Coronavirus positives in Bradenton and Hillsborough Counties (Tamiami, Sarasota: estimates, company)

[wondermint2]

How well are COVID vaccines working in Americans who got them? CDC reveals new data


https://www.bradenton.com/news/coron...250286475.html

New research provides “strong evidence” that the two-dose Pfizer and Moderna coronavirus vaccines are capable of preventing infections — both those that cause symptoms and those that don’t — in real-world conditions, that is, outside the controlled laboratory settings where the initial clinical trials took place.

The study, conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, found that risk of coronavirus infection dropped by 90% two weeks after receiving a second, final dose and by 80% two weeks following a single dose among nearly 4,000 health care workers, first responders and other essential workers across six states.

Health care personnel who received the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines between December 2020 and March 2021 were recruited from six states, including Arizona, Florida, Minnesota, Oregon, Texas and Utah. Participants swabbed their own noses each week to test for infection, regardless of whether they felt symptoms such as fever, chills and cough.

The CDC does not include information about how the coronavirus variants may have affected vaccine effectiveness throughout the study period, but the variants, which appear to be more contagious than the original coronavirus strain, were known to be spreading at the time.

[wondermint2]

Some landlords sell properties as CDC extends eviction ban

https://www.cnbc.com/amp/2021/03/29/...roperties.html

- A federal ban on evictions is putting the squeeze on smaller landlords, who are unable to directly access Covid rental relief funds, and some are starting to sell properties to recoup some losses.

- This will likely reduce the much-needed, affordable rental stock in an already unaffordable housing market.

- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Monday extended the eviction ban until the end of June.

[wondermint2]

From what I've been reading president Biden seems in favor of federal vaccine passports. This could effect air travel among many things. Doesn't seem likely for Florida though.

Florida governor to forbid COVID-19 ‘vaccine passports’

https://www.fox13news.com/news/flori...-passports.amp

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Monday that he would issue an executive order forbidding local governments and businesses from requiring so-called "vaccine passports" to show proof that customers have been inoculated against the coronavirus.

While the governor has previously spoken out against "vaccine passports," he said he would take the additional step of forbidding businesses from refusing to serve people who can’t prove they have been vaccinated.

"It’s completely unacceptable for either the government or the private sector to impose upon you the requirement that you show proof of vaccine to just simply participate in normal society," the governor said.

[wondermint2]

Originally Posted by wondermint2

From what I've been reading president Biden seems in favor of federal vaccine passports. This could effect air travel among many things. Doesn't seem likely for Florida though.

Biden administration working with industry to develop COVID-19 'passports' as vaccinations progress

https://www.fox13news.com/news/biden...tions-progress

Along with private technology and travel companies, the Biden administration is working to develop credentials – referred to as passports, health certificates or travel passes – showing proof of vaccination as individuals and businesses emerge from lockdown, the Washington Post reported Sunday.

Airline and business groups had been lobbying the White House to take the lead in setting standards for health passes. They believe that would avoid a hodgepodge of regional credentials that could cause confusion among travelers and prevent any single health certificate from being widely accepted.

According to the Washington Post, the administration's efforts are housed in offices of Health and Human Services, with the White House this month taking a "bigger role coordinating government agencies involved in the work, led by coronavirus coordinator Jeff Zients."

The passports offer a glimpse of a future after months of COVID-19 restrictions. Officials say getting vaccinated and having proper documentation will smooth the way to travel, entertainment and other social gatherings in a post-pandemic world.

But it also raises concerns about dividing the world along the lines of wealth and vaccine access, creating ethical and logistical issues for decision-makers around the world.

[Sunshine Rules]

Originally Posted by wondermint2

Biden administration working with industry to develop COVID-19 'passports' as vaccinations progress

https://www.fox13news.com/news/biden...tions-progress

Along with private technology and travel companies, the Biden administration is working to develop credentials – referred to as passports, health certificates or travel passes – showing proof of vaccination as individuals and businesses emerge from lockdown, the Washington Post reported Sunday.

