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You are here: Home / Healthcare / COVID-19 / COVID-19 Coronavirus Updates: Thursday / Friday, Dec. 30-31

COVID-19 Coronavirus Updates: Thursday / Friday, Dec. 30-31

by Anne Laurie|  December 31, 20216:42 am| 27 Comments

This post is in: COVID-19, Foreign Affairs

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Thousands message late Chinese COVID whistleblower doctor 2 years on https://t.co/1UV8xaxaJX pic.twitter.com/OGjgsUtkbv

— Reuters (@Reuters) December 30, 2021

… On Dec. 30, 2019, Li, an ophthalmologist at a hospital in Wuhan where the Sars-CoV-2 virus outbreak was first detected, saw a medical report showing potential SARS coronavirus cases were confirmed in the city, he wrote in a post on his Weibo account on Jan. 31.

In early January, after the information on “SARS cases” was shared in a WeChat group, Li was reprimanded by the local police, according to the same Weibo post.

On Jan. 12 he went to hospital, infected with the virus that causes the COVID-19 disease and died on Feb. 7, 2020.

His death led to an outpouring of grief on social media at a time when people were on edge about the virus and authorities were under fire over a perceived lack of transparency and a hardline approach taken to whistleblowers like Li…

Fang Kecheng from the Chinese University of Hong Kong said Li’s Weibo microblog has become a place online where people express their feelings they are not comfortable expressing elsewhere.

“Such places for anonymous expression are needed in any society, and this is especially true in today’s China,” said the communication researcher.

Mainland China has reported 101,683 confirmed cases as of Dec. 28, with the death toll at 4,636.

The U.S. has broken its single-day virus case record for the second day in a row: 580,000 cases. The country has shattered its own record for new daily coronavirus cases — beating a milestone it already broke just the day before https://t.co/zBK4JcmWSU

— delthia ricks ? (@DelthiaRicks) December 31, 2021

The CDC’s concern about mass non-lethal illness isn’t frivolous. It’s not just about airlines making money. It’s about making sure we have food and power and firefighters and so on. https://t.co/rpo8aJbX8H

— Lindsay Beyerstein (@beyerstein) December 30, 2021

New hospital admissions in the US due to COVID-19 are up +26.7% from a week ago, based on the 7-day trailing average. However, yesterday say the number of admissions shoot up dramatically to 13,662, the highest since January 2021. pic.twitter.com/d5Ig5k8Evk

— Patrick Chovanec (@prchovanec) December 30, 2021

4/ My friends @jeremyfaust & @BillHanage have modeled hospital capacity by US county.

Counties in red, orange, & purple are in real trouble right now.https://t.co/CdYjPhhd3C pic.twitter.com/GXqJMYlVl8

— Céline Gounder, MD, ScM, FIDSA (@celinegounder) December 30, 2021

I’m assuming this is generally true, in the U.S.:

Some of you asked a good question, & I just got a good answer: A record number of DC residents are in hospital with covid. Does that mean they're all there FOR covid treatment, or someone hospitalized for an accident might test + for covid & be counted as a covid hospitalization?

— Julie Zauzmer Weil (@juliezweil) December 30, 2021

The VAST majority of the huge number of people getting covid right now don't need a hospital. ICU and ventilator needs are lower than earlier peaks. So far, while hospitals are certainly taxed by this wave, vaccines are working.

— Julie Zauzmer Weil (@juliezweil) December 30, 2021

======

>1 million per day, the new SARSCoV2 case average. The global tally of new coronavirus cases has for the 1st time passed the 1M milestone. The previous global case record set last April has been broken 3x this week. Wednesday's US total was a whopping 300k https://t.co/l4NxKifBCT

— delthia ricks ? (@DelthiaRicks) December 31, 2021

China’s lockdowns vary in severity quite a lot but the Xi’an one is right at the top of the scale. https://t.co/YjvXZfWSmK

— James Palmer (@BeijingPalmer) December 30, 2021


Per Reuters:

China’s industrial and tech hub of Xian reported on Thursday more than 100 new cases of COVID-19, taking its tally of locally transmitted infections to the highest in any Chinese city this year.

Xian reported 155 new local cases for Dec. 29, official data showed. That takes its number of local infections to more than 1,100 since the flare-up began on Dec. 9 and compelled authorities to put the city of 13 million under lockdown.

Despite the low case count compared with clusters in many cities around the world, Xian officials have imposed tough curbs on travel within and out of the city since Dec. 23, as Beijing demands each outbreak be contained quickly.

