This article helped me re-think some things–When It Comes to Covid-19, Most of Us Have Risk Exactly Backward. It is clear that COVID-19 will be around for the foreseeable future, to a greater or lesser extent as things ebb and flow. Unless and until a safe and effective vaccine becomes available, we have to decide how best to live with it. The author’s suggestion of balance—if I decide to do this somewhat risky activity, then I need to counter that with extra precautions in another area—works for me. It is certainly better than the wild abandon that in many cases greeted relaxing of official restrictions this summer and resulted in surges in cases, hospitalizations and deaths in Texas and many other states. The idea of trade off—do this but compensate for it by NOT doing that—might work for parents with the unenviable task of wrestling kids through the pandemic lifestyle. As the article concludes: “Instead of asking why we can’t do certain activities, we might consider what we’re willing to give up to do them more safely. Even better, we might consider what we’re willing to give up so others can do them, too.” https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/28/opinion/coronavirus-schools-tradeoffs.html
As always, my Covid-19 page has links to articles added daily, on all aspects of the pandemic.
In the US
The last 2 weeks of political conventions showcased the best and worst of the nation. In case anyone needs to know my take on which was which, I’ll just include a shot of a spectacular yard sign that I spotted recently in Old Lakeway.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC), which until recently was among the most respected medical authorities in the world, abruptly announced that asymptomatic people do not need to be tested for Covid-19, even if they’ve been in close contact with an infected person. Medical experts on every level (including the American Medical Association, past CDC officials, and several state health agencies) protested that testing was the only way to control COVID-19, with several refusing to abide by this rash and unsupported pronouncement. This was Dr. Anthony Fauci’s reaction: “I was under general anesthesia in the operating room [for removal of a vocal cord polyp] and was not part of any discussion or deliberation regarding the new testing recommendations … I am concerned about the interpretation of these recommendations and worried it will give people the incorrect assumption that asymptomatic spread is not of great concern. In fact it is,” said Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/26/politics/fauci-coronavirus-cdc-testing/index.html
Given the Trump administration’s repeated nonsensical statements that America should TEST LESS, in order to minimize the number of cases, this headline says it all: CDC was pressured ‘from the top down’ to change coronavirus testing guidance, official says https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/26/politics/cdc-coronavirus-testing-guidance/index.html
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) also crumbled against governmental pressure, granting emergency use approval to the unproven treatment known as convalescent plasma. (Similar rash approval by the FDA of hydroxychloroquine had to be withdrawn when that malaria drug proved unhelpful against coronavirus and caused potentially lethal side-effects.) Statements were made at a White House press conference that preliminary data showed 35% positive results, which turned out to be UNTRUE : F.D.A. ‘Grossly Misrepresented’ Blood Plasma Data, Scientists Say https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/24/health/fda-blood-plasma.html
FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn soon apologized for his “over-statement.” https://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/fda-chief-apologizes-for-overstating-plasma-effect-on-coronavirus?fbclid=IwAR11sMvUXBriFDZOHFDuRXTVx7Xln78IZ_7Nelql3p0OQ8MzxTIxmCYQSVw
The final act of this fiasco came with the FDA’s firing of public relations employees. Two P.R. Experts at F.D.A. Have Been Ousted After Blood Plasma Fiasco https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/28/health/blood-plasma-fda.html As Rachel Maddow concisely noted on her MSNBC show, “This was not a PR problem.”
Both these developments were orchestrated at the start of the Republican National Convention, seemingly to provide cover for months-long negligence. The GOP proceeded to re-write America’s pandemic history by referring to it in the PAST TENSE. Yet, 4,200 Americans died of COVID-19 during the convention’s 4 day run.
Schools and colleges are re-opening in some fashion across the country. Here are 2 ways to keep an eye on COVID-19 cases at these institutions:
Colleges https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/us/covid-college-cases-tracker.html
In Texas
The COVID situation in Texas appears to be improving. Unfortunately, the state’s handling of data just gets worse and worse. The official website habitually has one or more notes as to a discrepancy, caveat, data dump, backlog, inconsistency, or other glitch indicating that the numbers reported are NOT accurate or current. This article covered the problem: Turns out, Texas Gov. Abbott’s key metric in fight against COVID is unreliable https://www.expressnews.com/news/politics/texas_legislature/article/Turns-out-Texas-Gov-Abbott-s-key-metric-in-15498291.php?fbclid=IwAR3vE1E-G3R5uPV-xaSLkf6QxQgB5TK10so-XxKrf3sKGDzJW-677GepbNE
One result of the data errors is chronic miscalculation of the “positivity rate”—the percentage of positive tests. The goal is 2%, while experts say 5% or higher is dangerous; Gov. Abbott repeatedly says up to 10% is tolerable. The reported Texas positivity rate has fluctuated from 25% to 12% in August. (The positivity rate reported today is 12.24%.) A Texas health department official summed things up this way: “I don’t know what we truly know right now.” https://www.statesman.com/news/20200818/virus-positivity-rate-dips-to-112-officials-say-fluctuation-due-to-backlogged-test-results
Also, testing in Texas has decreased sharply. Right when data is needed to assess safety to re-open schools, the state is testing less–far less–instead of more. As of today, Texas is only testing 28% of the amount needed to mitigate spread of the virus. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/us/coronavirus-testing.html
Just a reminder—state law continues to require masks in public and to prohibit gatherings of more than 10 people.
