COVID-19 Outbreak Information Updates (Reboot) [over 150.000,000 US cases (est.), 6,422,520 US hospitilizations, 1,148,691 US deaths.] (2 Viewers)

[nolaswede]

Looks like Louisiana hospitalizations are holding steady just below the 2200 mark for the last 5 days or so. Still 800 or so below the delta peak. Would seem that we're just about through the worst of it. Fingers crossed.

I keep looking for the latest numbers from Orleans Parish. I haven’t seen anything since Jan 14th!

 

[faceman]

I keep looking for the latest numbers from Orleans Parish. I haven’t seen anything since Jan 14th!

long weekend with the Monday holiday most likely the reason

 

[bonnjer]

This is encouraging.

 

[Optimus Prime]

Not really Covid related - but didn't need its own thread either
=======================================

A pastor from a megachurch in Tulsa, Oklahoma, faced a wave of criticism online over video of him rubbing spit on a worshipper’s face.
During a sermon on Sunday, Michael Todd, a 34-year-old lead pastor at Transformation church, spat into his hand twice.

“Receiving vision from God might get nasty,” he said, before turning to the man on the stage.

The incident came about 40 minutes into a two-hour service, when Todd discussed Mark 8:22-25, a Bible passage in which Jesus restores a blind man’s sight in the village of Bethsaida by rubbing spit on to his eyes.

The parishioner in Tulsa was identified as Todd’s brother, Brentom Todd. When Todd rubbed his hands on to his brother’s face, the audience let out an audible gasp.

Todd responded: “How you just reacted is how the people in your life will react when God is doing what it takes for the miracle.”

As clips went viral, Todd faced a wave of criticism online. Many condemned his actions as an ill-advised publicity stunt at a time when Covid-19 cases continue to rise across the US.

Just in the last 14 days, according to the New York Times Covid-19 tracker, cases rose by 287% in Oklahoma alone............

MSN

www.msn.com

 

[DaveXA]

Not really Covid related - but didn't need its own thread either
=======================================

A pastor from a megachurch in Tulsa, Oklahoma, faced a wave of criticism online over video of him rubbing spit on a worshipper’s face.
During a sermon on Sunday, Michael Todd, a 34-year-old lead pastor at Transformation church, spat into his hand twice.

“Receiving vision from God might get nasty,” he said, before turning to the man on the stage.

The incident came about 40 minutes into a two-hour service, when Todd discussed Mark 8:22-25, a Bible passage in which Jesus restores a blind man’s sight in the village of Bethsaida by rubbing spit on to his eyes.

The parishioner in Tulsa was identified as Todd’s brother, Brentom Todd. When Todd rubbed his hands on to his brother’s face, the audience let out an audible gasp.

Todd responded: “How you just reacted is how the people in your life will react when God is doing what it takes for the miracle.”

As clips went viral, Todd faced a wave of criticism online. Many condemned his actions as an ill-advised publicity stunt at a time when Covid-19 cases continue to rise across the US.

Just in the last 14 days, according to the New York Times Covid-19 tracker, cases rose by 287% in Oklahoma alone............

MSN

www.msn.com

What the hell is wrong with people? I mean I was a minister for a lot of years, and rubbing my own spit in someone's face never once entered my mind.

Vision from God? I think not. Lol. At least it was his brother and not some random individual in the audience.

 

[Eeyore]

My coworker who needed a double lung transplant after COVID died tonight.

Was a healthy, late 30's with a wife and two young daughters.

 

[DaveXA]

My coworker who needed a double lung transplant after COVID died tonight.

Was a healthy, late 30's with a wife and two young daughters.

Damn, that's rough. So sad for his family. Reminds me of someone else who left his family far too soon.

 

[SaintInBucLand]

It appears an Israeli policy maker is issuing a mea culpa over failed policies there. I was wrong about leaders not admitting fault, based on this and others who have posted instances of them issuing statements where they have admitted their errors.

Israeli vaccine advisor: "We have made mistakes"

Professor Cyrille Cohen is head of Immunology at Bar Ilan University and a member of the advisory committee for vaccines for the Israeli Government. In a wide-ranging and forthright interview, the Professor tells Freddie Sayers: The Green Pass / vaccine passport concept is no longer relevant in...

unherd.com

 

[sammymvpknight]

What the hell is wrong with people? I mean I was a minister for a lot of years, and rubbing my own spit in someone's face never once entered my mind.

Vision from God? I think not. Lol. At least it was his brother and not some random individual in the audience.

