??VACCINE DATA UPDATE (Feb. 9)??
??1.3M doses today; 7-day avg=1.53M/day
????US: 44.4M doses total
??33.6M people w/ at least 1 dose, ??10.3M completed vaccination??Time to 75% coverage is down to 9 monthshttps://t.co/5Of3UY74wf pic.twitter.com/GsnlAshjYA
— Drew Armstrong (@ArmstrongDrew) February 9, 2021
Our full graphic and all of our tables/maps are available here. And yes we answer to "do your totals include children?" in our FAQ section. https://t.co/5Of3UY74wf
— Drew Armstrong (@ArmstrongDrew) February 9, 2021
The US had +95,542 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 today, bringing the total to nearly 27.8 million. The 7-day moving average fell to under 109,000 new cases per day, its lowest level since November 6. pic.twitter.com/HtHXZYzNPe
— Patrick Chovanec (@prchovanec) February 10, 2021
New from @CDCgov : fewer Americans plan to refuse #COVID19 vaccination today, compared to in Sept. But still vowing NOT to:
– 47% of African Amers
– 24% of ppl earning >$75,000/yr
– 45% of uninsured
– 51% of those not personally fretting over COVID.https://t.co/BY790SLfV8— Laurie Garrett (@Laurie_Garrett) February 9, 2021
======
Explainer: The WHO's theories about the origins of COVID-19 after Wuhan probe https://t.co/Ts9HLNu6PW pic.twitter.com/M2cEvepJC6
— Reuters (@Reuters) February 10, 2021
Trump Admin: "The virus leaked from a lab in China. We can't show you any evidence, just trust us."
WHO: "The virus didn't leak from a lab in China. The lab in China told us it didn't, and we just trust them."
Thanks everyone.
— Patrick Chovanec (@prchovanec) February 9, 2021
At first, Chinese officials didn't want to ring alarm bells about COVID-19 because they knew the consequences for the economy and public sentiment could be dire. That was a huge mistake. Sound familiar?
— Patrick Chovanec (@prchovanec) February 9, 2021
What’s it like traveling to Japan, six months ahead of the Olympics? Almost impossible, unless you’re Japanese or have resident status. A state of emergency means even those allowed to enter have to take multiple coronavirus tests and stay quarantined. https://t.co/1E02Z6LjaT
— The Associated Press (@AP) February 10, 2021
Cambodia launched its coronavirus inoculation drive, using 600,000 vaccine doses donated by China, with the sons of long-serving Prime Minister Hun Sen and government ministers among the first recipients https://t.co/uR7IEYWSKG pic.twitter.com/wVrVPXLdDK
— Reuters (@Reuters) February 10, 2021
Israel has become the planet's laboratory. Having #COVID19 #vaccinated >40% of its population w/mRNA vaxes, it should be the first country to show whether or not, and how well, protection against infection and epidemic cessation results. Do the #vaccines prevent transmission? pic.twitter.com/gMQ1zmV0MO
— Laurie Garrett (@Laurie_Garrett) February 9, 2021
Israel's ultra-Orthodox have come under heavy criticism for flouting pandemic restrictions, and holding large weddings and funerals that have brought clashes with police and unprecedented public anger toward the religious community. By @IlanBenZion. https://t.co/pjuKyGY5jU
— AP Middle East (@APMiddleEast) February 10, 2021
Russia confirmed 14,494 new coronavirus cases Wednesday, with the country having now surpassed 4 million total covid cases https://t.co/abtjo9LHFM
— The Moscow Times (@MoscowTimes) February 10, 2021
Covid: How Serbia soared ahead in vaccination campaign https://t.co/NdHRcQsMpB
— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) February 10, 2021
Germany plans to extend lockdown until March 14: draft document https://t.co/TlUaOVEFN0 pic.twitter.com/PEPDTgJUuo
— Reuters (@Reuters) February 10, 2021
Travellers face £1,750 cost to isolate in English quarantine hotels https://t.co/UjtZn9GMkm
— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) February 9, 2021
