Thanksgiving

[Deleted]

Oct 22, 2020 14:02:23 GMT -5 @shastasnewlife said:

Oct 22, 2020 11:35:24 GMT -5 jerseygirl said:

Son is doctor . He said we can probably just have our doctor give prescription or son will write
In NJ you don’t need to have symptoms to get tested, local CVS and Rite Aid don’t even require ‘referral’ or prescription just an appointment. Obviously the great majority of people getting tested weren’t sick since positive rate is very low , even if ‘high’ it’s only 10% so 90% of people are ok
Testing should be free (for us). Insurance including Medicare pays all costs for testing or treatments
If we need to pay I’m ok with that

I don’t know if what you said is correct now - most can’t get tested even if sick. Think that was earlier before there were so many tests and labs that were up and running

Actually, there are NOT tests available for anyone who wants one.

Our PHO officer said just the other day you have to "qualify" to be tested here.

Not only are there not enough tests, but all the people getting tested are once again backing up labs and making it impossible for people to get other types of lab tests. 

I see "vacation" or "party" testing as a giant waste of limited testing and taxpayer/insurance dollars.

Great if you can get it, I guess, but it would be nice if people who need testing due to illness would get what they need... And, for those who insist on getting tested for non-medical, choice reasons should have to pay for it.

Article dated 10/19.
"Despite widespread increases in the production of COVID-19 test kits this year, about three out of four surveyed U.S. laboratories still report that they do not have enough supplies to meet the pandemic’s demand.

According to data collected by the American Society for Microbiology (ASM) and the Association for Supply Chain Management, about two-thirds of 117 CLIA-certified labs also said they are lacking the supplies necessary for routine bacterial screenings.

This has resulted in testing delays for more common illnesses, such as strep throat, pneumonia, urinary tract infections and sexually transmitted diseases.

Supply shortages have rippled through the industry since March, uncovering bottlenecks in almost every aspect of test production—from the chemical reagents needed to run the tests, to the swabs and sterile containers used to collect and transport samples.

The two associations found that labs are currently running at an average of 41% of their total testing capacity for COVID-19. While 73% of labs reported shortages of commercial testing kits for the novel coronavirus, 32% said they’re also lacking the necessary in vitro diagnostic hardware. About 4% said they were short on control materials.

In addition, nearly 30% said they lacked enough viral transport media, used to keep samples viable during shipment to the lab for analysis."


www.fiercebiotech.com/medtech/lab-survey-illustrates-testing-delays-spreading-to-non-covid-diagnostic-areas

Shasta, that could be in your area. Where I am here there's no shortage of tests, no requirement for a referral, no requirements at all. Anybody who wants a test can just get one with no hassle whatsoever.

[TheOtherMe]

Oct 22, 2020 11:58:04 GMT -5 HoneyBBQ said:

Please everyone stay home and zoom with your loved ones.

This is what Dr. Fauci and other epidemiologists are recommending.  Their predictions are that because of Thanksgiving and Christmas gatherings, covid will spread like wildfire.

My county's positivity rate is around 30%, so no way am I going to spend time indoors with others for either holiday.  

It's Iowa, so outdoors is pretty much out of the question.

[buystoys]

We're doing our regular Thanksgiving.  Staying at home and I cook turkey, dressing, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, gravy, and dinner rolls.  DH will open a can of cranberry sauce.

I love having the leftovers to freeze.  If there are any left in July, it's nice to have Thanksgiving dinner all over again without the muss and fuss.

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

DH's family doesn't do Thanksgiving anymore so no big gatherings there.

My family is tiny and already inner circle due to the business.   Being there together or eating dinner together doesn't really change much.   I am still not sure though my grandma is having other health issues at the moment so it's up in the air for the moment what we'll be doing.  To me it makes more sense to do what we did for last Christmas and bring her here.   My parents house isn't big enough but ours is and I would not be ashamed since we finally got the carpet out of the sun room.

We'll figure it out.   Thanksgiving is not a make or break it for me.

[NastyWoman]

Oct 22, 2020 14:35:26 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

Oct 22, 2020 11:58:04 GMT -5 HoneyBBQ said:

Please everyone stay home and zoom with your loved ones.

