I was at LP zoo on Saturday!

I also need to go to the movies. Covid has been really nice at thinning out crowds...the zoo is so much better without tons of people. It will also be nice going to the movies not worrying about people all up on me.

I take it the indoor exhibits at LP Zoo are still closed off? I love LP Zoo, but I really love the indoor exhibits even more than the outdoor ones, so I think I'll wait a while longer until they reopen.

Aaron (Glowrock)

^ Yeah, LP Zoo needs to get with the times and friggin open those indoor exhibits. You know, we have these things called face masks now, I wonder if they've ever heard of those?

On Sunday, Fauci said that the CDC guidance on mask wearing outdoors will change soon because "outdoor risk is really, really quite low".

Good thing I've never worn a mask outdoors during the pandemic.

The COVID pandemic is really going nuts in India.

My colleague is a doctor and she was showing me texts between multiple classmates (all doctors) in India asking eachother if they have ICU beds for their ill parents.

India is having its Italy March 2020 moment but......

We ain't seen nothing yet, because India has 1.3 billion people. Sadly, the global death toll is about to REALLY shoot upward.

Is it in any particular region in India? Like how in the US it went from NY to CA to MI.

It's interesting how different places surge at different times. There was like Italy, then the US cities, Brazil, etc. Now it's India.

Just heard on NPR that the cases and deaths are most likely 10 times higher than what is being reported or will be reported. Terrible stuff. Hopefully this gets under control and they get the help they need.

I can't imagine what it's like in the Indian subcontinent at this time...it sounds like chaos....and immense, incredible hardship.

Out of anything, this pandemic has shown us the very best and especially worst of geo-politics and the leaders involved.

I don't know how this blow up of a surge in India is only starting now. Just having been there before and knowing how congested, overcrowded (literally impossible to social distance for 99% of people), and low sanitary conditions much of the country has, seems odd that the worst is happening 1.3 years after the onset of the pandemic.

Probably a combination of superspreader events and a more infectious variant.

Notice that I said more "infectious" variant, as opposed to the mythological more "deadly" variant that fearporners are waiting so eagerly for.

President Biden and the CDC just announced that *vaccinated* people do NOT need to wear masks outdoors (outside of concerts or other crowded events).

Awesome news.

See, people just needed to wait for the official word and not their own individual opinion. Now if you guys think "wearing the mask is dumb" then don't wear it (if you are vaccinated). This also means that if somebody is not wearing their mask they must have proof....or face the consequences :hell:.

It’s remarkable that anyone has, unless you’re waiting in line for food pickup or somewhere else crowded.


Separately, I’m in LA now for a few days before flying back to London. Seems like a transitional step given the rules here are basically what they will be in England from May 17th (limited capacity indoor dining, seated service only, no actual fun allowed).

At least the weather is better, albeit cold for here at the moment. The weather in England looks like absolute shit for the whole 15 day forecast. I am dreading it but need to pack up for a move.

Ah yes lol I will be demanding papers!

But really, if you live in Chicago and are wearing a mask outside, the chances that you've had at least one shot are extremely high. So I can make fun of them in my head.

Just got back to SF. Very surprised to note nearly everyone wearing masks outdoors. Even more so that I remember in November when I left. And this is in spite of the fact that 69% of city residents over 16 have received at least 1 dose of vaccine, 45% are fully vaccinated. I did NOT wear a mask on a 10 block walk with the wind blowing about 15 mph and I felt a little guilty because, really, everybody else I saw was wearing one.

All this probably accounts for the city's remarkably low COVID rates, though: 3.8/100,000/day.

Really? According to the state, we are pretty much opening up June 15. The San Francisco Symphony is planning a spring season indoors (probably reduced audience size though). The Golden Sate Warriors and Giants are playing to live fans. Restaurants are offering indoor seating with few takers (I myself now prefer to eat outdoors and the city is planning to keep its "parklets" even after COVID is over). Movie theaters are open.

My biggest disappointment so far is the unavailability of certain Indian condiments because they haven't arrived from India (India, apparently being in chaos at the moment).

Of course. If there is a world capital of virtue signalling, it’s San Francisco.

But it’s not June 15, it’s late April, and fun is still banned in Los Angeles County.

And England is just hopeless. Someone I work with asked me whether I was at least looking forward to the local pub when I’m back. I am not even going to go until you can order at the bar and not wear a mask. I expect to spend lots of time in Florida and Texas in coming months.

