Texas Opens March 10

[sourdough]

Social distancing eliminates the need for a mask....unless we might contaminate a raccoon... Wearing a mask as a perceived mandated "social duty" is dangerous if that logic is expanded.

If we want to ALWAYS wear a mask if there is a infinitesimal possibility we have covid....we should wear them 24hrs a day because there are many things we might transmit....and have since forever. And then of course as covid is relegated to a non issue (as it almost is), as we will see, those that have exploited the gullible/vulnerable will do it for as long as we let them; whoops! The UK strain - oh no!, the Middle East strain - oh no!....it won't end unless we take care of ourselves. One needs to take the precautions they deem necessary to keep themselves and their family safe whatever the circumstance. We DO NOT need more laws/mandates to take care of the administration of a cold.

[gearhead]

Trying to remember our lunch spots...Kats in Catarina, Ranch Hand on Hwy 44 middle of nowhere, someplace on the south side of Carrizo Springs, and the topper Recreation Center Cafe on old Hwy 35 Encinal. They had the floor caving in and the roof as well. Biggest rattlesnake skin on the wall I've ever seen.
Nothing like an oil boomtown. The lobby of the Embassy Suites was great people watching. Packed with slick salesmen, land men, and working ladies.
Dang I miss it.
Take care of yourself and use that common sense that ain't that common.

[wiredgeorge]

I always felt that the mask was more about eliminating projection spittle than keeping you from having airborne bugs invade your space. I doubt a mask will keep germs especially virus sized from passing through but less likely to hit your face if the unmasked person a couple feet from you is hacking in your direction. I also think that with the absence of a vaccine, the health community had to go with something so the mask was it... perhaps just staying away from other folks makes more sense to my thinking. Just like staying away from the kids at church for the first few weeks of school starting up as they are generally passing the current plague around they picked up in the classroom... Does anyone seriously think "medical experts" or government folks had any idea what to do at the onset of the Wuhanflu? They had to do something so mis-steps were inevitable.

[Ibdagriz]

Eventually someone will actually do the math and figure out the issue is not about the virus itself. If you're doing 1.3 million vaccinations per day, that's 9.1 mil per week. That's just under 3% of the population of the US. That's been going on since the first of the year, so close to 25% so far have been vaccinated. In eight more weeks that's another 25%. Using vaccines that are supposedly 95% effective for a disease that is 99 % recoverable.

Taking care of the old and vulnerable first should nearly stop the death rates, as the young and mostly healthy get over it quickly if they even get it.

The greater Houston area of 19 counties has 6.8 million residents. 578,000 cases to date and 5,797 deaths. This is under 10% have had it out of the 6.8mil and only 1% have succumbed to the disease.

Those numbers are actually pretty good considering we have been going to restaurants, grocery stores, Wal-Mart/Target, etc. since practically day one.

The office building I was working in has been open since the 5th week of the "two weeks to flatten the curve" and no issues there. Next week is the one year anniversary for me sitting in front of my fireplace on my desktop working from home versus a 1.5 hour daily commute. My cup runneth over..


Griz

[sourdough]

^^^^ Life is good when we can see things from the bright/positive side!

As a note, got my electronic version of our hometown newspaper in TX yesterday evening. Since they began tracking it the numbers have gone up consistently; updated every 3 days or so; sometimes alarmingly (depending on how many lined up to be tested). Yesterday it was noted the numbers HAVE NOT changed in any category in the last 10 days.

[travelin texans]

Our doctor told us that any type of viral illness during this "pandemic" will be listed as Covid-19. With this being flu season which is a virus, Covid 19 being of a financial benefit to medical facilities & ALL the misinformation from every news media source who really knows how bad it really got, how many actual CV19 deaths, or any other factual statistics.
There are no more elections for 2 years so I'm guessing this will be less news worthy every day & in a couple more months will start to fade away & we can get back to whatever is left of normal.
Unfortunately this whole thing has cost a lot of families unrecoverable losses & the loss of countless small, & some large, businesses that will never return.
I just recovered from "acute pneumonia" & a bad case of vertigo, not sure they were related, but stayed quarantined for 3 weeks til recovered from both. The ER doctor said he was treating me for pneumonia, I asked was it Covid, he said unless they tested what I coughed up or withdrew fluid from my & had it tested there was was no way to be 100% certain about it being Covid but either way the treatment was the same & they would test me for Covid. I was released 5 hours later with a diagnosis of "acute pneumonia with a positive Covid test".

