Due to COVID this good girl hadn’t seen her hooman in months…pic.twitter.com/zwCDOdIFsz
— Rex Chapman???? (@RexChapman) February 15, 2021
Our daily update is published. States reported 1.3 million tests, 66k cases, 63,398 people currently hospitalized with COVID-19, and 2,336 deaths. pic.twitter.com/AqZlv5pcHx
— The COVID Tracking Project (@COVID19Tracking) February 18, 2021
Today, @WhiteHouse & @HHSgov announced critical actions to expand #COVID19 testing and increase testing for schools and communities hardest hit by the #COVID19 pandemic. https://t.co/WT3MO6YzVC
— Office of the U.S. Surgeon General (@Surgeon_General) February 17, 2021
Life expectancy in the United States dropped a staggering one year during the first half of 2020, according to preliminary estimates. https://t.co/RiliEXc75s
— The Associated Press (@AP) February 18, 2021
This article was published in the Washington Post, and retweeted by Laurie Garrett, so…
This is the #1 question I get asked: What can newly vaccinated do? Is it safe to see grandkids?
Though there are still unknowns, we need to give a better answer than "follow all precautions".
My dos/don't in this week's @PostOpinions column: https://t.co/BXCbDcvLA3 (1/5)
— Leana Wen, M.D. (@DrLeanaWen) February 16, 2021
It's probably fine to resume some non-essential activities, like going to the gym & out to eat. People should still abide by masking & distancing in case they can infect others. I'd still avoid crowded bars–& be extra cautious if others in your home are unvaccinated. (3/5)
— Leana Wen, M.D. (@DrLeanaWen) February 16, 2021
We finally have #covid19 #vaccines that provide extraordinary protection. Let’s help people use them to protect themselves while reclaiming some degree of normality and giving everyone hope for a post-pandemic future. (5/5)
— Leana Wen, M.D. (@DrLeanaWen) February 16, 2021
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Global COVID-19 cases drop, but more nations report variants
The B117 #COVID19 variant has now been detected in 94 countries, with local transmission occurring in 47https://t.co/ilqFxiuelI pic.twitter.com/57gMEWiccI
— CIDRAP (@CIDRAP) February 17, 2021
India to test travellers from Brazil, South Africa, UK after detecting new virus strains https://t.co/d7OHZPyrJP pic.twitter.com/MYcI2VYQVT
— Reuters (@Reuters) February 18, 2021
Nepal approves Chinese COVID-19 vaccine, to make first purchases from India https://t.co/YN7iZJcrL9 pic.twitter.com/miwn507uX1
— Reuters (@Reuters) February 18, 2021
#Oped The Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine has already boosted Russians’ immunity at home as well as the country’s image abroad, despite the Kremlin's harmful PR efforts, @k_sonin writeshttps://t.co/ugLYSdzokQ
— The Moscow Times (@MoscowTimes) February 18, 2021
Strong decline in coronavirus across England since January, study shows https://t.co/xhl3QnN2QN
— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) February 18, 2021
Africa COVID-19 deaths near 100,000 after second wave https://t.co/O08cFmFRV0 pic.twitter.com/LiC4vA0cms
— Reuters (@Reuters) February 18, 2021
Understandable, but… not great, IMO:
Cuban scientists say that if the nation's vaccine is approved, tourists will be eligible to get one shot, take two more doses in their suitcases on the way home https://t.co/tfij0UEuBG
— New York Times World (@nytimesworld) February 18, 2021
======
Very readable explainer:
America is ignoring the coronavirus variants at its own peril https://t.co/CRuWpzDr8C
— Mother Jones (@MotherJones) February 18, 2021
COVID-19, like all other viruses, will continue to mutate. The good news is that the vaccines can be rapidly updated. @wudanyan reports https://t.co/DBGs70rhLq
— New York Magazine (@NYMag) February 17, 2021
Two variants of the coronavirus have combined their genomes to form a heavily mutated hybrid https://t.co/ayJpe420mB pic.twitter.com/HNvSZ8BPdt
— New Scientist (@newscientist) February 17, 2021
Researchers urge delay in administering Pfizer vaccine's second dose, cite strong data https://t.co/N2KKLCzRnJ pic.twitter.com/U516jDVjoo
— Reuters (@Reuters) February 18, 2021
"This is going to explode." A next wave of #Covid vaccines will soon be put into use, vaxes that will be both far easier to use & somewhat less protective than the first two. The messaging about these vaccines is going to be a huge challenge, experts fear. https://t.co/zQQNSLGs7a
— Helen Branswell (@HelenBranswell) February 17, 2021
