#Coronavirus protection

[crimeronan]

CDC finally fuckin' recommended the new COVID boosters for everyone in the US. letting my american followers who don't check the news know because i've been turned away for wanting to get an extra booster & now won't be anymore & it's Lovely. most americans are not going to get these and are going to grumble about them, which sucks as far as spread goes - but DOES mean u can schedule with ur local pharmacy sooner rather than later. please do so. ur immunocompromised friends and ur own body will thank u.

[nando161mando]

"Wear a mask! Protect your privacy! And your health!" (EN: English)

[chena-h]

Reducing the covid isolation period to 1 day - a single day- when an infection can be contagious for up to 21 days is... unbelievably cruel.

[iliveinprocrasti-nationn]

fauci saying “vulnerable people will fall by the wayside” and that some will die but that’s ok because we’re not going to see the “tsunami of cases” we’ve seen before is so dehumanising. so babies with no immune system, elderly people, disabled people, and people without adequate access to healthcare can all die of covid. but it’s ok guys because actually they’re just falling to the wayside and everyone else will go back to normal and be fine (sarcasm).

my death or the deaths of my family or friends wouldn’t be us “falling by the wayside”, it would be us being failed by our government, healthcare systems, and communities who have refused to take coronavirus seriously despite mounting anecdotal and scientific evidence of the harm this virus does. fact that people can accept the deaths of vulnerable groups just because they want to eat in a restaurant or don’t want to wear a mask is horrifying

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Payton Armstrong at MMFA:

Sheriffs associated with the anti-democratic “constitutional sheriff” movement — which falsely asserts that sheriffs represent the highest law of the land — have used their positions to investigate baseless election conspiracy theories across the country, including in key swing states. Many of these so-called constitutional sheriffs have also used right-wing media appearances to spread the movement’s talking points, claiming that the country’s 3,000 sheriffs “have awesome power” to enforce their views. They've also spread misinformation about voter fraud, fearmongered about migrants coming across the border, and vowed not to enforce federal or state gun control laws or COVID-19 mandates. Media Matters found that a dozen sheriffs connected to the constitutional sheriff movement’s leading groups have been featured in right-wing media in recent years, including 6 sheriffs who have appeared on Fox News at least 103 times combined since January 1, 2020. Many of the sheriffs have also repeatedly appeared on One America News and other far-right outlets.

So-called “constitutional sheriffs” are part of a growing movement falsely claiming they have ultimate authority to decide whether a law is constitutional

The constitutional sheriff movement falsely asserts that sheriffs represent the highest law of the land, answering only to the U.S. Constitution and superseding any state or federal authority, including the president. The Southern Poverty Law Centers says that sheriffs who adhere to this ideology “are under the false impression that their role as sheriffs allows them to circumvent the structure of checks and balances put in place by the Constitution.” SPLC also argues that the movement is “actively damaging the nation’s rule of law and attempting to shape the U.S. into a country where fringe law enforcement officers determine what human, civil and property rights they will enforce.” According to States United Democracy Center, “many aspects of sheriffs’ roles are controlled by state constitutions and/or statutory law, including their duties, compensation, terms of elections, and procedures for removal.” [Southern Poverty Law Center, accessed 6/25/24, 6/6/22; States United Democracy Center, 10/4/22]

Two leading groups promoting the constitutional sheriff movement’s ideology are the Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association (CSPOA) and Protect American Now (PAN). CSPOA and PAN — which were formed by former Graham County, Arizona, Sheriff Richard Mack and current Pinal County, Arizona, Sheriff Mark Lamb, respectively — teach sheriffs that they have the authority to exert more control over the voting process and the border, and they encourage sheriffs to refuse to enforce gun control laws or COVID-19 mandates they deem unconstitutional. [Southern Poverty Law Center, accessed 6/25/24; The Washington Post, 11/2/21]

CSPOA and PAN have increasingly turned their focus toward promoting election denial, such as urging sheriffs to investigate supposed voter fraud. During the 2022 midterms, CSPOA encouraged sheriffs to closely monitor for voter fraud, and ahead of the 2024 election, the group is reportedly urging sheriffs to insert themselves into more aspects of the voting process. CSPOA and PAN have worked with other extremist groups to monitor drop boxes, including the QAnon-linked election denial organization True the Vote. [Talking Points Memo, 4/18/24, 8/8/24; The New York Times, 7/25/22; The Guardian, 8/17/22]

