Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #100

[SouthAussie]

Company offers $50 travel vouchers to vaccine bookings

An Australian company is providing $200,000 worth of taxi vouchers to residents to safely travel to their first or second COVID-19 vaccine appointment.

Australian business Cabcharge will offer vouchers for New South Wales residents to travel to and from their COVID-19 vaccination appointment in hopes of boosting vaccine numbers in the state.

Cabcharge boss Cyrus Asher said he wanted to provide people with a safe way to get to their appointment as the Delta variant's transmissibility was higher.

I heard yesterday that AAMI (insurer) is providing free roadside assistance to all first responders, doctors, nurses, hospital staff - until the end of the year. It is so nice that some companies are doing what they can to help others at this difficult time.

Supporting those who support us

 

[TootsieFootsie]

Delta less deadly than previous COVID-19 outbreaks, data shows

Tens of thousands of people have been infected with the Delta strain of COVID-19 in NSW, but the outbreak has not been as deadly as those last year, data shows.

The high vaccination rates in older people are resulting in fewer deaths in aged care in particular this year, an infectious diseases expert has said.

 

[Cool Cats]

3 Vermont state troopers resign after scheming to create 'fraudulent COVID-19 vaccination cards'

Vermont state troopers Raymond Witkowski, David Pfindel, and Shawn Sommers resigned recently after supervisors were alerted about the troopers having "varying roles in the creation of fraudulent COVID-19 vaccination cards." (Vermont State Police)

Three Vermont state troopers resigned after they got caught in a scheme to create fraudulent COVID-19 vaccination cards, the Vermont State Police announced Tuesday.

Shawn Sommers and Raymond Witkowski resigned on Aug. 10, one day after another trooper became aware of their alleged actions and reported them to supervisors. The Department of Public Safety then began an investigation, leading to David Pfindel's resignation on Sept. 3.

The FBI is now investigating the case, as the troopers' scheme could be a violation of federal law.

Fake COVID-19 vaccination cards are on the rise in US, Europe

Vaccine mandates have fueled an increase in demand for fraudulent certificates as sellers flourish online

In the U.S., fake vaccination cards purportedly issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have appeared for sale on sites such as Amazon, eBay and Etsy. In May, officers arrested a bar owner in California for allegedly selling fake vaccination cards costing $20 each. The alleged perpetrator was charged with identity theft, forging government documents and falsifying medical records.

"While we do not have definitive numbers, we are seeing more of these types of schemes recently," a Justice Department spokesman said.

 

[TootsieFootsie]

Melbourne aged care provider mandates rapid COVID-19 tests

A Melbourne aged care provider will mandate rapid COVID-19 tests for all visitors from today in an Australian-first.

 

[TootsieFootsie]

Novavax developing joint COVID/flu vaccine

Vaccine manufacturer Novavax has announced it is developing a joint COVID-19/flu shot that is currently in the trial stage.

Novavax already manufactures flu shots and a COVID-19 vaccine, which has not yet been approved for public use in Australia.

However, the government has placed an order for 51 million doses

 

[TootsieFootsie]

VB launches new ad urging Aussies to roll up their sleeves and get the jab

Victoria Bitter has released a new ad encouraging Aussies to get their COVID-19 vaccinations so they can get back to the pub for a cold one.

The iconic beer company's signature slogan has been reworked in the campaign, with the narrator declaring, "A hard-earned thirst comes from being all over town, not from being in lockdown".

 

[TootsieFootsie]

Indigenous Australians in Covid-hit Wilcannia targeted by ivermectin spruiker

Last week, as case numbers in the Covid-ravaged regional New South Wales town of Wilcannia soared, a broadcaster at the local radio station, Brendon Adams, received an offer in an email.

It said a prominent Sydney doctor wanted to help the town’s largely Aboriginal population by treating them with a drug that, the sender promised, would “get rid of Covid and prevent them from contracting it again”.

 

[Sundog]

Requiring vaccinations for all federal workers, federal contractors and 17 million health care workers

Requiring companies with 100 or more employees to either require vaccinations or test staff weekly. Those that don't risk cash fines.

