Coronavirus and Walt Disney World general discussion

[DCBaker]

Here's what happened after the OC Tax Collectors office required vaccines -

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

In the last few months I’ve worked in Tennessee, Georgia, Ohio, Minnesota, and Michigan. I haven’t noticed any major differences from one location to another. If you only interact with people inside of a vacinated bubble maybe you don’t realize how big the divide is.

Perhaps because the coasts tend to get the attention but 80% of the US landmass is largely rural/spread out and they all blend into one between Harrisburg, Pa and Sacramento?

…it’s also where most of the “poor” fall…in rural, not incredibly diverse areas…but the talking picture panel makes them believe the cities are what “they’re paying for…”

so the chip on the shoulder didn’t start in 2019…

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Here's what happened after the OC Tax Collectors office required vaccines -

Well that was easy…

nice and “tough”…that’s what all the self-proclaimed patriots want in every poll/study ever conducted…

 

[Andrew C]

Its more a question of what could have been done a year ago. For starters, COVID did not need to be politicized. Leaders should have engaged with their citizens in an honest, adult manner, rather than talk down to their basest instincts (and to be fair, in no way was Florida alone in this error).

And vaccine passports should have been in the works from the beginning, and able to go live once everyone had a reasonable chance to receive the vaccines. But Florida killed that idea early, thus setting the expectation that vaccination was only a matter of personal choice, not a necessary public health tool.

The root of today's COVID explosion didn't begin 4 or 5 weeks ago.

And what is the excuse for other states and other countries who did not do it the Florida way? UK? France? Israel? Or CA, TX, NY? Which states have vaccine passports? Everyone opened up and removed restrictions within a month of each other from what I can tell. No state had a vaccination rate that was outstanding by any means. So is this a case of Florida being hit in the way NY was at the very beginning? Or was there really anything meaningful done in other states to stop delta in May/June? Because I really don't see it. I didn't see any state react quickly, or be proactive....and when they did react, it was to slap on a mask after spread already took hold.

To me, it seems less about what places did or didn't do...and more about delta being delta.

 

[DCBaker]

Story from Reuters -

U.S. will extend COVID-19 transport mask mandate through Jan. 18

President Joe Biden's administration confirmed late on Tuesday it plans to extend requirements for travelers to wear masks on airplanes, trains and buses and at airports and train stations through Jan. 18 to address ongoing COVID-19 risks.

www.reuters.com

 

[DisneyCane]

Another record-breaking day here in FL. Who here was saying that we’ve peaked???

I'm not expecting the case peak for a few more days. Hospitalization peak will lag the case peak.

 

[Touchdown]

I'm not expecting the case peak for a few more days. Hospitalization peak will lag the case peak.

Try by 2 weeks, we still don’t know if we’ve had case peak.

 

[Heppenheimer]

And what is the excuse for other states and other countries who did not do it the Florida way? UK? France? Israel? Or CA, TX, NY? Which states have vaccine passports? Everyone opened up and removed restrictions within a month of each other from what I can tell. No state had a vaccination rate that was outstanding by any means. So is this a case of Florida being hit in the way NY was at the very beginning? Or was there really anything meaningful done in other states to stop delta in May/June? Because I really don't see it. I didn't see any state react quickly, or be proactive....and when they did react, it was so slap on a mask after spread already took hold.

To me, it seems less about what places did or didn't do...and more about delta being delta.

Other states had a far better vaccination rate, for one thing. And more than a few are trying to develop a passport (although I wish this had been in place from the beginning). Just because other places have it bad doesn't give Florida a pass.

I'm not claiming that any one jurisdiction played this perfectly. Mistakes were made all around. But only Florida and Texas' (well, maybe South Dakota, but geography provides them some level of mitigation) political leaderships seem dead-set on obstinately doubling down on their errors.

EDIT: Looks like Tennessee's governor looks to Florida and likes what he sees:

Gov. Lee issues executive order allowing parents to opt kids out of school mask mandates

The governor said he would not call a special session after issuing the executive order.

www.wbir.com

 

[mmascari]

Here's what happened after the OC Tax Collectors office required vaccines -

Do we know the department size?

