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treaclefingers

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Hairball
CDC warns Americans not to travel to Canada

COVID19

Americans should avoid traveling to Canada because of the new wave of Covid-19 cases the country is experiencing, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control said Monday.
The CDC put Canada in its highest-risk category: Level Four, citing a "very high" risk of Covid-19 infection for travelers heading north. Canada previously had been in Level Three high-risk category. Canada requires Americans on nonessential trips to be vaccinated, and will require essential travelers – such as medical personnel and truck drivers – to be vaccinated as of this Saturday. However, "because of the current situation in Canada, even fully vaccinated travelers may be at risk for getting and spreading Covid-19 variants," the CDC said in its Monday announcement. "Travelers should follow recommendations or requirements in Canada, including wearing a mask and staying six feet apart from others." It would be better still for Americans to stay home, the agency added. "Avoid travel to Canada," the CDC said.

The elevated travel warning comes as Canada, like the United States and much of the world, experiences a dramatic spike in Covid-19 cases thanks to the highly infectious Omicron variant. Canada has been reporting more than 40,000 new Covid-19 cases a day since Jan. 4, according to the Our World in Data Coronavirus Data Explorer. That's more than 10 times the number of daily infections a month ago. And even before the Omicron wave, the Canadian government tightened its controls on international travel, reinstituting a requirement that returning Canadians show proof of a negative PCR test for Covid-19 as of Dec. 18. "The government of Canada continues to advise against all nonessential international travel," the Canadian government said in a tweet last week. Amid that warning, the Covid-19 infection rate in the U.S. remains nearly twice as high as it is in Canada. That is one of several reasons why Rep. Brian Higgins, a Buffalo Democrat, lashed out at the CDC's recommendation against traveling north. "This is exactly what the president says not to do," Higgins said. "This is panic stuff, when you have four levels, and the fourth level is deep red. You know, that says: 'Oh, my God, we're doomed again.' " Higgins said he feared the CDC recommendation could lead to a border shutdown like the one in place for the first 17 months of the pandemic. And to hear Higgins tell it, the warning against travel to Canada is just part of a larger failure by the CDC to deliver the most important information to Americans regarding Covid-19. At this point in the pandemic, he said, the CDC should focus on telling Americans to get vaccinated, to get booster shots if they are vaccinated and to wear N-95 masks, which offer far greater protection against infection than cloth or surgical masks. Higgins said the agency is losing credibility by consistently warning Americans against travel, instead of focusing on the need to take those protective measures. "This is the largest public health agency in the world, and people are tuning it out," Higgins said. "Why? Because its information has been conflicting and confusing. And this flies in the face of the primary message that they should be sending to Americans and that is: get double vaxxed, get boostered and wear these masks." The CDC is delivering most of that message, but it was secondary to the travel warning it issued for Canada on Monday. "Do not travel internationally until you are fully vaccinated," the agency said. "Getting vaccinated is still the best way to protect yourself from severe disease, slow the spread of Covid-19 and reduce the number of new variants.

CDC encourages you get a Covid-19 vaccine booster dose if you are eligible. People who are not fully vaccinated should follow additional recommendations before, during and after travel." The warning also encouraged travelers to wear masks if they travel overseas, but the agency did not encourage the use of any particular kind of mask. Also on Monday, the CDC raised its travel warning to Level Four for the Caribbean island of Curacao. That, along with the warning about Canada, brought the total number of Level Four nations to 81. Besides Canada, many other popular travel destinations are ranked as Level Four very high-risk countries that should be avoided. The list includes Great Britain, France, Spain, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Greece, Iceland and Peru. Mexico – traditionally the top foreign travel destination for Americans – is rated as a Level Three high-risk country, as are the Bahamas, Egypt, Israel and Thailand. American travelers face a Level Two moderate risk of Covid-19 infection in tourist destinations such as Costa Rica, Jamaica and New Zealand, the CDC said. And only a few major travel destinations – such as the British Virgin Islands, Japan and Morocco – are rated as low risk. The CDC adopted its four-level system for rating travel risks in November 2020. The ratings are based on Covid-19 case counts.

