COVID-19

[tifosi77]

I'm still cautiously optimistic that the mitigation efforts we've been observing will have a side-effect of also putting a bit of a lid on flu season.

[count2infinity]

@shafnutz05 @tifosi77

Saw Altoona decided to go virtual until February or until cases ease up in the area. Apparently this biggest issue right now is staff shortages. Staff that are exposed to the virus have to quarantine for 14 days and they had a staff shortage to begin with...

[Freddy Rumsen]

Illinois seeing a major spike.

[count2infinity]

Yea. At this point the spikes are all over the place.

[blackjack68]

I'm still cautiously optimistic that the mitigation efforts we've been observing will have a side-effect of also putting a bit of a lid on flu season.

Then the nut jobs will start saying the CDC is counting flu cases as Covid cases. Ugh.

[count2infinity]

I'm still cautiously optimistic that the mitigation efforts we've been observing will have a side-effect of also putting a bit of a lid on flu season.

Then the nut jobs will start saying the CDC is counting flu cases as Covid cases. Ugh.

I'm sorry... start? As if they aren't already?

[blackjack68]

True but it’s going to get a lot worse during actual flu season

[count2infinity]

Especially if it's a down flu season, which it likely will be with all the restrictions put in place for COVID.

[eddy]

My sister in law works in a hospital and she had it really bad for 12 days and they needed her back, didn't even require a negative test to return to work. Doesn't seem smart

[shoeshine boy]

my SO's office went back to "red phase" until further notice, meaning all but essential workers go back to WFH until further notice.
now to talk my redneck "I eat at buffets and won't get a vaccine" boss that I need to WFH again too.....

[count2infinity]

We will begin having temperature screenings on Monday. If you don't pass, you get pto. Doesn't work for people that can telecommute, they would have to work from home. Dammit.

[offsides]

If you have Covid but are asymptomatic, do temperature screenings mean anything?

[PFiDC]

If you have Covid but are asymptomatic, do temperature screenings mean anything?

Nope

When I think temp screenings are a good way to catch someone who IS sick, it doesn't catch everyone

[nocera]

I just saw that the CDC estimates that 50% of transmission is caused by asymptomatic carriers. Temp screenings create an illusion of safety

[shafnutz05]

shafnutz05 tifosi77

Saw Altoona decided to go virtual until February or until cases ease up in the area. Apparently this biggest issue right now is staff shortages. Staff that are exposed to the virus have to quarantine for 14 days and they had a staff shortage to begin with...

Yup....gotta do it. Our daughter has been 100% virtual out here in Lancaster County since March. I have to say, they've done a pretty solid job. We had our parent teacher conference earlier this week, and her teacher thanked us several times for taking such an active, invested stake in her education. Making sure she attends class, pays attention, etc. The biggest fear I had with our daughter being in first grade was the speed at which she would learn to read, but it has been remarkable to see how quickly she's picked it up thanks to apps like Zearn

[count2infinity]

Yeah... the biggest issue with virtual is that it amplifies the most critical influence on a student's educational development: parents.

[tifosi77]

Q: Do Catholic schools operate as part of a municipal school district? Or are they run as sort of their own thing?

[count2infinity]

Their own thing, I believe.

For instance, I have a coworker who lives in State College district, but kids go to private (catholic) school... he doesn't receive any of the communications from the district.

Edit: to follow up, in a place like Altoona, I'm sure most of the kids that go to a catholic school are from the Altoona school district, but in bigger cities, I'd imagine the kids that attend catholic schools don't necessarily live in the district that the school is located in.

[tifosi77]

Okay, in that case I never attended an Altoona Area School District school. Went to Sacred Heart 1st and 2nd grade, moved to Hollidaysburg where I grew up, and didn't move back to Altoona until I was in college. So, you know, dodged a bullet there.

[nocera]

Yeah, catholic schools are their own thing. I actually just heard over the weekend that catholic school enrollment actually went up since they were back to in person while PPS has been remote all year.

[eddy]

We will begin having temperature screenings on Monday. If you don't pass, you get pto. Doesn't work for people that can telecommute, they would have to work from home. Dammit.

Our campus got these big ipad screen things on a stand for every building before you walk in. They read 97.7 or 97.3. every single time. They are such a waste

[NTP66]

Maybe they're scanning IQs...

[PFiDC]

Yeah, catholic schools are their own thing. I actually just heard over the weekend that catholic school enrollment actually went up since they were back to in person while PPS has been remote all year.

PPS moved to hybrid about a month (few weeks?) ago with the option to remain remote.

[nocera]

Yeah, catholic schools are their own thing. I actually just heard over the weekend that catholic school enrollment actually went up since they were back to in person while PPS has been remote all year.

PPS moved to hybrid about a month (few weeks?) ago with the option to remain remote.

Not really. They had one week where they allowed some students to return. These students were classified as "vulnerable" students meaning they had extreme difficulties with remote learning. Overall, something like 800 students returned out of 23,300. My fiance had one student in her entire school. They were in school for four days (Wednesday was Veterans Day) and they returned to 100% remote the next week.

[faftorial]

Are beer distributors/grocery stores in PA allowed to sell beer this evening?