All posts by nedhamson

Activist, writer, researcher, addicted to sharing information and facts.

Trends in County-Level COVID-19 Incidence in Counties With and Without a Mask Mandate — Kansas, June 1–August 23, 2020 | MMWR

The governor of Kansas issued an executive order requiring wearing masks in public spaces, effective July 3, 2020, which was subject to county authority to opt out. After July 3, COVID-19 incidence decreased in 24 counties with mask mandates but continued to increase in 81 counties without mask mandates.

What are the implications for public health practice?

Countywide mask mandates appear to have contributed to the mitigation of COVID-19 transmission in mandated counties. Community-level mitigation strategies emphasizing use of masks, physical distancing, staying at home when ill, and enhanced hygiene practices can help reduce the transmission of SARS-CoV-2.

Source: Trends in County-Level COVID-19 Incidence in Counties With and Without a Mask Mandate — Kansas, June 1–August 23, 2020 | MMWR

U.S. could ‘see another 100,000 deaths by Inauguration Day,’ doctor says

  • “Once we get into the spring we easily could be at 450,000 or even 500,000 deaths,” said Dr. Ashish Jha as he assessed the Covid-19 surge in the United States.
  • Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont said that he “feels pretty good” about hospital capacity in his state, but that he is worried about the well-being of healthcare workers in those hospitals.
  • The U.S. on Thursday reported a record 187,000 new cases of coronavirus and 2,015 deaths, the most since May, as the country faces severe outbreaks heading into the holiday season.

Source: U.S. could ‘see another 100,000 deaths by Inauguration Day,’ doctor says

Trump’s legal team seemingly didn’t notice its allegation of election fraud in Michigan is based on data from Minnesota

One, from a Texas resident who works in cybersecurity, was filed in Georgia on Wednesday, but claims vote tallying machines in Michigan are highly susceptible to fraud. It goes on to list several “statistical red flags” that purport to show how those machines may have been manipulated, including numbers that imply as many as 350 percent of estimated voters in a range of Michigan towns cast ballots. The problem is, the towns the affidavit lists are all scattered across eastern Minnesota, not Michigan.

The affidavit also claims there have been reports of votes switched from Trump to Biden in “Antium County, Michigan.” There’s no such county in the state, or in the United States at all. And if the affidavit means to imply there was fraud in Antrim County, Michigan, well, its county clerk has already corrected and testified regarding any mistaken voting tallies there.

Source: Trump’s legal team seemingly didn’t notice its allegation of election fraud in Michigan is based on data from Minnesota

New COVID-19 cases hit new high – ORANGE COUNTY TRIBUNE – California

New coronavirus cases in Orange County hit a record high in Friday’s count from the county health care agency.

The OCHCA is reporting 1,169 new COVID-19 related infections, a sharp rise from Thursday’s 582. The number of deaths declined from nine to three.

According to agency statistics, the previous one-day high was 1,058 cases on July 7.

Source: New COVID-19 cases hit new high – ORANGE COUNTY TRIBUNE

Why Erdogan seeks fresh military mandate for Azerbaijan

At home, the media portrayed the authorization bill as a reflection of Turkey’s expanding influence from the Middle East and Africa to the Caucasus and Central Asia, emphasizing Turkey’s ethnic kinship and historical bonds with Azerbaijan. “A reunion after 102 years! Turkish soldiers off to Azerbaijan” read the identical headline that many pro-government media outlets used. The likewise identical reports read, “Turkish soldiers will once again go on a peace mission to Azerbaijan, having rescued Baku from Armenian gangs and the Bolshevik occupation 102 years ago. The historical reunion of one nation and two states will be once again demonstrated to the world. By creating a peace corridor from the Caspian Sea to the Mediterranean, Turkey will command strategic importance as an element of tranquility, peace and stability in the region and the world.” The reports listed 15 countries in Asia, Africa and Europe where Turkey currently has a military presence.