This is what Dr. Fauci and other epidemiologists are recommending.  Their predictions are that because of Thanksgiving and Christmas gatherings, covid will spread like wildfire.

My county's positivity rate is around 30%, so no way am I going to spend time indoors with others for either holiday.  

It's Iowa, so outdoors is pretty much out of the question.

30%? I wpuld be hesitant to go out just to pick up my mail with those numbers. That would be sneaking around, dashing to get my mail when no one is around and double lock my doors the next minute

[stillmovingforward]

We're debating whatto do. I have one kid at college who has been really good and cried when she was told she might not be able to come home. She understands but is trying so hard to be careful in her communal housing. We're trying to figure out how to make it safe for the rest of us so she can come home. The rest of us all live together and don't expose ourselves. So, 5 total this year, maybe 6 if the college kid comes home.
If it's just our house, no big deal.
If it includes the college kid, i'll have the windows open and we'll eat in the big breezy room rather then the smaller comfy room.
Still aren't sure yet.....

[TheOtherMe]

Oct 22, 2020 14:39:27 GMT -5 NastyWoman said:

Oct 22, 2020 14:35:26 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

This is what Dr. Fauci and other epidemiologists are recommending.  Their predictions are that because of Thanksgiving and Christmas gatherings, covid will spread like wildfire.

My county's positivity rate is around 30%, so no way am I going to spend time indoors with others for either holiday.  

It's Iowa, so outdoors is pretty much out of the question.

30%? I wpuld be hesitant to go out just to pick up my mail with those numbers. That would be sneaking around, dashing to get my mail when no one is around and double lock my doors the next minute

About the same in sister's county, too.  See why I won't go.

My mail is in a community box across the street and down a few houses.  I don't get it every day--only when informed daily digest tells me something important is in it.  I rarely see anyone there.

See why I am doing grocery pick up (since I can't get delivery)

[pulmonarymd]

Testing shortages will eventually affect everyplace. There are shortages of swabs and reagents. As cases surge, there will again be stress on the system, and there will be backups in the number of tests done, and the turnaround time. Testing is still FUBARed

[Deleted]

Yesterday our positivity rate was at 9.6 and IIRC, total cases reported yesterday were 1300+. Today's total cases 1800+, but they're still saying positivity rate is at 9.6. I guess that's possible if there were enough more tests done.

I'm still uncomfortable with it. With Thanksgiving coming up you know we'll go well beyond 10%.

[mollyanna58]

My sister and I had planned on going to Disney World at Thanksgiving; we have decided not to go.  No airplane trips; not interested in going to FL.  We may go somewhere within a day's drive. 

[Deleted]

Oct 22, 2020 14:57:05 GMT -5 pulmonarymd said:

Testing shortages will eventually affect everyplace. There are shortages of swabs and reagents. As cases surge, there will again be stress on the system, and there will be backups in the number of tests done, and the turnaround time. Testing is still FUBARed

So, why are we as a country allowing people to test at will for no medical reason? /rhetorical question...

This country desperately needs a national plan and some action. But, now they say that might be too late...

Argh.

[cyanne]

Oct 22, 2020 14:02:23 GMT -5 @shastasnewlife said:

Oct 22, 2020 11:35:24 GMT -5 jerseygirl said:

Son is doctor . He said we can probably just have our doctor give prescription or son will write
In NJ you don’t need to have symptoms to get tested, local CVS and Rite Aid don’t even require ‘referral’ or prescription just an appointment. Obviously the great majority of people getting tested weren’t sick since positive rate is very low , even if ‘high’ it’s only 10% so 90% of people are ok
Testing should be free (for us). Insurance including Medicare pays all costs for testing or treatments
If we need to pay I’m ok with that

I don’t know if what you said is correct now - most can’t get tested even if sick. Think that was earlier before there were so many tests and labs that were up and running

Actually, there are NOT tests available for anyone who wants one.

Our PHO officer said just the other day you have to "qualify" to be tested here.

Not only are there not enough tests, but all the people getting tested are once again backing up labs and making it impossible for people to get other types of lab tests. 

I see "vacation" or "party" testing as a giant waste of limited testing and taxpayer/insurance dollars.

