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About this blog: I am a native of Alameda County, grew up in Pleasanton and currently live in the house I grew up in that is more than 100 years old. I spent 39 years in the daily newspaper business and wrote a column for more than 25 years in add...  (More)

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Let's get elementary students back in school

Uploaded: Jul 21, 2020
Gov. Gavin Newsom imposed a state decree on local school districts last Friday when he declared that any county on the state’s watch list could not re-open schools with students in classrooms.

Counties must be off the list for two weeks before local districts can consider re-opening schools. That means classes on Zoom with parents trying to fill in as teachers. That has a chance of working in middle school and high school as well as older elementary schools, but I cannot fathom a 1st grade teacher trying to teach reading to 20 kids on a Zoom call.

And it’s even worse for low-income families or families of color that speak another language at home. The last quarter of the 2019-20 school year was an educational disaster for many of those students followed by a summer likely without any organized educational activities and another nine weeks looming of the same.

Instead of executive decree, what’s needed by the governor and the state schools’ chief is a recognition of the science that Newsom loves to cite that shows elementary-age students have almost no risk from the disease. They can go to school and learn while mixing with classmates.

The challenge is developing protective measures for the teachers and other staff members, particularly those with underlying health issues. Resources and brain power should be focused here so 2020 does not become a year that education is written off by children at a time they need it the most. Education is the best ticket out of poverty and there’s nothing more foundational than reading skills.

The longer kids stay out of school the more challenging it will be for parents who need to work to figure out how to handle the situation. That’s particularly true for a single moms.

Have you noticed the new bright yellow reflective tape framing stop lights around town? The reflective tape was used for the first time locally when Alameda County installed a three-way stop sign at the intersection of Sunol Boulevard and Castlewood Drive just southwest of the Interstate 680 interchange. The intersection had been the site of several accidents and I, frankly, thought the stop sign would not work.

Wrong.

It made the intersection much safer and it actually worked pretty well when traffic was flowing normally.

The reflective tape on the post makes the stop sign itself pop. Pleasanton’s chief traffic engineer, Mike Tassano, saw it and liked it so similar red reflective tape now highlights stop signs on Valley Avenue.

He wrote in an email that CalTrans also liked it so the highlight tape has been installed on several interchange intersections. It’s a simple innovation that might make those intersections safer. Incidentally, when I was out last week in the middle of the day I was surprised to see three motorists flat out run red lights—one blew by me after I had stopped for the red light.

Community.
What is it worth to you?

Comments

Posted by epidemic, a resident of Downtown,
on Jul 21, 2020 at 8:34 am

Thank you for doing your part to help me infect more people. I'm sure you're aware that I can't stay alive without members of many different households coming together every day and then returning home to infect their parents and grandparents. I depend on people like you to keep me alive and thriving in this country stronger than any other.


Posted by DKHSK, a resident of Bridle Creek,
on Jul 21, 2020 at 9:04 am

DKHSK is a registered user.

Epidemic,

Stay home. Leave the rest of us to live our own lives.

Dan


Posted by epidemic, a resident of Downtown,
on Jul 21, 2020 at 9:13 am

DKHSK,

Maybe you are unaware, I don't take requests. I'd be happy to come to your house and talk about it though.


Posted by Castlewood Resident, a resident of Castlewood,
on Jul 21, 2020 at 11:37 am

I had to laugh with reference to the “bright yellow tape" making the intersection safer. The stop signs and tape have done very little. The residents of Castlewood and commuters still drive right through it like it doesn't exist. I never had a problem before the stop signs. Since they've been put up, not a week goes by that I've had to hit the breaks or dodge someone running them. Moronic.

It would be interesting to have a cop sit there once in a while and hand out tickets; fear might make it safer.


Posted by Bill, a resident of Pleasanton Heights,
on Jul 21, 2020 at 12:15 pm

Let's leave Tim Hunt in an emergency waiting room without a mask. Pleasanton would be a better place if Tim left. And that's been the case for a long time.


