Helfand: “early June start appears out of picture”

[Mr. Brooks]

I understand math is hard, but you think the top 1% has enough money to pay close to 200 million adults 88k over two years and that is only have of their wealth?

[Rosterman]

If majors play in Flordia and Arizona, I wonder about the state of the minor leagues. Each team has 160 or so players under contract that also need some playing time  (and income) as they are the future. I don't see minor league parls being a viable outlet if fans cannot come to games. That is where baseball will be hit the hrdest this year. Minor league ballparks, fans and players.

 

[Doctor Gast]

 

It looks like covid-19 is here to stay. The world was not able to contain it because it was too easily transmittable. So, if the virus isn’t going away, and a safe vaccine is still many, many years away... well... I’d be happy to hear your thoughts or anyone else’s thoughts.

It may be that staging a makeshift MLB baseball season is part of the solution. To get real life, or some semblance of our past way of life, back up and running.

I am not saying this to inflame anyone or to sound asinine. MLB and MLBPA are asking the questions about how to make this work, rightfully so, in my opinion.

I believe we have a problem of 2 extremes. Early this year when the virus was about to get started here,  the main voice was that there was no problem , don`t be paranoid go out & have fun you don`t need any precautions (and this voice still exist because people still want to live their lives unrestricted). When the virus took hold, the main voice was panic (we all going to die). Both are wrong & both are from misinformation.  Corona virus is not here to stay, science will conquer the disease. The vaccine will be approved in a year or less. We have a treatment "hydoxychloroquine" which have been approved for many decades that fights it which we have many reports around the world that proves this. We have other promising treatments being tested. More low risk persons exposed to this disease, sooner they develop immunity to it which in turn their serum can be used to injected into serious cases & sooner we can put this virus to rest. I`m not an expert but I try to be inform. We cannot let these 2 voices control us 

[Nine of twelve]

 

I believe we have a problem of 2 extremes. Early this year when the virus was about to get started here,  the main voice was that there was no problem , don`t be paranoid go out & have fun you don`t need any precautions (and this voice still exist because people still want to live their lives unrestricted). When the virus took hold, the main voice was panic (we all going to die). Both are wrong & both are from misinformation.  Corona virus is not here to stay, science will conquer the disease. The vaccine will be approved in a year or less. We have a treatment "hydoxychloroquine" which have been approved for many decades that fights it which we have many reports around the world that proves this. We have other promising treatments being tested. More low risk persons exposed to this disease, sooner they develop immunity to it which in turn their serum can be used to injected into serious cases & sooner we can put this virus to rest. I`m not an expert but I try to be inform. We cannot let these 2 voices control us 

As you stated, you are obviously not an expert and certainly not a doctor of medicine. You state you are trying to inform but you are spreading misinformation.

The motivation for sheltering at home is not panic. It's based on reliable data. Hydroxychloroquine is NOT a proven treatment, not even close, and it has potential for serious side effects. We don't know if a vaccine will be successful, much less approved in a year or less. In some cases (HIV for example) no reliable vaccine has been found. And the idea of serum injections, well, let's just say it's not a sure thing by any means.

Please do not post stuff like this when you do not have a thorough knowledge and understanding of medicine.

[old nurse]

 

I believe we have a problem of 2 extremes. Early this year when the virus was about to get started here,  the main voice was that there was no problem , don`t be paranoid go out & have fun you don`t need any precautions (and this voice still exist because people still want to live their lives unrestricted). When the virus took hold, the main voice was panic (we all going to die). Both are wrong & both are from misinformation.  Corona virus is not here to stay, science will conquer the disease. The vaccine will be approved in a year or less. We have a treatment "hydoxychloroquine" which have been approved for many decades that fights it which we have many reports around the world that proves this. We have other promising treatments being tested. More low risk persons exposed to this disease, sooner they develop immunity to it which in turn their serum can be used to injected into serious cases & sooner we can put this virus to rest. I`m not an expert but I try to be inform. We cannot let these 2 voices control us 

The French study was a farce from a scientific standpoint. The Chinese study said that a larger study was needed. There is no proof, only an inkling it may be helpful. It is worth noting that patients in the French study did die while taking hydoxychloroquine. It is not what you think it is. As to whether or not it can be eliminated through science just remember how long science has been working on the common cold.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

As you stated, you are obviously not an expert and certainly not a doctor of medicine. You state you are trying to inform but you are spreading misinformation.

