Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #93

[Deleted member 158085]

"During Saturday's news conference, the mayor blamed some of the crowding on accessible travel.
"There are a lot of cheap flights," Gelber said. "Last month you could get here from Philadelphia, New York, or Chicago for $50 round trip." "


Honestly, can't someone reign the airlines in?? Irresponsible, and they have contributed so much to spreading this virus from state to state, with their too-easy accessibility. imo

I can't even imagine being a flight attendant right now.

 

[nightowl1975]

But it is not true that no mitigation measures were used in Florida .

Has anyone here suggested Florida used no mitigation measures at all? I don’t know if anywhere that has literally used nothing at all, but I’m no expert on all areas of course.

 

[Cool Cats]

Has anyone here suggested Florida used no mitigation measures at all? I don’t know if anywhere that has literally used nothing at all, but I’m no expert on all areas of course.

Beyond the veil: What mask requirements are in place in Florida?

An increasing number of Florida jurisdictions at various points in the past year required masks in public and at designated businesses

When he moved Florida to Phase Three, DeSantis said the move would preempt any fines and punishments attached to local rules. Yet since then,

Mask ordinances have continued to stand up to court challenges, and many jurisdictions continue to have fine ordinances on the books even though the penalties are not being levied and cannot be collected.

 

[ilovewings]

How the coronavirus pandemic almost didn't happen | Daily Mail Online

How the coronavirus pandemic almost didn't happen-- this article also pretty much debunks the theory the virus was leaked from a lab

 

[SouthAussie]

Our TGA (Therapeutics Goods Administration) has approved the manufacture of Astra Zeneca here in Australia, and the first batches are rolling out in just a few days.


In a statement, the Therapeutic Goods Administration said the approval was granted "earlier today" and that it was a "critical and very exciting milestone" in Australia's response to the pandemic.

The second phase of Australia's COVID-19 vaccination program starts tomorrow, with millions of Australians set to become eligible for their first dose.

Domestic production of AstraZeneca vaccine is approved

 

[SouthAussie]

BBM,UBM

Australia will consider shortening the length of hotel quarantine for international arrivals or shifting towards home quarantine once more people are vaccinated against Covid-19.

Prof Brendan Murphy (health dept) ...... “We might think about, for example, reducing the length of quarantine or more home quarantine, particularly for vaccinated people. Our risk tolerance will change over the second half of this year.”

While he cautioned that “nobody can really predict what will happen with international borders”, Murphy added, “I’m hopeful that pretty good international travel will happen next year but it’s just too early to tell.”

Home quarantine and shorter hotel stays to be considered as TGA approves local vaccine production

 

[GRT]

How the coronavirus pandemic almost didn't happen | Daily Mail Online

How the coronavirus pandemic almost didn't happen-- this article also pretty much debunks the theory the virus was leaked from a lab

The WHO Covid Origins report is due out this coming week and they are expected to say the virus is zoonotic in origin, although the animal host has still not been determined.

Like so many aspects of this virus, from day one, the supposition of its origin was politicized. Trump made the mistake of saying it came from a lab and that immediately prompted anti-Trumpers to try and prove him wrong.

Yet, it shouldn't matter what any leader says, what should matter is good science.

In the science world, it's difficult to find a more reputable institute than MIT, and so for anyone who's really interested in this topic--I know many are not--check out this article from MIT Technology Review that explains why it's important to consider a lab leak. It's science, pure and simple, and it was published just three days ago.

If we could all see past what is or isn't politically correct and just look at the science, we could probably reach a conclusion quicker.

Things are pretty hot on the world stage right now, and in the recent face-to-face meeting, the US representative and the Chinese representatives didn't pull any punches. Both insulted the other pretty thoroughly.

One thing they've insinuated so far -- the coming report won't be conclusive, but we're getting closer. At the end of the day, only the truth matters, nothing else.

 

[weepingangel]

Ignoring CDC warnings, more than 1 million passengers have flown from US airports for 10 straight days
More at link
Spring break is here and people suffering from a year of cabin fever are throwing caution to the wind. Saturday marked the 10th straight day on which more than 1 million passengers traveled through American airports. The TSA reported 1,369,180 travelers passed through security checkpoints Saturday, a day after air passengers set a new pandemic record, when 1,468,516 traveled through TSA security.

That’s a worrying sign for health experts: Although millions of Americans have been vaccinated, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continues to recommend that people avoid travel. It has so far declined to issue new guidance on travel for vaccinated Americans out of concerns prompted by travel-related surges that the United States encountered during previous holiday periods.

“What we have seen is that we have surges after people start traveling, we saw it after July 4, we saw it after Labor Day, we saw it after the Christmas holidays,” CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said last week in response to a question from CNN’s Kaitlan Collins during a Covid-19 briefing.

Walensky said because 90% of people remain unvaccinated, the CDC will wait to update guidance.

 

[weepingangel]

Dr. Megan Ranney issues warning as states rollback COVID-19 restrictions | Boston.com
more at link

The warning from the emergency room physician and director of the Brown Lifespan Center for Digital Health came as she reacted on Twitter Thursday to signs that increased circulation of variants of the coronavirus may be driving up new infections in New York and and New Jersey. Ranney urged the public to “get vaccinated” and “maskup.”

“No indoor restaurants please! Just because the governors say it’s okay…. doesn’t mean it is,” she wrote. “Gather safely: outdoors and/or with great ventilation.”

Her colleague at Brown University, Dr. Ashish Jha, raised the alarm this weekthat the number of COVID-19 infections appears to have stopped declining after the nation saw a previous downward trend. The dean of the Brown University School of Public Health said he suspects more widely circulating variants and states moving too quickly in reopening are behind the stall in the decline of cases.

