COVID-19 antibodies last up to 9 months following infection, study finds – UPI.com

People infected with COVID-19 continue to produce antibodies against the virus for up to nine months, whether or not they experienced symptoms, a study published Monday by Nature Communications found.

Just under 99% residents of Vo, Italy — which saw a high volume of cases in the early stages of the pandemic — who were infected in February or March of last year still had antibodies against the virus in November, the data showed.

Source: COVID-19 antibodies last up to 9 months following infection, study finds – UPI.com

Opinion | Dolly Parton Tried to Get Tennessee Vaccinated. But It’s Not Enough. – The New York Times

She gave it a good try, a heroic try, but somehow the bonehead politicians running this state managed to overcome even the good will generated by its favorite daughter.

Remember how hopeful we were when the new Covid-19 vaccines arrived so astonishingly quickly, and were so astonishingly effective and safe? As a nation — politically, institutionally, too often personally — we’d botched almost everything about this pandemic, and we did not deserve a miracle. The miracle arrived anyway.

Democrats launch immigration reform Hail Mary – POLITICO

Taking that backdoor approach to immigration, which wouldn’t require a single GOP vote, could cast a chill over any future attempts at bipartisan reform. But those bipartisan talks have stalled out in the Senate after nearly a dozen meetings, and Democrats have perhaps their only opportunity at going around Republicans on the issue.

Though a long way short of a comprehensive overhaul, Congress’s fiercest immigration advocates are embracing it.

“We have had an every-which-way approach to immigration reform,” said Rep. Raul Ruiz (D-Calif.), who leads the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and began pushing for the idea in January. “This is currently our best effort.”

Source: Democrats launch immigration reform Hail Mary – POLITICO

Ask a Pediatrician: Is It Safe To Get My Teenager Vaccinated Against COVID-19? – Gothamist (Me: Doc says – YES)

The CDC still recommends vaccination against COVID-19 for young adults 12 and older, as does the American Academy of Pediatrics and a whole host of other medical associations.

For parents who still have lingering questions, we enlisted pediatrician and infectious disease expert Dr. Sean O’Leary, director of the Colorado Pediatric Practice-Based Research Network and vice-chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics’ Committee on Infectious Diseases, to discuss the risks and benefits of COVID-19 vaccination in greater depth.

His answers have been edited for length and clarity.

Since data collection on the vaccines is ongoing, some parents may think it’s better to put off getting their children vaccinated, or “wait and see.” Do you think that makes sense or should people get their kids vaccinated as soon as possible?

I think the sooner, the better, frankly, for everyone. That’s for two reasons. The first is that the higher the vaccination rate, the sooner we will get past all of this. And you’re probably well aware that we’re seeing COVID-19 cases rise now in most of the U.S. And that’s in the summertime when normally respiratory viruses go semi-dormant.

Source: Ask a Pediatrician: Is It Safe To Get My Teenager Vaccinated Against COVID-19? – Gothamist

COVID vaccines work. Why is L.A. mask mandate necessary? – Los Angeles Times (Me: Newspaper should not join in on disregarding health advice from health department! Article slanted toward masks maybe not needed)

L.A. County officials are now worried that unvaccinated people instead responded by not masking up in required settings. And with cases and hospitalizations growing, authorities say they hope reinstituting masking as a social norm will help reduce disease transmission.

“We’re not where we need to be for the millions at risk of infection here in Los Angeles County, and waiting to do something will be too late given what we’re seeing now,” said Dr. Muntu Davis, the county’s health officer.

In essence, they hope requiring everyone to wear masks indoors will force the unvaccinated to do so, giving them more protection.

Source: COVID vaccines work. Why is L.A. mask mandate necessary? – Los Angeles Times

8-month sentence in Capitol riot — ORANGE COUNTY TRIBUNE

THE STORMING of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 (Wikipedia). A prison sentence of eight months was handed down Monday on a Florida man who entered the U.S. Capitol building on Jan. 6 during the violent storming of the seat of Congress. The sentence against Paul Allard Hodgkins, 38, was pronounced by U.S. District…

8-month sentence in Capitol riot — ORANGE COUNTY TRIBUNE

Olivia Breen: World champion para-athlete left angry after official said her shorts were ‘too revealing’ – BBC Sport (Me: Risking life in Covid-19 Japan Olympics and criticize her outfit??? Come on!!!)

“You know they can’t comment on what we can and can’t wear.”

Breen won a world championship gold medal in the T35-38 4x100m class in 2015 and again in 2017 in the T38 long jump and has been wearing the same style of competition briefs from her sponsor throughout her career.

“They are like high-waisted bikini bottoms,” she told BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour programme.

“I’ve worn them for nine years, I’ve never had a problem and we should feel comfortable with what we wear.

“We want to be as light as possible when we’re competing, not having to feel heavy, and to feel comfortable.

“We should just wear what we’re entitled to wear.” 

Source: Olivia Breen: World champion para-athlete left angry after official said her shorts were ‘too revealing’ – BBC Sport

NSO Group’s Pegasus spyware used in India to hack into phones of journalists and others – The Washington Post

A powerful surveillance tool licensed only to governments was used to infiltrate mobile phones belonging to at least seven people in India and was active on some of their devices as recently as this month.

The hacks — confirmed by forensic analysis of the phones — represent a tiny fraction of what may be a vast surveillance net, intensifying concerns about the erosion of civil liberties in India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Hundreds of Indian phone numbers appeared on a list that included some selected for surveillance by clients of NSO Group, an Israeli firm. The list contained numbers for Rahul Gandhi, India’s main opposition leader; Ashok Lavasa, a key election official considered an obstacle to the ruling party; and M. Hari Menon, the local head of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Others included on the list were journalists, activists, opposition politicians, senior officials, business executives, public health experts, Tibetan exiles and foreign diplomats. A group of Modi critics accused of plotting to overthrow the government also appeared on the list.

Source: NSO Group’s Pegasus spyware used in India to hack into phones of journalists and others – The Washington Post