I am fully vaxxed but will wear a mask because I want to continue making faces at people without them knowing.
— Matthew Nadler (@matthewmuses) May 13, 2021
It’s possible the CDC saw a bunch of us trying to hoard gasoline in old Burger King cups and just gave up
— Mark Agee (@MarkAgee) May 13, 2021
Taming the virus: US deaths hit lowest level in 10 months. Deaths have tumbled to an average of around 600 per day with the number of lives lost dropping to single digits in well over half the states and, on some days, hitting zero https://t.co/Txjau0GAdd pic.twitter.com/MG10flEvEb
— delthia ricks ? (@DelthiaRicks) May 14, 2021
How the United States beat the variants —for now. The country has managed to avoid a variant-fueled spike in coronavirus cases. Scientists say we were lucky https://t.co/bcIgSMMerQ
— delthia ricks ? (@DelthiaRicks) May 14, 2021
Congressional Democrats have a 100% vaccination rate across both chambers.
For Republicans, it's a different story — at least 44.8% of House members vaccinated and at least 92% of senators.https://t.co/4VLZj22w9n
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) May 14, 2021
Delta Air Lines will require new employees to get vaccinated against COVID-19 starting Monday. The airline won't impose the same requirement on current employees. A spokesman says more than 60% of those workers are vaccinated. https://t.co/ErrmSRLUds
— The Associated Press (@AP) May 14, 2021
======
The Economist built a model to assess the death toll of the pandemic, corrected for underreporting.https://t.co/fJRSRcxtZy
They come to the conclusion that 10 million have died (with an uncertainty of 7 to 13 million).
The map shows the distribution of the death rate. pic.twitter.com/YEwhkuhaEW
— Max Roser (@MaxCRoser) May 14, 2021
U.S. diplomats press administration on sending vaccines abroad, saying indecision cedes ground to China and Russia https://t.co/rT30nH82at @ErinBanco
— Adriel Bettelheim (@abettel) May 13, 2021
India's coronavirus death toll has passed 250,000 as the B.1.617 variant fuels a devastating surge throughout the country. The WHO said during a news briefing the variant now has been detected in dozens of countries worldwide https://t.co/MPAp8Etjx1 via @medical_xpress
— delthia ricks ? (@DelthiaRicks) May 14, 2021
India’s daily COVID-19 deaths near 4,000 as WHO flags concern https://t.co/my7bOYIMrT pic.twitter.com/GomFNAG9Wb
— Reuters (@Reuters) May 15, 2021
"Even a war comes to an end, but it's wave after wave"
Kolkata, one of the most densely-populated cities in India, is one of the many places struggling with a second surge of Covidhttps://t.co/6sG66SnLGD pic.twitter.com/zie9xXzn9Q
— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) May 14, 2021
India on Friday started inoculating its population with Russia's Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine, the jab's developers said https://t.co/KehVSSGUjk
— The Moscow Times (@MoscowTimes) May 14, 2021
India’s vaccination program requires a mobile phone and a home address. Many people have neither.https://t.co/waxvrcf5aI
— VICE World News (@VICEWorldNews) May 14, 2021
Mt. Everest #COVID19
“The Covid situation at EBC is a total s—storm. I had no clue what I was flying into.”
“The Nepal Govt is still denying there is a COVID outbreak at Everest base camp, despite emerging evidence. Why is the govt hiding the truth?”https://t.co/Bs92fybCDW— Laurie Garrett (@Laurie_Garrett) May 15, 2021
The island of Taiwan imposed new restrictions in its capital city as it battled its worst outbreak since the pandemic began. Authorities raised the alert level for the capital Taipei and the surrounding area of New Taipei city. https://t.co/r1b2qv9ALr
— The Associated Press (@AP) May 15, 2021
Japan has expanded its coronavirus state of emergency from six areas, including Tokyo, to nine as Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga repeated his determination to hold the Olympics in just over two months.
