Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #102

[weepingangel]

Connecticut
First Case of Omicron Covid-19 Variant Detected in Conn. is Fully Vaccinated Man
more at link
State officials said the man, who is in his 60s, is from Hartford County.

The man developed mild symptoms on Nov. 27. An at-home Covid-19 test was positive two days later and a molecular test also came back positive on Dec. 1

The governor's office said a family member traveled to New York City between Nov. 17 and 22 to attend the Anime NYC 2021 convention held at the Javits Center. The family member developed symptoms and took an at-home test which came back positive on Nov. 23. Their symptoms have since been resolved, officials said.

 

[jjenny]

Sure sounds like NYC anime convention was a superspreader of omicron. So far it appears to be able to infect fully vaccinated but only cause mild symptoms in the fully vaccinated. But the night is still young. <modsnip - no link>

 

[MimosaMornings]

Connecticut
First Case of Omicron Covid-19 Variant Detected in Conn. is Fully Vaccinated Man
more at link
State officials said the man, who is in his 60s, is from Hartford County.

The man developed mild symptoms on Nov. 27. An at-home Covid-19 test was positive two days later and a molecular test also came back positive on Dec. 1

The governor's office said a family member traveled to New York City between Nov. 17 and 22 to attend the Anime NYC 2021 convention held at the Javits Center. The family member developed symptoms and took an at-home test which came back positive on Nov. 23. Their symptoms have since been resolved, officials said.

Friends who went to an anime convention with a man who tested positive for Omicron also got sick, he says.

Interesting read from comic/anime site.
Could AnimeNYC Be A Superspreader Event?

 

[Skigh]

Hospitalisations in Omicron-hit South African province are RISING faster than in any previous wave | Daily Mail Online

The outbreak of new Covid variant Omicron in the province of Gauteng in South Africa has triggered the sharpest rise in hospitalisations of any previous wave, sparking concerns that a similar outbreak in the UK could overwhelm the NHS.

Gauteng alone has seen over 1,000 hospital admissions in the past week, quadrupling the figure recorded just two weeks ago, while South Africa recorded a total of 1,802 hospitalisations in the past week to Friday - the latest day for which data is available.

The virus also appears to be more transmissible, with cases up from around 300 three weeks ago to nearly 7,000 on a seven-day rolling average.

Cases have soared by a massive 408 per cent in just one week while deaths rose from eight to 21 across the same time period, according to the latest figures.

The country's National Institute for Communicable Diseases recorded another 16,366 cases on Saturday, with the vast majority in epicentre Gauteng province - a 408 per cent increase from last weekend when just 3,220 new infections were registered across the previous 24 hours.

It is not known which variant the new cases recorded were.

Willem Hanekom, director of the Africa Health Research Institute in South Africa, said: 'The virus is spreading extraordinarily fast in South Africa. The increase in cases is much steeper than it's been in the past, so it seems that I'll be able to spread very easily.

'Virtually all the cases that we see in South Africa right now are Omicron,' Hanekom told Andrew Marr this morning.

Meanwhile, Professor Rudo Mathivha, an intensive care specialist at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital on the outskirts of Johannesburg said: 'We shouldn't be seeing these kinds of numbers this early in the wave,' as he spoke of a 15-year-old that had died from pneumonia complications brought about by Covid.

 

[LaborDayRN]

If accurate, really good news!

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[weepingangel]

10 Covid-19 cases identified on New Orleans-bound cruise ship - CNN
More at link
Ten cases of Covid-19 have been identified on a Norwegian Cruise Line ship disembarking in New Orleans, the city said.


All crew members and passengers are fully vaccinated and all 10 cases are asymptomatic, the cruise line said in a statement.

"Governor John Bel Edwards, the Louisiana Department of Health, the City of New Orleans and the Port of New Orleans are aware and working closely with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to initiate existing COVID-19 agreements and protocols with the cruise line," the city said in a news release Saturday.

 

[mickey2942]

Helena couple found dead at home from COVID-19

Wow. How crazy is this?!

 

[Satchie]

Helena couple found dead at home from COVID-19

Wow. How crazy is this?!

You'd think one person would be significantly worse or go first, so the other would call for help. Just dialing 911 would be enough.

One suspects these deaths should be labelled 'complications from covid denial', but that is jumping to conclusions.

 

[Teche]

10ofRods, I wanted to quickly let you know your posts have meant so much to me. I tend to be here lots when we're entering a new or frightening phase of the pandemic. I always look for you and I'm amazed at how much you know and teach us in a language easy to understand. I too have been depressed with the ups and downs of this crazy time we're living through. Hang in there and please know you've made a difference by sharing such well thought out posts.

I second this. Rods is extremely knowledgeable and is a fantastic teacher. We love Rods.

 

[Chelly]

The frustration I personally have now, is "Holiday" party season. Seems that "Social Distancing" is out. I have zero interest in attending any functions...but, sometimes, you really don't have a choice.

I wish President Biden would declare "No Party" ban, so I could get out of it.

I wish we had "No Party" bans too. But, I have a feeling the government doesn't want to tick off the masses with bans, social distancing/mask rules and closures until after the holidays. We'd probably have rioting in the streets if certain people can't "Party" during the holidays. By early January, the positive numbers will soar, the chit will hit the fan and we'll probably be back in lockdown.

