A Throwback of San Diego Zoo Safari Park Elephant Herd (Taken 7.9.20) |
Today has been a day. So much news. I was up all night and finally snuck in a couple hours of sleep while Nova was at camp, but it feels like today was never ended. Tons of COVID stuff to parse between science and opinions, lots more vaccination and mask requirements, including even the Catholic Diocese San Diego stepping in and asking priests NOT to endorse religious exemptions saying, "...the Holy See has made it clear that receiving the Covid vaccine is perfectly consistent with Catholic faith, and indeed laudatory in the light of the common good in this time of pandemic." It goes on, "In addition, since the declaration (by Colorado Diocese) focuses its moral analysis so exclusively on the rights of the individual to his or her choice and personal benefit in society, rather than balancing those realities with the pursuit of the common good in a time of pandemic, it presents a radically incomplete picture of Catholic teaching..."
I was also feeling ranty this morning but decided not to post it up top because I was probably delirious from not having gotten a wink all night. All this to say, my only time outta the house today was a nighttime dog walk, but I'm okay with it. My allergies were kicking in hot today, so I don't know if that's from the lack of sleep, the icky weather, or Delta symptoms in disguise, but I guess we'll try to go get tested tomorrow now that county capacity has ramped back up.
I've got a newsletter to send so I'm gonna call it a night. Lots of reading below.
Stay safe out there.
- COVID-19:
- Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: FDA Authorizes Additional Vaccine Dose for Certain Immunocompromised Individuals. Other fully vaccinated individuals do not need an additional vaccine dose right now. -FDA (8.12.21)
- Asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection: A systematic review and meta-analysis - PNAS (Preprint 8.24.21)
- Are COVID Symptoms Different With Delta? — As reports of milder cold-like illness surface, experts suggest testing to know for sure - MedPage Today (8.11.21)
- Seven People Tell Us What It's Like to Have Breakthrough COVID. The contagious nature of the Delta variant has meant breakthrough COVID cases are on the rise. Seven people tell us what it was like to have one. - Vice (8.11.21)
- Effectiveness of Covid-19 Vaccines against the B.1.617.2 (Delta) Variant - NEJM (8.12.21)
- Breakthrough COVID-19 infection risk may differ with vaccine type, early Mayo Clinic research suggests - Becker's Hospital Review (8.12.21)
- How to keep kids in school - Popular.Info (8.12.21)
- My Kids’ School Won’t Reinstate Masks Despite a Recent Surge in COVID Cases. Here’s What I Chose to Do. Georgia’s Cobb County School District had parents choose between virtual and in-person learning, then lifted its mask mandate. Many families are frantically figuring out how to navigate this reality. ProPublica reporter Nicole Carr is one of them. - ProPublica (8.12.21)
- More Vaccine Requirements:
- NEA announces support for educator vaccine and testing requirement. 90 percent of NEA members report they are already vaccinated - National Education Association (8.12.21)
- Vaccine required: From August 20, you must show proof of vaccination to go into bars, restaurants, clubs and gyms. - San Francisco Dept of Public Health (8.12.21)
- City announces new mask mandate for Philadelphians - Philadelphia Dept of Public Health (8.12.21)
That means that for businesses and institutions that do not require everyone who enters to be vaccinated, everyone on site will be required to wear a mask.