In Lakeway
Lake Travis Community Library is back! Curbside pick-up of materials reserved online re-started last week.
TXDOT is re-working 620 from Lohmans Crossing to Lakeway Boulevard, replacing the chicken lane though our business district with barrier medians. The goal is to reduce accidents from left-hand turns in this busy and high-speed corridor. As always, change is hard…. Residents will need to plan their trips to make right-hand turns or use intersections to access businesses on the far side of 620.
Council at its Aug. 17 meeting voted 6/1 to increase our property taxes up to the 3.5% maximum that is allowed by law, without forcing a vote by residents. Mayor Cox, in particular, insisted the city needs the extra funds to create 4 new city positions and purchase new vehicles.
Whether Lakeway will return to culling our deer remains unclear. Council voted to do so back in January, pending receipt of cost data from the Wildlife Advisory Committee (WAC). At WAC’s February meeting (the last before Council suspended non-essential committees due to the pandemic), a written cost estimate was passed around on the dais, with members careful not to state the figures out loud for the record. If this estimate was passed along to Council, it was never discussed at a public meeting. Yet, at the Aug. 3 budget session, Mayor Cox mentioned the 2021 budget included $8,500 for an annual deer census, plus $36,500 for WAC as part of contingency committee funding. To my knowledge, WAC never spent the $45,000 city funding it got in 2020. It is unclear if the $81,500 combined amount or a higher amount for deer culling is included in the proposed budget, in part due to the fact that budget spreadsheets have not been included in meeting packets available to the public during online Council meetings. Raising our property taxes for new city hires, vehicles, etc.—that is bad enough during a pandemic that has hurt everyone financially. Raising our taxes to return to Lakeway’s decades-old, controversial and barbaric destruction of our deer is outrageous.
Council may consider budget issues again at its Sept. 8 meeting (held on a Tuesday due to Labor Day) and its Sept. 21 meeting. It will adopt a budget and set the final tax rate at the special Sept. 28 meeting. All meetings will be online.
Go here to see the Agendas and Meeting Packets (posted 3 days prior)–https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/archive.aspx
If you want to make a public comment, you must arrange it BEFORE a meeting. To send written comments to Council and/or request to speak at the meeting, go here and create a Public Comment Form—https://lakeway-tx.civicweb.net/Portal/CitizenEngagement.aspx
Go here to watch Council meetings online, live or after the fact—https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/1062/Videos—Meetings-Events
Back to me….
I lucked out last week with a skilled Spectrum technician who fixed more than he broke. Internet, cable, DVR and phone all working properly–how refreshing!
This killer heat has one advantage—it is too much for the weeds in my yard. I know they will return, but for now my back and I are enjoying the reprieve.
I took another pass at trimming my hair. It is definitely not at the “perfect” stage, but practice does make better.
Lakeway’s deer continue to enchant on my early morning walks. Enjoy a few of my favorite photos!
Pandas are irresistible, so I have been following the newborn addition at the National Zoo. The cub was caught on camera recently, just a week old and SO tiny but strong (and very LOUD), as attentive mom Mei Xiang rolled away for a quick drink of water. https://www.nbcwashington.com/entertainment/the-scene/national-zoo-panda-cub-seems-strong-as-markings-start-to-appear/2404954/
Perspective is key…..
Worldwide, there have been over 25 million COVID-19 cases and 850,000 deaths.
In the US, there have been over 6 million cases and 187,000 deaths. If those numbers seem out of proportion to the world figures just above—they are, and not in a good way. America has 4% of the world’s population, but to date we have suffered 25% of all COVID cases and 22% of all COVID deaths.
In Texas, over 12,500 residents have died of COVID-19, more than any other state except NY, NJ and CA. Per capita, Texas has had 42 deaths per 100,000 people. While declining from July highs, 100-300 Texans are still reported dying each day.