You want to know why the U.S. is losing this fight, as it’s lost every battle against every variant to date. Well, it’s partly due to lower vaccination/booster rates and our fragmented healthcare system. But, it’s also due to our `let it rip’ non-strategy with practically no mitigation. Comparisons help to illuminate the problem, especially when we compare countries to states with similar vaccination/booster rates.
Cases yesterday:
Germany: 30,291
Maryland: 14,494
Germany has 14 times the population of Maryland.
Mitigation measures in place – here, we compare Maryland to Germany (you can fill in the blank with almost any other state in the U.S.):
Germany: Indoor mask mandate everywhere and distancing rules, non-essential shops only for vaccinated and those who have recovered from Covid-19, bars closed – note, this is definitely NOT a lockdown, but a few simple measures do help
Maryland: none
On MSNBC (I watch Rachel Maddow & Lawrence O’Donnell) a recent guest expert earlier this week (perhaps from the administration- I can’t remember but it was a woman – infectious disease expert) flat out said that the general expectation is that everyone will get Omicron – clearly that is the expectation now and they’ve seemingly given up the fight so to speak.. which is frightening and unreal. Yes omicron is less severe but it still
Kills and MAIMS (hello 1/3 of cases getting Long Covid!!)
Also Biden actually was bragging on his most recent press conference about ordering more antivirals which are due to arrive in ….. JUNE??!!?!
Seriously- what planet are they on?
Good grief, mama! It is as if they are all living in an alternate universe. I am noticing that some health officials are speaking out, but it doesn’t seem to matter. Gotlieb is back on his kick of the end is in sight.
We are literally a ship adrift with no one at the helm.
Dewald’s comment above is frighteningly accurate.
It is heartbreaking and mind boggling and brings so many of our systemic flaws right to the surface because pandemics simply won’t bend to political will nor to policy nor can one easily hide the data/results from the public view – at least not fully and forever.
We must learn to bend to covid’s will but clearly we are simply not doing that…. and our stubbornness to stick to dangerous policies (see ban on remote learning) and our willfullness & denial (Gottlieb, really? It’s almost over again?) are literally costing hundreds of thousands of lives. As much as we have not yet conceded it – the fact is the pandemic calls the shots – Covid’s in the driver’s seat – not us. We need to be nimble and change our policies and approach as the surges and real time circumstances require – but we are not doing that.
Perhaps this is a glimpse at how we may also be as actors in int’l politics… unreasonable, stubborn, trying to bend reality to suit ourselves like a willfull toddler… food for thought.
Wow. What a powerful and IMO accurate comment. Thank you, mama, for putting our very sad state of affairs in complete perspective
Joshua, in case I haven’t already, I am glad that your daughter has now returned to her full strength.
WHO is another problem. I can’t read that since it is NYT. It may be for the best as I might throw my iPad…..and I really like my iPad
I can’t read it either without a subscription.
IHU variant could very well turn out to be a dud. But, I think that it’s too early to make that call. Keep in mind that Omicron was circulating in Europe as early November; perhaps even late October. It may not even have originated in South Africa. So, when people say, well, the IHU variant was discovered in mid to late November how come it’s not gaining more traction, I say, let’s wait and see. Delta also took a long time to take off. It was discovered in late 2020! Why this is, I don’t know.
Joshua, Because I posted the Who article, doesn’t mean
I agree with them.
I am wondering if their assessment really is that it is not a concern OR is it that they don’t want to alarm the public so they are downplaying this variant (for now). I really do wonder.
We shall see.
You approached omicron in the same way, Joshua, and you were right about it’s seriousness. It would be very easy for the CDC to get the same message out.
If only everyone were on the same page.
Mama Mia, brilliant post above, in which you say “Covid calls the shots.”
And yes, as you mention, Gottlieb is at it again, predicting the end of the pandemic.
I do wish people like Gottlieb would have a bit more humility, and just say, “look, I’ve predicted the pandemic’s demise before and been wrong, as have most of my colleagues, I’m no longer going to make predictions.”
By mid February it will end. How many is that for Gotlieb.
