41% of businesses listed on Yelp have closed for good during the coronavirus pandemic (https://www.marketwatch.com/story/41-of-businesses-listed-on-yelp-have-closed-for-good-during-the-pandemic-2020-06-25?mod=mw_latestnews)


As of June 15, 140,000 businesses listed on the Yelp review site remained closed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Considering that businesses with less than 100 employees account for fully 40% of all jobs in this country, I can't overstate how bad this whole thing is going to be for the small places and then for the country overall.

Hundreds of thousands of businesses will close, especially after the PPP loan money runs out in a few months.

Anyone who doesn't see a massive economic crisis coming down the road is kidding themselves. And I've been saying this from the beginning.

41% of businesses listed on Yelp have closed for good during the coronavirus pandemic (https://www.marketwatch.com/story/41-of-businesses-listed-on-yelp-have-closed-for-good-during-the-pandemic-2020-06-25?mod=mw_latestnews)



Considering that businesses with less than 100 employees account for fully 40% of all jobs in this country, I can't overstate how bad this whole thing is going to be for the small places and then for the country overall.

Hundreds of thousands of businesses will close, especially after the PPP loan money runs out in a few months.

Anyone who doesn't see a massive economic crisis coming down the road is kidding themselves. And I've been saying this from the beginning.

And yet, most refuse the minor discomfort and inconvenience of wearing their masks to Wal-Mart, which if doing so, would make it more likely our businesses and economy recover quicker.

I read a story today in the WSJ saying the main way this transmits is from person to person contact. We could almost forget the mask if people would just stay 6 feet apart. Are restaurants and bars even blocking off sections? Walmart and stores still letting so many people in? This is what we need to get back too. I know the Braums I work at is not. People that still work there tell me it's a lobby fully of people at lunch. If you want to go out to eat with a friend stay 6 feet apart if it's not crowed sit at a table next to you. Don't sit at the next bar stool leave one inbetween. You can still carry on a conversation. We need to get back to keeping our distance cause people are just not going to wear a mask. For one it's too hot. Then you have the people that don't think it works. Then your have the political people. We just need to be social distancing better. Back to only so many in a store. Back to maybe even carry out only. Maybe set up tents and have a few tables outside for people to eat in. SOCIAL DISTANCING IS THE KEY

Physical distancing AND face masks are key. There's not a magic force field when people are 6 feet apart. It is not full proof to sit 6 feet from someone and talk for an hour indoors. If you sit at a bar without a mask—even if the closest person is two bar stools away—then you are at risk to contract COVID-19. I won't be in an indoor space with a lot of people any time soon because I want to do my part to reduce spread.

University of Oklahoma to require masks inside university buildings and vehicles on all campuses, effective immediately. Damn Liberals ;)
Bravo to President Harroz.

I believe OSU has already done the same for the fall semester.

Can you attest to the quality of KN95 masks?

I wear KN95 masks when I can obtain them. KN95 masks are the Chinese version of N95 masks. Assuming the vendor is not suspect (and some are; some U.S. distributors of KN95 masks tout independent testing) then they should be equally effective and will remove about 95% of particles in the air assuming they are worn correctly. The main difference is the way they are secured to the head. KN95 masks generally all utilize earloops (which hurt the back of my ears when I wear them all day) while N95 masks by 3M can have some amazingly comfortable masks with double strands to distribute forces across the head and padding across the area where the mask interfaces with the top of the nose. I think the better fit makes the N95 masks superior in terms of effectiveness but our clinic has been unable to obtain any since the beginning of the pandemic. To compensate for this, I place transparent tape in a horizontal fashion across the top and bottom of the KN95 masks. Securing the mask with tape also allows me to give the back of my ears a break by removing the earloops from time to time.

^^ I'm sure I could have made it for cheaper, but I picked up a pack of mask hook straps from Amazon and they really help with my ears, which always felt like they were getting pulled forward. Much more comfortable with the strap.

Edited to add: Like these - https://www.amazon.com/Anti-Slip-Comfortable-Extension-Protector-Relieving/dp/B087DVL9F8/

I saw someone who made these themselves using two buttons and a piece of cloth.

Are # of people on ventilators going up, or is that not something we get reported to us? That is one of the biggest things, to me.

Are # of people on ventilators going up, or is that not something we get reported to us? That is one of the biggest things, to me.

That is also in the nightly EO reports on the coronavirus site (https://coronavirus.health.ok.gov/executive-order-reports)

74% available as of last night.

