COVID-19 Coronavirus Updates: Sunday/Monday, Jan. 24-25

14Comments

1. 1.

   rikyrah

   January 25, 2021 at 5:41 am

   Why hadn’t the US hit vaccination targets?

   Because, there was no phucking plan???

2. 2.

   NotMax

   January 25, 2021 at 5:43 am

   Tomorrow the total number of cases reported worldwide will break through 100 million.

3. 3.

   NeenerNeener

   January 25, 2021 at 5:58 am

   Monroe County, NY yesterday:

   289 new cases. 692 hospitalized, 139 in the ICU. 893 deaths. 33% of hospital beds available, 22% of ICU beds available. 5.3% positivity.

   Our positives are dropping, but that may just be because of the weekend. I see the Bills lost yesterday, so our upcoming Super Bowl Super Spreader parties may be smaller.

4. 4.

   NotMax

   January 25, 2021 at 6:00 am

   State stats.

   There were 153 new COVID-19 cases reported in Hawai‘i on Sunday, including 103 on O‘ahu, 34 on Maui, eight on Hawaiʻi Island, and eight in Hawaiʻi residents diagnosed outside of the state.

   Hawai‘i’s COVID-19 deaths increased to 342 with six new deaths reported today–five on O‘ahu, and one on Hawai‘i Island. Source

   Moron meet-ups.

   Apparent “drum circle” gatherings on Maui have led to several citations and one arrest.

   Maui Police said they issued 12 citations and arrested one man for their participation in the large beach gathering at Paia Beach Park off Hana Highway.

   Officers have been receiving complaints about the weekly event. During their latest enforcement, they say they arrived around 6 p.m. to find about 100 people gathering close together without face coverings on.

   Most people put their masks on when they saw the officers, but MPD was able to cite 12 people for face mask violations. Source

   Unless things have changed, each citation carries a fine of two grand.

5. 5.

   YY_Sima Qian

   January 25, 2021 at 6:22 am

   On 1/24 China reported 117 new domestic confirmed, 29 new domestic asymptomatic cases.

   Liaoning Province did not report any new domestic positive cases:

   • At Dalian, 2 domestic confirmed cases remain. The last 2 Medium Risk communities in the city were re-designated as Low Risk.
   • At Shenyang, the last 3 domestic confirmed case from the recent outbreak recovered.

    

   Beijing Municipality reported 3 new domestic confirmed (2 previously asymptomatic) & 1 new domestic asymptomatic cases, all at the epicenter community in Daxing District. The new case is a traced close contact already under centralized quarantine since 1/22. No information released for the new asymptomatic case. There are currently 2 villages (both at Shunyi District) at Medium Risk. 1 community (at Daxing District) is at High Risk.

   Hebei Province:

   Hebei Provincial Health Commission reported 11 new domestic confirmed cases (2 previously asymptomatic) & 2 domestic asymptomatic cases. 42 domestic confirmed case recovered & 6 domestic asymptomatic cases were released from isolation. There are currently 805 domestic confirmed cases (12 critical, 31 serious, 615 moderate and 147 mild) & 93 domestic asymptomatic cases in the province:

   • Xingtai reported 4 new domestic confirmed cases, all at the same residential compound in Nangong District. 1 of the cases is a traced close contact already under centralized quarantine since 1/22, the others were found via mass screening, but have been staying home under lock down since 1/18. 1 domestic confirmed case recovered. There are currently 62 domestic confirmed & 10 domestic asymptomatic cases in the city. Nangong District remains at High Risk, 1 residential compound at Longyao County remains at Medium Risk.
   • Langfang did not report any new domestic positive cases. There are 1 domestic confirmed & 1 domestic asymptomatic cases there. 1 residential compound remain at Medium Risk.
   • Shijiazhuang reported 7 new domestic confirmed cases (2 previously asymptomatic) & 2 domestic asymptomatic cases. 42 domestic confirmed case recovered & 6 domestic asymptomatic cases were released from isolation. 11 of the confirmed cases are at Gaocheng District (8 previously asymptomatic already under isolation, 2 from mass screening already under home or centralized quarantines, and 1 at fever clinic having been treated there since 1/11 but continued to test negative on RT-PCR until 1/22), all at the epicenter township; 2 at Pingshan County (both from mass screening), 2 at Yuhua District (both previously asymptomatic), 1 at New Dev. Zone (a traced close contact), and 1 at Qiaoxi District (previously asymptomatic). 15 domestic confirmed cases recovered & 23 asymptomatic cases were released from isolation. Currently, there are 741 confirmed cases & 82 asymptomatic cases. 1 residential compound was elevated to Medium Risk. 2 villages and 7 residential compounds were re-designated as Low Risk. There are 24 residential compounds, 5 villages & 1 residential building at Medium Risk in the city. Gaocheng & Xinle Districts remain at High Risk.

