#second wave of Covid-19 infections

[emphistic]

Teenage Dream

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“I honestly do not get why you’re so worked up on this. What’s so wrong about dating someone who does not like macaroni and cheese?” asked Sukuna, raising a brow as he popped a potato chip into his mouth.

“It’s not that. I just—I want to have a successful relationship with someone who likes mac and cheese as much as I do. Conflict of interests, I guess, but is that really so ridiculous?”

“Conflict of interests is more reasonable, now that you put it that way, but over macaroni and cheese? Seriously?”

Sukuna wasn’t wrong, you couldn’t deny that. It’s, without a doubt, a conclusion beyond silly. But, after so many hardships, you’ve finally come to realize that you’ll probably never be able to date a guy who likes macaroni and cheese. Every relationship you’ve had has always been with someone that either hated macaroni and cheese, or was lactose intolerant; no in between. 

At first, it was just a mere coincidence. But after so many instances, you end up thinking you’re cursed, and find yourself consulting with your childhood best friend, Sukuna Ryomen.

You frowned, lowering your gaze. “My parents taught me how to make homemade macaroni and cheese, you should already know that. We always made it together at least once a year, and it’s one of my favorite memories. But, after moving out, I don’t have time to visit them anymore. I remember seeing how happy both my mom and dad were whenever they cooked together. So, my dream has always been to make macaroni and cheese with someone I love, as well. It’s all I’ve ever wanted in life.”

You fully expected Sukuna to laugh in your face, but he didn’t. When you looked up, you could even see a faint smile on his lips, before he turned his head to the side, avoiding your gaze.

“That’s kinda deep coming from you.”

“Is that really all you have to say? I just dumped out a part of my life that I’ve never told anyone else and you decide to—”

“Then again, you do realize Yuuji likes macaroni and cheese, right? Why don’t you just date him? I mean, we all grew up together, and you two are pretty close in age.” Sukuna shrugged, picking up his glass of water to take a sip.

You snorted, waving a hand to dismiss the impossible idea. “He’s like a brother to me. But . . . now that you mention it. . . What do you think about macaroni and cheese?”

Sukuna—understanding the second meaning of your question—spit out his drink, and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand before turning to you. You didn’t miss the faint blush on his cheeks. “I didn’t hear that last part,” he cleared his throat, “what did you say?”

“Do you like macaroni and cheese?” You repeated yourself.

“It’s okay—” said Sukuna, but you didn’t hear it.

“‘Cause if you did, I think I know a way to get rid of my curse! We can start dating, and after having a pretty successful relationship, we can go back to what we are now, and then, boom!—my curse is lifted, and I can finally date other people who like macaroni and cheese.”

With every sentence that you spoke, Sukuna’s jaw seemed to drop lower and lower. “How did you even think of that?”

“COVID-19, of course!” you said, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. “Natural immunity or something like that. Your immune system produces antibodies to fight off a germ, and if you’re exposed to that germ again in the future, your body’s defenses will be able to recognize it and fight it off with antibodies, making you less likely to get infected again.”

“And this correlates to your situation because?”

You paused, before looking back at Sukuna. “Not important, but anyway, do you like macaroni and cheese? Yes or no?”

Sukuna blinked, before looking as if he was considering the pros and cons of replying. As if he had anything to lose, you thought.

“Yeah. I love macaroni and cheese, actually. I used to have it all the time back then.”

Your eyes widened, and your smile grew. “That’s—that’s great! So, uhm,” you paused, “do you want to do this?”

“Do I want to date—I mean, get into a fake relationship with you? Let me think.” Sukuna put a pointer finger and thumb on his chin, pretending to weigh his options. “What’s in it for me?”

Now this is what had you stumped. You hadn’t thought of that yet; throughout your whole thought process, you were only thinking of yourself. And, there really was nothing about this arrangement that could benefit Sukuna. The relationship was for your sake, not his. But maybe. . .

“You’ll have a girlfriend?” you proposed. “I can, like, cheer for you at your basketball games, and stuff.”

“We go to the same school; you already do that.”

“Right. . . Oh! I can make you mac and cheese whenever you want?”

“Pass.”

You chewed your lip trying to come up with a good enough reason. “. . .I always have the best hors d’oeuvres?”

“Not important.”

“Err, you can just do this for me out of the kindness of your heart?”

“Kindness of my heart? I wouldn’t put it that way, but go on.”

“I mean, we’re friends and all, right? You can think of this as a mere favor; and I’ll repay you by inviting you to my wedding when I finally marry someone who loves macaroni and cheese.”

Sukuna furrowed his brows, looking conflicted at hearing that last part, before finally agreeing to your proposition. “Okay, this is just a favor. Sure, I’ll do it.”

It took you a second to fully register what Sukuna said, but when you did, you set your iced tea down on the table beside you, and, nearly jumping out of your seat, threw your arms around Sukuna, trapping him in the tightest hug you had ever given to anyone. “Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you! You’re the best!”

His voice came soon after, muffled, but you could still tell Sukuna said something along the lines of “you’re welcome” and “you’re crushing me, brat”. But you completely dismissed that last part.

You laughed at Sukuna as he continued to grumble unintelligible complaints about how he heard his bones crack under your embrace. “So grumpy. This is totally a time to celebrate.”

“It’s really not.”

“Don’t be silly. I mean, I’m gonna be able to finally date someone who likes macaroni and cheese. We should totally go out for drinks tonight!”

Sukuna shrugged, giving in. “Only if you’re paying.”

“I would agree, but is that really something a good boyfriend would say to his girlfriend? Making her pay?”

You could practically hear Sukuna’s eye roll from behind you as you turned around to grab your phone from your bag.

“What’re you doing now? Shouldn’t you be getting ready for our date?” Sukuna said the word with unfamiliarity. Yeah, you had a long way to go before you would get used to the fact that you were in a relationship with the man currently sitting in your apartment.

“In a sec. I’m just making sure I don’t lose my Duolingo streak.”

“Right now? Fuckin’ weirdo,” said Sukuna, as he sat up from his spot on the sofa. “Tell me when you’re ready; I’m gonna take a shit.”

Nodding, you said, “Roger that.”

“. . .Do not ever say that cringey shit to me ever again, or I’ll break up with you.”

You laughed at that last part. The threat seemed more humorous than it should’ve; perhaps it was the unconventional spirit of your relationship.

When you two were kids, you and Sukuna would frequently hang out at each other’s houses and play-fight until the sun would go down, and his grandpa would scold you both for making a mess of the house. It was a bright and colorful time of Sukuna’s life. And, after having known you since childhood, Sukuna grew pretty familiar with your outgoing personality and general craziness.

But, with that being said, Sukuna was beyond taken aback when you brought up the idea of being cursed. You? Cursed? In this decade? This was real life, not some dystopian book. Sukuna thought you were bordering the line between sane and insane when you further explained your current predicament to him.

