Ahem… ::taps mic:: Mask-a-roni in a bop
? @iamcardib @theestallion and @JohnsHopkins‘s “The Mental Notes” pic.twitter.com/QMFhfP1WYP
— Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health (@JohnsHopkinsSPH) December 15, 2020
BREAKING: Former FDA Director David Kessler will be the chief medical advisor of the Presidential Inaugural Committee, and they’re urging people not to travel to DC for the ceremony. pic.twitter.com/zvF6jX7k55
— Alice Miranda Ollstein (@AliceOllstein) December 15, 2020
“As wonderful as this is… it’s also bittersweet”
Dr Anthony Fauci, the top US infectious diseases expert, urges Americans to abide by public health measures, as the country surpasses 300,000 Covid deathshttps://t.co/EBgpT2cEwh pic.twitter.com/K6hbpsWD4y
— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) December 16, 2020
For the first time.
All red USA, now including Hawaii, for out of control covid.https://t.co/BpmBybV8U5 pic.twitter.com/Zyt8Uiaeq8— Eric Topol (@EricTopol) December 16, 2020
The US now has over 6.9 million active cases. pic.twitter.com/GOfQZwEpwx
— Patrick Chovanec (@prchovanec) December 17, 2020
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Ten international scientists will travel to Wuhan, China to investigate origins of coronavirus, WHO says https://t.co/jH4xxX8gr8
— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) December 16, 2020
Europeans urged to wear masks during family gatherings at Christmas https://t.co/v19jMzrQ5r
— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) December 16, 2020
As Germany hits a record of 910 COVID deaths in a single day, Angela Merkel hints that the country’s hard lockdown may extend beyond January 10. https://t.co/YXcvtmkGu3
— Michael Li 李之樸 (@mcpli) December 17, 2020
The World Health Organization says countries in the Asia-Pacific region are not guaranteed to have early access to COVID-19 shots and urged them to adopt a long-term approach to the pandemic. https://t.co/0haqdOGrUh
— The Associated Press (@AP) December 17, 2020
Asia Today: South Korea has added more than 1,000 infections to its coronavirus caseload for the second straight day amid growing fears that the virus is spreading out of control in the greater capital area. https://t.co/icLBWb8su7
— The Associated Press (@AP) December 17, 2020
Tokyo says COVID-19 strain on hospitals is severe, raises alert to highest https://t.co/xAfG3gsaRk pic.twitter.com/SccKPARstL
— Reuters (@Reuters) December 17, 2020
COVID-19’s original epicenter Wuhan re-learns how to party https://t.co/ZNKfsa9cJc pic.twitter.com/RW9w6zyEAq
— Reuters (@Reuters) December 17, 2020
Vaccine inequity: Israel will begin rolling out a major coronavirus vaccination campaign next week, but millions of Palestinians living under Israeli rule nearby will have to wait much longer. By @josephkrauss. https://t.co/WUwgR6GGT6
— AP Middle East (@APMiddleEast) December 17, 2020
Brazil posts record COVID-19 infections as virus comes roaring back https://t.co/4PNYLBp3qH pic.twitter.com/QNucHLtSru
— Reuters (@Reuters) December 17, 2020
Coronavirus: Brazil hits 7 million cases as governor reveals Chinese vaccine plan https://t.co/8kJ9cGYLAi
— SCMP News (@SCMPNews) December 17, 2020
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a bank error in humanity’s favor! https://t.co/uMjCYlx0fm
— Gerry Doyle (@mgerrydoyle) December 16, 2020
Exclusive by Politico here, would be remiss to not give them credit:https://t.co/ptFVStqAKV
— Vincent Lee (@Rover829) December 16, 2020
Seems like having everyone who receives the vaccine stay in the clinic for 20 minutes is a due & sufficient caution:
Alaska health worker had a serious allergic reaction after Pfizer’s vaccine https://t.co/uxLYPnnc6I
— delthia ricks ? (@DelthiaRicks) December 16, 2020
Moderna’s mRNA vaccine is highly protective against Covid19, the FDA finds in a review of the clinical trial data https://t.co/si4YpS0dnN
— delthia ricks ? (@DelthiaRicks) December 16, 2020
Some vaccine doses kept too cold, Pfizer having manufacturing issues, U.S. officials say https://t.co/102BKR4X8H pic.twitter.com/rftMVxxsF8
— Reuters (@Reuters) December 17, 2020