    

   Heilongjiang Province:

   Heilongjiang Province reported 35 new domestic confirmed (12 previously asymptomatic) & 20 new domestic asymptomatic cases. There are currently 417 domestic confirmed & 522 domestic asymptomatic cases in the province.:

   • Suihua reported 17 new domestic confirmed (5 previously asymptomatic) & 2 new domestic asymptomatic cases. Wangkui County reported 15 confirmed (5 previously asymptomatic) & 2 asymptomatic cases, Anda reported 1 confirmed case (previously asymptomatic), Beilin Districted reported 1 confirmed case. No case information released so far. There are currently 368 domestic confirmed & 379 domestic asymptomatic cases there. The entire Wangkui County remains at High Risk.
   • Harbin reported 18 new domestic confirmed (11 previously asymptomatic) & 18 asymptomatic cases. Hulan District reported 12 confirmed (10 previously as symptomatic) & 11 asymptomatic cases, Xiangfang District reported 1 confirmed case (previously asymptomatic), Limin Dev. Zone reported 4 confirmed & 6 asymptomatic cases, Daowai District reported 1 confirmed case, and Daoli District reported 1 asymptomatic case. There are currently 46 domestic confirmed & 107 domestic asymptomatic cases there. 2 sub-districts (in Hulan District) were elevated to Medium Risk. 10 sub-districts & 4 residential building units remain at Medium Risk.
   • Qiqihar did not report any new domestic positive cases. There are 1 domestic confirmed & 31 domestic asymptomatic cases there. 1 village remains at Medium Risk.
   • Yichun did not report any new domestic positive cases. There are 2 domestic asymptomatic cases there.
   • Daqing did not report any new positive cases. There are 2 domestic confirmed & 1 domestic asymptomatic cases there. 1 residential building unit remains at Medium Risk.
   • Mudanjiang did not report any new positive cases. There are 3 domestic asymptomatic cases there. 

    

   Jilin Province 

   Jilin Province reported 67 new domestic confirmed cases (64 previously asymptomatic) & 5 domestic asymptomatic cases, there are currently 273 confirmed (10 critical, 24 serious, 174 moderate and 65 mild) & 60 asymptomatic cases there.:

   • Songyuan did not report any new domestic confirmed cases. There are 4 domestic confirmed cases there. 1 residential building was elevated to Medium Risk. 1 residential compound and 1 residential building are at Medium Risk.
   • Tonghua reported 56 new domestic confirmed (54 previously asymptomatic) & 4 new domestic asymptomatic cases. All the new positive cases were found via mass screening. There are currently 196 domestic confirmed & 50 domestic asymptomatic cases in the city. The entire Dongchang District remains at High Risk. 1 residential compound at the High Tech. Dev. Zone remains at Medium Risk.
   • Changchun reported 11 new domestic confirmed (10 previously asymptomatic) & 1 domestic asymptomatic cases. 1 of the new positive case is a traced close contact already under centralized quarantine since 1/18, and the other is from mass screening, but under home quarantine since 1/16. There are currently 73 domestic confirmed & 10 domestic asymptomatic cases in the city. Mass screening of all residents are ongoing. 1 township & 3 residential compounds are at Medium Risk.

    

   Shanghai Municipality reported 1 new domestic confirmed case (at Huangpu District), a traced close contact already under centralized quarantine since 12/21. Currently there are 13 confirmed cases in the city. 1 resident compound and 1 hotel were elevated to Medium Risk. 2 residential compounds, 1 residential area and 1 hotel are currently at Medium Risk. 

   Zhenjiang in Jiangsu Province reported 1 new domestic asymptomatic case, a traced close contact of an imported case reported on 1/22 (returned from Ireland, the case had passed through 14 days of centralized quarantine, and had nearly completed 7 days of follow on home quarantine, before becoming symptomatic), and has been under centralized quarantine since then.

   Shenzhen in Guangdong Province did not report any new domestic positive cases. The municipal CDC has sequence the viral sample from the domestic asymptomatic case reported on 1/23 (a custodian at a quarantine hotel), and found that it matches that of an imported asymptomatic case from South Africa that had stayed at the same hotel. Not sure if the cases were infected by the 504Y.V2 variant, though.

