The COVID-19 pandemic prompted Georgia games last season to be limited to attendance of 20,524 with socially distanced seating and no tailgating allowed.
This season, Georgia is going back to how it was before — full attendance with no social distancing with tailgating back on.
It should feel more like it did in 2019 with Uga and the cheerleaders back on the sidelines.
“I think we’re all looking forward to that full crowd roar when the team runs out and those special moments after a big play,” Georgia athletic director Josh Brooks said.
Yeah, but…
Georgia athletics has encouraged fans to get vaccinated, but protocols at home games follow the guidance of the University System Board of Regents which is not requiring masks on campus and has not required vaccinations.
“We have no higher priority than the health and safety of our fans, students, and staff,” Georgia athletics said in a statement. “We work closely with the SEC medical task force, healthcare professionals, and healthcare organizations on all best practices and guidelines. The State of Georgia and the University System of Georgia Board of Regents currently prohibit us from requiring proof of vaccination, but we strongly encourage all members of our community and all campus visitors to get vaccinated.”
Georgia athletics may not have a higher priority, but Georgia athletics isn’t calling the shots. (See what I did there?)
UGA athletics said the “University System strongly encourages, but does not allow us to require, the use of face coverings. Our primary focus is the health and safety of students, employees, and fans through a variety of measures including the promotion of vaccination and use of masks. We will continue to evaluate every aspect of our approach and mitigation efforts … in accordance with all applicable rules and regulations.”
I’m sure they mean well. Will it be enough, considering?
He mentioned Athens-Clarke County’s 550 new cases a week per 100,000, easily above the 100 new cases that the CDC classifies for a high level of community transmission.
“In Georgia, less than half the population (44 percent) is fully vaccinated, that’s also true among young people who make up a lot of the crowd,” Ebell said. “There have been a lot of breakthrough cases even among people who are vaccinated. Last week, six percent of students without symptoms who got tested were positive.”
I’m not worried about the tailgate, or even once seated inside the stadium (okay, maybe a little about that, considering folks’ enthusiasm). It’s the getting in and out with the crowds that’s a real concern. If you’re going, wear a mask. If you haven’t been vaccinated, well…
Get The Picture 
Clearly its a personal decision, but with young kids at home who are not eligible to be vaccinated, we are skipping in-person games again this year.
Ready for all of this to be over. My last Dawgs game was the 2019 SECCG. Last trip to Athens was 2019 Kentucky.
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Your kids don’t go to school or birthday parties or the supermarket?
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Hey there Biggen, check your britches.
Schools where we live are closed right now for covid. Dont know where you live, but down here in South Georgia we dont have 93,000 person birthday parties or supermarkets.
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I’m just saying, living in a bubble is no way to live your life.
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I’m sure he appreciates your parental advice but maybe he should live his life his way and you should live your life your way.
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When I want to take life advice from a guy who lives in PCB, you will be the first guy I look up, trust me.
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He did begin his statement with “clearly it’s a personal choice.” At no point did he tell you what you should do or that you should be like him. He said he’s not going, and he explained why.
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You are correct. Living in a bubble socks. That is why people who genuinely care about the well being of the community get vaccinated and where masks.
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Don’t vaccinated people still get infected and spread the virus?
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At a much lower rate, yes. You can catch and spread covid if vaccinated much like people who wear seat belts can still die in a car crash but your chances are much better if you’re wearing one. In this analogy, having an air bag makes your chances of walking away from the crash even better, so we’ll just throw in wearing masks also reduces your chances of becoming infected and spreading the virus. Is is about risk elimination? No, unfortunately not. It’s about risk reduction. That’s all we can do short of actually living in a bubble.
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Are you a doctor? Or did you read that on the internet.
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You’ll need a much bigger cannon this year. See you 9/18 (unless you can’t bear to watch…)
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They can. That is why public health experts not on Facebook say vaccinated people should continue to wear masks.
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should be “sucks” and “wear.”
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Where do you where the mask?
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Wear two.. One over the misspelled word. The other over the nose and mouth.
