I’m very puzzled by India. So many younger people dying. Similar story in Brazil, with many pregnant women dying as well as a younger group of patients. The P.1 (Brazil) and B.1.617 variant(s) must be attacking the lungs quicker and with more lethal force, given that so many patients are requiring oxygen. Many of the patients are in their 30s, 40s, and 50s, and don’t look unfit or obese. Note, I am not an epidemiologist or a clinician. So, these are observations from a close observer of the pandemic.
At home cases nationwide are in decline. Hospitalizations have also begun to decrease again. Deaths haven’t yet followed suit, but should soon. Let’s hope the vaccines can keep the frightening variants from doing damage.
Finding myself super frustrated with people who refuse to get vaccinated. I know there’s varying numbers on herd immunity: if it actually works in the situation the world is in now (not how it works in an ideal setting), if it’s going to work in the “we will reach ideal setting once enough people who don’t get the vaccine die off.” I still feel like we are just going to be masks forever and certain times of the year is going to be more dangerous to travel/gather.
From what I’ve been hearing and reading lately, herd immunity will never be achieved after all. 🙁
As for masks, now that we can remove them when outdoors in public (for the most part) when will we be able to do the same in public indoor places?
I understand hesitancy in many instances. The only reason I absolutely do not understand is if it is politically motivated.
I’m very worried that the new variants are breaking through the vaccines. And the younger folks Joshua mentioned are terrifying.
I’ve heard some say it is only because older folks are vaccinated so the virus is going after the younger folks. That makes no sense to me at all. The virus cannot pick and choose its victims. And sadly with this monster,,they are victims.
Baker just said 70% of folks eligible for vaccines in MA have had their first vaccine. He has exaggerated before so I have no idea if that number is correct.
Krista, I am starting to get discouraged for the first time also. I think the ability of this virus to mutate quickly is terrifying as it seems no end is in sight.
New England is leading the charge towards herd immunity. After a rough start ALL 6 NE states are in the lead nationally in terms of doses administered per capita, AND percentage of adult population with at least one dose. In Europe, Old England is leading the charge.
The massive Asian outbreak is expanding to countries that had previously had things under control, including Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and even Bhutan and Nepal. Spread of the virus in Nepal is impacting the Mt. Everest base camp where climbers prepare for their ascent up the king of the mountains. The base camp is 17,000 feet above sea level. https://twitter.com/NPR/status/1390015884538830850
How do we achieve herd immunity against something that mutates so quickly? Or when someone says herd immunity, do they mean against the current prevalent strain?
Very hard to. I’m writing a piece about it right now. The mutant versions make it very difficult to achieve herd immunity, UNLESS the vaccines work against all known variants. Still a possibility. It’s being investigated right now.
Of course, you would still then need to overcome vaccine hesitancy. They say the magic number is somewhere around 70 to 80% vaccinated yields herd immunity.
While India’s caseload scored another astounding record today – 430,000 cases! – other nations in the region are also seeing spikes sending them into record territory. At least 10 nations in the region are also in record territory.
South America’s peak continues. It’s come down a bit in some countries, but risen in others. It’s essentially status quo continent-wide, which means plateauing at or near the peak.
In Europe Croatia and Sweden are recording very high daily case growth and absolute numbers, too, translating into higher hospitalizations and utilization of ICU.
North America is in definite decrease mode in Mexico and the U.S., which is good, and Canada appears to be just past peak, so ready to decline, also good.
If this means what I think it means, I am hugely in favor. What I think it means is protections re disclosing how vaccines are developed. Joshua?.
Philip, totally maskless – outdoors and indoors – probably not until some time in 2022. But it could happen sooner if we suppress the virus sufficiently through vaccination AND the vaccines work against all variants of concern.
On a personal note, I had my 2nd Pfizer shot on Monday and had zero side effects. Same with the 1st shot. I’ve had many shots in my life – flu jabs, MMR, tetanus, etc … – and I always have some kind of side effect and a very sore arm. With these shots I barely felt anything in my arm and had no side effects. In fact, I felt better than I normally do. I’m convinced they injected water into my veins. Or my body is saying, ” trying to trick me with that mRNA crap, well, you ain’t fooling me. I’m not going to produce antibodies until the real thing comes along, the real coronavirus.”
Although I know they didn’t inject water, Joshua, I am reading this and laughing out loud. Really laughing out loud.
Thank you, Joshua, for reposting your article. I absolutely agree with Biden. This may be too political, but I’m proud that he is keeping his head down and doing what is best not only for our country (see our strengthening economy which is just a start) AND our world
Tk….please don’t worry about approving the duplicate comment. The i was missing in my name so it went to moderation. I just copied and posted
C-19 for 5-6 is ready.
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Your no-hype southeastern New England weather blog!
I’m very puzzled by India. So many younger people dying. Similar story in Brazil, with many pregnant women dying as well as a younger group of patients. The P.1 (Brazil) and B.1.617 variant(s) must be attacking the lungs quicker and with more lethal force, given that so many patients are requiring oxygen. Many of the patients are in their 30s, 40s, and 50s, and don’t look unfit or obese. Note, I am not an epidemiologist or a clinician. So, these are observations from a close observer of the pandemic.
