Coronavirus & Monkeypox Tidbits #217 10/30/22
Announcements:
First, there is now a Resources Page here for the most commonly asked questions I'm getting.
Happy to continue to answer your questions/concerns as best I can, so don't be shy about that.
New Post:
The Fetterman-Oz Debate Highlights GOP's Disdain for the Disabled
Mushed words and all, I would vote for John Fetterman, who had the courage to get up and debate.
Elections should be about character rather than making debating points. Consider which candidate you would want having your back.
News
Study shows temporary isolation wards provided effective protection against health care-associated COVID-19 transmission
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2022-10-temporary-isolation-wards-effective-health.html
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Omicron keeps finding new evolutionary tricks to outsmart our immunity
https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2022/10/25/1129196088/covid-new-omicron-variants-immunity
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Humans transmit SARS-CoV-2 to their pets, household study finds
Among a sample of 107 households with pets and at least one COVID-19–infected adult in Idaho and Washington state, 21% of dogs and 39% of cats had signs of infection, 40% of dogs and 43% of cats had SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, and 5% and 8%, respectively, tested positive on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing, finds a new study in Emerging Infectious Diseases.
University of Washington researchers led the study of households with a total of 119 dogs and 57 cats. Households were recruited through COVID-19 clinical trials and community studies, social media, word of mouth, community partners, and contact tracers. The team surveyed a member of each household, reviewed COVID-19 test results, and, when possible, visited the home to collect pet blood and nose-throat and fecal swabs.
Oct 26 Emerg Infect Dis study
https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2022/10/covid-19-scan-oct-27-2022
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Republican Senate staff tout lab-leak theory of the pandemic’s origin
The mysterious origin of the COVID-19 pandemic, like so many aspects of the response to it, has created deep divides along party lines in the United States. Today, the Republican minority staff of a bipartisan Senate committee set up to probe the origin of SARS-CoV-2 issued an “interim report” arguing for the narrative that the virus entered humans because of a lab-related incident and not a natural jump from animals to humans. Many virologists and evolutionary biologists who have studied the origins of outbreaks dismiss the lab-leak hypothesis, but other scientists have complained that the possibility was too readily downplayed, and it has become increasingly popular among conservative media outlets and some Republican politicians.
“Based on the analysis of the publicly available information, it appears reasonable to conclude that the COVID-19 pandemic was, more likely than not, the result of a research-related incident,” the minority staff concludes in its 35-page report. That conclusion stands in sharp contrast to those of other panels, including from the World Health Organization and U.S. intelligence agencies, which have deemed a zoonotic jump more likely or remained neutral given the lack of direct evidence on the origin of the virus.
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Alpha, Delta, and Omicron patients may exhale more viruses
A study today from researchers at the University of Maryland determined that patients infected with COVID-19 variants Alpha, Delta, and Omicron—including those fully vaccinated and boosted—shed significantly more viral RNA copies into exhaled breath aerosols than patients infected with ancestral strains and other variants.
The study appears in Clinical Infectious Diseases and adds to evidence of increased transmissibility of the Alpha, Delta, and Omicron variants. The study used 30-minute respiratory samples collected via a Gesundheit-II exhaled breath aerosol sampler from 93 participants who had confirmed COVID-19 infections. Of those, 32 were fully vaccinated and 20 boosted. The participants were tested from June 2020 through March 2022.
According to the authors, 4 Alpha, 3 Delta, and 29 Omicron patients shed significantly more viral RNA copies into exhaled breath aerosols than the 57 people infected with ancestral strains and variants.
The increase in viral shedding may have been at least partly due to participant behavior while in the Gesundheit machine. The authors said Delta and Omicron patients coughed more frequently than those infected with Alpha, ancestral strains, and other variants. Omicron patients also generally reported more upper and lower respiratory symptoms than the other volunteers.
"These data indicate that a characteristic of highly transmissible variants is a high rate of viral shedding into aerosols," the authors concluded. "This evidence for convergent evolution of increased viral aerosol shedding is consistent with a dominant role for airborne transmission (inhalation of viral aerosols regardless of distance that the aerosol traversed) in the spread of COVID-19."
Oct 26 Clin Infect Dis study
https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2022/10/news-scan-oct-26-2022
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Black Veterans Hospitalized with COVID-19 Less Likely to Receive Treatments Than White Veterans
Black veterans hospitalized with COVID-19 were less likely to receive evidence-based treatments than their white counterparts but did not have higher rates of death or readmission, according to new research led by University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine physician-scientists that was published today in JAMA Network Open.
The study, which examined two years of data from 130 Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Centers (VAMCs), found that the disparities in treatment were driven by differences in care that occurred within and between hospitals. In other words, individual hospitals were providing different rates of treatment to their Black and white patients, in addition to there being differences in care between hospitals that treat a disproportionate number of Black patients compared to those that treat mainly white patients.
