Pandemic surge

Factors around the world conspired to cause a surge in coronavirus transmission in the final weeks of 2020.  In the US, the US elections and corresponding rallies were followed by the Thanksgiving holiday with noncompliant holidaymakers and Trumpers travelling to all corners of the country.  Last week, on the 6th of January when the electoral college met to count the votes and confirm Joe Biden and Kamal Harris' election victory, Trump incited his supporters to storm the Capitol and riot in protest. The country is in a very serious situation, and I'm afraid that like Pandora's Box the evil will not be suppressed this time. How very sad to watch the world's oldest democracy decline. I suppose that's how the Roman Empire went down. 

That was followed by Christmas and New Year celebrations around the world, fueled by virus variants in the UK and SA with enhanced transmissibility. That caused a massive surge in cases in the UK and Ireland as well as throughout Europe. Even the Pope's personal doctor died of complications of Covid. Meanwhile, the bells rang in Brexit as it took its final toll even with a deal. So long and enjoy all the fish. 

The world has surpassed 90 million confirmed Covid-19 cases and almost 2 million dead. In Ireland, I think our peak was reached on January 8 at 8227 cases. That makes sense as it is 7 days after New Year's parties and ocean swims that turned out to be superspreaders events. Even Westport, which has had little prevalence, has now experienced a surge. We know of multiple cases personally. Lockdown should mean that the transmission will slow from yesterday on, but it's in the community and its not going away. 

Meanwhile, two vaccines have been approved in the EU -- Pfizer's and Moderna's -- both mRNA vaccines. We won't be among those immunised early on. I can't believe we'll get it before the end of March in this country as they are quite slow to roll it out. I am weary of the fear and anxiety. But I will take maximum precautions even after immunization and into the summer months. 

COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC

Last updated: January 10, 2021, 11:36 GMT

Graphs - Countries - Death Rate - Symptoms - Incubation - Transmission - News

Coronavirus Cases:

90,173,303

view by country

Deaths:

1,936,554

Recovered:

64,572,624

What a week!

It's been some week. The US Supreme court has turned down Texas' bid to overturn the election results in four states, the US has a massive coronavirus outbreak clocking up 1.5 million new cases (16.5M total) and 10.5 thousand deaths (305K total) in just the last 5 days, the Pfizer mRNA vaccine got FDA Emergency Use Authorization and began shipping, and the Brexit talks broke down.  

Oh, and Biden-Harris were named Time Person of the Year. 

Crazy world! My elves on the shelf have been up to mischief. At least it's something to do. 

US explosion of coronavirus infection

The US has blown past the 15 million confirmed coronavirus cases in a flash. With 290,000 deaths and more than 200,000 new cases daily demonstrating the post-Thanksgiving crush, the run-up to Christmas is going to be devastating for so many families. And yet, the superspreader in chief throws tantrums and begs for states to overturn the election. I am ashamed. Saddened and ashamed. 

Globally, 68 million confirmed cases and 1.5 million deaths set the stage for the close of a horrible year. But today, the first of the vaccines began to be distributed outside of clinical trials. The first person to get vaccinated in Ireland was an 80 yo woman in the North. Hope is on the way. 

Winter has arrived and the elves are creating mischief on the shelves. 

Coronavirus Cases:

68,055,468

view by country

Deaths:

1,553,150

Recovered:

47,145,603

Millions in the US travel for Thanksgiving

As coronavirus cases close in on 13,000,000 in the US, millions of Americans have been taking to the roads and the skies for Thanksgiving. Traditionally, the highest travel volume period of the year, pandemic concerns have not deterred many even when Fauci implored people to stay home.  Hospitalizations and deaths from the highly contagious virus are skyrocketing and the National Guard has been called in in some places to help carry away the dead. I have no doubt that the surge in cases is a direct result of people congregating at rallies held by the Superspreader-in-Chief without masks or distancing precautions just before the election. 

