Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #102

[weepingangel]

Vermont
Largest City in Vermont Mandates Masks in Stores, Other Public Buildings

New Hampshire topping the charts

COVID-19 cases hit new high in NH
Officials said there were 1,134 new positive test results recorded Wednesday, and the state's seven-day test positivity rate has risen to 13.4%.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, New Hampshire now has the highest seven-day new case rate in the country, with a case rate of 505.4 cases per 100,000. New Hampshire is followed by Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota and Wisconsin.

 

[ilovewings]

Here's hoping!

I did see an article a couple days ago pretty much saying what you've said here. Fingers crossed

Doctor explains how omicron variant could speed up end of COVID pandemic

That would be ideal, but it sounds too good to be true! a highly transmissible variant that doesn't cause serious illness: Here's hoping!

 

[10ofRods]

I welcome that, but where does it leave those without insurance?

It's the same problem with certain preventative care. It is covered under the ACA, but if you don't have insurance, you are out of luck.

Insurance under the ACA is affordable, even by students. Even the lowest policy levels would provide the free testing. However, several states rejected the ACA forms and record-keeping (and funding). So there's that.

In California, we also have MediCal, where we use our federal healthcare dollars and our own tax money to fund no-cost Emergency Rooms and many other medical conditions (it's a lot like the ACA). Hawaii, Washington and Oregon have a similar system.

MediCal has no fees at all if a person's income is something like 0-$9000 a year. I'm going by memory, but something like that.

Because some states rejected implemention of the ACA, we have a fractured system, but many of us can sleep at night knowing our over-25 family members are still going to get basic coverage (including birth control, mammograms, gynecological exams and an annual physical with basic bloodwork).

The lowest cost plan for ACA insurance (it's an insurance brokerage here) is about $1 a day. If a person is 65 or over, they're on Medicare anyway.

People really need to start thinking about planning for healthcare. It may seem that teachers get "free" healthcare insurance, but in fact, it's budgeted into our annual pay package, and deductions are made monthly (about $450 for the two of us in my family). Not free and teachers do not make that much. The difference is that teachers have no choice - and we want our unions to keep our insurance in place. If everyone joined an ACA bureau, the cost for each person would go down. Costs overall would decline if everyone joined and got more preventative care.

Interestingly, in the states where people have resisted getting ACA insurance, rates of smoking are higher (so rates of insurance are also higher).

For a medium income person living alone in Ohio, it's about $328 a year, if they are a non-smoker.

Here's the list of states who refuse to adopt this simple solution (which, in some other states is partially subsidized for poorer people):

Status of State Medicaid Expansion Decisions: Interactive Map

Those same states have rising cancer, diabetes and heart disease rates. Just one doctor visit a year, if it's done right, really helps people. Medicare pays for almost everything, at least in California.

 

[10ofRods]

Hmm.. Where I live. Our cases have been rising since Thanksgiving too.


1st case of omicron variant detected in L.A. County | KTLA

The first detected case of the omicron COVID variant has been detected in Los Angeles County, public health officials announced Thursday.

The individual returned to L.A. County after travel to South Africa via London and the infection is “most likely travel-related,” the Department of Public Health said in a news release.

The infected person, who is a fully vaccinated adult and county resident, is self-isolating, and their symptoms are improving without medical care, according to the department.

A small number of close contacts in L.A. have been identified and, to date, all have tested negative and have no symptoms.
...

Sure would like to know which vaccine. South Africa only had Johnson/Johnson, which is of course considerably less effective. I know that they don't want to put that on blast, but the numbers have to be somewhere.

 

[Lilibet]

Sure would like to know which vaccine. South Africa only had Johnson/Johnson, which is of course considerably less effective. I know that they don't want to put that on blast, but the numbers have to be somewhere.

The individual is an L.A. county resident so likely was vaccinated there, not in South Africa. Of course, they could have gotten Johnson & Johnson in L.A. too, and it would be interesting to know which vaccine they had and how long ago.

