CDC Director: Impending Doom

[dvcgirl67]

If this were last spring you'd def. have more ground. But we're not in last spring. We're in this spring. And it just isn't going to work the same way with people. Fear only works for so long.

As far as discussing the past administration and tabloidy manner she was put into her position by the current administration. Doesn't make sense your comment about the past administration with respects to her behavior unless you're calling into question the current administration and their decision making skills and their expectations of professionalism but you weren't so you're just coming across as a political jab against the past administration. I say that respectfully it's just it didn't make sense when the past administration didn't appoint her. As far as "It's not just her job to "put the facts out there".....she's allowed to state her opinion on the state of the pandemic." you may want to rethink the wording of that because I don't think it comes across like you want it to.

At this rate refreshing would just be someone explaining things flat instead of trying to be the perkiest of perky or the gloomiest of gloom. I understand how she may feel so I don't think we should be knocking her as a person. She must be feeling the weight of all the pressure put upon her by the current administration to be the ones to get the U.S. on a better track with the pandemic response because really all they have right now is the comparison to the past administration and their handling. That must but tremendous on the pressure front to be better. That said a rise in cases means you instill the public with confidence that the vaccinations are important, you instill in the public to keep up mitigation efforts and you do it in a way that is as impartial as you can. And you stick with that. This is the nation you are speaking to and you can't afford to go off script.

Her comments and the way she did it, even if she had the most frustration in the world, only serves to make people more entrenched in their behaviors. The people who are still not engaging in just about any activity will only dig in further to do this. Hopefully those people are getting out to get vaccinated though and hopefully they aren't delaying medical treatment and hopefully they have some social interaction for their mental well being. The people who are presently engaging in all sorta of risky behavior are not going to suddenly stop because of her words and tone. And hopefully those people are getting vaccinated and practicing some mitigation techniques.

We're in a precarious situation here and what you really want is to bring people together in the middle not push them further apart because as a nation we should really be sick to death at this point of the pushing done to us.

You’re right. Crying uncle. I give up.

 

[wvjules]

As one who she would never convince no matter what she said I want to say this. For myself this is not political at all. I know people want to make it political, but I’m about the most politically neutral person I know. I will not be convinced that it’s doom and gloom because that is NOT what I see in the world around me. I see life going on normally in all the circles I run in and I see nothing bad happening. Someone’s words won’t convince me to believe differently from what I see everyday. Maybe if I was staying home I’d feel that that was the only reason I was safe. But I’m out and about mingling with various different friend and family groups, eating together, sharing drinks, doing everything I have all my life and I’m still safe, everyone I know is safe. No amount of words or pleas will convince me I need to be afraid. Those words don’t mesh with what I’m living.

I think what you see every day is the problem - the reason for the "doom and gloom." People's behavior, after a year, still aren't changing. Sure things are great now but what about if someone in your groups contracts Covid and gives it to the rest of you? Just because you've been "safe" until now doesn't mean you will always be.

No one needs to be afraid but everyone needs to be cautious. Those that aren't are what is prolonging this and will make it go on even longer.

 

[Jennasis]

I haven't been in a bad car crash or lost someone or know someone who died in a car crash....therefore seatbelts are not necessary.

 

[person]

As one who she would never convince no matter what she said I want to say this. For myself this is not political at all. I know people want to make it political, but I’m about the most politically neutral person I know. I will not be convinced that it’s doom and gloom because that is NOT what I see in the world around me. I see life going on normally in all the circles I run in and I see nothing bad happening. Someone’s words won’t convince me to believe differently from what I see everyday. Maybe if I was staying home I’d feel that that was the only reason I was safe. But I’m out and about mingling with various different friend and family groups, eating together, sharing drinks, doing everything I have all my life and I’m still safe, everyone I know is safe. No amount of words or pleas will convince me I need to be afraid. Those words don’t mesh with what I’m living.

I guess there's also interagency rivalry and competition, which is a bit different and very deep seated.

 

[lilypgirl]

I haven't been in a bad car crash or lost someone or know someone who died in a car crash....therefore seatbelts are not necessary.

The old seat belt argument is so exhausting. Wearing a seat belt causes zero side effects or forces people to inject themselves with chemicals they may not be ok with . I am not an anti vaxxer and will get the vaccine when it’s my turn but I respect the rights and freedoms of others not to.