Authorities have embarked on multiple rounds of citywide testing to trace transmissions. A sixth round began on Thursday, a day after a fifth round.

Many residents have been barred from leaving their housing compounds unless going out to take COVID-19 tests or attend to essential matters approved by authorities.

The Xian police have dispatched personnel to each residential compound to make sure COVID curbs are properly implemented, a police official told a news briefing on Thursday.

The restrictions have curtailed access to daily necessities, with many people unable to go out to shop, leaving them dependent on deliveries…

Hong Kong says Omicron variant has spread despite COVID restrictions https://t.co/PGFDRp0J1H pic.twitter.com/BNF1dELAvA

— Reuters (@Reuters) December 31, 2021

How come Japan has had much lower levels of airborne disease? It's a mystery; we may never know… https://t.co/jQOD6dvYjC

— Adam squires (@adsquires) December 30, 2021

S.Korea to extend curbs amid Omicron surge, serious COVID-19 cases https://t.co/IVY2u83XNy pic.twitter.com/XCrre5WTPN

— Reuters (@Reuters) December 31, 2021

Philippines on alert as COVID-19 infections hit 2-month high https://t.co/nRuCPx3imF pic.twitter.com/fgytBAU7LK

— Reuters (@Reuters) December 31, 2021

Sydney gears up for New Year's Eve celebrations despite record Omicron surge https://t.co/1gJLkK1RFS pic.twitter.com/VqLTvOMzxG

— Reuters (@Reuters) December 31, 2021

Israel has approved a 4th vaccine dose for people most vulnerable to COVID-19, becoming the first country to do so as it braces for a wave of infections fueled by the omicron variant. https://t.co/Bed2TBIPrf

— The Associated Press (@AP) December 30, 2021

Russia recorded more than 115,000 excess deaths during November 2021 according to official statistics published Thursday — a new record high since the start of the pandemic https://t.co/Y10ok855yw

— The Moscow Times (@MoscowTimes) December 31, 2021

More than 87,500 people with COVID-19 died in Russia in November, the highest monthly tally since the start of the pandemic, according to Russia’s state statistics agency. The surge came amid low vaccination rates and poor compliance with restrictions. https://t.co/niJOQrzjh6

— The Associated Press (@AP) December 30, 2021

COVID-19 deaths in Eastern Europe surpass 1 million https://t.co/8lDdE23Oke pic.twitter.com/JTfydY9sQu

— Reuters (@Reuters) December 31, 2021

Medical personnel in Romania and other Eastern European countries with low vaccination rates are watching with dread as the omicron variant causes COVID-19 cases to soar in more highly vaccinated nations. https://t.co/47yMNCAIJt

— AP Europe (@AP_Europe) December 30, 2021

France is banning eating and drinking at cinemas, theaters, sports venues and on public transportation amid an unprecedented surge in coronavirus infections. https://t.co/iM7GUMBQdC

— AP Europe (@AP_Europe) December 30, 2021

Health authorities in England are building temporary structures at hospitals to prepare for a possible surge of COVID-19 patients as the highly transmissible omicron variant fuels a new wave of infections. https://t.co/uwRUPXUQ5t

— AP Europe (@AP_Europe) December 30, 2021

Covid-19: Irish people told to avoid New Year's parties https://t.co/DqrLzsmylp

— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) December 30, 2021

Breaking News: South Africa said health data suggested its Omicron peak had passed with no major spike in deaths, offering cautious hope to other countries. https://t.co/rCto7nPHg8

— The New York Times (@nytimes) December 30, 2021

South Africa ends night-time curfew https://t.co/tMPf71oIrq

— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) December 31, 2021

Quebec announces curfew, Ontario cuts isolation period as Canada tackles Omicron https://t.co/CHMnnUYrRV pic.twitter.com/7GN5b8z5ES

— Reuters (@Reuters) December 31, 2021

An important factor to remember, from the early days of this pandemic: You might be allowed on the ship, but can you be sure when or where you’ll eventually be allowed off the ship? (Not that many of you are liable to need this reminder, but if you’re trying to dissuade overconfident family members or acquaintances… )

The CDC finally tells US travelers to avoid cruises, regardless of vaccination status. The move came as outbreaks have increased causing some ports to turn away ships. Last week, dozens aboard a Royal Caribbean Internat'l ship tested positive https://t.co/cEC90vwplB

— delthia ricks ? (@DelthiaRicks) December 31, 2021

======

Useful thread:

6. There is a hierarchy of controls

PPE is what we use as last resort. Note it is the 'least effective' control. Early in pandemic, we needed all. The vaccines moved us up the hierarchy. Masks were necessary as the bridge to the vaccines. pic.twitter.com/R1ff9L6us6

— Joseph Allen (@j_g_allen) December 29, 2021

Hi! please find the unroll here: I see a lot of people – on both "sides" – making simple mistakes… https://t.co/NeL9gWxE4Y See you soon. ?