There is reportedly growing acceptance of the constitutional sheriff movement’s ideology among sheriffs across the country. Since 2018, at least 69 sheriffs out of 3,000 nationwide have either been identified as members of CSPOA or publicly supported it, according to the Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting. But CSPOA’s ideology may be more pervasive: A Marshall Project survey of over 500 of the country’s sheriffs found that more than 48% of respondents agreed that their authority within their own counties supersedes that of the state or federal government. Additionally, CSPOA has “continued to recruit sheriffs into their group and its related ideology through events targeting law enforcement, an online television show and membership in their association.” [Southern Poverty Law Center, accessed 6/25/24; The Associated Press, 8/21/23; Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting, 10/20/22; The Marshall Project, 10/18/22] 

Media Matters For America takes a look at how “constitutional sheriffs” use right-wing media outlet appearances to promote and grow the extreme movement that puts the county sheriff as the highest authority in their county, ahead of state and federal law.

[spiderhungry]

The COVID-19 pandemic is ongoing and I encourage you to wear a mask to protect yourself and others

This is my own little PSA. The COVID-19 pandemic is still happening, is still deadly, and can cause life-long disabilities.

But there is an easy, cheap way to protect yourself and others! N95 masks have been shown to be 95% effective. I highly recommend everyone wear a mask when indoors or in crowded areas. If you stopped masking or never masked, it's not too late to start! There is 100% nothing wrong with making a change to your life or your behavior. Humans constantly learn and grow!

I have two articles to share today to try to convince you to make a change.

The first is on the efficacy of masks—how well they work.

First is this February 2022 page from the U.S.'s CDC:

[Graphic from the CDC showing that respirators masks, such as N95 or KN95 masks, lower the odds of testing positive for COVID-19 by 83%. Surgical masks lower the odds by 66%, and cloth masks lower the odds by 56%. You can find out more at bit.ly/MMWR7106.]

Second is this article from the California newspaper The East Bay Times. It's behind a paywall, but here are the key parts:

"After rising for three months, the positivity rate is quickly approaching the record high positivity rate for a summer surge — 16% in July of 2022."

"In Contra Costa County, wastewater is also showing high concentrations of the virus, and the county public health department urged residents this week to mask in crowded indoor situations, 'particularly for those at high risk of serious illness if infected.'"

And this:

"'Face masks are an effective tool to reduce the spread of the virus,' Dr. Ori Tzvieli, Contra Costa County’s health officer said in a statement. 'This is one of those times. Our health system is not seriously impacted by COVID currently, and our goal is to keep it that way.'

Dr. John Swartzberg, clinical professor emeritus of infectious diseases and vaccinology at UC Berkeley, thinks Contra Costa Health’s recommendation is 'excellent advice.'

"'There are still too many people being hospitalized and too many people dying,' Swartzberg said, pointing to the fact that annual COVID deaths still exceed the number of deaths during a normal flu season."

And I think this graphic is particularly helpful in understanding that we are indeed still in the middle of a pandemic.

[Graph from the California Department of Public Health showing COVID-19 positivity rates over time, from January 2020 to August 2024. Each year is represented by a different color line over the course of the year, to compare the spikes. The red 2024 line shows that the January 2024 peak and the August 2024 peak are comparable to the January 2023 peak and the July 2022 peak.]

Knowledge is power, and you can use knowledge to make more informed decisions.

Please wear a mask!

[pipzeroes]

Source.

A post by user luckytran on instance med-mastodon.com:

There is no silver bullet solution to mitigating the harm caused by #COVID. We need masks, clean air, vaccines, treatments and more. None of these things are perfect, and none alone are sufficient to prevent all the harm being caused. We need them all. Keep speaking up for layers or protections.

[5ond3r]

the thing about people who refuse to mask/get vaccinated and get pissy about it bc "well, if your vaccine works why are you worried about my status?" is that... they can't fathom that we... actually care what happens to them.

like my dude I don't want YOU to get sick and suffer/potentially die or get hit with a boatload of still misunderstood side effects for the rest of your life. they simply cannot understand caring about strangers bc... they don't

[workcompattorney]

Injured on the Job Due to Lack of Proper PPE

What Is Personal Protective Equipment? Personal protective equipment (PPE) is any type of gear or clothing worn by a worker to protect them from hazards that could cause injuries or illnesses. This includes items such as safety goggles, hard hats, respirators, and gloves. It also includes items such as face masks and shields that have become more common in recent years due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Why Is PPE Important?