Read more: https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2020/11/turkey-russia-azerbaijan-armenia-parliament-troop-deployment.html#ixzz6eN5Rrkx7 Source: Why Erdogan seeks fresh military mandate for Azerbaijan

We must change attitudes, abide by guidelines: El Paso Times reader

This morning I woke up with a strong urge to call my mother, but as I reached for the phone, I realized that mom was no longer here with us. She left us back in 2014 at the age of 98. I then went into my art studio where I saw a picture of her and that’s when I told myself, what would I do if she was still here with us in the middle of this pandemic? I would climb the highest mountain, swim the oceans wide to protect her, so why are there so many of us so careless when It comes to protecting yourself or your loved ones.

Too often we hear and see just how many people are so careless when it comes to ignoring the guidelines set by our law officials or medical experts on what to do in combating the coronavirus.

A few weeks ago, cases were on the decline, but now they are shooting sky high and what do you think is one of the main reasons? If we don’t change our attitudes we’ll be entering into the valley of darkness with no light at the end of the tunnel.

Ramon Valenzuela

East El Paso

Source: We must change attitudes, abide by guidelines: El Paso Times reader

El Paso County officials seek help at morgue as coronavirus fatalities climb | The Texas Tribune

EL PASO — El Paso County officials sent out a plea Thursday evening for applicants to work at the county medical examiner’s office as the number of fatalities caused by COVID-19 here continues to rise.

“The Morgue Attendants will be provided maximum PPE [personal protective equipment], and will receive a COVID test prior to starting. All Morgue Attendants will be tasked with physically moving Decedents,” the notice reads. “Not only is this assignment physically taxing, but it may be emotionally taxing as well.”

The request comes as the county has resorted to using low-level offenders from the county jail to help transport the deceased. Their work will continue until there are enough new hires, County Judge Ricardo Samaniego said Thursday.

Source: El Paso County officials seek help at morgue as coronavirus fatalities climb | The Texas Tribune

Celebrate flawsomeness!

Peakspeak

Our flaws and imperfections are few of those things which we like to keep on back burner and on the bottom of our “deal with it” list. It’s human to take quick note of people’s strengths and get inspired or get jealous or feel envious. Strengths – i feel are overrated and over celebrated to a very high degree as against our flaws. We tend to admire subconsciously the strengths we hold and pity on our flaws.Totally ignoring the fact that the overall reason and presence of any strength is indeed because we chose to cross over many of our flaws around that strength.So it’s much over due that we rather appreciate the whole list of flaws we hold as this eventually will help us to attain more strengths within us.It’s about time to embrace the flaws and own them unapologetically.

Basic human nature is always a reactionary one towards…

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California COVID-19 cases hit record amid new restrictions – Los Angeles Times

Statewide, 13,422 new coronavirus cases were reported Thursday — breaking the single-day record for the second time this week. The previous high-water mark — 13,412 — was set Monday, according to an independent county-by-county tally conducted by The Times.

California has now recorded four consecutive days with at least 10,600 newly confirmed coronavirus cases, a stretch unlike any in the pandemic. Over the last week, the state has averaged 10,529 new cases per day, a 117% increase from two weeks ago.

And those skyrocketing case counts aren’t mere numbers on a spreadsheet. Authorities anticipate that roughly 12% of those who test positive will end up in hospitals two to three weeks later.

Source: California COVID-19 cases hit record amid new restrictions – Los Angeles Times

Belarus: Thousands attend funeral of killed protester Raman Bandarenka | News | DW | 20.11.2020

Pole bearers carry the coffin from the Minsk church The death of a protester has inflamed tensions in Belarus, with thousands praising the 31-year-old as a hero at his funeral. His last message — “I’m going out” — became a new slogan of the protest movement.

The attendants formed a half-kilometer (550 yards) line stretching from the church until the coffin was carried out. They occasionally chanted “We will not forget, we will not forgive,” and “Rama, you are a hero.”

The mourners also chanted “I’m going out,” the last message sent by Bandarenka to a group chat on a messaging app before he was killed.

Protesters at the funeral Raman Banderenko

Source: Belarus: Thousands attend funeral of killed protester Raman Bandarenka | News | DW | 20.11.2020