The COVID-2019 Thread

[harrybarracuda]

This is fucking criminal.

The Tennessee Department of Health will halt all adolescent vaccine outreach – not just for coronavirus, but all diseases – amid pressure from Republican state lawmakers, according to an internal report and agency emails obtained by the Tennessean. If the health department must issue any information about vaccines, staff are instructed to strip the agency logo off the documents.

The health department will also stop all COVID-19 vaccine events on school property, despite holding at least one such event this month. The decisions to end vaccine outreach and school events come directly from Health Commissioner Dr. Lisa Piercey, the internal report states.

Additionally, the health department will take steps to ensure it no longer sends postcards or other notices reminding teenagers to get their second dose of the coronavirus vaccines. Postcards will still be sent to adults, but teens will be excluded from the mailing list so the postcards are not “potentially interpreted as solicitation to minors,” the report states.

These changes to Tennessee’s vaccination strategy, detailed in an COVID-19 report distributed to health department staff on Friday, then reiterated in a mass email on Monday, illustrate how the state government continues to dial back efforts to vaccinate minors against coronavirus. This state's approach to vaccinations will not only lessen efforts to inoculate young people against coronavirus, and could also hamper the capacity to vaccinate adults and protect children from other infectious diseases.

And these changes will take effect just as the coronavirus pandemic shows new signs of spread in Tennessee. After months of declining infections, the average number of new cases per day has more than doubled in the past two weeks – from 177 to 418. The average test positivity rate has jumped from 2.2% to 5.4% in the same time period.

The Tennessean

[harrybarracuda]

There are, officially at least, no cases of Covid-19 in Turkmenistan. But the country last week became the first in the world to make vaccination against the virus obligatory for all adults.

Turkmenistan has yet to officially report a single case of coronavirus, with its president, Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov, continuing to insist that his country is Covid-19-free.

His latest claims of zero-Covid came at a televised government meeting on June 29, but were undermined somewhat by additional statements calling for the development of more effective vaccines, and his acceptance last week of 20 million US dollars from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) for the Turkmenistan Covid-19 Response Project.

According to the World Bank Group, of which the IBRD is part, the financing will “reinforce the country’s response efforts and preparedness against the health and social risks of the pandemic”.

Neighbouring countries, including Russia, Iran, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, are all currently reporting a major surge in new cases.

Turkmenistan last week became the first country in the world to legally require all residents over 18 to be vaccinated against the coronavirus. Only those with medical contraindications will be exempted. The country has procured vaccines from both Russia and China.

According to the British Medical Journal (BMJ), Turkmenistan’s vaccine laws will be the strictest in the world, surpassing those of Saudi Arabia, which since March has operated a broad “no jab, no job” policy in both public and private sectors.

Turkmenistan becomes the first country in the world to make Covid-19 vaccines obligatory

[PAG]

The infection rates in Chonburi, like many other parts of the country, seem to be increasing daily. Of particular note is that Pattaya district seems to be leading the infection increase rather than the more commercial areas.

[Joe 90]

Pattaya district seems to be leading the infection increase rather than the more commercial areas.

That'll be Nakorn Noi from Mai Arse Spreading her weres

[Fondles]

The infection rates in Chonburi, like many other parts of the country, seem to be increasing daily. Of particular note is that Pattaya district seems to be leading the infection increase rather than the more commercial areas.

what are the numbers for Pattaya ?

[PAG]

what are the numbers for Pattaya ?

For today, 128, the highest in the province.

NEW HIGH: Chonburi Public Health Office has just announced they have 513 new cases and two more deaths. Most new cases are in Chonburi City (77), Bang Lamung/Pattaya (128), and Si Racha (121). The total cases so far is now 13,003 with 4,812 remaining in care #ThailandNEW HIGH: Chonburi Public Health Office has just announced they have 513 new cases and two more deaths. Most new cases are in Chonburi City (77), Bang Lamung/Pattaya (128), and Si Racha (121). The total cases so far is now 13,003 with 4,812 remaining in care #Thailand

[Fondles]

For today, 128, the highest in the province.

