How COVID-19 is affecting society

[Romana]

1 stabbed as fights break out at anti-vaccine protest in downtown Los Angeles

One man was stabbed when a fight broke out as anti-vaccine protesters and and counter-demonstrators held competing events at Los Angeles City Hall.

abc7.com

"Medical tyranny". Stabbing and attacking people who dare try to tell them the facts --and save their lives.
Sometimes I how each and every one of them gets COVID and ends up with a health issue -- or dies. The militant anti-vaxxers, that is, the violent ones. The ones who'd happily have others die so they're not inconvenient. They probably tell themselves it's all fake or something, but IMHO they wouldn't care if they knew.

 

[Kamilah Hauptmann]

Teachers Signed Up To Teach Math, Not Get In Fist Fights With Unhinged, Anti-Mask Parents

What the hell is going on in this country?

www.wonkette.com

 

[Dakota Tebaldi]

 

[Essence Lumin]

Alabama doctor says he won’t treat unvaccinated people: ‘COVID is miserable way to die’

The change will take place Oct. 1.

www.al.com

 

[Romana]

Alabama doctor says he won’t treat unvaccinated people: ‘COVID is miserable way to die’

The change will take place Oct. 1.

www.al.com

That's especially brave in a state like Alabama.
I hope people don't try to retaliate against him.

 

[Free]

 

[Free]

 

[Katheryne Helendale]

Bastard probably already received Regeneron and will be perfectly fine in a couple of days.

 

[Noodles]

Children born during pandemic have lower IQs, US study finds

Researchers blame lack of stimulation as parents balanced childcare with working from home

www.theguardian.com

Ok, I just want to say, IQ always kind of feels like some sort of weird MLM Scam for people wanting to feel smart to start with, and how do you even measure the IQ of a kid that's like maybe almost 2 years old at best?

 

[Beebo Brink]

Ok, I just want to say, IQ always kind of feels like some sort of weird MLM Scam for people wanting to feel smart to start with, and how do you even measure the IQ of a kid that's like maybe almost 2 years old at best?

Actually it's probably easier to test toddlers than it is to test adults.

There are well documented developmental milestones for infants and children, easily observable behaviors that they should be able to do by certain ages, in increments of months, not years. It's a time of rapid growth both physically and cognitively. And sadly, it becomes increasingly difficult to catch up later when certain areas of the brain aren't developed at the appropriate developmental time.

 

[Romana]

 

[Innula Zenovka]

Actually it's probably easier to test toddlers than it is to test adults.

There are well documented developmental milestones for infants and children, easily observable behaviors that they should be able to do by certain ages, in increments of months, not years. It's a time of rapid growth both physically and cognitively. And sadly, it becomes increasingly difficult to catch up later when certain areas of the brain aren't developed at the appropriate developmental time.

Yes, but developmental milestones aren't the same as IQ tests, to my mind.

From the article:

In the decade preceding the pandemic, the mean IQ score on standardised tests for children aged between three months and three years of age hovered around 100, but for children born during the pandemic that number tumbled to 78, according to the analysis, which is yet to be peer-reviewed.

I've only skimmed the paper to which the Guardian links, but at first sight it seems that the Guardian's writer is using "IQ" as a catch-all for various different standardised attainment tests. I don't think anyone actually tried to administer an IQ test to a three month old child, at least I hope not.

It's the reporter's fault -- the actual research paper, whatever its merits or otherwise, doesn't seem anywhere near as stupid as the Guardian reporter makes it sound.

 

[Clara D.]

We need a new Gooberner.

 

[Katheryne Helendale]

Why are Rethuglicans so damned hell-bent on spreading this damn virus around far and wide and killing as many people as they possibly can? I just don't get it!

 

[Kamilah Hauptmann]

Why are Rethuglicans so damned hell-bent on spreading this damn virus around far and wide and killing as many people as they possibly can? I just don't get it!

Think of how Trump behaves. Now know that there are 70 million Americans who find that desirable.

The answer has always been “because fuck you”.

 

[Katheryne Helendale]

Think of how Trump behaves. Now know that there are 70 million Americans who find that desirable.

The answer has always been “because fuck you”.

Sadly, I think you nailed it.

 

[Clara D.]

Think of how Trump behaves. Now know that there are 70 million Americans who find that desirable.

The answer has always been “because fuck you”.

CRY MOAR LIBRUL!

 

[Beebo Brink]

Why are Rethuglicans so damned hell-bent on spreading this damn virus around far and wide and killing as many people as they possibly can? I just don't get it!

I've given up worrying about how their brains work. I've now moved on to wondering what the effect of these deaths (and long-term illnesses) will be on future elections. This wave (or undulation, since it could be argued it's all been one long wave) is hitting rural, evangelical GOP voters the hardest. They got by more lightly (comparatively speaking) during the Alpha phase, but now Delta is kicking them in the butt. I don't expect this to change their voting choices, but are the deaths sufficiently high to change the outcome of elections?

Primarily red counties will stay red, but with fewer votes. What about purple counties? Will they shift toward blue? Or have the deaths been comparable from both sides (primarily blue before, primarily red now)? Is this even a factor given the percentage of deaths is small? Are the actual numbers enough to make a difference?

 

[Romana]

"Because fuck you", but it's their own voters they're killing. The ones who swallowed all the Faux News /OAN propaganda and the conspiracy theories.
Thats what's truly baffling. Killing their own voters to own the libs?
ETA to Beebo: great minds think alike. You posted at the same time.

 

[Beebo Brink]

"Because fuck you", but it's their own voters they're killing. The ones who swallowed all the Faux News /OAN propaganda and the conspiracy theories.
Thats what's truly baffling. Killing their own voters to own the libs?
ETA to Beebo: great minds think alike. You played at the same time.

In sheer numbers, is it enough to make a difference?

ETA: From what I'm reading, I suspect that the death rate will be at least slightly higher among the unvaccinated for a number of reasons. Delta. Enough said. Plus, those who don't believe in the vaccine and think Covid is a hoax are going to wait longer to get medical help, thus decreasing their changes of survival. And lastly, obesity levels among the rural poor (as well as other health issues) will also work against survival rates.