COVID-19 (f/k/a "the Coronavirus")

[GooooMarquette]

Unless their policies have changed (honestly don't know), Florida is tallying their deaths differently than most, in a way that lowers their toll.
They're only counting lab-confirmed cases as COVID-19, and they're not counting people who die in Florida but don't claim state residency. So, if a snowbird from Wisconsin got sick and died from COVID in Clearwater, that person wasn't included in the state's death count.

https://www.tampabay.com/news/health/2020/04/11/floridas-count-of-coronavirus-deaths-is-missing-some-cases/

https://www.sun-sentinel.com/coronavirus/fl-ne-coronavirus-florida-pneumonia-flu-deaths-spike-20200417-lkel6rlik5blhd5zdktkrxhzze-story.html

https://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/2020/04/23/counting-florida-coronavirus-dead-includes-post-mortem-covid-19-testing/5147971002/

I haven't been following FL closely, but those factors explain quite a lot. The slow ramp-up of testing (not unique to FL, but certainly applies there), combined with a snowbird population estimated to be near 1M mostly elderly people could result in significant underreporting.

[MU82]

This is scary, as heart complications related to COVID-19 is increasingly affecting children.

https://apnews.com/8eb36906c77bc89a417ca54637f9b01a

Amber Dean had recovered from a mild bout of the coronavirus and her family of five had just ended their home quarantine when her oldest son, 9-year-old Bobby, fell ill.

"At first it was nothing major, it seemed like a tummy bug, like he ate something that didn't agree with him," said Dean, who lives with her husband and three young children in the western New York town of Hornell. "But by the next day, he couldn't keep anything down and his belly hurt so bad he couldn't sit up."

At the local hospital emergency room, doctors suspected an appendix infection and sent him home with instructions to see his pediatrician.

It was only later, after Bobby's condition took an alarming turn for the worse, that doctors realized he was among the small but growing number of children with a mysterious inflammatory syndrome thought to be related to the virus.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Tuesday that New York is now investigating about 100 cases of the syndrome, which affects blood vessels and organs and has symptoms similar to Kawasaki disease and toxic shock. Three children in the state have died and Cuomo advised all hospitals to prioritize COVID-19 testing for children presenting with symptoms.

In New York City, which has reported at least 52 children sick with the syndrome, Mayor Bill de Blasio on Tuesday urged parents to call their pediatricians promptly if their children show symptoms including persistent fever, rash, abdominal pain and vomiting.

That's what Bobby Dean's family did, even though they live in Steuben County, which has only 239 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and is in a part of the state set to start reopening some workplaces on Friday.

The family doctor performed a coronavirus test the day after his trip to the emergency room, but the results would take 24 hours. By that night, the boy's fever had spiked, his abdomen was swollen, he was severely dehydrated and his heart was racing. His father, Michael Dean, drove him to Golisano Children's Hospital in Rochester, 90 minutes away.

"At Rochester they did a rapid COVID test and it came back positive," Amber Dean said. For the next six days, she was at his hospital bedside while Bobby was hooked up to IV lines and a heart monitor. He came home on Mother's Day.

"It never affected his respiratory system, it was his heart that it affected," Dean said. Inflamed lymph nodes caused the abdominal pain, she said. "They're hoping he pulls through with 100% recovery but they said there have been children with lasting effects."

Children elsewhere in the U.S. and in Europe have also been hospitalized with the condition known as pediatric multi-system inflammatory syndrome.

In New York, the syndrome has been found across a wide range of young people. A 5-year-old boy, 7-year-old boy and an 18-year-old woman have died.

About 23 percent of cases have occurred in children under age 5, about 29% between the ages of 5 and 9, about 28% between ages 10 and 14 and 16% between the ages 15 and 19.

"This is a truly disturbing situation and I know parents around the state and parents around the country are very concerned about this, and they should be," Cuomo said. "If we have this issue in New York it's probably in other states."

Dr. Juan Salazar, the physician-in-chief at Connecticut Children's Medical Center, said two patients there are believed to have the rare condition, which he said often appears to present itself two to four weeks after a child has recovered from COVID-19, often without ever being diagnosed with the infection. Yale Health has said it's treating three children believed to have the syndrome.

