The effect of covid on college towns

[Kevin]

In Oklahoma, I doubt there are many things differently. While I'm sure there are cases at the schools, I have only heard of one student death since COVID began. I've heard of some deaths among primary and secondary school faculty, but colleges are not in-person, so if faculty infections occur, it has nothing to do with exposure to students.

That said, bars are full. People are ignoring mask requirements. People believe it's a hoax. I read an account from a nurse in North Dakota who reports putting people on vents while those folks are still absolutely convinced this is a hoax.

My family and I go nowhere. No visitors come inside our home. Our 5 year old hasn't played with another child in weeks. I have to go to the courthouse almost every day, but I wear my mask and frequently sanitize my hands, which is the best I can do.

Hearings in our family law cases in Oklahoma County (an urban county) have interestingly been pared down to 10 minutes, masks on, socially distant, which might lessen viral load transmissions. At the same time, I did a trial in a rural county where I had to set at the same table as my client, opposing counsel and his client, and was ordered by the court to be unmasked when I spoke.

So.. this isn't getting better til we can get a vaccine, and until then, may the odds be ever in our favor.

[chi-o_cat]

Originally Posted by Kevin

So.. this isn't getting better til we can get a vaccine, and until then, may the odds be ever in our favor.

Right, even once the vaccine is available (or various vaccines as appears to be the case), I think there will be a huge issue with people actually getting it. If some people aren't willing to put a piece of cloth over their nose and mouth for the time it takes to go grocery shopping, do we really expect them to take a brand new fast-tracked vaccine? There are already a lot of people who don't trust the flu vaccine, and that's something that's been around and proven safe & effective for years.

I also think there will be a lot of logistical issues with the vaccines once they are released for use, such as the super low temperatures required in storing and shipping. And at least one of the vaccines being talked about requires 2 doses a couple of weeks apart, and I can see people going and getting that first dose and then forgetting or not bothering to go back for the follow-up.

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by chi-o_cat

Right, even once the vaccine is available (or various vaccines as appears to be the case), I think there will be a huge issue with people actually getting it. If some people aren't willing to put a piece of cloth over their nose and mouth for the time it takes to go grocery shopping, do we really expect them to take a brand new fast-tracked vaccine? There are already a lot of people who don't trust the flu vaccine, and that's something that's been around and proven safe & effective for years.

I also think there will be a lot of logistical issues with the vaccines once they are released for use, such as the super low temperatures required in storing and shipping. And at least one of the vaccines being talked about requires 2 doses a couple of weeks apart, and I can see people going and getting that first dose and then forgetting or not bothering to go back for the follow-up.

Once the vaccines are out and widely available, we will at least be able to by and large protect ourselves and our own. At that point, I think the government needs to stop paying for hospitalizations, let those who want to cling to their imaginary freedoms kill and bankrupt themselves with medical debt.

Right now, I look to the government to take responsibility and save people from themselves because no one can reasonably protect themselves 100%. If there's a 95% effective vaccine reasonably available, everything changes.

I do worry about mass distribution and whether vaccines make it to urban and rural communities. It's going to take some very careful messaging to get everyone to buy in with our balkanized climate.

I also worry about vaccines being made available to developing countries, but one thing at a time.