The motivation for sheltering at home is not panic. It's based on reliable data. Hydroxychloroquine is NOT a proven treatment, not even close, and it has potential for serious side effects. We don't know if a vaccine will be successful, much less approved in a year or less. In some cases (HIV for example) no reliable vaccine has been found. And the idea of serum injections, well, let's just say it's not a sure thing by any means.

Please do not post stuff like this when you do not have a thorough knowledge and understanding of medicine.

I agree with the poster’s overall message. We cannot let this choice be one-or-the-other, where either we gather as we did before and are careless about the virus, or we cancel life as we know it, and lock ourselves up in our homes for 12-18 months minimum.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

I agree with the poster’s overall message. We cannot let this choice be one-or-the-other, where either we gather as we did before and are careless about the virus, or we cancel life as we know it, and lock ourselves up in our homes for 12-18 months minimum.

in the context of a baseball season, it’s extremely irresponsible to put 40,000 people in a ballpark until there’s a vaccine and we’ve reached critical mass on the people who’ve received it. It’s a terrible employer who makes their employees quarantine from their families for 4 months so they can play a baseball game.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

Mod note: let’s keep the covid talk to the article context. If you’d like to talk Covid more generally: http://twinsdaily.com/topic/36541-coronavirus/page-20

[Tomj14]

 

The top 1% have $34.7 trillion (source: US News & World Report).

$35 trillion divided by 200 million is $175,000.
Half of that is $87,500.

Tell me where my math was wrong?

The math is wrong in that the 1% doesn't have 34.7 trillion dollars of liquid cash laying around. It means they would have to sell most if not all of their assets to get cash.

and did you say a 1 time 50% tax?

[ashbury]

The math is wrong in that the 1% doesn't have 34.7 trillion dollars of liquid cash laying around. It means they would have to sell most if not all of their assets to get cash.

and did you say a 1 time 50% tax?

MOD NOTE: This is an interesting tangent but is getting a bit far afield from the topic of baseball. May I suggest moving the discussion of macroeconomics to the Sports Bar forum?

 

[rdehring]

 

in the context of a baseball season, it’s extremely irresponsible to put 40,000 people in a ballpark until there’s a vaccine and we’ve reached critical mass on the people who’ve received it. It’s a terrible employer who makes their employees quarantine from their families for 4 months so they can play a baseball game.

I agree Sconnie, that putting 40,000 people into a stadium for a Twins game or 80,000 this fall for our favorite college team is irresponsible.  But is it irresponsible to develop a plan that would put 8,000 people into Target Field?  Personally, I think not.  But I expect being in my late 70's I am going to be sentenced to my jail cell by our Governor well into late summer or even fall.  [Note: I don't disagree with the position the MN Governor is taking nor that we seniors should be limited to where we can go...its just that it feels like being in jail.]

 

I expect a plan can be developed that will put people in every second or third row with a couple seats between couples, families, etc.  Season ticket holders may only get seats to every fourth game.  Don't know the details, but I know a plan can be developed that would allow people to attend Twins games.  Not saying this could/should be done next week or month, but something should be available by July or August assuming that Minnesota gets beyond the peak and most businesses reopen.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

in the context of a baseball season, it’s extremely irresponsible to put 40,000 people in a ballpark until there’s a vaccine and we’ve reached critical mass on the people who’ve received it. It’s a terrible employer who makes their employees quarantine from their families for 4 months so they can play a baseball game.

