Covid deaths highest in a year as omicron targets the unvaccinated and elderly https://t.co/HBcCYrRTyA
— Post Health/Science (@PostHealthSci) February 8, 2022
The number of people hospitalized in the U.S. with COVID-19 has tumbled more than 28% over the past three weeks. That's a ray of hope for a worn-out health care workforce. https://t.co/J6HMaVvABt
— The Associated Press (@AP) February 9, 2022
To quote the viral song, the pandemic isn't over just because you're over it.
And more and more once covid wary Americans are over it, @LennyMBernstein @marisa_iati @paulina_milla @britsham report https://t.co/YMiavizc1x
— Fenit Nirappil (@FenitN) February 7, 2022
Since 3/2021, I've suggested that getting daily COVID deaths per day to a level similar to daily influenza deaths in an avg yr (roughly 50 to 100 deaths/day) might be a useful interim COVID goal. Now at >2500 deaths/day, we have not reached that interim goal. More work to do. pic.twitter.com/KN1ZwzpgiW
— David R Holtgrave (@HoltgraveHealth) February 8, 2022
Endemic Covid doesn't mean it's harmless or that we give up. It means Covid is becoming a part of life and that we have to remain vigilant https://t.co/zRvXb7wDWN
— delthia ricks ? (@DelthiaRicks) February 8, 2022
Economists are fueling the war against public health. A new report claiming lockdowns and masks have only cut deaths by 0.2% is being hailed by conservatives, but it's bogus #disinformation, by @Laurie_Garrett https://t.co/sbORxqU0CD via @ForeignPolicy #COVID19 #infodemic
— André Picard (@picardonhealth) February 8, 2022
Of the 34 “studies” included in the review, 12 of them were actually working papers…14 of the “studies” were actually from economists with only one being from epidemiologist…Just look at the rather stark differences among how countries have fared during this pandemic.z… https://t.co/Zz5SWfSruY
— Greg Folkers (@greg_folkers) February 6, 2022
New York Times, Feb. 5: 900 Dead, but Many Americans Move On
New York Times, Feb. 8: "The New Normal: A Virtual Event on Life and Love After Omicron"
Leonhardt is "Many Americans," and he's normalizing [checks the NYT Covid tracker] 253K new infections + 2,500 deaths a day pic.twitter.com/jnTEltLvIa
— Dr. Thrasher wrote a book! (@thrasherxy) February 8, 2022
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Global COVID response program 'running on fumes' amid budget shortfall https://t.co/WqmWZogy8U pic.twitter.com/pqoTksB1qJ
— Reuters (@Reuters) February 9, 2022
A global initiative to get COVID-19 tests, treatments and vaccines to poorer nations has only received 5% of the donations sought to deliver on its aims this year, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) and other aid groups.
The Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator budgeted $23.4 billion for its efforts from October 2021 to September 2022, of which it hoped $16.8 billion would come in the form of grants from richer countries.
However, so far it has had just $814 million pledged, leaders of the initiative told a media briefing on Tuesday. In addition to the WHO, the project is backed by organizations including the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, The Global Fund, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. “That’s just a minuscule 5% of what we require. It is time to awaken the conscience of the world,” said the WHO’s global ambassador for health financing, Gordon Brown, a former British prime minister…
The ACT-Accelerator hub encompasses the COVAX initiative, which has focused on equitable access to vaccines. It also involves providing tests and treatments to low and middle-income countries, as well as personal protective equipment (PPE) for healthcare workers…
The lack of funding has been apparent since the start of the pandemic. The gap for the project’s previous budget was $14.5 billion. Partners said the majority of funding so far had gone into COVID-19 vaccines, leaving the other goals – tests, treatments, and PPE – short.
