Why are you demanding 5 day in-person school now that the pandemic is getting more dangerous?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/coronavirus/coronavirus/covid-19-in-virginia-cases/

OP, toggle this visualization to the northern region and look at the cases, hospitalizations, and deaths. Please then explain to me how you interpret this as the pandemic getting worse.

I’m convinced that the fear porn lovers like OP want to cherry pick data that fits in with their world is ending mentality. I’m convinced the people loving quarantine life are the friendless people who have spent their lives as outcasts always feeling like they couldn’t really quite fit in. They know they aren’t respected at work. Some claim their kids are “thriving” because they are raising antisocial kids who would rather spend all day playing Minecraft and chatting online than actually talking to other human beings. And this pandemic gives them something to finally feel superior about. They enjoy judging others for not wearing a mask just right or not isolating as much as they deem necessary. They feel sad and threatened that there is a vaccine and the pandemic is going to end at some point, so they’re clinging to whatever they can.

Sorry, but those of us who have friends, hobbies, kids who do sports/in-person activities, who don’t hide behind computers all day are ready to get back to all the fun stuff we did prior to COVID. My kids are back in in-person sports and I’m planning travel and brunches with friends soon. I’m so excited to return to my normal life.

OP here....maybe that describes a lot of people who are cautious right now, but before the lockdown I was out until 3 at ESL, going to SAX for brunch and strip shows, and hoping that Town would reopen in that church soon, with friends from all walks of life. So, try again.

You're not a parent, I take it? That might explain your position.

Not a parent. Just a troll.

OP here, of course I'm a parent - elementary school kids - there's no way someone who is not a parent would be tracking this debate. Two words: Lexia. Reflex. But I'm flattered you assumed that I couldn't be a parent.

Also, why does it matter who I am? Still aren't refuting the concern. The only legit response I've seen so far is, "if we're wrong, we can always lockdown again." Ok - hope you aren't in the first wave of casualties.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/coronavirus/coronavirus/covid-19-in-virginia-cases/

OP, toggle this visualization to the northern region and look at the cases, hospitalizations, and deaths. Please then explain to me how you interpret this as the pandemic getting worse.

I’m convinced that the fear porn lovers like OP want to cherry pick data that fits in with their world is ending mentality. I’m convinced the people loving quarantine life are the friendless people who have spent their lives as outcasts always feeling like they couldn’t really quite fit in. They know they aren’t respected at work. Some claim their kids are “thriving” because they are raising antisocial kids who would rather spend all day playing Minecraft and chatting online than actually talking to other human beings. And this pandemic gives them something to finally feel superior about. They enjoy judging others for not wearing a mask just right or not isolating as much as they deem necessary. They feel sad and threatened that there is a vaccine and the pandemic is going to end at some point, so they’re clinging to whatever they can.

Sorry, but those of us who have friends, hobbies, kids who do sports/in-person activities, who don’t hide behind computers all day are ready to get back to all the fun stuff we did prior to COVID. My kids are back in in-person sports and I’m planning travel and brunches with friends soon. I’m so excited to return to my normal life.

OP here....maybe that describes a lot of people who are cautious right now, but before the lockdown I was out until 3 at ESL, going to SAX for brunch and strip shows, and hoping that Town would reopen in that church soon, with friends from all walks of life. So, try again.

You're not a parent, I take it? That might explain your position.

Not a parent. Just a troll.

OP here, of course I'm a parent - elementary school kids - there's no way someone who is not a parent would be tracking this debate. Two words: Lexia. Reflex. But I'm flattered you assumed that I couldn't be a parent.

Also, why does it matter who I am? Still aren't refuting the concern. The only legit response I've seen so far is, "if we're wrong, we can always lockdown again." Ok - hope you aren't in the first wave of casualties.

That's because you have ignored everyone who has told you that you are wrong, that you are not interpreting the data or science correctly. Only legit response? Okay.

Your poor kids. In a couple months, I hope you forget about this thread, accept your status as a vaccinated person, and send your kids out of the house. To school, to a summer camp, anything.