 

[HongKongPhooey]

Covid: Pfizer and Moderna jabs give best overall boost, UK trial finds

 

[jjenny]

"He said omicron is “threatening the whole world” with a sudden surge in cases, and health-care systems could be overwhelmed, even if only 1% or 2% of the cases end up in hospital."

Omicron to dominate and overwhelm the world in 3-6 months, doctor says (cnbc.com)

 

[jjenny]

That would be ideal, but it sounds too good to be true! a highly transmissible variant that doesn't cause serious illness: Here's hoping!

Because it's so transmissible, even if only a small percentage of people get seriously ill from it, it's not going to be good.

 

[Hills88]

Three of the cases at the Regents Park Christian School have been confirmed to be the Omicron variant, and urgent testing is underway on the remaining 10.

Yesterday a student who had not been overseas and had no links to people who had travelled abroad was confirmed as the school cluster's first Omicron case.

Number of Omicron cases in NSW rises to 13 as cluster at western Sydney school grows - ABC News Number of Omicron cases in NSW rises to 13 as cluster at western Sydney school grows

 

[Skigh]

Europe Covid: Lockdowns and vaccine mandates as virus wave builds | Daily Mail Online


European leaders have pulled the handbrake on the continent's Covid recovery - rushing in a raft of new lockdown measures and travel bans amid panic over rising cases and the arrival of the Omicron variant.

Austria has gone the furthest, throwing the entire country into lockdown until at least December 11 while leaders work on a law to make vaccination mandatory - with a target February at the latest for it to take effect.

Germany now looks set to follow Vienna's lead, with Angela Merkel announcing yesterday that the unvaccinated will be banned from most public spaces in the run-up to Christmas as MPs begin debating a jab mandate - with the government in favour of putting one in place by February.

Brussels also signalled cautious support for vaccine mandates this week, with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen saying it is time for member states 'to think about' making jabs compulsory - though she conceded that Brussels has no power to impose a blanket law.

Leaders say they were forced into action by case rates that were rapidly climbing even before the arrival of the Omicron variant, thought to be the most-infectious form of Covid yet. Fifteen European nations have now reported cases, amid warnings it was likely in circulation 'for weeks' before being detected.

As a result, nations have rushed to ban travel from southern Africa - where the variant first emerged - and tighten restrictions for other countries in the hopes of slowing the spread of Omicron while scientists figure out precisely how dangerous it is.

The European Centre for Disease Control said yesterday that the threat posed by the variant to the continent's Covid recovery could be 'very high', but much is still unknown and more data will have to be gathered.

 

[weepingangel]

‘We ran out of ICU beds today’: Hospitals stagger under strain as COVID-19 cases reach highest level since winter - The Boston Globe
More at link
At UMass Memorial Medical Center on Thursday, 60 patients were waiting in the emergency department to be admitted, six in need of intensive care, Dickson said.


Eta - and I don’t know the logistics of that particular hospital but generally if an ED bed is being used by a boarder (admitted patient) that means it’s out of service as an actual emergency bed.

 

[anneg]

‘We ran out of ICU beds today’: Hospitals stagger under strain as COVID-19 cases reach highest level since winter - The Boston Globe
More at link
At UMass Memorial Medical Center on Thursday, 60 patients were waiting in the emergency department to be admitted, six in need of intensive care, Dickson said.

"Like" your post but sure don't like this news.

 

[weepingangel]

"Like" your post but sure don't like this news.

It’s so discouraging. And depressing honestly. We do have severe staffing issues in the area currently (and across the country really) so it’s not just covid but of course the increasing (again ) numbers are contributing.


Mass charts from NYT. Looks like we’re on track to hit or exceed last winters surge

 

[MimosaMornings]

Omicron cases confirmed in 3 U.S. states

In addition to Colorado, the variant has been confirmed in California, and Minnesota.

• In Minnesota, the variant was found in a vaccinated resident who recently traveled to New York City, Axios' Torey Van Oot writes.
  