Posted by PapaDan, a resident of Danbury Park,
on Jul 21, 2020 at 12:24 pm

Tim, Your assertion that elementary students should attend in-person classes is irresponsible and dangerous. You are asking teachers and students to endanger their lives and the lives of their families. I have two grandchildren in Pleasanton and I know some local teachers. I do not want any of them to risk their lives in that way, and neither should you. The convenience or inconvenience of this decision, or the cost, should not be part of the decision-making process. Staying away from schools under these circumstances �" with the virus raging all around us �" is a common-sense necessity. Ask the teachers. Be honest �" are YOU willing to spend five days each week, all day, in one of these classrooms and risk your life and the lives of your family members? You shouldn't. The possibility that you, in writing this opinion, might influence others to do something that dangerous is irresponsible. You should retract it.


Posted by Jake Waters, a resident of Birdland,
on Jul 21, 2020 at 12:26 pm

Thank you Tim for having the courage to report the other side. I agree, the schools need to return, and I believe if they don't, it just reinforces the notion that this is political.

Gavin and is band of Liberal Arts Majors like to interject the word ‘science' when they talk about this virus. I'm sure it gives them a sense of knowledge, superiority, and elitism that only they possess.

I've responded before about my belief that if they follow through with their virtual teaching then they will own the dismal failure they set in motion. Title 1 schools will really be in the hole, and may fail to recover, but the school administration will more than likely graduate them forward.

Technology is a wonderful thing, but many of the teachers don't possess the skills or enthusiasm to pull it off. Not to mention the burden on single parent, working two parent families, and low income families that will be hit hard. Silicon Valley techy's love Zoom, but kids are not going to have the discipline, attention span, and maturity to play around with it for long periods of time.

Cops are out in the elements everyday with actual spreaders (most are probably asymptomatic), should they all stay home (probably a loaded question for you defund crowd)? Teachers can wear their ‘magic cotton masks' and they will be just find as they do each year through the cold season. How do all those Target, Safeway, Lucky's, Costco, and other stores manage going to work each day?

No, open the schools (and everything else while we are discussing this) and start living. If your idea is to live by the liberal slogan ‘slow the spread' then we will be doing this into 2022. But maybe that is your intentions.


Posted by D, a resident of Danville,
on Jul 21, 2020 at 1:30 pm

@Jake Waters,

I agree 100% with your common sense analysis of this situation.

Yes, liberals, the best way to keep anyone from catching the virus is to require that everyone stay in a rubber room by themselves 24-7. However, this situation, like most situations, can not be solved by only looking at one part of the equation. As pediatric experts and many others have pointed out, children, especially those of low income families, or with special needs, greatly benefit from being back at school, with healthy meals, counselors, special education specialist, speech pathologists, etc. supplementing the actual education being provided by the teacher in the classroom. We need to balance the overall risks and benefits of in person education, especially at the elementary school level, where statistically they have a much lower chance of being infected and having a serious consequence from the infection.

So, yes, there is a lower chance of an elementary school child being infected, if he stays home in a bubble walled off from his family and the outside world, than going to school. But at what costs, overall, to the child? Cashiers at Safeway encounter hundreds of strangers during a normal day, but yet they show up, doing their job, and the liberals are not demanding that they close all stores(or more valuable to liberals, Marijuana dispencaries)...But given the chance to regulate, regulate, and regulate, liberals and the liberal teachers unions are demanding that we close schools...So predictable, but sad.


Posted by Kevin, a resident of Castlewood,
on Jul 21, 2020 at 1:33 pm

Kevin is a registered user.

I was on a conference call with a work colleague in Japan. He said they had their maximum daily rate of COVID-19 yesterday. They had 500 cases.

500

500

For a country of over 120,000,000 (120million people), they had 500 cases and that is their max reported daily cases since the pandemic began. Most of the population lives in big cities in apartments that are on top of each other. Of course, schools are open, restaurants are open, people go to work, etc.

In the US, we are running at a rate of tens of thousands of cases per day.

Yes, open up schools as soon as possible. But listen to experts and open them in areas where % positive tests are going down . This is not a political issue. Over 140,000 people have died in 4 months.


Posted by Joe, a resident of Pleasanton Valley,
on Jul 21, 2020 at 1:33 pm

Joe is a registered user.

Papa Dan -couldn't agree more and I'll add, the willingness of people in this community, this state, and nationally to throw teachers, and other professions, into the breech and 'take one for the team' leaves me speechless.