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That’s fairly brilliant.
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Fayette County schools open, cases dropping, after a blip…every ting gone be alright.
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I’m getting frustrated at how long it’s taking to get the vaccine approved for kids. We’re not shutting our lives down given the relatively low risk COVID poses to ours, but it sure would be nice to be able to go ahead and get them their shots so we could worry about it even less.
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The reason it’s taking so long for vaccine to get approved for kids is the risk profile. In reality the rate of myocarditis that needs to be treated in adolescent males us unfortunately about the same rate of hospitalization of same patient population with COVID. There is not a clear benefit for vaccination in kids. COVID is still largely an adult disease. Kids being hospitalized and dying at much higher rate of RSV then Covid possibly because of not going to school and being exposed. However clear benefit for adults to be vaccinated. It doesn’t fit media’s narrative of vaccine being the panacea so they don’t report it.
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If that’s the case, that’s fine, but the guidance needs to reflect an unwillingness to vaccinate kids. For instance, we were looking at cheap flights to Spain in October, but we can’t get the kids into Spain because they’re not vaccinated. We had to “quarantine” them from the first day of school this summer after going to Mexico. They can still get pulled out of school if they test positive. Etc.
If the risk profile is even between COVID and myocarditis, they could at least give an EUA for the shots because of the societal benefits in a pandemic that come from reducing their risk as carriers as well as the convenience factor of their being vaccinated, no? If they don’t want to go full FDA approval which would make mandating the shots easier, at least it gives parents the option.
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You would give your kid a shot with unknown future side effects for your convenience? I really don’t understand how everyone here is comfortable giving kids the vaccine with no research on future issues. Are they going to take boosters every 8 months for the rest of their lives?
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This x1,000.
This might be departing from the intent of your post but I’m ready to see some of the folks who are paid to be in a leadership role fulfill that obligation and tell the state leadership when they are wrong. Do the right thing. Every time. Too many people making entirely too much money have been passing the buck throughout the pandemic as it relates to this school and the way it functions. We are a leader in epidemiology and public health research yet we cower to the whims of the electorate rather than standing up and doing what’s right.
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Jere reportedly runs UGA like a dictatorship, but he sure doesn’t have any courage when it comes to dealing with his state-level bosses.
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Everything runs downhill. Nothing new there.
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It’s only right in your eyes. I’m sure we can think of a few more things you think are wrong that I would love to see mandated as well. If you don’t want exposure don’t go to the game.
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I’m not sure I understand your point here. I’m clearly not alone in this opinion and of course, there are plenty of things that I, “would like to see mandated,” but that’s a moot point. The point of my comment was specific to the crowd controls in place during the middle of a global pandemic based on evidence produced by the institution ignoring those recommendations from health officials. I’m very aware of how to limit my exposure – but that’s not the point here. I live in this community and would like to see the gameday experience at UGA made as safe as possible for a wide audience. Not limited to those who can feasibly afford the exposure as you say.
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We gave our tickets away for this Sat even though we are vaccinated and plan to wear mask because our newest grandchild will be born on the 13th and I don’t want to take a chance of getting covid. I plan to go to the next game but am worried about our aisle seats. The entire section has to pass by us. We go in early to avoid crowds and stay late and but the shuttles at the end of the game are always jam packed. Having lost my dad to this virus the consequences are very real to me.
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I read the vaccination rate is 20% in Athens and the case rate is very high. Good luck to the unvaccinated in those cramped hallways and bathrooms. Totally agree that I’d bring a mask for those two scenarios, regardless of vaccination status. Take it from someone who got a breakthrough infection at an outdoor concert (likely from a crowded tunnel or bathroom). Just be safe and smart, and Go Dawgs!
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Sorry to hear you were one of those breakthrough cases. My spouse and I have been concerned about this as well with the feeling that we’re safer since we’re fully vaccinated, wearing masks in tight spaces, and outdoors but the risk still exists.
