Since things are slow here on BEE-L the last day or so  (I hope everyone
is not scared off by the guidelines which are just that, guidelines) I'm
thinking I'll throw some raw meat to the lions of the list.

This report came across my desk this morning and I think, since it
touches on something that affects almost all of us and our beekeeping it
could some scrutiny from the massive brain power available on this
list.  There are biological aspects to it and questions of statistical
meaningfulness and social impact.

Granted this verges on being off-topic and could go political easily,
but what is being requested here is purely sterile scientific opinion,
if there is such a thing.  We are not trying to start a fire here and
any comments with even a hint of politics will not be approved.

I ran this by one knowledgeable person already when considering posting
and this is the comment:

 > Looked very quickly.... Clearly both types of states had more or less
parallel reductions and both were significant. Cummins would say we are
dealing with curves defined by other parameters.  Just that in itself is
biologically fascinating.

 > I would have to think more about it, but it seems like producing
parameters for two types of curves, separately, is a crude analysis. 
There should be a statistical approach to compare both curves in the
same analysis, on the same time scale.  Yes, there are good statistical
approaches by which to compare the shapes of curves.  A lot of it comes
from survival analysis and longitudinal studies.

 > It would be an interesting experiment to have the minds and egos go
into this at Bee-L.  It will either fizzle, create some lively
discussion, go nuclear, but [moderation] can push the kill button at any
time.

Here it is, from the CDC:

Association of State-Issued Mask Mandates and Allowing On-Premises
Restaurant Dining with County-Level COVID-19 Case and Death Growth Rates
— United States, March 1–December 31, 2020 (cdc.gov)
<https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/70/wr/pdfs/mm7010e3-H.pdf>


             ***********************************************
The BEE-L mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software.  For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html