I am talking about empty stadiums to start out. Maybe in 2021 or 2022 we can start talking about letting fans back into stadiums, unless the players want to sit out those seasons too. At which time I doubt many of them they will not have jobs to come back to anyway. Another poster raised this issue in another thread somewhere. It’s questionable how much owners will be able to pay players like they did before.

 

I see this as more than playing baseball games. Players would not be doing this just for themselves and their families. Games will lift the public’s spirits. Broadcasts could provide education during breaks. Supporting workers would have jobs to go back to. Yes it will look very different. But I actually think the players have a chance to be leaders on this. All for the length of a short military deployment and the willingness to accept a little bit of risk, and an additional two week quarantine after their season ends, just to be safe.

[Tomj14]

 

This is an interesting tangent but is getting a bit far afield from the topic of baseball. May I suggest moving the discussion of macroeconomics to the Sports Bar forum?
 

If baseball can't start until there is a vaccine then the earliest it can start is spring training 2021 and that is a very opportunist guess.

Currently the average age of death in MN from Covid-19 is 87 years old (was on a news report on Fox 9 - Tom Lyden)

It seems to be me we tell old people and people with under lying conditions to hunker down for a while and the rest of us go back to normal life.

Baseball also doesn't have to worry about 40K people showing up for a game, half the population is to scared to leave there house, so they can assume the stadium will be half empty anyway at best.

 

Do you have a link to this macroeconomics to the Sports Bar forum?

[Nine of twelve]

 

 

It seems to be me we tell old people and people with under lying conditions to hunker down for a while and the rest of us go back to normal life.

 

I'm afraid this misses the key reason for sheltering at home. It's mainly to minimize transmission of the virus, and it's turning out that it is very easily transmitted. Everyone is at risk to contract the disease. Everyone. Having "the rest of us go back to normal life" makes it far more difficult to prevent transmission to everyone. Everyone.

[Tomj14]

 

I'm afraid this misses the key reason for sheltering at home. It's mainly to minimize transmission of the virus, and it's turning out that it is very easily transmitted. Everyone is at risk to contract the disease. Everyone. Having "the rest of us go back to normal life" makes it far more difficult to prevent transmission to everyone. Everyone.

I will try to tie your comment back to baseball so nobody complains that it is off topic.

The reason to minimize transmission is to not overwhelm the medical field, but if only old people and people with underlying conditions are overwhelming the medical field, having the young and healthy staying at home is only prolonging the spread. Again the average age in MN of people dying of Covid is between 83-87 depending on what day you get the stats.

 

Starting baseball requires all of baseball to start not just the major leagues, it will require spring training (probably much shorter but still) and it will require just about all of the minor league teams starting, because you will need fill ins at all levels. Unless they just say the only players that can start are the ones on the 40 man, but if one team gets the flu and half of the team is out, what do you do? and what do they do about service time and about a thousand other things that need to be figured out.

So as much as people want to hope things away, it does really come down to is their pro sports or not.

How many or how long minor league teams can afford to play with no fans?

 

 

 

 

 

[Doctor Gast]

 

As you stated, you are obviously not an expert and certainly not a doctor of medicine. You state you are trying to inform but you are spreading misinformation.

The motivation for sheltering at home is not panic. It's based on reliable data. Hydroxychloroquine is NOT a proven treatment, not even close, and it has potential for serious side effects. We don't know if a vaccine will be successful, much less approved in a year or less. In some cases (HIV for example) no reliable vaccine has been found. And the idea of serum injections, well, let's just say it's not a sure thing by any means.

Please do not post stuff like this when you do not have a thorough knowledge and understanding of medicine.

I have studied medicine & I`m from a medical family. What qualifications do have to prohibit me from expressing unbiased information. I wasn`t going to respond to this but I`m tired of people who want to shut down all reasonable discussion that doesn`t line up to their indoctrination. 

