We have some coronavirus news! But first, the US tops the world list of monkeypox cases, with over 3,800. We were at the top (and bad) end of many coronavirus lists early in the pandemic, so why not reach for the top in monkeypox as well. Yesterday was a bad day to be on death row with four people executed in Myanmar and three in Japan.
As for deaths here in the US, there were no executions, but the covid death rate is up 34 percent over 14 days. Hospitalizations are up 12 percent, and cases are up 10 percent over the same 14 days. POTUS, who would be included in the case number but not the other two, is recovering nicely. His symptoms have "almost completely resolved" according to the White House physician.
China allowed the use of Paxlovid to treat covid starting in February. Now, China has given conditional approval for a domestic firm's HIV medicine to be used against covid. Some say that this could be setting up a move away from the zero-covid or, as it's known there, "dynamic COVID zero." The HIV medicine is intended for patients with the "normal type" of covid, or covid infection with signs of pneumonia and that is not yet severe.
Facebook may end restrictions on covid misinformation. They have been deleting it but are now considering labeling it as faulty or demoting it via algorithm. The self-regulating oversight board Facebook set up in May 2020 will review the issue and offer recommendations. Of course, Facebook does not have to act in line with the oversight board's recommendations.
Two peer-reviewed studies published today say that evidence points to SARS-CoV-2's having come from the Wuhan market rather than laboratory. The articles approached the question in very different ways yet agree on the finding. One study showed that most of the earliest known cases clustered around the market. The other study used genetic information suggesting that two variants were introduced into humans in November of December 2019. Two different methodologies and one conclusion. Sounds good to me.
And closer to home, My Mom's assisted living facility has reported four residents testing positive and, so far, one staff member, who works in dining. My Mom does wear a mask every time she leaves her apartment, but obviously can't wear one at mealtime. She tested negative today and will be tested again on Monday. I'd keep my fingers crossed, but that would make typing and otherwise being creative difficult.
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