https://www.kcbd.com/2020/03/21/city-lubbock-additional-cases-covid-/

Only Texas towns with worse hospitalization rates are Amarillo and El Paso.

I really am a little shocked that we are blowing up. Most places I go, roughly 90-95% wear masks. Unless I am missing some data, I don't know what is causing the spike. Is it the college age kids that are driving the spike? And it looks from the ages that it may be hitting our nursing homes hard right now.

I have more friends getting it, but for the most part, they have had no to mild symptoms. One of those friends just found out she has breast cancer and has to wait 2 weeks before starting chemo. Maybe a blessing in disguise that she got Covid before treatments.

Where are you located? Cases Way down still in Hays County.

I assume you are talking to me. I am from Lubbock.

Are people wearing masks when socializing in small groups? I think that's increasing the spread in most places.

What are you considering mild symptoms? I remember hearing that mild was defined as "not hospitalized" at the beginning of all this, but I don't know if that's the definition most people use.

My friend's mom in Lubbock has three friends in the hospital on vents right now. I don't think they were in nursing homes, but they are definitely in their 60s and 70s.

Best wishes to your friend with breast cancer

cc_ag92 said:

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Are people wearing masks when socializing in small groups? I think that's increasing the spread in most places.

What are you considering mild symptoms? I remember hearing that mild was defined as "not hospitalized" at the beginning of all this, but I don't know if that's the definition most people use.

My friend's mom in Lubbock has three friends in the hospital on vents right now. I don't think they were in nursing homes, but they are definitely in their 60s and 70s.

Best wishes to your friend with breast cancer

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That is a good point in the small groups. I doubt that they do mask up in small groups.

Mild as in they have a fever and allergy symptoms. They would not have gotten tested but one of them was required by her work. Her husband had it too but no symptoms. Their 20 month old also had no symptoms. Another friend had a fever for 4 days.

Thank you for the wishes. We are definitely praying for her.

The small group thing is what scares me a little in my personal life right now. I feel like many of us have let our guard down. My daughter came home from college on Monday for a birthday dinner at my sister's. We spent time inside with my parents for the first time since March. My daughter was diagnosed with Covid the next day (tested due to symptoms). Needless to say, I'm pretty concerned about our maskless small group gathering.

So far, her symptoms are mild, too. not so mild that she doesn't know she's truly sick, but her oxygen level is good. Can't kick the headache, but we've gotten it to a manageable pain level at least.

I'm with you. I can't believe I "caved" this week. My sister and parents were insistent that it was fine and I was tired of arguing. Then the next freaking day....

Just praying that my lapse in judgment doesn't create a terrible situation (my parents becoming ill)

I truly am hoping no one else gets sick.

This question isn't anything other than curiosity. If no one else gets sick, will it change anything in your view of small group gatherings?

Keep us updated. I am hoping your parents don't get sick.

cone said:

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I would still do gatherings outside regardless of masks or not.

Just saw a study showing how with close quarters and duration with poor ventilation that masks do very little.

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So, those types of studies make me wonder a lot of different things, mainly being is the mask really making a difference, but I don't want to start that conversation.

The biggest thing is how do we realistically have outside gatherings at Thanksgiving and Christmas if it's in the 50s on those days and there's no sun?

People are going to take risks during the holidays. Hopefully people are smart and don't go see people when they're not feeling well.

Quote:

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My sister and parents were insistent that it was fine and I was tired of arguing. Then the next freaking day....

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You parents don't want to live that way. Easier said than done, but they made the choice knowing the risk so try not to feel too bad.

Thank you

I'm honestly not sure. I guess we'll know if that comes to pass.

It's not like we haven't gotten together at all. We've seen them regularly, but just kept it outside.

I do know my daughter will be devastated if something happens to her grandparents. It doesn't matter how many times we tell her that they knew the risks and wanted to see her. She's pretty shaken up in addition to feeling like crap. Hopefully this will pass without them getting sick.

Beat40 said:

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cone said:

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I would still do gatherings outside regardless of masks or not.

Just saw a study showing how with close quarters and duration with poor ventilation that masks do very little.

---

So, those types of studies make me wonder a lot of different things, mainly being is the mask really making a difference, but I don't want to start that conversation.

The biggest thing is how do we realistically have outside gatherings at Thanksgiving and Christmas if it's in the 50s on those days and there's no sun?

People are going to take risks during the holidays. Hopefully people are smart and don't go see people when they're not feeling well.

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I'm not trying to start an argument, just saying that might not be useful if people are truly contagious the day before they show symptoms. Our daughter felt great on Monday and most of the day Tuesday when this hit her like a ton of bricks.