Chile leads Latin America vaccine charge as it hits millionth jab https://t.co/BVR64PWDyB pic.twitter.com/teS33iKBRe
— Reuters (@Reuters) February 10, 2021
"You can’t do my job and not be optimistic. You wouldn’t last a week." @WHO emergencies chief @DrMikeRyan on where we're headed with #Covid19, how soon we'll get there & why people in countries with vaccine need to let their governments share it. https://t.co/fFBPe0tm0K
— Helen Branswell (@HelenBranswell) February 9, 2021
======
The U.S. FDA authorized emergency use of Eli Lilly’s combination antibody therapy to fight COVID-19 https://t.co/Cj4H4Bk3YW pic.twitter.com/XusLk1r9rz
— Reuters (@Reuters) February 10, 2021
Air conditioning spreads aerosols of SARSCoV2 new simulations reveal. A restaurant outbreak in China last year showed that airflow-induced transmission is possible. Now, evidence of how cold airflow from an AC interacts w/ the hot plume from a dining table https://t.co/Pw1xSj0fEZ
— delthia ricks ? (@DelthiaRicks) February 9, 2021
This is a point I have made over and over again, yet it is popularly still believed that a "95% efficacy" = a 95% reduction in spread of the virus. It means nothing of the kind. Under #COVID19 @FDA process, it means 95% less severe hospitalization & death in vax'ed individuals. https://t.co/9F8sdCZgJJ
— Laurie Garrett (@Laurie_Garrett) February 9, 2021
Spread of #COVID19
"study of 194 healthy people, ages 19-66 yrs…exhaled aerosol particle counts varied by 3 orders of magnitude betwn indivs, with >20% of individuals exhaling 80% of total aerosol & tended to ^ w/body mass index & age…"
https://t.co/lNaCs8qJMA— Laurie Garrett (@Laurie_Garrett) February 9, 2021
Bats and pangolins in Southeast Asia harbor SARSCoV2-related coronaviruses. But so far there are no specific culprits that may have harbored the coronavirus that has spawned a globe-circling pandemic https://t.co/8kKUgHQOav
— delthia ricks ? (@DelthiaRicks) February 9, 2021
1918 pandemic's 2nd wave had devastating consequences. Researchers from the universities of Zurich & Toronto have found that delayed reactions & a decentralized approach at the start of a wave can lead to severe & more fatal consequences https://t.co/FdBoKSEikX
— delthia ricks ? (@DelthiaRicks) February 9, 2021
Want to travel after getting vaccinated? Precautions are still needed. Some trips may be safe, but travelers should still avoid flying or gathering w/ anyone outside their household https://t.co/sGj5UHGK0e
— delthia ricks ? (@DelthiaRicks) February 9, 2021
======
28% of overall respondents in the latest Axios-Ipsos Coronavirus Index said they already have resumed in-person gatherings.
That share surges for Republicans (42%), while it's dramatically less for Democrats (10%) and people 65 and older (15%). https://t.co/HzqF4md8Py
— Axios (@axios) February 9, 2021
The U.S. has entered a tricky phase of the COVID-19 vaccination effort as providers try to ramp up the number of people getting first shots while also ensuring a growing number of others get second doses. https://t.co/o2H4h1lGIC
— The Associated Press (@AP) February 9, 2021
California has the most U.S. Covid deaths in the country.
The state has averaged 500 daily deaths over the past week. On Tuesday, it became the state with the largest total https://t.co/r3IIrp8Mv1— delthia ricks ? (@DelthiaRicks) February 10, 2021
COVID-19 has killed 1 in 475 Native Americans https://t.co/C6KG2c0PA4
— Mother Jones (@MotherJones) February 10, 2021
Trying to get my 97-year-old great aunt who lives in Tuskegee the vaccine. She’s a retired nurse and wants it. But. They aren’t giving vaccine out in Tuskegee apparently. Has to travel to Montgomery or Auburn. Difficult because she’s in wheelchair. Told no vaccines IN TUSKEGEE.