Jake, this issue has become political for a variety of reasons- lack of leadership at the national level (and now we witness Trump backing into masks and press conferences not because it's the right thing to do but because the polls are telling him he needs to) and a political/societal discourse and backside-kissing that has completely rendered common-sense and the development and implementation of a consistent plan of attack a non-starter. To have people not wearing masks as a political statement of support does nothing more than demonstrate selfish stupidity that, unfortunately, exists everywhere. The flip side of this is that Covid doesn't seem to discriminate so I guess it's at this point I'm assuming that Darwin kicks in and takes care of people who don't wear masks. It's also a political issue due to on-going attempts to discredit science, the medical community, and people like Dr. Fauci. Last time I checked, Dr. Fauci wasn't encouraging bleach as a cure or taking medications that are unsafe to take.

Additionally, there is an much used adage in my line of work that states "numbers don't lie, people do". As of yesterday, Covid deaths stand at 143,000. Southern California is now a hot spot in large part due to mask resistance, Miami-Dade County hospitals are at 130% of capacity. Those are facts that are indisputable and are a measure of the seriousness of this virus. But, because this is a political issue, the entire thing is a 'hoax' or just made up.

After hearing statements about "it will go away when the weather gets hot", "we only have 15 cases and they will soon go away", one important thing we should have learned is that there is still much we don't know which is compounded by the virus mutating. Today it may not claim young people as as victims, but in 2-3 months it may and as is the case now, the proverbial fox gets in that hen (school) house, we could have massive numbers of kids infected- and people are ok with that possibility?

Finally, Tim. I'm far happier allowing places like Missouri and Florida take the lead on this medical experiment of forcing kids back into school. To this point Florida leadership, in particular, has shown they are completely inept at managing this crisis and the idea of taking a similar direction on anything related to Covid is frightening.


Posted by Kevin, a resident of Castlewood,
on Jul 21, 2020 at 1:35 pm

Kevin is a registered user.

I was on a conference call with a work colleague in Japan. He said they had their maximum daily rate of COVID-19 yesterday. They had 500 cases.

500

500

For a country of over 120,000,000 (120million people), they had 500 cases and that is their max reported daily cases since the pandemic began. Most of the population lives in big cities in apartments that are on top of each other. Of course, schools are open, restaurants are open, people go to work, etc.

In the US, we are running at a rate of tens of thousands of cases per day.

Yes, open up schools as soon as possible. But listen to experts and open them in areas where % positive tests are going down . This is not a political issue. Over 140,000 people have died in 4 months.


Posted by John B, a resident of Happy Valley,
on Jul 21, 2020 at 2:05 pm

Life is more important than any thing else including education. No point of opening schools or any other businesses, where there is chance of transmission. Parents and grandparents will be the victims. Please do not open schools or restaurants or bars or churches. Life is precious and you have only one life to live on..take care and wear masks and do not go out, unless it justifies your life (there is no such thing)..


Posted by Linda Kelly, a resident of Vintage Hills,
on Jul 21, 2020 at 4:42 pm

Linda Kelly is a registered user.

Red light runners aren't always 4-wheel vehicles. As I traversed Valley Ave. Westbound one day last week, I watched a cyclist wearing a bright red State Farm shirt, with those words emblazoned on the back blow through the light at Busch Road. Oh, and his helmet must have been left at home along with his face mask.
As we got to Santa Rita, he moved to the left instead of crossing at the pedestrian walk, right in front of me. I swerved left, he obliviously continued to ride in the vehicle lane, not the bicycle lane until well past the Jack-in-the-Box drive-through entry.
On the other side of Santa Rita, another cyclist, wearing snazzy black and orange cycling shorts, shirt and matching helmet, also breezed through the stop signs between Santa Rita and Hopyard.
I thought about honking, but feared having bicycle scrapes along the side of my car, so thought better of it. I doubt either of them heard me admonish them with the reminder that bicycles are required to follow the rules of the road, just as automobiles are bound by law.
We can re-design to the ends of the earth, but so long as bicyclists feel they own of the roads, there will still be auto vs bicycle collisions.


Posted by Cholo, a resident of Livermore,
on Jul 21, 2020 at 5:52 pm

(Removed)


Posted by Lance M, a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood,
on Jul 21, 2020 at 6:21 pm

"families of color that speak another language at home" - I hope that you didn't really mean to write that sentence. Why does it need to be families of color? Yes, students where a household does not speak much (if any english) will have more difficulty. But what does color have to do with it? Are you suggesting that white students who's families speak a different language won't have the same problems?