 PPE is important as it helps protect workers from potential exposure to hazardous materials or conditions. For example, if a worker is exposed to loud noise for an extended period of time without wearing ear protection, they can suffer permanent hearing loss. Alternatively, if a worker works with chemicals without wearing respiratory protection or protective clothing, they run the risk of inhaling toxic fumes or getting burns on their skin. 

The Responsibility of Employers Regarding PPE

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires that employers protect their employees by ensuring a safe work environment free of hazards, including the use of personal protective equipment (PPE). Employers must provide appropriate PPE to workers at no cost, as well as make sure it’s properly maintained, inspected and used in hazardous conditions. 

Employers must also clearly communicate their PPE requirements to all employees, train them on the use of PPE, continuously monitor employee compliance with PPE regulations and enforce safety practices with disciplinary action when necessary.

If your employer neglects these duties and you’re injured as a result, you have rights to workers comp benefits. In fact, fault is generally not taken into consideration when making a workers compensation claim. Here are the steps you can take to protect yourself:

Document everything – Keep detailed records about your injury and take photos if possible. This can be helpful when filing a workers’ compensation claim.

Get medical attention – Seek medical attention right away so that your injuries can be documented by a healthcare professional. Tell your doctor all relevant information about your injury including when it occurred and what happened leading up to it so they can provide an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan.

Reach out to an attorney – Consider speaking with an experienced St. Louis workers’ comp attorney who can help make sure you get fair compensation for your injuries. They’ll be able to advise you on what legal options are available and guide you through each step of the process so you don't have to go through it alone. 

St. Louis Workers Compensation Attorneys

At the Law Office of James. M. Hoffman, we understand how difficult it can be when you have suffered an injury due to your employer's negligence. That’s why we prioritize providing comprehensive legal knowledge about workers’ comp cases. We can explain the legal process clearly so that you understand what kind of compensation you might be entitled to receive. Contact us today at (314) 361-4300 for a free case evaluation.

[nando161mando]

"Seriously, this is not a "people can disagree about things" or "you should accept constructive criticism" thing. If you mock people for wearing PPE, getting vaccinated, or otherwise protecting themselves, the most charitable possible interpretation of your behavior is that you're an asshole. If you defend it, you're also an asshole. This is really simple."

https://www.reddit.com/r/HermanCainAward/

https://www.sorryantivaxxer.com/

https://federate.social/@mattblaze/110912957010004834

[nationallawreview]

Acting U.S. Attorney Levy Forecasts False Claims Act COVID Cases Targeting Private Lenders Of CARES Act Loans That Failed In Their Obligation To Safeguard Government Funds

Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua Levy discussed the enforcement priorities for the Massachusetts U.S. Attorney’s Office (USAO) during a Q&A session on May 29, 2024, and made clear that the historical focus of the office remains the top priority: detecting and combating health care fraud, waste, and abuse. In particular, both Levy and Chief of the USAO’s Civil Division, Abraham George, have recently…

[2t2r]

Disney lance ses masques Disney contre le coronavirus

Nouvel article publié sur https://www.2tout2rien.fr/disney-lance-ses-masques-disney-contre-le-coronavirus/

Disney lance ses masques Disney contre le coronavirus

[reasonsforhope]

Article | Paywall Free

"The Food and Drug Administration approved new mRNA coronavirus vaccines Thursday [August 22, 2024], clearing the way for shots manufactured by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna to start hitting pharmacy shelves and doctor’s offices within a week.

Health officials encourage annual vaccination against the coronavirus, similar to yearly flu shots. Everyone 6 months and older should receive a new vaccine, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends.

The FDA has yet to approve an updated vaccine from Novavax, which uses a more conventional vaccine development method but has faced financial challenges.

Our scientific understanding of coronavirus vaccines has evolved since they debuted in late 2020. Here’s what to know about the new vaccines.

Why are there new vaccines?

The coronavirus keeps evolving to overcome our immune defenses, and the shield offered by vaccines weakens over time. That’s why federal health officials want people to get an annual updated coronavirus vaccine designed to target the latest variants. They approve them for release in late summer or early fall to coincide with flu shots that Americans are already used to getting.

The underlying vaccine technology and manufacturing process are the same, but components change to account for how the virus morphs. The new vaccines target the KP.2 variant because most recent covid cases are caused by that strain or closely related ones...

Do the vaccines prevent infection?

You probably know by now that vaccinated people can still get covid. But the shots do offer some protection against infection, just not the kind of protection you get from highly effective vaccines for other diseases such as measles.

