Here's something not too heartening: During the Omicron surge in January and February, 42 percent of the people dying of covid had been previously vaccinated. If you're younger than I am, you may not have to worry so much. Those deaths were concentrated among the elderly (I'm still wondering if I am), for whom vaccines are less effective. It seems that the potency of the vaccines may wane more quickly for older age groups.
If you're purchasing home covid tests over the counter, give the packaging a close look. There are now counterfeit at-home test kits that look very similar to the legitimate ones. The counterfeit ones may have spelling or grammar errors on the labels, though. So far, there have not been counterfeit ones detected among the test kits shipped as part of the government's free test program.
Cases and hospitalizations are rising in a majority of the states. We're also about to hit one million deaths. Vaccinations still matter even if the potency wanes over time. Right now, 77.6 percent of Americans have gotten at least one dose of vaccine, while 30 percent have gotten a booster. The addition of boosters to the shot regimen has led to a move away from the "fully vaccinated" label. Now, if you've had the full initial vaccine dose and at least one booster, you are said to be "up-to-date" on your covid vaccinations.
Beijing is refurbishing a 1,000-bed facility built for the 2003 SARS outbreak to equip it for covid. They are also setting up a 10,000-bed quarantine facility for people who test positive and their close contacts. I can't help but think that any close contacts who have not yet contracted covid will certainly contract it in such a crowded facility.
Vice President Harris has tested negative and will be returning to work. As advised by the CDC, she will wear a "well-fitting" mask for ten days. She was given Paxlovid after testing positive, just as POTUS's Test-to-Treat program advises.
I saw a new type of variant mentioned, actually two types. The terms "variant of interest" and "variant of concern" have been around for quite a while. Today I saw "variant being monitored" which is less serious than even a variant of interest. On the other end, there is "variant of high consequence." I assume that is something like Delta or Omicron, something that has graduated through the other levels.
On the subject of variants, I found an interesting passage from Science Writer Carl Zimmer: "Scientists have been trying to figure out what those mutations do for the variants, and it looks like it helps them evade immunity from earlier forms of Omicron. A year ago, we were amazed at how fast Delta was spreading at the time. And in a year, we've gone through several upgrades of this virus, and now it spreads way faster. It's on a par with measles." I find the last thought disconcerting. On a par with measles, one of the most contagious common diseases out there. Remember R-naught, the number of people one person infects? It's somewhere between 15 and 20 for measles. If covid is getting to that point, we could be in trouble even with vaccines.
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