Covid-19 in OKC (coronavirus)

[Ed Shadid]

I am grateful for those on this board advocating for the utilization of masks. The comments in opposition are a small sampling of what needs to be overcome. This article addresses the obstacles we face in achieving widespread utilization, especially among men, which is what we collectively need to achieve. I am at a loss but clearly shaming, guilt etc.. is going to backfire. I have seen it in the high rise I live in where a female physician wrote everyone insisting on mask utilization and the response from the men in the building was ferocious in response and it seems to have made things so much worse. I believe eventually America will kneel and follow the lead of Asian economies/societies but I fear it will be too late to avoid catastrophic loss to our health, economies and stability. I would be grateful for any anecdotal success stories. https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/ar...-masks/613375/

Here is a passage emphasizing the importance of empathy and the importance of meeting people's personal needs/preferences:

"Let’s be real: Americans are beat-down and run-down after months of loss and social isolation. Masks do keep people from seeing facial expressions and hearing voices clearly, both vital elements of social connection. Masks don’t deprive people of oxygen, but they do make it harder to breathe freely. They fog up people’s glasses. They make noses itch and faces sweat. Many masks feel decidedly uncool. They are yet another thing to remember when walking out the front door. And, most of all, masks are a constant reminder of what Americans so desperately want to forget: that despite all of our sacrifices, the pandemic hasn’t gone anywhere. Empathy has its own kind of power. Acknowledging what people dislike about a public-health strategy enables a connection with them rather than alienating them further. And when the barriers are understood, they become addressable. When it became clear that people needed better condoms, companies began making them in all different shapes, sizes, and styles—ribbed, studded, impossibly thin, even glow-in-the-dark—to improve comfort, sensation, and people’s sense of individuality. Likewise, the government needs to support businesses in developing masks that are not only effective, but also fit well and feel good. People need a range of options, including face shields, that can help meet their personal needs and preferences. And people need face coverings that make them feel stylish, cool, and—yes—even manly.

[Bill Robertson]

302 new positive cases today.

A month ago I’d have never thought that I’d feel pretty good about a couple days right around 300 new cases. How life has changed.

[kukblue1]

The braums over by the outlet mall hasn't done much either. In fact the Whataburger McDonald's Subway and Taco Mayo still have their lobbies closes. Also today drive by the Jimmy Egg over there and packed people waiting to get in. At what point will it be too late and shutting thing down won't matter and hospitals are going to start filling up. 300 cases for a Sunday has to be a record and rather large one if that is it not?

Will anyone be shocked if we got over 500 cases this week?

[Pete]

Until 16 days ago, we'd never had anywhere close to 200 new cases per day.

[jaredlovesivanka]

One of the failings of the Oklahoma system of reporting is there are no alerts about businesses that have had employees test positive.

In just the last week or so, several places have closed after they self-reported: HiLo Club, The Pump, Social Capital, Revolucion... Just off the top of my head.

But their closures and disclosures were voluntary. How many businesses that welcome people into their space have had positive cases that nobody knows about?

There have been rumors about plenty of others.

Not only is it dangerous, but how would people who have patronized these places know to get tested?

My daughter worked at Ludivine - they have also closed due to a case.

Be Safe, Wear a Mask.

[Pete]

My daughter worked at Ludivine - they have also closed due to a case.

Be Safe, Wear a Mask.

Their social media says they will just be closed Saturday and Sunday.

Of course, they could make a new post stating an extended closure.

[kukblue1]

Until 16 days ago, we'd never had anywhere close to 200 new cases per day.

I really don't understand what our governor and mayor are waiting on. The only number they care about is hospitalizations I'm here to tell them that the more people that get sick the more hospitalizations there's going to be. So why are we waiting until hospitals start getting full which I've been hearing that they already are

[Libbymin]

The pump bar and bunker club had to close too because of a positive case.

[Jersey Boss]

Norman will take action before either OKC or OK. When this started she showed what leadership looked like.
Nice to have a mayor not beholden.

[Rover]

I am grateful for those on this board advocating for the utilization of masks. The comments in opposition are a small sampling of what needs to be overcome. This article addresses the obstacles we face in achieving widespread utilization, especially among men, which is what we collectively need to achieve. I am at a loss but clearly shaming, guilt etc.. is going to backfire. I have seen it in the high rise I live in where a female physician wrote everyone insisting on mask utilization and the response from the men in the building was ferocious in response and it seems to have made things so much worse. I believe eventually America will kneel and follow the lead of Asian economies/societies but I fear it will be too late to avoid catastrophic loss to our health, economies and stability. I would be grateful for any anecdotal success stories. https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/ar...-masks/613375/

Ed,
When the top office holders of this nation quit deflecting and denying and start leading, it will be significant. There is a rigid 40% of the public eager to follow and to believe the divisive rhetoric, no matter what evidence is given. The constant attacks on the press and other authorities has denigrated their ability to communicate and lead in times of crisis. So, people believe whatever they want and what fits their fear structure.

[mkjeeves]

A possible alternative for the mask averse, or in addition to a mask for the belt and suspenders crowd. I have one and I've been wearing it without a mask. It seems more social.

Some Experts Say Face Shields Better Than Masks for Coronavirus Protection

By now we know we should be wearing face masks to protect others from potentially deadly infection when we leave the house. But face masks can be hot, and they can irritate the skin, fog glasses, make it difficult for some to breathe and create a world without smiles. It also can be difficult for people who have hearing loss to communicate when mouths are covered, muffling voices and hiding facial expressions.