Masks will be required at all non-seated outdoor events in Philadelphia with more than 1,000 attendees. - AEG to Implement Full Vaccination Mandate for Concert Attendees and Staff. Policy goes into full effect October 1 “to allow time for any eligible unvaccinated ticketholders and staff to reach fully vaccinated status should they choose to do so” - Pitchfork (8.12.21)
- Scientists fear UK COVID cases may surge after summer lull - Assoicated Press/Stars & Stripes (8.12.21)
- Politics:
- California Justices Won’t Limit Governor’s Emergency Powers - AP News/kpbs (8.11.21)
- Mayor Gloria Signs Legislation to Invest $293 Million in Infrastructure Citywide - Mayor Todd Gloria News Room (8.12.21)
- The funding breaks down into these categories:
- Public safety: $97.7 million
- Mobility and transportation: $59.4 million
- Environmental services: $50.4 million
- Stormwater: $49.6 million
- Parks and recreation: $20.7 million
- City facilities: $14.7 million
- Information technology: $550,000
- GAO Faults DHS for Failing to Designate Jan. 6 as a Protected Event in Advance of Attack. Department erroneously considered activities at the Capitol “routine congressional business,” GAO report says - Just Security (8.10.21)
- White House:
- Press Briefing by White House COVID-19 Response Team and Public Health Officials
- Statement of President Joe Biden on the Fourth Anniversary of the Events at Charlottesville, Virginia
- Remarks by President Biden at Virtual Meeting with Elected Officials to Discuss the Importance of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
- FACT SHEET: Build Back Better Investments in Care Will Boost Economic Growth and Help Businesses Thrive
- FACT SHEET: President Biden Calls on Congress to Lower Prescription Drug Prices
- United States to Host Ninth Summit of the Americas in 2022
- US Census Bureau:
- State Department:
- Secretary Blinken and Secretary Austin’s Call with Afghan President Ghani - (8.12.21)
- Secretary Blinken Meeting with Qatari Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Al-Thani - (8.12.21)
- HHS:
- Secretary Becerra to Require COVID-19 Vaccinations for HHS Health Care Workforce. (8.12.21)
- Becerra: ‘Our Number One Goal Is the Health and Safety of the American Public, Including Our Federal Workforce’
Action Will Impact More Than 25,000 Workers at IHS, NIH, and Members of the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps
- News:
- Consumer Price Index Summary - US Dept of Labor (8.11.21)
- California Consumer Price Index (8.11.21)
- County Permit Refunds Provide More Pandemic Assistance to Restaurants - County News Center (8.12.21)
- SATURDAY "Walk-ins" Birth Certificates for Back to School & Other Vital Records Only - County of San Diego
- The San Diego County Recorder Ernie Dronenburg will be offering expanded office hours with a Saturday “no appointment necessary” walk-in day on August 14, 2021, to meet pent-up pandemic period demand for birth, death, and marriage certificates (all vital records). Currently, the office requires appointments during the week, but this event will not require appointments for what Dronenburg has dubbed “Vital Records Day.” The Saturday walk-in services is only offered at the Recorder’s Chula Vista, San Marcos, and Santee locations.
- San Diego Recorder Dronenburg is proud to offer these additional services to meet the unusually high demand from the back-to-school season (birth certificates are required to register) and for folks getting back to work. Customers can walk-in to select locations on “Vital Records Day” between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. to receive a copy of their birth, death, and marriage certificates.
- Bishop McElroy asks priests to decline requests for exemption from vaccine mandate - Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego (8.11.21)
- Related: “We have all experienced the joy and blessings of not having to wear masks over these last few months. However, in the wake of the delta variant, we are asking pastors to recommend that parishioners, once again, wear their masks when inside parish buildings. Those who have been vaccinated are encouraged to wear their masks as an act of charity.
- “Additionally, we ask pastors to continue to invite parishioners to be vaccinated.
- “Let us continue to offer our prayers for those who have died by COVID-19 and for those who are currently affected by the delta variant.”
- Other Reading:
- Anatomy of an Officer-Involved Explosion: a Post-Mortem on LAPD’s E. 27th Street Fireworks Blast. A year ago, a councilmember co-authored a motion to shift $150mil from LAPD's budget. A month ago, LAPD called everyone but his office to watch them detonate fireworks in his district. The explosion rocked the city. -StreetsblogLA (8.11.21)
- California college responds after GOP student group makes fun of Army veteran over mask video - The Fresno Bee/Stars & Stripes (8.12.21)
- How The Pandemic Now Ends: Cases of COVID-19 are rising fast. Vaccine uptake has plateaued. The pandemic will be over one day—but the way there is different now. - The Atlantic (8.12.21)
- Global COVID-19 Stats (JHU 8.12.21 11:24pm):
- 205,423,988 Known Cases
- 4,334,773 Known Deaths
- US COVID-19 Stats
- CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Data Tracker
- JHU
- 36,306,917 Cases/2,331,082 28-day new cases
- 619,093 Deaths/10,793 28-day new deaths
- CDC Data Tracker:
- +131,917 New Cases/36,268,057 Known Cases
- +622 New Deaths/617,096 Known Deaths
- 411,253,925 Doses Delivered
