CBS Evening News anchor Norah O’Donnell has been out this week with Covid. Her substitutes have been mentioning it in passing during their broadcasts. If I am not mistaken, she has had Covid once before.
The Omicron sub-variants are evolving, and in some unexpected ways. The next sub-variant to hit us will likely be BA.4 and BA.5. They may actually start out stronger in the south this summer and then move northward. Both sub-variants are considered more virulent than BA.2; they replicate more efficiently in the lungs. They’re also more vaccine-evasive. Please note, being more evasive does NOT mean vaccines and natural immunity don’t help. I think these layers of immunity do help. But, the virus is evolving to try and bypass our walls of defense as best as it can. As it does so, it will be most impactful on our most vulnerable. Overall, the Covid pandemic is the most decimating event for the over 65 – and continues to be – that mankind has ever experienced. https://twitter.com/EricTopol/status/1529965612956405761
Then can we expect BA. 6, BA. 7 etc.? Why can’t we stop these variants??? These pharmaceuticals need to develop a much more powerful vaccine and stop this pandemic once and for all!
Amazing how the Spanish flu (1918-1920) surrendered after two years, without a vaccine no less.
Because we know today what we will face in September. IMO DESE has done nothing to protect children…..in truth, it has done far more harm than good
Not making tests available for symptomatic testing is disappointing. I don’t fully understand the economic impact which I’m sure is significant. My school has hundreds of tests to get us through the fall—but they all expire in December after which we’re going to need to incur the expense of purchasing our own unless the expiration dates are extended or a new testing program emerges.
I agree. You and I are not alone. I just do not understand
But then….. not connected and way off topic ….I received the free tests provided by Medicare which our MA and other reps had to fight for while all private insurances were offering the same
They expire the end of June
MA is far from alone in this messy can of worms
Dave I want to also say I am impressed that regardless you will continue testing.
Philip, I have mentioned this before, the Spanish Flu never truly burnt itself out. But, it did diminish in intensity faster than the current Covid-19 pandemic. I think one of the main reasons is the mobility of people today, compared to 1920. Mobility and the sheer number of infections – which in turn lead to variants – will allow the current pandemic to fester, if you will, longer than we would have liked. All this said, global deaths are down to less than 2,000 per day. We’re in a better place worldwide than we were last year. I think the U.S. can also be in a better place soon. Boosters will be necessary this fall, at least for the vulnerable populations, to avert a BA.4 or BA.5 crisis.
Thanks Joshua. I’ll try to remember the key word “mobility”. Hopefully we can rid ourselves of these variants, the sooner the better.
Good comment Joshua. ICU patients are at the lowest level….I admit to reading a headline but it didn’t say whether overall or since a certain date
C-19
5-28
ready
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Your no-hype southeastern New England weather blog!
Thanks TK.
CBS Evening News anchor Norah O’Donnell has been out this week with Covid. Her substitutes have been mentioning it in passing during their broadcasts. If I am not mistaken, she has had Covid once before.
The Omicron sub-variants are evolving, and in some unexpected ways. The next sub-variant to hit us will likely be BA.4 and BA.5. They may actually start out stronger in the south this summer and then move northward. Both sub-variants are considered more virulent than BA.2; they replicate more efficiently in the lungs. They’re also more vaccine-evasive. Please note, being more evasive does NOT mean vaccines and natural immunity don’t help. I think these layers of immunity do help. But, the virus is evolving to try and bypass our walls of defense as best as it can. As it does so, it will be most impactful on our most vulnerable. Overall, the Covid pandemic is the most decimating event for the over 65 – and continues to be – that mankind has ever experienced. https://twitter.com/EricTopol/status/1529965612956405761
Then can we expect BA. 6, BA. 7 etc.? Why can’t we stop these variants??? These pharmaceuticals need to develop a much more powerful vaccine and stop this pandemic once and for all!
Amazing how the Spanish flu (1918-1920) surrendered after two years, without a vaccine no less.
Because we know today what we will face in September. IMO DESE has done nothing to protect children…..in truth, it has done far more harm than good
https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/covid-testing-massachusetts-schools-state/
Not making tests available for symptomatic testing is disappointing. I don’t fully understand the economic impact which I’m sure is significant. My school has hundreds of tests to get us through the fall—but they all expire in December after which we’re going to need to incur the expense of purchasing our own unless the expiration dates are extended or a new testing program emerges.
I agree. You and I are not alone. I just do not understand
But then….. not connected and way off topic ….I received the free tests provided by Medicare which our MA and other reps had to fight for while all private insurances were offering the same
They expire the end of June
MA is far from alone in this messy can of worms
Dave I want to also say I am impressed that regardless you will continue testing.
Philip, I have mentioned this before, the Spanish Flu never truly burnt itself out. But, it did diminish in intensity faster than the current Covid-19 pandemic. I think one of the main reasons is the mobility of people today, compared to 1920. Mobility and the sheer number of infections – which in turn lead to variants – will allow the current pandemic to fester, if you will, longer than we would have liked. All this said, global deaths are down to less than 2,000 per day. We’re in a better place worldwide than we were last year. I think the U.S. can also be in a better place soon. Boosters will be necessary this fall, at least for the vulnerable populations, to avert a BA.4 or BA.5 crisis.
Thanks Joshua. I’ll try to remember the key word “mobility”. Hopefully we can rid ourselves of these variants, the sooner the better.
Good comment Joshua. ICU patients are at the lowest level….I admit to reading a headline but it didn’t say whether overall or since a certain date
C-19
5-28
ready