Are clear plastic face shields, most frequently used in health care settings, a better option?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continues to recommend wearing “cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain.” But some health experts say shields appear to be very effective at preventing infection — maybe even more effective than masks — for someone going about regular daily activities and not in a high-risk health care setting.

Amesh Adalja, M.D., a pandemic preparedness expert at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, says, “There's a lot of at least biological possibility to suspect that [shields] are definitely better than homemade face masks, and maybe even better than other types of masks as well, because they not only prevent you from spreading it … [and] because it also covers your eyes, it provides more protection to the mucus membranes of your face where you might be getting infected.”

https://www.aarp.org/health/healthy-...-to-masks.html

[SoonerDave]

302 new positive cases today.

Unfortunately, the OSDH doesn't report the test return delta on Sundays so we can't assess the positive rate. At least I have not been able to find it.

[SoonerDave]

A possible alternative for the mask averse, or in addition to a mask for the belt and suspenders crowd. I have one and I've been wearing it without a mask. It seems more social.

Some Experts Say Face Shields Better Than Masks for Coronavirus Protection

By now we know we should be wearing face masks to protect others from potentially deadly infection when we leave the house. But face masks can be hot, and they can irritate the skin, fog glasses, make it difficult for some to breathe and create a world without smiles. It also can be difficult for people who have hearing loss to communicate when mouths are covered, muffling voices and hiding facial expressions.

Are clear plastic face shields, most frequently used in health care settings, a better option?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continues to recommend wearing “cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain.” But some health experts say shields appear to be very effective at preventing infection — maybe even more effective than masks — for someone going about regular daily activities and not in a high-risk health care setting.

Amesh Adalja, M.D., a pandemic preparedness expert at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, says, “There's a lot of at least biological possibility to suspect that [shields] are definitely better than homemade face masks, and maybe even better than other types of masks as well, because they not only prevent you from spreading it … [and] because it also covers your eyes, it provides more protection to the mucus membranes of your face where you might be getting infected.”

https://www.aarp.org/health/healthy-...-to-masks.html

If they proceed as planned with schools in the fall, face guards like these will become a practical necessity for teachers who rely on students' ability to see facial expressions and mouth movements for learning word and sound formation. I think guards are a great idea.

[chuck5815]

Norman will take action before either OKC or OK. When this started she showed what leadership looked like.
Nice to have a mayor not beholden.

Well, I don’t know about that. Holt has been doing some excellent virtue signaling of his own over the past several months. Some very top shelf material on Social Media. Wild to think that he once worked for Dennis Hastert.

[Pete]

Over 10,000 new cases in Florida today. Good grief.

[catch22]

One of the failings of the Oklahoma system of reporting is there are no alerts about businesses that have had employees test positive.

In just the last week or so, several places have closed after they self-reported: HiLo Club, The Pump, Social Capital, Revolucion... Just off the top of my head.

But their closures and disclosures were voluntary. How many businesses that welcome people into their space have had positive cases that nobody knows about?

There have been rumors about plenty of others.

Not only is it dangerous, but how would people who have patronized these places know to get tested?

They tried to have a mandatory system for Colorado where if you went to a restaurant you had to provide contact information to be held on file for 21 days, that way if staff or a guest tested positive on a date you were present you could be notified.

That was swiftly done away with because of personal freedoms and such. It was a good idea, I think they have logbooks still but its only voluntarily.

[Pete]

^

Right, but equally effective would be a routine public posting of positive cases at eating establishments.

At least that way, word would get out to people who had recently been there.

[Pete]

BTW, I did some more research and learned that restaurants are required to report positive cases to the state.

But the state doesn't make that public in any way; just require the infected employee to be quarantined.

[TheTravellers]

The pump bar and bunker club had to close too because of a positive case.

I'm just completely baffled by Bunker Club opening *at all* - the only way you could social distance at 6 ft is to have maybe 4 patrons in there at once.

[Libbymin]

I just don’t see why bars need to be open at this point, especially those who cater to a younger crowd who are likely to ignore the social distancing guidelines once they get tipsy.

[Bill Robertson]

I just read this on a bass player’s board. (Yes, this old man plays the bass).

“Yesterday (Friday) was the first day a statewide mandate to wear masks in public started here in Washington.
This morning, the wife and I decided to take a trip into town to see how many people complied. We went to a busy grocery store and the Lowe's in the same parking lot. As expected, at noon they were both packed.
I'd say almost everyone I saw was wearing a mask. As someone who feels wearing a mask is the right thing to do for now, I was relieved and happy to see so many people doing the same. It brought me a little hope that maybe after all the community where I live does care and wants to squash this disease.
We drove around a little longer and saw more people wearing masks.
Today was a good day for me”.

See. It can be done!

[Pete]

I just went to Sam's at 39th & May and I'd say 75% of the people were wearing masks, way up from just a week ago.

[jonny d]

Went to Life Church, and probably 60% to 75% were wearing masks. Last week, maybe 25%.

[PoliSciGuy]

Just got back from taking my kids to their swim lessons at Goldfish. I was the only person, employee or customer, wearing a mask. We need a massive attitude shift, and fast.

Well in the last week there's been a bit of a change. Probably 40% of people and all (non-pool) employees were wearing them. Coupled with the above posts, I think we're seeing (admittedly anecdotal) evidence of change thankfully.

[Bill Robertson]

I’m glad to read some places mask wearing is increasing. We watched Crossings service on the internet this morning. Maybe half full main sanctuary which is all they’re using right now. When the showed the crowd I literally saw 1 guy wearing a mask. ONE!