The Covid-19 Pandemic Thread

[Libertas]

https://politicalwire.com/2022/01/19/ke ... ets-covid/

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Ken Paxton Gets Covid
January 19, 2022 at 7:04 pm EST By Taegan Goddard 23 Comments

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) has tested positive for Covid-19, the Texas Tribune reports.

It’s not known whether Paxton was vaccinated but he has used to office to fight against federal vaccine mandates.

[ap215]

England is about to drop virtually all anti-COVID restrictions

London — Most legal restrictions to prevent the spread of the coronavirus in England will be dropped next week, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson told the British Parliament on Wednesday. From Monday, face masks will no longer be mandatory anywhere in England.

"Our scientists believe it is likely that the Omicron wave has now peaked nationally," Johnson said, attributing the end of the most recent COVID-19 surge to "the extraordinary [vaccine] booster campaign, together with the way the public have responded" to the restrictions brought in when Omicron hit.

https://www.aol.com/news/england-drop-v ... 00224.html

[ap215]

Federal appeals court rules California's pandemic gun store shutdowns violated Constitution

A federal appeals court ruled Thursday that two California counties that shut down gun stores as nonessential businesses in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic violated the Constitution's Second Amendment.

Los Angeles and Ventura county officials had previously won lower court decisions stating that gun stores were not immune from shutdown orders established early in the pandemic to curb the spread of COVID-19, according to The Associated Press. Those rulings were both rejected by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit.

https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watc ... -shutdowns

[ZoWie]

England is about to drop virtually all anti-COVID restrictions

London — Most legal restrictions to prevent the spread of the coronavirus in England will be dropped next week, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson told the British Parliament on Wednesday. From Monday, face masks will no longer be mandatory anywhere in England.

"Our scientists believe it is likely that the Omicron wave has now peaked nationally," Johnson said, attributing the end of the most recent COVID-19 surge to "the extraordinary [vaccine] booster campaign, together with the way the public have responded" to the restrictions brought in when Omicron hit.

https://www.aol.com/news/england-drop-v ... 00224.html

Bunch of countries are doing this, and right where I am, it seems to be an informal understanding that from now on, your patriotic duty is to keep catching all the new variants. At least that's the idea I get from the almost total lack of masks seen in the streets and the almost total return to partying like it's 2018, despite hospital cases continuing to increase daily and the understanding that vaccines will always be at least one mutation behind.

This is mass insanity.

[ap215]

Center for COVID Control facing lawsuit alleging widespread coronavirus testing scheme

CHICAGO -- The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is investigating "numerous complaints" about labs and testing sites associated with the Center for COVID Control, the agency confirmed to CNN Friday.

"We take seriously any allegations of fraud or misbehavior by COVID-19 testing sites. CMS's Center for Clinical Standards and Quality investigates these kinds of complaints and is aware of several alleged instances of misconduct by this company's labs," said Dr. Lee Fleisher, chief medical officer and director of the Center for Clinical Standards and Quality for CMS, in a statement.

https://abc7ny.com/center-for-covid-con ... ce=twitter

[ap215]

New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern cancels her wedding amid new Omicron restrictions

SYDNEY, Jan 23 (Reuters) - New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Arden has cancelled her wedding as the nation imposes new restrictions to slow the community spread of the COVID-19 Omicron variant, she told reporters on Sunday.

New Zealand will impose mask rules and limit gathering from midnight on Sunday after a cluster of nine COVID-19 Omicron cases showed community spread from the North to South islands after a wedding.

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-paci ... 022-01-22/

[ap215]

Samoa imposes lockdown, closes borders amid COVID cases

The Pacific island nation of Samoa entered a 48-hour lockdown on Saturday after COVID-19 tests for 15 passengers on a flight from Australia came back positive.

The nation of roughly 200,000 people will remain under lockdown until Monday evening, according to a press release from the Samoan government.

https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watc ... ovid-cases

[Number6]

Got back from my trip to Las Vegas. While there, I saw my first movie in a theater in nearly two years. The casino has a movie theater with about 10 screens and I saw Ghostbusters: Afterlife and Spiderman: No Way Home. In normal times, I usually go to the movies at the local Navy base or the one in our small city. The theater on the base seats around 500 or more and the other one has three screens with semi-reclining seats. So it was a surprise when I went into the casino theater.

First off, masks are mandatory.

Second, when you buy your ticket you are asked to pick your seat from a display. The ticket is printed with the movie you choose with the seat number on it.

Third, the seats were unbelievable. In one of the screening room, the seats were plush, soft, and the back semi-reclined making it comfortable to watch. In the other screening room, the seats were like recliners with power buttons to raise a leg-rest and recline the seat's back. It also had a button to activate a seat warmer. It definitely mad the experience better.

