Nothing changes..... it didn't seem like anyone up there honored it anyway.

I was unfriended on FB by an Edmondite for confirming that wearing a mask didn't make my ***** shrink.

Texas quit wearing masks and nothing happened

https://twitter.com/ianmSC/status/1374769436591226883?s=20

Your graphs show that mask *mandates* may not have an impact. Having a mask mandate isn't the same as mask effectiveness. Most folks wore masks despite not having a mandate. Masks have been shown time and again to prevent the spread.

I'll be interested to hear what scientists say once all the politicians and media move on to something else next year. Their has been a lot of mask studies on the flu and they have never been able to find anything conclusive in a real-world setting. It does make a lot of sense at face value that mask would be a lot more effective against the flu than Covid since its success at being airborne is what makes it so much worse than the flu.

Texas quit wearing masks

Only about 20% of Texans said they would stop wearing them and many, many places still require them.

Oh, and surgeons still wear them, too, but maybe they don't have twitter.

I'll be interested to hear what scientists say once all the politicians and media move on to something else next year. Their has been a lot of mask studies on the flu and they have never been able to find anything conclusive in a real-world setting. It does make a lot of sense at face value that mask would be a lot more effective against the flu than Covid since its success at being airborne is what makes it so much worse than the flu.
I just copied the below from the CDC about spreading the flu. Sounds pretty much identical to spreading COVID.

People with flu can spread it to others up to about 6 feet away. Most experts think that flu viruses spread mainly by droplets made when people with flu cough, sneeze or talk. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs. Less often, a person might get flu by touching a surface or object that has flu virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes.

Texas quit wearing masks and nothing happened

https://twitter.com/ianmSC/status/1374769436591226883?s=20

Texas never wore masks in the first place.

Texas quit wearing masks and nothing happened

https://twitter.com/ianmSC/status/1374769436591226883?s=20

I live in Texas. People have not quit wearing masks.

This is why the mandate is really pointless at current stage. The vulnerable are mainly vaccinated. The people who aren't going to wear a mask aren't going regardless. The ones who want to wear a mask will do so regardless of mandate. All while we continue to increase our vaccinated percentage and cases keep dropping.
I'll continue to wear mine in any facility that states I need it - other wise I won't but I recommend any store that wants to have a policy to do so and I will honor it. Which that is how I have always been this past year.
What protects me is that I don't get out in groups, I don't go hang out in bars or restaurants with large crowds. I never have been one to be super close to people or large groups. I can get out and do my business and not be in someone's bubble. I guess I was good at social distancing before it was cool you could say.

This is why the mandate is really pointless at current stage. The vulnerable are mainly vaccinated. The people who aren't going to wear a mask aren't going regardless. The ones who want to wear a mask will do so regardless of mandate. All while we continue to increase our vaccinated percentage and cases keep dropping.
I'll continue to wear mine in any facility that states I need it - other wise I won't but I recommend any store that wants to have a policy to do so and I will honor it. Which that is how I have always been this past year.
What protects me is that I don't get out in groups, I don't go hang out in bars or restaurants with large crowds. I never have been one to be super close to people or large groups. I can get out and do my business and not be in someone's bubble. I guess I was good at social distancing before it was cool you could say.

I disagree. Laws encourage or nudge more people to wear masks. While there are some people who will wear or not wear masks regardless of the policies in place, there's also a portion of the population who are going to follow whatever rules exist. A mask requirement puts the burden on anti-maskers to "break" the existing rules. When a mask mandate is in place it protects businesses and others enforcing who can just reference the policy and not fight with anti-maskers. COVID-19 is all about shifting the odds in your favor and a mandate does just that. Even if just 10% more people wear masks because of the policy, those numbers add up across people and over time. Statistically, we know it will save some people's lives.

I disagree. Laws encourage or nudge more people to wear masks. While there are some people who will wear or not wear masks regardless of the policies in place, there's also a portion of the population who are going to follow whatever rules exist. A mask requirement puts the burden on anti-maskers to "break" the existing rules. When a mask mandate is in place it protects businesses and others enforcing who can just reference the policy and not fight with anti-maskers. COVID-19 is all about shifting the odds in your favor and a mandate does just that. Even if just 10% more people wear masks because of the policy, those numbers add up across people and over time. Statistically, we know it will save some people's lives.

Agreed. I saw a significant increase in mask wearing in Edmond when the mandate was put into place. It took a week or two, but besides the few obstinate idiots, mask compliance improved SIGNIFICANTLY. It went from seeing half the people in Crest walking around without masks, to just the random one or two persons. Since the mandate has ended, just as quickly I'm seeing people drop the masks, and now I don't even feel justified saying anything to them, because if the business isn't enforcing it, I really don't have anything I can say (besides let the business know why I won't shop there).

