The COVID messaging is a complete failure. First the CDC says if you test positive, you should

[JohnSJ]

isolate 10 days if you have no symptoms. Then they change the 10 days to 5 days, and if you have no symptoms no further testing is necessary, since they say no further testing is necessary because you could show positive for weeks, and not being a carrier, with the antibody test, but don’t see a need for the antigen test.

Now Dr. Fauci comes out and suggests further testing may be necessary after isolation period is up. That implies that one size doesn’t fit all, and I suspect they will soon come out and recommend an antigen test before going out of isolation, because the PCR test is not intended to determine if you are still contagious, but the antigen test is.

While all that has been happening, the messaging going out is that the Omicron variant is less severe, without emphasizing the caveat that the less severity applies to those who are vaccinated.

The fact that the hospitals are filling up with COCID patients, is becoming its own crisis, and even though the messaging from the WH has been to get vaccinated, and mask up, along with trying to implement vaccine mandates if you work in certain areas, a mixed picture results because of judicial state government interference from right wing judges saying the administration does not have the authority to issue mandates based on public health, and the SC doesn’t seem to be in any rush to rule on this.

The messaging should be quite simple, get vaccinated, boosted, and mask up, and that doesn’t seem to get emphasized enough in the places that need it most

[ForgedCrank]

1. This has been a

problem from the beginning.
The average person demands answers right now, disregarding the fact that it takes time and research to come to such complex conclusions. As a result, the CDC is basically taking a best guess and releasing information, often choosing the safest option they can. Then, as things develop and mature, more data and information comes in, and instructions, policy etc. are modified to match currently known new facts.
Then, those same people who demanded answers on the spot start questioning the accuracy of what the CDC is releasing when they update it.
Anyway, that's just one of the problems I've noted throughout this entire mess.

[JohnSJ]

3. Absolutely. The initial recommendation that masks were NOT necessary, was insane, and that is

still haunting us today in certain circles

[Kahuna]

8. Yep. This. nt

Last edited Tue Jan 4, 2022, 10:26 AM - Edit history (1)

[Horse with no Name]

2. My employer has their own scientists

So they already modified the cdc recommendations.
You can return in 5 days if you are not immune compromised, are asymptomatic and test negative. If any of those apply, you have to stay out the entire 10 days.
I personally was livid with the cdc changing the guidelines. As a nurse, our jobs are hard enough without having to work side by side of people who have not had enough time to get over the virus.

[JohnSJ]

5. +++. I think we should also start pushing the rapid antigen test to those who have tested

positive under the PCR test, before allowing back from isolation, to improve odds of not being contagious

[janterry]

4. I do not want messaging from the cdc

I want clear explanations of the science.

[JohnSJ]

6. You are not getting either, and frankly that is the job of the CDC. That is what their

recommendations are

[janterry]

9. Tbh

I maskedup before the cdc changed their ‘message’. I did so because I researched it. I don’t not trust the cdc - but they aren’t my go-to. I read stat news, watch grand rounds from CA hospitals, follow MDs on twitter, read some of the latest research myself - pull the papers and even pre prints to see where the science appears to be headed . I feel like our attempt to dumb down our messaging only alienates the audience - both those w a background and interest in science AND those without

[JohnSJ]

13. Actually it was worse than their message, that was their recommendation NOT to wear masks

As I recall they went out of their way to recommend that.

I ignored them also on that absurd recommendation

I agree with everything you are saying in this regard

[lapfog_1]

7. Covid is not one disease

Omicron might as well be a whole different virus.

And the science on how to deal with it is still being discovered while we are being infected with it.

Not to mention that the test which is needed to differentiate between wild, alpha, delta, and omicron is not a simple at home test (at least not yet).

and last, but I have to keep repeating it, there is no vaccine that prevents infection from SARS-Cov-2... or even the infectious spread of the Omicron variant. The vaccines (as a class) only ever prevent serious illness and death, and not always but in most cases.

The rise in hospitalization is (right now) totally due to the speed of the the Omicron infection (creating many more total cases and therefore more hospital cases) AND the fact that 30 to 40 percent of the people in the USA that could be vaccinated and boosted are... not.

Everyone, and let me repeat that, EVERYONE will catch Omicron in the next 4 to 8 weeks. The only people that will not will likely be the hermits living totally isolated lives.

If you are vaccinated and boosted... you may not even notice.

