44 minutes ago, Procus said:

So my question for the medical professionals out there is how accurate are those pcr tests with regard to differentiating between the flu and Covid?  Put in other words, does a positive result mean one has Covid, or can somebody also test positive if they have the flu?

The PCR tests specific to covid are designed to test for only covid.  There are separate flu PCR tests.  Likewise there are now tests that can detect both simultaneously. So, they are pretty darn accurate.  

Exhibit A

https://www.nebraskamed.com/COVID/pcr-test-recall-can-the-test-tell-the-difference-between-covid-19-and-the-flu

9 hours ago, DrPhilly said:

Thanks for a good discussion.  I'll summarize my thinking with this last post on the topic.

 

I agree he isn’t clear in the flu vs COVID numbers but he did use the best numbers available for the flu as the formal CDC estimates are no doubt closer to the truth for flu deaths then the recorded deaths. At least that is what CDC themselves believe.  Regarding COVID, does the CDC have any other published numbers of estimates for COVID deaths for the 0-17 age group?  It would be interesting to see those if they exist.  I did look this guy up a bit and he answers this critique by saying the COVID numbers are more accurate because of the focus and level of testing done vs. the recorded flu numbers.  Maybe he is incorrect.

So there are a few places that list estimates by age but they're a bit all over the place. Sticking with the CDC unfortunately the best I can find is excess deaths January-October 2020 and broken down only to <25 not <18.

https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6942e2.htm

They list 841excess deaths in that <25 group.  Now how many of those are likely directly connected to COVID is another question. Estimates range but again sticking with the CDC the number always to be in the mid 70s-high 80s range. 

https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/70/wr/mm7015a4.htm

So far from a perfect comparison. But does seem to suggest significantly higher numbers in a shorter window, albeit with a slightly higher upper age limit. 

But end of the day I think if we want to compare numbers directly the easiest thing to do would be apples to apples comparison of the confirmed dead from both cases, which is what I listed initially. Doing confirmed cases of COVID and estimated excess flu deaths seems disingenuous. 

58 minutes ago, Procus said:

So my question for the medical professionals out there is how accurate are those pcr tests with regard to differentiating between the flu and Covid?  Put in other words, does a positive result mean one has Covid, or can somebody also test positive if they have the flu?

It's directly detecting specific viral genetic material unique to COVID. So there shouldn't be any cross reaction with other viruses. 

13 minutes ago, DEagle7 said:

So there are a few places that list estimates by age but they're a bit all over the place. Sticking with the CDC unfortunately the best I can find is excess deaths January-October 2020 and broken down only to <25 not <18.

https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6942e2.htm

They list 841excess deaths in that <25 group.  Now how many of those are likely directly connected to COVID is another question. Estimates range but again sticking with the CDC the number always to be in the mid 70s-high 80s range. 

https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/70/wr/mm7015a4.htm

So far from a perfect comparison. But does seem to suggest significantly higher numbers in a shorter window, albeit with a slightly higher upper age limit. 

But end of the day I think if we want to compare numbers directly the easiest thing to do would be apples to apples comparison of the confirmed dead from both cases, which is what I listed initially. Doing confirmed cases of COVID and estimated excess flu deaths seems disingenuous. 

Thanks.  I don't agree it is strictly disingenuous but I agree it isn't a simple direct comparison though one I find worth reviewing.  In any case, this specific topic is only a piece of the overall article and actually not even a central point.

Good convo.  More data will no doubt appear over time and we can reassess.

11 hours ago, lynched1 said:

Pffft a Chevy? 

Good luck with that. 😉

Did you actually make it into the House Chamber or did you stop at the Rotunda?

2 hours ago, Bill said:

Did you actually make it into the House Chamber or did you stop at the Rotunda?

Why bother with public temper tantrums. Too much effort for no results. 

 

 

1 hour ago, lynched1 said:

Why bother with public temper tantrums. Too much effort for no results. 

 

 

Yeah I bet the last time you threw a temper tantrum in public was when Turkey Hill couldn’t process WIC cards. 

1 hour ago, Bill said:

Yeah I bet the last time you threw a temper tantrum in public was when Turkey Hill couldn’t process WIC cards. 

Look at you go! Crawled right under your skin didn't I?