— Thread Reader App (@threadreaderapp) December 29, 2021

This frm @KFF :
Pregnant women w/#COVID19 are:
– have 5Xs >er need, vs uninfec pregnant, for ICU care
– have 22 Xs >er chance of dying
– are 4Xs more apt to have a stillbirth
– 60% more likely to give birth very prematurelyhttps://t.co/sFfFx901fo

— Laurie Garrett (@Laurie_Garrett) December 30, 2021

======

COVID-19 deaths in New York City, broken down by vaccinated vs. unvaccinated, updated today through 12/19: pic.twitter.com/VHH2JEc7Tn

— Patrick Chovanec (@prchovanec) December 30, 2021

Two months after coronavirus vaccinations were approved for 5- to 11-year-olds in the U.S., about 14% are fully protected according to CDC data. The rate is higher for 12- to 17-year-olds, at about 53%. https://t.co/urgVVQqLDf pic.twitter.com/HuGA4fLq6A

— The Associated Press (@AP) December 30, 2021

Federal health officials are pressing nursing home workers to get their booster shots amid a spike in COVID-19 cases among staffers and a concerning lag in booster vaccination for residents and staff. https://t.co/OOsFlaJYTf

— The Associated Press (@AP) December 30, 2021

Hospitalizations in D.C. and Maryland set records as omicron surge continues https://t.co/vff1Kduibg

— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) December 30, 2021

Florida's bad omicron wave isn't really anyone's fault. Omicron is bad in many places, regardless of policy.
But it clearly disproves claims that Florida's big spike in deaths earlier in 2021 was just seasonal, and that northern states would see it in winter but Florida wouldn't.

— Nicholas Grossman (@NGrossman81) December 30, 2021

The latest map from https://t.co/6kWMww3KUq showing where COVID-19 has been spreading most rapidly. I notice that the new Florida outbreak has been focused mostly in Miami. pic.twitter.com/tlDUc1rRXv

— Patrick Chovanec (@prchovanec) December 30, 2021

Never thought to find myself agreeing with this guy….

To stay out of the hospital and stay alive? https://t.co/IRaHAgrbA6

— Patterico (@Patterico) December 29, 2021

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Reader Interactions

27Comments

  1. 1.

    NeenerNeener

    December 31, 2021 at 6:50 am

    Monroe County, NY:

    This includes days that were previously reported:

    There were 1,680 new laboratory-confirmed cases of COVID-19 reported.
    There were 142 new positive home tests reported.

    I can’t wait until they clear the holiday backlog so we get a look at the actual daily counts, but with another holiday coming up that could take until mid-January.

  2. 2.

    Amir Khalid

    December 31, 2021 at 6:53 am

    Malaysia’s Ministry of Health reports 3,573 new Covid-19 cases today in its media statement, for a cumulative reported total of 2,758,086 cases. It also reports 34 deaths as of midnight, for an adjusted cumulative total of 31,462 deaths – 1.14% of the cumulative reported total, 1.16% of resolved cases.

    Based on cases reported yesterday, Malaysia’s nationwide Rt is at 0.98.

    213 confirmed cases are in ICU, 83 of them on ventilators. Meanwhile, 3,988 more patients have recovered, for a cumulative total of 2,685,378 patients recovered – 97.4% of the cumulative reported total.

    Five new clusters were reported today, for a cumulative total of 6,128 clusters. 217 clusters are currently active; 5,911 clusters are now inactive.

    3,230 new cases today are local infections. 343 new cases today are imported.

    The National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme (PICK) administered 205,259 doses of vaccine on 30th December: 3,419 first doses, 4,719 second doses, and 197,121 booster doses. As of midnight, the cumulative total is 57,515,286 doses administered: 25,995,014 first doses, 25,609,301 second doses, and 6,109,673 booster doses. 79.6% of the population have received their first dose, 78.4% their second dose, and 18.7% their booster dose.

  3. 3.

    NotMax

    December 31, 2021 at 7:04 am

    Locally,

    Hawaii today recorded a new single-day record of coronavirus infections since the start of the pandemic with more than 3,400 cases.

