COVID Strikes Again!

I don't get people.

Bill

Space Ranger

There are reports on Facebook and the IPMS forum that indicate that the recent Omaha national convention may have been a super-spreader event, with fewer than 10% of the attendees masked, and attendees testing positive upon their return home.

 

Thats quite a leap. One guy on the IPMS forum said he tested positive afterwards and that several others that he knows did so as well, but no numbers. Unless you have numbers and percentages of  people who attended that are now testing positive, it's a bit presumptuous to call it a "super spreader" at this point. 

I said "may" have been a super-spreader. But it has also been reported that the latest COVID mutation is extremely contagious, even if symptoms are less severe than previous variants. So, given the median age of IPMS conventionleers, it would not surprise me if a high number of them contract COVID. I certainly hope that's not the case. If you attended the convention, get tested! COVID is still with us. Be careful out there!

Space Ranger

I said "may" have been a super-spreader. But it has also been reported that the latest COVID mutation is extremely contagious, even if symptoms are less severe than previous variants. So, given the median age of IPMS conventionleers, it would not surprise me if a high number of them contract COVID. I certainly hope that's not the case. If you attended the convention, get tested! COVID is still with us. Be careful out there!

 

I wasn't there, so I'm not worried. All I'm saying is that you're original post was quite alarmist and even saying "may have been" is quite a leap based upon available facts & numbers. I've had my vaccine & booster, trusting in them, and at this point living life normally.

Get mad at me if you want but I have given up on this covid thing.  Every time it seems that there is a alarm of a new variant, which just happens to be during an election period every time.  There have already been instructions to start masking kids in school in certain states and hints that people should get the next booster shot, which I have no intention of doing.  I have heard from someone that I know who works in a rather large hospital system here that the boosters could be harmful to me because of cerain medical problems I have.  It seems to me that someone is getting very rich from all this, especially after there is talk of maybe having to get a shot every year.  Not doing it. 

ikar01

Get mad at me if you want but I have given up on this covid thing.  Every time it seems that there is a alarm of a new variant, which just happens to be during an election period every time.  There have already been instructions to start masking kids in school in certain states and hints that people should get the next booster shot, which I have no intention of doing.  I have heard from someone that I know who works in a rather large hospital system here that the boosters could be harmful to me because of cerain medical problems I have.  It seems to me that someone is getting very rich from all this, especially after there is talk of maybe having to get a shot every year.  Not doing it. 

 

Not gonna get mad at you, as I feel mostly the same about this.  Since I'm in essential infrastructure, with a major part of my job being keeping medevac aircraft flying, I worked every single day of the lockdowns in Colorado.  Even had to carry an authorization letter in my vehicle, just in case I got stopped by law enforcement for some reason.  At that time, I was smack-dab in the middle of cancer treatment, getting chemo every 3 weeks.  Wore a mask for a little while, but I soon realized that doing that against a virus was about as effective as putting up a chainlink fence to keep mosquitos out of my yard.  After that, I did so in places I was required to do so, just to keep people from flipping out.  I was enthused about vaccines coming on-line at first, until they did, and I saw how it was being handled...with people being told that masks weren't necessary if they were vaccinated.  Nope...that's not how that works either...you can be vaccinated and still carry and transmit it.  Managed to avoid getting COVID for about 2 years, as did pretty much our entire shop.  Then, just a couple of months ago, we had a COVID outbreak that started with two new employees, both of whom were fully-vaccinated and boosted.  It spread to several other employees, all of whom were also vaccinated, and they had nasty symptoms for a week...lingering symptoms for days after that.  I was the last to get it, am unvaccinated, and barely noticed any symptoms...just some stiffness between my shoulders and a "feverish" feeling (never actually developed a fever).  In 2 days it was gone completely.  My other unvaccinated co-worker never even developed symptoms.  So, it definitely isn't a cut and dry thing as to who gets it and who doesn't.  Might have to do with diet and vitamin intake though.  My unvaccinated co-worker who didn't develop symptoms?  She avoids fast food like I do, and we both take all the same vitamins.  Our company, as a whole, has 2500 employees nationwide.  We have had just over 500 get sick, and every single one of them recovered.  In the mean time, life has to go on, and COVID is here to stay.  A virus that mutates this quickly isn't ever going to be vaccinated out of existence.  I'll let the alarmists continue to walk or drive by themselves while wearing masks.  

stikpusher

 

...original post was quite alarmist and even saying "may have been" is quite a leap based upon available facts & numbers... 