 

[Christine]

I think what you see every day is the problem - the reason for the "doom and gloom." People's behavior, after a year, still aren't changing. Sure things are great now but what about if someone in your groups contracts Covid and gives it to the rest of you? Just because you've been "safe" until now doesn't mean you will always be.

No one needs to be afraid but everyone needs to be cautious. Those that aren't are what is prolonging this and will make it go on even longer.

Exactly. My cousin made it a full year without catching it. She wasn't afraid of it either. Not even sure she was seriously considering the vaccine. No one in her immediate family got it and they were out working each day and going about their regular business. Her daughter-in-law, in the course of socializing, picked up a fairly standard "young adult's case" of COVID. Whether she visited my cousin symptomatically or not, I don't know. But my cousin got it. She's been in the hospital now for 3 weeks in the ICU. We think she will make it but her life is not going to be the same for a LONG time. Her husband got it 3 days later. He's not hospitalized but is suffering alone at home with a doctor calling him every day. Sometimes he doesn't even know that his wife is in the hospital.

I think the "doom and gloom" thought is coming from this most recent uptick. The variants are here and spread faster. In my circle of aquaintances, I've heard of more people I know of getting COVID than probably at any other time this year. Maybe the exception was when 9 of my coworkers got it from dining indoors for a birthday gathering.

 

[Jennasis]

The old seat belt argument is so exhausting. Wearing a seat belt causes zero side effects or forces people to inject themelces with chemicals they may not be ok with . I am not an anti vaxxer and will get the vaccine when it’s my turn but I respect the rights and freedoms of ot others not to.

I wasn't referring to vaccs.

 

[GAN]

Exactly. My cousin made it a full year without catching it. She wasn't afraid of it either. Not even sure she was seriously considering the vaccine. No one in her immediate family got it and they were out working each day and going about their regular business. Her daughter-in-law, in the course of socializing, picked up a fairly standard "young adult's case" of COVID. Whether she visited my cousin symptomatically or not, I don't know. But my cousin got it. She's been in the hospital now for 3 weeks in the ICU. We think she will make it but her life is not going to be the same for a LONG time. Her husband got it 3 days later. He's not hospitalized but is suffering alone at home with a doctor calling him every day. Sometimes he doesn't even know that his wife is in the hospital.

I think the "doom and gloom" thought is coming from this most recent uptick. The variants are here and spread faster. In my circle of aquaintances, I've heard of more people I know of getting COVID than probably at any other time this year. Maybe the exception was when 9 of my coworkers got it from dining indoors for a birthday gathering.

I'm in the Northeast and same here ...definitely more in my circle have been getting it. I'm fine with people living their lives as they like, and impending doom is a strong phrase, but people should not take it for granted. No one needs to live in "fear" but if your number is up, this will do to you whatever it pleases. I know 3 people that have died, 1 with Vertigo, 1 who spent 5-weeks in ICU and now is at home on oxygen, another who hasn't tasted or smelled things in 6-months.

I have to say the discussion has been a lot more civil than I thought it would be ...I would have bet money it would have been locked after a day ..LOL. Whatever people decide, please consider your family and community in the decision. If I grow a 3rd eye from the vaccine, I'll be sure to report back. Peace...

 

[mjkacmom]

Exactly. My cousin made it a full year without catching it. She wasn't afraid of it either. Not even sure she was seriously considering the vaccine. No one in her immediate family got it and they were out working each day and going about their regular business. Her daughter-in-law, in the course of socializing, picked up a fairly standard "young adult's case" of COVID. Whether she visited my cousin symptomatically or not, I don't know. But my cousin got it. She's been in the hospital now for 3 weeks in the ICU. We think she will make it but her life is not going to be the same for a LONG time. Her husband got it 3 days later. He's not hospitalized but is suffering alone at home with a doctor calling him every day. Sometimes he doesn't even know that his wife is in the hospital.

I think the "doom and gloom" thought is coming from this most recent uptick. The variants are here and spread faster. In my circle of aquaintances, I've heard of more people I know of getting COVID than probably at any other time this year. Maybe the exception was when 9 of my coworkers got it from dining indoors for a birthday gathering.

We have a lot of cases right now in spite of vaccinations, I personally know 10 people who has it this month alone. The kids were supposed to go back to school for 5 mornings a week next month, but we are in red so still virtual.

 

[Heigh-Ho]

No one needs to be afraid but everyone needs to be cautious. Those that aren't are what is prolonging this and will make it go on even longer.