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COVID-19 at any level of severity is linked to an increased risk of dangerous blood clots that start in patients’ veins and travel to the heart, lungs and other parts of the body, a study has found. https://t.co/6Oujp7CdPc
— The Japan Times (@japantimes) October 25, 2022
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Monkeypox:
CDC emphasizes testing, treating monkeypox in pregnancy
Today during a Clinician Outreach and Communication Activity call, officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended that pregnant women, breastfeeding women, and children who have been exposed to monkeypox be tested promptly if they show symptoms.
The officials also said pregnant or breastfeeding women should be offered the Jynneos vaccine as post-exposure prophylaxis (prevention) if they have a known close exposure to the virus.
Yesterday the CDC has reported 26 more monkeypox cases, raising the US total to 28,087.
In global news, Brazil reported its eighth death related to monkeypox infection. The country has 9,026 cases.
In Europe, case counts continue to drop according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). A total of 25,282 cases have been reported to date in the region. Six percent of patients have required hospitalization (747 cases), 5 patients have been admitted to intensive care units, 4 of whom died.
Oct 26 CDC tally
Oct 26 Brazilian news report
Oct 26 ECDC report
https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2022/10/news-scan-oct-27-2022
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Researchers warn of severe monkeypox in some patients
Today in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and their state colleagues detail clinical consultations for 57 hospitalized patients with severe manifestations of monkeypox, most of whom were Black men with AIDS.
The 57 patients included 12 men who died, and the CDC attributes 5 of those deaths directly to the virus.
Patients were seen from Aug 10 through Oct 10, 2022, and 47 (82%) had HIV infection, 4 (9%) of whom were receiving antiretroviral therapy before monkeypox diagnosis. Most patients were male (95%), and 68% were Black. Seventeen patients (30%) received intensive care unit–level care.
Two patients (4%), one of whom had HIV, were undergoing chemotherapy for a hematologic malignancy, 3 (5%) were solid organ transplant recipients, and 3 (5%) were pregnant. In addition, 13 patients (23%) were homeless.
The authors detailed three cases of men with HIV and monkeypox, one of whom, a Hispanic man in his 20s, died. Two others—a Black man in his 30s and White man in his 40s, both with AIDS—are still receiving tecovirimat (Tpoxx) antiviral treatment.
Treatment delay in some
Notably, the authors found a significant delay in antiviral treatments for patients with severe infections. "Most patients eventually received tecovirimat, but some experienced delays of up to 4 weeks between initial care-seeking for monkeypox symptoms and initiation of monkeypox-directed therapy," the authors wrote.
"For patients with suspected or laboratory-diagnosed monkeypox who are at risk for severe disease (particularly those with AIDS and other types of severe immunocompromise), health care providers should consider starting monkeypox-directed therapy early, potentially before receipt of monkeypox testing results or before severe manifestations are observed," the authors said.
"Monkeypox and HIV have collided, with tragic effects," said CDC Monkeypox Incident Commander Jonathan Mermin, MD, MPH, in a CDC statement emailed to reporters. "Today's report reminds all of us that access to monkeypox and HIV prevention and treatment matters—for people's lives and for public health."
The CDC said healthcare providers should consider prompt monkeypox treatment for all patients who have probable or confirmed monkeypox and are at risk for severe disease, especially those with advanced HIV. And all patients with suspected monkeypox should be tested for both HIV and monkeypox.
The agency added, "The high proportion of people with severe monkeypox who were experiencing homelessness (23%) underscores a need for innovative, creative solutions for providing health services to people who are unstably housed."
https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/
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Monkeypox cases are plummeting. Scientists are debating why
Models suggests rising immunity in a small group of people with many sexual contacts is key
Science BY KAI KUPFERSCHMIDT 26 OCT 2022
When monkeypox cases in Europe began to decline this summer, researchers’ first question was: Is it real? Some worried that people might not be getting tested because of receding fears of the virus, coupled with strict isolation requirements for patients. “They might be reluctant to be confirmed and be told not to go out at all,” says Catherine Smallwood, monkeypox incident manager at the World Health Organization’s (WHO’s) Regional Office for Europe.
But the decline is now unmistakable. WHO Europe, which reported more than 2000 cases per week during the peak in July, is now counting about 100 cases weekly. In the Americas, the other major epicenter of the outbreak, numbers have dropped by more than half (see graphic, right). “We’re seeing a true decline,” Smallwood says.
Vaccines, behavior change among the most affected group—men who have sex with men (MSM)—and immunity after natural infection are all playing a role in that decline, says Erik Volz, an infectious disease modeler at Imperial College London, but how much each factor has contributed is unclear. “This is something we’ve debated a lot internally.”
