Coronavirus (NO POLITICAL OR SOCIAL COMMENTARY PLEASE)

[Lee A Stewart]

Amazon, Target and Walmart are doing great. No need for Black Friday. Everyone else? CTD . . . Circling The Drain.

[Naiera]

People have become too relaxed about the 'rona 'round here in the past few weeks. Infections are up, although we have zero or very, very few deaths per day, and hospitalisations are still down.

[gotmule]

Originally Posted by Lee A Stewart

Amazon, Target and Walmart are doing great. No need for Black Friday. Everyone else? CTD . . . Circling The Drain.

Apple is certainly weathering the storm. They released 3 new products during shelter in place, and their stock is at an all time high even though stores have closed and are re-closing.

[Batman1980]

The White House has dropped a bid to cut Social Security payroll taxes as Republicans unveil a $1 trillion COVID-19 rescue package on Thursday, ceding to opposition to the idea among top Senate allies.

“It won’t be in the base bill,” said Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, speaking on CNBC about the payroll tax cut, killing the idea for now. The idea has been a major demand of President Donald Trump.

“The president is very focused on getting money quickly to workers right now and the payroll tax takes time,” Mnuchin said at the Capitol.

The legislation, set to be released Thursday morning by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., comes amid alarming developments on the virus crisis.

McConnell’s package is an opening GOP bid in talks with top Capitol Hill Democrats in a negotiation that could be rockier than talks in March that produced a $2 trillion rescue package. GOP senators and Trump are at odds over priorities, and Democrats say it’s not nearly enough to stem the health crisis, reopen schools and extend aid to jobless Americans.

The Republican leader is expected to deliver a speech shortly after the Senate opens, and then senators will begin rolling out their separate parts of the package, according to a Republican granted anonymity to discuss the plans.

The centerpiece of the GOP effort remains McConnell’s liability shield to protect businesses, schools and others from coronavirus-related lawsuits.

The package is not expected to provide any new money for cash-strapped states and cities, which are clamoring for funds, but Republicans propose giving $105 billion to help schools reopen and $15 billion for child care centers to create safe environments for youngsters during the pandemic.

But the GOP measure forges an immediate agreement with Democrats on another round of $1,200 checks to most American adults.

The $600 weekly unemployment benefit boost that is expiring Friday would be cut back, and Mnuchin said it would ultimately be redesigned to provide a typical worker 70% of his or her income. Republicans say continuing the $600 benefit as Democrats is a disincentive to work, but some Republicans are pressing for a temporary extension of the current benefit if the talks drag.

“We cannot allow there to be a cliff in unemployment insurance given we’re still at about 11% unemployment,” said Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio.

The bill is likely to be silent on the potential housing crisis as a federal eviction moratorium on millions of rental units expires in days.

One key holdup in the talks was Trump’s push for a payroll tax cut, according to a Republican granted anonymity to discuss the private talks. Hardly any GOP senators support the idea. Instead, McConnell and some other Republicans prefer the direct $1,200 cash payments to Americans.

Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., said there will be another boost for small business lending in the Paycheck Protection Program. “It’s going to be big,” he said.

The bills will also include tax breaks for businesses to hire and retain workers and to help shops and workplaces retool with new safety protocols.

The breakthrough on testing money was key after days of debate between Republicans and the White House. Republicans wanted $25 billion, but the Trump administration said the $9 billion in unspent funds from a previous aid deal was sufficient. The two sides settled on adding $16 billion to the unspent funds to reach $25 billion, senators said. There will also be fresh funds for vaccines.

Of the $105 billion for education, Republicans want $70 billion to help K-12 schools reopen, $30 billion for colleges and $5 billion for governors to allocate. The Trump administration wanted school money linked to reopenings, but in McConnell’s package the money for K-12 would likely be split between those that have in-person learning and those that don’t.

Democrats, who already approved House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s more sweeping $3 trillion package two months ago, said the GOP infighting with Trump was delaying needed relief to Americans during the crisis.

“We are just days away from a housing crisis that could be prevented,” said Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass.