NEW HIGH: Chonburi Public Health Office has just announced they have 513 new cases and two more deaths. Most new cases are in Chonburi City (77), Bang Lamung/Pattaya (128), and Si Racha (121). The total cases so far is now 13,003 with 4,812 remaining in care #ThailandNEW HIGH: Chonburi Public Health Office has just announced they have 513 new cases and two more deaths. Most new cases are in Chonburi City (77), Bang Lamung/Pattaya (128), and Si Racha (121). The total cases so far is now 13,003 with 4,812 remaining in care #Thailand

Today = Yesterday ?

[PAG]

Today = Yesterday ?

Those are this morning's figures for yesterday. Total of 513 (new record high) for Chonburi, of which 128 were in Pattaya.

Today's figures for the whole country:

[harrybarracuda]

You have to fucking laugh.

[harrybarracuda]

Looks like his nibs has had an angry phone call from his chinky masters.

Hospitals and health offices have been left confused over the mixing of doses of Sinovac and AstraZeneca vaccines after the prime minister questioned the Health Ministry's latest policy to curb the spread of Covid-19.

The provincial health office in Nonthaburi on Wednesday opted to postpone its plan to give people who have received a single dose of the Sinovac vaccine a dose of AstraZeneca as their second jab.

Some private and public hospitals in Chiang Mai, including Hang Dong Hospital, announced they would provide no vaccination service on Wednesday.

Nonthaburi was the first province to adopt the ministry's new policy after it was endorsed by the National Communicable Disease Committee on Monday. The panel was chaired by Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul.

Nonthaburi announced its decision on Tuesday, only to immediately suspend its implementation on Wednesday morning.

In Chiang Mai, the provincial public health office also announced its suspension. "In order to end the confusion, all health units are ordered to stop vaccine service on July 14, 2021," Hang Dong Hospital posted the message on its Facebook account.

Mr Anutin said after the committee meeting on Monday that mixing the Sinovac for the first dose with
AstraZeneca for the second would yield a better defence against the highly transmissible Delta variant of the coronavirus first detected in India.

However, Prime Minister Prayut called for a thorough study of the jab policy shift during Tuesday's teleconferenced cabinet meeting, to take into consideration the safety of vaccine recipients.

The prime minister's reaction followed a warning from the World Health Organization on Monday that indviduals should not mix and match different vaccines.

"Individuals should not decide for themselves, public health agencies can, based on available data. Data from mix and match studies of different vaccines are awaited -- immunogenicity and safety both need to be evaluated," WHO chief scientist Soumya Swaminathan said.

Respected virus expert Yong Poovorawan on Tuesday was adamant using Sinovac and AstraZeneca vaccines in series was safe and effective and Thailand's best option for fighting the fast-spreading Delta variant.

Government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri on Wednesday explained that the prime minister did not order the plan cancelled, but he hoped the committee to be open for more reactions first.

The government's priority was to see more people inoculated, as that would reduce the rate of daily fatalities and new infections, he said.

Vaccine policy switch leaves health services confused

[Joe 90]

I'd rather swallow a chopstick than take that Chineses vaccine.

[Klondyke]

^It might be a great change (or challenge?), considering the fact that obviously almost all pharmaceutics you have been consuming are coming from China...

[Joe 90]

all pharmaceutics you have been consuming are coming from China..

Mine come out of an RV in the New Mexico desert

[Grumpy John]

I keep getting the same image in my head when certain politicians open their mouths.

[bsnub]

Mine come out of an RV in the New Mexico desert

This one?

[harrybarracuda]

It's good that we've got snubby here to explain the jokes.

[OhOh]

"Individuals should not decide for themselves, public health agencies can, based on available data. Data from mix and match studies of different vaccines are awaited -- immunogenicity and safety both need to be evaluated," WHO chief scientist Soumya Swaminathan said.

