COVID- 19 Back to normal?

The CDC seems to be saying visiting with a small group of fully vaccinated people inside a house without a mask is ok, but does not provide any guidelines regarding eating at an outside restaurant table with fully vaccinated people, other than to follow existing local guidelines.  Am I missing something?

jamie said:

CDC's fully vaccinated guidance:

https://www.cnn.com/2021/03/08/health/covid-19-vaccine-cdc-guidelines-fully-vaccinated/index.html

The CDC says fully vaccinated people can:

  • Visit other vaccinated people indoors without masks or physical distancing
    • Visit indoors with unvaccinated people from a single household without masks or physical distancing, if the unvaccinated people are at low risk for severe disease.
    • Skip quarantine and testing if exposed to someone who has Covid-19 but are asymptomatic, but should monitor for symptoms for 14 days

    However, people who are fully vaccinated still need to take precautions in many scenarios. The guidelines say fully vaccinated people must:

    • Wear a mask and keep good physical distance around the unvaccinated who are at increased risk for severe Covid-19, or if the unvaccinated person has a household member who is at higher risk
    • Wear masks and physically distance when visiting unvaccinated people who are from multiple households.

     


    Are they still taking appointments at Livingston Mall?


    oops yes they are taking appointments at Livingston Mall. 


    cramer said:

    I had to be in New York today. First time since the pandemic started.  It felt pretty good knowing that I had the two shots, and yesterday was two weeks since my second shot. Hooray!  

     Did you take NJ Transit? If so how was it?


    fed123 said:

    cramer said:

    I had to be in New York today. First time since the pandemic started.  It felt pretty good knowing that I had the two shots, and yesterday was two weeks since my second shot. Hooray!  

     Did you take NJ Transit? If so how was it?

    I drove in.  


    steel said:

    I may have forgotten how to socialize.

     As a proud Introvert, I have been in solitary heaven!


    Formerlyjerseyjack said:

    One guest is too large if the one person is infected. 30 might be ok if all are vaccinated and nobody is infected.  In other words, there is no magic number.

    One question is if a vaccinated person can transmit to another person. I believe the latest info is that its inconclusive.  So you pay your money and you take your chance.

     Couldn’t agree with you more FJJ. There is so much unknown with this virus. 30 does seem like a large group. Also-  It’s hard to always know with 100% certainty if everyone has received both vaccines and has waited the two weeks after dose two before get together.  


    rcarter31 said:

    steel said:

    I may have forgotten how to socialize.

     As a proud Introvert, I have been in solitary heaven!

     +100


    Although spouse and I will both be fully vaccinated by mid-April, we live with one young adult who will be at the end of the line for adult vaccinations, as well as two teens who are waiting for vaccines for the under-16 crowd.  They've been absolute troopers about being very careful for the last year, and we have to respect their preferences as they wait for vaccines -- all three of them follow the news and understand a good bit of the science, and aren't ready to give up many, if any, of their personal precautions, simply because their higher-risk parents are now protected. 

    As my news-and-politics-obsessed 14 year old put it to me: "Mom, I know COVID wouldn't kill me, but I don't want to risk being a long-hauler.  I love food, and I don't want to risk long-term loss of my sense of taste or smell."  Right now it looks like the kids are (to varying degrees) uncomfortable with most changes in our current precautions, so we aren't likely to make immediate changes beyond being more likely to go into stores as needed, etc.

    None of our offices have made a peep about reopening, so we can be leisurely about changing our risk profile, while adding the joys of spring, like hiking and takeout in the screen porch.  Passover with extended family remains off the table, as the NY clan will not be vaccinated (different rules between NY and NJ are in play here).  A trip to western PA to see my COVID-survivor 87 year old mother is the only summer plan I'm ready to commit to.

    If the infection curve goes back to where it was last summer (rather than the current high plateau), we will push harder for outdoor dining, and a vacation of some sort with the family.  If not, we may save our persuasive powers for getting the twins into the school building for 9th grade, vaccinated or not, rather than trying to stay virtual as they start high school.


    rcarter31 said:

    steel said:

    I may have forgotten how to socialize.

     As a proud Introvert, I have been in solitary heaven!