I wear KN95 masks when I can obtain them. KN95 masks are the Chinese version of N95 masks. Assuming the vendor is not suspect (and some are; some U.S. distributors of KN95 masks tout independent testing) then they should be equally effective and will remove about 95% of particles in the air assuming they are worn correctly. The main difference is the way they are secured to the head. KN95 masks generally all utilize earloops (which hurt the back of my ears when I wear them all day) while N95 masks by 3M can have some amazingly comfortable masks with double strands to distribute forces across the head and padding across the area where the mask interfaces with the top of the nose. I think the better fit makes the N95 masks superior in terms of effectiveness but our clinic has been unable to obtain any since the beginning of the pandemic. To compensate for this, I place transparent tape in a horizontal fashion across the top and bottom of the KN95 masks. Securing the mask with tape also allows me to give the back of my ears a break by removing the earloops from time to time.

Thanks for the thorough reply, Ed. My employer sent us a handful of KN95 masks for essential meetings, although I have yet to conduct any in person. I would expect they did their research to discover the non-shady variety of KN95 masks, but I would have no way to know for sure. They do fit snugly to my face and have the nose wire to adjust for a tight fit across the bridge of the nose.

I'm not sure how effective social distancing at churches is. I am saying like every other pew closed and family groups siting 6' apart, with people seated as they come in. Doesn't matter the denomination, anyone have any in put on this. It is something I am very concerned about, since I am a church attender. Wondering how air movement in a large open building is related to spreading since people are seated for an hour or more vs a trip to the grocery store or hardware store for say 15 to 30 min. Any input for anyone on this.

Some of it are cultural issues at church, which can be modified: shaking hands, greeting each other, communion, etc.

But a big problem with church, even with distancing, is the amount of air movement due to singing, talking at a louder voice for prayers and responsive readings, confessions, creeds, etc.

While these numbers are noisy... Over the last 2 weeks, cases have risen by 84% in states that don't require wearing masks in public. In states where mask wearing is mandatory, cases have fallen by 25%

Source: https://www.inquirer.com/health/coronavirus/covid-19-coronavirus-face-masks-infection-rates-20200624.html

Some of it are cultural issues at church, which can be modified: shaking hands, greeting each other, communion, etc.

But a big problem with church, even with distancing, is the amount of air movement due to singing, talking at a louder voice for prayers and responsive readings, confessions, creeds, etc.Our church doesn’t do much in the way of readings, etc. They stopped organized hand shaking, greeting before the shutdown. They aren’t doing communion or collection. They have masks available according to the website. Plus I’m 90% sure I’ve had the virus and pretty sure my wife had it right after I did. We’re still going to stick with watching online for the foreseeable future.

While these numbers are noisy... Over the last 2 weeks, cases have risen by 84% in states that don't require wearing masks in public. In states where mask wearing is mandatory, cases have fallen by 25%

Source: https://www.inquirer.com/health/coronavirus/covid-19-coronavirus-face-masks-infection-rates-20200624.html
And yet the states that haven’t required masks are EXTREMELY reluctant to. I don’t get it more and more every day.

I listen to a good podcast for nerds interested in understanding emerging COVID-19 research called COVID Daily News (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/covid-daily-news-coronavirus-developments-nate-duncan/id1506294446) and they recommended this site to predict cases in different areas: https://covid19-projections.com/. Essentially, they use the official numbers and work from there to estimate how many people really have COVID-19 in any area. Here's their Oklahoma predictions (665 deaths by October 1st): https://covid19-projections.com/us-ok

I listen to a good podcast for nerds interested in understanding emerging COVID-19 research called COVID Daily News (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/covid-daily-news-coronavirus-developments-nate-duncan/id1506294446) and they recommended this site to predict cases in different areas: https://covid19-projections.com/. Essentially, they use the official numbers and work from there to estimate how many people really have COVID-19 in any area. Here's their Oklahoma predictions (665 deaths by October 1st): https://covid19-projections.com/us-okI just can’t look at predictions anymore. I’ve seen too many predictive graphs from groups that should know what they’re doing that have not only not been in the ballpark but haven’t been in the same city as the ballpark. One in particular was in April by a group of recognized epidemiologists that showed new cases in Oklahoma peaking in early May and being near zero by the end of June. Wrong!!!!!

Yeah and no surprise that McCurtin county (at least the last time I looked) had a disproportionate number of cases over the last few weeks. Have to assume that's directly tied to summer tourism.
And the chicken plant.

McCurtain County sees outbreaks of COVID-19, with some cases at Tyson plant
https://oklahoman.com/article/5665246/mccurtain-countgy-sees-outbreaks-of-covid-19

Hospitalizations up 31 more today. We are back on the uptick.