Great if you can get it, I guess, but it would be nice if people who need testing due to illness would get what they need... And, for those who insist on getting tested for non-medical, choice reasons should have to pay for it.

Article dated 10/19.
"Despite widespread increases in the production of COVID-19 test kits this year, about three out of four surveyed U.S. laboratories still report that they do not have enough supplies to meet the pandemic’s demand.

According to data collected by the American Society for Microbiology (ASM) and the Association for Supply Chain Management, about two-thirds of 117 CLIA-certified labs also said they are lacking the supplies necessary for routine bacterial screenings.

This has resulted in testing delays for more common illnesses, such as strep throat, pneumonia, urinary tract infections and sexually transmitted diseases.

Supply shortages have rippled through the industry since March, uncovering bottlenecks in almost every aspect of test production—from the chemical reagents needed to run the tests, to the swabs and sterile containers used to collect and transport samples.

The two associations found that labs are currently running at an average of 41% of their total testing capacity for COVID-19. While 73% of labs reported shortages of commercial testing kits for the novel coronavirus, 32% said they’re also lacking the necessary in vitro diagnostic hardware. About 4% said they were short on control materials.

In addition, nearly 30% said they lacked enough viral transport media, used to keep samples viable during shipment to the lab for analysis."


www.fiercebiotech.com/medtech/lab-survey-illustrates-testing-delays-spreading-to-non-covid-diagnostic-areas


It varies from state to state. In Minnesota you can get tested without a referral from a doctor in some locations though you do need to make an appointment. We are now rolling out saliva testing. Our governor has been on top of things when it comes to testing including a partnership with Mayo clinic. Hopefully, other states will eventually get to this point too.

[haapai]

I think that there was a quote-box malfunction in the above post.  You have my sympathies.  I've had to delete a whole lot of stuff that I didn't know how to recover after realizing that I had been typing inside the box of the person that I was trying to quote. 

Fixing it is a PITA.  Perhaps you could just quote yourself again and use italics or bold to denote when LPT stops speaking and your voice begins. 

[Deleted]

Oct 22, 2020 16:00:48 GMT -5 haapai said:

I think that there was a quote-box malfunction in the above post.  You have my sympathies.  I've had to delete a whole lot of stuff that I didn't know how to recover after realizing that I had been typing inside the box of the person that I was trying to quote. 

Fixing it is a PITA.  Perhaps you could just quote yourself again and use italics or bold to denote when LPT stops speaking and your voice begins. 

It drove me crazy until someone pointed out the "Visual" and "BBCode" tabs at the bottom of the reply box. 

If you click on BBCode, you can then type after the end of the quote and it doesn't end up in the box. 

[NoNamePerson]

Oct 22, 2020 16:00:48 GMT -5 haapai said:

I think that there was a quote-box malfunction in the above post.  You have my sympathies.  I've had to delete a whole lot of stuff that I didn't know how to recover after realizing that I had been typing inside the box of the person that I was trying to quote. 

Fixing it is a PITA.  Perhaps you could just quote yourself again and use italics or bold to denote when LPT stops speaking and your voice begins. 

I have to watch where I am when on iPad. Doesn’t seem to “move” into wrong place when on PC. I seem to wind up inside quote on tablet! 

[Deleted]

I already told my daughter no Thanksgiving although I think I usually do it at my DIL's house.  But I just can't.  My son and DIL's kids have been taking turns being sent home for 14 days just for sitting too close to someone who contracted COVID.  And my DIL admitted that she's not sure the oldest two ever change out their masks.  

Penny (the dog) and I will be fine at home.  I will miss them a lot, but I sincerely hope they would miss me more if I died from COVID.

[Lizard Queen]

We had the usual crowd of 9 over for my son's birthday the beginning of October. We set up tables in our 2-car garage, but ended up inside because it was cold. We have a heater for out there, but my dh didn't have an adapter he needed to hook it up to our propane tank. Anyway, we committed to hosting Thanksgiving at that event. My brother's and my family are at simily exposure levels, though brother is more than us. My MIL would be smart to decline, but she's not. We'll see. I wore my mask around her when she came over before. She wore hers with her nose sticking out.