The answer is important because it determines the likelihood of a resurgence of the virus. Knowing what has driven down cases so far will also help shape strategies to eliminate the virus outside endemic countries in Africa, a goal WHO Europe is already pushing for.
https://www.science.org/content/article/monkeypox-cases-are-plummeting-scientists-are-debating-why
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Other:
Listen: Anti-science at the polls, a biotech odd couple, & the stakes of the midterms
STAT's Sarah Owermohle shares how shutdowns, vaccines, and the prospect of arresting Fauci have become midterm campaign rallying cries.
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RSV: A pediatric disease expert answers five questions about the surging outbreak of the virus
Respiratory syncytial virus, more commonly known as RSV, sends thousands of children to the hospital every year in the U.S. But during September and October 2022, health professionals across the country have watched an unprecedented spike in the number of cases of this usually mild, but occasionally dangerous, respiratory infection in children.
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2022-10-rsv-pediatric-disease-expert-surging.html?
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With hospitalizations ticking up, flu season appears off to an early start
https://www.statnews.com/2022/10/28/flu-season-2022-health-cdc/?
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WHO identifies life-threatening fungal pathogens
The World Health Organization (WHO) today released its first-ever list of fungal "priority pathogens," identifying 19 fungi that have emerged as significant public health threats because of their ability to cause severe invasive infections and their growing resistance to antifungal drugs.
https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2022/10/who-identifies-life-threatening-fungal-pathogens
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46% of Americans have been in debt due to hospital bills
The ever-rising cost of healthcare in the United States is having a crippling financial impact on many Americans, according to a recent survey.
In fact, almost half (46%) admitted healthcare bills have put them in debt, according to research conducted on behalf of Babylon, a digital-first primary care service. The survey queried 5,000 U.S. adults by One Poll between August 8-15, 2022.
Another one-third (34%) said they will struggle or are struggling to pay their healthcare maintenance costs, emergency needs and private health insurance. The findings come as healthcare costs, including premiums and out-of-pocket expenses, are set to increase again this year, Babylon stated.
Diagnostics:
still an incredible, negligent last of testing.
Schrödinger's COVID: Infected without testing positive?
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2022-10-schrdinger-covid-infected-positive.html
Drugs and Vaccines:
China launches a COVID-19 vaccine inhaled through the mouth
medicalxpress.com/news/2022-10-c
A study published by the peer-review journal The Lancet on May 30, 2022, showed that using Convidecia Air™ as a heterologous booster generated much more robust immune responses than those induced by a homologous inactivated vaccine booster.
https://www.precisionvaccinations.com/2022/10/27/inhaled-covid-19-vaccine-launches-shanghai
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Opinion | The Updated COVID Boosters Could Have Been Better
https://www.medpagetoday.com/opinion/second-opinions/101432
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Cancer therapy shows potential to treat severe COVID-19 in pre-clinical trials
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2022-10-cancer-therapy-potential-severe-covid-.html
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Regular use of common cholesterol-lowering drug linked to reduction of COVID-19 severity, risk of death
Commonly used cholesterol-lowering statins may reduce the risk of death and severity of COVID-19 disease, suggests a study of more than 38,000 patients being presented at the Anesthesiology 2022 annual meeting.
"While there is no 'magic bullet' to help patients who are very ill with COVID-19, statins decrease inflammation, which may help reduce the severity of the disease," said Ettore Crimi, M.D., MBA, lead author of the study and professor of anesthesiology and critical care medicine, University of Central Florida, Orlando. "Results of our study clearly showed regular statin use is associated with reduced risk of death and improved outcomes in hospitalized COVID-19 patients."
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2022-10-regular-common-cholesterol-lowering-drug-linked.html
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"The findings may be indicative of immunological imprinting"
— Eric Topol (@EricTopol) October 24, 2022
Bottom line: Until more data are available, regard the bivalent booster as equivalent to a booster which augments and broadens immunity, without specific anti-BA.5 properties.
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Devices:
Jim Rosenthal’s company sells filter sets for Corsi-Rosenthal builds, I’ve ordered from them several times.
— Portfolio Carmel (@PortfolioCarmel) October 28, 2022
4 MERV 13 filters for $60
20x20x2https://t.co/YBVFd2dF01
Epidemiology/Infection control:
Curious about viral aerosol shedding patterns of SARS2 over the first 2 years of the COVID pandemic? This 🧵 is for you!
