Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #96

[Niner]

When I first moved here - I signed up with the U.S. Embassy for their Travel Alerts.

In the last few days I have received tons of them regarding NOT traveling because of COVID - a few of the countries: Austria, Lithuania, Poland, Sweden, Lichenstein, Estonia, Belgium, Latvia (!) & from Germany (plus terrorism for Germany),

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Coronavirus strains' spread boosted by superspreader events (nbcnews.com)

Even as the pandemic evolves and new variants emerge that are more transmissible or can cause more severe disease, human behavior remains one of the biggest pieces of the equation.

Superspreader events that first seeded the coronavirus in the United States are keeping the pandemic smoldering, with experts pointing to human behavior and social circles as the main drivers.

The problem persists even as the country nears the milestone of having half of its population fully vaccinated. At a church camp in South Texas in late June, an outbreak was linked to more than 125 cases of Covid-19. Eighty-five infections in central Illinois were traced back to a summer camp in mid-June.

Similar examples have emerged internationally: A disco party held on June 26 in the Netherlands was later tied to 160 new cases, and the Miss Mexico pageant in the city of Chihuahua was cut short in early July after nearly half of the contestants tested positive...

 

[nhmemorymaker]

The most recent report from the state Department of Health shows that for the week of July 2 through July 8, Duval County (Jacksonville) residents who got tested for the virus had infections in 15.7 percent of the tests, double the statewide positivity rate of 7.8 percent.

The most recent state report shows that from July 2 through July 8, Duval County had 2,127 cases of COVID-19 infections, which was the third highest for any county in Florida. A year ago, Duval County accounted for about 3,800 new cases over that same week.

Jacksonville Mayor Curry urges vaccinations against COVID-19 viru

Too much media attention is blocking out the true messages right now. But the mere fact that Duval County has over 2000 cases this past week, and 3800 cases at the same time last year for the same week.....

This is just such significant rise....

Florida, as usual, is hiding the data............ still no daily reporting.

 

[nhmemorymaker]

I felt such pangs of fear yesterday... I walked by the large windows of a popular dance studio for children.

The dance room was jammed full of all these adorable little kids, laughing and getting ready for their dance lessons. I mean "lots" of kids.

Zero masks, and zero social distancing....

This will be the only scenario that will change the disinformation among the anti-folks.

The children.

US coronavirus: Young children will pay the price if enough US adults don't get vaccinated against Covid-19, expert says - CNN

 

[SouthAussie]

I felt such pangs of fear yesterday... I walked by the large windows of a popular dance studio for children.

The dance room was jammed full of all these adorable little kids, laughing and getting ready for their dance lessons. I mean "lots" of kids.

Zero masks, and zero social distancing....

This will be the only scenario that will change the disinformation among the anti-folks.

The children.

US coronavirus: Young children will pay the price if enough US adults don't get vaccinated against Covid-19, expert says - CNN

It is really scary that young children could again become the victims of "childhood disease" (covid) after we have tried so hard to stop the fatality and illness rates of young children over the past century, through innoculations.
.

 

[BayouBelle_LA]

https://www.katc.com/news/national/us-overdose-deaths-reach-record-high-93k-during-pandemic

New data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show there were 93,331 reported deaths from overdoses in 2020.

That's more than 20,000 more than in 2019, an increase of about 29%. The largest annual increase in at least 50 years, the CDC said in their report.

Experts point to lockdowns and pandemic restrictions that isolated those struggling with addiction which made treatment harder to get or consistently attend. It also kept those struggling with addiction away from others who may have identified warning signs or intervened earlier.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

^ Thanks for sharing. I had just finished reading similar report in local paper: US overdose deaths hit record 93,000 in pandemic last year (detroitnews.com)

 

[weepingangel]

Thanks for posting- state had updated the numbers (from 10 to 7) since the link I previously posted. Also I think I just saw on Twitter/no link that 7% of deaths in Mississippi are vaccinated folks. I’ll try and find something to confirm that so for now moo


ETA Seven Mississippi children hospitalized as delta variant surges
According to data shared by the health official, 94 percent of the total cases in Mississippi from June 7 to July 5 were among individuals who were not vaccinated, and 93 percent of those who died due to COVID-19 during that period had not received a COVID-19 shot.