    Hawaii Department of Health officials reported 3,484 new confirmed and probable coronavirus infections today, bringing the state’s total since the start of the pandemic to 109,642 cases. Today’s number of new infections breaks the previous record of 2,205 on Dec. 26.
    [snip]
    By island, Oahu has 16,111 active cases, the Big Island has 882, Kauai has 529, Maui has 1,196, Molokai has 93 and Lanai has 15.

    Health officials counted 18,727 new COVID-19 test results in today’s tally, for a 18.60% statewide positivity rate. The state’s 7-day average positivity rate is 14.1%, according to the Hawaii COVID-19 Data dashboard.
    [snip]
    In a tweet today, Lt. Gov. Josh Green put the number of COVID-19 patients hospitalized statewide at 139 with 18 of them in ICUs. He said none of the ICU patients had received a COVID-19 booster shot.

    According to the latest information from the department’s Hawaii COVID-19 Data dashboard, a total of 141 patients with the virus were in Hawaii hospitals as of today, with 18 in intensive care units and 10 on ventilators. Source

    Also,

    Maui County mandates booster to be considered ‘fully vaccinated’

    The move makes Maui County the first in the state to mandate booster shots for entry to high-risk businesses. Other areas in New York and California have similar rules in place.

    “We’re not the first in the nation,” County Managing Director Sandy Baz said today. “It’s not unique.”
    [snip]
    After Jan. 8, the definition of “fully vaccinated” will mean having a booster shot after six months of the Pfizer or Moderna second shot or two months after the Johnson & Johnson single shot. Source

  4. 4.

    NotMax

    December 31, 2021 at 7:09 am

    Am appreciative to see some attention focused on reports from France. They’ve been absolutely slammed this month.

  5. 5.

    Anne Laurie

    December 31, 2021 at 7:24 am

    @Amir Khalid: A hopeful note, maybe:

    Johnson & Johnson booster slashed hospitalizations during omicron wave by 85 percent, South Africa study suggests

  6. 6.

    New Deal democrat

    December 31, 2021 at 7:26 am

    Cases in the US, Canada, EU, Israel, and the UK all continue to soar, while South Africa continues to give hope, with cases now down 60% from peak. Deaths in South Africa remain below their peak from 4 days ago, which was less than 20% of the increase in cases. Deaths in the US and elsewhere have not yet started to climb significantly.

    Cases are soaring in every State in the US and Province in Canada, with the notable exceptions of the adjacent jurisdictions of Maine and Nova Scotia.

    There is a new site I have found about about, called Newsnodes US COVID monitor, https://newsnodes.com/us . This site graphically tracks hospitalizations as well as cases and deaths for each State as well as nationwide. So far, it seems to show that hospitalizations are rising at the same rate as cases with about a 1 week delay – not good.

    On the other hand, the thread below by Dr. Bob Wachter, the Chair of the UCSF Dept of Medicine, cited by several of the experts I follow, is both pessimistic and optimistic:

    https://mobile.twitter.com/Bob_Wachter/status/1476314067660722176

    The pessimism is that January is going to be absolutely brutal. He thinks nearly every unvaccinated person without prior exposure is going to be infected – that’s about 75 million people, by my estimation. But he thinks that once Omicron has done so, there will be no more people for COVID to infect, at least over the short term.

  7. 7.

    Baud

    December 31, 2021 at 7:33 am

    @New Deal democrat:

    But he thinks that once Omicron has done so, there will be no more people for COVID to infect, at least over the short term.

     

    There is no religious exemption to Mother Nature’s vaccine mandate.

    Sounds like spring will be wonderful.

  8. 8.

    Baud

    December 31, 2021 at 7:35 am

    @Anne Laurie:

    J&J is back, baby!

  9. 9.

    JMG

    December 31, 2021 at 7:42 am

    @NotMax: My daughter in Bordeaux called yesterday (she was here the week before Christmas, left on the 26th), and informed me her and her friends planned dinner party for eight was now a dinner party for three. Not that all the other five were sick or had a positive test, but most of them had been exposed to someone who was. That’s in four days.

  10. 10.

    YY_Sima Qian

    December 31, 2021 at 8:09 am

    On 12/29 China reported 166 new domestic confirmed (1 previously asymptomatic) & 0 new domestic asymptomatic cases.