— Kristen K. Coleman (@drkristenkc) October 28, 2022
Here, we 1) measured the infectivity and rate of SARS2 shedding into exhaled breath aerosol (EBA) by COVID+ volunteers during the Delta and Omicron waves, and
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It’s not anecdotal anymore. We have the science now. Sars-2 is causing a surge in cardiovascular deaths in young and middle aged peoplehttps://t.co/INRhH9iPvR https://t.co/YRED48A4eN
— David Fisman (@DFisman) October 29, 2022
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Global COVID cases and deaths continue overall decline
Last week, COVID cases continued to decline, with cases down in some regions and stabilizing in others, including the Western Pacific, where infection levels have been on the rise, the World Health Organization (WHO) said yesterday in its latest weekly update.
Cases dropped 15% last week compared to the previous week, and deaths decreased by 13% over the same period. For fatalities, WHO reported declines for four regions, stabilization in the Americas, and an increase in the Eastern Mediterranean region.
Of more than 2.6 million cases reported to the WHO last week, the five countries reporting the most—though all with declining cases—include Germany, France, China, the United States, and Italy.
The WHO said the Omicron BA.5 lineages make up 77.1% of cases, followed by BA.4 lineages, and then B.2 lineages, which have risen in prevalence. It said genetic diversification of SARS-CoV-2 continues, with 390 Omicron sublineages reported so far, along with 48 recombinants.
As of Oct 25, 35 countries have reported the XBB and XBB.1 variants, and 65 have reported BQ.1—a BA.5 subvariant—and its descendant lineages.
The WHO said its virus evolution technical group met on Oct 24 to discuss XBB and BQ.1, with a statement on its assessment to come.
Oct 26 WHO COVID situation report
https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2022/10/covid-19-scan-oct-27-2022
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Contact tracing data sheds light on COVID-19 spread in New York City
A study led by researchers at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health uses contract tracing data to produce a detailed map to date of SARS-CoV-2 spread in New York City. They found that the city's contact tracing program was efficient and produced data that can inform neighborhood-level interventions like vaccination and reactive restriction on business capacity.
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2022-10-contact-covid-york-city.html?
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Long COVID reported in 15% of US adults with prior infection; vaccination lowers risk
Approximately 15% of U.S. adults with a prior positive COVID-19 test report symptoms of long COVID, according to data published in JAMA Network Open.
The researchers further concluded that women and older patients demonstrated a greater risk for long COVID, while those who completed a primary vaccination series before they were infected were less likely to report long COVID symptoms.
“If high-risk individuals could be identified, it might be possible to develop strategies to mitigate or prevent symptom persistence, prompting calls for increased emphasis on investigation of post-acute sequelae of COVID-19,” Roy H. Perlis, MD, MSc, of Massachusetts General Hospital, and colleagues wrote. “A prior self-report study identified older age and female gender as correlates of greater risk for persistent COVID-19 symptoms; associations with gender were further supported in a U.K. survey.”
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Survey: A third of US military find exercise difficult 1-month post-COVID
A third of US active-duty military service members who tested positive for COVID-19 reported new-onset or more difficulty with exercise and daily activities 1 month after diagnosis, but these symptoms diminished to pre-infection levels after 6 to 9 months, according to research presented at this week's Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) ID Week in Washington, DC.
The surveys also revealed COVID-19 vaccines' protective effect. "Vaccinated individuals, even if they had breakthrough infections, did not experience as much of a long-term effect on exercise and daily activities," said senior author Simon Pollett, MBBS, also of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. "These results underscore the value of vaccination, not just for preventing death and disease but for preserving long-term quality of life."
Oct 20 IDSA news release
https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2022/10/news-scan-oct-21-2022
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Ebola:
https://twitter.com/HelenBranswell/status/1585010489725456384?s=20&t=i3tJCjSOA2rc4nSS196Frg
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Influenza:
Flu disparities persist for vaccination and hospitalizations
The message is clear: Everyone should get a flu shot today, the CDC says, especially with an early start to the flu season. But “everyone” has not been the reality. A CDC analysis released yesterday tracks inequities in who gets flu vaccine and who is hospitalized with severe flu. Vaccination has been lower among Black, Hispanic, and American Indian/Alaska Native adults since 2010: Last flu season, vaccination coverage was 54% among white and Asian adults but only 42% among Black adults, 38% among Hispanic adults, and 41% among AI/AN adults.
Compared to white adults, hospitalization rates were nearly 80% higher among Black adults, 30% higher among AI/AN adults, and 20% higher among Hispanic adults. The reasons behind lower vaccination rates include barriers to affordable health care, while more severe flu outcomes may follow higher rates of asthma, diabetes, obesity, and other chronic conditions.
https://mailchi.mp/statnews/tk-tncyc6de8v-620004?e=5c09ee46b1
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RSV:
Children's hospitals grapple with a nationwide surge in RSV infections https://t.co/00a2yK6cNV
— Dirk Stanley, MD MPH (@dirkstanley) October 24, 2022
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Tracking the (dramatic) outbreak of RSV in New Haven, CT wastewater pic.twitter.com/ir24byEqQn
— Jordan Peccia (@jordan_peccia) October 26, 2022
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Tips, general reading for public:
Ventilate.
