Bad News Thread

Also: Some people already have 'natural immunity' – that is, immunity from prior COVID infection. During every month of this pandemic, I've had debates with other public researchers about the effectiveness and durability of natural immunity. I've been told that natural immunity could fall off a cliff, rendering people susceptible to infection. But here we are now, over a year and a half into the clinical experience of observing patients who were infected, and natural immunity is effective and going strong. And that's because with natural immunity, the body develops antibodies to the entire surface of the virus, not just a spike protein constructed from a vaccine. The power of natural immunity was recently affirmed in an Israeli study, which found a 6.7 times greater level of protection among those with natural immunity vs. those with vaccinated immunity.
 
Despite ‘Delta’ Alarmism, US COVID Deaths Are at Lowest Level Since March 2020, Harvard and Stanford Professors Explain
Far more people were dying from COVID-19 months ago as we were winding down restrictions than are dying today as some call to reinstate them.
Wednesday, July 28, 2021

coronavirus-data-explorer.png

Now, some would cite rising COVID-19 case counts or hospitalizations in certain parts of the country as evidence that the pandemic is indeed once again spiraling out of control. But many COVID-19 cases recorded as positive are either asymptomatic or come with very mild symptoms—especially the cases confirmed among vaccinated individuals—so high case counts are not necessarily proof of a serious problem. Hospitalizations are concerning, yes, but primarily insofar as they lead to high numbers of deaths, which, thankfully, is not the case so far with the Delta variant.

Others would say that deaths are a “lagging indicator” that come in several weeks after the increased spread of the disease. But the Delta variant has been spreading in the US for months now, and deaths have remained relatively flat, in part due to widespread vaccination.

“It is striking that COVID mortality is at such low levels despite the fact that we are seeing an increase in cases of late,” Stanford Professor of Medicine Dr. Jay Bhattacharya tells FEE. “By immunizing the elderly and many other vulnerable people, we have provided them with excellent protection against severe disease in case they get infected. Also contributing is widespread natural immunity from recovered COVID patients. Though cases may rise, deaths will no longer follow in proportion. We have effectively defanged the disease with our successful vaccination rollout.”
 
Mask Mandate Reinstated in San Francisco—as Daily COVID Deaths Hit Zero
Mask orders have the effect of keeping the public in a perpetual state of emergency—and that might be the whole point.
Wednesday, August 4, 2021

https://fee.org/articles/mask-mandate-reinstated-in-san-francisco-as-daily-covid-deaths-hit-zero/


Why the Leviathan Loves Crisis
Many will argue that mask requirements are not overly invasive measures, and therefore are prudent as a mere precaution. After all, the case can be made that masks can offer protection against COVID-19 and help us wind down the pandemic sooner.

The problem is there’s a vast distance between recommending a policy for protection and mandating one. And as Washington, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser recently demonstrated, many public officials seem more fond of mask mandates than actually wearing masks themselves in social situations.

Additionally, mask orders have the effect of keeping the public in a state of emergency. As Stanford Professor of Medicine Dr. Jay Bhattacharya recently told FEE, there seems to be a reluctance on the part of many to admit the pandemic is all but over.

“We should be declaring a great and resounding success,” Bhattacharya told FEE’s Brad Polumbo. “The COVID emergency is over. We still need to take COVID seriously, and there are still vulnerable people here and abroad left to vaccinate. But we can start to treat it as one disease among many that afflict people rather than an all-consuming threat.”

This reluctance should come as little surprise. History shows that public officials struggle mightily to relinquish powers claimed during periods of emergency.

In his classic book Crisis and Leviathan, economist Robert Higgs noted that crises served as some of the biggest government power grabs in modern history. The New Deal was born out of the crisis of the Great Depression. The War on Terror and the Patriot Act were the rotten fruits of the 9-11 attacks. It was not accidental that these massive expansions of government followed crises.

“‘Emergencies’ have always been the pretext on which the safeguards of individual liberty have eroded,” the Nobel-Prize-winning economist Friedrich Hayek once observed. “And once they are suspended it is not difficult for anyone who has assumed emergency powers to see to it that the emergency will persist.”
 
