Coronavirus news

[Dave Benke]

Just heard the local TV news talk about how the COVID-19 pandemic has now killed more people than the 1918 flu pandemic.

I found an article that gives more information:

The U.S. death toll from COVID-19 has surpassed that of the 1918 flu pandemic, according to a tracker from Johns Hopkins University, highlighting the extraordinary damage incurred by the current virus.

On the other hand, later in the same article it is mentioned that the 1918 flu pandemic death rate was 6 per 10000, while the COVID-19 death rate is 2 per 1000 (so far).  It's because there are roughly 3 times as many people today than in 1918.

However you measure - total deaths or death rate - COVID-19 is near the top of the list of pandemics.

Another differentiation between 1918 and 2020 is the age of the victims - much younger in 1918 on the whole.  And from the 2020, scientific advances including the speed of finding a vaccine tamp down the number/percentage of deaths significantly.  Nonetheless "near the top" is true.

Dave Benke

[Jim Butler]

Pastor Butler:
But why allow facts to into the way of Charles' narrative?

Me:
Get real. Those facts came out after my original post. It's not as if I was hiding them. Every story develops, we learn new things.

Well, maybe you shouldn't be so quick with your judgments. Be honest: you used the story as a weapon. Your point was "Crazy anti-vaxxers attack NY restaurant hostess who is only following the law!" The fact they were from Texas just added to your glee.

But that narrative blew up in your face. Come to find out one of the group was a doctor. All of the women were vaccinated. The hostess called them the n-word. The hostess accused them of presenting fake vaccine passports. *That* was when the fight broke out. But "Racist hostess starts fight at restaurant by making false accusations" doesn't help your argument.

According Black Lives Matter NYC, 72% of black adults in NYC are not vaccinated. They are now arguing that the vaccine mandate is racist. “We’re putting this city on notice, that your mandate will not be another racist social-distance practice. Black people are not going to stand by, or you will see another uprising. And that is not a threat; that is a promise,” she said. “The vaccination passport is not a free passport to racism," said BLM-NYC co-founder Chivona Newsome.

She went on, "This vaccine mandate is disproportionately affecting people of color. People shouldn’t be forced to do it. It’s ‘for your health,’ but they’re willing to ruin people’s lives to protect against a virus with over a 99 percent survival rate. . . . This is going to be the new Jim Crow, and it’s going to affect mostly people of color."

What did you call the unvaccinated? Dumb? Selfish? Unconcerned? Did you argue that all the unvaccinated should be confined to their homes? I think I know what BLM-NYC would think of those views.

And yes, stories do evolve. Which bring up the question as to why you didn't update the situation. I don't even subscribe to the Times and I found the story, you should have. But again, those facts got in the way of your narrative...

[David Garner]

Pastor Butler:
But why allow facts to into the way of Charles' narrative?

Me:
Get real. Those facts came out after my original post. It's not as if I was hiding them. Every story develops, we learn new things.

Well, maybe you shouldn't be so quick with your judgments. Be honest: you used the story as a weapon. Your point was "Crazy anti-vaxxers attack NY restaurant hostess who is only following the law!" The fact they were from Texas just added to your glee.

But that narrative blew up in your face. Come to find out one of the group was a doctor. All of the women were vaccinated. The hostess called them the n-word. The hostess accused them of presenting fake vaccine passports. *That* was when the fight broke out. But "Racist hostess starts fight at restaurant by making false accusations" doesn't help your argument.

According Black Lives Matter NYC, 72% of black adults in NYC are not vaccinated. They are now arguing that the vaccine mandate is racist. “We’re putting this city on notice, that your mandate will not be another racist social-distance practice. Black people are not going to stand by, or you will see another uprising. And that is not a threat; that is a promise,” she said. “The vaccination passport is not a free passport to racism," said BLM-NYC co-founder Chivona Newsome.

She went on, "This vaccine mandate is disproportionately affecting people of color. People shouldn’t be forced to do it. It’s ‘for your health,’ but they’re willing to ruin people’s lives to protect against a virus with over a 99 percent survival rate. . . . This is going to be the new Jim Crow, and it’s going to affect mostly people of color."

What did you call the unvaccinated? Dumb? Selfish? Unconcerned? Did you argue that all the unvaccinated should be confined to their homes? I think I know what BLM-NYC would think of those views.

And yes, stories do evolve. Which bring up the question as to why you didn't update the situation. I don't even subscribe to the Times and I found the story, you should have. But again, those facts got in the way of your narrative...

Indeed.  "For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment." -- James 2:13.

There are things more important than rules.

[Michael Slusser]

https://dfw.cbslocal.com/2021/09/18/rowlett-restaurant-owner-explains-no-mask-policy-after-asking-family-to-leave/

“Our waitress came over, sat down next to me and said, ‘Our manager told me to come over because I am nicer than he is… But this is political and I need you to take your masks off.'”