Mask.
Vax.
Politics:
Covid:
"COVID is Purely Airborne"
— Prof. Jose-Luis Jimenez (@jljcolorado) October 26, 2022
From @WhiteHouse COVID-19 coordinator @ashishkjha @CDCgov @CDCDirector @WHO: can we please have this level of clarity in your communications?
HT @LazarusLong13 @kprather88 pic.twitter.com/73ZISPyGwX
So why have they been doing nothing re masking, improving ventilation, etc., and are still deflecting to "personal responsibility." ??? I assume it is because of liability issues and cost to business to improve ventilation, but still, why the gaslighting?
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Unfathomable. Why did it take @WHO 2 years to say #COVIDisAirborne? https://t.co/rva9pTwXaS feature @Nature by @dyanilewis pic.twitter.com/q87QEqLPwH
— Eric Topol (@EricTopol) April 6, 2022
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My view: a total load of antiscience crap.
— Prof Peter Hotez MD PhD (@PeterHotez) October 28, 2022
My 2nd view: they know it’s total antiscience crap.
My 3rd: they don’t care, it’s about grabbing power, even if it means we never learn how covid jumps from bats to people. They’ll condemn us to future pandemics https://t.co/cZBIqIc8sa
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In the CDC collaborations against Covid in SE Asia & Africa, you're recommending masking. Reading the whole CDC site and realizing the CDC tells lies, here at home, is amazing: pic.twitter.com/GPlsUFYcp6
— Victoria Cochran, M.Div. - #Nicethings2 (@lavika) October 21, 2022
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How white COVID-10 mortality overtook Black. Check out this gift article, at no cost to you.
— Crawford Kilian (@Crof) October 20, 2022
Read here: https://t.co/UnUByXV7cV
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It's not a good sign when 3 shots and a breakthrough (BA.1) infection (lower panel) doesn't elicit neutralizing antibodies to some of the new variants (BQ.1.1, XBB, BA.2.75.2) https://t.co/YS9rbTlSGZ
— Eric Topol (@EricTopol) October 23, 2022
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Doctors in the UK are seeing an uptick in #Covid-related blood clots w/ newly circulating SARSCoV2 variants: BQ.X, BA.2.75.2 & BF.7. Covid-related clotting has declined in the US since early 2022. The UK uptick may be a harbinger of what's to come https://t.co/ZubCqc8mdv pic.twitter.com/QZokCzMRIa
— delthia ricks 🔬 (@DelthiaRicks) October 21, 2022
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Awesome! Regular Physical Activity Associated with Improved Vaccine Effectiveness
— Alvin (@alvie_barr) October 26, 2022
Link: https://t.co/LxhwUcfwtk@Vaccinologist @V2019N #IDTwitter pic.twitter.com/tNOGWfpGU8
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I am outraged. This signage by @TheWharfDC says NO MASKS—a critical and lifesaving public health intervention—are allowed on Wharf property. Meanwhile, we are still experiencing a pandemic of COVID-19, an airborne virus. @_DCHealth @MayorBowser pic.twitter.com/qHLCWoGrae
— Madeline T. Morcelle, JD, MPH (@MadelineinDC) October 26, 2022
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So to summarize:
— Jon Levy (@jonlevyBU) October 26, 2022
- The immunocompromised will be at high risk this winter, but we don’t plan to do anything about it.
- We hope to battle airborne viruses with vigorous hand washing
- Our primary plan is to hope more people get the booster if we ask nicely and do tv ads https://t.co/lFxMzv9HQw
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https://twitter.com/ahandvanish/status/1585084329419747328?s=20&t=i3tJCjSOA2rc4nSS196Frg
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This seems amazing. Belgium now requires, BY LAW:
— Dr David Berger, aBsuRdiSTe cROnickLeR (@YouAreLobbyLud) October 28, 2022
1) public indoor spaces must display CO2 level
2) risk analysis and action plan
3) targets: level A (CO2 < 900 ppm and clean air provided at 40 m3/h/person) and level B (CO2 < 1200 ppm and 25 m3/h/person) https://t.co/ol4HyLxZp3
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Same dosing as for Acute Covid infection... but for 15 days rather than 5 days. 1700 participants.. and surveys of symptoms before and after.... If indeed there is viral persistence, this could produce dramatic results.
— Bunk the Biologist (@BiologistBunk) October 27, 2022
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Jan 6/TFG/Secret Service
Interesting new fact — 250-300 Proud Boys skipped the Ellipse rally and went straight to the Capitol even before Trump urged the crowd to march there.
