Kolek planning to go pro
Hearing the Manaus situation is becoming a HUGE concern in the US. To those that have had it and think they may be "immune", please be careful. To those that haven't had it yet - please continue to be careful. These variants are kicking ass and don't even care what your name is.https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2021/01/variant-covid-among-triggers-grim-surge-manaus-brazil
The possibility that the B.1 variant may evade the immune response of previously infected individuals is horrifying. The thought that it is more transmissible makes that even worse. The fact that it is now in the US means we could see further and more dramatic surges. And we still don't know if, and to what extent, the vaccines protect against this variant.Masks, social distancing and other preventive measures are as important now as ever...even for people who have had Covid and/or been vaccinated.
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-00251-4
The fact that the virus seems to be mutating independently but similarly around the world is interesting. I’ve also heard these mutations were predicted by AI. So predictable—also interesting. This plus the efficacy of the initial vaccines (on severe COVID and death) makes me think we have a very good shot at controlling this. We have also proven we have a plug and play vaccine system for boosters. Things will and are getting better daily.
The UK variant has a new mutation, identical to one seen in the SA and Brazil strains, that could make it more resistant to current vaccines.https://www.cnbc.com/2021/02/02/covid-mutation-of-most-concern-has-occurred-in-uk-variant.htmlThe coronavirus mutation “of most concern” that could impact vaccine efficacy has occurred spontaneously in the U.K. variant, a professor of outbreak medicine who is part of a panel that advises the British government said on Tuesday.Ugh...
Now Canada (and it's rumored soon to be followed by the US) requires that you submit a negative PCR test less than 3 days before arrival back in CA meaning that you will have to get tested in the country you travel to. In JA you have to either go to Mobay or Kingston for a PCR test costing about $200 US. Canada has stated that if you aren't tested before checking in you will have to reschedule your flight until you have a negative test. If there are no tests available where you traveled to you must quarantine at a Gov't. approved location for 14 days upon return.
I see that Canada has now canceled all flights to/from "sunny" destinations like the Caribbean until April 30th. Travelers currently abroad will not only have to still show a negative test before returning but be tested upon arrival in CN and quarantine 3 day in a hotel at their own expense. This appears to have been announced with just 3 days notice.
Don’t forget the absurd $2K price tag for that quarantine. The measure is what it is, the abrupt “ehh we decided no more travel is allowed” when they’ve been allowing it for months and now creating a mass scramble back to the Canada is what is dumb about it. They closed their borders to filthy Americans long ago but had no issue with people flying all over.
New cases and hospitalizations are going down. I think people have been hunkering down in January, partly because of the bad Covid news and party because that's what they normally do in January. We just need to be vigilant for the next couple of months.
if we can get a bad enough polar vortex and more snow we may beat this thing in the north!
Polar vortex might be the socially isolating event we have been waiting for. Everybody stays home for a week plus except for necessary activities. Air so cold people want to wear a mask.So just parka your butt in front of the TV.
doesn't sound like the best conditions to prevent spread. forcing people indoors, into closer contact? does everyone have air purifiers in their tv or living rooms? you do realize that staying confined indoors in closer contact actually promotes viral growth