The 2023-2024 vaccine provided 54 percent increased protection against symptomatic covid infections, according to a CDC study of people who tested for the coronavirus at pharmacies during the first four months after that year’s shot was released...

A nasal vaccine could be better at stopping infections outright by increasing immunity where they take hold, and one is being studied in a trial sponsored by the National Institutes of Health.

If you really want to dodge covid, don’t rely on the vaccine alone and take other precautions such as masking or avoiding crowds...

Do the vaccines help prevent transmission?

You may remember from early coverage of coronavirus vaccines that it was unclear whether shots would reduce transmission. Now, scientists say the answer is yes — even if you’re actively shedding virus.

That’s because the vaccine creates antibodies that reduce the amount of virus entering your cells, limiting how much the virus can replicate and make you even sicker. When vaccination prevents symptoms such as coughing and sneezing, people expel fewer respiratory droplets carrying the virus. When it reduces the viral load in an infected person, people become less contagious.

That’s why Peter Hotez, a physician and co-director of the Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, said he feels more comfortable in a crowded medical conference, where attendees are probably up to date on their vaccines, than in a crowded airport.

“By having so many vaccinated people, it’s decreasing the number of days you are shedding virus if you get a breakthrough infection, and it decreases the amount of virus you are shedding,” Hotez said.

Do vaccines prevent long covid?

While the threat of acute serious respiratory covid disease has faded, developing the lingering symptoms of “long covid” remains a concern for people who have had even mild cases. The CDC says vaccination is the “best available tool” to reduce the risk of long covid in children and adults. The exact mechanism is unclear, but experts theorize that vaccines help by reducing the severity of illness, which is a major risk factor for long covid.

When is the best time to get a new coronavirus vaccine?

It depends on your circumstances, including risk factors for severe disease, when you were last infected or vaccinated, and plans for the months ahead. It’s best to talk these issues through with a doctor.

If you are at high risk and have not recently been vaccinated or infected, you may want to get a shot as soon as possible while cases remain high. The summer wave has shown signs of peaking, but cases can still be elevated and take weeks to return to low levels. It’s hard to predict when a winter wave will begin....

Where do I find vaccines?

CVS said its expects to start administering them within days, and Walgreens said that it would start scheduling appointments to receive shots after Sept. 6 and that customers can walk in before then.

Availability at doctor’s offices might take longer. Finding shots for infants and toddlers could be more difficult because many pharmacies do not administer them and not every pediatrician’s office will stock them given low demand and limited storage space.

This year’s updated coronavirus vaccines are supposed to have a longer shelf life, which eases the financial pressures of stocking them.

The CDC plans to relaunch its vaccine locator when the new vaccines are widely available, and similar services are offered by Moderna and Pfizer."

-via The Washington Post, August 22, 2024

[collapsedsquid]

The study, available online in Nature, shows that people who were repeatedly vaccinated for COVID-19 — initially receiving shots aimed at the original variant, followed by boosters and updated vaccines targeting variants — generated antibodies capable of neutralizing a wide range of SARS-CoV-2 variants and even some distantly related coronaviruses. The findings suggest that periodic re-vaccination for COVID-19, far from hindering the body’s ability to recognize and respond to new variants, may instead cause people to gradually build up a stock of broadly neutralizing antibodies that protect them from emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants and some other coronavirus species as well, even ones that have not yet emerged to infect humans.

Now immune to all disease, folks I'm amazing

[askshivanulegacy]

Yep. Pay-for tests + no masks = people actually WANT to get COVID. And I'm more than happy to give it to them! Unfortunately, I'm too busy wearing a mask to protect myself.

Some of us still wear masks for the simple fact that we're not stupid.

[odinsblog]

That last tweet sums it up perfectly: “They realize COVID isn’t over. But while they may not take precautions to protect your health, they will to protect their money.”

Pretending that COVID is over is one of the worst things our government has done to us, but COVID isn’t over. It’s not even close to being over. If it were, insurance companies and big businesses wouldn’t be going through such extreme measures to protect themselves against coronavirus-related lawsuits. And you just know if a case went all the way up, this illegitimate, morally bankrupt & corrupt Supreme Court would rule in favor of big business having no responsibility to protect their customers.

In our ass backwards society, antivaxxers and anti-maskers practically can’t be barred from going everywhere they want, and businesses probably won’t be held liable for conditions that expose people to dangerous diseases (and the antivaxxers who love spreading diseases).

Anyway, I got all my scheduled vaccines and I still mask up in public. 😷