Can a nasal spray prevent SARSCoV2 from entering cells? A nasal antiviral, developed at Columbia Univ's Center for Host-Pathogen Interaction, blocked SARSCoV2 transmission in ferrets suggesting it may also prevent human infection. Compound is a lipopeptide https://t.co/v1hq9rO6Hv
— delthia ricks ? (@DelthiaRicks) February 17, 2021
Federal agents seize roughly 10 million phony 3M brand N95 masks as a result of an ongoing investigation into counterfeits sold to medical facilities and government agencies. https://t.co/P6GqLWXaWt
— NBC News (@NBCNews) February 17, 2021
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By the thousands, U.S. service members are refusing or putting off the COVID-19 vaccine. Frustrated commanders are trying to knock down internet rumors and find the right pitch that will persuade troops to take the shot. https://t.co/CLStdvaSdE
— The Associated Press (@AP) February 18, 2021
A coronavirus vaccine entrepreneur held an indoor conference. Now dozens of attendees have the virus. https://t.co/0uB3hmoXDk
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) February 16, 2021
In a letter circulated yesterday #PeterDiamondis apologized for holding his annual Abundance 360 brainstorming for CEOs: it turned into a #COVID19 superspreader event. But when you read what he did to make the gathering safe, you'll see why this virus is SO hard to control.
MORE https://t.co/E9Mgwylph8— Laurie Garrett (@Laurie_Garrett) February 16, 2021
Exciting news, Wisconsin! As of today, we have administered 1,000,000 doses of #COVID19 vaccine in our state. Thank you to everyone who has made this 1 million—and millions more to come—possible.
Stay healthy, stay safe, and let's get through this together, Wisconsin. pic.twitter.com/48fnLRIVLB
— Governor Tony Evers (@GovEvers) February 17, 2021
L.A. schools to open vaccination site specifically for school staff https://t.co/LcNNXNCwaf pic.twitter.com/VjKrIySuXJ
— Reuters (@Reuters) February 18, 2021
The #NYCTestandTrace Corps is providing NYers who need to quarantine at home a “Take Care” package so they can safely separate from loved ones. Each package has enough personal protective equipment for a family of three to quarantine for 10-14 days. More: https://t.co/JzvFgojrm1 pic.twitter.com/9o9LYzaowh
— NYC Health + Hospitals (@NYCHealthSystem) February 17, 2021
Unforced error? Famously combative with media, @GovRonDeSantis today says public criticisms about vaccine distribution in parts of Florida could divert vaccines to areas where there are no political criticisms of his efforts https://t.co/jqETqNjI9T pic.twitter.com/Idy4mfTJdk
— Ted Bridis (@tbridis) February 17, 2021
(It’s Liz and Dick Uihlein).
— Keen Observer (@Hammbear) February 18, 2021
John Revolta
Pupper!! Good girl!!
…………….got something in my eye here
Rob
@John Revolta: Same here!
NeenerNeener
Monroe County, NY yesterday:
New cases = 147. Deaths at 1078, up from 1069. Positivity at 2.1%
281 in the hospital, 73 in the ICU
40% hospital beds available, 36% ICU beds available.
rikyrah
@John Revolta:
????????
YY_Sima Qian
On 2/17 China reported 0 new domestic confirmed & 0 new domestic asymptomatic cases.
Hebei Province
Hebei Provincial Health Commission reported that 4 domestic confirmed cases recovered. There are currently 149 domestic confirmed cases (130 moderate and 19 mild) & 9 domestic asymptomatic cases in the province:
Heilongjiang Province
Heilongjiang Provincial Health Commission reported that 8 domestic confirmed cases recovered & 12 domestic asymptomatic cases were released from isolation. There are currently 41 domestic confirmed (31 moderate and 10 mild) & 50 domestic asymptomatic cases in the province.:
Jilin Province
Jilin Provincial Heath Commission reported that 13 domestic confirmed cases recovered. There are currently 75 domestic confirmed (2 critical, 6 serious, 50 moderate and 17 mild) & 5 domestic asymptomatic cases:
Imported Cases
On 2/17 China reported 11 new imported confirmed cases, 20 imported asymptomatic cases, 1 imported suspect case:
Overall in China, 48 confirmed cases recovered, 26 asymptomatic cases were released from isolation and none were reclassified as confirmed cases, and 426 individuals were released from quarantine. Currently, there are 520 active confirmed cases in the country (217 imported), 10 are in critical/serious condition (2 imported), 357 asymptomatic cases (288 imported), 6 suspect cases (imported). 8,347 traced contacts are currently under centralized quarantine.