1st  I`ve never advocated not to self quarantine, in fact I`m a strong advocate for it which I practice w/ sanitary practices

2nd Just because a drug hasn`t gone through the long process of FDA approval doesn`t mean it doesn`t work. Hydroxychloroquine is well known & approved by the FDA for other disorders, it has been used against malaria for decades w/ much success. The FDA has OKed it as an nonlabel drug. The drug combats the symptoms of the Corona virus that causes discomfort even death. Like any drug you need a prescription. There is testimony that Hydroxychloroquine has worked in near death cases. Like all drugs no one responds the same way, some serious cases it may not prevent death. Check online don`t rely on the media.

3rd  Serum has been used for over a 100 yrs. w/ great success & is promising against Covid 19. Check the facts not bias opinion

4th  Dr. Antonio Fuici said covid 19 is similar to the seasonal flu, starting this month & throughout the summer the cases will drop. Here again I`m not advocating relaxing of precaution of those of risk. I won`t go any further.

Even though I`m a democrat, I try to keep an open mind. I`m also a man of faith, I believe we will overcome this. I like the idea of taxing the wealthiest 1% a 50% tax but we need the low risk to be able to go to work, we cannot make this a political issue. We cannot put our economy on hold until we are 100% sure that high risk people can leave quarantine.

Going back to my original statement. We have 2 dangers #1 under-react  #2 over-react. I`m in favor of any reasonable solution to continue the 2020 season w/ reasonable precautions

[twinsnorth49]

I'm afraid this misses the key reason for sheltering at home. It's mainly to minimize transmission of the virus, and it's turning out that it is very easily transmitted. Everyone is at risk to contract the disease. Everyone. Having "the rest of us go back to normal life" makes it far more difficult to prevent transmission to everyone. Everyone.

There is no way to prevent transmission to everyone and it really shouldn’t be the goal. In fact, I don’t think it really is. The goal is to prevent the transmission from everyone to the most vulnerable, all at the same time. Without a vaccine, immunity through transmission to a large segment of the population has to be accepted. It’s a matter of how long a period of time that should happen, and how to protect the vulnerable during that period.

 

Stadiums full of people? Yeah hard to envision that anytime soon. Having said that, the right people, with widely available and easily implemented testing, with appropriate contact and contact tracing is theoretically possible, although likely not achievable.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

I agree Sconnie, that putting 40,000 people into a stadium for a Twins game or 80,000 this fall for our favorite college team is irresponsible. But is it irresponsible to develop a plan that would put 8,000 people into Target Field? Personally, I think not. But I expect being in my late 70's I am going to be sentenced to my jail cell by our Governor well into late summer or even fall. [Note: I don't disagree with the position the MN Governor is taking nor that we seniors should be limited to where we can go...its just that it feels like being in jail.]

 

I expect a plan can be developed that will put people in every second or third row with a couple seats between couples, families, etc. Season ticket holders may only get seats to every fourth game. Don't know the details, but I know a plan can be developed that would allow people to attend Twins games. Not saying this could/should be done next week or month, but something should be available by July or August assuming that Minnesota gets beyond the peak and most businesses reopen.

I’m with you, but some definite challenges on the bottlenecks in the concourses. We’ll get there eventually

[The Wise One]

 

I have studied medicine & I`m from a medical family. What qualifications do have to prohibit me from expressing unbiased information. I wasn`t going to respond to this but I`m tired of people who want to shut down all reasonable discussion that doesn`t line up to their indoctrination. 

1st  I`ve never advocated not to self quarantine, in fact I`m a strong advocate for it which I practice w/ sanitary practices

2nd Just because a drug hasn`t gone through the long process of FDA approval doesn`t mean it doesn`t work. Hydroxychloroquine is well known & approved by the FDA for other disorders, it has been used against malaria for decades w/ much success. The FDA has OKed it as an nonlabel drug. The drug combats the symptoms of the Corona virus that causes discomfort even death. Like any drug you need a prescription. There is testimony that Hydroxychloroquine has worked in near death cases. Like all drugs no one responds the same way, some serious cases it may not prevent death. Check online don`t rely on the media.