Stuff like this from the CDC is adorable. It's like the person that's in charge of this doesn't look at the daily stats.

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MAF
WHO: In the next six to eight weeks, more than 50 % of the population in Europe could become infected with the Omikron.

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Hairball
U.S. reports 1.35 million COVID-19 cases in a day, shattering global record

COVID19

The United States reported 1.35 million new coronavirus infections on Monday, according to a Reuters tally, the highest daily total for any country in the world as the spread of the highly contagious Omicron variant showed no signs of slowing. The previous record was 1.03 million cases on Jan. 3. A large number of cases are reported each Monday due to many states not reporting over the weekend. The seven-day average for new cases has tripled in two weeks to over 700,000 new infections a day. The record in new cases came the same day as the nation saw the number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients also hit an all-time high, having doubled in three weeks, according to a Reuters tally. There were more than 136,604 people hospitalized with COVID-19, surpassing the record of 132,051 set in January last year.

While the Omicron variant is potentially less severe, health officials have warned that the sheer number of infections could strain hospital systems, some of which have already suspended elective procedures as they struggle to handle the increase in patients and staff shortages. The surge in cases has disrupted schools, which are struggling with absences of staff, teachers and bus drivers. Chicago canceled classes for a fourth day as the district and teachers failed to agree on how to deal with increased infections. New York City suspended service on three subway lines as a large number of workers were out sick, according to its Twitter account. Companies' plans for workers to return to office have also been derailed. Deaths are averaging 1,700 per day, up from about 1,400 in recent days but within levels seen earlier this winter. A redesigned COVID-19 vaccine that specifically targets the Omicron variant is likely needed, Pfizer Inc's (PFE.N) CEO said on Monday, adding his company could have one ready to launch by March.

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Witness

What are you able to tell us at the moment, Bjornulf, about that undergroup of Omicron, the socalled, BA. 2, that apparently is even more rapidly spreading in Denmark and parts of Sweden?

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bv

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Witness

What are you able to tell us at the moment, Bjornulf, about that undergroup of Omicron, the socalled, BA. 2, that apparently is even more rapidly spreading in Denmark and parts of Sweden?

There are many Omicron subgroups, including BA.1, BA.2 and BA.3. It is misleading to call them "stealth" versions. The PCR test do detect Covid-19, but some of the initial quick "omicron" classifications failed, see details in the Guardian report published December 7 - link and details below.

The Omicron subgroups BA.1, BA.2 and BA.3 are tracked in Norway, like all other subgroups of Omicron. Last week's report from our health authorities FHI had a separate chapter related to these, see link and translation below. So far no worry, they are still classified and detected as omicron.

PS. Omicron is named "Omikron" in Norway.

Scientists find ‘stealth’ version of Omicron that may be harder to track (The Guardian Tue 7 Dec 2021)

The stealth variant has many mutations in common with standard Omicron, but it lacks a particular genetic change that allows lab-based PCR tests to be used as a rough and ready means of flagging up probable cases.

The variant is still detected as coronavirus by all the usual tests, and can be identified as the Omicron variant through genomic testing, but probable cases are not flagged up by routine PCR tests that give quicker results.

Norwegian FHI weekly report Jan 5, 2022

Google transtale of the variant BA.1 - BA.3 part:

Diversity within the virus variants

The PANGO nomenclature currently has very many genetic subdivisions under B.1.671.2 (delta), AY.1-.131 (several of these are further subdivided into subgroups) and in addition a recombinant edition XC. So far, however, many of these have been so poorly defined that it has been demanding to
based on this subdivision, and the subdivision does not necessarily indicate a change in functionality of the viruses. The B.1.1.529 line of viruses is already divided into BA.1, BA.2 and BA.3 subgroups. The original description of the omicron variant corresponds to the subgroup BA.1.

