Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #98

[SouthAussie]

Flight attendants in the US are being trained in self defense and self-protection - at a police academy - due to the amount of physically aggressive passengers that they are encountering on their flights.

(NBC newsdesk) Q: What are the passengers fighting about?
(NBC live reporter) A: Mostly masks .... masks and alcohol.

(Alcohol has apparently been banned on flights until January.)

Source: NBC Today on TV in Oz, Saturday morning Aug 21st

 

[SouthAussie]

The CDC Only Tracks a Fraction of Breakthrough COVID-19 Infections, Even as Cases Surge

<RSBM>

As the pandemic enters a critical new phase, public health authorities continue to lack data on crucial questions, just as they did when COVID-19 first tore through the United States in the spring of 2020. Today there remains no full understanding on how the aggressively contagious delta variant spreads among the nearly 200 million partially or fully vaccinated Americans like Ingram, or on how many are getting sick.
The nation is flying blind yet again, critics say, because on May 1 of this year — as the new variant found a foothold in the U.S. — the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention mostly stopped tracking COVID-19 in vaccinated people, also known as breakthrough cases, unless the illness was severe enough to cause hospitalization or death.

More at link . . .
The CDC Only Tracks a Fraction of Breakthrough COVID-19 Infections, Even as Cases Surge — ProPublica

I was reading a NY article the other day, about Delta having become the primary (99%) variant currently found in a specific area. Who was doing their genomic testing? A major local university.

 

[sds71]

The F.D.A. is aiming to give full approval to Pfizer’s Covid vaccine on Monday.

 

[sds71]

The Food and Drug Administration is pushing to approve Pfizer-BioNTech’s two-dose Covid-19 vaccine on Monday, further expediting an earlier timeline for licensing the shot, according to people familiar with the agency’s planning.
The F.D.A. is aiming to give full approval to Pfizer’s Covid vaccine on Monday.

 

[SouthAussie]

So, our state of Qld has their outbreak under control now. They are carefully monitoring their state border.
(There are massive lines of cars waiting to try to enter Qld. Some people wait 4, 5, 6 hours in line - then get turned away once they get to the checkpoints.)

At first, their monitoring was to prevent people from hotspots from entering.
This morning we are hearing that they are now asking for proof of vaccination, for any essential workers trying to enter, at their state border. No vax, no entry.

Source: Ch7 morning TV news

They are also showing a photo on national TV of a 27 year old from NSW, who has tested positive, refuses to isolate, refuses to wear a mask, and is now evading police. They evidently mean business in finding this man.
(First time I have seen them do this, but considering the current concerns in NSW, I am not surprised.)

 

[CoverMeCagney]

A British ICU doctor:

Looking at their medical notes I know that all the Covid patients currently on the unit were offered the jab but that 90 per cent of those on ventilators here are unvaccinated. I understand this figure is roughly the same at most other units.

It is a chilling statistic and one that makes me absolutely furious. Not with the patients — my heart goes out to them for what they and their families are going through. The havoc wreaked on the lungs by Covid and the desperate sense of not being able to breathe is not something I would wish anyone to endure.

No, my quarrel is with those who perpetuate the myths that the virus does not exist or that Covid vaccines are dangerous. Their false claims are killing people.

ICU doctor reveals 90 per cent of Covid patients in his ward are vaccine refuseniks | Daily Mail Online

 

[Deleted member 158085]

Flight attendants in the US are being trained in self defense and self-protection - at a police academy - due to the amount of physically aggressive passengers that they are encountering on their flights.

(NBC newsdesk) Q: What are the passengers fighting about?
(NBC live reporter) A: Mostly masks .... masks and alcohol.

(Alcohol has apprently been banned on flights until January.)

Source: NBC Today on TV in Oz, Saturday morning Aug 21st

Seems like Americans in general are becoming more violent. I went to the doctor today and there was a sign up that said verbal abuse will not be tolerated and physical assault will be reported and prosecuted. Clearly, weird stuff has been happening more in doctor's offices.

 

[musicaljoke]

The F.D.A. is aiming to give full approval to Pfizer’s Covid vaccine on Monday.

Well yeah! I will tell my housekeeper and expect her to sign up for a vaccine on Tuesday since the lack of FDA approval was her excuse. (Never mind that we are in Canada and that the vaccines were approved here ages ago.)

Vaccines for COVID-19 - Canada.ca.