3rd  Serum has been used for over a 100 yrs. w/ great success & is promising against Covid 19. Check the facts not bias opinion

4th  Dr. Antonio Fuici said covid 19 is similar to the seasonal flu, starting this month & throughout the summer the cases will drop. Here again I`m not advocating relaxing of precaution of those of risk. I won`t go any further.

Even though I`m a democrat, I try to keep an open mind. I`m also a man of faith, I believe we will overcome this. I like the idea of taxing the wealthiest 1% a 50% tax but we need the low risk to be able to go to work, we cannot make this a political issue. We cannot put our economy on hold until we are 100% sure that high risk people can leave quarantine.

Going back to my original statement. We have 2 dangers #1 under-react  #2 over-react. I`m in favor of any reasonable solution to continue the 2020 season w/ reasonable precautions

https://www.democracynow.org/2020/4/13/headlines/chloroquine_study_in_brazil_halted_after_patients_develop_irregular_heart_rate

that is the only thing I could find with your drug and death. Please feel free to provide a citation on anti malarials working with nearly dead covid patients. A drug can work, it can work in unintended ways

 

Fauci also said that it is more deadly than seasonal flu. That is an important component of what Fauci said when he made the comparison.

 

[Mr. Brooks]

I have studied medicine & I`m from a medical family. What qualifications do have to prohibit me from expressing unbiased information. I wasn`t going to respond to this but I`m tired of people who want to shut down all reasonable discussion that doesn`t line up to their indoctrination.

1st I`ve never advocated not to self quarantine, in fact I`m a strong advocate for it which I practice w/ sanitary practices

2nd Just because a drug hasn`t gone through the long process of FDA approval doesn`t mean it doesn`t work. Hydroxychloroquine is well known & approved by the FDA for other disorders, it has been used against malaria for decades w/ much success. The FDA has OKed it as an nonlabel drug. The drug combats the symptoms of the Corona virus that causes discomfort even death. Like any drug you need a prescription. There is testimony that Hydroxychloroquine has worked in near death cases. Like all drugs no one responds the same way, some serious cases it may not prevent death. Check online don`t rely on the media.

3rd Serum has been used for over a 100 yrs. w/ great success & is promising against Covid 19. Check the facts not bias opinion

4th Dr. Antonio Fuici said covid 19 is similar to the seasonal flu, starting this month & throughout the summer the cases will drop. Here again I`m not advocating relaxing of precaution of those of risk. I won`t go any further.

Even though I`m a democrat, I try to keep an open mind. I`m also a man of faith, I believe we will overcome this. I like the idea of taxing the wealthiest 1% a 50% tax but we need the low risk to be able to go to work, we cannot make this a political issue. We cannot put our economy on hold until we are 100% sure that high risk people can leave quarantine.

Going back to my original statement. We have 2 dangers #1 under-react #2 over-react. I`m in favor of any reasonable solution to continue the 2020 season w/ reasonable precautions

Correlation does not equal causation.

 

Anectodal cases of people getting better, while also taking hydroxychloroquine, mean pretty much absolutely nothing without larger sample sizes, and controlled studies.

[Tomj14]

 

Correlation does not equal causation.
 

I agree with you 100% of this statement, but doctors, states and countries are trying all sorts of different methods to treat this that haven't been though the trials. Why do people feel such hatred for this one? Is is because of Trump or because people are claiming it actually works?

With that being said I wouldn't take it to prevent it, but if I had the virus and I was pretty sick, I wouldn't be against this or the plasma therapy or just about anything else the doctors offer.

Putting this back to baseball because I don't want to lectured by a Moderator about being off topic.

We are on a baseball site that discussions causation all the time, it is part of the fun of site. It is why we want certain players signed, where they bat in the order, why we want prospected traded or not. It is part of the fun and one of the reasons to keep coming back.