Even so, the initiative has fallen well short of its goal to deliver 2 billion COVID vaccines in 2021, with only 10% of people in low-income countries having received at least one dose of a vaccine, compared to almost 68% in richer countries, according to WHO data…
The world has just surpassed 400 million known coronavirus cases just 1 month after hitting 300 million confirmed cases https://t.co/j9lxOsYVGf pic.twitter.com/F8lz9TPPOs
— delthia ricks ? (@DelthiaRicks) February 9, 2022
Least vaccinated countries in the world:
Burundi 0.05% with at least one dose
DR Congo 0.4%
Haiti 1% pic.twitter.com/R26bcyTNiJ— ian bremmer (@ianbremmer) February 8, 2022
Hong Kong's daily COVID-19 infections surge to record https://t.co/uiRVm1CB86 pic.twitter.com/qrZskdQ37Y
— Reuters (@Reuters) February 9, 2022
Hong Kong reports first potentially COVID-linked death in five months https://t.co/5t8UhnEj97 pic.twitter.com/VqfeMG6XVH
— Reuters (@Reuters) February 9, 2022
this is interesting and kind of unexpected: singapore is using the infection of a high-ranking governmental official to reassure singaporeans https://t.co/e00JJIF832
— Gerry Doyle (@mgerrydoyle) February 9, 2022
Most of Afghanistan's few COVID-19 treatment hospitals have been forced to close in past months for lack of doctors, medicines, even heat, as the economically devastated nation experiences a dramatic increase in reported coronavirus cases. By @Kathygannon https://t.co/A9xFwKcWI9
— AP Middle East (@APMiddleEast) February 9, 2022
New Zealand anti-vax protesters inspired by Canada truckers camp outside parliament https://t.co/Ma2XHsIIvE
— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) February 9, 2022
Sweden has also scrapped most of its remaining coronavirus restrictions, ending limits on how many people can attend events or dine at restaurants and no longer requiring COVID-19 vaccine certificates to enter crowded venues. https://t.co/H7LCf0uy7P
— AP Europe (@AP_Europe) February 9, 2022
Poland could lift COVID restrictions in March, minister says https://t.co/gj0OuotzWN pic.twitter.com/xdCGyvGrf6
— Reuters (@Reuters) February 9, 2022
Spain is scrapping a mandate to wear masks outdoors, as COVID-19 infection rates drop and hospitals report lower admissions. https://t.co/oELXX2CRjF
— AP Europe (@AP_Europe) February 8, 2022
Pandemic border protests strand cattle and car parts, snarling Canada-U.S. trade https://t.co/Zvc1yhxkIL pic.twitter.com/UnGb1RvSSa
— Reuters (@Reuters) February 9, 2022
"They don't have the right to take us hostage"
Residents at wits' end near Canada trucker protest "red zone" https://t.co/18UzpM3cBg pic.twitter.com/flElH0M4TJ
— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) February 9, 2022
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Can SARSCoV2 be detected in a few exhalations? Yes, say scientists in Sweden reporting in the journal 'Influenza & Other Respiratory Viruses.' Investigators were able to detect SARS2 in the exhaled breaths & coughs of individuals w/ Covid https://t.co/9faoynUSQd
— delthia ricks ? (@DelthiaRicks) February 9, 2022
Read the whole thing:
Some long Covid sufferers are seeing improvement, but the road to recovery can be long, @cooney_liz reports. https://t.co/qIbPpSnuzE
— Helen Branswell (@HelenBranswell) February 8, 2022
Long COVID and kids: more research is urgently needed https://t.co/XOT5bqFQmP
— nature (@Nature) February 8, 2022
J&J has temporarily paused production of its Covid vaccine to make supplies of an experimental RSV vaccine, @RebeccaDRobbins & colleagues report. The Covid vaccine hasn't sparked much demand here, but COVAX was relying on it. https://t.co/dDaIOaBnZN
— Helen Branswell (@HelenBranswell) February 8, 2022
======
With COVID-19 cases receding and spirits rising, Los Angeles is set to party hard ahead of Sunday's #SuperBowl with its biggest slate of events since the pandemic hit nearly two years ago https://t.co/MSufwrrUOa pic.twitter.com/4njOfeer2f
— Reuters (@Reuters) February 9, 2022
I’m so old I remember when 1,792 #Covid cases was a heart stopping number. Now it’s a relief. pic.twitter.com/v05wcPWBMt
— Helen Branswell (@HelenBranswell) February 8, 2022
A senior Republican lawmaker apologized for using an expletive when Democratic Rep. Joyce Beatty asked him to put his mask on while in the Capitol. It was the latest dust-up in the House over mask-wearing, which many Republicans have refused to do. https://t.co/d6y1HWEgLe
— The Associated Press (@AP) February 9, 2022
NeenerNeener
Monroe County, NY:
403 new cases as of 2/8/22.
Still no test kits in the mail.
debbie
You don’t screw with Joyce. (He also poked her in the back.)