Requiring companies of the same size to give paid time off to get a shotRequiring some education staff (head start programs, DOD schools, etc) to be vaccinated

The TSA is doubling fines for people who refuse to mask on planes etcThe still moving ahead with boosters

The new vaccine requirement for federal workers will include exemptions on religious grounds and those with disabilities.


Sweeping new vaccine mandates for 100 million Americans

President Biden's COVID-19 Plan | The White House

I heard on the radio tonight that it doesn't apply to U.S. postal workers. I guess their union is too powerful. Postal workers deliver mail to every home in the U.S. But they are exempt from the federal mandate.

 

[Cool Cats]

A million stories of regret hopefully this lady makes it home

Not getting Covid jab was mum's biggest regret - BBC News

A woman who became critically ill with Covid-19 said not getting the vaccine after listening to anti-vaxxers is her "biggest regret".

Emily Burrows, 47, was admitted to hospital with dangerously low oxygen levels and tested positive on 23 July.

She pleaded with staff to give her the jab but was it was too late and instead she was put on a ventilator.

The mum-of-six, from the Forest of Dean, spent two weeks in an induced coma. At one point she was so weak she couldn't lift up her hands but Ms Burrows is now recovering and hopes to return home soon.

Emily Burrows is telling others not to listen to anti-vaxxers who convinced her she didn't need a Covid-19 jab

Her husband and eldest son had both received their jabs. It was anti-vaccine messages on social media that persuaded her not to.

"They just go to your head and they play games with you," she said.

"You don't know who these people are but because it's so widespread on there, you end up listening to them."

Even when she started experiencing symptoms at home, she admits she was "in complete denial".

Ms Burrows said she now feels "really stupid" and her experience has completely changed her mind.

 

[pocketaccent]

$$$

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/09/09/unv...mployees-face-health-insurance-surcharge.html

Delta Air Lines’ $200 per month experiment for changing unvaccinated employees’ minds seems to be working

Americans infamously vote with their wallets. Turns out, they may get vaccinated against Covid with their wallets, too.

In the two weeks since Delta Air Lines announced a $200 monthly health insurance surcharge for unvaccinated employees, 20% of Delta’s unvaccinated employees have already gotten the jab, Dr. Henry Ting, Delta’s chief health officer, said in an Infectious Disease Society of America briefing Thursday. “I think [that’s] a huge number in terms of shifting that group that’s most reluctant,” he said.
...

 

[sds71]

“As long as I can get my message across, I don't really think it matters what the crowd thinks of me,” Knox said. “Overall, they're not the ones making the decisions for the school.”

Tennessee teen talking about grandma who died of Covid heckled by adults at school board meeting

 

[mickey2942]

Interesting experience today, had a little girl in my office, four years old. She was from a small reservation in Canada, that has been on "lock down" due to Covid. Her little life, has been so limited. And, now that she was away from home for an appointment, she was crying. Too scary. Masks were scary. Everything was scary.

The little ones have just had their lives so messed up by Covid.

 

[jennieohhh]

I heard on the radio tonight that it doesn't apply to U.S. postal workers. I guess their union is too powerful. Postal workers deliver mail to every home in the U.S. But they are exempt from the federal mandate.

That's a real head scratcher to me amongst many other things i will keep to myself.

 

[Cool Cats]

Just another day out with the family

Cops: Woman found with loaded gun at SC Aquarium after refusing to wear mask, attacking detective

Published: Sep. 8, 2021 at 2:59 PM EDT

Lisa Bostick was charged with simple assault, disorderly conduct, and unlawful carrying of a weapon. She was given a $26,319 bond.

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - Officials with the Charleston Police Department say a loaded gun was found on a 56-year-old woman who went to the SC Aquarium and attacked a police detective after she refused to wear a mask.

The incident happened last Sunday when a detective was working an off-duty assignment at the aquarium and was approached by employees who were requesting to have a guest removed from the center for failing to comply with several requests to wear her mask.