So, just because you couldn’t find a suitable lover who liked macaroni and cheese, you thought you were doomed for life? Sukuna almost laughed out loud when you expressed how serious you were.

“It’s not funny!” you told him, but he couldn’t have thought you were being more ridiculous.

And when you brought up your idea on how to get rid of your “curse”, Sukuna was planning on telling you how silly you were being, but all thought of that immediately died down in his throat when you mentioned a possible relationship with him. 

What do you mean Sukuna had an opportunity to get into a relationship with you? As in, he could be your boyfriend? It was like the gates of Heaven had opened up right before him, and were offering eternal paradise to him.

Then again, it was only an act. A fake relationship. But, nevertheless, Sukuna would take all that was given to him; he always did.

-

“You know, Sukuna, I’m really grateful for you for doing this. I mean, it might be a little weird to act like we’re dating and all, but it can’t be that bad, right? We’re already friends; dating couldn’t possibly be so different?” you suggested.

Sukuna took a sip of his drink, “Dunno. I’m not usually friends with my girlfriends.”

“Really?” you leaned in closer to the conversation. “So you mean you don’t, like. . . Never mind. How do you even get girlfriends, then? I usually meet people through a mutual friend, and then we get to know each other, become friends ourselves, and—”

Sukuna cut you off, “I don’t think you really get what I’m saying here. Besides, I’m not here for advice on how to meet potential girlfriends. I think I’m pretty experienced in that department.”

You laughed, “But, really, thanks for doing this for me.” 

Smiling, you placed a hand over Sukuna’s, which was resting on the table. He looked a bit tense at the action, but he didn’t push you away.

“It’s what friends do, right?

You hummed, averting your gaze elsewhere. “Anyways, I’m pretty sure this counts as our first date.”

“Huh,” Sukuna agreed. “Kind of boring, I gotta say. I mean, going out for drinks at a bar? Not a very romantic scenario.”

“Still, isn’t this exciting either way—?”

“I think I know a way to make this evening more exciting,” a cool voice cut you off midway. “Mind if we join you?”

You knew that voice. When you turned around, you were met with the face of. . .

[covid-safer-hotties]

Summer COVID surge shows we may have to return to 2020 pandemic measures - Published Aug 29, 2024

As summer 2024 draws to a close, the U.S. finds itself once again grappling with a surge in COVID-19 infections.

This wave has taken many people by surprise, particularly as the country has largely consigned the pandemic to the past. While public life has pretty much returned to pre-pandemic norms — something almost none of us would have believed in the summer of 2020 — the virus itself has not.

Mutations of the virus continue to occur, and new variants are emerging, posing ongoing challenges to public health and safety. As we look ahead to the remainder of 2024 and into early 2025, we need to take stock of where we are, understand the factors driving this resurgence and better anticipate how the pandemic might evolve.

The recent surge in COVID-19 cases has disrupted summer travel plans, overwhelmed healthcare facilities in certain areas, and left many Americans dealing with the familiar symptoms of fever, cough and fatigue. The summer months, typically associated with lower respiratory virus activity, have instead seen a significant uptick in COVID-19 infections. Several factors contribute to this unexpected surge.

One factor is the high transmissibility of newer variants. The virus has continued to mutate, with certain variants displaying enhanced ability to spread, even among populations with high vaccination rates. While vaccines remain effective at preventing severe disease and death, breakthrough infections are becoming more common, especially as immunity from earlier vaccinations wanes.

Second, the widespread relaxation of public health measures has created an environment conducive to transmission. Mask mandates, social distancing guidelines and restrictions on large gatherings have all but disappeared. This return to normalcy, while massively psychologically and economically beneficial, has provided the virus with ample opportunities to spread.

Finally, the pervasive sense of pandemic fatigue has led to a serious decline in vigilance. Many people, weary of the pandemic’s disruptions to their lives, have become markedly less cautious. This complacency, coupled with the underestimation of the virus’s ability to adapt, has allowed COVID-19 to regain a foothold.

The federal government’s response to the latest surge has been tepid at best. After years of intense focus on COVID-19, there is a palpable desire in Washington to move on. This has resulted in a fragmented approach, with responsibility for managing the current wave largely devolving to state and local governments. While some have reinstated certain precautions, others have continued with business as usual, leading to inconsistent messaging and outcomes.

Moreover, the federal government’s decision to end the public health emergency earlier this year has had unintended consequences. The end of the emergency declaration led to a reduction in federal funding for testing, contact tracing, and vaccination efforts, just as these tools are once again needed. The lack of a coordinated national strategy has hampered efforts to control the surge and has left healthcare providers scrambling to manage increased caseloads with fewer resources.

Looking ahead, the trajectory of the pandemic remains uncertain, but there are several key trends and scenarios to consider.

The virus is likely to continue mutating, with new variants emerging that could potentially evade immunity from previous infections or vaccinations. This means that COVID-19 will remain a moving target, requiring ongoing surveillance and adaptation of public health strategies. The development of updated vaccines and treatments will be critical in staying ahead of the virus, but the speed at which these can be rolled out will determine their effectiveness.

We can and should also expect periodic surges in COVID-19 cases, particularly in the fall and winter months, when respiratory viruses typically thrive. These surges may not reach the levels seen during the height of the pandemic, but they could still cause significant disruption, particularly in areas with low vaccination rates or limited healthcare capacity. Localized outbreaks, driven by specific variants or super-spreader events, will likely become regular features of the landscape.

The healthcare system, already strained from years of dealing with the pandemic, is also going to face additional pressure if the current surge continues into the fall and winter. Hospitals and clinics will need to balance the demands of COVID-19 patients with the resumption of regular medical care that had been postponed during the pandemic’s earlier phases. This balancing act could lead to increased wait times, resource shortages and burnout among healthcare workers.

And we can’t underestimate how public fatigue with COVID-19 precautions will grow, making it more difficult to reimpose restrictions or encourage preventive behaviors. This resistance could be particularly strong in regions that have experienced relatively low case numbers or where political leaders have downplayed the severity of the virus. Overcoming this fatigue will require clear and consistent communication from public health officials, as well as community-level engagement to reinforce the importance of ongoing vigilance.

We are also making a big mistake if we ignore the economic and social implications of continued COVID-19. The virus’s persistence may lead to renewed disruptions in the travel industry, supply chains and workforce participation. Along with this, the psychological toll of a prolonged pandemic, with the associated uncertainty and anxiety, could have lasting effects on mental health and societal cohesion. Policymakers will need to address these challenges proactively, with a focus on resilience and support for affected populations.