One presumes that there are peer reviewed studies for us to review, prior to agreeing for this mix and match option.

I suspect not.

"Respected virus expert Yong Poovorawan on Tuesday was adamant using Sinovac and AstraZeneca vaccines in series was safe and effective and Thailand's best option for fighting the fast-spreading Delta varian

Without peer reviewed studies, on what basis can he/she be so adamant?

Somebody on a promised, for his/her opinion.

[nidhogg]

One presumes that there are peer reviewed studies for us to review, prior to agreeing for this mix and match option.

I suspect not.


Without peer reviewed studies, on what basis can she be so adamant?

Somebody on a promised, for her opinion.

Pretty sure Yong Poovorawan is a dude, and not a woman.

[Fondles]

Pretty sure Yong Poovorawan is a dude, and not a woman.

and as old as a lot of TD members !!

Yong Poovorawan - Wikipedia

[nidhogg]

and as old as a lot of TD members !!

Yong Poovorawan - Wikipedia

Oh my fuck. Did you read that first paragraph?? Savage. Totally savage.

[HuangLao]

Oh my fuck. Did you read that first paragraph?? Savage. Totally savage.

Special privileged Wikipedia editing.

[nidhogg]

^ i doubt it will stay long. But the guy is a dick.

[aging one]

This is why wiki is not and never will be an academic source. Anyone can access any page and add information. He got an unexpected visit from a visibly upset citizen.

Man faces charges for adding ‘Sinovac salesman’ to Thai virologist’s Wikipedia entry - Thailand News - ASEAN NOW formerly Thai Visa Forum

[misskit]

Concern grows over Indonesia's regions as Covid-19 Delta variant ravages Java


JAKARTA (REUTERS) - Concerns are mounting in Indonesia over the ability of its regions to cope with a spike in coronavirus cases, according to its health minister, as the highly transmissible Delta variant spreads quickly across the world's largest archipelago.


Indonesia is struggling to slow the pace of Covid-19 transmission, with record daily case numbers on six of the past 10 days, including 47,899 new infections on Tuesday (July 13), despite new containment measures.


The Delta variant first identified in India has been found in 11 areas outside of the densely populated Java island, health minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said.

Cases and bed occupancy rates have risen in parts of Sumatra, Papua and Kalimantan, or Indonesian Borneo, and far-flung regions like West Papua were especially concerning, he told parliament this week.


"We must monitor this tightly, because if there's something happening there, their health capacities are below Jakarta or Java," Budi said.


In East Nusa Tenggara, infections have more than doubled in the last three days, while in Lampung on Sumatra, bed occupancy on Monday had reached 86 per cent, East Kalimantan at 85 per cent, and West Papua at 79 per cent.

Ismen Mukhtar, an epidemiologist in Lampung, said Indonesia's regions were extremely vulnerable.


"Health facilities are urgently needed because they save lives," he said. "But what's more important is limiting transmission."


Java hospitals have been deluged in recent weeks, with many people struggling to get treatment. Most of the 550 people who have died in isolation since June were on Java, according to independent data initiative group Lapor Covid-19.


As health experts warn Indonesia could be the next India, the government has scrambled to boost capacity and secure sufficient oxygen supply.


Senior minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, who spearheads the emergency response, on Wednesday said oxygen supplies were well managed, with more than 1,500 oxygen generators expected to arrive from Singapore and China.


More than 2,000 newly graduated doctors and 20,000 nurses would soon be deployed to hospitals, he added.


Concern grows over Indonesia's regions as Covid-19 Delta variant ravages Java, SE Asia News & Top Stories - The Straits Times

[misskit]

Indonesia reports over 54,000 virus cases Wednesday, becomes Asian hotspot

Indonesia reports over 54,000 virus cases Wednesday, becomes Asian hotspot | Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world