Cuomo announced last week that New York is developing national criteria for identifying and responding to the syndrome at the request of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In testimony Tuesday before a Senate committee on the administration's coronavirus response, Dr. Anthony Fauci said children in general do better than adults and the elderly, but he warned there is still much to learn about the virus.

"For example right now, children presenting with COVID-19 who actually have a very strange inflammatory syndrome very similar to Kawasaki syndrome," Fauci said. "I think we better be very careful that we are not cavalier in thinking that children are completely immune to the deleterious effects."

As Bobby Dean's boisterous energy and sardonic sense of humor returns, his mom is vigilant for signs of illness in her younger children, aged 7 months and 3 years.

"It's a pretty scary thing, watching your child be hooked up to all these wires and IVs and there's nothing you can do," Dean said. "In my opinion, right now, I would not let your child out in public."

[injuryBug]

This is scary, as heart complications related to COVID-19 is increasingly affecting children.

https://apnews.com/8eb36906c77bc89a417ca54637f9b01a

Amber Dean had recovered from a mild bout of the coronavirus and her family of five had just ended their home quarantine when her oldest son, 9-year-old Bobby, fell ill.

"At first it was nothing major, it seemed like a tummy bug, like he ate something that didn't agree with him," said Dean, who lives with her husband and three young children in the western New York town of Hornell. "But by the next day, he couldn't keep anything down and his belly hurt so bad he couldn't sit up."

At the local hospital emergency room, doctors suspected an appendix infection and sent him home with instructions to see his pediatrician.

It was only later, after Bobby's condition took an alarming turn for the worse, that doctors realized he was among the small but growing number of children with a mysterious inflammatory syndrome thought to be related to the virus.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Tuesday that New York is now investigating about 100 cases of the syndrome, which affects blood vessels and organs and has symptoms similar to Kawasaki disease and toxic shock. Three children in the state have died and Cuomo advised all hospitals to prioritize COVID-19 testing for children presenting with symptoms.

In New York City, which has reported at least 52 children sick with the syndrome, Mayor Bill de Blasio on Tuesday urged parents to call their pediatricians promptly if their children show symptoms including persistent fever, rash, abdominal pain and vomiting.

That's what Bobby Dean's family did, even though they live in Steuben County, which has only 239 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and is in a part of the state set to start reopening some workplaces on Friday.

The family doctor performed a coronavirus test the day after his trip to the emergency room, but the results would take 24 hours. By that night, the boy's fever had spiked, his abdomen was swollen, he was severely dehydrated and his heart was racing. His father, Michael Dean, drove him to Golisano Children's Hospital in Rochester, 90 minutes away.

"At Rochester they did a rapid COVID test and it came back positive," Amber Dean said. For the next six days, she was at his hospital bedside while Bobby was hooked up to IV lines and a heart monitor. He came home on Mother's Day.

"It never affected his respiratory system, it was his heart that it affected," Dean said. Inflamed lymph nodes caused the abdominal pain, she said. "They're hoping he pulls through with 100% recovery but they said there have been children with lasting effects."

Children elsewhere in the U.S. and in Europe have also been hospitalized with the condition known as pediatric multi-system inflammatory syndrome.

In New York, the syndrome has been found across a wide range of young people. A 5-year-old boy, 7-year-old boy and an 18-year-old woman have died.

About 23 percent of cases have occurred in children under age 5, about 29% between the ages of 5 and 9, about 28% between ages 10 and 14 and 16% between the ages 15 and 19.

"This is a truly disturbing situation and I know parents around the state and parents around the country are very concerned about this, and they should be," Cuomo said. "If we have this issue in New York it's probably in other states."

Dr. Juan Salazar, the physician-in-chief at Connecticut Children's Medical Center, said two patients there are believed to have the rare condition, which he said often appears to present itself two to four weeks after a child has recovered from COVID-19, often without ever being diagnosed with the infection. Yale Health has said it's treating three children believed to have the syndrome.

Cuomo announced last week that New York is developing national criteria for identifying and responding to the syndrome at the request of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In testimony Tuesday before a Senate committee on the administration's coronavirus response, Dr. Anthony Fauci said children in general do better than adults and the elderly, but he warned there is still much to learn about the virus.

"For example right now, children presenting with COVID-19 who actually have a very strange inflammatory syndrome very similar to Kawasaki syndrome," Fauci said. "I think we better be very careful that we are not cavalier in thinking that children are completely immune to the deleterious effects."