In an effort to reduce any misinformation, Clarke County currently has 41% of its population fully vaccinated. You can track vaccination and COVID+ rates here: https://covidactnow.org/us/georgia-ga/county/clarke_county/?s=22681191
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If I may ask you, how long did it take you to bounce back after contracting it?
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4 weeks and counting. Still have a cough and fatigue (energy level is about 75% of what it was pre-Covid). And the Covid brain fog just sucks still.
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That sounds about like when I got it. With flu, it was a 48 hr recovery. COVID just dragged on and on
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I’m an Athens resident, and it’s close to the state average of 40%. I’m not sure how they’re counting students though.
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Interesting. Clarke county is one of the bluest of blue counties in Georgia and only 40% are vaccinated. I guess the “who’s not getting vaccinated” narrative the media is pushing is not exactly correct.
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I’m not sure what exactly explains that number. I don’t know how they count students. There are also a lot of poor African Americans in Clarke and I think that demographic has been slower on the uptake.
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For the purposes of insurance, investments and banking, a student doesn’t reside in the community where they go to school. They maintain their residency where their live (parents residence). I would assume this follows for statistics. Anybody know different?
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Dog whistling bigotry from JC? No way
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Okay, now we’re traveling into the realm of personal insults. Let’s not go there, or I’ll have to shut the thread down.
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I guess living in Florida in a tourist town (PCB) and having millions of people go in and out of our area every year I don’t even think about the crowds at all. Hell its been busy down here since last summer before the vaccines were even a thing.
Just get your shot people.
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I was very much looking forward to attending a few games this year but I can’t take the chance of bringing home a breakthrough case to my wife and infant son, so there’ll be no games this year for me. Thanks to all the f*ckers in this state that didn’t get vaccinated and the gutless cowards in state leadership who prioritized their cushy political careers over people’s health.
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Muh rights!
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LAME FOX-ROBOT TWIT.
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Do what you like but since vaccinated people are getting sick and masks are essentially useless against viruses, what difference would it make if 100% of the people in the stadium were vaccinated and they all wore masks? The risk of infection would still be present.
COVID is not going away, ever. At some point, you have to decide if you are going to live a normal life again and accept the risk or if you are going to live in fear until you die. With either decision, you are going to die at some time from something, there is no way to make life 100% safe forever. You have a 99% chance of surviving COVID if you do get it unless you have a serious underlying health issue. Even people over age 70 have an 80% chance of survival. COVID is not Bubonic Plague with a 50+% fatality rate.
You should be free to make your decision and everyone else should be free to make theirs. Personally, I don’t want politicians deciding to lock down society for what would likely be years in order to protect me. I like being able to make the decisions about what risks I am willing to take.
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I take it, then, you’re totally cool with drunk driving, at least as long as it’s the driver’s choice, amirite?
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That is too asinine to respond to.
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Sarcasm.
The asinine part is “You should be free to make your decision and everyone else should be free to make theirs.” That’s why hospitals across the South are filled to bursting right now.
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Why are hospitals in England full now? They have had Draconian lockdown measures in place for quite a while and a very highly vaccinated population. Why does Australia have record numbers of cases? They have had lockdowns to the point of rioting? Why did cases spike in New Zealand when they effectively shut their country down?
It appears fairly obvious that govt control of people’s behavior has very little effect on the transmission of the virus.
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But personal responsibility could do wonders.
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I’d like world without obese people, smokers, alcoholics, and drug addicts. Did personal responsibility just start in 2019?
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NZ has had less than 30 deaths from COVID and less than 4000 cases. That’s in a nation of 5 million. Some spike you’re talking about there.
By comparison, South Dakota has had over 2000 deaths and 134000 cases.
If it’s obvious to you, that’s because you’re already convinced.
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South Dakota has a population of 858,000 btw.
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NZ is an isolated island in the middle of the Pacific. I believe they shut their borders down and tightly control who comes in and out of the country. What do you think is going to happen when/if they open up again? The Covid cases are going to go wild. The population has no immunity. They are just delaying the inevitable.
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A. I’m not really interested in talking out of my ass about something that’s pure speculation.
