The Coronavirus
Worldwide, the World Health Organization has recognized a new Covid-19 “variant of interest” because preliminary evidence shows it may evade antibodies. First found in Columbia months ago, it is called “Mu” but is formally known as B.1.621.
Vietnam, with only 3% of the population vaccinated, extended Covid restrictions through September, color-coding Hanoi neighborhoods based on infection levels. Also, a court there sentenced a man to 5 years in prison for violating Covid travel restrictions and spreading the virus to several others, one of whom died. In the Philippines, where new cases are at a record high level, nurses are threatening mass resignations due to the crushing caseload of Covid patients.
In the US, we are now averaging over 145,000 new cases per day. More than 100,000 Americans are currently hospitalized with Covid, and the death rate averages over 1,600 people per day. In the last 2 weeks, US cases have decreased 7%, hospitalizations are unchanged, and deaths are up 29%.
Total reported cases in the US have exceeded 40 million; that is more people than live in California, and amounts to 20% of all cases worldwide. Over Labor Day weekend this year, 3 times the number of people were hospitalized for Covid, compared to that holiday weekend in 2020. Delta is now causing 99% of cases.
More pediatric cases—over 250,000—were recorded in the first week of September, than at any time in the pandemic.
In Idaho, hospitals are so over-crowded they are officially rationing care, giving ICU beds to those most likely to survive; others get palliative care to minimize suffering until death. Tennessee has set new hospitalization records every day of September. Several counties in Oregon requested refrigerated trucks to hold the bodies of Covid victims, until overwhelmed local mortuaries can accept them (just as many southern states did in August). A federal surge team of medical personnel was dispatched to Children’s Hospital New Orleans, to assist in caring for the overwhelming number of very young patients with severe Covid, including infants and many children on ventilators. Hawaii is experiencing more cases and hospitalizations that at any other time in the pandemic. Tourists are discouraged from coming to the islands, and 95% of those hospitalized are unvaccinated local residents. Also, hospitals across Hawaii’s island chain are low on oxygen due to demand increasing by 250% in the last month, and getting more is difficult; liquid oxygen is too flammable to be safely flown in, and cargo ships take a month to arrive.
Native American tribes across the country are using their sovereign powers to declare mask mandates in schools within their territory; this includes the Navaho Nation’s 133 schools with students from preschool to 12th grade, operating in Utah, Arizona and New Mexico. Pennsylvania’s governor issued a mask mandate for all schools, public and private, covering teachers, staff, students and visitors. Arizona, whose governor has banned mask mandates, has thousands of teachers and students in quarantine.
Google delayed its return to offices yet again—this time, until January of 2022. Countless companies are following suit, many leaving things open-ended and not bothering to specify dates at this point. Kansas sent state workers back home to work remotely.
In Texas, we are averaging 18,000 new cases and 250 deaths daily. As of now, there are over 14,000 Texans hospitalized for Covid-19. The current positivity test rate is 17%. In the last 2 weeks, cases have increased 10%, hospitalizations remain the same, and deaths are up 36%.
Covid hospitalizations in total may be leveling off, just under the high mark set last winter. However, more children are severely ill and hospitalized with Covid than ever before; this seems to be coming from spread at in-person schools. Experts fear a general resurgence from Labor Day holiday celebrations and travel.
Over 5,000 Texans died in the last month. On Sept. 8 alone, Austin Public Health reported 23 Travis County deaths from Covid-19, a record high daily count.
On Sept. 6, there were no ICU beds available in Central Texas, for the first time ever during the pandemic.
Vaccinations–the safe path to herd immunity
Worldwide, 5.6 billion shots have been given, with 29% of the population fully vaccinated.
Scotland is requiring proof of vaccination for entry to crowded public areas including nightclubs, music festivals, soccer grounds, live events and anything expected to draw more than 10,000 people.
Vaccination progress in several Asian countries (Singapore, South Korea, Australia, Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam and Hong Kong) has leaders relaxing restrictions or at least planning to do so soon.
In the US, 54% of the entire population is fully vaccinated, while roughly 70 million eligible Americans remain unvaccinated. On average, we are now giving 723,000 shots per day.
Infection rates are clearly determined by vaccination rates in states across the country. Massachusetts has a very high vaccination rate and a low infection rate. States like South Carolina and Mississippi have low vaccination rates and high infection rates.
Studies have confirmed that unvaccinated people are 5 times more likely to get infected, 10 times more likely to be hospitalized and 11 times more likely to die, compared to vaccinated people.
Last week, President Biden issued several executive orders designed to push the remaining 70M/20% of eligible but unvaccinated Americans to do the right thing. As he said: “We’ve been patient. But our patience is wearing thin, and the refusal has cost all of us.” Truer words were never spoken. He also referred to Republican governors who have banned attempts to mandate masks or require vaccines.