On 2/18 Hong Kong reported 8 new cases, all domestic (3 of whom do not yet have source of infection identified).
MagdaInBlack
@Rob: Yup, me too.
Mary G
There’s a still flash at the end of the dog video where the dog is curled up in his papa’s lap that gets me every time I see it, and that is more than I’d like to admit.
The OC numbers continue to drop sharply – only 166 new cases today; huge change in a couple of weeks. Hospitalizations even lower, although ICU is flat at 235. My housemate took a client to get her second Moderna shot at Disneyland yesterday, and it was packed with twice as many tents as at the first shot. It was well staffed and organized and they were finished in 30 minutes including the mandatory 15 minute wait after the shot.
Later we got an email that our appointment for the second shot of Moderna has been changed to the Anaheim Convention Center. Disneyland will stay open doing both first and second shots of Pfizer vaccine. This should help more people get vaccinated quickly. A smaller vaccine pod has been set up at Santa Ana Community College for Spanish speakers. There are also pharmacies, doctors’ offices and other places where vaccines can be had, so it’s hopefully going to speed things up even more. There are a couple of full pages of vaccination data, but the only good conclusion is that too many white people are getting them than should be.
Amir Khalid
Malaysia’s daily Covid-19 numbers. Director-General of Health Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah reports 2,712 new cases today in his media statement, for a cumulative reported total of 274,875 cases. He also reports 25 new deaths today, a record high, for a cumulative total of 1,030 deaths — 0.37% of the cumulative reported total, 0.44% of resolved cases.
There are currently 38,763 active and contagious cases; 227 are in ICU, 103 of them intubated. Meanwhile, 5,320 patients recovered and were discharged, for a cumulative total of 235,082 patients recovered – 85.5% of the cumulative reported total.
17 new clusters were reported today: Jalan Bukit Kemuning, Jalan Jitu, Jalan Hulu Tinggi, Mayang, and Jalan Industri Kidamai in Selangor; Perindustrian Fasa Dua, Jalan Perindustrian Estate, Jalan DBP Tiga, Jalan Tebrau Dua, and Jalan Sri Putri in Johor; Lot Satu and Lot Tujuh in Sabah; Lintang Kampung Jawa in Penang; Jalan Changkat Jong in Perak; Mediacity in Kuala Lumpur; Kampung Jawek in Terengganu; and Jalan Telok Ira in Pahang.
Kampung Jawek is a community cluster. Jalan Sri Putri is a high-risk group cluster. Jalan Telok Ira is a religious cluster. The rest are all workplace clusters.
2,708 new cases today are local infections. Selangor reports 1,013 cases: 412 in older clusters; 85 in Jalan Bukit Kemuning, Jalan Jitu, Jalan Hulu Tinggi, Mayang, and Jalan Industri Kidamai clusters; 298 close-contact screenings; and 218 other screenings. Johor reports 424 local cases: 40 in older clusters; 134 in Perindustrian Fasa Dua, Jalan Perindustrian Estate, Jalan DBP Tiga, Jalan Tebrau Dua, and Jalan Sri Putri clusters; 110 close-contact screenings; and 140 other screenings. Kuala Lumpur reports 211 local cases: 43 in older clusters, six in Mediacity cluster, 73 close-contact screenings, and 89 other screenings.
Sarawak reports 199 local cases: 22 in existing clusters, 42 close-contact screenings, and 135 other screenings. Perak reports 198 cases: 22 in older clusters, 158 in Jalan Changkat Jong cluster, 10 close-contact screenings, and eight other screenings. Kedah reports 182 cases: 165 in existing clusters, 10 close-contact screenings, and seven other screenings. Penang reports 116 cases: 61 in older clusters, two in Lintang Kampung Jawa cluster, 21 close-contact screenings, and 32 other screenings. Sabah reports 114 cases: 20 in older clusters, 14 in Lot Satu and Lot Tujuh clusters, 60 close-contact screenings, and 20 other screenings.