197 in the Hospital on Friday and today Thursday 308. That is a lot in less than a week.

Physical distancing AND face masks are key. There's not a magic force field when people are 6 feet apart. It is not full proof to sit 6 feet from someone and talk for an hour indoors. If you sit at a bar without a mask—even if the closest person is two bar stools away—then you are at risk to contract COVID-19. I won't be in an indoor space with a lot of people any time soon because I want to do my part to reduce spread.
I know a couple who sleep in the same bed. One tested positive and the other negative.

Executive Order Report taking a while tonight. Probably someone we don't want to see in there?
EOR has pretty much the same data as the release that comes out around noon. There’s enough drama with this virus without trying to create more.

Last Friday COVID-19 Cases Currently Hospitalized: 135 (76 in ICU)

Today COVID-19 Cases Currently Hospitalized: 211 (107 in ICU)

And I don't understand how our Mayor thinks numbers are down. Is he seeing different charts than these? https://www.okc.gov/home/showdocument?id=18562

I think someone posted an estimate of how many people in Oklahoma are out there infected, probably contagious and don't know it yet but I went back a few pages and couldn't find it. Please link if someone has something credible.

I know a couple who sleep in the same bed. One tested positive and the other negative.
You have heard of all the false test results right?

You have heard of all the false test results right?

Which do you believe is false?

Hospitalization situation looking far worse than we are being led to believe:

16191

I just can’t look at predictions anymore. I’ve seen too many predictive graphs from groups that should know what they’re doing that have not only not been in the ballpark but haven’t been in the same city as the ballpark. One in particular was in April by a group of recognized epidemiologists that showed new cases in Oklahoma peaking in early May and being near zero by the end of June. Wrong!!!!!

Epidemiologists don't usually make predictions, they model possibilities, because so much depends on our behavior. However, saying, "I won't look at anymore science!" because one model did not precisely and immediately tell the future of a pandemic seems to be a poor plan. Science does not give immediate answers. You don't look at one paper and draw vast conclusions. The scientific method is slow, meticulous, and cautious. The biggest problem we've had is people don't know what they're looking at. I have been following a slate of epidemiologists and social scientists throughout this pandemic and I been incredibly impressed in how they helped me understand things. We are all really indebted to their incredible work.

I know a couple who sleep in the same bed. One tested positive and the other negative.

Yup. On the one hand, remember the two Utah Jazz players who had COVID-19 didn't infect any of the other 50+ members of their traveling party. On the other hand, we have examples of 50+ people getting COVID from a single choir practice.

Yeah they're so down playing this over a thousand people just for covid-19 in the last 24 hours. How many people are going to end up back in the hospital even if it's just 20% you're talking 200 more people

Where can I get fast Covid test reults? Did this once before in May. I t took the county health department 8 days. Not fair to my workmates to make them wait another 8 days for my test results. I don't mind paying for speedy results.

happyday I went to one of the Saint Anthony's testing sites about 3 weeks ago and had both my antibody and live virus (nasal swab) results back within 48 hours.

Which do you believe is false?
Could be both have it or neither. Whenever there are anomalies it doesn’t establish a new normal. We know proximity and personal interaction is the prime source of spread.

I'm not sure how effective social distancing at churches is. I am saying like every other pew closed and family groups siting 6' apart, with people seated as they come in. Doesn't matter the denomination, anyone have any in put on this. It is something I am very concerned about, since I am a church attender. Wondering how air movement in a large open building is related to spreading since people are seated for an hour or more vs a trip to the grocery store or hardware store for say 15 to 30 min. Any input for anyone on this.

16192

This air movement has already been proven from a study in Hong Kong and Guangzhou. It was in a smaĺler room most likely nothing like some of the large church's. Im not sure if it was a higher end restaurant in a decent building or a hole in the wall in a half ass building. But this has been known for awhile now so there are no excuses. I'm gonna send my family members 100 more N95 Mask.

Just last week, Gallardia CC had a large banquet with about 200 packed into their ballroom and nobody wearing masks.

There are tons of these types of events now and we're going to continue to see the ripple effects.

Edmond Urgent care NW 178th & Western. You can get a antibody test with results in 15 minutes cost $60 Plus your CoPay. CVS in OKC doing Covid test free in Drive thru. You go online to schedule a time. No Charge and get results in 2-4 days.

Which testing sites are free? Are there any that take walk-ins? My gf's work has asked her to get tested asap as they've had a potential spread, but she's having difficulty finding one on short notice.