12 resigned. If all they did was remove them from the denominator, the percent vaccinated would go up.
6 have submitted exemption requests, if approved they'll create a max ceiling on the percent possible.

For instance, if there were 92 employees and 41 were vaccinated, 41/92 = 45%. So, if 33 people got vaccinated, 6 exemptions and 12 quit, it's 41+33 = 74, 74/80 = 92.5% and they're done. It's awesome in this example so many more were vaccinated. Just wondering if that shift was even larger.

 

[disneygeek90]

Let us know when they start charging the employees for those twice a week tests.

My guess is the company pays in the beginning, but after a few weeks starts to rethink the spending. It may depend on the perceived value of the employees who need the testing. Nothing makes you look less useful than requiring special extra testing with 8 to 10 tests a month.

This is apparently going into effect on 8/23, more details to come obviously. We are a large company, and it'll be interesting to see if the testing is on site.

 

[DisneyCane]

This is going to keep getting extended over and over again. Never mind that no scientific study has been done to determine if any mitigation is necessary on an aircraft due to the air flow, filtration and changeover frequency.

The lack of any reports of significant outbreaks among he pilot population (who don't wear masks in the cockpit) would suggest that the ventilation on board is enough to make it low risk.

 

[GoofGoof]

Here's what happened after the OC Tax Collectors office required vaccines -

The next time anyone asks why it’s a good idea for employers to mandate vaccination, I present you with exhibit A….the only exhibit needed. The defense rests their case. Now imagine every employer does that and the country exceeds 90% vaccinated. Covid = measles. It’s a wrap.

 

[DisneyCane]

Try by 2 weeks, we still don’t know if we’ve had case peak.

I don't think it has peaked yet. I've been projecting case peak around 8/21 +/- a few days for a while now based on the UK and India Delta outbreaks.

 

[GoofGoof]

Excuse me @GoofGoof I have a couple questions to ask.
1) is the Delta variant wave is going to ending soon by October
2) Is Federal Transportation will lift mask mandate by next month or October/November or December
3) Is booster vaccines will stop future variants like Delta and new variants
4) Will the pandemic will finally ending in USA in some point by end of the year or 2022

For #2 at least January now

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

This is going to keep getting extended over and over again. Never mind that no scientific study has been done to determine if any mitigation is necessary on an aircraft due to the air flow, filtration and changeover frequency.

The lack of any reports of significant outbreaks among he pilot population (who don't wear masks in the cockpit) would suggest that the ventilation on board is enough to make it low risk.

Pilots are only exposing themselves to each other. That’s a crazy different situation vs. the cabin of an airplane.

Airlines SHOULD be distancing as well. It’s frustrating that only masks are being required when all scientific reports state masks AND distancing help. We need them both.

 

[hopemax]

Its more a question of what could have been done a year ago. For starters, COVID did not need to be politicized. Leaders should have engaged with their citizens in an honest, adult manner, rather than talk down to their basest instincts (and to be fair, in no way was Florida alone in this error).

And vaccine passports should have been in the works from the beginning, and able to go live once everyone had a reasonable chance to receive the vaccines. But Florida killed that idea early, thus setting the expectation that vaccination was only a matter of personal choice, not a necessary public health tool.

The root of today's COVID explosion didn't begin 4 or 5 weeks ago.

The underlying problem is that people didn't, and still don't believe what is happening is actually happening. And more importantly, could have a real effect on their family. We are supposed to be civilized, with modern medicine. Infectious diseases that run through a population are supposed to only look like cold & flu. We simply don't have infectious things that kill with a devastating form of randomness anymore.

We can pretend that if our political leaders said this was serious from the get-go, that it would have been different. I don't think it really would have been, because the people who need to see what is happening to believe it, aren't. We're a nation that just pushes on, and bullies our way through situations instead of stopping to deal with things. A lot of people tried to do that with this. Just ignore, push your way to wherever you need to be, how you need things to be. For a small period of time, people believed the elderly population was at risk. Otherwise, it's just been a string of "it's not that bad," and "it's got to be almost over." But it's all wrapped up in grasping to cope with, "How can this even be happening?!?"

