WARNING FROM AN ICU PHYSICIAN
Looks like this winter may be the worst surge yet. The only patients I have cared for in the ICU in the past weeks have been unvaccinated.
If you have not been vaccinated, now is the time.
If you are due for a 3rd shot, get it now.
— Gabriel Bosslet (@gbosslet)
Dec 1, 2021
from http://twitter.com/gbosslet
A man shoplifting ~$200-950 in goods from Walgreens got much more media coverage than Walgreens stealing $12 million in wages from their employees. Shoplifting is mostly a moral panic but corporate wage theft is an actual problem. https://t.co/cB6wMrdUB1
— kottke.org (@kottke)
Dec 1, 2021
from http://twitter.com/kottke
If you’re looking for reasons to stay calm about the Omicron variant—for now, at least!—read this @RuthReader story. https://t.co/wx1JZYm5aw
— Harry McCracken (@harrymccracken)
Dec 1, 2021
from http://twitter.com/harrymccracken
The majority-conservative Supreme Court is open to overturning Roe v. Wade (either in part or as a whole). “Should Roe be overturned, at least 20 states will immediately or in short order make almost all abortions unlawful.” Fuck. This. https://t.co/CM5TgFlBnx
— kottke.org (@kottke)
Dec 1, 2021
from http://twitter.com/kottke
#VaccinesWork #VaccinesSaveLives https://t.co/YzHR1U2MPc
— Christopher A. Longhurst (@calonghurst)
Dec 1, 2021
from http://twitter.com/calonghurst
Preliminary report of #Omicron says Omicron is 1.3x more transmissible than Delta, & unvaccinated have 2.4x greater risk of severe. Those with BOOSTERS: 90% lower risk of severe outcome. But it’s only early ➡️main worry is if 2 doses enough—data is coming.
https://t.co/3hPWsYclpX— Eric Feigl-Ding (@DrEricDing)
Dec 1, 2021
from http://twitter.com/DrEricDing
New data to show that Paxlovid (the Pfizer anti-Covid pill) overrides concerns about variants https://t.co/AG5Z5XmUM8 https://t.co/YZdXgbLkQe
— Eric Topol (@EricTopol)
Nov 30, 2021
from http://twitter.com/EricTopol
The Omicron variant was “already spreading in western Europe before the first cases were identified in southern Africa”. Again, we should be thanking Botswana & South Africa for raising the alarm so quickly here. https://t.co/YISuOUdF07
— kottke.org (@kottke)
Nov 30, 2021
from http://twitter.com/kottke
3) When you hear about protection from vax potentially waning, this also means that protection from prior infection (which was less robust) will wane too. We should really be talking about immunity waning, not just vax-related.
4) Being unvaxxed is most dangerous state of all.— Bob Wachter (@Bob_Wachter)
Nov 30, 2021
from http://twitter.com/Bob_Wachter
Some confusion over vaccines, immunity & variant. So:
1) Although we hear “vax efficacy may be lower w/ Omicron,” still v. likely that vax will protect a lot, even if less than before.
2) If vax efficacy does wane, you want best possible immunity to start with (ergo, boosters)…— Bob Wachter (@Bob_Wachter)
Nov 30, 2021
from http://twitter.com/Bob_Wachter
The FBI produced this nice chart comparing what kinds of privacy leaks the various messaging apps have. https://t.co/H0ItCiBmny https://t.co/wWyePE7VVZ
— Guardian Project (@guardianproject)
Nov 30, 2021
from http://twitter.com/guardianproject
While we deal w Delta & learn about Omicron:
1 Get vaccinated / boosted
2 Upgrade mask indoors (fit/filtration matter)
3 Improve ventilation (home, work, school, …)
4 Test based on risk (eg, pre/post travel)
5 Test early if symptoms: treatments better
6 Stay home if sick
— Tomás Aragón, MD, DrPH (@DrTomasAragon)
Nov 30, 2021
from http://twitter.com/DrTomasAragon
NEW: the Moderna CEO expects vaccines to struggle against the new Omicron variant, predicting a “material drop” in effectiveness https://t.co/B2uOg1Oddu
— Matthew Garrahan (@MattGarrahan)
Nov 30, 2021
from http://twitter.com/MattGarrahan
I support canceling student debt. I have none to cancel: I graduated with $15k in subsidized loans I could easily pay even when I was making 26k a year.
