"I think we thought we would see… a lot of deaths, but nowhere near a million"
The US has passed more than one million Covid-related deaths, making it the highest official total in the worldhttps://t.co/1d4V2jrfWA pic.twitter.com/24KCPXKx6z
— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) May 12, 2022
#Covid cases in the US have started to rise again & hospitalization rates are rising too. What's behind this? Is this lull followed by surge pattern what we can expect in the future? @DrewQJoseph explores. https://t.co/ECqREeXCyo
— Helen Branswell ???? (@HelenBranswell) May 12, 2022
YIkes! White House prepares to ration vaccines amid a #Covid funding impasse. The govt’s funds are running out. Just 2 months after the administration unveiled a roadmap out of the crisis, doubts are growing about Congress’ willingness to fund the fight https://t.co/PWWyF0bgqu
— delthia ricks ? (@DelthiaRicks) May 13, 2022
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Shanghai hunkers down for final COVID battle, Beijing outbreak stubborn https://t.co/eaTRHl0meT pic.twitter.com/eTHw7hzONO
— Reuters (@Reuters) May 14, 2022
China gives up 2023 Asian Cup hosting rights – AFC https://t.co/pMPBtP13dU pic.twitter.com/HEc5SiuI4c
— Reuters (@Reuters) May 14, 2022
I have no idea how important the Asian Cup is to soccer / football fans, but this event was scheduled for mid-2023. I can’t help wondering if there’s more to the politics than just supporting ‘Covid Zero’ a full year from now:
China has relinquished its rights to host the 2023 Asian Cup finals due to the COVID-19 situation in the country, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) announced on Saturday.
The event, which is played every four years and features 24 national teams from across the continent, was due to be held in 10 cities from June 16 to July 16 next year.
“Following extensive discussions with the Chinese Football Association (CFA), the Asian Football Confederation has been officially informed by the CFA that it would not be able to host the AFC Asian Cup 2023,” the confederation said in a statement.
“The AFC acknowledges the exceptional circumstances caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to the relinquishment by China PR of its hosting rights.”…
The Asian Cup is the latest international sporting event to be affected by China’s attempts to tackle the pandemic.
Earlier this month, Asian Games organisers the Olympic Council of Asia postponed the next edition of the multi-sport event, due to be held in the Chinese city of Hangzhou in September, until 2023…
For many in China’s middle class, Shanghai lockdown was the last straw that prompted them to move abroad, a tough decision especially for the middle-aged professionals. @yifanxie & I spoke to 14 people planning to leave China. Read our story: https://t.co/dEweiLzsCX
— Shen Lu (@shenlulushen) May 13, 2022
“Data reporter @financialtimes”:
UK Covid infections lowest since mid-December https://t.co/wy7t7eE9o8
— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) May 13, 2022
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Clots with Covid: Multi-national report of over 900,000 people indicates propensity of risk for arterial and venous thrombi is in men, with increasing age, and association with fatalities (4-fold in non-hospitalized) https://t.co/muGnDld4Um pic.twitter.com/6bLiHPLInm
— Eric Topol (@EricTopol) May 13, 2022
A simpler and accurate way to diagnose a prior Covid infection from urine, not blood (antibody to #SARSCoV2 nucleocapsid protein)https://t.co/PWlTAcwdKp @ScienceAdvances pic.twitter.com/ZdMw96YNF6
— Eric Topol (@EricTopol) May 13, 2022
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FDA chief Dr. Robert Califf explains why he says the leading cause of death in the US is misinformation.https://t.co/KIyIXnRz5X
— Laurie Garrett (@Laurie_Garrett) May 11, 2022
Nine nursing home operators have sued Massachusetts over regulations against housing more than two people in a room, which were adopted around the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and took effect May 1.
Judge Kenneth Salinger of Suffolk Superior Court on Thursday entered a preliminary injunction barring the state from trying to make the nursing homes discharge any patients involuntarily to comply with the rules while the lawsuit is pending. The state did not object to the injunction.