And you are so correct. It is a brilliant comment
Aww shucks guys! Thx for the compliments! I find pretty much every comment on this blog illuminating – I think we are a pretty great group of “awake” thinkers!!
And I feel very privileged to be a part of this community!
JPD, WHO is being cautious. I think that WHO is monitoring, but has not seen anything to suggest it will compete well with Delta or Omicron.
I haven’t always been happy with the way WHO has conducted itself. Also, it’s been slow to react at times. However, I do respect the organization. It does a lot with very little in terms of resources.
Excellent post. I have been saying this all along.
He was out of the public eye for 18 days, which is unusual.
While I am not a fan of his, I do NOT wish ill upon him. Also, his wife has cancer. May she recover, and he, too.
Back to school today after my 10 days were up.
Great to be back !!
Some colleagues and students out.
Didn´t notice anyone, in my cluster at least, who was there with clear symptoms of anything. Everyone seemed healthy in that regard.
Working hard to put some things in the software package our district uses for the students who are out. That will be the challenge in the coming weeks, when students are out, trying to keep them in the flow of the topics we are working on.
Thank you so much for what you do Tom – stay safe (Am I recalling correctly that you had Covid already? If not very much hope it stays far at bay for you)!& have a great 2nd half of the year!!
Thanks Mama Mia and Vicki.
Yes, my wife, 2 daughters and I had Covid around Christmas Day.
A couple days of a mild cold and then felt better.
That’s ok Vicki. Denver not doing well in the snow department. Maybe Boston can surpass them on Friday. 🙂
Omicron is milder, but sheer numbers of cases are causing problems, not only with hospitalizations but also the worst kind of hospitalization (ICU): More than 20,000 Americans are now in ICU with Covid-19, highest since September.
Indeed. Faust’s summary I posted this am was excellent.
27,612 new covid cases in MA today!!
And an additional 3,193 probable cases
54 new deaths
Hospitalization up to 2,426
But keep those kids in school where they belong.
Let them get it, who cares. Let the staff get it, who cares.
BUT we MUST have the kids in school at any cost!
What a policy!(@*#(*!@()*#)(!*@#)(*!()@#*()!*@()
Chicago teachers didnt show up today. When they tried to set up lessons online, whatever they use had been shut down so they could not use it.
But JPD…kids are safer in school.
New rampant speculations on – line that long covid might be caused by microclots – posting an article on this below – not sure how I feel about this if true – at a minimum it may be good to identify a cause that has a treatment. But I assume the treatment is blood thinners and that’s 100 million people + on thinners.. having had a pulmonary embolism years ago it’s not a great condition to have to deal with – especially when young.
Interesting that the article begins …one of the greatest failures….
Good grief…..one among too many to count. If I am not mistaken, the author is from South Africa? Why are we doing NOTHING in this country to research side effects. Every bit of information I trust is from abroad.
There is a discussion on wbz news re adding two mental health days for students….no questions asked. Makes sense although I’d probably add a few more days. Our kids are are are are struggling. Students apparently requested this before covid and we certainly need it even more now
30 for teachers ??
I’m on-board !!
🙂 🙂 🙂
It surely should apply to teachers. I’d say a year off for you all
Sadly, there is a record number of kids who are seriously struggling also. I know there are limited beds in facilities and they have a waiting list.
Thanks for posting Faust’s summary, Vicki.
I’m seeing many different numbers of folks labeled as with Covid-19 “incidentally” when hospitalized. The numbers run from 15% to 65% of patients. First, since the beginning of the pandemic there have been “incidental” Covid-19 hospitalizations: A cancer patient, who also has Covid-19. A diabetic coming in for an ulcer who also has Covid-19. Early on the incidental numbers were in the 10% to 15% range. It increased with Delta to 20%-25%. Now, it is probably approaching 35%. This does NOT mean that Covid-19 isn’t a meaningful part of the diagnosis. In fact, in many instances of patients with underlying conditions it’s a primary concern. They’re the `target,’ if you will, to be picked off by Covid. Second, let’s go along with the faulty premise that with Covid is never for Covid, and suppose the number of incidentals is 35%, and that you make the radical decision to discount the entire group as being hospitalized for Covid. That would still leave you with 65%. So, right now, that would still have our hospital systems buckling under the pressure of >75,000 Covid patients and >13,000 in ICU (a tremendous and rising burden across the nation), not to mention the fact that the other `non-Covid’ patients must be treated in isolation from those who don’t have Covid.
