Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #96

[SouthAussie]

Dare I say it (I don't want to jinx us) but South Australia, Western Australia and Victoria reported no new cases today - lots and lots of testing going on, thousands of people. The next 24 hours will mean a lot.

ACT and Tasmania have no cases anyway.

Northern Territory found one new case today.

Queensland found two new cases, but has three zones of concern.

New South Wales is the trouble spot. 24 new cases today, and pretty much each and every day this is happening.
I think Sydney's lockdown will likely have to be extended.


No new community COVID-19 cases in Western Australia, South Australia and Victoria
NT records one new case of COVID-19 as lockdowns in Greater Darwin and Alice Springs continue
New Queensland exposure sites after airport worker tests positive
NSW records 24 new cases of COVID-19

 

[ilovewings]

Those who get infected by COVID-19 after vaccines carry less viral load, study finds

Those who get Covid-19 after being vaccinated carry less viral load

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

CDC: Covid cases up 10 percent as 'hypertransmissible' delta variant spreads (nbcnews.com)

Lagging vaccination rates coupled with the rise of the delta variant could account for the uptick.

...The variant, which was first detected in India, now accounts for a quarter of all new cases, and has been detected in all 50 states. Its rapid spread is sure to make it the dominant U.S. strain within the coming weeks, she said.

The seven-day average of new cases this week was about 12,600 cases, up 10 percent compared to last week's average, Walensky said.

While new cases are nowhere near the January peak of more than 247,000 Covid-19 cases per day, the shift makes some experts "a little nervous."...

 

[jjenny]

Just a little nervous? It should be a whole lot nervous. We opened everything up and got rid of masks just when delta is starting to spread.

 

[ilovewings]

Just a little nervous? It should be a whole lot nervous. We opened everything up and got rid of masks just when delta is starting to spread.

And--- here comes July 4 celebrations and if anybody thinks all those celebrating people are vaccinated- think again!!! The country is conducting itself like the pandemic is over and the mainstream media is perpetuating this fantasy- just watch the Today show-- they all act like the pandemic is history!!!!

 

[ilovewings]

CDC: Covid cases up 10 percent as 'hypertransmissible' delta variant spreads (nbcnews.com)

Lagging vaccination rates coupled with the rise of the delta variant could account for the uptick.

...The variant, which was first detected in India, now accounts for a quarter of all new cases, and has been detected in all 50 states. Its rapid spread is sure to make it the dominant U.S. strain within the coming weeks, she said.

The seven-day average of new cases this week was about 12,600 cases, up 10 percent compared to last week's average, Walensky said.

While new cases are nowhere near the January peak of more than 247,000 Covid-19 cases per day, the shift makes some experts "a little nervous."...

For now, here in Southeast Michigan anyway, and particularly Oakland County, I am comfortable not wearing a mask going to the grocery store or Costco. However, should we get an uptick in cases the mask will go back on. I do believe that the uptick in cases may be more regional (as suggested by the experts), with unvaccinated people taking the brunt of Covid infections.

 

[Lilibet]

And--- here comes July 4 celebrations and if anybody thinks all those celebrating people are vaccinated- think again!!! The country is conducting itself like the pandemic is over and the mainstream media is perpetuating this fantasy- just watch the Today show-- they all act like the pandemic is history!!!!

Here in Oregon everything opened up yesterday, June 30…no masks, no social distancing, no limits on size of social gatherings. I’m still a hermit, despite being vaccinated. Delta is here and it isn’t messing around.

 

[GRT]

For our older members who've been vaccinated, please take extra care. I really don't like this.

"A MailOnline headline on 13 June read: “Study shows 29% of the 42 people who have died after catching the new strain had BOTH vaccinations.” In Public Health England’s technical briefing on 25 June, that figure had risen to 43% (50 of 117), with the majority (60%) having received at least one dose."

...................................

"But the risk of dying from Covid-19 is extraordinarily dependent on age: it halves for each six to seven year age gap. This means that someone aged 80 who is fully vaccinated essentially takes on the risk of an unvaccinated person of around 50 – much lower, but still not nothing, and so we can expect some deaths."
​

Why most people who now die with Covid in England have had a vaccination | David Spiegelhalter and Anthony Masters

​

 

[SouthAussie]

For our older members who've been vaccinated, please take extra care. I really don't like this.