     Me too except for not being able to visit family.


    susan1014 - Where in western Pa. does your mother live?  I'm from Indiana, Pa. 


    cramer said:

    susan1014 - Where in western Pa. does your mother live?  I'm from Indiana, Pa. 

     I am not susan1014, but I grew up in Grove City, Pa.


    susan1014 said:

    Although spouse and I will both be fully vaccinated by mid-April, we live with one young adult who will be at the end of the line for adult vaccinations, as well as two teens who are waiting for vaccines for the under-16 crowd.  They've been absolute troopers about being very careful for the last year, and we have to respect their preferences as they wait for vaccines -- all three of them follow the news and understand a good bit of the science, and aren't ready to give up many, if any, of their personal precautions, simply because their higher-risk parents are now protected. 

    As my news-and-politics-obsessed 14 year old put it to me: "Mom, I know COVID wouldn't kill me, but I don't want to risk being a long-hauler.  I love food, and I don't want to risk long-term loss of my sense of taste or smell."  Right now it looks like the kids are (to varying degrees) uncomfortable with most changes in our current precautions, so we aren't likely to make immediate changes beyond being more likely to go into stores as needed, etc.

    None of our offices have made a peep about reopening, so we can be leisurely about changing our risk profile, while adding the joys of spring, like hiking and takeout in the screen porch.  Passover with extended family remains off the table, as the NY clan will not be vaccinated (different rules between NY and NJ are in play here).  A trip to western PA to see my COVID-survivor 87 year old mother is the only summer plan I'm ready to commit to.

    If the infection curve goes back to where it was last summer (rather than the current high plateau), we will push harder for outdoor dining, and a vacation of some sort with the family.  If not, we may save our persuasive powers for getting the twins into the school building for 9th grade, vaccinated or not, rather than trying to stay virtual as they start high school.

     Everything you post always makes sense to me.  I think those young people in your house have been given a good foundation in common sense.  


    It appears from the latest Israeli study on large number of Pfizer vaccinations, that the risk of transmission to others is very low, about as low as the risk of getting infected by a vaccinated person.  https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-pfizer-israel/pfizer-biontech-say-covid-19-vaccine-likely-to-prevent-asymptomatic-infection-idUSKBN2B31IJ&sa=D&source=hangouts&ust=1615645805042000&usg=AFQjCNHEJhksxO-rwc3b-r8o0nMbwYl8hA

    Formerlyjerseyjack said:

    One guest is too large if the one person is infected. 30 might be ok if all are vaccinated and nobody is infected.  In other words, there is no magic number.

    One question is if a vaccinated person can transmit to another person. I believe the latest info is that its inconclusive.  So you pay your money and you take your chance.

     


    cramer said:

    susan1014 - Where in western Pa. does your mother live?  I'm from Indiana, Pa. 

    She lives with my sisters family in the northern suburbs of Pittsburgh (Gibsonia currently) 


    Just thought I'd share an observation from Germany.  Other then food stores - you can't shop in any other store without a negative Covid test.  So most stores are really empty.  I believe this is true for taking a train as well.


    jamie said:

    Just thought I'd share an observation from Germany.  Other then food stores - you can't shop in any other store without a negative Covid test.  So most stores are really empty.  I believe this is true for taking a train as well.

     That would never happen here because freedom. The right to go to Hot Topic is enshrined in the Constitution. 


    mrincredible said:

     That would never happen here because freedom. The right to go to Hot Topic is enshrined in the Constitution. 

     The people who shop at Hot Topic were wearing masks long before it was cool, though.


    As of today, May 7th:

    • General outdoor gatherings limit has increased to 500 people.
    • Large venues (1,000 fixed seats or more) can host events at up to 50% capacity outdoors.
    • Indoor catered events, including proms, can be held at 50% capacity, up to 250 people, and can reopen dance floors, with masking and social distancing requirements in place.
    • Restaurants can reopen indoor bar seating and buffets, subject to guidance from the Department of Health.

    On Wednesday, May 19th:

    • The outdoor gatherings limit will be lifted, as long as groups can remain six feet apart.
    • The general indoor gathering limit will increase to 50 people; business gatherings and certain organized gatherings will be allowed up to 250 people, so long as social distancing can be maintained.
    • Percentage-based capacity limits will be lifted for indoor and outdoor businesses and activities, as well as houses of worship.
    • Large venues (1,000 fixed seats or more) will be able to host events at up to 30% capacity indoors, so long as social distancing can be maintained.