— Nia-Malika Henderson (@niaCNN) February 9, 2021
Major League Baseball players, on-field staff and some other ballpark personnel must wear electronic tracing devices from the start of spring training and face discipline for violations.
The move is part of upgraded health protocols.
https://t.co/U2Y4LvqISO— AP Sports (@AP_Sports) February 9, 2021
This fucking idiot has intentionally fomented one of the worst COVID responses in the entire world. https://t.co/LXC5LFq5Ca
— The Hoarse Whisperer (@TheRealHoarse) February 9, 2021
NeenerNeener
Monroe County, NY yesterday:
103 new cases, now at 1034 deaths
2.6% positivity
398 people hospitalized, 89 people in the ICU
38% open hospital beds, 31% open ICU beds
My brother-in-law in Virginia got an email that they will be calling him soon when his turn to be vaccinated comes up.
NotMax
Spain becomes the seventh country to pass 3,000,000 cumulative total cases reported.
p.a.
Re: Noem-mind, no way for public officials to be held criminally or civilly responsible for policy decisions unless corruption ($, sex etc.) involved, is there? Voting out is weak sauce, if the boobs even do it.
YY_Sima Qian
On 2/9 China reported 0 new domestic confirmed & 0 new domestic asymptomatic cases.
Hebei Province:
Hebei Provincial Health Commission did not report any new domestic positive cases. There are currently 190 domestic confirmed cases (154 moderate and 36 mild) & 11 domestic asymptomatic cases in the province:
Heilongjiang Province
Heilongjiang Province did not report any new domestic positive cases. 43 domestic confirmed cases recovered & 37 domestic asymptomatic cases were released from isolation. There are currently 273 domestic confirmed (190 moderate and 83 mild) & 237 domestic asymptomatic cases in the province.:
Jilin Province
Jilin Province did not report any new domestic positive cases. 37 domestic confirmed cases recovered. There are currently 181 domestic confirmed (4 critical, 8 serious, 122 moderate and 47 mild) & 5 domestic asymptomatic cases:
The High Risk community in Daxing District, Beijing Municipality, was re-designated as Low Risk. The outbreak of B.1.1.7 strain has been eradicated, and all areas in the city are now at Low Risk.
Imported Cases:
On 2/9 China reported 14 new imported confirmed cases, 7 imported asymptomatic cases:
Overall in China, 102 confirmed cases recovered, 42 asymptomatic cases were released from isolation and 3 were reclassified as confirmed case, and 2,960 individuals were released from quarantine. Currently, there are 969 active confirmed cases in the country (267 imported), 17 are in critical/serious condition (4 imported), 555 asymptomatic cases (292 imported), 2 suspect cases (both imported). 18,742 traced contacts are currently under centralized quarantine.
On 2/10 Hong Kong reported 17 new cases, all domestic (4 of whom do not have sources of infection identified).
The Thin Black Duke
I was vaccinated today. Thank God competent people are in charge again.
Bruce K in ATH-GR
Greece is putting Attica into a harder lockdown, starting tomorrow morning at 6am and revisiting in two weeks. New case numbers doubled in 24 hours, to over 1500, with wastewater analysis saying bad things as well, and they’re worried about the variants becoming more prevalent.
Bruce K in ATH-GR
@The Thin Black Duke: Good to hear. I’m still nowhere near the vaccination list, though my mom just got the Greek social-security number that should allow her to schedule her appointment.
Just keep in mind that setbacks happen even with competent people in charge.
Baud
Noem got some reporter to write a fluff article about her leadership on COVID yesterday. Supposedly, the Dakotas are doing good on vaccinations.
Also, COVID rates are going down. Which of course is happening everywhere.
raven
pfizer 2 this afternoon!
Amir Khalid
Malaysia’s daily Covid-19 numbers. Director-General of Health Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah reports 3,288 new cases today in his media statement, for a cumulative reported total of 251,604 cases. He also reports 14 new deaths today for a cumulative total of 923 deaths — 0.37% of the cumulative reported total, 0.46% of resolved cases.