— Barb McQuade (@BarbMcQuade) June 10, 2022
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The Secret Service waited 4 hours to notify Police about death threats made against Nancy Pelosi. They waited 1 hour to notify police about death threats made against Chuck Schumer. And they deleted their J6 texts after being ordered to turn them over to an oversight Committee.
— Dash Dobrofsky (@DashDobrofsky) October 26, 2022
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GOP:
GOP Rep. Dave Schweikert was caught on undercover video talking about breaking up the FBI and impeaching members of the Biden Administration if GOP wins House. Let’s make this viral.
— Scott Dworkin (@funder) October 17, 2022
pic.twitter.com/xLHtZtEW3J
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Finally. A Democratic candidate just correctly pointed out that red states like Oklahoma have HIGHER crime rates than New York and California.
— No Lie with Brian Tyler Cohen (@NoLieWithBTC) October 20, 2022
The Republican candidate and moderator refused to believe it. pic.twitter.com/qF1KAaXfWt
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This evening's Mesa drop box watchers covered up their license plate. pic.twitter.com/E2Misbe40l
— The AZ - abc15 - Data Guru (@Garrett_Archer) October 23, 2022
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Abbott didn’t have a stroke yet failed to show for his 2nd debate with Beto
— Lindy Li (@lindyli) October 26, 2022
Rand Paul didn’t have a stroke yet he failed to show up
John Fetterman had a stroke, showed up to debate & holds mega rallies
Dude has more guts & courage in his pinkie finger than all of MAGA combined
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Florida takes $51,000,000,000 more dollars from the federal government than it produces in taxes. That’s called a welfare state.
— i am the walrus (@cgags) October 26, 2022
New York gives $22 billion more than it receives back. That’s called solvency.
Republican economic policy is flawed
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lauren boebert says she wants a biblical citizenship test in the US pic.twitter.com/64REbZyCEl
— Owen Morgan (Telltale) (@telltaleatheist) August 2, 2022
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https://twitter.com/JoJoFromJerz/status/1586039250796965888?s=20&t=i3tJCjSOA2rc4nSS196Frg
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Right now big time editors and producers are trying to think of a way to say assassination attempt that won’t offend the people defending the assassination attempt.
— Sam Youngman (@samyoungman) October 28, 2022
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Abortion/Reproduction:
Book by mom of six puts onus on men to stop unwanted pregnancies https://t.co/EHMtjVbkZm
— Pierrette Mimi Poinsett MD (@yayayarndiva) October 21, 2022
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This is big. Emory’s @DrCarrieOBGYN says GAs 6-wk ban is already hurting OBGYN recruitment.
— Erica Hensley (@e_hensley) October 24, 2022
Their fellowship applications were consistent for a decade. This year, they got half the number & others cancelled interviews once the ban hit.
Half of GA is already in an OBGYN desert
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What Mehmet Oz means when he says abortion should be between "a woman, her doctor, and local political leaders." #PASenateDebate
— Shannon Watts (@shannonrwatts) October 26, 2022
Thx @amyschumer pic.twitter.com/qMBSCbOMIY
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On hot mic audio he didn't realize was being recorded, Brian Kemp signaled his willingness to bring up a contraception ban in Georgia https://t.co/WyWRuBSMDO
— Pat Dennis (@patdennis) October 27, 2022
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Antisemitism:
Hate in America:
— Oren Segal (@orensegal) October 23, 2022
Yesterday, the head of an antisemitic and white supremacist group (and his supporters) dropped banners over the 405 in Los Angeles. One banner read, "Kanye is right about the Jews.” pic.twitter.com/FQBFIm0WLX
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Did you know nearly two-thirds of US young adults are unaware that 6 millions Jews were killed in the Holocaust, or they believe the Holocaust was a myth or was exaggerated: https://t.co/zpslg4jY9A pic.twitter.com/oIlX4PzNpn
— Shannon Watts (@shannonrwatts) October 23, 2022
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Sarah Palin wears a bedazzled Nazi iron cross around her neck because she’s a braindead fascist Nazi loser.
— The USA Singers (@TheUSASingers) October 24, 2022
Alaska, please do the right thing again and vote for @MaryPeltola.
Keep braindead fascist Nazis losers out of our government. pic.twitter.com/PZQMgH1nP4
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New: The Holocaust Museum of LA offered Kanye West a private tour, hoping it would change his views. West turned their invitation down, and said “Planned Parenthood" was his “Holocaust museum.” Now, the LA Holocaust museum is being flooded with antisemitic messages and threats.
