Got my second shot today.

Well, this was sort of expected for a long time. Peru had 40 mechanical ventilators in the entire country when the pandemic began. 40. Even then, the new guidelines are probably the broadest assessment of what counts as Covid-19 deaths in the world, more so even than Belgium.

The IHME, which has published estimates for all countries based on excess mortality, has pegged the current number of deaths in Peru to be a bit lower - 166,000 or so. In terms of worse outbreak in the world, it's a close contest between Peru and some Eastern European countries which are also around 0.3 - 0.5% of the population in excess deaths at the moment. That would suggest attack rates potentially above 50% too.

Do those calculation with excess mortality correct for 'missing' flu deaths

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-01538-8
21 May 2020 How coronavirus lockdowns stopped flu in its tracks

Local data from the state of New York show a similar pattern. Although the flu season started a few weeks earlier than usual there, the rate of cases fell sharply and the season ended five weeks early. In Hong Kong, the 2019–20 influenza season was 63% shorter than those of the previous five years, and the number of deaths from lab-confirmed flu was 62% lower.

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/news/newsroom/news-releases/covid-19-story-tip-flu-cases-dramatically-low-so-far-this-season
January 1st 2021 Typically, the winter months bring the peak of flu season. As cases of COVID-19 have soared in the U.S. over the past few weeks, however, cases of the flu have remained extremely low. Flu season typically peaks between December and February each year. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that the flu causes up to 45 million illnesses, up to 810,000 hospitalizations and up to 61,000 deaths each year. But this flu season, there have been just 925 cases of the flu around the U.S so far.

A positive effect of the pandemic. There are plenty negative ones as well, more cancer deaths due to delayed discovery and treatment for example.

Weekly update.
Some corrections coming through plus the USA had odd low counts at the start of the week, later corrected and then corrected again.

In total 3.19 million new cases were reported last week (down from 3.66 million) to a total of 173,311,801
Also another 69,965 deaths were reported (down from 79,660), corrected to +190,096 to a total of 3,727,177

USA wobbles but seems to still be heading down, just as Europe

The continents

Asia reported 1.51 million new cases (down from 2.00 million) and 30.794 more deaths (down from 35,865)
South America reported 1.00 million new cases (up from 945K) and 139,035 more deaths (up from 23,582) Peru corrections
Europe reported 334K new cases (down from 386K) and 8,307 more deaths (down from 10,075)
North America reported 182K new cases (down from 251K) yet corrected to 260K and 10,015 more deaths (up from 8,248) corrections probably
Africa reported 84.8K new cases (up from 72.5K) and 1,945 more deaths (slightly up from 1,881)
Oceania reported 967 new cases (903 last week) no deaths

Corners of the world

India reported 974K new cases (down from 1.43 million) and 21,717 more deaths (down from 26,876)
Brazil reported 449K new cases (up from 417K) and 11,797 more deaths (down from 12,644)
USA reported 109K new cases (down from 160K) yet corrected to 169K, and 3,279 more deaths (down from 5,553)
Iran reported 68.2K new cases (down from 70.2K) and 1,245 more deaths (slightly down from 1,374)
South Africa reported 31.5K new cases (up from 26.2K) and 539 deaths (574 last week)
Japan reported 21.2K new cases (down from 29.7K) and 650 deaths (668 last week)
Canada reported 15.2K new cases (down from 22.2K) and 239 deaths (278 last week)
South Korea reported 3,954 new cases (down from 4,220) and 23 deaths (24 last week)
Australia reported 76 new cases (75 last week) no deaths

Europe in detail

The UK seems to be starting a 4th wave. The rest is still flat or heading down.

It could be the flu season appeared to be subdued (more than it should with social distancing) because of double infections that were tested only for SARS-CoV-2. It's rather common for respiratory viruses to attack as a pack, after all, but few labs outside of clinical studies will attempt codetection as opposed to an elimination process.

That, and perhaps the fact that new strains couldn't be introduced from abroad as effectively. An interesting showcase of viral dynamics, either way.

The dangers of judging a VoC's vaccine efficacy in the same timeframe as the other strains:

No wonder AZ's rushed trial in South Africa had such poor results. It likely also explains the relatively larger drop in efficacy after the first dose found for the Indian variant in the UK compared to the second dose (a third vs. less than a tenth).

My wife and I got our second shot today.
I wonder how I feel tomorrow.

Weekly Update. Cases are still going down, some new hot spots have emerged though (UK, South Africa, Indonesia, Russia)

In total 2.72 million new cases were reported last week (down from 3.19 million) to a total of 176,032,864 detected infections
Also another 73,122 deaths were reported (up from 69,965) to a total of 176,032,864

The USA is back on its previous downward trajectory after a wobble last week, Europe continues to go down as well despite UK and Russia going back up.

The continents

Asia reported 1.15 million new cases (down from 1.51 million) and 31,675 more deaths (slightly up from 30,794)
South America reported 969K new cases (down from 1.00 million) and 26,648 more deaths (up from 23,582 2 weeks ago)
Europe reported 295K new cases (down from 334K) and 7,751 more deaths (down from 8,307)
North America reported 196K new cases (down from 251K 2 weeks ago) and 4,754 more deaths (down from 8,248 2 weeks ago)
Africa reported 112K new cases (up from 84.8K) and 2,292 more deaths (up from 1,945)
Oceania reported 974 new cases (967 last week) and 2 deaths (none last week)

Corners of the world

India reported 664K new cases (down from 974K) and 22,996 more deaths (slightly up from 21,717)
Brazil reported 459K new cases (449K last week) and 13,382 more deaths (up from 11,797)
USA reported 114K new cases (down from 160K 2 weeks ago) and 2,498 more deaths (down from 5,553 two weeks ago)
Iran reported 58.7K new cases (down from 68.2K) and 983 deaths (down from 1,245)
South Africa reported 44.1K new cases (up from 31.5K) and 760 deaths (539 last week)
Japan reported 14.9K new cases (down from 21.2K) and 543 deaths (650 last week)
Canada reported 10.2K new cases (down from 15.2K) and 207 deaths (239 last week)
South Korea reported 4,007 new cases (3,954 last week) and 12 deaths (23 last week)
Australia reported 78 new cases (76 last week) no deaths

Europe in Detail

Russia is starting to follow the UK in another wave, the rest is still declining or stable. Still a lot higher than last year's June levels.

Vaccines seem to retain their full efficacy against the Indian variant compared to the UK variant in terms of preventing hospitalizations, despite some loss against preventing all symptomatic cases. Either that or B.1.617.2 is actually milder than B.1.1.7, contrary to the usual preliminary reports every time there's a new variant about.

Here in Germany, we just reached the milestone of 50% getting their first dose. Almost 30% got their 2nd shot.
Since we picked up the pace considerably in April, almost 70% of currently administered doses are for the 2nd shot.