BA.2 is still uncommon, but may appear to have an increasing trend, but is still on a very low level with only around 400 cases sequenced globally, but the majority of these are from Denmark recently. BA.2 has many of the same key mutations as BA.1, BA.2 shares 38 nucleotides and amino acid mutations with BA.1, but BA.2 has 27 other mutations in addition (BA.1 only 20) and is for as far as an even more mutated version of omikron than BA.1. BA.1 and BA.2 share 21 mutations in the spike the protein, but more characteristic of BA.2 are: S: T19I, S: V213G, S: S371F, S: T376A, S: D405N, and A: R408S in addition to major deletions (Amino Acids 24-27). BA.2 does not have insertion EPE in position 214 and nor deletion in positions 69-70 and 143-145. So far no cases of BA.2 have been confirmed in Norway, but some suspected cases are under investigation. Deletion of amino acid 69/70 in the spike protein as frequently used to detect omicron BA.1 can not be used to detect BA.2. Both BA.1, BA.2 and BA.3, on the other hand, has deletion in amino acid range 105-108 in ORF1a / nsp6 and shares several other markers.

There are also some BA.1 viruses with additional mutations. Omikron with the nail mutation A701V we have 10 cases of. Omikron with the nail mutation R346K (See section below), there are 29 cases of, mainly from Rogaland (Norway).

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daspyknows
The at-home tests do not seem to do a good job of detecting omicron. Was in NY over the holidays and picked up a "cold". A few of my friends did as well. We all tested negative using at-home tests but those who got PCR tests as well tested positive on those tests. Soonest I could get a PCR test was a week out so it was a why bother. Fortunately we are all vaxxed and had the booster so it was a minor head cold. Those without the booster did get pretty sick though.

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daspyknows
The at-home tests do not seem to do a good job of detecting omicron. Was in NY over the holidays and picked up a "cold". A few of my friends did as well. We all tested negative using at-home tests but those who got PCR tests as well tested positive on those tests. Soonest I could get a PCR test was a week out so it was a why bother. Fortunately we are all vaxxed and had the booster so it was a minor head cold. Those without the booster did get pretty sick though.

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terraplane

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daspyknows
The at-home tests do not seem to do a good job of detecting omicron. Was in NY over the holidays and picked up a "cold". A few of my friends did as well. We all tested negative using at-home tests but those who got PCR tests as well tested positive on those tests. Soonest I could get a PCR test was a week out so it was a why bother. Fortunately we are all vaxxed and had the booster so it was a minor head cold. Those without the booster did get pretty sick though.

Did you self-isolate for a week?

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daspyknows
The at-home tests do not seem to do a good job of detecting omicron. Was in NY over the holidays and picked up a "cold". A few of my friends did as well. We all tested negative using at-home tests but those who got PCR tests as well tested positive on those tests. Soonest I could get a PCR test was a week out so it was a why bother. Fortunately we are all vaxxed and had the booster so it was a minor head cold. Those without the booster did get pretty sick though.

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Rockman


THE AGE ---- 13 January 2022

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MisterDDDD
Have seen this reported in a few places lately.. as well as a couple different studies over the course of the pandemic.

If it turns out to be accurate, I'd likely be ok working in a covid ward, unmasked

Cannabis compounds stopped COVID virus from infecting human cells in lab study
BY KANOKO MATSUYAMA
AND BLOOMBERG
January 12, 2022

Cannabis compounds prevented the virus that causes COVID-19 from penetrating healthy human cells, according to a laboratory study published in the Journal of Nature Products.

The two compounds commonly found in hemp — called cannabigerolic acid, or CBGA, and cannabidiolic acid, or CBDA — were identified during a chemical screening effort as having potential to combat coronavirus, researchers from Oregon State University said. In the study, they bound to spike proteins found on the virus and blocked a step the pathogen uses to infect people.

