# Coronavirus general discussion and chit-chat **URL:** \ **Category:** The Quarantine Zone\ **Tags:** covid-quarantine\ **Created:** [August 12, 2020, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-general-discussion-and-chit-chat/917903 "2020-08-12T17:29:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 28
**Author:** ![Ziberian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/919ad9/32.png) [@Ziberian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ziberian)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2021, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-general-discussion-and-chit-chat/917903/544 "2021-08-23T11:34:17Z")
> [@JaneDoe42](#): > > My idiot husband recovered from COVID and caught Delta about 6 weeks later. He’s vaccinated now, but not because he’s tired of getting sick, but because he had the choice between getting jabbed and paying 2800 for ANOTHER Maine Coon kitten. Our last COVID Coon was only 2600, but the shots are free. Does your husband have any clue just how lucky he is surviving Covid TWICE!!! I would be celebrating with dozens of kittens of every variety (I had no idea Maine coons were so expensive! It’s a lot of cat for the money, but wow…) ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2021, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-general-discussion-and-chit-chat/917903/545 "2021-08-23T13:40:03Z")
The brother-in-law of a good friend of mine died yesterday from COVID. He was fully vaccinated. He was 80-ish, in a nursing home, and I think he had some other health issues. His wife (my friend’s sister) is in the same nursing home and also has COVID. And dementia. That’s all I know at this point. ---
**Author:** ![Tfletch1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tfletch1/32/5340_2.png) [@Tfletch1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tfletch1)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2021, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-general-discussion-and-chit-chat/917903/546 "2021-08-23T14:18:52Z")
> [@Ziberian](#): > > Thanks! That study shows what you’d expect, but I was hoping previous infection offered better protection than it does – that would have been a lot more hopeful for children. I know. Our surge seems to have plateaued, but school just started. I expect it to start going up again. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2021, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-general-discussion-and-chit-chat/917903/547 "2021-08-23T16:08:09Z")
Our admin ‘has a cold or cold-like symptoms’. She will be working from home pending the results of a rapid COVID test she’ll have today. She’s older (she actually came out of retirement after our previous admin left for greener pastures) and has not been vaccinated. I don’t know if she hasn’t been vaccinated because she has a condition that would prevent her. She’s ‘hesitant’, but I don’t know why. Since I work in the basement, on Tuesdays and Thursdays, I seldom see her. When I go to the ground floor to ~~remind people I exist~~ socialise, I wear a mask and try to maintain six feet of separation. ---
**Author:** ![Trom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@Trom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trom)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2021, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-general-discussion-and-chit-chat/917903/548 "2021-08-23T16:30:08Z")
> [@Ziberian](#): > > We’ve been hearing a lot lately about breakthrough cases, vaccinated people getting Covid. But I haven’t seen anything about people (vaccinated or not) getting Covid a second time. Thankfully, the risk of serious infection after recovering from COVID-19 is very low. Most studies I’ve seen show somewhere in the neighborhood of 1% or less. Here’s a recent study looking at over 9000 patients: > **[Reinfection With Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)...](https://academic.oup.com/cid/article/74/2/294/6251701)** > > Reinfection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was infrequent, occurring in 63 (0.7%) of 9119 patients but was associated with 2 > Reinfection was identified in 0.7% (n = 63, 95% confidence interval [CI]: .5%–.9%) during follow-up of 9119 patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection. From NPR: > **[What We Can Glean From Rare COVID-19 Reinfections](https://www.npr.org/2021/08/01/1023393330/what-we-can-glean-from-rare-covid-19-reinfections)** > > Lulu Garcia-Navarro talks with Amesh Adalja, an infectious disease doctor from Johns Hopkins University, about COVID-19 reinfections. > GARCIA-NAVARRO: Can you just give me a sort of percentage? Do we know sort of what percentage of people have become reinfected? > > ADALJA: It’s likely less than 1%, depending upon the numbers that you look at. It’s not a very common thing - at least - and it will get higher as we get further out. But right now, it’s probably less than 1%. Given the number of natural infections out there, this is fantastic news. Hopefully both vaccine and naturally acquired immunity continue to last a long time. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2021, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-general-discussion-and-chit-chat/917903/549 "2021-08-23T16:31:11Z")
Australia, was that **really** necessary? > **[Australian town kills shelter-bound dogs over coronavirus concerns](https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/08/23/australia-dogs-killed-coronavirus/)** > > The state government is examining potential violations of animal cruelty laws. > A local government in rural Australia fatally shot dogs that were set to go to an animal shelter in another town over concerns that the shelter’s employees could spread the coronavirus by traveling to pick up the animals. > … ---