Negeri Sembilan reports 81 cases: 14 in existing clusters, 34 close-contact screenings, and 33 other screenings. Pahang reports 52 cases: three in older clusters, 40 in Jalan Telok Ira cluster, six close-contact screenings, and three other screenings. Kelantan reports 43 cases: one in an existing cluster, 25 close-contact screenings, and 17 other screenings. Melaka reports 38 cases: 22 in existing clusters, six close-contact screenings, and 10 other screenings.
Terengganu reports 19 cases: five in older clusters, one in Kampung Jawek cluster, 11 close-contact screenings, and two other screenings. Putrajaya reports seven cases: two in existing clusters, three close-contact screenings, and two other screenings. Perlis reports six cases, all found in other screening. And Labuan reports five cases: three in existing clusters, one close-contact screening, and one other screening.
Four new cases are imported: two in Johor, one in Kuala Lumpur, and one in Sarawak.
The deaths reported today are a 64-year-old man in Putrajaya with diabetes,hypertension, chronic kidney disease, and heart disease; a 64-year-old man in Sarawak with hypertension, heart disease, and dyslipidaemia; an 82-year-old man in Selangor with diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease; a 73-year-old woman in Sarawak with diabetes and hypertension; a 67-year-old man in Sarawak with hypertension and dysipidaemia; an 81-year-old woman in Selangor with diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidaemia; a 79-year-old man in Selangor with diabetes, hypertension, chronic kidney disease, and heart disease; a 79-year-old woman in Selangor with diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidaemia, and heart disease; a 78-year-old woman in Selangor with diabetes and hypertension; a 73-year-old man in Selamgor with diabetes, hypertension, chronic kidney disease, dyslipidaemia, and heart disease; a 71-year-old woman in Selangor with hypertension and dyslipidaemia; a68-year-old woman in Selangor with diabetes and stroke; a 64-year-old man in Selangor with diabetes, hypertension, and leukemia; a 63-year-old man in Selangor, DOA with no co-morbidities listed; a 60-year-old man in Selangor with diabetes, hypertension, chronic kidney disease, and heart disease; a 58-year-old man in Selangor with hypertension; a 40-year-old man in Sabah, DOA with hypertension; a 65-year-old man in Sabah, DOA with hypertension and chronic kidney disease; a 77-year-old woman in Kuala Lumpur with diabetes, heart disease, chronic lung disease, and obstructive sleep apnea; a 71-year-old man in Johor with chronic lung disease and traumatic brain injury; a three-year-old girl in Sabah with cerebral cancer; a 100-year-old non-Malaysian woman in Selangor with hypertension, heart disease, anaemia, stroke, and chronic kidney disease; a 55-year-old non-Malaysian woman in Selangor with hypertension; and a 47-year-old non-Malaysian man in Selangor, DOA with no co-morbidities listed.
Amir Khalid
By showing this kind of openly partisan favouritism, isn’t DeSantis breaking some law?
Fair Economist
My mother and stepfather got their 2nd shot Tuesday, so one less thing to worry about here. Mild side effects – headache and fatigue, nothing serious.
Sloane Ranger
Ah, that video of the doggie – makes me sad and happy at the same time. Did you see that waggy tail?
Now to the serious business. Here are yesterday’s stats from the UK, where we had 12,718 new cases. This is an increase of about 2100 from the day before but a decrease of 24.1% in the rolling 7-day average. New cases by nation,
England – 10,926 (up @1700)
Northern Ireland – 297 (down 44)
Scotland – 1121 (up @350)
Wales – 374 (up @100).
Deaths – There were 738 deaths within 28 days of a positive test yesterday. This is a decrease of 26% in the rolling 7-day average. Deaths by nation, England – 638, Northern Ireland – 6, Scotland – 64 and Wales – 30.
Testing – On Tuesday, 16 February, 488,578 tests were conducted out of a capacity of 787,238. This is a decrease of 13.8% in the rolling 7-day average.
