Folks—as much as life is unpredictable, we should try to have empathy for others & show kindness to strangers—and to help each other whenever we can when others in need. I was given a second chance in life, so I believe in karma & paying it forward. 🙏
Many folks don’t understand why I tweet. Some think I’m a fearmonger, or think I’m some opportunist, or think I’m a CCP spy. They are wrong. ➡️instead, this is who I am—I was given a second shot at life—saving lives & public health is my life mission: well.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/12/08/a-w…
3) I did this in Jan 2020 at great personal cost and professional peril… but I did it anyway. Maybe history one day will be more kind. nymag.com/intelligencer/…
UPDATE: 5x COVID hospitalizations increase ⬆️ in 2 weeks in Gauteng Province 🇿🇦, #Omicron epicenter. This is an increase from 3x over the weekend (for same 2 week period). Partial report of latest week also suggests hospitalizations are accelerating. 🧵 #COVID19 (from @nicd_sa)
2) first noticed this worrisome trend on Sunday. It’s grown from ~400 to now 647 with updated hospital admissions numbers.
📊QUESTION—If certain scientists out there have data on the vaccine efficacy of #Omicron—it’s preliminary but solid enough that some world leaders have just been briefed about it… ➡️ should the scientists share it immediately with the public? #B11529
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Leaving this here…
“Existing #COVID19 jabs will struggle against the #Omicron variant & it will take months to develop a new shot that works, the head of US vaccine manufacturer Moderna, Stephane Bancel, has told FT. Solid data coming in 2 weeks. france24.com/en/live-news/2…
LISTEN UP—The world needs to hear the voices of South African scientists calling for help. I sure have. If South African scientists can’t work, then the world suffers. I call on world leaders to lift travel bans (its too late now)—& instead use ✈️ border entry tests. 🙏 @Tuliodna
2) I’ve recently called for international arrivals testing instead of travel bans. Given #Omicron is worldwide already now, it’s the most fair thing to do. Lift the bans - use entry testing, followup testing, and short term quarantine if necessary.
Hundreds of ✈️ passengers that landed in Amsterdam🇳🇱 (61 COVID, 13 #Omicron) were crammed for hours together with “no masks, no distancing—300 of us in a waiting room which was not very large, tight against each other." Negatives just released—no followup! francetvinfo.fr/sante/maladie/…
2) Confirmed by also NYT reporter who was there. All crammed in unventilated room without mask compliance. What a mess
3) These passengers waited 6 hours on the tarmac and then 10 hours for their test results - all while many gave up on masks. And they they were all released no quarantine. I’m going to say this was a complete screw up of Netherlands 🇳🇱 govt.
⚠️TRIPLING HOSPITALIZATIONS IN 2 WEEKS—In #Omicron epicenter of Gauteng Province, South Africa🇿🇦, there is more than **tripling of #COVID19 hospitalizations** in 2 weeks—➡️ from 135 hospital admissions to 418. This is data directly from 🇿🇦’s CDC @nicd_sa🧵 nicd.ac.za/diseases-a-z-i…
2) here is the exact #COVID19 hospitalizations breakdown for Gauteng Province by both public and private hospitals. It’s increasing equally - tripling in both classes of hospitals. This is not just a surveillance issue. Trust the @nicd_sa data first. nicd.ac.za/diseases-a-z-i…
3) breakdown many #COVID19 patients currently hospitalized / in ICU / on ventilator in Gauteng 🇿🇦—747 hospitalized, 57 in ICU, and 23 on a ventilator. @nicd_sa doesn’t give the time series for all of these. It’s still early. Less hope it doesn’t rise further.
📍”MARKED CHANGE”—In South Africa 🇿🇦: “Young people, in their 20s to late 30s, are coming in with moderate to severe disease, some needing intensive care. About 65% are not vaccinated—most of the rest are only half-vaccinated”. ➡️#GetVaccinatedNow#Omicronpbs.org/newshour/healt…
2) Yes I’m aware of conflicting reports. But I’m citing PBS / AP - reputable sources. The disinfo on other side saying it’s “mild” is from manipulating quotes.
3) Here is the full context of those who claimed it was “mild”. Different doctors see diff patients. I know for a fact that hospitalizations are rising in the Gauteng epicenter province. I’ll share a graph later.