COVID19 patients are at higher risk of death & post-infection health problems than people who have had the flu. Study is in BMJ & is part of a growing body of evidence showing how much deadlier COVID is compared with the flu & the extent of complications https://t.co/SSAuinWbiZ pic.twitter.com/PeyIfNaMyY
— delthia ricks ? (@DelthiaRicks) December 17, 2020
California researchers have uncovered evidence that UV radiation from sunlight reduces COVID19 transmission. Related species of coronavirus—like those that cause SARS & MERS —were also sensitive to UV light https://t.co/zYWznjYerP via @medical_xpress
— delthia ricks ? (@DelthiaRicks) December 16, 2020
How effective is the mask you’re wearing? You may know soon. A CDC division is working with an industry standards group to develop filtration standards — and products that meet them will be able to carry labels saying so https://t.co/2s2UXoccd4
— delthia ricks ? (@DelthiaRicks) December 16, 2020
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The largest burden of COVID-19 deaths has fallen on people over 65, but young people are also dying at historic rates. There’s been ~12,000 more deaths than expected among young adults.
So wear a mask, be safe. Do your part as the vaccine is distributed. https://t.co/mq2uCNmKXk
— Rochelle Walensky, MD, MPH (@RWalensky) December 16, 2020
A California judge has extended an order exempting San Diego strip clubs from state pandemic-related restrictions, a setback for Gov. Gavin Newsom in his efforts to make his orders stick. https://t.co/jhke4X6qP1
— The Associated Press (@AP) December 17, 2020
Parents chartered a bus to drop off SIXTY 14-year olds at a mall.
No supervision. Just leave 60 maskless teens at a mall.
The parents deserve more than a slap on the wrist.https://t.co/UguTPxCYyZ
— The Hoarse Whisperer (@TheRealHoarse) December 16, 2020
Baud
I look forward to going back to debating women’s reproductive rights when this is all over.
mrmoshpotato
@Baud:
Wearing masks, and well…not much else.
mrmoshpotato
I don’t blame the driver, and I hope they’re still healthy in 2 weeks.
Baud
@mrmoshpotato:
It’s kind of hot, actually.
YY_Sima Qian
Yesterday, China reported 0 new domestic confirmed, 2 new domestic asymptomatic cases and 1 new domestic suspect case.
Mudanjiang in Heilongjiang Province reported 2 new asymptomatic and 1 new suspect cases, at Suifenhe, all are traced close contacts already under quarantine. There are currently 10 confirmed (8 at Suifenhe and 2 at Dongning), 5 asymptomatic cases (all at Suifenhe), and 1 suspect case (at Suifenhe) in Mudanjiang. 2 residential compounds and an office building at Suifenhe, and 1 sub-district at Dongning, remain designated as Medium Risk.
Dalian in Liaoning Province currently has 4 new asymptomatic cases (reported on 12/15), all are cold chain logistics workers from the same shift at the same company at the port facility there. They had previously tested negative on 12/8. 24 F1 & F2 close contacts have been traced and quarantined. As of 12 PM on 12/16, 8,154 at risk individuals have been swabbed (including all residents at the compound the cases live in), the 3,175 results obtained so far are all negative.
Chengdu in Sichuan Province did not report any new positive cases. There are currently 11 confirmed (1 serious, 8 moderate and 2 mild) and 1 asymptomatic cases there. 1,235 contacts are under quarantine. 2 villages and 3 residential compounds are designated as Medium Risk.
Turfan in Xinjiang “Autonomous” Region did not report any new positive cases. There are currently 4 domestic asymptomatic cases in the city. 1 residential compound, has been designated as Medium Risk. I am seeing social media reports that Xinjiang has implemented an incredible regular and free mass testing program. All workers in high traffic and high risk positions (from medical personnels to restaurant and hair salon workers) are tested every 3 days. Government workers and students are tested every 7 days. General population are tested every 2 weeks. That explains why the grandmother in the cluster was tested on 12/9, despite being retired with no occupation.
