Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #94

[ilovewings]

I wouldn't compare number of cases per million population, I'd go by number of deaths. Every jurisdiction has different testing policies, whereas deaths are all counted. In that case Michigan is about average with the US as a whole. United States Coronavirus: 31,375,588 Cases and 568,427 Deaths - Worldometer

Another personal opinion: states with big cities will always be worse hit than states with smaller cities, eg Colorado, Conneticut, etc. Detroit's a huge city, which has had a low rate till now.

Where I am in Canada, it's similar, people have been careful for a year and transmission has been low, except for terrible numbers of death in nursing homes. People are claiming 'covid fatigue', like it's a real thing, and ignoring all the advice about social distancing, not visiting indoors etc, and now we're rapidly increasing numbers. I was just thinking earlier, some people will just have to get sick/know people who get sick, before they take it seriously again.

Fortunately, nursing home residents and elderly are vaccinated now, so hopefully they won't be the victims of other people's carelessness.

British Columbians hit the road despite long weekend health warnings

DELETE- DUPLICATE

 

[ilovewings]

I wouldn't compare number of cases per million population, I'd go by number of deaths. Every jurisdiction has different testing policies, whereas deaths are all counted. In that case Michigan is about average with the US as a whole. United States Coronavirus: 31,375,588 Cases and 568,427 Deaths - Worldometer

Another personal opinion: states with big cities will always be worse hit than states with smaller cities, eg Colorado, Conneticut, etc. Detroit's a huge city, which has had a low rate till now.

Where I am in Canada, it's similar, people have been careful for a year and transmission has been low, except for terrible numbers of death in nursing homes. People are claiming 'covid fatigue', like it's a real thing, and ignoring all the advice about social distancing, not visiting indoors etc, and now we're rapidly increasing numbers. I was just thinking earlier, some people will just have to get sick/know people who get sick, before they take it seriously again.

Fortunately, nursing home residents and elderly are vaccinated now, so hopefully they won't be the victims of other people's carelessness.

British Columbians hit the road despite long weekend health warnings

Here is a snapshot of Oakland County Mi. where I live in comparison to some other counties in Michigan. I can tell you I check this site often: A mere month ago it was 11 cases per 100,000- Now it is 58 and Macomb County is 99 per 100,000 cases.

U.S. COVID Risk & Vaccine Tracker

 

[Inthedetails]

That is just the worst news! This virus is always one step ahead of everyone. Now it can bypass standard testing.

I'm not seeing anything in this snippet that these new variants are more dangerous. So maybe this is new info about the virus but not necessarily a new worry? I hope.

jmo

 

[SouthAussie]

I'm not seeing anything in this snippet that these new variants are more dangerous. So maybe this is new info about the virus but not necessarily a new worry? I hope.

jmo

"Eight of 79 Covid-19 patients turned out to be carriers of the new variant, nicknamed “le variant breton.” All 8 patients have since died."

Not to mention, as it bypasses testing it is going to spread undetected. Which would be a huge concern for places like Australia, as we rely on "test, trace and isolate" as our primary form of defense against community spread of the virus.

 

[Inthedetails]

"Eight of 79 Covid-19 patients turned out to be carriers of the new variant, nicknamed “le variant breton.” All 8 patients have since died."

Not to mention, as it bypasses testing it is going to spread undetected. Which would be a huge concern for places like Australia, as we rely on "test, trace and isolate" as our primary form of defense against community spread of the virus.

Sorry, missed the part about the patients dying. I meant no disrespect. Thanks for the correction.

 

[margarita25]

 

[margarita25]

This report is from March 17 but I just heard about the Breton variant for the first time on the radio this morning. (There is debate about whether travellers from France coming into Ireland should have to go into mandatory hotel quarantine given the severe Covid situation there currently.)

Latest Covid-19 Variant Discovered In France Isn’t Detected By Standard PCR Tests

A new variant of the novel coronavirus has been identified in the French region of Brittany. On Monday evening, the French Ministry of Health put out a statement that said the mutation was found by way of genomic sequencing in a cluster of infections in a hospital in the town of Lannion. Eight of 79 Covid-19 patients turned out to be carriers of the new variant, nicknamed “le variant breton.” Initially they tested negative with gold-standard PCR tests, despite presenting with typical symptoms of Covid-19. But later, coronavirus infection was confirmed with analysis of blood samples and tissue in the respiratory system. All 8 patients have since died.

(...)

