Covid-19 cases are rising. States are opening up anyway.

[OhioChick]

The uptick comes at a critical time: Americans are exhausted, but also perhaps better equipped than at any other point in the pandemic to turn the tide.

After several weeks at a plateau, Covid-19 cases in the United States are rising again, the clearest warning sign yet that the country could face another "avoidable" surge, the head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday.

The uptick comes at a critical time, when Americans are exhausted and desperate for a return to normalcy, but also perhaps better equipped than at any other point in the pandemic to turn the tide, thanks to increased vaccine supply.

CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said at a media briefing that the most recent seven-day average of Covid-19 cases was about 57,000 cases per day, an increase of 7 percent from the previous week.

"We know from prior surges that if we don't control things now, there is a real potential for the epidemic curve to soar again," she said, adding that she remains "deeply concerned" about the trends.

https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/covid-19-cases-are-rising-states-are-opening-anyway-n1261912?cid=eml_nbn_20210326&utm_medium=Email%20Sailthru&%243p=e_sailthru&_branch_match_id=904121933930810484

We haven't even gotten the cases from Spring Break or Easter, yet.

We need a full lockdown, NOW.

[Freethinker65]

1. Mandated full lockdown will not happen

Wear a mask, social distance, and get vaccinated (if not already).

[OhioChick]

2. I realize that....

Expect a surge from hell within a few weeks from now.

When all the new variants arrive, which they will, we're really going to be screwed.

I've already done all of the above and am still sick.

[Freethinker65]

4. Finally got my 1st dose yesterday.

In five weeks, I might consider getting together with friends and family that also are fully vaccinated. I intend to continue to wear my masks and socially distance when possible in public for as long as needed.

I, too, am hopeful that the current vaccine will give some immunity from variants that will continue to arise.
I hear yearly COVID variant specific vaccines may be necessary (like the yearly influenza vaccines).

[OhioChick]

6. Even though vaccinated....

I'll continue to wear masks and stay away from those I care about for a long time to come.

If these variants keep popping up, we'll need a 3rd vaccine (and possible tweaks in between) and likely a yearly vaccination, as well.

Here's some food for thought.....my Son's GF, who is an ICU nurse got fully vaccinated months ago, wears masks, social distances, goes nowhere and guess what she's sick with now?

Yes, Covid-19 and Epidemiologists here are pretty damn nervous.

[Hugin]

13. ...

I've been expecting stories like this to come up.

Along with re-infections.

However, I'm not thinking it will be widely reported.

[DenaliDemocrat]

19. The vaccines prevent serious disease and hospitalization

And have a 5 to 20% breakthrough rate depending upon what you get. The prevention of all symptomatic disease is a cherry on top.

[OhioChick]

23. Yes vaccinations do....

We have so many variants coming our way that these vaccinations aren't going to cover, as per epidemiologists.

[Hugin]

3. Full on denial...

That and Wall Street needs it's normal.

[OhioChick]

5. That denial is going to hit them like a train soon.....

It's going to be a huge shit show here really soon.

[Hugin]

11. For one brief shiny moment a year ago...

When most seemed to be doing the sensible things. Even those I'd regarded as outside of the confines of sense, I thought for a few weeks we'd get through this.

Now, no.

The influencers are completely in charge of the message. Safely ensconced in their enclaves and the vast masses of sheep will follow to the shearing.

I was so naïve. I'm actually ashamed and it's something I'll never forgive myself for falling for that lessons would be learned and courses corrected.

It's back to socializing the pain and privatizing the profit. IOW - YOYO.

[raccoon]

22. Don't feel bad. I'm close to 70 and it wasn't till a few years ago

Don’t feel bad. I’m close to 70 and it wasn’t till a few years ago Then I realize a lot of people are just stupid.

[Hugin]

31. How is it that of all of the dystopias, we fell into the stupid one?

Irony, I guess.