I'm hoping COVID will be under control by the end of summer to where we can safely go back to the movies without having to wear masks. I enjoy watching a movie on the large screen and even a bad movie is better on the large screen than on a TV screen.

[marindem01]

Got back from my trip to Las Vegas. While there, I saw my first movie in a theater in nearly two years. The casino has a movie theater with about 10 screens and I saw Ghostbusters: Afterlife and Spiderman: No Way Home. In normal times, I usually go to the movies at the local Navy base or the one in our small city. The theater on the base seats around 500 or more and the other one has three screens with semi-reclining seats. So it was a surprise when I went into the casino theater.

First off, masks are mandatory.

Second, when you buy your ticket you are asked to pick your seat from a display. The ticket is printed with the movie you choose with the seat number on it.

Third, the seats were unbelievable. In one of the screening room, the seats were plush, soft, and the back semi-reclined making it comfortable to watch. In the other screening room, the seats were like recliners with power buttons to raise a leg-rest and recline the seat's back. It also had a button to activate a seat warmer. It definitely mad the experience better.

I'm hoping COVID will be under control by the end of summer to where we can safely go back to the movies without having to wear masks. I enjoy watching a movie on the large screen and even a bad movie is better on the large screen than on a TV screen.

The last movie I went to was in San Francisco. Took the Ferry over and made a day of it. Had some really good fish and chips (proof of vaccination was required before entering the restaurant). Then I walk over to the AMC Metreon and saw, "No Time Die". Same deal the theater you went to. I picked my seat before entering the theater. Before going into the theater, I picked up a Sierra Nevada Pale Ale at the bar and off I went. When not sipping on the Ale, I wore my mask. No hardship at all.

I really enjoy the movie, it's it will Daniel Craig's last, I thought he was a great Bond.

[Number6]

The last movie I went to was in San Francisco. Took the Ferry over and made a day of it. Had some really good fish and chips (proof of vaccination was required before entering the restaurant). Then I walk over to the AMC Metreon and saw, "No Time Die". Same deal the theater you went to. I picked my seat before entering the theater. Before going into the theater, I picked up a Sierra Nevada Pale Ale at the bar and off I went. When not sipping on the Ale, I wore my mask. No hardship at all.

Fortunately, the theaters weren't packed so when I picked out my seats I made sure I wasn't next to someone.

I really enjoy the movie, it's it will Roger Craig's last, I thought he was a great Bond.

I think you mean Daniel Craig. As James Bond, he made Bond more gritty than the other actors. I still like Roger Moore's Bond. He made the character a bit more suave tongue-in-check.

[marindem01]

Fortunately, the theaters weren't packed so when I picked out my seats I made sure I wasn't next to someone.


I think you mean Daniel Craig. As James Bond, he made Bond more gritty than the other actors. I still like Roger Moore's Bond. He made the character a bit more suave tongue-in-check.

Thanks you right.

[marindem01]

As much as I would like to go a movie, I'm staying home for now. For Gail and I, our last meal out was a breakfast at Casa Mana`. They have Green Eggs and Ham...love it.

[carmenjonze]

Harder to detect 'stealth omicron' confirmed in Texas - CBS Austin

The number of omicron cases in Texas is still growing, although some public health experts think we could be near or at the peak of the surge, now researchers have confirmed a sub-variant known as BA2, or "stealth omicron" in Texas.

There are about 40,000 cases of COVID reported in Travis County in just 2022 alone.

Three weeks into the new year, Houston Methodist Hospital confirmed two cases of the sub-variant "stealth omicron" in Texas. "It has most of the changes that make the omicron virus with some changes in the spike protein," said Dr. Hana El Sahly, a professor of virology and microbiology at the College of Medicine. She says that makes it harder for some PCR tests to identify this sub-variant. "Given that we have known the stealth omicron since we first identified omicron, it is likely that it is not behaving differently," she said.

[Number6]

Doctors in Missouri may have found the cause of long-term COVID-19.

A Missouri Baptist Medical Center doctor and his team may have discovered a potential cause of long COVID-19. Their discovery could help those suffering from the chronic condition.

Dr. Leonard Weinstock, a gastroenterologist at Missouri Baptist Medical Center, and others found that mast cell activation symptoms were increased in long COVID-19 patients. Their work was published in the International Journal of Infectious Diseases.

Mast cells are allergic cells that release histamine, prostaglandin, heparin, and many other chemicals during infections, inflammation, and allergic triggers.

The researchers say this is a problem for those who contract COVID-19 because when mast cells are activated, they can cause long-lasting changes to the inflammatory and allergic state of the body.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medica ... li=BBnb7Kz

[ap215]

NY Judge Strikes Down State Mask Mandate, Schools Have Mixed Responses

A New York judge ruled Monday that the state's mask mandate can't be enforced, after it was reinstituted by Gov. Kathy Hochul over concerns about a winter surge of coronavirus cases.