I agree with your first comment but I think this comment is something that loses people. We honestly have no idea the path this virus will take. We have estimates and projections but placing blame on people when you don't know is not right to me.

There's a poster on the CDC thread discussing cases in their area of Michigan. They have some real concerns that the strict mitigation efforts just prolonged the virus and that does match up with what I remember all that curve talk was. Do you remember that? Remember how they said the curve would be smaller but over a longer time period rather than a very high curve over a shorter time period? We already figured that some things would make things take longer but we wanted that at that time because we didn't know the effect of having so many people infected with the virus and needing medical attention. I remember seeing that some people thought we should just let it burn itself out through the populations. Herd immunity talks you know? That enough population either needs to have natural immunity or immunity through vaccines. I know they are even concerned about flu season that because we had next to nothing of one that natural immunity won't exist in too many people like it normally does when the flu circulates around.

I digress though. I think it's just easy to blame someone and when you see someone doing things that are considered really risky it's easier to direct your animosity towards them but you really have no idea if they are contributing to any sort of additional length of time. I don't want the day to come where I look at someone dining out or at a party and assume they are responsible for lengthening this whole mess. I may wish they didn't go to that party or that they dine out but wear a mask during it when it's realistic to do so but I don't want to actually blame them.

 

[Southernmiss]

I have been careful this whole year.

Got vaxx #2 on Friday.

Yesterday, with a mask on, I stopped by a local urgicare for a poison ivy rash that I have had for ten days that was only getting worse.

Don't you know, I could hear the guy coming in behind me outside on the phone explaining that he was coming to get a Covid test. Once inside he loudly told the receptionist, as I am at the counter filling out paperwork, the whole story.

He had covid in July, employee tested positive yesterday, woke up not feeling well, other buddy is getting tested today, too. I know I should get a shot, blah, blah, blah.

Fortunately, there was a second waiting room I could distance myself in.

As I'm waiting, a mom and elementary age son come out and the nurse is explaining that she's writing a school excuse, but not doing a covid test since it'll be spring break next week anyway. Argh!

Before those encounters, I was feeling so good and hopeful. Most people I know are getting vaccinated. It's open to all 16 and above. I thought we are well on our way out of it and our state numbers have fallen and look much better.


So close (for me to be fully vaccinated) and yet society is so far away.

 

[LuvOrlando]

I like Dr. Walensky & I like the she showed a softer human side, this in no way diminishes her message. She is appealing to people who don't respond well to authoritative directives and even if a lot of people on here don't need or want the softened tone I absolutely believe there will be people all over the world that will prefer this style. We have got to keep getting people into chairs for shots and however that happens is fine, we already have tons of dudes in suits speaking with an authoritative voice, it works for some but not all and probably not well in minority communities with single moms who may not have college diplomas. Sure some people like the formal approach but I'm pretty sure we already have enough of that. I like Dr. Birx because her humanness as a mom and a person appealed to me, I felt she was also burdened with the same fears as I was, and still am for myself for my kids and my larger family. Regardless of the style, I can see all the letters next to Dr. Birx and Dr. Walensky's names just fine. The emotions they display make me feel like they will advocate for me & my family, I want an advocate fighting for the well being of people and kids, especially as we cross over into a space of trying to get children vaccinated which will not be easy. This was a smart strategy in the long run, she'll need the emotional credit when she starts to try to encourage parents of kids.

. I'm hearing more people talking about their second case of covid, though that's purely anecdotal and not from the most reliable/verifiable sources. And these trends are happening in places where 25 to 50% of the population has had at least one shot and it is estimated that 40 to 50% have already had covid (using the CDC's multiplier on the confirmed case counts).

It is hard to see much cause for hope when we should theoretically be reaching a point, between vaccination and previous infection, of slowing spread but are instead seeing it accelerating. My fear right now is that either the vaccine simply isn't as effective as it needs to be or the newer variants are causing widespread reinfection or both, because I have a hard time seeing any other explanation for the level of spread we have right now. I think I'm actually more concerned now than I have been at any point in this thing, because the vaccine was supposed to be the light at the end of the tunnel but the current trend has somewhat undermined my confidence in that solution.

I am not finding it unusual that there are high rates of infection with only 25-50% of the population vaccinated, that is still a whole lot of people through which the vaccine can move uninhibited. Imagine the mess if only 25-50% of drunk drivers stayed off the roads, leaving 50-75% rolling through traffic, that's sort of what this describes.... which is why I don't like to drive NYE or 4th of July (and will keep wearing my mask a while).