Agreed and when all the stores seem to be the same, few people wearing masks then what is one to do? If you live out the grocery delivery area and if you do the onlline ordering or trying, I am not good at that, and you dont recieve much of your order, then what? Add in the problem I keep writing about, the problem of those people who dont wear masks feeling like the can physically asult you. I am getting tired of being knocked to the floor. When you are an older lady with knee issues and osteoprosis it is an issue. I think people think I am younger since I dont have the gray hair, sorry my family doesnt usually get much gray hair even in their 70's or older.

Why do upper middle class men think it is ok to push, hit with their shopping carts or otherwise hurt older women because they disagree with an older woman wearing a mask? Where is our society going?

Why do upper middle class men think it is ok to push, hit with their shopping carts or otherwise hurt older women because they disagree with an older woman wearing a mask? Where is our society going?It's going places I don't want to think about.

We've had an interesting morning. For the first time in over a year my wife went somewhere other than home and work. I dropped her at Kohl's and ran next door to Home Depot. Then went back and found her in Kohl's. It has been a great morning!

467 new cases today; 7-day rolling average 354.

14 additional reported deaths; 7-day rolling average 15.6.

Hospitalizations are 220 (+3).

ICU is 56 (+2).

I dont like to see hospitalizations ticking up. I hope this is not a trend. The other day I saw on a Minn news site, I forget which one, TV I think, that they are getting cases of fully vaccinated people getting the UK variant and some having to be admitted to the hospital. Pete this is something that someone might want to farther research. I am thinking this is why the cdc is saying to keep wearing masks and social distance.

^
Over the last 4 days we've had hospitalizations go down by 20. They're going to go up and down but if still going down on average its good.
I looked up an article on Minnesota. It pointed out that yes, there have been 89 cases of the variant showing in positive tests in fully vaccinated people. Out of 800,000 fully vaccinated people. Or .01 percent. No deaths and of the hospitalizations the cases are considered milder. So actually much better than what we might expect given the efficacy levels that are indicated.

One thing to keep in mind re: hospitalizations is that now that there's more room, hospitals may be a bit more liberal in deciding who gets hospitalized rather than sent home for monitoring. At the peak, with rooms and beds filling, borderline cases were sent home with pulse oximeters and other tools to self-monitor and only come back if their symptoms worsened. Those cases now may be able to get hospitalized from the get-go.

Not that that explains *all* uptick, but it could explain some of it.

https://www.startribune.com/minnesota-reports-89-covid-19-cases-in-vaccinated-individuals/600038033/ I don't like seeing cases around 500 a day still. Not with more and more getting vaccinated

https://www.startribune.com/minnesota-reports-89-covid-19-cases-in-vaccinated-individuals/600038033/ I don't like seeing cases around 500 a day still. Not with more and more getting vaccinated Rome wasn't built in a day. We don't have even 20% fully vaccinated yet by a NBC page I just looked at. Considering that low a percentage I think 400 and under is doing very well considering it a very few weeks ago we were in the 3 to 4 thousands daily.

One thing to keep in mind re: hospitalizations is that now that there's more room, hospitals may be a bit more liberal in deciding who gets hospitalized rather than sent home for monitoring. At the peak, with rooms and beds filling, borderline cases were sent home with pulse oximeters and other tools to self-monitor and only come back if their symptoms worsened. Those cases now may be able to get hospitalized from the get-go.

Not that that explains *all* uptick, but it could explain some of it.
I'm still confused about what uptick. Here's a graph from the NY Times today. I'm not seeing an uptick. Maybe a slight slowing of the average daily decreases but definitely no uptick.
16788

[QUOTE=Bill Robertson;1162005]Rome wasn't built in a day. We don't have even 20% fully vaccinated yet by a NBC page I just looked at. Considering that low a percentage I think 400 and under is doing very well considering it a very few weeks ago we were in the 3 to 4 thousands daily.[/QUOTE

https://www.webmd.com/lung/news/20210323/report-says-daily-covid-19-cases-on-rise-in-27-states So nothing to worry about than huh.

I dont like to see hospitalizations ticking up. I hope this is not a trend. The other day I saw on a Minn news site, I forget which one, TV I think, that they are getting cases of fully vaccinated people getting the UK variant and some having to be admitted to the hospital. Pete this is something that someone might want to farther research. I am thinking this is why the cdc is saying to keep wearing masks and social distance.