[Anonymous]

I want to know how you looked at this ensemble model from your first link and decided it meant the pandemic is getting more dangerous. It looks like that line is continuing to go down.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I want to know how you looked at this ensemble model from your first link and decided it meant the pandemic is getting more dangerous. It looks like that line is continuing to go down.

OP here. To answer your question, I looked at the underlying assumptions of all the models, which I also linked to in my post. I scanned these assumptions, and found that they were assuming that past transmission rates would continue in the future, with some variance for mobility and weather. Therefore, the models are not taking into account variants that are more transmissible and more lethal, which is my concern. That is my point (which was in the first post) - these graphs are not reflecting this possible lethal variable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's very nice of you to post of that information with links to multiple sources. Unfortunately the 5 days RIGHT NOW brigade isn't really interested in data, or the many, many warnings.
They want 5 days of in-person school RIGHT NOW.
States are lifting mask mandates RIGHT NOW.
People are traveling and gathering RIGHT NOW.
Sure, we could hold on for 2 more months for majority of the population to be vaccinated, and that is what public health officials are urgently pleading for people to do, but nope, people want what they want, and they want it RIGHT NOW.

Exactly. America is the Veruca Salt of countries.

THIS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I want to know how you looked at this ensemble model from your first link and decided it meant the pandemic is getting more dangerous. It looks like that line is continuing to go down.

OP here. To answer your question, I looked at the underlying assumptions of all the models, which I also linked to in my post. I scanned these assumptions, and found that they were assuming that past transmission rates would continue in the future, with some variance for mobility and weather. Therefore, the models are not taking into account variants that are more transmissible and more lethal, which is my concern. That is my point (which was in the first post) - these graphs are not reflecting this possible lethal variable.

You looked at the models and decided you didn't like what they showed so you made up your own model in your head. Have you considered there might be a reason they haven't included the factors you are so scared of in the models? Do you think it's because you know more than them?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I am not Ventilation lady and I have never posted on AEM and I don't belong to it either.

Why are people posting things without sources? Maybe that's my answer - the people who are demanding return right now have really, really, really strong cognitive bias and believe what they want to believe and don't seek out information.

The current vaccines are not as effective against South African strain and Brazil strain. The NYTimes article cited by a PP was based on health workers in the U.S., where the other variants were not yet circulating. In fact, the reason the J&J vaccine had lower efficacy was because it was partially tested in South Africa.

https://www.ama-assn.org/delivering-care/public-health/why-coronavirus-variants-might-undercut-vaccine-efficacy
https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2102214

I posted earlier that the Brazil variant reinfects people who already were infected. Also, vaccine manufacturers are actively working on new vaccines for the variants. If the current vaccines were effective, why would they work on new ones? If you don't believe me, or in science, or in data, or in news, can you at least believe in market capitalism?



Also, I don't fly, go to bars, eat at restaurants, etc. I'm not advocating for that instead of schools opening? What a straw man argument! jeez

Ok well just like you don’t go to bars, restaurants, etc. you also DON’T HAVE TO SEND YOUR KID TO SCHOOL. Just OPT OUT if you’re not comfortable with it. And it’s not a straw man argument. You sound like you don’t even know what that means. The point is that why are you not worried about exposure at these other locations (bars, planes, etc.) but you are worried about schools? It’s not like COVID variants act differently in a restaurant than in a school. And if society can only tolerate a certain level of potential exposure then I would argue education is vastly more important than drinking a beer at a bar. So it’s a perfectly rational point to bring up — go fight the spread of COVID at all these other locations if you’re *that* worried about the new variants.

If you aren’t worried about the spread in those places b/c you don’t go there, then why do you care about potential spread at schools when all districts have announced plans to continue with virtual. Just don’t send your kid if you’re that worried but you don’t get to take away this fundamental right from the rest of us because you think the world owes you safety from COVID.

OP here. I'm not worried for myself! I'm not sending my kids back to in-person school in 2021. At some point I may worry about collapse of the health care system and needing to go to a hospital for something unrelated to covid, but I'm not worried about exposure because of my choices.