B. We’re getting far afield from the post topic.
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I thought you were tired of posting about Monken’s offensive genius and wanted to bring the playpen back.
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If I ever feel like that, you’ll be the very first to know.
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Can you believe its illegal to not tell someone you have AIDS before engaging in consensual sexual activity with another person?
In such a police state its hard to see how requiring vaccines and masks are a greater infringement on muh freedumbs.
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I don’t know about you JC, but I try to use my freedom to help my neighbors instead of using my freedom to increase their chances of catching a deadly disease. I choose to vaccinate, wear a mask, and avoid large crowds of un-vaccinated people not only to protect myself, but to protect others. If I end up in the ICU because I didn’t take precautions, that’s a bed that’s unavailable for a crash victim or someone suffering a heart attack, that’s one more person for the overworked healthcare staff to take care of, that means my wife has to quarantine and not provide speech therapy to her students, and it means my infant son gets exposed to a disease that he has no immunity against. If I take precautions and still get Covid, then so be it. That’s life. I’m just not going to intentionally ignore easy and effective ways to reduce that risk. That’s not living in fear. It’s recognizing a threat and taking appropriate action to mitigate it.
Nobody is saying Covid will disappear. The point of masks, social distancing, and vaccines is to turn Covid into a manageable risk like the flu. The problem is that this virus does not respect your individual rights or your level of risk tolerance. It cares about the precautions you take. Whether you like it or not, it takes all of us to beat a virus. The decision to not vaccinate does not just impact that person. It impacts everyone else because it allows the virus to spread and mutate into versions that can have an easier time breaking through to vaccinated people. Your choice in this matter impacts my freedom too.
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Btw; I have been vaccinated, I’m not a radical anti vaxxer type or anything like that. In the post I responded to you didn’t say anything about staying home to protect your neighbors or not take up a hospital bed, you said you didn’t want to risk bringing a virus home to your wife and infant son. Again, I fully support you being able to decide what you want to do and what risk you are willing to take, no matter what your motivations are.
Since the vaccination does not prevent infection and apparently neither does having the virus, I see no way to “beat” this virus. Vaccinated people are much less likely to die or be hospitalized, that is why I got the vaccine, but they can still get the virus. Even if the govt had gone door to door and vaccinated everyone, the virus would still be with us and infecting people. The same is true if everyone wore a mask 24/7. If lockdowns worked England, New Zealand and Australia would be completely COVID free and they’re not. I don’t want to get sick but I want to live in fear and not do any of the things I enjoy even less. Again, people should be able to decide what their risk appetite is and act accordingly.
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Beating Covid to me, is getting it under control, not eliminating it. I had hoped that by this time we would have gotten something resembling herd immunity through the vaccine and that Covid would be receding into the category of “ordinary” risk. That would have made it safe to gather in large groups. Alas, a bunch of people chose to use their personal freedom to not get vaccinated, thus bringing Covid roaring back with a worse variant–making it once again noticeably risky to gather in large groups. How’s that for personal freedom? Look, I’m sorry that this pandemic doesn’t fit into your libertarian worldview, but we all have to accept restrictions on our personal liberty for the sake of others from time to time. Not getting a vaccine is like smoking on an airplane; not only is the smoker damaging their health, but they are damaging everyone else’s with second hand smoke. We’re not asking people to go to war, renounce their religion, or censor their speech. We’re asking them to get a proven life-saving vaccine, and if someone doesn’t do that they shouldn’t have the opportunity to inflict that risk on others. It’s not a great imposition.
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Masks vs delta variant is as effective as a shotgun vs a tank. Definitely get vaccinated if you’re an adult that hasn’t had COVID. If it’s been 8 months since you’ve had it, consider getting the vaccine as a booster.
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Personally I think that you should get vaccinated whether or not you have already had COVID. My son who is a freshman in college got COVID the last weekend in January (so essentially 6 months ago), and got vaccinated this summer in anticipation of going to college has COVID right now. Thankfully it is extremely mild (even milder than when he got it in January). Had he not lost his sense of taste for a couple of days he likely wouldn’t have even known he had it again.
