Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Anyone who bans teaching American history has no right to shape America’s future.

The republican speaker is a slippery little devil.

It is possible to do the right thing without the promise of a cookie.

Hey Washington Post, “Democracy Dies in Darkness” was supposed to be a warning, not a mission statement.

If you are still in the gop, you are either an extremist yourself, or in bed with those who are.

Whatever happens next week, the fight doesn’t end.

Incompetence, fear, or corruption? why not all three?

The willow is too close to the house.

“Facilitate” is an active verb, not a weasel word.

I did not have this on my fuck 2025 bingo card.

Sadly, there is no cure for stupid.

The arc of the moral universe does not bend itself. it is up to us to bend it.

Red lights blinking on democracy’s dashboard

Historically it was a little unusual for the president to be an incoherent babbling moron.

If you cannot answer whether trump lost the 2020 election, you are unfit for office.

When you’re a Republican, they let you do it.

The lights are all blinking red.

Do not shrug your shoulders and accept the normalization of untruths.

I’d hate to be the candidate who lost to this guy.

Washington Post Catch and Kill, not noticeably better than the Enquirer’s.

Reality always gets a vote in the end.

This chaos was totally avoidable.

So fucking stupid, and still doing a tremendous amount of damage.

Republicans firmly believe having an abortion is a very personal, very private decision between a woman and J.D. Vance.

You are here: Home / Healthcare / COVID-19 / COVID-19 Coronavirus Updates: Monday/Tuesday, April 12-13

COVID-19 Coronavirus Updates: Monday/Tuesday, April 12-13

by | 48 Comments

This post is in: ,


======

======

======

Reader Interactions

48Comments

  1. 1.

    YY_Sima Qian

    On 4/12 China reported 1 new domestic confirmed & 0 new domestic asymptomatic cases. There are currently 87 domestic confirmed & 25 domestic asymptomatic cases in Yunnan Province.

    • Ruili in Dehong Prefecture reported 1 new domestic confirmed cases, a Burmese national, found from the 3rd round of mass screening in the city. There are currently 87 domestic confirmed & 24 domestic asymptomatic cases there. 3 communities remain at High Risk. 3 residential compounds, 1 factory & 2 villages remain at Medium Risk.
    • Gengma County in Lincang City did not report any new positive cases. There is 1 domestic asymptomatic case there.

    Imported Cases

    On 4/11 China reported 8 new imported confirmed cases, 18 imported asymptomatic cases:

    • Guangzhou in Guangdong Province – 2 confirmed cases, 1 Chinese national returning from Bangladesh & the DRC (via Nairobi); 7 asymptomatic cases, 3 Chinese nationals returning from the DRC (via Nairobi), 2 from Myanmar & 1 from Nigeria (via Amsterdam Schiphol), & a foreign national coming from from Kenya
    • Hangzhou in Zhejiang Provnce – 2 confirmed cases (both previously asymptomatic); 4 asymptomatic cases, 2 each from Indonesia & Mexico
    • Chengdu in Sichuan Province – 2 confirmed cases (1 previously asymptomatic), 1 Chinese national each returning from Egypt & Nigeria (via Amsterdam Schiphol); 1 asymptomatic case, a Chinese national returning from Egypt
    • Shanghai Municipality – 1 confirmed cases, a Chinese national returning from Hungary
    • Xiamen in Fujian Province – 1 confirmed case (previously asymptomatic), a Chinese national returning from the Philippines; 2 asymptomatic cases, 1 Chinese national each returning from the US & Cambodia
    • Nanjing in Jiangsu Province – 2 asymptomatic cases, no information released
    • Xi’an in Shaanxi Province – 1 asymptomatic case, a Chinese national returning from Portugal
    • Zhengzhou in Henan Province – 1 asymptomatic case, no information released

     

    Overall in China, 11 confirmed cases recovered, 16 asymptomatic cases were released from isolation & 4 was reclassified as confirmed cases, and 62 individuals were released from quarantine. Currently, there are 293 active confirmed cases in the country (206 imported), 4 in critical/serious condition (all imported), 299 asymptomatic cases (274 imported), 1 suspect cases (imported). 8,303 traced contacts are currently under centralized quarantine.