Additionally, just 12 percent of hospitalizations during that month were individuals who were fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Delta variant fuels COVID surge in Mississippi: Seven children are hospitalized in ICU | Daily Mail Online

Covid surge in Mississippi involving children-some deaths and hospitalizations
Mississippi has the lowest vaccination rate in the United States

Delta variant fuels COVID surge in Mississippi: Seven children are hospitalized in ICU | Daily Mail Online

Covid surge in Mississippi involving children-some deaths and hospitalizations
Mississippi has the lowest vaccination rate in the United States

 

[weepingangel]

71 People Dead, 268 Hospitalized in Mass. Breakthrough Cases: Report
More at link
At least 71 people have died with COVID-19 in Massachusetts even though they were fully vaccinated, according to a newspaper report, as the more contagious Delta variant continues to spread.

The so-called breakthrough cases — cases where fully vaccinated individuals test positive for coronavirus — have so far been rare, but are possible.

As of June 19, a total of 3,907 breakthrough cases had been reported to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, the Boston Herald reports. Of those, 71 people died and 268 people were hospitalized.

Nationwide, more than 4,100 fully vaccinated people were hospitalized or died with coronavirus as of June 25, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The vaccines are highly effective but don't block every infection and efficacy rates decrease slightly for variants like alpha and delta. It is unclear, however, if the reported breakthrough cases were caused by variants.

The CDC stopped counting breakthrough infections in May. Instead, federal health officials are only tracking vaccinated patients who end up in the hospital or those who die from COVID-19.

Though the metrics remain near their recorded low points in Massachusetts, COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are rising in Massachusetts as the Delta variant continues to spread.

 

[weepingangel]

Slow it down, South Korea tells gym users as Covid cases spike
More at link
Slow it down if you want to feel the burn — that's what South Koreanofficials are telling gym users as the country experiences a fourth Covid-19wave.

New guidelines starting Monday include a requirement that gyms not play music with more than 120 beats per minute (bpm) during group exercise classes to prevent fast breathing and splashing sweat on other people.

Coming in at 132 bpm, "Gangnam Style" by South Korea's Psy is ruled out. But gym-goers can still work out to "Eye of the Tiger" by Survivor, Kanye West’s "Love Lockdown" or "Dynamite," by BTS.

 

[ilovewings]

Slow it down, South Korea tells gym users as Covid cases spike
More at link
Slow it down if you want to feel the burn — that's what South Koreanofficials are telling gym users as the country experiences a fourth Covid-19wave.

New guidelines starting Monday include a requirement that gyms not play music with more than 120 beats per minute (bpm) during group exercise classes to prevent fast breathing and splashing sweat on other people.

Coming in at 132 bpm, "Gangnam Style" by South Korea's Psy is ruled out. But gym-goers can still work out to "Eye of the Tiger" by Survivor, Kanye West’s "Love Lockdown" or "Dynamite," by BTS.

Statistics are interesting and informative, but I wonder about those people who suffered breakthrough Covid- for example, what were they doing in their lives- were they in crowds, like baseball games, going to dinner and doing other things with lots of people? I think that would be good to know, though we will never know. Despite the fact that Covid is obviously still spreading in our Country, many people are living like there is no Covid. I think even if a person is vaccinated, you still should act with caution. I would not go to crowded events. Right now I am not wearing a mask when I go grocery shopping- the stores are not crowded-- I went to the Casino and wore a mask. I look at the statistics here in Michigan and right now in my county there is very little Covid (or Delta)- if that changes I will adapt as necessary.

 

[MimosaMornings]

Ballad Health requiring employees to wear color-coded vaccination badges under new policy | WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather

“The region’s largest hospital system is now requiring employees to wear color-coded badges indicating whether they’ve been vaccinated against COVID-19.

Ballad Health announced the policy change on July 6, the Johnson City-based health care system confirmed to News Channel 11 on Tuesday.

It’s called the “badge buddies” program. Employees who’ve been vaccinated will have the color blue on their badges. Unvaccinated employees will have the color orange on their badges.”

 

[Teche]

Statistics are interesting and informative, but I wonder about those people who suffered breakthrough Covid- for example, what were they doing in their lives- were they in crowds, like baseball games, going to dinner and doing other things with lots of people? I think that would be good to know, though we will never know. Despite the fact that Covid is obviously still spreading in our Country, many people are living like there is no Covid. I think even if a person is vaccinated, you still should act with caution. I would not go to crowded events. Right now I am not wearing a mask when I go grocery shopping- the stores are not crowded-- I went to the Casino and wore a mask. I look at the statistics here in Michigan and right now in my county there is very little Covid (or Delta)- if that changes I will adapt as necessary.