YY_Sima Qian
On 2/8 China reported 73 new domestic confirmed (2 previously asymptomatic) & 1 new domestic asymptomatic cases.
Guangdong Province did not report any new domestic positive cases. As the province does not breakdown recoveries between domestic & imported cases, I cannot track the count of active cases in parts of the province.
Guangxi “Autonomous” Region reported 72 new domestic confirmed cases (2 previously asymptomatic). There currently are 180 active domestic confirmed & 2 active domestic asymptomatic cases in the province.
At Shaoyang in Hunan Province there currently is 1 active domestic confirmed cases in the city, part of the transmission chain spreading from Shenzhen in Guangdong.
Tianjin Municipality did not report any new domestic positive cases. 10 domestic confirmed cases recovered. There currently are 41 active domestic confirmed cases (all presumed Omicron). 2 residential buildings remain at High Risk. 5 residential buildings remain at Medium Risk.
Beijing Municipality did not report any new domestic positive cases. As Beijing does not separate recoveries between imported & domestic cases, I cannot track the number of active cases on the city. 1 High Risk residential building & 1 Medium Risk community were re-designated to Low Risk. 1 community & 1 village remain at High Risk. 2 communities, 1 residential compound & 1 residential building remain at Medium Risk.
Liaoning Province reported 1 new domestic confirmed case, at Huludao, found at fever clinic, source of infection not yet established. 1 domestic asymptomatic case was a released from isolation. There currently are 2 active domestic confirmed (1 each at Huludao & Shenyang) & 2 active domestic asymptomatic (1 each at Dalian & Shenyang) cases in the province.
At Shandong Province there currently at 2 active domestic confirmed (at Jinan) & 1 active domestic asymptomatic (at Liaocheng) cases in the province, all part of the transmission chain from the cold storage warehouses outbreak at Fengtai District in Beijing.
At Datong in Shanxi Province there currently are 2 active domestic confirmed cases in the city.
At Hebei Province there currently are 18 active domestic confirmed cases (5 at Xiong’an, 5 at Hengshui, 6 at Langfang & 2 at Baoding) in the province, all part of the transmission chain from the cold storage warehouses outbreak in Fengtai District in Beijing. 1 village at Hengshui remains at Medium Risk.
At Yili Prefecture in Xinjiang “Autonomous” Region 1 domestic confirmed cases recovered, 9 domestic asymptomatic cases were released from isolation. There currently are 6 active domestic confirmed (2 each at Horgos & 4th Div. of XPCC) & 7 active domestic asymptomatic (4 at Horgos & 3 at 4th Div. of XPCC) cases at the border crossing. 2 residential compounds & 1 residential building were re-designated to Low Risk. 2 residential compounds remain at Medium Risk.
Heilongjiang Province reported 1 new domestic asymptomatic case, at Heihe, 1 a traced close contact already under centralized quarantine. There currently are 29 active domestic confirmed (all at Mudanjiang) & 52 active domestic asymptomatic (8 at Heihe, 39 at Mudanjiang, 4 at Qiqihar & 1 at Suihua) cases in the province. 1 residential building at Heihe has been elevated to Medium Risk. 3 residential buildings at Heihe are currently at Medium Risk. 5 residential compounds, 7 residential buildings, 4 residential building units, 4 office buildings & a produce market at Mudanjiang remain at Medium Risk.
At Shanghai Municipality 1 domestic asymptomatic case was released from isolation. There currently are 2 active domestic confirmed & 6 active domestic asymptomatic cases in the city.
Zhejiang Province did not report any new domestic positive cases. As the province does not regularly publish recoveries, I can no longer trace the count of active cases on there. 1 High Risk shop at Hangzhou was re-designated to Medium Risk. 8 residential compounds, 4 businesses & 1 shop at Hangzhou remain at Medium Risk.
At Huanggang in Hubei Province there currently is 1 active domestic asymptomatic case in the city, part of the transmission chain from Hangzhou in Zhejiang.
At Anshun in Guizhou Province the domestic confirmed case recovered.
At Shangrao in Jiangxi Province there currently is 1 active domestic asymptomatic case, part of the transmission chain from the factory outbreak at Hangzhou in Zhejiang.
At Henan Province 35 domestic confirmed case recovered. There currently are 287 active domestic confirmed cases in the province.