[Canonman]

First, It is considered a class 1 felony to willfully and knowingly falsify information on the death certificate. No Doctor or hospital wants to risk the consequence for filing a false death certificate. Not to mention it being a violation of ethics.
All patient treatments are "coded" by the provider and sent to the insurance companies or Medicare and Medicaid for payment. Providers don't get paid for what you die from but for the treatment provided.
Here is a link to a very informative web site that very clearly explains and documents how death certificates are to be completed as well as the percentages of deaths attributed to Covid as the "Underlying Cause of Death", rather than a "Contributory Cause".
https://www.cebm.net/covid-19/death-...ause-of-death/

[roadglide]

I have traveled America during the lock downs Colorado opened there parks July and continue doing business as usual . The hotspots were Yellowstone, Jackson hole, Sturgis, everyone of these places were considered super spreaders. I spent time in the upper peninsula Michigan seeing business as usual The casinos were open August Veterans clubs were open.I have been in Florida since December open with no mask mandate most everybody wears their mask and are getting their shots. I don’t see what makes Texas so controversy about opening. it’s the individuals rights to wear their mask or to get their shot I respect their right . New Mexico opened up their veterans and private clubs clubs This month for the first time since march 2020.

[gearhead]

Here lately, every night I disinfect myself. 80 proof Kentucky germ killer.
Working so far.

[B-O-B'03]

Originally Posted by gearhead

Here lately, every night I disinfect myself. 80 proof Kentucky germ killer.
Working so far.

I use vitamin A, imported from Scotland, 12 YO or older, has worked for many years keeping me from getting sick (can't remember the last time I was) and needing a doctor visit (last one of those was almost 18 years ago).

I worry more about getting hit by a car, walking the dog, than the COVID.

-Brian

[dutchmensport]

Originally Posted by Canonman

First, It is considered a class 1 felony to willfully and knowingly falsify information on the death certificate. No Doctor or hospital wants to risk the consequence for filing a false death certificate. Not to mention it being a violation of ethics.
All patient treatments are "coded" by the provider and sent to the insurance companies or Medicare and Medicaid for payment. Providers don't get paid for what you die from but for the treatment provided.
Here is a link to a very informative web site that very clearly explains and documents how death certificates are to be completed as well as the percentages of deaths attributed to Covid as the "Underlying Cause of Death", rather than a "Contributory Cause".
https://www.cebm.net/covid-19/death-...ause-of-death/

This is a case of the corrupt covering up for the corrupt so both make a financial benefit. Sorry to bust your bubble.

[vampress_me]

Originally Posted by dutchmensport

I say "hallalujah!" for Texas!

By now, every single person in the world knows about this China flu and knows what has to be done to protect themselves. It's time for government to stop mandating and time for individual to start making decisions for themselves again.

IF you decide NOT to wear a mask, get the shot, or whatever, and THEN you come down with the China flu, you've got no one to blame but yourself.

That's the trouble with this world, we've let the government dictate too much in our lives, especially in the last 50 years, because we (as humans) have become too selfish and self-centered to consider how negative actions affect others. Everything from speeding in your car, to "rolling" through stop signs. Because we are so damned bull headed and think we are above the law, above everyone else, and everything applies to the other person, but "I" am exempt because, "I" am "ME" and how dare YOU tell ME what to do.

No wonder the government has to tell us what to do. It's like those total morons and idiots who deface our National Parks, painting on natural rock formations and destroying property that is not theirs. The government has to interveen and make things "a law."

Think about it ... if everyone would have volunteered to wear seatbelts, it would never have become a "law". And the list could go on and and on.

So, hurray for Texas! Instead of social distancing, maybe the new moto should be "social reasoning." It's time someone is letting us take responsibility for our own actions again.

As for me and my house, I'm still wearing the mask. I'm too damned old to take risks now. But you do what you want. But take responsibility for what YOU do too!

As far as the personal responsibility and common sense - there’s that old saying:

By definition, 49.9% of the population are of below average intelligence.

How many people actually think for themselves, accept a risk, and not blindly follow what they are told. Me personally, I think that number is getting smaller and smaller (and the number of below average intelligence is going up )

[sourdough]

Originally Posted by dutchmensport

This is a case of the corrupt covering up for the corrupt so both make a financial benefit. Sorry to bust your bubble.

^^^This will be right. Strangely, when covid started our county health dept. and the state kept a running count of cases, deaths etc. and the numbers reflected each other. As soon as the fed got involved the state death number kept climbing above the county tabulation (I mean, the county actually RUNS the hospitals and reports the deaths). Initially the county tried to determine the discrepancy with the state since it was being reported in the newspaper weekly. No dice. The state refused to say how/why their count was so much higher so the county quit trying to find resolution and just posted their numbers. The paper then put the state numbers (double the deaths the county actually had) in parenthesis and the local administrations quit trying to explain the variance - they all knew it was/is bogus.

[Canonman]

Originally Posted by dutchmensport

This is a case of the corrupt covering up for the corrupt so both make a financial benefit. Sorry to bust your bubble.

I guess I don't understand how this "busts my bubble".
Fact is providers get paid for the services they provide, not for what caused the patient's death.
There are plenty of contradicting anecdotal internet examples of numbers being fudged but not any as factual as the CEBF. I chose to use this site as an example because it is based in the Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences at the University of Oxford, England and has nothing to do with American political biases.