WASHINGTON—The Biden administration Tuesday announced a new federal moratorium on evictions, bowing to pressure from progressive Democrats to revive lapsed tenant protections despite White House officials saying they lacked the legal authority to do so.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s ban targets areas that have experienced “substantial or high” levels of Covid-19 transmission and is expected to cover more than 80% of U.S. counties.

The action aims to buy states and localities more time to distribute about $47 billion in rental assistance designed to help tenants harmed by the pandemic who have fallen behind on their rent. As of June 30, just $3 billion of that money had reached tenants and landlords.

Bye Bye 5th Amendment
 
I was considering starting a new thread called something like "Covid Karma" just listing those critics of covid-prevention policies who subsequently became ill with the disease, but then I realized I didn't want to spend all day looking for morbid stories.
 
I want to introduce Arinya. Amazing lady originally from Thailand who is trying to do the right thing and keep everyone safe. This was in 90 degree heat at the beach the other day. I was a life guard back in the day so I needed to help her out big time. I spoke to her and got permission to share a few health tips about this and that and she said she was confused with the "law." Poor thing didnt understand the guidance put forth and is just doing her part she says. I did tell her that it would be for own well being to take off mask 6 feet a way but she said she doesn't want delta either. She already got Jabbed twice she said. She took off mask as we were leaving and she thanked us for helping her with a thumbs up :)

Lady at beach.jpg
 
I remember back in the old days when our family American Dr told us to just relax and chill for 15 days so we can slow the spread. At the time he said masks are completely use less. 18 months later, and oh boy, we have AF Jets and Blackhawks landing on our streets for exercise. Espola actually thinks their looking for me and my wife. Let's see what happens. Buckle friends :)

1628348956762.png
 
Mask Mandate Reinstated in San Francisco—as Daily COVID Deaths Hit Zero
Mask orders have the effect of keeping the public in a perpetual state of emergency—and that might be the whole point.
Wednesday, August 4, 2021

https://fee.org/articles/mask-mandate-reinstated-in-san-francisco-as-daily-covid-deaths-hit-zero/


Why the Leviathan Loves Crisis
Many will argue that mask requirements are not overly invasive measures, and therefore are prudent as a mere precaution. After all, the case can be made that masks can offer protection against COVID-19 and help us wind down the pandemic sooner.

The problem is there’s a vast distance between recommending a policy for protection and mandating one. And as Washington, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser recently demonstrated, many public officials seem more fond of mask mandates than actually wearing masks themselves in social situations.

Additionally, mask orders have the effect of keeping the public in a state of emergency. As Stanford Professor of Medicine Dr. Jay Bhattacharya recently told FEE, there seems to be a reluctance on the part of many to admit the pandemic is all but over.

“We should be declaring a great and resounding success,” Bhattacharya told FEE’s Brad Polumbo. “The COVID emergency is over. We still need to take COVID seriously, and there are still vulnerable people here and abroad left to vaccinate. But we can start to treat it as one disease among many that afflict people rather than an all-consuming threat.”

This reluctance should come as little surprise. History shows that public officials struggle mightily to relinquish powers claimed during periods of emergency.

In his classic book Crisis and Leviathan, economist Robert Higgs noted that crises served as some of the biggest government power grabs in modern history. The New Deal was born out of the crisis of the Great Depression. The War on Terror and the Patriot Act were the rotten fruits of the 9-11 attacks. It was not accidental that these massive expansions of government followed crises.

“‘Emergencies’ have always been the pretext on which the safeguards of individual liberty have eroded,” the Nobel-Prize-winning economist Friedrich Hayek once observed. “And once they are suspended it is not difficult for anyone who has assumed emergency powers to see to it that the emergency will persist.”
Huh.

So, with a mask mandate and a 70% vaccination rate, SF has zero daily covid deaths.

Meanwhile, with no mask mandates and a 35% vaccination rate, Arkansas has about 20 daily covid deaths.

You'd almost think there is some kind of link there.
 
Huh.

So, with a mask mandate and a 70% vaccination rate, SF has zero daily covid deaths.