The current science is previous infection provides up to 6 months of protection. But it provides really no protection against the South African variant.

It's not certain that Antibodies (B cells) will cover variants but there seems to be hope in our T cells having lingering protection from natural infection. If this is true natural infection plus vaccination will quickly close many gaps getting us much closer to her immunity while the boosters and treatments are keyed up... thank heavens.
https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/t-cells-recognize-recent-sars-cov-2-variants

 

[luvsvacation]

I haven't been in a bad car crash or lost someone or know someone who died in a car crash....therefore seatbelts are not necessary.

That argument doesn’t apply here though. Wearing seatbelts only helps if you’re actually in a crash. Anyone who says “I never wore a seatbelt and I’m fine” should be smart enough to figure out the only reason they are fine is because they were never in a serious accident. I survived my childhood in the 80s because I was never in an accident, but you can bet I put my own children in much safer seats and always had them wear seatbelts when they outgrew their car seats.

The thing with Covid is that I, and everyone I know, are out and about being exposed every single day and going to get togethers and restaurants etc and we’re still fine. We haven’t just somehow managed to avoid it. As I said I know at least 30 people who have been positive, but not one has had an even moderate case. Some have felt crappy, but no one has needed any care other than rest.

So following your logic by exposing myself I am putting myself in an “accident” everyday. And if I and everyone I know has been doing that for the past year and we’re all just fine, then yes, I definitely doubt that we need any safety devices.

 

[Christine]

That argument doesn’t apply here though. Wearing seatbelts only helps if you’re actually in a crash. Anyone who says “I never wore a seatbelt and I’m fine” should be smart enough to figure out the only reason they are fine is because they were never in a serious accident. I survived my childhood in the 80s because I was never in an accident, but you can bet I put my own children in much safer seats and always had them wear seatbelts when they outgrew their car seats.

The thing with Covid is that I, and everyone I know, are out and about being exposed every single day and going to get togethers and restaurants etc and we’re still fine. We haven’t just somehow managed to avoid it. As I said I know at least 30 people who have been positive, but not one has had an even moderate case. Some have felt crappy, but no one has needed any care other than rest.

So following your logic by exposing myself I am putting myself in an “accident” everyday. And if I and everyone I know has been doing that for the past year and we’re all just fine, then yes, I definitely doubt that we need any safety devices.

Consider yourself fortunate. And maybe it has worked out for you because you live in an area that doesn't have wide community spread or someone in your community who could have spread it to you did the right thing. Despite your statement, you actually have "somehow managed to avoid it." How? I don't know. I've managed to avoid it also as I have not been hibernating, but people who have behaved just as I have, did not avoid it. My friend goes out to dinner every weekend, indoors, travels by plane to various states to take their kids to travel sports. He's careful though. Neither he nor his family have had it. As I said upthread, I know people who did far less than him but had that one encounter with that infected person and that was that. It really is a combination of luck, the infection rates in your community, and if the infected people are being careful or oblivious.

 

[luvsvacation]

Consider yourself fortunate. And maybe it has worked out for you because you live in an area that doesn't have wide community spread or someone in your community who could have spread it to you did the right thing. Despite your statement, you actually have "somehow managed to avoid it." How? I don't know. I've managed to avoid it also as I have not been hibernating, but people who have behaved just as I have, did not avoid it. My friend goes out to dinner every weekend, indoors, travels by plane to various states to take their kids to travel sports. He's careful though. Neither he nor his family have had it. As I said upthread, I know people who did far less than him but had that one encounter with that infected person and that was that. It really is a combination of luck, the infection rates in your community, and if the infected people are being careful or oblivious.

I explained this on a thread a few months past. Statistically speaking the chances that someone will catch Covid and have a bad outcome are very small. The chances that someone will either not catch it, or catch it and it won’t be a big deal for them, are much much much higher. Therefor I’m not “fortunate” to be ok, I would just be extremely unlucky if I wasn’t. No one goes around after a storm saying how lucky they were that they didn’t get struck by lightening. The chances of being struck are very low, therefor you would be incredibly unlucky if you were struck.

