Month #24
Boosters approved for some teens and all adults in the U.S. Omicron detected in Hawaii, San Francisco & Los Angeles.
In the news this week: Very few CVS and Walgreens “COVID-19 Vaccine” signs indicate the inoculations and boosters are offered free of charge. Consensus is emerging that vaccines are a three-dose regimen and that shots should be spaced more than two weeks apart. Cultural COVID fatigue — not to be confused with long COVID — is partially erased by Omicron’s arrival.
Contents:
News - After Omicron
News - Before Omicron
Interlude
**FACES**
Editions you may have missed
News - After Omicron
Dec. 2 ‘We need to be ready’ — Biden unveils COVID-19 plan as Omicron arrives ahead of winter (Los Angeles Times) -
Dec. 2 Quebec stops funding to test wastewater for COVID-19 (Montreal Gazette) -
Dec. 2 Marin starts tallying home COVID tests (San Francisco Chronicle) - Launched in October, "the self-reported results are not included in Marin’s official case count because self-reporting tends to be incomplete, which can introduce bias to the data." "So far, nearly 2,200 test results have been self-reported to the online system, and 38 of those were positives"
Dec. 2 How San Francisco confirmed the first U.S. Omicron case so quickly (Los Angeles Times) - "Citing privacy, health officials revealed few details about the individual. Newsom said the person was between 18 and 49 years old."
Dec. 2 Some experts suggest Omicron variant may have evolved in an animal host (Stat) - "Kristian Andersen, an immunologist at the Scripps Research Institute, is among those who has been raising the idea that Omicron may have emerged from a reverse zoonotic event."
Dec. 1 SFO is ramping up COVID testing for international travelers in the hunt for omicron (San Francisco Chronicle) - "SFO is one of four U.S. airports — along with Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International, John F. Kennedy International and Newark Liberty International — expanding testing of passengers as part of an existing Centers for Disease Control and Prevention pilot program that began in October. The CDC picked those four airports because they are among the busiest in the U.S. for international travel."
Dec. 1 Virginia labs screen previous coronavirus positive tests for omicron variant (Washington's Top News wtop 103.5 FM) -
Dec. 1 Regeneron antibody treatment ‘may be’ less effective against omicron — what’s that mean for Texas? (Big Country Homepage KTAB KRBC) - Dr. Jennifer Shuford, the chief state epidemiologist with DSHS “noted that 99% of the cases that are being analyzed in Texas right now are still the delta variant, which antibody treatments, including the Regeneron cocktail, treat effectively. She said after a dip in cases in Texas overall, they’re starting to see more demand for the treatment again."
Dec. 1 UFC president Dana White says he tested positive for COVID-19 after Thanksgiving gathering (ESPN) - "You're supposed to stay home and stay away from other people for 10 days," White said on the podcast. "That's what I'm doing. If I test negative, then I will absolutely, positively be there. I'll keep testing every two days until I'm negative and then I'm going to get back to work ASAP."
Dec. 1 Digital COVID vaccine verification tool officially launched in Washington state (Seattle Times) -
Dec. 1 Arizona residents sought for national study of how COVID affects human bodies (Arizona Daily Star) - “Outcomes from COVID-19 vary from person to person and, while many people make a full recovery, others continue to experience symptoms related to the infection or develop new symptoms over time."
Dec. 1 London schoolchildren choose to cover faces in class to beat Covid (Evening Standard) -
Nov. 30 Analysis: Rural KS early readers suffered steepest declines from COVID school closures (KWCH 12 CBS) -
Nov. 30 How South African Researchers Identified the Omicron Variant of COVID Tulio de Oliveira talks about discovering the new variant and his opposition to travel bans. (New Yorker) - "So we were very surprised to see a variant emerge in a place with the highest population immunity in the country."
Nov. 30 Foo Fighters abruptly pull 2022 concert from Gophers stadium over COVID policies Citing the U facility's "refusal to agree" on vaccine requirements, the band said it is seeking a replacement venue. (Minneapolis Star-Tribune) -
Nov. 29 Bank of antibodies against nasty viruses that’s proposed for Maryland aims to prevent next pandemic (Baltimore Sun) - "The bank is one of many efforts that could better equip the world for what comes next. Other proposals center on enhanced surveillance and diagnostic tools, and new therapies such as antivirals and vaccines, as well as beefing up manufacturing capabilities, employing more public health workers and expanding supply stockpiles, according to plans outlined recently by the administration of Democratic President Joe Biden."
