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Post by lisae on Nov 8, 2020 2:08:05 GMT
Biden will be appointing his team to advise him on the virus. Of course, he can't take any action for over 2 months and the virus situation may be very different by then. Hopefully we will have a vaccine and one of the focuses will be on distribution.
But let's pretend that Biden could take action today. What should we be doing nationally to combat the virus? Or should this continue to be managed at the state level?
I think Biden and Harris' continued mask usage will provide a good example.
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Post by lisae on Nov 8, 2020 2:16:37 GMT
It needs to be done on a national level. Maybe have a police officer at every store entrance? The store managers need help to enforce this "law". People in my area aren't following the rules and walk into Heb and Home Depot with no masks. I'm in the Austin area. That wouldn't be feasible in my area. We don't have nearly enough law enforcement to cover every store. I agree there needs to be something to enforce the rules. I'm just not sure what. |
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johnnysmom
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,687
Jun 25, 2014 21:16:33 GMT
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Post by johnnysmom on Nov 8, 2020 2:23:08 GMT
IMO there should be national guidelines but not a one size fits all plan. In my head it looks something like “if this threshold is met (either # of cases or % positive tests or similar) then X should happen. If that number gets above _ then Y should happen, etc”. I’m ok with a national mask mandate. This should be in combination with doing whatever necessary to ensure each state has access to enough supplies, they shouldn’t be fighting over getting test supplies and ppe.
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Post by freecharlie on Nov 8, 2020 2:26:29 GMT
IMO there should be national guidelines but not a one size fits all plan. In my head it looks something like “if this threshold is met (either # of cases or % positive tests or similar) then X should happen. If that number gets above _ then Y should happen, etc”. I’m ok with a national mask mandate. This should be in combination with doing whatever necessary to ensure each state has access to enough supplies, they shouldn’t be fighting over getting test supplies and ppe. yes Good testing, quick results contact tracing, and levels of closures and openings. I dont know that there can/should be one size fits all. There are counties near me that have less than 5 cases and others that are over 10% positivity rates. I don't think they should be the same. |
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Post by Eddie-n-Harley on Nov 8, 2020 2:33:11 GMT
Biden will be appointing his team to advise him on the virus. Of course, he can't take any action for over 2 months and the virus situation may be very different by then. Hopefully we will have a vaccine and one of the focuses will be on distribution. But let's pretend that Biden could take action today. What should we be doing nationally to combat the virus? Or should this continue to be managed at the state level?I think Biden and Harris' continued mask usage will provide a good example. I don't think that you can have any national management strategy without the states' cooperation and local management, but I do think the states and feds need to be on the same page if we want the fastest fix. I'm not sure what the solution looks like, but its implementation probably needs to be similar to when the feds made the states raise the drinking age to 21-- do it, or we're cutting off your federal highway funds. (I guarantee the drinking age in my state would be 18 if not for that.) I don't know what related federal money you'd threaten to withhold, but I'm sure there's something. |
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Post by hopemax on Nov 8, 2020 2:37:42 GMT
We need a national standard for how to report cases, tests and positivity so we can have context to compare. For positivity, it doesn't just have to be a single number. If experts think that the different ways of calculation reveal different parts of the situation, then report multiple.
We need a national procurement strategy for PPE, tests, equipment and eventually vaccine distribution. States in bidding wars with themselves and the Feds is a no go.
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Just T
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,145 
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Post by Just T on Nov 8, 2020 2:44:19 GMT
IMO there should be national guidelines but not a one size fits all plan. In my head it looks something like “if this threshold is met (either # of cases or % positive tests or similar) then X should happen. If that number gets above _ then Y should happen, etc”. I’m ok with a national mask mandate. This should be in combination with doing whatever necessary to ensure each state has access to enough supplies, they shouldn’t be fighting over getting test supplies and ppe. I agree. Weren't there guidelines like this back in the spring, then states started opening before those guidelines were met?
I think there needs to be much better testing capabilities. My daughter has been exposed twice, had to be tested then quarantined until she got her test results. The first time her test results took 4 days, the second time, 5 days. That is dumb. It needs to be like a flu test, where you get swabbed, and within 15 minutes or so, you know.
