Feel free to limit your activities and find a virtual school for your child if you are concerned. My family is going to continue to live our life. That means going to work and school, in person. Our son is going to go to Scouts and play his rec sports and hang out with friends. we might eat at a restaurant on occasion and we are going to travel to see family and friends. We will wear masks indoors, get boosted when we need to, and be careful when anyone is sick. We have home tests for when someone has a cold, to be certain that it is a cold, and will go for more reliable test if we are concerned.

But life goes on and we are going to move on with it.

But you do you.

See more stupid calls by Teachers Union Man Child on AEM to test every child. Nope.

Are we surveillance testing everyone who goes into a grocery store, pharmacy, restaurant or bar?

No. These nuts on AEM are wanting a Zero COVID environment that is not being applied to anywhere else in our community. COVID will never be eradicated. Why should our children be the soldiers in a fruitless battle while the adults live normally?!?

Don't test your asymptomatic kids. COVID is never going away. The NFL is not testing asymptomatic people anymore either. Is your kids' education less important to you than professional football?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My concern as that even those that experience “mild” COVID can end up with long-haul symptoms down the road. There’s still so much we don’t know about the new variant other than the fact that it’s highly contagious.

Not this again. Long covid is not a real thing for most people and/or the long term effects are themselves mild.

Tell that to my best friend who was previously healthy and now suffers from heart, lung, and neurological complications.

It may not effect most people, but it’s something we should try to avoid and prevent to the extent we can.

Same with getting struck by lightning. All, the studies with control groups with Long COVID shows more or the same Long COVID in the control group (who didn't even have COVID) and for those who actually had COVID. It is largely psychological.

Anonymous wrote:

NP. I am politically liberal, with advanced degrees in STEM, and when I looked at your old thread, my first thought was that it was remarkable how wrong you turned out to be.

I will also note that you do not address the large and growing body of educational data that shows just how devastating DL was educationally, particularly among the most vulnerable children. Any discussion of public health needs to take a hard look at the impact of loss of education on the expected lifespans and wellbeing of children. Are you willing to accept that a sharply higher percentage of kids who lose 2+ years of education are going to eventually spend their lives in prison? Have you looked at the association between loss of education and life outcomes? You are so incredibly sheltered and privileged (it's obvious from your posts) that these kids probably don't even cross your mind, but they are there and suffering.

Nope. You may have advanced degrees in STEM but you lack reading comprehension. I never suggested any course of action. Neither post argues for doing anything. I was trying to gather information, and asking what I've missed, trying to understand why others are not concerned -- and find out if people who are so sure and are suggesting a course of action have considered certain things. Please read again:

"Do you disagree and think that the pandemic is getting less dangerous? If so, are you actively monitoring epidemiology and drawing conclusions that are different from me?
Do you agree that the pandemic is getting more dangerous but think it only affects other people, not you / your loved ones?
Or do you agree that the pandemic is getting more dangerous even for you / your loved ones, but it's still worth the risk for the benefits of in-person 5 days school?"

It's there, black and white -- I clearly considered whether the benefits of returning full time may be worth the risk of returning, even if that risk is more dangerous. Please take your straw man argument back.

You know, someone who is truly not sheltered and privileged is the kind of person who is cautious because they've had horrible things happen to them in their life. Maybe a person who cares about others is the kind of person who is asking what happens to the whole community like I did -- are teachers going to get sick, are parents going to die, are schools going to have to shut back down, that kind of thing.

Here's our family's plan for the new variant: Live life normally as we have since last summer!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is OP an anti-vaxxer?

She seems to be implying vaccines don't work. They work very well. And I agree with one of the responders that everyone will get COVID. Adults in bars and restaurants aren't doing these things so no reason to put the burden on our children.

OMG no, no no no

I'm not "implying" anything, I'm stating facts. The efficacy of being "fully vaccinated" (2 mRNA shots or 1 J&J) has gone down significantly against the omicron variant. The efficacy rates were around 95% against symptoms against the wild variant, 75% against the Delta variant, and they drop to 30% against the Omicron variant (and if you have 1 J&J shot, they drop to 0% protection). ALSO, NO ONE AT THIS POINT HAS ESTABLISHED WHAT THE RATE OF HOSPITALIZATION IS. AT THIS MOMENT WE DO NOT KNOW IF OMICRON IS MILDER.

Everyone needs to get boosters but my point is that teachers are no longer as protected against this variant as they were back when they were required to be fully vaccinated (2 shots) and were only facing the Beta variant and could have in person schooling in April 2021 -- because most of them haven't gotten boosters yet and boosters haven't been mandated. So in person on January 3, 2022 is way more dangerous to the community as in person was on May 2021. And even if omicron is less lethal, it is still generating symptoms, which means people can't come into work. If everyone can't come into work at the same time, schools can't stay open. Put 2 and 2 together people!