At home cases nationwide are in decline. Hospitalizations have also begun to decrease again. Deaths haven’t yet followed suit, but should soon. Let’s hope the vaccines can keep the frightening variants from doing damage.
Finding myself super frustrated with people who refuse to get vaccinated. I know there’s varying numbers on herd immunity: if it actually works in the situation the world is in now (not how it works in an ideal setting), if it’s going to work in the “we will reach ideal setting once enough people who don’t get the vaccine die off.” I still feel like we are just going to be masks forever and certain times of the year is going to be more dangerous to travel/gather.
From what I’ve been hearing and reading lately, herd immunity will never be achieved after all. 🙁
As for masks, now that we can remove them when outdoors in public (for the most part) when will we be able to do the same in public indoor places?
I understand hesitancy in many instances. The only reason I absolutely do not understand is if it is politically motivated.
I’m very worried that the new variants are breaking through the vaccines. And the younger folks Joshua mentioned are terrifying.
I’ve heard some say it is only because older folks are vaccinated so the virus is going after the younger folks. That makes no sense to me at all. The virus cannot pick and choose its victims. And sadly with this monster,,they are victims.
Baker just said 70% of folks eligible for vaccines in MA have had their first vaccine. He has exaggerated before so I have no idea if that number is correct.
Krista, I am starting to get discouraged for the first time also. I think the ability of this virus to mutate quickly is terrifying as it seems no end is in sight.
New England is leading the charge towards herd immunity. After a rough start ALL 6 NE states are in the lead nationally in terms of doses administered per capita, AND percentage of adult population with at least one dose. In Europe, Old England is leading the charge.
The massive Asian outbreak is expanding to countries that had previously had things under control, including Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and even Bhutan and Nepal. Spread of the virus in Nepal is impacting the Mt. Everest base camp where climbers prepare for their ascent up the king of the mountains. The base camp is 17,000 feet above sea level. https://twitter.com/NPR/status/1390015884538830850
How do we achieve herd immunity against something that mutates so quickly? Or when someone says herd immunity, do they mean against the current prevalent strain?
Very hard to. I’m writing a piece about it right now. The mutant versions make it very difficult to achieve herd immunity, UNLESS the vaccines work against all known variants. Still a possibility. It’s being investigated right now.
Of course, you would still then need to overcome vaccine hesitancy. They say the magic number is somewhere around 70 to 80% vaccinated yields herd immunity.
While India’s caseload scored another astounding record today – 430,000 cases! – other nations in the region are also seeing spikes sending them into record territory. At least 10 nations in the region are also in record territory.
South America’s peak continues. It’s come down a bit in some countries, but risen in others. It’s essentially status quo continent-wide, which means plateauing at or near the peak.
In Europe Croatia and Sweden are recording very high daily case growth and absolute numbers, too, translating into higher hospitalizations and utilization of ICU.
North America is in definite decrease mode in Mexico and the U.S., which is good, and Canada appears to be just past peak, so ready to decline, also good.
If this means what I think it means, I am hugely in favor. What I think it means is protections re disclosing how vaccines are developed. Joshua?.
https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/biden-says-plans-back-wto-waiver-vaccines-2021-05-05/
Joshua, when do you think masks will be able to be removed from at least some indoor public places (i.e., grocery stores, banks, arenas, etc.)?
Vicki, here’s an article I wrote on the IP protection issue last month. I updated it today with the news of the Biden Administration supporting a so-called TRIPS waiver. https://www.forbes.com/sites/joshuacohen/2021/04/01/biden-administration-weighs-temporarily-suspending-ip-protections-for-covid-19-vaccine-developers/
Philip, totally maskless – outdoors and indoors – probably not until some time in 2022. But it could happen sooner if we suppress the virus sufficiently through vaccination AND the vaccines work against all variants of concern.
On a personal note, I had my 2nd Pfizer shot on Monday and had zero side effects. Same with the 1st shot. I’ve had many shots in my life – flu jabs, MMR, tetanus, etc … – and I always have some kind of side effect and a very sore arm. With these shots I barely felt anything in my arm and had no side effects. In fact, I felt better than I normally do. I’m convinced they injected water into my veins. Or my body is saying, ” trying to trick me with that mRNA crap, well, you ain’t fooling me. I’m not going to produce antibodies until the real thing comes along, the real coronavirus.”
Although I know they didn’t inject water, Joshua, I am reading this and laughing out loud. Really laughing out loud.
Thank you, Joshua, for reposting your article. I absolutely agree with Biden. This may be too political, but I’m proud that he is keeping his head down and doing what is best not only for our country (see our strengthening economy which is just a start) AND our world
Tk….please don’t worry about approving the duplicate comment. The i was missing in my name so it went to moderation. I just copied and posted
C-19 for 5-6 is ready.