As Bobby Dean's boisterous energy and sardonic sense of humor returns, his mom is vigilant for signs of illness in her younger children, aged 7 months and 3 years.

"It's a pretty scary thing, watching your child be hooked up to all these wires and IVs and there's nothing you can do," Dean said. "In my opinion, right now, I would not let your child out in public."

This is what brings panic to the country.  How many had underlying health conditions?  I heard on the news last night 83% did.  Everyone wants to get the credit for being the first to break the big stories why not let science do the research and come back with real data instead of  thinking it might be related to covid 19.
If we keep 6ft and wear a mask this will happen a lot less and those qualified can make statements after the necessary research.
But it is much easier to create panic

[Frenns Liquor Depot]

This is what brings panic to the country.  How many had underlying health conditions?  I heard on the news last night 83% did.  Everyone wants to get the credit for being the first to break the big stories why not let science do the research and come back with real data instead of  thinking it might be related to covid 19.
If we keep 6ft and wear a mask this will happen a lot less and those qualified can make statements after the necessary research.
But it is much easier to create panic

There is definitely a sensationalism to reporting that should absolutely stop.  However, it is very important that these messages/cases are reported.  This has been popping up in countries around the world and changes an operating assumption on the disease - that it doesnt affect children.

From what I have read to date this Kawasaki thing is very treatable.  So if parents are looking out for it and notice symptoms, they should bring their kids in.

Should we suppress that?

[Lighthouse 84]

That's not quite true.
The head of IDPH discussed this yesterday.

"There are also some additional deaths that happen in someone who happened to be COVID positive, but where the COVID infection had nothing to do with the deaths," she said. "So we are at IDPH trying to remove those obvious cases where the COVID diagnosis was not the reason for the death. If there was a gunshot wound, if there was a motor vehicle accident, we know that that was not related to the COVID positive status.
"We are trying to make sure that things that aren't related at all to the COVID diagnosis are removed, but if someone has another illness, like heart disease, and then had a stroke or other event, it's not as easy to separate that and say COVID didn't exacerbate that existing illness. That would not be removed from the count," she added.

https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/coronavirus/dr-ngozi-ezike-refutes-notion-that-illinois-is-over-counting-covid-19-deaths/2270810/

It's good to see that she has amended her previous comments to exclude those deaths from being counted.  But if a person is in hospice care, with days to live, and then contracts COVID-19, it's counting as a COVID death.

[MU82]

I don't believe that the reporting in the article I posted on kids getting sick was trying to "panic" anybody or was at all sensational.

It centered around one family's real story -- that's the "hook" to bring in the readers -- and then was filled with facts, data and comments from experts. One of the facts was that it was "rare," but that it was something parents should be aware of if they see specific symptoms.

Frankly, I thought it was valuable information and very good reporting.

[Pakuni]

It's good to see that she has amended her previous comments to exclude those deaths from being counted.  But if a person is in hospice care, with days to live, and then contracts COVID-19, it's counting as a COVID death.

Sure, but where do you draw the line on those deaths? What if a person had not days, but weeks to live? What if a person is in treatment for pancreatic cancer? What if a person has severe COPD? What if a person is 102 years old?
Anywhere you draw the line is going to be arbitrary. It's much easier to just count them all than to spend God knows how much time debating how long a person had to live and trying to make a wholly subjective determination.

[forgetful]

It's good to see that she has amended her previous comments to exclude those deaths from being counted.  But if a person is in hospice care, with days to live, and then contracts COVID-19, it's counting as a COVID death.

In normal years, if that person got a respiratory disease with days to live, and died, it would be called a flu death (regardless of whether it was even the flu). This is done, because it used to be largely impossible to test everyone who died of a respiratory disease, and it was important for tracking for them to be included.

So my question is, why do people want us to treat this so different than how we usually treat the Flu? Especially when being more stringent will make it harder to track and trace the spread of COVID, and make it harder to prevent more illness?