I asked why YOU weren't worried because you are wanting to send your kids back to in-person school in 2021. I would ask the same exact question to anyone who went to a bar, went to a restaurant, or flew on a plane. In fact, I have mentioned this to friends and family last week.

I am worried, OP. But my kindergartener was having a really hard time. School refusal, acting out, loneliness...sure, you can blame me as a bad parent for not providing him enough individual academic and social enrichment to make up for spending 6 hours a day online before he could even read. I admit that I failed to organize sufficiently frequent covid-safe outdoor playdates and fun, motivating school supplementation while working full time and also caring for an infant on a shift schedule with my husband. I just can't do it without a support system.

Anyway, when we sent him in 2 days a week, it made a positive difference. He sounds happier, is more motivated for school, and has basically stopped acting out with no other changes - I think, and a teacher friend agrees, that it was a cry for normalcy.

At the time we did, the numbers were continually improving and we were hopeful vaccination would stay ahead of variants. Now it's looking like we will not. My husband's a vaccinated hospital worker, but the kids and i could get sick, and I AM scared about that. It's a hard balance. I'm not sure when to call it and withdraw the kid, but it means so much to him, it's not going to be before his school has had a single covid case.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I want to know how you looked at this ensemble model from your first link and decided it meant the pandemic is getting more dangerous. It looks like that line is continuing to go down.

OP here. To answer your question, I looked at the underlying assumptions of all the models, which I also linked to in my post. I scanned these assumptions, and found that they were assuming that past transmission rates would continue in the future, with some variance for mobility and weather. Therefore, the models are not taking into account variants that are more transmissible and more lethal, which is my concern. That is my point (which was in the first post) - these graphs are not reflecting this possible lethal variable.

You looked at the models and decided you didn't like what they showed so you made up your own model in your head. Have you considered there might be a reason they haven't included the factors you are so scared of in the models? Do you think it's because you know more than them?

OP here, yeah I agree this sounds ridiculous, but it's not because I think I know more than them. Instead, I have witnessed public health take a back seat to populist politics for the past year, and so I can imagine the immense pressure that bureaucrats are under to declare everything is hunky dory finally. So, instead, I've been listening to two experts who have been consistently truth-telling without mincing words, and who have been proven right through the passage of time: Laurie Garrett and Eric Feigl-Ding. And they are raising the alarm right now about variants. Again, all I asked is why the open schools now crowd is so certain about what they want.

The viruses don't care how much the children or all of us have suffered.

I appreciated the PP's nuanced response about her conflicted decisions about sending her young child back. That makes sense to me. The rabid demands about what schools should do in fall don't make sense to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I want to know how you looked at this ensemble model from your first link and decided it meant the pandemic is getting more dangerous. It looks like that line is continuing to go down.

OP here. To answer your question, I looked at the underlying assumptions of all the models, which I also linked to in my post. I scanned these assumptions, and found that they were assuming that past transmission rates would continue in the future, with some variance for mobility and weather. Therefore, the models are not taking into account variants that are more transmissible and more lethal, which is my concern. That is my point (which was in the first post) - these graphs are not reflecting this possible lethal variable.

You looked at the models and decided you didn't like what they showed so you made up your own model in your head. Have you considered there might be a reason they haven't included the factors you are so scared of in the models? Do you think it's because you know more than them?

OP here, yeah I agree this sounds ridiculous, but it's not because I think I know more than them. Instead, I have witnessed public health take a back seat to populist politics for the past year, and so I can imagine the immense pressure that bureaucrats are under to declare everything is hunky dory finally. So, instead, I've been listening to two experts who have been consistently truth-telling without mincing words, and who have been proven right through the passage of time: Laurie Garrett and Eric Feigl-Ding. And they are raising the alarm right now about variants. Again, all I asked is why the open schools now crowd is so certain about what they want.

The viruses don't care how much the children or all of us have suffered.