I agree.  There was a prior post on this topic at HyperScale, using pretty much the same language, and that was my reaction to it.

The poster stated that "10% of attendees wore masks", but then he provided no other numbers at all, not how many people have tested positive, nor how many people were present.

Then I decided to see if I could find a definition of "super-spreader event", and there isn't one single, precise definition.  The best precision on definitions from organizations like state health departments, UPenn's health services department and news agencies is "an event where 1 person infects many people."  It's about as valid a term for argument as "assault rifle".  And you're right, Stik, the term seems to be used more for ginning up fear than anything else.

Besides that, I also thought about other, similar events that have been held in the past year, in which it was reported afterward that some people tested positivt for COVID.  I belong to the MFCA, and this year, we had our first in-person show since the lockdowns started.  Afterward, there were 3 people who reported back that they tested positive for COVID.  Other people may have, but didn't report it to us.  There were about 1000 people at the show, all told, taking into account exhibitors, dealers, and the public. Most of the people are from the US, but around 100 exhibitors are from various countries in Europe.  By some of the very broad and vague definitions of "super-spreader", that 3 out of 1000 makes ours a super-spreader event.

If you were there-if you go out in public around people at all-then by all means, get tested.  But we should be careful about how we discuss the topic.

Some sources might be helpful, too.  The original post looks like it's cribbed from the same source as the Hyperscale post.  Did IPMS put something out on its website?  Or is this all anecdotal, pulled from comments in various forums?

the Baron

Some sources might be helpful, too.  The original post looks like it's cribbed from the same source as the Hyperscale post.  Did IPMS put something out on its website?  Or is this all anecdotal, pulled from comments in various forums?

 

Yes and yes.    

Yes, largely extracted from anecdotal statements.   The OP on this thread was not there.  The OP on the IPMS forum was probably mad at himself for allowing himself to be put in a situation where he had some control (i.e. masking) and ranted somewhat.

The IPMS President (Dave Lockhart) put out a mass mailing to all registered attendees and their guests indicating some COVID cases had been reported and "If you are not feeling well, I strongly urge you to be tested and if necessary go to your family physician."  No histrionics stated.

Space Ranger

There are reports on Facebook and the IPMS forum that indicate that the recent Omaha national convention may have been a super-spreader event, with fewer than 10% of the attendees masked, and attendees testing positive upon their return home.

 

Super spreader event!!! Wow, I didn't read or hear about this in any news report,how many got sick,were there hospitalizations?

So sorry that it happened,hope this doesn't affect future events.  especially with the NFL starting soon.

Somebody on Steelnavy posted the exact post, resulted in a VERY long thread.

"Folks, it's all bull ***, and it's bad for ya!"

...........George Carlin

Space Ranger

There are reports on Facebook and the IPMS forum that indicate that the recent Omaha national convention may have been a super-spreader event, with fewer than 10% of the attendees masked, and attendees testing positive upon their return home.

 

I had several people at my shop test positive in the last week, and since, their family, and none of them went to Nats. 
"Getting tested" does nothing.  It tells you you have it.  But if you're having symptoms that prompt you to test yourself, it's too late, and you've probably already spread it.  This virus will find a symbiotic balance with its host organisims with time, and it will just be another "cold season".

to the guy who commented "I don't get people"....mask if you want, but there is nothing to "get" about people.  This thing has gone to a "nuisance flu", and people are tired....of all the bs behind it.  

the Baron

Some sources might be helpful, too.  The original post looks like it's cribbed from the same source as the Hyperscale post.  Did IPMS put something out on its website?  Or is this all anecdotal, pulled from comments in various forums?

It was not "cribbed" from the Hyperscale post; the original Hyperscale post was mine as well. And yes, there was an announcement on the IPMS forum, from Chris Bucholtz, IPMS Journal editor. He contracted COVID, apparently at the convention based on time spent there and COVID incubation rates, and posted a warning to others. It was he who used the term "super spreader." In the interest of getting the word out to as many people as possible, I posted the same on Hyperscale, Steel Navy, and even Britmodeller, in addition to this forum, because although I was not there, I have friends who were, some of whom are my age (75) or even older and with underlying health conditions. 