I provided this link previously. It outlines what flu deaths would look like if we treated flu deaths like COVID deaths. The results paint a different picture than the "we are over counting COVID" death crowd argues.

https://news.yahoo.com/flu-deaths-were-counted-covid-053449918.html

[buckchuckler]

So then, after about a dozen or so years, after the album Balance, Sammy decided to leave Van Halen.  He left despite it being Van Halen's 4th straight number 1 album and featured the classic Sammy written hit Can't Stop Lovin' You Though he did remain active on his solo career, with hits like Marching to Mars and Mas Tequila.  He also went on to found his own Tequlia empire, Cabo Wabo.

After Sammy left, there were some rumors that DLR would return to the band, but it wasn't to be.  He was replaced with former Extreme singer, you know Extreme right?  No, well here is their one song:
https://youtu.be/UrIiLvg58SY

Yeah, its pretty cheesy and super 80s-y.  And there was some question as to why he was the guy the Van Halen boys went with.  But they did.  The Cherone era was short, one unremarkable album.  Though I have to say, I have a bit of a soft spot for him since he was the singer the first (and only) time I was there to see a Van Halen concert.  He did his best, even ripping through some DLR era deep tracks like Someone get me a Doctor, as well as the hits like Aint talkin bout Love, Unchained, Mean Streets.  They played some classic Hagar era stuff too, and Cherone certainly was sufficient and didn't get in the way at all.  But all in all, he was unremarkable, and the band was winding down their window.   Could a different singer have extended the band's life?  Maybe.  We'll never know.

Van Halen was one of the few bands that remained successful after losing a lead singer.  That is certainly a testament to the musical chops of Eddie and Alex Van Halen. No list of the greatest Rock guitar players and drummers would be complete without the Van Halen brothers (alright, maybe a bit of a stretch on Alex, it isn't like he is Bonham or Moon, but Hot for Teacher is some pretty impressive work).

Also, Rock would never have been the same without Bassist Michael Anthony having that Jack Daniels bass.

[injuryBug]

There is definitely a sensationalism to reporting that should absolutely stop.  However, it is very important that these messages/cases are reported.  This has been popping up in countries around the world and changes an operating assumption on the disease - that it doesnt affect children.

From what I have read to date this Kawasaki thing is very treatable.  So if parents are looking out for it and notice symptoms, they should bring their kids in.

Should we suppress that?

I agree on the Kawasaki thing i just do not like the assumption that it might be tied to covid 19.  People are already in a panic about the virus no need to bring it out more.  Stress Kawasaki and how treatable it is but bot to leave it untreated.
The more things you tie to covid the crazier people get. 

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

In normal years, if that person got a respiratory disease with days to live, and died, it would be called a flu death (regardless of whether it was even the flu). This is done, because it used to be largely impossible to test everyone who died of a respiratory disease, and it was important for tracking for them to be included.

So my question is, why do people want us to treat this so different than how we usually treat the Flu? Especially when being more stringent will make it harder to track and trace the spread of COVID, and make it harder to prevent more illness?

I provided this link previously. It outlines what flu deaths would look like if we treated flu deaths like COVID deaths. The results paint a different picture than the "we are over counting COVID" death crowd argues.

https://news.yahoo.com/flu-deaths-were-counted-covid-053449918.html

Because the simple answer is that people are going to hang on whatever justification they can find for how they pull the lever in November.

[JWags85]

I don't believe that the reporting in the article I posted on kids getting sick was trying to "panic" anybody or was at all sensational.

It centered around one family's real story -- that's the "hook" to bring in the readers -- and then was filled with facts, data and comments from experts. One of the facts was that it was "rare," but that it was something parents should be aware of if they see specific symptoms.

Frankly, I thought it was valuable information and very good reporting.

I dont have an issue with the reporting or the story, as much as the headline. Also your use of "increasingly" which you very well may have seen elsewhere.  If you have 5 cases nationwide and then you have 10, thats "increasing" but "increasingly" in the COVID fear and panic environment, much less a pandemic, makes it seem like its spreading like wildfire.

Its worthy of spreading information on and making people aware, but you're talking a super small amount of affected children, who are already at a significantly lower rate of infection compared to other age groups.  Yet its being framed as "CHILDREN ARENT IMMUNE".  "THIS IS TERRIFYING"  Of course they are not bulletproof against COVID, but the greater risk to them is still incredibly low.

It just feels like another section of wave of fear and panic about COVID being spread as people try to look to the future. 