   Imported Cases:

   On 1/24, China reported 7 new imported confirmed cases, 16 imported asymptomatic cases, 1 imported suspect case:

   • Shanghai Municipality – 2 confirmed cases, 1 Chinese national each returning from Israel and Japan; 1 suspect case, no information released
   • Guangzhou in Guangdong Province – 2 confirmed cases, a Chinese national returning from Mexico (via LAX) and a foreign national coming from the US on a charter flight; 4 asymptomatic cases, 1 Chinese national each returning from the US and the UAE, a foreign national each coming from the US (on a charter flight) and India (via Kathmandu)
   • Shenzhen in Guangdong Province – 2 asymptomatic cases, both Chinese nationals returning from Mozambique
   • Foshan in Guangdong Province – 1 asymptomatic case, a Chinese national returning from Saudi Arabia, off a flight that landed at Guangzhou
   • Zhuhai in Guangdong Province – 1 asymptomatic case, a Chinese national returning from the Ukraine; the case landed at Guangzhou on 1/2, passed through 14 days of centralized quarantine and tested negative on RT-PCR multiple times, traveled home to Zhuhai upon release from quarantine on 1/16 and entered the 7 day home quarantine, at the end of which he tested negative
   • Zhanjiang in Guangdong Province – 1 asymptomatic case, and Indian crew member off a cargo ship, last port of call is Singapore
   • Tianjin Municipality – 2 confirmed cases, a Chinese national returning from Morocco (via Paris CdG), and a Chinese crew member off a cargo ship (last port of call is Singapore; 1 asymptomatic case, a Chinese national returning from Niger (via Paris CdG)
   • Xiamen in Fujian Province – 1 confirmed case, a Chinese national returning from Hungary (via Amsterdam Schipol)
   • Kunming in Yunnan Province – 2 asymptomatic cases, both Chinese nationals returning from Indonesia
   • Hangzhou in Zhejiang Province – 2 asymptomatic cases, 1 Chinese national each returning from Italy & Spain
   • Beijing Municipality – 1 asymptomatic case, no information released
   • Nanjing in Jiangsu Province – 1 asymptomatic case, no information released

    

   Overall in China, 75 confirmed cases recovered, 18 asymptomatic cases were released from isolation and 85 were reclassified as confirmed cases, and 1,157 individuals were released from quarantine. Currently, there are 1,850 active confirmed cases in the country (288 imported), 109 are in critical/serious condition (2 imported), 959 asymptomatic cases (277 imported), 2 suspect cases (both imported). 38,345 traced contacts are currently under centralized quarantine.

   On 1/25, Hong Kong reported 73 new cases, 4 imported and 69 domestic (38 of whom do not have sources of infection identified).

6. 6.

   YY_Sima Qian

   January 25, 2021 at 6:23 am

   High, Medium and Low Risk designations in China are based on the number of confirmed cases reported in a period of time and the whether there is community spread, as stipulated by the national epidemic control guidelines. Re-designation to lower risk level depends on the 14 – 21 days without new confirmed cases, or zero active confirmed cases. Despite the fact that China counts asymptomatic cases separately from confirmed cases, and that these designations are based on confirmed cases, the system seemed to work OK for the outbreaks in the summer and fall.

   However, it has become a cumbersome system with the winter outbreaks. The authorities have been extremely proactive in contact tracing and locking down residential compounds and sub-districts with community transmission (sometimes overzealous in doing so). In the cases of Shijiazhuang in Hebei Province, and Wangkui County in Suihua, Heilongjiang Province, authorities moved entire villages into centralized quarantine, when it appeared that the transmission chains were too jumbled to untangle and the entire populations were at risk. Combined with the sometimes very long pre-symptomatic periods that seems to be associated with the Russian strains that caused outbreaks in Heilongjiang and Manchuria, we see the ironic instances where traced close contact were placed into centralized quarantine, test positive 10 days later and were diagnosed as asymptomatic, and finally became symptomatic 10 days after that and were re-classified as confirmed cases. The residential compound the cases lived in would be elevated to Medium Risk when they were re-classified as confirmed cases, even though the residential compound have not had any cases from the community in 3 weeks!