What’s remarkable about this particular mutation is that the novel coronavirus may have already evolved in such a way as to bypass detection by conventional PCR tests. Last month, Finnish researchers also discovered a new variant that is undetected by at least one standard PCR test, though evidently not all conventional PCR tests, as appears to be the case with the new variant found in France. As a result, the World Health Organization has assigned the latest variant to the category “variants under investigation.”

The announcement came as France and most of the rest of Europe battle a resurgence in coronavirus cases and hospitalizations, driven in part by the B.1.1.7 variant which has become dominant throughout the continent.

(More at link)

Latest Covid-19 Variant Discovered In France Isn’t Detected By Standard PCR Tests

Thanks for the heads up, Mo.

Another article:

“At this stage, we know a cluster has been identified this past February 22 in Lannion hospital, Côtes-d’Armor. After in-depth analyses, 79 cases have been identified as of March 13, including 8 cases carrying the “Breton variant”. These cases have been confirmed after sequencing performed by Institut Pasteur that revealed “a new variant […] carrying nine mutations in the area coding for S protein, as well as in other viral regions”, the DGS stated in a message sent to health professionals.

The particularity? People carrying the variant show Covid-19 symptoms, but their PCR tests ended up negative. “An assessment is going on in order to assess the likely impact of the genetic modifications on a failure in virological tests to recognize the virus leading to under-diagnosis”, the DGS stated.

So far, we still ignore the level of danger of this “Breton variant”, but investigations are being carried out. Yet, according to health authorities, “the first analyses of this new variant do not enable to conclude on increased seriousness or transmissibility compared to the historic virus”.”

Covid: what we know about the new “Breton variant” surveilled by authorities
March 16, 2021

 

[anneg]

@margarita25 -- you are so right, this is serious and scary.

U.S. must confront Covid spike, noted epidemiologist warns

U.S. must confront Covid spike, noted epidemiologist warns
"We are going to have to respond somehow," Michael Osterholm said.

Osterholm said Americans were not being realistic in the face of this new spike, which he said was being driven by a Covid variant. [B.1.1.7 variant]

"We are the only country in the world right now experiencing this increasing number of cases due to this variant and at the same time, opening up, not closing down," he told host Chris Wallace [on Fox]. "The two basically are going to collide, and we are going to see substantially increased number of cases."

Dr. Osterholm was on Meet the Press this morning. Here is a 7 1/2 minute video of his interview:
Full Osterholm Interview: Covid variant 'is a brand new ballgame'

 

[ilovewings]

@margarita25 -- you are so right, this is serious and scary.

U.S. must confront Covid spike, noted epidemiologist warns

U.S. must confront Covid spike, noted epidemiologist warns
"We are going to have to respond somehow," Michael Osterholm said.

Osterholm said Americans were not being realistic in the face of this new spike, which he said was being driven by a Covid variant. [B.1.1.7 variant]

"We are the only country in the world right now experiencing this increasing number of cases due to this variant and at the same time, opening up, not closing down," he told host Chris Wallace [on Fox]. "The two basically are going to collide, and we are going to see substantially increased number of cases."

Dr. Osterholm was on Meet the Press this morning. Here is a 7 1/2 minute video of his interview:
Full Osterholm Interview: Covid variant 'is a brand new ballgame'

Sadly, Dr. Osterholm was speaking into the wind: he has been talking about how there would be a surge but the partying idiots were not listening and we all will pay for their recklessness- it does not matter what the scientists say - Gov DeSantis doesn't care and neither does the Gov. of Texas.

 

[tabitha111]

Kevin Mcleod

@dockevinmcleod


BC we have a problem. The hospitals are much busier last 72 hours. Significant increase in COVID cases especially in younger people who are coming in around day 10 from initial disease onset. Presenting really sick. Needing 100% oxygen to stay alive teetering on intubation sick.






Kevin Mcleod

@dockevinmcleod
·
18h


Replying to
@dockevinmcleod
It’s many patients in that 20 to 50 year old group. Most do not seem to have co morbidities. This will go very badly if people don’t wise up. Don’t travel right now. At this pace of admissions our covid unit will be over capacity before Tuesday.

 

[margarita25]

@margarita25 -- you are so right, this is serious and scary.

U.S. must confront Covid spike, noted epidemiologist warns

U.S. must confront Covid spike, noted epidemiologist warns
"We are going to have to respond somehow," Michael Osterholm said.

Osterholm said Americans were not being realistic in the face of this new spike, which he said was being driven by a Covid variant. [B.1.1.7 variant]

"We are the only country in the world right now experiencing this increasing number of cases due to this variant and at the same time, opening up, not closing down," he told host Chris Wallace [on Fox]. "The two basically are going to collide, and we are going to see substantially increased number of cases."