No masks allowed.

It’s a policy you don’t hear often amid the pandemic, but the owner says he considers it part of the dress code.

“I have spent my money on the business, my blood sweat and tears in this business, and I don’t want masks in here,” Tom, the owner of Hang Time, said.

It is hard to satisfy everybody. I hope there are other restaurants in Rowlett TX.

Peace,
Michael

More detail from another news source https://www.dallasnews.com/food/restaurant-news/2021/09/20/rowlett-businessowner-says-no-masks-are-allowed-in-his-bar-can-he-do-that/

[Jim Butler]

https://dfw.cbslocal.com/2021/09/18/rowlett-restaurant-owner-explains-no-mask-policy-after-asking-family-to-leave/

“Our waitress came over, sat down next to me and said, ‘Our manager told me to come over because I am nicer than he is… But this is political and I need you to take your masks off.'”

No masks allowed.

It’s a policy you don’t hear often amid the pandemic, but the owner says he considers it part of the dress code.

“I have spent my money on the business, my blood sweat and tears in this business, and I don’t want masks in here,” Tom, the owner of Hang Time, said.

It is hard to satisfy everybody. I hope there are other restaurants in Rowlett TX.

Peace,
Michael

More detail from another news source https://www.dallasnews.com/food/restaurant-news/2021/09/20/rowlett-businessowner-says-no-masks-are-allowed-in-his-bar-can-he-do-that/

Absolute silliness. Unless a city or town requires masking, everyplace should be "masks optional." If you want to wear them, go ahead. If you don't, don't. To each his or her own.

But forbidding them entirely? That's just stupid.

[David Garner]

https://dfw.cbslocal.com/2021/09/18/rowlett-restaurant-owner-explains-no-mask-policy-after-asking-family-to-leave/

“Our waitress came over, sat down next to me and said, ‘Our manager told me to come over because I am nicer than he is… But this is political and I need you to take your masks off.'”

No masks allowed.

It’s a policy you don’t hear often amid the pandemic, but the owner says he considers it part of the dress code.

“I have spent my money on the business, my blood sweat and tears in this business, and I don’t want masks in here,” Tom, the owner of Hang Time, said.

It is hard to satisfy everybody. I hope there are other restaurants in Rowlett TX.

Peace,
Michael

More detail from another news source https://www.dallasnews.com/food/restaurant-news/2021/09/20/rowlett-businessowner-says-no-masks-are-allowed-in-his-bar-can-he-do-that/

Absolute silliness. Unless a city or town requires masking, everyplace should be "masks optional." If you want to wear them, go ahead. If you don't, don't. To each his or her own.

But forbidding them entirely? That's just stupid.

It's become a contest of who can signal the dumbest virtues.

[Dave Benke]

I found this an enjoyable read, from someone who lost the sense of smell from COVID-19.  It references one of the linguistic anthropomorphisms, God's nose as a connection to COVID anosmia and the merciful nature of God who gives back that sense of smell.  "Long-suffering" is literally "wide of nostril".  "God's nose grew hot" is the way the wrath of God is described in many Old Testament passages.  Anyway, for you to share with someone who lost the sense of smell due to COVID:  https://www.christiancentury.org/article/first-person/god-s-nose

Dave Benke

[Michael Slusser]

I found this an enjoyable read, from someone who lost the sense of smell from COVID-19.  It references one of the linguistic anthropomorphisms, God's nose as a connection to COVID anosmia and the merciful nature of God who gives back that sense of smell.  "Long-suffering" is literally "wide of nostril".  "God's nose grew hot" is the way the wrath of God is described in many Old Testament passages.  Anyway, for you to share with someone who lost the sense of smell due to COVID:  https://www.christiancentury.org/article/first-person/god-s-nose

I love the final line:

Like us, God smells the world—God remembers, and God is moved to compassion.

Peace,
Michael

[Dave Benke]

I found this an enjoyable read, from someone who lost the sense of smell from COVID-19.  It references one of the linguistic anthropomorphisms, God's nose as a connection to COVID anosmia and the merciful nature of God who gives back that sense of smell.  "Long-suffering" is literally "wide of nostril".  "God's nose grew hot" is the way the wrath of God is described in many Old Testament passages.  Anyway, for you to share with someone who lost the sense of smell due to COVID:  https://www.christiancentury.org/article/first-person/god-s-nose

I love the final line:

Like us, God smells the world—God remembers, and God is moved to compassion.