A report states that Bostick told staff members to “**** themselves” when asked to pull her mask up from her neck to her face in order to be in compliance with the aquarium’s policies. Police said as Bostick was leaving the gift shop, the detective approached her and asked her to follow him outside.

According to CPD officials, at that time, Bostick became belligerent and approached the detective in an “aggressive manner” including waving her hands violently in his face. The detective reported that when he went to place her under arrest for disorderly conduct, Bostick struck him in the neck and chest area.

After she was detained, Bostick was escorted outside to the parking lot where detectives met with other police units. Investigators say she was found to be unlawfully carrying a firearm in public, and the aquarium had signs that stated “No Concealed Firearms.” The detective also reported that Bostick told him that she is not a concealed weapons pemit holder.

 

[KALI]

My husband and myself jumped at the opportunity to get vaccinated.
We were thrilled to be able to get vaccinated in February of this year.
Not all we know felt the same way.
Many of our loved ones were wary of this vaccine and to this day, refuse to get it.
All of them are intelligent, successful beings.
My point of posting tonight is this.
My friends don't trust the government of the USA.
The absolute LAST person they trust to protect them right now is President Joe Biden.
For me. The fight against these viruses is NOT political, no matter what the news media conjures up.
This virus is not some thinking organism that gives a crap about your political stance.
I agree that the sanctions against the unvaccinated will force many to comply.
*I actually agree that these sanctions will bring Americans in to get their shots.
Probably a good thing for this country.
I for sure would like to get back to some sort of normal life.
I am exhausted of constantly cleaning, washing my hands and being constantly on the lookout for how I could bring this virus home to infect my loved ones.
I do believe that we've got to fight this invisible killer with EVERYTHING we've got.

 

[LadyL]

After two teachers died of Covid-19 in a week, a Texas school district implements mask mandate - CNN

 

[JayWill]

I heard on the radio tonight that it doesn't apply to U.S. postal workers. I guess their union is too powerful. Postal workers deliver mail to every home in the U.S. But they are exempt from the federal mandate.

Are they face to face?

 

[mickey2942]

Are they face to face?

Does it matter? By that reasoning, any federal employees who are on telework, could bypass the vaccine. And, a lot of people go to the post office every day, to purchase stamps, money orders, mail packages...imagine, one positive Covid employee could easily see 100 people face to face in one day, if not more.

 

[acutename]

Does it matter? By that reasoning, any federal employees who are on telework, could bypass the vaccine. And, a lot of people go to the post office every day, to purchase stamps, money orders, mail packages...imagine, one positive Covid employee could easily see 100 people face to face in one day, if not more.

The USPS exemption was initially believed to allow postal workers to duck the private-sector mandate, too. But nearly four hours after that understanding was reported, the White House issued a clarification saying that postal workers will have a choice between getting vaccinated and getting tested once a week, just like workers at large companies.

...“USPS is not included in the executive order requiring vaccination of Federal employees. USPS has a separate statutory scheme and is traditionally independent of federal personnel actions like this,” a Biden administration official said.

He added: “That said, USPS is strongly encouraged to comply. Also, [the Labor Department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration] will cover USPS through the [emergency temporary standards], meaning that postal workers will be subject to the vaccination or testing policy announced today”...

USPS exempt from Biden vax mandate for 100M workers

 

[SouthAussie]

The Los Angeles school board on Thursday agreed to require coronavirus vaccinations for students ages 12 and up in the city’s public school system

The measure passed in a 6-to-0 vote, with one member recusing himself because of a possible conflict of interest.

Los Angeles is by far the largest school district in the country to take this step

Vaccination rates among Latinos, who account for nearly three in four students in the district, lag those of White and Asian Americans

The resolution cited a rising number of pediatric hospitalizations and rising case counts, as well as the urgency of keeping schools operating in person after more than a year of mostly remote education.

Already, many school districts mandate vaccination for school faculty and staff members, and in California the requirement is statewide.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/educ...eles-school-district-student-vaccine-mandate/