by @mariyamaguchi https://t.co/wYO5nFImuh
— AP Sports (@AP_Sports) May 14, 2021
Hospitals overwhelmed as Covid cases surge in Osaka Japan. Beds almost at capacity and an estimated 17,000 people with symptoms are waiting for treatment https://t.co/WNdFQ9M0Md
— delthia ricks ? (@DelthiaRicks) May 14, 2021
Covid: First Australian repatriation flight from India lands in Darwin https://t.co/wAeKWRPWMQ
— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) May 15, 2021
The Seychelles situation, the most vaccinated country in the world, has gotten worse. While there's clear evidence of some vaccine efficacy, it is not in keeping with what we've seen in other countries with other vaccineshttps://t.co/0MrU1A5Nit by @suilee pic.twitter.com/DIJQEYh2Rs
— Eric Topol (@EricTopol) May 14, 2021
VIDEO: Countries along Europe's Mediterranean coast are scrambling — and competing — to reopen, relaxing restrictions to try and reduce debts that have mounted during the pandemic. Greece joined the race on Friday.
Full story: https://t.co/YJvsLnbvCs pic.twitter.com/NOStUHJ6Up
— AP Europe (@AP_Europe) May 14, 2021
Greece will become the first European country to open its borders to Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine recipients https://t.co/KjbTSk6jEH
— The Moscow Times (@MoscowTimes) May 14, 2021
Vacations in mind, younger French people rush for vaccines https://t.co/bimATprDO9 pic.twitter.com/3d0IO15rkV
— Reuters (@Reuters) May 14, 2021
With ICUs nearly full, Colombia surpasses 80,000 COVID-19 deaths https://t.co/uTE3ToibcO pic.twitter.com/WUxlvpIP9x
— Reuters (@Reuters) May 15, 2021
======
Supercarriers: Just 2% of SARS-CoV-2 positive people carry 90% of the virus https://t.co/wLNCM3Vrs8
— delthia ricks ? (@DelthiaRicks) May 14, 2021
#Covid19 vaccines appear to be a portal back to normal life for most of us lucky enough to get them. But for people with some blood cancers or who are taking immune suppressive drugs that, that may not be so, @cooney_liz reports. https://t.co/9qMb5I2VqK
— Helen Branswell (@HelenBranswell) May 14, 2021
Local transmission conditions should inform mask policy, says @WHO's @DrMikeRyan. "In ?? or ??, when there weren't vaccines people could take off masks b/c there wasn’t any virus. Even in a place with high ? converge, if it has a lot of transmission you don't take the mask off." pic.twitter.com/heR6bfGuXq
— Global Health Strategies (@GHS) May 14, 2021
======
The CDC's retreat on masks has set off a confusing scramble for states and cities. Some governors and mayors quickly rolled back their mask mandates, while others said local restrictions would stay in place for now https://t.co/TCBRJVGkZi
— delthia ricks ? (@DelthiaRicks) May 14, 2021
From a thread:
1/ We need to do a better job of vaccinating the Latinx community in the U.S. A lower % of Latinx adults have been vaccinated than white / Black adults, yet more Latinx adults want to get vaccinated ASAP than white / Black adults. This is UNMET DEMAND. pic.twitter.com/SQo58RDHeH
— Céline Gounder, MD, ScM, FIDSA (@celinegounder) May 14, 2021
11/ Many Latinx adults aren’t sure whether they are eligible for COVID vaccination in this country.
– ALL ADULTS IN THE U.S. ARE ELIGIBLE FOR COVID VACCINATION
– COVID VACCINES ARE FREE
– COVID VACCINATION IS NOT BEING USED TO TRACK PEOPLE pic.twitter.com/rMEaJZvkk7— Céline Gounder, MD, ScM, FIDSA (@celinegounder) May 14, 2021
It has become such ingrained habit in this city after the horror of last April. Taking off your mask feels like taking off your pants in public and walking around.