Posted by Jennifer, a resident of Danville,
on Jul 21, 2020 at 6:27 pm

Our kids are grown, but elementary school kids need to be in school, and teachers need to be in the classroom. Period. There is inherent risk in everyday living, and if minimum wage essential workers can get out there during a pandemic, anyone can. If you're that paranoid about a virus, turn off the news. Teachers... earn your check. Distant learning is putting the ball in the parents court, and a lot of parents work for a living. Teaching children in the classroom is your responsibility.


Posted by Me Too, a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood,
on Jul 21, 2020 at 6:31 pm

@JakeWaters - the common sense in this situation is that people like you have turned a non-political situation political as somehow wearing a mask and considering the health and well-being of other people is a horrible trait of one political party. History, experience and studies show that wearing a mask and social distancing could make the pandemic minimal in a relatively short period of time. But people like you can't be bothered to help others and don't understand. You hate the term "science" so I'm not sure what else to call it. I guess I'm not sure why we should send students to school at all if things like science don't matter.


Posted by Me Too, a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood,
on Jul 21, 2020 at 6:34 pm

@Jennifer - teachers aren't making this decision, Newsom and the district leaders are. Yes, the teachers union is in support of distance learning but most teachers would love to be in school but also understand that there are many at risk teachers. If leaders could come up with a plan for all that would be great, but that is not for the teachers to decide. And to imply that teachers are earning their check with distance learning is insane. I suggest you actually talk to some before you make ridiculous statements.


Posted by Jennifer, a resident of Danville,
on Jul 21, 2020 at 7:16 pm

@Me Too - I never said the teachers were making the decision. I said they belong in the classroom. Reading comprehension obviously isn't your thing. I'm entitled to my opinion, and if you don't like it, don't read my posts. The pandemic is affecting less than 1% of Americans, and 80% of cases are mild. The risk is very minimal. Quit being such a paranoid worry wart. Get over yourself.


Posted by jo, a resident of Parkside,
on Jul 21, 2020 at 7:30 pm

Dont worry Linda cyclist get tickets too, and if they get involved in a accident with a 2+ ton vehicle they always lose. See the difference ? Maybe if Pleasanton would occasionally take a street sweeper to the bike lanes they would not get in your lane.

I always avoided that intersection of Pleasanton-Sunol road near Castlewood as a cyclist even before the stop sign.. it's just not worth it, I'd rather use Happy Valley Road.

As a cyclist I do my best to follow the rules, knowing I will always lose to a vehicle. So please put down your phone !


Posted by Jake Waters, a resident of Birdland,
on Jul 21, 2020 at 7:41 pm

@Me Too

Everything this year is about politics with election coming up. Have you read the manifesto from the LA Teachers Union? Of course it's political, so you better become ‘woke' or you will be surprised in the end. Listen to the rhetoric- ‘wear your magic cloth napkin' to slow the virus. Slow the virus, like indefinitely? Who makes up these sayings? Why does Gavin have us wearing masks outside which is the safest place to be unmasked? You don't question that? Have you been accosted by the ‘Mask Nazi's' downtown yet?

If parents allow the schools to close than they only have themselves to blame. The silent majority is starting to stir, it always happens well after an event. Perhaps this is the time to consider alternate educational paradigms. I would.


Posted by Kevin, a resident of Castlewood,
on Jul 21, 2020 at 8:14 pm

Kevin is a registered user.

Tim, you show concern for “low-income families and families of color who don't speak English" You also blogged your support for killing $15 minimum wage. See link below Thankfully the adult in the room takes action.

Web Link

So you want the poor kids back in school because it is good for them but you are against their parents making $15 / hour because it is bad for the economy. It doesn't matter that the parents wind up working multiple jobs and cannot afford to provide their families.

Your opinions represent the typical white privilege type of thinking that needs broadening. Think about the kids that Heart for Africa (organization that you are a director of) is helping. They are not just going to school there. They are being loved and fed and cherished.


Posted by Bill, a resident of Pleasanton Heights,
on Jul 22, 2020 at 1:14 am

New margin call for Tim Hunt.

Spend three months in a third grade classroom with no mask come fall. Breathe all of that in.

You cool with that? Put your health where your mouth is Tim. Tell us you will do that.

