Coronavirus and Walt Disney World general discussion

[Chomama]

Agreed. It amazes me how many people cannot pivot in their thought process when things change. Its linear thought and once you “pick a side” you never budge. I know that’s how politics works for a lot of people but this is real life and kids we are talking about.

Totally agree. We were quite comfortable with our unvaccinated youth kids going back to school as normal when cases were 4 per 100k. Not that they are 65 per 100k here, we feel very differently. They will be masked and if their school wasn’t masking and distancing they would be staying Home until this wave passes. Even with masks and distancing I am very apprehensive about them going back. A school down the road from us opened yesterday. They already have dozens of cases today.

 

[Wendy Pleakley]

Agreed. It amazes me how many people cannot pivot in their thought process when things change. Its linear thought and once you “pick a side” you never budge. I know that’s how politics works for a lot of people but this is real life and kids we are talking about.

The political element of COVID is highly worrisome for this reason.

Many people have established their views on masks and/or vaccinations as more of a political viewpoint, and we know that people's politics rarely change.

It's concerning because it means the vaccination rates might be at the "as good as it's going to get" point, which is simply not ok.

 

[Andrew C]

Totally agree. We were quite comfortable with our unvaccinated youth kids going back to school as normal when cases were 4 per 100k. Not that they are 65 per 100k here, we feel very differently. They will be masked and if their school wasn’t masking and distancing they would be staying Home until this wave passes. Even with masks and distancing I am very apprehensive about them going back. A school down the road from us opened yesterday. They already have dozens of cases today.

School closings last year were a disaster for many kids around the country. So much increase in failure rates, to kids just not showing up for virtual at all. I think that is on the minds of many as the number one reason to get schools open.

Masks, if people want to debate it, that is fine. I am sort of over that. As it has been mentioned, people feel strongly one way or another. And I won't bash another parent who disagrees with me on my stance around schools (at least I try not to).

 

[Virtual Toad]

The political element of COVID is highly worrisome for this reason.

Many people have established their views on masks and/or vaccinations as more of a political viewpoint, and we know that people's politics rarely change.

It's concerning because it means the vaccination rates might be at the "as good as it's going to get" point, which is simply not ok.

Equally troubling is that in the pandemic, those choices ultimately affect everyone regardless of their point of view. It’s compounded when public policy decisions are made through that narrow lens.

 

[Andrew C]

Agreed. It amazes me how many people cannot pivot in their thought process when things change. Its linear thought and once you “pick a side” you never budge. I know that’s how politics works for a lot of people but this is real life and kids we are talking about.

For me, nothing to do with politics. Just weighing the risk differently than others...also, my opinion slightly adjusts when we are talking about 17 years olds, rather than the 8 year old I have.

 

[DisneyFan32]

Damn you, Delta variants. What's next could be any more worst? This fall/winter will get even worse with more cases as more problems as possible or not?

 

[sullyinMT]

The political element of COVID is highly worrisome for this reason.

Many people have established their views on masks and/or vaccinations as more of a political viewpoint, and we know that people's politics rarely change.

It's concerning because it means the vaccination rates might be at the "as good as it's going to get" point, which is simply not ok.

Agreed the mask argument has gone off the rails long ago. Sides that had nothing to do with science were created - more extreme in the US perhaps but stories exist elsewhere, too.

I’m a little more hopeful on the vaccine front. Much like Americans just had to have all the toilet paper last March, and absolutely must replace their perfectly fine vehicle right this second, there’s a group think to our vehement individualism. There’s been a new uptick in vaccination as this wave intensifies. Too little too late for this time around, but I hold hope future waves will look like what this wave should have looked like if our initial vaccination rates held. Unfortunately, school spread is going to be what it takes for parents to vaccinate their teens and (hopefully soon) younger kids.

 

[Andrew C]

CDC now advises pregnant women to get the vaccine. Hopefully a few more shots in arms...

 

[Virtual Toad]

School closings last year were a disaster for many kids around the country. So much increase in failure rates, to kids just not showing up for virtual at all. I think that is on the minds of many as the number one reason to get schools open.

Masks, if people want to debate it, that is fine. I am sort of over that. As it has been mentioned, people feel strongly one way or another. And I won't bash another parent who disagrees with me on my stance around schools (at least I try not to).