I want everyone to have what I had: an affordable education and a chance to build financial stability. https://t.co/krH2msvFdZ
— Annalee (@LeeFlower)
Nov 30, 2021
from http://twitter.com/LeeFlower
Life was good when these apps were the height of technology https://t.co/PqwYPz2z0I
— kira ~ (@Sadcrib)
Nov 29, 2021
from http://twitter.com/Sadcrib
https://t.co/TKW6UuQQKb
— NotOrdinaryOrg (@notordinaryorg)
Nov 30, 2021
from http://twitter.com/notordinaryorg
Biden says omicron variant is cause for concern but not panic https://t.co/9kKZw2lOu8
— NPR Politics (@nprpolitics)
Nov 29, 2021
from http://twitter.com/nprpolitics
What to do now?
1) If not vaxxed, get vaxxed
2) If not boosted & >4-5 mths out, get boosted
3) Get prepared mentally to act more cautiously if Omicron proves to be more infectious, immune-evasive, or both
4) Follow the news & science – will be much clearer in 2-3 wks
5) That’s it— Bob Wachter (@Bob_Wachter)
Nov 29, 2021
from http://twitter.com/Bob_Wachter
Why We Need to Upgrade Our Face Masks — and Where to Get Them. Once more, with feeling: if you’re still using a cloth mask indoors, upgrade your mask (and wear it properly). https://t.co/qkLJnp3Lf9
— kottke.org (@kottke)
Nov 29, 2021
from http://twitter.com/kottke
Finally, rather than travel bans, this also raises the urgency for vaccine mandates for domestic travel. More on this here: https://t.co/7MakhP5KQz
— Zeke Emanuel (@ZekeEmanuel)
Nov 29, 2021
from http://twitter.com/ZekeEmanuel
We need to take it seriously b/c we don’t understand severity — hospitalizations/deaths rise 2-4 weeks after cases & we only know of young people with reported cases so far in S. Africa. Who knows how this variant will affect older adults? Might be much worse.
— Zeke Emanuel (@ZekeEmanuel)
Nov 29, 2021
from http://twitter.com/ZekeEmanuel
Some #Omicron thoughts…
Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence. In order to effectively track variants, we need the right genetic surveillance infrastructure. We are now flying blind because we do not genetically sequence 20% of all positive cases (over 100,000/week).— Zeke Emanuel (@ZekeEmanuel)
Nov 29, 2021
from http://twitter.com/ZekeEmanuel
Watching creativity happen in real time as Paul McCartney conjures a hit song out of seemingly nowhere. “Paul really has nothing at the 30 second mark – but 45 seconds later he’s got the makings of a hit single.” https://t.co/qH30c5eHAE
— kottke.org (@kottke)
Nov 29, 2021
from http://twitter.com/kottke
Is it possible #OmicronVariant sets us back to square one?
No
We have lots of tests that’ll detect Omicron
We have therapies that’ll work
Our vaccines MAY take a hit but will still provide some (may be a lot) protection
We are in a MUCH better place
This isn’t March 2020
— Ashish K. Jha, MD, MPH (@ashishkjha)
Nov 28, 2021
from http://twitter.com/ashishkjha
Friendly advocation for rapid tests:
Planned to gather w/ friends yesterday & test before letting anyone inside.
Tested in garage, door open.
One friend, vaxxed/asymptomatic, tested + immediately. 2nd test @ pharmacy confirmed.
Rapid tests are worth it.
@michaelmina_lab
— jen |😷💙 (@jenerallychaos)
Nov 28, 2021
from http://twitter.com/jenerallychaos
We’ve heard a lot about the Omicron variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus recently: it might be more infectious, transmissible, and able to escape antibody protection, but we don’t know. Here’s where we’re at w/ Omicron, without the sensationalism. https://t.co/JvJp56bGVV
— kottke.org (@kottke)
Nov 29, 2021
from http://twitter.com/kottke
I needed a quick video to show friends how to use my EpiPen should I ever need it in their presence
I have found it
Important for everyone to watch, pls https://t.co/31j5drr1zx
— Becca (@BeccaBeckery)
Nov 26, 2021
from http://twitter.com/BeccaBeckery
CDPH Issues Statement on Omicron Variant: https://t.co/EMJ3IRIWWh https://t.co/IaqlAlU903
— CA Public Health (@CAPublicHealth)
Nov 28, 2021
from http://twitter.com/CAPublicHealth
COVID gonna COVID
— Gabriel Bosslet (@gbosslet)
Nov 28, 2021
from http://twitter.com/gbosslet
Now would be a good time for every legislature or governor who thought it wise to pass laws prohibiting mask requirements & other public health measures to undo them. Monday morning.
Hold them accountable.
— Andy Slavitt 🇺🇸💉 (@ASlavitt)
Nov 28, 2021
from http://twitter.com/ASlavitt