 

[pocketaccent]

For covid long haulers, the pandemic will not end when it ends. This is a big problem squarely facing us. Out of estimated 40 million Americans suffering fron long covid, how many will become disabled for life? Too scary to think about.

Long-haul COVID: How grassroots online movement Survivor Corps helps those facing lingering symptoms

Filmmaker Nick Guthe, whose wife, Heidi Ferrer, died by suicide after months of debilitating COVID symptoms, is an advisor to Survivor Corps.
...
As much light and hope as she offered others, she fell into a darkness she couldn't recover from. Three months ago, the 50-year-old Ferrer took her own life, after a 13-month-battle with long-haul COVID.

"I think she felt she was only going to get worse," Guthe said.
Her symptoms were so severe, said Guthe, her life changed dramatically. Debilitating pain in her feet put an end to her daily 90 minute walks, gastrointestinal issues, extreme exhaustion and brain fog followed. But Guthe said it was the sudden neurological tremors that kept her from sleeping that were the worst. Ferrer wanted them documented; she is seen experiencing the tremors in a home video.

"She basically had no quality at the end of her life," Guthe said.
...
"When I heard the news about Heidi's death, a part of me broke," said Survivor Corps founder Diana Berrent. "I mean, she was one of our members."

Berrent estimates some 40 million Americans are affected by the lingering and varied symptoms of long COVID.

Survivor Corps has a Facebook page with 170,000 members sharing personal stories, and a website with comprehensive information and resources on long COVID.
...

 

[mickey2942]

School hasn't even started yet in our county, and Contact Tracing is overwhelmed. College kids came back last weekend, I saw ZERO masks on campus, ZERO masks inside. Everyone was unloading and unpacking, in and out, no masks.

Interesting that the university here is NOT requiring vaccinations. Surprised that Biden or legislation has not tied mandatory Covid vaccine for college students attending any university that accepts federal funds.

Seems to be hit and miss on which universities require mandatory Covid vaccine.

What Colleges Require the COVID-19 Vaccine? | BestColleges

 

[musicaljoke]

I honestly believe it's almost impossible to stop the spread of Delta but I hope I'm wrong.

Since it appears that people who have been vaccinated still can have virus loads and spread covid, then vaccinating a large part of the population isn't going to protect those who are not vaccinated, as was previously hoped.

An unvaccinated person will not escape getting covid just because everyone they know has been vaccinated.

 

[LaborDayRN]

For covid long haulers, the pandemic will not end when it ends. This is a big problem squarely facing us. Out of estimated 40 million Americans suffering fron long covid, how many will become disabled for life? Too scary to think about.

Long-haul COVID: How grassroots online movement Survivor Corps helps those facing lingering symptoms

Filmmaker Nick Guthe, whose wife, Heidi Ferrer, died by suicide after months of debilitating COVID symptoms, is an advisor to Survivor Corps.
...
As much light and hope as she offered others, she fell into a darkness she couldn't recover from. Three months ago, the 50-year-old Ferrer took her own life, after a 13-month-battle with long-haul COVID.

"I think she felt she was only going to get worse," Guthe said.
Her symptoms were so severe, said Guthe, her life changed dramatically. Debilitating pain in her feet put an end to her daily 90 minute walks, gastrointestinal issues, extreme exhaustion and brain fog followed. But Guthe said it was the sudden neurological tremors that kept her from sleeping that were the worst. Ferrer wanted them documented; she is seen experiencing the tremors in a home video.

"She basically had no quality at the end of her life," Guthe said.
...
"When I heard the news about Heidi's death, a part of me broke," said Survivor Corps founder Diana Berrent. "I mean, she was one of our members."

Berrent estimates some 40 million Americans are affected by the lingering and varied symptoms of long COVID.

Survivor Corps has a Facebook page with 170,000 members sharing personal stories, and a website with comprehensive information and resources on long COVID.
...

What a sad story. I have a feeling there are many people suffering from the long haul Covid and sadly the numbers will only continue to grow particularly amongst those who refuse the vaccine.

 

[pocketaccent]

Flight attendants in the US are being trained in self defense and self-protection - at a police academy - due to the amount of physically aggressive passengers that they are encountering on their flights.

(NBC newsdesk) Q: What are the passengers fighting about?
(NBC live reporter) A: Mostly masks .... masks and alcohol.

(Alcohol has apparently been banned on flights until January.)