Tracy Miner of Miner Siddall, a lawyer for the nursing homes, called the injunction a “a victory for our clients and their residents who do not want to be displaced.”…
The state’s Department of Public Health in April 2021 issued so-called de-densification regulations requiring that, from May 2022 on, long-term care homes would have no more than two beds per room. The regulations give nursing homes 45 days to comply.
The regulations did not cite a purpose for the change, but they followed public outcry over a COVID outbreak that killed 84 people at Holyoke Soldiers’ Home, a state-run facility for veterans. The outbreak resulted in criminal charges, which were later dismissed, and a $56 million settlement with the state.
The nursing homes said in their lawsuit that the regulations no longer made sense as a COVID control measure, since a large majority of nursing home residents have now received vaccines and boosters. They said that the regulations would cost them, collectively, about $16 million per year, threaten their ability to operate and force disruptive changes for residents with dementia and other health conditions…
YY_Sima Qian
On 5/13 Mainland China reported 253 new domestic confirmed (148 previously asymptomatic), 2,1,726140 new domestic asymptomatic cases, 0 domestic suspect cases, & 1 new death.
Guangdong Province reported 4 new domestic confirmed (1 previously asymptomatic) & 2 new domestic asymptomatic cases. 13 domestic confirmed & 1 domestic asymptomatic cases recovered. There currently are 183 active domestic confirmed & 53 active domestic asymptomatic cases in the province. As the province does not break down recoveries by administrative divisions, I cannot track the count of active cases in administrative divisions, given the multiple simultaneous outbreaks.
Guangxi “Autonomous” Region reported 1 new domestic confirmed case, at Hechi. 6 domestic asymptomatic cases recovered. There currently are 1 active domestic confirmed (at Hechi) & 52 active domestic asymptomatic cases (45 at Fangchenggang & 7 at Baise) in the province.
Hunan Province reported 1 new domestic confirmed case, at Yueyang, a person coming from elsewhere & under centralized quarantine since arrival. 3 domestic confirmed cases recovered, There currently are 8 active domestic confirmed & 1 domestic asymptomatic cases in the province. As the province does not break down recoveries by administrative divisions, I cannot track the count of active cases in administrative divisions, given the multiple simultaneous outbreaks.
At Inner Mongolia “Autonomous” Region 3 domestic confirmed cases recovered. There currently are 4 active domestic confirmed (3 at Manzhouli in Hulun Buir & 1 at Chifeng) cases in the province.
Tianjin Municipality reported 2 new domestic asymptomatic cases, both response workers in “closed loops”. There currently are 3 active domestic asymptomatic cases in the city.
Shandong Province reported 1 new domestic confirmed case. 2 domestic confirmed & 29 domestic asymptomatic cases recovered. There currently are 43 active domestic confirmed cases & 283 active asymptomatic cases in the province. As not all of the administrative divisions in the province provide data on recoveries, I cannot track the count of active cases in all of the administrative divisions, given the multiple simultaneous outbreaks.
At Shanxi Province 1 domestic confirmed & 1 domestic asymptomatic cases recovered. There currently are 5 active domestic confirmed (all at Taiyuan) & 9 active domestic asymptomatic (8 at Taiyuan & 1 at Linfen) cases remaining.
Ankang in Shaanxi Province did not report any new domestic positive cases. There currently is active confirmed case in the city.
Hebei Province reported 5 new domestic asymptomatic cases, all at Chengde, all traced close contacts under centralized quarantine. 1 domestic confirmed & 33 domestic asymptomatic cases recovered. There currently are 7 active domestic confirmed & 196 active asymptomatic case in the province. As the province does not break down recoveries by administrative divisions, I cannot track the count of active cases in administrative divisions, given the multiple simultaneous outbreaks. 1 village at Chengde is currently at Medium Risk.