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That’s basically what I did. After 8 months and the delta surge, I thought it would be a good idea
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I had COVID late February and probably would have waited until summer to get the vaccine but my in-laws were not going to come see their grandson graduate unless my wife and I were vaccinated, so I had to do it April/May. Only reason I was going to wait a little longer was because of the adverse reaction to the vaccine that I was anticipating (which was good guess since the last time I can remember feeling as bad as I did the 48 hours after the second dose was when I got the flu in January of 2003 after coming home from the Sugar Bowl).
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PSA – Masks were required in the club concourse at BofA stadium this past Saturday and I would say less than 1 in 10 opted to follow the rule. I’m sure folks anticipated this but if you’re expecting voluntary mask usage it will not be common so you should N95 up if you desire some risk mitigation in very crowded areas.
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99% of the mask I see people wearing are simply not effective. Follow the science. I personally use N95 when required but I have been vaccinated and trust the science behind vaccinations – masks not so much.
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You have the right to be stupid.
You have the right to go mask-less.
You have the right to forego the vaccine.
You can do all the above.
Just because you can doesn’t mean you should!
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It is my right to sit in a crowded Sanford Stadium having a stomach virus, and turn my body to vomit on the fan next to me because I don’t like having vomit on my clothes. Muh freedom!
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You are absolutely correct. It is also your right to fly on a plane when you have the flu because you want to get somewhere. If that bothers you I’m sure you can find a country where you don’t have the right to do those things.
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But you can’t fuck someone while having AIDS not tell them and cross your fingers that it’ll be ok.
This isn’t Russia is it? WTF!?!
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It must be Napoleon the Fart, right?
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We live in a State in which you cannot smoke all the cigarettes you what to smoke in Burger King, thus infringing on your rights only to protect others’ health from second hand smoke. Why don’t folks complain about that?
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You must have missed all the debate and complaints when the no smoking ordinances were passed. There was plenty of complaining. No smoking ordinances are not only for protection from second hand smoke. If they were, smoking would not be allowed anywhere outside of an individuals home or car. No smoking ordinances were also a public nuisance issue reaction. I know I hated being in a smoke filled room trying to eat and I wasn’t the least bit concerned about second hand smoke, I just hated the smell of smoke on everything I wore when I got home.
The elected representatives of the public passed those no smoking ordinances based on the wishes of the majority of the public. There is obviously no such majority demand for restrictions on gathering or requiring masks or vaccines. If there were, I can assure you the self serving politicians who are constantly testing the winds of public opinion would be pushing for legal restrictions on large gatherings, vaccinations and mask wearing. NYC has passed very strict restrictions, it hasn’t stopped the spread of COVID.
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When I intentionally vomit on you in the middle of the third quarter I guarantee your response will not be, “Gaskill, I am glad we live in a country where you are free to vomit on me!”
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It is absolutely not your right, no such right exists in our Constitution. You can be charged criminally and/or sued civilly for knowingly infecting someone(s) with a deadly disease, especially if it results in actual harm. Freedom does not protect the free dumb.
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You are absolutely correct, you cannot KNOWINGLY infect or harm someone. If you have the flu and lick the top of someone else’s drink or have sex with them if you have AIDS, you could have a problem. Travelling with the flu without intending to harm anyone is perfectly legal.
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Got fully vaccinated in February, got the booster about a week and a half before the game. Wore KN95 masks every time I went indoors in Charlotte (including bars, restaurants and hotel lobbies), and during every visit to the concourse and the bathroom during the game (my friends and I probably represented 10% of the attendees who did this). Weather was beautiful so we sought out restaurants and bars that enabled us to dine and imbibe al fresco.
Just got my second negative test result today, and I ran 7 miles yesterday at 5 a.m. and 5 miles today at 5 a.m., at my normal pace. Knock on wood, indications are, three days since my flight back, this relatively easy-to-follow regimen worked. Honestly, none of this is hard — least of all the concept that with freedom comes responsibility.
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Why did you get a test? Symptoms? Maybe you needed it for work/travel.