— Patrick Chovanec (@prchovanec) May 14, 2021
Mr. Dunning, have you met Mr. Kruger?…
% who believe it’s safe for unvaccinated ppl to
Socialize outdoors w/o mask:
US adults w/ at least one shot 37%
Don’t plan to get vaccinated 70%Socialize indoors w/ unvaccinated, no mask:
One shot 19%
Unvaccinated 63%Travel by plane:
One shot 23%
Unvaccinated 59%-YouGov
— ian bremmer (@ianbremmer) May 14, 2021
YY_Sima Qian
On 5/14 China reported 5 new domestic confirmed & 10 new domestic asymptomatic cases.
Anhui Province reported 3 new domestic confirmed & 7 new domestic asymptomatic cases. There are 5 domestic confirmed & 7 domestic asymptomatic cases in the province.
Liaoning Province reported 2 new domestic confirmed & 3 new domestic asymptomatic cases, all at Yingkou. These cases had participated in seminars held by the traveling sales people at the end of Apr. 4 villages & 5 residential compounds were elevated to Medium Risk.
100% mass screenings continue apace at all 3 cities. Close contacts of the cases at Anhui & Liaoning have been traced at Beijing, Nanjing, Dalian, & Lanzhou.
In Yunnan Province, 2 domestic confirmed cases recovered & 1 domestic asymptomatic case was released from isolation. There are currently 20 domestic confirmed & 5 domestic asymptomatic cases in the province.
Imported Cases
On 5/14 China reported 9 new imported confirmed cases, 15 imported asymptomatic cases:
Overall in China, 20 confirmed cases recovered, 12 asymptomatic cases were released from isolation & none were reclassified as confirmed cases, and 351 individuals were released from quarantine. Currently, there are 279 active confirmed cases in the country (252 imported), 1 in critical/serious condition (imported), 341 asymptomatic cases (326 imported), 1 suspect case (imported). 5,613 traced contacts are currently under centralized quarantine.
As of 5/14, 380.633M vaccine doses have been injected in Mainland China, an increase of 13.723M doses in the past 24 hrs.
On 5/15, Hong Kong reported 3 new cases, 2 imported & 1 domestic (source of infection not yet identified).
rikyrah
Will wait and see.
See how these openings are going.
Will continue to be double??
Don’t trust people out in these streets
Barbara
I understand Nepal’s desperation for the economic lift. I don’t understand why a climber would risk a disease that is likely to make it much harder to breathe, in a place where breathing is already harder.
Bruce K in ATH-GR
Greece: the latest wave is apparently receding at last. Friday’s report: 2,188 new cases, 56 deaths. Hospitalizations seem to be trending downwards, there’s a bit less pressure on the ICUs, and apparently the retransmission rate has dropped to 0.96. The authorities are lifting a lot of the lockdown restrictions – it’s no longer necessary to send an SMS when you’re going out, there’s still a curfew but it doesn’t start until half-past midnight, and they’re allowing retail stores to reopen for in-person business. But there are experts who are worried that if the people get too relaxed, they’ll get kicked in the teeth again when (not if, but when) a fourth wave hits.
I’m of the opinion that they may be rushing things a bit. I’ve got family members who only just now got appointments for their first vaccine shots. I got my shots in New York, while helping my parents prepare for their move to Greece to retire.
One thing I noted about travel: there was a lot of care taken over testing and related paperwork at Newark Airport, when I departed for my return to Greece last week, and also a lot of caution in Frankfurt Airport, but when I arrived in Athens, they seemed a bit lax. The current rule is that to enter Greece, you need either a PCR test taken less than 72 hours before arrival, or a vaccination certificate showing that it’s been at least two weeks since your final shot.
On arrival and deplaning at Athens, I showed the QR code for my passenger locator form, and I had my PCR test result printout ready, but the staffer clearing people for entry saw my CDC card in my travel-document folder and waved me through without even examining it closely, which would have shown that it had been only five days since my second Pfizer shot.
NeenerNeener
Monroe County, NY stats:
188 new cases – 66% were people under 40, including 54 children between 0 and 19
1267 COVID deaths since March 2020
3.2% test positivity
200 people are hospitalized; 49 are in the ICU.
52.8% with at least one vaccination
46% totally vaccinated
Jeffery
Found this story in a comment section on another site and it made me laugh.
