COVID-19 Megathread 6: Return of the Omicron

[Not Me, Us]

Ohio holding a lottery only open to people who have been vaccinated:

https://twitter.com/GovMikeDeWine/status/1392597174014332929

This is a really good idea. Hopefully more states implement something like this.

[Interlocutor is just not there yet]

California will end its indoor mask mandate by June 15.

More like California will end its outdoor mask mandate and some of its indoor mask mandate by June 15.

However, speaking near the end of a Wednesday news conference in Monterey County centered on school funding, Newsom appeared to walk back some of those remarks, making a sharper distinction between masks in indoor and outdoor settings.

“I want to clarify in that context that we will be updating our mask guidelines (for) outdoor masking if we reach that (June 15) threshold where we hope to be, where we’ll be eliminating those mandates — they’ll be guidelines or recommendations,” Newsom said. “But for indoor activities, we’ll still have likely some mask guidelines, mandates. But we hope, sooner than later, those will be lifted as well.”

https://www.sacbee.com/news/coronavirus/article251350488.html#storylink=hpdigest_politics

[Beet]

COVID Linked to Long-Term Erectile Dysfunction

The results only examined tissues from only four men — two with a history of COVID infection, and two without — who underwent penile prosthesis surgery to treat erectile dysfunction. That’s a very small sample size and may or may not be generalizable to the greater population, but the work builds on separate research, published earlier this year in the journal Andrology, which found that men who had previously had COVID were six times as likely as other men to develop erectile dysfunction.

“Our research shows that COVID-19 can cause widespread endothelial dysfunction in organ systems beyond the lungs and kidneys,” said University of Miami Miller School of Medicine researcher and author Ranjith Ramasamy, in a statement. “The underlying endothelial dysfunction that happens because of COVID-19 can enter the endothelial cells and affect many organs, including the penis.”

https://futurism.com/neoscope/covid-linked-long-term-erectile-dysfunction

More bad news.

[Bandit3 the Worker]

7-day positive rate way down to 2.95%.

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

Johnson & Johnson vaccine linked to 28 cases of blood clots, CDC reports

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Wednesday it had identified a total of 28 cases of serious, potentially life-threatening blood clots among the more than 8.7 million people who had received the Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccination.

This latest case count is as of May 7. Previously, as of April 25, the CDC had reported 17 cases of the clots out of nearly 8 million people given the shots.

The CDC and the Food and Drug Administration paused use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine April 13 after reports of the very rare but dangerous blood clots. The pause was lifted April 23.

In all 28 cases, the patients received the shots before the April 13 pause, Dr. Tom Shimabukuro, who leads the CDC’s Covid-19 vaccine safety monitoring work, said. He provided an update on the cases Wednesday at a meeting of the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, a group of independent advisers.

(NBC News)

[Dr. Arch]

The updated numbers for COVID-19 in the U.S. are in for 5/12 per: https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/us/

I'm keeping track of these updates daily and updating at the end of the day, whenever all states finish reporting for that day.

ΔW Change: Comparisons of Weekly Day-to-day Growth or Decline of COVID-19 Spread/Deaths.

• IE: Comparing the numbers to the same day of last week, are we flattening the curve enough?

Σ Increase: A day's contribution to overall percentage growth of COVID-19 cases/deaths.

• IE:What's the overall change in the total?

Brackets []: These represent the total change for the day, including backlogged reports, if any.

• These numbers are inflated relative to the actual reports for the day, so they are not used to calculate the comparative percentage shifts.

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5/2: <Sunday>

• Cases: 33,180,441 (+30,701 [+34,433] | ΔW Change: ↓11.62% | Σ Increase: ↑0.10%)
• Deaths: 591,062 (+312 [+358] | ΔW Change: ↑14.71% | Σ Increase: ↑0.06%)

5/3: <M>

• Cases: 33,230,561 (+39,767 [+50,120] | ΔW Change: ↓16.20% | Σ Increase: ↑0.15%)
• Deaths: 591,514 (+452 | ΔW Change: ↓1.53% | Σ Increase: ↑0.08%)

5/4: <T>

• Cases: 33,274,659 (+44,098 | ΔW Change: ↓15.27% | Σ Increase: ↑0.13%)
• Deaths: 592,409 (+895 | ΔW Change: ↑15.78% | Σ Increase: ↑0.15%)