Today, Wednesday, millions of Americans will travel for Thanksgiving despite some of the worst daily COVID-19 figures since the pandemic began. According to Johns Hopkins University, the United States reported 2,146 deaths on Tuesday — the highest daily death total since May and higher than any other country. The nation also reported 172,935 new coronavirus infections, and the number of hospitalizations hit a new record of 88,080. The number of deaths per 100,000 population now stands at 802, among the highest in the world. 

Millions are expected to ignore holiday guidelines against travel this week, and experts have warned that could cause infection numbers to explode.  Jonathan Reiner, CNN medical analyst, has predicted that Thanksgiving could become “the mother of all superspreader events.” We'll see in 2-3 weeks' time. 

As US Tops 12 Million Coronavirus Cases, Air Travel Is Busiest Since March | TODAY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5PDe25qYsw 

46M cases confirmed, almost 10M in the US

 

COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC

Last updated: October 31, 2020, 10:29 GMT

Graphs - Countries - Death Rate - Symptoms - Incubation - Transmission - News

Coronavirus Cases:

45,997,833

view by country

Deaths:

1,195,069

Recovered:

33,293,499

As 33M have recovered, that means 13M people are sick all around the world. The vaccine trials are on and off as serious side effects appear; same with antibody trials. Westport now has 54 cases of disease transmission (42 yesterday) so have to double down. 

The remnants of Hurricane Epsilon came through here Thursday, we had a day of weather respite Friday and today we face Storm Aidan. Always something. 

Earthquake off Greece causes destruction in Turkey and Greek islands. A mini tsunami floods towns, and a 30-metre wave is clocked off Ireland.  

The elections are underway in the US; it ain't pretty. Trump is Trumpian and Biden stirs up hope. 

Lord may this period in time come to an end.

Coronavirus news of the day

The world has surpassed 35M confirmed cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection, Donald Trump is hospitalised with it at Walter Reed, Melania Trump has it in the White House, and lots of others have been tested positive, including Kellyanne Conway, Chris Christie, several Senators and Trump's campaign manager. The incidence of new infections is on the rise around the world, and we've reached the daily figures of early April here in Ireland. Lockdown is on the way. It's going to get a lot worse. 

Interestingly, Trump is being treated with exactly the drugs I would choose:  Regeneron's polyclonal antibodies and a 5-day course of remdesivir (Gilead). 

Thank goodness that Biden and his wife tested negative as did Pence. At least maybe the election can proceed. We've cast our ballots and Alex has already received his confirmation. 

At least Alex and I got our flu shots and Meike had her cataract operation. I should get a physical exam and dental cleaning before it gets worse. And it's going to get a lot worse. 

1M+ dead so far

 COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC

Last updated: September 29, 2020, 12:02 GMT

Graphs - Countries - Death Rate - Symptoms - Incubation - Transmission - News

Coronavirus Cases:

33,590,320

view by country

Deaths:

1,007,227

Recovered:

24,904,364

More than 33M confirmed infections and more than 1M excess deaths marks a dark milestone on this pandemic journey. Moreover, people are starting to talk openly about what's being called 'long Covid' by the 'long-haulers'.  The symptoms range from chronic conditions that suggest it precipitates metabolic syndrome -- diabetes, hypertension, arrhythmias, to neurologic complications including brain fog and strokes, to nonspecific symptoms like hoarseness, loss of voice, hair loss and exhaustion. 

Heard a story on the radio here this morning about a young healthcare worker in his 30s who was very fit and healthy when he contracted Covid-19 and landed in ICU. They put him in a coma for a few days, and he woke up two months later, with chronic conditions including diabetes, hypertension, arrhythmias, and asthma. Had none before.

An article in the NY Times today indicates the worst problem is that no one, including the docs, are listening to the long-haulers, thinking instead that the ongoing symptoms are psychological. I've been hearing that quite a lot. 