Meanwhile, with no mask mandates and a 35% vaccination rate, Arkansas has about 20 daily covid deaths.

You'd almost think there is some kind of link there.

Maybe. Let's see.

State of Arkansas IFR .0072

County of San Francisco IFR .0051

Three largest counties in Arkansas with a population of 891k+ has an IFR of .0097 compared to San Francisco's 874k+ at .0051.

Apples to Apples.....
 
Maybe. Let's see.

State of Arkansas IFR .0072

County of San Francisco IFR .0051

Three largest counties in Arkansas with a population of 891k+ has an IFR of .0097 compared to San Francisco's 874k+ at .0051.

Apples to Apples.....
I don't think you'll be able to find a high vaccination rate city with a high IFR for current infections.

You see, the vaccine is designed to lower IFR.

You won't be able to find a place with universal masks, 80% adult Pfizer/moderna vax rate, and over 5 daily covid deaths per million people. Go look. I'll wait.

Plenty of low vax rate, mask optional places with high deaths rates, though.
 
I was considering starting a new thread called something like "Covid Karma" just listing those critics of covid-prevention policies who subsequently became ill with the disease, but then I realized I didn't want to spend all day looking for morbid stories.
Start the thread. I'll take care of the morbidity without the stories. Here is your first post. .00something. Takes all the emotion out of it.
 
I don't think you'll be able to find a high vaccination rate city with a high IFR for current infections.

You see, the vaccine is designed to lower IFR.
The immune system is designed to lower IFR as well. Only better when we look at low vax to high vax areas of comparable sizes.

You won't be able to find a place with universal masks, 80% adult Pfizer/moderna vax rate, and over 5 daily covid deaths per million people. Go look. I'll wait.

Plenty of low vax rate, mask optional places with high deaths rates, though.
Funny you picked Arkansas. They have 8 deaths, not 20 for comparable population size to SF. Less than half for a population that is half as vax'd as SF if you want to link anything.
 
“‘Emergencies’ have always been the pretext on which the safeguards of individual liberty have eroded,” the Nobel-Prize-winning economist Friedrich Hayek once observed. “And once they are suspended it is not difficult for anyone who has assumed emergency powers to see to it that the emergency will persist.”
 
Those of you who dismiss as unwarranted the warnings issued by those of us who worry about government officials using fear of Covid as an occasion to seize dangerous powers might wish to read this piece by Scott Shackford. A slice:

L.A. City Council President Nury Martinez and Councilman Mitch O’Farrell have introduced a motion instructing the city attorney to draft an ordinance requiring people in Los Angeles to provide proof of at least one vaccine dose in order to enter any indoor spaces “including but not limited to restaurants, bars, retail establishments, fitness centers, spas, and entertainment centers such as stadiums, concert venues, and movie theaters.”

There is no actual scientific or safety justification for such a demand. The motion itself notes that more than 70 percent of Los Angeles County residents over the age of 16 have gotten at least one vaccine dose. Hospitalizations and deaths in Los Angeles due to COVID-19 are indeed rising again, but they’re nowhere near where they were before vaccines became available. Hospitalizations won’t reach that spot again precisely because more than 70 percent of residents are at least partly vaccinated
 
16 Days ago Joe said, "You're not going to get Covid if you take these vaccinations."

Stop blaming others for getting sick all the time, moo!!!

I talked with a super nice dad yesterday and all was good until..... He did not believe my wife and i were 54 and 50. He's in a rough spot physically and emotionally. Has all the shots and wears a mask at work and is not happy. I would say 289+ weight and only 5 11'. He asked us our secret and I told him, "stopped eating meat bro." The he goes, "oh man, I can;t do that" and just kind of walked away in a weird kind of way.

1628356792112.png
 
“‘Emergencies’ have always been the pretext on which the safeguards of individual liberty have eroded,” the Nobel-Prize-winning economist Friedrich Hayek once observed. “And once they are suspended it is not difficult for anyone who has assumed emergency powers to see to it that the emergency will persist.”

Wasn't that the advice he gave Pinochet? It's a feature not a bug.
 
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