So where do we realistically go from here, given that it is clear that COVD-19 is far from over? While much progress has been made in terms of vaccination and treatment, the current surge is a stark reminder that complacency is not an option. The road ahead will require a renewed commitment to public health, both from government leaders and from individuals.

We all need to prepare for not only the possibility of continued disruptions but for another new normal that might be a little closer to 2020 than how we’ve recently been living. That means preparing for future waves and the long-term implications of a world in which COVID-19 remains a persistent, if manageable, threat.

Aron Solomon is the chief strategy officer for Amplify. He has taught entrepreneurship at McGill University and the University of Pennsylvania.

[theofreakingbell]

forgive me if I'm a little late to this? but let me get this straight: 

Neil Gaiman asks for fans coming to his events to please mask for everyone's safety

when asked why he isn't mandating them he says he tried but the venues won't allow it

many people don't listen, or don't see the ask bc it isn't official from the venue, and show up maskless

Neil now has COVID (for a second time, which means his risk of complications is higher) along with anyone else who got infected at that event

I just. y'all. please. 

If you are going to a fan event, especially a big one like a con where there will be tons of people, you need to be wearing a mask right now. Actors and other people who work in entertainment who meet with many people and frequent large gatherings or are part of con staff for instance are at significant risk of COVID from the sheer amount they are being exposed to, not only from acute infection but cumulative damage from multiple infections or long COVID and post COVID complications. COVID levels are nearly as high as they were in the first wave in 2020 and being vaccinated does not guarantee u cannot catch and/or transmit it(this study from this year says it's around 1 in five). Please be excellent to each other and do your best to not get your faves, their staff, or other fans sick. 

why and how masks work and what types are the safest (you can get good masks in all sorts of colors now btw if u want to match ur cosplay or stuff, ProjectN95 is a good source, and Jelli has clear masks if u want to have ur face visible)

I wish Neil a speedy and full recovery, and I hope more people listen to him and others trying to keep fans and creators and staff safe right now ❤️

#FansMaskUp

[gumjrop]

The Weather

All areas of the country are now at High or Very High levels of COVID Transmission.

According to the new CDC National Wastewater Surveillance System (NWSS) dashboard, all regions are experiencing increased COVID wastewater levels, with the Midwest being the highest. Nationally, wastewater levels are “very high.” Driven by the JN.1 variant, we are currently seeing the second highest wastewater levels since BA.1, the first Omicron wave in January 2022.

We continue to stress the importance of mitigating the spread of COVID, especially during this time of increasing transmission. Please continue to wear a high quality respirator mask (such as an N95) in indoor settings of any capacity, and postpone crowded events. In addition, make sure to take appropriate precautions when meeting with others.

Wins

Amidst this new surge, many hospitals – some responding to staffing shortages, and some responding to public pressure – have reinstated mask mandates. We celebrate the work of organizers across the country including those at Care Not COVID Chicagoland, COVID Safe Maryland, COVID Advocacy NY, and MaskBlocs around the country who organized a call-in to hospitals last week to demand they reinstate – and make permanent – masking policies.  A coalition protest by Sacramento Jewish Voices for Peace, Sunrise Movement Sacramento, International Jewish Anti-Zionist network, Bay Area JVP, & Youth 4 Palestine Sac organized a fully masked (N95!) and tested (2 days in a row!) pro-Palestine protest at the CA State Capitol in Sacramento last week.  ACTUP’s New York chapter has voted to require and provide KN95 masks at all upcoming meetings and actions “due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and recent surge, as well as to increase safety from surveillance at protests.”  Solidarity means we protect each other, and these organizers are showing us the way!

Variants

JN.1, a BA.2.86 descendent, is rising to prominence quickly in the United States. Nowcast estimates predict that by 1/6/2024, JN.1 will account for 61.6% of circulating variants. According to preliminary non-peer reviewed data, the newest (XBB.1.5) booster helps to protect against the JN.1 variant. Conversely, older vaccines did not offer significant protection against JN.1.  It is important to receive the updated booster, especially since uptake is currently low–according to a poll conducted by Gallup, only 29% of 6,000 participants surveyed received the updated vaccine as of December 7, 2023. This is in stark contrast to flu vaccine rates, polled at 49%. This is likely due to an imbalance in public health messaging–while efforts were poured into advertising the flu vaccine, not as much emphasis was placed on receiving the updated booster.

Hospitalizations

Weekly COVID hospitalizations continue to trend upward, now at 34,798 for the week ending December 30, 2023. The numbers for currently hospitalized patients with COVID are also increasing, currently at 25,430. In terms of regional trends, the Northeast and Midwest are seeing higher rates of hospitalization. When reviewing these numbers we must also remember that patients who are already admitted for other reasons and are suffering from nosocomial, or hospital-acquired infections, are not accounted for in this data.

Hospitals are overwhelmed. Healthcare workers are demanding support from administrators. Read this account of ER nurses at Montefiore Hospital in the Bronx who say that the hospital executives are refusing to open up vacant areas of the hospital to accommodate the surge in patients – leaving the ER dangerously overcrowded and forcing patients into hallway beds.

Long COVID

A new cross-sectional study published in Nature Communications found that Long COVID patients with post-exertional malaise (PEM) exhibit skeletal muscle changes that are exacerbated by exercise. PEM patients are also found to have unique pathophysiological changes, such as amyloid-containing deposits in muscle tissue. These findings contribute to mounting evidence that COVID infection can significantly damage the body, and more research is necessary in order to fully understand manifestations of Long COVID. If readers are curious, summarized findings can be found in this X (Twitter) thread, penned by one of the authors. Long COVID research is important. This is why it is essential that all Long COVID research centers adhere to the strictest infection prevention protocols. Read this account of a person disabled by Long COVID who dropped out of a study because the study personnel refused to mask. We saw this same phenomenon last spring at Stanford during a study of Paxlovid’s impact on Long COVID rates.

Take Action

This week Jewish Currents put out a report on The Epidemiological War on Gaza, which amplified WHO’s January 2nd announcement that “there are currently 424,639 [reported] cases of infectious disease in Gaza,” an area with only 2 million residents total. With the ongoing destruction of hospitals and deprivation of food and water and environmental pollution from continued bombardment, the occupying forces have ensured the conditions for continued deaths even in times of ceasefire. Call your representatives and join a protest this week to demand a ceasefire and the reconstruction of Palestinian medical infrastructure towards fair health access for all peoples! Let us support Massachusetts General Brigham Long COVID patients by telling the hospital to 1) meet all patient accessibility requests including wearing N95 respirators upon request and 2) make universal masking their new standard of care. They can be contacted through their contact form, or by calling 1-800-856-1983. Rashida Tlaib sent out an email blast informing constituents of the current surge. The message included acknowledgment of COVID’s airborne nature, recommendation to wear a well-fitting mask, a link to access free tests through USPS, and information on updated vaccines and COVID transmission. Let’s contact Congresswoman Tlaib and thank her for this invaluable action! 