At Manzhouli in Inner Mongolia “Autonomous” Region, 7 confirmed cases recovered. There are 14 confirmed and 2 asymptomatic cases in the city. 49 close contacts were released from quarantine, 87 close contacts remain under quarantine. 5 sub-districts remain at Medium Risk.
In response to outer packaging of a batch of domestically produced frozen chicken legs testing positive, Chuzhou in Anhui Province has reported that all 2,712 individuals at the meat processing plant have been tested, 423 environmental samples have been collected, all negative. 166 key individuals at the plant has been retested, an additional 304 environmental samples collected, still negative. There is no indication that the plant is the source of contamination.
Yesterday, China reported 7 new imported confirmed cases, 4 imported asymptomatic cases:
Yesterday, Hong Kong reported 96 new cases, 6 imported (from Pakistan and Indonesia) and 90 local (26 of whom without clear sources of infection). There are another 70 cases who are preliminarily confirmed, awaiting retesting.
mrmoshpotato
@Baud: 64/48 isn’t hot. :P
NotMax
@Baud
In the same ballpark
NeenerNeener
Monroe County, NY yesterday:
680 new cases, 743 people hospitalized, 144 in ICU, 413 total deaths (up from 390), 8.8% positivity rate.
26% of the regular hospital beds are available, and 38% of the ICU beds are still open.
It’s been 13 days since I saw the co-worker who didn’t know she had it. So far, I have normal temperature and no persistent headache or other known symptom.
mrmoshpotato
@NotMax: Is that near We Don’t Have Seasons Total Landscaping?
mrmoshpotato
@NeenerNeener: Are you planning on getting tested?
opiejeanne
@mrmoshpotato:
How stupid, how utterly stupid of these parents? Rhetorical question, I know parents this dumb.
Plus, turning 60 kids loose in a mall is a party? I really don’t get that part of the story.
mrmoshpotato
@opiejeanne: It’s party time!
Platonicspoof
Even if you’re feeling overwhelmed with info like I am, may be worthwhile to scroll down from the first Johns Hopkins twitter link (the one to the Mask-a-roni bop).
There’s a link in the twitter thread from JHBSPH to an article called ‘How to Revitalize the U.S. Public Health System’. Short and general, but gives an overall view of the U.S. health care mess.
Thank you again Anne Laurie for all your work here.
NeenerNeener
@mrmoshpotato: I looked for local sites to get tested, and the web site had me answer a bunch of questions. The only one I answered “Yes” to was “Have you been exposed to anyone with COVID in the last 14 days”, so the web site recommended staying in isolation for 14 days after exposure. It will be 14 days tomorrow.
I may still try to find a test site when I’m on vacation next week.
Amir Khalid
Malaysia’s daily Covid-19 numbers. Director-General of Health Dr Noor Hisham Amaringkanbdullah reports 1,295 new cases today in his media statement, for a cumulative reported total of 89,133 cases. Dr Noor Hisham also reports three new deaths today, for a total of 432 deaths — 0.48% of the cumulative reported total, 0.59% of resolved cases.
14,671 active and contagious cases are currently in hospital; 106 are in ICU, 53 of them on respirators. Meanwhile, 1,297 patients recovered and were discharged, for a total of 74,030 patients recovered — 83.1% of the cumulative reported total.
Three new clusters were reported today: Jalan Rusa and Pasifik building site in KL, and Maringkan in Sabah.
1,214 new cases today are local infections. Selangor has 368 cases: 94 in existing clusters, 153 close-contact screenings, and 121 other screenings. KL has 297 cases: 173 in older clusters, 62 in Jalan Rusa and Pasifik building site clusters, 18 close-contact screenings, and 44 other screenings. Sabah has 184 cases: 13 in older clusters, one in Maringkan cluster, 97 close-contact screenings, and 73 other screenings.