[ZiggysFryBoy]

I agree on the Kawasaki thing i just do not like the assumption that it might be tied to covid 19.  People are already in a panic about the virus no need to bring it out more.  Stress Kawasaki and how treatable it is but bot to leave it untreated.
The more things you tie to covid the crazier people get.

My niece has Kawasaki a few years ago, i think she was 2.  Was scary while she was sick, but recovered with no issues.

[MU82]

I agree on the Kawasaki thing i just do not like the assumption that it might be tied to covid 19.  People are already in a panic about the virus no need to bring it out more.  Stress Kawasaki and how treatable it is but bot to leave it untreated.
The more things you tie to covid the crazier people get.

Except ... it appears it is tied to COVID-19.

I dont have an issue with the reporting or the story, as much as the headline. Also your use of "increasingly" which you very well may have seen elsewhere.  If you have 5 cases nationwide and then you have 10, thats "increasing" but "increasingly" in the COVID fear and panic environment, much less a pandemic, makes it seem like its spreading like wildfire.

Its worthy of spreading information on and making people aware, but you're talking a super small amount of affected children, who are already at a significantly lower rate of infection compared to other age groups.  Yet its being framed as "CHILDREN ARENT IMMUNE".  "THIS IS TERRIFYING"  Of course they are not bulletproof against COVID, but the greater risk to them is still incredibly low.

It just feels like another section of wave of fear and panic about COVID being spread as people try to look to the future. 

Fair points.

I think it is worthy to be reported about, but I understand what you're saying.

[Frenns Liquor Depot]

I agree on the Kawasaki thing i just do not like the assumption that it might be tied to covid 19.  People are already in a panic about the virus no need to bring it out more.  Stress Kawasaki and how treatable it is but bot to leave it untreated.
The more things you tie to covid the crazier people get.

The issue is that they are seeing this in numbers that are abnormally high.  So the hypothesis is that these could be covid related.  I cant find the link but I saw some where they used serology to connect. 

So if doctors are hypothesizing this, why should it not be discussed?

[injuryBug]

I dont have an issue with the reporting or the story, as much as the headline. Also your use of "increasingly" which you very well may have seen elsewhere.  If you have 5 cases nationwide and then you have 10, thats "increasing" but "increasingly" in the COVID fear and panic environment, much less a pandemic, makes it seem like its spreading like wildfire.

Its worthy of spreading information on and making people aware, but you're talking a super small amount of affected children, who are already at a significantly lower rate of infection compared to other age groups.  Yet its being framed as "CHILDREN ARENT IMMUNE".  "THIS IS TERRIFYING"  Of course they are not bulletproof against COVID, but the greater risk to them is still incredibly low.

It just feels like another section of wave of fear and panic about COVID being spread as people try to look to the future.

Exactly wags

[mu03eng]

I've been very confused by all the responses to lock down wide open outdoor public areas like parks and beaches.

This...even during the Spanish Flu there was documented evidence that open air hospitals helped reduce the transmission to healthcare workers, etc.

I struggle with the whole "science driven" approach but then decreeing people lock themselves in their homes for weeks.

If I was in charge, the science driven approach is, wash hands, minimize trips to stores, wear a mask in public, and move as many businesses outdoor as possible. If you had an outdoor hair salon pop up or something, while it's a non-zero risk of transmission.....its really really low.

There are lots of ways to "open up" that don't me a return to business as usual.

[Frenns Liquor Depot]

This...even during the Spanish Flu there was documented evidence that open air hospitals helped reduce the transmission to healthcare workers, etc.

I struggle with the whole "science driven" approach but then decreeing people lock themselves in their homes for weeks.

If I was in charge, the science driven approach is, wash hands, minimize trips to stores, wear a mask in public, and move as many businesses outdoor as possible. If you had an outdoor hair salon pop up or something, while it's a non-zero risk of transmission.....its really really low.

There are lots of ways to "open up" that don't me a return to business as usual.

My state has had less restrictions in public places, but has tried to limit the numbers since at some point you cant be distant.  For example the beaches are open generally in CT, but the parking lots are limited.  Like always, when the available spaces are full, the park closes to new entrants.

Next week outdoor eating reopens at restaurants.

So I am guessing your comment is local?

[warriorchick]

I dont have an issue with the reporting or the story, as much as the headline. Also your use of "increasingly" which you very well may have seen elsewhere.  If you have 5 cases nationwide and then you have 10, thats "increasing" but "increasingly" in the COVID fear and panic environment, much less a pandemic, makes it seem like its spreading like wildfire.