Future Weather Reports

Starting next week, we will begin to publish the Weather Report on a bi-weekly basis. This will allow our team to focus on crafting action campaigns to push for a comprehensive public health approach to the pandemic, including mask mandates, paid sick leave policies, testing access, Long COVID research, next generation vaccines, indoor air quality regulations, and more. We hope to see you in our expanded actions to end the COVID pandemic soon to come!

[sataniccapitalist]

#thewaronyou

Another winter of death is now unfolding in the United States and across the Northern Hemisphere as the JN.1 variant of the coronavirus continues to surge globally. Wastewater data from the United States released Tuesday indicate that upwards of 2 million people are now being infected with COVID-19 each day, amid the second-biggest wave of mass infection since the pandemic began, eclipsed only by the initial wave of the Omicron variant during the winter of 2021-22.

There are now reports on social media of hospitals being slammed with COVID patients across the US, Canada and Europe. At a growing number of hospitals, waiting rooms are overflowing, emergency rooms and ICUs are at or near capacity, and ambulances are being turned away or forced to wait for hours to drop off their patients.

According to official figures, COVID-19 hospitalizations in Charlotte, North Carolina are now at their highest levels of the entire pandemic. In Toronto, Dr. Michael Howlett, president of the Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians, told City News, “I’ve worked in emergency departments since 1987, and it’s by far the worst it’s ever been. It’s not even close.” He added, “We’ve got people dying in waiting rooms because we don’t have a place to put them. People being resuscitated on an ambulance stretcher or a floor.”

Dr. Joseph Khabbaza, a pulmonary and critical care specialist at the Cleveland Clinic, told the Today Show website: “The current strain right now seems to be packing a meaner punch than the prior strains. Some features of the current circulating strain probably (make it) a little bit more virulent and pathogenic, making people sicker than prior (variants).”

Indeed, two recent studies indicate that JN.1 more efficiently infects cells in the lower lung, a trait that existed in pre-Omicron strains which were considered more deadly. One study from researchers in Germany and France noted that BA.2.86, the variant nicknamed “Pirola” from which JN.1 evolved, “has regained a trait characteristic of early SARS-CoV-2 lineages: robust lung cell entry. The variant might constitute an elevated health threat as compared to previous Omicron sublineages.”https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/1MGIQxPf0Ig?rel=0An appeal from David North: Donate to the WSWS todayWatch the video message from WSWS International Editorial Board Chairman David North.DONATE TODAY

The toll on human life from the ongoing wave of mass infection is enormous. It is estimated that one-third of the American population, or over 100 million human beings, will contract COVID-19 during just the current wave. This will likely result in tens of thousands of deaths, many of which will not be properly logged due to the dismantling of COVID-19 testing and data reporting systems in the US. When The Economist last updated its tracker of excess deaths on November 18—before the JN.1 wave began—the cumulative death toll stood at 27.4 million, and nearly 5,000 people were continuing to die each day worldwide.

The current wave will also induce further mass suffering from Long COVID, which has been well known since 2020 to cause a multitude of lingering and often debilitating effects. Just last week, a pre-print study was published in Nature Portfolio showing that COVID-19 infection can cause brain damage akin to aging 20 years. The consequences are mental deficits that induce depression, reduced ability to handle intense emotions, lowered attention span, and impaired ability to retain information.

Other research indicates that the virus can attack the heart, the immune system, digestion and essentially every other critical bodily function. The initial symptoms of COVID-19 might resemble those of the flu, but the reality is that the virus can affect nearly every organ in the body and can do so for years after the initial infection. While vaccination slightly reduces the risks of Long COVID, the full impact of the virus will be felt for generations.

The latest winter wave of infections and hospitalizations takes place just eight months after the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Biden administration ended their COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) declarations without any scientific justification. This initiated the wholesale scrapping of all official response to the pandemic, giving the virus free rein to infect the entire global population ad infinitum.

A virtual blackout of any mention of the coronavirus in the corporate media accompanied the swan song of official reporting. From then on, if illnesses at hospitals or among public figures were referenced at all, it was always with the euphemism “respiratory illness.” The words COVID, coronavirus and pandemic have been all but blacklisted, and the facts about the dangers of the disease have been actively suppressed.

Summarizing the cumulative results of this global assault on public health, the WSWS International Editorial Board wrote in its New Year 2024 statement:

All facts and data surrounding the present state of the pandemic are concealed from the global population, which has instead been subjected to unending lies, gaslighting and propaganda, now shrouded in a veil of silence. There is a systematic cover-up of the real gravity of the crisis, enforced by the government, the corporations, the media and the trade union bureaucracies. Official policy has devolved into simply ignoring, denying and falsifying the reality of the pandemic, no matter what the consequences, as millions are sickened and thousands die globally every day.

In response to the latest wastewater data, there have only been a handful of news articles, most of which have sought to downplay the severity of the current wave and largely ignored the deepening crisis in hospitals.

The official blackout has given rise to an extraordinary contradiction in social life. The reality of mass infection means that everyone knows a friend, neighbor, family member or coworker who is currently or was recently sick, or even hospitalized or killed, by COVID-19. Yet the unrelenting pressure to dismiss the danger of the pandemic means that shopping centers, supermarkets, workplaces and even doctor’s offices and hospitals are full of people not taking the basic and simple precaution of masking to protect themselves. Every visit outside one’s home carries the risk of being infected, with unknown long-term consequences.

As the pandemic enters its fifth year, it is critical to draw the lessons of this world historical experience. The past four years have demonstrated unequivocally that capitalist governments are both unwilling and incapable of fighting this disease. Their primary concern has always been to ensure the unabated accumulation of profits by corporations, no matter the cost in human lives and health.

The real solution to the coronavirus is not to ignore it, but to develop a campaign of elimination and eradication of the virus worldwide. To do so requires the implementation of mask mandates, mass testing and contact tracing, as well as the installation of updated ventilation systems and the safe deployment of Far-UVC technology to halt the spread of the virus. The resources for this global public health program must be expropriated from the banks and financial institutions, which are responsible for the mass suffering wrought by the pandemic.

All of these measures cut directly across the profit motive and the real disease of society: capitalism. As such, the struggle against the coronavirus is not primarily medical or scientific, but political and social. The international working class must be educated on the real dangers of the pandemic and mobilized to simultaneously stop the spread of the disease and put an end to the underlying social order that propagates mass death. This must be developed as a revolutionary struggle to establish world socialism.

[submalevolentgrace]

"While we're typically told to expect large spikes in COVID-19 cases over winter, this new wave is hitting Australia in spring.

Professor Adrian Esterman, chair of biostatistics and epidemiology at the University of South Australia, said that's because there are three big things happening at the same time.