[Skittles]

43. yup

Last edited Sat Mar 27, 2021, 10:57 PM - Edit history (1)

I am very tired of reading about people thinking everything goes back to normal soon - ain't gonna happen

[OhioChick]

49. This

[Ms. Toad]

50. I'm tired of seeing friends (and members of DU)

talking about going out to eat in restaurants, having family reunions, etc., speculating what travel they will do in 2 weeks when immunity kicks in, etc.

It terrifies me - I see the hope of getting this under control slipping away.

[OhioChick]

51. I wholeheartedly agree with you n/t

[mucifer]

7. One thing to consider is the elderly are getting vaccinated so hopefully there will be less

hospitalizations and deaths compared to the same amount of cases early on. As more people in their 40s 50s and 60s get vaccinated things will improve more for hospitalizations and deaths as long as the variants don't outsmart the vaccines.

Without the vaccine things would be much more desperate.

Also, there are new treatments on the horizon that could keep people out of the hospital.

[OhioChick]

10. Perhaps you should read why Epidemiologists such as Dr. Eric Feigl-Ding are sounding alarms....

Link to tweet

"Why did German Chancellor Angela Merkel warn on camera so strongly that the #B117 variant is “more severe, more infectious, infectious longer” and separately infects kids more than old strain? Because data precisely matching what was predicted."

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

The P1 variant is an entire new ballgame.

What are these new treatments on the horizon that could keep people out of the hospital?

My kids are both physicians and they've never heard of such a thing, nor have Epidemiologists here that are geniuses at the top Hospitals.

[mucifer]

17. Well I guess Pfizer isn't a real company then:

The same company behind America’s first coronavirus vaccine is now working on what could be the nation’s first oral treatment against COVID-19 if clinical trials prove the antiviral is safe and effective.

Use of the pill won’t require that people with COVID-19 are hospitalized or in critical care. Instead, it could be prescribed at the first sign of infection, biopharmaceutical company Pfizer announced Tuesday.

The pill works by preventing the coronavirus from replicating in cells. The method it uses to attack the novel coronavirus is also effective at treating other viruses, such as HIV and hepatitis C, according to the company.

The early stage study has shown the antiviral works against other coronaviruses as well, Pfizer said, “suggesting potential for use in the treatment of COVID-19 as well as potential use to address future coronavirus threats.”

Another potential oral COVID-19 treatment developed by Miami-based company Ridgeback Biotherapeutics and Merck is also in the works. Early study results showed that the pill, called molnupiravir, cleared non-hospitalized coronavirus patients who had symptoms of infection faster than in patients who received a placebo.

https://www.miamiherald.com/news/coronavirus/article250206305.html

[OhioChick]

18. The critical phrase is that they're "only" in clinical trials at this point

"The early stage study has shown the antiviral works against other coronaviruses as well, Pfizer said, “suggesting potential for use in the treatment of COVID-19 as well as potential use to address "future" coronavirus threats.”

We need an antiviral that works "now" when we're going to surge again really soon.

This clinical study only involves 60 people, as well.

As for Remdesivir, it's been used since the beginning of this pandemic and doesn't work very well, at all.

[mucifer]

20. I was just posting that things would be worse if nothing there wasn't a vaccine and meds

coming down the road.

Or if we had a different President and congress.

It was just a "things could be worse" post.

[OhioChick]

21. I understand and agree with you completely n/t

[Ace Rothstein]

33. Isn't that the guy who advocated for school closures?

Then moved to Austria so his kid could go to in-person school?

[Buckeye_Democrat]

8. I hope NYC wins their race against the variants!

Ugh, not again.



https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/coronavirus/calls-to-pause-nyc-reopenings-grow-as-covid-19-cases-plateau/2963656/

"Right now, New York is in a race between vaccines and variants. It's neck and neck. And rushing to reopen, getting ahead of ourselves, will only help the virus get ahead of us in that race," NYC Public Advocate Jumaane Williams said in a statement on Wednesday. "In this moment, when the majority of new cases of COVID-19 in New York City come from highly contagious variants and only 14% of New Yorkers are fully vaccinated, we need to continue to scale up vaccination while scaling back these reopenings."