 

[rdehring]

 

I’m with you, but some definite challenges on the bottlenecks in the concourses. We’ll get there eventually

That's true and to be honest hadn't thought about that.  Think the seating and getting food from a limited number of food stands can be worked out.  May need traffic control at the bottlenecks.  Am confident that it can be done.  The good news is Gilead Corp is going to come thru with their drug proven effective by the end of May and people will feel better about getting out and about.

[Mr. Brooks]

I agree with you 100% of this statement, but doctors, states and countries are trying all sorts of different methods to treat this that haven't been though the trials. Why do people feel such hatred for this one? Is is because of Trump or because people are claiming it actually works?

With that being said I wouldn't take it to prevent it, but if I had the virus and I was pretty sick, I wouldn't be against this or the plasma therapy or just about anything else the doctors offer.

Putting this back to baseball because I don't want to lectured by a Moderator about being off topic.

We are on a baseball site that discussions causation all the time, it is part of the fun of site. It is why we want certain players signed, where they bat in the order, why we want prospected traded or not. It is part of the fun and one of the reasons to keep coming back.

No hatred. They should keep testing anything they think might work.

 

I was responding to a post where you claimed it works, and we simply don't know that yet.

We need controlled tests to see if it actually does work, or if it is simply coincidental that some people who took it got better. I assume some people who ate a ham sandwich also recovered, but that doesn't mean we can say with confidence that ham sandwiches work against covid19.

[Tomj14]

 

No hatred. They should keep testing anything they think might work.

I was responding to a post where you claimed it works, and we simply don't know that yet.
We need controlled tests to see if it actually does work, or if it is simply coincidental that some people who took it got better. I assume some people who ate a ham sandwich also recovered, but that doesn't mean we can say with confidence that ham sandwiches work against covid19.

Thanks for the answer, It wasn't my post that claimed it works, but that is OK.

I find it hard to believe (until there are the tests you talk about) that it helps after you get it, but doing some reading, it might help from getting it, but again who knows at this time.

[Squirrel]

 

I agree with you 100% of this statement, but doctors, states and countries are trying all sorts of different methods to treat this that haven't been though the trials. Why do people feel such hatred for this one? Is is because of Trump or because people are claiming it actually works?

With that being said I wouldn't take it to prevent it, but if I had the virus and I was pretty sick, I wouldn't be against this or the plasma therapy or just about anything else the doctors offer.

Putting this back to baseball because I don't want to lectured by a Moderator about being off topic.

We are on a baseball site that discussions causation all the time, it is part of the fun of site. It is why we want certain players signed, where they bat in the order, why we want prospected traded or not. It is part of the fun and one of the reasons to keep coming back.

I don't think anyone has hatred for something that might potentially work. According to a family member, who is in the medical testing field, there is no scientific evidence, as of yet, on hydroxychloroquine and its effectiveness against COVID-19. Right now, the only evidence is anecdotal. There is research going on 24/7 on lots of things, and this being one. Did it work alone? Did it work in correlation with other drugs being taken? What dosages work, and again, along side others? What are the dangers? The danger in this, and the caution some are taking, is the blatant promotion of a drug that hasn't yet born the scientific results as being a successful remedy. That's why I think some here are cautious about hydroxychoroquine. Right now the medical professionals are trying everything, and hoping that something bears results, so yes, I'd try anything if it meant life or death, even something that hasn't been thoroughly vetted, that's the last step in drug trials, actually. And what works for one, doens't necessarily for another. But, to publicly proclaim this as the answer, as some have done, I think is premature and potential dangerous. It's but one thing being tried in the medical testing field, and yes, I'd volunteer to be a test candidate if I were on that precipice. Again ... lots of research and drug trials and all kinds of things going on 24/7, and I don't think it's going to be 'one thing' that works ... hopefully the time staying locked in (my 90-yr-old mom has referred to me as her jailor a time or two) of keeping transmission to a minimum will allow our medical system to not be overwhelmed, to prepare for the next 'wave' (if/when there is one), and bide time for the scientific medical field to find possible solutions to mitigate the worst affects of this virus, until a vaccine can do even more.