You may try Mercy. Things may have changed but when I went to get my antibody test I could have just as easily gotten the Covid test. However, Mercy is doing all of the Covid tests out of one central location somewhere up north while you can get the antibody test at their urgent cares, etc.

https://www.koco.com/article/rossen-reports-what-every-state-requests-for-masks-in-stores/32960891# Your doing fine Oklahoma ok. Since we are changing things maybe we need to change our state song? SMH Also what winco is this one?

https://www.koco.com/article/rossen-reports-what-every-state-requests-for-masks-in-stores/32960891# Your doing fine Oklahoma ok. Since we are changing things maybe we need to change our state song? SMH Also what winco is this one?

39th and Portland.

Texas governor has closed all bars and placed other restrictions due to the recent spike in cases:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/texas062620a.jpg

Texas governor has closed all bars and placed other restrictions due to the recent spike in cases:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/texas062620a.jpg

Hopefully this provides cover for other states to do the same, and gives Stitt room to walk things back before we get Texas-level bad

First state to go back a step. I am guessing we might see more of that. I am curious to know if they know this comes from bars due to contact tracing?

Hopefully this provides cover for other states to do the same, and gives Stitt room to walk things back before we get Texas-level bad

I'd be willing to bet Stitt invites Texans to come party at our bars before he closes ours down.

Remember when plenty of people were saying the heat and sunlight would kill off the virus?

Here we are in summer, and new records are being set with every passing day.

Remember when plenty of people were saying the heat and sunlight would kill off the virus?

Here we are in summer, and new records are being set with every passing day.

And in the south as well, where temps are much higher than the north. Guess it is not the flu.

Hospitalization situation looking far worse than we are being led to believe:

16191The hospitalizations are one thing. The thing that sticks out more than that is the 17,000 test increase in pending test results in one day. If that’s accurate there will be huge numbers of new cases in the next few days.

The hospitalizations are one thing. The thing that sticks out more than that is the 17,000 test increase in pending test results in one day. If that’s accurate there will be huge numbers of new cases in the next few days.

You should have seen the drive thru line for testing in Norman. 2+ hours to get tested.

The hospitalizations are one thing. The thing that sticks out more than that is the 17,000 test increase in pending test results in one day. If that’s accurate there will be huge numbers of new cases in the next few days.

I wonder if that is from contact tracing. Since our positives have gone up, the people who tested positive probably notified friends/family/coworkers they were in contact with.

Hopefully that many going to get tested isn't a result of feeling symptoms.

I wonder if that is from contact tracing. Since our positives have gone up, the people who tested positive probably notified friends/family/coworkers they were in contact with.

Hopefully that many going to get tested isn't a result of feeling symptoms.
Hopefully that is the case. They could still catch a bunch of asymptomatic people which could be a good thing.

So this is interesting. OK's cases have definitely increased, but we are the only state whose increase in cases can be tied to an increase in tests. From https://twitter.com/ASlavitt/status/1276292709225881601

Top 10 (last 2 weeks)
Cases Tests
FL. 71%. -12%
AZ. 72%. 25%
NV. 50%. -28%
OK. 53%. 125%
ID. 83%. 17%
SC. 169%. 43%
GA. 55%. 17%
UT. 39%. -10%
TX. 78%. 25%
KS. 48%. 7%

Is that accurate? I haven't seen anything that supports an increase in testing in Oklahoma. From what I've seen it's gone down since May.

From https://twitter.com/KassieMcClung:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/oktesting062420a.jpg

I too am confused by that. It looks like we have been testing about the same amount for a month. From KOCODillon on Twitter yesterday.

https://i.imgur.com/dXG6Kwx.png

Regardless of the number of tests, which is increasing but not drastically, we've gone from 2% positives to over 7% in just a few weeks.

Very true. Percent positive is an issue. Texas passing 10% is wild. I feel if we do nothing we will be there within a couple of weeks easily.

Is that accurate? I haven't seen anything that supports an increase in testing in Oklahoma. From what I've seen it's gone down since May.I would say there’s something wrong here. The EORs for the past week and the Epidemiology Reports from the two weeks prior show testing going down a little for three weeks in a row.

Bars will now be closed in Florida after almost 9000 new cases yesterday.

@FloridaDBPR
·
38m
Effective immediately, the Department of Business and Professional Regulation is suspending on premises consumption of alcohol at bars statewide.

And in the south as well, where temps are much higher than the north. Guess it is not the flu.

The theory is people in the South are going indoors more because of the hot weather and going into the air conditioning while people up north are going outside more because it has warmed up

The theory is people in the South are going indoors more because of the hot weather and going into the air conditioning while people up north are going outside more because it has warmed up

Much higher percentage of church-goers in the south and churches have been singled out by health experts as being hotspots.