I appreciated the PP's nuanced response about her conflicted decisions about sending her young child back. That makes sense to me. The rabid demands about what schools should do in fall don't make sense to me.

Welp, that's your problem. In addition to not actually being an expert in infectious disease, are you aware that Feigl-Ding moved to Austria last fall for.. IN PERSON SCHOOL. Yes, really.

If you're going to trust people on Twitter, you should also follow Monica Gandhi as well for more balance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I am not Ventilation lady and I have never posted on AEM and I don't belong to it either.

Why are people posting things without sources? Maybe that's my answer - the people who are demanding return right now have really, really, really strong cognitive bias and believe what they want to believe and don't seek out information.

The current vaccines are not as effective against South African strain and Brazil strain. The NYTimes article cited by a PP was based on health workers in the U.S., where the other variants were not yet circulating. In fact, the reason the J&J vaccine had lower efficacy was because it was partially tested in South Africa.

https://www.ama-assn.org/delivering-care/public-health/why-coronavirus-variants-might-undercut-vaccine-efficacy
https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2102214

I posted earlier that the Brazil variant reinfects people who already were infected. Also, vaccine manufacturers are actively working on new vaccines for the variants. If the current vaccines were effective, why would they work on new ones? If you don't believe me, or in science, or in data, or in news, can you at least believe in market capitalism?



Also, I don't fly, go to bars, eat at restaurants, etc. I'm not advocating for that instead of schools opening? What a straw man argument! jeez

Ok well just like you don’t go to bars, restaurants, etc. you also DON’T HAVE TO SEND YOUR KID TO SCHOOL. Just OPT OUT if you’re not comfortable with it. And it’s not a straw man argument. You sound like you don’t even know what that means. The point is that why are you not worried about exposure at these other locations (bars, planes, etc.) but you are worried about schools? It’s not like COVID variants act differently in a restaurant than in a school. And if society can only tolerate a certain level of potential exposure then I would argue education is vastly more important than drinking a beer at a bar. So it’s a perfectly rational point to bring up — go fight the spread of COVID at all these other locations if you’re *that* worried about the new variants.

If you aren’t worried about the spread in those places b/c you don’t go there, then why do you care about potential spread at schools when all districts have announced plans to continue with virtual. Just don’t send your kid if you’re that worried but you don’t get to take away this fundamental right from the rest of us because you think the world owes you safety from COVID.

OP here. I'm not worried for myself! I'm not sending my kids back to in-person school in 2021. At some point I may worry about collapse of the health care system and needing to go to a hospital for something unrelated to covid, but I'm not worried about exposure because of my choices.

I asked why YOU weren't worried because you are wanting to send your kids back to in-person school in 2021. I would ask the same exact question to anyone who went to a bar, went to a restaurant, or flew on a plane. In fact, I have mentioned this to friends and family last week.

I am worried, OP. But my kindergartener was having a really hard time. School refusal, acting out, loneliness...sure, you can blame me as a bad parent for not providing him enough individual academic and social enrichment to make up for spending 6 hours a day online before he could even read. I admit that I failed to organize sufficiently frequent covid-safe outdoor playdates and fun, motivating school supplementation while working full time and also caring for an infant on a shift schedule with my husband. I just can't do it without a support system.

Anyway, when we sent him in 2 days a week, it made a positive difference. He sounds happier, is more motivated for school, and has basically stopped acting out with no other changes - I think, and a teacher friend agrees, that it was a cry for normalcy.

At the time we did, the numbers were continually improving and we were hopeful vaccination would stay ahead of variants. Now it's looking like we will not. My husband's a vaccinated hospital worker, but the kids and i could get sick, and I AM scared about that. It's a hard balance. I'm not sure when to call it and withdraw the kid, but it means so much to him, it's not going to be before his school has had a single covid case.

I blame you for not teaching your child to read and giving them more support. K. is really easy and no big deal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I am not Ventilation lady and I have never posted on AEM and I don't belong to it either.

Why are people posting things without sources? Maybe that's my answer - the people who are demanding return right now have really, really, really strong cognitive bias and believe what they want to believe and don't seek out information.

