CoViD-19 How To Wear A Mask | Recreating Responsibly | San Diego Hits 21.5 Cases Per 100,000 People | If We Keep It Up, Christmas Is Canceled |

 

The Dr. Seuss Tree at The Old Globe (Taken 11.23.2020)

Last night when I left off, we were running to Balboa Park to try and get some photos in front of the Grinch Who Stole Christmas Tree at The Old Globe. This was my first time trying to use a tripod and my phone as the shutter trigger on anything other than the moon, and I wish I'd checked between pictures more because most of them ended up out of focus. But there were other people there, so we didn't want to hog the space, and as we were putting my stuff away there was a rogue Santa who had quite a crowd that had followed him to take pictures for donations for his dog that needs surgery (according to his sign.)

I also mentioned that I was going to rant about masks. The messaging has really sucked on this whole point since the beginning, but it makes me crazy. I do not want to be walking through aerosols, whether they've got the virus or not. Just, ew. Have some respect, some common courtesy, and some common sense unlike a fair amount of people at the Zoo yesterday. Today we not only watched the California media briefing but sometimes we float around YouTube to watch other states. Today, the Louisiana governor said, "Even if we got 100% compliance with mitigation measures today, we wouldn't see any result of that for at least two weeks." So, even though the republicans have claimed for years that the dems have a "war on Christmas," you can remember that Christmas will be canceled because of this covidiot-in-chief and his lack of preparation and mitigation of this pandemic. I can't wait for him to get locked up.  

Me and Darren had a late night in the speakeasy last night, so today we made a 7:30pm Costco run to restock and get some last minute things for Thanksgiving, as did the whole of San Diego, apparently, because it was way more crowded than it usually is at that time. Pro tip: Costco has been out of paper towels for at least my last four trips there. Instead, go to the automotive section where you can buy an 8-pack of blue shop towels for about the same price. It's nearly midnight so I guess I should post and prepare for yet another newsy day.

