There are other distinctions in other fields too.

For example in new world countries "nativism" is the about the minorities who were in the place before the majority (for whom the place is "new") came there, and the majority sees the country as built on immigration and/or particular sets of political values.

In old world countries nativism is about the majority (for whom the place is "old") and is an expression of scepticism about diversity and change - the country is built on its native population which in any case are mostly all related if you go back a dozen generations and often speak a language not spoken outside their narrow cultural bubble.

At least in the UK we'd typically include Aus/NZ as new world countries. We think of ourselves as a old-world country but there are various reasons why we're a bit in between (immigration, strong cultural links to new world countries, speaking one of the three major international languages, the presence of more-native-than-thou people speaking Celtic languages etc.)

I'm not an expert but there are apparently differences between old and new world winemaking approaches - old world being far more reliant on the native microflora that's always been there in past compared to new world which is far more controlled. I get that it's loaded and would be fine using different terminology if there is a non-loaded alternative.

Getting back on topic - views on why it might the old/new world distinction might make a difference with Covid? Maybe countries established longer with a more homogenous population are easier to get working together as a society?

i'm sure the Aboriginal Australians, who have been there for 500 centuries, share the same sentiment.

i think we're highlighting the same thing from different directions, but i'm not quite sure.

National antigen testing starts in Slovakia this weekend - I'm going. It's optional so there are three possibilities.

1. Person doesn't go. -----> continuation of the lockdown which applied this week (allowed out with mask for work, nearest shop, dog walking within 100m of residence)

2. Person goes and tests negative -----> gets a certificate to carry. They return to the rules from 6 weeks ago (masks, rule of six, some types of business off limits)

3. Person goes and tests positive -----> 10 day quarantine, inform contacts etc.

The plan is to do this all again next weekend too so as to get the false negatives from the first test.

English language FAQ
https://spectator.sme.sk/c/22520536/...nt-to-faq.html

Yes I think we are. The majority culture being built over the top of the older minority culture with varying degrees of insensitivity and rights abuses is one of the defining characteristics of "new world" countries. That's one reason we'd include Australia, not just the Americas. There are various world indigenous peoples' networks so they presumably see parallels too.

Obviously "new world" is a loaded term but if the term has meaning it shouldn't be junked until there is a non-loaded term.

as long as the loaded term is recognized for what it is and the history isn't swept under the rug, i agree.

Hasn't this happened everywhere throughout all of history?

No.

The hits just keep on coming.

accelerating ... +545,499 new cases

this is fine

Not sure about everywhere but if we look at England.

England has done a lot of the heavy lifting of white man culture wipe.

However England has had its dominant culture erased aggressively on numerous occasions.

Its just that the last time it happened was nearly a thousand years ago.

Playing NCAA football has got to be the absolute most moronic and irresponsible thing to be doing during a pandemic. Let's see, a game where a dozen guys all jump on top of each other and spit droplets into each other's faces. What could go wrong.

Colleges should be sued by their local communities to recoup costs because you know these players have likely contributed to spread in their communities and by extension are responsible for at least some deaths.

Colleges reopening at all was a 100% financial decision, and I don't think it's a coincidence that the spikes have followed the reopening of college campuses across the country.

I guess I missed that bill where Congress was going to cover all the Universities' losses for shutting down and they decided to pass and open anyways.

Some colleges are doing just fine. I have a daughter at Tulane. They test every undergrad twice a week and quarantine in one dorm or at a Hyatt if positive. The current test positivity rate is .2 per cent. Classes are live with masks, ventilation etc. but there is no reason in the world to think that Tulane opening and staying open is in any way increasing spread.

Yes some colleges are doing well. Whether that is good protocols, more compliant than average students, or plain old luck is open to question. Likely a combination. There are several colleges that have had widespread outbreaks and a few have had to close either temporarily or for the whole semester. For example SUNY Oneonta in NY State had to close after hundreds of cases in the first few weeks. How many cases in the Oneonta area can be attributed to students who were there? No real way to be sure.

Technology allows most college lecture courses to be taught online. Colleges are pressing their luck because they need the revenue. It's the same reason NCAA football is being played in the middle of a pandemic, $$$.

I agree. I think it's possible to open schools but I also think it should be done carefully.

I don't pretend to be a lawyer on the internets but even I know that this would be exceptionally difficult to prove to a standard sufficient to win an award of damages, even if a cause of action exists.

I am in charge of all disinfections (within the first 72 hours) for a decent sized nearby state university.

They have done the same thing. One dorm is just for covid+ students and a second dorm is overflow from the local hospital.

They seem to be doing everything in their power to create a safer environment and stay open.

I have a feeling I will be very busy when all students/faculty are tested after spring break.

For reference, I am there twice a week (scheduled) for the overflow dorm and 3-4 days a week (on call) for random door rooms (where the covid+ student was living) and then the covid+ dorm. I could see that doubling.

My Mom is a college professor at another state university in a different state and she is no longer teaching in-person.
However, some of her co-workers are still teaching in-person. Mainly science labs.

FWIW, I am paying the people spraying $320/hr for the first 72 hours and $125/hr for anything after the first 72 hours with a 2 hour minimum.

Each worker gets $320/hr? What do you mean by the first 72 hours? At one job?

Talk about an orgy

Many companies will not disinfect a space if there has been a confirmed case of covid in there for the first 72 hours. So the space just sits vacant.

We will disinfect during the first 72 hours because we have extensive experience dealing with toxic environments including mold and dealing with bloodborne pathogens. One requirement is to be certified in Trauma and Crime Scene Cleanup. That is the minimum level of protection and care needed.

We have also been using electrostatic disinfection for mold for 6 years now and have all the equipment (i.e sprayers) that can be difficult to find.

Yes, each worker gets $320/hr with a minimum of 2 hours. The clock starts when you pull onto campus and stops when you leave campus.

A typical call will be for 5 suites (12 bedrooms) in 3 different buildings.

You have to don and doff your PPE for each room to prevent cross contamination. That takes up most of the time, is a big cost and hands down the most important thing to be done. That job should be completed within the 2 hour time frame by one person.

The scheduled bathroom disinfections for the other dorms take 2 people 2 hours because there is more involved with those. Some light janitorial work is required.

Jeez, what part of the country is this?

The lucrative part.

everything Villian said is relevant, but i'm curious how much the lurkers in the thread would want to be paid to performs the tasks listed above? especially the part about being certified in Trauma and Crime Scene Cleanup.

My wife is ready to go to work now--LOL. And as far as she could find on a Google search she meets the general requirements for certifications (as she found no specific jurisdiction issuing agencies) though she obviously is not officially certified.

I know a couple of people who had jobs cleaning nuclear reactors for years for far less money than that.

I'm pretty sure our grown kid would take that job though he lacks related training and experience. But he's a quick learner, Villian, if you're hiring near his present location

ETA: I wouldn't do it myself--at this point in my life.