SARS-CoV-2/COVID related discussion

[Yommie]

'More, rather than less effort' needed to fight Covid-19 - Michael Baker

From Monday, people aged 14 and over will pay for Covid-related visits to the GP. Epidemiologist Michael Baker says 'we have to do better' with the ongoing response to the disease.

www.rnz.co.nz

'More, rather than less effort' needed to fight Covid-19 - Michael Baker​

12:22 pm on 30 June 2024
Rachel Helyer Donaldson

Michael Baker. Photo: Supplied

A leading epidemiologist says Health New Zealand's plan to take a "business-as-usual approach" to Covid-19 is potentially risky given the virus' resurgence.
From Monday, people aged 14 and over will pay for Covid-related visits to the GP.
Te Whatu Ora said it was part of a "business as usual" approach to funding Covid-19 services which kicks in on 1 July.
The health authority's director of living well Dr Martin Hefford said the plan was for Covid-19 to be "managed in a similar way to other communicable diseases".
Some funded services "remain available... to help with the prevention and management of Covid-19 throughout the winter months, particularly for those most at risk", he added.
They include free vaccinations and access to antivirals for those who qualify. In early June, Health Minister Shane Reti extended the deadline of free rapid antigen tests (RATs) by three months until 30 September.
Children aged 13 and under can still get free visits to their GP, including for Covid-19, during business hours.
Asked about the "business-as-usual" approach, Otago University professor Dr Michael Baker said Covid-19 was unlike other diseases.
"Unfortunately Covid-19 the virus is not adopting a business-as-usual approach. It is still causing ongoing transmission at a high level in New Zealand, it's causing waves of infection and we are just coming out of our sixth big wave in about 30 months."
He said at the peak of the most recent, sixth wave in late May/early June, more than 55 people a day were hospitalised.
"It's dropped down a bit now, but we're also seeing five people a day dying from this infection, plus hundreds getting Long Covid every day in New Zealand."
Baker said Covid 19 remained the number one infectious killer and it was "very positive" that free vaccines, antivirals and tests were continuing.
"These are really important tools. But obviously we do need to adjust our response in proportion to the scale of the risk here. I think the way the virus is behaving at the moment we should be putting more, rather than less, effort into managing it."
Baker said it was important for a "really strong integrated approach" to all respiratory infections.
"Not only does that mean individuals get access to the care they need, it also protects the people around them.
"Infectious diseases [are] really different from other health problems, because they're obviously infectious, they're contagious. So the actions of individuals affect us all and so we need to have no barriers to people going and getting the best possible care they can.
"That needs to start with prevention, which is vaccinations, and taking precautions when you are sick, self isolating and it then means very good access to primary care."
Baker said a lot of people were going into hospital currently for respiratory infections, as was the case every winter.
"But in addition we are seeing these increased waves of Covid-19 putting a lot of people into hospital.
"This is a huge problem and we do need a proportionate response. It's time we had an integrated approach to all our respiratory infections.
"We just have to do better, because this is having a big effect on our health, wellbeing and also the productivity of our workforce so there are big economic consequences."
Baker said he hoped government support for Covid-19 services would continue long-term.
It was important to remember dealing with the virus was a "partnership" between government, health providers and the public, he added.
"We are all in this together and we have to work together."
* This story was amended on 30 June to say it was the sixth wave in 30 months, not 18, as originally stated.

 

[Yommie]

Covid still NZ's top infectious killer amid waves - epidemiologist

A leading epidemiologist says Health New Zealand's plan to take a "business-as-usual approach" to Covid-19 is potentially risky given its resurgence.

www.1news.co.nz

29 Jun 2024

No more free GP visits for adults, some teens with Covid-related illness​

From next week, people aged 14 and over will have to pay for Covid-related visits to the GP. Photo: 123RF

From next week, people aged 14 and over will have to pay for Covid-related visits to the GP.
Health New Zealand / Te Whatu Ora said it was part of the plan for Covid-19 to be managed in a similar way to other communicable diseases from July.
Health NZ living well director Dr Martin Hefford said some funded services would remain available to help with the prevention and management of Covid-19 through the winter months.
Vaccinations will still be free, as will antivirals for those who qualify.
The government this month also extended the deadline of free Covid rapid antigen tests (RATs) until the end of September.
"Vaccination against Covid-19 is our first line of defence against the virus," Hefford said.
"We encourage people to ensure everyone in their whānau keeps up to date with their Covid-19 vaccine and all other available vaccinations."