There are currently 52,186 active and contagious cases; 285 are in ICU, 131 of them intubated. Meanwhile, 1,929 patients recovered and were discharged, for a cumulative total of 198,495 patients recovered – 78.9% of the cumulative reported total.
11 new clusters were reported today: Industri Wawasan, Batu 20, and Persiaran Sepang building site in Selangor; Jalan Tanduk building site, Jalan Dua Belas, and Jalan Harun in KL; Jalan Tiga KKIP and Lorong Bersatu Damai in Sabah; and Jalan Uda Utama, Jalan Kancil Waha, and Lorong Sahabat in Johor.
Lorong Bersatu Damai and Jalan Harun are high-risk group clusters. Jalan Uda Utama and Jalan Kancil Waha are community clusters. The rest are all workplace clusters.
3,283 new cases today are local infections. Selangor reports 1,756 local cases: 832 in older clusters; 91 in Industri Wawasan, Batu 20, and Persiaran Sepang building site clusters; 629 close-contact screenings; and 204 other screenings. KL reports 404 local cases: 122 in older clusters; 27 in Jalan Tanduk building site, Jalan Dua Belas, and Jalan Harun clusters; 115 close-contact screenings; and 140 other screenings. Johor reports 369 cases: 91 in older clusters; 19 in Jalan Uda Utama, Jalan Kancil Waha, and Lorong Sahabat clusters; 109 close-contact screenings; and 150 other screenings.
Negeri Sembilan reports 157 cases: 80 in existing clusters, 34 close-contact screenings, and 43 other screenings. Sarawak reports 135 cases: 16 in existing clusters, 34 close-contact screenings, and 85 other screenings. Sabah reports 132 cases: eight in older clusters; 16 in Jalan Tiga KKIP and Kluster Bersatu Damai clusters; 69 close-contact screenings; and 39 other screenings.
Melaka reports 92 cases: 77 in existing clusters, seven close-contact screenings, and eight other screenings. Penang reports 59 cases: 24 in existing clusters, 12 close-contact screenings, and 23 other screenings. Kedah reports 48 cases: five in existing clusters, eight close-contact screenings, and 35 other screenings. Kelantan reports 44 cases: seven in existing clusters, 21 close-contact screenings, and 16 other screenings. Perak reports 42 cases: 10 in existing clusters, 11 close-contact screenings, and 21 other screenings.
Terengganu reports 24 cases: six in existing clusters, 11 close-contact screenings, and seven other screenings. Pahang reports 14 cases: seven in existing clusters, four close-contact screenings, and three other screenings. Putrajaya reports four cases: three close-contact screenings, and one other screening. And Labuan reports three cases, all of them other screenings.
Perlis reports no new cases for a second day.
Five new cases are imported: four in KL, and one in Selangor.
The deaths reported today are a 62-year-old man in Sabah with diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidaemia; a 36-year-old man in KL with obesity; a 57-year-old woman in Sabah with diabetes, hypertension,and heart disease; a 68-year-old man in KL with no co-morbidities listed; a 63-year-old man in Selangor with diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and stroke; a 94-year-old man in Sabah with asthma; a 42-year-old man in Sabah with hypertension, obesity, and chronic kidney disease; a 69-year-old man in Selangor with diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and dyslipidaemia; an 89-year-old man in Selangor with hypertension and heart disease; an 86-year-old woman in Johor with hypertension and dyslipidaemia; a 91-year-old woman in Kedah with no co-morbidities listed; a 62-year-old man in Selangor with diabetes and heart disease; a 51-year-old man in Selngor with heart disease and obesity; and a 63-year-old man in Johor diabetes, hypertension, and chronic kidney disease.
Sloane Ranger
Yesterday in the UK we had 12,364 new cases. This is a reduction of about 1800 from the day before and a decrease of 26.6% in the rolling 7-day average. New cases by nation,
England – 10,916 (down @1200)
Northern Ireland – 275 (down 21)
Scotland – 822 (down 106)
Wales – 351 (down @260).
Deaths – There were 1052 deaths within 28 days of a positive test yesterday. This is a decrease of 25.7% in the rolling 7-day average. New deaths by nation, England – 974, Northern Ireland – 10, Scotland – 58 and Wales – 10.