    Shaanxi Province reported 165 new domestic confirmed cases (164 mild & 1 moderate), 1 double counted confirmed case was removed. 4 domestic confirmed cases recovered. There are currently 1,297 active domestic confirmed cases (757 mild, 534 moderate, 5 serious & 1 critical) in the province.

    • Xi’an reported 161 new domestic confirmed cases (all mild), 1 double counted confirmed case was removed. 109 are already home or centralized quarantine, 51 from mass screening & 1 from fever clinic. 4 domestic confirmed cases recovered. There currently are 1,273 active confirmed cases in the city. 1 university dormitory is currently at High Risk. 40 sub-districts & 18 communities are currently at Medium Risk.
    • Yan’an reported 2 new domestic confirmed cases (1 mild & 1 moderate), both found via mass screening. There currently are 11 active domestic confirmed cases in the city. 2 residential buildings, 1 village & 1 company are currently Medium Risk.
    • Xianyang reported 2 new domestic confirmed cases (both mild), both traced close contacts already under centralized quarantine since 12/24 & 12/27, respectively. There currently are 12 active domestic confirmed case in the city.
    • At Weinan there currently is 1 active domestic confirmed case in the city.

    Yuncheng in Shanxi Province reported 1 new domestic confirmed case (previously asymptomatic), a person arrived from Xi’an in Shaanxi.

    Guangdong Province did not report any new domestic positive cases. There currently are 29 active domestic confirmed & 1 active domestic asymptomatic cases in the province.

    • At Dongguan there currently are 26 active domestic confirmed cases, a secondary cluster spilled over from Xi’an in Shaanxi. 1 Medium Risk residential building unit  has ben re-designated to Low Risk. 1 residential building remains at Medium Risk.
    • At Guangzhou there currently are 3 active domestic confirmed & 1 active domestic asymptomatic cases, an airport worker & a family cluster seeded by an imported positive case.

    Guangxi “Autonomous” Region did not report any new domestic positive cases. There currently are 19 active domestic confirmed & 1 active domestic asymptomatic cases in the province.

    • At Fangchenggang there currently are 19 active domestic confirmed cases in the city (all at Dongxing), a cluster seeded by a smuggling operation. 1 village is currently at High Risk. 1 village is currently at Medium Risk.
    • At Chongzuo there currently is 1 active domestic asymptomatic case, infected by an imported positive case that had bypassed border control.

    At Hulun Buir in Inner Mongolia “Autonomous” Region 11 domestic confirmed case recovered. There currently are 64 active domestic confirmed cases remaining (62 at Manzhouli & 2 at New Barag Right Banner).

    At Heihe in Heilongjiang Province there currently is 1 active domestic asymptomatic case remaining.

    At Shanghai Municipality there currently are 3 active domestic confirmed & 3 active domestic asymptomatic cases remaining. The Medium Risk residential compound has been re-designated to Low Risk. 

    Jiangsu Province did not report any new domestic positive cases. There currently are 1 active domestic confirmed & 3 active domestic asymptomatic cases in the province.

    • At Nanjing there is 1 active domestic confirmed case, a Yangtze River boat pilot found via regular screening.
    • At Wuxi there currently are 3 active domestic asymptomatic cases remaining.

    Zhejiang Province did not report any new domestic positive cases. There currently are 477 active domestic confirmed cases in the province.

    • At Ningbo there currently are 72 active domestic confirmed cases remaining.
    • At Hangzhou there currently are 28 active domestic confirmed cases remaining.
    • At Shaoxing there currently are 377 active domestic confirmed cases in the city. All areas in the city are now at Low Risk.

    At Tianjin Municipality the domestic confirmed case recovered.

    At Suzhou in Anhui Province there currently is 1 active domestic confirmed case in the city, part of the transmission chain from Zhejiang. 1 village is currently at Medium Risk.

    At Chengdu in Sichuan Province there currently are 2 active domestic confirmed cases in the city, a quarantine hotel worker & an airport logistics worker.

    At Xiamen in Fujian Province there currently is 1 active domestic confirmed case remaining, a quarantine hotel worker.

    At Dalian in Liaoning Province the last domestic confirmed case recovered.

    At Rizhao in Shandong Province there currently are 3 active domestic asymptomatic cases remaining.

    At Chongqing Municipality there currently is 1 active domestic confirmed case remaining.

    At Henan Province there currently are 21 active domestic confirmed (19 at Zhengzhou & 2 at Zhoukou) & 2 active domestic asymptomatic cases (both at Zhoukou).

    Yunnan Province did not report any new domestic positive cases. 1 domestic asymptomatic case was a released from isolation. There currently are 27 active domestic confirmed & 12 active domestic asymptomatic cases in the province.