[JRTJH]

Just one "example of BLOWN OUT OF ALL REALITY" statistics"

My BIL/SIL's grandson is in college in Grand Rapids. He tested positive for COVID twice in the past year. The first time he was sent home and told not to come back to school until he tests negative two times in a row. He went home, was at the health department daily for 2 weeks, and he finally, after 16 tests, was negative two consecutive tests. He went back to school.

Remember: That was 15 positive COVID tests, every one of which became a "one more for the tally" for the state of Michigan.

Then, a month ago, he tested positive again and was sent home with the same instructions. The health department told him they won't test him daily, but will test him every other day. So, he was tested every other day for 3 weeks (that's 10 tests) before he finally had two consecutive negative tests...

So, ONE (count it, "1") person has been included in the Michigan COVID exposures no less than 25 times.... Each one of those positive tests just keeps "pushing up the crisis"....

Or does it ????? We're reporting 28.8 million cases in the USA... I can personally "vouch" for 1 person being responsible for at least 25 of those reported cases.... So, I'd ask, if even half the reported 29 million cases are "multiple positives from the same person" then where the heck is this "crisis" ??? And, how conveniently are the "statiticians manipulating the results" to keep their "agenda where they want it" ?????

One person counting for 25+ positives is not "accurate reporting"... Neither is "died of COVID" the same as "had COVID at death"

[Canonman]

Exactly the reason I look at the hospitalization numbers. You don't get admitted for Covid unless you have it and it's severe enough to require being admitted. MY Mom had Covid, then tested negative twice so she could be transferred to long term care. When we got to the long term care facility she tested positive. She was re tested 3 more times over the next 4 days until we had a negative result. They said the positive tests were probably due to residual effects of Covid in the body. She passed 6 weeks later from congestive heart failure and that is what is on her death certificate.
In short I don't think we can believe the positive test numbers. I do believe the hospital admission numbers and the deaths from Covid numbers.

[sourdough]

The Covid numbers are smoke and mirrors and are not factual (including deaths). I do believe they have now cleaned up their act....sort of, but initially if you tested positive for Covid at time of death it was deemed Covid. That was just wrong. As I've mentioned before, a friend that I had served on many boards with, had congestive heart failure - long time. He was dying, they tested him for covid just before he died and he was positive...cause of death - covid. Ridiculous, and I'm sure it was repeated millions of times.

[JRTJH]

Originally Posted by Canonman

Exactly the reason I look at the hospitalization numbers. You don't get admitted for Covid unless you have it and it's severe enough to require being admitted. MY Mom had Covid, then tested negative twice so she could be transferred to long term care. When we got to the long term care facility she tested positive. She was re tested 3 more times over the next 4 days until we had a negative result. They said the positive tests were probably due to residual effects of Covid in the body. She passed 6 weeks later from congestive heart failure and that is what is on her death certificate.
In short I don't think we can believe the positive test numbers. I do believe the hospital admission numbers and the deaths from Covid numbers.

The problem occurs "with hospitalization" when a patient with a completely unrelated illness is admitted and also has a positive COVID test. When that happens, the patient's medical record is coded with IDC code U07.1. That does two things. First, it increases the reimbursement rate for the hospital stay (increased costs for PPE, infection control, reporting/coding costs) and it triggers the CDC monitoring of the patient outcomes. And, if the IDC code U07.1 is on the chart, it's likely going to also be on the death certificate. Whether it's the "cause of death" or "contributing factor" or "related diagnosis", CDC is going to be tracking it on the national COVID death statistics.

So, as with any business, when the reimbursement can be maximized, it's incumbent on the hospital to code every possible "legitimate" diagnosis so the billing reflects the maximum charges..

Don't get upset about hospitals doing this, look at your last oil change receipt, there's a $3 or $4 charge for "fluid disposal/shop supplies". Your plumber does the same thing when he charges a $75 travel charge or when your electrician charges a one hour minimum charge, even if the visit is only 5 minutes long..... All businesses "maximize billing"....

[gearhead]

Originally Posted by B-O-B'03

I use vitamin A, imported from Scotland, 12 YO or older, has worked for many years keeping me from getting sick (can't remember the last time I was) and needing a doctor visit (last one of those was almost 18 years ago).

I worry more about getting hit by a car, walking the dog, than the COVID.

-Brian

Good plan. My taste in Scotch is in the Glennfidich $50 a bottle range.
Special occasions only.

[wiredgeorge]

I don't think concerning myself with the accuracy of Covid numbers would be very fruitful. If you want to believe all the doctors out there who have a death and the person had PROBABLE or TESTED POSITIVE and died of an acute case of trench mouth will either put Covid down as the reason or not. Doubt the numbers are accurate but how inaccurate is obviously conjecture.

This discussion was about Texas dropping Covid rules and only time will tell if that was a good idea or not. I suppose many Texans never wore masks or social distanced and I suppose the same ones won't going forward. The folks who feel safer wearing a mask and staying away from folks are certainly entitled to do so. I think that since most large cities/counties in Texas have judges who are strong on masks/distancing, that they will continue to encourage this. Restaurants that have been open will likely not change the way they have been doing busiiness till we are out of the woods on this plauge.