“If those governors won’t help us beat the pandemic,” he said, “I will use my power as president to get them out of the way.” Bravo! The new mandates focus on the American workforce, applying to about 2/3 of all workers. OSHA will require all businesses with 100 or more workers to get vaccinated or undergo weekly testing. All federal employees and contractors must be vaccinated. All hospitals and other health care facilities that receive Medicare/Medicaid payments (and they ALL get these funds) must get their 17 million employees vaccinated. Private companies will provide paid time off for workers to get vaccinated. President Biden also requested that large entertainment venues require proof of vaccination or a negative test for entrance, and he asked doctors to prioritize urging all their patients to get vaccinated.
Amtrack is requiring all workers to get vaccinated or undergo regular testing. In NYC, Broadway has returned with 2 productions, lighting up theaters that went dark in March of 2020; masks and proof of vaccination are required.
Los Angeles, the nation’s second largest school system, became the first major district to require vaccination of students age 12 and older (being nearly half a million kids in the district), in order to attend in-person classes. Unvaccinated students will be served via online learning.
Colleges and universities across the country are switching from vaccination incentives to mandates. Many are banning the unvaccinated from classes; others are denying them campus housing, WIFI, and other perks or assessing hefty daily or weekly fines.
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will be back in full force this year, requiring all participants and staff to be vaccinated and masked.
In Texas, only 48% of all residents are fully vaccinated.
Recent Covid articles I recommend….
Biden Is Right: Vaccine Refusal ‘Has Cost All of Us’ 9/10/21 https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/10/opinion/biden-covid-vaccine.html
Unvaccinated People are 11 Times More Likely to Die of COVID-19, New Research Finds 9/10/21 https://www.npr.org/2021/09/10/1036023973/covid-19-unvaccinated-deaths-11-times-more-likely
Inside an Oregon hospital amid an absolutely stunning’ Covid surge 9/9/21 https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/sep/09/oregon-hospital-coronavirus-unvaccinated
Why We Can’t Turn the Corner on Covid 9/6/21 https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2021/09/06/why-we-cant-turn-the-corner-on-covid-509349
The W.H.O. lists Mu as a ‘variant of interest.’ 9/2/21 https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/02/world/americas/mu-variant-who.html
Worried About Breakthrough Infections? Here’s How to Navigate This Phase of the Pandemic. 9/2/21 https://www.nytimes.com/article/breakthrough-infections-covid-19-coronavirus.html
We Work at the A.C.L.U. Here’s What We Think About Vaccine Mandates 9/2/21 https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/02/opinion/covid-vaccine-mandates-civil-liberties.html
Why This Covid Chapter Might Be the Hardest of All 9/2/21 https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/02/opinion/covid-guidelines-masking.html
The Hard Covid-19 Questions We’re Not Asking 8/30/21 https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/30/opinion/us-covid-policy.html
DARING MIGHTY THINGS
Mini-chopper Intrepid is helping NASA plot the best course for rover Perseverance to explore on Mars. Helicopter Sees Potential Rover Road Aheadhttps://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/my-favorite-martian-image-helicopter-sees-potential-rover-road-ahead
And, Perseverance is now on a rock-sampling tour of Mars. NASA’s Perseverance Rover Stashes First Mars Rock Sample 9/7/21 https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/07/science/nasa-mars-rock-sample.html
Oops, turns out that Richard Branson’s July rollercoaster ride to the edge of space veered off course. The FAA is now investigating allegations the pilots’ decisions in flight were made to avoid bad publicity rather than ensure safety. Unity is grounded until this is resolved. FAA grounds Virgin Galactic’s core spaceship pending probe into Richard Branson’s flight 9/2/21 https://www.theverge.com/2021/9/2/22654516/spaceshiptwo-richard-branson-faa-virgin-galactic
Texas state elections
Why does the dumbest and cruelest stuff erupt out of Texas on a regular basis? Ludicrous legislation, the wackiest conspiracy theories, duplicitous officials, deranged candidates—we have the worst of the worst, and we are inflicting them on the entire country. It’s embarrassing….
This includes the latest Constitutional attack by the Texas GOP. (Gov. Abbott hopes it helps him get re-elected—always his gold standard.) Want to understand the insane Texas bounty hunter law that just ended women’s Constitutional right to abortion in Texas, with a craven assist from the Republican-appointed majority on the US Supreme Court? Listen to this podcast— https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/03/podcasts/the-daily/texas-abortion-law-supreme-court-roe-v-wade.html?rref=vanity
Will Joe Straus challenge Abbott or Patrick? Republican state lawmaker urges former Speaker Joe Straus to challenge Abbott or Patrick 9/3/21 https://www.caller.com/story/news/local/texas/state-bureau/2021/09/03/why-moderate-texas-republican-wants-joe-straus-run-2022/5718000001/
Abbott continues to use the legislature as his re-election pre-show, calling a THIRD Special Session. Hasn’t the Texas Legislature done ENOUGH damage? The agenda includes harassing transgender student athletes, banning vaccine mandates and redistricting Texas to favor GOP candidates even more than currently. Gov. Greg Abbott calls special legislative session for redistricting, other conservative priorities starting Sept. 20 9/7/21 https://www.texastribune.org/2021/09/07/texas-special-session-redistricting/
This article is worth including if only for the headline. But, don’t be fooled—Abbott will take a bite out of dogs, cats and any other Texas resident if he calculates it will garner him re-election votes. And, his refusing to sign Senate Bill 474 last May resulted in the suffering and death of countless dogs left outside in the Texas summer heat. This belated backtracking doesn’t remove that shame. Analysis: Man bites dog, tries to make amends 9/8/21 https://texasnewstoday.com/analysis-man-bites-a-dog-and-tries-to-make-amends/450754/
In Lakeway
Wildlife Advisory Committee
The reconstituted Wildlife Advisory Committee (WAC) had its first meeting last week. (The old WAC last met in Feb. of 2020.) Committee members: Ted Windecker, Chair; Pam Bunn; Mike Burke; Nina Davis; Julie Martenson; Ted McKnight; and Georgia Migliuri.