Melaka has 98 cases, all in existing clusters. Penang has 80 cases: 53 in existing clusters, eight close-contact screenings, and 19 other screenings. Johor has 67 cases: 21 in existing clusters, 32 close-contact screenings, and 14 other screenings. Perak has 41 cases: 37 in existing clusters, two close-contact screenings, and two other screenings. Negeri Sembilan has 33 cases: 17 in existing clusters, 10 close-contact screenings, and six other screenings. Labuan has 16 cases: five in existing clusters, five close-contact screenings, and six other screenings. Kelantan has 10 cases: three in existing clusters, and seven close-contact screenings.
Kedah has nine cases: two in existing clusters, five close-contact screenings, and two other screenings. Sarawak has three cases, all close-contact screenings. Pahang has four cases, all found in other screening. Terengganu has two cases, both in existing clusters. And Putrajaya has two cases, both close-contact screenings.
Only Perlis reported no new local cases today.
Six new cases are imported. All were reported in Sarawak.
The three deaths today are a 36-year-old man in Johor with diabetes, hypertension, and chronic kidney disease; a 55-year-old woman in Sabah with diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease; and an 81-year-old non-Malaysian man in Sabah with hypertension, chronic kidney disease, and gout.
Amir Khalid
@Amir Khalid:
Dr Noor Hisham’s patronymic is Abdullah, not Abmaringkandullah.
Sorry about the odd mix of fonts. I composed this in LibreOffice, and something must have happened when I copied the text over.
mrmoshpotato
I was expecting Muppets-like madness from Mask-a-roni.
Amir Khalid
The doxtor at my appointment today said he knew no more than I do about when Covid-18 vaccines will get here, or how I would go about getting my vaccination at the University of Malaya Medical Centre. But he did say I’d be a high priority for early vaccination: comorbidities, I haz them.
Van Buren
I admit that I did not foresee that COVID would make strip clubs and churches allies against the government.
Geminid
@NeenerNeener: I’ve read that the FDA approved a home test kit that should be available at pharmacies in the next few days. No prescription required.
satby
@Van Buren: Why not? They both use women’s bodies to service and gratify men.
Brachiator
@mrmoshpotato:
and requiring them and other employees to wear masks.
I don’t think you can catch the virus from T&A.
I might respect the judge’s order more had dancers, staff and customers been systematically tested for the virus.
As it is, in California and elsewhere, all we have is insanity. Hospitalizations have increased dramatically and there are no ICU beds, and yet people still want to defy health authorities. They are not even trying to make excuses anymore.
Mary G
We had 3,231 new cases here on Orange County, so we didn’t beat the record of 3,250, at least. They had to add to the y axis of the graph of hospitalizations again. Thousands of body bags and extra mobile refrigerator trucks have arrived. % ICU beds currently available 0%.
LA County and the rest of the state are also out of control, per the LAT:
WASF.
Ericblair
@satby: I think it’s probably more to do with needing physical presence to thoroughly vacuum your wallet.
OzarkHillbilly
@Baud: Kinda puts the kibosh on BJs tho.
TS (the original)
JC – why even have a president* governor or any political authority. The stupidity of too many people and their assisting Judges will see a million dead before this is done.
And we had a new total of 17 in a cluster around Sydney Northern beaches today and already there is talk of how strong will be the restrictions and/or will the other states again stop travellers from Sydney visiting. A reality check for those thinking for sure they would have family together for Christmas.
OzarkHillbilly
@satby: Isn’t that their only reason for existence?
Mousebumples
Pharmacist checking in. I don’t work with the public anymore, so I’m not involved in the covid vaccine rollout, but I love that we (as a profession) “found” extra doses of the vaccine.
Not the first time it’s happened, for vaccination, either. I remember giving flu shots and a 5ml vial of vaccine (with enough for 10 x 0.5ml flu shots) would typically have enough contents for 11 or even maybe 12 shots.
Great to optimize use of a scarce resource!
OzarkHillbilly
@satby: And speaking of: George Pell: Trump is a barbarian, but ‘in some important ways’ he’s our barbarian
And some people think my hatred of the Catholic Church is a bit extreme.
Geminid
A couple of hours ago Reuters reported that President Macron of France has tested positive for Covid-19. Another reminder that this virus goes everywhere.