The reason for the reduction in the isolation recommendation is that Omicron creates infection much faster than wild, Alpha, and Delta... and the body eliminates the virus faster. That, and the feeling that if we sideline as many people that will be infected in the next few weeks (that's everyone) we will be short of nurses and doctors, food production and distribution, etc. Out of necessity they have decided that the best course is to isolate for less time, recognize that everyone will eventually catch this disease, and let the unvaxxed deal with the consequences of their own poor judgment. All without actually coming out and saying it outright.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

14. You and others here hit a key missing messaging factor!

As Covid evolves the science of how to deal with it is happening while we're being infected. And you have to have data from people who are infected to understand how it may affect you individually. And it is impossible to understand how it will affect EVERY individual given each person's body makeup and predispositions.

I don't think this has ever been adequately explained by the Government to the public. That with each iteration the government will need time to figure it out.

[HockeyMom]

10. My husband tested Positive

last year at a Hospital. Lab test. No symptoms. Contract tracing. Three weeks later he needed a Negative test for his acupuncturist appointment. We both went to a CVS drive though. Again, a Lab not Rapid Test.

His results still came back Positive. When he called the Hospital to have another test, the hospital told him they would not test him again until 3 MONTHS later because the test could still show TRACE amount resulting in a Positive test.

The Hospital gave him a note stating that after 10 days he was no longer considered contagious. This was before the vaccines were approved.

I tested Negative.

[YP_Yooper]

12. PCR test was meant to do that

It basically magnifies the smallest amount of genetic material by 35-45 cycles, so it will find even "dead" pieces of the virus for a long time even if you've recovered.

[JohnSJ]

15. Most of the European countries as I understand it are doing the rapid antigen test after someone has

been infected as evidenced by the PCR test, because the is a better indication if someone is still infectious or not

[YP_Yooper]

11. The CDC was/is disfunctional as well

I read the report from HHS this month detailing an extensive investigation by Biden's HHS Office of the General Counsel showing how, generally, disregarded, incompetent, arrogant, and dysfunctional the CDC is - especially early on in the pandemic with their recommendations and the failed COVID testing:

https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/danvergano/covid-test-false-positive-failure-cdc-documents

[azureblue]

28. because Trump wrecked it

how convenient that people forget that Trump shut down the pandemic part of the CDC, and interfered with CDC findings at every turn. And how convenient that people forget that Fauci, a man with 50 years of experience in this filed, was having to fight Trump's attempts to stop him. Plus, Fauci had little to go on, so he was changing the warnings as soon as more was found out about Covid. That is what research scientists do. Now if Trump had been working with teh CDC to begin with, then we would not have had these changing warnings, and America would not have suffered over 700,000 deaths.

Note that no one here is placing the blame for the pandemic on Trump. Trump ignored the warnings, minimized the danger, deflected, and tried to use it as a political tool. This post is simply a deflection.

[leftstreet]

36. It's Biden's responsibilty now n/t

[ancianita]

44. Thanks to 90 percent Trump and 10 percent its own cowardice.

https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2020-09-28/donald-trump-is-destroying-the-cdc

[IronLionZion]

16. We're seeing them update guidance in real time upon studying new data

Yeah of course it's confusing to us to keep up with it all when we don't see or care what goes on behind the scenes.

To her credit, Dr. Walensky has been explaining it on TV as interviewers ask her about it. Previous guidance is based on the data at the time, as in the variants that were circulating back then, hospitalization rates, vaccination rates, etc. New variants with different characteristics requires new guidance.

This is pure speculation on my part: Many disagreed with CDC dropping the mask guidance for vaccinated. I think it was to encourage antivaxxers to get vaccinated. Milder cases are for vaccinated folks. I think unvaccinated (by choice) have had more than enough opportunities and they can face the consequences of their choices. CDC has said it's a pandemic of the unvaccinated. They've consistently promoted vaccination as the best option. Seeing their friends hospitalized and die might make a difference to some of them.

[barbtries]

17. the CDC

must be full of trumpies still. it sure isn't the gold star institution it was before he came along.
It makes it really hard to figure out the right thing to do. I'm thinking about going back into lockdown at least for the winter, but I am also vaxxed and boosted and ready to get the next shot as soon as they tell me to, so maybe that's overkill. I just don't know.

[Gilbert Moore]

18. This is not

a static disease that requires only one unchanging solution. Wild, Alpha Delta and Omicron all have distinct differences in transmissibility, duration, shedding times and more.

To expect one answer on anything is kind of. . .

[ananda]

19. It appears that way to me too.

It's very confusing.