Massachusetts places in the top 10 nationally for the number of new cases reported in the last 7 days per 100,000 residents.

Despite the seven-day average of new cases remaining well over 1,000, the Bay State is moving forward in its reopening even as public health experts urge more caution. The state will move into the first step of Phase 4of its reopening plan on Monday, which means indoor and outdoor stadiums can reopen at 12 percent capacity and gathering limits are being relaxed for event venues and public settings to 100 people indoors and 150 people outdoors.

 

[weepingangel]

Now closed by health dept. lots of local fb drama
Cheerleading Facility in Weymouth Ordered Closed Amid Coronavirus Outbreak
More at link
A cheerleading facility in Weymouth, Massachusetts, has been ordered closed while officials investigate a coronavirus cluster linked to dozens of cases believed to have originated there.

The Weymouth Health Department issued a cease and desist order for Cheer Sport Sharks New England on Saturday, as at least 37 COVID-19 cases across 14 cities and towns in the area have been tied to the facility.

Dozens from youth cheer training facility in Massachusetts test positive for COVID

“Dozens of people from a youth cheer training facility in Weymouth have tested positive for COVID-19.

At least 37 people from the cheer training facility tested positive for the virus as of Thursday, the Weymouth Health Department told MassLive.

That number doesn’t include positive family members or other close contacts, which are still being investigated, the health department said.”

Indoors? No masks or social distancing?

 

[ilovewings]

Miami Beach Issues Curfew To Curb Spring Break; Virus Knocks VCU From March Madness

You can thank DeSantis for the disaster in Miami---and what may soon be the rest of Florida

 

[GRT]

Texas Roadhouse CEO dies by suicide after experiencing ‘unbearable’ COVID symptoms | KXAN Austin

 

[ilovewings]

Texas Roadhouse CEO dies by suicide after experiencing ‘unbearable’ COVID symptoms | KXAN Austin

That is so sad and tragic

 

[Deleted member 39678]

COVID-19 is increasing in Michigan. Why it may be a warning.
In the last week, Michigan's case average has increased by 53%.

In addition to the B.1.1.7 variant driving increased transmission, there is a confluence of factors which may be driving the rising metrics, Dr. Tara Smith, Professor of Epidemiology at the Kent State University College of Public Health, told ABC News, beginning with loosening restrictions on eating, entertainment venues, and other businesses, by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's administration in the past few weeks.

COVID-19 is increasing in Michigan. Why it may be a warning.

 

[SouthAussie]

A surprising new analysis found that states such as South Carolina, Florida and Missouri that raced ahead of others to offer the vaccine to ever-larger groups of people have vaccinated smaller shares of their population than those that moved more slowly and methodically, such as Hawaii and Connecticut.

“The infrastructure just wasn’t ready. It kind of backfired”

A rapid COVID-19 vaccine rollout backfired in some US states

 

[SouthAussie]

In 15 states and Washington, D.C., COVID-19 cases are on the rise as much of the rest of the country is plateauing. The Transportation Security Administration saw nearly 1.5 million travelers on Friday, more than any other time during the pandemic.

15 states report uptick in COVID-19 cases as TSA sees biggest travel day of pandemic

 

[SouthAussie]

More problems with the EU refusing to ship vaccine orders?


Britain’s Covid vaccine programme faces a two-month delay in the event of an EU export ban, derailing the government’s plans to reopen the economy this summer, an analysis for the Guardian reveals.

A ban, due to be debated by leaders of the 27 EU member states on Thursday, would badly stall the UK vaccination effort, and would be likely to force the government to extend restrictions on people’s lives.

France and Germany have privately spoken in support of activating article 122 of the EU’s treaty, last used in the 1970s oil crisis, allowing the bloc to take emergency measures to control the distribution of essential goods.

EU export ban would delay UK Covid vaccine drive by two months

 

[nightowl1975]

A surprising new analysis found that states such as South Carolina, Florida and Missouri that raced ahead of others to offer the vaccine to ever-larger groups of people have vaccinated smaller shares of their population than those that moved more slowly and methodically, such as Hawaii and Connecticut.

“The infrastructure just wasn’t ready. It kind of backfired”

A rapid COVID-19 vaccine rollout backfired in some US states

Interesting!! I’ve been thinking how foolish it is to open up the floodgates too soon, but had absolutely nothing concrete to back up my thought process. I think it’s crazy that the entire country is being encouraged to open up eligibility to anyone and everyone by May 1st. We still have priority one healthcare workers who can’t get appointments for their first vaccine nearly 3 full months into vaccines being rolled out. But hey, let’s tell the whole country they can get it too! Crazy.

 

[MyBelle]

Miami Beach Issues Curfew To Curb Spring Break; Virus Knocks VCU From March Madness

You can thank DeSantis for the disaster in Miami---and what may soon be the rest of Florida

The blame for the trashing of the outdoor seating areas in Miami Beach rests with the out-of-control people who participated.

JMO

 

[Lilibet]

March Madness—Classy Coach with the right perspective...

In the NCAA men's basketball tournament, a surreal score line of 1-0 popped up on tracking apps for the game between Virginia Commonwealth University and the University of Oregon. VCU was forced to pull out of the event after reporting multiple positive coronavirus tests.
<snip>

[VCU Coach] Rhoades said there were "no dry eyes" when he told his players the news.
<snip>

But Rhoades added that all his squad did was lose a basketball game, while "500,000 people have lost their lives."

Miami Beach Issues Curfew To Curb Spring Break; Virus Knocks VCU From March Madness