Liaoning Province reported 2 new domestic confirmed (both previously asymptomatic) & 33 new domestic asymptomatic cases. 4 domestic confirmed & 163 domestic asymptomatic cases recovered. There currently are 16 active domestic confirmed & 621 active domestic asymptomatic cases in the province. As the province does not break down recoveries by administrative divisions, I cannot track the count of active cases in administrative divisions, given the multiple simultaneous outbreaks.
At Heilongjiang Province 3 domestic confirmed cases recovered. There currently are 32 active domestic confirmed & 38 active domestic asymptomatic cases in the province.
Jilin Province reported 1 new domestic confirmed case (mild). 38 domestic confirmed & 79 domestic asymptomatic cases recovered. As the province does not consistently break down recoveries by confirmed & asymptomatic cases or by jurisdictions, I can no longer track the count of active case counts in the different jurisdictions.
Beijing Municipality reported 32 new domestic confirmed (1 previously asymptomatic) & 24 new domestic asymptomatic cases. Of the 51 domestic positive cases (18 previously asymptomatic, 28 mild & 5 moderate) reported between 3 PM on 5/12 & 3 PM on 5/13, 40 are traced close contacts under centralized quarantine or residents under movement control, & 11 via community screening. As the city does not break down recoveries by imported vs. domestic cases, I cannot track the count of active domestic cases there. 15 sites are currently at High Risk. 31 sites are currently at Medium Risk.
Shanghai Municipality reported 194 new domestic confirmed (140 previously asymptomatic) & 1,487 new domestic asymptomatic cases. 1,541 of the new domestic positive cases were already under quarantine & 1 via screening of persons deemed at risk of exposure (from the community). There was 1 death (84 y.o., w/ a range of underlying conditions, unvaccinated). 721 domestic confirmed & 10,168 domestic asymptomatic cases recovered. There currently are 4,616 active domestic confirmed (291 serious & 62 critical) & 30,540 active domestic asymptomatic cases in the city. 13 sites are currently at Medium Risk.
Hubei Province reported 1 new domestic asymptomatic case, at Jingmen, a person coming from elsewhere & under centralized quarantine since arrival. 1 domestic confirmed & 1 domestic asymptomatic cases recovered. There currently are 10 active domestic asymptomatic (4 at Wuhan, 2 each Enshi Prefecture & Xiangyang, & 1 each at Qianjiang & Jingmen) cases in the province.
Jiangsu Province reported 17 new domestic asymptomatic cases, 16 at Jiangyin in Wuxi & 1 at Huai’an. 1 domestic confirmed & 19 domestic asymptomatic cases recovered. The currently are 7 active domestic confirmed & 527 active domestic asymptomatic cases in the province. As the province does not break down recoveries by administrative divisions, I cannot track the count of active cases in each administrative division, given the multiple simultaneous outbreaks.
Anhui Province reported 1 new domestic asymptomatic case. 1 domestic confirmed & 5 domestic asymptomatic cases recovered. There currently are 2 active confirmed & 12 active domestic asymptomatic cases in the province.
Zhejiang Province reported 2 new domestic confirmed (both at Hangzhou) cases, both persons under centralized quarantine. As the province does not break down recoveries by imported versus domestic cases, I cannot track the count of active domestic cases there.
Fujian Province reported 1 new domestic confirmed case, at Xiamen, aa person coming from elsewhere & under centralized quarantine since arrival. 4 domestic confirmed & 3 domestic asymptomatic cases recovered. There currently are 1 active domestic confirmed & 2 active domestic asymptomatic cases in the province. As the province does not break down recoveries by administrative divisions, I cannot track the count of active cases in administrative divisions, given the multiple simultaneous outbreaks.