Scientists have always expected "breakthrough" COVID cases, but they should be more mild and it's highly rare they'd require hospitalization. All evidence suggests that the vaccines do protect against all the variants thus far. Yes, it's a good idea to continue wearing a mask when indoors and close to others, but that's as much to lessen others' anxiety as anything. Other people don't know that you've been vaccinated so it's really a social cue to continue responsible behavior around other community members. I haven't seen any reports that should worry vaccinated people.

[QUOTE=Bill Robertson;1162005]Rome wasn't built in a day. We don't have even 20% fully vaccinated yet by a NBC page I just looked at. Considering that low a percentage I think 400 and under is doing very well considering it a very few weeks ago we were in the 3 to 4 thousands daily.[/QUOTE

https://www.webmd.com/lung/news/20210323/report-says-daily-covid-19-cases-on-rise-in-27-states So nothing to worry about than huh.
Can you point out exactly where I said there's nothing to worry about. What I said was that here, in Oklahoma, the case numbers have fallen many times more than the percent vaccinated has gone up. That's factual. I'm still as worried as anyone. I'm the one still wearing an N95 mask the few places I do go and carrying sanitizer everywhere. Do not take something I didn't even say and respond to it with a sarcastic remark.

[QUOTE=kukblue1;1162020]
Can you point out exactly where I said there's nothing to worry about. What I said was that here, in Oklahoma, the case numbers have fallen many times more than the percent vaccinated has gone up. That's factual. I'm still as worried as anyone. I'm the one still wearing an N95 mask the few places I do go and carrying sanitizer everywhere. Do not take something I didn't even say and respond to it with a sarcastic remark.

You said doing very well. Sorry I took it the wrong way. Really was just a general question that could of been answered with a simple yes or no. Anyway to me close to 500 cases a day and half the states with increases is not doing very well. I don't care how how cases we before. Over 1 million have had their first shot in the state of Oklahoma. If we were doing very well everything would be back to normal. Concerts, Thunder games. We are still averaging a 1,000 deaths a day in the country also.

Stricter COVID-19 Precautions Could Have Saved 240,000 Lives So Far, Economist Says (https://www.huffpost.com/entry/andrew-atkeson-covid-deaths-mask-mandates-brookings_n_605d4618c5b67ad3871e2dac)

[QUOTE=Bill Robertson;1162028]

You said doing very well. Sorry I took it the wrong way. Really was just a general question that could of been answered with a simple yes or no. Anyway to me close to 500 cases a day and half the states with increases is not doing very well. I don't care how how cases we before. Over 1 million have had their first shot in the state of Oklahoma. If we were doing very well everything would be back to normal. Concerts, Thunder games. We are still averaging a 1,000 deaths a day in the country also.
Expecting it to just magically go away as soon as we have 25% with the first shot is simply, completely unrealistic. 20% completely vaccinated and a 90% decrease in daily cases from the peak is doing far better than could have been reasonably expected. And measuring improvement from the worst is the only way to look at this situation. We're not going to wake up one morning and it's gone. Baby steps are a good thing to be celebrated. This is still going to be a long battle to get back to normal. I don't expect to see "normal" as in like it was before for a long time.

Stricter COVID-19 Precautions Could Have Saved 240,000 Lives So Far, Economist Says (https://www.huffpost.com/entry/andrew-atkeson-covid-deaths-mask-mandates-brookings_n_605d4618c5b67ad3871e2dac)

I’m only really interested in what Epidemiologists have to say about pandemics.

882 new cases (this is for the entire weekend); 7-day rolling average is 343.

53 additional deaths (also for the entire weekend); 7-day rolling average is 18.7.


Updated hospitalization numbers will be out this evening.

Our rolling average has continued to drop right? Just not huge amounts, but still headed to downward trend? I keep hearing that states are headed back up but our trend doesn’t seem to fit that stance.

Our rolling average has continued to drop right? Just not huge amounts, but still headed to downward trend? I keep hearing that states are headed back up but our trend doesn’t seem to fit that stance.

Yes.

This number has continued to drop for the last several months.

343 is the lowest since 6/21/20.

Here is the latest CDC graph.
16792
Let's keep it going this direction!