The first is that many people in Australia have waning immunity from vaccination and previous infection.

"It's now seven months since my last dose, and that means that by now I have a much-reduced protection against COVID-19, and that includes serious illness and death," Professor Esterman told SBS News.

"So although I'll still have some protection, it’s nowhere near as strong as it was seven months ago, and many people are in that situation."

The second is that new Omicron subvariants have arrived in Australia, including XBB and BQ.1.

"They've really taken over in places like Singapore and France, and they're starting to take over here," Professor Esterman said.

"[The subvariants] are much more transmissible than BA.5, they're much better at evading our immunity, and they would alone cause an increase in cases, never mind waning immunity."

The final thing in the mix is the removal of public health measures, such as mandatory isolation and mask-wearing in indoor settings.

"We've taken off all our brakes to reduce transmission, we have nothing left," Professor Esterman said.

"That means that if any new variant comes along that we don't have immunity against, it will just go straight through the population.""

[min-phone-pyae]

COVID FLiRT variants KP.3 and XEC: What you need to know

KP.3 was the 'predominant' SARS-CoV-2 variant in the US. It was also spreading in Europe. It's now joined with another variant and become XEC.

Over the European summer, the number of COVID-19 infections rose again, with test positivity for SARS-CoV-2 above 20%. Globally, test positivity was about 10%.

The US also saw a rise in hospitalizations, apparently after a wave of COVID-19 infections in Singapore.

Now, as we in the northern hemisphere move into autumn and winter, there is concern about two new variants.

The first one is known as KP.3 and its sub-variant KP.3.1.1. The second is XEC, a "recombinant" variant which is related to KP.3.

KP.3 is considered a global Variant of Concern (VOC) in the US by The US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) because KP.3 was "predominant" there in August. VOCs may spread more easily or cause more severe illness.

It's important to note that KP.3 is not a global VOC, only in the US.

The CDC recommended people get an updated 2024–2025 COVID-19 vaccine.

What are the KP.3 and XEC variants?

KP.3 is one of a group of SARS-CoV-2 variants known as FLiRT variants. SARS-CoV-2 is the base virus that causes COVID, the illness.

As the name KP.3 suggests, there are also KP.1 and KP.2 sub-variants. KP.3 became predominant because it is more infectious than other circulating sub-variants.

KP.3 and other FLiRT variants descend from the omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2.

Now, think of a family tree: The KP variants are children of the JN.1 variant. And JN.1 is, in turn, a child of omicron variant BA.2.86.

How omicron evolved into the subvariants KP.3. and XEC

This is important to know because of all the major COVID variants, omicron remains dominant, globally. You'll recall, other major variants are alpha, beta, delta, and gamma.

But omicron keeps evolving or mutating into new variants and sub-variants.

XEC the sub-variant is believed to have formed when KP.3 joined with KS.1.1. But we don't know for sure.

As Francois Balloux, Professor of Computational Systems Biology and Director at the UCL Genetics Institute, UK, told the Science Media Centre, "XEC is a likely recombinant between the subvariants KP.3.3 and KS.1.1."

XEC COVID variant in Germany

XEC has been reported as being first detected in Germany in June. But it is yet to appear on the Robert Koch Institute's COVID Dashboard.

As a spokesperson from the Robert Koch Institute implied via email, XEC may never appear on the dashboard because it is "impossible to predict how individual variants will spread."

Since June, the number of XEC cases in Germany has been in double-digits, but the spokesperson did not specify further. The RKI's doesn't even mention XEC on its weekly assessment, published September 18, 2024.

The focus in Germany remains on KP.3.1.1, which is dominant and considered more infectious than previous variants.

In an interview with the DPA news agency, virologist Sandra Ciesek said it was no surprise that KP.3.1.1 was more infectious.

"The virus keeps mutating in search of new ways to infect people […] but that doesn't mean that the variant causes a more severe illness," said Ciesek, who's based at the German Center for Infection Research.

How prevalent are KP.3.1.1, KS.1.1 and XEC? Up to September 3, KP.3.1.1 remains the most dominent variant, according to data provided by GISAID, the Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data, and presented by outbreak.info.

KP.3.1.1 was detected worldwide 14,396 times

KP.3.3 was detected worldwide 9,157 times

KS.1.1 was detected worldwide 2,650 times

XEC was detected worldwide 95 times

[tamanna31]

Hand Protection Equipment Market Revenue and Value Chain 2022-2030

Hand Protection Equipment Industry Overview

The global hand protection equipment market size was estimated at USD 29.6 billion in 2021 and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.9% from 2022 to 2030. The rising demand is attributed to the increasing concerns about hand hygiene and the product's efficiency in limiting the spread of COVID-19 in various end-use industries. The onset of the second wave of COVID-19 led to the shortage of hand protection equipment in hospitals and other sectors, such as manufacturing and construction. Various manufacturers started expanding their production at the end of 2020, thereby eliminating the demand-supply gap.

Gather more insights about the market drivers, restrains and growth of the Hand Protection Equipment Market

Economies that have been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, such as the United States, have implemented specific regulations like the Defense Production Act (DPA), which provides local enterprises the duty of manufacturing hand protective equipment for healthcare professionals. Strict government regulations regarding the health and safety of doctors, nurses, and working professionals, coupled with a rise in COVID-19 cases, have prompted workers to use these products for protection against any kind of health hazards and healthcare-associated infections. Several government authorities, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, issued guidelines regarding the use of sterile barrier precautions, such as the use of hand protection equipment.

These gloves have excellent chemical and tear resistance, tactility, & flexibility, which makes them ideal for use in areas where there is direct contact with chemicals, microbes, and physiological fluids. The industry is an amalgamation of global and regional players having a broad portfolio of products, which restricts new players from entering the market. Amidst the pandemic, the U.S. government administration sustained the Defense Production Act (DFA) to increase the production of medical gloves and other such products to reduce their dependency on foreign countries.

Browse through Grand View Research's Smart Textiles Industry Research Reports.

The global industrial protective footwear market size was estimated at USD 10.76 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 6.1% from 2024 to 2030. 

The global personal protective equipment market size was over USD 79.53 billion in 2023 and is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 7.2% from 2024 to 2030.

Key Companies & Market Share Insights

Major players are undertaking strategies, such as product development and distribution, and network expansion, to gain a higher share in the industry. For instance, in August 2020, Ansell Ltd. signed a distribution partnership with OneMed, a provider of medical supplies and support systems, with an existing distribution network in the Nordics. Manufacturers have also started expanding their businesses through mergers, acquisitions, and geographical expansions. For instance, in December 2021, Top Glove Corp. Bhd. announced expanding its production capacity to meet the global demand for gloves through strengthening its presence in key strategic markets, technological improvements to drive product innovation & production efficiency, as well as broadening its product portfolio to adjacent & other non-glove products. Some prominent players in the global hand protection equipment market include:

Top Glove Corp. Bhd.