   We also have the equally ironic situation where an area would have many (currently) asymptomatic cases, but very few confirmed cases (yet). The epicenter village in Ang’angxi District in Qiqihar, Heilongjiang Province, is case in point. Based on the 1 confirmed case reported so far, the Medium Risk designation for the epicenter village is appropriate. On the other hand, with nearly 30 asymptomatic cases, the number of infections should have designated the village as High Risk. In any case, it does not appear that the authorities are devising their restrictions, movement controls and testing strategies on designated risk levels, but on the number of positive cases and degree of community spread (as they should), but that reduces the usefulness of the risk level system as a communication tool to the public.

7. 7.

   terben

   January 25, 2021 at 6:42 am

   Notable events in Australia today: One year anniversary of the first detected case of Covid, The first vaccine was approved by Australia’s relevant authority, the TGA, and there were no local cases reported.

   There were 11 new cases reported today, all in hotel quarantine. Today was the 8th consecutive day with no local cases. There were 25 cases in hospitals, including 22 in the two jurisdictions where all positive case are routinely hospitalised.

   Total cases: 28777. Total deaths: 909. Days since last death: 28.

8. 8.

   Amir Khalid

   January 25, 2021 at 6:48 am

   Malaysia’s daily Covid-19 numbers. Director-General of Health Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah reports 3,048 new cases today in his media statement, for a cumulative reported total of 186,849 cases. He also reports 11 new deaths today, for a total of 689 deaths — 0.37% of the cumulative reported total, 0.48% of resolved cases.

   There are currently 41,076 active and contagious cases; 261 are in ICU, 101 of them on respirators. Meanwhile, 3,638 patients recovered and were discharged, for a total of 145,084 patients recovered – 77.7% of the cumulative reported total.

   13 new clusters were reported today: Sri Muda, Sungai Chemubong, and Jalan Waja in Selangor; Jalan Indah, Jalan Firma Tiga, and Kampung Muhibbah in Johor; Industri Apas in Sabah; Jalan Kerinchi in KL; Kampung Tualang in Terengganu; Taman Bahagia and Kampung Bukit Lada in Pahamg; Bukit Palah in Melaka; and Kampung Pahi in Kelantan.

   Kampung Muhibbah cluster in Johor and both clusters in Pahang are community clusters; the clusters in Melaka and Kelantan are at-risk group clusters; the rest are workplace clusters.

   3,040 new cases today are local infections. Selangor has 1,029 local cases: 35 in older clusters, 78 in Sri Muda, Sungai Chemubong, and Jalan Waja clusters, 607 close-contact screenings, and 309 other screenings. Johor has 529 cases: 174 in older clusters, 20 in Jalan Indah, Jalan Firma Tiga, and Kampung Muhibbah clusters, 212 close-contact screenings, and 123 other screenings. Sabah has 348 cases: 36 in older clusters, two in Industri Apas cluster, 235 close-contact screenings, and 75 other screenings. KL has 304 local cases: 21 in older clusters, 14 in Jalan Kerinchi cluster, 100 close-contact screenings, and 169 other screenings.

   Sarawak has 120 cases: 67 in existing clusters, 22 close-contact screenings, and 31 other screenings. Penang has 110 cases: 50 in existing clusters, 32 close-contact screenings, and 28 other screenings. Perak has 102 local cases: 36 in existing clusters, 38 close-contact screenings, and 28 other screenings.

   Negeri Sembilan has 95 cases: 57 in older clusters, one in Bukit Palah cluster, 27 close-contact screenings, and 10 other screenings. Melaka has 90 cases: 48 in older clusters, 11 in Bukit Palah cluster, 17 close-contact screenings, and 14 other screenings. Kelantan has 89 cases: 18 in older clusters, one in Kampung Pahi cluster, 51 close-contact screenings, and 19 other screenings. Terengganu has 79 cases: 17 in older clusters, three in Kampung Tualang cluster, 24 close-contact screenings, and 35 other screenings. Kedah has 74 cases: eight in existing clusters, 43 close-contact screenings, and 23 other screenings. Pahang has 46 cases: two in older clusters, 10 in Taman Bahagia and Kampung Bukit Lada clusters, 19 close-contact screenings, and 15 other screenings.

   Putrajaya has 22 cases: two in existing clusters, 16 close-contact screenings, and four other screenings. And Perlis has three cases: one close-contact screening, and two other screenings.

   Only Labuan reported no new cases today.

   Eight new cases are imported. Six were reported in Selangor, one in KL, and one in Perak.

