Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #95

[dixiegirl1035]

RSBM Once the lockdown lifted last summer, many friends were no longer interested in phone calls only. I feel kind of left in the dust. They are out at restaurants and parties and I’m still being as safe as I can be by limiting it. I’ve grown to love home though so I’m sad but not destroyed. Politics played a much bigger role in this than I think we yet realize. I think the separation will be difficult to overcome in my circle.

Lost in the dust.....Yes, there was an annual holiday at the lake this year for which I've been invited to for years. This year, crickets, no invitation (I would have gone as double vax and it is outdoors ). <modsnip>

Oh well............

 

[anneg]

I think these days it is "do your own thing"--- masks are mostly optional. My husband has decided he doesn't need a mask anymore when we go to the grocery store or to Home Depot, etc. I did take my mask off the other day at the grocery store and it felt kinda okay- but it makes me nervous-- I think there should be an upside to getting the vaccine--- so those of us who are fully vaccinated should be able to have confidence that it works (not 100 percent but pretty darn well)-- Still not going to restaurants though my husband did go to a restaurant with his son last Sunday. Like you, I have grown to love home (probably too much)--- I am close to being a recluse!!

I (fully vaccinated) went to a large department store last week (first time I'd been there in about a year and a half), parked in a shady spot pretty far from the entrance, and went into the store before realizing I wasn't wearing a mask. I decided not to go back to the car. There were people (mostly women) wearing masks and others, not. I continued to distance from others but felt odd without my mask. Staff members were wearing masks.

 

[ilovewings]

I (fully vaccinated) went to a large department store last week (first time I'd been there in about a year and a half), parked in a shady spot pretty far from the entrance, and went into the store before realizing I wasn't wearing a mask. I decided not to go back to the car. There were people (mostly women) wearing masks and others, not. I continued to distance from others but felt odd without my mask. Staff members were wearing masks.

I do enjoy not wearing a mask, but it does feel odd, as you point out for yourself.

 

[margarita25]

Gangrene, Hearing Loss Show Delta Variant May Be More Severe

Uh- oh- new variant- Delta- can cause symptoms and illnesses not seen before including gangrene and hearing loss--- The article does not say if the vaccine is effective against this hideous variant- At this moment in time this variant does not appear to be in the United States

Delta IS in the US:

The Highly Contagious Delta Variant Is On The Rise In The U.S.

“The Delta variant, which was first detected in India, now accounts for more than 6% of all infections in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And this highly transmissible variant may be responsible for more than 18% of cases in some Western U.S. states.”

—

Last I heard, according to new study, Pfizer first dose only offers 33% percent protection against Delta variant, and after 2 doses 88% efficacy:

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Delta is now dominant strain in UK, rapidly spreading in 12-20 age group.

 

[Sundog]

I’ve also noticed that I’m down quite a few friends since this time last year. When we were all locked down, my friends were happy to do multi-people phone calls to laugh and catch up. Once the lockdown lifted last summer, many friends were no longer interested in phone calls only. I feel kind of left in the dust. They are out at restaurants and parties and I’m still being as safe as I can be by limiting it. I’ve grown to love home though so I’m sad but not destroyed. Politics played a much bigger role in this than I think we yet realize. I think the separation will be difficult to overcome in my circle.

The state of American friendship: Change, challenges, and loss - The Survey Center on American Life

Interesting survey and analysis of the state of American friendships - challenges and losses - including impact of pandemic on friendships.

 

[SouthAussie]

The state of American friendship: Change, challenges, and loss - The Survey Center on American Life

Interesting survey and analysis of the state of American friendships - challenges and losses - including impact of pandemic on friendships.

Not only American friendships (between themselves), but also other people's relationships with their American friends.

It is very, very difficult for others to deal with the perspective that some (personal) American friends exhibit. And we just want to pull them out of the country for a little while and let them see a world perspective about the pandemic.

It is hard to explain, but it changes your views about those friends who seem very wilfully ignorant about what is going on in the world ... and what we need to do to stop this pandemic.

 

[ringbearer]

My husband had lunch with his son and son's girlfriend today (at Applebees)-
They are fully vaccinated. I am trying to trust the scientists when they say those who are vaccinated can get together with other vaccinated people-- Apparently there were some people at Applebees, though not crowded. I was unable to go to the lunch with them: may be next time. My husband had not seen his son in at least a year and a half.

I would imagine that the least of the worries at a restaurant is whether the people in your immediate vicinity are vaccinated. There are plenty of people who don't care at all about masking and hand sanitizing, etc. Especially in the back of the house. There are unmasked or improperly masked people who deliver, handle and prepare the food, the dishes and cutlery, that clean the tables and on and on. And you have to know whether, even if THEY are cautious, they're in regular close contact with people who aren't. No vaccine is 100% effective. And none of the Covid vaccines are.

