# 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:** 20\ **Page:** 87
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2021, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2021-breaking-news/929428/1754 "2021-07-18T13:30:50Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > [Three Texas Democrats who fled to Washington, D.C. test positive for coronavirus | Fox News](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/three-texas-democrats-who-fled-to-washington-d-c-test-positive-for-coronavirus). First off, here it is from more reputable news source: [https://www.reuters.com/world/us/three-texas-state-democrats-test-positive-covid-19-cbs-news-2021-07-17/](https://www.reuters.com/world/us/three-texas-state-democrats-test-positive-covid-19-cbs-news-2021-07-17/) But since you did link Fox, I will point out the irony in that they talk about the Democrats possible spreading COVID-19 on their plane because they weren’t masking: on the same network that kept underplaying masking, and say it’s everyone’s choice to infect whomever, even to the point of not getting vaccinated. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2021, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2021-breaking-news/929428/1755 "2021-07-18T14:02:00Z")
> **[Austin announces stricter coronavirus protocols for unvaccinated residents as...](https://www.texastribune.org/2021/07/15/coronavirus-texas-austin-protocols/)** > > The city’s return to Stage 3 risk-based guidelines marks the first time a major Texas city has reversed direction in the trend toward normalcy. But others are also reporting surges in cases. > … > But the city’s move to Stage 3 guidelines has no weight of law behind it because Gov. [Greg Abbott](https://www.texastribune.org/directory/greg-abbott/) banned pandemic mandates in May. It also only applies to the city’s unvaccinated population; the guidelines recommend that vaccinated people only need to take precautions while traveling. > > The move marks the first time a major Texas city has reinstated increased health protocols since dropping mask mandates, dialing back business restrictions and allowing large events to resume in the spring and summer as COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations plummeted. > > Earlier this week, health officials in Williamson County, a suburban area north of Austin, reported that their new case rates and hospitalization rates — while still low — have doubled in the past week. The numbers prompted the county health department to officially increase the county’s COVID risk status to [“high community spread.”](https://www.wcchd.org/covid-19/index.php) > > Stage 3 guidelines for Austin mean unvaccinated or partially vaccinated residents should avoid gatherings, travel, shopping and dining out altogether unless the activities are essential, and mask up when they leave their homes. > … I wish San Antonio would do the same. During the height of the pandemic the Mayor and the County Judge gave an update on new cases/hospitalizations on TV every day. It kept people aware of what was going on. They discontinued this about a month ago, but I think they should go back to it. (I tweeted that to each of them.) ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2021, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2021-breaking-news/929428/1756 "2021-07-18T14:33:36Z")
I’ve had the thought that local cities could set a deadline for vaccination rates: _“80% vaccination rate among adults by X date, or we impose city-wide lockdowns. You’ve got some time. Your choice.”_ ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2021, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2021-breaking-news/929428/1757 "2021-07-18T17:42:17Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > …we impose city-wide lockdowns… How do cities enforce this? ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2021, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2021-breaking-news/929428/1758 "2021-07-18T18:00:22Z")
The same way they enforce curfews. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2021, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2021-breaking-news/929428/1759 "2021-07-18T18:24:43Z")
Rick pretty much said it. I know I’m just shit talking at this point - nobody has the sack to actually propose something like that, let alone enforce it. Nevertheless, it should be considered. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2021, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2021-breaking-news/929428/1760 "2021-07-18T23:35:58Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Los Angeles county has declared a mask mandate due to the upsurge in cases throughout the county. The county sheriff says he won’t enforce the mandate because the decision “is not backed by science.” > When did he become an immunologist? > [https://abcnews.go.com/amp/US/rise-covid-cases-la-sheriffs-office-enforcing-indoor/story](https://abcnews.go.com/amp/US/rise-covid-cases-la-sheriffs-office-enforcing-indoor/story) It’s not like LA is policed by the Sheriff’s police. The areas this affects are unincorporated, everyone else has their own cops. And really I can’t recall _ever_ hearing about a cop enforcing a masking rule, just store staff and abused security folk. Maybe in county buildings like courthouses that could happen and now won’t, whoopie. ---
