Coronavirus in Massachusetts (Boston: rental, amusement parks, insurance)

[htfdcolt]

Originally Posted by redplum33

Keep an eye on the number of cases. The percent positive doesn't mean much these days as the overwhelming majority being tested (and constantly retested) are healthy college kids. And yet the percent positive is the main consideration when making important decisions.

There's 2 metrics being looked at these days--one that discounts the number of repeat individuals being tested (e.g. college students). As I remember from ~2 weeks ago, the absolute metric still had MA at ~1% whereas removing the repeats had us at ~2.8%. It's reassuring that they're looking at both...I think Baker still has the 5% threshold in his head to take further action if needed.

As someone else remarked here, I can see rolling back indoor dining as cold weather approaches, as devastating as that may be to the restaurant industry.

[rach5]

A lot of people (such as college students and employees are tested multiple times a day) - at least in RI, that keeps the percentages down. In RI there is also a push to do more asymptomatic testing. Hospitalizations have been increasing a lot, too, unfortunately, as have deaths. Wisconsin is running out of hospital beds, as are some countries in Europe that relaxed too much over the summer. Lockdowns are starting up back there: It was obvious that cases were increasing, but they didn't react fast enough until the situation was dire. I am afraid we will do the same. You have to react early - but nobody seems to have the willpower to do so.

[msRB311]

I don't think people are going to stop going to restaurants unless they are closed down. I've done indoor dining as lately as last week and everytime i go I'm shocked to see the amount of elderly people in there as well.

Also what is up with the lines at places like Homegoods and Kohls? I went into Homegoods in marshfield today at 1:30pm and was baffled by the size of the line. It was as long as could be. I left. There was nothing I needed there that badly and I wouldn't have waited that long on a Saturday or Sunday. I would think the staff would be trying hard to get people out of the store as quickly as possible. Apparently the economy is doing well! People have money to spend.

[rach5]

As a follow up to my last post: I just linked to this article on the RI forum - recent spike in cases in the middle aged and older people, following the surges in the young. As expected, but not good news. https://www.wpri.com/target-12/were-...varies-by-age/

[redplum33]

Originally Posted by wolfgang239

you have yet to provide any reliable data that shows colleges as a source of increasing case numbers.

Wake up and smell the bacon!



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1Fm1q41kHc

[OutdoorLover]

Originally Posted by redplum33

Wake up and smell the bacon!



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1Fm1q41kHc

LOL - I like it! Just what we needed in these difficult times!

[BostonMike7]

Originally Posted by rach5

As a follow up to my last post: I just linked to this article on the RI forum - recent spike in cases in the middle aged and older people, following the surges in the young. As expected, but not good news. https://www.wpri.com/target-12/were-...varies-by-age/

Hmm....parents of still-living-at-home twenty-somethings perhaps?

[htfdcolt]

Originally Posted by BostonMike7

Hmm....parents of still-living-at-home twenty-somethings perhaps?

As parents of a twenty-something who unexpectedly deferred the start of grad school due to this pandemic, we faced into this also. Our child took up a job to bridge the gap year, and decided to move into an apt rather than continuing to live with us. While we had mixed feelings about this (the unnecessary rent $, potential exposure in the apt building), it does minimize our risks from any exposure our child gets at work.

[mdovell]

We're going to get hit hard in january folks.
https://www.salemnews.com/news/local...7e5d913ba.html

Minimum wage hike

Insurance Hike for those that pay from the state

Paid leave

Unemployment insurance hike (average $320 more per employee!!)

I would not want to be working for a small to mid sized employer at this point. They have to freeze this grand bargain. There's no way you can tell me the state can afford this given the current climate.

[msRB311]

I'm still shocked that so many people have kept their jobs through all of this. Mostly white collar people of course. I don't know one person who works in an office who has been laid off.