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Post by kerouac2 on Jul 29, 2021 19:44:07 GMT
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Post by htmb on Jul 29, 2021 19:44:20 GMT
Even though the governor of Florida is an idiot, things seem to be swiftly changing in my local community. Covid rates are soaring statewide because of the Delta variant. While many are following the governor’s lead to exercise their "right" not to be vaccinated or restricted, I noticed a big change in my city while running errands this morning. Though they’re not mandated, lots and lots of folks were wearing masks indoors again (both employees and customers): hardware store, grocery store, coffee shop, and post office. I also heard today the governor of New York will be requiring vaccination for all health care workers who deal directly with patients. Other states and corporations are following suit and I can’t tell you how many times Macron’s recent efforts in France have been cited as an example of good pandemic leadership. I wouldn’t be surprised if vaccinations or recent negative tests were soon required for traveling on US domestic flights.
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Post by kerouac2 on Jul 29, 2021 19:58:07 GMT
One of the main things in the French press is the incomprehension of the UK making a special danger category for France -- amber plus -- and France is the one and only country in this category. All of the rest of Europe has just been exempted from covid quarantine, but France is still subject to a 10 day quarantine. Why? Because of the Beta (not Delta) variant. It is extremely rare in France, but the UK says it fears contamination due to the fact that it is present in Réunion and that France applies no restrictions for travel between the mainland and Réunion.
I did see that some of the British press were comparing this to putting the UK on a blacklist because of travel to the Falkland Islands. (And no, I do not find the comparison valid since nobody lives in the Falkland Islands.)
However, everybody seems to agree that there is something odd on the British agenda for singling out France, its most important connection to the continent.
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Post by lugg on Jul 29, 2021 20:20:43 GMT
As ever my measure for the current situation in England is how many people have been hospitalised in the last week. Numbers remain low but seem to be rising. What is more worrying though ( and you have to understand Paediatric HDU /ITU beds are limited generally) is a struggle regionally/nationally to find HDU/ITU beds for teenagers with Covid . Hopefully the numbers are so small it is just a blip in the statistics .
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Post by bixaorellana on Jul 30, 2021 3:30:43 GMT
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Post by tod2 on Jul 30, 2021 7:27:05 GMT
Relief!! Yesterday my son and his partner received their vaccine jabs. My son really wanted it to be Pfizer but that has now been kept for second doses only so they had the J&J. I'm glad they went within a week of the new age limit. My son is 43 and she is 35. I am hoping he can persuade all our staff to get the jab - It would be nice advertising to be able to put up a sign saying "Äll our Staff are vaccinated"
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Post by kerouac2 on Jul 30, 2021 9:45:33 GMT
That would definitely make a great sign for the store.
What will be even better will be when there is no longer any need for such things.
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Post by Kimby on Jul 30, 2021 13:19:40 GMT
These new variants are proof that evolution is real.
So far, the Delta variant has evolved to the point where it can enlist healthy vaccinated people to carry the virus to others who for whatever reason haven’t been vaccinated.
Heaven help us if it further evolves to make vaccinated people sick. Then it would truly be a plague, killing off many more millions.
But a “smart” microbe doesn’t kill off its host, or it dies out itself.
This isn’t over, and we are in a world of hurt if we don’t stop this soon. The unvaccinated are a reservoir of hosts in which new variants will continue to develop. It may already be too late to stop it.
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Post by tod2 on Jul 30, 2021 14:15:43 GMT
Very scarey - I believe Israel is giving people the third jab now.
