I have been tracking the COVID numbers very closely in Virginia, with a focus on Vienna (I live in town)l. Probably someone reading this follows my facebook posts.

I am very concerned about the observed lack of social distancing. Outside is safer than inside, but not safe. And we do not know what is going on in peoples houses. I have seen facebook photos of kids and the friends at home.

With that said, the data right now shows that teens and tweens have the lowest growth rate of any age group in Northern VA, with a slightly negative Rt. My guess is there is a teen/tween bubble. They isolate themselves. As long as the virus in to in the age group, they will remain ok. But, that could change quickly.

I am very concerned.

But, with that said, it is a small minority of kids that are doing this. My DD and her friends are all social isolating. And the number of young people I see is a small fraction of the community. But, there are some adult roll models, largely sports coaches (including highly regarded school coaches) that are encouraging kids to play there sports. And there is not social distancing -- there could be....close the bleachers to spectators and use those to spread out.

Oh, and I do not believe this is isolated to Vienna. I see the same thing in Fairfax and in Arlington.

Many of these teens went to the protests. There was also a protest in Vienna’s town square as well as a candle light vigil during it all.

Everyone had stayed cooped up until. It was easy for parents to enforce it. But there was no turning back after that.

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Vienna resident here. Sounds about right. My neighborhood is business as usual with younger children running around together, sharing scooters and playgrounds. Yesterday, a group of about 10 elementary schooolers played in the bed of a neighbor's truck ...while the parents stood around and talked.[/quote]

NP. Bunch of kids practicing baseball at Southside Park today, late afternoon. Couple of men coaching, a woman conversing a few feet from one man about what sounded like her role doing something for the team. Zero masks on anyone except one of the men. Why are kids' ball teams allowed to be operating right now? Maybe these idiot parents are convinced "kids don't get the virus/don't spread it if they do get it/you can't catch the virus outdoors" and all that debunked mythology.

These things are why the pandemic will go on and on.[/quote]

These kids were told by the media that the thousands of people protesting outdoors did not lead to any spike in cases, because they were outdoors. Agree or disagree but you saw that reported too. I saw a huge increase in kids AND adults gathering outside after that. It happened everywhere. [/quote]

This is a fair point. [/quote]

Huh? The protesters were all masked. Outdoors + masks did not lead to a spike, true.

No, the weather got warm and people got tired of being careful. We had a window to tackle this thing and squandered it, and now people have given up.[/quote]


True. The virus is here to stay. It is never going away. People accept that and are going about their lives (and in many cases, their deaths.)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Vienna resident here. Sounds about right. My neighborhood is business as usual with younger children running around together, sharing scooters and playgrounds. Yesterday, a group of about 10 elementary schooolers played in the bed of a neighbor's truck ...while the parents stood around and talked.

NP. Bunch of kids practicing baseball at Southside Park today, late afternoon. Couple of men coaching, a woman conversing a few feet from one man about what sounded like her role doing something for the team. Zero masks on anyone except one of the men. Why are kids' ball teams allowed to be operating right now? Maybe these idiot parents are convinced "kids don't get the virus/don't spread it if they do get it/you can't catch the virus outdoors" and all that debunked mythology.

These things are why the pandemic will go on and on.

These kids were told by the media that the thousands of people protesting outdoors did not lead to any spike in cases, because they were outdoors. Agree or disagree but you saw that reported too. I saw a huge increase in kids AND adults gathering outside after that. It happened everywhere.

Or, we entered Phase 3...

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Vienna resident here. Sounds about right. My neighborhood is business as usual with younger children running around together, sharing scooters and playgrounds. Yesterday, a group of about 10 elementary schooolers played in the bed of a neighbor's truck ...while the parents stood around and talked.

NP. Bunch of kids practicing baseball at Southside Park today, late afternoon. Couple of men coaching, a woman conversing a few feet from one man about what sounded like her role doing something for the team. Zero masks on anyone except one of the men. Why are kids' ball teams allowed to be operating right now? Maybe these idiot parents are convinced "kids don't get the virus/don't spread it if they do get it/you can't catch the virus outdoors" and all that debunked mythology.

These things are why the pandemic will go on and on.