 

[LadyL]

Treatments for post-vaccine blood clots show promise but no 'slam dunk,' Canadian doctors say

https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/post...9q6bYIdQRMAKa8SzQl2A53j2Af0QwtuBElBvH4UqOX26Y

 

[LadyL]

*rummages around house to find the THREE FOOT receipt when I went to the grocery in February IIRC 2020 preparing for the pandemic* and began my over 14 months isolation. I posted it here when I did it. That's the only thing I have that may be an "heirloom" for this period. At the time the IIRC NYT did the 100,000 deaths mark, I posted the front page. Wish I had expended the effort to obtain the actual copy. (DARN that the newseum in Washington closed, I LOVED THAT place!!!... History.)

LOL how much did you spend? I had some pretty long receipts too

 

[SouthAussie]

Treatments for post-vaccine blood clots show promise but no 'slam dunk,' Canadian doctors say

https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/post...9q6bYIdQRMAKa8SzQl2A53j2Af0QwtuBElBvH4UqOX26Y

I heard on the radio news today that we have had 48 cases of clotting. Out of 4,600,000 vaccines given.
(2 deaths. 46 came through okay.)

 

[margarita25]

Biden to Send 500 Million Doses of Pfizer Vaccine to 100 Countries Over a Year

https://www.washingtonpost.com/poli...744674-c934-11eb-93fa-9053a95eb9f2_story.html

AP source: US to buy 500M Pfizer vaccines to share globally

* This never could have happened without a new administration, considering our only new realignment with WHO and partnership with Covax. The magnitude of how this will help with world and the course of this pandemic is to infinity!!

 

[SouthAussie]

Biden to Send 500 Million Doses of Pfizer Vaccine to 100 Countries Over a Year

https://www.washingtonpost.com/poli...744674-c934-11eb-93fa-9053a95eb9f2_story.html

AP source: US to buy 500M Pfizer vaccines to share globally

* This never could have happened without a new administration, considering our only new realignment with WHO. The magnitude of how this will help with world and the course of this pandemic is to infinity!!

Did you see that the G7 are going to talk about (on Friday) trying to get the whole world vaccinated during 2022?
Stepping up manufacturing and distribution as much as possible.

Boris Johnson wants the whole world vaccinated by 2022

 

[margarita25]

I heard on the radio news today that we have had 48 cases of clotting. Out of 4,600,000 vaccines given.
(2 deaths. 46 came through okay.)

Yes.

More on the recent death:

Second woman dies from extremely rare blood clots likely linked to AstraZeneca vaccine

NSW woman's blood clot death linked to AstraZeneca vaccine

—

Eta, from second link:

“The TGA said since last week, there have been four confirmed cases of thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS) which are "likely" linked to the AstraZeneca vaccine.”

 

[Lilibet]

Earlier @SouthAussie mentioned that seeing a world perspective of the pandemic is beneficial. Although I’m sure those of us here on this thread reject willful ignorance and have a broad perspective about what’s going on in other countries, I had the opportunity today to learn some details about a couple of places.

This afternoon I attended a Zoom wedding that took place here on the west coast. The bride is local. The groom and his family are from Hong Kong. The groom has been here since November and the newlyweds will live in Hong Kong. His parents and brother (fully vaccinated) arrived last week and formed a bubble with the bride’s family (also fully vaccinated) who took them sightseeing in our beautiful area. After a west coast road trip, they will return to Hong Kong in a week or so. We’ve known the bride since she was a tiny girl, so while we’re happy for her we will certainly miss her.

I chatted with a family friend of the groom in a break-out room before the ceremony and learned that when they return to Hong Kong, they will have to stay in a designated quarantine hotel for 14 days and then, because they are vaccinated, they can self-monitor for the remaining 7 days at home. Otherwise, they would be 21 days at the hotel. He told me that the government in Hong Kong is very strict about masks and social distancing. Violations result in heavy fines and even imprisonment for social distancing violations!

The groom’s sister and her husband live in Europe and told me they could not attend because travel to the U.S. from most of Europe and other countries is barred. Thank goodness for Zoom! Friends from all over the U.S. and the world were able to share in this happy event…and learn a little bit about each other.

COVID-19 Information | U.S. Consulate General Hong Kong & Macau

COVID-19 and Your Health

 

[ilovewings]

Earlier @SouthAussie mentioned that seeing a world perspective of the pandemic is beneficial. Although I’m sure those of us here on this thread reject willful ignorance and have a broad perspective about what’s going on in other countries, I had the opportunity today to learn some details about a couple of places.

This afternoon I attended a Zoom wedding that took place here on the west coast. The bride is local. The groom and his family are from Hong Kong. The groom has been here since November and the newlyweds will live in Hong Kong. His parents and brother (fully vaccinated) arrived last week and formed a bubble with the bride’s family (also fully vaccinated) who took them sightseeing in our beautiful area. After a west coast road trip, they will return to Hong Kong in a week or so. We’ve known the bride since she was a tiny girl, so while we’re happy for her we will certainly miss her.