5/5: <W>

• Cases: 33,321,244 (+46,585 | ΔW Change: ↓17.70% | Σ Increase: ↑0.14%)
• Deaths: 593,148 (+739 | ΔW Change: ↓22.54% | Σ Increase: ↑0.12%)

5/6: <Þ>

• Cases: 33,369,192 (+47,948 | ΔW Change: ↓20.58% | Σ Increase: ↑0.14%)
• Deaths: 594,006 (+858 | ΔW Change: ↓1.38% | Σ Increase: ↑0.14%)

5/7: <F>

• Cases: 33,418,826 (+49,634 | ΔW Change: ↓17.15% | Σ Increase: ↑0.15%)
• Deaths: 594,911 (+777 [+905] | ΔW Change: ↓0.89% | Σ Increase: ↑0.15%)

5/8: <S>

• Cases: 33,454,581 (+35,755 | ΔW Change: ↓14.94% | Σ Increase: ↑0.11%)
• Deaths: 595,588 (+677 | ΔW Change: ↑4.31% | Σ Increase: ↑0.11%)

5/9: <Sunday>

• Cases: 33,476,781 (+22,200 | ΔW Change: ↓27.69% | Σ Increase: ↑0.07%)
• Deaths: 595,812 (+224 | ΔW Change: ↓28.21% | Σ Increase: ↑0.04%)

5/10: <M>

• Cases: 33,515,308 (+30,152 [+38,527] | ΔW Change: ↓24.18% | Σ Increase: ↑0.12%)
• Deaths: 596,179 (+367 | ΔW Change: ↓18.81% | Σ Increase: ↑0.06%)

5/11 (Yesterday): <T>

• Cases: 33,550,115 (+34,807 | ΔW Change: ↓21.07% | Σ Increase: ↑0.10%)
• Deaths: 596,946 (+767 | ΔW Change: ↓14.30% | Σ Increase: ↑0.13%)

5/12 (Today): <W>

• Cases: 33,586,136 (+36,021 | ΔW Change: ↓22.68% | Σ Increase: ↑0.11%)
• Deaths: 597,785 (+839 | ΔW Change: ↑13.53% | Σ Increase: ↑0.14%)

[pbrower2a]

COVID Linked to Long-Term Erectile Dysfunction

The results only examined tissues from only four men — two with a history of COVID infection, and two without — who underwent penile prosthesis surgery to treat erectile dysfunction. That’s a very small sample size and may or may not be generalizable to the greater population, but the work builds on separate research, published earlier this year in the journal Andrology, which found that men who had previously had COVID were six times as likely as other men to develop erectile dysfunction.

“Our research shows that COVID-19 can cause widespread endothelial dysfunction in organ systems beyond the lungs and kidneys,” said University of Miami Miller School of Medicine researcher and author Ranjith Ramasamy, in a statement. “The underlying endothelial dysfunction that happens because of COVID-19 can enter the endothelial cells and affect many organs, including the penis.”

https://futurism.com/neoscope/covid-linked-long-term-erectile-dysfunction

More bad news.

Considering the importance of the sex drive to so many people -- that should be very convincing. That argument has been used against steroids.

[Vaccinated Russian Bear]

https://twitter.com/AP/status/1392890690108104706

CDC finally starts to partly follow science 🤌

[Lambsbread]

Damn, that's awesome. I may continue to wear masks at the grocery store until vaccination rates go up, but this is promising.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

I'm still going to wear one so I don't look like a Republican.

[Dr. MB]

I'm still going to wear one so I don't look like a Republican.

Well it's not only Republicans who've been taking their masks off lately.

[ملكة كرينجيتوك]

COVID Linked to Long-Term Erectile Dysfunction

The results only examined tissues from only four men — two with a history of COVID infection, and two without — who underwent penile prosthesis surgery to treat erectile dysfunction. That’s a very small sample size and may or may not be generalizable to the greater population, but the work builds on separate research, published earlier this year in the journal Andrology, which found that men who had previously had COVID were six times as likely as other men to develop erectile dysfunction.

“Our research shows that COVID-19 can cause widespread endothelial dysfunction in organ systems beyond the lungs and kidneys,” said University of Miami Miller School of Medicine researcher and author Ranjith Ramasamy, in a statement. “The underlying endothelial dysfunction that happens because of COVID-19 can enter the endothelial cells and affect many organs, including the penis.”

https://futurism.com/neoscope/covid-linked-long-term-erectile-dysfunction

More bad news.

All the more reason to get vaxxed ASAP and keep wearing masks in crowded environments, especially if it's worse with repeated COVID-19 infections.