Our rolling average has continued to drop right? Just not huge amounts, but still headed to downward trend? I keep hearing that states are headed back up but our trend doesn’t seem to fit that stance.
About a quarter way down this link is a decent shot of all the states graphs in one place. With an indicator of whether they've gone up or down in the past two weeks. There are a lot of states going back up. Hopefully they get it turned back around.
https://graphics.reuters.com/world-coronavirus-tracker-and-maps/countries-and-territories/united-states/

About a quarter way down this link is a decent shot of all the states graphs in one place. With an indicator of whether they've gone up or down in the past two weeks. There are a lot of states going back up. Hopefully they get it turned back around.
https://graphics.reuters.com/world-coronavirus-tracker-and-maps/countries-and-territories/united-states/

Notice how pretty much all the surging states are around same latitude. The virus has a sweet spot in both humidity and temperature at these locations. Somehow doubt these northern states all of the sudden started managing the virus worse than southern states. Pretty much all dictated by weather and climate.

There may be a sweet spot in the south around the May and June based on what we saw last year, so don't be surprised if cases start surging here around that time. Depending on how much progress is made on vaccinations anyway.

One of the problem in the states that are surging is people being able to get vaccinated. They may open it to all but, I have friends that are well over 65 you and still cannot get a time to get vaccinated.

Notice how pretty much all the surging states are around same latitude. The virus has a sweet spot in both humidity and temperature at these locations. Somehow doubt these northern states all of the sudden started managing the virus worse than southern states. Pretty much all dictated by weather and climate.

There may be a sweet spot in the south around the May and June based on what we saw last year, so don't be surprised if cases start surging here around that time. Depending on how much progress is made on vaccinations anyway.

Can you provide more information regarding this temperature and humidity sweet spot?

Notice how pretty much all the surging states are around same latitude. The virus has a sweet spot in both humidity and temperature at these locations. Somehow doubt these northern states all of the sudden started managing the virus worse than southern states. Pretty much all dictated by weather and climate.

There may be a sweet spot in the south around the May and June based on what we saw last year, so don't be surprised if cases start surging here around that time. Depending on how much progress is made on vaccinations anyway.
I've researched quite a but since you posted this. I can't find any study where temp/humidity is tied to the ebb and flow of COVID spread. Except a little about winter being worse because people stay inside and closer together just like the flu. Can you cite evidence of a weather sweet spot.

I've researched quite a but since you posted this. I can't find any study where temp/humidity is tied to the ebb and flow of COVID spread. Except a little about winter being worse because people stay inside and closer together just like the flu. Can you cite evidence of a weather sweet spot.

Yeah, I think this climate theory was disproved very early in the pandemic. The primary way weather seems to matter is how it impacts peoples' behavior (e.g., forcing them inside because of hot/cold temperatures where COVID spreads at a far higher rate).

Yeah, I think this climate theory was disproved very early in the pandemic. The primary way weather seems to matter is how it impacts peoples' behavior (e.g., forcing them inside because of hot/cold temperatures where COVID spreads at a far higher rate).I agree but I thought maybe I missed something.

City Council just voted to defer the measure that would revoke the mask ordinance early (set to expire end of April).

Will be on the next council agenda in 2 weeks.

4 members voted against the deferral: Nice, McAtee, Hamon, and Cooper.


No way this passes in 2 weeks either, as they need 7 of 9 votes.

Whole thing is just grandstanding and a huge waste of time and effort that could be focused on more important issues.

City Council just voted to defer the measure that would revoke the mask ordinance early (set to expire end of April).

Will be on the next council agenda in 2 weeks.

4 members voted against the deferral: Nice, McAtee, Hamon, and Cooper.


No way this passes in 2 weeks either, as they need 7 of 9 votes.

Whole thing is just grandstanding and a huge waste of time and effort that could be focused on more important issues.
^
Amen!

Only 121 new cases today; 7-day average 334.

11 additional reported deaths; 7-day average 16.9.

Hospitalizations are 216 (-7).

ICU is unchanged at 58.

We’ll have to wait and see how spring break travel ends up affecting things. I hope we keep on improving our vaccination rates to keep ahead of this thing.

Really good article on what is probably the final surge:

The Fourth Surge Is Upon Us. This Time, It’s Different.
A deadlier and more transmissible variant has taken root, but now we have the tools to stop it if we want. (https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2021/03/fourth-surge-variant-vaccine/618463/)

Tufekci's basic argument is that we should move to vaccinate areas where there are surges to slow it down. Also, to hold on just a bit longer before opening things... we're almost there.

Really good article on what is probably the final surge:

The Fourth Surge Is Upon Us. This Time, It’s Different.
A deadlier and more transmissible variant has taken root, but now we have the tools to stop it if we want. (https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2021/03/fourth-surge-variant-vaccine/618463/)

Tufekci's basic argument is that we should move to vaccinate areas where there are surges to slow it down. Also, to hold on just a bit longer before opening things... we're almost there.I agree that just a little more time being careful would get us through. But daily I read of states, cities, sports leagues, etc. that are saying "damn the torpedoes we're done with this thing". I hope that vaccinations will keep increasing at a rate that will knock this virus out.

