Today, back to Covid-19. During the past week, the World had nearly 400,000 new cases with 1830 deaths, dominated by the U.S. at 135,000 new cases and 722 deaths. Of course, the numbers are considerably higher around the globe for many countries have stopped reporting. Note, though, that the flu has blown past Covid in deaths, for a bad year produces nearly 1000 deaths/ week, with weekly highs more than 2,000 in those years. But first, some departures into a couple of newsworthy topics.- Chris Christie yesterday announced he is leaving the Republican primary race, and took jabs at all his opponents in the process.
- This move significantly will impact on the New Hampshire primary. Nikki Haley now has a decent chance to beat Donald Trump, more so if DeSantis and Ramaswamy also drop out.
- Trump 39%
- Haley 32%
- Christie 12%
- Ramaswamy 8%
- DeSantis 5%
- However, two days ago I reported that the third primary on February 24 in South Carolina, where Haley was once governor, still has Trump at 53% and Haley at 24%. But a lot can happen between now and then.
- The group focuses on centrism and bipartisanship.
- Was founded in 2010, possibly to fund Michael Bloomberg's attempt to run as a third party candidate for the presidency in 2012.
- Has been criticized by Republicans and Democrats, and even Christie.
- Could well have already raised $100 million, but hides donors' identities.
- The group last year seemed set too advance a team to weaken Biden, but today appears more concerned about Trump, so Christie ironically has become a viable selection for them.
In football, #1 Michigan's coach, Jim Harbaugh, could return to the NFL. Alabama's Nick Saban, maybe the greatest college football coach in history, resigned, and a new coach will be announced very soon. Perhaps Dabo Swinney of Clemson, an Alabama graduate, could return home...or maybe Lane Kiffin. In the NFL, fired recently were Josh McDaniel of the Raiders, Frank Reich of the Panthers, Brandon Staley of the Chargers, Arthur Smith of the Falcons, Ron Rivera of the Commanders, Mike Vrabel of the Titans, Pete Carroll of the Seahawks and Bill Belichick of the Patriots.
Has the past pandemic also departed? Nope. Across the country, with the colder weather, waste water testing shows that Covid is making a resurgence. At my seniors' community, mask wearing again became mandatory today!
By the way what was originally responsible for the pandemic, the virus SARS-CoV-2, and more popularly known as COVID-19, could well be re-named COVID-24, for the infection period and symptoms are evolving.
- Take incubation period.
- This is the length of time it takes for someone to develop symptoms after initial exposure.
- When the Alpha variant was dominant, this period was five days.
- Dropped to 4.5 days when Beta and Delta were dominant.
- Lowered to 3.4 days once Omicron took over.
- Newer research shows the latest Omicron strains have incubation periods of three days or less.
And, by the way, just about everyone today has had a brush with this virus, through illness or vaccination.- It's then possible that the dropping incubation period is mostly because your body now is able to recognize the virus faster than before.
Incidentally the incubation period for the measles and chickenpox is longer than a week.- Common cold? 1-3 days. Flu? 1-2 days.
- AIDS? One to ten YEARS.
- Finally, symptoms are getting milder, almost like a cold. There is less and less loss of taste and smell.
- There seems to be a diminished threat of long covid.
If infected, though, take Paxlovid. More and more seem not to do this.- Finally, those fully vaccinated have a significantly lower long Covid risk.
- As of the middle of last year, 70% of Americans were fully vaccinated, and 93% of those 65 and older. Tally of world vaccination rates.
- GET VACCINATED!
Went golfing yesterday at Ewa Villages Golf Course with John Aoki. He had a hole-in-one on #11.
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