[In_The_Wind]

9. Mr ITW is getting his 2nd shot tomorrow. I told him: expect more.

We are continuing to stay home, wear mask, social distancing as we have been.

[OhioChick]

12. That's wise.....

[In_The_Wind]

15. My 2nd shot will be done Wednesday.

March 31st. Better than April 1st.

[OhioChick]

16. Good, I'm happy for you n/t

[OhioChick]

14. NYC Public Advocate Jumaane Williams is spot on n/t

[BannonsLiver]

24. We haven't had a good Covid doomsday thread in a while now.

This one really hit the spot.

[OhioChick]

26. Doomsday thread?

I'll revisit this "doomsday thread" in a month.

[BannonsLiver]

27. Oh, you should. It's absolutely magnificent.

[OhioChick]

28. I'll be looking forward to seeing you on it n/t

[BannonsLiver]

29. I have no doubt

My favorite parts of the thread:

- Vaccines aren’t going to work.

- My sister’s in law’s cousins brother is an epidemiologist and he hasn’t seen anything like it.

- VaRiAnTS!!1111

What do you hope to find when you check back?

[ChromeFoundry]

34. I'll tell you what...

What do you hope to find when you check back?

When I come back here next month, I hope to find that nobody has lost anyone close to them, as I did earlier this year. This will only happen when people like you pull their fucking head out of their fucking asshole. It is due to people like you and their know-it-all attitudes that has enable this virus to perpetuate it's spread and this enhancing mutant variations from the wild variant. We now are finding double-mutations. It will become impossible to develop vaccinations against these types. My hope is that Darwin cures the 'incurable', those with the pre-existing condition of willful degradation in mental capacity. This will allow the rest of us can carry on with our normal lives.

[Elessar Zappa]

36. Well, I'm still hopeful.

Despite what you say, there's no evidence that the vaccines won't work against the variants. Sure we may need a booster. Personally, I'm glad the adults are in charge now, think how much worse off we could be if Trump was still in office.

[ChromeFoundry]

45. I am too..

It is important to be hopeful, and staying vigilant at the same time. This is why we need to remain in masks post vaccination until the vast majority of the population is inoculated. The vaccine may have decent coverage for future variants, and it may not. The double mutations are the ones that keep me up at night, as three have already been discovered. Efficacy in future mutations is exactly a 50/50 guess at this point.

And yes, I am happy the current administration is now setting the course for this ship. We would be well over 1M deaths today under the former leadership.

[BannonsLiver]

38. Personal insults aside

Last edited Sat Mar 27, 2021, 11:14 AM - Edit history (1)

My disaGreement with the op isn’t that we aren’t in an uptick in cases. And that uptick may lead to a spring wave. any idiot can see that. My objection is the op’s belieF that the vaccines are unlikely to work against future variants and that we’re all fucked. Sorry not sorrY that you apparently object to that tiny sliver of optimism.

[ChromeFoundry]

44. Sorry to burst your bubble...

There are already variations that have mutations to the protein spike. The current mRNA vaccine is solely based on the spike protein encoding and would therefore be ineffective due to ACE2 receptor binding. We do not yet know the vitality of these mutants (too early), with any hope they will be reduced and fizzle out. The more people that are infected, the more mutations we will have - this is a fact. Influenza generally mutates much more rapidly that any in the Corona family. The US is currently beginning an uptick as of this past 9 days, if you have not been paying attention.

Silver linings are for suckers. Not everything has one, and when they are expected, everyone becomes disappointed.

[OhioChick]

42. I'm impressed.....

You spelled it out, perfectly.

[Demsrule86]

32. I agree...things are looking better. I will get my second shot on April 6th. Our family has been

careful, and I will wear a mask to the grocery store...or where ever. But I have no intention of staying in the house 24/7. And I will spend time with my loved ones...it has been a year now.