    As of 4/11, 171.928M vaccine doses have been injected in Mainland China, an increase of 4.585M doses in the past 24 hrs.

    On 4/12, Hong Kong reported 13 new cases, 10 imported (from India, Pakistan, Indonesia, Japan & the Philippines) & 3 domestic (1 of whom does not have source of infection identified).

  2. 2.

    sab

    Anecdotally: Moderna and Pfizer seem to be helping my sons’ fiancees a lot. They had mild Covid with  long term after effects. Listless, brainfuzz, no afternoon energy.

  3. 3.

    Barbara

    Many public health officials seem to have the same kind of tunnel vision that economists do, in overlooking the art of the possible and making the better the enemy of the best. Having said that I am still not sure boosting vaccine delivery to Michigan is the right outcome. I just know that Wollensky didn’t give Whitmer an answer based on the reality of the situation being faced by the governor.

  5. 5.

    NeenerNeener

    Monroe County, NY stats:

    New cases = 205
    Confirmed active cases = 3324.

    3.1% test positivity now. Deaths at 1211 now

    41.7% of Monroe County has had at least 1 vaccine dose.
    28.8% are totally vaccinated.

    Today I get my 2nd dose of that Funky Cold Moderna. I’m hoping the side effects are relatively mild, because I’ve got a lot to do at work right now.

  9. 9.

    Amir Khalid

    Malaysia’s Director-General of Heath Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah reports 1,767 new Covid-19 cases today in his media statement, for a cumulative reported total of 363,940 cases. He also reports 12 new deaths today, for a cumulative total of 1,345 deaths — 0.37% of the cumulative reported total, 0.39% of resolved cases.

    There are currently 16,300 active and contagious cases; 199 are in ICU, 82 of them intubated. Meanwhile, 1,290 patients recovered and were discharged, for a cumulative total of 346,295 patients recovered – 95.15% of the cumulative reported total.

    Nine new clusters were reported today: Jalan Puncak Borneo in Sarawak; Jalan Raja Laut and Jalan Hishamuddin in Kuala Lumpur; Lebuh Wawasan in Putrajaya; Tabanak and Kampung Gayang in Sabah; Taman Malim Jaya in Melaka; Jalan Bukit Belida in Negeri Sembilan; and Jalan Salleh in Johor.

    Kampung Gayang, Taman Malim Jaya, and Tabanak are community clusters. Jalan Bukit Belida is a religious cluster. Jalan Salleh is a prison cluster. The rest are workplace clusters.

    1,758 new cases today are local infections. Sarawak reports an alarming 607 cases: 114 in older clusters, 60 in Jalan Puncak Borneo cluster, 145 close-contact screenings, and 288 other screenings. Selangor reports 480 local cases: 168 in existing clusters, 217 close-contact screenings, and 95 other screenings.

    Kuala Lumpur reports 127 local cases: four in older clusters, 14 in Jalan Raja Laut and Jalan Hishamuddin clusters, 58 close-contact screenings, and 51 other screenings. Sabah reports 117 cases: 26 in older clusters, 10 in Tabanak and Kampung Gayang clusters, 64 close-contact screenings, and 17 other screenings. Kelantan reports 103 cases: 32 in existing clusters, 35 close-contact screenings, and 36 other screenings.

    Penang reports 92 cases: 17 in existing clusters, 39 close-contact screenings, and 46 other screenings. Johor reports 74 cases: 21 in older clusters, 11 in Jalan Salleh cluster, 21 close-contact screenings, and 21 other screenings. Kedah reports 39 cases: 12 in existing clusters, 21 close-contact screenings, and six other screenings. Perak reports 36 cases: 19 in existing clusters, 10 close-contact screenings, and seven other screenings. Negeri Sembilan reports 29 cases: two in older clusters, eight in Jalan Bukit Belida and Lebuh Wawasan clusters, three close-contact screenings, and 16 other screenings.

    Melaka reports 17 cases: three in older clusters, 10 in Taman Malim Jaya cluster, and four close-contact screenings. Pahang reports 14 cases: 12 in existing clusters, one close-contact screening, and one other screening. Terengganu reports 13 cases, all in existing clusters.