OMG. And he cannot cancel school. Someone has to get Riley out of DESE. or the decisions need to go back to where they belong….at school committee level.
Actually, as I look at the numbers and think of the size of Framingham, my daughter reminds me this is in line with the state. But still we cannot do enough to stop it.
C-19 for 1-6 is ready.
Comments are closed.
Your no-hype southeastern New England weather blog!
Thanks TK.
“IHU”
Joshua, is this the new mysterious variant you’ve been posting about the last few days?
I heard this on a late night National radio program. There was no explanation as to what the letters mean.
Can anyone confirm this?
Yes, it is.
https://www.firstpost.com/health/france-detects-new-covid-19-variant-ihu-more-infectious-than-omicron-all-we-know-about-it-10256521.html
Thank you, TK.
This is a great discussion on omicron. I just delete the pop up to join so hope that works. The hurricane comparison makes a lot of sense.
https://insidemedicine.bulletin.com/the-omicron-paradox-if-it-s-milder-why-are-hospitals-on-the-brink-of-disaster
Excellent and thank you.
Excellent article Vicki – thanks for sharing!
I get Dr Faust’s email messages maybe once a week. He makes sense. I wasn’t sure if you could read the linked article and am glad you could.
Thank you, Denise Dewald, for putting this in proper words and saying it out loud.
“The biggest public health failure of our lifetime”
https://twitter.com/denise_dewald/status/1478572518432780289?s=21
I do not know what Leana Wen is thinking.
WHAT? Holy crap batman!
You want to know why the U.S. is losing this fight, as it’s lost every battle against every variant to date. Well, it’s partly due to lower vaccination/booster rates and our fragmented healthcare system. But, it’s also due to our `let it rip’ non-strategy with practically no mitigation. Comparisons help to illuminate the problem, especially when we compare countries to states with similar vaccination/booster rates.
Cases yesterday:
Germany: 30,291
Maryland: 14,494
Germany has 14 times the population of Maryland.
Mitigation measures in place – here, we compare Maryland to Germany (you can fill in the blank with almost any other state in the U.S.):
Germany: Indoor mask mandate everywhere and distancing rules, non-essential shops only for vaccinated and those who have recovered from Covid-19, bars closed – note, this is definitely NOT a lockdown, but a few simple measures do help
Maryland: none
On MSNBC (I watch Rachel Maddow & Lawrence O’Donnell) a recent guest expert earlier this week (perhaps from the administration- I can’t remember but it was a woman – infectious disease expert) flat out said that the general expectation is that everyone will get Omicron – clearly that is the expectation now and they’ve seemingly given up the fight so to speak.. which is frightening and unreal. Yes omicron is less severe but it still
Kills and MAIMS (hello 1/3 of cases getting Long Covid!!)
Also Biden actually was bragging on his most recent press conference about ordering more antivirals which are due to arrive in ….. JUNE??!!?!
Seriously- what planet are they on?
Good grief, mama! It is as if they are all living in an alternate universe. I am noticing that some health officials are speaking out, but it doesn’t seem to matter. Gotlieb is back on his kick of the end is in sight.
We are literally a ship adrift with no one at the helm.
Dewald’s comment above is frighteningly accurate.
It is heartbreaking and mind boggling and brings so many of our systemic flaws right to the surface because pandemics simply won’t bend to political will nor to policy nor can one easily hide the data/results from the public view – at least not fully and forever.
We must learn to bend to covid’s will but clearly we are simply not doing that…. and our stubbornness to stick to dangerous policies (see ban on remote learning) and our willfullness & denial (Gottlieb, really? It’s almost over again?) are literally costing hundreds of thousands of lives. As much as we have not yet conceded it – the fact is the pandemic calls the shots – Covid’s in the driver’s seat – not us. We need to be nimble and change our policies and approach as the surges and real time circumstances require – but we are not doing that.