At Yunnan Province there currently are 8 active domestic confirmed (3 at Kunming & 5 at Sipsongpanna Prefecture) & 6 active domestic asymptomatic (all at Sipsongpanna Prefecture) cases remaining. 1 zone at Mengla County in Sipsongpanna Prefecture remains at Medium Risk.
Imported Cases
On 2/8, China reported 37 new imported confirmed cases (4 previously asymptomatic), 23 imported asymptomatic cases, 0 imported suspect cases:
Overall in China, 88 confirmed cases recovered (34 imported), 53 asymptomatic cases were released from isolation (40 imported) & 6 were reclassified as confirmed cases (4 imported), & 2,975 individuals were released from quarantine. Currently, there are 1,495 active confirmed cases in the country (666 imported), 4 in serious condition (1 imported), 837 active asymptomatic cases (745 imported), 2 suspect cases (both imported). 40,980 traced contacts are currently under centralized quarantine.
As of 2/8, 3,016.15M vaccine doses have been injected in Mainland China, an increase of 5.451M doses in the past 24 hrs.
On 2/9, Hong Kong reported 1,161 new positive cases, 8 imported & 1,153 domestic. There are another ~ 800 cases who are preliminarily positive, awaiting confirmation.
On 2/9, Taiwan reported 54 new positive cases, 44 imported & 10 domestic (including a new untraced cluster at Kaohsiung).
pensive
@NeenerNeener: I just got an email that my test kits will be delivered on Friday in MA.
New Deal democrat
Deaths from COVID in the US remain plateaued at roughly 2450. Cases are down 70% from their Omicron peak, but at 235,000 are still double their level from just before the onset of Omicron. If there is no new variant in the next few weeks, and no resurgence of Delta, the good news is that we can expect deaths to fall to about 500 per day by one month from now. This would be roughly equal to the summer 2020 lows, and near last summer’s range as well.
Cases in the Northeast are now down almost 90% to a level last seen at the beginning of December. The South has the least decline, but still is down over 60% from peak. All States are declining, and all except AK, ID, KY, MS, MT, TN, and WV are down over 50% from peak. Many States are now down all the way to their levels before Omicron hit, including CT, DE, DC, IL, MD, MA, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, VT, and WI.
So far there is no sign of any new variant of concern. What happens from here depends on human behavior (getting complacent and relaxing), and also whether the new cases remain almost all Omicron, or whether Delta, which is still around, becomes the dominant strain infecting the remaining rump. Aside from watching deaths come down, I’ll be watching to see if any of the States most ahead in the curve continue to decline towards last summer’s lows. Also, I’ve noted several times that the level of vaccination in a State does not correlate all that strongly with the increase in deaths from Omicron, and the numbers look to me like prior bad Delta outbreaks provided substantial protection against Omicron. I’ll be interested to see if that continues.
NotMax
FYI.
Not being privy to the methodology, caveats in order as to whether it is a rigorous study or essentially a graph tracking solely one metric.
Amir Khalid
Malaysia’s Ministry of Health reports 17,134 new Covid-19 cases today in its media statement, for a cumulative reported total of 2,956,332 cases. It also reports 13 deaths as of midnight, for an adjusted cumulative total of 32,056 deaths – 1.08% of the cumulative reported total, 1.12% of resolved cases.
Based on cases reported yesterday, Malaysia’s nationwide Rt is at 1.39.
83 confirmed cases are in ICU, 35 of them on ventilators. Meanwhile, 5,681 more patients have recovered, for a cumulative total of 2,829,752 patients recovered – 95.7% of the cumulative reported total.
15 new clusters were reported today, for a cumulative total of 6,541 clusters. 385 clusters are currently active; 6,156 clusters are now inactive.
17,004 new cases today are local infections. 130 new cases today are imported.
The National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme (PICK) administered 152,358 doses of vaccine on 8th February: 10,471 first doses, 1,506 second doses, and 140,381 booster doses. As of midnight, the cumulative total is 64,264,073 doses administered: 26,127,997 first doses, 25,724,809 second doses, and 12,616,238 booster doses. 80.0% of the population have received their first dose, 78.8% their second dose, and 38.6% their booster dose.
James E Powell
Over & over, we impose or adopt restrictions too late, then lift them too early. Then people complain that the virus won’t go away.
mrmoshpotato
Super spreader Super Bowl!