• HOW TO WEAR A MASK/FACE COVERING
• Your mask should cover your nose (from just below your eyes) and your mouth (to your chin.) 
• Your mask should fit as flat against your face as possible, with little to no gaps at the bottom or sides, if you can help it. (Sometimes a mask is poorly sewn so it puckers.) 
• If your mask has a metal piece, it should be bent to press at the top of your nose
• Ideally, your mask has three layers of cotton or a pocket for a filter which you change on every use
• Bandannas, gaiters, and other face coverings work in a pinch, but people tend to touch them a lot, especially right around the nose which can become contaminated.
• If using a disposable, it should be disposed of appropriately after each use or if it becomes wet, soiled, or the ear straps break.
• If using some variation of cloth, they should be washed after one day's use or sooner if they become wet or soiled. (I carry a couple backups just in case)
• When in public, do not remove your mask to read, talk, laugh, cough, or sneeze.
• If you must cough or sneeze, you should still be doing so into your elbow, even when your mask is on. 
• N95 respirators are still recommended only for doctors and frontline workers who know how to properly fit and wear them.
• Your mask shouldn't have a valve or it's like not wearing a mask at all. 
• In public spaces, California requires a mask, even outside. 
• When walking and drinking (at the Zoo or shopping or the beach or wearever) your mask should remain on except when you're actively drinking. A coffee cup in your hand is not a free-pass to remove your mask until you finish. 
• Old Navy has some great masks that are 50% off through Friday
• Scientific Brief: Community Use of Cloth Masks to Control the Spread of SARS-CoV-2 - CDC (11.20.2020)
• State and Federal Officials Advise Outdoor Enthusiasts to Recreate Responsibly in the Great Outdoors This Thanksgiving Weekend - California State Parks (11.24.2020) 
• California State Parks, Anza-Borrego Foundation Launch New Leave No Trace Initiative for Upcoming Desert Season - California State Parks (11.20.2020)
• California COVID-19 Media Briefing with Secretary Ghaly
• State Data:
• 15,329 New Cases/1,125,699 Total Cases (1.4% increase)
• 12,532 7-day average of new cases
• 43 New Deaths/18,769 Total Deaths (0.2% increase)
• 5.6% 14-day test positivity rate/5.9% 7-day average 
• 3.7% 14 day positivity on November 10 
• 5.6% 14 day positivity on November 24 (51% increase since 11.10)
• 12% of today's cases end up hospitalized in 2-3 weeks
• CoViD-19 hospitalizations have increases 81.3% over last 14 days- 5,844
• CoViD-19 hospitalizations have increases 57.1% over last 14 days- 1,397
• 175 Hospitals operating with waivers, meaning more patients seen by staff than usual i.e. lower staff to patient ratios
                                         Likelihood of Exposure X Duration of Exposure
  Your Chance of Infection = ______________________________________
                                                       Mask + 6 Feet of distance
• Everything you do in public today is more risky than it was just two weeks ago because of the prevalence of COVID-19 in the community
• Blueprint for a Safer Economy Emergency Brake County Tier Movement
• 11/10 13 Purple/22 Red/17 Orange/6 Yellow
• 11/16 41 Purple/11 Red/4 Orange/2 Yellow
• 11/24 45 Purple/8 Red/5 Orange/0 Yellow
• Thanksgiving during a pandemic
• It is necessary to modify or pause our usual traditions this year to keep each other safe and stop the surge
• Not easy to say no to loved ones. As pandemic drags on, it's feeling harder than ever to pass up the opportunity to gather with family or friends. 
• Strategies for Saying No
• Be Clear- simple direct
• Offer Alternatives
• Be Honest
• Don't feel pressured to keep the conversation going - Your "no" is enough
• It's not too late to change plans or cancel
• Celebrate with your own household
• Respectfully say "no" to anything that makes you uncomfortable
• Think of creative ways to share the experience remotely
• Drop off Thanksgiving meals for older or high-risk loved ones
• Take necessary precautions to protect family and loved ones
• Take advantage of sunshine/weather and move it outside
• 40% of positive cases are asymptomatic/presymptomatic
• Media Questions:
• Bay Area is increasing but not to purple yet
• Deaths will go up because of higher cases, could exceed prior peaks
• Models have been proven wrong before, and can be now. They're based on today, we have the power to change the story now. 
• LA surge is very serious. 
• Haven't seen a hospital surge in the state like we've seen in last 24 hours
• Counties and State need to be realistic about next steps/further closures
• Household transmission is widespread. Lots of multi-generational households, dense populations. 
• Statewide trying to be more thoughtful with actions 
• There are fewer hospital/ICU capacity now than March because earlier in pandemic, people were asked to pause on non-COVID surgeries and procedures. Also beds must be staffed appropriately. 
• No requirement for vaccines for health care workers. Working to make sure vaccinations are fully covered by insurance or state. Cost will not be a barrier to vaccination. Distribution should be based on conditions and population but no firm picture of distribution. 
• Asshole reporter is trying to get Dr Ghaly to say that teachers are non-essential. 
• Blueprint is targeted, but if necessary, a lockdown is in the State's toolbox
• Not a single source of spread, but there are characteristics where virus spreads: taking a mask off for eating   
• More restrictive county guidelines supersede state guidelines
• San Diego County Stats
• State Data:
• 1,168 New Cases/72,817 Total Cases
• 0 Deaths/968 Total Deaths
• 21.5 cases/100k population (Based on week ending 11/16, Assessed on 11/24. Unadjusted Case Rate Using Linear Adjustment)
• 3.1% Test Positivity (Based on week ending 11/16, Assessed on 11/24)
• N/A Health Equity Positivity (Based on week ending 11/16)
• County Data:
• Local COVID-19 Cases Hit Another Record Ahead of Thanksgiving - County News Center
• COVID-19 Watch
• Approx 1/3 of cases are Household Exposures
• 1/2 of cases had at least one potential community exposure
• 1/2 of cases are fucking liars who said they had no community exposures
• 271 K-12 Exposures in past 2 weeks. 684 total. 
• 1,546 New Cases/74,361 Total Cases (17,329 Tests)
• 6% of all cases result in hospitalizations
• 1.3% of all cases result in ICU. 22.6% of hospitalizations admit to ICU.
• 16 New Daily Deaths/984 Total Deaths
• 9% Daily Test Positivity/6.6% (7-day avg after 7-day lag)/5.3% Test Positivity (14-day average)
• 13.1 cases/100k population (Based on week ending 11/16, Assessed on 11/24. Unadjusted case rate per 100,000 excluding prisons.) 
• Case Investigation is 90%
• 15.5% Increase in Hospitalizations
• 15 New/73Community Outbreaks (7-day)
• restaurant/bar 13
• business 16
• restaurant 6
• grocery 2
• private residences 1
• tk-12 school 2
• faith-based agency 5
• gym 2
• daycare 4
• healthcare 2
• government 2
• retail 12
• hotel/resort/spa 1
• warehouse/distribution 2
• Emergency Services 1
• Adult Daycare 1
• Construction 1
• Universities:
• SDSU COVID-19, UCSD COVID-19, USD COVID-19, CSU San Marcos, PLNU
• COVID-19:
• California seemingly corralled coronavirus. Now, cases are surging, hospitals are full and shutdowns are back. - The Washington Post (11.24.2020)
• Data show hospitalized Covid-19 patients are surviving at higher rates, but surge in cases could roll back gains - STAT News (11.23.2020)
• Rural Areas Send Their Sickest Patients To The Cities, Straining Hospital Capacity - NPR (11.23.2020)
• Politics/News/Other Reading:
• County Rental Assistance Available to Additional 10,000 Households - County News Center (11.24.2020)
• How to Have Productive Conversations About Election Misinformation. A holiday guide to navigating the deep swamp of polluted information.