# Coronavirus COVID-19 (2019-nCoV) Thread - 2021 Breaking News **URL:** \ **Category:** The Quarantine Zone\ **Tags:** covid-quarantine\ **Created:** [January 1, 2021, 8:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2021-breaking-news/929428 "2021-01-01T08:03:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 171
**Author:** ![ratatoskK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ratatoskk/32/2987_2.png) [@ratatoskK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ratatoskK)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2021, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2021-breaking-news/929428/3490 "2021-12-30T15:46:38Z")
> **[As At-Home Tests Surge, Doubts Rise About Accuracy of Public Covid Counts...](https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/30/us/at-home-rapid-covid-tests-cases.html?unlocked_article_code=AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACEIPuonUktbfqohlSlUYAybIRp8usliGgv3ChaY1nn7yaSOSVzdOivgYGJSbvkzEfqd4Idsv2jDRDPlwDIgSft0ghOlOIx4qDACyvpqPnJlCeXVu-dPjA2hz0p-VVvVlq2_kKzjhdOo6lOXj506POWS-UPPdwmRhcFg-2eZtdVGv3nUCwr6UUbImn4kjgopyQ8xyVjwCZyGVv_L3CRwYONmOax7U6QFeSPgOEHiI3obas-RcBV0UXVHWT3p_4nI-6MdfOr4UOKX5KB0ge6nukD0fWCUArQKriaF4CirFXjo&smid=url-share)** > > Most of the results of rapid tests are not reported. That’s magnifying questions about how best to measure the spread of the virus. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2021, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2021-breaking-news/929428/3491 "2021-12-30T16:03:43Z")
Today the Johns Hopkins New Reported COVID Cases (7-day average) map is completely red, indicating that the rate is increasing in every state, with Washington DC the reddest. (The same was reported on Rachel Maddow’s show last night, although I don’t know the source of their information) New record highs reported as of December 29 in: **Washington, DC** – 3120 **New Hampshire** - 1667 **Vermont** – 703 **New York** – 57095 **Massachusetts** – 10076 **Rhode Island** – 2488 **Connecticut** – 6982 **Maryland** – 11694 **Michigan** – 16187 **Illinois** – 24465 **Indiana** – 8498 **Ohio** – 16183 **Pennsylvania** – 12148 **New Jersey** – 17449 **Virginia** – 9516 **North Carolina** – 10386 **Georgia** – 14605 **Kentucky** – 4926 **Louisiana** – 6464 **Missouri** – 5817 **Kansas** – 3484 **Colorado** – 5970 **Washington** (state) – 7114 That’s 22 states plus DC. I emphasize that these are record levels since the beginning of the pandemic, and that I am only reporting the 7-day-averaghed highs achieved yesterday. Many of the other states have either just rebounded from a new record high a couple of days ago, or are rapidly racing towards a new record high. The country bas a whole has set a new seven-day-averaged record new cases of 390196. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2021, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2021-breaking-news/929428/3492 "2021-12-30T19:10:47Z")
Won’t someone think of the children? > **[US children hospitalized with COVID in record numbers](https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-pandemics-seattle-centers-for-disease-control-and-prevention-75a48388d6ca85ad88de300f32bfdec6)** > > SEATTLE (AP) — The omicron-fueled surge that is sending COVID-19 cases rocketing in the U.S. is putting children in the hospital in record numbers, and experts lament that most of the youngsters are not vaccinated. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2021, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2021-breaking-news/929428/3493 "2021-12-30T19:31:25Z")
Israel: > **[Israel approves 4th vaccine dose for most vulnerable](https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-middle-east-israel-a70fb6acb9295d6bd2f4526b195ea7e2)** > > TEL AVIV (AP) — Israel has approved a fourth vaccine dose for people most vulnerable to COVID-19, an official said Thursday, becoming one of the first countries to do so as it braces for a wave of infections fueled by the omicron variant. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2021, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2021-breaking-news/929428/3494 "2021-12-30T19:41:19Z")
Speaking of the children FDA expected to authorize Pfizer-BioNTech booster shots for 12-to-15-year-olds by early next week > **[FDA expected to authorize Pfizer-BioNTech booster shots for...](https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2021/12/30/pfizer-booster-shots-12-to-15-year-olds/)** > > Boosters are already available for people 16 and older. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2021, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2021-breaking-news/929428/3495 "2021-12-30T21:18:40Z")
> [@GreenWyvern](#): > > Perhaps it’s different in some other parts of South Africa, but where I live, since the pandemic really hit, I have _never once_ seen a single person not wearing a mask in a shopping mall or supermarket. It’s different _in the part where you live_ (assuming that’s still Cape Town). I’ve seen unmasked people in Cavendish, the Waterfront, Garden Centre & Century City. Not _many_, just a handful, and I’ve seen some approached by mall security, but they’re there. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2021, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2021-breaking-news/929428/3496 "2021-12-31T02:53:45Z")
286,858,755 total cases 5,445,958 dead 253,158,707 recovered In the US: 55,246,781 total cases 845,737 dead 41,467,660 recovered Yesterday’s numbers for comparison: > [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > 284,906,146 total cases > 5,438,607 dead > 252,414,709 recovered > > In the US: > > 54,656,866 total cases > 844,272 dead > 41,408,291 recovered Yesterday’s record high for new cases worldwide was shattered by today’s total. The US also set a new benchmark with more than 225,000 more new cases today than yesterday’s new case count (which was the previous record). ---