    • At Kunming there currently 5 active domestic confirmed cases, a family cluster of 4 connected to outbreak elsewhere in China & the student who had traveled to Sipsongpanna Prefecture. 1 residential compound is currently at Medium Risk.
    • At Sipsongpanna Prefecture there currently are 2 domestic asymptomatic cases (at Jinghong), both tourists from Hunan Province.
    • At Dehong Prefecture 1 domestic asymptomatic case was released from isolation. There currently are 22 active domestic confirmed & 10 active domestic asymptomatic cases at the prefecture.

    Tongren in Guizhou Province did not report any new domestic positive cases. There currently is 1 active domestic asymptomatic case in the city, a person who returned from Jinghong, Sipsongpanna Prefecture in Yunnan.

    Imported Cases

    On 12/29, China reported 29 new imported confirmed cases (3 previously asymptomatic), 29 imported asymptomatic cases, 1 imported suspect case:

    • Shanghai Municipality – 9 confirmed cases, 3 Chinese nationals returning from Canada, 2 each from the US & Gabon (via Paris CdG) & 1 from Mexico (via Frankfurt), & a French national coming from France; 2 suspect cases, no information released
    • Tianjin Municipality – 4 confirmed cases (1 previously asymptomatic), the 3 new positive cases are all Chinese nationals returning from the Philippines; 2 asymptomatic cases, both Chinese nationals returning from the Philippines
    • Guangxi “Autonomous” Region (location not specified) – 3 confirmed & 3 asymptomatic cases, no information released
    • Foshan in Guangdong Province – 1 confirmed & 1 asymptomatic cases, both coming from the US, off of a flight that landed at Guangzhou 
    • Shenzhen in Guangdong Province – 1 confirmed case, a Chinese national returning from the US
    • Qingyuan in Guangdong Province – 1 confirmed case (previously asymptomatic) & 3 asymptomatic, all coming from Canada, off of a flight that landed at Guangzhou 
    • Guangzhou in Guangdong Province – 3 asymptomatic cases, 1 Chinese national each returning from Ghana, the Sudan & Mongolia
    • Zhongshan in Guangdong Province – 1 asymptomatic case, a Chinese national returning from Pakistan; the case arrived in China on 12/13, passed through the 14 days of centralized quarantine & tested negative multiple times, upon release from quarantine on 12/27 the case returned to Zhongshan, testing positive on 12/29, the case’s travel history shows frequenting restaurants & bars on 12/28 – 29, possibly against home quarantine requirements
    • Chengdu in Sichuan Province – 1 confirmed (previously asymptomatic) & 2 asymptomatic cases, all Chinese national returning from Cambodia
    • Ziyang in Sichuan Province – 1 confirmed case, a Chinese national returning from Egypt; the case had arrived at Chengdu in Sichuan on 12/11, passed through the 14 days of centralized quarantine & tested negative multiple times, upon release from quarantine on 12/27 the case was transferred to Ziyang & re-entered centralized quarantine, testing positive on 12/29
    • Nanchong in Sichuan Province – 1 confirmed case, a Chinese national returning from New Zealand; the case had arrived at Shanghai on 12/14, passed through the 14 days of centralized quarantine & tested negative multiple times, upon release from quarantine on 12/28 the case flew to Nanchong & re-entered centralized quarantine, testing positive on 12/30
    • Suining in Sichuan Province – 1 asymptomatic case, a Chinese national returning from Ethiopia; the case had arrived at Shanghai on 12/17, passed through the 14 days of centralized quarantine & tested negative multiple times, upon release from quarantine on 12/22 the case flew to Chengdu & was transferred to Suining & re-entered centralized quarantine, testing positive on 12/30
    • Yunnan Province (location not specified) – 2 confirmed cases, 1 Chinese national each returning from Laos & Myanmar; 5 asymptomatic cases, 4 Chinese national returning from Laos & 1 from Myanmar; all via land border crossings
    • Changsha in Hunan Province – 2 confirmed & 4 asymptomatic cases, no information released
    • Shenyang in Liaoning Province – 1 confirmed & 3 asymptomatic cases, no information released
    • Xiamen in Fujian Province – 1 confirmed case, a Chinese national returning from the UK
    • Hangzhou in Zhejiang Province – 1 confirmed case, coming from Libya
    • Zhengzhou in Henan Province – 1 asymptomatic case, no information released

    Overall in China, 42 confirmed cases recovered (19 imported), 20 asymptomatic cases were released from isolation (19 imported) & 4 were reclassified as confirmed cases (3 imported), & 7,449 individuals were released from quarantine. Currently, there are 2,714active confirmed cases in the country (779 imported), 15 in serious condition (4 imported), 512 active asymptomatic cases (484 imported), 3 suspect cases (all imported). 56,232 traced contacts are currently under centralized quarantine.