I can't ... wrap my head ... around the complacency ....

Also a whole bunch of bars and restaurants just announced that they were shutting down to in-person service. Wake the F up! This isn't about your 2020 Heritage Foundation Talking Points anymore!

NP. I am politically liberal, with advanced degrees in STEM, and when I looked at your old thread, my first thought was that it was remarkable how wrong you turned out to be.

I will also note that you do not address the large and growing body of educational data that shows just how devastating DL was educationally, particularly among the most vulnerable children. Any discussion of public health needs to take a hard look at the impact of loss of education on the expected lifespans and wellbeing of children. Are you willing to accept that a sharply higher percentage of kids who lose 2+ years of education are going to eventually spend their lives in prison? Have you looked at the association between loss of education and life outcomes? You are so incredibly sheltered and privileged (it's obvious from your posts) that these kids probably don't even cross your mind, but they are there and suffering.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:😂😂😂😂😂

You were the one who was wrong OP. School should have opened. APS was wrong. You were wrong. Btw did you learn nothing from delta? You know when nothing happened and the schools were fine.

Teachers in other states died of COVID at alarming rates.

Where are you getting those stats? And how many of those infections were from a classroom and not on personal time? I've googled around and haven't found what you're referencing.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My concern as that even those that experience “mild” COVID can end up with long-haul symptoms down the road. There’s still so much we don’t know about the new variant other than the fact that it’s highly contagious.

Not this again. Long covid is not a real thing for most people and/or the long term effects are themselves mild.

Tell that to my best friend who was previously healthy and now suffers from heart, lung, and neurological complications.

It may not effect most people, but it’s something we should try to avoid and prevent to the extent we can.

Anonymous wrote:My concern as that even those that experience “mild” COVID can end up with long-haul symptoms down the road. There’s still so much we don’t know about the new variant other than the fact that it’s highly contagious.

Not this again. Long covid is not a real thing for most people and/or the long term effects are themselves mild.

My concern as that even those that experience “mild” COVID can end up with long-haul symptoms down the road. There’s still so much we don’t know about the new variant other than the fact that it’s highly contagious.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is OP an anti-vaxxer?

She seems to be implying vaccines don't work. They work very well. And I agree with one of the responders that everyone will get COVID. Adults in bars and restaurants aren't doing these things so no reason to put the burden on our children.

OMG no, no no no

I'm not "implying" anything, I'm stating facts. The efficacy of being "fully vaccinated" (2 mRNA shots or 1 J&J) has gone down significantly against the omicron variant. The efficacy rates were around 95% against symptoms against the wild variant, 75% against the Delta variant, and they drop to 30% against the Omicron variant (and if you have 1 J&J shot, they drop to 0% protection). ALSO, NO ONE AT THIS POINT HAS ESTABLISHED WHAT THE RATE OF HOSPITALIZATION IS. AT THIS MOMENT WE DO NOT KNOW IF OMICRON IS MILDER.

Everyone needs to get boosters but my point is that teachers are no longer as protected against this variant as they were back when they were required to be fully vaccinated (2 shots) and were only facing the Beta variant and could have in person schooling in April 2021 -- because most of them haven't gotten boosters yet and boosters haven't been mandated. So in person on January 3, 2022 is way more dangerous to the community as in person was on May 2021. And even if omicron is less lethal, it is still generating symptoms, which means people can't come into work. If everyone can't come into work at the same time, schools can't stay open. Put 2 and 2 together people!

I can't ... wrap my head ... around the complacency ....

Also a whole bunch of bars and restaurants just announced that they were shutting down to in-person service. Wake the F up! This isn't about your 2020 Heritage Foundation Talking Points anymore!

While we don't have definitive proof Omicron is milder, we have heaps and heaps of evidence suggesting it is. Just look at the data coming out of South Africa. Hospitalizations aren't climbing at the same rate. The average duration of hospitalization has declined by 50%. Cases in Gauteng province have leveled off (contrary to what the models said should happen). We also have tons of testimonial evidence from doctors who have treated Omicron patients saying the same thing.

Now it's possible that one or two other factors are responsible for those things, and Omicron is just as bad as Delta. But at this point you'd have to defy Occam's razor to assume Omicron isn't milder. That's where the weight of the evidence is, and policy needs to reflect that. Assuming otherwise is doom-saying masquerading as analysis.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is OP an anti-vaxxer?

She seems to be implying vaccines don't work. They work very well. And I agree with one of the responders that everyone will get COVID. Adults in bars and restaurants aren't doing these things so no reason to put the burden on our children.