That's what you're asking teachers to do. And you DO like teachers, yes?


Posted by Chris, a resident of San Ramon,
on Jul 22, 2020 at 8:19 am

Any way you cut it, teachers get screwed here. They'll be putting their own lives on the line when they return to the classroom as well as the lives of the people in their contact circles. For now they have the luxury of spending countless hours adapting their curriculum to a remote setting all without overtime pay.

Also, when a teacher tests positive and has to quarantine for 2 weeks, who is going to take over their classroom? Any volunteers? You think the district is going to take on that type of liability? Any student in contact with that teacher in the past two weeks will also have a 2 week home quarantine.


Posted by Bob, a resident of Del Prado,
on Jul 22, 2020 at 9:06 am

Bob is a registered user.

Too bad people couldn't pass their 8th grade science class and come up with wacky ideas like this. By the way....you know what else is in schools. Adults (the kids are not the teachers nor the staff no matter what you believe).


Posted by Jennifer, a resident of Danville,
on Jul 22, 2020 at 9:21 am

Who will take over for a teacher if they test positive? Another employee. The same way another employee takes over for any other employee who tests positive - in any profession. They're called substitute teachers. That's what substitute teachers are for. This isn't breaking news.


Posted by Cholo, a resident of Livermore,
on Jul 22, 2020 at 9:34 am

(Removed)


Posted by Resident, a resident of Downtown,
on Jul 22, 2020 at 10:05 am

Tim has offered what I believe is a reasonable opinion.

Don't think so? Hmmm, let's compare/contrast with, grocery store workers, shall we?

Using PapaDan's post......

You are asking grocery store workers to endanger their lives and the lives of their families. I do not want any of them to risk their lives in that way, and neither should you. Staying away from grocery stores and supermarkets under these circumstances ?" with the virus raging all around us ?" is a common-sense necessity. Ask the grocery store and supermarket workers. Be honest ?" are YOU willing to spend five days each week, all day, in one of these stores and risk your life and the lives of your family members? You shouldn't.

Good luck getting food for you and yours......

Or, how about JohnB's post, revised.....

Life is more important than any thing else including grocery shopping. No point of opening grocery stores, supermarkets or any other businesses, where there is chance of transmission. Parents and grandparents will be the victims. Please do not open grocery stores, supermarkets, hardware stores, or restaurants or bars or churches. Life is precious and you have only one life to live on..take care and wear masks and do not go out, unless it justifies your life (there is no such thing)..

Some 'food' for thought, for those who insinuate with their comments that protecting teachers' collective well-being is way more important than that of grocery store/supermarket workers, retail workers, and all others who are putting their health at risk every single day to provide goods and services to others.

They don't get to work remotely--if they don't show up, they don't get paid.

"Distance learning" is a joke--ask any student.

However, it's no joke that Dr. Haglund still gets his $300k annual salary without interruption, along with all of the teachers in PUSD, and all those up and down the rest of the state.

Education, via teaching in-person in the classroom, should be considered as "essential" as, um, grocery shopping, but it's not, because Gov. Newsom and others are too scared to bite the hand that feeds them--the California Teachers Association--one of the most powerful unions in the country.


Posted by Vance, a resident of Danville,
on Jul 22, 2020 at 10:08 am

Living is not just breathing.


Posted by Chris, a resident of San Ramon,
on Jul 22, 2020 at 10:36 am

Trying to compare elementary school teachers with grocery/retail workers is fine. Lets just set the same standards. Go into a store that requires customers to wear masks without a mask on and see what happens. Do that multiple times and see if you're welcome at that establishment anymore. Apply the same standard to schools. Student takes off their mask. Suspended. Student takes it off multiple times. Expelled.

We're talking about large groups of children, not adults. You know, the kids that keep interrupting their parents' video calls for work and driving their parents insane since they don't listen. After being cooped up at home do you really think they're going to sit properly with their masks on in their seats?


Posted by Jennifer, a resident of Danville,
on Jul 22, 2020 at 11:02 am

I'm eager to get America back to NORMAL. We can't live in fear. Cholo - I love kids. The difference between us is you don't have any GUTS. Once again, less than 1% of Americans are affected, and 80% of cases are mild. The mass hysteria, over reaction, fear mongering needs to stop.


