The Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor 81 years ago today. A new recruit who was 17 on that day would now be 98. The greatest generation gets smaller every day; some are taken by a new enemy, COVID-19.
There are various estimates of the number of people who have had COVID. Different reports use different methods, populations, and timing. The CDC's estimate for a time period ending in May 2022 is 42 percent. A not-yet-peer-reviewed paper posits 94 percent for a period ending last month, November 2022. An article in the Canadian Medical Association Journal says 61 percent for a time period ending in August 2022. Finally, a study reported in The Lancet suggested 58 percent for a period ending in February 2022. Until that Lancet study popped up, I was going to note that the three percentages were in line if ordered by date. That is, 42 percent for May, 61 percent for August, and 94 percent for November.
China has rolled back rules on isolating people with COVID and loosened virus test requirements. Experts say, though, that it will be mid 2023 before all requirements can be lifted.
A COVID opinion survey of 1,147 US adults done between December 2 and 5 had some interesting results. For example, 69 percent of respondents agreed with the statement that "the federal government should continue funding prevention measures." At the same time, 44 percent agreed with the statement that "America has already spent enough fighting COVID; it's time to stop and move on." At one end of the continuum, 45 percent believe that "public health officials lied about how effective COVID-19 vaccines and masks are" and 39 percent believe that "Dr. Anthony Fauci should be investigated for his role in the COVID-19 response." Only 30 percent claimed to be acutely aware of the state of the public health emergency and still take steps such as masking, while 70 percent strongly or somewhat believe that we are moving to a point where the virus won't disrupt daily lives.
The international vaccine agency, Gavi, is discussing ending Covax, the program to deliver COVID vaccines to countries who could not afford them. Demand for those vaccines is lessening. Gavi manages stockpiles of emergency vaccines and supplies routine childhood shots to developing countries. If Covax ends, COVID vaccines would be rolled into the standard immunization program for 54 countries. Other countries would have to pay something for the vaccines.
My Mom's assisted living facility is up to five cases of COVID. Three are in the general population including one who sits with My Mom at meals. My Mom is not sociable by nature, something I'm glad about now. Watching TV in her apartment exposes her to so many fewer germs than watching TV with other people in the lounge would. I'll be dropping things for her off at the entry desk until they've hit the magical (and relative) zero-COVID.
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My mother in law's facility has been closed to visitors for three weeks because of an outbreak (defined as two cases). I read up on the guidance but I've slept since then, I think it's that they have to go ten days without a new case to open up again.
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