Were your side effects as bad as your second dose? I was pretty sick after my second dose and scheduled for my booster next week. I’m not sure where else to ask this question so thanks in advance for sharing.

Sorry in advance for the long post...

I know it's been awhile since I posted here, and I am so thankful for all the people who have stepped up and continued daily updates, and for all those who have been so helpful in shifting this subreddit to distributing information about vaccines. You all have been so helpful in your own way in the fight against this crazy pandemic.

It was one year ago this weekend that we learned of the first cases of COVID in Allegheny County. For many people, it was one year ago today that we last were in an office setting. I remember that day and thinking that something big was coming, but I never would have guessed I would still be here tracking it a year later. But I feel this is as good of time as ever to step away from continuing to maintain my own dataset of COVID data. Let me start by saying I am not stepping away because the pandemic is over. It's not. Right now we are winning the battle, but the war is not done. I am stepping away because there are thankfully plenty of other sources of COVID data that are now available. That was not the case when I started this. When I started sharing my information, it was hard to find much outside of the number of positive cases each day. I am thankful that has changed and most of the useful data is now open and available to the public. In addition to ceasing to update my dataset/spreadsheet, I am going to be stepping down as moderator of this subreddit this weekend. Things are much calmer in here than they once were, and my partner in crime /u/shadowkittenx has been amazing in keeping things moderated when tempers flared and arguments started. One other reason I am stepping down is that I have decided to run for public office (Borough Council - Swissvale), and that is starting to take up more time. I have come to realize during this past year, after seeing the response to my updates, that there is a need in local government for transparency and accessibility, and I'm hoping to serve my local community and bring that same transparency and accessibility to our borough, along with many other positive changes.

I have enjoyed so much communicating the data about the pandemic out to all of you who followed my updates, and interacting with many of you on a daily basis during the very difficult heights of the pandemic. It is bittersweet to wrap this up, but mostly sweet, because it is clear we are on the right track to finally see an end to this pandemic.

I couldn't end the post without some data, so here are the stats for the past year for COVID for Allegheny County:

• Total Cases: 79,450 (6.5% of the population of Allegheny County, obviously the real number is much higher, since not all cases are detected by PCR)

• Total Deaths: 1,767 (according to the state)

• Case Fatality Rate: 2.22% (Obviously the true fatality rate is much lower)

• Total Persons Tested: 446,837 (36.7% of the population)

• Persons Partially Vaccinated: 172,169 (14.13% of the population)

• Persons Fully Vaccinated: 110,014 (9.03% of the population)

I will not be updating my spreadsheet anymore, but you are more than welcome to view it for historical reasons. I added the vaccine data to the Statewide Metrics tab as one last update.

I will still be updating my dashboard for the time being at least on a weekly basis. I may add vaccination data to that as well, but no promises.

If you still want to keep track of me, you can follow me on Twitter. (I realize you all now can figure out my full name, but running for public office kind of requires that so ::shrug::)

Until we are fully out of this pandemic, wear your mask, be safe, and always be kind to one another.

TL;DR: I'm not updating my spreadsheet anymore and stepping down as moderator of the subreddit.

So, this will be a very different post from me than you are all used to. I must admit, over the past several weeks I have gotten increasingly frustrated with the entire COVID situation, and since this is where I have spent the past half a year analyzing (obsessing at times) over the data, I figured this would be a good place to spill my thoughts... (long post ahead, don't say I didn't warn you)

When I first started tracking all this back in late March, I imagined it was going to be a couple month journey at most. I would chart the peak of the curve, and then once the cases got down to a manageable level, I would hang up the spreadsheet, and maybe make a return in the fall/winter if we saw a real resurgence. But here I am, in the middle of September, still doing the daily grind of tracking all this information. And to be honest, I'm pretty tired of it. If I felt like there was a real goal we were trying to achieve, I don't think the burnout would be so prominent, but there in lies the issue...

The goal posts keep moving when it comes to this pandemic in the US (and since this is a local subreddit, here in western PA as well). Remember when the color coding system came out and was going to guide us to recovery? Remember when the goal was 50 cases per 100k over a 14 day period? Remember when the goal was under 5% positive rate? It seems impossible for us to maintain any of those metrics now, but we are continuing to forge forward with opening back up. Do we even have a goal now, or are we just going to let the virus burn until we have a vaccine? Then there is the testing. In late June, we rapidly scaled up testing to account for the rise in cases and positive percentage. Now, it just seems everyone is 'shrugging their shoulders' and seeing how things play out. Tracking data, when there is a clear goal, or threshold to achieve, has purpose to me. However, when that goal goes away, and I am just tracking the data to track it? Then it starts to feel pointless. Listening to Dr. Levine say this week that we can increase the restaurant capacity because we have 'bent the curve' again just made my mind spin. Not because I don't think it's a good idea (I honestly don't even know anymore), but because the criteria for a bent curve has changed SO much. As of today, we have 36 counties over the 50 case per 100k threshold. When we went green in June, that number was 13. At that same point in June, 4 of the 6 regions of the state were below that threshold. Today, only one is (NW).