Nov. 29 Health department has new system to track and organize Hawaii's COVID-19 vaccine data (Hawaii Public Radio HPR) - "The state previously used the Vaccine Administration Management System under the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. VAMS was not able to accurately categorize booster shots, the state said."
Nov. 29 Information Source Use and Social Media Engagement: Examining their Effects on Origin of COVID-19 Beliefs (Sage Journals) - "The purpose of this study was to determine if critical thinking style (CTS), the use of COVID-19 information sources, and social media connections were predictors of origin of COVID-19 beliefs." "CTS was not a significant predictor."
Nov. 28 Omicron Variant Delays Global Vaccine Patent Fight (Bloomberg) -
Nov. 26 Biden calls for intellectual property waivers on COVID vaccines World Trade Organization negotiations over waivers are currently deadlocked amid opposition by some wealthy nations. (Al Jazeera) -
News - Before Omicron
Nov. 26 New Hampshire, Vermont asked to test deer for COVID-19 Antibodies for the virus have been found in deer in other states (Associated Press via WMUR) -
Nov. 25 Schools Cancel Classes to Give Teachers and Students Mental-Health Days As educators feel stress in rushing to make up for closings during the pandemic, some say added time away isn’t the solution (Wall Street Journal) - "Mr. Davis, an eighth-grade math teacher, said he and his colleagues are routinely staying until 6 p.m. or 7 p.m. to grade papers and catch up on administrative tasks because they have lost planning time to recording lessons for quarantined students and covering classes for absent teachers."
Nov. 25 Delta Variant May Have "Mutated Itself Into Extinction" In Japan, Suggest Researchers (IFL Science) -
Nov. 24 Some GOP states carve out "natural immunity" COVID vaccine exceptions (CBS News via MSN) -
Nov. 24 Covid ‘super variant’ with 32 mutations found with cases in South Africa, Botswana and Hong Kong Variant B.1.1.529 has an “extremely high” number of mutations but so far only ten cases have been detected (iNews UK) -
Nov. 24 South Africa asks J&J, Pfizer to stop sending vaccines (Bloomberg via Stars and Stripes) - “South Africa asked Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer to suspend delivery of COVID-19 vaccines as it now has enough stock, an illustration of how plunging demand is undermining the country's rollout ahead of a potential fourth wave of infections.”
Nov. 23 How to Prove You're Vaccinated for COVID-19 You may need to prove your vaccination status for travel or work, or to attend an event. Paper credentials usually work, but a new crop of digital verification apps is adding confusion. (Consumer Reports) -
Nov. 20 Visit England on holiday? Tourists are too scared of our careless Covid policies to make the trip From friends in Verona to family in Dublin I hear the same misgivings. People don’t want to come because they think we’re careless about Covid-19 (iNews UK) - "‘Not for love nor money would I visit that island’ is how one friend in New York summed up his enthusiasm for my invitation to visit Old England this winter. The problem? Covid. He doesn’t want it, understandably, and believes he’ll get it here – or at least that he’s more likely to because we are ‘acting like the pandemic is over’. Not a ringing endorsement for the flag-waving spectacle that was the lifting of UK-US travel restrictions last week then."
Nov. 19 Nevada student suing over university vaccination mandates (Las Vegas Review-Journal) - "Jonah Gold claims there is no solid evidence that people who recover from COVID-19 ever lose their immunity."
Nov. 19 Scientists are mystified, and wary, as Africa avoids COVID-19 disaster (Los Angeles Times) - “COVID-19 is gone. When did you last hear of anyone who has died of COVID-19?” Ndou said. “The mask is to protect my pocket,” he added. “The police demand bribes, so I lose money if I don’t move around with a mask.”
Nov. 17 Stranded? No COVID-19 test needed to detour through Washington State (Pique News Magazine) -
Nov. 16 Canada lifts PCR test requirement for drivers affected by BC mudslides, floods (Daily Hive) -
Nov. 16 Free Seattle webinar provides de-escalation training for businesses enforcing proof of vaccination The Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce is holding the webinar for all businesses on Wednesday. (NBC King 5) - "Since October 25, King County requires people 12 and older to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test in order to enter indoor dining establishments, bars, gyms, and certain sporting and entertainment events."
