Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #96

[SouthAussie]

Wow! 75 deaths!

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Great progress!

 

[margarita25]

Great progress!

It really is. Amazing to see how vaccines work!

Sorry to hear about covid in Australia now. Been thinking about you. Is it circulating in your community?

Australia Covid: Outbreaks emerge across country in 'new phase' of pandemic

 

[SouthAussie]

It really is. Amazing to see how vaccines work!

Sorry to hear about covid in Australia now. Been thinking about you. Is it circulating in your community?

Australia Covid: Outbreaks emerge across country in 'new phase' of pandemic

Thanks, mags. My state is very fortunate, so far. We have closed our state border and implemented some restrictions (masks in certain places, density in pubs/restaurants), but we do not have any community cases at the moment.
Just laying low and hoping there is now a rush at the vaccination hubs.

 

[GRT]

This morning, as well as freeing up AZ to be allowed to anyone at any age, our PM has brought in ....

• Mandatory vaccination for aged care workers
• Mandatory testing for all quarantine workers (including drivers) AND their household contacts
• Quarantined persons can also not be housed in the same facility as unquarantined persons (looking at you, Queensland)
• Mandatory testing of quarantined persons 2-3 days after they have left 14-day quarantine (this is in addition to the testing they have during and before leaving quarantine)
• GPs have been given indemnity to give the AZ jab to anyone under 60 who wants one (they already have indemnity for anyone over 60)

There was a meeting of National Cabinet (all state leaders) yesterday, and these things are the result of that.

Of course, other things are happening at state levels. Three cities in lockdown, some states closing their state borders, masks required on public transport, in medical facilities and in other situations, density requirements in pubs and restaurants, etc etc etc.

National cabinet crisis talks: Aged care worker jabs mandatory, quarantine controls to tighten

It's good to hear more will be getting the AZ shot now. That should help contain the outbreak. Of course, there's the two-week period before the person is considered to be immune.

It's still aggravating that they didn't get the shots into Australia long ago, which may have averted this outbreak entirely since you've had such a good national response to the virus.

 

[SouthAussie]

It's good to hear more will be getting the AZ shot now. That should help contain the outbreak. Of course, there's the two-week period before the person is considered to be immune.

It's still aggravating that they didn't get the shots into Australia long ago, which may have averted this outbreak entirely since you've had such a good national response to the virus.

We should be okay. We know how to do this. We just need to get it done, and have our vaccine 'stroll out' become a ramped up vaccine roll out. Because the slow pace has been absolutely ridiculous. It left many people as sitting ducks.

Already I am reading reports about young people who are happy that they can now be vaccinated.


Freya Jarrett, a 21-year-old bartender from Pyrmont, in inner-city Sydney, said she was eager to be vaccinated because she comes into contact with dozens of people during her shifts at Marble Bar in the CBD.
“I work in a really busy venue and I’ve been terrified that somehow I’ll get COVID-19 and I’ll spread it,” she said.
Australia news LIVE: NSW COVID cases grow, NT COVID cases grow, WA COVID cases grow, Qld lockdown announced, Sydney lockdown continues, Perth, Peel lockdown begins, NSW exposure sites updated

 

[LadyL]

Royal Caribbean asks unvaccinated guests to get travel insurance for Florida cruises

 

[MimosaMornings]

Royal Caribbean asks unvaccinated guests to get travel insurance for Florida cruises

Makes sense. JMO

Are all crew members vaccinated?

“Sailings on its new ship, Odyssey Of The Seas, was also postponed after crew members had tested positive.”

I don’t see the appeal in a cruise especially now. Standing elbow to elbow in a lukewarm small pool sipping over priced cocktails? Nope.

 

[ilovewings]

Makes sense. JMO

Are all crew members vaccinated?

“Sailings on its new ship, Odyssey Of The Seas, was also postponed after crew members had tested positive.”

I don’t see the appeal in a cruise especially now. Standing elbow to elbow in a lukewarm small pool sipping over priced cocktails? Nope.

Can't think of anything less appealing at this time in history than going on a cruise ship LOL-- No thanks---

 

[weepingangel]

I overheard a couple of MDs discussing future cruising plans they were making ... for next summer
I was pleasantly surprised lol.


Yah ick imo. it’s too early for that stuff imo.

 

[SouthAussie]

Nobody is exempt from fines here. This is the Deputy Prime Minister of Australia.


Barnaby Joyce has been fined $200 for not wearing a mask while paying for petrol at a service station in Armidale after he was dobbed in by a member of the public.

“The other day, you’ll like this story, I went into the Caltex service station, I was going to the airport, I forgot to get fuel for Vikki, fuelled the car up with fuel, went in, 30 seconds later, 200 bucks it cost me, because I didn’t wear one of these.

“But that’s life.”

Barnaby Joyce fined for not wearing mask in breach of Covid rules after tipoff to police

 

[margarita25]

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[SouthAussie]

.
‘Cornered’: Bolsonaro faces potential criminal charges over vaccine deal

Bolsonaro, who has been targeted by nationwide street protests in recent weeks, has called the Senate committee investigating the government’s COVID-19 response a “national shame” aimed at undermining his administration.

For two months, the nationally televised hearings have largely focused on why his Health Ministry ignored opportunities to buy vaccines while Bolsonaro relentlessly pushed hydroxychloroquine, the malaria drug that rigorous studies have shown to be ineffective in treating COVID-19.

