Where do you stand on opening things up during the Pandemic?

[Convoy2022_TrumpSupporter]

I live in Ontario Canada and we have already slowly started to open things up. Mostly essential stores or curbside pick up. It's a long weekend for us and everyone is planning to go to their cottage while our Medical officer is not encouraging them to go.

I work in a Community Hospital we are still on outbreak with Covid. While my heart goes out to those that are sick and those who are in financial trouble, why go out and risk their lives and others? One guy was telling me that they should open up everything, SPorts, Movies, Malls etc.. I told him he can catch the virus and get sick. He says he won't get sick, but I am like you have no control of that.

Also since NURSES and other healthcare workers work with Covid patients everyday, wouldn't it be reckless and Cavalier if people just went out and about like a regular day and then caught the virus then went to our Hospitals to get treated? I mean we are there to help no matter what, but they have no right to be reckless or infect us with the virus. I have a family to go home too.

[lifelearningrn, BSN, RN]

I think the states that are most aggressive in reopening, will likely be doing less testing and reporting, so not to look like they contributed to an uptick in cases. I honestly don't trust the numbers coming out of TX, FL, WI, GA, etc.

I'm curious why DC gets daily rapid testing while the rest of the country it takes 3+ days for results.

Only time will tell how this plays out.

[cartwrk]

I support the reopening. I'm not here to argue with anyone.

This is a graph that shows death rate of countries with lockdown (yellow) vs countries without (green). I realize there are many variables. This graph was put together by a statistician.

Already we are looking at great depression rates of unemployment.

I personally think that the reopenings should be decided on a local level, not state level.

[FullGlass, BSN, MSN, NP]

6 hours ago, NICU Guy said:

There have been around 90,000 deaths in the US due to Covid. That number is probably far less . . . 60,000 people die each year in the US from the Flu (both young and old), but we don't shut down our country each flu season. You knock down a virus through vaccine and herd immunity. We strengthen our immune system by interacting with others. We weaken our immune system by isolating ourselves.

We've had some very bad flu seasons, excluding the Spanish flu:

1957 when 116,000 died

1967 when about 100,000 Americans died

2017-2018 about 80,000 died from flu

We didn't shut the country down in those years and it's high time to reopen, with precautions. Individuals at high risk can continue to self-isolate and take extra precautions.

[Wuzzie]

9 minutes ago, FullGlass said:

We didn't shut the country down in those years and it's high time to reopen, with precautions. Individuals at high risk can continue to self-isolate and take extra precautions.

With the exception of a few places that is exactly what's happening.

[Daisy4RN]

5 hours ago, NICU Guy said:

Instead, the country has been shut down for 2 months and the goal post has been moved from keeping the hospitals from being overwhelmed to shut down until the virus is flattened.

I agree, time to reopen (slowly and with precautions), we already have a huge economic burden that is going to eventually wreak havoc sooner or later (or both).

Some states/counties are even saying that they will not open anything until there is a cure!

[malamud69, BSN, RN]

SARS-CoV-2 is NOT the FLU

Is this truth incomprehensible?

This thread once again compels the invocation of Hitchens...

”That which can be proclaimed without evidence can be dismissed without evidence “

[Uroboros, APRN]

We stand at the precipice of this issue, especially those of us on the front lines of COVID testing and treatment, as I wind down my day at a high volume urban COVID center. Comparing this to the seasonal flu is rather spurious and grossly misunderstanding the clear difference. However, in four short months, coming this October, when our friendly regular flu is here we will see the two in action together. Personally and professionally I fear for the worst. Common flu statistic left out is some 40 million catch it in America even with decades of vaccine and treatment. Now imagine that same 40 million this fall with COVID still lingering, with no vaccine, and little to any proven treatment.

IMO the most serious blind variable which remains a real wild card are pediatrics. We are just now seeing cases of SIRS nearly one month post COVID in this age group. I'm surprised there is so little mention of the some 150 pediatric cases in NY alone under current review for this syndrome. During peak strep, myco, RSV, and influenza, which are all well on the way, what grim statistics will we be debating concerning our children this fall concerning COVID? People seem to easily turn a blind eye to literally dump truck loads of adults dying in these novel times, calling it a hoax or conspiracy. But when kids are affected even the hardest, most apathetic among us capriciously sing a more sobering tune.

