October Banter 2020

[WinterWxLuvr]

8 minutes ago, MN Transplant said:

VA doesn’t actually have Teacher Unions like most people think of them.  This is one of several “associations”, which looks like it accounts for 1/4 to 1/3 of the staff for Fairfax County.  They definitely appear to be way out there on the cautious side, to an absurd extent.

And we don’t have the right to strike either. So if the FCPS board says go back to the classroom and teachers balk, I’d say they’d be looking for a new job. They really don’t have any power.

[Harv_poor]

I thought that two or three weeks ago Fairfax teachers were given three options if they did not want to go back to the classroom:

   Have a valid Medical excuse for not going back (per Federal law)

    Take an unpaid LOA

     Resign

 

Did this not happen?

[SnowLover22]

What is the difference between CAPE and MAX THETA E CAPE.

 

 

[mappy]

Dorchester County going back to virtual learning following a spike in cases. 6.1% positivity rate yesterday, after being down to 2.5% on 10/10

[nw baltimore wx]

39 minutes ago, mappy said:

Dorchester County going back to virtual learning following a spike in cases. 6.1% positivity rate yesterday, after being down to 2.5% on 10/10

I’m afraid that that will be a reoccurring theme for the next couple of months. 

[Eskimo Joe]

53 minutes ago, mappy said:

Dorchester County going back to virtual learning following a spike in cases. 6.1% positivity rate yesterday, after being down to 2.5% on 10/10

People aren't taking this seriously and it's infuriating.

[mappy]

23 minutes ago, losetoa6 said:

I wonder if any of cases were actually from in the schools themselves or is it just out in the community.  Lots of articles showing spread is happening in homes and family gatherings.  

Overwhelming evidence has shown schools aren't spreading the virus. 

Just says within the community. I know your position, and respect it. However, if its spreading enough in the community that the positivity rate tripled in 10-days, then it most certainly can spread within schools. I'm of the mind that it's better to be safe now, then sorry later. 

[friedmators]

ThrowbackThursday


.

[jaydreb]

1 hour ago, mappy said:

Just says within the community. I know your position, and respect it. However, if its spreading enough in the community that the positivity rate tripled in 10-days, then it most certainly can spread within schools. I'm of the mind that it's better to be safe now, then sorry later. 

I agree.  I think schools should be open when community spread is reasonably low, but the risk becomes too great when community spread gets above a certain level.  
 

 

[40westwx]

I am feeling really good about our chances as we head in to flu season!  I really think we get better at handling this!

https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/what-icu-doctors-have-learned-about-covid-19-how-they-n1225801

[mappy]

6 minutes ago, jaydreb said:

I agree.  I think schools should be open when community spread is reasonably low, but the risk becomes too great when community spread gets above a certain level.  
 

 

There is risk no matter what we do. And it all needs to be approached in a case by case basis. I think Dorchester is handling it correctly. Ideal metrics is below 5% positivity rate, so seeing a spike like that requires a response. 

[CAPE]

Ravens have been busy today. Traded for Yannick Ngakoue and signed Dez Bryant to the practice squad. The latter is a low risk deal, as they are hoping he can be that big bodied physical receiver they lack, esp in the red zone. Wouldn't be surprised if they still pursue AB, or try to make a deal for a TE. Evan Engram would be ideal.

[CAPE]

Ngakoue is back home, and he and Calais Campbell are reunited. More versatility and added depth on that DL. Wont have to depend so much on Judon pressuring from the edge now.

[H2O]

whew, was worried the WTF team did a deal with the Ravens to bring back RG3 since the Haskins thing hasn't panned out.  

[CAPE]

2 minutes ago, H2O said:

whew, was worried the WTF team did a deal with the Ravens to bring back RG3 since the Haskins thing hasn't panned out.  

RG3 is decent backup. That is all. I think the WTFs bailed too early on Haskins.

Maybe they can work a deal with the jets for Sam Darnold, then give up on him after a few games.

[CAPE]

Ravens GM Eric DeCosta after Yannick Ngakoue trade: 'We are not finished building this team'.

Gotta love his aggressiveness. He retooled the D on the fly last season when the Ravens were 2-2 and they won 12 straight.

[H2O]

9 minutes ago, CAPE said:

RG3 is decent backup. That is all. I think the WTFs bailed too early on Haskins.