- 353,859,894 Doses Administered
- 196,505,543 Partially Vaccinated
- 167,354,729 Fully Vaccinated
- 50.4% of Total Population
- 59% of Population ≥ 12 Years of Age
- 61.3% of Population ≥ 18 Years of Age
- California COVID-19 Stats:
- State of California Safe Schools For All Hub
- Vaccination progress dashboard
- Coronavirus: Resources for Californians
- R-effective: 1.16
- 50,914,425 Doses Delivered/45,019,888 Doses Administered
- 3,412,551 Partially Vaccinated/21,720,275 Fully Vaccinated
- 10,450 New Cases/3,980,172 Total Cases (23.7 new cases/100k)
- 61 New Deaths/64,037 Total Deaths (+61 new deaths/100k)
- 6.5% 7-day test positivity rate
- 7,047 COVID-19 Hospitalizations (+40 patients, +0.6% from prior day)
- 1,555 COVID-19 ICU hospitalized in CA (+76 patients, +5.1% from prior day)
- 1,722 ICU beds available (-85 from prior day)
- San Diego County
- Free Testing Sites and Schedule in San Diego
- Vaccination Locations San Diego
- Vaccination Dashboard
- San Diego County Of Education School Reopening Dashboard
- COVID ActNow Daily Updates for San Diego Metro
- CDC Data:
- 1,493,166 Fully Vaccinated
- 44.7% of Total Population
- 52.1% of Population ≥ 12 Years of Age
- 53.1% of Population ≥ 18 Years of Age
- State Data:
- R-effective: 1.07
- 1,118 New Cases/309,406 Total Cases
- 8.6% (7-day avg after 7-day lag)
- 3 Deaths/3,818 Total Deaths
- 517 COVID-19 hospitalized patients (+10 patients, +2% from prior day)
- 115 COVID-19 ICU hospitalized patients (+2 patients, +1.8% from prior day)
- 182 ICU beds available (-19 from prior day)
- County Data:
- 1,216 New Cases/310,596 Total Cases
- 3 New Daily Deaths/3,821 Total Deaths
- 4.9% Daily Test Positivity8.4/% (7-day avg after 7-day lag)
- +46 Day Over Day COVID-19 Hospitalizations
- +1 Day Over Day COVID-19 ICU Patients
- Universities:
Another Rosey Rant:
On Wednesday, the LA Times ran a really dumb article titled, "California doing much better with Delta variant than Florida, Texas. Here’s why" It is so basic and idiotic that I'm not even going to give the link, though it's easy enough to find. Of course, they also ran a story the day before that said, "'This is not sustainable' California hospitals filling again as Delta variant rages." The click bait is what is unsustainable.
The first thing that came to mind for me was this rant I posted the other day. At the time (August 2nd), I said, "Of nearly 40Million Californians, 21.3Million are fully vaccinated and that is NOT ENOUGH. It gives Texas and Florida fuel to say, "see, California's numbers are rising, too" but these anti-vax and anti-mask and let them breathe and open everything jackholes are ruining everything for everyone." (The number as of 8/11 was 21,651,782 fully vaccinated, but the point remains) About 7M people in our state are children under 12 and if they haven't already, the 5-11year olds will be starting school in the next 2-3 weeks. It could get real bad, real quick, so let's maybe not declare victory in the middle of a war.
Let's not forget that while we're a blue state and I'd like to think we're reasonable humans who can wear a simple mask for everyone's good, 6 million people voted for that other guy, and by some estimates only about 1 in 3 people who voted for him has been or will get vaccinated. (The Red/Blue Divide in COVID-19 Vaccination Rates is Growing - KHN 7.8.21) And I know it is ageist, but let's assume for the most part that senior citizens, who have higher vax rates, aren't the people you're going to be interacting with at concerts or bars or even most of your hipster dining establishments or gyms. If you start playing with numbers, a different scenario plays out. Sure, most vaccinated people won't get breakthroughs and won't get super sick and won't die, but 18million people amongst us are not vaccinated. And that is a lot. Our unvaccinated population is greater than the population of 46 other states. It is more than the entire populations of New Mexico, Nebraska, Idaho, West Virginia, Hawaii, New Hampshire, Maine, Montana, Rhode Island, Delaware, South Dakota, North Dakota, Alaska, Vermont, and Wyoming COMBINED. (Data Source)
The reality is that while many of us eligible are getting vaxxed, wearing masks, watching our interactions with people outside our households, many people got the message that all is clear, and went right back to pre-pandemic life. The facts change because the virus has changed and the messaging has to constantly change, too. It is encouraging to see more vaccination and testing requirements being implemented by the minute - I've read that LA is drafting requirements for proof of vaccines for all indoor settings, and San Francisco and Philadelphia are in the fold now, too. If you've bought tickets to shows, keep an eye on your inbox because more and more artists are demanding vaccinations and/or testing and soon enough the venues will just have to follow suit if they don't take the lead. Add the support of the largest teachers' union to vax mandates (Largest teachers' union in U.S. now supports vaccine, testing requirements - Axios 8.12.21), military, DOD, VA, prisons, jails, federal employees et all and maybe it will continue to drive vax numbers but for holdouts, even if they get their first shot today, are six weeks out from vaccine protection, which pretty much means any declaration of success is premature. Maybe save the post-mortem for when we're actually out of this and not jump the gun. Again. /Rant
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