(Vox) Florida shares deep connections with Puerto Rico as home to the territory’s largest diaspora community on the US mainland. But when it comes to Covid-19, the two places have little in common.
While Florida, like many states in the South, has seen high infection rates and troubling death counts, Puerto Rico has been something of a coronavirus success story. As of November 22, Puerto Rico had fully vaccinated 74 percent of its population — a higher proportion than any other US state or territory — and had among the lowest Covid-19 death rates since the start of the pandemic, with 102 in 100,000 people dying from the virus.
By comparison, Florida’s vaccination rate is far more typical for the US; it has administered two shots to 60.9 percent of its population, slightly above the national average of 59.2 percent. That’s after Florida led the country in total caseloads for months, and after significant loss of life: Florida residents have died of the virus at nearly triple the rate of Puerto Rico residents.
So turns out that commentary about the virus being mild is looking increasingly suspect. In fact, huge amounts of young children being hospitalized in Omicron region in South Africa.
Toddlers Make Up 10% of Hospital Cases in Omicron Epicenter
Xyls wrote: ↑Mon Nov 29, 2021 6:00 pm
So turns out that commentary about the virus being mild is looking increasingly suspect. In fact, huge amounts of young children being hospitalized in Omicron region in South Africa.
Toddlers Make Up 10% of Hospital Cases in Omicron Epicenter
I realize she was taken out of context. However, many of the MSM outlets have already run stories claiming that it is mild. Whereas there is not evidence yet and there really isn't any reason to assume than it won't be at least as dangerous as the OG version of the virus... And there is some evidence to suggest this version may actually be significantly more dangerous to extremely young children which is a new development...
I agree, they should be instituted everywhere the virus has been detected, but I'll just assume it's already too late & 2022 is yet another fucked plague year. Time for another drink.
The emergence of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus in South Africa has driven a sharp increase in Covid-19 hospitalizations in the country’s hot-spot province over the past two weeks, although fewer patients are being treated for severe disease than in previous surges, the country’s National Institute for Communicable Diseases said.
There has also been an unusually high number of hospitalizations of children under 2 years old around the capital, Pretoria, where cases started rising first, although some of these may be precautionary, the institute said.
And remember my friend, future events such as these will affect you in the future
New York City on Monday issued an advisory strongly recommending that everyone wear masks indoors in public places at all times regardless of vaccination status, amid concern about the new, highly mutated strain of the coronavirus named omicron.
“I’m also issuing a commissioners advisory strongly recommending that all New Yorkers wear a mask at all times when indoors and in a public setting. Like at your grocery or in building lobbies, offices and retail stores,” Dr. Dave Chokshi, commissioner of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, told reporters during an update on the coronavirus situation.
Outgoing Mayor Bill de Blasio and Chokshi said New York City has not identified any cases of omicron so far. They both emphasized that vaccination remains the most crucial tool available to fight Covid-19.
“There are no omicron cases here in New York City at this moment. It is very likely there will be, but there are no cases at this moment,” de Blasio said during the update. “Our entire focus once again is going to be on vaccination. Based on everything we know, vaccination is crucial to any strategy for addressing omicron.”
How much do you want to bet there's already ten thousand cases in the USA at this very moment?
And remember my friend, future events such as these will affect you in the future
Children under the age of 2 account for about 10% of total hospital admissions in the omicron epicenter Tshwane in South Africa, according to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases.
More kids are being admitted than during the early stages of the country entering the current fourth wave of infections, although a similar trend occurred during the third wave when delta was dominant, said Waasila Jassat, public health specialist at the institute.
South African scientists were last week the first to identify the new variant now known as omicron, and while symptoms have been described as mild, the exact risk from the new strain is still uncertain. Governments across the globe stepped up travel restrictions in response, and the World Health Organization warned that the variant could fuel a fresh surge in infections.
And remember my friend, future events such as these will affect you in the future
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention strengthened recommendations for booster doses of coronavirus vaccine Monday, saying all adults should get boosted six months after the second dose of Pfizer/BioNTech's or Moderna's vaccine or two months after the single dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
It's a slight but significant tweak to the wording of guidance issued earlier this month when the CDC endorsed an expanded emergency use authorization for boosters from the US Food and Drug Administration.
"Today, CDC is strengthening its recommendation on booster doses for individuals who are 18 years and older," CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said in a statement.
"The recent emergence of the Omicron variant (B.1.1.529) further emphasizes the importance of vaccination, boosters, and prevention efforts needed to protect against COVID-19," she added.
And remember my friend, future events such as these will affect you in the future