The current vaccines are not as effective against South African strain and Brazil strain. The NYTimes article cited by a PP was based on health workers in the U.S., where the other variants were not yet circulating. In fact, the reason the J&J vaccine had lower efficacy was because it was partially tested in South Africa.

https://www.ama-assn.org/delivering-care/public-health/why-coronavirus-variants-might-undercut-vaccine-efficacy
https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2102214

I posted earlier that the Brazil variant reinfects people who already were infected. Also, vaccine manufacturers are actively working on new vaccines for the variants. If the current vaccines were effective, why would they work on new ones? If you don't believe me, or in science, or in data, or in news, can you at least believe in market capitalism?



Also, I don't fly, go to bars, eat at restaurants, etc. I'm not advocating for that instead of schools opening? What a straw man argument! jeez

Ok well just like you don’t go to bars, restaurants, etc. you also DON’T HAVE TO SEND YOUR KID TO SCHOOL. Just OPT OUT if you’re not comfortable with it. And it’s not a straw man argument. You sound like you don’t even know what that means. The point is that why are you not worried about exposure at these other locations (bars, planes, etc.) but you are worried about schools? It’s not like COVID variants act differently in a restaurant than in a school. And if society can only tolerate a certain level of potential exposure then I would argue education is vastly more important than drinking a beer at a bar. So it’s a perfectly rational point to bring up — go fight the spread of COVID at all these other locations if you’re *that* worried about the new variants.

If you aren’t worried about the spread in those places b/c you don’t go there, then why do you care about potential spread at schools when all districts have announced plans to continue with virtual. Just don’t send your kid if you’re that worried but you don’t get to take away this fundamental right from the rest of us because you think the world owes you safety from COVID.

OP here. I'm not worried for myself! I'm not sending my kids back to in-person school in 2021. At some point I may worry about collapse of the health care system and needing to go to a hospital for something unrelated to covid, but I'm not worried about exposure because of my choices.

I asked why YOU weren't worried because you are wanting to send your kids back to in-person school in 2021. I would ask the same exact question to anyone who went to a bar, went to a restaurant, or flew on a plane. In fact, I have mentioned this to friends and family last week.

I am worried, OP. But my kindergartener was having a really hard time. School refusal, acting out, loneliness...sure, you can blame me as a bad parent for not providing him enough individual academic and social enrichment to make up for spending 6 hours a day online before he could even read. I admit that I failed to organize sufficiently frequent covid-safe outdoor playdates and fun, motivating school supplementation while working full time and also caring for an infant on a shift schedule with my husband. I just can't do it without a support system.

Anyway, when we sent him in 2 days a week, it made a positive difference. He sounds happier, is more motivated for school, and has basically stopped acting out with no other changes - I think, and a teacher friend agrees, that it was a cry for normalcy.

At the time we did, the numbers were continually improving and we were hopeful vaccination would stay ahead of variants. Now it's looking like we will not. My husband's a vaccinated hospital worker, but the kids and i could get sick, and I AM scared about that. It's a hard balance. I'm not sure when to call it and withdraw the kid, but it means so much to him, it's not going to be before his school has had a single covid case.

I blame you for not teaching your child to read and giving them more support. K. is really easy and no big deal.

Learning to read is not the most important thing that kindergartners learn in school. We all know that.

Even you know that, when you stop knee-jerk attacking posters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I am not Ventilation lady and I have never posted on AEM and I don't belong to it either.

Why are people posting things without sources? Maybe that's my answer - the people who are demanding return right now have really, really, really strong cognitive bias and believe what they want to believe and don't seek out information.

The current vaccines are not as effective against South African strain and Brazil strain. The NYTimes article cited by a PP was based on health workers in the U.S., where the other variants were not yet circulating. In fact, the reason the J&J vaccine had lower efficacy was because it was partially tested in South Africa.

https://www.ama-assn.org/delivering-care/public-health/why-coronavirus-variants-might-undercut-vaccine-efficacy
https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2102214

I posted earlier that the Brazil variant reinfects people who already were infected. Also, vaccine manufacturers are actively working on new vaccines for the variants. If the current vaccines were effective, why would they work on new ones? If you don't believe me, or in science, or in data, or in news, can you at least believe in market capitalism?