 

[Yommie]

Covid still NZ's top infectious killer amid waves - epidemiologist

A leading epidemiologist says Health New Zealand's plan to take a "business-as-usual approach" to Covid-19 is potentially risky given its resurgence.

www.1news.co.nz

Covid still NZ's top infectious killer amid waves - epidemiologist​

4:33pm

File picture. (Source: istock.com)
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A leading epidemiologist says Health New Zealand's plan to take a "business-as-usual approach" to Covid-19 is potentially risky given the virus' resurgence.


From tomorrow, people aged 14 and over will pay for Covid-related visits to the GP.


Te Whatu Ora said it was part of a "business as usual" approach to funding Covid-19 services which kicks in on July 1.


The health authority's director of living well Dr Martin Hefford said the plan was for Covid-19 to be "managed in a similar way to other communicable diseases".


Some funded services "remain available... to help with the prevention and management of Covid-19 throughout the winter months, particularly for those most at risk", he added.


They include free vaccinations and access to antivirals for those who qualify. In early June, Health Minister Shane Reti extended the deadline of free rapid antigen tests (RATs) by three months until September 30.


Children aged 13 and under can still get free visits to their GP, including for Covid-19, during business hours.


Asked about the "business-as-usual" approach, Otago University professor Dr Michael Baker said Covid-19 was unlike other diseases.

Michael Baker (file image). (Source: 1News)

"Unfortunately Covid-19 the virus is not adopting a business-as-usual approach. It is still causing ongoing transmission at a high level in New Zealand, it's causing waves of infection and we are just coming out of our sixth big wave in about 30 months."


He said at the peak of the most recent, sixth wave in late May/early June, more than 55 people a day were hospitalised.


"It's dropped down a bit now, but we're also seeing five people a day dying from this infection, plus hundreds getting Long Covid every day in New Zealand."


Baker said Covid-19 remained the number one infectious killer and it was "very positive" that free vaccines, antivirals and tests were continuing.


"These are really important tools. But obviously, we do need to adjust our response in proportion to the scale of the risk here. I think the way the virus is behaving at the moment we should be putting more, rather than less, effort into managing it."


Baker said it was important for a "really strong integrated approach" to all respiratory infections.


"Not only does that mean individuals get access to the care they need, it also protects the people around them.


"Infectious diseases [are] really different from other health problems, because they're obviously infectious, they're contagious. So the actions of individuals affect us all and so we need to have no barriers to people going and getting the best possible care they can.


"That needs to start with prevention, which is vaccinations, and taking precautions when you are sick, self-isolating and it then means very good access to primary care."


Baker said a lot of people were going into hospital currently for respiratory infections, as was the case every winter.


"But in addition, we are seeing these increased waves of Covid-19 putting a lot of people into hospital.


"This is a huge problem and we do need a proportionate response. It's time we had an integrated approach to all our respiratory infections.


"We just have to do better, because this is having a big effect on our health, wellbeing and also the productivity of our workforce so there are big economic consequences."


Baker said he hoped Government support for Covid-19 services would continue long-term.


It was important to remember dealing with the virus was a "partnership" between government, health providers and the public, he added.


"We are all in this together and we have to work together."

 

[Yommie]

How are Covid-19 vaccines holding up against new variants?

How is our Covid vaccine faring against an ever-evolving Omicron? Jamie Morton explains.

www.nzherald.co.nz

 

[Yommie]

https://www.newsletter.co.uk/health/significant-rise-in-covid-hospital-admissions-in-northern-ireland-as-seventh-wave-in-two-years-hits-4683984

'Significant' rise in Covid hospital admissions in Northern Ireland as seventh wave in two years hits​

By Adam Kula
Published 28th Jun 2024, 15:21 BST
Updated 28th Jun 2024, 15:32 BST

The latest government Covid figures show an uptick in infections in Northern Ireland.
However, the Public Health Agency (PHA) admits that the official numbers are just the tip of the iceberg.
The Public Health Agency has referred to the current rise in hospital admissions as "significant".
It is the seventh such "wave" of Covid in two years.