An excellent BBC podcast explores all the weird symptoms and what is known about the mechanisms by which the SARS-CoV2 virus operates.  Basically, not very much. Yet I am convinced that this virus is going to teach us an awful lot about how chronic disease occurs. I've long thought that it's a combination of genetic susceptibility triggered by microbial infection. Diabetes, hypertension, arrhythmias, dementias, cancers -- I think one day we will know the causes and they will be minuscule. 

Not unlike in the War of the Worlds, it will be the smallest inhabitants that bring us down. How's that for apocalyptic thinking?

Just passed 25M confirmed Covid-19 cases

We've just passed 25M confirmed cases of coronavirus infection. That's less than 1% of the world population (7.8B). We have a long way to go. It's only just sinking in to people that this is far from over. The US deaths per 1K population has reached 562, same as Brazil. Shocking. 

The US spends more on healthcare but has the lowest life expectancy of any OECD country. It has the highest suicide rate among the nations surveyed. How can this be? It's all so broken. 

I have been unable to write and I'm not the only one. People all over are reporting inability to concentrate. We all struggle to deal with the pandemic yet we morosely follow the numbers. It's like the old days with the Vietnam war and the tallies of deaths on both sides and horrific images of children being maimed and massacred. 

Elections are around the corner. I hope people have been shocked out of complacency and will do the right thing. VOTE!

COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC

Last updated: August 29, 2020, 15:57 GMT

Graphs - Countries - Death Rate - Symptoms - Incubation - Transmission - News

Coronavirus Cases:

25,013,265

view by country

Deaths:

843,096

Recovered:

17,380,667

Atomic Bombs and Pandemics

This week is the 75th Anniversary of the dropping of an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, where 100,000 people died. Between Hiroshima and Nagasaki, it is estimated that 129,000–226,000 were killed. Maybe because it was men who dropped bombs that killed instantly, the atrocity committed by Americans for 'just cause' seems so catastrophically evil.  

Less than a month ago, I reported 12M cases of confirmed Covid-19. Now it's up to 18M and almost 700,000 dead. Yet, the fact that this virus, which behaves so unlike anything previously known to man not unlike the atom bomb of the microbial world, has killed so many over the course of six months is hard to get my head around. It has made it almost impossible for me to write anything but factual pieces and blogs. Everything else seems so pointless. 

Coronavirus Cases:

18,069,950

view by country

Deaths:

689,755

Recovered:

11,363,390

A sobering note on my birthday

COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC

I haven't written much since the start of the coronavirus or Covid-19 pandemic. I've been telling myself it's because I've been so busy helping the yachting community get home or at least to safe harbour through the Ocean Cruising Club. The truth is that I haven't been motivated. It seems that there is little reason to be productive when the world is crashing down around us. Today we've surpassed 10M confirmed infected with coronavirus and >500,000 dead of Covid-19. With 5.5M recovered that leaves 4M people sick throughout the world. Probably ten times more can be assumed not to have been diagnosed. 

Then again, the weather is Ireland has been so great that we've spent an inordinate amount of time outdoors. We've had a prolonged drought during which I went kayaking daily on the Bay. Now the weather has broken and we've had a ridiculous amount of rainfall over the past three days, 75 mm yesterday alone. So maybe that will encourage me to sit still and get back into doing what I have been intending. 

I'm 66 today, a nice round number. I will fill out my Free Trave Scheme form but I don't intend to use it just yet. Had it been before pandemic, I would have taken a train ride to Belfast where I haven't been yet. It will have to wait. Hopefully, a vaccine will become available within the next six months or so. Hopefully it will confer long-lasting protection. Hopefully, we'll have access to it. Hopefully, I'll get to take that train ride. 

For now I'll just go wash my hands while singing happy birthday to myself twice -- the length of time it takes to kill all the pathogens that hands carry. 

Last updated: June 29, 2020, 09:52 GMT

Graphs - Countries - Death Rate - Symptoms - Incubation - Transmission - News

Coronavirus Cases:

10,267,270

view by country

Deaths:

504,757

Recovered:

5,568,672