The explosive surge of COVID-19 infections caused by the Omicron variant is quickly waning across the United States. New infections have dropped dramatically in all parts of the country including areas that only recently were confronted with variant. Despite this, hospitals still house large numbers of ill individuals. While a smaller percentage of COVID patientsContinue reading “Omicron — the tale of two surges.”
Category Archives: Infection Rate
COVID-19 virus BA.2; what is it and why the claim it is more infectious than omicron?
Yesterday the media was flooded with reports about a new variant of omicron designated BA.2. While this virus is almost identical to omicron it is differentiated genetically based on a few mutations in its spike protein. Ominously, this virus was reported to be present around the world including throughout the US. This was confirmed by theContinue reading “COVID-19 virus BA.2; what is it and why the claim it is more infectious than omicron?”
Unfounded concerns about Omicron hospitalizations in children?
Last night NBC’s network news reported “record numbers” of children in hospitals with COVID-19 since Omicron came to the United States. Physicians from Children’s Hospital of New Orleans, Texas Children’s Hospital, and University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital in Cleveland all alluded to sharp increases in children with serious COVID-19 infections. In contrast, Dr.Continue reading “Unfounded concerns about Omicron hospitalizations in children?”
Despite the decrease in numbers, people are still getting COVID-19.
Just a brief note tonight. I spent some time today trying to help with health care for two friends who became infected with COVID-19 this past week. Both have been remarkably compulsive about trying to avoid infection but despite their caution became infected. They can’t even identify the source of their infection. One developed increasedContinue reading “Despite the decrease in numbers, people are still getting COVID-19.”
More Info: Yahoo’s reported COVID outbreak in Wisconsin.
One of my readers found this data in a tweet from twitter.com/SeanTrende. He was also concerned by reports about increases in cases in Wisconsin, but was able to find the percent positive rate of the state’s testing. As you can see, the rate of positive tests continues to decrease. This suggests that the increase inContinue reading “More Info: Yahoo’s reported COVID outbreak in Wisconsin.”
Yahoo reports “record, daily COVID outbreak in Wisconsin” that does not appear to exist.
Yahoo news goes off the rails again, this time about a Wisconsin “COVID Record!” Yahoo reported Wisconsin saw a “record number of new coronavirus cases and deaths today.” This was a bit confusing as they said “Wisconsin saw a record number of new coronavirus cases and deaths reported in a single day on Wednesday, two weeks after theContinue reading “Yahoo reports “record, daily COVID outbreak in Wisconsin” that does not appear to exist.”
The next wave won’t happen, but clusters of infection will. The K factor tells the story!
The K factor is an estimate of the dissemination of a particular infection. In day to day use, it gives an idea of how closely a disease clusters vs. disperses throughout the population. This could be a result of how easily it infects people or how much an infectious agent, like a virus, is scatteredContinue reading “The next wave won’t happen, but clusters of infection will. The K factor tells the story!”
R.t. Update; changes in social distancing have yet to expand infectivity.
I am reposting this Blog because I have an important update with data from May 26, 2020 at the end. I think it is crucial to examine this statistic given the reductions in stay at home orders and violations of social distancing observed over Memorial Day weekend. “R.t” is a commonly used measure to describe theContinue reading “R.t. Update; changes in social distancing have yet to expand infectivity.”
SARS-CoV-2 immunity looks stronger than many expected.
Three pieces of good news from publications that together indicate that immunity obtained from infection with SARS-CoV-2 will protect against further infection, COVID illness, and from infecting other individuals with the virus. The first study in the journal Science examines rhesus macaques infected with SARS–CoV-2. All of the animals who were infected had clinical illness compatible withContinue reading “SARS-CoV-2 immunity looks stronger than many expected.”
COVID hospitalization rates continue to fall despite reductions in social distancing.
Today, there were several stories addressing Secretary Azar’s comments that many states with higher levels of COVID infection are now seeing fewer new cases. He was quoted remarking that in states reducing social restrictions increases in COVID cases aren’t being seen. The reasons behind this may be complex but important to verify. Since reduced socialContinue reading “COVID hospitalization rates continue to fall despite reductions in social distancing.”
Pandemic Pondering 