[NoNamePerson]

Oct 22, 2020 17:23:58 GMT -5 Lizard Queen said:

We had the usual crowd of 9 over for my son's birthday the beginning of October. We set up tables in our 2-car garage, but ended up inside because it was cold. We have a heater for out there, but my dh didn't have an adapter he needed to hook it up to our propane tank. Anyway, we committed to hosting Thanksgiving at that event. My brother's and my family are at simily exposure levels, though brother is more than us. My MIL would be smart to decline, but she's not. We'll see. I wore my mask around her when she came over before. She wore hers with her nose sticking out.

You have a heater for outside and for our get togethers we have big fans  The only one in our crew that I have concerns about is my EX. Not in best of health but he also bows out at last minute for family get togethers. He moved back here several years ago! But the rest are super cautious so I feel comfortable getting together. Besides they need some comic relief and that’s where I come in.  

[Tiny]

YEah, my family get together would be small (8 people or less).  I don't think a sit down dinner is gonna work.  And it will probably be too cold for a sit down formal dinner. 

I think we're gonna have to think outside the box.    I'm wondering if perhaps a "tail gate" party might be in order.... (I have a family of football fans who pride themselves on their ability to handle 8 or 9 hours of subzero weather on the day of the big game.  )   maybe something that's  just an hour or two long and outside -ish. 

Or maybe just a quick get together just before sundown - to have some appetizers and a toast to the end of the day...  or something. 

This shouldn't be that hard.  We all fun loving, creative, innovative adults (and children)... surely we can figure out a way to have a "Thanksgiving Celebration" that still has a tradition or two in it along with whatever new stuff we're doing.  

[cyanne]

Here is what I tried to say above. Sorry it was not separated form LPT's post:

Testing varies from state to state. In Minnesota you can get tested without a referral from a doctor in some locations though you do need to make an appointment. We are now rolling out saliva testing. Our governor has been on top of things when it comes to testing including a partnership with Mayo clinic. Hopefully, other states will eventually get to this point too.

[countrygirl2]

Just the 3 of us for Thanksgiving, sadly. No travel to anywhere and no one coming here.

[pulmonarymd]

Oct 22, 2020 20:49:39 GMT -5 cyanne said:

Here is what I tried to say above. Sorry it was not separated form LPT's post:

Testing varies from state to state. In Minnesota you can get tested without a referral from a doctor in some locations though you do need to make an appointment. We are now rolling out saliva testing. Our governor has been on top of things when it comes to testing including a partnership with Mayo clinic. Hopefully, other states will eventually get to this point too.

Problem is, even with a good plan, is the supply chain. We have the ability to do many more tests at my hospital. Problem is, we can’t get the supplies. So, we can only do patients in the hospital and prepping testing. All other tests have to be sent out. As things spike, the supply chain will get stretched thinner, and we will have the same problem with testing as we did this summer. It is a national problem, so even good plans cannot be carried out.

Rapid testing is only about 60% accurate, so it is not the panacea people think it is

[NoNamePerson]

Oct 22, 2020 20:56:18 GMT -5 pulmonarymd said:

Oct 22, 2020 20:49:39 GMT -5 cyanne said:

Here is what I tried to say above. Sorry it was not separated form LPT's post:

Testing varies from state to state. In Minnesota you can get tested without a referral from a doctor in some locations though you do need to make an appointment. We are now rolling out saliva testing. Our governor has been on top of things when it comes to testing including a partnership with Mayo clinic. Hopefully, other states will eventually get to this point too.

Problem is, even with a good plan, is the supply chain. We have the ability to do many more tests at my hospital. Problem is, we can’t get the supplies. So, we can only do patients in the hospital and prepping testing. All other tests have to be sent out. As things spike, the supply chain will get stretched thinner, and we will have the same problem with testing as we did this summer. It is a national problem, so even good plans cannot be carried out.

Rapid testing is only about 60% accurate, so it is not the panacea people think it is

Could you explain what rapid testing is compared to Other type of testing? I have a few friends who have been tested and came back negative. Now with your statement I wonder how accurate their test results are?

