California issued shelter in-place orders on Tue Mar 17, 2020. I have been logging the highlights and lowlights. Sep was too fast the month didn't seem fast. A complete blink was too slow. No monkeypox headlines. The omicron booster was administered. More restrictions lifted.
Thur Sep 1. China locked down the southwest city Chengdu with 21 million people due to a COVID-19 spike of 1,000 positive cases. The city is a transit hub and a government and economic center in the Sichuan province. One family member who tested negative in the past 24 hours was allowed out of the house to buy necessities. Dalian and Shyazhuang were also locked down. The lockdowns are part of China's Zero COVID-19 policy.
The Center For Disease Control (CDC) approved the updated COVID-19 vaccines. The latest booster is administered at least two months after the last booster shot or primary shot and up to three months after an infection. The latest booster is not a replacement for the primary vaccine. Clinical trials with humans begin in Oct and Nov. The latest booster first tests were on mice. The annual flu shots are studied and approved with mice. The COVID-19 updated booster approval is the first time before clinical trials with humans.
My sister in-law and niece tested positive for COVID-19.
Fri Sep 2. I spent half of the day running errands shopping at Sports Basement, REI, Costco, and recycling metal. I helped my dad pick up a gas stove.
My nephew tested positive for COVID-19.
Sat Sep 3. The Shenzhen district in China locked down. Mass COVID-19 testing. 87 new infections in seven days. Shenzhen followed China's COVID-19 zero policy.
England began administering the booster shot targeting omicron made by Pfizer and Moderna.
The CA Department Of Public Health announced most residents are eligible for the updated booster shot referred as bivalent. The bivalent booster protects against the original strain and the omicron variants. Residents 18 years and older are eligible for Moderna. Residents 12 years and older are eligible for Pfizer. Children between 5 and 11 continue to be administered the original vaccine as a booster. Appointments are available at myturn.ca.gov in weeks.
Sun Sep 4. The longest heat wave in Northern CA began today. The hot temperatures were forecasted to end Fri Sep 9.
Tue Sep 6. Record heat broke all-time high temperatures. San Jose reached an all-time record high 109 degrees.
The White House health officials announced COVID-19 vaccines can be administered as an annual shot. Immunocompromised may need more than one shot per year. The Director Of National Institute Of Allergy And Infectious Diseases Dr. Anthony Fauci agrees with the announcement.
Wed Sep 7. China was the first country to approve a COVID-19 vaccine inhaler for emergency use. The vaccine maker CanSino Biologics named the inhaler Convidecia Air. The inhaler delivers a vaccine dose through a puff of air from a nebulizer and inhaled by the mouth.
Thur Sep 8. The shower faucet broke.
Queen Elizabeth II died.
Fri Sep 9. Shopped at Safeway and Sports Basement. The shower faucet was repaired.
The CA Independent System Operator (ISO) issued a flex alert for the 10th straight day due to the prolonged heat wave. The ISO manages electricity in the state.
Mon Sep 12. Shopped at Safeway.
Tue Sep 13. Shopped at Safeway.
The Santa Clara County announced workers in health care, long-term care, homeless shelters, and prisons were no longer required to be vaccinated. Health care providers such as Kaiser Permanente and Sutter Health Palo Alto Medical Foundation workers no longer need to be tested and wear a mask. However, CA public health rules state masks are required indoors.
Wed Sep 14. The World Health Organization (WHO) said worldwide death rates were the lowest since Mar 2020. WHO director Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, "We are not there yet, but the end is in sight." However, WHO warned relaxed COVID-19 testing and surveillance means positive cases are going unnoticed or undetected. New variants can undo the progress of lower case numbers.
CA school employees no longer need to show proof of vaccination or be tested weekly. The rescinded policy is effective Sat Sep 17.
80% of CA residents 12 years or older received two vaccinations. 40% received the first booster. It was unknown what percentage of CA residents received the second booster because the CA Public Health didn't disclose the percentage.
Fri Sep 16. Federal data has shown US wastewater sites reporting COVID-19 presence is increasing. 50% of wastewater sites providing data to the CDC reported an increase in the COVID-19 virus. Wastewater testing and its data analysis has predicted upcoming COVID surges.
The CDC reported COVID-19 omicron BA.4.6 represents 10% of new cases in the US. Omicron BF.7 represents 2%. Omicron BA.2.75 represents 1.3%.
The CA COVID-19 daily rate was down 30% in the last week. The cases were the lowest level since Apr 2022. 2,600 hospitalized. 4,800 hospitalized in Jul 2022.
CA ended mandatory COVID-19 testing for unvaccinated state employees. The requirement started on Jul 2021. The state employees working in health care and long-term care must continue testing.
Sun Sep 18. President Joe Biden said the pandemic is over. The US government still designates COVID-19 a public health emergency. One million people died in US. The WHO stated COVID-19 is still a public health emergency of international concern.
Tue Sep 20. The Department Of Justice arrested 47 people for stealing $250 million from a false program Feeding Our Future based in MN. The program provided meals for children during the pandemic. The charges include conspiracy, wire fraud, money laundering, and illegal kickbacks.
Thur Sep 22. BART mask requirement mandate ends Sat Oct 1. The Board Of Directors approved a resolution to reinstate mask mandates when any county BART serves requires wearing masks indoors. The other conditions BART reinstates mask mandates are any of the following: CA state mandate, CDC or Transportation Security Administration order, or a major US metropolitan area experiencing a surge. BART encourages riders to wear masks regardless of mask mandates.
Quarantine for international travelers ends in Hong Kong starting on Mon Sep 26. However, they're require to be monitored for three days.
Fri Sep 23. CA eased mask guidelines. The latest recommendation is wear a mask when COVID-19 transmission rates are high. Mandatory mask wearing ended in jails, prisons, homeless shelters, and cooling centers. Mask wearing is still required in hospital facilities.
Sat Sep 24. I ran errands at Safeway, Costco, and Lucky. I helped a family friend walk the dog while on vacation.
CEO Pfizer Albert Bourla tested positive for COVID-19 for the second time. The first time Bourla tested positive was Aug 2022. He didn't get the second booster because he was waiting for the three months after the first infection.
Sun Sep 25. I ran errands Costco. There were too many people at Costco. I'm surprised many people wore masks. I helped a family friend walk the dog while on vacation.
Mon Sep 26. Canada drops all COVID-19 measures at their borders on Sat Oct 1. All travelers regardless of citizenship no longer need proof of vaccination, a recent negative test, wear masks, and to be quarantined upon arrival.
Tue Sep 27. COVID-19 cases increased in England. The seven day average increased 13% on Sep 17. The seven day hospitalization average increased 17% on Sep 19. Adolescents and young adults age 25-34 were the biggest increase.
A study published in the BMJ Medicine journal stated women experience temporary longer menstrual cycles after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. The changes are similar regardless of vaccine maker.
Fri Sep 30. Governor Gavin Newsom extended paid supplemental COVID-19 sick leave for the rest of 2022. CA companies with at least 26 employees provide an additional 80 hours of paid sick leave related to COVID-19 including taking care of infected family members. Small business and nonprofits are eligible for state grants up to $50,000 to help pay for the sick leave.
No comments:
Post a Comment