Louisiana Department of Health has a dashboard that provides the number of vaccines, tests, positive cases, hospitalizations, patients on vents, and deaths by parish (county). It also lists positive cases for the state by congregate settings such as churches, bars, casinos, gyms, work, restaurants, etc. Even though I'm fully vaccinated, mask and practice social distancing, this list helps me be super careful in choosing my outings.
As of last Wednesday, our state had 29 deaths involving breakthrough cases.

 

[WichitaFalls]

Informative article if you still have free views on NYT site. It's long but I found a little bit of hope in some of the predictions for the U.S. and the Delta variant.
Delta Variant Widens Gulf Between ‘Two Americas’: Vaccinated and Unvaccinated
Delta Variant Widens Gulf Between ‘Two Americas’: Vaccinated and Unvaccinated
Data from overseas, particularly Britain, suggest the spread of the virus will set vaccinated and unvaccinated communities on very different paths.

 

[Lilibet]

For the second day in a row, my rural county has the most cases of any county in Oregon (48 and 29), including the Portland metro counties. Statewide, hospitalizations and ICU patient counts are up both days. The state opened up completely on June 30, so two weeks later, here we are. Who on earth could have predicted it?! /s

Oregon reports 340 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases, 3 new deaths

Oregon reports 251 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases, 3 new deaths

 

[jjenny]

Informative article if you still have free views on NYT site. It's long but I found a little bit of hope in some of the predictions for the U.S. and the Delta variant.
Delta Variant Widens Gulf Between ‘Two Americas’: Vaccinated and Unvaccinated
Delta Variant Widens Gulf Between ‘Two Americas’: Vaccinated and Unvaccinated
Data from overseas, particularly Britain, suggest the spread of the virus will set vaccinated and unvaccinated communities on very different paths.

I am afraid it's going to be one badly infected America (considering un-vaccinated are not segregated), and we stopped almost all covid precautions.

 

[WichitaFalls]

I almost hate to write this but I can't escape this feeling of impending doom. I scour articles hoping to find something positive and while the NTY says we should not see as dire a situation with Delta, it still seems pretty bad, doesn't it?
Just for reference I'm in north Texas and so many of my fellow citizens (several family as well) won't consider vaccinations. So I wear a good mask when in the grocery store and stay away from crowds. Sigh.

 

[CoverMeCagney]

Sorry to say but seeing how Delta has swept the U.K. and quadrupled our cases within a month, I am not sure that other countries (where it’s already spreading) can contain it.

I currently know around a dozen adults and a few kids with Covid. Most adults are double jabbed, some have only had one. Even split between Pfizer and AZ. Two unvaccinated (medical reasons) are very ill, one in hospital. Feels VERY close here.

We were averaging less than 10 deaths a day not so long ago, but today 49 died, yesterday 50. Delta is not to be underestimated, at all.

 

[Lilibet]

I almost hate to write this but I can't escape this feeling of impending doom. I scour articles hoping to find something positive and while the NTY says we should not see as dire a situation with Delta, it still seems pretty bad, doesn't it?
Just for reference I'm in north Texas and so many of my fellow citizens (several family as well) won't consider vaccinations. So I wear a good mask when in the grocery store and stay away from crowds. Sigh.

I’m on the same “doom page” as you are @WichitaFalls. Just because most of the Delta variant victims are unvaccinated, we all know that there are vaccinated people getting it too, so I don’t feel safe at all. I took every precaution since Feb. 2020 and I stayed home except for medical appointments that had to be in person during 2020/21 and I still got Covid in late January and spent six days in the hospital (not ICU thankfully)…just two weeks prior to being eligible for the vaccine. So as wonderful as the vaccination is, and as grateful as I was to finally be able to get my jabs in May, it isn’t my “get out of Covid free card” by any means. If I let down my guard, I feel very vulnerable. I wish I had some encouraging words for you. Just know you’re not alone in your feelings of impending doom. Hugs from afar!

 

[jjenny]

Meanwhile Fl covid cases are going through the roof.
CDC Data: Rising COVID Cases In Florida Top Almost Every State, Even As Vaccinations Continue | Across Florida, FL Patch