— Dash Dobrofsky (@DashDobrofsky) October 26, 2022
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Climate/Environment:
⚡️ “Recycling plastic is practically impossible — and the problem is getting worse”https://t.co/LYUSBfZaSK
— NPR (@NPR) October 25, 2022
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Western wildfires are making storms in the central U.S. more dangerous, as their windblown particulates increase heavy rainfalls. https://t.co/hWw72pitt2
— Deborah Blum (@deborahblum) October 21, 2022
~ ~ ~
https://twitter.com/NPR/status/1585721359061377024?s=20&t=i3tJCjSOA2rc4nSS196Frg
~ ~ ~
Economy:
For every extra $1 you’re paying due to inflation, 54¢ is going right into the pockets of big corporations. Wall Street is price gouging families to earn sky-high profits, jeopardizing our entire economy in the process.
— Katie Porter (@katieporteroc) October 28, 2022
~ ~ ~
Rishi Sunak and his wife sit on a fortune of £730,000,000.
— Nadia Whittome MP (@NadiaWhittomeMP) October 24, 2022
That’s around twice the estimated wealth of King Charles III.
Remember this whenever he talks about making “tough decisions” that working class people will pay for.
~ ~ ~
Gas:
Every Republican voted against the Oil & Gas Price Gouging bill.#VoteBlueDownBallotLocalStateFederal #VoteBlueIn2022 https://t.co/SsWkBHGYpl
— Adam Rifkin 🐼🌻 (@ifindkarma) October 28, 2022
Guns:
The St. Louis school that was the site of an active shooter today had:
— Emily A. ☮️ (@emzorbit) October 24, 2022
-Metal Detectors
-All doors were locked
-Seven security officers in the school
Still, the shooter gained entry and people died.
~ ~ ~
— Nanci Alexander ☮️ (@alexander_nanci) October 25, 2022
~ ~ ~
LOOK: Missouri has no age limit to buy and carry this weaponry. The 19-year-old school gunman in St Louis had an AR-15 and 600 rounds of ammo in 30-round magazines. There’s no background check or permitting required to carry these guns loaded, in public.
— Shannon Watts (@shannonrwatts) October 25, 2022
This is fucking insane. https://t.co/Y66tX6OwPW
~ ~ ~
Candidate for US Senate in Arizona. pic.twitter.com/yvAHiWJC6L
— David Frum (@davidfrum) October 28, 2022
Speakers, 2020 national political convention pic.twitter.com/vkXrtVHzWA
— David Frum (@davidfrum) October 28, 2022
and many others...
Healthcare workforce/burnout:
Healthcare workforce lost 333,942 providers in 2021 https://t.co/NeCao8EG9a 117,000 physicians left the workforce in the fourth quarter of 2021. Also ~ 53,295 nurse practitioners, 22,704 PAs, 22,032 physical therapists and 15,578 licensed clinical social workers dropped out.
— Carlos del Rio (@CarlosdelRio7) October 24, 2022
~ ~ ~
Race/Disparities:
A white woman was given a house in Detroit for free by a nonprofit seeking to support low-income writers. But she didn't realize the house had been stolen from a Black woman and auctioned without her consent.https://t.co/LsxuUChbd6
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) October 20, 2022
~ ~ ~
*ICYMI*: #COVID19 contributed to
— uché blackstock, md (@uche_blackstock) October 21, 2022
25% of maternal deaths in the first two years of the pandemic, with Black pregnant people experiencing a mortality rate nearly 3x higher than their white peers, according to an oversight report to Congress.https://t.co/CLqAneCq3z
~ ~ ~
Stanford is hosting an Academic Freedom Conference next month. My request to attend has been denied: "We are not inviting the media to our conference in order to foment a more open discussion."https://t.co/Dv39lSp4mP pic.twitter.com/IstLSdMKRF
— Stephanie M. Lee (@stephaniemlee) October 19, 2022
~ ~ ~
Arizona:
Grandma arrested for feeding houseless people.
— Chad Loder (@chadloder) October 26, 2022
Norma Thornton, a 78-year-old grandmother, was arrested and criminally charged in Bullhead City, Arizona for feeding those in need. @IJSanders and the @IJ legal team are suing in federal court to protect her (and our) rights. pic.twitter.com/Fi7Q70GJiH
~ ~ ~
SCOOP: @KariLake, the GOP candidate for governor in Arizona, has aired an ad featuring a homophobic and Islamophobic pastor whose church calls for the "submission" of women in their families.
— David Corn (@DavidCornDC) October 25, 2022
Please read, RT and share my latest. https://t.co/aJodIYUiR9
~ ~ ~
Florida/DeSantis:
Wow. Charlie Crist just made DeSantis look incredibly weak with a very simple question. pic.twitter.com/8Sc1OXOr6Q
— MeidasTouch (@MeidasTouch) October 24, 2022
Pennsylvania: Oz/Fetterman:
Trump is literally counting on Oz's help to steal the 2024 election.
