Covid numbers are at new high, what's happening in PA?

[BigmanPigman]

What is the reason for such a huge increase? Today is already over 12,000 new cases and 200 deaths.

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/usa/pennsylvania/

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

1. People started gathering

for the Thanksgiving holiday almost two weeks ago. Started infecting each other. This is the right time for lots of new cases, and the increased deaths are from the increase in cases pretty much all November.

Unfortunately, no surprise here.

[BigmanPigman]

3. I thought we wouldn't see a result of the holiday

for another week.

[Squinch]

5. Here's a scary possibility: we haven't yet seen that result.

But I think the infections number does reflect Thanksgiving.

[Mike 03]

6. I remember reports the Saturday before Thanksgiving about large crowds at airports

heading out, so those people were exposed thirteen days ago.

[BigmanPigman]

7. Looks like it...that means it is going to get worse really fast.

How are we going to make it through 2-3 months of numbers higher than this? Hospitals are almost full now.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

8. Not everyone waited until Thanksgiving Day itself to get together.

How many college kids came home the Friday before Thanksgiving? Lots, I'm sure.

And keep in mind, numbers had already been rising everywhere. In another week we're going to see a truly enormous increase.

Same thing will happen with Christmas. A lot of fools will decide that they absolutely must spend Christmas with family and friends, especially if they stayed home for Thanksgiving. And Christmas essentially starts the week before and goes through New Year's. If I were even more cynical than I already am, I start some kind of a pool guessing what day certain milestones of infections and deaths would be reached. As tempting as that is, I'd probably be rightly kicked off this board if I did.

[BigmanPigman]

9. I looked at the "projections" in PA and CA

and even with mask wearing the numbers are likely going to skyrocket in two weeks. I don't think the projections factor in holidays and traveling or it would be even higher.

https://covid19.healthdata.org/united-states-of-america/pennsylvania?view=total-deaths&tab=trend

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

10. Bingo!

The numbers will skyrocket. Projections are only estimates.

[snowybirdie]

2. Didn't Trump

Hold several rallies there right before election? Timeline fits.

[BigmanPigman]

4. Yeah, he was all over the place.

Maybe this is the result.

[DeminPennswoods]

11. Specifically in my county

there appear to be clusters related to the Shell cracker plant construction workforce and outbreaks at more local nursing homes and assisted living residences and at least one local small manufacturer. There are cases among teachers/staff, but not many among students.

Why there's not more emphasis on how to achieve better ventilation indoors by adjusting HVAC systems or installing HEPA/MERV air filters is something I don't really understand. My county isn't exactly a hotbed of liberalism where mask-wearing, etc, might be more readily accepted, but I've seen the vast, vast majority of people complying with mitigation efforts anyway.

[BigmanPigman]

12. The district where I was a teacher has put in new ventilation systems

in the school. From my own personal experience with air cond. ceiling filter (only one) was as thick as a quilt. My classroom was so full of black mold it half to be torn down (this was after the district said I was imagining it and gave me a fan, can of Lysol and instructions to keep the door closed, "more pollutants outside than inside they told me" and there were no windows in the room). After the students started getting sick I went to the union and they got an inspector out and condemned the 8 rooms. I was sick but the district doesn't care about teachers, only a little about kids but they do care a lot about saving $$$$ (always the bottom line, no matter where you work). I do NOT trust any school at this point. I know the real concerns about schools and I doubt it has changed in the 20 years since that building made me sick.

[DeminPennswoods]

13. So many of these newer schools were built to be energy efficient,

when in times like now, you need ventilation, there are no windows that can be opened and almost everything is sealed.