Perhaps this is a glimpse at how we may also be as actors in int’l politics… unreasonable, stubborn, trying to bend reality to suit ourselves like a willfull toddler… food for thought.
Wow. What a powerful and IMO accurate comment. Thank you, mama, for putting our very sad state of affairs in complete perspective
Joshua, in case I haven’t already, I am glad that your daughter has now returned to her full strength.
Thanks, Philip.
I sure agree.
Absolutely this!!
CDC messaging has never been its strong suit. But, it’s gotten much worse in the past 8 months. Here’s a satirical perspective on its most recent guidance. https://twitter.com/TheDailyShow/status/1478517020077531138
I’m sorry but I have to laugh. Darned if this is not painfully accurate. I have to share this. Thanks, Joshua
Thanks Joshua. 😀
Love it. That about sums it up.
This country is MESSED UP big time!
What do the letters “IHU” stand for?
See below, but this is it:
Researchers found a total of 12 cases in the area and named the variant “I.H.U.,” after the research institute in Marseille that helped identify it.
Boston Mayor WU just announced that additional testing sites “may” be set up at the Reggie Lewis Center and at Fenway Park.
WHO downplays the new French Variant
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/05/world/covid-variant-france.html
WHO is another problem. I can’t read that since it is NYT. It may be for the best as I might throw my iPad…..and I really like my iPad
I can’t read it either without a subscription.
IHU variant could very well turn out to be a dud. But, I think that it’s too early to make that call. Keep in mind that Omicron was circulating in Europe as early November; perhaps even late October. It may not even have originated in South Africa. So, when people say, well, the IHU variant was discovered in mid to late November how come it’s not gaining more traction, I say, let’s wait and see. Delta also took a long time to take off. It was discovered in late 2020! Why this is, I don’t know.
Joshua, Because I posted the Who article, doesn’t mean
I agree with them.
I am wondering if their assessment really is that it is not a concern OR is it that they don’t want to alarm the public so they are downplaying this variant (for now). I really do wonder.
We shall see.
You approached omicron in the same way, Joshua, and you were right about it’s seriousness. It would be very easy for the CDC to get the same message out.
If only everyone were on the same page.
Mama Mia, brilliant post above, in which you say “Covid calls the shots.”
And yes, as you mention, Gottlieb is at it again, predicting the end of the pandemic.
I do wish people like Gottlieb would have a bit more humility, and just say, “look, I’ve predicted the pandemic’s demise before and been wrong, as have most of my colleagues, I’m no longer going to make predictions.”
By mid February it will end. How many is that for Gotlieb.
And you are so correct. It is a brilliant comment
Aww shucks guys! Thx for the compliments! I find pretty much every comment on this blog illuminating – I think we are a pretty great group of “awake” thinkers!!
And I feel very privileged to be a part of this community!
JPD, WHO is being cautious. I think that WHO is monitoring, but has not seen anything to suggest it will compete well with Delta or Omicron.
At the same time, WHO is issuing simple, straightforward messages on Omicron that should be heeded. Maria Van Kerkhove is a chief scientist at WHO. https://twitter.com/manlius84/status/1478781870997446659
I haven’t always been happy with the way WHO has conducted itself. Also, it’s been slow to react at times. However, I do respect the organization. It does a lot with very little in terms of resources.
Excellent post. I have been saying this all along.
Good thread: https://twitter.com/ScottHalpernMD/status/1478558834260123648
Ron DeSantis does not appear well. Judge for yourself. https://twitter.com/MeidasTouch/status/1478803279484100609
He was out of the public eye for 18 days, which is unusual.
While I am not a fan of his, I do NOT wish ill upon him. Also, his wife has cancer. May she recover, and he, too.
Back to school today after my 10 days were up.
Great to be back !!
Some colleagues and students out.
Didn´t notice anyone, in my cluster at least, who was there with clear symptoms of anything. Everyone seemed healthy in that regard.
Working hard to put some things in the software package our district uses for the students who are out. That will be the challenge in the coming weeks, when students are out, trying to keep them in the flow of the topics we are working on.