I chatted with a family friend of the groom in a break-out room before the ceremony and learned that when they return to Hong Kong, they will have to stay in a designated quarantine hotel for 14 days and then, because they are vaccinated, they can self-monitor for the remaining 7 days at home. Otherwise, they would be 21 days at the hotel. He told me that the government in Hong Kong is very strict about masks and social distancing. Violations result in heavy fines and even imprisonment for social distancing violations!

The groom’s sister and her husband live in Europe and told me they could not attend because travel to the U.S. from most of Europe and other countries is barred. Thank goodness for Zoom! Friends from all over the U.S. and the world were able to share in this happy event…and learn a little bit about each other.

COVID-19 Information | U.S. Consulate General Hong Kong & Macau

COVID-19 and Your Health

Awesome that you could attend a zoom wedding and thank you for sharing the experience with us!!!!

 

[GRT]

LOL how much did you spend? I had some pretty long receipts too

It's fun to look back now...

Our pandemic stocking-up was mainly done by my husband and son. They bought the normal "scarcity" items, like toilet paper and paper towel--we still have a surplus of paper towel in the attic.

But, they bought a lot of odd things, too. They both shop at Sams, so they purchased in bulk--boxes and boxes of sweetened cereals (ick), cases of dry pasta, and then they bought a bunch of industrial-size cans of vegetables and nacho sauce. Those huge cans are still in the pantry. I guess I need to have a party when it's safe, so I can use all those big cans.

 

[SouthAussie]

<RSBM>
He told me that the government in Hong Kong is very strict about masks and social distancing. Violations result in heavy fines and even imprisonment for social distancing violations!

While I don't think we imprison for violations here, I have noticed just lately (since the ongoing Melbourne outbreak) that every place I go into is asking if I have checked in using their QR code.

I think they all must have received some kind of alert that they will be fined if they are not checking that their customers have checked in. I know that fines are on the table if a location is not enforcing QR code check-in, but I haven't seen them be so strict about this before.

(The QR code checking in process - where you scan the location's QR code with an app on your phone - allows good contact tracing if an outbreak occurs. It takes about 3 seconds to do it, but I have seen lazy people not doing it.
If you don't have the app on your phone, you must sign in on a provided sign-in sheet.)

 

[Sundog]

It's fun to look back now...

Our pandemic stocking-up was mainly done by my husband and son. They bought the normal "scarcity" items, like toilet paper and paper towel--we still have a surplus of paper towel in the attic.

But, they bought a lot of odd things, too. They both shop at Sams, so they purchased in bulk--boxes and boxes of sweetened cereals (ick), cases of dry pasta, and then they bought a bunch of industrial-size cans of vegetables and nacho sauce. Those huge cans are still in the pantry. I guess I need to have a party when it's safe, so I can use all those big cans.

I went through our surplus canned and dry goods that we stocked up on during the height of the pandemic recently to check expiration dates and noticed that this fall there are quite a few expirations. I know that we can't use the items by then, so donating them now to a food pantry is one way to make sure they get used in time, and by people who could use the items. Just an idea. We have a student food pantry on our campus that gets used all summer, and also there is a church food pantry that is open daily nearby, so there are lots of options. Recent studies show that university students who have regular access to a food pantry on their campuses are more likely to be retained and continue to move forward in their studies.

 

[SoCalDavidS]

While I don't think we imprison for violations here, I have noticed just lately (since the ongoing Melbourne outbreak) that every place I go into is asking if I have checked in using their QR code.

I think they all must have received some kind of alert that they will be fined if they are not checking that their customers have checked in. I know that fines are on the table if a location is not enforcing QR code check-in, but I haven't seen them be so strict about this before.

(The QR code checking in process - where you scan the location's QR code with an app on your phone - allows good contact tracing if an outbreak occurs. It takes about 3 seconds to do it, but I have seen lazy people not doing it.
If you don't have the app on your phone, you must sign in on a provided sign-in sheet.)

If we actually cared about the safety of others, or about eradicating the virus, we would pursue something like that here in America. But it would infringe upon our FREEDOM and privacy rights, so we don't have ANY tracing whatsoever, and never will.

Here in California, where at least the vaccination rate is high, we're dropping every restriction next Tuesday. The caveat being, we're on the "honor" system. If you've been vaccinated, you don't need to wear masks anymore. California has a fully vaccinated rate around 45% as of now. Next week, I expect to see about 90% going maskless. The reality is, we have plenty of "honor." For ourselves, that is. We show "honor" by doing whatever feels best for each of us.

 

[SouthAussie]

Since covid, Vienna has been knocked off the top (and out of the top 10) of the list of the world's most liveable cities.

Auckland, NZ, now ranks #1.

Auckland’s traffic is the worst in New Zealand
.. it boasts of the second-worst gridlock in Oceania
.. struggled with amenities such as cycle lanes and public transport
.. some of the least affordable housing in the world

“I guess there’s no pandemic here so it’s technically easier to be alive here versus being dead elsewhere”


World’s most liveable city: Auckland wins as Covid shakes up rankings