Guizhou Province reported 1 new domestic asymptomatic cases, at Qiannan Prefecture, aa person coming from elsewhere & under centralized quarantine since arrival. There currently are 2 active domestic confirmed (1 each at Qiandongnan Prefecture & Zunyi) & 7 active domestic asymptomatic (2 each at Qiandongnan Prefecture & Zunyi, & 1 each at Guiyang, Qiannan Prefecture & Tongren) cases remaining.
Jiangxi Province reported 5 new domestic asymptomatic cases. 3 domestic confirmed & 52 asymptomatic cases recovered. There currently are 18 active domestic confirmed & 261 active domestic asymptomatic cases in the city. As the province does not break down recoveries by administrative divisions, I cannot track the count of active cases in administrative divisions, given the multiple simultaneous outbreaks.
Henan Province reported 7 new domestic confirmed & 40 new domestic asymptomatic cases. 8 domestic confirmed & 27 domestic asymptomatic cases recovered. There currently are 200 active domestic confirmed & 586 active domestic asymptomatic cases in the province. As the province does not break down recoveries by administrative divisions, I cannot track the count of active cases in administrative divisions, given the multiple simultaneous outbreaks.
Sichuan Province reported 3 new domestic confirmed (2 previously asymptomatic) & 90 new domestic asymptomatic cases. As the province does not break down recoveries by imported vs. domestic cases, I cannot track the count of active domestic cases there.
Chongqing Municipality reported 2 new domestic confirmed (1 previously asymptomatic) cases, the new positive case is a person under centralized quarantine. There currently are 10 active domestic confirmed & 3 active domestic asymptomatic cases remaining in the city.
Qinghai Province reported 4 new domestic confirmed (1 previously asymptomatic, 2 at Huangnan & 1 each at Haidong & Xining) & 19 new domestic asymptomatic (14 at Xining & 5 at Huangnan) cases. All of the cases at Xining are persons under centralized quarantine or residents under movement control. 1 domestic confirmed case recovered. There currently are 51 active domestic confirmed & 106 active domestic asymptomatic cases in the province.
At Yunnan Province 1 domestic confirmed & 6 domestic asymptomatic cases recovered. There currently are 1 active domestic confirmed & 17 active domestic asymptomatic cases remaining in the province. As the province does not break down recoveries by administrative divisions, I cannot track the count of active cases in administrative divisions, given the multiple simultaneous outbreaks.
Imported Cases
On 5/13, Mainland China reported 23 new imported confirmed cases (0 previously asymptomatic), 70 imported asymptomatic cases, 0 imported suspect cases:
Overall in Mainland China, 866 confirmed cases recovered (9 imported), 10,638 asymptomatic cases were released from isolation (48 imported) & 148 were reclassified as confirmed cases (all domestic), & 40,575 individuals were released from quarantine. Currently, there are 6,353 active confirmed cases in the country (198 imported), 384 in serious/critical condition (all domestic), 61,780 active asymptomatic cases (469 imported), 1 suspect case (imported). 343,896 traced contacts are currently under centralized quarantine.
As of 5/13, 3,360.05M vaccine doses have been injected in Mainland China, an increase of 1.474M doses in the past 24 hrs.
On 5/14 Hong Kong reported 284 new positive cases, 33 imported & 251 domestic (83 via RT-PCR & 168 from rapid antigen tests), 1 death (unvaccinated).
On 5/14, Taiwan reported 64,041 new positive cases, 77 imported & 63,964 domestic (including 130 moderate & serious). There were 40 new deaths (ages ranging from 20+ to 90+, actual dates of death between 5/5 – 5/12, 38 having a range of underlying conditions, 25 partially/fully vaccinated).
Amir Khalid
Malaysia’s Ministry of Health reported 3,029 new Covid-19 cases yesterday, for a cumulative reported total of 4,473,500 cases. It also reported five deaths for an adjusted cumulative total of 35,607 deaths – 0.80% of the cumulative reported total, 0.80% of resolved cases.