    As of 12/30, 2,823.418M vaccine doses have been injected in Mainland China, an increase of 13.3M doses in the past 24 hrs.

    Hong Kong reported 19 new positive cases on 12/30, all imported (all had been vaccinated & all suspected to be Omicron).

  11. 11.

    Guac

    December 31, 2021 at 8:16 am

    A PSA: if you stockpiled a few Binax rapid tests months ago (a luxury here in the US, I know), go ahead and check the expiration dates. You have to open the box to find the date. A couple tests that I bought in August will expire in mid-Jan 2022, for example.

  12. 12.

    Steeplejack

    December 31, 2021 at 8:35 am

    @Guac:

    Thanks for the tip. I’ll check the two I bought in November.

    . . . They expire on March 27.

  13. 13.

    YY_Sima Qian

    December 31, 2021 at 8:40 am

    @Baud: I think single dose vaccines such as the J&J-Janssen & the CanSino probably should be double dosed to begin with.

  14. 14.

    Robert Sneddon

    December 31, 2021 at 8:58 am

    @Steeplejack: A quick check of the box of LF tests I picked up from my local pharmacy a week ago says they expire November 2023. There’s no specific trade name on the box, just the maker, a Chinese company called Orient Gene based in Zheijang. I expect they were manufactured in November 2021 with an expected two-year shelf life.

  15. 15.

    Mousebumples

    December 31, 2021 at 9:20 am

    Caught a nasty cold from Christmas, but 6 days out (with 2 negative at home tests) make me pretty sure it’s just a cold, at least.

    2 reports on Tuesday of positive covid tests in the family (both vaxxed and boosted individuals) made me a bit more anxious. However, they were maybe not infectious yet over the holidays?

    Both family members are recovering well, for the record. ?

  16. 16.

    Robert Sneddon

    December 31, 2021 at 9:23 am

    Scotland — nearly 12,000 new cases reported, subject to a testing backlog. Test positivity rate is 22%. There were 13 new deaths reported. Hospitalisations are up again, ICU occupancy remains at about the same level as before.

    We’re heading into a four-day holiday weekend here in Scotland, don’t expect real data on COVID-19 infection rates etc. until maybe this time next week. The modellers are expecting the Omicron-driven wave to peak by the end of January, we’ll see how that works out and how many bodies it piles up.

    The vaccination program here in Scotland is being disrupted by the Xmas and Hogmanay holidays but some needles are going into some arms regardless. We’ve now reached the point where over two-thirds of the 18+ population have received booster doses but initial vaccinations have stalled out, pretty much with only the 12 to 17 year old school population showing any signs of activity.

  17. 17.

    Nicole

    December 31, 2021 at 9:27 am

    My brother refused to rapid test himself or his wife and son before coming to our mom’s for Christmas dinner, and now my niece (another brother’s kid) has tested positive. She’s vaxxed; she is asymptomatic and her dad, mom and brother are still negative, but it cut my sister-in-law’s time with her family short (they went to visit them after time with my family). Ugh. I mean, there’s no guarantee my niece picked it up from my brother or his wife or kid, but as he wouldn’t test, we don’t know, but what I do now know is which of my family members would hide their bite in the zombie apocalypse.

    (We were going to have 3 friends over for NYE but have canceled. We’ve tested negative twice since that Christmas dinner but I don’t want to risk any indoor socializing until we’re past the full transmission window.)

  18. 18.

    Suzanne

    December 31, 2021 at 9:41 am

    Sooooo I am allowing Spawn the Elder to have three vaxxed/boosted friends over tonight. I am questioning my sanity, too. Ugh.

    Tests aren’t available anywhere, so I can’t make that shit a condition.

  19. 19.

    WV Blondie

    December 31, 2021 at 9:44 am

    I need some jackal input here. Background: My husband has several underlying conditions. We’re both vaxxed and boosted; he rarely leaves the house. I do the grocery shopping, prescription pickups, and any miscellaneous errands, which I try to keep to an absolute minimum. And I have two N95 masks with me that I wear when I go into any public building. My f2f interactions are pretty much restricted to one outside person other than my husband.