Posted by Olorin, a resident of Valley Trails,
on Jul 22, 2020 at 11:09 am

I might be going out on a limb here, but I don't think "Bill" pf Pleasanton Heights likes Tim Hunt very much. Of course it is an election year so by all means...let's all go on the attack.


Posted by This is an OPINION Blog, a resident of Amador Estates,
on Jul 22, 2020 at 12:10 pm

Hey Bill -

This is an OPINION Blog.

Don't like Tim's opinions, don't read it.

Your veiled "death threats" don't belong here.


Posted by This is an OPINION Blog, a resident of Amador Estates,
on Jul 22, 2020 at 12:10 pm

Hey Bill -

This is an OPINION Blog.

Don't like Tim's opinions, don't read it.

Your veiled "death threats" don't belong here.


Posted by Chris, a resident of San Ramon,
on Jul 22, 2020 at 12:19 pm

3,882,167 Cases in the USA. Population 329,981,711. Percent of population that has been infected 1.176%

Jennifer: "The difference between us is you don't have any GUTS. Once again, less than 1% of Americans are affected"


Posted by Jennifer, a resident of Danville,
on Jul 22, 2020 at 12:35 pm

The mental well being of Americans is just as important (if more important) than physical health. If the lockdown keeps up, we're looking at a strong increase in mental illness, including agoraphobia. Just what America needs -- people afraid to leave the house when we're finally allowed out. Unbelievable.

I totally agree with Tim.


Posted by jo, a resident of Parkside,
on Jul 22, 2020 at 2:42 pm

Chris.. not a comment on guts or no guts..

but every study shows that infection rate is roughly 10x more then actual testing numbers.. so that 1% is more like 10%


Posted by Chris, a resident of San Ramon,
on Jul 22, 2020 at 2:55 pm

Oh I wasn't commenting on guts or no guts, just the numbers and that the reported infection rate is over 1% for the U.S. population. (Contrary to Jennifer's false claim that it is under 1%)


Posted by Olorin, a resident of Val Vista,
on Jul 22, 2020 at 3:17 pm

What and where are your sources? it's easy to spew out numbers without facts...politicians do it all the time. It's all politics now, nothing more. it's a politodemic not a pandemic.


Posted by jo, a resident of Parkside,
on Jul 22, 2020 at 4:06 pm



do you own legwork.. it's not hard. Search for data involving antibody testing . There has been multiple studies that have shown ~10% infection rate is common.


Posted by Cholo, a resident of Livermore,
on Jul 22, 2020 at 4:24 pm

Jennifer,
My suggestion to parents with school age family members is to consult with the most trusted health professionals and then make a decision based upon what your family believes is in the best interest of your children/family.

AFTER SEVERAL CONSULTATIONS WITH TRUSTED LICENSED PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL PERSONNEL, TEACHERS, PRINCIPALS, AND ATTENDING SCHOOL STAFF, MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION.

GOOD LUCK PARENTS! YOU ARE NOT ALONE. SHOULD INFORMATION CHANGE, THAT'S WHEN YOU MAY WANT TO RE-CONSIDER YOUR DECISION.


Posted by Chris, a resident of San Ramon,
on Jul 22, 2020 at 5:17 pm

3,882,167 Cases in the USA.
Web Link

Population 329,981,711.
Web Link

Percent of population that has been infected 1.176% (3,882,167/329,981,711)


Posted by Give middle class the choice, a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood,
on Jul 22, 2020 at 7:45 pm

This is a rare chance for the working parents to realize that the school districts and unions don't give a rats behind about them, since they are forced to pay property taxes or taxes via rent either way. The rich don't care about them since the rich can just hire full time tutors. The proverbial forgotten middle class

If enough people realize that then maybe finally people will want school voucher system that gives the schools some competition. Maybe, just maybe, the teachers union would need to come back down to the real world.


Posted by Kevin, a resident of Castlewood,
on Jul 22, 2020 at 7:51 pm

Kevin is a registered user.

No worries, Tim and Bill Dew will heal everyone and COVID-19 will disappear. See his blog about his trip to Brazil with Bill Dew to “heal" people with kidney disease and cancer. I went to the church where Tim is an elder one Sunday last year. He showed videos of Tim and Bill Dew healing people. I actually enjoyed the sermon by the pastor. But the healing videos seemed very weird so I decided to join another church.

