I’m out on the west coast for a few days which is why tonight’s update is a bit later than usual.
One way you know you’ve been working on covid for too long is when chandeliers at the PIE Network meeting remind you of SARS-CoV-2. Hope everyone has a nice weekend!
Top Three
Updated Mask Guidance: The CDC released updated risk maps and guidance. (CDC deck)
"Under the new guidance, roughly 70% of the U.S. population can now contemplate removing their masks," reports Stat.
"School districts in areas where COVID risk is low or medium may now drop masks," reports The 74.
"The new system moves beyond sheer numbers of new cases to look at how well the health care system in each county is holding up. The idea, the CDC said, is to focus on minimizing severe disease and ensuring that hospitals are able to cope with Covid cases while still delivering standard care."
AMA president says he’ll continue masking indoors regardless of CDC’s updated guidance and recommends others do the same to protect those at higher risk.
CDC. Study Raises Questions About Agency’s Isolation Guidelines: Via NYT
"More than half of people who took a rapid antigen test five to nine days after first testing positive for the coronavirus or after developing Covid-19 symptoms tested positive on the antigen test, according to a new study from the CDC."
"The study “demonstrates what a lot of people have suspected: that five days is insufficient for a substantial number of people,” Angela Rasmussen, a virologist at the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization at the University of Saskatchewan, said in an email. “The bottom line,” she added, “is that this absolutely should lead to a change in isolation guidance.”
President Biden Nominates Ketanji Brown Jackson for Supreme Court: White House page. President Biden remarks. More via the NYT.
“…when she applied to Harvard despite her high school guidance counselor’s suggestion that she set her sights a bit lower….”
"In her remarks, Judge Jackson emphasized her faith and her family. Her parents were public school teachers. One of her uncles was Miami’s police chief, and another was a sex crimes detective. Her younger brother worked for the Baltimore police in undercover drug stings."
KBJ: "If I'm fortunate enough to be confirmed as the next associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, I can only hope that my life and career, my love of this country and the Constitution, and my commitment to upholding the rule of law and the sacred principles upon which this great nation was founded, will inspire future generations of Americans.”
Federal
Biden’s Polling Firm: Declare a win over Covid and move on, reports Punchbowl. Memo.
“After two years that necessitated lockdowns, travel bans, school closures, mask mandates, and nearly a million deaths, nearly every American finally has the tools to protect themselves from this virus. It’s time for Democrats to take credit for ending the COVID crisis phase of the COVID war, point to important victories like vaccine distribution and providing economic stability to Americans, and fully enter the rebuilding phase that comes after any war.”
"Declare the crisis phase of COVID over and push for feeling and acting more normal.”
“Recognize that people are ‘worn out’ and feeling real harm from the years-long restrictions and take their side.”
“Acknowledge COVID still exists and likely will for a long time.”
“Don’t set ‘COVID zero’ as the victory condition.”
“Stop talking about restrictions and the unknown future ahead.”
COVID-19 Research
Covid Has Orphaned 5.2 Million Children — One Every 6 Seconds: A "heart-breaking hidden pandemic" has left more than 5.2 million children orphans grieving the loss of parents or caregivers who died of Covid-19, researchers estimate in a new modeling study in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health.
State
Georgia: Fayette Schools to treat COVID-19 more like flu than pandemic.
Illinois: Gov. Pritzker to end school mask mandate on Monday.
Maryland: "A Maryland legislative panel voted on Friday to officially rescind a statewide mask mandate at public schools, clearing the way for local school boards to implement their own policies the same day the federal government eased its mask guidance."
Massachusetts: Exodus of teachers and other school staff due to COVID according to new surveys,
New York: NYC ends outdoor mask mandate for schools.
Virginia:
Telemedicine company brings virtual COVID test program to Virginia schools.
Hampton schools will launch pilot K-5 online learning program.
Resources
The National Broadband Resource Hub: A philanthropic initiative empowering government and community leaders to build a better broadband future.
Hang In There!: 400 feet up, an ice climber is hit by an avalanche.
What was going through your head?
"At first? Sheer unbridled terror. I swung wildly trying to get my second tool into place. I thought for sure I was going to die.”
“Then I felt calm. I focused on my breathing. I pushed any thought out of my head. I kept breathing, slowing my heart rate.”
“I knew that, no matter what, I was going to hold onto my tools. I thought about what kind of force would be needed to make me budge, for it would not come easily."
What did you do once the snow stopped?
"So I downclimbed while some weak spindrift rained down, and attached myself to the anchor. My mind was running wild at that point. I tried my best to suppress it, and made my two raps to the ground. I got back to the car in about 20-ish minutes, moving with some gusto."
"Went back into town, grabbed a hot chocolate and a cookie and sat in the sun soaking up life for a couple of hours."