I made a quick run to the grocery store to grab some stuff to take to Mum’s (and a six pack of Corona light for moi). The big signs were still on the doors, and everyone was still wearing masks — except two young women who were probably in their late teens or early 20s. They were going up to almost everyone else and obnoxiously baaa-ing in people’s faces and laughing about “sheep!”
Oh, this is perfect timing I thought, smirking under my mask. When they stomped toward me and yelled “sheep!”, I stared right at them and ripped a really loud fart. “Eeew! Gross! That’s so disgusting!” I chuckled and said, “Bet you wish you had masks on.” The guy behind them started laughing hysterically and offered an elbow-bump as I passed him. “Nice.”
I told Mum what happened as soon as I got to her house, and she reached out to hug me as she said “I’m so proud of you.” She grew up with seven uncles, all brothers, and raised us four sons, so I knew she would be.
Glad I had that baked potato with baked beans for dinner.
nevsky42
Daughter (14) got her first jab yesterday, the only side effect she’s had so far is embarrassment from her dad taking a selfie with her in the CVS…
Cermet
All people who are vaccinated absolutely can become infected with Covid; that said, the vast majority will never develop noticeable symptoms nor get ill. Some might notice a bit of flu like symptoms for a day or two. A very small number might get sick enough to stay home and after a few days be ok. The vaccine NEVER prevents getting the virus; it only allows the body to quickly clear the virus when you are exposed/get it. This can’t be said enough – you can test positive for the virus (have it) even when vaccinated.
Only wearing a mask (and proper hand washing) is the ONLY way to prevent getting covid.
Feathers
I really have lost respect for anyone who climbs Mt. Everest. The difference between the idea of it and the reality of it is just too great. Anyone who either doesn’t see that or pushes through regardless, is just not my kind of person.
Robert Sneddon
@Cermet:
Masks help but they don’t guarantee someone doesn’t catch COVID-19, especially “civilians” who wear a mask incorrectly or wear a less-effective Etsy cloth mask, wear the same mask for too long, take the mask off in inappropriate circumstances etc.
Medical staff and lab workers have supervisors who check their subordinates are wearing their masks properly, they have a replacement and disposal procedure, training, supply of proper masks etc. but that doesn’t cover 98% of the population.
If you really wish to avoid catching COVID-19 then social separation is the way since 99%-plus of transmission is from person to person. Stay away from everyone else and you’re good. The “six foot separation in public” rule is a joke but it’s the best we could come up with.
JoyceH
Does anyone else think we’re going to see a significant increase in cases of colds and flu real soon?
Tony Jay
You can tell the local election campaigns are over in the UK because the Johnson regime and their tame News Media have – suddenly – realised that the accelerating spread of the India variant might be very dangerous and could impact on the super-happy-clappy roadmap for forcing society wide open while the majority of the population still lack proper vaccine protection.
Absolutely predictable and totally avoidable, if we had a competent government and/or an independent media.
Next wave of infection due in late summer/early autumn then. Bang goes the holiday season.
Cermet
@Robert Sneddon: Mask’s do far more then help. They can and do prevent infection in the vast majority of people that wear them – there is a reason hospital staff wear them and generally never get sick when around covid patients all day. Obviously if incorrectly worn they don’t work; nor do simple pieces of cloth that some people call a mask. Social distance isn’t effective at all in a room with people. As for social distance outside, a mask is still your best bet for protection.
My point is valid – if you don’t want to catch Covid your safest method once vaccinated is a mask
Barbara
@Cermet: The article about the disease being spread by relatively few infected people is worth reading. I wonder whether being vaccinated correlates with a lower or even much lower likelihood of being an effective spreader even if you do become infected.
Mary G
Went again to the builders surplus store and finally scored a vanity top we can live with. The checkout woman said some of their deliveries have been extended out to ten weeks. Everyone inside and in the parking lot was well masked up, although they had removed some of the signs about masking being mandatory and they didn’t have the guy counting customers and enforcing the 25% limit, which was fine because there weren’t that many people there.
We went on to Lowe’s; same situation, everybody cheerfully masked up, standing on the 6 foot markers, very comfortable.