Web Link


Posted by Ingailly, a resident of Carriage Gardens,
on Jul 23, 2020 at 3:43 am

Hello! I would like to offer to you to visit the link which will be really important for your work as well. So please do not think even for a second and visit it now and enjoy it! Web Link what is the best website for writing papers


Posted by Jennifer, a resident of Danville,
on Jul 23, 2020 at 8:54 am

The CDC reports the number of cases that test positive. Some people test positive more than once. Especially people who have to retest to go back to work. Nurses, etc. If 1.176% is the CDC reporting on 7/22/20, minus the number of people who've tested positive more than once... I believe it's less than 1% that are affected. I had this explained to me by MDs and RNs.


Posted by Chris, a resident of San Ramon,
on Jul 23, 2020 at 9:14 am

Jennifer: there is a difference between cases and positive tests. As the CDC clearly reports that as of today there have been 4,878,379 positive test results Web Link and 3,882,167 cases Web Link


Posted by BobB, a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood,
on Jul 23, 2020 at 10:41 am

BobB is a registered user.

@Jake Waters,

Just wear a mask. How hard is that? Don't be a coward; Wear a mask.


Posted by Jennifer, a resident of Danville,
on Jul 23, 2020 at 10:44 am

So you know more than the MDs and RNs, and how the reporting is done. Okay... I get it.


Posted by BobB, a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood,
on Jul 23, 2020 at 11:16 am

BobB is a registered user.

@Jennifer,

Stop trying to downplay the seriousness of this disease. The United States really screwed up Phoenix response to this pandemic compared to other developed countries and now we're paying the price. It's time to get serious. PUSD did the right thing.

All of us need to be socially distancing, wearing masks, avoiding large gatherings, and frequently washing our hands.


Posted by Jennifer, a resident of another community,
on Jul 23, 2020 at 12:04 pm

I'm not downplaying this. I'm not a paranoid worrywart. There's a difference. Of course we need to practice social distancing, wearing masks, avoiding large gatherings and frequently washing our hands. I'm sick of the mass hysteria, over reacting and fear mongering that is created by the government and the media.

Once again, there is inherent risk in everyday living. Life goes on.


Posted by Kathleen Ruegsegger, a resident of Vintage Hills,
on Jul 23, 2020 at 12:36 pm

Kathleen Ruegsegger is a registered user.

Jennifer, you are willing to risk a child of your own? Do you have young children?


Posted by Chris, a resident of San Ramon,
on Jul 23, 2020 at 1:40 pm

Jennifer "The CDC reports the number of cases that test positive. Some people test positive more than once."
"So you know more than the MDs and RNs, and how the reporting is done. Okay... I get it."

You really don't get it. The CDC reports two numbers, positive cases and positive tests. Do you know what a case is? Have you read the CSTE definition Web Link that the CDC uses? Obviously not since a case refers to an individual that tests positive and not a positive test result.

Jennifer you claim you're just offering your opinion and then claim numbers are artificially high and then claim you're not downplaying anything and also claim there will be a strong increase in mental health problems. Then you tell people they don't have any guts. You claim to know a whole lot, but offer nothing concrete to back up all your claims.


Posted by Jennifer, a resident of Danville,
on Jul 23, 2020 at 3:01 pm

Confirmed cases are people that have had a positive laboratory test. If you test positive more than once, it will create a new case. If cases are cross checked, it will reduce the number of duplicates. But what if your last name is Smith or Jones?

Educate yourself. Talk to MDs and RNs.




Posted by Chris, a resident of San Ramon,
on Jul 23, 2020 at 4:15 pm

Ok Jennifer then why are the number of cases different than the number of positive test results? You say that every positive result creates a new case. They don't. So what if someone is Smith or Jones? Do you know what information is collected at test sites and by hospitals? Do you know who reports numbers? Do you know if they do cross checks? Of course not. You heard something from a friend that you don't actually understand and now you think you're educated on the subject.

Oh and what is someone's last name is Smith? Seriously? Here's the required information a lab must report:

Complete laboratory data must include the following data elements to state and jurisdictional health departments.