"A MailOnline headline on 13 June read: “Study shows 29% of the 42 people who have died after catching the new strain had BOTH vaccinations.” In Public Health England’s technical briefing on 25 June, that figure had risen to 43% (50 of 117), with the majority (60%) having received at least one dose."

...................................

"But the risk of dying from Covid-19 is extraordinarily dependent on age: it halves for each six to seven year age gap. This means that someone aged 80 who is fully vaccinated essentially takes on the risk of an unvaccinated person of around 50 – much lower, but still not nothing, and so we can expect some deaths."
​

Why most people who now die with Covid in England have had a vaccination | David Spiegelhalter and Anthony Masters

​

I wonder if it is time for booster shots? Many UK people have been vaccinated for quite a while.
We are still unsure of the longevity of the vaccine protections.

The reports of good vaccine protection against Delta might be in people who are more recently vaccinated (or the result of testing with fresh vaccines in a lab), while the early vaccinated people's protection may be waning.

 

[jjenny]

I wonder if it is time for booster shots? Many UK people have been vaccinated for quite a while.
We are still unsure of the longevity of the vaccine protections.

The reports of good vaccine protection against Delta might be in people who are more recently vaccinated (or the result of testing with fresh vaccines in a lab), while the early vaccinated people's protection may be waning.

Seems UK has a lot of cases but a lot less deaths than in previous waves. Presumably because less older people (who are widely vaccinated) are getting infected or seriously ill. That probably skews the death numbers, because it's such a small proportion of cases (at least so far). The unvaccinated there might also have some immunity because of previous covid infections.

 

[ilovewings]

How can any employer force employees to accept an experimental drug, which basically forces them to participate in a clinical trial.

First of all the vaccine has been through clinical trials and deemed to be safe enough to administer to the citizens of this country ,but that is not the issue here. The real response to your question is that an employer cannot force employees to accept what you call an "experimental drug"--- What the employer can do is decide that if an employee does not get vaccinated that employee can be terminated. Most employees are considered "at will", which basically means that an employer can terminate an employee for any reason, other than an illegal reason, such as racial discrimination. Employers certainly have the right to determine what standards they expect their employees to adhere to and if an employee does not adhere to that standard the employee can be terminated.

At-Will Employment - Overview

 

[Lilibet]

For our older members who've been vaccinated, please take extra care. I really don't like this.

This is exactly why I’m still “a hermit,” as I just commented. I’m 75, halfway to 76. My DH will be 77 in October. We’ve had Covid, I’ve been hospitalized, and we’ve been vaccinated. About three weeks ago, when we were fully vaccinated at last, before the Delta variant danger became soooooo obvious and before Oregon opened up, my DH and I were considering eating outside at our favorite restaurant on their beautiful patio with another fully vaccinated couple. Ahhhhhhhh! That was when masks were required and tables were spread out. As of yesterday, we would be seated closely and have unmasked servers. Nopety, nope, nope, nope. “Back to normal” has never been an immediate expectation for me, even vaccinated. But Delta (and other potential mutations) kicks normal down the road out of sight.
JMO

 

[margarita25]

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[SouthAussie]

Mr Foley said healthcare staff at vaccination centres and call centre staff in charge of booking vaccinations had been verbally abused by anti-vaxxers.

"Verbal abuse, racist remarks, spitting and other disgusting behaviour including an anti-vaxxer barging into a mass vaccine centre in Cranbourne this morning and making completely inappropriate threatening remarks to our nursing staff that have required us to get Victoria Police involved," he said.

Mr Foley said "anti-science, anti-evidence dangerous fanatics" would be held to account.

"You aren't allowed to come in and abuse our nurses and health care professionals. If you want to have your tin-pot theories, fine, keep them to yourself and keep them out of our health care settings. It is completely inappropriate.

"Whatever wacky theory you might think is real, you are not entitled to abuse our healthcare staff.

"If you think you do, Victoria Police will make an appointment to see you."