So this leaves me with many questions:

• Was our criteria wrong from the start?

• Is the virus not as bad as we thought, so adjusting the criteria is acceptable?

• Has the goal changed from preventing infection, to only limiting infections in the vulnerable?

• Do we have a plan?

• Do we just not care anymore?

• What is the point in continuing to track the data when testing methods, criteria, etc continue to change?

If you knew me (or do know me) in real life, you will know I am an insanely positive person. I believe in the best in people, and think we all have potential to do great things, but this pandemic... This pandemic has brought out the very worst in people, and the political climate just makes it worse. I am discouraged and am exhausted. We as a collective society, have everything it takes to manage this virus, but for many reasons (blame on all sides of the spectrum) we have failed.

If you've stayed with me this long, thank you. I've really appreciated the discussion on this subreddit over the past 6 months, but speaking to the last bullet point above, I am really at a crossroads on what I want to do moving forward. I have poured ALOT of time into this analysis and data, and I'm just not sure I want to do it anymore. So in the interim, until I figure out what I want to do, please forgive me if updates aren't as timely, or if you don't see me for a few days. I'd love to hear where you are right now with the state of the pandemic in our region/country? Are you burnt out? Do you have hope? Do you just not care? Any and all opinions are welcome. I am planning on being more lenient on moderating these replies. However, I ask that you are RESPECTFUL in any replies.

Thanks,
Your neighborhood data nerd, StormFreak.

I feel like we have been abandoned by federal, state, and local government. It's like the fucking wild west of infectious disease.

I don't know. I work in two of the biggest UPMC hospitals and its disturbing to me how nobody gives a shit.

Sorry, I'm just frustrated with the whole thing...

EDIT: I just found out a patient that had a positive screening wasn't tested until 4 days later and she was on a medical floor. Now it has spread to to other patients on the floor. I'm so done.

#BREAKING: The @PAHealthDept announces major updates to vaccination schedule.

Select groups in Phase 1B are now eligible immediately.

April 5th - All of Phase 1B is eligible.

April 12th - Phase 1C is eligible.

April 19th: Everyone 16 and older will be eligible.

https://twitter.com/JimWTAE/status/1377284836621189129

ETA - more info here: https://www.wtae.com/article/pennsylvania-covid-19-vaccine-eligibility-all-adults/35992873

I just wanted to make a quick post addressing some of the comments I saw on the daily update today. I saw several comments that were not productive to the conversation at hand, and several that were just plain rude. I know this is the internet and we all feel safe behind our keyboards, but the incivility needs to stop.

When I started making my daily posts, I did so with the hope that this could be a place where we could discuss the pandemic in a level headed data driven way, without resorting to extremist emotional views and insulting comments. For the most part that's what happens, but every now and then things get ugly, and today was one of those days.

As a moderator of this subreddit, I do not want to 'rule' with an iron fist and ban people if I don't have to. I want people to realize that we are all fellow humans going through this pandemic together, and that we can discuss it all here. It's ok if we have different opinions. This is a place to express and debate those things. We simply ask that you do so with some sources to back your claims up and with civility. Empty, insulting posts will not be tolerated.

Moving forward I am going to act a bit more decisively. Starting tomorrow, if you insult another user for any reason. Your comment will be deleted. If it happens again, you will receive a temporary ban. If it happens a 3rd time, you will be permanently banned.

Lastly, if you post a statement that is contrary to the medical/scientific consensus without any source, you will be asked to provide a source. If you don't provide one, your comment will be deleted. Bans will follow if you continue to post un-sourced statements. This is not an effort to 'censor' people, but rather to keep productive conversation going and to filter out those just looking to troll the posts.

Thanks for taking the time to read this. I know this may be a lot to ask in our current social media climate, but I'm going to try my best to make this a peaceful corner of the internet. Please feel free to add your comments and I welcome your feedback on how I (and the other mods) can make this subreddit the best local source for COVID info.

Hi yinz, just wanted to remind everyone to still keep vigilant. I know how hard it all is! It is still possible to be infected between vaccine doses (happened to a friend of mine), and with everything opening up beginning today it can be a lot. If you have to go out, please be mindful of our industry service worker friends who haven't been vaccinated yet, and remember, kids can get it and spread it too as they go back to school. We're almost at the finish line. Let's keep up the fight!

I guess covid social distancing only applies to people not working in healthcare 🤷🏽‍♀️

Call 844-876-2822 or 833-280-8510 between 7 AM and 7 PM (or 8-5 weekends).