[BannonsLiver]

35. Yeah. Things are definitely looking better on the vaccination front

Unfortunately, we’re in an uptick of cases right now, which any idiot could see, so I’m not sure why anyone would think that’s revelatory.

That uptick may lead to a spring wave. I don’t disagree with the OP on that. Where I disagree is on the overall big picture and where we might be 3-4 months from now. The OP has little confidence in vaccines. I, and I think most here, are of a different view more in line with actual medical professionals.

[OhioChick]

37. The OP never said she had little confidence in vaccines with the current variants.....

The uptick will cause more variants, which will escape efficacy.

[BannonsLiver]

39. It's up and down the thread

[OhioChick]

53. No I did NOT

I've been on DU for 17 years and have never been an alarmist.

Thankfully, several DU'er's alerted me to use a feature here that I've never had the need to use.

Bye!

[Hugin]

40. I'm cautiously optimistic for a couple of reasons...

The first being that a year ago there was absolutely no immunity in any human to this virus.

Now, we have a level of immunity. Is it enough to keep from overwhelming the rinky-dink US for profit health care system? We'll see.

This is possible because the vaccines promise not necessarily eliminating people from suffering the illness completely, but, will probably reduce the need for emergency treatment. Even in most of the variants.

Another reason and probably most importantly, is that we have competent engaged leadership in the Biden/Harris administration. They have little control over the foolishness of the private sector, but, have placed their primary focus on making sure the power of the government is directed at the task of providing the population with the resources they need to deal with the crisis. It's an uphill battle for sure. A horse can be led to water. It will only drink, if it wants to. Fortunately, most people seem to be willing to drink.

[BannonsLiver]

41. Yes, there's a lot of work to be done for sure

Dipshit governors like Abbott have made it a tougher climb. But I too share your confidence in the Biden admin. Things seem to really be opening up on the vaccine front. If I’m not mistaken we broke 3 million yesterday which is among the best single day totals so far.

[womanofthehills]

46. We seem to be doing good in NM. In my town only one

Case in 56 days and our whole county is also doing good - many days with a few or zero cases in the whole county. Our small town elementary school has been open for a few months. Hopefully, the mutations stay away. Our governor was one of the first to take aggressive action and it has paid off. Just hoping we stay on this path.

[Pobeka]

25. Vaccine works for all major variants, except S. African is still a wildcard.

|

This is worth the time. Does a great job explaining the state of knowledge, state of thinking where data does not exist.

Good explanation of why we still need to wear masks and exercise social precautions even after vaccinated.

But he also says it may be the case that a vaccine that uses the S. African variant will most likely work for all other variants, and perhaps this virus may be near the end of what it can do in the realm of mutations.

In short, we're not done with this thing ... yet.

[roamer65]

48. Moderna still works on the SA variant, but has decreased effectiveness.

The upcoming booster will solve that problem. Already in clinical trials.

[Shermann]

30. Is the CDC still running simulations?

The MSM has been quiet about that. We used to get fatality projections a few months out.

I think it is more difficult to predict now than it was this time last year. Last year, it was basically the R-naught value against modest controls like masks. Now it is the R-naught value against the strong controls provided by the vaccines, however this is a large scale experiment never really done before in this way. Herd immunity is a big question mark in my mind.

[roamer65]

47. Rural MI store today.

Half of them were without masks. Dumbasses.

[pstokely]

52. will we pay for people to stay home and businesses to close until "herd immunity"?

Last edited Sat Mar 27, 2021, 10:40 PM - Edit history (1)

that's the only way a lockdown could work without other lasting damage

[JI7]

54. The thing is opening up can be done safely as long as masks are required

along with some other things like social distancing but too many refuse to even do those things.

[Initech]

55. How much longer do we have to keep locking down?

I feel like it's going to be forever at this point.