san diego: dialed in: CoViD-19: Delta Dominates; Deniers Die | No Time For Travel | 'Biden Blueprint' Passes House | Vote NO On California Recall

Mama and Baby Rhino at San Diego Zoo Safari Park (Taken 8.24.21)

I don't know if I mentioned it, but Nova is doing an Animal Conservation Camp with the San Diego Zoo. It was one of the options through the Level Up summer options through San Diego Unified and the *FREE* program has been amazing for us. She did a month of band camp at Canyon Hills High School, then did a female leadership camp called Girls, Inc at Hoover, then her high school did three days of freshman orientation, and for her final week of summer, she gets to do Zoo Camp and I am sooo jealous. Monday and Tuesday were behind-the-scenes days at the Zoo, so they got to feed and scratch the necks of tortoises, go on the platform above the polar bears, and see the penguins from inside their enclosure. The next two days are at San Diego Zoo Safari Park and rumor has it they get to go to the Rhino Conservation Center, which is only kinda barely viewable by the tram and the rhinos are never out when we go in the afternoons. But my jealousy was eating at me so Darren and I went today.

Obviously she didn't want to come being that she's gonna be walking around for two days, but we wanted to hit a sunset there before this expected heat wave hits. We got there later than planned but in time to catch the last 5:15 tram of the day (which didn't actually depart until 5:30) but it was magical! It felt like all the animals were out in bunches and active and our tour guide Cody could hardly contain himself. There were even mule deer crossing the road as we wrapped up the tour. But the coolest thing was that he pointed out to us that another southern white rhino had a baby two days ago!! They were way up on the hill but now I feel like I want to go every day. (I won't)

The main crash was down by the tram plaza as we wrapped up, so I had low expectations, but sure enough when we got up to Kilima Point, there was a mom and babe rhino duo...I think Holly and Mwezi...and just me (and Darren who usually finds a quiet bench and reads on his phone.) It was awesome and special and made me forget about the sucky day and my sucky phone and sucky emails. I haven't done it in awhile, but photos at the end of this super depressing post full of super depressing news.

Stay safe out there.

COVID-19:

SARS-CoV-2 Infections and Hospitalizations Among Persons Aged ≥16 Years, by Vaccination Status — Los Angeles County, California, May 1–July 25, 2021 - CDC MMWR (8.24.21)

Breakthrough COVID-19 may be less infectious - CIDRAP (8.23.21)

Effectiveness of COVID-19 Vaccines in Preventing SARS-CoV-2 Infection Among Frontline Workers Before and During B.1.617.2 (Delta) Variant Predominance — Eight U.S. Locations, December 2020–August 2021 - CDC MMWR (8.24.21)

"The VE (vaccine efficacy) point estimates declined from 91% before predominance of the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant to 66% since the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant became predominant at the HEROES-RECOVER cohort study sites; however, this trend should be interpreted with caution because VE might also be declining as time since vaccination increases and because of poor precision in estimates due to limited number of weeks of observation and few infections among participants. As with all observational VE studies, unmeasured and residual confounding might be present. Active surveillance through the cohort is ongoing and VE estimates will be monitored continuously. Although these interim findings suggest a moderate reduction in the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines in preventing infection, the sustained two thirds reduction in infection risk underscores the continued importance and benefits of COVID-19 vaccination."
CDC: Unvaccinated 5 times more likely to get COVID-19 - CIDRAP (8.24.21)

COVID may be most infectious 2 or 3 days around symptom onset - CIDRAP (8.23.21)
COVID Vaccines Show No Signs of Harming Fertility or Sexual Function. The novel coronavirus, in contrast, can disrupt both things in unvaccinated men and women - Scientific American (8.24.21)

Study: Women Giving Birth With COVID-19 Face Higher Risk of Death. New data highlights risks posed by COVID-19 during pregnancy. - US News (8.11.21)

As Delta spreads, it’s time to put children’s health first - STAT News (8.24.21)

Politics:

Don’t Wait Until Election Day — Vote Early! - County News Center (8.24.21)
Say NO To The Recall (Courage Campaign):

We are voting for our shared values of equity, justice, and accountability.
The recall threatens the more progressive California that we have been building and fighting for together for decades.
Saying NO to the recall is saying no to division, disinformation, and going backwards.
We have the power to reject this recall and come together to define our pathway to more progress in California.

House passes $3.5T Biden blueprint after deal with moderates - AP News (8.24.21)

White House:

Remarks by President Biden on the Ongoing Evacuation Efforts in Afghanistan and the House Vote on the Build Back Better Agenda

Background Press Call by Senior Administration Officials on Afghan Arrival Processing

Press Briefing by White House COVID-⁠19 Response Team and Public Health Officials
Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jen Psaki, August 24, 2021
President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. Approves California Disaster Declaration
Statement by Press Secretary Jen Psaki on President Biden’s Meeting with G7 Leaders
Remarks by Vice President Harris on the Indo-Pacific Region
President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. Approves Tennessee Disaster Declaration
DOD:

Nearly 22k Personnel Out of Afghanistan in Last 24 Hours

Afghanistan Evacuation: DOD Response. DOD is working with the State Department, partners, and allies to evacuate U.S. and Afghan citizens from Afghanistan.

State Dept

News:

Every major media outlet is now writing these stories about Afghans who relocated to the United States but then traveled back to Afghanistan for one last trip or for funerals or whatever, and my empathy is sapped. The United States has had a travel advisory since April 27th: Afghanistan Travel Advisory – Level 4: Do Not Travel which doesn't even include the Level 3: High Level of COVID-19 in Afghanistan warning by the CDC (last updated 6.28.21) The people who were out and then went back for a little vacay are tapping resources that could otherwise be used for Americans or SIV applicants or not contributing to the general fuck-upedness of the situation. If you got out, stay the fuck out. People in general need to STOP TRAVELING during a global pandemic if they can avoid it. Even Hawaii is telling tourist to STAY THE FUCK HOME. The situation is changing every day. What was relatively low-risk two months ago, is not safe now. Is it so hard to stay outta crowds, stay off planes, and stay off cruise ships when the whole world is melting down??