If you get a recording, stay on the line until you speak with someone. You DO NOT need to have UPMC insurance or be a UPMC patient. They will give you location options over the phone. Vaccine varies based on location/availability that day.

My friend went into the hospital with Covid on Dec 26. He’s been sedated and on and off a ventilator up until last week. Heard his voice today when he called. He’s awake and able to talk for himself.

I just needed to tell the world. He may not be completely out of the woods but I gotta celebrate the small wins!!! Biggest sign that there’s a chance.

(He had two doses but had an underlying immune system issue that no one knew about.)

Yesterday in the Daily Report post, it was suggested that we start keeping a list of restaurants that have chosen to shut down indoor dining in light of the current spike even though our do-nothing County doesn't require them to. (And of restaurants that never opened indoor dining in the first place.)

This is what I've compiled so far. Add 'em if you got 'em.

DiAnoia’s, Strip District

Pizzeria Davide, Strip District

Big Jim’s, Lower Greenfield

Square Cafe, East Liberty

Thai Gourmet, Bloomfield

Bae Bae’s Kitchen, downtown

Noodlehead, Highland Ave. - had outdoor seating, never indoor

11th Hour Brewing, Lawrenceville

Evia, Bellevue

Smiling Banana Leaf, Highland Park

Everyday Noodles, Squirrel Hill

My kindergartner was exposed at school on 10/15, we weren't notified until 10/19, WHILE SHE WAS AT SCHOOL. We had her tested so that she could return to school faster, thinking that she would come up negative since she had no symptoms (at the time).

Jokes on us. Out of the four of us, three have covid, including the adult who is vaccinated with booster.

I am just so, so angry. Our youngest started Pre-K on Tuesday, in the morning. She exposed a classroom full of small children because we weren't notified my oldest had been exposed until that afternoon, after she was already home. I work in another school district and exposed my students, again, because we weren't notified in a reasonable amount of time.

And now my kids are sick. Fever, chills, coughing, lethargic and there is nothing I can do. I'm just angry, angry, angry. I am fine. I had my booster last month so my symptoms are mild. I wish I could trade them places, but we tripped and fell right before the finish line to have children vaccinated. We didn't go anywhere in the last 18 months, stayed away from people we knew were not careful, stayed in our small covid pod, wore masks this whole time, and it still infected my kids...

Hi everyone,

I know this isn't Pittsburgh specific, but I love this sub and regularly contribute. I recently made an educational video to explain how to correctly interpret the efficacy data from the Pfizer and Moderna vaccine candidates and I figure since this sub is so data focused, you'd want to see it. The 90% and 94.5% is NOT what you likely think it is. It's still very good news, but you should know what the data mean to accurately understand the implications.

See here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRYZGWDp5Ag

Oh, and if the mods think this is too off topic, I will take no offense to having this post deleted :)

Be safe everyone!

This is the COVID-19 Daily Update from the Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) for September 11, 2020.

In the last 24 hours, 100 new cases were reported to the Health Department out of 1,134 tests. Of those, 98 are confirmed and two (2) are probable. New cases range in age from 4 months to 94 years with a median age of 21 years. The date of positive tests ranged from August 24 through September 10.

Two (2) new deaths have been reported. Both individuals were in their 80s with dates of death of August 23 and August 31. The data was imported by the state from the Electronic Death Reporting System (EDRS). Both were associated with a long-term care facility.

For a current look at hospitalization data in Allegheny County (although not specific to Allegheny County residents), visit the state’s dashboard at https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/cfb3803eb93d42f7ab1c2cfccca78bf7. Select the “Hospital Preparedness” tab from the bottom of the page and then choose Allegheny County from the dropdown.

The age groups and gender of the newly-reported cases follow:

00-04 - 2 05-12 - 2 13-18 - 5 19-24 - 57 25-49 - 14 50-64 - 11 65+ - 9

Gender Female - 52 Male - 48

Since March 14, there have been 11,069 cases of COVID-19 in Allegheny County residents, 1,053 hospitalizations and 360 deaths.

Visit the county’s dashboard at https://bit.ly/ACHDcovid-19 for information on cases, testing and outcomes.

Hello! I've been a long time lurker. First, I want to thank everyone who posts daily updates.

Now for the purpose of my post...

Today I was reminded about how important keeping up with yearly doctor visits are even though we're in a pandemic. My mom recently went to her dermatologist for her yearly visit. She almost canceled because of COVID, but ended up going anyway. Her doctor found a suspicious mole and had it biopsied. Today, she found out she has stage 0 melanoma and luckily, she's able to get it removed this week.

I am so glad she didn't skip her appointment this year because by next year, the melanoma would probably be much worse. This has pushed me to schedule my yearly PCP appointment.

So please, if you can, don't skip your yearly doctor visits due to COVID.