Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #91

[weepingangel]

More at link
Inflatable holiday costume is likely culprit for a Calif. COVID outbreak | Boston.com

Late on Sunday, the hospital announced that a registration clerk in the emergency department had died of covid-19, NBC Bay Area reported. The woman was among the staffers who worked in the emergency department on Christmas Day and later tested positive. Employees told the station that they were devastated by the loss and described her as an “absolutely wonderful woman.”

 

[weepingangel]

So what was the point of giving two doses in the first place ?
I probably missed the scientific explanation months ago. Sorry. Just doesn’t seem to make sense.
And that’s where we are now. Halfvaccinating Yep. That’s shocking

US could offer half dose of Moderna’s COVID vaccine to increase availability
The United States could double the availability of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine by administering half doses, which has been shown to be effective in some people, chief advisor of Operation Warp Speed Chief Adviser Dr. Moncef Slaoui said on Sunday
In an interview with Face the Nation on Sunday, Slaoui said that for people 18 to 55 years old, receiving half the dose of Moderna’s vaccine is just as effective as the entire dose. The vaccine would still be administered twice, but just half the amount each time.

 

[10ofRods]

So what was the point of giving two doses in the first place ?
I probably missed the scientific explanation months ago. Sorry. Just doesn’t seem to make sense.
And that’s where we are now. Halfvaccinating Yep. That’s shocking

US could offer half dose of Moderna’s COVID vaccine to increase availability
The United States could double the availability of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine by administering half doses, which has been shown to be effective in some people, chief advisor of Operation Warp Speed Chief Adviser Dr. Moncef Slaoui said on Sunday
In an interview with Face the Nation on Sunday, Slaoui said that for people 18 to 55 years old, receiving half the dose of Moderna’s vaccine is just as effective as the entire dose. The vaccine would still be administered twice, but just half the amount each time.

From what I can tell, people 55 and younger achieve 90-95% immunity with a lessened dose (they did trials at several dose levels). So I assume that 56 and older would get the full dose?

If their reasoning was that this would make it too complicated for the typical pharma tech to inject the vaccine, down the line, when we're all going to drug stores and grocery stores to get the vaccine, I guess it makes sense.

I do wonder if it shaves off a few percentage points in effectiveness in the younger group, though. We have to keep in mind that the vaccine was effective in most people at both the lower dose, medium dose and highest dose (as in prevented COVID altogether). If, instead of them being at 98%-99% (with 95% for everyone altogether), then the 55 and under crowd would be on par with the older group (and being far more numerous, would pull average efficacy down, probably to something like 92-93%, which doesn't sound as great).

The 5% who do get COVID after vaccination have not included any deaths or hospitalizations, IIRC.

It would just be a larger number of people in that group who still gets (mild/moderate) COVID. "Just as effective" would therefore mean "just as effective as what we're going for the older group).

All the test regimens they tested were highly effective, but the two dose regimen was the most effective, for sure. If it goes from 98% to 92% for younger people, it would still give the herd immunity we seek, perhaps that's what is meant.

 

[doublestop]

That naval ship, the USNS Mercy, is currently dry-docked in Portland, undergoing heavy maintenance for at least the next several months.
...

Why would the put a hospital ship into drydock for heavy maintenance during the middle of a pandemic?

 

[10ofRods]

More at link
Inflatable holiday costume is likely culprit for a Calif. COVID outbreak | Boston.com

Late on Sunday, the hospital announced that a registration clerk in the emergency department had died of covid-19, NBC Bay Area reported. The woman was among the staffers who worked in the emergency department on Christmas Day and later tested positive. Employees told the station that they were devastated by the loss and described her as an “absolutely wonderful woman.”

Unbelievable and so tragic. So preventable. That's about 10 days past her exposure. The costume-wearer must be devastated.

4-year-old Central New York boy dies after fighting Covid: He was a ‘little spitfire’

I would really like to know which variant of COVID he had. This is in keeping with the syndrome that @margarita25 has been diligently posting about (inflammation of the walls of the heart in this case). What an adorable little boy.

And still, there are people assaulting each other about masks. I guess I get that some people have a strong desire to have their entire face be seen by others at all times, but I'm not getting why those same people attack others who are wearing masks.

Anti-maskers storm California mall, harass shoppers and refuse to leave

In this news article, we see anti-mask people physically attacking mask wearers and also getting belligerent with shouting, etc. It was organized.

 

[MimosaMornings]

Why would the put a hospital ship into drydock for heavy maintenance during the middle of a pandemic?

When was the last time it was used? NY?

And prior to that? I think they found out in NY it was not suitable for a pandemic.

Maybe some retro fitting going on for a floating morgue.
JMO

 

[weepingangel]

Massachusetts moves residents age 75 or older up COVID-19 vaccine priority list
more at link
BOSTON —

Massachusetts officials will modify
COVID-19 vaccination timeline to increase the priority level for residents who are at least 75-years old, moving them toward the front of the second phase of the plan.

The change will affect about 175,000 people in Massachusetts and follows federal guidelines, officials said.


The state is currently working through phase one of the plan, which began with front-line health care workers and last week began to vaccinate staff and residents at long-term care facilities. Gov. Charlie Baker said a statewide plan to begin vaccinating police, firefighters and emergency medical crews will begin next week.

 

[astheworldfallsdown]

COVID-19: MP Margaret Ferrier arrested and charged over 'reckless conduct' after alleged coronavirus rule breach

An MP has been arrested by police and charged after an alleged breach of coronavirus rules.

Margaret Ferrier, 60, had the SNP whip removed last year.

