Tango in times of pandemic

[itwillhappen]

In what sense?

For a year now, the state here has had an interest in all citizens reducing their private contacts to a minimum, if possible to zero, wear masks and so on. Which they don't do because it is against their interest to live their life.

And the citizens here are interested in the state investing massively in the health system, (rapid) tests, vaccination, digital education, border controls. What the state does not do because it is against its interests to spend as little effort as possible.

 

[Steve Pastor]

CDC now says it's ok to travel if you are fully vacinated. Meanwhile, after loosened restrictions new cases have jumped by 20% in Oregon. I noted a similar rise in Clark county where I live across the river from Portland. This is in spite of the continued mask mandate. But in a bar or restaurant people mostly don't wear the masks at their tables "while eating or drinking." In reality that translates to almost never while seated. And, other than "from a family member," most new cases here come from "small (1 - 10) social gatherings." I don't know how they figure things, but a bunch of people sitting a a table, eating, drinking, and talking for a substantial period of time qualified.
Next Saturday I'm putting on my gaucho outfit and headed to the cowboy dance place anyhow, since I'll be "fully vaccinated."

 

[tangobro]

You are referring to Jon Tariq's Milonga in Paramus. There are two more weekly Milongas in NJ - in Leonia and in Maywood. They were going on since June and July 2020. My wife and I regularly attend the one in Leonia (next to GW bridge) and periodically in Maywood.
If you want more information or have questions, contact me personally.

Thanks Reuven Thetanguero! Thanks to you and your lovely wife I had a great time in Leonia!!

 

[itwillhappen]

The milongas in Instanbul are closed and the registration of this event is not open, but that's how international festivals might try to start again:

About Covid-19 – 16. tanGO TO istanbul

www.tangotoistanbul.com

 

[Rabbit]

Trials of large (1000+) non-socially distanced events are going on now, so I'd say things look promising in countries with high vaccination rates

 

[Brummbaer]

Trials of large (1000+) non-socially distanced events are going on now, so I'd say things look promising in countries with high vaccination rates

Hope so - but it's a few weeks before the results are in (hmmm, do I trust our government enough regarding the truth?) - and many of those events were outdoors (although some indoors). Some doubts already expressed about whether those attending will report test results over coming weeks.

Some classes are planning to restart - with restrictions (couples, no changing, ventilation, space, etc.) and there are plans for milonga later towards summer. Going to wait and see on the milonga situation and the applicable rules, codigos even. Hoping we don't import some vaccine-avoiding variant.

 

[Brummbaer]

Not good in Argentina

https://www.theguardian.com/global-...tina-covid-coronavirus-cases-deaths-hospitals

 

[ArbeeNYC]

Not good in Argentina

https://www.theguardian.com/global-...tina-covid-coronavirus-cases-deaths-hospitals

Not good at all. I don't understand the resistance to vaccination. Barring a complete quarantine, there is no other viable solution.

 

[TTanguero]

Buenos Aires is back into a full lockdown:

 

[itwillhappen]

Not good at all. I don't understand the resistance to vaccination. Barring a complete quarantine, there is no other viable solution.

Did you read something about "resistance to vaccination" in the article?
I would not even expect that everyone there got an offer.

 

[ArbeeNYC]

Did you read something about "resistance to vaccination" in the article?
I would not even expect that everyone there got an offer.

They didn't say it specifically, but it seemed to be implied by the article:

"A devastating second wave of Covid cases has caught Argentina off-guard, with relaxed restrictions and a low vaccination rate."

 

[Steve Pastor]

I'm guessing this is related to low Vax rate in Argentina.

The head of the World Health Organization slammed wealthy countries for a “scandalous inequity” in COVID-19 vaccines that is prolonging the coronavirus pandemic, and said 10 countries account for 75% of the vaccine doses that have so far been administered.

“There is no diplomatic way to say it: a small group of countries that make and buy the majority of the world’s vaccines control the fate of the rest of the world,” Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in opening comments at the WHO’s annual assembly on Monday.

Meanwhile, I have been waiting for one of my main hangouts, a "coffee house," to reopen inside. This will happen June 1. I am thinking how odd it will be to sit in that space with outher people, and am not sure I will do it right away, just like being able to go inside, say, a grocery store without a mask.
I know I'm not the only one thinking this, but, man, what a strange trip it's been.
And it's not over by any means for most of the planet and may make a come back here.

 

[TTanguero]

They didn't say it specifically, but it seemed to be implied by the article:

"A devastating second wave of Covid cases has caught Argentina off-guard, with relaxed restrictions and a low vaccination rate."

Low availability, not low take-up.

 

[Brummbaer]

I'm guessing this is related to low Vax rate in Argentina

That seems to be the case from the evidence so far.

And it's not over by any means for most of the planet and may make a come back here.

Another (old) interesting article comparing vaccinations and their effect in Israel and Chile.

Vaccine is part of the answer, but it doesn't kick in until 2-3 weeks after first shot, and maximum effectiveness 2-3 weeks after second shot. That means little immediate effect on an outbreak, but should start to see impact 2-3 weeks after vaccine programme started. It's even more complicated by infection rates and those requiring hospitalisation (2-3 weeks after infection). That's what should be happening in UK (well, England) with localized outbreaks, allegedly related to B1.617.2 variant. Waiting for some evidence, and whether that evidence can be trusted, or whether the government will just go for dates.

There's no silver bullet to kill it off instantly. Denial, vaccine shortages, vaccine hesitancy, vaccine effectiveness, people proximity, spreading via travel, many local attitudes, etc, all serve to prolong the world-wide pandemic, although local risks may be dramatically reduced. Caution is still required whether you're fully vaccinated or not until some low, manageable, infection rates are achieved.

Keep safe

 

[Brummbaer]

Maybe just to resurrect this topic to say: Is it over yet? Ignoring those who never thought it was an issue! I think UK official rates of infections running at 10x Germany.

We're still avoiding milongas, or any poorly ventilated event. My wife had to get tested last week as her much younger musical instrument teacher, also fully vaccinated, tested positive the day after her lesson - and has been ill all week with Covid-19. My wife tested negative with no symptoms.

Milongas seem to have brought out the solos looking for a dance partner for a tanda. Fixed couples/pairs in the class, but only 20% were happy to change partners. Images of some milongas look sparse, and more solo dancers paired up for a tanda.

Mulling over getting back to some form of 'normal' if continues to improve by November, but winter chills bring on the requests to close the doors and stop the ventilation. Now it looks as if flu, RSV, and other respiratory ailments starting to circulate.