    Putrajaya reports seven cases: one in an older cluster, one in Lebuh Wawasan cluster, and five close-contact screenings. And Labuan reports three cases: two in existing clusters, and one other screening.

    Perlis reports no new cases today.

    Nine new cases today are imported: six in Kuala Lumpur, and three in Selangor.

    The deaths reported today are a 74-year-old woman in Selangor with diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidaemia, and chronic kidney disease; a 66-year-old man in Sarawak with diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidaemia, and heart disease; an 85-year-old woman in Selangor with heart disease; a 49-year-old man in Selangor with diabetes, hypertension, and chronic kidney disease; a 67-year-old woman in Sarawak with diabetes, hypertension, and chronic kidney disease; a 42-year-old man in Sarawak with hypertension, stroke, and deep vein thrombosis; a 75-year-old woman in Sabah, DOA with diabetes and hypertension; a 37-year-old woman in Sarawak with systemic lupus erythematosus; an 88-year-old woman in Sabah, DOA with asthma; an 81-year-old woman in Sabah, DOA with hypertension; a 76-year-old man in Sabah, DOA with no co-morbidities listed; and ad 89-year-old woman in Terengganu, DOA with dementia.

  10. 10.

    gkoutnik

    @NeenerNeener:  My wife and I had our second Moderna shot last Wednesday, late morning.  We were fine until mid-morning Thursday, when we began to feel a little crummy.  Still functional, but not willing to do much.  Perfectly fine Friday.  Can’t wait til next Wednesday, when we’ll be “fully vaccinated” and – everything will be exactly the same.  For a long time.  But there is some peace of mind mixed in there, that hasn’t been there for over a year.

  11. 11.

    sab

    Said this before. My boss’s son,  extremely overweight, needlephobic, diabetic, doesn’t want vaccine because doesn’t want to be injected with other peoples DNA. ???

    Sigh.  Vaccines are RNA not DNA.  Boss’s son is a moron. I love the guy like I love my hamster. He is that stupid. And that kind. I am angry and do not want to be unncessarily hateful. But jeez

    Reading this, seems like I don’t like him. I do, a lot. Furious that this guy I love is endangering himself because he chooses to be a moron.

  12. 12.

    Cermet

    It is unnerving how covid is hitting everywhere again so hard; also, how leaders that lie and hid the truth are causing far greater deaths within their countries.

    I am confused – while China’s vaccines are less effective (and no number is available so is likely being hidden) it obviously works. Wonder why they are hiding the science? Just economic self interest (so they can sell it)? Yet it works well enough. Maybe Chinese issue of saving face? That is, they can’t openly publish the fact its is not as good (but still effective) as other vaccines so they hide the exact numbers?

    Well in any case, without vast amounts of vaccines, the world will continue to suffer and risk a new, and far deadlier virus evolving that can beat the existing vaccines. I just hope India and China can mass produce their vaccines and make them available or cheap enough most people can  be vaccinated; otherwise, this might just make 1918 look like a reasonable plague … .

  13. 13.

    Barbara

    @sab: I suppose it wouldn’t do to tell him that he’s eating the DNA of other species every day, assuming he’s not vegetarian.

  14. 14.

    Amir Khalid

    The lack of any announcement of a religious ruling re getting vaccinated for Covid-19 during daylight hours says to me that the general rule applies here: it still counts as ingesting something, which breaks the fast. And so, unless vaccination centres stay open past iftar — which seems unlikely — Muslims here will have to be scheduled for vaccinations after Eid al-Fitri.

  16. 16.

    sab

    @Barbara: He is certainly not a vegetarian. He is a sweet kind person, but also too an idiot, especially politically. Urk. Sigh. Whatever.

  17. 17.

    Baud

    @sab:

    because doesn’t want to be injected with other peoples DNA. ???

    I wonder what these people will do when they find out where babies come from?

  18. 18.

    Barbara

    @Cermet: ​India’s challenge isn’t manufacturing, it’s distribution and administration, and cutting through the reality that many poor people aren’t so much minimizing covid risk as putting it in the context of all the other problems they face on a daily basis.

  19. 19.

    Amir Khalid

    @Barbara:

    Plants have DNA too. If you live on Earth, there’s no way to avoid consuming the genetic material of other species.