Its worthy of spreading information on and making people aware, but you're talking a super small amount of affected children, who are already at a significantly lower rate of infection compared to other age groups.  Yet its being framed as "CHILDREN ARENT IMMUNE".  "THIS IS TERRIFYING"  Of course they are not bulletproof against COVID, but the greater risk to them is still incredibly low.

It just feels like another section of wave of fear and panic about COVID being spread as people try to look to the future.

Agreed.  The entire Covid situation is scary enough without news outlets ramping up the fear whenever they get an opportunity.

This morning on NBC's "Today" show, they introduced a story about "SKYROCKETING" food prices.  They even put that word up on the screen.  In the details of the story, they said that food prices had gone up.....wait for it.... 1.5%.  That's barely a firecracker, much less a skyrocket.

[Pakuni]

This...even during the Spanish Flu there was documented evidence that open air hospitals helped reduce the transmission to healthcare workers, etc.

I struggle with the whole "science driven" approach but then decreeing people lock themselves in their homes for weeks.

If I was in charge, the science driven approach is, wash hands, minimize trips to stores, wear a mask in public, and move as many businesses outdoor as possible. If you had an outdoor hair salon pop up or something, while it's a non-zero risk of transmission.....its really really low.

There are lots of ways to "open up" that don't me a return to business as usual.

At least where I'm at, the only outdoor spaces shut down have been places where people had continued to congregate in close proximity after social distancing restrictions had been put in place. Amenities not conducive for gatherings - like trails - have remained open.

As with many things in life, the a-holes ruin it for the rest of us.

[GooooMarquette]

In normal years, if that person got a respiratory disease with days to live, and died, it would be called a flu death (regardless of whether it was even the flu). This is done, because it used to be largely impossible to test everyone who died of a respiratory disease, and it was important for tracking for them to be included.

So my question is, why do people want us to treat this so different than how we usually treat the Flu? Especially when being more stringent will make it harder to track and trace the spread of COVID, and make it harder to prevent more illness?

I provided this link previously. It outlines what flu deaths would look like if we treated flu deaths like COVID deaths. The results paint a different picture than the "we are over counting COVID" death crowd argues.

https://news.yahoo.com/flu-deaths-were-counted-covid-053449918.html

Yep. We should report COVID deaths the same way we report flu deaths in normal years, especially since this will help with tracking and learning more about COVID.

[mu03eng]

My state has had less restrictions in public places, but has tried to limit the numbers since at some point you cant be distant.  For example the beaches are open generally in CT, but the parking lots are limited.  Like always, when the available spaces are full, the park closes to new entrants.

Next week outdoor eating reopens at restaurants.

So I am guessing your comment is local?

Certainly regional, lots of outdoor places in California, New York, Chicago, and some in Wisconsin were closed for a time or continue to be closed. I think some of it is a reaction to the videos from spring break, etc. But either way it's not science based to me

[shoothoops]

Agreed.  The entire Covid situation is scary enough without news outlets ramping up the fear whenever they get an opportunity.

This morning on NBC's "Today" show, they introduced a story about "SKYROCKETING" food prices.  They even put that word up on the screen.  In the details of the story, they said that food prices had gone up.....wait for it.... 1.5%.  That's barely a firecracker, much less a skyrocket.

The Today Show was referring to this:

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/05/12/april-saw-sharpest-increase-grocery-store-prices-nearly-50-years/%3foutputType=amp

[ATL MU Warrior]

Agreed.  The entire Covid situation is scary enough without news outlets ramping up the fear whenever they get an opportunity.

This morning on NBC's "Today" show, they introduced a story about "SKYROCKETING" food prices.  They even put that word up on the screen.  In the details of the story, they said that food prices had gone up.....wait for it.... 1.5%.  That's barely a firecracker, much less a skyrocket.

Have you been to a grocery store lately?  Food prices are way way up.

[warriorchick]

Have you been to a grocery store lately?  Food prices are way way up.

If it is true that the actual increase overall is 1.5%, that's not "skyrocketing".  It's 75 cents on a $50 grocery bill.

And yes, I was at the grocery store a few days ago.  And I buy all of my meat at a local butcher who seems to have plenty of supply.