Category Archives: News to use

Useful news for all to advance knowledge of the world and how it works

Guests at El Paso Chihuahuas game still required to wear masks despite new CDC guidelines | KFOX – Triple-A Baseball

Things will look different. The stadium is only opening at 70 percent capacity and face masks must be worn.

On Thursday the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced fully vaccinated people don’t need to wear face masks.

Everyone attending the baseball game will still be required to wear it.

Source: Guests at El Paso Chihuahuas game still required to wear masks despite new CDC guidelines | KFOX

Covid-19 Outbreak Among 8 Fully Vaccinated Members Of NY Yankee Organization: Implications For CDC Guidance On Masking

Today, the New York Yankees announced that an 8th member of the organization, shortstop Gleyber Torres, has tested positive for the novel coronavirus in the latest team outbreak. All 8 members of the Yankee organization are fully vaccinated, making these cases so-called “breakthrough positives.” Also, Torres had Covid-19 in December 2020, so his current case counts as a reinfection.

Announcement of the Yankee outbreak occurred on the same day that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) loosened its guidance on masking protocols for fully vaccinated individuals. On Thursday CDC said that fully vaccinated people can ditch their masks in most settings, including most public indoor spaces. CDC Director Rochelle Walensky issued a statement declaring that “anyone who is fully vaccinated can participate in indoor and outdoor activities, large and small, without wearing a mask or physical distancing.”

It would appear that the sudden change in guidance is aimed at trying to create positive incentives for people to vaccinate. Indeed, President Biden tweeted: “After a year of hard work and so much sacrifice, the rule is now simple: Get vaccinated or wear a mask until you do.”

This of course raises a key practical question on how to distinguish who is, and who is not, vaccinated. The U.S. has no vaccine passport or proof of vaccination system in place. And, without one – remember, the Biden Administration passed on the opportunity to create such a system – how do you check that someone in a public indoor space has been vaccinated.

Aside from the practicality of distinguishing between the vaccinated and un-vaccinated, there’s the more important public health matter question: Is this sound policy at this point in time? In brief, no, it’s not. And policymakers need not look any further than the Yankee outbreak among 8 fully vaccinated individuals. While vaccinations will in all likelihood protect the members of the Yankee organization from moderate to severe illness, they clearly haven’t prevented them from contracting the virus. And if they can contract coronavirus, they can transmit it as well, and not just to other vaccinated people, but also un-vaccinated, vulnerable individuals. Furthermore, the risk of such transmission increases in all indoor settings. So, being unmasked in public indoor spaces, even if vaccinated, wouldn’t appear to be such a great idea, at least not when there’s still plenty of community transmission of the virus taking place.

Source: Covid-19 Outbreak Among 8 Fully Vaccinated Members Of NY Yankee Organization: Implications For CDC Guidance On Masking

Stocks fall as Singapore re-imposes COVID-19 curbs | Reuters

Singapore announced on Friday its strictest curbs on gatherings and public activities since a coronavirus lockdown last year, amid a rise in locally acquired infections and with new clusters forming in recent weeks.

The measures, which will be in force from Sunday to mid-June, include limiting social gatherings to two people, a halt on dining in at restaurants and for employers to make working from home a default arrangement for staff.

Source: Stocks fall as Singapore re-imposes COVID-19 curbs | Reuters

U.K. May Change Vaccine Protocol to Tackle Variant From India – The New York Times

The British authorities said on Friday that they are considering changing vaccination protocols and reintroducing local lockdowns to stem the spread of a coronavirus variant first detected in India, a warning sign for countries that are easing restrictions even though their own vaccination campaigns are incomplete.

The numbers of cases involving the variant, known as B1.617, rose from 520 last week to 1,313 cases this week in Britain, according to official statistics.

Sher and I were serenaded today

Roadtirement

Nothing like getting photobombed by a twig!

It was a beautiful Thursday afternoon with mostly sunny skies and a very light breeze with temps near 65. The birds and a couple of squirrels were taking advantage of the food we had set out for their use.

We have been thrilled with the variety of species that have come to our feeders. Today we spotted a new little bird, a Carolina Wren, one we haven’t seen before . He decided to flit up into the tree and serenade us with a beautiful song!

Listening to our backyard friends is as fun as watching them,.

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