At this point, if you’re over 60 and haven’t had at least one dose of a vaccine it’s your own damn fault, and anyone else who is concerned about Covid is just being a pussy. Enough already.

India is at its worse now. They have increasing cases per day and it's really alarming. Hope we can do something for them.

All I have to say is that I am glad I live in Texas since this all started. We have our issues but I'll take our approach to Covid over the coasts and other countries.

Yeah, I keep seeing that we now have the doses but not as much demand. By the time we are offering lollipops and gift cards to get the shot, that is the time I say let's forget all restrictions.

If people don't want the vaccine, it's called freedom. Freedom to die, so be it. Now the rest of us can be free to do whatever the hell we want to do.

I think it's pretty fucking annoying that people aren't required to wear masks in bars in Florida and Texas. If there was a way to close off travel to other parts of the country during this pandemic, I would have fully supported it.

If this goes unchecked, 1.3 million dead, just for sake of curiosity assuming everyone got it at .001 death rate. Bump it up to .01%, you have 13 million dead.

India probally has the highest death toll or will be. Who knows how many uncounted deaths or labeled differently but really attributed to Covid.

Unfortunately, doesn't look like it will get better. Not for several weeks I'd imagine. This will be one catastrophic peak for India.

And also an issue if countries don't put a massive travel ban on India. Land, sea, air. Well, issues for the ones with folks not vaccinated or that sheltered-in-place with poor vaccine distribution and restrictions loosened.

A tracker via Virginia Gov with respect to variants.


https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/coronav...ts-of-concern/

The mask mandate is no longer in effect in Louisiana for most places. Schools and universities, hospitals, public transit, and govt. buildings will still require masks. It is now up to private business to determine if they will require masks or not, and I suspect most will drop the requirement.

https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_ro...bb5499c91.html

Uhh, I've gone to bars here.

I agree. Florida is doing among the worst now too.

Yeah, well, it’s the only thing that kept me from setting something on fire. And guess what? I didn’t get Covid in Florida.

And sat at your table with the people you came with and didn’t interact with anyone else. I know there are bars* open.

LA sucks right now as does the rest of the world. Miami and Tel Avis are basically the only places on planet Earth where fun exists right now as far as I am aware.


*as long as they serve food

On what measure? Cases don’t fucking matter.

Not that I ever wore a mask outside. But For those that follow what your are told to do, Pritzker says you now may remove your mask in Illinois.





https://www.thecentersquare.com/illi...84c1f1eb0.html

Pritzker to change Illinois rules to follow CDC guidance on masks

The Center Square ^ | 4/27/21 | Greg Bishop



Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Tuesday he will update the state's guidance for people who fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to allow them to shed masks when taking part in outdoor activities, but masks will still be required in large groups outside.

“Here's welcome news from CDC: fully vaccinated people can enjoy most outdoor activities without a mask,” Pritzker said on Facebook as he shared a Washington Post report about the guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

President Joe Biden on Tuesday said because of the increased number of COVID-19 vaccines, “the CDC made an important announcement: Starting today, if you’re fully vaccinated, and you’re outdoors, you need – and not in a big crowd – you no longer need to wear a mask.”


...

“But beginning today, gathering with a group of friends in a park, going for a picnic – as long as you are vaccinated and outdoors – you can do it without a mask.”

Seriously

Also, once you been vaccinated you are good so who tf cares what anyone else is doing? If you scared stay inside. This is absolute madness and small business destruction. Of course politicians/public employees who are making the decisions have given up nothing. SMH

Arizona doesn't care.
Anyway, la County will be fine in June or so.
NYC and Chicago probably too.
It won't go on as long as you think.

New York State to end curfews for bars and restaurants by end of May. Bar seating can resume on Monday in New York City:

Well, welcome to LA! Don't know how long you'll be here of course, but it'll be warming up today through Saturday, I believe---80s to possibly 90. And of course those are the daytime/afternoon temps... the lows might get down to the low 60s or upper 50s... brr! :P Seriously, though, that 20-25 degree difference in day and nighttime temps is what makes people feel cold. You might have to throw on a light jacket or wear long sleeves! :P

Are you here visiting relatives or friends or something? Just curious... because if you're able to have more fun in Miami, I would think that you would have stayed there... sorry for being all up in your business.

Speaking of which, LA County, if the numbers hold, could move into the yellow tier next week.

From patch.com:

LA May Return To Business As Usual In A Week As COVID Cases Fall

The County reached the threshold for yellow tier reopenings. If cases stay low for a week, most businesses could be able to operate indoors.