These kids were told by the media that the thousands of people protesting outdoors did not lead to any spike in cases, because they were outdoors. Agree or disagree but you saw that reported too. I saw a huge increase in kids AND adults gathering outside after that. It happened everywhere.

This is a fair point.

Huh? The protesters were all masked. Outdoors + masks did not lead to a spike, true.

No, the weather got warm and people got tired of being careful. We had a window to tackle this thing and squandered it, and now people have given up.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Vienna resident here. Sounds about right. My neighborhood is business as usual with younger children running around together, sharing scooters and playgrounds. Yesterday, a group of about 10 elementary schooolers played in the bed of a neighbor's truck ...while the parents stood around and talked.

NP. Bunch of kids practicing baseball at Southside Park today, late afternoon. Couple of men coaching, a woman conversing a few feet from one man about what sounded like her role doing something for the team. Zero masks on anyone except one of the men. Why are kids' ball teams allowed to be operating right now? Maybe these idiot parents are convinced "kids don't get the virus/don't spread it if they do get it/you can't catch the virus outdoors" and all that debunked mythology.

These things are why the pandemic will go on and on.

These kids were told by the media that the thousands of people protesting outdoors did not lead to any spike in cases, because they were outdoors. Agree or disagree but you saw that reported too. I saw a huge increase in kids AND adults gathering outside after that. It happened everywhere.

This is a fair point.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Vienna resident here. Sounds about right. My neighborhood is business as usual with younger children running around together, sharing scooters and playgrounds. Yesterday, a group of about 10 elementary schooolers played in the bed of a neighbor's truck ...while the parents stood around and talked.

NP. Bunch of kids practicing baseball at Southside Park today, late afternoon. Couple of men coaching, a woman conversing a few feet from one man about what sounded like her role doing something for the team. Zero masks on anyone except one of the men. Why are kids' ball teams allowed to be operating right now? Maybe these idiot parents are convinced "kids don't get the virus/don't spread it if they do get it/you can't catch the virus outdoors" and all that debunked mythology.

These things are why the pandemic will go on and on.

These kids were told by the media that the thousands of people protesting outdoors did not lead to any spike in cases, because they were outdoors. Agree or disagree but you saw that reported too. I saw a huge increase in kids AND adults gathering outside after that. It happened everywhere.

Anonymous wrote:Obviously all these children and their parents should be humiliated and possibly executed. Is there a good open space in the Vienna area where executions can take place while the witnesses are able to maintain social distancing?

There is a public square . . . of sorts.

Obviously all these children and their parents should be humiliated and possibly executed. Is there a good open space in the Vienna area where executions can take place while the witnesses are able to maintain social distancing?

This is not unique to Vienna.

Anonymous wrote:Vienna resident here. Sounds about right. My neighborhood is business as usual with younger children running around together, sharing scooters and playgrounds. Yesterday, a group of about 10 elementary schooolers played in the bed of a neighbor's truck ...while the parents stood around and talked.

NP. Bunch of kids practicing baseball at Southside Park today, late afternoon. Couple of men coaching, a woman conversing a few feet from one man about what sounded like her role doing something for the team. Zero masks on anyone except one of the men. Why are kids' ball teams allowed to be operating right now? Maybe these idiot parents are convinced "kids don't get the virus/don't spread it if they do get it/you can't catch the virus outdoors" and all that debunked mythology.

These things are why the pandemic will go on and on.

Drive by any turf field or basketball court if you really want to be shocked. This won’t look so bad.

Same in Arlington. Why do you think the positives in that age group are way up?

Vienna resident here. Sounds about right. My neighborhood is business as usual with younger children running around together, sharing scooters and playgrounds. Yesterday, a group of about 10 elementary schooolers played in the bed of a neighbor's truck ...while the parents stood around and talked.

I have been staying very close to home, but late this afternoon I did have occasion to drive through Vienna. I was astonished at how many teens I saw congregating in groups with no masks. I’m not even going to mention the lack of bike helmets, but I couldn’t believe how many kids were out and about without any mask or effort at social distancing. Now I can see that there is no way schools will be able to open. I recognize that it is hard to monitor teens, but this just blew my mind.