Info on T Cell / COVID business

[ponyboy]

Not sure things were as much out of hand as prolonged. I think we've most likely simply delayed the inevitable to the tune of trillions of dollars and, most importantly, enormous externalities in the form of mental health and well being (most especially with our elderly). Not to mention the resultant suicide, alcoholism, drug use, etc.

But you go, government. Save us.

[JasonB]

Not sure things were as much out of hand as prolonged. I think we've most likely simply delayed the inevitable to the tune of trillions of dollars and, most importantly, enormous externalities in the form of mental health and well being (most especially with our elderly). Not to mention the resultant suicide, alcoholism, drug use, etc.

But you go, government. Save us.

What has been clearly shown is that reasonable restrictions (not complete shutdowns) are effective in both reducing spread and providing economic viability. Mask up, stay away from big indoor events and bars.

Additionally, what we are seeing is a drop in IFR between the March timeframe and the summer because we learned not to stick ventilators in everyone and to use steroids. The delay is actually saving lives, it isn't just delaying the inevitable.

More significant advances in treatment will continue to evolve until we get to the point where this is treated just like any other respiratory disease. We are now experimenting with mass testing and tracing in the US, which will help more easily identify outbreaks and institute regional responses.
The equation changes literally on a month-by-month basis, and at some point, hopefully relatively soon, the restrictions won't need to be considered anymore.

The government won't save us. The scientists will.

[ponyboy]

What has been clearly shown is that reasonable restrictions (not complete shutdowns) are effective in both reducing spread and providing economic viability. Mask up, stay away from big indoor events and bars.

Reasonable to whom? Did it ever occur to you that reducing spread might not be a good thing? Did you ever consider the cost of all of this? Externalities? And what value do you personally place on the freedom of the individual? How much faith (and it is faith) do you put in the ability of government to solve problems? Is it not possible that people would engage in self-protective behavior on their own without Big Brother telling them?

Additionally, what we are seeing is a drop in IFR between the March timeframe and the summer because we learned not to stick ventilators in everyone and to use steroids. The delay is actually saving lives, it isn't just delaying the inevitable.

The delay might be saving lives from dying from covid. How many lives are lost from other causes? Have you accounted for that? And again, at what cost? Not just monetarily, which is a very important issue, but are you aware that our actions in the developed world may have pushed 100M people in third world countries right back into abject poverty and starvation?

The government won't save us. The scientists will.

That's cute. Naive in its profound oversimplification, but cute.

[JasonB]

- It would be awesome if people would engage in self-protective behavior without big brother. That is the approach Sweden has taken. However, when you have such misinformation here, which isn't being countered by certain people, regulation is sometimes the only way to go. It isn't nearly as effective if person A is wearing a mask when person B isn't. Sometimes you have to ban smoking because of second hand smoke.

- By every projection ever, the unfortunate increase in lives impacted from other causes doesn't come close to the number of lives impacted by covid. Go look at the excess deaths numbers, please. And again, economically, by taking responsible approaches, 95% of the economy stays open. Shutdowns are what increase global poverty, and when you don't take responsible approaches, shutdowns are inevitable. Take a small pain (no bars, masks everywhere) and in return you get to keep things open? Awesome tradeoff.

[JasonB]

Here is a great summary: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php? ... 5971467321

[ponyboy]

Yes, I've seen the excess deaths numbers.

I think you way underestimate the impact of the unprecedented intrusion of government power in response to COVID-19 -- suicide, alcoholism, depression, child and spouse abuse, etc.

Let's put it this way: We're at about half a million excess deaths since March 1st. If you assume that two thirds are due to covid -- which is a number being reasonably used out there -- the other one third can be attributed to our *response* to covid.

So I think it's fair to say that we've killed, with our response to all of this, something on the order of 150 to 200K relatively young people (with many years of life left) as compared to the 300 to 400K relatively old people COVID-19 has taken. Do the math and the government response, in terms of absolute years of life lost, may be *worse* than the disease itself.

https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news ... g-pandemic

[JasonB]

No it fair to say that,a nd I am not underestimating anything. Because it isn't true at all. Please stick to the actual data.

https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/vsrr/covi ... deaths.htm

Go there. Select dashboard as excess deaths. Then under juristiction, select "United States" to get rid of the state numbers. Or Texas, whatever. Then select the radio dial of "All causes, excluding Covid". Please compare the estimates of Covid versus not Covid. The magnitude isn't close and our covid issues are about to go on a massive upswing.

[SMU Pom Mom]

You can't compare deaths caused by the intervention to deaths from the disease. You have to compare deaths caused by the intervention to deaths that would have occurred without the intervention, which would likely be in the millions.

[ponyboy]

I understand. But please donΓÇÖt assume that people wouldnΓÇÖt self-regulate. Provide information, sure, but then allow individuals to decide how they will respond. If youΓÇÖre risk-averse, elderly, sickly, or just a germaphobe, mask up, stay at home.

[mrydel]

Arkansas head coach Sam Pittman has tested positive for Covid

[Charleston Pony]

As expected, the bug is making a comeback with both Bama vs LSU and A$M vs Tennessee games now postponed

[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

Arkansas head coach Sam Pittman has tested positive for Covid

I wish the best for Coach Pittman.

On the bright side, he has never been blown out at home by North Texas.

[Charleston Pony]

As expected, the bug is making a comeback with both Bama vs LSU and A$M vs Tennessee games now postponed

Add Mississippi State vs Auburn to the list of casualties. SEC having a tough time. Closer to home, Memphis vs Navy also postponed

Not too many years ago, we used to joke that SMU was playing "bye" and that bye was actually favored. Just hope we don't see Covid favored before this season ends. Don't want to see this football season end the way last year's basketball season did.

And another SEC game bites the dust:

https://www.cbssports.com/college-footb ... 19-issues/

Week 11 is just unraveling. Now Ohio State vs Maryland has been cancelled. Now up to 11 college football games postponed or cancelled this week...so far!

https://www.cbssports.com/college-footb ... ctivities/