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| Male Koala at San Diego Zoo (Taken 12.7.21) |
There are some San Diego Zoo regulars that I run into quite a bit. They all seem nice enough, but I never really considered myself among them. After all, I would rationalize to myself, before the pandemic I would take my laptop and work from the zoo. I live close, so it isn't really out of my way to go there.
After this week, I have to just suck it up and admit that I am one of the crazy zoo walkers. Today was my third day in a row, and Sunday we went to San Diego Zoo Safari Park. I take so many photos that my folders have to be sub-named by the park and the month. A girl at one of the little soda kiosks asked me if I was an employee and when I said I wasn't, she said, "but I see you here all the time!" An older woman I was talking to about the baby giraffe told me I should join the morning walkers because so many of the old people are dying off. I talk to the animals. I call them by their names, at least the ones I know. I whistle to the gray parrot. I call at the turacos. I wave at the elephants.
I am a crazy zoo lady.
And I'm writing this as if it's any shock to you. As if I haven't already made plans to go on Thursday specifically because it is supposed to rain and the animals generally love the rain. As if I haven't already planned on kicking off the weekend with Jungle Bells.
But I've said it before and I'll say it again: I feel safe there. Masking is more commonplace than out in the regular world. For the most part, people respect your clear desire to not share the elevator. It's outside but not packed with people blaring radios, a reason I haven't been on an actual hike in the actual world for so long. There are generally neat and clean bathrooms. Refills on my unsweetened iced tea are a buck. Even on a crowded day, you can find sanctuary and quiet empty spaces. It belongs to everyone, and it belongs to just me. I can't wait to go back tomorrow.
Stay safe out there.
- COVID-19:
- Multiple early studies find notable Omicron vaccine evasion - CIDRAP (12.8.21)
- Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 shot loses power against Omicron variant, but booster restores protection - STAT News (12.8.21)
- Pfizer and BioNTech Provide Update on Omicron Variant - Pfizer Press Release (12.8.21)
- 6 states account for 60% of US COVID-19 hospitalizations - Becker's Hospital Review (12.8.21)
- COVID cases spike even as US hits 200M vaccine milestone - AP News (12.8.21)
- Finally, Real-World Effectiveness Data on Pfizer Boosters Across Ages — Israeli data show protection remarkably similar against infection - MedPage Today (12.8.21)
- COVID-19 Weekly Epidemiological Update - WHO
- Globally, weekly COVID-19 case incidence plateaued this week (29 November - 5 December 2021), with over 4 million confirmed new cases reported, similar to the number reported in the previous week’s figures. However, new weekly deaths increased by 10% as compared to the previous week, with over 52 500 new deaths reported. As of 5 December, nearly 265 million confirmed cases and over 5.2 million deaths have been reported globally
- 68 ICU Staffers Tested Positive for COVID-19 After a Holiday Party. Superspreaders continue to be a thing. - Self (12.7.21)
- Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: FDA Authorizes New Long-Acting Monoclonal Antibodies for Pre-exposure Prevention of COVID-19 in Certain Individuals - FDA (12.8.21)
- Two Years In, the World Battles Another Covid Wave - Statista (12.7.21)
- Politics:
- California plans to be abortion sanctuary if Roe overturned - Associated Press via kpbs (12.8.21)
- News:
- Gloria Wants Public Restrooms Within Five-Minute Walk of Anywhere Downtown. Mayor Todd Gloria’s office last month rejected the notion that the city has struggled to provide adequate public restrooms downtown, but has now launched a data-driven effort to add more public restrooms downtown. - Voice of San Diego (12.8.21)
- Mayor Gloria and Councilmember Moreno Statement on Receiving State Grant Funds for San Ysidro Beyer Park - Mayor Gloria News Room (12.8.21)
- Mayor Brings Forward Long-Awaited Barrio Logan Community Plan Update - Mayor Gloria News Room (12.7.21)
- Sec. of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas Visits San Ysidro Port of Entry - NBC San DIego (12.7.21)
- EIA expects short-term crude oil prices to remain lower than the highs of 2021 - US EIA (12.7.21)
- In its December Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO), EIA forecast Brent crude oil prices will average $70 per barrel in 2022.
- Flu Vaccinations Urged for Holiday, Winter Months - County News Center (12.8.21)
- California State Parks Awards $548.3 Million in Grants to Create Local New Parks Across California as Part of Newsom Administration’s “Outdoors for All” Initiative - California Dept of Parks nd Rec (12.8.21)
- City of Chula Vista, Building & Parks Construction
- Patty Davis Park $1,862,506
- Eucalyptus Park Improvements $7,140,000
- City of National City
- El Toyon Park $5,632,571
- City of San Diego, Parks
- Beyer Park Development $8,500,000
- City of Vista
- Avenida De Benito Juarez Park $1,121,216
- County of San Diego, Parks & Recreation
- Fallbrook Local Park $1,200,000
- Other Reading:
- Share the Love at SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration, presented by Subaru - 91X (12.8.21)
- 91X has a special limited-time offer: help the SeaWorld Conservation Fund with a $25 donation, and get a ticket to SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration, happening now through January 2nd.