You raise a very valid point about many kids having real difficulty with remote learning last year. It’s a very real thing. So there’s a valid reason for many to return to in-person schooling. But with the greater numbers and a raging variant it seems as if the responsible thing to do would be to continue mask mandates and social distancing wherever possible, especially in hard hit areas. And continue the remote learning option for kids who can perform under those circumstances, to reduce the overall number of kids enrolled in person. This approach which we already did last year seems like the common sense thing to do to balance education and public health concerns. Instead here in FL, we’ve thrown out the rule book almost entirely, pushing all kids back to in-person learning and taking away the options and safety measures at the worst possible time.

 

[Wendy Pleakley]

Agreed the mask argument has gone off the rails long ago. Sides that had nothing to do with science were created - more extreme in the US perhaps but stories exist elsewhere, too.

I’m a little more hopeful on the vaccine front. Much like Americans just had to have all the toilet paper last March, and absolutely must replace their perfectly fine vehicle right this second, there’s a group think to our vehement individualism. There’s been a new uptick in vaccination as this wave intensifies. Too little too late for this time around, but I hold hope for what this wave should have looked like if our initial vaccination rates held. Unfortunately, school spread is going to be what it takes for parents to vaccinate their teens and (hopefully soon) younger kids.

It definitely seems to be more extreme in the US from what I've read.

In Vancouver BC, masks are strictly optional in most cases yet way more than half the people still wear them. Despite hitting over 70% fully vaccinated.

More people getting vaccinated. More people being extra cautious. And COVID cases continue to be lower than anywhere in America. Go figure.

 

[Patcheslee]

Totally agree. We were quite comfortable with our unvaccinated youth kids going back to school as normal when cases were 4 per 100k. Not that they are 65 per 100k here, we feel very differently. They will be masked and if their school wasn’t masking and distancing they would be staying Home until this wave passes. Even with masks and distancing I am very apprehensive about them going back. A school down the road from us opened yesterday. They already have dozens of cases today.

We're at 146/100k in our little county. 29 positive cases just today, we hadn't gone above 15 cases since March 31st. End of June through July was 0-5 cases, then August hit. You'd have to go back to January 29th to find a higher reported case rate.
I'm having a hard time with masks optional, we're on our 5th day of school today and not sure I should trust the school to contact parents. They never sent reports to parents and only time I was contacted was August last year at 9pm to tell me DD12 had to stay home because "someone on the bus" tested positive. Indiana only updates school reported cases on Mondays.
Anyway the rise kinda follows the tail end of fair week July 25th-30th, so it will be interesting to see how much that influenced things here.

 

[sullyinMT]

It definitely seems to be more extreme in the US from what I've read.

In Vancouver BC, masks are strictly optional in most cases yet way more than half the people still wear them. Despite hitting over 70% fully vaccinated.

More people getting vaccinated. More people being extra cautious. And COVID cases continue to be lower than anywhere in America. Go figure.

Absolutely. We failed as a nation to have meaningful policy regarding mitigations and vaccines. I’m simply saying loonies are everywhere, and France had protests about vaccine passes recently, too. We take the cake, for sure, though.

 

[Andrew C]

It definitely seems to be more extreme in the US from what I've read.

In Vancouver BC, masks are strictly optional in most cases yet way more than half the people still wear them. Despite hitting over 70% fully vaccinated.

More people getting vaccinated. More people being extra cautious. And COVID cases continue to be lower than anywhere in America. Go figure.

Yes. It is tough to get 50 different states, which are essentially 50 different countries each with their own diverse populations and unique cultures, totaling 330 million people, on board with the same solutions for dealing with the virus...

Canada has their own vaccine hold outs. Luckily for them, the percentage seems to be smaller than that of the US. At least according to the vaccination rates. And after a slow start, no fault to the people, I applaud their vaccine efforts.

 

[Patcheslee]

School closings last year were a disaster for many kids around the country. So much increase in failure rates, to kids just not showing up for virtual at all. I think that is on the minds of many as the number one reason to get schools open.

Masks, if people want to debate it, that is fine. I am sort of over that. As it has been mentioned, people feel strongly one way or another. And I won't bash another parent who disagrees with me on my stance around schools (at least I try not to).

IMO my 6th grader probably would have done better with virtual if the wasn't required to have everything done before school ended. There were times she didn't completely understand something but since it couldn't wait for me to get home or be walked through it on the phone she would turn it in half completed or put random answers. Pervious years if she had incomplete work she brought it home where I could help her understand it better.