Hartalega Holdings Berhad

Superior Gloves

Adenna LLC

MCR Safety

Atlantic Safety Products, Inc.

Ammex Corp.

Kimberly-Clark Corp.

Sempermed USA, Inc.

Halyard Health, Inc

Order a free sample PDF of the Hand Protection Equipment Market Study, published by Grand View Research.

[crimsonpublishers-medical]

Natural Patterns and Magnetic and Mental Processes of Coronavirus Activation and Neutralization- Crimson Publishers

Natural Patterns and Magnetic and Mental Processes of Coronavirus Activation and Neutralization- Crimson Publishers

For twenty years, humanity has seen the third attempt at the transition of coronavirus to humans. The vaccine has been found, but coronavirus transitions will not stop even with the improvement of medicine. Nobel laureate in medicine Professor Luc Montagnier argues that vaccines may not live up to humanity’s hopes of getting rid of COVID-19. Collective immunity for coronavirus has not been developed, repeated infections are more and more common, beds of seriously ill people are not empty, and mortality is running high, no one knows what will happen to all of us. In Israel, where vaccination has long been compulsory, and over 60% of the population, including underage children, have been vaccinated, the incidence is not just declining, but still breaking all records. So, the maximum number of cases here was revealed on September 1 - 16,629, which almost caught up with Russia (18,368 confirmed on the same September 1) with our percentage of vaccinated 26.1% of the number of citizens. At the end of September 2021, morbidity and mortality increase, because it is a system. Based on existing monthly pneumonia mortality statistics over the past 15 years, there are three waves each year. Since September 22, there has been a surge of pneumonia, ARI, and even non-communicable diseases. The second wave comes at the end of December - January, it is usually three times larger than the first. Then around March-April there is a third wave. These three waves exist steadily from year to year, their amplitudes can change, then one will be higher, then the other, they are not absolutely hard on schedule, but they are reproduced regularly in other countries. The first wave of the Spanish pandemic covered the world just at the end of September 1918. The coronavirus was the same. The first wave in America is September 2019, an unexplained surge of pneumonia with a rather high mortality rate, which was written off for smoking e-cigarettes and called “vape.” Now they decided to watch the surviving tests of patients, and there - COVID-19. In Europe, it was the same.

For more open access journals in crimson publishers Please click on link: https://crimsonpublishers.com

For more articles on Research in Medical & Engineering Sciences Please click on link: https://crimsonpublishers.com/rmes/

[head-post]

South Korea facing upsurge in COVID-19 cases

The number of patients hospitalised with the diagnosis of COVID-19 has risen sharply in South Korea recently amid the virus’ summertime activation across the country, health authorities said on Friday.

According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), the number of people hospitalised in 220 hospitals nationwide for COVID-19 in the first week of August was 861, the highest since early February.

The figure rose rapidly from 148 in the second week of July to 226 in the third week and 475 the following week. KDCA chief Jee Young-mee said:

“The risk of respiratory infections rises in summer as indoor places are not fully ventilated and people-to-people contacts can grow during vacation. It is crucial to abide by basic hygiene rules.” 

Authorities expect this trend to continue until the end of this month.

The latest wave is caused by the KP.3 sub-variant of the fast-spreading Omicron variant, which accounted for 45.5 per cent of all cases in July. Among inpatients this month, 65.2 per cent were aged 65 and older, while 18.1 per cent were aged 50-64.

Despite the sharp rise in the number of patients, more than 90 per cent of them suffer from mild symptoms and the country is able to cope with the situation under the existing healthcare system.

However, the government has decided to step up surveillance of the elderly and other at-risk groups and redouble efforts to ensure a steady supply of medicines and test kits. In addition, the vaccination campaign will resume in October, with at-risk groups receiving vaccines free of charge.

Read more HERE

[influencermagazineuk]

Covid-19 Summer Surge: Escalating Cases in the UK and US

For the second time we are experiencing yet another summer in the middle of the Covid pandemic, and as such talk of a summer Covid wave has been mentioned again. News about the growth of new cases and people being hospitalized make it important to gain more information on the present statistical data, new strains, and opinions of professionals. Understanding the Summer Dynamics That is why, even in spite of Covid-19 restrictions’ changes, people are still worried about the new wave. Based on the recent information the hospitalization rates somewhat appear to have stabilized and are slightly above the earlier figure of 2. 67 to 3. 312 per 100,000 people in the recent weeks. In particular, the elderly older than 85 years are among the most affected, which, according to the indicators, were hospitalized for Covid-19. Debunking Misconceptions Some people experience severe disease manifestations that are related to the infection rates of the pathogen. It’s very important to differentiate between the positive increase in infection rates and the outcomes that measures the severity of the infections. Namely, Professor Paul Hunter from the University of East Anglia still emphasizes that even though the rates of infection may be high in some months, the number of severe cases and hospitalizations is drastically lower than before. This aligns with the current phenomenon that many people receive mild infection from Covid-19 as compared to the first wave. Spotlight on New Variants: FLiRT and KP3 Unfortunately, for Covid-19, questions have shifted to FLiRT variants, and lately, the KP3 variant in the United Kingdom. Omicron has subtypes which are from a peculiar lineage and they are loading the current figures. Their prevalence and effects are being studied by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) still, which strictly encourages public health consciousness and further study. Shifting Perspectives Since the Covid-19 outbreak has gradually evolved from a pandemic to an endemic, people are getting used to fighting this disease in a different way. Such a change emphasizes the need for vaccination drives, and new guidelines that aim at reducing mortality and severe cases while recognising COVID-19 as a part of life in most societies. It’s a rather delicate strategy more focused on control over the virus rather than its elimination. Practical Guidelines: Information You Should Be Aware Of However, it is important to comprehend today’s rules of social distancing due to the recent exoneration of stricter measures. The legal requirements for isolation and masking have been removed; however, according to the UKHSA, people should isolate for five days after a positive test and avoid contact with the frail population. The roles of testing, availability, and vaccinations remain key components of the prevention strategies that need to be continually implemented to avoid further spread of COVID-19 across the globe. Conclusion In the future, expectations are set for ‘watching’ for the strains, ‘boosting’ with yet more shots, new waves, and the ability of societies to live with ‘endemic’ Covid-19. To manage Covid-19 more effectively, there is a need to adopt a middle ground that will fuse science, public health requirement, as well as people’s cooperation. In this regard, remaining informed, following guidelines, and promoting vaccination as and when possible remain vital measures for the protection of the health of the population in the midst of these changes. Read the full article

[covid-safer-hotties]

Reference archived on our website (Follow this link to access more than 1,000 open-access studies on covid! DAILY UPDATES)

Vaccination does lower case counts in hospitals, but it also helps to fuel new variant's immune escape if not paired with preventative measures like masking and air filtration.