Hospitalisations – As of Monday, 15 February, 20,944 people were in hospital and 2708 people were on ventilators on the 16th. As of 13th February, the 7-day average for hospital admissions had decreased by 25.6%.
Vaccinations – As of 16th February, a total of 15,940,972 people had received the 1st shot of a vaccine and 558,577 both shots.
KayInMD (formerly Kay (not the front-pager))
The doggie vid at the beginning reminded me to go look for this Indianapolis org that serves “people experiencing homelessness or crisis who also have pets.” (from their website) That has meant fostering and sometimes finding homes for a lot of pets for COVID patients in the last year. I follow their Twitter account ( @SoarAnimal ) and, while I haven’t investigated them, it really looks like they do good work. If you go through their Twitter feed, it’s a real lift for your day. I can’t recommend it enough. I wish there were a group such as this everywhere.
And yes, I have sent them a donation, why do you ask? ;-)
WaterGirl
Several of the tweets up top are from an OPINION post in the Washington Post. I think a lot of people will see those, and will read that article, and take it as guidance about what they can safely do, and not do, once vaccinated.
I think that’s dangerous unless every single sentence begins with “this is just my opinion, but…”.
Another Scott
Correlation is not causation, but…
Seriously, the fact that T**** is not spreading lies, and no longer holding his super-spreader events, must be helping.
Cheers,
Scott.
Another Scott
@WaterGirl: Always good to keep in mind.
Wen is very good though. She has a long history in public health, was formerly Baltimore’s public health commissioner, etc. I understand where she, and Fauci, are coming from in telling people that vaccination will help people get back closer to normal, but I fear that too many will distill it down to Leeroy Jenkins full speed ahead. :-/ The BBC seems especially bad about that over in the UK (and good news in the numbers obviously means that the pandemic is over, amirite??).
I wouldn’t be at all surprised if I’m still wearing a mask when I’m out and about a year from now.
Cheers,
Scott.
Kristine
Love the clip of the man and his dog.
(grumpy aside: I wish the folks who posted clips like this would leave the cornball music track by the side of the road. I love reunion/save the animal clips, but I usually have to kill the volume because the happy noises are drowned out by some sappy soundtrack)
StringOnAStick
I suspect the US military would get better vaccination compliance if they’d eliminate RW radio and FOX news on bases. Rush eliminated himself, thankfully.
An aside: as we made the long drive from CO to OR, I noticed that there were a LOT of billboards offering various kinds of help for physically and mentally injured service members, often very close to recruiting billboards. The former was the dominant billboard flavour through WY and ID for sure. It’s probably a reflection of the generally poor job prospects and of the local RW culture, but it was striking.
Platonicspoof
@WaterGirl:
Re-posting part of my comment from Wed. a.m. / Biden thread where there were questions about Benadryl use and vaccinations:
Your quote from the WEBMD article is much like the CDC advice on not taking antihistamines before vaccination:
(Under ‘Patient Counseling’). ETA, Last updated Feb. 10, 2021.
Platonicspoof
@WaterGirl:
As for guidance after vaccinations, the same CDC page (not linked in Wen article) has Public Health Recommendations for Vaccinated Persons.
Bill Arnold
Re that Peter Diamandis story in the WaPo,
I have yet to find a documented SARS-CoV-2 superspreader event where the index patient was wearing a mask, and usually many people were unmasked.
WaterGirl
@Platonicspoof: Thank you! If any of that was in a comment from you on that thread, I must have bailed before you posted it. :-)
Bill Arnold
@Amir Khalid:
It’s Florida. He’s inviting a bullet, at low probability, from a possibly deranged Florida Man or Woman or Other. He’s certainly making sworn enemies with this stuff. He’s being arrogantly stupid; he’s increasing the odds that somebody will take him out politically.
WaterGirl
@Platonicspoof: That’s a great link. I saved it with my other open tabs of great covid links, for easy reference.
J R in WV
@Another Scott:
Next door neighbor, works at the Health Dept, told me the other day that she expects to wear masks the rest of her life — no flu for one thing, other airborne diseases. She feels like it’s so easy, and helps public health so much, it should be the new way of life in public.
If I can gather with friends, hug best friends, I’ll be happy to wear masks forever, especially if it cuts flu down to a bear minimum!!
Easy Peasy and saves lives everywhere.