Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #107

[ilovewings]

Restrictions drop around the world as COVID hypocrisy is revealed

All I can say is, people may be done with Covid, but Covid is not done with us- as long as people fail to understand restrictions like masks for example, this pandemic will drag on.

 

[indicolite22]

I think age is a significant factor. Lots of young nurses, but fewer young doctors--in comparison.

SBM. By last August, 90% of our doctors but only about 60% of nurses have been vaccinated. The numbers get a little higher if you add those who recovered from Covid in the preceding few months and coud not get vaccinated yet.

Last year vaccination was compulsory if you applied to medical school. My niece, who had Covid earlier in the year, had to sign a statement upon her application that she'd get vaccinated.

 

[Yesiamapirate]

I think age is a significant factor. Lots of young nurses, but fewer young doctors--in comparison.

What I don't understand is how--with Omicron circulating--everyone seems to have forgotten about it. I went to the grocery yesterday, and the store still had it's "Mask Mandatory" sign, but I was in a very small minority of shoppers who was wearing one. Why?

Are they just tired of wearing the masks? Even a good number of the store workers either didn't have one or were wearing theirs around their chins. And the store was crowded.

Is this happening elsewhere?

So you ask and so I hope it is ok to answer honestly. I don’t wear masks unless it is required. In Michigan there is not a mask mandate. Why? It’s complex. Nothing is black and white. I have not worn a mask since I was vaccinated unless I am somewhere it is required. I feel my vaccines protect me. I also feel mask or no mask, COVID spreads. Mainly, I am moving on with life. This may be an unpopular post but I am answering honestly.
Also a little update. My little cold was just that. I took a PCR test the other day and it was negative. I didn’t trust the home test since I was sick and wanted to be sure. I am not sick any more and all is well. And just to be clear, I stayed home the entire time I was sniffly and until I got the PCR result yesterday. A full week. No contact with anyone, mask or no mask.

 

[Sundog]

I think age is a significant factor. Lots of young nurses, but fewer young doctors--in comparison.

What I don't understand is how--with Omicron circulating--everyone seems to have forgotten about it. I went to the grocery yesterday, and the store still had it's "Mask Mandatory" sign, but I was in a very small minority of shoppers who was wearing one. Why?

Are they just tired of wearing the masks? Even a good number of the store workers either didn't have one or were wearing theirs around their chins. And the store was crowded.

Is this happening elsewhere?

Same here in Ohio. At the grocery store entrances, there is a sign that masks are required for all customers and employees. But lots of people just walk right by it and grab their cart. People who are wearing masks, are doing so by choice, not because of the signage. I am actually surprised that the store has put up these signs, since it isn't enforceable, and there is no mask mandate in our state. As for the employees, they all seem to be masked up now, since omicron, but many wear them either below their nose or below their chin. It's been that way since the beginnng of the pandemic.

 

[indicolite22]

My 50+ year old relative, who has Down syndrome and lives in an institution for disabled, tested positive yesterday - one of the first residents. It seems they were lucky to avoid an outbreak so far, because there were several outbreaks at similar places from the start of the pandemic. She doesn't have a fever at present and is doing okay, but has increased blood pressure. She was boosted last October. Another positive resident was taken to hospital. He was unvaccinated. I hope they both recover well.

 

[Sundog]

So you ask and so I hope it is ok to answer honestly. I don’t wear masks unless it is required. In Michigan there is not a mask mandate. Why? It’s complex. Nothing is black and white. I have not worn a mask since I was vaccinated unless I am somewhere it is required. I feel my vaccines protect me. I also feel mask or no mask, COVID spreads. Mainly, I am moving on with life. This may be an unpopular post but I am answering honestly.
Also a little update. My little cold was just that. I took a PCR test the other day and it was negative. I didn’t trust the home test since I was sick and wanted to be sure. I am not sick any more and all is well. And just to be clear, I stayed home the entire time I was sniffly and until I got the PCR result yesterday. A full week. No contact with anyone, mask or not.

Glad to hear your PCR test was negative.

We have no mask mandate in Ohio, either, but I do wear an N95 mask when I go to the grocery store because of my age and some medical issues that would put me at high risk for serious complications if I got covid-19. I know that isn't the same for many others, I think individuals need to make their own risk assessment and make choices accordingly.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Bejing Winter Olympics organizers set up 'closed loop' to keep Covid out (nbcnews.com)

“It’s definitely a more complicated Olympics,” said American snowboarder Jamie Anderson.

BEIJING — The athletes have arrived, competition has begun and Friday’s spectacular ceremony opened the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. But for the athletes and the others attending, this year’s Games will be markedly different from those that came before.

Participants and foreign visitors will be kept inside what organizers refer to as the “closed loop.”

Designed to prevent Covid from spreading, it keeps residents far apart from the visitors, so China can host the Olympics and still pursue its “zero-Covid” strategy which has been in place since the pandemic first broke out in Wuhan in 2019.