Maybe they can work a deal with the jets for Sam Darnold, then give up on him after a few games.

the lol rumor i heard this week was that the WTFs were going to make a play for Cam because of the Rivera connection.  Next week it will be tanking for Trevor Lawrence 

[CAPE]

Just now, H2O said:

the lol rumor i heard this week was that the WTFs were going to make a play for Cam because of the Rivera connection.  Next week it will be tanking for Trevor Lawrence 

Might happen. Cam is probably a one year stop gap in NE. Apparently they are one of the teams exploring a deal for Darnold.

[Scarlet Pimpernel]

5 hours ago, Eskimo Joe said:

People aren't taking this seriously and it's infuriating.

Amen!!

 

4 hours ago, mappy said:

Just says within the community. I know your position, and respect it. However, if its spreading enough in the community that the positivity rate tripled in 10-days, then it most certainly can spread within schools. I'm of the mind that it's better to be safe now, then sorry later. 

Agree.  Whether or not schools are a primary vector for spreading the disease is almost irrelevant.  If it's spreading in the community and spiking like that, better to play it safer.  Personally, I think Gov. Hogan may have been a bit too quick on relaxing the restrictions more of late, and I say that as one who has been impressed and supportive of how he's dealt with this overall.  Though he does allow (as I understand it) individual counties to make their own decisions.  I live in MoCo, which has one of the highest rates and number of cases in the state (perhaps PG is the highest?).  It was determined late in the summer that schools would be virtual *at least* through the first semester this academic year (end of January).  They're supposed to re-evaluate the situation in the near future, to determine what's to be done for the 2nd semester (still virtual, in-person, or some hybrid?).  But I'm not optimistic that they'll have any in-person instruction in MoCo this year at all.  It sucks, we all want our kids to be in school (and hell, *they* want to be in school to see their friends!)...but in my opinion the closures and virtual learning is a sad necessity given the situation.  Be glad we live in a time, at least, where it's possible to do that.

[Scarlet Pimpernel]

Anyone care about or paying much attention to the World Series this year?  Anyone...anyone...Bueller??  Me neither!  (apologies to any Dodgers' or Rays' fans out there!!) 

[MN Transplant]

58 minutes ago, CAPE said:

Ngakoue is back home, and he and Calais Campbell are reunited. More versatility and added depth on that DL. Wont have to depend so much on Judon pressuring from the edge now.

Vikings are embracing the tank.  Ngakoue gone, Hunter is officially out for the year, and DT Pierce had already opted-out.  The remaining DL is full of backups or mid-or-late round rookies.

I think Spielman has to go as GM.  While he's done some good things, he's long been faulted for not being able to put together an OL or find a QB.  But I think pretending like 2020 was a contending year and trying to rebuild on the fly will be his downfall.  He extended Kirk's contract to buy some cap space and traded a 2nd (which sadly will be a high 2nd) for 6 games of Ngakoue.  Now the Vikings are in cap hell and aren't even a good team.  Thankfully Jefferson is fun to watch, otherwise this would be even more painful.

[mappy]

44 minutes ago, Always in Zugzwang said:

Amen!!

 

Agree.  Whether or not schools are a primary vector for spreading the disease is almost irrelevant.  If it's spreading in the community and spiking like that, better to play it safer.  Personally, I think Gov. Hogan may have been a bit too quick on relaxing the restrictions more of late, and I say that as one who has been impressed and supportive of how he's dealt with this overall.  Though he does allow (as I understand it) individual counties to make their own decisions.  I live in MoCo, which has one of the highest rates and number of cases in the state (perhaps PG is the highest?).  It was determined late in the summer that schools would be virtual *at least* through the first semester this academic year (end of January).  They're supposed to re-evaluate the situation in the near future, to determine what's to be done for the 2nd semester (still virtual, in-person, or some hybrid?).  But I'm not optimistic that they'll have any in-person instruction in MoCo this year at all.  It sucks, we all want our kids to be in school (and hell, *they* want to be in school to see their friends!)...but in my opinion the closures and virtual learning is a sad necessity given the situation.  Be glad we live in a time, at least, where it's possible to do that.

well said, friend. We want our kid back too, she wants to be back. We manage virtual learning because we have to. My only frustration right now as a parent is the lack of communication from the county on when kids may return. As of right now, she's virtual through the end of January as well, at which point a hybrid system is supposed to be in play. Balt Co's super intendent came out a month ago saying they were going to start having some kids back in classrooms this month, but then he reversed course and its been crickets since then.

Thats incredibly frustrating. What are they doing? What's the thoughts as of now on a plan forward? It's hard not knowing. So we just keep on doing what we need to do.

