Monday, November 22, 2021

REMEMBER COVID-19? IT HASN'T GONE AWAY

 Here is today's NYC DOE Situation Room COVID-19 map.



Am I missing something or is COVID-19 spreading all over the place again in the schools? 

I hear nothing from the UFT about this but here is the not very comforting email I received from my daughter's school today.

Dear 7th Grade Parent, 

Please see the attached letter regarding a Confirmed COVID case in your child's classroom.  Student will only be required to quarantine if they are considered a close contact.  Close contacts were sent additional an additional notification letter.  

Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns, 

Assistant Principal

That attached letter isn't very parent-friendly. If we decide to quarantine out of caution, no remote instruction. The relevant part:

● Students and staff who are considered close contacts of the individual who tested positive have bee notified of the need to quarantine for 10 days from their last contact with the person who tested positive. These students and staff will transition to fully remote teaching and learning for this period. If you have not been notified that your child is a close contact, they may continue to attend school as usual. Students who are not close contacts are not permitted to quarantine. Students who self-quarantine will be marked absent and will not be provided with remote instruction.

The near future doesn't look very bright nationally in terms of COVID. This is from Politico:

Stubborn Covid Surge Signals Bleak Winter

Coronavirus cases are rising once again, disrupting classrooms, overwhelming hospitals and alarming public health officials — even in areas with high vaccination rates — who warn the country is headed for a holiday surge that could leave thousands dead.

Though nearly 70 percent of the country has had at least one shot and hospitalizations have fallen from their September highs, the news in many states remains grim and the trend lines portend a fresh wave in the coming weeks.

Further down:

There was hope that this year would be different. In addition to vaccines, there are effective treatments, such as monoclonal antibodies, that can significantly reduce the chance of hospitalization and death.

Yet, as of Sunday evening, the country is averaging more than 1,100 deaths a day — almost the same tally as last year at this time before the vaccines had been authorized. That’s partly because millions of Americans remain unvaccinated and because the Delta variant is so much more transmissible than the version of the virus circulating back then.

And more:

The increasing Covid-related hospitalizations and deaths are still primarily among the unvaccinated but even places with the highest immunization rates are seeing spikes in cases.

Europe isn't looking too good either. This is from the Guardian:

Most Germans will be “vaccinated, cured or dead” from Covid-19 in a few months, the country’s health minister has warned, as Germany’s southern neighbour Austria put its population of 8.9 million back under a nationwide lockdown.

As intensive care units near capacity and hospitals contend with a shortage of staff and respiratory apparatus, doctors have said they are ready to apply a triage system that would prioritise care for patients judged to have the best chance of survival.

“Probably by the end of the winter, more or less everyone in Germany will be vaccinated, cured or dead,” the health minister, Jens Spahn, said. “That sounds cynical, but that is the reality.”

Spahn said the highly contagious Delta variant made his prediction very probable and that was why the government was so urgently recommending vaccination.

We're getting our boosters tomorrow. My doctor recommended getting it as soon as possible to me.

42 comments:

  1. We’re all getting COVID eventually, James. Election Day has passed again. Don’t worry the midterms are around the corner. The politicians will pretend they give a shit about you again. The people who convinced you we’re all going to die don’t believe it anymore themselves. That’s why they’re maskless at large indoor gatherings. They don’t believe their propaganda. They just sell it. If you’re young and healthy or vaccinated the odds are in your favor that you’ll survive covid.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Spahn was very blunt but correct. This is the only way the world will reach herd immunity.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Multiple teachers at my school are catching covid and the DOE is NOT QUARANTINING ENTIRE CLASSES OF THE STUDENTS. This clearly states that the Mayor and DOE do not give two shits about us or the students they serve. It's all about hiding the real numbers. Teachers and students are simply collateral damage to the Mayor's twisted bid to become governor. (Which will never happen)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They changed that rule in mid October.. No longer applies to entire classrooms. Was a very quiet and untested change

      Delete
  4. People seem to be more into getting sick rather than thinking of ways that we could be a more healthy society. It's a cultural failure as well as a failure of governance.

    ReplyDelete
  5. got vaxxed in august…got positive covid test yesterday. Students coming up sick in bunches too.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Covid 19 has not gone away and Mulgrew has not gone away.
    Both are toxic and they wont be easily removed.

    The UFT elections are rigged.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Re 5:57…. Are the UFT elections rigged, James? Is this evidence based or some QAnon/BlueAnon shit? I’ve seen no proof UFT elections are rigged. Does anyone have evidence of a UFT rigged election? Or are accusers all just tin foil hat nut job racist, transphobic insurrectionists looking to violently overthrow our duly elected UFT president?