Test ordered �" use harmonized LOINC codes provided by CDC
Device Identifier
Test result�"use appropriate LOINC and SNOMED codes, as defined by the Laboratory In Vitro Diagnostics (LIVD) Test Code Mapping for SARS-CoV-2 Tests provided by CDC
Test Result date (date format)
Accession # / Specimen ID
Patient name (Last name, First name, Middle Initial)
Patient street address
Patient phone number with area code
Patient date of birth
Patient age
Patient race
Patient ethnicity
Patient sex
Patient residence zip code
Patient residence county
Ordering provider name and NPI (as applicable)
Ordering provider address
Ordering provider phone number
Ordering provider zip
Performing facility name and CLIA number
Performing facility zip code
Specimen Source -use appropriate LOINC, SNOMED-CT, or SPM4 codes, or equivalently detailed alternative codes
Date test ordered (date format)
Date specimen collected (date format)


Posted by Cholo, a resident of Livermore,
on Jul 23, 2020 at 4:27 pm

REALITY CHECK: Web Link

i rest my case...


Posted by Craig, a resident of another community,
on Jul 23, 2020 at 5:45 pm

I agree with Jennifer. If you're tested at two different places, there will be a new case every time you test. You can get tested at more than one place.


Posted by Chris, a resident of San Ramon,
on Jul 23, 2020 at 6:49 pm

Oh good Craig, care to explain why positive test results don't equal the number of cases?


Posted by Chris, a resident of San Ramon,
on Jul 23, 2020 at 6:49 pm

Oh good Craig, care to explain why positive test results don't equal the number of cases?


Posted by BobB, a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood,
on Jul 23, 2020 at 8:29 pm

BobB is a registered user.

@Craig,

That's nonsense. They record identifying information on the person.

By the way, did everybody notice, that Trump cancelled the Republican national convention in Jacksonville Florida? Wow, no guts.


Posted by BobB, a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood,
on Jul 23, 2020 at 8:31 pm

BobB is a registered user.

@Jennifer,

If you want to learn about health statistics, I would skip talking to RNs.


Posted by Craig, a resident of another community,
on Jul 23, 2020 at 9:10 pm

You can test in two different counties, and use your work and home address, if you live and work in two different counties like I do. That will get reported twice, and there is no SSN reported to link anyone. Try thinking outside of the box, and keep in mind how many cases are being reported. And the fact that we've been given misinformation from day one. I don't trust any of the info.


Posted by BobB, a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood,
on Jul 23, 2020 at 9:27 pm

BobB is a registered user.

@Craig,

You don't trust any information so you just make something up and expect us to believe that is more reliable than official numbers. Something you just made up is the right number?


Posted by Craig, a resident of another community,
on Jul 23, 2020 at 9:38 pm

NO, I DIDN'T MAKE IT UP. I TESTED IN ALAMEDA AND CONTRA COSTA COUNTY. IT'S NONE OF YOUR DAMN BUSINESS WHETHER OR NOT I TESTED POSITIVE. WE CLEAR?


Posted by Chris, a resident of San Ramon,
on Jul 23, 2020 at 10:06 pm

Craig did you forget they also require date of birth and phone number along with ethnicity and race and sex and middle initial? Also when someone asks the zip code and county that you reside in do you give your work address?
What does prior misinformation specifically have to do with this? Are you upset that an early model overstated something? We're not talking about models, we're talking about actual reported numbers and matching tests results to individuals based on specific data fields. What result data was being incorrectly given that you have an issue with?


Posted by Craig, a resident of another community,
on Jul 23, 2020 at 10:59 pm

Here's an example for you:

NBC12 NEWS ROOM/12 ON YOUR SIDE

"Latest on testing"

"The Virginia Department of Health announced it will now count the number of positive virus tests instead of the number of people who test positive.

That means if one person is tested three times and all three tests come back positive, it counts as three instead of how the numbers were being counted before, which would have only been one because it was a single patient.

The state's goals for testing are set to 2%-4% a month per district, which is 6,000 - 13,000 a day statewide."

Are you still going to tell me one patient is only one case? You're flat out WRONG. In Virginia anyway. I have no idea if every state or county has their own criteria.


Posted by Chris, a resident of San Ramon,
on Jul 24, 2020 at 6:19 am

Craig YOU ARE WRONG. The article you cite is talking about why the state saw a spike in TESTING NUMBERS not cases. States report cases and resting results. You can't even understand the news article you're trying to cite.

Web Link


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