It presents unique challenges for teams and athletes, just like it did during the Tokyo Summer Games last year...

 

[indicolite22]

The mystery of recent increase in hospitalizations and deaths but simultaneous decrease in ICU admissions has been partly solved by separate reporting of hospitalizations with- and for Covid. Here the ratio between the two is roughly 1:1. I'm wondering if similar applies to deaths these days. It has always been claimed by anti-vaxers that many (if not most) people died with and not because of Covid. I don't think that was true for previous variants.

 

[Yesiamapirate]

The mystery of recent increase in hospitalizations and deaths but simultaneous decrease in ICU admissions has been partly solved by separate reporting of hospitalizations with- and for Covid. Here the ratio between the two is roughly 1:1. I'm wondering if similar applies to deaths these days. It has always been claimed by anti-vaxers that many (if not most) people died with and not because of Covid. I don't think that was true for previous variants.

It’s an interesting thing! I think the stats for/with are worth noting and do make a difference. However, COVID affects so many body systems. I think no matter what lands you in the hospital, having COVID would complicate it either way. Whether you were with or for COVID. I am thinking the mortality rate for people with COVID but there for something else may be higher. COVID would complicate their course in some cases. MOO and I will look forward to the research on this topic as the months and years go. We have so much to learn about COVID still.

 

[CocoChanel]

My 50+ year old relative, who has Down syndrome and lives in an institution for disabled, tested positive yesterday - one of the first residents. It seems they were lucky to avoid an outbreak so far, because there were several outbreaks at similar places from the start of the pandemic. She doesn't have a fever at present and is doing okay, but has increased blood pressure. She was boosted last October. Another positive resident was taken to hospital. He was unvaccinated. I hope they both recover well.

Bless your relative and may she recover smoothly.
In the US, I work for a non-profit residential and day program organization for adults with intellectual disabilities, and some of my best friends have Down syndrome.

At our organization, we staved off the pandemic for nearly a year before the first resident tested positive. We had just gotten the first dose of the vaccine that same week. Since then about 15 or so of the residential citizens have tested positive out of the 125 who live there, where we are licensed as an assisted living facility by the state. They are all vaccinated and most have been boosted. It is with deep gratitude and kudos to our health team who consistently apply stringent CoVid protocols above and beyond the state requirements that I can share that we have not had any CoVid related deaths. All who tested positive have recovered, the most recent just after the holidays. It is a blessing that your relative is vaccinated and boosted. I am hopeful that the other resident who was unvaccinated is perhaps able to receive the monoclonal antibody treatment. That is what we believe greatly helped our first folks who tested positive before the vaccinations had a chance to kick in.

 

[indicolite22]

Bless your relative and may she recover smoothly.
In the US, I work for a non-profit residential and day program organization for adults with intellectual disabilities, and some of my best friends have Down syndrome.

At our organization, we staved off the pandemic for nearly a year before the first resident tested positive. We had just gotten the first dose of the vaccine that same week. Since then about 15 or so of the residential citizens have tested positive out of the 125 who live there, where we are licensed as an assisted living facility by the state. They are all vaccinated and most have been boosted. It is with deep gratitude and kudos to our health team who consistently apply stringent CoVid protocols above and beyond the state requirements that I can share that we have not had any CoVid related deaths. All who tested positive have recovered, the most recent just after the holidays. It is a blessing that your relative is vaccinated and boosted. I am hopeful that the other resident who was unvaccinated is perhaps able to receive the monoclonal antibody treatment. That is what we believe greatly helped our first folks who tested positive before the vaccinations had a chance to kick in.

Thank you for your good wishes.

 

[SouthAussie]

I have been reading a report about 'excess deaths' in Australia during the pandemic. Which is the rate of deaths above the norm (pre-pandemic).

Surprisingly, we have had negative excess deaths. Fewer deaths than usual. Almost 13,000 fewer deaths - over two years - than we usually would have.
Even with this Omicron surge we have been having, our death rate is still significantly lower than usual.

They think it is likely due to the simultaneous suppression of deaths from flu and other respiratory illnesses.

We are pretty conscientious in wearing our masks in situations where we are supposed to wear them. And most people wear cloth masks, with a smattering of surgical masks, and a few N95s.

Other countries with negative excess deaths include Japan, Taiwan, New Zealand.

Australia COVID: Omicron deaths peak as overall fatalities fall below pre-pandemic levels

 

[SouthAussie]

There is a chart here that shows the excess death rate (per million people) in all of the countries, if anyone is interested in seeing how various places are faring in this regard.

Excess mortality: Cumulative number of deaths from all causes compared to projection based on previous years, per million people

 

[Sundog]

CDC weighs increasing time between vaccine doses to lower risk of heart inflammation

 

[Teche]

I think age is a significant factor. Lots of young nurses, but fewer young doctors--in comparison.

