News roundup for Tue, Jun 29, 2021

3 Comments on News roundup for Tue, Jun 29, 2021
Is coastal erosion threatening Maimi building

Here’s a great resource for real-time fire and air quality tracking in California:

Supply chain hiccups, when coupled with Brexit logistics nightmares, spell bad news for UK store shelves. There is worry that serious food shortages could result:

Speaking of shipping and logistics—shipping containers are ridiculously expensive right now:

The condominium complex that collapsed in Miami is not unique in either its architecture, its location on a barrier island, or its inherent risks (units over a subterranean garage with reinforced concrete subject to coastal corrosion). Shifting sands, rising seas, and risky builds almost guarantee it will happen again.

The global climate crisis is going to traumatize people on a scale that could dwarf the traumas of the current pandemic. It is time to prepare not just for serious climate-related natural disasters, but for the psychological and emotional needs of people in a rapidly changing time. Community-based initiatives are one way to help communities help each other.

It is really, really hot in the Western US. Here are a few strategies for staying cool.

The heat in the Pacific Northwest is causing power outages and water shortages in Washington State. Chlorine shortages could impact clean water supplies as well.

Drinking water in California (particularly the Sacramento area) is starting to taste not so great as reservoir levels decline—the water is said to still be safe for consumption.

The world has over 182.1 million COVID cases. The world has gained 2.6 million cases in the last week. There have been over 3.9 million deaths in total. The US has over 34.5 million cases. Over 619,000 Americans have died. The US has gained about 7,800 new cases since yesterday. Case gain and daily deaths have plateaued at a relatively low rate compared to previous peaks. There have been only 94 deaths in the US in the last day. India, Columbia, and Brazil are the countries struggling with the highest rates of case gain and daily death at the moment.

The US has experienced a large drop in life expectancy, and it’s due to COVID. Life expectancy has dropped by about 2 years on average. Black and Hispanic Americans are more heavily impacted by mortality and morbidity from COVID, and have estimated life expectancy drops of 3.3 and 3.9 years, respectively. Life expectancy is expected to bounce back and improve in the future.

Is it possible that the pandemic virus can become latent in the body somewhere? There’s some emerging evidence that the virus is still present in some monocytes 15 months after infection. Nobody really knows what this means, but I wonder—and this is a personal rumination that I’ve been chewing on for a while–what we would learn if we investigated bone marrow (where monocytes are made):

Delta is gaining ground in the US, but our numbers look pretty good for now:

As Delta grows around the globe, it’s probably best to wear your mask in public whether vaccinated or not:

 

Stephanie Arnold | cosmicpixle

Stephanie Arnold is an advanced practice psychiatric nurse and a doctoral candidate in UA Tuscaloosa’s DNP program. Stephanie moonlights from time to time at UCLA teaching mental health nursing. She also likes making cold-process soap.

  • 3 Comments
    • M. E.Contributor July 1, 2021

      I am perhaps the world’s most cautious person, and I stayed 100% quarantined for over a year. Didn’t even go into a grocery store. Now that I am fully vaccinated I truly do not understand why I still have to mask up when out in public. I’ve read every article I can find on the subject, and I can’t find any DATA about why it is necessary or how it can help, either me or other vulnerable personnel.  From what I can tell the WHO statement was a throwaway comment in an interview, not a well-considered scientific opinion based on research. I’m about to travel for the first time in almost two years and would love some good ol-fashioned science to help inform my behavior.  Can you please provide some specific research to support the recommendation to wear masks even when vaccinated?

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      • Stephanie ArnoldContributor M. E. July 1, 2021

        I understand the frustration. It is a contradiction–the CDC says you don’t have to wear mask if vaccinated, but the WHO says you do. I think the WHO knows that not all vaccines are equal. Sinovac is not very protective, for example, so the WHO is trying to keep people safe globally. The WHO has not posted the data they are basing this recommendation on. You can see what’s happening in Indonesia with Delta, though. My rec is to do what feels comfortable to you, and just keep an eye on Delta infections in your area. 

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      • M. E.Contributor Stephanie Arnold July 1, 2021

        Thank you. I confess I wasn’t even thinking about the non-Pfizer / non-Moderna vaccine areas. (I’d be a little uncomfortable if we were 100% J&J here).  Good point on Sinovac and other vaccines, particularly in areas where folks have only been able to get one dose of a 2-dose regimen. 

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