New Coronavirus threat

[John Fedup]

Apparently a CDC document confirms that Delta is a real problem wrt to transmissibility and that vaccinated people can unknowingly infect. Hardly surprising given the rising case numbers in many regions. The document recommends masking indoors, especially in schools. Trump’s Red States will be foaming at the mouth. Another $hitshow this fall as students return to class.


CDC document warns Delta variant appears to spread as easily as chickenpox and cause more severe infection
CDC document warns Delta variant appears to spread as easily as chickenpox and cause more severe infection

 

[John Fedup]

Some follow on information on my earlier post about Delta that has now been officially released. The mask recommendation will be a big issue in many US jurisdictions and elsewhere no doubt. In Canada, Alberta will be for sure ( a clone hybrid of Texas and Florida).


CDC shares 'pivotal discovery' on Covid-19 breakthrough infections that led to new mask guidance
CDC shares 'pivotal discovery' on Covid-19 breakthrough infections that led to new mask guidance

 

[Todjaeger]

Apparently a CDC document confirms that Delta is a real problem wrt to transmissibility and that vaccinated people can unknowingly infect. Hardly surprising given the rising case numbers in many regions. The document recommends masking indoors, especially in schools. Trump’s Red States will be foaming at the mouth. Another $hitshow this fall as students return to class.


CDC document warns Delta variant appears to spread as easily as chickenpox and cause more severe infection
CDC document warns Delta variant appears to spread as easily as chickenpox and cause more severe infection

Umm... no. The show has already started, no need to wait until the autumn to see it.

In addition, it now appears (or at least is more blatant from my POV) that the refusal to require masks and/or proof of vaccination on the part of various state gov'ts is due purely to politics and political posturing and not due to any economic concerns.

In South Carolina, between the governor and the state legislature, they have issued executive orders and passed laws which require in-person schooling to resume in the fall, while also prohibiting local school districts from requiring that students wear masks in school. The state health department is also advising that students should wear masks in school, but is enable to require it. It was also recently a news items, following a Freedom of Information request that apparently uncovered the health dept advise to the governor, prior to him issuing an executive order which was counter to the advice given, despite his claims to the contrary.

In Florida, the governor has issued orders prohibiting cruise lines from requiring a "vaccine passport" prior to embarking, so that passengers do not have to show proof of inoculation. This has led to the start of a legal showdown with the cruise industry, as different international cruise lines have Miami as either a major port-of-call, or the start & end or cruise trips which do a circuit around the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico. In order to try and still carry on business, without having outbreaks like happened last year aboard cruise ships, the cruise lines had begun requiring passengers and crew to show proof of vaccination. Following the orders from the FL gov, a legal dispute has arisen over whether the gov exceeded his authority. An interesting part of this, is the potential for a number of major cruise lines to say, "bon voyage" to Florida, and relocate their operations somewhere else if the governor's orders are upheld. Cruises in Florida is a USD$1+ bil. industry, and the state economy, which is heavily dependent on tourism, would take a significant hit.

 

[John Fedup]

Frankly I am amazed anyone would want to get on a cruise ship, especially from a port in dip$hit Florida. Perhaps Caribbean ports will turn away ships operating out of Florida, not that it would make much of a difference and Caribbean countries are desperate for tourism dollars. Another question is how many people would actually leave the ship to visit.

 

[OPSSG]

Delta hits China

1. CA910 from Russia on 10 Jul 2021 was identified as the source of the latest round of the COVID-19 infections in Nanjing, East China's Jiangsu Province. CA910 has transported a total of 69 COVID-19 patients from Moscow to Chinese cities including Nanjing, Tianjin and Zhengzhou. Cleaning staff most likely contracted the virus after not strictly adhering to personal protection requirements while completing a deep clean of flight CA910, said Nanjing Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Nanjing CDC).

2. Nanjing authorities have identified 13 local COVID-19 patients on 29 July 2021. The city has reported a total of 184 confirmed cases and one silent carrier since the latest outbreak that started on 20 July 2021.

3. Zhangjiajie city in Hunan province has required all tourist sites, cinemas and theatres to close, and banned large gatherings to contain the virus. The measures were announced after symptomless carriers outside the province were found to have attended a live performance at a theatre in Zhangjiajie on 22 Jul 2021. Local authorities deemed all spectators in the theatre between 6pm and 7pm on that day at a high risk. Over 2,000 people attended performances on 22 Jul 2021 and guests were seated next to each other, a health publication run by the state-owned People's Daily newspaper said in a report.