NorthLeft12
I have to say that I feel very discouraged as to where Canada is heading right now. These blockades and protests by a tiny minority of a well organized and funded anarchists appear to be leading some governments to give up on public health guidelines altogether.
I get and support that mandates and restrictions were temporary and were going to soon be dropped, but the speed at which they are occurring across Canada makes me believe that the provinces are folding to this pressure, before we are in a position to safely do that.
Ontario has very few, if any, elective surgeries happening because the hospitals and ICUs are jammed with COVID patients. I would like to see the hospitals at a lower capacity, where the staff is not being run ragged and we are not burying fifty to seventy people per day.
We all know what is going to happen when the restrictions are lifted….I am really tired of living through another self inflicted COVID wave. Except this time the government will do nothing about it.
Very depressing.
Kevin
Interesting that in the Twitter post they name the Dem female who asked the d-bag to put the mask on but not the Rep male that went maskless.
Enhanced Voting Techniques
@NorthLeft12: Supposed the Proud Bois are involved in that Canadian protest. I wonder if they are finding they lost their cozy relationship with the cops in the US after Jan 6 so on to Canada.
Chief Oshkosh
@debbie: Poked her in the back and cursed at her? I know it’s pointless to point out, but just imagine if a black Democratic Congresswoman had poked and cursed a white crusty-butt racist asshole Republican Congressman. Fuck, press coverage would be nonstop.
Ohio Mom
@mrmoshpotato: I expect the same here in Cincinnati, and will be watching for a Covid bump in our numbers — which are otherwise plunging.
Chief Oshkosh
@NorthLeft12: I do not fucking understand how they don’t firehose these shitbirds everyday at sunset and then let nature take its course. Hell, it was in the teens last night in Ottawa. A few days of being frozen in their trucks and they could just start carting off the stiffs. Problem solved with a pun!
mrmoshpotato
@Chief Oshkosh:
Human decency?
Fuck these plague rat fascist shitstains, but giving them hypothermia would be a bit much. Also, the trash, like FOX, Shithead Ted, and that Canadian-shitstain-loving Texas AG, who support these assholes would have a field day.
Remember the bullshit outcry when Kathy Griffin poured ketchup on a mask of Dump’s disgusting face?
OzarkHillbilly
@Chief Oshkosh: Or just start towing off and impounding their trucks. I’ll bet the impoundment fees would pile up fast.
satby
@OzarkHillbilly: it has been pretty astounding that there’s been no law enforcement whatever on the truckers.
rikyrah
@Amir Khalid:
Hi Amir!
Welcome back ???
germy
Here is some good local reporting:
DeathSantis vows to “investigate”
Guac
I’d feel a little better about any “return to normal” if there was a plentiful supply of Paxlovid pills. There’s only one pharmacy in my county of 200K people that carries Paxlovid, and they had just 16 doses as of 3 days ago. Our county had over 1,000 new Covid cases in the past week. (HealthData.gov has a website to track Paxlovid supply.)
lowtechcyclist
@mrmoshpotato:
If they start up their big rig and take it to the highway, that cab will be toasty in no time. They wouldn’t get hypothermia unless they chose to.
OzarkHillbilly
@satby: The Guardian says 23 people got arrested yesterday. So there’s that anyway.
germy
Here’s what the Republican who is running for governor of NY had to say about mask mandates:
OzarkHillbilly
Closer to home, my stepdaughter has the Covid. Started exhibiting symptoms on Friday so still relatively early in her illness. It’s been a roller coaster ride for her.
Butter Emails
@NorthLeft12:
I’m depressed by what’s happening in Canada because it’s essentially a siege. If a foreign country sent operatives to Canada and had them cut off supplies to the capitol it would be considered an act of war. Now as far as I can tell, the Canadian government is actually dealing with this by the book, avoiding a violent confrontation and going after their monetary and logistic support. This is good, but the optics of it make it seem like the Canadian government is sitting around with their fingers up their butts.
I’m concerned about Canada dropping restrictions, because as you noted it’s probably going to lead to a new spike in cases unless delta + vaccines has finally created a bit of herd immunity. I don’t think that the trucker siege is causing the drop in restrictions. Dropping case numbers plus Covid fatigue among the general population is causing that. It’s happening in other countries, as well as in US states without the truckers. I do think that again the optics here are a problem. The rightwing loons pull this BS, governments drop restrictions they were going to drop anyway, rightwing loons declare victory, right wing loons feel emboldened and do more BS.
germy
@OzarkHillbilly:
I hope she has a quick recovery.
