International COVID-19 Megathread

[Blue3]

The whole of Italy is now on full quarantine lockdown.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-51810673

That’s just crazy.

[Blue3]

Well COVID-19 does in general target the more vulnerable with pre-existing health conditions. Perhaps most of those people in eastern Europe have already died / don't live long anyways due to its other conditions?

[Blue3]

Scientists investigate possible positive effects of nicotine. It is being assumed that nicotine somehow (clinging onto the receptors the virus needs) has a positive shielding effect against the virus. 

https://m.oe24.at/coronavirus/Coronavirus-Wissenschafter-vermuten-positive-Wirkung-von-Nikotin/427320386

Obviously testing will be done with patches, not cigarettes.

The reason for the theory is that so far smokers have 80% lower infection rates than the General population.

Study paid for by tobacco company?

[Blue3]

COVID-19 has now spread to the research bases on Antarctica, officially now on all continents
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/covid19-all-seven-continents-antarctica_n_5fe22531c5b6ff74797dc8f0

[Blue3]

Thankfully my site/branch of our nonprofit has decided to stay virtual at least a little longer. 5-10% of us have gotten COVID and probably more since half haven’t gotten tested yet (we mandated it upon coming back but there’s a long delay/shortage), and most of our AmeriCorps members are roommates with those on other teams. And we’ve had a vaccine mandate. Most boosted too.

One of our middle school partners has over 40 confirmed positive cases. And most elementary classes have only 3 to 6 students per classroom and 20 teachers out.

In very depressing news:
India just learned it undercounted and found 3 million of its citizens they thought were alive are dead. 600% more deaths than previously believed.
Covid death toll in India likely far higher than official record, research says
https://www.nbcnews.com/science/science-news/covid-death-toll-india-likely-far-higher-official-record-research-says-rcna11357

[Blue3]

Some chatter in the usual circles about a "scary" new Covid variant.

Any reliable non-alarmist accounts of this?

There's been a big increase in positive cases here

And here's a UK article, although a few weeks old:
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/eris-covid-uk-cases-map-b2390137.html

Hospitals in the South-West of England recorded the highest hospital admission rate, with an interactive map showing a 104% increase in Covid cases in Devon in the seven days leading up to 29 July.

Other Covid hotspots include Surrey, with a 103.3% increase, Derbyshire, with a 121.4% increase, as well as Cornwall, Somerset, Staffordshire, Darlington and Cumbria.

Experts have attributed the recent rise to a number of different reasons, including waning immunity, increased indoor mixing and the possibility that cinema trips to watch Barbie and Oppenheimer have caused the virus to spread.

[Blue3]

From personal experience, I know a lot of people from work and other places in the area who currently have COVID or who got it earlier.

I also wonder how much the lack of access to testing might be people shrugging it off as just a bad cold or bug.