Coronavirus in Massachusetts (Boston, Amherst, Northampton: schools, living, vacation)

[yesmaybe]

Originally Posted by rach5

Or hospitals/medical providers? Was hoping to fly to Europe this summer...may have to scrap those plans.

Probably be a bad idea depending on how widespread the war gets.

[rach5]

Originally Posted by yesmaybe

Probably be a bad idea depending on how widespread the war gets.

Ha, true enough!
At any rate, the good news is that after further research, it does seem that case rates are indirectly taken into account in the new guidelines. I do wonder how long they worked at combining the different measures to make it look like much of the US can relax masking for now lol.

[redplum33]

It seems to me that they are basically saying people need to determine what's best for them.

I'm assuming businesses/schools can make whatever rules they want.

[redplum33]

US Covid New Cases

January 15 -- 7 day average -- 803,640
February 24 -- 7 day average -- 74,100


US Covid Deaths

January 15 -- 7 day average -- 1,967
February 24 -- 7 day average -- 1,859


New cases are currently less than 10% of what they were on Jan 15, but deaths are currently pretty much the same as on Jan 15. I understand there's a delay with deaths, but this still seems odd to me.

[rach5]

Honest question: Why not make mask guidance depend on wastewater data? A week of wastewater increases - masks up? Early indicator of cases rather than a lagged one - and measurement doesn't depend on personal behavior. If a variant turns out to be not severe, one can always take off masks (better than the other way around - failing to mask up early enough for a severe variant).
South Africa also is experiencing a very drawn out situation wrt Omicron deaths I believe.

[rach5]

A local BU professor's rough calculation that the new CDC guidance would have been enacting masking less than 2 weeks prior to the peak of an Omicron only wave. https://twitter.com/jonlevyBU/status...81373841973258

[porterhouse]

Tough times for the Covid enthusiasts. Many have already deftly pivoted into foreign policy experts though.

[msRB311]

Seems like masks are being relaxed everywhere.

[BostonMike7]

Originally Posted by msRB311

Seems like masks are being relaxed everywhere.

Not required at our schools anymore.

Outside of my office, I don't wear a mask anywhere these days. I expect the restrictions there to be lifted in the next week or so.

[porterhouse]

First day with masks optional for my kids today. We made sure the understood how proud we are of them this morning for everything they've been subjected to over the past 2 years. It's a big day.