In their package, Democrats are calling for $430 billion to reopen schools, bigger unemployment benefits and direct aid checks and a sweeping $1 trillion for state and local governments. They also want a fresh round of mortgage and rental assistance and new federal health and safety requirements for workers.

McConnell calls his proposal a “starting point” in negotiations with Democrats. Congress in March approved the massive $2.2 trillion CARES package, the biggest of its kind in U.S. history.

The severity of the prolonged virus outbreak is upending American life. Schools are delaying fall openings, states are clamping down with new stay-home orders and the fallout is rippling through an economy teetering with high unemployment and business uncertainty. A new AP-NORC poll shows very few Americans want full school sessions without restrictions in the fall.

Still, some Republicans said they are unlikely to approve any new aid.

“I just don’t see the need for it,” Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., told reporters on Wednesday.

___

Associated Press writers Andrew Taylor, Mary Clare Jalonick and Padmananda Rama contributed to this report.

Source - KRQE.com

Sounds like another round of much-needed $1200 checks are coming!

[chip75]

The Wallmart thing is weirdly worded, they're closing stores on Thanksgiving (Thursday), but haven't mentioned Friday, the actual day Black Friday, when all the commotion really occurs.

Stores need to specifically state that they're not having Black Friday offers, otherwise people will be turning up in droves as usual. The pre-Black Friday offers have generally been slight compared to the next day.

[Member-222782]

I've been shopping for masks on Amazon and there's so many types and styles but NONE of them describe the masks as offering protection against this virus. They're good for everything BUT the virus. Dust, pollen, pollution, car exhaust(!), you name it. So weird. You'd think manufacturers would want to capitalize on the pandemic and advertise accordingly.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by Cinema84

I've been shopping for masks on Amazon and there's so many types and styles but NONE of them describe the masks as offering protection against this virus. They're good for everything BUT the virus. Dust, pollen, pollution, car exhaust(!), you name it. So weird. You'd think manufacturers would want to capitalize on the pandemic and advertise accordingly.

I think it's more for legal reasons than anything else. There's no mask that can say it can offer complete protection against the virus anyway, even N95 respirators.

If you're looking for a respirator-type masks, and can't get N95, I can personally vouch for these KN95 masks, which are sold by an official US distributor (i.e. they're legit, unlike many other KN95's out there). They are pretty reasonably priced in my opinion. A pack of 10 is probably good enough to have and keep in a rotation of using one once per week.

https://bonafidemasks.com/Powecom-kn-95/

They also make a headband style one that's even tighter fitting. The regular is pretty damn tight as it is. It left marks on my nose, and cheeks, and my ears were hurting after a while, though I did wear it for several hours.

Headband style: https://bonafidemasks.com/kn95-respi...da-authorized/

[MrHT]

Congratulations California for surpassing NY for the most Coronavirus cases!!

[Penton-Man]

around 7:00 P.M. E.T. this evening, the MLB season begins with a well-deserved acknowledgement/honor -
https://twitter.com/Nationals/status...08233083686913

[Member-222782]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

I think it's more for legal reasons than anything else. There's no mask that can say it can offer complete protection against the virus anyway, even N95 respirators.

If you're looking for a respirator-type masks, and can't get N95, I can personally vouch for these KN95 masks, which are sold by an official US distributor (i.e. they're legit, unlike many other KN95's out there). They are pretty reasonably priced in my opinion. A pack of 10 is probably good enough to have and keep in a rotation of using one once per week.

https://bonafidemasks.com/Powecom-kn-95/

They also make a headband style one that's even tighter fitting. The regular is pretty damn tight as it is. It left marks on my nose, and cheeks, and my ears were hurting after a while, though I did wear it for several hours.

Headband style: https://bonafidemasks.com/kn95-respi...da-authorized/

Thanks for the suggestions but I'm looking for a mask (or masks) with adjustable loops. The cheap surgical ones that are commonly found everywhere are pretty uncomfortable for what I need them for (9 hour shifts at work). I don't care for "fashion" masks or anything sleek - I just need a decent mask that offers real protection but are comfy enough for use long-term.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by MrHT

Congratulations California for surpassing NY for the most Coronavirus cases!!

