Re: COVID-19 News and Discussions
Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2021 12:00 pm
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MEXICO CITY (Courthouse News) — As the United States finally begins to see the possible peak of the devastating Covid-19 delta wave, Mexico’s numbers started their descent in mid-August — despite a slightly higher percentage of the U.S. population being fully vaccinated.
What did Mexico do differently to more effectively mitigate the spread of the deadly virus?
Blaine Doyle, CEO of the Mexico City-based infectious disease lab ChektAhora, attributed the decline to widespread acceptance of vaccines and strict adherence to mitigation measures, especially mask wearing. An SOSV portfolio company, ChektAhora provides in-home Covid testing and will soon offer a similar vaccination product.
"Definitely the vaccine has been helping,” he said, adding that mistrust of the vaccine “has been a big reason that Covid has lingered in other countries longer than it should have. The vaccine has been hugely beneficial for lowering the case rates here and definitely opening up the country, allowing business to resume somewhat back to normal.”
Originally from Ireland, Doyle recently traveled to both Europe and the United States and noticed the stark difference in attitudes toward epidemiological realities. And vaccines aren't the only reason he believes Mexico has seen declining Covid numbers.
Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/monta ... d=msedgntp
In Billings, Montana, emergency room doctor Jamiee Belsky can barely keep up with the surge of new COVID-19 patients. "So we are — we're getting short on beds," she said.
At Billings Clinic, the largest hospital in the state, the ICU is running at 150% capacity with younger and sicker patients admitted daily. The National Guard is on hand to help care for and screen new patients while hallways house the overflow.
"People need to get vaccinated because right now we're hurting," Belsky said.
Frank Miller, 59, was hospitalized with COVID-19 more than two weeks ago. The unvaccinated engineer spent more than a week on a ventilator.
Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/north ... ar-AAOVUZfA large North Carolina hospital network says that it has fired nearly 200 workers for failing to take a Covid-19 vaccine.
Dr. David H. Priest, chief for safety for Novant Health, said at a Tuesday press briefing that roughly 175 staffers did not comply with their vaccine mandate deadline.
"By doing that, by not getting vaccinated, they voluntarily resign," Priest said.
The departures will not impact staffing at the hospital system of over 35,000 employees, Priest said, because the hospital has been using temporary staff for the duration of the pandemic to make up for shortages from staff falling ill with Covid.
Read more: https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/5 ... -19-deaths
The United States has recorded more than 700,000 deaths linked to COVID-19 on Friday, according to a count from data compiled by Reuters. In its analysis of public health data, the wire service reported that over the last week, the country had seen the average number of more than 2,000 COVID-19 deaths per day.
According to the latest health data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) the country has recorded 10,333 deaths related to the coronavirus over the past seven days.
The southern states have seen some of the highest death rates in the country in the past week. Texas has recorded 1,943 deaths over the last seven days; Georgia has recorded 746; North Carolina has tallied 512 deaths; and Tennessee has recorded 409, according to the CDC.
Pennsylvania and Ohio have also recorded high seven-day death tolls at 370 and 349 respectively, according to the health agency's data.
Alpha variant, B.1.1.7
Up to 70% more transmissible
Up to 60% more deadly, but more research needed
Vaccines are still effective
Unlikely to reinfect people who already had COVID
First discovered in the U.K.
Delta variant, B.1.617.2
Up to 115% more transmissible
Unknown if it causes more severe disease
Vaccines are still effective
Can reinfect people who already had COVID
First discovered in India
Beta variant, B.1.351
50% more transmissible
Unknown if it causes more severe disease
Some vaccines are less effective
Can reinfect people who already had COVID
First discovered in South Africa
Gamma variant, P.1
Believed to be more transmissible, but more research needed
Unknown if it causes more severe disease
Some vaccines are slightly less effective
Believed to reinfect people who already had COVID
First discovered in Brazil
Iota/Eta variants, B.1.526/B.1.525
Unknown if it is more or less transmissible
Unknown if it causes more severe disease
Vaccines are likely still effective
May be able to reinfect people who already had COVID, but more research needed
First discovered in New York
Kappa variant, B.1.617.1
Believed to be more transmissible
Unknown if it causes more severe disease
Vaccines are still effective
May reinfect people who already had COVID
First discovered in India
Epsilon variants, B.1.427/B.1.429
20% more transmissible
May cause more severe disease, but more research needed
Vaccines are likely still effective
May be able to reinfect people who already had COVID
First discovered in California