I know that people are going to take risks, though. I definitely don't want to control others or even imply like I know the right thing to do.

Beat40 said:

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cone said:

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I would still do gatherings outside regardless of masks or not.

Just saw a study showing how with close quarters and duration with poor ventilation that masks do very little.

---

So, those types of studies make me wonder a lot of different things, mainly being is the mask really making a difference, but I don't want to start that conversation.

The biggest thing is how do we realistically have outside gatherings at Thanksgiving and Christmas if it's in the 50s on those days and there's no sun?

People are going to take risks during the holidays. Hopefully people are smart and don't go see people when they're not feeling well.

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My kid had a close contact at school. Was able to get her tested 4 days later and results back that day. Why can't families bunker down sat to Tues. Test. Go?

Testing is super easy now. Test the whole family from all sides. Should manage this.

cc_ag92 said:

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Thank you

I'm honestly not sure. I guess we'll know if that comes to pass.

It's not like we haven't gotten together at all. We've seen them regularly, but just kept it outside.

I do know my daughter will be devastated if something happens to her grandparents. It doesn't matter how many times we tell her that they knew the risks and wanted to see her. She's pretty shaken up in addition to feeling like crap. Hopefully this will pass without them getting sick.

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I was only asking because I had a friend who had certain feelings before he got a pretty decent case (didn't have to go to a hospital) and just asked him if it changed any of his views. I don't think it changed them a whole lot, but I could tell he thought about it a little more. I'm kind of interested in people's before and after thoughts.

And I have had similar thoughts about if I did contract it and pass it on how I would feel pretty terrible about it, so I understand that sentiment for sure!

cc_ag92 said:

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Beat40 said:

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cone said:

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I would still do gatherings outside regardless of masks or not.

Just saw a study showing how with close quarters and duration with poor ventilation that masks do very little.

---

So, those types of studies make me wonder a lot of different things, mainly being is the mask really making a difference, but I don't want to start that conversation.

The biggest thing is how do we realistically have outside gatherings at Thanksgiving and Christmas if it's in the 50s on those days and there's no sun?

People are going to take risks during the holidays. Hopefully people are smart and don't go see people when they're not feeling well.

---

I'm not trying to start an argument, just saying that might not be useful if people are truly contagious the day before they show symptoms. Our daughter felt great on Monday and most of the day Tuesday when this hit her like a ton of bricks.

I know that people are going to take risks, though. I definitely don't want to control others or even imply like I know the right thing to do.

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I wasn't saying it to make an argument. I don't want one and agree with you on timing of symptoms and when you can pass the virus on. I failed in my communication, but I was only thinking out loud a little bit that I think if the holidays are cold, there will be a lot less people doing things outside and people will accept more risk to see loved ones.

My hope is at minimum if people are not feeling well they won't push the issue this year. That's more what I was trying to say.

culdeus said:

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Beat40 said:

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cone said:

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I would still do gatherings outside regardless of masks or not.

Just saw a study showing how with close quarters and duration with poor ventilation that masks do very little.

---

So, those types of studies make me wonder a lot of different things, mainly being is the mask really making a difference, but I don't want to start that conversation.

The biggest thing is how do we realistically have outside gatherings at Thanksgiving and Christmas if it's in the 50s on those days and there's no sun?

People are going to take risks during the holidays. Hopefully people are smart and don't go see people when they're not feeling well.

---

My kid had a close contact at school. Was able to get her tested 4 days later and results back that day. Why can't families bunker down sat to Tues. Test. Go?

Testing is super easy now. Test the whole family from all sides. Should manage this.

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I do agree about lowering or eliminating your risk of catching the virus before something that is important to you. My wife and I have talked about being a lot more restrictive of what we're doing two weeks before Thanksgiving and two weeks before Christmas. Seems easier to me to reign ourselves in and go into the holidays more or less confident that we're not going to be passing anything on to anyone.

Oh, I didn't mean to imply that you were trying to argue. I'm sorry it sounded that way.

I was trying to avoid an argument. I think I'm on edge because I've seen so many discussions escalate quickly due to even minor disagreements or talking points recently. I apologize that those experiences made my post seem like I was implying something I didn't attend.

I also hope this whole thing makes people more cautious about attending events, work, school, etc. when they aren't feeling well. So many times people push through those things.

Thanks for the discussion! It gives me hope.

I appreciate the question and the opportunity to have the discussion. I'll try to remember to return to it in a few weeks, after the illness has hopefully run its course through my family and I've had time to evaluate my thoughts.

I am not one to get stuck in a way of thinking. I like to evaluate circumstances and information and revise my beliefs so it's likely that my thinking will, at the least, be a little more nuanced based on our experience.