My son had a breakthrough case a few weeks ago. Lots of coughing and lethargy.
Dorothy A. Winsor
A few days ago, a judge in the southern part of IL stayed Gov. Pritzker’s mask order for schools. I just saw a pic of my teacher DIL looking pretty ragged. She wore a N95 mask from 7am to 4pm, except for a few minutes outside to eat and drink. That judge has insured that just about every school kid and teacher in IL will be exposed to covid.
lowtechcyclist
There’s no reason why they can’t live life as if they’re over it, as long as they do two things:
1) Keep current on their vaccinations, and
2) Mask up in stores and other indoor public places.
If they do those two things, then if they want to go to restaurants and movies, and otherwise resume their pre-pandemic lives, then I really don’t have a problem with that. And it doesn’t seem to me like that’s asking very much of them. That should be the minimum, in the midst of the worst pandemic in a century.
Some of the rest of us might not want to hang with people who are eating at restaurants and going to the gym, but that’s our choice, and if that’s a problem for them, then they’re WATBs. We’re not obligated to add to the richness of their social experiences.
lowtechcyclist
@Dorothy A. Winsor:
Dear U.S. legal system: please recognize that we’re in a pandemic. People shouldn’t have the right to freely and indiscriminately inflict a deadly virus on others they come into contact with.
Our county schools have a mask mandate in place for the entirety of the school year. In my son’s high school alone, 47 students and 5 staff members tested Covid-positive between Thanksgiving and Christmas vacations, and another 43 students and 5 staff were Covid+ during January. I’m convinced that absent the mask mandate, those numbers would have been well into the hundreds, and they’d have had to close the schools.
I don’t expect they’ll do the mask mandate next year, but Covid will still be here.
danielx
@OzarkHillbilly:
I have to wonder how it is these guys can afford to NOT be driving those rigs around for an extended period. They can’t be driving for transportation/logistics companies, they wouldn’t allow use of company assets as stage scenery. If those trucks aren’t working, they aren’t making money, and I would imagine payments on big rig tractors are pretty stiff. So how can they afford to sit in Ottawa for weeks on end?
NorthLeft12
@Butter Emails: I agree with pretty much everything that you wrote. I can only hope that people will remember at the next election how the Conservatives (the loyal opposition) supported, enabled, and encouraged these seditious terrorists.
delk
My tests arrived yesterday (Chicago-north side) and my medical practice alerted me that my fourth shot will be available on April 5th. I have an appointment with my infectious disease doctor next week. I also have an appointment with my cardiologist on February 14th!!!
WaterGirl
@Dorothy A. Winsor: When will the case be heard? I am assuming this is just a temporary stay, is that right?
NorthLeft12
@lowtechcyclist: I wonder if there were any requirements (masks, proof of vaccination) to appear before the judge?
lowtechcyclist
So he says Gov. Hochul is an ’emperor’ because she’s mandated the use of masks in the schools. Why, what a power-mad, dictatorial ruler she is! Why, I bet next thing you know, she’ll mandate something really gonzo, like mandating that people stop at red lights. Where will it all stop??
Starfish
@satby: They have finally started enforcing their noise ordinances.
I thought I read something that these folks had brought their children with them.
jonas
Positivity rate and cases are falling rapidly here in upstate NY, but our two local ICUs are at 95-100% capacity and 2-3 people are dying every day, roughly 2 to 1 unvaccinated to vaccinated. Virtually every vaccinated patient who has died during the omicron wave has been in their 80s or older and not boosted, while the unvaccinated pool is populated with quite a few 40 and 50 year-olds who are leaving behind spouses, kids, parents. Absolutely infuriating. At this point, however, pretty much everyone in the county will have been vaccinated, infected/recovered, or dead.