Source: NBC Today on TV in Oz, Saturday morning Aug 21st

This reminds me of an article I read the other day. Some flight attendants recently have been resorted to duct taping unruly passengers to their seats.

Don't duct tape unruly passengers, United Airlines says in memo to employees

Unruly passengers may have been duct taped to their seats on other carriers, but United Airlines officials want to make clear that they do not endorse the practice.

"Please remember that there are designated items onboard that may be used in difficult situations, and alternative measures such as tape should never be used," John Slater, senior vice president of inflight services, told employees in a Friday memo.
...
In a typical year, the Federal Aviation Administration said the agency sees 100 to 150 formal cases of bad passenger behavior. But from the start of this year to May, that number has jumped to 2,500, including about 1,900 passengers who refused to comply with the federal mask mandate, according to the FAA.

 

[ZoriahNZ]

Even if the vaccinations don't drastically reduce transmission, if they can prevent the majority of severe cases, it's best way to prevent hospitals from being overrun. Our health systems need to be protected. When there aren't enough ICU beds or ICU trained staff, patients needing emergency care who aren't COVID related will also be affected. Bad outcomes will rise because of the strain.

Please, please, please get vaccinated.

 

[SouthAussie]

This reminds me of an article I read the other day. Some flight attendants recently have been resorted to duct taping unruly passengers to their seats.

Don't duct tape unruly passengers, United Airlines says in memo to employees

Unruly passengers may have been duct taped to their seats on other carriers, but United Airlines officials want to make clear that they do not endorse the practice.

"Please remember that there are designated items onboard that may be used in difficult situations, and alternative measures such as tape should never be used," John Slater, senior vice president of inflight services, told employees in a Friday memo.
...
In a typical year, the Federal Aviation Administration said the agency sees 100 to 150 formal cases of bad passenger behavior. But from the start of this year to May, that number has jumped to 2,500, including about 1,900 passengers who refused to comply with the federal mask mandate, according to the FAA.

I have to say, I would HATE to be up in the air with an unruly, aggressive passenger(s). It would be so scary for everyone on board. There is no way to remove yourself from the situation, get out of harms way.

I applaud the pilots who touch down at a nearby airport, and remove the unruly passenger(s) from the plane, before proceeding onwards.

 

[pocketaccent]

Umm, not surprised. At all. This is only the beginning.

Students quarantined: Possible COVID exposure has hundreds of SoCal students being sent home
Hundreds of Southern California students have been forced into quarantine after testing positive or being exposed to someone with COVID-19, school officials are reporting.

For many of the students, Friday marks the end of just the first week of classes.
...

 

[MimosaMornings]

CDC warns older adults, travelers in COVID high-risk groups not to take cruises, even if they're vaccinated — USA TODAY

“The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is now recommending that travelers who are at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19 avoid sailing on cruise ships, including river cruises, regardless of vaccination status.

The agency’s website says the virus that causes COVID-19 can spread easily between people in close quarters on ships, and the chance of getting COVID-19 on cruise ships is “high.”

“The CDC says older adults, people with certain medical conditions and pregnant and recently pregnant people are considered to be at increased risk for severe illness from the virus.”

 

[justbeachy]

Orlando asks residents to limit water consumption due to COVID-19 impacts

"OUC treats the city's water with liquid oxygen and supplies that ordinarily go toward water treatment have been diverted to hospitals for patients suffering from the virus."

"It’s another result what happens when residents don’t get vaccinated and become critically ill and are in need of dire medical support and treatment," Mayor Dyer said."

 

[MajorHoople]

I honestly believe it's almost impossible to stop the spread of Delta but I hope I'm wrong.

Unfortunately, you're probably right.

 

[Lilibet]

Covid odds and ends mostly from Southern Oregon…

Modeling predicts over 5,000 new COVID cases per day in coming weeks - KOBI-TV NBC5 / KOTI-TV NBC2

Medford School District reacts to vaccine mandate for school staff and teachers

Britt Festival to Require Proof of Vaccination or Negative COVID Test

Senator Wyden visits Asante, talks with healthcare workers

Asante announces new visitor restrictions as COVID cases surge

Douglas County COVID patient dies waiting for hospital bed - KOBI-TV NBC5 / KOTI-TV NBC2

Temporary COVID testing site at The Expo - KOBI-TV NBC5 / KOTI-TV NBC2