[Raven123]

20. I agree. The info in the public sphere is further muddled by the many experts on cable/social media

The big problem I have with the CDC is the seeming apathy toward their colleagues who are doing the day to day work in the healthcare system. This arrival of omicron on top of delta has overwhelmed the system. It was predictable and predicted. It seems like the CDC gave up to some extent. I can understand their exasperation at the inability to convince many to get vaccinated. I wish they had been out front in predicting what was going to unfold. If they didn’t see it coming, someone should resign IMO.

[JohnSJ]

21. +++

[McKim]

22. Science Education has Lagged in the USA

Another problem is that Science Education has lagged in the USA, Back to Basics, Education Cuts, and emphasis on just Reading to the detriment of Social Science, History and Science means that your average American doesn't get some of the nuanced messages and science background information from CDC and other public health authorities. A dumbed down population can't grasp that Science and Facts are changing on the ground as COVID evolves and spreads in its variants.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

23. The administration put all their chips on vaccinations, and bet wrong.

[Hugin]

24. "... the less severity applies to those who are vaccinated."

Said exactly ONCE during an entire morning news broadcast today on an interview with an ER doctor. The rest was burbling about how mild it is... When the long-term impact won't really be known for 20 years.

All hail the High Dow and Trump-wasn't-so-baderism.

[left-of-center2012]

25. The message has been simple

Get vaccinated, get your booster shot, and wear a mask.
That has been the message and continues to be the message.

Am I missing something?

[JohnSJ]

29. unfortunately, I don't think that message seems to be the dominant one anymore, and it isn't the

fault of the administration, because that is what the President urges everytime he is speaking about the virus

[left-of-center2012]

26. Has Dr Fauci not said ...

That he is repeating what the CDC has said?

One may wish to go after the CDC instead of the good doctor.

[JohnSJ]

30. Bloomberg has reported it as such, and it is somewhat ambiguous with the other reporting out there

https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/fauci-testing-negative-end-covid-isolation-now-consideration/story?id=82032243

[Maggiemayhem]

41. Fauci is advisor to President Biden

CDC is Walensky. Not many people get that.

[left-of-center2012]

42. Your point ?

[Maggiemayhem]

27. I never quit wearing my mask.

I ran into the gas station once without one. There are no mandates here so people stare at you in public. I don’t want to be sick, so I said screw it, I’m wearing a mask. I had a friend who who was like the energizer bunny and very athletic at 66 years old. She attended an indoor fundraiser and I believe that is where she picked it up but I dont know for sure. She went on a 10 mile bike ride and then in the hospital with Covid. After about ten days, she passed. It turns out she had a SLOW growing blood cancer. This was at the end of October. So if you are older and haven’t had a full body scan, I would be extremely careful. The press is downplaying this variant but I say it ain’t over till the fat lady sings. This variant could could be the end or it could evolve into a more virulent strain. 50/50 chance either way. My county could Not even run all the bus routes today. Children are really being slammed with the virus now and before when we had flu outbreaks, they shut for a few days. I just really feel like we are collateral damage because the minority anti loudmouths are winning. Yes, the messaging is confusing and people aren’t listening anyway because it is different in every state. How about some nationwide robocalls? I mean the school system here sent out texts saying you have to drive your kids to school and the powerful US can’t do messaging?

[relayerbob]

31. Omicron shows symptoms in 3 days

What's hard to understand?

[uponit7771]

32. K&R, CDC expects their fluid message to be absorbed right away by public and that's not the ...

... case operationally or in ability to socialize communication.

US is a big ship, turning it on a dime every other day shouldn't be expected

[JohnSJ]

33. A great observation

[RobinA]

43. Touche! nt

[Woodwizard]

34. And the flp flop

messaging give the anti vaxx crowd tons of ammunition, I visit some of the Qanon and conservative forums and they are having a field day with misinformation, though they would anyway most of the sources are completely fabricated some of the stuff they post is amazing.

[hay rick]

35. The dysfunction is embedded in the American people and in the media outlets.

Many, if not most, media outlets do not emphasize responsible public health messaging as part of their mission. They want audience engagement and happy advertisers. The audience wants uncomplicated stories that don't disrupt their current worldview.

The Covid "messaging" is in the same ICU as messaging related to voter fraud and climate change.

[JohnSJ]

37. +++

[peggysue2]

40. This!

[bullwinkle428]

38. Way too many layers of complexity being passed along to a society that has

proven itself utterly unable to deal with nuance. Your final paragraph illustrates what we should be beating people over the head with, over and over.

[leftstreet]

39. DURec