 

[sullyinMT]

Yes. It is tough to get 50 different states, which are essentially 50 different countries each with their own diverse populations and unique cultures, totaling 330 million people, on board with the same solutions for dealing with the virus...

Canada has their own vaccine hold outs. Luckily for them, the percentage seems to be smaller than that of the US. At least according to the vaccination rates. And after a slow start, no fault to the people, I applaud their vaccine efforts.

Valid points, and even across Canada provinces have slight variance in policy. Read our friends’ posts in here between Ontario and BC. The overarching theme up there, though, is tying policy to rates. Actually creating an incentive to “rush in” and not have hollow arguments unrooted from reality if there was a tinge of holdout timidness. It caused rapid uptake because people wanted borders open, indoor dining, theaters, whatever whatever. It was all tied to varying degrees of vaccine acceptance rates and not itchiness of the public.

Here in the US, we already had everything open but with the minor inconvenience of masks in varying degrees of business or local mandate. Case rates were dropping even with our half-hearted mitigation effort. The CDC made the rightful conclusion that the vaccinated could return to normal, but at a time when less than half the country was vaccinated, and the wheels fell off the cart. We’re making repairs, but it didn’t have to be this way. The pandemic should be in our rear view mirror and fading, not coming at us like a Mack truck again.

 

[Wendy Pleakley]

Yes. It is tough to get 50 different states, which are essentially 50 different countries each with their own diverse populations and unique cultures, totaling 330 million people, on board with the same solutions for dealing with the virus...

Canada has their own vaccine hold outs. Luckily for them, the percentage seems to be smaller than that of the US. At least according to the vaccination rates. And after a slow start, no fault to the people, I applaud their vaccine efforts.

Which is kind of weird because there is really one solution for dealing with the virus.

No country is perfect but there isn't the disparity in Canada. Alberta is a more conservative area the same way Texas is, they're a bit behind but vaccination rates aren't lagging there to the degree they are in some US states.

 

[Andrew C]

Which is kind of weird because there is really one solution for dealing with the virus.

No country is perfect but there isn't the disparity in Canada. Alberta is a more conservative area the same way Texas is, they're a bit behind but vaccination rates aren't lagging there to the degree they are in some US states.

For the vaccine specifically, the rates here in the US perplex me. Don’t know what else to say about that.

 

[Chomama]

We're at 146/100k in our little county. 29 positive cases just today, we hadn't gone above 15 cases since March 31st. End of June through July was 0-5 cases, then August hit. You'd have to go back to January 29th to find a higher reported case rate.
I'm having a hard time with masks optional, we're on our 5th day of school today and not sure I should trust the school to contact parents. They never sent reports to parents and only time I was contacted was August last year at 9pm to tell me DD12 had to stay home because "someone on the bus" tested positive. Indiana only updates school reported cases on Mondays.
Anyway the rise kinda follows the tail end of fair week July 25th-30th, so it will be interesting to see how much that influenced things here.

I’m so sorry. Hopefully this wave passes soon

 

[Disney Experience]

It definitely seems to be more extreme in the US from what I've read.

In Vancouver BC, masks are strictly optional in most cases yet way more than half the people still wear them. Despite hitting over 70% fully vaccinated.

More people getting vaccinated. More people being extra cautious. And COVID cases continue to be lower than anywhere in America. Go figure.

China has a lot of people , currently does not allow in the MRNA vaccines, so the VE is much lower there. But what they have better than anywhere else is controls to try to limit spread into and within their country.

If the west achieves local herd immunity we will need to see what controls we will need to minimize new variants from entering and spreading within the country. China is an example of a very heavy set of controls . ( Though with a poorer vaccine as a baseline to work with )

Delta is a challenge for China even with the strong controls, but their reported cases are still low compared to the west ( at this time). But it does show that controls are just one part in the battle against covid.

Whether anywhere else in the world could tolerate that level controls to minimize spread is doubtful in more liberal western societies.

Delta variant challenges China's costly lockdown strategy

The delta variant is challenging China’s costly strategy of isolating cities, prompting warnings that Chinese leaders who were confident they could keep out the coronavirus need a less disruptive approach.

apnews.com

 

[Polkadotdress]

For the vaccine specifically, the rates here in the US perplex me. Don’t know what else to say about that.

A co-worker of mine is holding out on getting the vax, because he is looking to have children.

He.

When there is absolutely no fertility concerns for females, and certainly none for males.