Graph showing weekly admissions to hospital in Northern Ireland with Covid (with the most recent week being June 23, 2024). The numbers on the left axis read 100 and 200

• ‘WAVES EXPECTED TO CONTINUE...’​

The following numbers have been gleaned "through clinical and routine testing," says the PHA... but it adds: "Infection episodes detected through clinical testing reveal only a small fraction of the true number of cases, because only a minority of people who have COVID-19 disease are tested."

 

[Yommie]

Irish hospital issues full visitor ban as Covid-19 infections jump 60 per cent

Over 1,000 new cases of Coronavirus were confirmed in Ireland last week

www.irishstar.com

 

[Yommie]

New COVID-19 surge driven by KP.2 and KP.3 variants

The emergence of the new viral variants and the consequent surge of COVID-19 that is currently underway has been enabled by a ruling class indifferent to the suffering caused by the virus.

www.wsws.org

New COVID-19 surge driven by KP.2 and KP.3 variants​

Bill Shaw​

28 June 2024​

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to sicken millions of people, with a growing surge driven by the newly evolved KP.2 and KP.3 variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The surge impacts multiple countries, including the US, Australia and the UK.
In Australia, COVID is surging along with two winter respiratory viruses, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Surveillance data show increases in the numbers of COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, nursing home outbreaks, and healthcare provider absences due to illness, as well as increased levels of the virus in wastewater.
In the United Kingdom, hospitalizations due to COVID-19 are up 24 percent in the past week. In addition, the percentage of COVID-19 tests that are positive has risen from 8.4 to 10 percent.
According to Professor Lawrence Young, a virologist at Warwick University, “This is a wakeup call. The virus hasn’t gone away and is certainly not a seasonal infection.”
In the United States, there are 15 states seeing high or very high levels of the virus in sewage, according to the CDC. The CDC maintains a map of current virus levels, shown below, which it updates on a regular basis.

COVID-19 Current Wastewater Viral Activity Levels Map (Source: CDC) [Photo: CDC]
The 15 states are concentrated mostly in the Southern and Western US and include the nation’s three most populous states: California, Texas and Florida. In California, the surge comes earlier than experts anticipated, with current cases of COVID-19 already nearing last summer’s peak. California’s percentage of COVID-19 tests that are positive is 7.7 percent, exceeding the national average of 6.6 percent.

With COVID-19 surging in California, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass proposed banning the wearing of masks. This follows proposed mask bans in New York and the passage of this reactionary measure in North Carolina.
The mask bans have nothing to do with their stated purpose of “public safety,” but instead are retaliatory measures aimed at suppressing widespread demonstrations against the genocide in Gaza. Their goal is to intimidate protestors by stripping them of anonymity. Indeed, the proposed mask ban in New York is broadly supported by several Zionist groups.
A few days after proposing the mask ban in LA, Mayor Bass herself contracted COVID-19. Her office announced that she will be working remotely, something denied to the vast majority of American workers.
In Hawaii, there are very high levels of the virus in sewage, and there is a statewide average test positivity rate of 16.7 percent. The city of Honolulu has an even higher test positivity rate at 20.1 percent. The number of hospitalizations for COVID-19 in Hawaii, 126 per week, is the highest level in the state since last August. In response to the surge, Kaiser Permanente and other healthcare systems in Hawaii have resumed masking requirements for all healthcare providers and staff.
The surge in Hawaii coincides with a major event held on the island of Oahu from June 6 to 16. FestPAC is the largest celebration of indigenous Pacific Islanders. Ironically, it had been postponed from 2020 due to the onset of the pandemic. Over 500,000 people from 28 island nations converged on the small island for the 10-day event.
Given the confluence of the event and the emergence of the new viral variants, which have been shown to escape existing immunity, it was a recipe for widespread transmission of the virus. The test positivity rate among festival attendees during the event was 13 percent. The state department of health offered testing and N95 masks to attendees.
Texas and Florida, despite having high and very high levels of the virus in wastewater, have test positivity rates of 5.5 and 4.1 percent respectively, below the national average. However, these states have been at the forefront nationally of dismantling their public health infrastructure, especially as it relates to COVID-19. Thus, the stark contrast between their wastewater levels of virus and other traditional public health metrics is to be expected when the virus is spreading uncontrolled in their regions.