There needs to be consistent guidelines for what to do when you are exposed and when you should be tested. When my daughter was exposed, I called our doctor and was told I didn't need to test. Thankfully, my daughter was negative both times, but what if she wasn't? In other situations my co workers have been in, the health department showed up at their house to make sure they were quarantining. Again, consistency.
I do not think we should have across the board shut downs. I think it needs to be on an area wide basis. If there are a lot of cases in a city, shut things down as needed until it is under control again.
I think the most important thing that needs to happen is that the president needs to NOT downplay it, say it is almost over, we've beaten it, etc. The president needs to set the tone for mask wearing. Just look at what has happened now. Our president has downplayed it, admitted that he downplayed it and decided to instead be a cheerleader, and there have been several outbreaks in the WH.
Oh, I really think the MOST important thing is for the president to listen to scientists who have dedicated their life to studying these things, who KNOW what they are talking about. Not a radiologist who thinks we just need to go for herd immunity.
That's all I can think of for now. LOL
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Post by SAHM wannabe on Nov 8, 2020 2:44:55 GMT
I certainly don’t know the answer, but I’m so glad to (almost) finally have an Administration that takes this seriously.
I heard that VP-elect Harris’ mom was a scientist. It’s way past time to get our scientific community involved. Let’s do this. Buckle down and put our collective effort into shutting this down.
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breetheflea
Drama Llama
Posts: 7,316
Location: PNW
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Post by breetheflea on Nov 8, 2020 2:45:04 GMT
Something national at first, then if things slow down turn it over to each state (maybe they need a sticker chart...) I wish we didn't have to wait until January  |
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Post by katiekaty on Nov 8, 2020 2:47:26 GMT
Having police officers man stores is not feasible. It would be a civil offense at the most to not wear a mask it it was put into law. There are already not enough police officers. Remember, one of the goals is to reduce police include, defunding in civil circumstances, so this work not be a y to use the the police they retain.
A national effort would be nice, but again, getting compliance will be tough. You would probably have to use the guard or the reserves to actively enforce anything, but do you want a military presence at all times?
The best way is getting people to comply through the use of education, supply the needed equipment (masks and gloves, hand sanitizers aren’t always available to lower economic income citizens). Educate the children, educate the elderly and the middle ones might fall in line.
Free testing sites. Even if it is the less accurate rapid testing-with a tracer plan and an assistance program! Quarantine is hard on all economic levels.
Take the political out of it. It’s a medical issue. A pandemic virus. No one person caused this, no one person will probably cure. Stop blaming.
Face the facts we will probably be wearing masks for as much as two or more years. Get over and just do.
A vaccine probably won’t be available for at least 9-12 months. So far it’s looking good. But only a few have been tested in the first round. Maybe 5000. Sounds like a big number, but not really. Look at the drug facts on some of the meds and vaccines. When you read them and they x number of side effects in 100,000. That took a lot more that 5000 doses in. Clinical trial. So there are still stages to go. And then they have to figure out how to manage the costs and how to manufacture enough to vaccinate reasonably effectively. And you have to convince people to do it. And if it takes a couple dosing, you have to convince them of that. So reasonably- around a year, at the earliest.
Take the flu vaccine. Convince people you don’t want to get the flu and COVID. If it’s hard to get them to do the flu vaccine, how hard is it going to be to get them to do a COVID vaccine!
Stop beating up on medical people. Seriously the verbal, emotional and physical violence has to stop. And the legal system has to stop ignoring it. I know a good number of nurses who have quit, taken early retirement, are on mental Heath leave, etc. beat us up, who is going to take care of you? And protect us. Provide the good personal protective equipment to all medical staff and all staff working near contagious people.
Wake up, it’s going to take more that a political change to fix this. It’s going to take a real change in everyone to make it happen.
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pudgygroundhog
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,652
Location: The Grand Canyon
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Post by pudgygroundhog on Nov 8, 2020 2:55:47 GMT
In some ways, the cat is out of the bag.
But I agree with a lot of what has been posted - guidelines and playbooks for states (based on, gosh, SCIENCE!), focus on all aspects of the vaccine like manufacturing, distribution, etc.; a stimulus package and filling gaps of people who have lost jobs, houses, healthcare; and honestly, just the messaging of empathy for those we have lost, empathy for health care workers, empathy for essential workers, empathy for these hard times. Will be so nice to have empathy in the White House again.