[toolsheds]

26 minutes ago, mappy said:

well said, friend. We want our kid back too, she wants to be back. We manage virtual learning because we have to. My only frustration right now as a parent is the lack of communication from the county on when kids may return. As of right now, she's virtual through the end of January as well, at which point a hybrid system is supposed to be in play. Balt Co's super intendent came out a month ago saying they were going to start having some kids back in classrooms this month, but then he reversed course and its been crickets since then.

Thats incredibly frustrating. What are they doing? What's the thoughts as of now on a plan forward? It's hard not knowing. So we just keep on doing what we need to do.

think about the mixed signals here in Carroll County where school was scheduled to go back on Monday, but at the last minute the High Schools were pulled from that plan.  Elementary and Middle schools are back with a hybrid plan, but High Schools are virtual through at least the end of the quarter.  I'm so thankful that my two High Schoolers home are able to handle this and manage on their own.  The tough part for my Senior is getting out for college visits.  We have been doing self guided campus tours, but without access to the classrooms or dorms, it's hard to understand how your kid feels about a campus when looking. 

[mappy]

22 minutes ago, toolsheds said:

think about the mixed signals here in Carroll County where school was scheduled to go back on Monday, but at the last minute the High Schools were pulled from that plan.  Elementary and Middle schools are back with a hybrid plan, but High Schools are virtual through at least the end of the quarter.  I'm so thankful that my two High Schoolers home are able to handle this and manage on their own.  The tough part for my Senior is getting out for college visits.  We have been doing self guided campus tours, but without access to the classrooms or dorms, it's hard to understand how your kid feels about a campus when looking. 

I can't even imagine. Hope things get easier for you!

[Scarlet Pimpernel]

7 hours ago, mappy said:

well said, friend. We want our kid back too, she wants to be back. We manage virtual learning because we have to. My only frustration right now as a parent is the lack of communication from the county on when kids may return. As of right now, she's virtual through the end of January as well, at which point a hybrid system is supposed to be in play. Balt Co's super intendent came out a month ago saying they were going to start having some kids back in classrooms this month, but then he reversed course and its been crickets since then.

Thats incredibly frustrating. What are they doing? What's the thoughts as of now on a plan forward? It's hard not knowing. So we just keep on doing what we need to do.

Thank you, my friend!  Good to hear from you and hope you are well.  I totally get the frustration concerning some lack of communication.  Sometimes, I honestly just cannot keep up with various announcements.  Sometimes, they're more on the ball with information, but other times, it's a bit opaque on what's going on.  But like you...we manage as best we can.  Hang in there...I have to keep the faith (or something!) that this will be over at some point.

On a different...but I guess mildly related subject...I dropped off my mail-in ballot last week (yay!!).  Went to one of those drop boxes that's nearby.  I only bring that up because the last time I did anything mail in was as an undergrad in college, when I submitted an absentee ballot!  That was...well, I won't say how many years ago!  So this was a bit surreal for me in a way!

[Scarlet Pimpernel]

7 hours ago, toolsheds said:

think about the mixed signals here in Carroll County where school was scheduled to go back on Monday, but at the last minute the High Schools were pulled from that plan.  Elementary and Middle schools are back with a hybrid plan, but High Schools are virtual through at least the end of the quarter.  I'm so thankful that my two High Schoolers home are able to handle this and manage on their own.  The tough part for my Senior is getting out for college visits.  We have been doing self guided campus tours, but without access to the classrooms or dorms, it's hard to understand how your kid feels about a campus when looking. 

I hear you!  My daughter is a senior this year.  College visits?  Not happening the way things are.  It makes things very...surreal.  I honestly at times don't even know what to do (not to mention how things are done now compared to when I was applying a century ago, it's a lot different!).  She's putting in applications, but that's about all one can do right now.

[40westwx]

On 10/22/2020 at 7:24 AM, mappy said:

Dorchester County going back to virtual learning following a spike in cases. 6.1% positivity rate yesterday, after being down to 2.5% on 10/10

I would expect a major spike when the kids go back to school.  Expecting kids to successfully socially distance is unrealistic... they generally touch their nose and mouth and then touch other things... that other people touch.. even with masks.  Thinking that you can somehow create rules that change this behavior is simply not based in reality.  

When you see new stories about other countries or areas that have sent their kids back to school and havent experienced an increase in cases, be extremely skeptical of this.  