 

[OPSSG]

July 2021 Delta update from Singapore

Edit: Please note that “Covid-19” is the correct way to state the name of the virus (the auto correct feature has a tendency to insert the wrong word, as “Corvid). h/t to tonnyc for letting me know.

1. Singapore Ministry of Health data on vaccinated breakthroughs and vaccinated transmission from mid-June 2021 doesn’t lie.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1421293253836554242

2. As of 30 June 2021 noon, Singapore reported 131 new locally transmitted COVID-19 infections (plus 8 imported cases). The Jurong Fishery Port cluster has grown to 999 cases and remains the largest active cluster in the country. Among the new cases, one person is above the age of 70 who is partially vaccinated, and at risk of serious illness, said MOH.

• Total new cases: 139
  Active clusters: 63
  In hospitals: 571 (7 in ICU)
  Fatalities: 37
  Fatalities (past 28 days):1
  Total cases: 64,861

3. Total vaccine doses administered (as of 29 Jul): 7,429,918

4. From the above data, it is clear we have a government that cares and citizens who cooperate that is why out of the 64,861 Covid-19 cases that occurred, we only have 37 deaths.

 

[John Fedup]

July 2021 Delta update from Singapore
….

2. As of 30 June 2021 noon, Singapore reported 131 new locally transmitted COVID-19 infections (plus 8 imported cases). The Jurong Fishery Port cluster has grown to 999 cases and remains the largest active cluster in the country. Among the new cases, one person is above the age of 70 who is partially vaccinated, and at risk of serious illness, said MOH.

• Total new cases: 139
  Active clusters: 63
  In hospitals: 571 (7 in ICU)
  Fatalities: 37
  Fatalities (past 28 days):1
  Total cases: 64,861

3. Total vaccine doses administered (as of 29 Jul): 7,429,918

4. From the above data, it is clear we have a government that cares and citizens who cooperate that is why out of the 64,861 Covid-19 cases that occurred, we only have 37 deaths.

Singapore’s death rate is much lower than the 2% world rate. Although the healthcare system helps prevent a higher rate, the much lower obesity rate compared to North America would also be a big factor.

 

[OPSSG]

Covid-19 mRNA vaccines are 69% effective against Delta variant

Singapore’s death rate is much lower than the 2% world rate. Although the healthcare system helps prevent a higher rate, the much lower obesity rate compared to North America would also be a big factor.

1. That could be a factor but I have not looked at stats for obesity.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1421085887803310081

2. Those who have not, go get vaccinated. I am getting my second dose of the vaccine today (4 week interval from 1st dose). In Singapore, as of 28 June 2021, about:

• 76% of eligible seniors aged 60 and above;
• 78% of eligible persons aged 45 to 59; and
• 73% of eligible persons aged 40 to 44,

have received their COVID-19 vaccination or booked their vaccination appointments (which has a waiting time of 2 to 3 days, before the 1st dose and 4 weeks to a 2nd dose). Due to mobility issues, seniors at Whampoa also found that the mobile vaccination team was much more convenient for them being located closer to their homes and reducing walking time to only about a few minutes. The number of unvaccinated seniors in Singapore have decreased from 200,000 to slightly below 180,000, according to Minister of Health Ong Ye Kung.

3. Almost 80% of Singapore Citizens aged 12-39 years, including MOE students, have also received vaccinations or booked their appointments. Since 24 June, about 50,000 have also brought forward the date of their vaccination appointments for their first dose. The only unvaxxed group are children 11 and below (pending more research on their safety profile for this group).

4. Except for underlying medical conditions, 100% of the SAF, police and civil defence personnel have either received their COVID-19 vaccination or their vaccination appointment scheduled.

5. Singapore study shows Covid-19 mRNA vaccines are 69% effective against Delta variant. Viruses mutate if left alone. I have been posting in this thread on what Delta is doing to health systems in many countries across the globe. The battle against COVID-19 is ALWAYS been about accurate testing and gathering data for implementing an improved mitigation strategy — which now includes vaccination.

• Mask
• Test
• Trace
• Isolate
• Mitigate
• Vaccinate

 

[Ananda]

Sorry the video in Indonesian. Basically it's shown at least now in Jakarta, if you want to go to Market or Mall, you have to shown your vaccination card.

