At what point did you / will you take the coronavirus epidemic seriously?

[myboynoah]

This is hopeful.

Four charts that analyze how omicron’s wave compares to previous coronavirus peaks

But despite surging case numbers, deaths and severe hospitalizations rates have not followed that rise quite as intensely. Health-care workers are cautiously waiting to see if the United States’ omicron wave will follow that of South Africa and London, where the variant passed its peak while causing relatively few deaths and hospitalizations.

[myboynoah]

These NYT charts show hospitalizations spiking and some upward movement in deaths. Not as intense, but upward movement still the same.

This continues to be the story.

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[Northwestcoug]

The big question mark is as always, hospitalizations. Even if Omicron is just a bad cold to the vaccinated (as it seems increasingly likely), even a small uptick in relative hospitalizations of the unvaccinated in the midst of the current case numbers can still wreck havoc. Everyone is exhausted. Health care workers will get infected and will have to quarantine. Hospitals are barely covering the services now. The chances of even a ‘good outcome’ for Omicron to still upend health care for the next couple of weeks are still significant. I’m looking nervously at the rural counties next to us and their low vaccination numbers, and I’m not as optimistic as I was last week.

[Bo Diddley]

Just heard if none of your friends have covid, you don't have friends.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Starting on January 20, BYU to require proof of vax or negative test to attend public events of over 100 people.

https://www.byu.edu/coronavirus/events-activities

[BigFatMeanie]

Starting on January 20, BYU to require proof of vax or negative test to attend public events of over 100 people.

https://www.byu.edu/coronavirus/events-activities

Good. I skipped the past two home basketball games because very few people mask up in the Marriott center. They'll even give you a mask at the door but once everyone gets inside they just take of their masks. COVID city.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Good. I skipped the past two home basketball games because very few people mask up in the Marriott center. They'll even give you a mask at the door but once everyone gets inside they just take of their masks. COVID city.

Yeah, I might have attended the SMC game had this been in place.

[Bo Diddley]

Yeah, vaxxed or not, it just seems like a good idea to stay away from big gatherings for a while. I'm still optimistic of a positive outcome from this whole omicron thing, but I'm going to try not to tempt fate.

And honestly, isn't the science saying that masks are much less effective with omicron? Besides getting boosted, social distancing seems to be the order of the day.

[myboynoah]

"Personally, I feel very comfortable having taken them. I've had absolutely no reverberation."

[Jeff Lebowski]

Some evidence that we are at or near the omicron peak.

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/13/b...northeast.html

[beefytee]

Not to be a Debbie downer here, I really hope the peak is soon, but I wonder (at least in Utah) that the numbers are leveling off because testing capacity is being reached. The testing resources seems to have been stretched to their limit this week and I think a lot of people are relying on home tests (that's what I did) or not getting tested at all because either the line and wait times are so long or the result turn around time is too long and won't help much by the time you get it.

[Bo Diddley]

Not to be a Debbie downer here, I really hope the peak is soon, but I wonder (at least in Utah) that the numbers are leveling off because testing capacity is being reached. The testing resources seems to have been stretched to their limit this week and I think a lot of people are relying on home tests (that's what I did) or not getting tested at all because either the line and wait times are so long or the result turn around time is too long and won't help much by the time you get it.

I would think the percent positive would go up in that case. I haven't checked the numbers. Are they?

[beefytee]

I would think the percent positive would go up in that case. I haven't checked the numbers. Are they?

That number continues to go up in Utah and is now at 37% while the number of people tested has plateaued. Case Counts | coronavirus (utah.gov)
I don't know about NY. I know that no one is arguing that Utah has reached its peak.

I'm just hoping we are over most of this by the end of the month.

[Bo Diddley]

That number continues to go up in Utah and is now at 37% while the number of people tested has plateaued. Case Counts | coronavirus (utah.gov)
I don't know about NY. I know that no one is arguing that Utah has reached its peak.

I'm just hoping we are over most of this by the end of the month.

Wow. Yeah, not at the peak yet.

[Pelado]

Our kids' schools send out an email when someone tests positive:

We are writing to update you on the most current developments regarding COVID-19.
Today, we were informed that an individual(s) within our school community has tested positive for COVID-19. Please keep his/her health and recovery in mind.

You can continue to send your child to school but daily monitoring of symptoms is a VERY important part of this process. Contact the school nurse if your child has symptoms or is being tested for COVID.

If your child develops any symptoms, stay home, call your medical provider, or get tested. There are multiple free testing sites in the community. Also, Preventative Health is offering West Ada School District students and staff testing. Please use the link COVID-19 Vaccine: West Ada District Office Drive Up COVID-19 RAPID/PCR Tests - (signupgenius.com) to schedule a testing appointment. These tests are limited to West Ada students/staff that meet the following criteria:

1. Student/staff without a known exposure, exhibiting symptoms that have improved over 72 hours (3 days) may obtain a test on the fourth day from a testing facility or health care provider.
2. Student/staff receive a negative COVID19 test from a testing facility or health care provider on or after 72 hours following last contact with the school based positive case.

If your student needs to access classroom instruction remotely, please note the following:
· Classroom assignments and resources will be available to students through Microsoft Teams or SeeSaw
· Each building will utilize a consistent Microsoft Teams/See Saw structure to support student access at home
· Synchronous learning opportunities will be provided for students during direct classroom instruction through Microsoft Teams
· Assessments/testing will be taken in the building

I've been getting at least a couple of these emails (probably at least one per school) each day this past week.