Also, I don't fly, go to bars, eat at restaurants, etc. I'm not advocating for that instead of schools opening? What a straw man argument! jeez

Ok well just like you don’t go to bars, restaurants, etc. you also DON’T HAVE TO SEND YOUR KID TO SCHOOL. Just OPT OUT if you’re not comfortable with it. And it’s not a straw man argument. You sound like you don’t even know what that means. The point is that why are you not worried about exposure at these other locations (bars, planes, etc.) but you are worried about schools? It’s not like COVID variants act differently in a restaurant than in a school. And if society can only tolerate a certain level of potential exposure then I would argue education is vastly more important than drinking a beer at a bar. So it’s a perfectly rational point to bring up — go fight the spread of COVID at all these other locations if you’re *that* worried about the new variants.

If you aren’t worried about the spread in those places b/c you don’t go there, then why do you care about potential spread at schools when all districts have announced plans to continue with virtual. Just don’t send your kid if you’re that worried but you don’t get to take away this fundamental right from the rest of us because you think the world owes you safety from COVID.

OP here. I'm not worried for myself! I'm not sending my kids back to in-person school in 2021. At some point I may worry about collapse of the health care system and needing to go to a hospital for something unrelated to covid, but I'm not worried about exposure because of my choices.

I asked why YOU weren't worried because you are wanting to send your kids back to in-person school in 2021. I would ask the same exact question to anyone who went to a bar, went to a restaurant, or flew on a plane. In fact, I have mentioned this to friends and family last week.

I am worried, OP. But my kindergartener was having a really hard time. School refusal, acting out, loneliness...sure, you can blame me as a bad parent for not providing him enough individual academic and social enrichment to make up for spending 6 hours a day online before he could even read. I admit that I failed to organize sufficiently frequent covid-safe outdoor playdates and fun, motivating school supplementation while working full time and also caring for an infant on a shift schedule with my husband. I just can't do it without a support system.

Anyway, when we sent him in 2 days a week, it made a positive difference. He sounds happier, is more motivated for school, and has basically stopped acting out with no other changes - I think, and a teacher friend agrees, that it was a cry for normalcy.

At the time we did, the numbers were continually improving and we were hopeful vaccination would stay ahead of variants. Now it's looking like we will not. My husband's a vaccinated hospital worker, but the kids and i could get sick, and I AM scared about that. It's a hard balance. I'm not sure when to call it and withdraw the kid, but it means so much to him, it's not going to be before his school has had a single covid case.

I blame you for not teaching your child to read and giving them more support. K. is really easy and no big deal.

Great, yeah, I admitted it. My kid didn't know 100% of the K material before starting K - failure 1! And we did and do work on reading in the evenings in ways my kid enjoys more, but thats not really the issue - long term virtual school is not ok for some 5 year olds. I DID fail to meet all of his social, emotional, and needs with zero support or ability to associate with anyone else indoors all winter. I can't independently organize the amount of social interaction that makes up for school, and I can't force or bribe meaningful participation in 6 hours a day online. I admit it! I tried! It wasn't good enough,

If you'd like I could flagellate myself some more. But I'm not going to because I don't think this is a reasonable position to put parents of young elementary schoolers in for over a year and blame any poor outcomes on THEM. There have been so many failures in this pandemic. I don't think parents are among them. All our choices suck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I am not Ventilation lady and I have never posted on AEM and I don't belong to it either.

Why are people posting things without sources? Maybe that's my answer - the people who are demanding return right now have really, really, really strong cognitive bias and believe what they want to believe and don't seek out information.