OC reported 145 new cases. It was a worrisome increase until I saw this:
So they are cleaning up the databases, which is nice. We are still in the orange level though our numbers qualify us for the yellow. Of course, the MAGAts have big protests set up all over the country and one in Huntington Beach. Idiots.
Chacal Charles Calthrop
Here in NYC last night a lot of people out on the street had no masks and most of the rest were doing the chin diaper thing with their masks. Since this is a rich neighborhood where basically everyone but the beggars masked up, I’d say word got out very quickly.
Robert Sneddon
@Cermet:
That’s only if you want to go and visit friends and family and shop and eat in restaurants and pubs and take the risk of catching COVID-19, then masks will reduce your exposure to this very transmissable disease from guaranteed to “roll the dice, I’m feeling lucky today”.
Scientific spokesmen in the UK are now saying, with caveats, that the new Indian variant of COVID-19 is perhaps 50% more transmissable (see point 6) than the previous common Kent variant. It’s more likely someone might catch and spread this disease as this variant becomes more common even if they do wear a mask properly (which is a big if).
The safest method to avoid catching COVID-19 is not to go out and visit others and eat and drink in public places etc. Masks will not save you although I understand that for some true believers they can be a comfort, like a piece of the True Cross which was a sovereign specific against catching the Black Plague back in the day.
Geo Wilcox
@Cermet: yes, Bill Maher tested positive and he is fully vaccinated.
https://www.cnn.com/2021/05/14/entertainment/bill-maher-covid-trnd/index.html
Barbara
It’s possible to become infected after vaccination but it’s not likely. I have no problem masking up but I am inclined to accept the information on the CDC website on this point.
Robert Sneddon
@Barbara:
Epidemics are statistics. Of a million vaccinated people, a hundred thousand will catch this disease, of those fifty thousand will become infectious and spread the disease to others, vaccinated or not. Ten thousand will get sick enough to require hospitalisation, a hundred or more will die.
Those are a lot better numbers compared to not having a large part of the population vaccinated but they’re what an epidemic really is.
Jinchi
I just watched Jake Tapper’s interview with the Governor of Hawaii and Wow he’s gotten annoying. I don’t know what was worse: his constant whining about where his reward for getting vaccinated was (other than immunity from the plague), or his repeated, false accusations that Governor Ige was rejecting the science by choosing to keep the mandate in place. Even after it was pointed out that less than a majority of the island’s population were vaccinated yet.
It never occured to Tapper that government might be focused on making rules that protect the community and less concerned about rewarding Jake, personally.
It really illustrates just why the CDC screwed up it’s latest guidance. Even presumably intelligent people miss the point.
Sloane Ranger
Friday in the UK there were 2193 new cases. This is an increase of 9.4% in the rolling 7-day average. New cases by nation,
England – 1828 (down 401)
Northern Ireland – 96 (down 3)
Scotland – 215 (down 55)
Wales – 54 (down 5).
Deaths – There were 17 deaths within 28 days of a positive test yesterday. This is a decrease of 13.6% in the rolling 7-day average. New deaths by nation, England – 15 and Scotland – 2. None in the other nations.
Testing – 982,881 tests were conducted on Thursday, 13 May. This is an increase of 2.5% in the rolling 7-day average. The PCR testing capacity estimated by labs on this date was 645,838.
Hospitalisations – There were 1060 people in hospital on Wednesday, 12 May and 129 people on ventilators on Thursday, 13th. The rolling 7-day average for hospital admissions is down by 9.1%.
Vaccinations – As of 13 May, a total of 36,115,955 people had received 1 shot of a vaccine and 19,319,010 had received both. In percentage terms this means that 68.6% of all UK adults had received 1 shot and 36.7% have had both.
General – As I reported yesterday and Tony Jay above has confirmed, there is an outbreak of the Indian variant in the North West of England. BoJo went on TV yesterday to say that this will not affect the easing of restrictions due to take place on Monday but it could cause “serious disruption” to plans to further ease restrictions on 21 June. As a result of this the wait time between jabs will be reduced from 12 to 8 weeks for the over 50’s and surge testing will take place in the most highly affected areas.
different-church-lady
@Cermet:
Making this assertion without also noting that hospital staff would be wearing medical grade N95 masks is irresponsible.