    My dilemma: The Eastern Panhandle of WV, where I live, is bright red on all the maps; I know our two nearest hospitals are at capacity. I’m scheduled for a minor (I think) procedure in my GP’s office next Wednesday. Because it’s part of the WVU medical system, everyone there is vaxxed and boosted, and they’re good about using their masks.

    But now I’m getting anxious about whether I should wait until the current wave passes. There are so many idiots here who refuse any and all protective measures, just the thought of sitting in the reception area freaks me out. And for all that the procedure should be simple and straightforward, it’s on my neck, so I have to at least consider the possibility it won’t go as smoothly as the doctor believes.

    Do I keep the appointment, or do I put it off a couple of weeks? What do y’all think?

  20. 20.

    Suzanne

    December 31, 2021 at 9:49 am

    @WV Blondie: I would keep the appointment and just wait elsewhere, like in a common building area or outside or your car.

  21. 21.

    YY_Sima Qian

    December 31, 2021 at 10:04 am

    @WV Blondie: If you are concerned about the possibility you contracting Omicron & passing it on to your husband, & delaying your procedure is not a significant threat to your health, I would delay the procedure by at least a month. Let the Omicron wave recede (& it should recede faster than the previous Delta wave). The trouble w/ Omicron is that prior infection & existing vaccines have low sterilizing immunity against the variant (as in preventing infection). Even boosting only provides mediocre level of sterilizing immunity against Omicron, & which fades quickly. If Omicron is highly prevalent in your area, & you will be spending significant period of time in confined spaces during your procedure, then danger of infection is real. Omicron is so contagious that the probability of you infecting your cohabitating husband is also quite real, even if boosting reduces your window of infectiousness to 1 – 2 days.

    Being boosted should provide you & your husband w/ strong protection against severe illness, possibly reducing an Omicron infection to the level of a common cold or flu (depending on age & health profile). However, if your husband has multiple underlying conditions, that will increase risk. There is no data yet that I am aware of concerning correlation of underlying conditions to Omicron severity.

    If your husband is at all immunocompromised, I would definitely not risk it.

  22. 22.

    YY_Sima Qian

    December 31, 2021 at 10:15 am

    My parents in Upstate NY are both fully vaccinated & boosted (Dad at end of Oct. & Mom in early Nov.). However, Dad is nearing 80 & Mom is mid-70s, Dad has diabetes & Mom has hypertension, both bring controlled w/ medication. I am not confident that the mRNA boosters will knock an Omicron infection down to the level of common cold for them. Therefore, they will isolate as they largely have done since returning to the US in early Feb. 2020. They still have to do weekly grocery runs, & that is probably their riskiest activity. At least they can choose the least busy hours to do so.

    We also discussed that they should be mentally prepared for being infected w/ Omicron, hope that boosted vaccination holds, & delaying it to the tail end of the wave when the hospitals are not overwhelmed.

  23. 23.

    Suzanne

    December 31, 2021 at 10:26 am

    @YY_Sima Qian: I’m sure you have, but I would advise locating which nearby facilities have the monoclonal antibodies that are effective against Omicron. My understanding is that the majority of hospitals do not.

  24. 24.

    sab

    December 31, 2021 at 10:30 am

    My vaxxed and boostered SIL has a “mild” case of Covid, which means sick as a dog but no need for hospitalization. She has been as careful as a mother of six and grandmother of thirty can be. One of her daughters and those grandchildren also have it but nobody is dire.

  25. 25.

    YY_Sima Qian

    December 31, 2021 at 10:44 am

    @Suzanne: That is a good suggestion! I will look into it. They live in the sparsely populated Twin Tiers, I am not optimistic there is much choice.

  26. 26.

    WV Blondie

    December 31, 2021 at 11:36 am

    @YY_Sima Qian: Thank you! I think I’ll call them Monday and discuss my concerns, see what they say.

  27. 27.

    J R in WV

    December 31, 2021 at 2:43 pm

    I am glad we don’t have any dinner-with-friends plans to cancel. I dropped off some Xmas foody stuff next door both east and west, all of us with triple vaccinations. Hugged a couple of folks last week. We still have 2 bottles of sparkling white wine, one Italian and one French. I bought a couple of frozen lobster tails before the holidays, planning to fix them this evening. I hope to stay in the house / in the hollow as much as possible over the near future.

    Will check into ordering by computer from Kroger’s, next door neighbor has been doing that for the whole past year… just go pick up the order.

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