There were 28,734 active cases yesterday, 1,908 more than the day before. 1,311 are in hospital. 42 confirmed cases are in ICU; of these patients, 33 confirmed cases cases are on ventilators. Meanwhile, 1,116 more patients have recovered, for a cumulative total of 4,409,159 patients recovered – 98.6% of the cumulative reported total.
All 3,029 new cases reported yesterday were local infections. No new cases were imported.
The National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme (PICK) administered 50,875 doses of vaccine on 13th May: 22,207 first doses, 25,779 second doses, and 2,889 booster doses. The cumulative total is 70,605,059 doses administered: 27,864,666 first doses, 26,893,166 second doses, and 16,060,675 booster doses. 85.4% of the population have received their first dose, 82.4% their second dose, and 49.2% their booster dose.
YY_Sima Qian
The massive outbreak in North Korea will place a lot of pressure on the provinces of Jilin & Liaoning in northeastern China. There are not a lot of documented travel or trade across the border (compared to say, w/ Vietnam, Laos or Myanmar), but the concerns is w/ people who smuggle themselves across the border.
I am a bit surprised that China has given up th right to host the 2023 AFC. Perhaps after the Winter Olympics, it was deemed not worth it, especially the matches are held in cities across the country, whereas the events of the Winter Games were concentrated in a couple of cities. Furthermore, China’s men’s football is a national embarrassment, decidedly 3rd rate even in Asia.
eclare
I just want to thank you again, AL, for these updates. They are so useful.
NeenerNeener
Monroe County, NY:
585 new cases reported yesterday. Still too high.
New Deal democrat
Let me start out with positive news today. The 7 day average of deaths has continued to decline, and is at 302, the lowest since the beginning of the pandemic with the exception of last July. Further, on the BA.2.12.1 front, cases in PR are only up 2.5% in the last week. Cases in NY are up 12% for the week, vs. 18% the week before. Both remaining Upstate NY regions that had not peaked yet appear to be within a day or two of peaking. And wastewater for Nassau County on Long Island has turned down.
In negative news, cases in NJ are up 33% vs. one week ago. Nationwide cases are up over 25% for the week to 90,300.
Crossing fingers that the good news this time is real, and not just a pause.
Ohio Mom
@Amir Khalid: I was just remembering the olden days when you would list each Covid case in Malaysia individually — something like, 67 year old male, high blood pressure and diabetes.
I am nostalgic for how naïve we were, when we thought we’d get a handle on this. When we thought the numbers back then were horribly high, that we could outlast Covid by laying low.
Now I just assume that even though I have two boosters, it is only a matter of time until I get sick too. I’m reduced to hoping my family only gets mild cases.
O. Felix Culpa
@Ohio Mom: I just tested positive. No major symptoms: a slight cough and mild fatigue. No fever or loss of smell, etc. Now I can’t fly home and I’m waiting for the airline to call back to figure out next steps.
I’ve had all four shots, so I guess it could be worse. ?
dc
I’m surprised that N. Korea did not vaccinate everyone, especially with the Chinese vaccines. I am also surprised that people are wearing crappy masks still. Why don’t they have KF94’s in N. Korea? S. Korea is awash in them. Why is the health care worker in one of the other tweets only wearing a surgical mask while the patient is maskless?
germy
thread:
rekoob
Last weekend, I was at a graduate school reunion in the Midwest and when I got back to Virginia I tested positive. I’ve been isolated ever since, testing daily. Mild symptoms — scratchy throat, congestion, occasional cough. No fever, no sensory losses. J&J in March 2021, Moderna boosters in October 2021 and April 2022.
My most recent test (FloxFlex Antigen) today still shows me reading positive. I’m planning to stay put for at least another day before seeking out a PCR test.