The researchers tested the compounds’ effect against alpha and beta variants of the virus in a laboratory. The study didn’t involve giving the supplements to people or comparing infection rates in those who use the compounds to those who don’t.
[fortune.com]

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Hairball
Millions under lockdown as China faces multiple COVID outbreaks ahead of Beijing Winter Olympics

COVID19

Chinese President Xi Jinping got to watch athletes practicing for next month's Winter Olympics as he toured some of the show-stopping venues in Beijing last week. But behind the upbeat photo op is a vast, invasive effort to stop COVID-19 from spoiling the nearly $4 billion event. The country is dealing with multiple coronavirus outbreaks despite some of the toughest pandemic measures in the world, which include welding shut the doors of people suspected of being infected. Ahead of the February 4 opening ceremony, around 20 million people have had their movement restricted due to a surge of infections. Meanwhile, public health swat teams are testing 14 million people for the second time in three days after an Omicron outbreak in Tianjin, a city that is in commuting distance from Beijing. One citizen posted a video on social media showing panicked people at a market trying to stockpile food. They'd heard stories from the city of Xi'an — where officials had to step in and deliver meals to some residents, in their second week of complete lockdown, who said they'd run out of things to eat. Other videos on social media showed local officials in Xi'an welding shut the door of a man suspected of being exposed to the virus. Universal COVID testing is going on in other cities, too, with home visits to make sure no one slips through the cracks. China has also launched a huge vaccine booster program, offering shots to anyone over three years old. The authoritarian country wants a COVID-free Olympics to impress the world. Some experts believe that may be difficult to pull off, even with foreign spectators banned and all athletes and their team members sealed in what's meant to be a virus-free bubble.

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treaclefingers

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Hairball
Millions under lockdown as China faces multiple COVID outbreaks ahead of Beijing Winter Olympics

COVID19

Chinese President Xi Jinping got to watch athletes practicing for next month's Winter Olympics as he toured some of the show-stopping venues in Beijing last week. But behind the upbeat photo op is a vast, invasive effort to stop COVID-19 from spoiling the nearly $4 billion event. The country is dealing with multiple coronavirus outbreaks despite some of the toughest pandemic measures in the world, which include welding shut the doors of people suspected of being infected. Ahead of the February 4 opening ceremony, around 20 million people have had their movement restricted due to a surge of infections. Meanwhile, public health swat teams are testing 14 million people for the second time in three days after an Omicron outbreak in Tianjin, a city that is in commuting distance from Beijing. One citizen posted a video on social media showing panicked people at a market trying to stockpile food. They'd heard stories from the city of Xi'an — where officials had to step in and deliver meals to some residents, in their second week of complete lockdown, who said they'd run out of things to eat. Other videos on social media showed local officials in Xi'an welding shut the door of a man suspected of being exposed to the virus. Universal COVID testing is going on in other cities, too, with home visits to make sure no one slips through the cracks. China has also launched a huge vaccine booster program, offering shots to anyone over three years old. The authoritarian country wants a COVID-free Olympics to impress the world. Some experts believe that may be difficult to pull off, even with foreign spectators banned and all athletes and their team members sealed in what's meant to be a virus-free bubble.

This should be an interesting Olympics, and unfortunately not because of the athletes.

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daspyknows

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treaclefingers

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Hairball
Millions under lockdown as China faces multiple COVID outbreaks ahead of Beijing Winter Olympics

COVID19

Chinese President Xi Jinping got to watch athletes practicing for next month's Winter Olympics as he toured some of the show-stopping venues in Beijing last week. But behind the upbeat photo op is a vast, invasive effort to stop COVID-19 from spoiling the nearly $4 billion event. The country is dealing with multiple coronavirus outbreaks despite some of the toughest pandemic measures in the world, which include welding shut the doors of people suspected of being infected. Ahead of the February 4 opening ceremony, around 20 million people have had their movement restricted due to a surge of infections. Meanwhile, public health swat teams are testing 14 million people for the second time in three days after an Omicron outbreak in Tianjin, a city that is in commuting distance from Beijing. One citizen posted a video on social media showing panicked people at a market trying to stockpile food. They'd heard stories from the city of Xi'an — where officials had to step in and deliver meals to some residents, in their second week of complete lockdown, who said they'd run out of things to eat. Other videos on social media showed local officials in Xi'an welding shut the door of a man suspected of being exposed to the virus. Universal COVID testing is going on in other cities, too, with home visits to make sure no one slips through the cracks. China has also launched a huge vaccine booster program, offering shots to anyone over three years old. The authoritarian country wants a COVID-free Olympics to impress the world. Some experts believe that may be difficult to pull off, even with foreign spectators banned and all athletes and their team members sealed in what's meant to be a virus-free bubble.