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My son is going in for surgery on Friday. Trying to make sure my shenanigans from last weekend don’t upend that schedule. Also, my daughter is too young to be vaccinated.
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IDK if the insistence from these Blog Karens to pry personal info from complete strangers is entertaining or creepy as Hell. I’ll take it as it comes though.
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I just think it bogs the system down….curiosity got the cat, his answer seemed legit.
I know a few folks who get tested 2-3 times a week, for no real reason, this keeps people that really need the test from getting them at times. No supplies etc..
Before anyone asks, I was probably one of the first regular Joe’s under 60 (non front line worker, etc) on this blog to get the double jab…
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I can appreciate that. Had to drive to various CVSes to track down BinaxNow test kits. Web site was never up to date because those things were constantly flying off the shelf.
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There are test available from Binax, that are proctored, you use a zoom like function with your phone, etc, they watch you do the test, these are good for travel where proof is required, but they cost more. Just bought 6 for $150.
Oh yeah, even more important, best of luck to your Son.
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Appreciate the clarification, Dawg.
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I’m a play by the rules guy, plan to get my third jab etc etc, but this whole thing has turned into a giant shitshow. The only concrete social contract seems to be get the shots to keep our hospital systems from being overwhelmed. Otherwise, the fear of the unvaccinated as between two adults–one vaxed, one not (ineligible children in the equation notwithstanding) makes little to no sense. If the vaccines are good at preventing infection and spread, then the fear is irrational. If they are increasingly shitty at preventing infection and spread (but still good at disease prevention), then the only social contract is between us and the healthcare system.
If we’re still on this shit after the kids are eligible and had time for uptake, then we need full psychological intervention because there’s literally no way out of it.
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There are two levels of analysis about the effectiveness of the vaccine. One is the effectiveness to the person getting the shot. The second level is the public health perspective. The more people who are vaccinated thd faster society gets to the point where there are too few potential hosts for the vaccine to spread. The young and healthy may feel bulletproof and not at risk but they still keep the pandemic going when they get a mild infection.
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It seems your last and second-to-last sentence contradict each other. Look, my interpretation of the latest data is that the vax probably prevents infection and spread but decreases in its effectiveness to do so over time, with disease prevention lasting the longest.
But this is why I throw my hands up in surrender if we don’t truly know who is spreading the virus around. Or the idea that we were ever going to outrun variants with enough rapid vaccine uptake around the globe. Hence my OPINION that the social contract is between us/society and the hospital system as to disease prevention, if anyone (vaxed or not) can carry the virus to a vulnerable person. Should I have to mask up forever to protect those who are still worried about severe disease through a breakthrough infection ? I stand my ground to say that’s an unreasonable request of our fellow man. Hence the frustrating endless loop.
What I don’t want to happen is my (future) fully vaccinated kids under 12 to have to continue wearing a mask in school to prevent a Casedemic. That is effing insane on every level. But the trend sheet tells me that is probably what’s going to happen until people start growing a pair.
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Nevermind, I think you meant the young and healthy (who choose to forego the vaccine).
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If the hardest thing we have to do is wear a mask to protect others then we are very privileged.
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Tony, while I certainly agree with most of what you say here, but you can’t generalize when you say “fear of the unvaccinated” Every person has a slightly different risk, based on health factors, age, etc. So while your “fear of the unvaccinated” may or may not make sense, for you, it most certainly does make sense for me or anyone else who is more susceptible to the virus.
I have a vague recollection of my momma being scared shitless about polio, to the point of not allowing me to go to a swimming pool in the summer. We managed to get past all that pretty quickly, but we didn’t have the social media disease, either.
But yeah, if we dont get past the irrationality pretty soon its gonna be a dark ages redux.
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But my question is, do we KNOW WITH CERTAINTY that you should fear me any less (6 months out since vaxed) than the person who is unvaccinated ? The protocols suggest I may be unknowingly spreading this damn thing around too, hence why I have to wear a mask.