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Post by 16joy on Nov 8, 2020 3:16:06 GMT
They can start with keeping their mask on. You’re an example of mask use . I was shocked when they both took off their mask today as they stepped to the microphone. Most Politicians seem to take their mask off when speaking in a microphone.
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Post by katlaw on Nov 8, 2020 3:21:42 GMT
The Nation needs to be united. The office of the president needs to lay out clear and concise guidelines that each state can adopt based on their own situation. But a united narrative. You cannot let the virus run free in one state and try to control it in another. You cannot have state governments fighting for PPE to try to protect health care workers. And somehow the false narrative needs to stop. I don't know how, but people are dying because politicians and news personalities are controlling the narrative. People are refusing to listen to doctors, nurses, epidemiologists, vaccine researchers and scientists. There are ridiculous conspiracy theories all over the internet. Covid-19 is going away on November 4th. It is a Chinese bioweapon. It is a hoax to hurt Donald Trump. All deaths are being reported as Covid just for money. All B.S. and too many gullible people are repeating them. Compare Canada's Covid-19 response to the United States Covid-19 responseThe big thing that stands out to me from Canada is the support of small businesses, unemployed, children, disabled, landlords, etc. Of course we are not perfect. We are going to come out of the other side of this in debt, maybe even a debt many conservative Canadians say we cannot afford to get into. There has to be a middle ground. A place where people come before money. |
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Post by cindyupnorth on Nov 8, 2020 4:53:11 GMT
They can start with keeping their mask on. You’re an example of mask use . I was shocked when they both took off their mask today as they stepped to the microphone. Most Politicians seem to take their mask off when speaking in a microphone. There is nothing wrong with them taking their masks off to talk in to a microphone?!! There was no one around them, and you can hear them more plainly. Also a lot of people read lips |
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Post by SAHM wannabe on Nov 8, 2020 6:17:26 GMT
They can start with keeping their mask on. You’re an example of mask use . I was shocked when they both took off their mask today as they stepped to the microphone. Most Politicians seem to take their mask off when speaking in a microphone. It’s hard to take this comment seriously. Biden and Harris have been consistent mask wearers, they have held car rallies, they have supported science and the research behind it, and have made combatting the virus a top priority. President-elect Biden announced he is forming a task force tomorrow! When they spoke tonight, they were addressing the nation and the world. Their acceptance speeches were outdoors and they were alone on the stage. They have been models of what to do during this pandemic. I will give them a pass for not wearing a mask during this historic moment. |
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Post by katiekaty on Nov 8, 2020 6:22:55 GMT
They can start with keeping their mask on. You’re an example of mask use . I was shocked when they both took off their mask today as they stepped to the microphone. Most Politicians seem to take their mask off when speaking in a microphone. There is nothing wrong with them taking their masks off to talk in to a microphone?!! There was no one around them, and you can hear them more plainly. Also a lot of people read lips There is a lot wrong with not keeping there masks on. Aerosolized droplets from speaking can remain in the air for up to 8 minutes or more. Those droplets can travel 13 plus feet from a speaker talking in a loud voice, further if shouting or singing. A light breeze can carry those droplets further. Those droplets can land on the podium and surrounding areas and remain there, infectious for 6-16 hours, so the maintenance crew/passerby’s/other speakers are at risk. Everyone needs to wear a mask-at all times, unless you are at home or in your car. |
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Post by karinec on Nov 8, 2020 14:58:30 GMT
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sarahruby
Full Member
Posts: 357
Jul 1, 2014 0:40:17 GMT
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Post by sarahruby on Nov 8, 2020 14:58:44 GMT
I am anxious to hear what plans Biden has for this.
I genuinely hope my fears will be for nothing.