Airline and business groups had been lobbying the White House to take the lead in setting standards for health passes. They believe that would avoid a hodgepodge of regional credentials that could cause confusion among travelers and prevent any single health certificate from being widely accepted.

According to the Washington Post, the administration's efforts are housed in offices of Health and Human Services, with the White House this month taking a "bigger role coordinating government agencies involved in the work, led by coronavirus coordinator Jeff Zients."

The passports offer a glimpse of a future after months of COVID-19 restrictions. Officials say getting vaccinated and having proper documentation will smooth the way to travel, entertainment and other social gatherings in a post-pandemic world.

But it also raises concerns about dividing the world along the lines of wealth and vaccine access, creating ethical and logistical issues for decision-makers around the world.

Concerns? Yes. https://blogs.prio.org/2021/03/why-d...n-perspective/

[wondermint2]

Mutations could render current Covid vaccines ineffective in a year or less, epidemiologists warn

https://www.cnbc.com/amp/2021/03/30/...on-survey.html

Mutations of the coronavirus could render current vaccines ineffective within a year, according to a majority of epidemiologists, virologists and infectious disease specialists surveyed by the People's Vaccine Alliance.

The survey of 77 experts from some of the world's leading academic institutions across 28 countries found that almost a third gave a time frame of nine months or less. Fewer than 1 in 8 said they believed that mutations would never render the current vaccines ineffective.

Two-thirds thought that we had "a year or less before the virus mutates to the extent that the majority of first-generation vaccines are rendered ineffective and new or modified vaccines are required."

The survey, published Tuesday, was carried out by the People's Vaccine Alliance — a coalition of over 50 organizations including African Alliance, Oxfam and UNAIDS — that campaigns for equal global access to Covid vaccines.

The overwhelming majority of the experts — 88% — said that persistent low vaccine coverage in many countries would make it more likely for resistant mutations to appear. The People's Vaccine Alliance warned that, at the current rate of global vaccination programs, only 10% of people in the majority of poor countries would likely be vaccinated in the next year.

[wondermint2]

It's possible to reach herd immunity, then lose it. Repeatedly.

https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2021/03/30/h...fts/index.html

If you think herd immunity is the finish line to this pandemic, it's time for a reality check.

Herd immunity with Covid-19 could come and go, scientists say. Or we might never reach it at all.

"There's a lot of things that have to go our way to actually get to herd immunity," said Dr. Christopher Murray, director of the University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation.

But don't panic. Here's why it's possible to dip in and out of herd immunity.

[wondermint2]

'We are walking into the mouth of this virus monster' expert warns of new surge

https://thehill.com/changing-america...us-monster?amp

Michael Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, on Thursday said a new surge driven by the more contagious B.1.1.7 variant first identified in the United Kingdom is inevitable.

"This B.1.1.7 surge is going to happen. It's not an issue of 'if.' It's going to happen," Osterholm told CNN's New Day.

"We are just beginning this surge and denying it is not going to help us. We are walking into the mouth of this virus monster as if somehow we don't know it's here, and it is here. Now is the time to do all the things that we must do to slow down transmission, not open up, and we've got to get more vaccine out to more people," he said.

Osterholm emphasized that progress made through the vaccination effort in the U.S. has not kept pace with the new spike in cases observed in many states. He said while Michigan is above average in terms of their vaccine program, the state is headed in the wrong way in terms of cases.

"If we had another three months to get people vaccinated it would be another story, but we don't," he said.

The expert noted that there are still 15 million people in the U.S. 65 years of age and older who have yet to receive even one dose of a vaccine. He predicted the southern sunbelt states will see a surge in the next six weeks.

[wondermint2]

DeSantis issues executive order banning vaccine passports

https://thehill.com/homenews/state-w...-passports?amp

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) issued an executive order on Friday banning "vaccine passports" that require people to show proof of vaccination against COVID-19

"Today I issued an executive order prohibiting the use of so-called COVID-19 vaccine passports," DeSantis announced on Twitter. "The Legislature is working on making permanent these protections for Floridians and I look forward to signing them into law soon."

The order prevents government entities from issuing "vaccine passports, vaccine passes, or other standardized documentation for the purpose of certifying an individual's COVID-19 vaccine status to a third party."