Baud
News said Biden would receive his vaccine next week.
raven
Donald Trump’s Atlantic City Casino To Be Blown Up And You Can Push The Button
The right to demolish the former Trump Plaza casino is being auctioned to raise money for the Boys & Girls Club of Atlantic City.
satby
@OzarkHillbilly: think so.
Mousebumples
@raven: was this meant to be @ my nym? ?
raven
@Mousebumples: Sorry, I asked a dumb question about the vaccine and deleted it. I didn’t mean to leave your handle.
terben
@raven: No expert, but I would think that any multi-dose vial would contain more than the exact quantity because of the way that syringes are filled and freed of trapped air bubbles. A small amount of liquid is typically wasted with each dose. Careful manipulation can minimize this wastage and generate extra doses per vial.
Anne Laurie
To be honest, my first response to this story was a memory of my mother telling my teenage brother, “I’ll always love you, but sometimes I don’t really like you.”…
raven
@terben: thx
Sloane Ranger
Yesterday in the UK we had 25,161 new cases. This is a massive increase of 6500 from Tuesday. The rolling 7-day average had now increased by 36.2%, nearer 45% in the south east of England. The Health Secretary has just announced that Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Surrey (except Waverley) and a number of towns/cities in the south and south east will be moved into Tier 3 (highest restrictions) from Saturday. Bristol and North Somerset will move down into Tier 2 and Herefordshire will move down into Tier 1. This means that something like three quarters of everyone in England will be living in Tier 3 locations. New cases by nation,
England – 23,432 (up @7000)
Northern Ireland – 510 (up @30)
Scotland – 689 (down @150)
Wales – 530 (down @80).
Deaths – There were 612 deaths yesterday. 537 in England, 8 in Northern Ireland, 38 in Scotland and 29 in Wales.Deaths are up by 2.4% according to the rolling 7-day average.
Testing – 304,360 tests were processed out of a capacity of 533,964. The rolling 7-day average shows a 6.7% increase.
Hospitalisations – There were 18,038 people in hospital on Monday, 14 December and 1326 on ventilators on Tuesday, 15th. The rolling 7-day average for hospital admission has increased by 17%. ICU beds are, apparently, at 88% capacity.
General – The Welsh Government has said that around 11,000 positive cases were left off their figures due to a computer error, so expect their case numbers to rise precipitately over the next few days. Given that they have the largest per capita outbreak of all the home nations, this is not good news.
Also, despite the rising figures, the home governments are to continue the relaxation of restrictions over Christmas, although the Welsh government has advised that only 2 families mingle, rather than 3 and the Scottish government has said they advise that the 3 families only meet up on one of the days, rather than all 5.
This all makes me want to thrown something at the TV/radio whenever a Minister comes on.
YY_Sima Qian
@TS (the original): Reading through the ABC article you linked, the response at NSW seem quite sensible, and are reminiscent of what I have seen in China. (Minus the lock down of residential compounds with active cases. Then again, I assume Australian cities are less densely packed.)
I am amazed that Queensland authorities are asking anyone who has been to Sydney Northern Beaches with the cluster of cases to quarantine at a hotel at one’s own expense! That is some of the toughest measures anywhere. I can’t imagine it being popular. In China, Norther Beaches would probably have been designated as Medium Risk (perhaps High). People with recent travel history to Medium Risk areas are asked to report to the local neighborhood committee and get tested immediately. Some areas may require 7 days of home quarantine even with the negative result. People with recent travel history to High Risk areas are generally required to self-quarantine at home for 14 days, even with a negative result. Of course, home quarantines in China are enforced by neighborhood committees and residential compound management, up to and including surveillance camera mounted outside of the door, magnet sensor on the door, and paper seal over the door. People with recent travel history to High Risk areas will also have yellow health codes within 14 days of travel, which would prevent access to large venues, anyway. Centralized quarantines in China are always free, except for visitors or returnees from overseas.
NeenerNeener
Uncle Cosmo
Obligatory Fab Four…
YY_Sima Qian
@Sloane Ranger: Isn’t this the 2nd time a large quantity of positive cases have been left off the statistics due to some kind of computer error? Has the data tracking been outsourced to ill-qualified cronies, like in the US for a while?
