon Verified Devil Tiger, The Childish Yandere

    Joined:
    Aug 3, 2014
    Messages:
    38,838
    Likes Received:
    437,318
    Sounds good to me. I mean sure, I'd prefer total immunity, but I'm old enough and ex-smoker enough to have serious fucking anxiety about the idea of getting it. Been living under serious paranoia protocols for a year now.
     
  23. Eisen

    Eisen Avant Garde

    Joined:
    Oct 30, 2016
    Messages:
    3,115
    Likes Received:
    18,187
    Well, as they say. Prevention is better than damage control. Less headaches to worry about later.
     
  24. TotalAbsolutism

    TotalAbsolutism Magnificent Bastard Moderator

    Joined:
    Nov 27, 2014
    Messages:
    3,653
    Likes Received:
    36,338
    I'm going to repeat what I said last time this came up.
    Since you're not politics baiting I won't be kicking you out just for this much, but this is a topic that needs to be treated seriously and idle claims such as this one will be met with a very high level of scrutiny.
     
  25. litaispe

    litaispe -

    Joined:
    Jun 2, 2018
    Messages:
    912
    Likes Received:
    6,270
    For most people; vaccines are given during childhood and then basically never again beyond rare booster shots or before international travelling.

    Society has essentially spent many decades, to beat into people to ignore influenza as a serious disease. The "flu jab" is often never talked in terms of vaccination, and absolutely never pushed like a mass vaccination program actually would be.

    The influenza mutates heavily, and the medical profession essentially need to guess which strain is going to be dominant via genome sequencing a head of time. A huge limiter on influenza vaccine efficiency is the the vaccine targeting the right strain(s)!

    I'll definitely attempt to be clear in the future.

    The WHO only lists influenza as seasonal in the fact-sheet sidebar; https://www.who.int/health-topics/vaccines-and-immunization

    Measles, mumps, rubella, varicella (aka chicken pox aka shingles), HPV are all essentially near-life-time immunity without reoccurring jabs.

    Yes, there are a number of vaccines which often only provide immunity for a few years, but often these only matter when travelling internationally.

    As for my statement for the effective immunization rate; COVID-19 is a highly infectious coronavirus. Immunity to most coronaviruses only last a few years at most, and as such COVID-19 immunity is very unlikely to last a life-time.

    This means not just vaccination large number of people, but accepting society is going to need to keep vaccinating a large number of people for a very long time to come.
     
    Last edited: Apr 30, 2021
  26. Aleh

    Aleh Destroyer of Faith in Humanity

    Joined:
    Feb 20, 2014
    Messages:
    5,619
    Likes Received:
    42,431
    TDaP requires a booster once per decade. More importantly, this isn't what you argued:
    Now, efficacy, effectiveness, and efficiency are all words with highly-specific meanings in medicine. You're not exactly speaking with the sort of technical precision I'd expect from, say, a doctor, so I couldn't be sure exactly what you meant... but the COVID vaccines are not appreciably less effective, less efficacious, or less efficient than most vaccines in common use.

    Given the overall costs of COVID, including in medical expenses from things like hospitalization, the COVID vaccines are actually a lot more efficient than just about any of the others in common use.

    Measles, mumps, and varicella are from the same family of viruses. Rubella is famous for acting like one of them (hence its nickname of "German measles").

    This bit is basically assuming things that are not in evidence. COVID itself has only been around for a bit under a year and a half, and has only been taken seriously (for the current value of "seriously") for the last year. The vaccines have been around for considerably less time, even as investigational candidates. Your initial statement was phrased as a statement of fact about the vaccine's usefulness.

    It's true that we need to be prepared for the possibility of the vaccine-induced immunity fading. That is, however, all we need to be prepared for: Even the first, experimental injections have yet to fade.
     
  27. OverMaster

    OverMaster Well worn.

    Joined:
    Jun 1, 2018
    Messages:
    5,674
    Likes Received:
    27,680
    I might have the bug now. Hard to say since I had to soak myself with icy rain two days in the way to the job, so it might just be a very bad cold, it's happened to me before. But I feel awful, with chills all over, a runny nose, back and head aches, and fever.

    Just in case, it's been nice. Thanks for everything.
     
  28. LurkingInTheDeceit

    LurkingInTheDeceit “Brave” explorer treading “New” land

    Joined:
    Feb 15, 2019
    Messages:
    3,028
    Likes Received:
    11,181
    Take care of yourself as much as you can.


    Generic advice (ignore as appropriate):

    Contact a doctor if at all possible for advice. If you have someone who can help you out (getting shopping/supplies), maybe considering asking. Drink fluids and rest. Apparently medication for fevers can help with your fever, maybe try that if available.
     
    Last edited: May 1, 2021
  29. Amazon Climber

    Amazon Climber Wholesomely Depraved

    Joined:
    May 6, 2020
    Messages:
    10,800
    Likes Received:
    116,064
    Got my second vaccine yesterday. So far, the only side effect is pain in my arm that I’m probably exacerbating by typing, but what else am I suooozed to do at 6 in the morning when I can’t sleep because my arm keeps waking me up?

    Good luck to everyone still waiting on theirs.
     
  30. OverReactionGuy

    OverReactionGuy The only Sane one left

    Joined:
    Oct 10, 2014
    Messages:
    25,288
    Likes Received:
    150,505
    Is it possible to get covid over the phone? I know it isn't but damn just got a wrong number.

    Dude sounded like he was on his deaths door and kept saying he remembers the church and he will be there this sunday or something since he missed an appointment or whatever. So either this guy is about to die or he's going to go to church sounding like he got full blown fuck you covid.

    I don't know what to feel about that.

    -edit-

    On my voicemail of course since I have a policy born from many of scammer and robot call to never pick up the phone if I don't know the number.
     
Loading...