India’s Scientists Know the Way Out of This Disaster. We Need Modi to Listen.

India’s Scientists Know the Way Out of This Disaster. We Need Modi to Listen. The immediate need is to reduce spread by increased testing and isolation of people who test positive. Several Indian states are under lockdown. This would “flatten the curve,” allowing health care facilities and supplies to regroup. Rapidly enhancing the health care infrastructure will also save lives. India should increase available hospital beds by setting up temporary facilities, mobilize retired doctors and nurses, and strengthen the supply chain for critical medicines and oxygen. At the same time, India cannot allow the pace of vaccinations to slow. It must vaccinate at scale now, aiming to deliver 7.5 million to 10 million doses every day. This will require enhancing vaccine supplies and doubling delivery points. There are only about 50,000 sites where Indians can get vaccines right now; we need many more. Since only 3 percent of these delivery points are in the private sector, this is where capacity can be added. This is a really useful piece that discusses which variants are at large in India. The most prominent variant is now mutating: Global data shows the B.1.617 variant to be diversifying into three sub-lineages. In a preliminary report posted on Sunday, British and Indian scientists found the B.1.617.2 variant in vaccine breakthrough infections in a Delhi hospital.

Black fungus India: COVID patients face rare, deadly fungal infection

Black fungus India: COVID patients face rare, deadly fungal infection: This type of mucormycosis occurs more frequently among patients with diabetes, which is why health experts say cases are spiking in India where one in six people have the chronic disease, according to the International Diabetes Federation Diabetes Atlas published in 2019. “Diabetes is the No. 1 risk factor for this,” Hansoti said. Up to 75% of mucormycosis cases occur among COVID-19 patients with diabetes, she added, with as many as 45% undiagnosed until they show up to the hospital.

Mystery shrouds growth in Covid cases in young people in Brazil

Mystery shrouds growth in Covid cases in young people Some distressing news about the Brazil variant: "A recent study from the Brazilian Intensive Medicine Association showed that patients aged under 40 now make up the majority of those hospitalised in the country's ICUs. Furthermore, a third of all individuals in Covid-19 intensive care beds in March had no prior health conditions, up from 25 per cent in February."

Coronavirus Strain Found in India Is a ‘Variant of Concern,’ WHO Says

Coronavirus Strain Found in India Is a ‘Variant of Concern,’ WHO Says "The variant, known as B.1.617, is being studied by scientists around the world as they try to figure out its role in the fast growing Covid-19 surge in India, which reported more than 366,000 new daily cases on Monday. The variant has already spread to more than 30 countries, according to the WHO, including the U.S., the U.K., France and Japan." Well that didn't take long--the variation has graduated to an area of concern, and it has already made its way to 30 countries. I feel a definite sense of impending doom.

A 'more rapidly spreading virus' is fueling India's mega COVID-19 surge, WHO chief scientist says

A 'more rapidly spreading virus' is fueling India's mega COVID-19 surge, WHO chief scientist says A lot of scare reporting, but the India variant is classified as a variant of "interest" and not yet a "concern" so let's quit freaking out.

Containment as an alternative to herd immunity

https://twitter.com/OhDionne/status/1389392983078825986 keep in mind that all of this is happening DESPITE variants circulating. why? because not a single current variant is resistant to the vaccines. the ones that challenge vaccine efficacy still aren't vaccine resistant or evasive. don't believe the clickbait!

Israel’s Covid Deaths Hit Zero With Almost 60% Of Population Vaccinated

Israel’s Covid Deaths Hit Zero With Almost 60% Of Population Vaccinated So do we get herd immunity at 60 percent or not? The New York Times is writing that we'll never get herd immunity.