daily COVID sitrep where you are

[Ever (Zombiepreparation)]

School just started. Full capacity, no precautions. Our ICUs are full already, and school hasn't been in session two weeks yet. Children's hospitals ICUs are full. Trauma ICUs are full of COVID.

Remember how hyperbolically bad the media was reporting on COVID last year for some reason and now they're not?

Well it's twice as bad as it ever was last year, right now, and schools have been open less than two weeks.

My Bestie is making tons of money in a COVID ICU right now and she's not busy making Tik Tok vids. They have 2-3 cardiac arrests a day, and a respiratory rapid response called every 15 minutes or so.

She says that if you're over 35 years old, and your BMI is over 40, and you're not vaccinated, and you get delta covid, you are going to die this round.

Damn

[Ever (Zombiepreparation)]

Looks like we're doing a bit of hovering right now. It'll take more time to see any indicators. Or a new event, like school starting maybe, to see how the wind's gonna blow for awhile in my county.

Friday August 20, 2021
Kansas

My county's 14 day rolling average:
- ↗ Average daily case count. 33.50
- ↗ Average positive rate. 4.6%
- ↘ Current active cases. 669
-  ↘ Current hospitalized. 15 (out of 24 ICU beds)
(since June 15th our hospital's COVID inpatients:
52 unvaccinated, 10 fully vaccinated, 3 partially)
- ↔ Total deceased 90
- ↗ Incidence rate per 100,000... 389.89

[Ever (Zombiepreparation)]

The university kids are back but they are not observing masking in Dillons.

Walmart employee standing at the door handing out masks to wear or don't enter.

Stats are still pretty much hovering BUT the numbers are moving the right direction in the last three updates, albeit slowly. 😎 Hoping this weekend's influx of 28,000+ careless uni kids don't negatively impact that. Giving it about two weeks for stats to respond to the influx. Fingers crossed.

Monday August 23, 2021
Kansas

My county's 14 day rolling average:
- ↘ Average daily case count. 33.29
- ↘ Average positive rate. 4.3%
- ↘ Current active cases. 640
-  ↗ Current hospitalized. 16 (out of 24 ICU beds)
- ↗ Total deceased 91
- ↘ Incidence rate per 100,000... 387.40


"If Sue and Tom are fully vaccinated and invited us over for dinner tomorrow, but they also invited Luke, Sam, and Trish, who, I think, are fully vaccinated, but I'm not sure about Trish, and I already texted 'sounds fun', but now I honestly think I'd much rather stay home and binge something on Netflix --- what should we do?"

[flybynight]

My wife reported all students at KSU were wearing masks. And we stopped at local Dillons and I would guess over half to two thirds wearing masks.

And now it's time to play  HOW MUCH DOES FLYBYNIGHT HATE TO WEAR MASKS ?

Flybynight hates to wear surgical/ cloth/ stupid fashionesqe masks  with logos this much
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
They are hot,obviously do not seal and my glasses are always fogged up and can hardley see.

Flybynight hates N-95 masks
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Glasses don't fog up when worn properly , but still hot, harder to breathe , expensive  and because of it's better filtration causes flybynight to reconsider his mouthwash choice.

Full face respirators . Hottest, heaviest, hardest to breathe in, face screen can still fog up in some environments , which hardly matters since I can't wear my glasses   and added to the bad breath smell is alcohol smell from repeated cleanings . Flybynight hates these most of all
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 

[lurkedthere]

Surgical masks are there to protect others. If you can't wear a mask, try a visor.

[RoneKiln]

A buddy of mine working in the ER room in the county south of me says they're getting overrun with severe covid cases. Nearly all of them are coming from a very small community up in the foothills of the Cascades.

Meanwhile, my area appears nearly untouched by the surge.

[sheddi]

Update from northern Hampshire, UK, Wednesday Aug 25, 2021.

Family:
We're still avoiding the bug. We're all taking home LFT tests and they keep coming back negative. We're wearing masks when out and about and trying to keep our distance from everyone.

My son is 17 and got his first jab today. He got Pfizer which is the only vax authorised for under-18s in the UK. His age group are only getting one dose for now, not two; this article explains why (reading between the lines, Pfizer vaccine is relatively scarce).

The relatives we visited last week? Well my 19-yo nephew (single-jabbed) and a group of his friends went to Boardmasters (a surf and music festival) shortly after we left. Of the six in his group, five caught COVID including him. News reports state the festival is linked to 5000 cases

Local area:
The local case rate is 279 cases per 100k people, pretty much flat from a week ago. Locally 86% of eligible adults have had one dose of vaccine (no change?) and 79% have had two doses (up 3%).

National:
The national case rate is 339 per 100k (up 12%), there have been 6200 hospital patients admitted in the past week (up 9%) and 743 COVID-related deaths (up 13%). Vaccination numbers are improvign slowly, 88% of adults 16+ have now had at least one dose and 77% have had two.