    How do people feel about 2 fully vaccinated friends visiting each others homes, without masks and while social distancing with doors/windows open?  NJ law says all indoor 'gatherings' require masks.  CDC says small groups of vaccinated adults can gather without masks.  Neither has been or will be in any crowds like stadium...or any parties.


    I have noticed a relaxation of COVID restrictions here lately.  The one way arrows and social distancing markers on the floor were no longer there when I shopped at Milburn ShopRite earlier this week.  The Maplewood Department of Recreation recently held a senior bus trip to the Jersey Shore and has another one planned for later this month.  This month's senior newsletter from Maplewood Community Services states that group shopping trips for seniors (supermarket, hardware store, etc.) has been started up again but I have to verify that on Monday to make sure it is actually happening.  Very few people I see in my walks about about town are wearing face coverings now, even in the village.   


    people didn't follow the arrows anyway...not even employees..half the people were going the wrong directions, often more...most of the people going the right direction it was just by accident...and the thing is the arrows made it worse...who was going to stop and wait 2 minutes for someone to pick out a salad dressing and move on...you were still passing people....and to follow the arrows, i was often forced to go down an aisle I didn't need...and pass people in those aisles...so i was near twice as many people


    Good NJ numbers yesterday but with an asterik for some inconsistencies between different web sites.  According to the official NJ "Information Hub,"  there were 1030 confirmed cases (PCR tests) and 217 probable cases (antigen tests) for a total of 1247 yesterday.  According to the NYT data web site, there were  just 650 new cases in NJ yesterday.  The NYT tends to report a lower number but that's a big difference.  Don't know the explanation. 

    The Hub says hospitalizations are the lowest they've been since Nov 1.

    The transmission rate has been drifting up the last few days but still at a low .67.F

    Finally, to reinforce the effectiveness of the vaccine, Israel, a country with about the same population as NJ and which has opened up, had just 28 new cases yesterday per the NYT site.  Even if the NYT under counts and its twice that number, it's still astonishingly low.



    bub said:

    Good NJ numbers yesterday but with an asterik for some inconsistencies between different web sites.  According to the official NJ "Information Hub,"  there were 1030 confirmed cases (PCR tests) and 217 probable cases (antigen tests) for a total of 1247 yesterday.  According to the NYT data web site, there were  just 650 new cases in NJ yesterday.  The NYT tends to report a lower number but that's a big difference.  Don't know the explanation. 

    The Hub says hospitalizations are the lowest they've been since Nov 1.

    The transmission rate has been drifting up the last few days but still at a low .67.F

    Finally, to reinforce the effectiveness of the vaccine, Israel, a country with about the same population as NJ and which has opened up, had just 28 new cases yesterday per the NYT site.  Even if the NYT under counts and its twice that number, it's still astonishingly low.


     Israel is 97% vaccinated


    max_weisenfeld said:



     Israel is 97% vaccinated

     I don't think its anything close to that.


    According to NYT vaccine tracker, just 56% of Israeli's fully vaccinated as of yesterday:

    https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/world/covid-vaccinations-tracker.html


    bub said:

    According to NYT vaccine tracker, just 56% of Israeli's fully vaccinated as of yesterday:

    https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/world/covid-vaccinations-tracker.html

     You're correct, I was mistaken. 


    Aha.  I found my source.  I was only partly wrong.  Israel has vaccinated 97% of adults once, and 91% of adults completely.  NYT tracks total population, including children.

    We are both correct.


    It's clear we are never going to get that vaccination rate in the U.S.  The question is what combination of vaccination percentage and people recovering from the disease will keep us on a one-way path toward control of the disease.  The UK, which is somewhere between us and Israel with vaccination rate, has a much lower per capita daily case rate than us and they've been moving in the right direction albeit slowly. The NJ numbers look good.  If the NJ pattern continues, there will be less than 1000 people hospitalized any day now. 


    I wonder if we could achieve some kind of localized herd immunity? Regions with higher vaccination rates would be better protected than other regions?

    I guess one problem is that if there are areas that are severely under-vaccinated, there are greater odds of a vaccine resistant strain arising, threatening everyone else.



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