*************************
The ministry official said he faced pressure to greenlight the importation of 20 million doses of Indian pharmaceutical Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin vaccine and that there were irregularities in the invoices — particularly a $US45 million ($60 million) upfront payment to a Singapore-based company.

Bharat Biotech has denied any allegation of wrongdoing, saying in an emailed statement that it adhered to the highest standards of compliance. The company’s press representative didn’t respond when asked why a payment would be routed through a Singapore-based company.

**************************

 

[HongKongPhooey]

Hows the news there today @SouthAussie ? Does it seem under control?

 

[SouthAussie]

Hows the news there today @SouthAussie ? Does it seem under control?

We have 4 cities and one desert town in lockdown (of various lengths, a couple of short snap lockdowns and some lockdowns of unknown duration).

They found a family in my state with the virus - dad is a miner and brought it back with him from Northern Territory, although it only just reared its head. They say they have been isolating since he got back, so my city is not in lockdown ... yet. (We are anticipating it, though.)

No-one is having hugely escalating cases. One here, two there ... Sydney is having a few more ... all being jumped on as quickly as possible, with all known contacts isolating.

I think we are still in the discovery stage, with mass testing going on everywhere. It will be a couple of weeks before we know where we all stand. In the meantime, the masks are going on.

Thanks for asking.

 

[HongKongPhooey]

We have 4 cities and one desert town in lockdown (of various lengths, a couple of short snap lockdowns and some lockdowns of unknown duration).

They found a family in my state with the virus - dad is a miner and brought it back with him from Northern Territory, although it only just reared its head. They say they have been isolating since he got back, so my city is not in lockdown ... yet. (We are anticipating it, though.)

No-one is having hugely escalating cases. One here, two there ... Sydney is having a few more ... all being jumped on as quickly as possible, with all known contacts isolating.

I think we are still in the discovery stage, with mass testing going on everywhere. It will be a couple of weeks before we know where we all stand. In the meantime, the masks are going on.

Thanks for asking.

Thinking about you. Funny how WS brings us all together, on opposite sides of the world.

 

[SouthAussie]

Thinking about you. Funny how WS brings us all together, on opposite sides of the world.

Yes, it's a real worldwide thing. We are getting to be a real worldwide bunch of cohorts.

Funnily enough, the family who have contracted the virus in my state .... dad and mum are in their 30s, their 3 young children under 10 years old have the virus too ... but their little baby is testing negative.

Five new COVID-19 cases in South Australia but no lockdown

 

[weepingangel]

Crossing Camp in Schuyler County: More than 80 teens and staffers at an Illinois summer camp got Covid-19 - CNN
More at link

More than 80 teens and adult staffers from a Central Illinois summer camp tested positive for Covid-19 in an outbreak that has impacted people across three states, officials said.

The Crossing Camp in Schuyler County held in mid-June did not check vaccination status for campers or staffers, and masks were not required indoors at the camp, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) said in a news release.

All campers and staff were eligible for vaccination, although "IDPH is aware of only a handful of campers and staff receiving the vaccine," the department said Monday.

One unvaccinated young adult who tested positive after attending the camp was also hospitalized, according to IDPH.

In Illinois, 46.1% of the population is fully vaccinated, according to the latest data. However, officials across the country have are becoming alarmed by the reluctance of young adults to get vaccinated, especially as the more transmissible Delta variant is spreading more widely.

"The perceived risk to children may seem small, but even a mild case of COVID-19 can cause long-term health issues," IDPH Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike said in Monday's statement. "Additionally, infected youth who may not experience severe illness can still spread the virus to others, including those who are too young to be vaccinated or those who don't build the strong expected immune response to the vaccine," she said.

IDPH said that at least two individuals from the camp also attended a nearby conference, which resulted in 11 additional positive cases of Covid-19.

The week-long camp from June 13-17 was designed was for 8th graders -- through graduating seniors.

An upcoming camp created for fourth- and fifth-grade students has been postponed to August due to the outbreak, according to a message posted on its official website.

 

[weepingangel]

Fauci warns there may soon be 'two Americas' as divide widens between vaccinated and unvaccinated areas - CNN
Lots more at link
With the Delta variant accounting for more than a quarter of Covid-19 cases, Dr. Anthony Fauci warns there could soon be "two Americas" -- one where most people are vaccinated and another where low vaccination rates could lead to spikes in cases.
The stark disparity between low and high vaccination areas is something Fauci is "very concerned about,"

Fauci, who heads the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, added that areas with low vaccination rates run the risk of seeing Covid-19 case spikes.
"This is entirely avoidable, entirely preventable. If you are vaccinated, you diminish dramatically your risk of getting infected and even more dramatically your risk of getting seriously ill. If you are not vaccinated, you are at considerable risk," Fauci warned.

 

[CSIDreamer]

I wonder what's going on.

North Korea's Kim Jong Un warns of 'grave consequences' after Covid-19 incident - CNN

(CNN)Kim Jong Un fired several senior officials who failed to enforce North Korea's stringent Covid-19 prevention, a dereliction of duty which the young dictator said will have "grave consequences" for the impoverished and isolated nation, state media reported Wednesday.

It is unclear who or exactly how many officials were responsible for the unspecified incident, which Kim called a "great crisis." But it appears some members of the upper echelons of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea were replaced, according to the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

An outbreak of Covid-19 could prove dire for North Korea. The country's dilapidated health care infrastructure is unlikely to be up to the task of treating a large number of patients with a highly infectious disease.

 

[LadyL]

Pandemic Surges Again in Many Parts of the World, Fueled by Variants