Coronavirus

[GoCubsGo]

Not totally unexpected but nevertheless disconcerting.

Over 100 fully vaccinated people contract COVID-19 in Washington state, officials say

[Vrede too]

Not totally unexpected but nevertheless disconcerting.

Over 100 fully vaccinated people contract COVID-19 in Washington state, officials say

This is what they've been predicting all along:

... Out of the 1.2 million people who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in Washington, epidemiologists have reported evidence of 102 breakthrough cases in 18 counties since Feb. 1, representing less than 0.01% of all fully vaccinated individuals in the northwestern U.S. state. Most cases were patients who experienced only mild symptoms, if any, according to a press release from the Washington State Department of Health.

This is more worrisome:

However, at least eight people with breakthrough cases have been hospitalized. The Washington State Department of Health is also investigating two potential breakthrough cases where the individuals died.

However:

Both patients were over 80 years old and suffered from underlying health issues.

I'll keep following all guidelines, but will feel pretty safe unless there's new dire info.

... Large-scale clinical studies found that COVID-19 vaccines reduced the risk of contracting the disease in vaccinated individuals by up to 95%, compared with those who were not vaccinated. However, the vaccines are not 100% effective in preventing infection and thus a small percentage of breakthrough cases can be anticipated, according to the Washington State Department of Health.

"It is important to remember that every vaccine on the market right now prevents severe disease and death in most cases," Shah said....

This all reinforces the notion that "after" is still long, unpredictable time away, especially with there being tens of millions of COVIDiot anti-vaxxers.

[GoCubsGo]

The headline is misleading as that's not what the author or CDC is saying.

Personally I think the wipes and whatnot should stay as to remind us we are in a health crisis and frankly grocery carts and such are filthy.

End the hygiene theater, CDC says

[O Really]

I have long suspected that the original concern about picking covid up off of every surface was overblown. On the other hand, there are other germs and crap out there too and sanitary practices can't hurt. Grocery carts? Did you ever think of what might have been sitting in that top section of the cart? With it's besmirched diaper and drooling its snot?

[GoCubsGo]

I have long suspected that the original concern about picking covid up off of every surface was overblown. On the other hand, there are other germs and crap out there too and sanitary practices can't hurt. Grocery carts? Did you ever think of what might have been sitting in that top section of the cart? With it's besmirched diaper and drooling its snot?

About a year ago this time I was using Clorox wipes on the gas pump and wearing gloves in the grocery store. Not missing that, but we didn't know what we didn't know.

[Vrede too]

I never did wipe down gas pumps and gave up on gloves as being impractical almost immediately. However, I felt like I was washing my hands almost as much as I had at work.

I have long suspected that the original concern about picking covid up off of every surface was overblown. On the other hand, there are other germs and crap out there too and sanitary practices can't hurt. Grocery carts? Did you ever think of what might have been sitting in that top section of the cart? With it's besmirched diaper and drooling its snot?

Hey, some grocers don't have motorized carts for granny.

Nearly half of new US virus infections are in just 5 states

Nearly half of new coronavirus infections nationwide are in just five states — a situation that is putting pressure on the federal government to consider changing how it distributes vaccines by sending more doses to hot spots.

New York, Michigan, Florida, Pennsylvania and New Jersey together reported 44% of the nation's new COVID-19 infections, or nearly 197,500 new cases, in the latest available seven-day period, according to state health agency data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. Total U.S. infections during the same week numbered more than 452,000.

The heavy concentration of new cases in states that account for 22% of the U.S. population has prompted some experts and elected officials to call for President Joe Biden’s administration to ship additional vaccine doses to those places. So far, the White House has shown no signs of shifting from its policy of dividing vaccine doses among states based on population....

I don't have an opinion on vaccine allotment. I'm just interested in the numbers of cases being twice what they should be per capita.

[Vrede too]

California has America's best COVID numbers. Michigan has the worst. Which way is the U.S. heading?

Scientists will be busy for years studying state variability, population behavior and the efficacy of policy choices.

Aside: I almost hit 'Pause' on this video -

[O Really]

I think what has made the biggest difference in California is the early and consistent masking requirement. After some early whining, public mask wearing (at least in our part of the state) has largely become a non-issue. And openings of things has been generally managed well. It obviously helps that lots of restaurants can do pretty well with outdoors only. And, on a list of states whose economies fared better or poorly, California is around 14th best. https://wallethub.com/edu/state-economi ... irus/72631 (listed worst to first)

[Vrede too]

... And, on a list of states whose economies fared better or poorly, California is around 14th best. https://wallethub.com/edu/state-economi ... irus/72631 (listed worst to first)

A little hard to draw conclusions since states are variably dependent on interstate travel including tourism, like 3rd worst Hawaii.

Anyhow, states relevant to us listed worst (1) to best (51):

15 Illinois (ouch)
17 Montana
20 Florida (miracle, what DeSantis miracle?)
28 Tennessee
29 Alabama
30 New Jersey
34 South Carolina
38 North Carolina
39 California (13th best)
43 Maryland
51 Washington

[Ulysses]

I think what has made the biggest difference in California is the early and consistent masking requirement. After some early whining, public mask wearing (at least in our part of the state) has largely become a non-issue. And openings of things has been generally managed well. It obviously helps that lots of restaurants can do pretty well with outdoors only. And, on a list of states whose economies fared better or poorly, California is around 14th best. https://wallethub.com/edu/state-economi ... irus/72631 (listed worst to first)

Same up here in the East Bay. I hardly if ever see anyone in a supermarket or other store not wearing a mask.

I used to do sterile cell culture work for over a decade. Hand washing followed by surgical gloves was the norm. I didn't have to wear a mask, though, because we have laminar flow sterile work cabinets for the actual work. And the media was loaded with antibiotics. The only time I recall having one of my cultures get infected was when I used some media that I assumed had been autoclaved but wasn't. It resulted in a lush fungal culture and a ruined experiment.