This should be an interesting Olympics, and unfortunately not because of the athletes.

Will they be honest about the number of cases? Can we bet on the over/under in the number of cases in Bejing? I'd take the over.

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MisterDDDD
Have seen this reported in a few places lately.. as well as a couple different studies over the course of the pandemic.

If it turns out to be accurate, I'd likely be ok working in a covid ward, unmasked

Cannabis compounds stopped COVID virus from infecting human cells in lab study
BY KANOKO MATSUYAMA
AND BLOOMBERG
January 12, 2022

Cannabis compounds prevented the virus that causes COVID-19 from penetrating healthy human cells, according to a laboratory study published in the Journal of Nature Products.

The two compounds commonly found in hemp — called cannabigerolic acid, or CBGA, and cannabidiolic acid, or CBDA — were identified during a chemical screening effort as having potential to combat coronavirus, researchers from Oregon State University said. In the study, they bound to spike proteins found on the virus and blocked a step the pathogen uses to infect people.

The researchers tested the compounds’ effect against alpha and beta variants of the virus in a laboratory. The study didn’t involve giving the supplements to people or comparing infection rates in those who use the compounds to those who don’t…

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MingSubu
[pubs.acs.org]#

These are the people to credit.
Richard B. van Breemen
Ruth N. Muchiri
Timothy A. Bates
Jules B. Weinstein
Hans C. Leier
Scotland Farley
Fikadu G. Tafesse

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SomeTorontoGirl

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MisterDDDD
Have seen this reported in a few places lately.. as well as a couple different studies over the course of the pandemic.

If it turns out to be accurate, I'd likely be ok working in a covid ward, unmasked

Cannabis compounds stopped COVID virus from infecting human cells in lab study
BY KANOKO MATSUYAMA
AND BLOOMBERG
January 12, 2022

Cannabis compounds prevented the virus that causes COVID-19 from penetrating healthy human cells, according to a laboratory study published in the Journal of Nature Products.

The two compounds commonly found in hemp — called cannabigerolic acid, or CBGA, and cannabidiolic acid, or CBDA — were identified during a chemical screening effort as having potential to combat coronavirus, researchers from Oregon State University said. In the study, they bound to spike proteins found on the virus and blocked a step the pathogen uses to infect people.

The researchers tested the compounds’ effect against alpha and beta variants of the virus in a laboratory. The study didn’t involve giving the supplements to people or comparing infection rates in those who use the compounds to those who don’t…

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MingSubu
[pubs.acs.org]#

These are the people to credit.
Richard B. van Breemen
Ruth N. Muchiri
Timothy A. Bates
Jules B. Weinstein
Hans C. Leier
Scotland Farley
Fikadu G. Tafesse

Interesting studies. Before everyone stocks up on M&Ms and potato chips and the (socially distanced) party starts, it seems that the relevant compound under investigation is CBD, not the psychoactive THC.

Sorry.

As you were…

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treaclefingers
Damn...more bad news.

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SomeTorontoGirl

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treaclefingers
Damn...more bad news.

Seems in keeping with the last 2 years…

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treaclefingers

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SomeTorontoGirl

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treaclefingers
Damn...more bad news.

Seems in keeping with the last 2 years…

makes ya just wanna light up a spliff

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treaclefingers

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SomeTorontoGirl

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treaclefingers
Damn...more bad news.

Seems in keeping with the last 2 years…

makes ya just wanna light up a spliff