This COVID-19 surge is driven by the emergence of two new viral variants called KP.2 and KP.3. At the end of March, these two variants made up less than 4 percent of cases in the US. Per the most recent data on June 22, they together are projected to make up 53.9 percent of cases, with KP.3 comprising 33.1 percent of cases, while KP.2 comprises 20.8 percent. Over the same time period, the previously dominant JN.1 variant dropped from 52.9 percent of cases to a projected 1.6 percent of cases.
In the United Kingdom, KP.2 and KP.3 currently make up 22 and 44 percent of cases, respectively. In New South Wales, Australia, KP.2 and KP.3 together make up over half of cases.
Early data have shown that immunity to previous variants provides less protection against KP.2 and KP.3. A new preprint which is undergoing peer review confirms early analysis of the new variants. Namely, antibodies developed by either vaccination against, or infection with, previous viral variants do not “neutralize” the new viral variants as effectively as they do prior variants. Neutralization means the antibodies bind to the virus in such a way as to prevent it from infecting cells.
Thus, the spread of these new variants is occurring because they “escape” pre-existing immunity. This phenomenon is typical of viruses that are not eradicated: They continue to evolve into new forms to overcome pre-existing immunity in their host populations.
The emergence of the new viral variants and the consequent surge of COVID-19 that is currently underway has been enabled by a ruling class indifferent to the suffering caused by the virus. To push their genocidal agenda, the ruling class is further destroying what little protections individuals have available to them by imposing cruel mask bans that disproportionately impact society’s vulnerable elderly and immunocompromised people.
To eradicate SARS-CoV-2 and thus prevent newer, potentially more dangerous variants of the virus with associated surges in disease and death, the working class must overthrow capitalism and reorganize society on the basis of human need instead of private profit.

 

[Yommie]

https://www.axios.com/local/san-francisco/2024/07/01/covid-summer-surge-bay-area

35 mins ago -News

COVID-19 summer surge hits the Bay Area again​

• Tina Reed,
• Shawna Chen

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A health care worker administers a COVID-19 test in San Francisco on Jan. 10, 2022. Photo: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images

The annual summer surge of COVID-19 infections has begun in San Francisco.
Why it matters: In addition to the spread of new variants, people congregating indoors to avoid extreme heat and an extremely busy July 4 travel period are expected to drive up infections.
Threat level: While experts expect this summer wave to remain mild, it's a reminder to remain vigilant, particularly among those who are medically vulnerable.
By the numbers: Cases are growing or likely growing in 39 states, according to the latest CDC data — including California, which has seen a surge in the levels of COVID discovered in human sewage.

• Hospitalizations and deaths remain low.
• The KP.3 and KP.2 strains, descendants of the highly contagious JN.1 variant and among the so-called FLiRT variants, account for more than half of infections, according to the CDC.

Zoom in: San Francisco's 7-day average test positivity rate, which dropped from nearly 9% to around 1% in April, has steadily increased in recent weeks and now sits at over 5%.

• Wastewater surveillance in the city also reflects that surge.

What to watch: The CDC recommended last week that everyone ages 6 months and older get an updated COVID vaccine, regardless of whether they've been vaccinated before.

• The FDA has recommended that drugmakers target the KP.2 strain.

 

[Yommie]

COVID-19 cases on the rise this summer​

 

[Yommie]

Summer wave of COVID-19 hitting U.S.​

 

[Yommie]

COVID 19 cases rising as we move into the summer​

 

[Yommie]

Savannah experiencing medication shortage amid COVID summer surge​

 

[Yommie]

Cases of COVID-19 are on the rise across the country​

 

[Yommie]

CDC recommends getting COVID-19, flu shots this fall​

 

[Yommie]

Doctors warn about increasing COVID infections ahead of July 4 holiday, busy travel week​