Wednesday, January 03, 2024

Shelter In-Place COVID-19 Blog December 2023

California issued shelter in-place orders on Tue Mar 17, 2020. I have been logging the highlights and lowlights. COVID-19 headlines increased after months of complacency due to the new variant JN.1. I learned more family members tested positive. Unseasonably warmer weather.

Fri Dec 1. China experienced a surge in respiratory illnesses and pneumonia in children. The World Health Organization (WHO) detected no unusual pathogens or novel pathogens. The number of cases was less than the peak in past cold seasons pre-pandemic. The lifting of COVID-19 restrictions during the winter season was the main cause for the surge.

Sun Dec 3. An uncle and an aunt on my dad's side of the family tested positive for COVID-19. They're unvaccinated.

Tue Dec 5. Picked up Black Friday orders at DSW Design Shoe Warehouse and Kinokuniya Bookstore.

Thur Dec 7. Dentist appointment in the morning. Costco shopping afterwards.

Fri Dec 8. Shopped for used books. Christmas shopping at Automobuild toy store. Ate lunch at Chipotle.

Mon Dec 11. The US Supreme Court dismissed three cases against the federal government for vaccine mandates. The mandates affected executive branch employees and the military. The vaccine mandates are defunct. President Joe Biden rescinded the federal employee requirements in May 2023. The Pentagon rescinded the military requirements due to a congressional action in Jan 2023.

Thur Dec 14. The Center For Disease Control (CDC) issued a health alert because fewer people are vaccinated against COVID-19, flu, and RSV. The low vaccination rates could strain the health care system in weeks. Hospitalizations increased 200% for the flu, 60% for RSV, and 51% for COVID-19. 17.2% of adults received the updated COVID-19 vaccine. 40% of adults and children received the flu shot. 15.9% of older adults received the RSV vaccine. These percentages were as of Dec 8, 2023.

A key drug Beyfortus for babies infected with RSV was in short supply.

Fri Dec 15. The CDC tracking system showed the variant JN.1 is increasing. Also, a multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children or MIS-C caused by COVID19 is increasing since the summer. JN.1 is a descendant of BA.2.86. JN.1 is a highly mutated variant. It was estimated JN.1 represented 29% of cases in the US.

Wed Dec 20. Shopped at Costco. I saw more people wearing masks. Got gas for my car.

The WHO announced the JN.1 variant is a variant of interest because of the rapid spread. Several countries in Europe reported exponential growth including Denmark, Spain, Belgium, France, and the Netherlands.

Sun Dec 24. The CDC stated the JN.1 makes up 44.2% of COVID-19 cases in the US. The JN.1 doubled between late Nov and md Dec due to holiday travel and warning immunity.

Wed Dec 27. The JN.1 variant was the most common strain in the US. Experts said JN.1 is not causing severe illness. The symptoms included coughing, fever, body aches, and fatigue. The symptoms typically last between three to four days. Updated vaccines released in Sep 2023 produced antibodies against JN.1.

26,000 people hospitalized as of Dec 10, 2023. However, the number is lower than the Omicron wave peak in Jan 2022.

Fri Dec 29. Morning errands at Smart & Final, Target, and Costco. There was a big crowd at Costco during the 11am hour. Few people wore masks.

The City of Chicago used $95M in COVID-19 relief funds to pay for the costs of 27,000 migrants from the Texas and Mexico border. The costs included shelters, food, and staff support.

Sat Dec 30. Los Angeles County reinstated mask mandates for all healthcare facilities. The facilities included hospitals, nursing facilities, dialysis, and hospice care.

Updated On A Past Blog

The United States deficit is a record $34 trillion on Dec 29, 2023 according to the Treasury Department. The deficit was $15 trillion in 2011 from the blog I Must Declare Bankruptcy If I Was 15 Trillion Dollars In Debt written on Nov 22, 2011. The deficit was $33 trillion in Sep 2023. The debt ceiling suspension ends Jan 2025.

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