**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:** [July 19, 2021, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2021-breaking-news/929428/1761 "2021-07-19T01:09:26Z")
Okay; here’s some info and stats to keep everyone abreast of what’s happening in the US right now: > **[With pandemic worsening in US, surgeon general worried](https://apnews.com/article/health-pandemics-coronavirus-pandemic-state-of-the-union-address-513654672760ab27e9b5677366f03430)** > > The U.S. surgeon general says he's worried about what lies ahead with cases of COVID-19 increasing in every state, millions still unvaccinated and a highly contagious virus variant spreading rapidly. > U.S. cases of COVID-19 last week increased by 17,000 nationwide over a 14-day period for the first time since late fall, and an increase in death historically follows a spike in illness. Much of the worsening problem is being driven by the delta variant first identified in India, that has since hit the United Kingdom and other countries, said Murthy. > About 186 million Americans have received at least one shot, but another 90 million eligible Americans haven’t. And in my local news: > In Las Vegas, some resorts and casinos are again requiring employees to wear masks in response to a recommendation issued by health officials amid rising COVID-19 case rates in Nevada; it ranks fifth among U.S. states for the most new cases per capita over the last two weeks. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2021, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2021-breaking-news/929428/1762 "2021-07-19T02:22:43Z")
Hawaii today registered its fourth day in a row of triple-digit new cases, with 164. The state is now 59.1% fully 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:** [July 19, 2021, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2021-breaking-news/929428/1763 "2021-07-19T05:02:16Z")
191,229,700 total cases 4,105,820 dead 174,181,909 recovered In the US: 34,963,907 total cases 624,746 dead 29,376,590 recovered Yesterday’s numbers for comparison: > [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > 190,794,652 total cases > 4,099,072 dead > 173,847,537 recovered > > In the US: > > 34,953,937 total cases > 624,715 dead > 29,369,181 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:** [July 19, 2021, 10:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2021-breaking-news/929428/1764 "2021-07-19T10:45:10Z")
🤨 Bangladesh: > **[Bangladesh lifts lockdown to celebrate, exasperating experts](https://apnews.com/article/lifestyle-business-health-religion-bangladesh-558cb9c442ef255a9d264daa183374c5)** > > DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) — Waiting among hundreds of fellow travelers to catch a ferry out of Bangladesh's capital, unemployed construction worker Mohammed Nijam knew he was risking catching the coronavirus, but he felt it was even riskier to stay in... ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2021, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2021-breaking-news/929428/1765 "2021-07-19T23:01:46Z")
And the Echo variant was born ---
**Author:** ![MaverocK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@MaverocK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaverocK)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2021, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2021-breaking-news/929428/1766 "2021-07-20T01:14:41Z")
> **[Israel's health chiefs fear vaccine's effectiveness against delta lower than...](https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2021-07-19/ty-article/health-ministry-fears-vaccines-effectiveness-against-delta-is-even-below-64/0000017f-e0f7-d75c-a7ff-fcff78650000)** > > \*\*\* ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2021, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2021-breaking-news/929428/1767 "2021-07-20T01:29:35Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > And the Echo variant was born We’ve already made it to at least lambda. [https://www.khou.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/houston-covid-cases-increasing-delta-and-lambda-variant/285-c8db586b-7673-4405-9c7a-11386c3782e8](https://www.khou.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/houston-covid-cases-increasing-delta-and-lambda-variant/285-c8db586b-7673-4405-9c7a-11386c3782e8) And, yes, I checked earlier: there have been all the letters in between: epsilon, zeta, eta, theta, iota, and kappa. All are “variants of concern.” There’s also a variation of the delta variant that has not been formally named yes, but some are calling “delta plus,” because it seems to be worse. The virus is “trying” to evolve to escape vaccines and our immune systems. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2021, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2021-breaking-news/929428/1768 "2021-07-20T02:13:11Z")
