Coronavirus in Massachusetts (Boston, Oxford, Provincetown: home, buy, restaurants)

[rach5]

Covid outbreak in Provincetown, with many vaccinated having tested positive (but supposedly experiencing mostly mild symptoms; I really would like the definition of "mild", or the earlier use of moderate for this cluster; does it just mean not hospitalized?). https://boston.cbslocal.com/2021/07/...-4th-advisory/
They are back to recommending masks in crowded indoor locations.

[yesmaybe]

Originally Posted by rach5

Covid outbreak in Provincetown, with many vaccinated having tested positive (but supposedly experiencing mostly mild symptoms; I really would like the definition of "mild", or the earlier use of moderate for this cluster; does it just mean not hospitalized?). https://boston.cbslocal.com/2021/07/...-4th-advisory/
They are back to recommending masks in crowded indoor locations.

You know, this is never going to be truly over if they are going to keep bringing back the mask mandate and/or lockdowns for every little outbreak.

[massnative71]

Originally Posted by yesmaybe

You know, this is never going to be truly over if they are going to keep bringing back the mask mandate and/or lockdowns for every little outbreak.

That's why if they bring it back again, they should make a point of not lifting it too early which I think they obviously did this time around.

[rach5]

I think if mask mandates allow us to figure out what to do about the millions of immunocompromised individuals in the US (third shot? Periodic antibody treatment?...), and to vaccinate kids, I am all for it. I hate saying "f*** you" to such a large part of society, just so that I don't have to experience a minor inconvenience. There are many millions that are currently unprotected by their vaccinations that, in the absence of covid, would be able to lead long and productive lives (and even for those that may not have many years left, they may still treasure whatever time they have left)
The CDC also should stop the BS about the vaccinated being safe and not transmitting. Tell us the truth for once - so far, with the current strains, the vaccinated are relatively safe from death (which, at least to me, personally, still makes vaccination more than worth it!!). Here is a disturbing account about what's currently happening in the UK, and what is surely in our future: https://www.theguardian.com/world/20...-feel-so-angry
Over 50% in hospital are vaccinated, albeit less sick than they would have been before the vaccine.
I am also somewhat concerned that letting covid spread so widely amongst the vaccinated will create strains that evade vaccine protection.

[Shrewsburried]

Originally Posted by massnative71

That's why if they bring it back again, they should make a point of not lifting it too early which I think they obviously did this time around.

This seems to miss the point of the current vaccination effort. Few, if any, credible epidemiologists/virologists willing to publicly share their opinions argued the vaccines would rid society of break through infections. Reduce? Yes, but not prevent entirely.

This was and remains about risk reduction, not eradication. Despite all of the fear-mongering regarding the Delta variant, the reality is hospitalization rates within the state remain incredibly low despite society being wide open. IMO, at this point the focus should be on immunizing the remaining unvaccinated and providing boosters for the immune compromised.

I'm personally wearing a mask were a appropriate (e.g., when requested, around identifiable higher risk unvaccinated), but otherwise I'm mask-off because I've yet to see any bit of data suggesting my two rounds of Moderna doesn't significantly lower my already low risks. This is the new normal.

[msRB311]

Provincetown issues mask advisory due to spike:

https://www.boston.com/news/coronavi...y-covid-spike/

[brightdoglover]

Originally Posted by msRB311

Provincetown issues mask advisory due to spike:

https://www.boston.com/news/coronavi...y-covid-spike/

I imagine infective dose has a lot to do with infecting outbreaks and vaccinated people. It's not like people go to P-town to stand far apart...

[htfdcolt]

Originally Posted by rach5

I think if mask mandates allow us to figure out what to do about the millions of immunocompromised individuals in the US (third shot? Periodic antibody treatment?...), and to vaccinate kids, I am all for it. I hate saying "f*** you" to such a large part of society, just so that I don't have to experience a minor inconvenience. There are many millions that are currently unprotected by their vaccinations that, in the absence of covid, would be able to lead long and productive lives (and even for those that may not have many years left, they may still treasure whatever time they have left)
The CDC also should stop the BS about the vaccinated being safe and not transmitting. Tell us the truth for once - so far, with the current strains, the vaccinated are relatively safe from death (which, at least to me, personally, still makes vaccination more than worth it!!). Here is a disturbing account about what's currently happening in the UK, and what is surely in our future: https://www.theguardian.com/world/20...-feel-so-angry
Over 50% in hospital are vaccinated, albeit less sick than they would have been before the vaccine.
I am also somewhat concerned that letting covid spread so widely amongst the vaccinated will create strains that evade vaccine protection.

You know, it would have been so easy for the federal govt to have put some teeth behind the May 14 guidance, by way of a method that could be used by businesses to ensure compliance. Israel did it first, NY did it, CA did it, and now France is requiring it. What? A QR code, or vaccine passport. Simple--scan it at the door to gain admission unmasked. No vax, you must mask.

By leaving it up to the honor system, we've basically let unvaccinated people be even more careless than before. What's happening now could have been foreseen. I don't blame the CDC, it's not their job to ensure compliance.

[Shrewsburried]

Originally Posted by brightdoglover

I imagine infective dose has a lot to do with infecting outbreaks and vaccinated people. It's not like people go to P-town to stand far apart...

The current thinking regarding the Delta variant is that it's more transmissible because there's more of it, more quickly after initial exposure. Assuming this is true, yeah, a lack a social distancing would certainly exacerbate the issue.

Despite claims online, there's no reason to believe the Delta variant is 'more airborne' (whatever that is supposed to mean) or leads to a worse disease if a break through infection occurs.

[OutdoorLover]

Here is a summary from a recent paper published in The Lancet "SARS-CoV-2 Delta VOC in Scotland: demographics, risk of hospital admission, and vaccine effectiveness", June 14, 2021

"In summary, we show that the Delta [variant of concern] VOC in Scotland was found mainly in younger, more affluent groups. Risk of COVID-19 hospital admission was approximately doubled in those with the Delta VOC when compared to the Alpha VOC, with risk of admission particularly increased in those with five or more relevant comorbidities. Both the Oxford–AstraZeneca and Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines were effective in reducing the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 hospitalisation in people with the Delta VOC, but these effects on infection appeared to be diminished when compared to those with the Alpha VOC."

See:
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/l...358-1/fulltext