[O Really]

Also, for a lot of things, the restrictions have not been overly intrusive. F'rinstance, retail stores are limited to, I think, 25% or so of capacity, but there's never a line and probably except on something like Black Friday they never come close to capacity anyway. When our gym opened, there was a 15% limit, but again, no problem in keeping with that. The building would be rated for something like 400 people and you'd never see anywhere close to that. Therefore, something approaching "normal" occurs even with the restrictions. Carlsbad has some of the best numbers in the state, but they've conveniently "overlooked" quite a few opening infractions yet being consistent with masking. Big sign at the city limits - "We wear masks" And also mask signs on lamp posts like where the Christmas decorations go. And signs at the door of all businesses. Apparently if you enforce masks/distancing sufficiently, you can let a lot of other stuff go and still get good numbers.

[Vrede too]

Also, for a lot of things, the restrictions have not been overly intrusive. F'rinstance, retail stores are limited to, I think, 25% or so of capacity, but there's never a line and probably except on something like Black Friday they never come close to capacity anyway. When our gym opened, there was a 15% limit, but again, no problem in keeping with that. The building would be rated for something like 400 people and you'd never see anywhere close to that. Therefore, something approaching "normal" occurs even with the restrictions. Carlsbad has some of the best numbers in the state, but they've conveniently "overlooked" quite a few opening infractions yet being consistent with masking. Big sign at the city limits - "We wear masks" And also mask signs on lamp posts like where the Christmas decorations go. And signs at the door of all businesses. Apparently if you enforce masks/distancing sufficiently, you can let a lot of other stuff go and still get good numbers.

I'll bet that the ongoing studies include mask mandates (good here), enforcement (idk about here) and compliance (so-so here), and their relation to pandemic outcomes.

[Vrede too]

Misc:

578,946 deaths here, 19% of the world's 2,997,703, the 14th worst deaths/1M.
https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/#countries
We have 4% of the world's population.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_c ... ions)#List

IF I heard correctly, 0.008% or more of vaccine recipients still get a serious infection. Tiny number, but it sucks if you're one of those 6K Americans so far.

J&J vaccine still on pause.
7000 US locations were offering just the J&J vaccine!

Pfizer says that we will need a 3rd booster within a year. Idk yet when the soonest one can get it is.

Rep Jim Jordan made a COVass of himself badgering Fauci over when Americans will "get their liberties back".
https://www.yahoo.com/gma/fauci-clashes ... 00544.html
Beavis really really needs a college wrestling team to help him work through some of that stress.

[Vrede too]

At least 35 Michigan hospitals at or above 95% capacity.

Global death toll is 3 million.

[Vrede too]

I think what has made the biggest difference in California is the early and consistent masking requirement. After some early whining, public mask wearing (at least in our part of the state) has largely become a non-issue....

[O Really]

Speaking of which, San Diego County should hit the 70% this week for residents with at least one shot. About 53% completely vaccinated.

[Vrede too]

Speaking of which, San Diego County should hit the 70% this week for residents with at least one shot. About 53% completely vaccinated.

Henderson County
44.2% for residents with at least one shot (all ages).
41.2% completely vaccinated.

Buncombe County
50.8% for residents with at least one shot.
46.7% completely vaccinated.

NC
43.2% for residents with at least one shot.
38.9% completely vaccinated.
53.4% for 18+ residents with at least one shot.
49.2% 18+ completely vaccinated.
79.9% for 65+ residents with at least one shot.
77.1% 65+ completely vaccinated.

https://covid19.ncdhhs.gov/dashboard/vaccinations

Those numbers are somewhat worse across the board than I hoped given how easy it was to get mine . I wonder it the Henderson-Buncombe difference is due to GQP resistance. Our Health Dept and healthcare system sure seem to have their act together.

[Ulysses]

As of May 25, 2021, 75% of adults over 16 in Alameda County have received at least one dose of covid vaccine, and over 61% are now fully vaccinated.

ALAMEDA COUNTY, CA -- Today, the Alameda County Health Care Services Agency announced that 75% of county residents, age 16 and older, have now received at least one dose of the vaccine. The agency, in marking this moment, encourages residents to continue to practice social distancing, wear facial coverings, and support their family and friends getting vaccinated, including children who are 12-15 years old and became eligible for vaccine last week.
...
Alameda County Vaccine Fast Facts:•76.6% of Alameda County residents over age 16 (over 1,000,000 people) have had at least one dose and 61.2% (over 8 00,000 people) are fully vaccinated •Over 80% of residents 65+ have received at least one dose.•Over 1.7 million doses have been administered in the county•COVID vaccines are available to all residents, 12 and older.•There are nearly 82,000 12-15-year-olds in Alameda County who are now also approved to receive the vaccine.

https://covid-19.acgov.org/covid19-asse ... .05.25.pdf

[Vrede too]

That's amazing!

I wonder what the best CA county and best state is. I think I heard something about AK bragging. WV, too. SNL says it was because of the "Free Meth" signs.

[Ulysses]

The statewide numbers are a bit lower than the Alameda County figures. Also the entire state will lift state-wide mask and distancing rules after June 15, 2021. I don't know what the most immune county or state is.

Some restrictions still apply to mega outdoor events, and private entities will still be able to require masks and/or proof of vaccination for entry. Don't know about air travel.

Essentially the state will be following the CDC's national guidelines after the middle of the month. The only caveat is that might change if there is a sudden covid resurgence. But at this time that's looking more and more unlikely.

Meanwhile the R's are trying to recall Governor Newsom (D). General consensus is that the recall effort will fail, but I suspect he's none too happy about it.