Barbara
@Robert Sneddon: Yes, totally agreed. I will be wearing a mask for the foreseeable future. It would have been better for CDC to shift emphasis of its communication to “you must wear mask UNLESS you are two weeks post-vaccination.” CDC sucks at messaging.
JMS
There is no particular magic to masking in and of itself, one way or another. New Zealand never took on full scale masking because prevalence and transmission is low enough. If your local numbers are low enough, you can not wear a mask even if you’re not vaccinated! A vaccine is like a super effective mask, which helps to bring down the rate of disease more effectively, but the key number to watch is always the rate of disease.
WaterGirl
I went to the farmer’s market today, and the sign that formerly said “Masks Required” had a while piece of paper over the second word, changing it to “Masks Suggested”.
My take on the new CDC guidance is this. The new guidance is geared toward the bigger picture, and its goal is not to keep any one of us safe as individuals.
My guess is that they think we have turned enough of a corner such that IUCs won’t be overwhelmed and there won’t be people dying in hallways and denied care because hospitals are out of beds.
So from a societal level, they feel that the worst of the worst is passed. I believe that individually, we are each less safe if we follow the latest guidance.
As long as we still have the current level of infection, you are not “safe” if you follow the new rules. Your chances are far better if you are fully vaccinated, but you are not “safe”. You are playing the odds, and the odds are certainly much better than they were.
That’s my take, anyway.
Matt McIrvin
@JMS: yeah, but infection numbers that NZ considers a terrifying COVID outbreak would be received as “hallelujah, it’s all over” anywhere in the United States. When the numbers get that low I’ll be happy to go unmasked anywhere (pollen and influenza permitting).
Matt McIrvin
I’m starting to notice how many of the complaints about “irrational” mask-wearing boil down to “you’re denying me the right to see your face”, and how many women say that a benefit of wearing them is warding off men in the street telling them to smile. There are unsettling psychosexual power dynamics involved in the insistence to get everyone to unmask.
Prior to the pandemic a lot of places had local ordinances against being masked in public, which might have originally been passed to fight the Klan, but in practice may have become mostly a mechanism to harass Muslim women who wore face coverings. I’m wondering if those are going to reemerge as a means of suppressing public face-masking.
smith
@Matt McIrvin: Yep. Current rates of infection:
New Zealand– 0.0345 per 100K
Australia– 0 .0395 per 100K
Israel– 0.41 per 100K
US– 11.1 per 100K
Amir Khalid
Malaysia’s Director-General of Heath Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah reports 4,140 new Covid-19 cases today in his media statement, for a cumulative reported total of 466,330 cases. He also reports a new record 44 new deaths today, beating the previous record of 39 set on 12th May, for a cumulative total of 1,866 deaths — 0.39% of the cumulative reported total, 0.43% of resolved cases.
There are currently 42,135 active and contagious cases; 503 are in ICU, 272 of them intubated. Meanwhile, 3,432 patients recovered and were discharged, for a cumulative total of 422,329 patients recovered – 90.56% of the cumulative reported total.
15 new clusters were reported today: Lebuh Sultan, Sungai Pinang Tujuh, and Impian Indah in Selangor; Jalan Kilang Midah in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor; Persiaran Stonor buildng site and Jalan Keramat Wangsa in Kuala Lumpur; Perusahaan Maju Lapan and Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah in Penang; Jalan Tey Mia Jen, Jalan Perusahaan Tiga, Jalan Bertingkat Skudai, and Jalan Alsagoff in Johor; Kemunting in Pahang; Persiaran Lavender in Negeri Sembilan; and Jalan Telipot in Kelantan.
Kemunting, Persiaran Lavender, Jalan Telipot, and Jalan Keramat Wangsa are religious clusters. Jalan Alsagoff is an education cluster at a Ministry of Education school. Impian Indah is an education cluster. Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah is a high-risk group cluster. The rest are workplace clusters.