   The 11 deaths reported today are a 78-year-old man in Selangor with diabetes, hypertension, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; a 52-year-old man in Sarawak with diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidaemia, and chronic kidney disease; a 55-year-old man in Sabah, DOA with no listed co-morbidities; a 71-year-old woman in Sarawak with chronic obstructive airway disease, epilepsy, and obesity; a 54-year-old man in Kelantan with diabetes, hypertension, and chronic kidney disease; a 70-year-old manin Pahang with hypertension; a 75-year-old man in Selangor with diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidaemia, heart disease, and chronic kidney disease; an 82-year-old man in Perak with no listed co-morbidities; a 77-year-old man in Sabah, DOA with diabetes and hypertension; a 54-year-old woman in KL with asthma; and a 60-year-old non-Malaysian man in Sabah, DOA with no listed co-morbidities.

9. 9.

   mrmoshpotato

   January 25, 2021 at 7:37 am

   @rikyrah:

   Why hadn’t the US hit vaccination targets?

   Because, there was no phucking plan???

   But Biden’s been President for almost 5 days already! /s

10. 10.

    lowtechcyclist

    January 25, 2021 at 7:50 am

    semi-serious question: I assume the nfl is going to spend a billion dollars or whatever vaccinating the entirety of both super bowl teams

    For many people, trying to get tested in a timely manner can be a real challenge.  Gotta admit, it’s been bugging the hell out of me that pro athletes have no trouble getting tested all the time.

    There shouldn’t be any sort of freakin’ caste system with respect to testing or vaccination.  If testing isn’t as easily available for everyone as it is for the NFL and the other sports leagues, then they shouldn’t have been allowed to hog testing capacity from the rest of us in order to play their games.  And the same goes for vaccination.

11. 11.

    Platonicspoof

    January 25, 2021 at 8:47 am

    @rikyrah:

    Jan. 22 article at TPM with some of last year’s more publicized screw ups and some new to me:

    Nearly a quarter of states, Rachel Levine, then Pennsylvania secretary of health and now assistant secretary for health in Biden’s Department of Health and Human Service, told Congress in December, had seen serious problems when they conducted mock distribution scenarios to plan out what they’d do with their shipments.

     

    In case you read it too fast, “Mango” refers to an official named Paul Mango.

12. 12.

    Sloane Ranger

    January 25, 2021 at 9:08 am

    Yesterday we had 30,004 new cases in the UK. This is down about 3500 from the day before and a 22.3% reduction in the rolling 7-day average. Usual weekend warnings apply, however. New cases by nation,

    England – 27,580 (down @3000)

    Northern Ireland – 433 (down @240)

    Scotland – 1195 (down @100)

    Wales – 796 (down @200).

    Deaths – There were 610 new deaths yesterday within 28 days of a positive test. This is an increase of 10.8% in the rolling 7-day average. Deaths by nation, England – 551, Northern Ireland – 14, Scotland – 1 and Wales – 44.

    Testing – Not updated at weekends.

    Hospitalisations – There were 37,899 people in hospital on Thursday, 21 January and 4076 on ventilators on Friday, 22nd. The rolling 7-day average for hospital admissions is down by 6.3%.

    Vaccinations – 6,353,321 people had received the 1st dose of a vaccine by 23rd January and 469,660 had received their 2nd dose.

    General – Backbench Tories are pressuring the Government to say when English schools will re-open, or at least set out a “road map” indicating what criteria they will use to decide when they will re-open but ministers are, so far, refusing to be drawn.

13. 13.

    Platonicspoof

    January 25, 2021 at 9:32 am

    Jan. 6th Guardian article by a virologist and a infectious diseases doctor. Health officials and scientists are discussing different country’s plans for stretching vaccine supplies in possible trade-offs with efficacy, increased COVID variants, etc.:

     According to the trial data, vaccine efficacy drops to around 50% after a single shot for both mRNA vaccines. While this estimate includes the 14 days immediately after the primary shot (before the maximum immune response is expected to kick in), it suggests that a single-shot regimen would provide substantially less protection. Even if the first 14 days are excluded, after which efficacy is estimated to be over 90%, the confidence intervals – or what scientists estimate is the range of the true efficacy – indicate that this protection could vary by nearly 30%.

     

    Appears the two authors are saying that with so little trial data, we’re about to do some large, new experiments.

14. 14.

    J R in WV

    January 25, 2021 at 11:22 am

    @NotMax:

    Unless things have changed, each citation carries a fine of two grand.

    I would pay a surcharge of $2,000 to be at a drum circle on a beach in Hawai’i right now. Cheap at twice the cost!

    But I would also wear my industrial respirator!!