I'm in two minds about the case etc. numbers. In relative terms they're much lower than I feared they would be and the % of vax is looking pretty good but the rates are still rising. However events like Boardmasters prove that there is still a pandemic on and vax arent a perfect panacea. And in about two weeks the schools go back and all those little incubators will start mixing again, which isn't going to help at all

Edit: Schools in scotland have already gone back and there has been a commensurate surge in case numbers. Scotland's population of 5.5 million is similar to South Carolina or Minnesota, for context.

[Raptor]

I'm in two minds about the case etc. numbers. In relative terms they're much lower than I feared they would be and the % of vax is looking pretty good but the rates are still rising. However events like Boardmasters prove that there is still a pandemic on and vax arent a perfect panacea. And in about two weeks the schools go back and all those little incubators will start mixing again, which isn't going to help at all

Edit: Schools in scotland have already gone back and there has been a commensurate surge in case numbers. Scotland's population of 5.5 million is similar to South Carolina or Minnesota, for context.

Good thought process.

IMO the # of cases is less relevant than the mortality and hospitalizations. I am not concerned if people get COVID. I am concerned if they have a serious case of COVID. That is the risk.

That position may generate some flak for me...but here is my logic.
COVID is not going anywhere any more than the "common" cold and annual influenza are eliminated. We need to get used to it and adapt our practices to that fact. We tried shutting down the world to make it go away. Obviously that did not work nor would any thinking person assume it would. COVID is not going any place. Plan accordingly.

IMO vaccines are not the panacea promised. In fact vaccines never are panaceas. They are tools and like any tools they are subject to failures and then it becomes a risk vs reward calculation for people. (I am not saying they do not work, or dangerous or safe for that matter only that they have a failure rate that is documented as part of the approval process and are not "magic bullets".)

We need to focus our efforts on severe cases and people more likely to get a severe complication from COVID. Measles (as well as small pox, tuberculosis and others) used to be a really big deal up to the point of the the vaccine was developed (one the "m" in MMR vaccination) it killed people and is/was virulent but the world went on and people did what they could to avoid it.
https://vaxopedia.org/2018/03/15/a-history-of-measles-outbreaks-in-united-states/




Time to practice some of the common sense lessons learned from these viruses.
If you are sick Stay Home!
If you are vulnerable and at risk, Stay Home!
Do not assume everyone nearby is healthy, Keep your distance!
Carry on with your life.

 

[Ever (Zombiepreparation)]

Update from northern Hampshire, UK, Wednesday Aug 25, 2021.

Family:
We're still avoiding the bug. We're all taking home LFT tests and they keep coming back negative. We're wearing masks when out and about and trying to keep our distance from everyone.

So good to continue to hear this welcomed news about you & yours.

My son is 17 and got his first jab today. He got Pfizer which is the only vax authorised for under-18s in the UK. His age group are only getting one dose for now, not two; this article explains why (reading between the lines, Pfizer vaccine is relatively scarce).

At least the research data I run into these days is currently 'seeming' to lean towards a needed much wider gap between dose 1 & 2 is increasing the immune system boost since you are suspecting current scarcity.

The Guardian
"In a study funded by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), researchers have found that when compared with a four-week gap, a 10-week interval between the doses produces higher antibody levels, as well as a higher proportion of a group of infection-fighting cells in the body known as "helper" T-cells."

The relatives we visited last week? Well my 19-yo nephew (single-jabbed) and a group of his friends went to Boardmasters (a surf and music festival) shortly after we left. Of the six in his group, five caught COVID including him. News reports state the festival is linked to 5000 cases

I keep shaking my head and wondering Why these venues continue, and Why people attend. 😄 I know I particularly err on the side of caution, but for these kinds of venues to continue at this time is beyond me. It's not like this hasn't all happened before with the same results 🤒 every. single. time.

National:
... 88% of adults 16+

ROTFLOL

I'm in two minds about the case etc. numbers. In relative terms they're much lower than I feared they would be and the % of vax is looking pretty good but the rates are still rising. However events like Boardmasters prove that there is still a pandemic on and vax arent a perfect panacea.

Yup. I still remember when the criterion was death/not death. Ancient history now.

Growing data and studies in progress are indicating that is just the tip of the covid health damaging iceberg of 'after recovery', even only mild cases.

Schools in scotland have already gone back and there has been a commensurate surge in case numbers. Scotland's population of 5.5 million is similar to South Carolina or Minnesota, for context.

In children too
"At least five hospitals in the U.S. have started pediatric long-haul clinics to help kids with lingering COVID-19 illness."

You do have it going on with your personal and family contagion hygiene though, Sheddi. And, seriously, free in home testing every week! Who do you guys think you are? The UK?

Oh wait. You are.