4,131 new cases today are local infections. Selangor reports 1,507 cases: 72 in clusters, 1,075 close-contact screenings, and 360 other screenings. Johor reports 433 cases: 177 in clusters, 195 close-contact screenings, and 61 other screenings. Kuala Lumpur reports 390 local cases: 97 in clusters, 188 close-contact screenings, and 195 other screenings.
Penang reports 338 cases: 124 in clusters, 139 close-contact screenings, and 75 other screenings. Sarawak reports 323 local cases: 28 in clusters, 241 close-contact screenings, and 54 other screenings. Kedah reports 239 cases: 56 in clusters, 84 close-contact screenings, and 99 other screenings.
Negeri Sembilan reports 190 cases: 45 in clusters, 102 close-contact screenings, and 43 other screenings. Perak reports 182 cases: 68 in clusters, 84 close-contact screenings, and 30 other screenings. Terengganu reports 119 cases: 54 in clusters, 57 close-contact screenings, and eight other screenings. Pahang reports 116 cases: 37 in clusters, 54 close-contact screenings, and 25 other screenings. Kelantan reports 109 cases: 25 in clusters, 46 close-contact screenings, and 38 other screenings.
Melaka reports 97 cases: 37 in clusters, 45 close-contact screenings, and 15 other screenings. Sabah reports 60 cases: 21 in clusters, 30 close-contact screenings, and nine other screenings.
Putrajaya reports 23 cases: three in clusters, 13 close-contact screenings, and seven other screenings. Labuan reports three cases: one close-contact screening, and two other screenings. And Perlis reports two cases, both found in other screening.
Nine new cases today are imported: eight in Kuala Lumpur, one in Sarawak.
The deaths reported today are a 64-year-old man in Sarawak with diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidaemia; an 80-year-oldwoman in Sarawak with diabetes, hypertension, chronic kidney diisease, and cancer; a 73-year-old woman in Selangor with no co-morbidities listed; a 58-year-old man in Selangor with diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidaemia, and stroke; a 74-year-old man in Selangor with diabetes and heart disease; a 78-year-old woman in Kelantan with diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidaemia; a 75-year-old man in Kelantan with hypertension; a 63-year-old man in Selangor with heart disease; a 52-year-old man in Selangor with diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease; a 69-year-old man in Selangor with hypertension, heart disease, and chronic kidney diisease; a 92-year-old man in Sarawak with hypertension and chronic lung disease; an 88-year-old man in Sarawak with hypertension and dyslipidaemia; a 72-year-old man in Selangor with hypertension; an 80-year-old man in Negeri Sembilan with diabetes, hypertension, and gout; a 60-year-old woman in Kelantan with diabetes, hypertension, and stroke; an 82-year-old woman in Selangor with diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidaemia, and stroke; a 68-year-old man in Kedah with diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, dyslipidaemia, and chronic kidney disease; a 71-year-old man in Selangor with hypertension; a 55-year-old man in Selangor with chronic lung disease; a 48-year-old man in Selangor with diabetes, hypertension, and chronic kidney disease; a 52-year-old man in Selangor with diabetes, hypertension, lung disease, and chronic kidney disease; an 89-year-old woman in Selangor with diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and stroke; a 79-year-old woman in Selangor with diabetes and stroke; a 76-year-old woman in Selangor with hypertension, gout, and chronic lung diseaser; another 76-year-old woman in Selangor with diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidaemia, chronic kidney disease and cancer; a 56-year-old man in Selangor with diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidaemia; a 51-year-old man in Selangor with diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and obstructive sleep apnoea; a 59-year-old man in Kelantan with hypertension, dyslipidaemia, and stroke; a 62-year-old man in Kelantan with no co-morbidities listed; a 57-year-old woman in Kedah with diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and chronic kidney disease; a 77-year-old man in Selangor with diabetes and hypertension; a 78-year-old man in Selangor with diabetes and hupertension; a 74-year-old man in Selangor with diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and cancer; a 71-year-old woman in Selangor with diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidaemia, and tuberculosis; a 68-year-old man in Selangor with diabetes and hypertension; a 65-year-old man in Selangor with diabetes and hypertension; a 58-year-old man in Selangor with no co-morbidities listed; a 57-year-old man in Selangor with diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidaemia; a 56-year-old man in Johor with Down’s syndrome; a 67-year-old man in Johor with diabetes, stroke, and dyslipidaemia; a 63-year-old man in Kuala Lumpur with hypertension, dyslipudaemia, heart disease, and chronic kidney disease; a 55-year-old man in Kusla Lumpur with no co-morbidities listed; a 65-year-old man in Kedah with diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidaemia; and a 50-year-old non-Malaysian man with diabetes.