Testing – 616,718 tests were conducted on Monday, 8 February out of a capacity of 766,876. This is an increase of 1.8% in the rolling 7-day average.
Hospitalisations – There were 26,723 people in hospital on Sunday, 7 February and 3230 on ventilators on Monday, 8th. The rolling 7-day average for hospital admissions has reduced by 22.2%.
Vaccinations – As of 8th February, 12,646,486 people had received the 1st dose of a vaccine and 516,392 had received their 2nd dose.
satby
Yesterday, about +28 hours from my second vaccination, I had a headache and ran a slight temp of 98.6 (my normal temp is 97.3). That lasted a couple of hours until bed, no real discomfort. And today I’m fine, though my arm still has a twinge. I wouldn’t have even noticed had I not been monitoring for a reaction on purpose so I could tell other people. Those vaccines are a miracle. ETA: I got the Pfizer.
Amir Khalid
I wonder if that one page in the photo Governor Noem tweeted got any strange looks for wearing a mask.
Spinoza Is My Co-pilot
Getting my first dose in about 4 hours from now (at Phoenix Muni stadium, former home of the Oakland A’s spring training). My wife got hers Sunday (at the AZ Card’s stadium in Glendale, 4:30 in the morning).
I drove there with her, it was fairly crowded even at that early hour, the logistics were so well-handled that it only took 30 minutes once we arrived to get through and back on the road home (including the 15 minute wait after the shot to check for any reaction).
By all accounts the vaccination program is going pretty well here in AZ so far. My wife is a recently-retired infectious disease specialist who has stayed in frequent contact with her old colleagues on the job (including some county healthy dept people) and these folks are generally happy with our initial progress in getting to frontline medical staff and people (like ourselves) over 65. The website for sign-up is easy to navigate, with immediate email confirmation of appointments and text message reminders.
There are things this benighted backwater state sometimes does as well or better than most others (our voting system being another notable example). Our GOP politicians can be as wackjob as anywhere, obviously, but govt agencies are typically competently run (as I experienced myself many times here in my 40 year career managing building engineering and construction projects, including lots of work directly on govt sites like schools and courthouses and govt office buildings).
Cautiously optimistic that our vaccination program over the coming months will prove to be another case where our govt here does something right. Early indications are good.
NotMax
@satby
By any chance heard from Qunoot and Valentina (sorry if I misremembered the exact names) about how things are virus-wise in their neck of the
woodsworld?RedDirtGirl
I just learned about an opportunity to volunteer with New York City Medical Reserve Corps at a vaccine clinic, in exchange for a vaccine.
Essentially, you need to complete a 13-hour shift as a work flow coordinator, and you will receive the Moderna vaccine at the end.
The following guide is a detailed explanation for how to sign up:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1JUee_ZIVlc47DxpZW7RffAI5furxdrUghP3ww693sfs/preview
Pro-tip: Instead of waiting for an email for your NYC MRC login after you complete the ServNY registration (can take days), you can use the password “P4ssw0rd!” or try resetting the password on the NYC MRC volunteer portal. The system is a little slow, so you might need to wait a bit before it registers with the system.
WereBear
@The Thin Black Duke: Yay!
I’m the wrong age, in the wrong place, with the wrong job (none) and so, I’m going to be sticking close to home more than ever.
I suspect there will be another upswing in foolish behavior.
The Thin Black Duke
@Bruce K in ATH-GR: Oh sure, “setbacks happen”, I know. But I think I can say with absolute certainty that if Trump was reelected, I’d wouldn’t be vaccinated this year. Or, most likely, not at all.
debbie
@Baud:
I’m sure she directly addressed indicators of her excellent management, like that statistic from a while ago about her state’s COVID death rate of 1 in 500.
NotMax
@debbie
But- but- fireworks! Mt. Rushmore!
//
NeenerNeener
We were told yesterday that Work From Home was extended out to Labor Day at my company. They must figure that’s how long it will take to get a safe majority of northernmost New York State vaccinated and to get a handle on the new virus mutations.