Yeah I knew about Lambda; was in a mood to say “Echo” for some reason. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2021, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2021-breaking-news/929428/1769 "2021-07-20T02:19:24Z")
I think the data about keeping people out of the hospital and morgue is generally valid in terms of the percentages - at least based on what I’ve seen so far. The problem, however, is that there is definitely a marked decline in protection against infection. What I suspect the data will find is that the vaccine is 50-70% effective at stopping transmission and probably still close to 80-90% effective at stopping the worst outcomes. But if more and more people are out and about, strutting around town, claiming “The pandemic’s over,” then in terms of actual numbers, there are going to be a rather high number of breakthrough cases, and an alarmingly high number of hospitalized and dead people in terms of case count. Israel has better data than the United States right now, as does the UK, so when the CDC says “We probably don’t need masks, but then again, it may be that the local health officials know something we don’t,”…I mean, the reality is, CDC and the US federal health officials are not as on top of this in terms of data as some other countries are. ---
**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:** [July 20, 2021, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2021-breaking-news/929428/1770 "2021-07-20T04:46:20Z")
191,725,149 total cases 4,112,929 dead 174,580,020 recovered In the US: 35,018,600 total cases 624,983 dead 29,406,202 recovered Yesterday’s numbers for comparison: > [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > 191,229,700 total cases > 4,105,820 dead > 174,181,909 recovered > > In the US: > > 34,963,907 total cases > 624,746 dead > 29,376,590 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:** [July 20, 2021, 11:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2021-breaking-news/929428/1771 "2021-07-20T11:16:11Z")
I’m gobsmacked: > **[India's pandemic death toll could be in the millions](https://apnews.com/article/business-science-health-india-pandemics-334c326d86efa73a0631bf7cb6e3f92e)** > > The most comprehensive research yet estimates India’s excess deaths during the coronavirus pandemic were a staggering 10 times the official COVID-19 toll. > [@](#): > > Most experts believe India’s official toll of more than 414,000 dead is a vast undercount, but the government has dismissed those concerns as exaggerated and misleading. > > The report released Tuesday estimated excess deaths — the gap between those recorded and those that would have been expected — to be between 3 million to 4.7 million between January 2020 and June 2021. It said an accurate figure may “prove elusive” but the true death toll “is likely to be an order of magnitude greater than the official count.” ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2021, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2021-breaking-news/929428/1772 "2021-07-20T11:31:43Z")
Not at all surprising; the variant moved through the country with such frightening speed that there were probably people who were just buried without ever having been officially recorded as a COVID death. ---
**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:** [July 20, 2021, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2021-breaking-news/929428/1773 "2021-07-20T13:21:46Z")
Or burned. Or dumped in a river. Also, it’s worth noting that in normal times, India only has official records of less than 80% of deaths [Completeness of death registration in the Civil Registration System, India (2005 to 2015) (nih.gov)](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6755781/) > About 40 per cent increase in CoRD [completeness of registration of death] was documented for India between 2005 and 2015, with CoRD of 76.6 per cent in 2015. And even to the extent deaths are recorded, testing for covid is not a trivial thing in many parts of India, and was likely not done in many many cases. [Indian state sharply raises COVID-19 death toll prompting call for wide review | Reuters](https://www.reuters.com/world/india/india-records-6148-deaths-covid-19-past-24-hours-2021-06-10/) > As crematoriums struggled to handle the wave of deaths over the past two months, many families placed bodies in the holy Ganges river or buried them in shallow graves on its sandbanks. > Those people would likely not have been registered as COVID victims. > > “Under-reporting is a widespread problem, not necessarily deliberate, often because of inadequacies,” Rajib Dasgupta, head of the Centre of Social Medicine and Community Health at New Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nehru University, told Reuters. > > “In the rural context, whatever states may say or claim, testing is not simple, easy or accessible,” Dasgupta said. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2021-breaking-news/929428.md?page=86) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2021-breaking-news/929428.md?page=88)