Paige Austin, Patch Staff
Posted Tue, Apr 27, 2021 at 7:51 pm PT


LOS ANGELES, CA — The spread of the coronavirus is slowing enough in Los Angeles for the county to qualify for the round of reopenings that would allow most businesses to operate indoors. LA County could be just a week away from the closest thing to a return to normal since the start of the pandemic.

If Los Angeles County can maintain its current daily new case tally for one more week, it will qualify for the least restrictive yellow tier of the state's economic-reopening blueprint.

After the winter surge and the spring frenzy to vaccinate as many Angelenos as possible, California currently has among the lowest rates of COVID-19 spread nationwide. The promising development came the same day the federal government relaxed recommendations for wearing masks outdoors, and Los Angeles County followed suit, allowing vaccinated people to gather outdoors or dine at an outdoor restaurant without face coverings.

The rate of spread is so low in Los Angeles, that vaccinated people can do many things they haven't been able to for the last year, according to health officials.

"It's so encouraging to see the work we're doing together having such a profound effect on the health and well-being of people all across our communities," L.A. County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer told the Los Angeles Times.

According to statistics released by the state every Tuesday, the county's adjusted seven-day average rate of daily new COVID-19 infections fell to 1.9 per 100,000 residents. Moving to the yellow tier requires a rate of less than 2 per 100,000. Moving to the yellow tier would mean further easing of capacity restrictions at businesses, gatherings and events, both indoors and outdoors. Fitness centers, cardrooms, wineries and breweries, for instance, would be permitted to increase indoor capacity to 50%, up from the current 25%; bars would be able to open indoors at 25% of capacity; outdoor venues such as Dodger Stadium could increase capacity to 67%, up from the current 33%; and amusement parks could allow 35% of capacity, up from 25%.

As of Tuesday, only four of the state's 58 counties were in the yellow tier -- Alpine, Mendocino, Sierra and Lassen.

The bulk of the state, including all of Southern California, is in the orange tier.

Los Angeles County on Tuesday reported 26 more COVID-19 deaths, while Pasadena health officials reported three new fatalities. The new deaths lifted the overall total from throughout the pandemic to 23,804.

Another 326 cases were reported by the county, while Pasadena announced six more cases and Long Beach added 46, lifting the cumulative total since the pandemic began to 1,232,128.

According to state figures, there were 408 people hospitalized in the county as of Tuesday, down from 411 on Monday, with 110 people in intensive care, up from 102 people Monday.

The county is continuing to offer appointment-free, walk-up COVID vaccinations at all of its large scale sites through Thursday. The appointment- free shots, contingent on supply, are available at:

-Palmdale Oasis Recreation Center, 3850 E. Avenue S;
-The Forum, 3900 W. Manchester Blvd., Inglewood;
-Balboa Sports Complex, 17015 Burbank Blvd., Encino;
-College of the Canyons, 25000 Valencia Blvd., Santa Clarita;
-Cal State Northridge, 18343 Plummer St.;
-Eugene Obregon Park, 4021 E. First St., Los Angeles;
-Pomona Fairplex, 2370 E. Arrow Highway, gate 15; and
-L.A. County Office of Education, 12830 Columbia Way, Downey.
-Doses are available for anyone age 16 and over, although teens age 16 and -17 must be accompanied by an adult.

Health officials said Monday that nearly 278,000 people in the county may be overdue for their second dose of the vaccine, possibly due to concerns about side effects or a belief that one shot is enough.

As of last week, more than 4.4 million people in the county have received at least one vaccine dose, and nearly 2.6 million had received a second dose, according to Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer.

But county figures showed 277,902 people were considered overdue for their second dose.

"There are many reasons why this number might be showing up," Ferrer said. "One is that some of these doses are actually second doses for people who received first dose outside of L.A. County. Another is that people have simply forgotten to get their second dose. Some people may have been put off by side effects of their first dose or feel that one dose is as effective as they need and is going to be enough protection."

She urged people due for their second shot to get it, stressing that while one dose of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines does offer some protection, it's not complete. She said the county is also seeing continued declines in hospitalizations among residents 65 and older and in the severity of cases in people that are hospitalized, demonstrating the effectiveness of the shots.

"Getting everyone fully vaccinated, which means two doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccine if that's the vaccination you received, or one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, is the best hope for seeing these positive trends spread even more widely across all our communities. The flu-like symptoms that many people have for a very short while after vaccination are signs your immune system is working.