To quote the great Chris Rock



“Whatever happened to crazy?”

 

[sammymvpknight]

My coworker who needed a double lung transplant after COVID died tonight.

Was a healthy, late 30's with a wife and two young daughters.

Sorry for you’re loss

 

[sammymvpknight]

Well…here I am…7 day of COVID and still have a positive antigen. Not too reassuring seeing all of those returning to work at day 5. My antigen level was violently positive at day 5. I highly doubt even my N95 would have made an enormous difference halting spread…and I absolutely would have went back to work if it wasn’t for that test result.

 

[bonnjer]

Well…here I am…7 day of COVID and still have a positive antigen. Not too reassuring seeing all of those returning to work at day 5. My antigen level was violently positive at day 5. I highly doubt even my N95 would have made an enormous difference halting spread…and I absolutely would have went back to work if it wasn’t for that test result.

Any symptoms remaining?

 

[Arathrael]

Well…here I am…7 day of COVID and still have a positive antigen. Not to reassuring seeing all of those returning to work at day 5. My antigen level was violently positive at day 5. I highly doubt even my N95 would have made an enormous difference halting spread…and I absolutely would have went back to work if it wasn’t for that test result.

On that subject, I saw a write-up about antigen tests earlier today that also covers Omicron duration:

Antigen Tests: Real World Data

Today, after 2 long years, antigen tests are finally available to Americans free of charge. (Actually, yesterday the system secretly went live. More than 900,000 got word and flooded the site in a few hours). Each household can order up to 4 tests on

yourlocalepidemiologist.substack.com

References a few studies covering Omicron duration, indicating a range of times for clearing it across individuals, with one study showing "Roughly 50% of people still had a high viral levels at Day 5 (meaning they were likely infectious)", and UK data indicating "During a 5-day isolation period (and not using an antigen test), there is a 1 in 3 (31%) chance you’re still infectious." (although note that particular UK modelling study referenced was based on Delta data, not Omicron).

But it's pretty clear a significant number of people will still be infectious after five days. When the UK recently switched to being able to end isolation on day 6 with 2 consecutive negative rapid lateral flow results, the Department of Health and Social Care officially stated that "If you leave isolation on day 6, after 5 full days of isolation, between 20% and 30% of people are still infectious. The percentage of those released while infectious is reduced to around 7% if people have 2 consecutive negative tests and then leave isolation from day 6."

Even 7% is quite a lot of people. So yes, a lot of infectious people will be exiting isolation, even with negative tests, let alone positive ones.

I'd view that as too many, resulting in further preventable infections and an unnecessary increase in risk for vulnerable and immunosuppressed people, particularly given that presumably some of those people exiting isolation early while still infectious will be returning to healthcare settings.

But I suspect the calculation isn't about the individual risk, or the risk to those groups, but whether the perceived economic benefit from allowing people to leave isolation earlier outweighs the potential economic hit from additional further infections. And a crude estimate would indicate that while more people will end up isolating (due to more infections), they'll be isolating for less time each, resulting in collectively less time lost to isolation unless there was a very high number of further infections. And in specific areas, like healthcare, which are struggling due to very high numbers isolating, the same sort of calculation would suggest more staff availability overall despite further preventable infections.

So I suspect that's the trade-off being considered, and I'm guessing they view the increased risk to individuals as acceptable given vaccination availability. I'm not so sure, to put it mildly.

 

[sammymvpknight]

Any symptoms remaining?

Weird virus. I lost my smell/taste around day 5. I scarfed down salmon like it was nothing…that would have induced vomiting before COVID. I still have some fatigue/brain fog and sore throat. I have a sore in the back of my throat that causes discomfort while swallowing. I may have had mild chills/body aches yesterday, but it was also really cold so who knows. Almost ZERO cough or respiratory symptoms for that matter. It’s honestly like the tail end of Strep throat right now. Still much better than the first 3 days which was significant malaise and pounding headaches (like a bad, sustained migraine).

 

[DaveXA]

Weird virus. I lost my smell/taste around day 5. I scarfed down salmon like it was nothing…that would have induced vomiting before COVID. I still have some fatigue/brain fog and sore throat. I have a sore in the back of my throat that causes discomfort while swallowing. I may have had mild chills/body aches yesterday, but it was also really cold so who knows. Almost ZERO cough or respiratory symptoms for that matter. It’s honestly like the tail end of Strep throat right now. Still much better than the first 3 days which was significant malaise and pounding headaches (like a bad, sustained migraine).

Hope it clears up soon. Take care man!