Gov. Hochul is lifting the indoor mask mandate in most of the state, but keeping it for schools until vaccination rates improve. I don’t see that happening absent a state law requiring it. The rate for 5-11 year-olds hasn’t really budged in months (it’s only about 25% in my county — has been since fall). All staff are required to be vaccinated, though, so it’s probably not a huge deal if masking is lifted in schools sooner rather than later. My teenage kids report that, at least in the high school, pretty much everybody just wears masks as chin diapers anyway. They were never really following the rules and the teachers are too jaded/exhausted to fight with everyone every day about it.
jonas
@lowtechcyclist: There’s this emerging narrative (driven, I believe, by a right-wing astroturfing doctor’s group) that wearing a mask in school does permanent psychological harm to kids. It’s nonsense. Of course there are some kids with special needs, etc., for whom wearing a mask is difficult or distressing, but none of my kids — including a middle schooler with ADHD — show the least ill effect and are grateful to know it’s giving them a modicum of protection and that they’re doing their part to slow spread in the community. Kids get it. It’s the adults who are being assholes.
Audrey
@NorthLeft12: And I hope Ontario remembers that it is the current Conservative government doing nothing about the occupation and that the Premier has gone AWOL again given that this is all in their juridiction, including most of the restrictions which supposedly inspired this nonsense.
ETA: If you’ve seen polling on this please do not mention it. I can’t take being depressed this early.
Matt McIrvin
We won’t give up because the pandemic is over. We’ll give up because we’ve been forced to give up by politicians responding to loud fools. That’s been the pattern in place after place.
Matt McIrvin
@jonas: I have a friend who is involved in planning a science-fiction convention and who actually has sensory issues making it nearly psychologically impossible for him to wear a mask.
He walks the walk. He’s not lifting mask rules just because they are a problem for him personally. Lifting them would effectively exclude more people than not lifting them does. He describes it as planning to exclude himself from his own convention.
That’s my benchmark for whether such a person is serious or just bullshitting. Are you willing to do that cost-benefit analysis and take the side that’s against you if that’s how it comes out?
Robert Sneddon
Scotland — 7,640 new cases of COVID-19 and 15 new reported deaths of people who have tested positive.
934 people were in hospital yesterday with recently confirmed COVID-19, with 21 people in intensive care beds.
The number of new cases daily is staying roughly the same, ditto for the number of deaths at about a hundred a week. Hospitalisations and ICU occupancy are still on a downward trend and booster shots seem to be a reason for some of this. From the PHS weekly summary report:
NorthLeft12
I see that even after Alberta has virtually capitulated to the blockaders in their province that the protestors are not moving until PM Trudeau is out of office. The protestors in Ottawa have proposed to “form”(?) a coalition government with the three other federal parties to oust Trudeau as well.
I am not sure how obvious these guys can be in publicly proclaiming their seditious intent. Not sure why our media and politicians don’t get this.
Sloane Ranger
There were 66,183 new cases Tuesday. This is a reduction of 20.2% in the rolling 7-day average. New cases by nation,
England – 58,453 (up 9852)
Northern Ireland – 3959 (up 854)
Scotland – 2664 (up 129)
Wales – 1107 (down 2275).
Deaths – There were 314 deaths within 28 days of a positive test yesterday. This is an increase of 11.4% in the rolling 7-day average. 294 deaths were in England, 6 in Northern Ireland, 14 in Scotland and none in Wales.
Testing – 1,127,178 tests took place on 7 February. This is a reduction of 7.7% in the rolling 7-day average.
Hospitalisations – There were 13,793 people in hospital and 443 on ventilators on 7th February. The 7-day average for hospital admissions was down by 10.1% as of 3rd February.
Vaccinations – As of 7th February, 91.2% of all UK residents aged 12+ had had 1 shot of a vaccine, 84.5% had had 2 and 65.4% had had a 3rd shot/booster.
Fair Economist
@New Deal democrat:
I don’t think that’s going to happen. South Africa is two months past its Omicron peak, and the death rate has *increased*. The UK is more than a month past its peak, and is seeing only marginal declines. Just like Delta seemed to raise the steady-state death rate markedly from pre-Delta strains, Omicron seems to raise it even higher. My current hypothesis is that with Omicron reinfections are so constant the vulnerable can’t protect themselves adequately anymore. I know it’s early to make conclusions, but there’s no indication we’re going to get a break once the peak of Omicron has passed.
gwangung
BECAUSE THEY’RE WHITE MALES.
They had no compunction fire hosing and brutalizing indigenous people protesting pipelines.
Kelly
@OzarkHillbilly: Towing big rigs is difficult. You need a big tow truck equipped to provide air to the brakes. Ottawa’s towing companies don’t want to get in the middle of the mess and/or back the protesters.