Hoodie
Wife came down with Covid after visiting her mother in NOVA for mother’s day. Her dimwit brother attended the family get together (mom and dad are in their 80’s) while symptomatic, gave it to my wife, her other brother, her sister and law and, of course, 87 year old mom (89 year old dad somehow dodged it). Fortunately, everyone double boosted, all mild cases. Fortunate for me, I left for our vacation home before she came back, so I wasn’t exposed. Only anecdotal, but I wonder how much the spread of the current variants is also attributable to bonehead moves like my brother in law’s, i.e., people thinking the pandemic is over and not having a first instinct that, if you have symptoms, just stay home.
kalakal
@rekoob: Glad to hear it’s mild. Hope you test clear soon.
kalakal
@Hoodie: I hope everyone recovers soon. I’m sure a lot of recent spread is due to idiot behaviour like your BILs. What was he thinking?
Ohio Mom
@O. Felix Culpa: You’re my role model, that’s exactly what I’m hoping for, feeling a little under the weather.
Barbara
@Hoodie: Is Dimwit vaccinated? That would make him a lot smarter than my SIL’s sister and her husband — showed up for Turkey Day unvaxxed, and reported a few days later that they had tested positive. More than 20 people needed to get a PCR test. At least they told us, I guess.
Barbara
@dc: My understanding is that NK has turned down offers of Sinovac but has expressed willingness to accept the mRNA vaccines. Or maybe that’s just a ruse — but it has not officially vaccinated its population. I’m relatively certain it has only limited capacity to deal with more serious cases.
RSA
I’m not seeing in the article that the state is giving nursing homes an extra $16 million per year. I wonder what the expectation is—that belt-tightening and elimination of waste and fraud will make up the difference? I’ve heard that before from Republicans.
The nursing home industry doesn’t have a great reputation, but I think part of the reason is that so much of it is privately run.
RaflW
When I read that Congress may not fund more vaccine doses (wherein the blame is surely more on Rs than Ds, but Ds seem flaccid in the face of this insanity), I realize we really are on the brink of a failed state.
Refusing to do the minimum to care for our own resident population is madness. And seeing Biden say that ‘unused’ Covid funds can/should go to cops? F**k that! There are so many unmet needs right now from this pandemic.
I’ll keep voting for these craven turds, because the other options are fascist goons. But the leadership of this country sucks. Bad. And yes, I’m in a foul mood. Giving up, as it sure looks like is happening, right as we ‘memorialize’ 1,000,000 dead is vile.
Peter Moore
My apologies if this has been suggested many times before. And I am no WordPress expert.
But I really miss being able to clickthrough to a source tweet you reference if it catches my eye. I can do searches on twitter like “from:delthiaricks designated”, but I’m a lazy guy and have been spoiled by how easy that used to be…
Would it be possible to include a small url link under the tweets you share as photos? For example, Delthia’s tweet above, you could add (link) underneath it.
Or another slight variant: right now the photos are actually links, but they just open the image in a new window. If that isn’t an important feature, perhaps instead the embedded photo could link to the source tweet?
NotMax
Tonight the first time since getting second booster on Tuesday without acute discomfort forcing waking when shifting position while sleeping/napping. Settled down to a dull ache now. Injection site still tender if pressure applied there but maybe a 3 or 4 on a scale of 1 to 10 rather than the 8 it was earlier on, whole body weakness on that side has dissipated.
Another Scott
A younger colleague is attending a big conference in Hawaii. He said about 75% of the attendees are not masked. He was able to give his talk before he developed symptoms and tested positive… :-\
So, he’s stuck there until he tests negative. Scratchy throat, etc., “mild”.
The last tweet strikes me. We were warned early on that humans don’t develop full immunity to coronaviruses because they change so easily. (A few colds are caused by the 3-4 known human coronaviruses, IIRC.). I would have thought that would have lit a fire under advanced vaccines that are more universal, but we’ve only seen that one story about the Army nanoparticle one that still seems years away…
We’ve made a huge amount of progress, but it’s not over…
Thanks for these updates, AL and everyone. Stay safe.
Cheers,
Scott.
mrmoshpotato
Fixed.