Thank you so much for what you do Tom – stay safe (Am I recalling correctly that you had Covid already? If not very much hope it stays far at bay for you)!& have a great 2nd half of the year!!
Thanks Mama Mia and Vicki.
Yes, my wife, 2 daughters and I had Covid around Christmas Day.
A couple days of a mild cold and then felt better.
Good luck, Tom.
Philip, thought of you when I saw this
https://twitter.com/ericfisher/status/1478385639410262018?s=21
Oops. Wrong side of blog.
That’s ok Vicki. Denver not doing well in the snow department. Maybe Boston can surpass them on Friday. 🙂
Omicron is milder, but sheer numbers of cases are causing problems, not only with hospitalizations but also the worst kind of hospitalization (ICU): More than 20,000 Americans are now in ICU with Covid-19, highest since September.
Indeed. Faust’s summary I posted this am was excellent.
27,612 new covid cases in MA today!!
And an additional 3,193 probable cases
54 new deaths
Hospitalization up to 2,426
But keep those kids in school where they belong.
Let them get it, who cares. Let the staff get it, who cares.
BUT we MUST have the kids in school at any cost!
What a policy!(@*#(*!@()*#)(!*@#)(*!()@#*()!*@()
Chicago teachers didnt show up today. When they tried to set up lessons online, whatever they use had been shut down so they could not use it.
But JPD…kids are safer in school.
New rampant speculations on – line that long covid might be caused by microclots – posting an article on this below – not sure how I feel about this if true – at a minimum it may be good to identify a cause that has a treatment. But I assume the treatment is blood thinners and that’s 100 million people + on thinners.. having had a pulmonary embolism years ago it’s not a great condition to have to deal with – especially when young.
https://amp.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/jan/05/long-covid-research-microclots
Interesting that the article begins …one of the greatest failures….
Good grief…..one among too many to count. If I am not mistaken, the author is from South Africa? Why are we doing NOTHING in this country to research side effects. Every bit of information I trust is from abroad.
There is a discussion on wbz news re adding two mental health days for students….no questions asked. Makes sense although I’d probably add a few more days. Our kids are are are are struggling. Students apparently requested this before covid and we certainly need it even more now
30 for teachers ??
I’m on-board !!
🙂 🙂 🙂
It surely should apply to teachers. I’d say a year off for you all
Sadly, there is a record number of kids who are seriously struggling also. I know there are limited beds in facilities and they have a waiting list.
Thanks for posting Faust’s summary, Vicki.
I’m seeing many different numbers of folks labeled as with Covid-19 “incidentally” when hospitalized. The numbers run from 15% to 65% of patients. First, since the beginning of the pandemic there have been “incidental” Covid-19 hospitalizations: A cancer patient, who also has Covid-19. A diabetic coming in for an ulcer who also has Covid-19. Early on the incidental numbers were in the 10% to 15% range. It increased with Delta to 20%-25%. Now, it is probably approaching 35%. This does NOT mean that Covid-19 isn’t a meaningful part of the diagnosis. In fact, in many instances of patients with underlying conditions it’s a primary concern. They’re the `target,’ if you will, to be picked off by Covid. Second, let’s go along with the faulty premise that with Covid is never for Covid, and suppose the number of incidentals is 35%, and that you make the radical decision to discount the entire group as being hospitalized for Covid. That would still leave you with 65%. So, right now, that would still have our hospital systems buckling under the pressure of >75,000 Covid patients and >13,000 in ICU (a tremendous and rising burden across the nation), not to mention the fact that the other `non-Covid’ patients must be treated in isolation from those who don’t have Covid.
OMG. And he cannot cancel school. Someone has to get Riley out of DESE. or the decisions need to go back to where they belong….at school committee level.
https://www.framinghamma.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=2563&fbclid=IwAR0VfV-FS0qUi54ZaKKugqqBLO_awvLt9mjXoeaawRvCpRHyP2Gk8byCoh8
Actually, as I look at the numbers and think of the size of Framingham, my daughter reminds me this is in line with the state. But still we cannot do enough to stop it.
C-19 for 1-6 is ready.