  22. 22.

    Matt McIrvin

    @sab: I keep trying to tell people that everything they fear about the vaccine (to the extent that it’s even true) is more true of the virus. Worried about foreign RNA taking over your cells? That’s what the virus does! Worried about unknown long-term health effects? You’re way more likely to get those from the virus!

    The only thing the virus has going for it is that people see it as “natural” and irrationally regard it as less dangerous for that reason.

  26. 26.

    Matt McIrvin

    @sab: I’ve been wondering whether these people who report alleviation of COVID symptoms after vaccination are going to get a permanent benefit, or if it’s just a temporary effect of their innate immune systems reacting to the vaccine. I guess whether the effect lasts or not might indicate something about the mechanism.

  28. 28.

    Matt McIrvin

    Sounds like there’s going to be a pause in J&J vaccination over the extremely rare clotting reactions.

    Nate Silver is freaking out about this and railing at the Biden administration because, obviously, if you do the most straightforward cost-benefit analysis it doesn’t make sense–far more people are going to die from COVID because of the reduced vaccine supply than would get these clots. But I think he’s neglecting the higher-order psychological effects on public trust. Do you create more vaccine hesitancy in the long run by flatly insisting it’s safe or by responding to people’s concerns? People don’t like the feeling that they’re being lied to.

  29. 29.

    Betty Cracker

    @Matt McIrvin: Was just reading about the J&J pause. I’m not sure which decision would have the biggest impact on vaccine hesitancy — keep vaccinating or pause. That’s the question since vaccine hesitancy is a major obstacle beating this thing.

    Is it better to pause distribution of a drug that has been administered to millions, thus reinforcing fears that none of the vaccines have been thoroughly tested. Or should they keep vaccinating? I honestly don’t know.

    The news accounts say the clotting disorder is rare, but it sounds like a condition that exists independent of vaccines. How sure are we those incidents are related to the vaccines?

    No easy answers, but our government has made their calculation. Hope it’s the right one.

  30. 30.

    YY_Sima Qian

    @Cermet:

    I am confused – while China’s vaccines are less effective (and no number is available so is likely being hidden) it obviously works. Wonder why they are hiding the science? Just economic self interest (so they can sell it)? Yet it works well enough. Maybe Chinese issue of saving face? That is, they can’t openly publish the fact its is not as good (but still effective) as other vaccines so they hide the exact numbers?

    What are you talking about? The health authorities in countries running Phase III trials for Chinese vaccines have published preliminary efficacy data against symptomatic infection. For the SinoPharm vaccine developed by the Beijing Institute of Biological Products, the UAE claimed 86% efficacy, Indonesia claimed 72%, and SinoPharm itself claimed 79% (likely based on data from all trials). For the SinoPharm vaccine developed by the Wuhan Institute of Biological Products (one I have taken), Sinopharm is claiming 72% efficacy. For the Sinovac vaccine, Brazil’s Butantan Institute claimed 50.3% efficacy against symptomatic infection (including very mild), 86% against mild and 100% against moderate & severe symptoms. Turkey claimed 83.5% efficacy against symptomatic infection and Indonesia claimed 65%. Other trials of varying sizes are ongoing in two dozen countries. The discrepancies are due to sizes of trials, participant demographics, trials protocols (how many symptoms are required to trigger testing of the participant), etc. That is why it is not necessarily meaningful to compare across trials.

    The issue with Chinese vaccines is that detailed Phase III trial results have not been published in peer reviewed journals. It appears that the Chinese vaccine makers are leaving publication to their partner institutions, though they are reviewing the data, as well. Well, the Butantan Institute in Brazil just sent the paper detailing its Phase III trial of the Sinovac vaccines to the Lancet, and a pre-print has been posted on Medrvix. We will see when will the healthy authorities in Turkey and the UAE publish their trial results in peer reviewed publications. The trials (both Sinovac & SinoPharm) in Indonesia are probably too small. Furthermore, the WHO is reviewing all 4 of the Chinese vaccines that have produced preliminary Phase III trial results, to give EUA and inclusion in COVAX. They should be announcing the results by early May.