Abstract COVID-19 vaccine-induced protection declines over time. This waning of immunity has been described in modelling as a lower level of protection. This study incorporated fine-scale vaccine waning into modelling to predict the next surge of the Omicron variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. In Hong Kong, the Omicron subvariant BA.2 caused a significant epidemic wave between February and April 2022, which triggered high vaccination rates. About half a year later, a second outbreak, dominated by a combination of BA.2, BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants, began to spread. We developed mathematical equations to formulate continuous changes in vaccine boosting and waning based on empirical serological data. These equations were incorporated into a multi-strain discrete-time Susceptible-Exposed-Infectious-Removed model. The daily number of reported cases during the first Omicron outbreak, with daily vaccination rates, the population mobility index and daily average temperature, were used to train the model. The model successfully predicted the size and timing of the second surge and the variant replacement by BA.4/5. It estimated 655,893 cumulative reported cases from June 1, 2022 to 31 October 2022, which was only 2.69% fewer than the observed cumulative number of 674,008. The model projected that increased vaccine protection (by larger vaccine coverage or no vaccine waning) would reduce the size of the second surge of BA.2 infections substantially but would allow more subsequent BA.4/5 infections. Increased vaccine coverage or greater vaccine protection can reduce the infection rate during certain periods when the immune-escape variants co-circulate; however, new immune-escape variants spread more by out-competing the previous strain.

[misspeculiar-principe]

When did the second wave of CO/VID-19 occur in Europe?

[trendingreportz]

Europe Alcohol Hand Sanitizer Market - Forecast(2024 - 2030)

Europe Alcohol Hand Sanitizer Market Overview

The Europe Alcohol Hand Sanitizer Market size is estimated to reach $974.2 million by 2027. Furthermore, it is poised to grow at a CAGR of 7.5% over the forecast period of 2022-2027. Hand sanitizers have been actively used across the globe owing to the pandemic. Moreover, various health governing councils such as the FDA, have recommended the population to use hand sanitizer in the case where soap and water are not available. Additionally, strict regulation has been kept in place, as severe cases of skin damage were reported by people selling sanitizer, with the base as methanol. The following antimicrobial agents have the potential to break through the cell of the viruses and save the person’s hands and thereby the infection. The most commonly used hand antiseptics involves aqueous scrubs and alcohol rubs. The following disinfectants only felt their need post the pandemic, and before that, the market was not so substantial. Hence, it can also be said when the pandemic runs its course, the antibacterial gel sales will suffer dramatically. However, there are other potential applications that will allow its use. Moreover, its need would be felt in cases of operation, and for other purposes as well. The increasing cases of chronic illnesses thereby increasing the number of operations along with growing care for hand hygiene has acted as the key factor driving the European Alcohol Hand Sanitizer Industry.

Report Coverage

The report: “Europe Alcohol Hand Sanitizer Market Forecast (2022-2027)”, by Industry ARC covers an in-depth analysis of the following segments of the Europe Alcohol Hand Sanitizer Market.

By Form- Gel, Liquid, Foam, and Wipes. By Application- Domestic/ Household, Healthcare Institutions, Hospitals and Clinics, and Others. By Type- Ethanol/ Ethyl Alcohol and Isopropyl Alcohol. By Distribution Channel- Offline Retail and Online Retail. By Country- Germany, France, United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Russia, and the Rest of Europe.

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Key Takeaways

Geographically, the UK held a dominant market share in the year 2021 owing to the surge in Covid-19 cases and associated waves, which propelled the population to adopt COVID appropriate behavior.

The increasing sales owing to multiple distribution channels along with the ready awareness to prevent infectious diseases such as COVID-19 has been a key market driver in the projected period of 2022-2027. However, owing to strict government regulations and various counterfeit products causing illnesses have acted as a key market challenge.

A detailed analysis of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats will be provided in the European Alcohol Hand Sanitizer Market.

Europe Alcohol Hand Sanitizer Market Segmentation Analysis - By Form

Europe Alcohol Hand Sanitizer Market can be further segmented into Gel, Liquid, Foam, and Wipes. Gel held a dominant market share in the year 2021. It is owing to the predominant usage of isopropyl alcohol in the following form of a gel. Also, they are portable and can be taken out in a purse or in wherever one deems necessary.

However, Liquid is estimated to be the fastest-growing, with a CAGR of 8.3% over the forecast period of 2022-2027. It is owing to the various benefits it offers over the former. For example, the discussed form takes less than 15 seconds to dry, whereas a gel-based solution can take more than 30 seconds. Additionally, liquid hand sanitizer leaves behind low residue on skin as and when compared to the gel, thereby reducing the chances of latching on skin infection. The following factors would allow for the growth of this subsegment.

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Europe Alcohol Hand Sanitizer Market Segmentation Analysis - By Application

The European Alcohol Hand Sanitizer Market based on the application can be further segmented into Domestic/ Household, Healthcare Institutions, Hospitals and Clinics, and Others. Domestic/Household held a dominant market share in the year 2021. It is owing to the rising number of covid cases across the region. Additionally, a trend has been noticed by marketers, which indicate that whenever cases surge, the number of bottles sold pro-actively increase. It is owing to the sudden fear generated as and when one hears about new cases and mortality.

Moreover, the domestic/ household segment is estimated to be the fastest-growing, with a CAGR of 8.5% over the forecast period of 2022-2027. It is owing to the rising awareness pertaining to hand hygiene. The geriatric population is immense in the following region, and so are the cases of operations and others. Post-operative care requires one to follow hand hygiene at their very best as the chances of catching an infection post-surgery can prove out to be fatal. Hence, the following would allow the segment to grow at a lucrative pace.

Europe Alcohol Hand Sanitizer Market Segmentation Analysis - By Countries

The European Alcohol Hand Sanitizer Market based on countries can be further segmented into Germany, France, United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Russia, and the Rest of Europe. The United Kingdom held a dominant market share of 8.4% as compared to its other counterparts. It is predominantly owing to the pandemic which has hit the European region hard, especially the United Kingdom. A total of 11 million cases have had happened within the UK, and the region has a high age distribution favoring the old, hence a prolific demand has been seen.

However, Germany is estimated to offer lucrative growth opportunities to marketers in the projected period of 2022-2027. It is owing to the overall cleanliness standards in place, in countries like Germany. Moreover, WHO’s call across European regions to maintain hand hygiene to control the spread of health-care-associated infections will aid the market growth.

