Korea got daily domestic cases down to under 100, and we're dropping from level 2.5 measures to level 2 (on a scale of 1 to 3). That means cafes can probably seat customers again, and gatherings are capped at 100 outside, 50 inside. Hopefully masks are still mandatory. Infections are still led by Christian groups, but an increasing number of cases come from unknown sources which is a bad sign.

The level will probably be raised again in a couple weeks in time for a major holiday when people usually all return to their hometowns all at once. We're considering whether to hold a UE meetup, because it is the best time of year for exploring.

This is an interesting article which has stemmed from a study published in one of the most respected medical journals. There is a new theory that masks may be creating a form of immunity to the COVID virus, and if wearers are getting infected they are either asymptomatic or very mild in comparison to others. It may be a bit of a 'yeah that's obvious' that wearing a mask protects you, but mask wearing isn't 100% secure if others around you aren't wearing one.

https://www.telegr...unity-researchers/

Posted by mookster This is an interesting article which has stemmed from a study published in one of the most respected medical journals. There is a new theory that masks may be creating a form of immunity to the COVID virus, and if wearers are getting infected they are either asymptomatic or very mild in comparison to others. It may be a bit of a 'yeah that's obvious' that wearing a mask protects you, but mask wearing isn't 100% secure if others around you aren't wearing one. https://www.telegr...unity-researchers/

Yeah the point of masks is it prevents the wearer from infecting others. They're common in East Asia, where you don't get sick days from work or school, so you wear a mask so you don't infect your coworkers or classmates. Though it does protect the wearer too, and if worn right should help prevent you from touching your face. I was talking to a girl in a bar a couple weeks ago and she couldn't go five seconds without adjusting her mask.

One of my foreign friends remarked recently that he hasn't caught any colds since the pandemic started, and he's strongly considering wearing masks all the time from now on. I can't say I disagree, and they also make infiltration a little easier.

uhh... I actually started exploring during the pandemic. I had a lot of time,so did my friends. I think the quarantine really showed us how dull life can be so this pushed us outside and to start really looking around.

Toronto is in stage 3, people have been way more comfortable going outside. School is starting in a few days, but in the past week the number of cases have gone up as more people go to parties, restaurants and work.

FOILED AGAIN!



He seems to get a kick out of testing the limits of everyone's comfort zone.

I've known this guy for years. The closest he's ever come to exploring was on a WWII movie filming location in the U-Lands. In between takes, some UE type folks wandered onto the set and he decided to start shooting at them with an MG42 gas gun*. They made a hasty retreat.

*gas gun - A gas gun is real gun that has had all its inner workings removed and replaced with some plumbing, an ignition coil and a microcontroller. It runs on propane and oxygen. It looks and sounds real, but there are no cartridges involved.

Well, this was a long time coming. Trump just tweeted he and Melania have contracted Covid-19.

https://twitter.co...2190680014849?s=21

Below is an actual news article (the news only broke an hour ago, so there’s not much more to add to the above sentence).

https://www.washin...d-live-updates-us/

_{Edited to correct Melania’s name.}

Posted by Dee Ashley Edited to correct Melania’s name.

Don't beat yourself up. Even her husband made that mistake.
https://www.newswe...-wifes-name-935648

Negative test reults may not really be that.

https://nypost.com...-across-the-globe/

It's discouraging to see Western countries having even less of a grasp on preventing infections than when this whole thing started.

Posted by Steed It's discouraging to see Western countries having even less of a grasp on preventing infections than when this whole thing started.

It's still about impossible to get tested here.

Unless you have symptoms or can prove you've been exposed, they will not test you.

That also sort of explains the high positivity rate.

Wouldn't it make sense to test as many people as possible instead rationing tests to those that are likely to test positive?

Posted by Radio2600 It's still about impossible to get tested here. Unless you have symptoms or can prove you've been exposed, they will not test you. That also sort of explains the high positivity rate. Wouldn't it make sense to test as many people as possible instead rationing tests to those that are likely to test positive?

So they don't even do contact tracing?

My parents in Canada had dinner with some friends recently who tested positive right after, so my parents went in for testing (which came back negative). Though my home province apparently had over 1000 cases in one day, which is crazy for a population of only about 3 million, especially with such low density.