 

Until then ... life as we knew it? I just don't know how baseball fits into that for me right now. Not sure it will bring back 'normalcy' because I work in a profession that may never get back to 'normal', ever. I've barely been able to read the forums here, because ... for me ... and I'm not suggesting anything on others for looking at it differently ... for me it just seems ... trivial. But ... gotta fill the time with something!

 

Cheers to you all.

[yarnivek1972]

FWIW:

 

Anthony Fauci has given his “blessing” to something similar as has been proposed.

 

I still think they will need to play minor league games as well. AAA and AA at the VERY least.

 

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/coronavirus-resume-sports-the-idea-sounds-more-realistic-with-dr-anthony-fauci-blessing-171937435.html

[Tomj14]

 

FWIW:

Anthony Fauci has given his “blessing” to something similar as has been proposed.

I still think they will need to play minor league games as well. AAA and AA at the VERY least.

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/coronavirus-resume-sports-the-idea-sounds-more-realistic-with-dr-anthony-fauci-blessing-171937435.html

It seems with the protests popping up, getting pro sports going without getting everybody back to work might cause more division. IMO

As much as I want baseball back (for the pros and kids) this picking and choosing what industries/companies that are going to make it and what ones don't seems like more of a priority then getting pro sports back.

[Cap'n Piranha]

 

I'm afraid this misses the key reason for sheltering at home. It's mainly to minimize transmission of the virus, and it's turning out that it is very easily transmitted. Everyone is at risk to contract the disease. Everyone. Having "the rest of us go back to normal life" makes it far more difficult to prevent transmission to everyone. Everyone.

 

The problem with this is we currently have no way of knowing how many people have already contracted and recovered from Coronavirus without even realizing it.  In mid-February, I felt fine on a Monday, woke up on Tuesday with an awful sore throat and no energy; I slept all day.  On Wednesday I felt somewhat better, and by Thursday I was back in the office.  At the time, I thought it was just a normal winter thing--in retrospect, it's entirely possible it was Covid (I live in downtown Seattle, and attended a trade show in Las Vegas in January--plenty of opportunity for exposure).

 

The point being, millions upon millions of people might have already gone through this, and if that number is high enough, its entirely possible there's a large swath of people who are immune and surrounded exclusively by other people who are immune.  In that scenario, we could say that people who can't further the spread can go back to work.

[Nine of twelve]

 

The problem with this is we currently have no way of knowing how many people have already contracted and recovered from Coronavirus without even realizing it.  In mid-February, I felt fine on a Monday, woke up on Tuesday with an awful sore throat and no energy; I slept all day.  On Wednesday I felt somewhat better, and by Thursday I was back in the office.  At the time, I thought it was just a normal winter thing--in retrospect, it's entirely possible it was Covid (I live in downtown Seattle, and attended a trade show in Las Vegas in January--plenty of opportunity for exposure).

 

The point being, millions upon millions of people might have already gone through this, and if that number is high enough, its entirely possible there's a large swath of people who are immune and surrounded exclusively by other people who are immune.  In that scenario, we could say that people who can't further the spread can go back to work.

That would be great. Just prove you cannot be reinfected and you have my encouragement.

[Cap'n Piranha]

 

That would be great. Just prove you cannot be reinfected and you have my encouragement.

 

I can be re-infected, and anyone else who's had it can as well.  However, unlike people who have never been infected, our immune systems know precisely how to defeat Covid-19 now, and barring significant mutations, will do so quickly and fairly easily--most people probably wouldn't even know they were reinfected.

 

That is why I spoke of people who are now immune and surrounded exclusively by people who are also immune.  The immunity comes not from some imperviousness to any level of infection, down to a single cell, but rather the ability of one's immune system to instantaneously mount the exact right defense against the virus.  In reality, what happens in normal life is that the virus is constantly being passed around, but is so easily defeated that no one notices it.