Dr. Osterholm was on Meet the Press this morning. Here is a 7 1/2 minute video of his interview:
Full Osterholm Interview: Covid variant 'is a brand new ballgame'

Thanks, anneg. I’m watching this wonderful man now. God Bless him.

So, per this interview, interesting side note from Chuck Todd, the President of Argentina has tested positive despite getting the Sputnik vaccine.

Argentina’s president tests positive for COVID-19

Argentina’s President Tests Positive for Coronavirus Despite Vaccination

—

Eta: ICU admissions up in 30-50 year olds, I think Dr. O just said.

*note his comments on what’s happening with kids and schools. 700+ outbreaks in schools over the past two weeks in Minnesota alone. B117 is a game changer.

—

Re: Michigan:
Michigan Covid: More than 8,400 new coronavirus cases reported in one day, most since December - CNN

 

[margarita25]

(Alright, remember a while back we saw the trailer for “Songbird”? I said “thanks but no thanks, I’ll pass”. Well, I changed my mind, I’m going in. Snuggly w doggie under covers. Wish me luck.)

(Eta: omggg “covid-23, virus has mutated, 4th year of lockdown , I don’t know about this....too late, already paid $6)

(eta2: omggg I’m just a few minutes in - this movie is wild!>Chilling!)

 

[charminglane]

Thanks for taking one for the team, Marg-I don't think I can handle it.
Waiting for a short synopsis.

 

[margarita25]

Thanks for taking one for the team, Marg-I don't think I can handle it.
Waiting for a short synopsis.

( I liked it Jmo)

(going in for “Outbreak“ & “Contagion” next )

 

[Inthedetails]

"Cornell becomes the first private university to mandate Covid vaccinations for on campus this fall."
https://twitter.com/Amy_Siskind/status/1378835038456922113

"Cornell University announced its fall 2021 return plans Friday, with an ambitious requirement that any students returning to Ithaca, Geneva and Cornell Tech campuses must have received the full doses of one of the various COVID-19 vaccinations....

The school is also establishing a 'COVID-19 Proof of Vaccination' tool for students, staff and faculty to notify the school once they have received the vaccine."

Cornell will require vaccinations for students returning to campus in fall; expects full in-person learning

 

[margarita25]

Pope calls on world to ensure Covid vaccines for poorer nations in Easter speech

• 
  
  
  • “Describing vaccines as an “essential tool” in the pandemic battle, Francis called for a “spirit of global responsibility” to ensure poorer nations receive shots.
  • He sounded a note of indignation at the start of his address, decrying that there has been no shortage of war and conflict during the world’s worst health crisis in a century.”

 

[Inthedetails]

"Rutgers University will require students who are enrolling for the 2021 fall semester to show they've received a COVID-19 vaccine. The New Jersey state school says the requirement will help it make 'a full return to our pre-pandemic normal' on campus for the next school year."

Rutgers To Require Vaccine Proof For 'All Students Planning To Attend This Fall'.

 

[Inthedetails]

In Colorado:

"Fort Lewis College in Durango, which has just over 3,500 students enrolled, announced to staff and students Friday that it will require students to get vaccinated before returning to campus in the fall. It’s the first, and currently only, Colorado university to initiate a vaccine mandate....

The public university will track student vaccinations through its health pass system, which has been used to track daily symptoms and approve class attendance. Stritikus described the mandate as a step toward relaxing health protocols on campus. "

As Colorado Colleges Consider COVID Vaccine Mandate, Fort Lewis Goes All In

 

[Inthedetails]

Ohio:

"Vaccinations will be required for all students living on campus [at Cleveland State]."

Ohio colleges and universities weigh in on COVID vaccines | wkyc.com

 

[SouthAussie]

Ohio:

"Vaccinations will be required for all students living on campus [at Cleveland State]."

Ohio colleges and universities weigh in on COVID vaccines | wkyc.com

This is really good news ... that the colleges/universities seem to be falling in line with vaccination requirements.

Their student demographic is very prone to spreading the virus, and if they don't catch the virus in the first place maybe they won't be able to spread it.

Seems that some/all (?) of them already have vaccination requirements in place for other contagious diseases/illnesses.

"Rutgers already requires new or transferring students to show proof of receiving several vaccines, hoping to prevent on-campus cases of diseases from measles, mumps and rubella to hepatitis B and meningitis."