Jakarta on official record from close to 10 Mio adult population (Jakarta resident not suburbs one), around 80% already have at least one dose and 30% have two doses already. From what I heard from government people, this kind of mobility restrictions will be progressively put in other big cities and later in throughout the country. It will depend on vaccination progress in each area. The one that going to put similar measure is Bali which also has similar level of vaccinated adult population like Jakarta.

The mobility regulations on vaccination also already put in Inter Provinces train journey (if not mistaken with bus also). Plane already put it before. Thus basically the government said, if you want to get your mobility back, then get vaccinated. Whether you believe in vaccine or not.We already see that for International travels that demand vaccination card also.

My point on putting this video is that, it's useless to debate with people on the benefits of vaccines. Some of them will stubbornly cling on to their believe that vaccination is useless or even provide health risk.

Better give travel and mobility restrictions like this. This regulations from what I heard from government people, is based on what China and some European nation already done.

Thus if you don't want to be vaccinated. Then stay in your home, stay in your limited area, be a hermit if you like. You want your mobility back, then get vaccinated.

 

[Arji]

Sorry the video in Indonesian. Basically it's shown at least now in Jakarta, if you want to go to Market or Mall, you have to shown your vaccination card.

Jakarta on official record from close to 10 Mio adult population (Jakarta resident not suburbs one), around 80% already have at least one dose and 30% have two doses already. From what I heard from government people, this kind of mobility restrictions will be progressively put in other big cities and later in throughout the country. It will depend on vaccination progress in each area. The one that going to put similar measure is Bali which also has similar level of vaccinated adult population like Jakarta.

The mobility regulations on vaccination also already put in Inter Provinces train journey (if not mistaken with bus also). Plane already put it before. Thus basically the government said, if you want to get your mobility back, then get vaccinated. Whether you believe in vaccine or not.We already see that for International travels that demand vaccination card also.

My point on putting this video is that, it's useless to debate with people on the benefits of vaccines. Some of them will stubbornly cling on to their believe that vaccination is useless or even provide health risk.

Better give travel and mobility restrictions like this. This regulations from what I heard from government people, is based on what China and some European nation already done.

Thus if you don't want to be vaccinated. Then stay in your home, stay in your limited area, be a hermit if you like. You want your mobility back, then get vaccinated.

The comment on that video almost universally not a fan of the idea, but mostly complaining about lack of vaccine supplies as a reason as oppose to denying vaccine entirely. I find this interesting as I actually have no idea how the supply situation in Jakarta right now, but seeing that it is the capital, I'd expect to be the best supplied out of anywhere in Indonesia. You'd expect supply would be no problem, but who knows. I'm supposed to have my second AZ shot this September myself.

 

[swerve]

Singapore’s death rate is much lower than the 2% world rate. Although the healthcare system helps prevent a higher rate, the much lower obesity rate compared to North America would also be a big factor.

Here in the UK, the death rate in proportion to cases has dropped enormously since last year. I'm not sure exactly, but far less than 2%.

It's thought to be partly due to better treatment & partly due to vaccination. Few old or vulnerable people are catching it, because they're almost all vaccinated; when vaccinated people are unlucky enough to catch it it's much milder; and the death rate among still-unvaccinated young people is much lower than the old or already unwell.

 

[John Fedup]

A sad situation here in Ontario wrt expiring vaccines. Although I can understand a preference for Pfizer over AZ for the the first dose, not accepting Moderna, another mRNA vaccine, is just plain stupid. Furthermore, mixing doses may produce a better response. Beginning to wonder if blocking US media into Canada might prevent slowing of our vaccination efforts (probably somewhat but we have an ample supply of local nutters).

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/thousands-of-moderna-doses-set-to-expire-in-ontario-pharmacists-say-1.6126455

 

[ngatimozart]

Well define stupid? There's this pommy joker being detained in Singapore for refusing to wear a mask. He's claiming he's being enslaved from the looks of it. Some people.

'I'm not a slave': Man detained in Singapore mental hospital for refusing to wear mask

"I think it's insane that I am facing a trial at all, just for not wearing a mask."

www.nzherald.co.nz

 

[Musashi_kenshin]

Well define stupid? There's this pommy joker being detained in Singapore for refusing to wear a mask. He's claiming he's being enslaved from the looks of it. Some people.

A sovereign individual and an anti-masker? Well I guess it makes some sort of sense. I wonder if he'll be deported if he keeps this behaviour up.