 

[40westwx]

This article made me sad and angry - https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/what-icu-doctors-have-learned-about-covid-19-how-they-n1225801

"For patients with severe breathing problems, the Italian doctors were using a type of therapy called high flow nasal oxygen, a much less invasive approach than putting a patient on a mechanical ventilator. Patients can get 100 percent oxygen through the nose without having to have a breathing tube put in place. But an unusually high number of health care personnel in Italy — 20 percent, according to an editorial in The Lancet medical journal — were becoming infected with the coronavirus. They blamed the high flow nasal oxygen, figuring the treatment was aerosolizing the virus, spreading it to doctors and nurses. As a result, many doctors in the U.S. were initially wary of using high flow oxygen for COVID-19 patients."We were very concerned, so we didn't use it," said Dr. Hugh Cassiere, director of critical care medicine at Northwell Health's North Shore University Hospital on Long Island, New York.  Instead, patients were intubated and put on ventilators, often right away. "Reports from other places was that you should put people on the ventilator early, because the disease was so rapidly progressive," Dr. Todd Rice, an associate professor of medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, said.  The first few months were a learning experience. Now, doctors are trying to avoid ventilators if possible. Both Rice and Cassiere said more current data show high flow oxygen does not put health care workers at increased risk. And experience has shown them that not all patients require a ventilator. When possible, doctors see if patients improve with the high flow oxygen first"

My question is this: 

If fear was the driving factor around the treatment of these patients and the post mortem shows that many of these patients should never have been place on a ventilator to being with.. Then is there some level of culpability on the part of these hospital administrators?  Are they liable? Like WTF happened in New York? 

 

https://www.sommerspc.com/blog/2020/05/outcomes-are-not-good-for-covid-19-patients-on-ventilators/

 

 

[toolsheds]

1 hour ago, 40westwx said:

This article made me sad and angry - https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/what-icu-doctors-have-learned-about-covid-19-how-they-n1225801

"For patients with severe breathing problems, the Italian doctors were using a type of therapy called high flow nasal oxygen, a much less invasive approach than putting a patient on a mechanical ventilator. Patients can get 100 percent oxygen through the nose without having to have a breathing tube put in place. But an unusually high number of health care personnel in Italy — 20 percent, according to an editorial in The Lancet medical journal — were becoming infected with the coronavirus. They blamed the high flow nasal oxygen, figuring the treatment was aerosolizing the virus, spreading it to doctors and nurses. As a result, many doctors in the U.S. were initially wary of using high flow oxygen for COVID-19 patients."We were very concerned, so we didn't use it," said Dr. Hugh Cassiere, director of critical care medicine at Northwell Health's North Shore University Hospital on Long Island, New York.  Instead, patients were intubated and put on ventilators, often right away. "Reports from other places was that you should put people on the ventilator early, because the disease was so rapidly progressive," Dr. Todd Rice, an associate professor of medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, said.  The first few months were a learning experience. Now, doctors are trying to avoid ventilators if possible. Both Rice and Cassiere said more current data show high flow oxygen does not put health care workers at increased risk. And experience has shown them that not all patients require a ventilator. When possible, doctors see if patients improve with the high flow oxygen first"

My question is this: 

If fear was the driving factor around the treatment of these patients and the post mortem shows that many of these patients should never have been place on a ventilator to being with.. Then is there some level of culpability on the part of these hospital administrators?  Are they liable? Like WTF happened in New York? 

 

https://www.sommerspc.com/blog/2020/05/outcomes-are-not-good-for-covid-19-patients-on-ventilators/

 

 

I heard some second hand info a few months back from someone who knew a nurse at Hopkins.  She was a pediatric nurse, but was transferred to the covid unit to help out.  She allegedly said that they were intubating patients in order to charge the insurance companies a higher rate for treatment.  Since there were not enough respiratory specialists, physicians began to intubate, subsequently causing other issues which lead to infection outside of COVID. 

I'm only hearing that information secondhand and am not stating that it in fact true.... and it seemed to be the opinion of the nurse, but if it is true, then it ties back to the article. 

[40westwx]

17 minutes ago, toolsheds said:

I heard some second hand info a few months back from someone who knew a nurse at Hopkins.  She was a pediatric nurse, but was transferred to the covid unit to help out.  She allegedly said that they were intubating patients in order to charge the insurance companies a higher rate for treatment.  Since there were not enough respiratory specialists, physicians began to intubate, subsequently causing other issues which lead to infection outside of COVID. 

I'm only hearing that information secondhand and am not stating that it in fact true.... and it seemed to be the opinion of the nurse, but if it is true, then it ties back to the article. 

I dont think this was financially driven.