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Post by bjd on Jul 30, 2021 14:26:29 GMT
These new variants are proof that evolution is real. So far, the Delta variant has evolved to the point where it can enlist healthy vaccinated people to carry the virus to others who for whatever reason haven’t been vaccinated. Heaven help us if it further evolves to make vaccinated people sick. Then it would truly be a plague, killing off many more millions. But a “smart” microbe doesn’t kill off its host, or it dies out itself. This isn’t over, and we are in a world of hurt if we don’t stop this soon. The unvaccinated are a reservoir of hosts in which new variants will continue to develop. It may already be too late to stop it. In today's NY Times, there is an article about Covid. The author says that so far, what we should learn is humility because a lot of assumptions that have been made have not been borned out by the evidence. " Britain has become another example. The Delta variant is even more contagious than Alpha, and it seemed as though it might infect every unvaccinated British resident after it began spreading in May. Some experts predicted that the number of daily cases would hit 200,000, more than three times the country’s previous peak. Instead, cases peaked — for now — around 47,000, before falling below 30,000 this week."Over the course of this pandemic, I have found one of my early assumptions especially hard to shake. It’s one that many other people seem to share — namely, that a virus always keeps spreading, eventually infecting almost the entire population, unless human beings take actions to stop it. And this idea does have crucial aspects of truth. Social distancing and especially vaccination can save lives.
But much of the ebb and flow of a pandemic cannot be explained by changes in human behavior. That was true with influenza a century ago, and it is true with Covid now. An outbreak often fizzles mysteriously, like a forest fire that fails to jump from one patch of trees to another.
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Post by htmb on Jul 30, 2021 15:14:34 GMT
I totally understand your feelings and can relate, Huckle.
We are friends with a young couple who live in Arizona. They were responsibly vaccinated and have tried to do all the right things. However, their four year-old son caught covid and, while he was never hospitalized, he was extremely ill. At the same time, the father tested positive, but was been asymptomatic. They’ve had a horrible time of it, but the child seems to now be on the mend.
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Post by kerouac2 on Jul 30, 2021 15:25:25 GMT
I have been pleased to read the articles about the change of heart of covid sufferer Phil Valentine, a conservative radio host in Memphis who was mocking the vaccine programmes... until now.
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Post by Kimby on Jul 30, 2021 18:11:43 GMT
Florida’s governor is worse than an idiot. He’s willfully ignorant (evilly so), and his obstruction of the truth is costing lives, AND will take down Florida’s economy too.
For example, his ban on cruise ships making port visits if they require all passengers to be vaccinated. WTF is WRONG with him?
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Post by kerouac2 on Jul 30, 2021 18:25:40 GMT
I can't decide whether the governor of Florida or Texas is worse.
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Post by htmb on Jul 30, 2021 19:16:15 GMT
It’s a toss up, I think.
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Post by bixaorellana on Jul 30, 2021 21:29:07 GMT
They and all their ilk are cut from the same piece of hateful cloth.
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Post by casimira on Jul 31, 2021 15:44:19 GMT
Yesterday afternoon the Mayor of NOLA held a press conference and announced that effective immediately mandatory masking was required for all indoor businesses etc. The spike in numbers, largely due to the Delta variant and the influx of tourists and students roaming around without a mask and dining and drinking in restaurants and clubs/bars. I say this because this is what I have been seeing for myself and knew she was going to crack down. Casting blame on the aforementioned people who were abusing the rules may seem unfair but, all the full time residents and native population were following the rules and now are having to pay the price for others irresponsible behavior. Our local saloon/music club is requiring that in order to enter the establishment are required to show their vaccination card. Some restaurants are requiring the same. I knew we were headed back in to this mandate. It was just a matter of time.
This will impact the bars in particular because even with ample outdoor seating and courtyards to drink or dine, no one is going to sit out in 110F heat index temperatures. Ice cubes in their cocktails will melt after five minutes. It wasn't too bad back in the winter and springtime when the weather was pleasant and people were able to enjoy sitting outdoors. Economically, the impact will be devastating and many, many businesses will suffer. Some I know personally and they are worried sick that they won't be able to remain open and have enough business to keep them afloat. I know many, many service workers as well and their loss of income (mostly based on gratuities) may end up not being able to survive, pay rent on their apartments or houses etc.