What I don't understand is how--with Omicron circulating--everyone seems to have forgotten about it. I went to the grocery yesterday, and the store still had it's "Mask Mandatory" sign, but I was in a very small minority of shoppers who was wearing one. Why?

Are they just tired of wearing the masks? Even a good number of the store workers either didn't have one or were wearing theirs around their chins. And the store was crowded.

Is this happening elsewhere?

My husband and I always wear masks when we are in any business. I only patronize businesses where employees wear masks. Unfortunately, few customers wear masks. I’ve been known to tell shoppers to back off in the checkout lane when they encroach in my space. I tell them I care for my grandchildren while their parents care for Covid patients. It’s amazing how quickly they back up.

 

[ilovewings]

Restrictions drop around the world as COVID hypocrisy is revealed

CDC weighs increasing time between vaccine doses to lower risk of heart inflammation

Are elderly people considered immunocompromised?

 

[Teche]

Bless your relative and may she recover smoothly.
In the US, I work for a non-profit residential and day program organization for adults with intellectual disabilities, and some of my best friends have Down syndrome.

At our organization, we staved off the pandemic for nearly a year before the first resident tested positive. We had just gotten the first dose of the vaccine that same week. Since then about 15 or so of the residential citizens have tested positive out of the 125 who live there, where we are licensed as an assisted living facility by the state. They are all vaccinated and most have been boosted. It is with deep gratitude and kudos to our health team who consistently apply stringent CoVid protocols above and beyond the state requirements that I can share that we have not had any CoVid related deaths. All who tested positive have recovered, the most recent just after the holidays. It is a blessing that your relative is vaccinated and boosted. I am hopeful that the other resident who was unvaccinated is perhaps able to receive the monoclonal antibody treatment. That is what we believe greatly helped our first folks who tested positive before the vaccinations had a chance to kick in.

Thank you for choosing to work with this population. Your dedication is to be commended.

 

[Cool Cats]

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-...-dad-loses-custody-of-at-risk-child-1.6338484

Unvaccinated New Brunswick dad loses custody of at-risk child
Judge rules danger to immunocompromised child’s health requires virtual visits only

Their mother asked the court for a change to the custody agreement ending the father's in-person access. She applied to the court last year and the hearing took place Jan. 24.

"As the parents who are caring for [the child] 50 per cent of the time, in close quarters, unmasked and unvaccinated, they are well-positioned to transmit the virus to [the child] should they contract it, this despite their best efforts," the ruling says.

"It is no contest: the current science in the face of a highly contagious virus far outweighs Mr. F.'s layman wait-and-see approach."

The new order allows the father "generous" visiting rights via Zoom but no in-person contact. If he gets vaccinated, he can return to court to ask for a change to the decision.

While waiting for the hearing, the father also refused to consent to the children being vaccinated after they became eligible last November. Godbout ruled the mother could get that done without his agreement.

Ruling welcomed

Moncton family lawyer Sheila Cameron said the ruling is a welcome development because COVID-19 has complicated custody agreements in all kinds of ways.

Agreements that involve one parent dropping a child off at school and the other picking them up have been disrupted by at-home virtual schooling, for example.

In other cases, children have contracted COVID while at the home of one parent just before having to return to the home of the other parent.

"We're definitely seeing a lot of issues that I've never seen in 29 years of practice, and thankfully we have judges giving us guidance on those things," Cameron said.

Fredericton family lawyer Natacha Bossé said some separated parents unwilling to be co-operative are even using COVID-19 "as a weapon" to deny the other parent access.

"It has taken the already-difficult issues to a whole other level."

Godbout's decision could offer a ray of hope for other parents in similar situations, including Penobsquis mother Shelbi McLellan, who contacted CBC News recently.

She's been asking the province for help in her case but has been told her only option is to ask the court to change the custody agreement for her three-year-old daughter, a route she said she can't afford.

McLellan shares custody of her daughter with the girl's father, who refuses to get vaccinated.

 

[Cool Cats]

Restrictions drop around the world as COVID hypocrisy is revealed


Are elderly people considered immunocompromised?

No.

What Does It Mean To Be ‘Immunocompromised’?

Who Counts as Immunocompromised? A Guide for High-Risk Individuals

 

[LadyL]

Same here in Ohio. At the grocery store entrances, there is a sign that masks are required for all customers and employees. But lots of people just walk right by it and grab their cart. People who are wearing masks, are doing so by choice, not because of the signage. I am actually surprised that the store has put up these signs, since it isn't enforceable, and there is no mask mandate in our state. As for the employees, they all seem to be masked up now, since omicron, but many wear them either below their nose or below their chin. It's been that way since the beginnng of the pandemic.

it is enforceable if they decide
anyone who does not comply can be asked to leave
if they refuse to leave, police can be called and they can be charged for trespassing