Maryland tightens grip on regs as COVID-19 surges

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The following stats caused Gov. Hogan to tighten the regulations governing capacity in business and public venues to curb the case count:

  1. The largest number of Maryland cases were reported on 11.17.20 at around 2,149 cases.*
  2. The number of days where there were more than a 1,000 cases was 13. *
  3. The state remained at 6.85% positivity rate.*

*Source

The Governor took the following actions based on the list above:

  1. Bars and restaurants to close by 10 PM
  2. Retail to drop back to 50% capacity from the current 75%
  3. A ban on fans at sporting events (college and professional)
  4. Ending visitations at hospitals and senior homes

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Happy Hour at a Friend’s House

Small socially distanced happy hour between two good friends, to keep contact minimum with the general public.

All photographs were taken with the Leica M240 and 50mm F2.0 Summicron Version III

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Frederick County’s Mask Mandate and other changes!

According to the segment by NBC Washington News there is now a mask mandate in Frederick County both indoors and outdoors where a six foot distance cannot be maintained. This matter on late Thursday night by the Frederick County Health Department.

In addition to this we got a definition of what the capacity limits are for different venues, here are the changes:

  1. Indoor/Outdoor Venues is limited to 25 people or 25%
  2. Religious Facilities at 50%
  3. Fitness centers at 25%

Unchanged:

  1. Restaurants and personal businesses at 50%
  2. Retail businesses at 75%

Stay safe out there, numbers are going up and we want to keep them as low as they were not that long ago in Frederick, MD.

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Happy Diwali from my family to yours!

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Thoughts on Pfizer’s COVID-19 Vaccine

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It looks like more than just the CEO of Pfizer is happy about the news (he sold a lot of stock to celebrate) that a study conducted by them showed that their vaccine candidate was more than 90% effective. This is welcoming news in a world that is tired of the pandemic and the effect it has had on their lives which is now in its 8th month. The infection numbers are going in one direction, up. The US is officially at 0.9% (don’t get caught up in the low percentage, it was 0.09% not that long ago, that’s a 10% jump!) infection rate of the entire population and as we approach flu season the numbers are dangerously on the rise.

While these early results are promising and a sign of good things to come, there are a few facts about this particular vaccine you should know so as to not tempt yourself into believing this will all be over in a month or two:

  1. The vaccine is a two dose vaccine, you will two shots, three weeks apart (good luck getting people to come back to take a second shot).
  2. You need to store the vaccine at extremely low temperatures (-80 C) a logistical nightmare for your local CVS.
  3. It’s a relatively small study at 94 participants (not bad and we need to accept smaller populations to test on given it’s a pandemic but it is still small!)
  4. I wonder what the FDA will accept as a demonstration of safety before rolling out to the population
  5. That brings me to my last point, who’s going to get the first doses? Will they want them if they are released with the FDA applying pandemic time regs?

The vaccine study is a great start considering where we were 8 months ago, but there will be more to follow and we will hit critical mass at some point but Pfizer’s early lead will help the FDA figure out just what is safe in these extraordinary times and will tell us can a small population represented in the study really account for what the vaccine will do in a large population? In the meanwhile the race has begun, this will hopefully go down in history as the milestone that humanity measured as when the pandemic turned on its head.

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Flu vaccine

Quick and fast, the vaccine was administered in less than 60 seconds!

While you wait for your COVID-19 shot, get your flu shot! Flu is a killer too. I got mine at CVS and it was free when I produced my insurance card. People ask me when a COVID vaccine’s going to be ready, I always reply with do you take the flu shot every year? Because if the answer is no to that then you don’t have to worry about COVID-19.

It’s amazing how much of the general population have a great aversion to vaccines. Last week’s 60 Minutes segment on COVID-19 interviewed General Gus Perna where he expressed one of his many concerns that people will not take the vaccine they are working so hard to stockpile and distribute in a controlled, scientific and strategic manner.

His final words on the segment resonates in my head when I look around at the people who don’t believe in flu vaccines or vaccines in general as to how we are supposed to overcome a pandemic when we can’t get compliance against a known killer that’s been around a very long time.

“Shame on us”

“I was already sick I don’t need it”

“Shame on us”

“Hey I don’t believe in vaccines”

“Shame on us”

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Enjoying the fall from my backyard!

All photographs were taken with the Leica M240 and 50mm F2.0 Summicron Version III

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Drinking beer in Downtown Frederick on a Sunday!

Idiom and Steinhardt Breweries in downtown Frederick are separated by a wall!

There are over 17 breweries in Frederick County, the two breweries I visited are separated by a wall and it’s a 10 second walk to each other. One word of caution if you decide to go to either of these breweries, park across the street where they have a designated lot. A lot of people drive by and think they can’t park, since street parking is not always available and they have an alley next to the brewery where there is hardly any paring but people think that’s all there is! The breweries are awesome and something for everyone. Steinhardt has a huge list of Belgian favorites from the Flemish (think Sour and pucker, my favorite) and traditional Belgians. They also feature stouts, ales and IPAs for the more traditional style folk. Great atmosphere and well spaced seats inside the brewery (not to mention high ceilings) and seating outside the brewery available as well along the creek that they share with Idiom next door. Idiom has a large space as well, they have two rooms (and two bars!) and one features visiting musicians. They often host food trucks outside their main entrance and you can peek at their calendar to find out who’s coming when as well as any specials on beers they run such as Thirsty Thursdays. I love their Level Up which is a German Hefeweizen style beer.

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