COVID Update September 26: The highway day of new cases in over a month.
But the president is not talking about that. 1/
With 200,000 lives lost, it would be great to say the worst is behind us. All I can say is the worst is still in charge. 2/
A new study shows 9% of Americans have been infected with COVID. Despite the fact the Rand Paul believes otherwise, we are no where close to herd immunity. 3/
Rand reminds me of the famous expression: “Never listen to a libertarian eye doctor for advice on a pandemic.”
I never knew what that expression meant and now it seems so obvious! 4/
200,000 people died and only 9% of the public has been infected.
A year from now will those 9% have immunity? We don’t know.
We still don’t understand what immunity is conferred, how long it lasts, and how many strains are covered. 5/
Message for “herders” (pick one: herd immunity, herd mentality, or herd thinner): 200,000 lives is too high a price to pay.
Even if we cut the death rate in half, which I believe we can, the cost of 50% immunity is another 400,000 American lives. 6/
“Don’t worry. It’s only old people” the herders say.
Only 10% of WHITE people who died are <65.
...but 30% of BLACK people who dies are >65.
Guessing most of the herders are as white as Rand Paul. 7/
“But hey it’s only college kids. Stop worrying about them. They don’t get sick.” A new study finds there is a 1-2 week lag from when young adults get COVID to when people over 60 get COVID. 8/
Remember all the armchair epidemiologists when Florida started leading the country in cases?
“But no one is getting hospitalized or dying!”
And then they led in hospitalizations. And then deaths. 9/
I say this to at least 5 people/week.
“No, you can’t isolate older people.”
Or people with a disability. Or people immunocompromised.
It is a fantasy of people who prefer not to sacrifice. 10/
So as the end of the first wave hits in the Midwest and in smaller counties around the country, a second wave is showing signs of starting in the Northeast.
Over 1000 new cases in New York today for the first time in months. 11/
Each time we get a wave, our recovery and response is worse. We start declining, people get relieved and break habits.
The very talented governors of Texas, Arizona, And Florida decoded “hey, cases are going down a bit. Open the bars!” 12/
The virus does not care about herders or truthers or deniers. About governors who don’t know better and don’t care.
And since Trump doesn’t care about the virus, it works out just perfectly for the virus and not so good for the rest of us. 13/
What does Trump care about?
Using the Justice Department to inappropriately end pre-existing conditions while signing something worthless saying he isn’t. 14/
What else?
Pretending to cut prescription drug costs while he sues to eliminate protection of the donut hole. 15/
What else?
Allowing hundreds of thousands to die unaccounted for while claiming to do an A+ job. 16/
Trump has a worse record on health care than the virus itself. 17/
“Ron DeSantis is taking the politics of being a bully to a different level,” Sykes tells me. “He’s decided he's going to move as hard and demagogically to the right as he can. He’s learned something from Donald Trump: you don’t need to be a nice guy.” 2/
Sykes says DeSantis is exploiting the culture wars in order to tap into Republicans’ grievances, and that the GOP sees the Florida governor as a “younger, smarter” but equally combative replacement for Trump. But DeSantis stands out from other conservatives for a reason. 3/
Some thoughts on using Twitter:
With Musk inviting back people who use the platform to threaten rape, to lie at scale & become whatever else his whims decide, here are some actions worth considering …
-Mute all advertisers in your feed. I’m not going to be a revenue source & don’t want those who advertise here to be encouraged.
-If you have a lot of followers or post a lot, consider moving the bulk of your content elsewhere. Post looks promising. (I’m @ASlavitt there.)
-I’m also on Mastadon to check it out & until Post is done with its waitlist & will eventually pick one.
-I continue to occasionally check the news feed here & promote things on Twitter minimally & will cross-post for a short time as people decide what they want to do.
COVID Update: It’s time for one as we look ahead to the winter.
The real question is whether we will have another 2021 with a lot of disruption— on a more modest wave— or nothing at all.
There is early data to help answer this question. 1/
Currently there are lots of Omicron sub-variants co-circulating around the globe.
Household names like:
BA.4.6
BQ1.1
XBB
While it’s all a little hard to follow, there’s something interesting about the nature of these variants. 2/
Variants: 1- These are all variants of Omicron. This is good. Better than dealing with a Delta variant emerging. Makes progression more closely resemble the flu. 2- Each are growing in different parts of the world without 1 being dominant. We could have a mix this winter.3/
NEW: COVID vaccines will now be recommended annually, with the flu shot.
I spoke to the White House yesterday about the plan. 1/
Rather than an ad hoc schedule which confuses many as to when to get vaccinated, the thinking is that an annual shot will result in many more people getting vaccinated.
They point to 2/3 of adults who take the flu vaccine vs 1/3 of adults over 50 who have been taking COVID. 2/
We have infrastructure, outreach, and habits that can be capitalized to get people their flu and COVID vaccines together.
This is the prime benefit.
But of course it comes with some questions they are preparing to address. 3/