Weekly update, reported cases slightly down, reported deaths are up
In total 6.44 million new cases were reported this week (down from 6.74 million)
Also another 18,011 more deaths were reported last week (up from 16,343)
USA dropped slightly in cases 777K down from 812K and also dropped slightly in deaths 3,514 down from 3,617
Europe dropped a lot 1.40 million new cases down from 1.68 million yet went slightly up in reported deaths 6,354 up from 6,215
The continents
Asia seems to be peaking, the rest going down a bit, Africa being very inconsistent in reporting.
Corners of the world
Japan has reached its peak, reported deaths nearly matching the peak in Februari (yet still under) with 2.5x the amount of reported cases. At least the vaccines are preventing more and more deaths. (Or the virus has run out of 'easy targets')
China is heading up (and they only report symptomatic cases) and most people there haven't been in contact with the virus yet...
The CDC seems to have given up or rather is adjusting to what people are (not) doing anyway
https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/coronavirus/cdc-ends-recommendations-for-social-distancing-and-quarantine-for-covid-19-control-no-longer-recommends-test-to-stay-in-schools-1.6023579
The latest recommendations:
The CDC recommends that COVID-19 prevention practices continue to depend on a person's risk of becoming severely ill and on its COVID-19 community levels. Community levels reflect cases in a community as well as hospitalization rates and hospital capacity.
When the COVID community level is high -- as it currently is in 41% of counties -- the CDC continues to recommend that everyone wear high-quality masks indoors. High-risk people should also wear quality masks when the community level is medium, as it now is in 39% of counties.
The agency also puts more emphasis on improving ventilation. Aerosol scientists have long complained that the 6-foot social distancing guidance was arbitrary and unhelpful because the virus that causes COVID-19 can float through the air for greater distances.
Pretty useless as Covid-19 community levels are not reported anymore, and ventilation is still a joke at the schools here. Already dreading back to school
In addition to vaccination, the CDC urges additional measures for people with suppressed immune function, including the use of Evusheld, a kind of passive immunity that's given before a person gets sick. It's especially helpful for people who can't mount an immune response, and experts say it has been underutilized in this country.
Nvm underutilized in the US, here it's restricted to organ transplants and cancer patients. Can't even get an appointment with a doctor and the hospitals tell you to stay away.
The agency also stresses the use of antiviral medications in people who catch COVID-19 and are at higher risk for severe outcomes. This group includes people who are older or unvaccinated or those who have certain medical conditions that put them at higher risk. Conditions that increase risk include overweight and obesity, pregnancy, smoking, diabetes, cancer, heart disease and mental health conditions, including depression.
Can't get those here, so we're basically still sidelined from society. Continue to isolate more and more which will probably be in vain anyway when the kids go back to school :/