390 new cases today; 7-day rolling average 318.

27 additional reported deaths; 7-day rolling average 20.9.

Hospitalizations are 211 (-15).

ICU is 60 (+2).

I know that deaths are a delayed indicator, but it's so sad to see so many deaths still. If you know vaccine hesitant folks, please listen to them and provide accurate information, especially with the UK variant being more harmful and deadly even for young people. It's so sad knowing that people will die when they could have been vaccinated and lived.

Ugh, our progress may be stymied here soon. All 5 of the new variants: UK, South Africa, Brazil, and 2 California variants are now in Oklahoma per fox 25. How in the hell the Brazil variant made it here is beyond me. We really need to shut down travel to these countries for a bit longer.

Ugh, our progress may be stymied here soon. All 5 of the new variants: UK, South Africa, Brazil, and 2 California variants are now in Oklahoma per fox 25. How in the hell the Brazil variant made it here is beyond me. We really need to shut down travel to these countries for a bit longer.

I’m willing to bet all those were in the US before they even found out about them.

Vaccines are still good against them. Mask up and get a poke.

Ugh, our progress may be stymied here soon. All 5 of the new variants: UK, South Africa, Brazil, and 2 California variants are now in Oklahoma per fox 25. How in the hell the Brazil variant made it here is beyond me. We really need to shut down travel to these countries for a bit longer.

The best medicine is vaccines, but specifically we can target communities where there’s an outbreak with vaccines: https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2021/03/fourth-surge-variant-vaccine/618463/

I’m willing to bet all those were in the US before they even found out about them.

Vaccines are still good against them. Mask up and get a poke.If the variants are here and our daily new cases are still getting better I'm going to remain happy and optimistic. I'm done expecting the worst. I'll accept bad when it happens but not dwell on the possibility until it happens.

413 new cases today; 7-day rolling average 325.

25 additional reported deaths; 7-day rolling average 18.6.

Hospitalizations are 197 (-14).

ICU is 54 (-4).

My office informed us today about the coming back to work plan. In two weeks, everyone is required to come into the office 1 day. Two weeks after that, 2 days are required. Some people were not happy. While the teleworking is doable, we are really struggling with the team effort, where the Zoom meetings just are not cutting it. Doesn't matter any to me, I've been at work the whole time. I'll be glad to have some others physically there to help with the workload.

372 new cases today; 7-day rolling average 311.

34 additional reported deaths; 7-day rolling average 21.4.

Hospitalizations are 199 (+2).

ICU is 52 (-4).

The best medicine is vaccines, but specifically we can target communities where there’s an outbreak with vaccines: https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2021/03/fourth-surge-variant-vaccine/618463/

Where and who are these populations in oklahoma? Is it the rural population?

In '18 and '19 I wasn't able to keep up with the planters in the front yard. Last year I was overly concerned with COVID and just didn't give a damn. The last two weekends I've pretty much got everything back up to snuff. Yesterday was pretty windy and everything is turning green and lots of tree varieties are blooming. Last night and this morning I was stopped up, had a headache and a bit of a dry/wheezing throat. It was really great to not have COVID as my first thought and be sure it was just allergies and a couple Benadryl knocked it, and me, out!

873 new cases (this is for 3 days); 7-day rolling average 310.

29 additional reported deaths (also for 3 days); 7-day rolling average 18.0.

it's great to see the numbers go down, but these high number of deaths (i know they lag) are really jarring. Also, we still have a high number of cases. Over 300 cases a day is nothing to sneeze at... it means COVID is still spreading widely in our communities.

it's great to see the numbers go down, but these high number of deaths (i know they lag) are really jarring. Also, we still have a high number of cases. Over 300 cases a day is nothing to sneeze at... it means COVID is still spreading widely in our communities.
I want to see this thing completely gone as much as anyone. But these are the numbers from Jan 9th copied from Pete's post:
4,289 new cases today; 7-day rolling average 3,403.
35 additional deaths; 7-day rolling average 30.1
Today's numbers divided by 3
291 new cases, 7-day rolling average 310
10 additional deaths; 7-day rolling average 18.0

Not anywhere near perfect but I'll take these over January's any time.
We're also 15 days past the last Sunday of spring break. Right in the window of an expected spring break induced spike. And it so far isn't showing up. I look at this as good news so far. I just hope it doesn't show up at all.