The Thin Black Duke
@WereBear: Thanks.
And stupid people are going to be stupid. I figure I’ll still be wearing my mask until the end of the year.
But it’s no big deal. That is what’s so frustrating: wearing a mask isnt a big deal.
All the stupid people, where do they all come from?
satby
@NotMax: I have heard from both, though less often from Valentina because she’s not online as much. Qunoot said late last year that they had been in lockdown for months. Then she got her second vaccination late January. She’s 22, so it seems to mean Bahrain was close to getting most of the population immunized assuming they also prioritized older and sicker people first.
Valentina is from Indonesia, which has been hit hard. She’s at university, but neither she or her dad (who I’m friends with on FB) have commented much about the pandemic, other than to say they’re trying to stay safe. Her birthday is Sunday and she’ll be an old lady of 23!
NotMax
@The Thin Black Duke
Hardest part is remembering to put it on when leaving the car. Lost track of how many times have been halfway across the parking lot before the palm on the forehead moment of remembering that need to go back and don it.
CarolDuhart2
@The Thin Black Duke: I’ve already toyed with the idea that masking might be permanent for me. I’m a bus rider who has had issues and between that and stubborn anti-vaxxers, I probably need to stock up on a lifetime supply. The minute Fauci says we have mostly conquered this, some idiot will have something else and I will be sitting right next to him/her.
Matt McIrvin
@Spinoza Is My Co-pilot: Vaccination in Massachusetts is a complete fucking disaster–I haven’t gotten the slightest inkling that we’re ready to move beyond places like nursing homes and hospitals in my town–and our “sane Republican” governor keeps reopening the restaurants at higher and higher infection levels. If he stays popular after all this I’ll know our state politics are as broken as national politics.
The Thin Black Duke
@CarolDuhart2: I hear you. I used to be a driver for Kit Clark Senior Services in MA. The idea of doing that type of work again is terrifying. I wish stupidity was illegal.
Matt McIrvin
@CarolDuhart2: I was thinking that it might be safe to plan some kind of big vacation in 2022, but now I’m trying to emotionally prepare myself for the possibility that we could be shut in to some degree for several more years.
Part of me thinks it could be forever. If COVID variants that defeat existing vaccines keep on popping up faster than we can roll out the variant vaccines, the world we knew could be just gone. On the bright side, designing the new vaccine variant seems to be close to instantaneous. But if it always takes a year to actually get it into people’s arms, by which time there will be a couple of new mutations, does it matter? Maybe once the technology and the infrastructure are well-established they can tighten up that cycle.
BRyan
Just want to add my voice to those thanking AL for the daily COVID news/reports compilations. First thing I read every morning.
CarolDuhart2
@Matt McIrvin: Matt, I think we will get down to Covid alerts, like weather alerts, and some of us will simply be informed when to come in for a tune-up like cars for COVID. By then getting this will be routine-and fast, as everything will have been set up to distribute. I wouldn’t even be surprised if we don’t create a reserve of sorts for these things. With that, getting vaccines in arms will take weeks, maybe even days. Just stay in touch.
CarolDuhart2
@The Thin Black Duke: And the services are the better ones when it comes to this sort of thing. God knows the carnage among those who have to drive the general public everyday. When I finally emerge out of my pod and feel safe enough to go anywhere, I suspect that a lot of the older drivers will have died/retired, and quit. There will be a lot of 22 year olds driving for the first time. That’s bus drivers. Nobody even talks about pilot or long distance bus drivers.
One thing I will notice. In the old days, the bus drivers would allow some buses to be packed hip to thigh. Not any more. No more seats, they will just pass you by.
satby
@CarolDuhart2: It’s not at all uncommon in Asia to wear masks if you’re prone to illness, if air pollution is high, during cold and flu season, etc. Part of the reason those countries have generally had better outcomes even though many are poorer third world countries.
Scout211
My neighbor told me yesterday that his lady friend (who works for FEMA) is on the way to a deployment in New Mexico with a large group of FEMA workers. They will be organizing vaccination clinics on reservations there.