**Author:** ![GreenWyvern](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/greenwyvern/32/2834_2.png) [@GreenWyvern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenWyvern)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2021, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2021-breaking-news/929428/3497 "2021-12-31T07:09:38Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > It’s different _in the part where you live_ (assuming that’s still Cape Town). I’m in the Southern Peninsula – admittedly a quieter part, but the two largest shopping malls in the area, Longbeach Mall and Sun Valley Mall, were packed with thousands of people and extremely busy before Christmas. Anyway, the SA government has now officially [declared](https://www.thepresidency.gov.za/press-statements/cabinet-approves-changes-covid-19-regulations.) that we have passed the peak of the omicron wave, and late night curfew and alcohol sales have been lifted for New Year. 🎉 (Gatherings are still limited to 1,000 people indoors and 2,000 people outdoors, and mask wearing is still mandatory.) ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2021, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2021-breaking-news/929428/3498 "2021-12-31T12:52:52Z")
Here’s some news: > **[Cathay Pacific suspends cargo flights due to virus controls](https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-business-health-china-hong-kong-2688b5db20f6e21656a2cf59ac40de54)** > > HONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific Airlines is suspending cargo flights for a week due to stricter quarantine requirements for air crews, potentially adding to strain on global supply chains. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2021, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2021-breaking-news/929428/3499 "2021-12-31T15:14:57Z")
[Pakistan has administered over 70,000,000 vaccinations:](https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-business-united-nations-middle-east-a1d448ba830f29ac1967971cf2f59458) > [@](#): > > The announcement Friday comes as Pakistan has recently stepped up its vaccination campaign as the new omicron variant spreads. > > Planning Minister Asad Umar took to Twitter to thank the health workers who worked to meet the goal. > > Since last year, Pakistan has administered 155 million COVID-19 vaccine doses, fully vaccinating over 70 million in the South Asian nation of about 220 million people. It brings the vaccination rate to 44%. 44% isn’t nearly enough to stop vax efforts, but it seems like a good first-year achievement considering the dynamics of the country. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2021, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2021-breaking-news/929428/3500 "2021-12-31T16:20:54Z")
The JOhns Hopkins map is still all red, but there haven’t been any updates giving the numbers of new COVID cases (7-day averaged) as of DEcember 30. I suspect the impending holiday for the delay. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2021, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2021-breaking-news/929428/3501 "2021-12-31T16:32:57Z")
Data between Christmas and New Year is always dicey. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2021, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2021-breaking-news/929428/3502 "2021-12-31T17:04:43Z")
Here’s some news: [1 in 15 people in London likely has COVID-19.](https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-business-united-nations-middle-east-a1d448ba830f29ac1967971cf2f59458) > [@](#): > > New figures from Britain’s official statistics body estimate that about 1 in 25 people in private households in England had COVID-19 in the week before Christmas, as the highly transmissible omicron variant spread rapidly across the country. > > The number jumped from 1 in 45 in the previous week, the Office for National Statistics said Friday. > > One in 25 is the equivalent of about 2 million people with coronavirus in England, the highest number since the statistics body began estimating infection levels in May 2020. > > The figure was even higher in London, the British capital, where officials said around 1 in 15 people was likely to test positive for the coronavirus in the week to Dec. 23. ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2021, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2021-breaking-news/929428/3503 "2021-12-31T17:13:18Z")
Here is the latest ONS report that **Bo** ’s post references: [Linky](https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/conditionsanddiseases/bulletins/coronaviruscovid19infectionsurveypilot/31december2021) > - In England, the percentage of people testing positive continued to increase; we estimate that 2,024,700 people in England had coronavirus (COVID-19) (95% credible interval: 1,951,200 to 2,096,300), equating to around 1 in 25 people. j ETA - thanks for the heads up, **Bo**. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2022, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2021-breaking-news/929428/3504 "2022-01-01T02:57:23Z")
288,513,266 total cases 5,452,900 dead 253,687,713 recovered In the US: 55,696,500 total cases 846,905 dead 41,502,739 recovered Yesterday’s numbers for comparison: > [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > 286,858,755 total cases > 5,445,958 dead > 253,158,707 recovered > > In the US: > > 55,246,781 total cases > 845,737 dead > 41,467,660 recovered And for perspective: > [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > here are the stats as I found them at 12:01am on 1 January 2021: > > 83,842,646 total cases > 1,826,373 dead > 59,345,329 recovered > > In the US: > > 20,445,654 total cases > 354,215 dead > 12,125,806 recovered ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2022, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2021-breaking-news/929428/3505 "2022-01-01T05:04:05Z")
I have started a new thread for the new year and am asking the mods to please close this one. See y’all in 2022. # [Coronavirus COVID-19 (2019-nCoV) Thread - 2022 Breaking News](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2022-breaking-news/957022) ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2022, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2021-breaking-news/929428/3506 "2022-01-01T05:08:53Z")
Closed on January 1, 2022, 5:08am UTC [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2021-breaking-news/929428.md?page=170)