It came after it emerged she made a trip from Glasgow to the Commons while waiting for results of a COVID-19 test - and a return journey after being informed she had the virus.

 

[MimosaMornings]

More at link
Inflatable holiday costume is likely culprit for a Calif. COVID outbreak | Boston.com

Late on Sunday, the hospital announced that a registration clerk in the emergency department had died of covid-19, NBC Bay Area reported. The woman was among the staffers who worked in the emergency department on Christmas Day and later tested positive. Employees told the station that they were devastated by the loss and described her as an “absolutely wonderful woman.”

So the person in the costume was asymptomatic, but developed symptoms the next day? (Later tested positive - which would take a few days to get results back)

44 San Jose Kaiser Staff Members Test Positive in COVID-19 Outbreak, 1 Dies

Or the costume person was in this room?

“But one ER employee who asked not to be identified said there may be another reason for the outbreak.

“They were doing respiratory treatments inside a room that they’re not supposed to,” the employee said.”

 

[Rose in SC]

South Carolina bill would ban vaccination mandates | WBTW

"A bill pre-filed in the South Carolina House would ban mandatory vaccinations and prevent “discrimination” for not getting vaccinated.

The state has not announced any mandates in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

The bill would prevent employers from taking “any adverse employment action,” such as firing or demotion, if someone refuses to get vaccinated. Access to shopping, healthcare, and a long list of other activities couldn’t be restricted by vaccination status if the bill passes."

MEANWHILE . . . SC sets new high for percent positive in latest COVID-19 update
"DHEC says the percent positive from the 10,481 tests most recently reported to them was 33.3% (not including antibody tests)."

 

[CoverMeCagney]

COVID-19: MP Margaret Ferrier arrested and charged over 'reckless conduct' after alleged coronavirus rule breach

An MP has been arrested by police and charged after an alleged breach of coronavirus rules.

Margaret Ferrier, 60, had the SNP whip removed last year.

It came after it emerged she made a trip from Glasgow to the Commons while waiting for results of a COVID-19 test - and a return journey after being informed she had the virus.

Good! About time she faced up to her actions.

For those unfamiliar with this stupid woman, she is a Member of Parliament. She took a Covid test, then got on a train from Glasgow to London (350 miles / 4+ hours) went to meetings in parliament, then got a positive test result and went all the way home again on a train. Yes, on public transport, with everyone else, knowing she had Covid.

Prosecute her!

 

[CoverMeCagney]

39 minutes until the UK finds out our latest fate...

..... can somebody please pour us all a stiff drink?

 

[dixiegirl1035]

Was live. Dr. Seheult with Dr. Campbell

 

[dixiegirl1035]

39 minutes until the UK finds out our latest fate...

..... can somebody please pour us all a stiff drink?

*drink*

 

[astheworldfallsdown]

Good! About time she faced up to her actions.

For those unfamiliar with this stupid woman, she is a Member of Parliament. She took a Covid test, then got on a train from Glasgow to London (350 miles / 4+ hours) went to meetings in parliament, then got a positive test result and went all the way home again on a train. Yes, on public transport, with everyone else, knowing she had Covid.

Prosecute her!

Hopefully this will make the Covidiots think twice if they realise they'll be prosecuted for reckless behaviour. JMO

 

[10ofRods]

39 minutes until the UK finds out our latest fate...

..... can somebody please pour us all a stiff drink?

We're watching coverage (youtube channel, our version of Sky is useless). I'm trying to find a graph that I think someone posted here, not sure, which shows that UK's cases have gone completely vertical, with the US nearly so.

What I've noticed in watching hours of walking videos around London is that during Stage 3, there was inadequate compliance (that's putting it mildly - Covent Garden was pretty good in the days leading up to Christmas although by no means in full compliance, whereas Queen's Walk at night was...really concerning...I guess because it is outdoors no one was forced to wear a mask?) When Stage 4 was declared, it seems that most were wearing masks outdoors...but enough people are not wearing masks that I grew concerned and curious.

Anyway, has there ever been a universal indoor/outdoor mask wearing edict in UK? (Interior of one's own home excluded).

 

[FrostOwl]

On January 4, there have been 5,336 confirmed cases of covid-19 in my Region, with an addition of 627 cases since December 30. It's about 3,3 percent of a population of 159,900.
47 persons have died of covid-19. There were 42 patients with covid-19 at the hospital, 8 at the ICU, 5 of those cases from other regions, most likely Scania as they are beginning to get a shortage of ICU beds.
Information om coronaviruset - Region Blekinge

I worked the night shift on January 1, and at 3 a.m. at the emergency department 5 of 7 patients had confirmed covid-19, not all of them were admitted as they were not seriously affected, or were there for other reasons than the covid-19.

 

[dixiegirl1035]

*bump* for @10ofRods

Dr Nisreen Alwan@Dr2NisreenAlwan
The UK curve is a vertical line now. Not bending it ultimately means NHS not coping. This may mean people needing critical care not receiving it. If the whole country is over capacity then patients needing ICU can’t be sent to other remote units like what’s happening now.

 

[dixiegirl1035]

dbm

 

[acutename]

So the person in the costume was asymptomatic, but developed symptoms the next day? (Later tested positive - which would take a few days to get results back)

44 San Jose Kaiser Staff Members Test Positive in COVID-19 Outbreak, 1 Dies

Or the costume person was in this room?

“But one ER employee who asked not to be identified said there may be another reason for the outbreak.

“They were doing respiratory treatments inside a room that they’re not supposed to,” the employee said.”

IMO it makes an interesting news story that "the costume" was the source of this, but it is contaminated air that either was in the costume or that flowed into and out of the costume .... not all the information is available IMO