 

[Starport Seven-Five]

I explained this on a thread a few months past. Statistically speaking the chances that someone will catch Covid and have a bad outcome are very small. The chances that someone will either not catch it, or catch it and it won’t be a big deal for them, are much much much higher. Therefor I’m not “fortunate” to be ok, I would just be extremely unlucky if I wasn’t. No one goes around after a storm saying how lucky they were that they didn’t get struck by lightening. The chances of being struck are very low, therefor you would be incredibly unlucky if you were struck.

Most people are smart enough to not go dance in the rain during a lightning storm.

 

[Tiggerette]

Has anyone remarked that the phrase "impending doom" is used in clinical medical circumstances? That it has specific meaning in a clinical setting? I realize that it's not obvious, it wasn't to me initially either. Mainly because "impending doom" doesn't use any latin! So, I thought it was a simple turn of phrase, rather than coming from a doctor who uses it / hears it in the workplace.

Imagine if you had a condition that gave you the sense that something catastrophic might be coming soon, but you couldn't point exactly to where in your body it was going to manifest. Imagine it being called something more "medically sounding" like: Incognita Periculum.
Now imagine the CDC director saying that the recent rise of cases in some areas of the country, coupled with the known spread of higher transmissible disease raises Incognita Periculum concerns for US vulnerability. Now (to me) it seems less like 100% rhetoric, and more like 50% clinical concern using 50% rhetoric to describe it.

Short Story: I wanted to raise that this phrase is important to take the speaker and their workplace parlance into account when analyzing the phrase "impending doom."

 

[KingAugie]

In a year roughly 10% of the US population has tested positive for COVID.
That was during all the large gatherings, the non-mask wearing rallies, the super spreader events, the states without mandates, people traveling, other states opening up (some slowly and some more quickly) and NO vaccinations.
And yet 90% of the population hasn't gotten it, or had a mild enough case where they didn't bother to test, or they were asymptomatic and never knew they had it.
Now we have people getting vaccinated.
I'll take those odds and continue doing what I've been doing the last year. No reason to feel any impending doom.

 

[ShirikiUtundu]

Has anyone remarked that the phrase "impending doom" is used in clinical medical circumstances?

yes, it is a listed side effect of the moderna/pfizer vaccines. I was going to make a joke earlier in the thread that maybe she had just gotten her vaccine that day.

 

[Bianca and Bernard]

The old seat belt argument is so exhausting. Wearing a seat belt causes zero side effects or forces people to inject themselves with chemicals they may not be ok with . I am not an anti vaxxer and will get the vaccine when it’s my turn but I respect the rights and freedoms of others not to.

It's a bad analogy. It's something that doesn't affect others who come into contact with you.

I still think that if people don't want to get the vaccine, they need to wear a mask all the time they are in public, even if it's just as a courtesy to others.

I haven’t felt any doom or gloom since about this time last year. There were about 2 weeks during the last half of March last year where I was concerned because everything was moving so quickly and shutting down and I figured those in the know must know far more than us and it must be bad if they were going to such extremes. I waited for the “bad” to start and then nothing...life went on. I was expecting hundreds of thousands dead per week and life to be like scenes from the movie contagion. And none of that happened. I went back to normal very quickly, as did almost everyone I know. We live in a state that never had any mask mandates. We’ve spent the last year living normally, eating indoors, having get togethers and weddings and I don’t know a single person who has had any bad affects from covid, no one who has even been hospitalized. I know probably 30+ people who have tested positive, some felt virtually nothing, some felt like crap, not a single one has been in the hospital or had long term problems. And many of them were elderly and people with multiple health issues. From what I’ve personally seen I see no reason for talk of gloom and doom. This is not said to make light of anyone who has lost someone. Obviously people have died of Covid, and any loss of life is always tragic, especially when it’s someone you love. I’m sorry for those who have lost someone, just as I’m sorry for those who have lost someone to cancer or heart disease. But I just can not see covid as being the end of the world that some seem to think it is...it’s an illness, some unfortunately will succumb to it, but the vast majority will go on, that’s how life works.

Well, we are all glad that you haven't been affected by a global pandemic at all.

I have a BiL and a sister who have both been hospitalized, and he was on a vent, due to COVID. My DD#2 lost her grandparents-in-law (SoIL's maternal grandparents) to COVID; and they almost lost 3 others in their family due to it. The in-laws caught it because they didn't curtail their behaviors at all...no masks, kept going out, to weddings, etc....and they brought it home to the GGP.

It's not the end of the world...for most. But for some it is, and people who haven't curtailed their behaviors...such as yourself...are part of the problem.