The Road goes ever on and on ... Day 190 (690)

New Zealand will gradually--over about nine months--re-open its borders starting at the end of February. The first people allowed in will be vaccinated New Zealanders and visa holders entering from Australia. After that, vaccinated New Zealanders and visa holders coming from the rest of the world may enter. Finally, all other vaccinated visitors. Those who enter must still quarantine for 10 days, but it can be at home or a chosen place, not at a government-run facility. The goal is to be open to "all other international visitors" by October. 

There is a solution in Korea to the problem of eating and drinking while wearing a mask. That solution would be a kosk. "Ko" is from the Korean for "nose," and "sk" is from "mask." It covers just the nose, leaving the mouth available for consumption purposes. Some come in two pieces, one for the nose and another for the mouth. Since some studies have suggested that the nose is the easiest route the virus can use to enter a body, a kosk may make sense never mind how funny it looks.

Virologists are trying to determine the origin of coronavirus fragments found in New York City wastewater. The fragments are being called "cryptic lineages." The "cryptic" is because the fragments show a mutation pattern that hasn't been reported in human patients. Some suspect that the lineages could be coming from virus-infected animals such as rats. The lineages could also come from humans whose infections have yet to be analyzed genetically. Finding the source is important, and the search for it continues.

Soldiers who have yet to be vaccinated will be discharged immediately. They will not receive involuntary separation pay and may have to return incentive bonuses and other special compensation. Last week, the Navy discharged 45 sailors. All were given honorable or entry-level discharges for disobeying a direct order. Almost half were in their first six months of service.

In the weeks between January 19 and February 1, covid cases rose in only five states_ Maine, Alaska, Washington, Idaho, and Montana. They dropped over 200 percent in Wisconsin and Rhode Island. Are we there yet? No, and it's not clear how things will proceed if we are. Simply saying that the pandemic is over, that covid is endemic, will not be easy. Different countries will reach that point at different times. Even different areas of the same country may reach that point at different times. And what if we do reach that point and then become complacent? Something worth considering.