Live: National Cabinet agrees on plan to transition to managing, not suppressing, COVID-19

 

[SouthAussie]

Oh ... the baby of the infected miner in my state finally came down with the virus. 3 days after the rest of the family tested positive.

Baby tested positive today ... but is considered to be clinically well.

I was hoping that the previous negative tests might mean that Delta doesn't particularly care to infect babies. But I guess if Delta isn't going to make babies really sick, then that is a good thing.

Miner's baby tests positive in SA

 

[HongKongPhooey]

Seems UK has a lot of cases but a lot less deaths than in previous waves. Presumably because less older people (who are widely vaccinated) are getting infected or seriously ill. That probably skews the death numbers, because it's such a small proportion of cases (at least so far). The unvaccinated there might also have some immunity because of previous covid infections.

We are hoping so.

I'm currently on holiday with my parents in a coastal area. Local news is reporting that their main hospital (where my relative caught and died from covid in December) has zero covid cases right now. Compared to a highest point of 758 cases. Although numbers are lower in this region than many others, and predicted to increase largely due to tourism I imagine, I think this is hopeful.

Although like our friend here @Lilibet, we are still being v cautious. Masks are still mandatory here in shops and whilst walking around in restaurants, but we havent eaten out at all. For one thing, you have to book everything here as places are popular, so you cant be holiday-mode spontaneous. But mostly we all agree we are more comfortable eating in our rented house with just us, and I'm v happy cooking for everyone (as long as someone keeps my wine glass topped up ).

 

[GRT]

I wonder if it is time for booster shots? Many UK people have been vaccinated for quite a while.
We are still unsure of the longevity of the vaccine protections.

The reports of good vaccine protection against Delta might be in people who are more recently vaccinated (or the result of testing with fresh vaccines in a lab), while the early vaccinated people's protection may be waning.

I called the clinic where I got the J&J shot and asked if I should get a Moderna as a booster. They said they couldn't recommend that nor give me the shot until there's more guidance. How frustrating!

I could go somewhere else and get a shot and no one there would know I had a J&J previously, but if people start doing that, it will skew the vaccine count.

I really wish we were getting better guidance with Delta surging out there.

 

[GRT]

This is exactly why I’m still “a hermit,” as I just commented. I’m 75, halfway to 76. My DH will be 77 in October. We’ve had Covid, I’ve been hospitalized, and we’ve been vaccinated. About three weeks ago, when we were fully vaccinated at last, before the Delta variant danger became soooooo obvious and before Oregon opened up, my DH and I were considering eating outside at our favorite restaurant on their beautiful patio with another fully vaccinated couple. Ahhhhhhhh! That was when masks were required and tables were spread out. As of yesterday, we would be seated closely and have unmasked servers. Nopety, nope, nope, nope. “Back to normal” has never been an immediate expectation for me, even vaccinated. But Delta (and other potential mutations) kicks normal down the road out of sight.
JMO

I don't blame you one bit. Delta could be a big game-changer and the entire country is acting as if the variant doesn't even exist.

 

[GRT]

US coronavirus: The Delta variant will cause 'very dense outbreaks' in these five states, expert says - CNN

"Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Wyoming are among the states with the lowest vaccination rates, with less than 35% of their population fully vaccinated."​

 

[drsleuth]

Mr Foley said healthcare staff at vaccination centres and call centre staff in charge of booking vaccinations had been verbally abused by anti-vaxxers.

"Verbal abuse, racist remarks, spitting and other disgusting behaviour including an anti-vaxxer barging into a mass vaccine centre in Cranbourne this morning and making completely inappropriate threatening remarks to our nursing staff that have required us to get Victoria Police involved," he said.

Mr Foley said "anti-science, anti-evidence dangerous fanatics" would be held to account.

"You aren't allowed to come in and abuse our nurses and health care professionals. If you want to have your tin-pot theories, fine, keep them to yourself and keep them out of our health care settings. It is completely inappropriate.

"Whatever wacky theory you might think is real, you are not entitled to abuse our healthcare staff.

"If you think you do, Victoria Police will make an appointment to see you."

Live: National Cabinet agrees on plan to transition to managing, not suppressing, COVID-19

Why am I not surprised