Yes, there was a long thread on Steel Navy, most of it now removed after one person, who always questions everything I post there, took me to task, and the rest, including a PhD microbiologist at Harvard Medical School, came to my defense.

However, the reactions of most seem to be further proof that no good deed goes unpunished.

I agree with ikar and eaglecash, all this carring-on and fear mongering is getting ridiculous. All i can say is dont get caught up in it all and have a open and unbiased mind.

Basically, live your life.

Well;

         You know there is those who say, Bah, Humbug! I say it's here, it will show up after large groupings no matter what and that's life as we know it. Covid will be around now like the old Influenza( of all types) and isolation and the shots are supposed to help. Well, I gotta tell you that doesn't work as well as we think. I believe it lies dormant in some folks(Carriers) who don't even know they have it! 

        Now that it's here, we gotta live with it, besides, Being as how Pharmaceutical Companies have to have something more serious to raise their Profits which had Plateaued.  The Medical Community then expects a rise in profits too. The Deaths associated with it? They consider that an acceptable risk. That's the thing as I see it. 

Posting after the fact IMHO does not qualify as a " good deed" the action has already occured and no one else will be exposed.

    I respect your personal beliefs as well as your intentions to help keep the general community safe however, as stated" we need to learn to live with it" as well as the people who are willing to take the risks of " normal" life.

This thing is being blown out of proportion and I agree with Ikar and Justinryan. We recently came back from visiting Italy and very few people were wearing masks which unless one uses a proper one it does nothing. It‘s like using these common masks when using chemichals offering no protection. I was a bit under the weather while in Italy and thought it was Covid but tested negative, it was just a regular cold as I get one whenever we travel.

They say the new variant is extremely contagious giving mild flu like symptoms unlike the innitial strain that was horrific.  Even Biden had this current strain and it was no major deal. My daughter works with special needs children and is required by the employer to mask and still got it about a month ago. She is not vacinated and her symptoms were as described being mild flu like. No meds prescribed by her doctor and all symptons gone in several days. She had flu A a couple of years back and she says that one felt worse than now.

My son, his wife and both kids had it too feeling like a mild flu and they are vacinated. The wife and I are vaccinated and boostered but have not contracted it and will not get any further shots for this if I can help it.

This Covid crap is here to stay so it needs to be treated the same as a bad flu that can be as deadly and just accept it and live with it.

Next up,the Monkey Pox emergency,get ready !!!

Tojo72

Next up,the Monkey Pox emergency,get ready !!!

 

Gentlemen,

There will be no fighting allowed in the War Room.  Just exercise caution and common sense.  Stay calm and build models.

My theory on the  origin of monkey pox is that there have been too many Planet of the Apes movies made and released, or they just escaped, take your pick.  My theory and I'm sticking to it.

Makes sense to me, Dr. Zayus can you assist me?

Space Ranger

 

 

the Baron

Some sources might be helpful, too.  The original post looks like it's cribbed from the same source as the Hyperscale post.  Did IPMS put something out on its website?  Or is this all anecdotal, pulled from comments in various forums?

 

 

 

It was not "cribbed" from the Hyperscale post; the original Hyperscale post was mine as well. And yes, there was an announcement on the IPMS forum, from Chris Bucholtz, IPMS Journal editor. He contracted COVID, apparently at the convention based on time spent there and COVID incubation rates, and posted a warning to others. It was he who used the term "super spreader." In the interest of getting the word out to as many people as possible, I posted the same on Hyperscale, Steel Navy, and even Britmodeller, in addition to this forum, because although I was not there, I have friends who were, some of whom are my age (75) or even older and with underlying health conditions. 

Yes, there was a long thread on Steel Navy, most of it now removed after one person, who always questions everything I post there, took me to task, and the rest, including a PhD microbiologist at Harvard Medical School, came to my defense.

However, the reactions of most seem to be further proof that no good deed goes unpunished.

 

Here is the original post on the IPMS forum. I don't see the post containing the words "super spreader".

Real G

 

There will be no fighting allowed in the War Room.  

 

Lol.