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There’s no difference between a social contract with the healthcare system and a social contract with everyone else. ICU bed availability is the gating factor — we all need those beds to be available for all kinds of reasons, not just covid, and it’s not possible to create more capacity unless you want to see your convention center or basketball arena taken over with ICU beds. Unless and until significant capacity opens up, the simple, non-dickish thing to do is wear a mask even if you’re triple-jabbed. Fear is inherently irrational — what I’m describing is wholly rational.
If you’ve spent some time in the major cities of Asia, as I have (Hong Kong, Ho Chi Minh City, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Bangkok, Tokyo, etc.), you’ll see a lot of masks and just as many rational people — people who know how to get along so that others can get along. There’s nothing hysterical or irrational about it, and to claim otherwise is itself irrational and fragile.
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I am sorry but 3 shots, n-95 masks, and multiple covid tests to go to a football game is hysterical and irrational.
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My kid has cancer. Go fuck yourself. Hard.
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I am sorry for you to go through that. My comment still stands. Hysterical and irrational.
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Cool story. Where’d you get your MD?
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Don’t have to be an MD to recognize hysterical, irrational behavior.
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Nah, but you do for me to give a fuck what you think about my choices in a pandemic and how they affect my immunocompromised son. In the meantime, go choke on ALL the dicks.
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But the rub is that nobody is trying to stop you from doing what is needed for your situation. Most of us haven’t a clue what it’s like to be in your shoes as a parent, but you’re the one advocating broad based policy prescriptions tailored to your situation. I refuse to be painted as a demon for not wanting my child masked for the next 10 years or have the burden in my court to explain why I don’t want to reverse a century+ of cultural norms.
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Tony, show me where I’ve advocated for “broad-based policy prescriptions tailored to [my] situation.” All I’ve done is report how I handled my weekend in Charlotte in order to make things safe for my family and still have a good time.
Elsewhere I noted that, if you live in an area where the ICU is at capacity, wearing a mask is literally the least you could do. That’s not a “broad-based policy prescription.” That’s an innocuous observation about what an individual can do to in the interest of not being a hopelessly selfish prick like, say, the troll who called me “hysterical” and “irrational.”
At some point, this has to stop being an ideological conversation. Covid doesn’t give a shit about your rights, and Darwin’s undefeated.
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You are absolutely right, worrying about an airborne virus sitting close to screaming people is certainly irrational.
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You must be a real treat.
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He’s a jaded Cocks guy. You can see the struggle.
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I know when I think of parts of the world where people’ freedoms and human rights are observed, I always think of Asia first!!
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You can adopt their grownup attitude about masks without having to buy into everything else. Maybe get out more.
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You can like egg drop soup and not like Chairman Mao?
Are you sure?
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I am vaccinated and wear a mask in various public places. I am just pointing out that your idea about Asia is fucking stupid is all. Have a nice day!
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Thanks for that totally qualified feedback. Duly noted.
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The limiting factor to ICU capacity is staffing. We can open up all the field hospitals we want, but if we don’t have Drs and nurses to work them, they won’t help. That’s why it is a good idea for everyone to mask up and get their shots until this settles back down. It will settle down eventually anyway, but obstinate people refusing to take precautions will prolong the problem.
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In other news, UGA athletics also said the UGA Veterinary School students will be giving out free shots of ivermectin at the gates.
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It’s the crowded stadium I’m worried about. People are going to be yelling and screaming, of course. Perfect way to spread an airborne virus. Maybe if I get a booster and see the numbers go down, I’ll change my mind, but I’m afraid I’ll have to wait until next season.
To you Dawgs that go, stay safe and yell extra loud for me.
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Russ,
My family has made the same decision. The wife gave away our tickets for last Saturday and will continue to do so for the remainder of the regular season. Everyone in our adult family is vaccinated. We have a 12 week old grandson and a 3 year old granddaughter nothing is worth risking their health. All of our parents are alive and over 90. A full stadium means there will be COVID floating around. The family risk exceeds my personal needs to have fun with my friends who are going.
As for personal choice I’m fine with anyone who chooses not to take the vaccine. It’s your choice if so please avoid crowds. I draw the line when I’m forced to share their air. That exceeds your choice when it enters my family.
Every man has limits the wife has been warned. If Georgia advances to the SECCG and you see a couple wearing full face hugging fitted including virus filtration masks. (not kidding ) Stop and say hello to us. I’ll even furnish the hand sanitizer for a fist bump. Still working on how to consume adult beverages wearing the full face mask. Hopefully Kirby will have me searching for a alcohol patch before December.
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Only if it’s apple flavored
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I understand your. “if someone else gets Covid tough shit for them but it doesn’t affect me” attitude. I understand that is what you are saying but you are wrong. Those people getting sick affects others. One example. A guy down thd street was a vocal ant-mask and anti-vaccine guy. He repeated every talking point he heard from commentators on his favorite news network (who themselves have been vaccinated. ) He got Covid about a month ago and so been in ICU until today. He doesn’t have health insurance of any sort. Our local county hospital has sunk hundreds of thousands of dollars into keeping him alive. That expense ultimately goes to all of us. In addition, some with a stroke or heart attack or car wreck injuries could not use that bed. Our entire community is incurring a cost from him refusing to take steps to decrease his risk of, and to decrease the effect of, Covid.
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Do you feel the same way about obese, diabetic, alcoholics who have no health insurance and end up in the hospital? How about criminals with no health insurance who are shot during the commission of a crime? What about drug addicts with no health insurance who end up in hospitals?
I feel the same outrage over the community having to pay for these people’s health care as you do about your neighbor. All of them are using health care system resources when they could have avoided doing so by making some reasonable lifestyle changes.
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Like getting vaccinated?
Absolutely.
We should all be responsible. Those who are irresponsible should be ashamed and/or shamed.
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Shuuut uuuup
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Yeah, If there was a shot that reduced the health risks of obesity, diabetes, addiction or criminal violence by 90%+ and was freely made available to everyone, then you would have a fantastic point.
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NOT a valid comparison. The obese or diabetic is not contagious and cannot spread their condition to others. While the alcoholic is not contagious, he/she can impact others health directly – we have many laws regulating their behavior because of this.
Secondly. Having raised a diabetic child and worked with diabetic patients professionally, I do not know of a single diabetic individual that would forgo health insurance intentionally. Many are un or under insured because of their financial situation and decisions we as a society have made.
One other point, your last statement “All of them are using health care system resources when they could have avoided doing so by making some reasonable lifestyle changes.” is absolutely false. SOME of them are.
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Remember six months or so ago when a south Georgia funeral produced so many cases of covid whole families were in the hospital together? But, 95,000 folks crammed into Sanford Stadium, or Everbank, or Jordan-Hare is not a super-spreader event waiting to happen? One thing for damn sure, the virus could not care in the least about your personal freedom…if it can get at you, vaccinated or not, it will get at you. Then you can take it home with you, just like the folks at the funeral did. Is this a horrible situation? You bet your ass it is horrible, but that’s how it is and we have to stop living in the past and get on with the simple fact that this, or some other worse virus is out there waiting for suspicion, ignorance and misinformation to make its tiny life better. Based on the mask stats in the club level during the Mayo Bowl, it does not take a credentialed virologist to see risk in going to a game Look at it this way….yes, you might go to a game and not come home sick, but you also might be in intensive care on a fucking ventilator when we play for the national championship. Its your choice, after all.
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A year ago this thread would have been killed within 10 comments.
Everyone knows the risk. Make your choice and don’t criticize others choices. Go dawgs.
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You and I and everyone else can take simple. inexpensive steps to reduce the risk of other neighbors getting Covid and consuming expensive health care. I am not aware of anything you and I can do to reduce the diabetic patient’s blood sugar or reduce the obese person’s weight or the alcoholic’s consumption. We can get vaccinated and wear masks and significantly reduce the neighbor’s risk.
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At some point the whole cult of covid has to end. If you don’t feel comfortable at the stadium … don’t Fing go!
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Shuuuuuut uuuuup.
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