😂 😅 😄


(more on covid long haul in COVID chat thread Here. )

[Mr. E. Monkey]

I was informed yesterday that I may have been exposed.  My boss' daughter tested positive, and he and I both had what felt like a stomach bug or something just the other day.  He's not in the office.  I was feeling ill, so got tested this morning--it came back negative, no covid, no flu.


Having an autoimmune disorder, and having had other health issues, I'm somewhat high risk, so I got the J&J, but figured I should still get tested, to make sure.

[Ever (Zombiepreparation)]

👍 👏
Dodged a bullet 😎

👍

Feel better soon!

[Ever (Zombiepreparation)]

Family:
We're still avoiding the bug. We're all taking home LFT tests and they keep coming back negative. We're wearing masks when out and about and trying to keep our distance from everyone.

Dang, the UK was on my news feed 'again' praising everything you are hitting the mark on: LFT, testing and tracing, and all the significant research coming from you guys!

I'm telling ya, UK is rockin' it. <eyes turning a bit green with envy>

Sayyy... if I win the lottery you wouldn't have room for one more would ya?!! I'll bring my winnings to sweeten the pot for ya.

[sheddi]

Sayyy... if I win the lottery you wouldn't have room for one more would ya?!! I'll bring my winnings to sweeten the pot for ya.

lol you'd be better off moving Downunder; both NZ and Aus have done a much better job than the UK has! The main edge we've got is that our biomedical labs have been sequencing COVID variants forever (at one stage the UK had run more sequences than the rest of the world combined, and we're still only second to the US in total number of sequences).

[Mr. E. Monkey]

👍 👏
Dodged a bullet 😎

👍

Feel better soon!

Thanks, I appreciate that!


Truthfully, though, I'm not entirely sure if I dodged it, or if my body armor (vaccine) took the hit.  Either way, knowing that taking that hit is less likely to be as dangerous because of the vaccine is reassuring.  Taking proper precautions to avoid the hit is even better, of course.

[Ever (Zombiepreparation)]

Friday August 27, 2021
Kansas
my county

Still basically hovering, which to me = Not Climbing. So, yeah, that's a 👍 thing.

Hospitalizations have dropped. We're five days into kid school back in session and University thousands returning here. (yep, I'm counting 😀 ) Fingers crossed and all.

My county's 14 day rolling average:
- ↘ Average daily case count. 33.79
- ↘ Average positive rate. 3.9%
- ⬆ Current active cases. 702
- ⬇ Current hospitalized. 10 (out of 24 ICU beds)
- ↔ Total deceased 91
- ↘ Incidence rate per 100,000... 381.58

[lurkedthere]

BBC News - Covid: Delta twice as likely to need hospital care
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-58354342

An interesting article with a link to a new study published in The Lancet. Demonstrates the importance of being double jabbed.

[Ever (Zombiepreparation)]

Article here
School district in south-central Kansas has closed all of its public schools because of COVID-19 outbreaks less than two weeks after classes started.

The district of 1,500 students had made masks optional in classrooms.

School officials have to decide whether to hold classes during an outbreak, totally cancel school, or offer online education and risk the loss of state funding.

[Ever (Zombiepreparation)]

Monday August 30, 2021
Kansas:
Public health reported that there have been 107 collective breakthrough cases since vaccinations began. Twenty-nine patients were vaccinated with Janssen, 55 with Moderna and 23 with Pfizer.

Drat. I got Moderna.


My county's 14 day rolling average is still looking good aside from a jump in hospitalizations over the weekend.
- ↘ Average daily case count. 30.43
- ↘ Average positive rate. 3.2%
- ↘ Current active cases. 672
- ⬆ Current hospitalized. 14 (out of 24 ICU beds)
- ↔ Total deceased 91
- ↘ Incidence rate per 100,000... 354.14

[lurkedthere]

Public health reported that there have been 107 collective breakthrough cases since vaccinations began. Twenty-nine patients were vaccinated with Janssen, 55 with Moderna and 23 with Pfizer.

Drat. I got Moderna.

You really need to know how many jabs of each vaccine type have been given. For example, if roughly half the people were given Moderna and the other half split between Pfizer and Janssen, then they are all doing roughly the same job.
Also, are these symptomatic infections or hospitalisations? UK data suggests the vaccines are highly effective at preventing the latter.

[RoneKiln]

Public health reported that there have been 107 collective breakthrough cases since vaccinations began. Twenty-nine patients were vaccinated with Janssen, 55 with Moderna and 23 with Pfizer.

Drat. I got Moderna.

You really need to know how many jabs of each vaccine type have been given. For example, if roughly half the people were given Moderna and the other half split between Pfizer and Janssen, then they are all doing roughly the same job.
Also, are these symptomatic infections or hospitalisations? UK data suggests the vaccines are highly effective at preventing the latter.

It's also near impossible to draw conclusions about the general population and effectiveness of vaccines with such a small number of cases. Such a small number can be heavily skewed by random chance.