- Government:
- White House
- Readout of the December National Climate Task Force Meeting
- Remarks by President Biden on How the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Delivers for Missourians
- Remarks by President Biden Before Marine One Departure
- FACT SHEET: The Biden-Harris Administration is Taking Action to Restore and Strengthen American Democracy
- President Biden Announces Key Nominees
- Press Gaggle by Principal Deputy Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre En Route Kansas City, MO
- Executive Order on Catalyzing Clean Energy Industries and Jobs Through Federal Sustainability
- FACT SHEET: President Biden Signs Executive Order Catalyzing America’s Clean Energy Economy Through Federal Sustainability
- State Dept
- Department Press Briefing with Spokesperson Ned Price – December 8, 2021
- Secretary Blinken’s Virtual Meeting with Nigerien President Bazoum
- United States – Iceland Economic Partnership Dialogue
- Secretary Blinken’s Call with NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg
- Secretary Antony J. Blinken Remarks at a Virtual Discussion with Young Democratic Leaders from Around the World Summit for Democracy
- Secretary Blinken’s Call with President of the European Council Michel
- Designation of Corruption Networks Linked to Transnational Organized Crime
- U.S. Exchange Program Alumni Address Community Issues in Cities Across the United States
- Dept of Justice
- DOI
- Global COVID-19 Stats (JHU 12.8.21 6:21pm):
- 267,795,702 Known Cases/15,852,682 28-Day New Cases
- 5,278,923 Known Deaths/205,877 28-Day New Deaths
- US COVID-19 Stats
- CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Data Tracker
- American Academy of Pediatrics Children and COVID-19 Dashboard
- JHU
- 49,538,371 Cases/2,669,851 28 Day New Cases
- 793,225 Deaths/33,109 28-Day New Deaths
- CDC Data Tracker:
- +119,895 New Cases/49,322,567 Known Cases
- +1,780 New Deaths/788,903 Known Deaths
- 586,471,075 Doses Delivered
- 475,728,399 Doses Administered
- 237,087,380 Partially Vaccinated
- 200,400,533 Fully Vaccinated
- 60.4% of Total Population
- 64.2% of Population ≥ 12 Years of Age
- 70% of Population ≥ 18 Years of Age
- 48,896,346 Boosters
- California COVID-19 Stats:
- State of California Safe Schools For All Hub
- Vaccination progress dashboard
- Coronavirus: Resources for Californians
- R-effective: 1.12
- 70,734,495 Doses Delivered/60,197,935 Doses Administered
- 3,095,316 Partially Vaccinated/25,995,926 Fully Vaccinated
- 4,672 New Cases/4,856,101 Total Cases (10.9 new cases/100k)
- 130 New Deaths/74,351 Total Deaths (0.1 new deaths/100k)
- 2.5% 7-day test positivity rate
- 3,715 COVID-19 Hospitalizations (+82 patients, +2.3% from prior day)
- 897 COVID-19 ICU hospitalized in CA (0 patients, 0% from prior day)
- 1,740 ICU beds available (161 from prior day)
- San Diego County
- COVID-19 Vaccine Boosters: Where You Can Get Them - County News Center (12.8.21)
- Free Testing Sites and Schedule in San Diego
- Vaccination Locations San Diego
- Vaccination Dashboard
- COVID ActNow Daily Updates for San Diego Metro
- San Diego Unified School District COVID Dashboard
- State Data:
- R-effective: 1.18
- 721 New Cases/391,110 Total Cases
- 4.2% Daily Positivity
- 5 Deaths/4,357 Total Deaths
- 336 COVID-19 hospitalized patients (+9 patients, +2.8% from prior day)
- 86 COVID-19 ICU hospitalized patients (+2 patients, +2.4% from prior day)
- 205 ICU beds available (-1 from prior day)
- County Data:
- COVID-19 Watch
- Local Doctors Address COVID-19 Misinformation
- 562 New Cases/390,947 Total Cases
- Case rate: 14.2 per 100,000 residents overall
- 12.1 7-Day Average with 7-Day Lag
- 8.3 for fully vaccinated people
- 24.8 for not fully vaccinated San Diegans.
- +12 New Daily Deaths/4,369 Total Deaths
- 6,257,465 Doses Received/5,755,720 Doses Administered
- 528,256 Boosters Administered
- 68,146 New Boosters Since Last Week
- 2,692,681 Partially Vaccinated/2,388,047 Fully Vaccinated
- 25,357 Newly Fully Vaccinated Since Last Week
- 75.9% 5+ Population Fully Vaccinated/71.4% Total Population Fully Vaccinated
- 3.0% Daily Test Positivity/4.2% 7-day average/4.0% 7-day average after 7-day lag/3.0% Test Positivity (14-day average)
- 76.3% Case Investigation
- +61 Day Over Day COVID-19 Hospitalizations
- +5 Day Over Day COVID-19 ICU Patients
- 3.4% Day Over Day COVID-19 Hospitalizations (320 patients. +24% over 30 days)
- 24% ICU Capacity (85 patients. +12% over 30 days)
- 54 Staffed ICU Beds Available
- 16 Community Outbreaks (7-day)/ 96 Total Outbreaks
- 5 in TK-12 grade school settings
- 3 in business settings
- 2 in government settings
- 2 in restaurant/bar settings
- 1 in a distribution warehouse setting
- 1 in a hotel/resort/spa setting
- 1 in a daycare/preschool/childcare setting
- 1 in a construction setting.
- Universities:
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