Missouri hospital just hit its all-time high for Covid cases. But the county fair won't be cancelled

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Amy Tignor remembers the crowds that attended the Ozark Empire Fair's rides, concerts and livestock shows in past years.

A resident of Springfield, Missouri, since 2005 and the owner of a local brewery, Tignor said nothing could "drag her there" this year, even though she's fully vaccinated.

"As you're sitting in a crowd, six out of the 10 people around you probably haven't been vaccinated," Tignor told CNN. "And that just seems like a risk that I'm not willing to take."

Springfield, where the Ozark Empire Fair will be held July 29 to Aug. 7, is in Greene County, one of the state's Covid hotspots.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/missouri-hospital-just-hit-its-all-time-high-for-covid-cases-but-the-county-fair-that-attracts-thousands-won-t-be-canceled/ar-AAMvtDY

[dalton99a]

1. It will be remembered as a fun-filled event

Ventilators are standing by

He said people won't be required to wear face masks, though the fair website had outdated Covid-19 guidance with mask mandates that are no longer in place. The page was last updated in April.

Owen said he sold 70,000 tickets in 2020 and says he believes that there was no evidence of Covid spread, based on conversations he had with some vendors after the fair. More vendors will be in attendance this year than last.

[LisaL]

3. I hope they have enough ventilators.

NT

[Hugin]

6. "... no evidence of Covid spread, based on conversations he had with some vendors after the fair."

That cinches it. Totally sciency.

Whelp. Throw those gates wide open.

[gulliver]

2. Thanks for ruining the fair, Springfield area vax lax!

When they or a loved one (or anyone) ends up dead or in the ICU, the vax lax are to blame. Sure, it ticks me off that a bunch of them are naïve, "believe the nice Republican salesman" types. But, ultimately, we're responsible for our own decisions, and who we choose to believe (lying Republican/Fox News jerks or doctors) is one of our most important decisions.

[dutch777]

4. They missed the headline that even those Pfizer vaccinated have only 40% protection against Delta

Reminds me of the comedian's line-- you can't cure stupid. I am waiting for insurance companies and others shouldering the costs of treating Covid patients to say, if you don't get vaccinated-- costs are on you and your life insurance doesn't pay if you die and were unvaccinated. Of course, that probably just means a bunch of hospitals will get saddled treating "no pays" for Covid and go bankrupt.

It really would help if the FDA gave the vaccines full approval and get that excuse off the table.

Pity the nurses and docs and others who have to continue to put themselves and their families at risk of catching Covid treating the stupid plus the emotional burden they suffer as they have to turn off the ventilators, pronounce these folks and tell their families.

[Ocelot II]

8. That 40% number is from a study in Israel; a British study says 88%.

With that much of a discrepancy I wouldn't count on either number being correct. Nevertheless, the smart course of action for now is a whole lot of caution until more is known. Vaccine-deniers should be treated by their insurers the same way smokers are treated - with higher premiums.

The FDA can't give full approval until all the required trials and analyses are completed; if that approval is or even seems to be rushed, hesitant people won't have any more confidence than they do already.

[Ms. Toad]

9. Insurance doesn't get to set the rules for premiums -

Unless you're talking about non-ACA compliant plans. That is one of the most significant pieces of the ACA - mandatory coverage; no price discriminaton except for a few characteristics (notably smoking and age).

[Ocelot II]

10. If they can charge higher premiums for smoking, why not for vaccine avoidance?

I know that's a slippery slope, but it seems like covid is even more dangerous than smoking - a Mayo Clinic doc just said that if you're not immunized by vaccination or previous exposure, you will get it it.

[Ms. Toad]

12. That is expressly allowed under the ACA.

https://www.healthcare.gov/how-plans-set-your-premiums/

Under the health care law, insurance companies can account for only 5 things when setting premiums.

Age: Premiums can be up to 3 times higher for older people than for younger ones.

Location: Where you live has a big effect on your premiums. Differences in competition, state and local rules, and cost of living account for this.

Tobacco use: Insurers can charge tobacco users up to 50% more than those who don’t use tobacco.

Individual vs. family enrollment: Insurers can charge more for a plan that also covers a spouse and/or dependents.

Plan category: There are five plan categories – Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Catastrophic. The categories are based on how you and the plan share costs. Bronze plans usually have lower monthly premiums and higher out-of-pocket costs when you get care. Platinum plans usually have the highest premiums and lowest out-of-pocket costs.

States can limit how much these factors affect premiums.

That's it It has nothing to do with slippery slope, it has to do with what is permitted under the ACA. It would require legislaton to change it. With a > $200,000/year billed expenses - I would fight tooth and nail to oppose opening that can of worms back up just because I think people who refuse to get vaccinated lost the brains they were born with.

[Ocelot II]

13. OK, that's reasonable, and I agree that if the ACA opened more categories

of premium increases through legislation, that would be a slippery slope. I just wish there were more disincentives for vaccine avoidance.

[Ms. Toad]

15. Agreed as to the last sentiment.

I face a brand new class of 1L students in 14 days - roughly 90 packed into a tight room or 6 hours a day, 4 days in a row, a one day break, and then 4 more days in a row. (Part time on weekends, full time during the week.)

Unless something slows the virus down, we'll be at 200,000 cases per day in the US by the last day of classes in mid-August.

Theoretically, only vaccinated students are permitted to be unmasked. But the only students I've seen masked in the last month are the ones who are taking ther cue from me - so when they come to my office about half of them wear a mask, and another quarter volunteer their vaccinaton status and ask what I prefer.

I'd feel a lot better about returning to a pre-COVID setup if the rule was mask untli you prove your vaccination status - and test a couple of times a week to prove you're negative. Don't want to mask? Fine, we'll defer your admission until the danger has passed - or you can act like a responsible adult. Missed too many classes becuase of COVID, or because you needed to quarantine? Fine, take a leave of absence. Oh. By the way. Your tuition is non-refundable.

Same for any other place. Want to come in without a mask? Prove your vaccination status.

The more painful it is to go without being vaccinated, the more likely it is that they will get vaccinated. (This system of treating being unmasked as a reward was never going to work without teeth in it to prevent the jerks from behaving badly.)

[roamer65]

5. If I worked in those hospitals, I'd quit.

Why should they risk their lives for someone who has no respect for theirs?

[tanyev]

7. This year's cobbler recipe contest will be a cobbler to die for.

[leftyladyfrommo]

11. KCMO. just drove bt the City Market. Crowds

everywhere. No masks.

We are screwed

[xmas74]

16. Warrensburg/Johnson County MO

21% vax rate. UCM will be back in a few weeks. No social distancing, no masks, no vax requirements and the dorms will be at capacity.

Last year we had masks, social distancing and the dorms only had one person per room. Warrensburg was number 1 for a few weeks on the NYT lists of hotspots with the highest increased rate nationwide.

I feel as though I'm being punished for following every request.

[leftstreet]

14. They're just hanging us out to die or thrive

The narrative is now "personal responsibility" and no questioning what our elected and appointed leaders should be doing to help