Nov. 16 Reynolds Middle School is shutting down in-person learning for 3 weeks to address student fights, misbehavior (Oregonian) - "Parents learned of the in-person closure on Monday via a short, three-sentence email from the Reynolds School District. At 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Superintendent Danna Diaz followed up with another email explaining that the COVID-19 pandemic and more than 1 ½ years of disruptions 'have taken a toll on the well-being of our students and staff.'"
Nov. 13 How the UK became the sick man of European tourism (CNN) -
Nov. 12 “Flying to Toronto today. No one checked my vax status at YVR. Has anyone had to produce proof of vax for a Canadian flight?” (Twitter.com/BrownieScott)
Nov. 11 Covid Scotland: Businesses relieved as vaccine passports not extended (The Scotsman) - “The Scottish Licensed Trade Association (SLTA) said pubs, bars and restaurants had been brought ‘back from the brink’ by the decision. SLTA managing director Colin Wilkinson said: ‘Indications were that a widening of the vaccine certification scheme to pubs, bars, restaurants would be brought in, forcing many premises into closure.’”
Nov. 8 Mind the jab trap: The five rules that don’t make sense for anyone A complex patchwork of vaccine rules that can differ from person to person have created no end of confusion (The Telegraph) - "Throughout 2021, the UK has introduced a complex patchwork of vaccine requirements, governing everything from whether or not you can enter a pub, theatre or sports match to whether or not you can fly away on holiday. Rules differ depending on your age, job and where you live."
Interlude
Dec. 1, 2021 Prince Harry Writes Personal Letter on Behalf of His Mother Princess Diana on World AIDS Day (People) - "My mother would be deeply grateful for everything you stand for and have accomplished. We all share that gratitude, so thank you," he said.
Apr. 27, 2018 Looking Forward and Back: THE NORMAL HEART, A Story about Past, Present and Future (Breaking Character) - “We’re all going to go crazy, living through this epidemic every minute, while the rest of the world goes on out there, all around us, as if nothing is happening, going on with their own lives and not knowing what it’s like, what we’re going through.” - character Ned Weeks from Larry Kramer’s play The Normal Heart.
**FACES**
Dec. 2 Boy, 5, fights for life with Covid after mum told he's 'unlikely to make it' Rupert Moore tested postive for Covid last week and was rushed to hospital, but despite his mum being told he was unlikely to make it through, he is fighting for his life in intensive care (Mirror UK) - "Mum Camilla Crick, 28, was told the youngster was unlikely to make it over the next 48 hours last week but insists Rupert is fighting through the illness."
Dec. 2 After losing infant son to COVID-19, a Rancho Cordova couple's cautionary tale for other parents (KCRA NBC 3) - "The parents now wish that what happened to them doesn't happen to other families." "'Be careful who touches your baby. It can just start with a little kiss even with somebody that you know — they were exposed and they're not showing symptoms,' Angelina said through tears."
Dec. 1 CEO of conservative Christian TV network Daystar, who was outspoken against vaccines, dies after COVID diagnosis (Houston Chronicle) -
Dec. 1 All the Places Trump Went After Secretly Testing Positive for COVID (Slate) -
Nov. 27 Nov 27 Virginia child dies from COVID-19 related syndrome (WDVM) - The Virginia Health Department has reported the first death of a child in the state from Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome (MIS-C) related to COVID-19.
Nov. 26 Rob Schofield | New ‘must read’ report documents the impact of COVID-19 on low income households in NC (Your Daily Journal) - “1. COVID-19 exacted a disproportionately heavy toll on low-income families, especially in terms of both exposure to and deaths from the coronavirus.”
Nov. 24 Aaron Rodgers Says His Toe Is Fractured, a Day After Referring to His Injury as ‘Covid Toe’ The Packers star quarterback addressed his toe injury Wednesday, saying he had never heard of the condition known as Covid Toe. (Wall Street Journal) -
Editions you may have missed:
Nov. 27 Reinfection News Clip Library 🔒
Whether reinfection with SARS2 results in less or more severe COVID-19 illness, reinfections happen. Local and national news outlets have reported this since 2020
Nov. 18 A Milestone Within a Marathon
Oct. 14 England’s Pharma-Only Mitigation Culture
A virus mutates inside of a host. Which means the COVID-19 virus' slow mutation rate is compensated for by its ability to infect so many.
Oct. 7 Vigilante Contact Tracing