I am surprised even Scotland is going ahead with the relaxation. I had thought the Scottish government to be more sensible. Will there be any enforcement of the restrictions? The vaccination campaign will not be far enough along prevent a Christmas and New Year induced surge.
England should have continued with the lock down measures until mid-Dec. to suppress the epidemic, and then relax for Christmas.
NotMax
@NeenerNeener
From the little I’ve read they will initially be $120 a pop, with a 3 to 5 day turnaround time.
Uncle Cosmo
Obligatory Fab Four….
WaterGirl
@raven: I removed it.
Uncle Cosmo
No complaints here.** Stalked out of The One Holy Catholic And Apostolic Church at age 13, a few weeks after being confirmed, & never looked back other than in revulsion.***
George Pell ought to reflect on the number of priests who drew tumbrel rides in late 18th-century France, and consider that crafting effective guillotines is not exactly a lost art. Bastard.
** Of course, considering my exalted reputation around here, that may not be the sort of support you were looking for…
*** Inter alia it’s hard to overlook the swarm of postwar European political parties that styled themselves “Christian Democrat” but were in fact “Catholic Crypto-Fascist.” And that was long before the pedophile obscenities. (I like Pope Frankie but my one regret is that he didn’t chuck Bernie Law out of his Vatican bolthole & send him back to the States to wear an orange jumpsuit before the SOB took his dirt nap in 2017.)
evodevo
@Van Buren: Yes…govt. creates strange bedfellows…in dry counties in KY, the local preachers and the local bootleggers are quite often in cahoots making sure the county doesn’t go wet…
Robert Sneddon
There’s a saying that the first thing a newly-minted military officer learns is to never give an order they know will not be obeyed.
The Scottish Government, like Westminster is totally aware that they can lay down the law and cancel Xmas but people won’t listen and obey that law. Worst-case there’s rioting and civil disorder as part of the non-compliance and the police can’t cope with the disruptions, making things worse not better.
Instead they’ve gone for a Grinch-type Xmas and a lot of advice about how it’s not a good idea to travel 200 miles to visit Aunt Mabel in Inverness. That’s things that folks won’t listen to, generally. Right now the world is well into the compliance fatigue stage of this pandemic, people are tired of doing the right thing and they are giving up being good about mixing indoors and visiting family etc. This was factored in by the epidemiologists back in March, it’s a driver for the second and subsequent waves in infection numbers they predicted back then.
mrmoshpotato
@evodevo:
Under-used, wonderful word.
Kristine
@satby: Best. Response. Ever.
Sloane Ranger
@YY_Sima Qian:
You’ve either got an excellent memory or you’re taking notes :)
Yes, the last time was a couple of months ago but that was for England. Each home government is responsible for collecting their own stats. I think they are all still done by government departments or public sector organisations, at least but I honestly don’t know about the devolved administrations. The Welsh government is Labour, so I think it unlikely they’ve privatised it.
Robert Sneddon has answered your 2nd point. The thinking seems to be the same across all the home administrations.
As for your last point about the English lockdown, I completely agree and have been saying it to everybody who will listen (and a few who didn’t). Johnson lives in fear of his backbenchers moaning about the “economy” and poor, hard pressed publicans. Plus Brexit approaches with an economy seriously weakened by COVID-19 already.
Geminid
@NotMax: I read that these tests would be a home test with a 20 minute result, $30 each. Easy enough to find out for sure, though.
neldob
My daughter was in Temecula (socal) last weekend and said the restaurants were full, elbow to elbow, very few masks seen the whole time.
Geminid
@Geminid: Well, now I read in the Washington Post that the Australian Ellume company whose test was approved by the FDA Wednesday will ship only 100,000 home test lists in January. Two other tests- the Lucira and the Abbot BinaxNOW- require a prescription and will not be widely available until the new year. The BinaxNOW test is used now in nursing homes and schools. Abbot expects to ship 30 million of the.home test next quarter, and 90 million more in the second quarter of2021.