    ReplyDelete
  8. The UFT elections are not rigged—however—you get the feeling that many members just fall into line as they have other things on their mind- —so they just go through the motion and simply cast their vote for those in power. They don’t like change.
    And there are those that probably don’t even vote as they continue to pay dues and just feel content being members of a union.
    But who knows—maybe there will be some people—but not enough— that will wake up and realize that Mulgrew has been in office for 12 years—and that it’s time for a change in 2022—but very doubtful. But also keep in mind that Mulgrew ally, RTC President Murphy did drop 20 points in the 2021 retirement election count from a few years ago,
    The bottom line, this is just a vicious cycle—that prevents meaningful change.

    ReplyDelete
  9. The UFT elections ARE RIGGED. The UFT has bought off the retirees and they are voting for UFT leadership which primarily makes decisions which affect active members working conditions. Having the retirees vote is one of the ways the election is rigged.

    ReplyDelete
  10. The obvious out come that Unity has not and can not be challenged with fair elections is another indication the UFT elections are rigged. The Unity faction maintains complete control over the UFT because the elections are rigged.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I love this blog, but please stop the covid propaganda. Please don’t let covid scare you all!

    We are all going to get it at some point. Covid is here to stay.

    Get busy living! Mental health is important

    ReplyDelete
  12. Numbers lie. Liars use numbers. Stop watching the news and letting the news scare you.

    ReplyDelete
  13. The elections are not rigged in the sense that votes are changed or falsified, or ballot boxes stuffed. The elections are skewed toward unity since retirees vote, and unity has far more resources than the opposition. The opposition teaches full time. Unity uft reps don't teach. Also, unity has patronage to give out to loyal reps in the form of after school jobs, or even full time jobs, and free trips to conventions. Then, the officers are elected at large, so it's tough to make inroads in the VP positions. So, heavily skewed, but not rigged.

    ReplyDelete
  14. 8:18, UFT elections are not run on a level playing field. It is tilted heavily toward Unity.

    ReplyDelete
  15. A rigged UFT election suggests that there is cheating —sort of those same words uttered by the Orange clown with no evidence.
    If the UFT wants to take voting for the UFT President away from retirees—how can they (the current membership) go about changing rules to eliminate those retiree votes?
    Also, I would expect that many retirees would not vote for Mulgrew this time around—since he was an integral part of this MLC cartel—that has basically put a costly dagger into traditional retiree Medicare.

    ReplyDelete
  16. I know none of you want to hear this, but the most important part of this job is not the UFT or the students. Give up? It’s the principal.
    Work for a good principal who is fair and approachable, then. You’re happy. Trust me. I’ve seen both sides.

    I am in a school with students who do not read well. Also, I worked in a ‘gifted and talented’ school as an ATR. The school I currently work at has a better environment. Why? Because the principal is good.

    At the ‘gifted’ school, the principal in my opinion played favorites, pit teachers against one another and was not consistent. This situation had a UFT rep who could not change the principal. See where I’m going?

    Complain about the uft. It’s fine, but the principal makes the difference. You could also work a real job for low wages with no union. I’ve done that, too. Not fun.

    Happy thanksgiving

    ReplyDelete
  17. My best friend and and I retired within a year of each other. We are both Tier 4 retirees not yet eligible for Medicare. Neither of us will vote for Mulgrew. Medicare Advantage did not help Mulgrew with our opinion of him. As active teachers we never voted for Mulgrew or Unity. As retirees Mulgrew has given us no reason to change our minds. I think Tier 4 retirees are a different breed of retiree than the tiers 1 and 2 and many tier 3 opted into tier 4. Tier 4 recent retirees are very familiar with how Unity screwed us. Now we see Unity screwing Medicare eligible retirees. Out of the 5 from my school who have retired in the last 3 years, not one will vote for Unity. I think the Unity retiree vote will decline over time. The question is how much damage can Unity do before they come close enough to losing an election for them to take members needs and wants seriously. Curious if other commenters know recent retirees and what theses retirees think of Unity.

    ReplyDelete
  18. The medical experts have put out reminders that the pandemic is not over. The current surge in Europe is probably about 2 months away from reaching the USA—which is currently experiencing a mini-surge. It’s still hard to believe that only 60% of all eligible people have been fully vaccinated. I

    ReplyDelete
  19. 10:06,

    I saw different numbers. It all depends on the agenda people want to play. Remember that numbers can tell any story you want.

    Fauci wants us to live in fear. Stop watching the news!

    Covid is done. Get busy living.

    ReplyDelete
  20. COVID isn't done. You are in denial.

    ReplyDelete
  21. COVID is not done. Get busy living, anyway.