There is somewhat of a silver lining to the numerous outbreaks and out of control COVID-19 situations across several states in the U.S. …will explain later – it’s related to facilitating vaccine development quicker, without resorting to ethically controversial HCTs.

[bruceames]

Originally Posted by MrHT

Congratulations California for surpassing NY for the most Coronavirus cases!!

So what. California has more than double the population of New York and there are 23 other states with more cases per 1 million people.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by MrHT

Congratulations California for surpassing NY for the most Coronavirus cases!!

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

There is somewhat of a silver lining to the numerous outbreaks and out of control COVID-19 situations across several states in the U.S. …will explain later – it’s related to facilitating vaccine development quicker, without resorting to ethically controversial HCTs.

continuing -
If you can get a vaccine trial going in the middle of a lot of viral activity such as we are experiencing in much of the U.S.A., especially the hotspots like in LA county in California, etc., that facilitates quicker vaccine development because researchers need a sufficiently high infection rate to make sure that differences between vaccine and comparison groups is really due to protection from the vaccine and not just because the vaccinated volunteers never encountered anyone with the virus.

I honor the courage of people who’ve volunteered for HCTs - https://1daysooner.org/ but there are real ethical concerns about going down that path because, as of yet, the lack of guaranteed effective treatment for the disease. Right now, I think this platform is more ethical and sufficient (well over 100,000 people have signed up as volunteers) – https://www.coronaviruspreventionnetwork.org/ if vaccine trials include vaccinating people living in hotspots…..which they will, given the current predicament.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

around 7:00 P.M. E.T. this evening, the MLB season begins with a well-deserved acknowledgement/honor -
https://twitter.com/Nationals/status...08233083686913

offering throwing tips - https://sports.yahoo.com/ryan-zimmer...003614195.html

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by Cinema84

Thanks for the suggestions but I'm looking for a mask (or masks) with adjustable loops. The cheap surgical ones that are commonly found everywhere are pretty uncomfortable for what I need them for (9 hour shifts at work). I don't care for "fashion" masks or anything sleek - I just need a decent mask that offers real protection but are comfy enough for use long-term.

That might be a tough ask as generally speaking, the more protective masks are often the most uncomfortable too. They're by nature tighter on your face, so your ears and face usually feel it after a while.

There are some products made that can help with comfort. Some called "ear savers" or mask extenders can help take the pressure off your ears, and allow for some adjusting too.

Something like this product: https://smile.amazon.com/MIAODAM-Ext...4&sr=8-12&th=1





My gf, who works in a healthcare facility wears these head wraps (or turbans, or headbands) that have buttons on them that you attach the mask to, which she says helps tremendously with the comfort of the mask. She, and everyone else there wear them, and they have to keep them on all day long.

Something like this (this one is surprisingly cheap, but not many reviews): https://smile.amazon.com/Headbands-B...0&sr=8-81&th=1

[Moe Szyslak]

On mask advice...anyone know of good neck gaiters? I work outside, looking to pick some up.

[Batman1980]

Buff seems to be the gaiter of choice for runners, tried a Buff for the first time during my 6 mile treadmill run on Tuesday. Seems to be pretty good.

[veritas]

Bay Area Health Expert Makes Grim Prediction About COVID-19 - YouTube

I do feel like we should be planning from a more pessimistic outlook rather then a foolishly optomistic outlook. California has a small chance of a major earthquake each year but if we planned for the earthquake like we are planing for corona virus we would do nothing and just hope its a different years problem.

The odds we successfully make a vaccine are pretty low and the odds we make a successful vaccine in under a year are insanely low.

[Batman1980]

Yes but during times of moderate to severe crisis like we're in now, it's always better to face the future with at least guarded optimism. Strength is needed more when times are hard than when times are easy.

[Pondosinatra]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

around 7:00 P.M. E.T. this evening, the MLB season begins with a well-deserved acknowledgement/honor -
https://twitter.com/Nationals/status...08233083686913

Except for the Blue Jays. TO rightly told them 'no' they can't play in Toronto - and no other city will host them.