namekarB
Me: (Outside wearing a mask)
Stranger: (Angerly) You don’t need a mask outside. Why are you wearing a mask?
Me: I don’t want people to think I’m a Republican
Robert Sneddon
Scotland — 413 new cases of COVID-19 reported, zero new deaths. Test positivity rate is 1.6%. About 43,000 vaccinations were administered, roughly 40% first doses and 60% second doses.
There was a data network glitch yesterday, today’s numbers include some cases reported on Thursday but not collected until today. Even so there’s a noticeable upward trend in the number of cases, not downward. It’s likely this is being driven by the previously reported outbreak in the south of Glasgow.
The English public health authorities have reported that the number of Indian-variant cases found by sequencing positive test samples has tripled in the past week meaning this new variant is becoming increasingly common. The UK carries out a large number of sequence tests on positive samples (over 5%, I believe) compared to most other nations.
Zero deaths in Scotland — I noticed this before but it’s worth mentioning that the one or two deaths from COVID-19 that are reported from time to time for Scotland are usually accompanied by a matching decrease in the numbers of people in mechanical ventilation beds in hospital. The authorities do not specifically state this but it can be inferred that those deaths are occurring among the few long-term patients in hospital care and not in the community. There have been four confirmed COVID-19 deaths reported in Scotland in the past two weeks.
VOR
@Robert Sneddon: Eight players, staff, and coaches of the New York Yankees tested positive after being vaccinated. Seven had no symptoms but were caught because of the Yankees testing protocol. http://www.cnn.com/2021/05/13/sport/yankees-test-positive-covid/index.html
Yes, you can still get COVID after being vaccinated. I plan to keep wearing a mask until at least two weeks after my second vaccine dose.
J R in WV
Stranger: “Why are you wearing that mask now?”
Me: “I don’t want anyone to think I’m a Republican!”
Brilliant — quoted for truth and brilliiance!!
ETA:
My second vaccination was in mid-March. I still plan to wear a mask while in retail shops for the foreseeable future, as long as transmissible virus strains are flying about the community. If they suddenly become available on the marketplace I’ll be buying N95 masks also too.
Tom Levenson
@different-church-lady: I have been spending a fair amount of time on medical appointments lately, to good effect, fortunately (and not related to COVID). I can say by personal experience that the MGH-Brigham staff are mostly wearing ordinary masks, not N95s, which are reserved, I believe, for those coming into contact with the most risk.
Ruckus
@Barbara:
It likely would, as if you get infected your body knows to reject it rapidly and not support the virus so your possible exposure time to others is very short. Yes, you could likely expose someone to the disease, but far fewer people than without the vaccine. It’s partially how vaccination works to lower the infection rate, IOW effectively killing the virus’s transmission time. And of course it snowballs, the more vaccinated, the less opportunities for transmission, the less opportunities, the fewer transmissions, the pandemic dies. That is why it is so important to get the maximum number of people vaccinated asap. There is still some danger for very susceptible people, which is why the started inoculating old farts (like me) first.
Ruckus
@namekarB:
Hilarious.
OK it’s not actually long run funny, because republicans these days seem to be contrarian for no other reason than being contrarian. Nothing has to be real or positive, just contrary. It’s likely that kids would be killed if democrats said you shouldn’t eat your children. There is no logical stance by republicans, just contrary ones.