    ReplyDelete
  22. 1231,
    Your choice to believe covid is still worth your mental energy. I choose to live life. No judgment

    ReplyDelete
  23. If B.1.1.259 gets to the UK and let's say it enters a school and is transmitted, similar to outbreaks that have been normalised when they shouldn't be..

    We are in big trouble..

    Would be a good idea to start finally taking school transmission very seriously..🤦‍♂️

    ReplyDelete
  24. 825,

    What is that? Like the 75th variant you are talking about.

    Hey, I can play the what if game all day if you like.

    Keep watching the news and eating up the fear mongering.

    ReplyDelete
  25. 825,
    You are the person who gets scared each time the news wants click bait for the new variant. Please stop living in fear.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Better than being an ostrich with your head in the sand ignoring the millions of deaths.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Omicron—-travel restrictions already posted for 8 African nations. Scientists will be able to determine how effective the vaccines are with this variant over the next few weeks. So Covid is still here—so at least make sure your vaxxed—boosters—don’t have to be scared—just use common sense and stay safe—especially with the holiday season.

    ReplyDelete
  28. 245,

    Stop watching the news and listening to fauci. He loves creating fear.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Kiss my _ss please.


    Fauci is a first-class scientist and physician. TOP RATE, a gentleman and a fighter. The nation, the world, are so FORTUNATE to have him.

    You wouldn’t know a hero or a heroine if he/she tapped you on your lame _ss noggin. What a frightful display of ignorance you display. Please, in the coming new year resolve yourself to get educated.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Fauci has ruined so many businesses and industries.

    ReplyDelete
  31. How many deaths will make you happy?

    ReplyDelete
  32. Remember, for a while they were saying a lot of deaths were covid related, but they really weren’t.

    Please don’t believe what the news says.

    The job of the news is to get you to live in fear, so you watch. Just like how fauci is trying to stay relevant.

    Getting vaccinated is your best bet. Odds are, you won’t get hospitalized if you get covid that way.

    Sadly, some people enjoy living in fear. I do not!

    Get busy living or stay in your basement forever. The choice is yours.

    But how many people out of work and how many small businesses ruined by fear mongering will make you happy?

    Heck, as teachers, kids were ruined work ethic wise last year bc of fear mongering.

    ReplyDelete
  33. Governor declared ‘state of emergency’. I hope all of you who live in fear are happy now.

    ReplyDelete
  34. Fauci now recommending at least two masks just to be safe.

    How many of you sheep will follow his nonsense?

    ReplyDelete


  35. I would take living, breathing and walking on this planet earth ANY DAY to your flat earth mentality.

    Please, in the coming year resolve yourself to get educated.

    ReplyDelete


  36. Some posts here reek of ... TRUE STUPIDITY...

    In fact I marvel at how TRULY STUPID these flat earth anti-vaxxers sound...

    Remember folks, an education is a ....blessed thing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rofl @8:01 am. Too many people have an education and remain SAF.

      Delete
  37. So let’s see— Covid will be gone by by Easter 2020 said Trump. And Biden said ‘ by July 4th—in 2021–things will start getting back to normal. Instead there was the Delta surge especially in the South and Southeast and another mini-surge in many parts of the country since early November.
    And now as we approach the winter of 2021-another new variant Omiigod Omicron. resulting in a state of emergency declared in New York State—travel restrictions for Southern Africa and who knows what’s next.
    Since the get go —back in December 2020, the medical experts realized they were dealing with an unprecedented virus—in the sense that it moves/mutates too quickly around the world—as more people travel around the world—compared to the pandemic of 1919-20.
    Bottom line—use your common sense—just get vaccinated or get the necessary boosters -so you can live your life more safely with less fear.

    ReplyDelete
  38. 948 is right! Get the vaccine, get the booster. Heck, get a test if you are worried.

    But to all of those worried about the new variant of the day I have one word for you: STOP!!!

    STOP LIVING IN FEAR.
    STOP GIVING FAUCI ATTENTION.
    STOP MAKING PEOPLE BELIEVE THIS
    STOP INSTILLING FEAR

    My life is back to normal. I travel, go out and enjoy life!

    I advise everyone else to do the same and stop sipping fauci’s kool aid

    ReplyDelete
  39. Wow… that sounds so UTTERLY STUPID … stop drinking the “cool aid” of a greatly public servant and highly EDUCATED scientist and doctor who is saving people’s lives?

    Hey, in addition to enrolling in some critical thinking enabling community college course in the spring, I would also recommend you get a good nuerofeedback analyst to help you sort out some of the GARBAGE statements that you so readily pontificate on.

    ReplyDelete

●Comments are moderated.
●Kindly use your Google account. ●Anonymous comments only from Google accounts.
●Please stay on topic and use reputable sources.
●Irrelevant comments will not be posted.
●Try to be respectful; we are professionals.