 

[Skigh]

Scientist warns it is 'too late' to halt spread of Omicron with new rules | Daily Mail Online



The number of new Omicron cases reported in the UK has risen by 86 bringing the total cases to 246 - an increase of more than 50 per cent in the space of a day.

The UK Health Security Agency, who publish the figures, said 18 of the new cases are in Scotland taking their total to 48.

The remaining 68 cases were recorded in England, according to the UKHSA.

Meanwhile, a further 43,992 Covid cases were recorded in the UK this week, an increase of 6,311 on last week's figures.

The increase marks a 16.7 per cent rise since last Sunday while a further 54 deaths were recorded.

The number of people who have died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid rose by 5.8 per cent from 51 last week

It comes as a leading scientist warned Britain has left it 'too late' to halt the spread of the Omicron super-variant.

Professor Mark Woolhouse said bringing in new curbs on travel was 'a case of shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted'.

The Edinburgh University epidemiologist said it was 'spreading pretty rapidly' and could become the world's dominant strain.

On Saturday, it was announced all travellers arriving in England will be required to take a Covid-19 pre-departure test from Tuesday.

Ministers said the test was intended to be a temporary measure following new data showing an increase in the number of cases of the new strain linked to foreign travel.

Meanwhile Nigeria is being added to the Government's travel red list in a blow for those wanting to see family over the festive period.

It comes as the US also battles its own war against the new variant, with a breakout linked to a New York City anime convention last month.

A Minnesota man who tested positive for Omicron after travelling to the city said more than a dozen of his friends who also attended contracted the virus.

 

[mickey2942]

You'd think one person would be significantly worse or go first, so the other would call for help. Just dialing 911 would be enough.

One suspects these deaths should be labelled 'complications from covid denial', but that is jumping to conclusions.

Welcome to Montana. Mask wearing is a huge issue here. And confusing. It has become more about "freedom" than "health".

Which is interesting, politically. Because this same mindset wants to limit the right to choose other health care issues. Complete oxymoron.

 

[jjenny]

"U.S. health officials said Sunday that while the omicron variant of the coronavirus is rapidly spreading throughout the country, early indications suggest it may be less dangerous than delta, which continues to drive a surge of hospitalizations."

Fauci says early reports encouraging about omicron variant | PBS NewsHour Weekend

 

[Chelly]

Omicron states tally as of Dec 5:

At least 15 states have reported Omicron cases: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Utah, Washington and Wisconsin, according to a Reuters tally.

Omicron variant found in at least 15 U.S. states -CDC chief

 

[Chelly]

CDC - Covid on Cruise Ships Tracker.
Updated several times a week.
(scroll down a bit for lists)
Cruise Ship Color Status | Quarantine | CDC

 

[indicolite22]

I'm in Europe and we're still in the throes of Delta. With the increased control of Covid certificates, cases are slowly going down, though it's still quite bad (hospitals are full). Antivaxers don't care about it. Some think they are too young/healthy to get seriously ill; too many believe that vaccines are harmful/ineffective and refuse to trust official Covid statistics.

 

[MimosaMornings]

I wish we had "No Party" bans too. But, I have a feeling the government doesn't want to tick off the masses with bans, social distancing/mask rules and closures until after the holidays. We'd probably have rioting in the streets if certain people can't "Party" during the holidays. By early January, the positive numbers will soar, the chit will hit the fan and we'll probably be back in lockdown.

Are these work parties or friends/family parties? Or both? During a pandemic?

Our company sent out notices that there will be no holiday parties again this year. People can choose from a series of interactive zoom sessions instead. One or two looked interesting.

My family group is small now, the large family holiday gatherings went away years ago. Pretty much the same with friends. I think once you hit 50 or join AARP the invites stop coming. Lol

 

[LadyL]

10ofRods, I wanted to quickly let you know your posts have meant so much to me. I tend to be here lots when we're entering a new or frightening phase of the pandemic. I always look for you and I'm amazed at how much you know and teach us in a language easy to understand. I too have been depressed with the ups and downs of this crazy time we're living through. Hang in there and please know you've made a difference by sharing such well thought out posts.

yes! such thoughtful, educational posts

 

[Sundog]

Are these work parties or friends/family parties? Or both? During a pandemic?

Our company sent out notices that there will be no holiday parties again this year. People can choose from a series of interactive zoom sessions instead. One or two looked interesting.

My family group is small now, the large family holiday gatherings went away years ago. Pretty much the same with friends. I think once you hit 50 or join AARP the invites stop coming. Lol

Our workplace is having a holiday reception this week, with invitaitons sent out to about 45 people, and they are invited to bring their spouse/significant other. And this is a university, where we are also testing students, faculty and staff every week (surveillance testing), required to wear masks indoors, and required to be vaccinated or have an approved exemption (and if an exemption is approved, students, faculty and staff have to undergo weekly testing). Even if those who work there are required to be vaccinated, who knows if their spouses/guests are. And, of course, we know that vaccinated people still can spread the virus.

We had to rsvp by last week, and I declined, but we all know the pressure to attend these workplace events. Most people will feel like they can't decline, and so will attend. This is a university, and most in attendance will be PhDs and scientists. The thought of mingling with 70-90 people in the middle of a delta surge just doesn't seem right, or prudent, to me.

 

[mickey2942]

Half the world is still living like they are in "Pandemic mode". The other half of the world thinks those folks are crazy, "Chicken Little" types.

There is literally no middle ground, because both sides think the other side is loony tunes.