    Western MSMs are dumping on the Sinovac vaccine for low efficacy, but no one remembers the single shot J&J/Janssen vaccine only offers 85% efficacy against severe symptoms, 67% against moderate symptoms. No one in western MSM is during on the vaccine. The Trial in the US produced 77% efficacy in, but only 50.2% in South Africa. It is likely the B.1.351 variant prevalent in South Africa affected the J&J/Janssen vaccine’s efficacy, just like P.1 variant prevalent in Brazil likely contributed to the low efficacy of the Sinovac vaccine. The J&J/Janssen’s reported efficacy is actually pretty good for a 1 shot vaccine, and vastly outperforms the Sinovac and SinoPharm vaccines after the 1st dose. The single shot CanSino vaccine developed in China is similar, with 66% efficacy against symptomatic infection & 91% against severe infection, according to interim Phase III trial data out of Pakistan.

    However, a single shot is the prescribed dosing regimen right now, and a single shot of the J&J/Janssen or CanSino vaccine would have lower protection than 2 shots of any of the Sinovac/SinoPharm vaccines. Nevertheless, I would happily take it if it were given to me.

    The scientifically illiterate (and lazy) reporters in western MSMs report the 86% efficacy number for J&J/Janssen vaccine, and the 50.3% number for the Sinovac vaccine, neglecting to clarify that the former is protection against severe disease and the latter is for protection against any symptomatic infection. Or, they will report as if the Moderna & Pfizer/BioNTech mRNA vaccines are representative of the superior “western” vaccines. they are indeed outstanding, almost miraculous. However, when will they be available in large quantities outside of the developed world, and how would underdeveloped nations in the tropics with nonexistent cold chain logistics cope with the refrigeration requirements?

  32. 32.

    gkoutnik

    @Matt McIrvin:   Agreed.  “I’m on it”  is a powerful message as message (regardless of what “on it” means).  Continuing the status quo – especially without comment – only magnifies and multiplies the opportunities for anxiety and conversations which diverge more and more from established fact.  The fact that more people may die from “I’m on it” is the frustrating result of our inability and unwillingness to embrace science.

  34. 34.

    Mary G

    The OC only had 120 new cases again today, but hospitalizations are up again. New weekly change on tier criteria will be up tomorrow so we can get a better picture.

  35. 35.

    Anne Laurie

    @Amir Khalid: The lack of any announcement of a religious ruling re getting vaccinated for Covid-19 during daylight hours says to me that the general rule applies here: it still counts as ingesting something, which breaks the fast. And so, unless vaccination centres stay open past iftar — which seems unlikely — Muslims here will have to be scheduled for vaccinations after Eid al-Fitri.

    I saw one clerical argument (which I managed not to bookmark) that intramuscular shots, like the COVID-19 vaccines, don’t count as ‘ingestion’… only intravenous shots do.

    Maybe the Malaysian authorities might want to explore that theory of use?

  36. 36.

    Soprano2

    This story on “Morning Edition” this morning. npr.org/sections/health-shots/2021/04/13/986411423/a-mystery-under-study-how-why-and-when-covid-vacc… Gggrrrr…….It’s good as far as it goes, but there’s no attempt to put it in perspective. How many vaccinated people still contract COVID? One in 100,000? One in 500,000? One in 1,000,000? They don’t tell us that. Also, one part makes it sound like there have been vaccinated people who died of COVID. I think what they were saying is that some vaccinated people had died of other things, which of course is going to happen, but it wasn’t clear. It’s irresponsible to put this doubt out there without any context – it just feeds the anti-vaxxers more material.

  37. 37.

    Sloane Ranger

    Monday in the UK we had 3568 new cases. This is an increase of nearly 2000 new cases from Sunday but, as I wrote yesterday, reporting delays are usual over weekends so an increase is not unusual. The rolling 7-day average is still showing a decrease, in this case of 21.5%. New cases by nation,

    England – 3222 (up @2000)
    Northern Ireland – 97 (up 8)
    Scotland – 199 (down 51)
    Wales – 50 (down 3).

    Deaths – There were 13 deaths within 28 days of a positive test yesterday. The rolling 7-day average is, once again, showing a decrease (of 4%). Deaths by nation, England – 13.