My son was tested before surgery (knee) This was over 3 months ago so I am not concerned about him since no symptoms of any kind before or after. And yes I know about down the road exposure just using him as example since I wondered if testing before surgery was Rapid testing? But my friends thought their test were accurate. Do I need to inform them that they may have inaccurate tests?

This may be my learn something new for the day whether I want to know or not. Thanks!!

[Deleted]

Oct 22, 2020 20:48:01 GMT -5 Tiny said:

I think we're gonna have to think outside the box.    I'm wondering if perhaps a "tail gate" party might be in order.

 That has got to be the most inspired idea I've heard in a long time! Heck, people who live in cold country think nothing of tail gating at a ball game and go winter camping without giving that a thought, either, so why not a tail gate T'Day Dinner? I bet every family's traditional foods could be either prepared in advance and reheated on a grill or cooked on a grill to begin with. The turkey could be deep fried if nobody wanted to fiddle with trying to cook it on a grill's rotisserie. 

Genius. Positively genius!

[NoNamePerson]

Oct 23, 2020 7:53:57 GMT -5 @missrigby said:

Oct 22, 2020 20:48:01 GMT -5 Tiny said:

I think we're gonna have to think outside the box.    I'm wondering if perhaps a "tail gate" party might be in order.

 That has got to be the most inspired idea I've heard in a long time! Heck, people who live in cold country think nothing of tail gating at a ball game and go winter camping without giving that a thought, either, so why not a tail gate T'Day Dinner? I bet every family's traditional foods could be either prepared in advance and reheated on a grill or cooked on a grill to begin with. The turkey could be deep fried if nobody wanted to fiddle with trying to cook it on a grill's rotisserie. 

Genius. Positively genius!

  x 10!!

[pulmonarymd]

Oct 23, 2020 7:31:01 GMT -5 NoNamePerson said:

Oct 22, 2020 20:56:18 GMT -5 pulmonarymd said:

Problem is, even with a good plan, is the supply chain. We have the ability to do many more tests at my hospital. Problem is, we can’t get the supplies. So, we can only do patients in the hospital and prepping testing. All other tests have to be sent out. As things spike, the supply chain will get stretched thinner, and we will have the same problem with testing as we did this summer. It is a national problem, so even good plans cannot be carried out.

Rapid testing is only about 60% accurate, so it is not the panacea people think it is

Could you explain what rapid testing is compared to Other type of testing? I have a few friends who have been tested and came back negative. Now with your statement I wonder how accurate their test results are?

My son was tested before surgery (knee) This was over 3 months ago so I am not concerned about him since no symptoms of any kind before or after. And yes I know about down the road exposure just using him as example since I wondered if testing before surgery was Rapid testing? But my friends thought their test were accurate. Do I need to inform them that they may have inaccurate tests?

This may be my learn something new for the day whether I want to know or not. Thanks!!

The test we were using initially, and what everyone was getting is a pcr test, test for presence of coronavirus RNA. Over 90% accurate. Test being used for inpatients, emergency room patients, and surgical patients. Also test most facilities were using beforehand. It is the test that we are having issues with supplies. Turnaround time is at least 3 hours.

Rapid test is an antigen based test, similar to a rapid strep or influenza test. Answer in minutes, so helpful in that way, but less accurate, many similar tests have about a 60% ACCURACY. pOSITIVE TEST IS MORE HELPFUL THAN A NEGATIVE ONE. 

[TheOtherMe]

Do you know what kind of rapid tests are being used in the NFL and college football?

[pulmonarymd]

Oct 23, 2020 11:13:57 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

Do you know what kind of rapid tests are being used in the NFL and college football?

Suspect they are antigen based, but don't quote me on it

[TheOtherMe]

Thank you.  

IMO, it's a lot of money to spend on college athletics in particular, but they must go on--even without fans in some places.

Sorry to derail from Thanksgiving, but there is supposed to be college football on Black Friday.

[pulmonarymd]

Oct 23, 2020 11:19:22 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

Thank you.  

IMO, it's a lot of money to spend on college athletics in particular, but they must go on--even without fans in some places.

Sorry to derail from Thanksgiving, but there is supposed to be college football on Black Friday.

Tells you how misplaced our priorities are