It also prohibits businesses in the state from requiring customers or patrons to provide documentation certifying COVID-19 vaccination or "post-transmission recovery" to receive services. Businesses can still institute COVID-19 screening protocols.

[wondermint2]

Week over week Sarasota held steady at 620 new Covid cases while there was a small decline in the test positivity ratio. Manatee county had about a 5.5% decline in new cases. The test positivity ratio in Manatee County fell by a small amount - however both counties still have a test positivity ratio above 5%. Sarasota County had a small increase in hospitalizations while Manatee County had a small decrease in hospitalizations.

Overall I would describe this week's numbers as another "plateau" (with a slight downward bias) after the past two weeks' increases.

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Hospitalizations
As per the state data-base that lists hospitalizations with a primary diagnosis of Covid-19:

Sarasota County:

*February 21st = 64.14 Covid-19 patients hospitalized
*February 28th = 59.57 Covid-19 patients hospitalized
*March 7th = 63.57 Covid-19 patients hospitalized
*March 14th = 54.43 Covid-19 patients hospitalized
*March 21st = 41.28 Covid-19 patients hospitalized
*March 28th = 38.57 Covid-19 patients hospitalized
*April 4th = 41.86 Covid-19 patienys hospitalized

Manatee County:

*February 21st = 50.71 Covid-19 patients hospitalized
*February 28th = 54.28 Covid-19 patients hospitalized
*March 7th = 62.71 Covid-19 patients hospitalized
*March 14th = 49.57 Covid-19 patients hospitalized
*March 21st = 35.43 Covid-19 patients hospitalized
*March 28th = 29.43 Covid-19 patients hospitalized
*April 4th = 25.43 Covid-19 patients hospitalized

*I report hospitalizations as the seven day average.

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Cases, Tests, Positivity Rate

For the week of March 28th through April 3rd:

Sarasota County:

total positive cases = 620 (88.57 cases per day on average)
total tests = 11,524 (1646.28 tests per day on average)
test positivity rate = 5.38%

Manatee County:

total positive cases = 673 (96.14 cases per day on average)
total tests = 10,777 (1539.57 tests per day on average)
test positivity rate = 6.24%

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For the week of March 21st through March 27th:

Sarasota County:

total positive cases = 620 (88.57 cases per day on average)
total tests = 10,959 (1565.57 tests per day on average)
test positivity rate = 5.6%

Manatee County:

total positive cases = 712 (101.71 cases per day on average)
total tests = 10,643 (1520.43 tests per day on average)
test positivity rate = 6.7%

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For the week of March 14th through March 20th:

Sarasota County:

total positive cases = 479 (68.43 cases per day on average)
total tests = 10,901 (1557.28 tests per day on average)
test positivity rate = 4.39%

Manatee County:

total positive cases = 597 (85.28 cases per day on average)
total tests = 9987 (1462.71 tests per day on average)
test positivity rate = 5.97%

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For the week of March 7th through March 13th:

Sarasota County:

total positive cases = 471 (67.28 cases per day on average)
total tests = 12,806 (1829.43 tests per day on average)
test positivity rate = 3.68%

Manatee County:

total positive cases = 601 (85.86 cases per day on average)
total tests = 11,723 (1674.71 tests per day on average)
test positivity rate = 5.13%

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For the week of February 28th through March 6th:

Sarasota County:

total positive cases = 400 (57.14 cases per day on average)
total tests = 11,087 (1583.86 tests per day on average)
test positivity rate = 3.61%

Manatee County:

total positive cases = 660 (94.28 cases per day on average)
total tests = 11,552 (1650.28 tests per day on average)
test positivity rate = 5.71%

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For the week of February 21st through February 27th:

Sarasota County:

total positive cases = 484 (69.14 cases per day on average)
total tests = 13,938 (1991.14 tests per day on average)
test positivity rate = 3.47%

Manatee County:

total positive cases = 773 (110.43 cases per day on average)
total tests = 11,234 (1329 tests per day on average)
test positivity rate = 5.8%