  
• In California, the variant was detected in a traveler returning from South Africa who was fully vaccinated and has mild symptoms, according to the CDC.
  
  
• Omicron cases have also been confirmed across Europe, Canada, Israel, Hong Kong and Australia, among other countries, since the variant was first identified by scientists in South Africa last month.

The Colorado case was found in Arapahoe County woman who traveled throughout southern Africa and returned late last week, per Axios' John Frank.

• The woman was vaccinated but had not received a booster shot. She also wore a mask in her travels, officials said. She is experiencing mild systems and is quarantining.
  
  
• She developed symptoms after returning home and no cases of community transmission are anticipated.

I’m more curious about the actions/behavior - vaccination is only part of it.
Does wearing a mask during travel mean just on the plane/public transport? Or consistently when with others?

If you wear a mask on a plane but not when indoors with other people....? Or no mask at a crowded bar with friends or a indoor restaurant with coworkers after wearing a mask on a flight?

JMO

 

[anneg]

https://twitter.com/PeterHotez/status/1466786137272377353

Prof Peter Hotez MD PhD
@PeterHotez
2h

20,000 unvaccinated Texans have needlessly died from COVID since June 1, 2021. Lives lost from self-defeating, dangerous, and deadly health freedom rhetoric and ideologies. One of the greatest human tragedies in Texas history.

 

[MimosaMornings]

https://twitter.com/PeterHotez/status/1466786137272377353

Prof Peter Hotez MD PhD
@PeterHotez
2h

20,000 unvaccinated Texans have needlessly died from COVID since June 1, 2021. Lives lost from self-defeating, dangerous, and deadly health freedom rhetoric and ideologies. One of the greatest human tragedies in Texas history.

Covid doesn’t exist in Texas. It’s a government conspiracy and upcharge for healthcare. Will deny to their dying breath. Vaccines are full of alien DNA. Like 5G spying. Masks are an abomination.
JMO

 

[anneg]

Here is another item from Twitter posted by Dr. Eric Feigl-Ding--a chart showing recent data on omicron cases, percent positive tests, and hospital admissions in Gauteng province, South Africa.

https://twitter.com/DrEricDing/status/1466567787074113538/photo/1

 

[musicaljoke]

They are probably safe and would still work IMO. Like food, the use by dates, err on the side of caution. MOO

Yes, this is likely true. We use a lot of Pfizer vaccines in our work, and the company has told us that the expiry date is about 6 months before the product shows signs of degrading. Having said that, some vaccines can deteriorate quickly.

 

[Niner]

I have a question - if someone can answer this?

My bro got the AstraZeneca vaccine - 2 shots - can he have the Moderna booster shot?

TIA!

 

[Mo Thuairim]

We've just had new Christmas restrictions announced here in Ireland, which extend to mixing in private homes. A maximum of three households plus the host household from next week until early January. It's necessary but it all feels very 2020.

Nightclubs set to close, social distancing for bars

New measures revealed

Mr Martin said the Chief Medical Officer and public health experts "have been exceptionally clear" and the risks associated with proceeding into the Christmas period "without some restrictions" to reduce personal contacts "is just too high".

He said Government accepted NPHET recommendations.

Mr Martin said it is not about "going back to the days of lockdowns" but it is about adjusting to the risk.

The following restrictions will be in place from 7 December to 9 January:

Nightclubs will close

Strict social distancing will be required in all bars and restaurants, including hotels

Reflecting the situation before 22 October, table service only will be permitted

There must be one metre between tables

There will be a maximum of six adults per table

There can be no multiple table bookings

Masks must be worn when not at tables

However, closing time remains at midnight

There will be a a maximum of 50% capacity at entertainment, cultural, community and sporting events - which must all be fully seated

Face masks must be worn when not eating and drinking

The Covid pass will be required for gyms, leisure centres, hotel bars and restaurants

In addition, NPHET has advised that visits to private homes over the coming weeks should be kept to a maximum of three other households, for a total of four households, at one time

Mr Martin said NPHET acknowledged there was a need for flexibility on household visits.