I'm not virtue signaling here, and I haven't wore my pink hat in a while. And I'm also no economist but I do have a business degree as well. There's something called the Pareto Rule that really applies here, meaning nothing is 1/1 in financial principle, and most causes come from the smallest means. Helps to put all this into better perspective, since after all we closed the economy, hence we can reopen it. Businesses can bounce back, or be reborn. The people who have died from COVID do not have that luxury. And no one would agree we can put a price tag on the life of one single child. Godspeed sincerely to all.

[hppygr8ful, ASN, RN, EMT-I]

5 hours ago, lifelearningrn said:

I'm curious why DC gets daily rapid testing while the rest of the country it takes 3+ days for results. Only time will tell how this plays out.

That's because there are so many important people in DC and the country can't function without them Members of Congress, the Senate, Judiciary and White house staff are being tested weekly if not every 2 to 3 days

[FullGlass, BSN, MSN, NP]

4 hours ago, malamud69 said:

SARS-CoV-2 is NOT the FLU

Is this truth incomprehensible?

This thread once again compels the invocation of Hitchens...

”That which can be proclaimed without evidence can be dismissed without evidence “

What is your point? No one has said COVID is the flu. And what evidence do you want?

[FullGlass, BSN, MSN, NP]

3 hours ago, Uroboros said:

I'm not virtue signaling here, and I haven't wore my pink hat in a while. And I'm also no economist but I do have a business degree as well. There's something called the Pareto Rule that really applies here, meaning nothing is 1/1 in financial principle, and most causes come from the smallest means. Helps to put all this into better perspective, since after all we closed the economy, hence we can reopen it. Businesses can bounce back, or be reborn. The people who have died from COVID do not have that luxury. And no one would agree we can put a price tag on the life of one single child. Godspeed sincerely to all.

We simply cannot keep the lockdown going much longer. People are starting to go out more and more. You can't expect people to stay in isolation this long.

We were told the point of the lockdown is to flatten the curve. We have done that. Therefore, the justification for the lockdown no longer exists.

Financial disaster causes health disasters. In addition, the exclusive focus on COVID has caused many much-needed treatments to go undone and has terrorized patients from going to hospitals even in emergencies like heart attack and stroke. Many people have already died as a result.

A depression will result in massive unemployment, poverty, homelessness, suicides, drug abuse and ODs, and all other poverty and despair-associated medical and mental problems. We have already seen increases in these issues. In addition, our supply chain and agriculture have been disrupted, causing food shortages. Since the US is a food exporter, hundreds of millions of people around the world will starve if our system is disrupted. And if the US economy tanks, it will pull the rest of the world down with it. Poor countries will then literally have people starving to death.

Finally, trying to enforce a prolonged, likely unconstitutional lockdown (I mean if it is extended longer) will result in civil unrest. It's already happening.

The Wisconsin lockdown has been deemed unconstitutional by their state supreme court and more such lawsuits are coming.

We still don't know very much about COVID and now there is some evidence that the lockdowns may not prevent spread of the disease as much as was thought.

There are experts who now think the lockdown has caused more harm than good.

There is already evidence that childhood vaccinations have gone down, as many primary care facilities were closed or only seeing more urgent cases in person.

And as for a vaccine - we may never have one. We have never developed a vaccine for any coronavirus so we can't have a lockdown until there is a vaccine - that is ludicrous. And even if we had a vaccine, only 50% or less Americans get the flu vaccine. Why would anyone assume all Americans are going to rush to get another vaccine for COVID? In fact, last week, Fauci (who I don't care for) stated a vaccine may make the virus more harmful!

We now know the high risk groups - those folks can continue to self-isolate and take extra precautions The rest of us can observe social distancing, wear masks, practice good hand hygiene, etc, but we need to get back to work!

Sorry I am tired, so did not include all my sources, but I have previously posted on this and my points are easily googled.

[Texas Military Mom]

Hello All,

My stance on the issue is summarized in a few words. It is time to get back to business.

Regards,

Tiffany McGrue Ford, RN, MSN

[malamud69, BSN, RN]

9 hours ago, FullGlass said:

What is your point? No one has said COVID is the flu. And what evidence do you want?

Point is that the flu argument/nonsense is the apples to oranges comparison a vociferous minority loves to tout...Why not use the “Chewbacca is a wookey “ defense or a select read from Dr. Seuss...that’s my point.