 

[DCBaker]

Cases and quarantine numbers are already rising quickly in Tampa area schools— only one week into the school year with no mask mandates or live remote learning option— forcing an emergency meeting (this is the nation’s 7th largest school district BTW):

“As of 7 a.m., the district said 5,599 students and 316 employees were either in isolation, having tested positive for COVID-19, or in quarantine, which means they had close contact with a positive case.”

Early COVID counts push Hillsborough schools to consider stronger mask rules

An emergency meeting Wednesday will also allow School Board members to discuss the state of COVID-19 in the schools.

www.tampabay.com

"The number of students in Hillsborough County quarantined or in isolation for COVID-19 exposure has risen to 8,400.

The news comes one day after nearly 400 students tested positive for the virus, according to the Hillsborough County School’s COVID-19 dashboard.

According to the district’s Tuesday update, 8,400 students are currently quarantined or in isolation out of 213,491 total. With 307 school employees quarantined or in isolation out of 23,596 total.

The district is now tracking 1,485 cases dating back to Aug. 2 For comparison, the district reported 8,711 confirmed cases from March 2020 through Aug. 1."

8K+ Hillsborough Co. students in quarantine/isolation due to COVID-19

TAMPA (WFLA) – The number of students in Hillsborough County quarantined or in isolation for COVID-19 exposure has risen to 8,400. The news comes one day after nearly 400 students tested posi…

www.wfla.com

Here's the update for Orange County Public Schools -

"A day after setting a new record for COVID-19 cases, the Orange County school district recorded more than double that number, with 238 new student cases documented Monday.

The region’s largest school district had reported 259 cases last week, including 97 on Friday, surpassing the one-day total of 88 hit in mid-January. Monday’s total smashed Friday’s record.

Orange County Public Schools also reported 159 more student quarantines Monday, along with 53 new COVID-19 cases in staff members. Since Aug. 2, when teachers reported to work and some sports teams began practices, the school district has recorded 903 cases among its students and staff, requiring 552 people to quarantine."

Orange schools set another COVID-19 record as some Florida districts consider mask mandates

A day after setting a new record for COVID-19 cases, the Orange County school district recorded more than double that number, with 238 new student cases documented Monday. The region’s larges…

www.orlandosentinel.com

 

[DisneyDebRob]

Other states had a far better vaccination rate, for one thing. And more than a few are trying to develop a passport (although I wish this had been in place from the beginning). Just because other places have it bad doesn't give Florida a pass.

I'm not claiming that any one jurisdiction played this perfectly. Mistakes were made all around. But only Florida and Texas' (well, maybe South Dakota, but geography provides them some level of mitigation) political leaderships seem dead-set on obstinately doubling down on their errors.

EDIT: Looks like Tennessee's governor looks to Florida and likes what he sees:

Gov. Lee issues executive order allowing parents to opt kids out of school mask mandates

The governor said he would not call a special session after issuing the executive order.

www.wbir.com

Someone get that man a pair of glasses.

 

[GimpYancIent]

Pilots are only exposing themselves to each other. That’s a crazy different situation vs. the cabin of an airplane.

Airlines SHOULD be distancing as well. It’s frustrating that only masks are being required when all scientific reports state masks AND distancing help. We need them both.

Only way to achieve true social distancing on an aircraft is to issue each passenger a bubble suit w individual air tank so each passenger has his / her own personal atmosphere during the duration of the flight. Social distancing on an aircraft! the absolute pinnacle of a joke.

 

[Virtual Toad]

I would seriously like to know what could have been done to stop this trend, say...4 weeks ago..5 weeks ago. Because from what I have seen, once you have to react to spread (which is what every state has done since the beginning), it is already too late.

Agreed. But there were things that could have been done several weeks ago in anticipation of what’s happening now. You have to be proactive and forward thinking. For example, widespread vaccination drives and public awareness at the start of summer would have upped the numbers of vaccinated eligible schoolchildren. Mask and vaccine mandates, social distancing and remote learning options for school put into place statewide in FL several weeks ago would have been great proactive ways to get ahead of the unfolding rise of COVID cases in our schools. And it’s not as if no one saw this coming. School districts are just now (this week, after schools started and cases are on the rise) reconsidering their previous lack of action. Great that they’re reacting now but why not muster the courage to try to get ahead of the game instead of constantly playing catch up?