**Author:** ![nelliebly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nelliebly/32/5422_2.png) [@nelliebly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nelliebly)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2021, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-general-discussion-and-chit-chat/917903/550 "2021-08-23T16:31:59Z")
If she’s “hesitant,” that seems to indicate no exempting condition. I hope the full FDA approval of the vaccine prompts El Jefe(to use your term for him) to mandate vaccination for all employees or at the very least, requires her to work from home. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2021, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-general-discussion-and-chit-chat/917903/551 "2021-08-23T16:35:29Z")
She’s working from home. I think we should go back to lock-down mode. Because going to Seattle two days a week is still a PITA. Her hesitancy seems to be from the fear of unknown side-effects; but again, I don’t know her medical condition(s) if any. She may or may not have legitimate concerns. I don’t have Need To Know. She doesn’t appear to lean Right. ---
**Author:** ![nelliebly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nelliebly/32/5422_2.png) [@nelliebly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nelliebly)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2021, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-general-discussion-and-chit-chat/917903/552 "2021-08-23T16:51:18Z")
I meant permanently working from home, not just until she gets a negative test. Or did you mean she’ll be working from home from now on? I don’t mean to sound vindictive. While it’s an extremely remote possibility that she has some legit medical reason not get vaccinated (and therefore isn’t just hesitant), it’s not zero. However, if that’s indeed the case, given the number of unvaccinated people, it’s dangerous for her to be around staffers and for staffers to be around her. Her reasons for being unvaxxed are and should remain private, even as management takes steps to ensure her safety and that of the rest of the staff. ---
**Author:** ![MissTake](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misstake/32/3189_2.png) [@MissTake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MissTake)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2021, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-general-discussion-and-chit-chat/917903/553 "2021-08-23T17:13:29Z")
The Minnesota State Fair starts in a few days. No vax requirements, no testing, a generic mask request. The fair is the largest in the country (Texas overall has more attendees, but is more than twice as long). Over 100 booths aren’t opening this year, claiming inability to find employees and safety. I’m guessing it’s the more the former than the latter. As it is, many hospitals are on the edge of hanging out “No Vacancy” signs around here. We’re screwed. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2021, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-general-discussion-and-chit-chat/917903/554 "2021-08-23T17:32:04Z")
We have a small office, and there’s not much chance of exposure. She’s working from home until she gets results ‘out of an abundance of caution’. Our president is taking the pandemic very seriously. He hasn’t made vaccinations a condition of employment. Yet. He still may. If that happens, she may just re-retire. As they said on KING5 this morning, people are used to working from home. I’d rather work from home full-time. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2021, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-general-discussion-and-chit-chat/917903/555 "2021-08-23T19:40:59Z")
My coworker said she and her husband have been tested, and they should have results in 24-36 hours. She said they will be getting the Pfizer vaccine soon. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2021, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-general-discussion-and-chit-chat/917903/556 "2021-08-23T22:46:01Z")
From the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office: > The Sheriff’s Office has received inquiries from citizens as to whether it will enforce the latest version of the Governor’s “mask” mandate. Violations of the order constitute a criminal misdemeanor under Washington State law. It is not practical for deputies to arrest people for violating the “mask” provisions of the order. Since the Governor’s initial order in 2020, the Sheriff’s Office has not arrested anyone for violating the order. The Washington State Secretary of Public Health previously announced that mask mandates are “not a mandate for law enforcement to detain, cite or arrest violators.” > > The Sheriff’s Office is working to control a COVID-19 outbreak within the County Jail that has affected both inmates and staff. We are operating on a higher level of vigilance which will continue for the foreseeable future. Infrastructure issues relating to capacity and medical housing have created serious challenges to our ability to distance unaffected inmates and isolate those who test positive. Booking restrictions currently preclude law enforcement from booking people for simple misdemeanors and it makes no sense to introduce otherwise law-abiding citizens into the current environment. > > The Sheriff’s Office has also received a few inquiries as to “why” the Sheriff has not declared the Governor’s Order “unconstitutional.” Under Washington law, the courts, not the Sheriff, have the authority to declare executive action unconstitutional. To the best of our knowledge, that has not occurred. > > We urge everyone to exercise common sense and be mindful of good public health practices. > The community should be aware that citizens still have the right to control their private property. Trespassing laws may apply if someone refuses the direction of the person in charge to leave such property. ---