It was so nice to hear that the federal government is actually working for all Americans again.
Platonicspoof
U.S. map with ratios of COVID deaths to population including President Noem’s state.
Robert Sneddon
Going for my first vaccination here in Edinburgh in a couple of hours. There’s been a few days of freezing weather and snow and the pavements haven’t been cleared but it’s only about half a klick to the Edinburgh International Conference Centre which is being used as a major vaccination hub. On the other hand it’s nearly all uphill.
We’ve not been told which vaccine we’re getting beforehand, it’s a question of turning up and getting injected with either the Pfizer or Oxford vaccine. The EICC is big enough that it’s likely the specialised freezers for the Pfizer mRNA vaccine are in place. Here in the UK the Moderna mRNA vaccine has also been approved for use but AFAIK there have not been any deliveries from the manufacturers yet although there are millions of doses on order.
I don’t have a second vaccination scheduled, it will be a case of when there are stocks available I guess. The maximum wait between vaccinations promised by the various UK health agencies is twelve weeks although if things go well I’d expect to get my second vaccination a lot sooner than that.
Ohio Mom
Satby:
Yeah, my niece lives in Bangkok and said that they were already wearing masks when Covid started because it was the time of year that farmers burn their fields, causing awful air quality. That gave them a head start on keeping their Covid numbers in check.
I am thinking that I enjoy wearing a mask in winter because it keeps my face warm. I can definitely see keeping up with wearing masks during the flu and cold season when we reach the After Times. But not in the hot and humid summer.
West of the Cascades
@Amir Khalid: I noticed the one mask-wearer, and thought “there’s the Democratic candidate for Governor of South Dakota in 2042.”
Spinoza Is My Co-pilot
@Matt McIrvin: Things aren’t always as black and white as one might expect with “red” and “blue” states (though AZ is now fairly purple).
Don’t get me wrong, there is still plenty that has been and still is fucked up with our politics here, but as I said our govt agencies are typically well-run (ok, outside most law enforcement other than the notable exception of DPS — Highway Patrol — cuz fuck the police).
But we’re at least trending in the right direction politically as our population grows significantly (we’ve passed MA by about 500K to be ranked 14th now) with most of that growth being from younger, better-educated families in the Phoenix metropolis.
Chris T.
“Moderna before Pfizer, you’ll be none the wiser; Pfizer before Moderna, you’ll rule ancient Smryna.” https://xkcd.com/2422/
Chris T.
I personally find it annoying, and with many masks, hard to breathe (they collapse in onto my nostrils so that I have a tiny surface area from which to inhale). But … “annoying” is better than “deadly”. Wearing clothes is annoying too sometimes, but one must do what one must do.
mrmoshpotato
@Scout211: It’s nice to see that the federal government is no longer a smash and grab operation run by mobsters. (Also monsters autoincorrect.)
Suzanne
@Spinoza Is My Co-pilot: A good friend of mine works at the Maricopa County HD and has been instrumental at setting up these vaccination sites. She’s a rock star and I want to share your good experience with her.
ETA: She is also the American citizen daughter of an undocumented migrant farm worker. She went on to get a Master’s degree in public health and she is awesome. Immigrants: they (or their kids) get the job done.
Tom Levenson
@Platonicspoof: Among the worst: MA, NY, RI, CT and most disastrously, NJ.
Some of that is because New England and the tri-state area got hit early, and failed to grasp the care-home risk.
But while after the spring red state governors rose to the challenge of killing their constituents, this blue bastion surely can’t crow. And to make matters worse, the MA GOP gov. has repeated several of his fuck ups from spring, to our constant sorrow.