"And while one dose does offer some protection, it is not as strong a level of protection as what two doses offer," Ferrer said. "So if you're overdue for your second dose, come back to us and let's together spread better health throughout the county."

Ferrer said that in many cases, the county has contact information for people who have not returned for a second dose, and will be conducting outreach.

"Unfortunately, we don't have that information for everybody," she said.

City News Service and Patch staffer Paige Austin contributed to this rerport.

Link: https://patch.com/california/los-ang...vid-cases-fall

I'll admit to being a little jealous, but also it's really promising to see things getting back to normal in the US. Canada is about a month behind on vaccinations, but if the trends follow then this all bodes well for us come June.

Mayor DeBlasio announced this morning that NYC will be 100% reopened by July 1:

But it's not clear yet if the city's plan has been coordinated with the state.

Well it is kind of hard to wear a mask and drink in a bar or eat at a restaurant. I had my first indoor meal in a restaurant in Reno, NV and felt pretty safe. I have been fully vaccinated. What I find pretty fucking stupid is people who want everything to open so they can party and have a drink but won't get vaccinated. Get Vaccinated and numbers will go down and we can all put this behind us soon.

Great news!

Time to open it all up, no excuses!

.......So Illinois.....why the crickets?

Just to be clear: I am not fully satisfied with a ‘declaration of reopening’.

For now it is fine.

But I would like to see legislatures (not Courts) finally define for the future the types of emergency powers Governors and Mayors will from here on be allowed to take, the degree of said powers, and the duration. We really need a major clarification of these things moving forward.

Chicago's mayor came out today basically saying we are decreasing restrictions from here on.

The city's restrictions now are about the same as most southern states were back in June lol

Perfect! I arrive in Chicago for the Summer a week from this weekend. Get my second shot this weekend. :)

41.7% of all adults in metro New Orleans were fully vaccinated as of yesterday. There are only 38 people in the hospitals positive with COVID-19. The highest vaccination rates were in the city of New Orleans with over 45% of the adult population now fully vaccinated. https://ldh.la.gov/coronavirus/

Unfortunately, the mayor has opted to keep bar closures at 1 am. Bars closing early on Bourbon Street has resulted in several fights, shootings, and stabbings taking place on the street in the 1 to 4 am time period. I'm not sure why the mayor decided to do this as I believe ending last call and going back to 24 hour bars would curtail some of these incidents. Drunk people about to fight in a bar would be quickly subdued by bouncers and placed in the drunk tank at Orleans Parish Prison by the NOPD. Instead they are on the street, still drinking, and get into arguments and fights with no bouncers present to quell the issue before it gets out of hand. The NOPD can only do so much with the large crowds forced out onto the street at 1 am. There were always a few incidents each year on Bourbon even with the bars open, but not to same frequency seen in the past couple of weeks.

The rest of the US needs to open up a lot more already if for no other reason then it is just getting impossible to do anything in South Florida because everything is full. We tried to get tickets to Disney for a little 4-day weekend in a few weeks but the parks are fully booked for the next month+, tried looking into places in the Keys, Marco Island, Sanibel. Nope all booked. Sanibel had a grand total of 1 air bnb available...for 1300 a night. Hotels in the keys that usually go for ~350 a night are going to 800 a night for Mother's day weekend. The funniest was a trailer in a trailer park in Marathon asking 400 a night (they'll probably get it).

I find it odd that municipal leaders have just upped and decided to ‘reopen’ now, after well over a year of doom and gloom (partly motivated by partisan politics, partly legit), even though we aren’t yet close to herd immunity.

Makes “follow the science” sound more and more like a buzz phrase than anything authentic.

Yeah, as I stated in my other post it looks like the motivation to reopen is not entirely scientific. I think municipal leaders in New York, California cities, Chicago, etc are probably growing keen to the fact that they MUST spur economic activity now or we are in a do or die situation where the economic damage will cross a threshold of being catastrophic. We are running out of money to print!

i’m on my 9th vaccination

In other words, you're replying on everyone else to get vaccinated so you don't feel you have to, even though you have no medical reason whatsoever to not be. How special of you, Phil. Dare I say, how selfish of you!

Aaron (Glowrock)

It's not odd at all. NYC has a fairly high vaccination rate, and we're two weeks into vaccines being open to city resident that wants one. We weren't in this situation a year ago, or even a month ago.