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Post by kerouac2 on Aug 1, 2021 14:25:19 GMT
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Post by Kimby on Aug 1, 2021 15:07:17 GMT
Why am I not surprised that this vaccine-hesitant family also neglected to protect themselves with sunscreen at the beach in July?
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Post by tod2 on Aug 2, 2021 7:27:30 GMT
I guess this must just be useless propaganda since so many people are still not convinced that they need to be vaccinated. What hope in hell does Africa have if an educated person can turn down being vaccinated for whatever reason? I'll tell you. Absolutely no chance. The proof was given to me this morning when our gardener arrived for work. He went on his own to the vaccination center and got J&J, with a document of proof which he showed me. He was supposed to take/accompany his old mother, but she and a younger "helper" took a taxi at another time in the day. Halfway there "someone" convinced her that because of her old age the vaccine would kill her. She made the taxi turn around and take her home. So when our gardener asked her for the proof document, she owned up saying she never went. I have tried to explain in simple terms how Covid works to him so he can explain it to her. I am not sure he can convince her, but although she is at home most of the time, she does take a trip to town to queue up to receive her pension money. This is usually paid out at a supermarket till point if you also buy some groceries there. More queueing with no social distancing. The old and young coughing and breathing over each other. I have asked him to please try and talk her around and go with her and let a nurse or doctor explain how the vaccine works - hopefully she will agree to get the jab.
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Post by Kimby on Aug 4, 2021 12:53:32 GMT
Putting vaccine resistance in perspective:
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Post by kerouac2 on Aug 4, 2021 13:11:06 GMT
Excellent.
Meanwhile, in the category of Schadenfreude, one of the top 'classic' rap artists in France (meaning a star from the 1990s) has been ranting about the French health pass and his opposition to the fact that it is mandatory to attend concerts. Well, he is in intensive care in the hospital in Marseille with covid now.
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Post by bjd on Aug 4, 2021 15:14:54 GMT
I sometimes think these people who become well-known for denying covid and vaccines shouldn't even be treated in hospitals. There are enough other people who need care.
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Post by kerouac2 on Aug 4, 2021 19:43:14 GMT
France is giving 3 million doses of vaccine to Indonesia, which has just passed the 100,000 mark for deaths.
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Post by tod2 on Aug 5, 2021 10:51:01 GMT
I've got news for Kathony, there is no freedom of no-one ever being told what to do... The human race has been told what to do as immediate as exiting the womb. Our whole lives depend on others giving us directives. Even to the extent of robots telling us when to proceed and when to halt. I guess that's why we are (well most of us) not running around like headless chickens. Some countries take it to the extreme. I'm thinking of Britain with it's "Health and Safety" regulations. Some of them are just daft.
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Post by questa on Aug 5, 2021 14:06:16 GMT
Indonesia has no oxygen or medications to fight the disease.
Eastern Oz is out of control for the first time. Until now an outbreak was tracked and treated but like a bushfire it has jumped the road and is gaining strength. 5 deaths yesterday...some young.
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Post by tod2 on Aug 6, 2021 8:43:51 GMT
It's too frightening to even contemplate Questa....I am so grateful we are vaccinated which is no guarantee, but maybe ,just maybe, save our lives.
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Post by kerouac2 on Aug 6, 2021 9:47:35 GMT
I see that South Africa has a vaccination rate of 5.7% compared to 15.2% in Australia. Both quite dismal.
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Post by tod2 on Aug 6, 2021 9:54:37 GMT
Very very dismal but the man in the street would never know it. Every time our president comes onto TV he raves about how many thousands they have vaccinated.
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Post by questa on Aug 6, 2021 13:26:52 GMT
Ours is more stupid. When everybody was lining up for the shots he said ' we will wait for a month or so and see what happens' Result...he had to give away our stock of jabs because they were going out of date and now is trying to catch up with a bit from here and a bit from there and conflicting advice to cover his balls up. I think it will lose him the election in a few months time.
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