Kelly
Our neighbor, a primary care nurse, came down with a breakthrough case of Covid yesterday. She’s kinda surprised she kept it at bay this long. Vaccinations are keeping symptoms mild. Not too uncomfortable. She spent the day baking cinnamon rolls, doing crosswords and playing Wordle.
Cermet
Well, happy my free Gov provided Covid test kits arrived via USPS. Took, I guess, close to two weeks but considering the logistics, that is very impressive.
As for a Canadian providence lifting masks restrictions, it is something the business and pol’s waited to do. The truckers didn’t cause it, rather it was a convenient excuse, and that’s all.
WaterGirl
@gwangung: Absolutely true. There is so much ugliness that can no longer be ignored.
Le Comte de Monte Cristo, fka Edmund Dantes
@Kelly:
Easy solution to announce to the uncooperative contractors:
“We don’t want to interfere with what you’ve proclaimed to be core business, so we’re buying our own towing rigs and hiring municipal workers to man them, to be guarded by police as necessary. We wish you the best of luck in your future endeavors. From now on, we’ll be reviewing city contracts to determine which items need to be taken away from private sector operators, and will budget accordingly.”
Le Comte de Monte Cristo, fka Edmund Dantes
@NorthLeft12:
Its what comes of preannounced policies of non-violence, ever, to be employed against white males.
I’ve seen the photos of the face mullets with wraparound sunglasses.
They’re bullies.
Retributive violence is the only thing they’ll ever understand. Beat them in the street and seize their chattels.
JustRuss
Oregon has announced mask mandates are done at the end of March. I’ll probably sport an N95 when I go shopping, not sure what I’ll do at work.
Chief Oshkosh
@mrmoshpotato: Malarky. If they get wet, they always have the option to, oh, I don’t know, LEAVE.
mrmoshpotato
@lowtechcyclist:
@Chief Oshkosh: Then start with the threat as opposed to soaking them in the middle of winter. Also, what happens to water in winter when it’s cold enough?
Bill Arnold
@Dorothy A. Winsor:
That judge is strongly suggesting through their stay that they are a mass-murdering psychopath. That stay will kill many people, and it is deliberate. The law is an ass and incompetent about stochastic homicide/murder (excepting blatant things like drunk driving). If a gun lover, hypothetically, in pursuit of happiness, drove through a residential neighborhood in that area putting rifle bullets through random houses, they would probably kill no-one, unlike that judge. The law would not treat them kindly, unlike people (including kids) who exhale unfiltered air indoors during a raging pandemic that is currently the leading cause of death in the USA by far. And unlike people like that judge, who enable their murderous behavior.
Bill Arnold
@Fair Economist:
If I curve-fit the new-case numbers for my are (mid-Hudson valley, NY State), it looks like they are nearing a plateau of about 15 (may 10 if generous) cases per 100K per day. That is nowhere near the numbers for June/July 2021, which were about 1-2 new cases per 100K per day.
Don’t know how much is Delta, or if Delta will tick back up.
I am uninterested now in indoor shared-air public space activities, since the mask mandate is being dropped. Was starting to go to retailers again, but the NYS Governor just killed in-person shopping for me.
Jay
@OzarkHillbilly:
@satby:
CBC interviewed the “heavy haul” Wreckers, ( tow trucks) in Ontario. They pointed out that towing would be “impossible”,
It would require massive Police protection for the wreckers, some tows would require a multicable sideways pull that takes hours to do, and that with out assistance from the driver, just a basic tow becomes a PITA because they can lock their brakes and the trailer brakes.
The organizers of the Flu Trux Klan, have zero ties to the Trucking Industry, and a long history of ties to Wexit, white Nationalism, Nazi’s, and living off of social media grifting.
RaflW
I certainly don’t expect the ACT Accelerator to be fully funded by the Gates Foundation.. But it’s worth $50 Billion dollars. That ACT has to date received less than $1Bn from all sources is an absolute scourge. And, as petri dishes for variants, also damnably foolish.
evodevo
@Kevin: it was one of my KY assholes, Hal Rogers. Not surprised at all by his behavior…
H-Bob
Why do the criteria for reducing/eliminating Covid restrictions fail to include that the regional hospitals (e.g., metro area or service areas for rural counties) are no longer overwhelmed by Covid cases and no longer have to restrict non-Covid care or turn away Covid patients? That seems to be an obvious criterion.