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Europe Alcohol Hand Sanitizer Market Drivers

The increasing cases of corona virus have allowed the growth of the market

WHO declared Sars-Cov-19 as a pandemic in March 2020. Moreover, the prevalence of the disease was highly felt in the European regions, as the region has a predominant portion of their population as geriatric. Various researchers have suggested and declared a strong correlation between senior age and fatality. Forty million cases were diagnosed in the European Union, and the number of fatalities will be close to 1 million by 2021. Lastly, around 91 million people in the region are above 65+. Hence, the region is continuing the use of hand sanitizer as it boosts confidence and is scientifically proven. The following factor has acted as one of the key drivers in the study period and for the projected period of 2022-2027.

An increasing case of antibiotic-resistant drugs has allowed for the growth of the following market

Anti-biotic drugs mean that when the bacteria or fungi continue to grow, and the usage of anti-biotic has no effect in curing it- thereby increasing the fatality of the disease. Such infections are incredibly difficult to treat. Hence, hand hygiene has been identified as the key factor one can take to keep such bacterial at bay. Hand hygiene included washing hands with soap or using an alcohol-based sanitizer. But, owing to the difficulty in finding solutions to have a proper handwash, people prefer sanitizer. Additionally, to save water, the latter has more beneficial properties. Sepsis, a life-threatening situation, affects approximately 3.4 million Europeans. Similarly, other chronic illnesses will allow the market to grow.

Europe Alcohol Hand Sanitizer Market Challenges

Owing to strict government regulations and various counterfeit product causing illnesses to have acted as a key market challenge

Government regulations have been pro-actively regulating the sales of alcohol. Additionally, a lot of counterfeit products have been looming in the market. For example, in October 2020, a Canadian Firm, which goes by the name of Northern National Sales Inc, and sold Zytec Germ Buster Hand Sanitizer had to do a product recall of its 1-liter hand sanitizer. Moreover, the cases have not just been limited to one firm. Moreover, Amazon had to reach out to the product manufacturer and return around 18,000 items of hand sanitizer in the European Union. Such incidences, along with the sale of methanol-based alcohol, which causes toxicity and adverse health effects have further dampened the sale of the product.

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Europe Alcohol Hand Sanitizer Industry Outlook

Product launches, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, and geographical expansions are key strategies adopted by players in this market. European Alcohol Hand Sanitizer Market top 10 companies include:

3M Company

Best Sanitizers Inc

Chattem Inc

Gojo industries INC.

Henkel AG & Company

KGaA

Kutol Products Company

Lion Corporation

Medline Industries Inc

Nice-Pak Products Inc

Recent Developments

In March 2020, INEOS announced that it would build a third factory only to make hand sanitizer. Moreover, the factory was ready within ten days and has the capacity to produce 1 million bottles in a month. The factory’s location was kept in France, and the product would be sold for free to the hospitals. The company would also try to address the shortage in hospitals, schools, workplaces, and supermarkets in general.

In March 2020, The French company behind the brand Louis Vuitton agreed to produce 12 tones of sanitizers each week and outsource it to the population afflicted with Corona virus. Moreover, the brands which were sold under the label of Christian Dior, Guerlain, and Givenchy were identified to manufacture it. The following sanitizers would be sold at no-cost across 39 hospitals in Paris. Hospitals haven’t had run out of supplies but were observing a strained usage.

In May 2020, BASF is significantly expanding the production of disinfectants at its Ludwigshafen site. In addition to the isopropanol-based hand sanitizer manufactured to date, BASF has now started production of hand sanitizer based on bioethanol. With the additional quantities of up to 100,000 liters of hand sanitizer per week, the company will support the new nationwide. Earlier, the company was only manufacturing isopropanol-based sanitizer in its Ludwigshafen site.

[sataniccapitalist]

Over the past six weeks, transmission of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, has more than doubled across the United States, according to the latest wastewater data released Monday by Biobot Analytics. Amid complete silence from the Biden administration and the corporate media, the American population is being subjected to its eighth wave of mass infection with a deadly virus capable of damaging every organ system and causing myriad long-term debilitating symptoms.

Modeling the latest wastewater data, oncologist Dr. Mike Hoerger of Tulane University estimates that at present roughly 1.2 million Americans are catching COVID each day, while 8.6 million people are now actively infectious. By New Year’s Day, there will likely be 1.8 million daily new infections and 12.9 million infectious people. This would be the second-highest level of daily infections of the entire pandemic, surpassed only during the initial wave of the Omicron variant in the fall-winter of 2021-22.

[wikiuntamed]

Five steps of Wikipedia for Tuesday, 9th April 2024

Welcome, velkomin, sveiki, dobrodošli 🤗 Five steps of Wikipedia from "Mims House" to "1592–1593 Malta plague epidemic". 🪜👣

Start page 👣🏁: Mims House "The Mims House in Eugene, Oregon, USA, is a Gothic Revival-style, single-family home considered to be one of the oldest homes in the area. It is known for being the home of the Mims family, who were one of the first African American homeowners in Eugene when they purchased it in 1948. During the..."

Image licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0? by Visitor7

Step 1️⃣ 👣: COVID-19 "Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. The first known case was identified in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. The disease quickly spread worldwide, resulting in the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The symptoms of COVID‑19 are variable but often..."

Image licensed under CC BY 4.0? by Colin D. Funk, Craig Laferrière, and Ali Ardakani. Graphic by Ian Dennis - http://www.iandennisgraphics.com

Step 2️⃣ 👣: 2002–2004 SARS outbreak among healthcare workers "The rapid spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in healthcare workers (HCW)—most notably in Toronto, Ontario hospitals—during the global outbreak of SARS in 2002–2003 contributed to dozens of identified cases, some of them fatal.SARS is known to have arrived in Ontario on 23 February..."

Image licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0? by Strickla

Step 3️⃣ 👣: Ab Osterhaus "Albertus Dominicus Marcellinus Erasmus "Ab" Osterhaus (born 2 June 1948) is a leading Dutch virologist and influenza expert. An Emeritus Professor of Virology at Erasmus University Rotterdam since 1993, Osterhaus is known throughout the world for his work on SARS and H5N1, the pathogen that causes..."

Image licensed under CC BY 3.0? by WAidid

Step 4️⃣ 👣: Avian influenza "Avian influenza, also known as avian flu, is a bird flu caused by the influenza A virus, which can infect people. It is similar to other types of animal flu in that it is caused by a virus strain that has adapted to a specific host. The type with the greatest risk is highly pathogenic avian..."

Image licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0? by Cybercobra (talk)

Step 5️⃣ 👣: 1592–1593 Malta plague epidemic "The 1592–1593 Malta plague epidemic was a major outbreak of plague (Maltese: pesta) on the island of Malta, then ruled by the Order of St John. It occurred in three waves between June 1592 and September 1593, during the second plague pandemic, and it resulted in approximately 3000 deaths, which..."

Image licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0? by Matthew Axiak