In Korea wherever you go, you leave your phone number or scan a QR code, so if someone infected went to any of those facilities, you'll get a call to go in for testing. We just climbed up to 200 cases a day, so I'm expecting they'll tighten that up more.

I went to a government office a couple weeks ago, and they had testing facilities set up out front.

Posted by Steed So they don't even do contact tracing?

Not that I know of. At least not in Iowa.

They have all kinds of tracking stuff in my work phone (GPS is on) as well as all sorts of COVID-19 protocols, but it all seems to boil down to an honor system.

I've been wearing the mask since July. Some people seem to think that's silly, but I don't mind doing it.

In the event I develop symptoms or have a known contact, I have no objections to self-identifying. The company gives us 2 weeks off (with full pay) for quarantine time if need be.

I'm really more concerned about my son bringing it home from school. His school is going virtual as of Monday due to an outbreak.

I'm pretty sure neither the federal CDC or any of the 50 states are doing contact tracing and they never even tried.

LOL, did you think America was a functioning country? This place was on its last legs when 9/11 happened it's been a shit show nonstop since, its just that a lot of well off people didn't notice.

Posted by uLiveAndYouBurn LOL, did you think America was a functioning country? This place was on its last legs when 9/11 happened it's been a shit show nonstop since, its just that a lot of well off people didn't notice.

I was more surprised to be proven right so decisively about the US. But I am more disappointed Canada and Europe have failed so badly too.

Posted by Radio2600 Wouldn't it make sense to test as many people as possible instead rationing tests to those that are likely to test positive?

One of the issues, at least here, is that there isn't enough people to handle the sheer amount of tests. Only licensed medical laboratory technologists can run and result medical tests. There's a critical shortage in the country -- there are currently about 900 vacant positions and that statistic is from before COVID hit. I know a lot of people have retired/left the field because they can and don't want to deal with the crazy long hours and short staffing anymore.

In NYC, they're allowing restaurants to reopen with outdoor seating only.

I think allowing these shacks sort of misses the point.

Posted by Radio2600 In NYC, they're allowing restaurants to reopen with outdoor seating only. I think allowing these shacks sort of misses the point. https://i.imgur.com/uEYrtEF.jpg

Hahaha, it’s just another indoor seating area!
Jesus.

Well, I guess it was only a matter of time, but someone in our house tested positive for covid-19. Quarters are a bit cramped around here and there’s a toddler in the house, so there’s a good chance we’re all infected. Fun times to be had (again) in quarantine v2.0!

Lastly, I would just like to say, FUCK 2020.
That is all.

A couple of these gave me a pretty good laugh, so I thought I’d share with you guys:

COVID-19: Author unknown.
1. The dumbest thing I ever bought was a 2020 planner.
2. I was so bored I called Jake from State Farm just to talk to
someone. He asked me what I was wearing.
3. 2019: Stay away from negative people.
2020: Stay away from positive people.
4. The world has turned upside down. Old folks are sneaking out of
the house and their kids are yelling at them to stay indoors!
5. This morning I saw a neighbor talking to her dog. It was obvious
she thought her dog understood her. I came into my house and
told my cat. We laughed a lot.
6. Every few days try your jeans on just to make sure they fit.
Pajamas will have you believe all is well in the kingdom.
7. Does anyone know if we can take showers yet or should we just
keep washing our hands?
8. This virus has done what no woman has been able to do. Cancel
sports, shut down all bars & keep men at home!
9. I never thought the comment, "l wouldn't touch him/her with a
6-foot pole" would become a national policy, but here we are!
10. I need to practice social-distancing from the refrigerator.
11. I hope the weather is good tomorrow for my trip to the
Backyard. I'm getting tired of the Living Room.
12. Appropriate analogy. "The curve is flattening so we can start
lifting restrictions now" is like saying "The parachute has slowed
our rate of descent, so we can take it off now."
13. Never in a million years could I have imagined I would go up to
a bank teller wearing a mask & asking for money.
14. The spread of COVID-19 is based on 2 things:
#1 How dense the population is.
#2 How dense the population is.

So long, 2020!

Posted by Dee Ashley 14. The spread of COVID-19 is based on 2 things: #1 How dense the population is. #2 How dense the population is.

This seems not to hold up if you look across cultures.