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Post by littlemama on Nov 8, 2020 15:06:31 GMT
IMO there should be national guidelines but not a one size fits all plan. In my head it looks something like “if this threshold is met (either # of cases or % positive tests or similar) then X should happen. If that number gets above _ then Y should happen, etc”. I’m ok with a national mask mandate. This should be in combination with doing whatever necessary to ensure each state has access to enough supplies, they shouldn’t be fighting over getting test supplies and ppe. yes Good testing, quick results contact tracing, and levels of closures and openings. I dont know that there can/should be one size fits all. There are counties near me that have less than 5 cases and others that are over 10% positivity rates. I don't think they should be the same. But, if someone from a 10% county is asymptomatic and goes to a store in a less than 5 cases county, then the less than 5 cases county quickly becomes a 10% county. Mask mandates have to be universal. |
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sarahruby
Full Member
Posts: 357
Jul 1, 2014 0:40:17 GMT
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Post by sarahruby on Nov 8, 2020 15:09:06 GMT
Thank you for sharing - very interesting to read. |
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Post by aj2hall on Nov 8, 2020 17:13:57 GMT
I think one of the keys to reopening safely, to have schools open and a return to somewhat normal involves developing an inexpensive, accurate, at home rapid test. Imagine if schools could test everyone once or twice a week. Colleges that have successfully stayed open and contained the virus are all testing frequently.
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Post by epeanymous on Nov 8, 2020 18:11:24 GMT
You know what is great? We’re about to have a task force with actual experts, so I, person who is not actually a public health expert, don’t have to keep engaging with other non-public health experts about what in our non-expert opinions should be done! Phew.
That said, it seems like most community transmission is via prolonged mask-less indoor exposure between people who don’t live together, and that people who are sick but economically fragile have been forced into work (eg meatpacking plants and correctional facilities), so it seems to this lay person that we probably need both public health solutions and economic relief.
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Post by lisacharlotte on Nov 8, 2020 18:58:05 GMT
Thanks for posting! Obviously, it's pretty broad at this point, but nice to see the basics. |
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Post by katiekaty on Nov 8, 2020 21:05:49 GMT
I wonder if Mr. Biden is aware of where the materials come from to make masks, shields, and other PPE? He was pretty adamant about taking on the the oil and gas industry and reducing it, it’s subsidies, etc. without petroleum based products you don’t have the materials to make these items. Do you think he is going to go silent on that industry until COVID is conquered? If not, we will need China to continue to provide those items. |
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Post by tuva42 on Nov 8, 2020 21:14:30 GMT
The most effective way to stop the virus would not be popular with most of the US but it has worked in other countries. We need to shut everything down, have the government pay the wages of everyone who is unable to work, give small businesses grants to pay rent and stay the EFF home for a month!!! Everyone, everywhere stay home for a month except for essential workers and getting food, etc.
Not popular in this country. but it would save a lot of lives.
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Post by aj2hall on Nov 8, 2020 21:32:33 GMT
I wonder if Mr. Biden is aware of where the materials come from to make masks, shields, and other PPE? He was pretty adamant about taking on the the oil and gas industry and reducing it, it’s subsidies, etc. without petroleum based products you don’t have the materials to make these items. Do you think he is going to go silent on that industry until COVID is conquered? If not, we will need China to continue to provide those items. Joe Biden’s plan is not to eliminate the oil & gas industry, but a gradual transition to renewable energy. Investing in clean energy does not mean that we won’t be dependent on oil and gas for years. joebiden.com/9-key-elements-of-joe-bidens-plan-for-a-clean-energy-revolution/And yes, I’m sure that he’s aware of where the materials come from. Also, PPE is not made from just oil and gas. Some paper mills in Canada supply pulp used in the manufacturing of masks, gowns and surgical caps. www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/06/us-blocks-face-masks-canada-n95-protection-equipment |
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Post by freecharlie on Nov 8, 2020 21:54:55 GMT
I wonder if Mr. Biden is aware of where the materials come from to make masks, shields, and other PPE? He was pretty adamant about taking on the the oil and gas industry and reducing it, it’s subsidies, etc. without petroleum based products you don’t have the materials to make these items. Do you think he is going to go silent on that industry until COVID is conquered? If not, we will need China to continue to provide those items. I live in oil and gas county. Biden goal to reduce use of oil and gas isn't going to happen overnight. There are definitely things we use petroleum for and until there are alternatives, we will continue to. Just like I can't power my house 100% from the sun, so I still connect to the grid at times. |
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