 

[OPSSG]

A sovereign individual and an anti-masker? Well I guess it makes some sort of sense. I wonder if he'll be deported if he keeps this behaviour up.

1. At first it was a refusal to wear a mask on the MRT (aka public transport). Now it is more serious with 4 charges. Benjamin Glynn, 40, appeared in a district court on 19 July 2021 and was handed his 2nd charge — under the Covid-19 (Temporary Measures) Act. The Briton, who had been released on bail of S$5,000 earlier this month, had his bail revoked.

2. This is a case of contempt of court (with other charges thrown in), as he is required to wear a mask during the hearing (for the safety of the court staff). His family has already left the country (to get away from him), as he is not seen as stable — Glynn's family members have reported his "increasing hostility" towards them.

3. On 5 Aug 2021, he was ordered to be remanded at the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) after ranting in court. Judge Tham ordered Glynn to be remanded at IMH for two weeks and return to court on 19 Aug 2021. The court seems to suspect a mental health problem and will require a professional to examine his mental health — which means remaining in IMH, until such time he is deemed sane to stand trial or be released. It is clear everyone involved, including the police, are all afraid Glynn will hurt himself or someone nearby.

4. The prosecution also pointed out that British national Benjamin Glynn's family and friends had written to them reporting a "marked change of behaviour" in Glynn that was noticeable especially after COVID-19 restrictions set in. I am certain he will be deported after serving his sentence, if found guilty. It is likely that an air marshall will have to accompany him, handcuffed for the flight, for the fight for his own and the crew’s safety. After he is deported, he is likely to be on a no fly list.

5. I wish them all the best (given his mental health condition) and it is likely he will be barred from any re-entry. I gather he is not the only nutcase. Glynn was trying to introduce a Mr Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman, as his legal counsel — when he is not a member of the Singapore bar.

6. Deputy Public Prosecutor Timotheus Koh told the court that the prosecution had performed their checks and confirmed that Mr Abdul Rashid was not an advocate and solicitor of the Supreme Court of Singapore. Mr Abdul Rashid said he is not, but that he is an "ambassador at large and advocate of Kingdom Filipina Hacienda", and that he was there to defend his "sovereign compatriot".

7. Benjamin Glynn and Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman, are both nuts. Really.

8. Most cases claiming trial under the Covid-19 (Temporary Measures) Act are in some shape of form mental health related. The system does not jail people for non-compliance with masking requirements (as it’s usually a monetary fine). Masking is required in public spaces like supermarkets and on public transport — there are multiple instances where Glynn was asked by not just the safe distancing ambassadors and police, again and again.

 

[ASSAIL]

1. At first it was a refusal to wear a mask on the MRT (aka public transport). Now it is more serious with 4 charges. Benjamin Glynn, 40, appeared in a district court on 19 July 2021 and was handed his 2nd charge — under the Covid-19 (Temporary Measures) Act. The Briton, who had been released on bail of S$5,000 earlier this month, had his bail revoked.

2. This is a case of contempt of court (with other charges thrown in), as he is required to wear a mask during the hearing (for the safety of the court staff). His family has already left the country (to get away from him), as he is not seen as stable — Glynn's family members have reported his "increasing hostility" towards them.

3. On 5 Aug 2021, he was ordered to be remanded at the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) after ranting in court. Judge Tham ordered Glynn to be remanded at IMH for two weeks and return to court on 19 Aug 2021. The court seems to suspect a mental health problem and will require a professional to examine his mental health — which means remaining in IMH, until such time he is deemed sane to stand trial or be released. It is clear everyone involved, including the police, are all afraid Glynn will hurt himself or someone nearby.

4. The prosecution also pointed out that British national Benjamin Glynn's family and friends had written to them reporting a "marked change of behaviour" in Glynn that was noticeable especially after COVID-19 restrictions set in. I am certain he will be deported after serving his sentence, if found guilty. It is likely that an air marshall will have to accompany him, handcuffed for the flight, for the fight for his own and the crew’s safety. After he is deported, he is likely to be on a no fly list.

5. I wish them all the best (given his mental health condition) and it is likely he will be barred from any re-entry. I gather he is not the only nutcase. Glynn was trying to introduce a Mr Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman, as his legal counsel — when he is not a member of the Singapore bar.