Peace,
Michael

Absolutely.  Counseling folks in the up and down ramp from having COVID, one of the things that affected them emotionally at a deep level has been the loss of the senses of smell and, accompanying that, taste.  There's no love in the food.  There are no aromas.  It's a very bland existence, and highly unsettling, the feeling of having lost yourself along the way.  So this article really hit the spot with me, and I'm going to share to our various church and community audiences in Brooklyn and outward to the world.

Dave Benke

[peter_speckhard]

What can it hurt?

https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/953816

[James S. Rustad]

New COVID-19 hospital admissions in the USA have been dropping since the end of August.
https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#new-hospital-admissions

The same trend is apparent for total hospitalizations.
https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#hospitalizations

[Matt Hummel]

New COVID-19 hospital admissions in the USA have been dropping since the end of August.
https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#new-hospital-admissions

The same trend is apparent for total hospitalizations.
https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#hospitalizations

Interesting. But these data are following indicators. Something has happened pretty much nationwide, that given incubation times may not yet show in those reports: Back to school. Full classroom s again in many places... for the moment.

[James S. Rustad]

New COVID-19 hospital admissions in the USA have been dropping since the end of August.
https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#new-hospital-admissions

The same trend is apparent for total hospitalizations.
https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#hospitalizations

Interesting. But these data are following indicators. Something has happened pretty much nationwide, that given incubation times may not yet show in those reports: Back to school. Full classroom s again in many places... for the moment.

LAUSD has been back to school since mid-August.

Since August 16, 1,957 schools have reported at least one case to Public Health. School programs reporting one case increased initially from 467 during the first week of school to 562 during the second week of school; reports of single cases have declined over the most recent two weeks of monitoring to 414 sites. Sites reporting two cases remained at a similar level for the first three weeks of school at an average of nearly 250 sites, however the number of sites reporting two cases declined to 139 sites this week. Sites reporting three or more cases have been declining since the first week of school from 441 sites to 127 sites. There has been a 43% decrease in the number of schools reporting three or more cases between the most recent two weeks of monitoring.

In K-12 school settings countywide, between August 15 and September 13, 7,995 student cases and 1,193 staff cases were reported, with the vast majority occurring at LAUSD, which tests everyone weekly. With more than 1.5 million students and 175,000 staff countywide (by last year’s counts), 0.5% of the student body and 0.7% of staff have become infected since school districts reopened. This is slightly higher than the 0.4% rate of infection experienced overall in the County. Given the massive testing of asymptomatic individuals at schools, this very low rate of infection affirms the safety provided to students and staff at schools.

So far the statistics are good.  So much so that the district is loosening up on quarantine requirements for students exposed to COVID-19.  Attending school in person appears not to be the superspreader event that some claim.

[Dave Benke]

According Black Lives Matter NYC, 72% of black adults in NYC are not vaccinated. They are now arguing that the vaccine mandate is racist. “We’re putting this city on notice, that your mandate will not be another racist social-distance practice. Black people are not going to stand by, or you will see another uprising. And that is not a threat; that is a promise,” she said. “The vaccination passport is not a free passport to racism," said BLM-NYC co-founder Chivona Newsome.

She went on, "This vaccine mandate is disproportionately affecting people of color. People shouldn’t be forced to do it. It’s ‘for your health,’ but they’re willing to ruin people’s lives to protect against a virus with over a 99 percent survival rate. . . . This is going to be the new Jim Crow, and it’s going to affect mostly people of color."


This is an issue for the congregation and community I serve.  Vaccine hesitancy among black and brown people has been high since the vaccine entered the world.  Spiritual leaders of black and latino congregants throughout NYC have encouraged their members in every possible way to get vaccinated.  And - the campaigns to do so from the public sector have been uniformly inclusive of the concerns of those who are hesitant. 

The BLM message is not only discouraging, it is actually a deadly one, given that those who are hesitant in the aging black and brown population are most likely to get the virus and die from it, and that a disproportionate percentage of those in what's deemed "essential" positions and in health care are black and brown. 

The guidelines in use at our Universal PreK site are strict, are in force, and so far are working well.  Parents and grandparents of our 77 children are well aware of the need for the vaccine and the need to wear masks in bringing and picking up their kids.  100% of those children and families are black and brown.  I don't see this BLM enterprise as producing anything like a mass protest. 

Dave Benke

[Rob Morris]

How would you summarize the vaccine hesitance among your folks? In other words, what do you see as the primary drivers?

Among my un-vaccinated (which is a low percentage), the relatively-low risk the virus presents to most who get it and the uncertainty over the brand-new mRNA vaccines are the leading reasons. (Though there is certainly a bit of "don't trust those bozos" mixed in, with various people/parties filling the "bozo" role.)

The narrative of rural, white resistance is a well-traveled trope at this point. The urban, minority resistance remains relatively unexplained in my reading. Your thoughts?