CraigM
@Amir Khalid: That mask was to cover the gag they make her wear as South Dakota’s token progressive…..
dnfree
@CarolDuhart2: we’re thinking that we will continue wearing masks in flu season (fall-winter) after it’s not necessary for Covid. We’re old with health issues also.
gvg
@The Thin Black Duke:
People aren’t all made the same and I find masks horrible. I prefer to live and I am not a science fool nor do I lack a sense of responsibility toward others so I wear one but it is an effort. We need better masks for one thing. Anyway I think denying that there is any real problem will cause resentment that is unhelpful. We are supposed to use our brains to try to figure out better ways. Finding out about mask brackets that keep the suffocating things off my nostrils so I can breath helped a lot. I am still trying further improvements.
dnfree
@Spinoza Is My Co-pilot: I love your nym. Takes me back to when I was dating my husband, a philosophy major. Also…it’s an appropriate choice for a co-pilot.
J R in WV
I plan to and expect to wear masks for the rest of my life when out in any sort of crowded situations — from my most secure 3M industrial respirator to 3-ply over-the-ear masks. Once things settle out, I expect N95 masks to be commonly available and we will go to those.
Anyone who doesn’t like me wearing the most secure mask available can go fuck right off with a rusty steel tool. Especially on an airliner for long trips. Or a bus or train. The doctor’s office, the Health Dept for new vaccines or boosters, busy stores, etc.
Lowe’s was very busy last time I stopped there for industrial cleaning supplies, and it was there I saw the only shopper W/O a mask. I thought about confronting him, then decided it was personally safer to turn away and walk away briskly, so that’s what I did. Looked like a stupid and stubborn person, so no point in trying to educate him.
RobertDSC-Mac Mini
My parents get their second shot today. While I am an “essential” worker, I don’t qualify for a first shot for a long time to come. I’m glad they have theirs, though. C-19 has taken friends of the family and people we know and is currently affecting other friends of family. We’re doing what we can.
Matt McIrvin
@Tom Levenson: One thing we are doing right here in MA is that we test a LOT. It took several months to get that going, but now, I think it’s the reason the medical system can even function. Of course, it doesn’t matter much to the case rate if people keep going to the bars and Charlie won’t shut ’em down.
VeniceRiley
my FQHC in my county OC is now contacting all our 65+ patients to schedule. That’s great because we know if they have email, cell phones, land lines, or snail mail, and what their preferred language is.
Spinoza Is My Co-pilot
@Suzanne: My wife (who worked in healthcare for over 40 years, mostly in hospital bedside clinical care and case mgmt) and her colleagues at Banner and Dignity think the world of the Maricopa County HD, and it’s no surprise that the vaccination sites and procedures are so we’ll set-up here under their auspices. Give our thanks and appreciation to your friend there.
My own experience a few hours ago was a breeze, going back in a couple weeks for round 2.
Have to say, we’re also so very fortunate to have this (typically) nice weather right as we’re getting the ball rolling, now we need to ramp up the number of doses available to get to as many of our 7.5M people in the state by summer.
I’m cautiously optimistic that will allow us to have in-person schooling back by the “fall” semester (usually that’s early August anymore, but even if it’s delayed till after Labor Day some time to be safely done that will be a great victory). I mean, Zoom kindergarten for my granddaughter has been fine, considering, but…
J R in WV
Regarding masks, I wear a 3M Quick Latch Reusable Respirator 6502QL with a pair of 3M P100 Respirator Cartridge/Filter 60926 filters. The filters last at least a month or two with trips into town every week or two, as well as Dr appointments, etc.
My glasses don’t fog up, and I can’t smell anything wearing them, not spoiled onions at the grocery, not the blue smoke from the old truck parked next to me, nor the lady I know is wearing a ton of perfume in front at the cashier.
Way better than cloth or multi-layer paper masks, according to the specs, better than n95 masks.
bluefoot
@Matt McIrvin: MA is a complete mess. I’ve been tempted to apply for a job at Moderna just so I can get vaccinated. (I heard they are offering the vaccine to all their employees.)
My sister who is a public school teaching in NY has had her appointment for vaccination cancelled twice due to lack of supply. Now they are telling her “some time in March” even though her school district is in-person teaching.
KrackenJack
@Platonicspoof:
Thank you for that. I get awfully tired of “largest state has most cases” headlines. Making a preference for “per capita” part of newspaper style guides would be nice.