— John Fetterman (@JohnFetterman) October 24, 2022
Dr. Oz needs to disavow these efforts IMMEDIATELY. He *must* commit to respecting the will of the voters in 2022 + also pledge to vote to certify the results of the 2024 election https://t.co/WZOfR5oSrk
~ ~ ~
— The Lincoln Project (@ProjectLincoln) October 25, 2022
~ ~ ~
Holy shit: Oz says his abortion position: should be between "a woman, her doctor, and local political leaders" #PASenDebate pic.twitter.com/UDiJvDYHYo
— Pat Dennis (@patdennis) October 26, 2022
~ ~ ~
Texas/Abbott:
TEXANS BEWARE! 🚨🚨🚨
— Carrie (don’t take me to prom) (@iamofdaniel) October 25, 2022
Check your ballot when it prints out! Three women in a group I’m a part of reported that their ballots changed from Beto to Abbott!
Make sure to verify your selections are correct before you scan your ballot into the machine.
~ ~ ~
Greg Abbott’s Executive Power Play https://t.co/CxqSIsEI5g
— Kevin McCoy (@kmccoynyc) October 26, 2022
~ ~ ~
.@BetoORourke: "In #Texas the rapist could actually sue the family of his victim if they assist her in getting an abortion and collect a $10,000 bounty. This is how extreme it is... It's another reason that we have to win." #TheReidOut pic.twitter.com/H0nMYErYlj
— The ReidOut (@thereidout) October 25, 2022
Hungary:
https://twitter.com/katka_cseh/status/1577983890052059136?s=20&t=i3tJCjSOA2rc4nSS196Frg
3/
— Katalin Cseh (@katka_cseh) October 6, 2022
Dissent now means firing— so protesters display incredible courage. But low-pay, chronic teacher-shortages, and constant political humiliation often make them feel they have no other choice.
So just how much a teacher makes in Hungary in 2022?
Net amounts to follow.
Russia:
The French press reports that 3 fiber optics cable in the Atlantic Oceans have been cut, causing connectivity issues worldwide. At the same time the internet access on the British Shetland Islands went offline. Russian submarines are suspected. #France #Ukraine https://t.co/ujXQF07JQh
— (((Tendar))) (@Tendar) October 23, 2022
~ ~ ~
https://twitter.com/DenesTorteli/status/1584502958376771589?s=20&t=i3tJCjSOA2rc4nSS196Frg
~ ~ ~
Feel good du jour:
A $2.5 million prize gives this humanitarian group more power to halt human suffering https://t.co/ZOL4kPXb9I
— Pierrette Mimi Poinsett MD (@yayayarndiva) October 21, 2022
~ ~ ~
How come I’ve never seen this video before? My mom just sent it to me. They’re dancers in wheelchairs dancing with arm movements during the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics…
— Imani Barbarin, MAGC | Crutches&Spice ♿️ (@Imani_Barbarin) October 23, 2022
pic.twitter.com/WMsxAdZWar
~ ~ ~
Almost certainly the best thing I was ever told about owls was when I met an owl handler and he told me that the wild owls in the sanctuary where he worked worried about the tame show owls there and sometimes stopped by to leave them shrews and mice as presents.
— Tom Cox (@cox_tom) October 27, 2022
~ ~ ~
Comic relief:
SNOOP DOGG narrating ‘Planet Earth’ is just the best.
— Michael Warburton (@MichaelWarbur17) October 26, 2022
pic.twitter.com/f7vkCARo78
~ ~ ~
150 kilograms of acorns stored by a squirrel in a transmitting antenna.pic.twitter.com/exDGsZMayj
— Fascinating (@fasc1nate) October 23, 2022
~ ~ ~
If you didn’t love PAUL NEWMAN enough here’s a reminder of what a great self-deprecating sense of humour he had as MEL BROOKS rips the piss out of his addiction to Racing in the under-rated
— Michael Warburton (@MichaelWarbur17) October 26, 2022
SILENT MOVIE (1976)
pic.twitter.com/cAPlREeXjj
~ ~ ~
Pupper goes for a ride... pic.twitter.com/ym2BGOh4W7
— Heckin Good Dogs (@HeckinGoodDogs) October 26, 2022
~ ~ ~
Love this young dude soundtracking his Mum’s life with his trombone. ❤️
— Michael Warburton (@MichaelWarbur17) October 26, 2022
pic.twitter.com/IWdiPDmhzU
Perspective/Poem
https://twitter.com/drg1985/status/1585524746799796224?s=20&t=i3tJCjSOA2rc4nSS196Frg
Full thread about Vasili Arkhipov at https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1585524746799796224.html
~ ~ ~
Notecards of JFK’s last words, written for end of speech he planned to give at Austin, Texas, banquet on the evening of November 22, 1963: pic.twitter.com/5KjXk6cfMv
— Michael Beschloss (@BeschlossDC) October 27, 2022
Bits of beauty:
