12/16/2020
Harrison County Tax office and County Clerks Office Closed due to Covid
WONDERFUL AREA WEB SITE, WITH GOOD INFORMATION
Moderna Information From Hopkins:
Moderna Vaccine Is Highly Protective and Prevents Severe Covid-19, Data Show (New York Times) The positive review likely ensures that the F.D.A. will grant emergency authorization for a second coronavirus vaccine this week for millions of Americans….U.S. Buys Another 100 Million Doses of Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine as Emergency Use Authorizations Roll Out (Homeland Preparedness News) With the distribution of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine underway in the United States and an emergency use authorization (EUA) expected to follow for Moderna’s vaccine this week, the federal government is preparing through massive logistics and additional purchases.
Good Summary of a Recent Jama Article:
Household Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (JAMA Network) In this meta-analysis of 54 studies with 77 758 participants, the estimated overall household secondary attack rate was 16.6%, higher than observed secondary attack rates for SARS-CoV and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus. Controlling for differences across studies, secondary attack rates were higher in households from (1) symptomatic index cases than asymptomatic index cases, (2)to adult contacts than to child contacts, (3)to spouses than to other family contacts, and (4) in households with 1 contact than households with 3 or more contacts.
(My mail has several reports of Super Spreader Thanksgiving Events. Stay home Christmas if you can.
Study Finds No Link Between COVID-19, Guillain-Barré Syndrome (CIDRAP) A large epidemiologic study in the United Kingdom today finds no association between COVID-19 and Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), an autoimmune condition linked to other bacterial and viral infections.
EUROPE COVID-19 HOLIDAY RESTRICTIONS (From Johns Hopkins selections
GERMANY
Despite implementing “partial lockdown” measures in early
November, Germany is strengthening restrictions ahead of the winter holidays. Germany’s daily incidence has increased tenfold since the beginning of October, and its cumulative incidence increased quadrupled over that time. The magnitude of this “second wave” spurred the German government to take further actions. In the previous partial lockdown, bars and restaurants were closed, while stores and schools remained open.
In this new “reinforced” lockdown, currently scheduled from December 16 to January 10, schools, retail stores other than grocery stores and supermarkets, and other non-essential businesses will be closed, in addition to bars and restaurants. Businesses that are mandated to close will receive financial support from the government, up to €500,000 (US$600,000) per month. Germany is also implementing household visiting restrictions, with some minor exceptions for Christmas. Gatherings will be limited to a maximum of 5 total individuals from 2 households. Over Christmas, including Christmas Eve, households may invite 4 additional people “from the closest family circle.” These celebratory exceptions do not apply to New Year’s Eve. Scheduled New Year’s events are being cancelled, and
Germany banned the sale of fireworks. By entering this period of reinforced lockdown, German authorities are hoping to stave off another potential wave that could overwhelm its healthcare system and provide enough time for the European Medicines Agency to authorize a vaccine and vaccination efforts to commence.
UNITED KINGDOM
Many areas of the UK are entering the highest tier of COVID-19 restrictions. All boroughs of London as well as areas of Essex and Hertfordshire in England will enter Tier 3 restrictions, which include limitations on indoor and outdoor gatherings and closures for non-essential businesses. A majority of England’s population, 34 million people, will be affected. Individuals not living in Tier 3 areas are advised not to travel to and from those areas. A number of the restrictions, including on indoor gatherings, will be relaxed for Christmas celebrations. The UK will permit individuals and families to form
a “Christmas bubble”, which will allow individuals from up to 3 households to visit each other indoors and stay overnight. Travel restrictions will also be lifted to allow individuals to visit family members anywhere in the UK.
NETHERLANDS
Like its neighbor Germany, the Netherlands is also strengthening “lockdown” restrictions ahead of the holiday season. The Dutch government decided to order renewed measures against COVID-19 following a sharp rise in cases over the last 2 weeks. Following a 50% decrease in daily incidence from its
second peak, the Netherlands jumped back up 70% since December 1. Under the updated restrictions, non-essential businesses must close, schools must switch to remote learning, and gatherings are limited to 2 people, even outdoors. Notably, households will be permitted to have 3 guests indoors from December 24-26, not including children aged 12 years and younger. The Dutch government also outlined “crucial professions” that are permitted to continue in-person operations and noted that children of crucial workers may still attend primary school or after-care programs.
FRANCE
In contrast to some other European countries, France is taking steps to ease COVID-19 restrictions. After passing its second peak, France ended its “lockdown” today and relaxed some social distancing measures. Rather than a formal lockdown period, France is instituting an 8pm curfew that aims to limit transmission at gatherings at times when people may be less vigilant about implementing appropriate protections, such as physical distancing and mask use. After 8pm, most businesses will be directed to close, and individuals will need to carry official exemption certificates in order to be out in public. Violators could face fines of €135, and up to € 3,750 for repeat offenders. Bars, restaurants, and nightclubs are scheduled to remain closed until January 20. The French government will permit individuals and families to travel on December 24 but public gatherings will be prohibited. While the restrictions will be eased slightly for Christmas Eve, France intends to enforce the curfew on January 31, New Year’s Eve.
A serological assay to detect SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in at-home collected finger-prick dried blood spots. We report the development and validation of a at-home finger-prick dried blood spot collection kit and an analysis method. We demonstrated 100% sensitivity and specificity using at-home collected specimens across the US. Such methods may facilitate the conduct of unbiased serosurveys within hard to reach populations and help reduce the sample collection burden of serological testing on both health care systems and individuals alike. (J. Harris: This report was buried, but it looks promising for those individuals who are capable of pricking their finger and obtaining a drop of blood and mailing it off.)
COVID-19 Mortality Risk Calculation: (J. Harris: If you really want to know your risk of dying should become infected with Covid, here it is. Likely, it will make you want to get vaccinated.)
I bought a boat because it was for sail.
Acupuncture is a jab well done. That’s the point of it.
Christmas Pun
A man and his wife were discussing the weather, he said that it was raining, she said it was cold enough to be snowing. He insisted that it was raining, she was sure that it was snowing. He told her to see for herself, when she returned, she agreed that he was right.
He looked at her and said, “Rudolph the Red knows rain dear.
A cheerful heart is good medicine…(Prov 17:22a)
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