3 or 4 post and you're broken down to posting like a 12 year old. Come on man if you're going to put effort into it make it worth your time. 

Lets start over. You come up with something better and I'll delete this quote. Everyone deserves a second chance. 😉

 

 

 

Awesome game.  By the end it was all Eagles fans.  

45 minutes ago, lynched1 said:

Look at you go! Crawled right under your skin didn't I?

3 or 4 post and you're broken down to posting like a 12 year old. Come on man if you're going to put effort into it make it worth your time. 

Lets start over. You come up with something better and I'll delete this quote. Everyone deserves a second chance. 😉

 

 

 

Yeah we all know you canceled your planned trip to the Capitol on 1-6 because your wife said so.

9 minutes ago, VanHammersly said:

Awesome game.  By the end it was all Eagles fans.  

We could hear the chants all game long after scores and big plays. 

A customer who refused to wear a mask in a Wells Fargo bank waited in the parking lot to violently ambush the manager at the end of his shift

https://www.yahoo.com/news/customer-refused-wear-mask-wells-120007818.html

 

Wow. What a deranged puss bag.

10 minutes ago, Toastrel said:

A customer who refused to wear a mask in a Wells Fargo bank waited in the parking lot to violently ambush the manager at the end of his shift

https://www.yahoo.com/news/customer-refused-wear-mask-wells-120007818.html

 

Wow. What a deranged puss bag.

Who the **** goes in banks these days? Even before the pandemic it has probably been a good 10 yrs since I needed to go in the bank. 

38 minutes ago, Boogyman said:

Yeah we all know you canceled your planned trip to the Capitol on 1-6 because your wife said so.

Not in my plans. Waste of time. No results for the effort.

3 minutes ago, lynched1 said:

Not in my plans. Waste of time. No results for the effort.

Der. Der. Der.

 

3 hours ago, Bwestbrook36 said:

Who the **** goes in banks these days? Even before the pandemic it has probably been a good 10 yrs since I needed to go in the bank. 

I do, unfortunately.  We still have clients who send us checks, as well as non payment related checks (FedEx refunds, former employee insurance payments, etc).  The check scanner we had in the office stopped working and the bank will charge us to send us a scanner that works.  Rather than doing that, I bring all of the checks to a local branch every other week (about 100 checks a month).

1 minute ago, RPeeteRules said:

I do, unfortunately.  We still have clients who send us checks, as well as non payment related checks (FedEx refunds, former employee insurance payments, etc).  The check scanner we had in the office stopped working and the bank will charge us to send us a scanner that works.  Rather than doing that, I bring all of the checks to a local branch every other week (about 100 checks a month).

Ugh that sucks. I hated going into banks. I have to pay my car payment with a check but then covid hit so they put in a drive through

9 minutes ago, Bwestbrook36 said:

Ugh that sucks. I hated going into banks. I have to pay my car payment with a check but then covid hit so they put in a drive through

I don’t mind going, mainly because it’s time I’m basically doing nothing but doing it on works time.  The annoying thing is that I work for a large company, so this getting a scanner shouldn’t be an issue.

I’d be annoyed if someone made me send them a check for a payment instead of offering an online payment way (unless it’s an individual).

 

9 hours ago, RPeeteRules said:

I do, unfortunately.  We still have clients who send us checks, as well as non payment related checks (FedEx refunds, former employee insurance payments, etc).  The check scanner we had in the office stopped working and the bank will charge us to send us a scanner that works.  Rather than doing that, I bring all of the checks to a local branch every other week (about 100 checks a month).

What kind of an a-hole waits two weeks to cash a check!

9 hours ago, Kz! said:

 

https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg25133462-800-myocarditis-is-more-common-after-covid-19-infection-than-vaccination/
 

Huh? You’re six times more likely to get myocarditis after covid than after the shot. 

14 hours ago, VanHammersly said:

Awesome game.  By the end it was all Eagles fans.  

I had no idea there was even a game yesterday.  Did we win?

Mailata is Twitter and that Falcons defender is Alex Berenson.  So sorry Kz

11 hours ago, Kz! said:

 

Damn, so you must have had at least 12 booster shots cuz you’re dumb as F.  

Someone needs to stop this man before it's too late.