The current vaccines are not as effective against South African strain and Brazil strain. The NYTimes article cited by a PP was based on health workers in the U.S., where the other variants were not yet circulating. In fact, the reason the J&J vaccine had lower efficacy was because it was partially tested in South Africa.

https://www.ama-assn.org/delivering-care/public-health/why-coronavirus-variants-might-undercut-vaccine-efficacy
https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2102214

I posted earlier that the Brazil variant reinfects people who already were infected. Also, vaccine manufacturers are actively working on new vaccines for the variants. If the current vaccines were effective, why would they work on new ones? If you don't believe me, or in science, or in data, or in news, can you at least believe in market capitalism?



Also, I don't fly, go to bars, eat at restaurants, etc. I'm not advocating for that instead of schools opening? What a straw man argument! jeez

Ok well just like you don’t go to bars, restaurants, etc. you also DON’T HAVE TO SEND YOUR KID TO SCHOOL. Just OPT OUT if you’re not comfortable with it. And it’s not a straw man argument. You sound like you don’t even know what that means. The point is that why are you not worried about exposure at these other locations (bars, planes, etc.) but you are worried about schools? It’s not like COVID variants act differently in a restaurant than in a school. And if society can only tolerate a certain level of potential exposure then I would argue education is vastly more important than drinking a beer at a bar. So it’s a perfectly rational point to bring up — go fight the spread of COVID at all these other locations if you’re *that* worried about the new variants.

If you aren’t worried about the spread in those places b/c you don’t go there, then why do you care about potential spread at schools when all districts have announced plans to continue with virtual. Just don’t send your kid if you’re that worried but you don’t get to take away this fundamental right from the rest of us because you think the world owes you safety from COVID.

OP here. I'm not worried for myself! I'm not sending my kids back to in-person school in 2021. At some point I may worry about collapse of the health care system and needing to go to a hospital for something unrelated to covid, but I'm not worried about exposure because of my choices.

I asked why YOU weren't worried because you are wanting to send your kids back to in-person school in 2021. I would ask the same exact question to anyone who went to a bar, went to a restaurant, or flew on a plane. In fact, I have mentioned this to friends and family last week.

I am worried, OP. But my kindergartener was having a really hard time. School refusal, acting out, loneliness...sure, you can blame me as a bad parent for not providing him enough individual academic and social enrichment to make up for spending 6 hours a day online before he could even read. I admit that I failed to organize sufficiently frequent covid-safe outdoor playdates and fun, motivating school supplementation while working full time and also caring for an infant on a shift schedule with my husband. I just can't do it without a support system.

Anyway, when we sent him in 2 days a week, it made a positive difference. He sounds happier, is more motivated for school, and has basically stopped acting out with no other changes - I think, and a teacher friend agrees, that it was a cry for normalcy.

At the time we did, the numbers were continually improving and we were hopeful vaccination would stay ahead of variants. Now it's looking like we will not. My husband's a vaccinated hospital worker, but the kids and i could get sick, and I AM scared about that. It's a hard balance. I'm not sure when to call it and withdraw the kid, but it means so much to him, it's not going to be before his school has had a single covid case.

I blame you for not teaching your child to read and giving them more support. K. is really easy and no big deal.

Seriously? This person is working full-time AND caring for an infant AND supporting virtual school AND feeding 2 children AND dealing with the challenging social-emotional adjustment of her son while her husband is working at a hospital for a year, and you want to BLAME HER for not teaching her child to read? WTF. Disappointed in you as a human!

[Anonymous]

Because people value the mental health of their children: "Among the report’s recommendations, increasing safe access to childcare and elementary schooling stands out among increasing mental health research and care." https://www.covidminds.org/post/lancet-covid-19-commission-lara-aknin

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The head of the cdc spoke of her feeling of impending doom relating to the pandemic today.

Because idiots in TX, FL and elsewhere don't wear masks. Spring breakers being careless. We are still in a pandemic, people need to act like it.

The numbers in Texas and Mississippi, who the President declared were engaged in 'Neanderthal thinking' by dropping their mask mandates, have had better results with numbers going down, while stricter lockdown and mandate states like NY, NJ, Mich have their numbers going up.