Does This Mean the Elderly and Frail Should Stop Attending Church as of Right Now?

[bsjkki]

I interpret this as saying those who are elderly should avoid group gatherings such as church. As well as those with medical conditions or who are immune compromised. Am I wrong? https://www.theepochtimes.com/head-of-nih-says-those-with-health-issues-must-right-now-suspend-travel-practice-social-distancing_3265989.html

“If you look at the people who wind up getting into serious difficulty and even dying, that’s very heavily weighted toward individuals with underlying conditions, particularly the elderly,” Fauci told the morning news show on Monday.

“That’s the reason why we have been saying lately how important it is to protect those vulnerable people by making sure no matter where they are right now, not a month from now, but right now, the people with the underlying conditions need to distance themselves from crowds, not travel, not get on long air flights and certainly not get on a cruise ship,” he added.

He said that generally, he would define elderly as 65 years old or above, but “it’s a really wide range.”

“You might have somebody who is 70 years old that’s healthy and you may have somebody that’s 60 that’s weak and frail,” he said.

...

"

He also urged people to think about “not putting yourself in a situation, whatever that might be, that might increase the risk, given your situation.”

Now, he is doubling down on his message, saying that it’s not longer just advice, but that people should be acting on the message immediately.

[bsjkki]

My state's governor just told all those over 60 to avoid unnecessary public gatherings. 

[The Nehor]

Up to the individual. You can go and only sit near family you are already around. You could just do sacrament and avoid classes. You could go and just avoid touching face or shaking hands. I would make the decision based on personal health, number of cases in area, and what the Spirit directs.

[LoudmouthMormon]

I had dinner with a bunch of old fogeys with underlying health conditions the other day.  They're not incredibly worried about COVID - it's just the latest in a long line of things that will eventually get them.  They were practicing the fist and elbow bump alternatives to handshakes, and maybe thinking about avoiding crowds.  But we plan to get together again in April.

[bsjkki]

4 minutes ago, The Nehor said:

Up to the individual. You can go and only sit near family you are already around. You could just do sacrament and avoid classes. You could go and just avoid touching face or shaking hands. I would make the decision based on personal health, number of cases in area, and what the Spirit directs.

To be blunt, the sacrament is the most dangerous part of the meeting for the elderly or those who are in a high risk group. Technically, I am in that group due to hypertension which is an issue with this disease. They recommend not being within 6 ft of people in crowds. I'm a little more concerned since it is popping up in my county and a known diagnosed person visited the DMV close to my residence. They are expecting community spread to pop up any day.

[The Nehor]

11 minutes ago, bsjkki said:

To be blunt, the sacrament is the most dangerous part of the meeting for the elderly or those who are in a high risk group. Technically, I am in that group due to hypertension which is an issue with this disease. They recommend not being within 6 ft of people in crowds. I'm a little more concerned since it is popping up in my county and a known diagnosed person visited the DMV close to my residence. They are expecting community spread to pop up any day.

I would consider giving it a pass.

[MustardSeed]

I am not sure why people would need an official statement- but I guess people do.  It’s not like it’s school and anyone’s being graded for missing church.  Health concerns are a legit important reason to stay home for a month from church if you feel at risk. 
 

we don’t need instruction in allllllll things. 

[Bernard Gui]

From my post in the corona virus letter thread....maybe these should be consolidated?

Our school district just released guidelines....

1. No parent-teacher conferences

2. No field trips

3. No work-related trips for staff or administration

4. No school volunteers

5. No evening or weekend events including concerts and plays

6. No JHS athletic events

7. High school athletic events will continue as scheduled

8. SAT and ACT tests will continue

9. In-school before and after school day care will continue

10. Regular classes will continue

11. PTA events cancelled

How does this make sense?

 

So far, nothing at church, except a letter from the stake presidency read in sacrament meeting reassuring members that anyone related to the sacrament will be “healthy and clean” [except maybe the person next to you or the one just down the pew], and to stay home if you are sick. Our SP is a MD.

Edited March 11, 2020 by Bernard Gui

[bsjkki]

17 minutes ago, MustardSeed said:

I am not sure why people would need an official statement- but I guess people do.  It’s not like it’s school and anyone’s being graded for missing church.  Health concerns are a legit important reason to stay home for a month from church if you feel at risk. 
 

we don’t need instruction in allllllll things. 

Some of us don't but others, (like my in-laws) will literally go to church unless told otherwise. Even if it kills them.

[Calm]

BG's post....Stuff is allowed that would require parents to stay home from work to care for kids if canceled or might interfere with college applications (sports scholarships and ACT/SAT exams) perhaps?

Edited March 11, 2020 by Calm

[Bernard Gui]

12 hours ago, Calm said:

Stuff is allowed that would require parents to stay home from work to care for kids if canceled or might interfere with college applications (sports scholarships and ACT/SAT exams) perhaps?

So, Sister Gui was required to stay after school Friday and disinfect all surfaces and toys in her kindergarten room. Within 15 minutes of the kids coming into the room on Monday it was no longer sanitized. 22 Kindergartners can’t stay six feet from each other. They have snotty noses, wrestle and touch each other continually, , sneeze and cough without covering, and hug Mrs. G continually. One boy peed on his desk mate. Plus they share the single toilet and 3 sinks in the room. 

No concerts where no one touches another and there are large crowds, but athletic events with lots of physical contact and big crowds are ok. Makes no sense to me. 
 

But what do I know? I’m just a fiddle player.

 

Edited March 11, 2020 by Bernard Gui

[Tacenda]

40 minutes ago, Bernard Gui said:

So, Sister Gui was required to stay after school Friday and disinfect all surfaces and toys in her kindergarten room. Within 15 minutes of the kids coming into the room on Monday it was no longer sanitized. 22 Kindergartners can’t stay six feet from each other. They have snotty noses, wrestle and touch each other continually, , sneeze and cough without covering, one boy peed on his desk mate, and hug Mrs. G continually. Plus they share the single toilet and 3 sinks in the room. 
 

No concerts where no one touches another and there are large crowds, but athletic events with lots of physical contact and big crowds are ok. Makes no sense to me. 
 

But what do I know? I’m just a fiddle player.

 

I sub'd in a first grade class today, and the school is trying to keep everything disinfected, but where they fail is the things like pencils, and their iPads, very dirty. I've tried to wipe a lot down with wipes, but like you say, it all goes to pieces within seconds. Sneezing and it going all over their hands etc., having to stay on top of it by having them wash. It's great that their immune systems are for the most part really strong. Hoping I am getting a strong immune system being around snot and ? all day long. 

The other day I sub'd in a 3rd grade class, and it was so bad that I had to stop it, the telling on each other..turned out that the teacher wanted them to tell on each other if someone put their hands in their mouth or in their noses, or sneezed without washing. I said that it needs to stop the telling on each other! Especially when a girl had put her finger in her mouth, probably chewing on a nail, and a boy yelled at her. She laid her head on her desk and wept. I was so astonished at what the teacher had told them, when a boy said that's what they were told to do. I told them that when they were with me, they were not to do that. 

It's really sad that it's come to this, hopefully it will all blow over and there won't have been too much harm, but lessons learned.

ETA: Want to add that this week, I'm visiting my MIL in her retirement community she's moved into. She was sick with a cold recently, now I'm starting to be a little fraidy-cat. I honestly started worrying about being in that place, since it spreads amongst the elderly. I hope she doesn't get it. They go to the temple once a week, and are together for different things such as games, Book of Mormon study, dance/exercise classes etc. My MIL is one hardy 90 year old though, and I always tell her she'll be visiting me in a rest home. 

Edited March 11, 2020 by Tacenda

[Islander]

I suggest that the media is feeding this overblown fear of the CV and is completely out of proportion and nobody is pointing to the obvious. During the flue season 2018-19, there were 490,600 hospitalizations, and 34,200 deaths from influenza in the US alone. COVID-19 is very similar (in fact is another strain of influenza virus) and other than universal precautions there is very little we can do. But it is NOT like a pandemic that can wipe out the planet. True, we don't have a vaccine (yet) and thus the vulnerable groups should exercise greater caution but the panic showcased out there by the media is simply disproportionate, in my opinion.

[Bob Crockett]

It does not seem to be out of proportion.  A guy in my city he has it and is tweet about it.  Hospital won't let him go after 6 weeks because he remains infectious.  Thin about what that means.  You get over it but can still spread it. 

[The Nehor]

5 minutes ago, Islander said:

I suggest that the media is feeding this overblown fear of the CV and is completely out of proportion and nobody is pointing to the obvious. During the flue season 2018-19, there were 490,600 hospitalizations, and 34,200 deaths from influenza in the US alone. COVID-19 is very similar (in fact is another strain of influenza virus) and other than universal precautions there is very little we can do. But it is NOT like a pandemic that can wipe out the planet. True, we don't have a vaccine (yet) and thus the vulnerable groups should exercise greater caution but the panic showcased out there by the media is simply disproportionate, in my opinion.

I have not seen a panic. Some people’s fear response does seems out of whack. It is either no concern whatsoever or “the end of days is upon us”. No room for just a bit of concern.

It is not a strain of influenza which is a good thing. Influenza mutates much faster which is why it keeps coming back. No one in the media that I have see has suggested it will wipe out the planet. There is reason to be concerned and prudent. Will we have enough medical supplies? Will we have enough ventilators for the vulnerable? Should we lock down a bit for a few weeks to try to contain the spread? Is there any way we can aid nations with more limited healthcare resources? Should we transfer equipment and personnel to hard hit areas or leave everything in place expecting they will be needed eventually? Those flu cases are still going to happen so do we designate additional areas to deal with overflow in hard hit areas? We could be where Italy is in a month.

[Scott Lloyd]

I’m 65. If somebody told me I should stay home from church because I’m old and frail, I’d laugh in his face. 
 

What makes me frail? The fact that I only lift weights three days a week instead of four? That I don’t do cardio all seven days in the week?

[Tacenda]

9 minutes ago, The Nehor said:

I have not seen a panic. Some people’s fear response does seems out of whack. It is either no concern whatsoever or “the end of days is upon us”. No room for just a bit of concern.

It is not a strain of influenza which is a good thing. Influenza mutates much faster which is why it keeps coming back. No one in the media that I have see has suggested it will wipe out the planet. There is reason to be concerned and prudent. Will we have enough medical supplies? Will we have enough ventilators for the vulnerable? Should we lock down a bit for a few weeks to try to contain the spread? Is there any way we can aid nations with more limited healthcare resources? Should we transfer equipment and personnel to hard hit areas or leave everything in place expecting they will be needed eventually? Those flu cases are still going to happen so do we designate additional areas to deal with overflow in hard hit areas? We could be where Italy is in a month.

You mean the world isn't going to end in July??? 

[The Nehor]

12 minutes ago, Bob Crockett said:

It does not seem to be out of proportion.  A guy in my city he has it and is tweet about it.  Hospital won't let him go after 6 weeks because he remains infectious.  Thin about what that means.  You get over it but can still spread it. 

That is an atypical case if he is reporting it right. It is believed transmissibility is almost always gone 10 days after symptoms begin if you recover. Do you have a link? I am curious.

[The Nehor]

Just now, Tacenda said:

You mean the world isn't going to end in July??? 

I am as disappointed as you are. On the bright side it could be like the Spanish flu and rage around, abate in the summer, and then come back with a vengeance and get an even higher body count in the Fall.

[2BizE]

Yes.  They should be encouraged to stay at home and avoid groups.

[The Nehor]

18 minutes ago, Scott Lloyd said:

I’m 65. If somebody told me I should stay home from church because I’m old and frail, I’d laugh in his face. 
 

What makes me frail? The fact that I only lift weights three days a week instead of four? That I don’t do cardio all seven days in the week?

Elderly and/or frail?

[Scott Lloyd]

9 minutes ago, Tacenda said:

You mean the world isn't going to end in July??? 

If you can be patient, there’s less than 11 years left in AOC’s 12-year, climate change doomsday clock. 
 

Of course, she’s walked that back now and said it was just a joke. I dunno. She looked and sounded deadly serious at the time. 
 

Maybe I just have the intellect of a sea sponge. 

[Tacenda]

10 minutes ago, The Nehor said:

I am as disappointed as you are. On the bright side it could be like the Spanish flu and rage around, abate in the summer, and then come back with a vengeance and get an even higher body count in the Fall.

Nehor, you of course know I was being sarcastic, you were as well. But come to think of it, sometimes I'm very optimistic because I'm scared if I'm not thinking this will all just go away soon.

[The Nehor]

6 minutes ago, Scott Lloyd said:

If you can be patient, there’s less than 11 years left in AOC’s 12-year, climate change doomsday clock. 
 

Of course, she’s walked that back now and said it was just a joke. I dunno. She looked and sounded deadly serious at the time. 
 

Maybe I just have the intellect of a sea sponge. 

I think it climate change turns nasty it will take at least 30 years before it gets really bad. Then again I could be surprised (pleasantly or unpleasantly)

[bsjkki]

Interesting video to play to see the acceleration of cases outside of China. We are trying to flatten the curve of cases by proactive measures and social distancing so we don't overwhelm our healthcare system.