6. Deputy Public Prosecutor Timotheus Koh told the court that the prosecution had performed their checks and confirmed that Mr Abdul Rashid was not an advocate and solicitor of the Supreme Court of Singapore. Mr Abdul Rashid said he is not, but that he is an "ambassador at large and advocate of Kingdom Filipina Hacienda", and that he was there to defend his "sovereign compatriot".

7. Benjamin Glynn and Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman, are both nuts. Really.

8. Most cases claiming trial under the Covid-19 (Temporary Measures) Act are in some shape of form mental health related. The system does not jail people for non-compliance with masking requirements (as it’s usually a monetary fine). Masking is required in public spaces like supermarkets and on public transport — there are multiple instances where Glynn was asked by not just the safe distancing ambassadors and police, again and again.

This incident would make a tremendous “Monty Python” sketch with John Cleese playing the lead role.

 

[swerve]

The 'sovereign citizen' thing is insane. Completely lacking in internal coherence. Logically, it would mean that anyone with who they don't have a personal agreement to abide by certain rules could do anything to them. I could hit one over the head, take anything of value he had, & slit his throat so he couldn't come after me when he came round, & according to the rules he claims to live by I'd not be subject to any penalty.

But, of course, I would be, because the law of the land applies to me, as it does to every scumbag who might actually seriously consider doing what I just described. He is protected by that law which he claims exemption from. His position is hypocritical.

 

[kato]

The 'sovereign citizen' thing is insane. Completely lacking in internal coherence. Logically, it would mean that anyone with who they don't have a personal agreement to abide by certain rules could do anything to them. I could hit one over the head, take anything of value he had, & slit his throat so he couldn't come after me when he came round, & according to the rules he claims to live by I'd not be subject to any penalty.

We have a guy around here who is a leading figure in the German anti-masker movement and connected in the sovereign citizen crowd. He's a medical doctor. One of those guys who do those conspiracy videos on Youtube claiming children have died from wearing masks. Since authorities were starting to approach from multiple angles on the fact that he was handing out medical certificates that people could not wear a mask while never even having seen them (and the place where his clinic was renting offices at was about to evict him, partially because he himself refused to wear a mask in the building) he absolutely "had to" flee the country late last year to protect himself and his family. The court cases ongoing against him of course have nothing to do with that. He's been living in Tanzania since then. He lives off of "donations" from followers, and well, he seems to collect quite a lot of those.

Until last week. He was also collecting "donations" for a sovereign citizen group active in the area where the floods occured in Germany last month, with promises to forward all that money to flood victims of course. Since three weeks later there's now 700,000 Euro in that account and not a single cent has been paid out PayPal locked the donation account this week. Mostly because a) people in the area don't want "dirty money from this guy" and b) he's annonced that he's looking for companies in the area to do some recovery work. Fair thing, if he didn't make that conditional on companies supporting his causes.

Now, one could approach this matter with PayPal in a civilized fashion. Not this guy though. This guy instead published a 10,000 Euro bounty for whoever gets him the name of whoever at PayPal or otherwise is responsible for the account locking. Of course without his name under it, and possibly instigated by some of his posse. Presumably he plans to have his followers "take care of the problem" when he has a name.

 

[swerve]

Tanzania - where I think it likely any mention of 'sovereign citizen' will be met with either bafflement or hilarity. "'Sovereign'? You're your own country? Well, then you won't have a powerful government complaining about us beating you, then. Constable! All yours."

 

[kato]

He picked Tansania because Magafuli declared in May last year that Corona was over and stopped counting - making the country the one with one of the lowest numbers in cases and deaths worldwide to this day. There's a couple other high-profile figures in that anti-masker scene in Germany (and Switzerland) who picked the country to emigrate to for the same reason. They're somewhat stuck there now that Magafuli died himself - officially from a heart attack, after those completely unfounded rumours about a covid infection - but in general the country is pretty accomodating for anti-maskers.

He's currently trying to make more money by inviting his followers to visit him for safari tours. As long as they're not vaccinated. That they have to be tested and wear a mask at the airport is something considered a "necessary evil". Necessary for him to get the funds to continue living in that lodge that charges him 500 Euro per day that is.

The sovereign citizen bit is something Germany-specific, and mostly about intentions of removing the in their opinion illegal German government by force. Last time he called for a coup was two months ago i think. In April he called for "Nuremberg trials" against government members - for which he would be available as a judge of course. The Tanzanian ambassador to Germany when asked about it basically stated that he considers anything the guy says absurd.