**Author:** ![GreysonCarlisle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a87d85/32.png) [@GreysonCarlisle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreysonCarlisle)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2021, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-general-discussion-and-chit-chat/917903/557 "2021-08-23T23:25:03Z")
I thought it might be interesting to see how the [American South’s Black Belt](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Belt_in_the_American_South) is handling covid. I used the [Hotspots map from NYT](https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/us/covid-cases.html). There seems to be a correlation with fewer recent cases in the Black Belt. Until it gets to Mississippi, then it goes all to hell. But Virginia, the Carolinas, Georgia (somewhat), Alabama, and a bit of Arkansas seem to show relatively fewer “hotspot” cases in the Black Belt areas than in the rest of the state. I’m wondering whether this seeming correlation is real or an artifact of statistics, like these areas having a lower population than the rest of the state or something. Or maybe I’m not even seeing what I think I’m seeing. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2021, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-general-discussion-and-chit-chat/917903/558 "2021-08-24T02:19:32Z")
We were informed today by his school that our son has been in close contact with someone who has tested positive. 😧 ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2021, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-general-discussion-and-chit-chat/917903/559 "2021-08-24T02:27:57Z")
Damn. I am so sorry. It seems to me that being asked to send hundreds of children to school every day unvaccinated and/or unmasked turns every school day into a superspreader event. 😟 ---
**Author:** ![Tfletch1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tfletch1/32/5340_2.png) [@Tfletch1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tfletch1)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2021, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-general-discussion-and-chit-chat/917903/560 "2021-08-24T02:44:30Z")
> [@suranyi](#): > > We were informed today by his school that our son has been in close contact with someone who has tested positive. Shit. So sorry to hear this. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2021, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-general-discussion-and-chit-chat/917903/561 "2021-08-24T16:40:45Z")
My coworker reports that her test came back negative. She just has a cold. ---
**Author:** ![BippityBoppityBoo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bippityboppityboo/32/5745_2.png) [@BippityBoppityBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BippityBoppityBoo)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2021, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-general-discussion-and-chit-chat/917903/562 "2021-08-24T16:41:51Z")
Good news for all. Sorry about her cold though. ---
**Author:** ![Crane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crane/32/3495_2.png) [@Crane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crane)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2021, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-general-discussion-and-chit-chat/917903/563 "2021-08-24T17:05:28Z")
This was posted on the Model Steam Boat hobbyist site: “Hello Friends - on August 1 Ed and his wife Cathy went to the ER in the new town they had just moved to. Both were found to have Covid. Ed’s case was more severe than Cathy’s and he was admitted to the ICU. Cathy went to their new Kentucky home ( which is 100 plus years old ) to battle the terrible disease alone. Ed was put on a ventilator on August 3. Ed had to be placed on some ‘paralytic drugs’ while on the ventilator. Believe me when I say there have been so many ups and downs in this battle. On August 16 they were able to finally remove Ed from the ventilator! Ed is still in ICU. It is a daily battle - some steps forward and others backwards. I will not go into all the details - suffice to say Ed has a long long battle ahead of him. I am happy to say though that on August 11 Cathy was found to be Covid free! As I mentioned they had just made their last move to their new home in a new town. No friends yet…Cathy and Ed would be so thrilled to have any note of encouragement at this tough time in their lives. If you would like to send me a PM I can give you their address, and additional info. Thanks for your concerns - this is one terrible disease not to be taken lightly. Ed’s nurses were crying when they called Cathy to tell her he was off the ventilator because he was the first to come off one alive.” Sheesh and people are whining about wearing masks! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-general-discussion-and-chit-chat/917903.md?page=27) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-general-discussion-and-chit-chat/917903.md?page=29)