    Testing – On Sunday, 11 April, 1,218,037 tests were administered. This is a slight increase in the rolling 7-day average (of 0.9%).

    Hospitalisations – There were 2862 people in hospital on Thursday, 8 April and 406 on ventilators as of Friday, 9th. The rolling 7-day average for hospital admissions was down by 21% as at 6 April.

    Vaccinations – As of 11 April, a total of 32,190,576 people had received 1 shot of a vaccine and 7,656,205 had received both. This translates as 61.1% of all adults in the UK having had 1 shot and 14.5% being fully vaccinated.

    General – It has been reported that the residents of several London Boroughs are being subjected to surge testing because of the prevalence of the South African variant in those places. Also, the First Minister of Scotland has announced that some restrictions there will be lifted early for reasons of peoples mental health. From Friday, people will be free to travel anywhere in Scotland and up to 6 people will be able to meet outside. Travel restrictions between England and Scotland remain but indications are that these will be lifted soon.

  38. 38.

    sab

    Nephew in CA got his J &J a couple of days ago.

    Also my dad’s nurse’s aide, who could have had a shot in March, but being AA was leery. I begged her, but she was leery. Last week she came around, but couldn’t find a shot in national drugstore pharmacy sites. I told her try local grocery pharmacies. She called, and told them she was a nursing home nurse aide, and they found her an appointment that day. Yay! ETA Ohio.

  39. 39.

    Elizabelle

    @Catherine D.:  Regrettably, six cases of clotting have shown up in women who took the J&J vaccine.  One death; one in serious condition.

    6 cases (so far) out of 6.8 million doses administered.  One death (so far) attributed to the clotting.

  40. 40.

    Elizabelle

    @Matt McIrvin:

    Worried about unknown long-term health effects? You’re way more likely to get those from the virus!

    The only thing the virus has going for it is that people see it as “natural” and irrationally regard it as less dangerous for that reason.

    Really good comment, Matt.  That people cannot see this … makes my teeth hurt.

  42. 42.

    mrmoshpotato

    “Yippee!!!”: Emails Show Trump Appointees Celebrating Lying to the Public About COVID-19

    JFC. So, about those American Nuremberg trials…

  43. 43.

    Another Scott

    @Elizabelle: 

    Real distributions have long tails.

    Whereas something like 1 in 1,000 women per year taking birth control pills develop blood clots.

    — Aylett Colston (@EveryVoiceNC) April 13, 2021

    Physicians need to keep an eye on these side effects, but everyone else should ignore it and get whatever vaccine they can as soon as possible.

    I get my first shot on Friday!

    Hang in there, everyone.

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  44. 44.

    mrmoshpotato

    New polling shows a heavy overlap of three groups: people who don’t want the vaccine, people who are indifferent about efforts to contain the virus — and people who broadly trust Donald Trump’s medical advice.

    Morons, assholes, and moronic assholes.

  46. 46.

    J R in WV

    @sab: ​
     

    Glad to hear your dad’s health care aide decided to get the vaccine, and to learn that now local facilities have vaccine available when people call for it!

    A big, good change since we started this vaccination effort!

  47. 47.

    lol chikinburd

    And about the motherfucker who called still-wearing-masks-after-vaccination unscientific:

    Last thing I read about the vaccines’ efficacy against asymptomatic infection (which was from like a month ago) was that there was encouraging news that such protection might, maybe, be a bonus feature of the vaccines and wouldn’t that be nice.  The way it’s been impressed that preventing asymptomatic infection isn’t the point of the vaccines — the point is they keep you from getting hella sick and dying — carries an implicit “don’t get your hopes too high” vis-a-vis asymptomatic infection.

    The possibility that you might at any time be asymptomatically infected is the thing that recommends you wearing a mask to protect others from you.  Your being vaccinated against severe illness isn’t part of the equation; it’s their risk.  The only thing that should end masking is actual herd immunity.  Am I reading this right?

  48. 48.

    Chris T.

    @Matt McIrvin:

    The only thing the virus has going for it is that people see it as “natural” and irrationally regard it as less dangerous for that reason.

    Natural!  You know, like arsenic, strychnine, oleander, cyanide…

Comments are closed.