[GeorgiaModerate]

https://twitter.com/kylegriffin1/status/1392932721782050817

[Not Me, Us]

https://twitter.com/AP/status/1392890690108104706

CDC finally starts to partly follow science 🤌

Amazing decision! The science is clear that the vaccines are incredibly safe and effective. There is absolutely no reason why a fully vaccinated individual should have to wear a mask if they aren't exhibiting symptoms. As soon as the mandate is lifted in PA, I will no longer be wearing a mask.

[Hammy]

This is a terrible decision unless they're going to mandate proof of vaccination, otherwise it's just going to encourage unvaccinated people to lie and spread the virus more.

[soundchaser]

This is a terrible decision unless they're going to mandate proof of vaccination, otherwise it's just going to encourage unvaccinated people to lie and spread the virus more.

At this point, the vaccine is available to every American over the age of 12. If you haven’t gotten it yet, you’re making a (dumb) choice for yourself. Those of us who have been vaccinated shouldn’t have to suffer forever because of the morons. Will I probably still wear my mask to some crowded places? Yeah. But I bought tickets to a November concert and I am beyond excited that the CDC is saying it will be ok to have.

[roxas11]

This is a terrible decision unless they're going to mandate proof of vaccination, otherwise it's just going to encourage unvaccinated people to lie and spread the virus more.

The people you described will never take the vaccine anyway, no matter what The CDC says or does


The reality is there is a big difference between someone who is simply hesitant about the vaccines because of side effects, but can still be convinced to take it.

compared to someone who has no intention of ever being vaccinated and is purposely going around spreading lies about the vaccine online

At this point I think we should all focus on the unvaccinated people who can by persuaded instead wasting our time worrying about what The Anti-vaxxers online think about the New CDC guidlines

[Inmate Trump]

This feels like a huge turning point in the pandemic.

I'll continue to wear a mask in stores, but I'll do so more as a curtesy to others.

I do support requiring proof of vaccination for certain activities.  Let the responsible ones in our society get back to normal, and leave the non-vaccinated in the dust.

[Drew]

Due to the fact that is often impossible to know who is and isn’t vaccinated, it will be interesting to see the revisions in state/local mask mandates with this new CDC guidance.  I can see it remaining in places like schools, hospitals, and the like, while potentially being eliminated for other types of venues with small amounts of people in them. 

Here in Dane County, our mask mandate is still in effect until at least Tuesday when they make an announcement about updated guidance.  We have the highest vax rate in the state with >60% of the population with at least one shot and >50% fully vaxed, so this is beginning to be a lot of people here who theoretically don’t need to mask up.

[Horus]

Hospitals and airplanes are the only two places that should have a permanent mask mandate. Everywhere else needs to get back to normal ASAP.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

I won't wear a mask to church of course because its obvious there I'm not a Republican or live music shows once those start again because no Republicans would attend the ones I do. Otherwise I'm still masking up and making it dead clear I didn't vote for Trump.

[Horus]

I won't wear a mask to church of course because its obvious there I'm not a Republican or live music shows once those start again because no Republicans would attend the ones I do. Otherwise I'm still masking up and making it dead clear I didn't vote for Trump.

Trumpers are now starting to wear masks due to conspiracies about vaccinated people shedding the virus onto others and making them infertile.

[soundchaser]

I won't wear a mask to church of course because its obvious there I'm not a Republican or live music shows once those start again because no Republicans would attend the ones I do. Otherwise I'm still masking up and making it dead clear I didn't vote for Trump.

You know, at some point you're going to have to give up the pretense that anyone thinking you voted for a candidate is going to make a difference in your daily life. Or that people who voted for the president who *just showed Americans today that it is ok to shed your mask once you're vaccinated* aren't going to follow his example.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

I won't wear a mask to church of course because its obvious there I'm not a Republican or live music shows once those start again because no Republicans would attend the ones I do. Otherwise I'm still masking up and making it dead clear I didn't vote for Trump.

You know, at some point you're going to have to give up the pretense that anyone thinking you voted for a candidate is going to make a difference in your daily life. Or that people who voted for the president who *just showed Americans today that it is ok to shed your mask once you're vaccinated* aren't going to follow his example.

In a couple weeks sure. But until then I must make sure that everyone understands that I did not support Trump.

[soundchaser]

Real life isn't an internet forum. You don't score recommendation points for strangers thinking anything about you.