State Supreme Court Judge Thomas Rademaker said in his decision that the state Department of Health didn't have the legal authority to implement the mandate, and that it was up to the state Legislature to do so if needed.

https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/politic ... d/3512788/

[ap215]

Neil Young calls on Spotify to remove his music over 'fake' vaccine information

Rock legend Neil Young this week demanded that his music be removed from Spotify after accusing the streaming service of circulating "fake" information about vaccines.

“I am doing this because Spotify is spreading fake information about vaccines – potentially causing death to those who believe the disinformation being spread by them," Young wrote in a letter to his record label and management team, according to Rolling Stone. “Please act on this immediately today and keep me informed of the time schedule.”

https://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/i ... -over-fake

[Motor City]

Parallel Earth
By Tom Tomorrow

[ZoWie]

Earth' also has a bit of an issue with a hostile party in Congress that has decided the way back to power is bullets and bullshit.

[ap215]

Josh Williamson is first Team USA athlete to test positive for COVID ahead of 2022 Olympics

U.S. bobsledder Josh Williamson spent last week soaking up the life of a newly-minted Olympian, training in Chula Vista, Calif., and reflecting on his journey from college lacrosse retiree to reality TV show winner to Team USA. "It's pretty surreal," he said in a phone interview. He looked forward to a "cool new adventure" at the 2022 Winter Olympics.

Then, on Sunday, four days before he was scheduled to depart for Beijing, he tested positive for COVID-19.

https://www.aol.com/sports/josh-william ... 57090.html

[ap215]

NY Confirms 4 Cases of ‘Stealth' Omicron Variant BA.2

The New York State Health Department confirmed the first cases of the so-called "stealth" omicron variant on Thursday.

The department said it was aware of four cases of the BA.2 variant, which scientists say is somewhat harder to detect than the original version of omicron, between Jan. 7 and Jan. 12.

https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/coronav ... 2/3519634/

[carmenjonze]

NY Confirms 4 Cases of ‘Stealth' Omicron Variant BA.2

The New York State Health Department confirmed the first cases of the so-called "stealth" omicron variant on Thursday.

The department said it was aware of four cases of the BA.2 variant, which scientists say is somewhat harder to detect than the original version of omicron, between Jan. 7 and Jan. 12.

https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/coronav ... 2/3519634/

Here it comes again.

NYC was hit HARD by the first Omicron. This one doesn't seem all that stealth to me, tbh, but I am no public health official.

[Number6]

Useful article on how many times can you reuse a N95 or KN95 mask?

The U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention says health care workers can wear an N95 mask up to five times. But experts say how often the average person can safely wear one will vary depending on how it's used.

The amount of time a mask is worn is more important than how frequently it's worn, says Richard Flagan, who studies masks and aerosols at the California Institute of Technology.

In general, he recommends limiting the use of an N95 mask to about two or three days.

If you notice any of these changes to your mask, it’s time to stop using it — even if you've only used it a few hours. And since N95 masks can't be washed, they should be thrown away once you can no longer use them.
https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/many-ti ... 32927.html

In the video in the link, the also doctor recommends to reuse your mask put it in a paper bag for 3-5 days to allow the germs and viruses on the mask to fall off and die.

[ap215]

Judge refuses to limit jury pool based on vaccination status

DOVER, Del. (AP) — People who are not “up to date” on their COVID-19 vaccines cannot be excluded from the jury pool for a criminal trial starting next week, a judge ruled Friday, rejecting a request by federal prosecutors in Delaware who had sought to keep out those potential jurors.

Judge Joshua Wolson ruled that the Constitution guarantees a criminal defendant the right to a trial by an impartial jury drawn from diverse segments of the population, and that the pandemic cannot be used as an excuse to weaken that right.

https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus- ... 500d62bc70

[ap215]

New Zealand Prime Minister isolates after COVID-19 exposure

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Saturday announced that she is now self-isolating after she was exposed to a person who tested positive for the coronavirus.

Ardern, along with New Zealand’s Governor-General Cindy Kiro, was exposed to the virus during a flight on Jan. 22 from Kerikeri to Auckland, according to The Associated Press.

https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/p ... r-covid-19

[marindem01]

Washington State Trooper Who Quit Over Vaccine Mandates Reportedly Dies From COVID.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/robert-l ... 9a12bd8084.

Washington State Trooper Robert LaMay, who grabbed headlines when he blew up at Gov. Jay Inslee (D) over vaccine mandates last year, has died of COVID-19, KIRO news radio reported Friday.

He was 50.

To which I say, good. No mercy on the Anti-Mask/Anti-Vax idiots.

LET'S GO DARWIN!!!!