At last week’s meeting, the chairman reviewed Lakeway’s decades-long history of action against the deer, as well as the results of recent professional surveys showing a herd that appears stable and healthy, despite no culling being done since 2017. A subcommittee was formed to develop citizen educational materials and events regarding living with deer and our other wildlife. Also, Council will be asked to approve an annual deer survey to be done in late fall so we can continue to monitor the herd.
Lakeway Council meets in Special Joint Session with Zoning and Planning on Monday, Sept. 13, 6:30pm, in-person, at City Hall.
Consequential Agenda items include:
–Item 3—Moment of silence honoring Bill Snider, recently deceased, who was a senior building inspector for the city.
–Item 5-8–Consent Agenda, which includes: additions/change to city staff paid holidays; and appointments to Capitol Area Council of Government, Arts Committee and Heritage Committee. –Item 9—Fiscal Year 2022 Budget. Procedural and tax rate details are here: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/501/Budgets-and-Tax-Rate Fiscal details are here: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/DocumentCenter/View/36844/FY22-DRAFT-PROPOSED-BUDGET
–Item 10—Joint Work Session for ZAPCO and Council on THE SQUARE AT LOHMANS. In 2019, Legend Communities was given approval for commercial and single-family residential development of 57 acres. The tract includes 1 of 2 missing segments of road needed to connect Main Street to Lohmans. Legends never moved forward with the 2019 plan and now wants to change to a PUD based around “commercial, mixed-use, and single-family residential uses for these properties, focused around a town square and main-street concept.” To me, this looks a lot like the extremely dense City Center plan that residents largely hated and Council rejected in 2019, instead adopting what was touted as a compromise plan. And, it sounds like Legends is now holding Main Street hostage, to get approval for even more favorable terms. How many bites of the apple does Legends get? Here we go again…. (See the Meeting Packet for maps. See the Presentation for project details.) Here are 2 images from the Presentation (and why isn’t the approved 2019 proposal shown in the comparison list?):
Go here for the Agenda, Meeting Packet and Presentation— https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/archive.aspx
To send comments to Council beforehand (by 3pm Monday) about any agenda item, go here and create a Public Comment Form–https://lakeway-tx.civicweb.net/Portal/CitizenEngagement.aspx
Go here to watch the Council meeting online (live or after the fact)—https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/1062/Videos—Meetings-Events
Back to me….
Every year, I hate it when September arrives and then the 11th rolls around. Now, 20 years later, I can’t forget, but I really don’t want to remember that awful time in detail. Just too painful, still.
Some now say that 9/11 was a test; if so, America failed, spectacularly. I read somewhere that 9/11 incited a nervous breakdown in America, even drove it mad. Maybe so. Instead of rising to the challenge or the occasion or even above the muck, we sank lower than imaginable. A conservative columnist I very rarely agree with captured how I regard 9/11 now: “Less like an unimaginable tragedy, and more like a harbinger of a bad century to come.” The next twenty years brought so much bedlam and death–endless wars, economic meltdown, Covid-19, hateful division, insurrection, threats to democracy that no one would have believed possible 2 decades back, and climate change becoming our inescapable present as opposed to a murky distant possibility. Looking back, Sept. 11, 2001 seems like the beginning of the end.
Good books I recently finished (available at Lake Travis Community Library):
—The Madness of Crowds (2021) by Louise Penny—Number 17 in the series, this one returns Chief Inspector Gamache to Three Pines with its oddball denizens and spectacular Canadian scenery. Sure, there’s a murder or two to solve, but the real story explores all the established characters. For them, the pandemic is blessedly in the past, yet so much has changed.
—Never Ask Me (2020), by Jeff Abbott—This stand-alone thriller by a local author is good escapist fare. It is set in posh Lakehaven, located just went of Austin, so there are many fun local references.
The deer continue to amaze me on my morning rambles. I heard that a fawn was born August 20 on Vanguard but didn’t really believe it since our fawns tend to arrive April to June. Then, I saw the baby—the size of a cat but happy and healthy, suckling from its mama.