OMG no, no no no

I'm not "implying" anything, I'm stating facts. The efficacy of being "fully vaccinated" (2 mRNA shots or 1 J&J) has gone down significantly against the omicron variant. The efficacy rates were around 95% against symptoms against the wild variant, 75% against the Delta variant, and they drop to 30% against the Omicron variant (and if you have 1 J&J shot, they drop to 0% protection). ALSO, NO ONE AT THIS POINT HAS ESTABLISHED WHAT THE RATE OF HOSPITALIZATION IS. AT THIS MOMENT WE DO NOT KNOW IF OMICRON IS MILDER.

Everyone needs to get boosters but my point is that teachers are no longer as protected against this variant as they were back when they were required to be fully vaccinated (2 shots) and were only facing the Beta variant and could have in person schooling in April 2021 -- because most of them haven't gotten boosters yet and boosters haven't been mandated. So in person on January 3, 2022 is way more dangerous to the community as in person was on May 2021. And even if omicron is less lethal, it is still generating symptoms, which means people can't come into work. If everyone can't come into work at the same time, schools can't stay open. Put 2 and 2 together people!

I can't ... wrap my head ... around the complacency ....

Also a whole bunch of bars and restaurants just announced that they were shutting down to in-person service. Wake the F up! This isn't about your 2020 Heritage Foundation Talking Points anymore!

Stay hidden inside forever. At a packed bar right now watching football.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is OP an anti-vaxxer?

She seems to be implying vaccines don't work. They work very well. And I agree with one of the responders that everyone will get COVID. Adults in bars and restaurants aren't doing these things so no reason to put the burden on our children.

OMG no, no no no

I'm not "implying" anything, I'm stating facts. The efficacy of being "fully vaccinated" (2 mRNA shots or 1 J&J) has gone down significantly against the omicron variant. The efficacy rates were around 95% against symptoms against the wild variant, 75% against the Delta variant, and they drop to 30% against the Omicron variant (and if you have 1 J&J shot, they drop to 0% protection). ALSO, NO ONE AT THIS POINT HAS ESTABLISHED WHAT THE RATE OF HOSPITALIZATION IS. AT THIS MOMENT WE DO NOT KNOW IF OMICRON IS MILDER.

Everyone needs to get boosters but my point is that teachers are no longer as protected against this variant as they were back when they were required to be fully vaccinated (2 shots) and were only facing the Beta variant and could have in person schooling in April 2021 -- because most of them haven't gotten boosters yet and boosters haven't been mandated. So in person on January 3, 2022 is way more dangerous to the community as in person was on May 2021. And even if omicron is less lethal, it is still generating symptoms, which means people can't come into work. If everyone can't come into work at the same time, schools can't stay open. Put 2 and 2 together people!

I can't ... wrap my head ... around the complacency ....

Also a whole bunch of bars and restaurants just announced that they were shutting down to in-person service. Wake the F up! This isn't about your 2020 Heritage Foundation Talking Points anymore!

Lots of teachers are boosted. My entire team is.

Anonymous wrote:Is OP an anti-vaxxer?

She seems to be implying vaccines don't work. They work very well. And I agree with one of the responders that everyone will get COVID. Adults in bars and restaurants aren't doing these things so no reason to put the burden on our children.

OMG no, no no no

I'm not "implying" anything, I'm stating facts. The efficacy of being "fully vaccinated" (2 mRNA shots or 1 J&J) has gone down significantly against the omicron variant. The efficacy rates were around 95% against symptoms against the wild variant, 75% against the Delta variant, and they drop to 30% against the Omicron variant (and if you have 1 J&J shot, they drop to 0% protection). ALSO, NO ONE AT THIS POINT HAS ESTABLISHED WHAT THE RATE OF HOSPITALIZATION IS. AT THIS MOMENT WE DO NOT KNOW IF OMICRON IS MILDER.

Everyone needs to get boosters but my point is that teachers are no longer as protected against this variant as they were back when they were required to be fully vaccinated (2 shots) and were only facing the Beta variant and could have in person schooling in April 2021 -- because most of them haven't gotten boosters yet and boosters haven't been mandated. So in person on January 3, 2022 is way more dangerous to the community as in person was on May 2021. And even if omicron is less lethal, it is still generating symptoms, which means people can't come into work. If everyone can't come into work at the same time, schools can't stay open. Put 2 and 2 together people!

I can't ... wrap my head ... around the complacency ....

Also a whole bunch of bars and restaurants just announced that they were shutting down to in-person service. Wake the F up! This isn't about your 2020 Heritage Foundation Talking Points anymore!

Everyone will get COVID and vaccines aren't working at stopping transmission. The only thing that seems to be working is prior infection, like every other pandemic ended (other than polio). And Omicron is super mild (COVID itself pre-vaccine was already very mild for kids and healthy adults under 50).

Let it rip!