Tracker

Some researchers fear the lambda variant could be even more dangerous than delta -Reuters Right now the world's attention is on COVID-19's delta variant, and rightly so. The mutated virus is, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), able to spread as easily as chickenpox and could be more dangerous to unvaccinated people than ordinary COVID-19. It is currently overtaking the United States, and is now the most prevalent new variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. At the same time, the delta variant is not the only novel coronavirus strain that has experts worried. Meet C.37, better known as the lambda variant. Some scientists studying it believe that it could be more of a threat than delta. First traced back to Peru circa August 2020, the variant aroused attention in June when the World Health Organization (WHO) labeled it as a "variant of interest" because cases involving it had started to rapidly spread. Variants of interest are different from "variants of concern"; the latter include the strains that most trouble authorities, such as the alpha variant or the delta variant; whereas variants of interest beg for further investigation. A disproportionate number of the cases found so have occurred in South America, although it has been detected overall in 29 countries, territories or areas within 5 WHO regions — including the United States. "Authorities in Peru reported that 81% of COVID-19 cases sequenced since April 2021 were associated with Lambda. Argentina reported increasing prevalence of Lambda since the third week of February 2021, and between 2 April and 19 May 2021, the variant accounted for 37% of the COVID-19 cases sequenced," the report added. A new study available on bioRxiv, which has not yet been peer reviewed, identified several mutations that could make the lambda variant more dangerous. These include two mutations to the spike protein, the T76I and L452Q mutations, which creates the nubs that stick out of the side of the coronavirus sphere like thorns. These spikes help the virus enter the body's cells; notably, mRNA vaccines like those manufactured by Pfizer and Moderna mimic those proteins in training the body to defeat the virus, which makes a mutation in the spike protein particularly worrisome. The authors claim that the mutations to the spike protein have made it more infectious, adding that another mutation called RSYLTPGD246-253N helps the virus avoid destruction at the hands of antibodies (which the immune system uses to neutralize pathogens). They also write that this mutation "is responsible for the virological phenotype of the Lambda variant that can associate with the massive infection spread mainly in South American countries." Two other spike protein mutations, 260 L452Q and F490S, also help the virus become more resistant to antibodies that are induced through vaccination.

There is no such things as bad publicity- ask Donald J. Trump.

Texas GOP Official Mocked COVID Five Days Before He Died of Virus A GOP official from Texas who regularly espoused anti-vaccine and anti-mask views online has died from COVID-19, five days after posting a meme on Facebook questioning the wisdom of getting inoculated against COVID. Dickinson City Council member and Galveston County Republican Party chair H. Scott Apley, 45, died in a local hospital around 3 a.m. Wednesday morning, according to a GoFundMe page set up to help Apley’s family with expenses. He was admitted to the facility in Galveston on Sunday with “pneumonia-like symptoms,” and was hooked up to a ventilator as his condition worsened. His wife was also infected, the family said. H. Scott Apley, Chair of Galveston County Texas GOP, Mocked COVID Days Before He Died of Virus (thedailybeast.com)

Trump ‘Patriot’ Who Called Jan. 6 The ‘Best Day Ever’ Gets Time Served In Capitol Plea Deal Karl Dresch will be released from jail under a plea deal. A judge sentenced an incarcerated supporter of former President Donald Trump to time served under a plea deal in connection with the Jan. 6 Capitol attack on Wednesday, telling the Michigan man that he had “placed his trust in someone who repaid that trust by lying to him.” U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson told Capitol attack defendant Karl Dresch that he was “not a political prisoner” and was in jail because of his actions on Jan. 6. Under a plea deal, Dresch pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count and was sentenced to time served. Dresch faced several counts ― including a felony charge of obstruction of an official proceeding ― that will be dropped as part of the plea deal. He’ll be released from jail Wednesday. Dresch, who called Jan. 6 the “best day ever,” made his first appearance in federal court on Jan. 20, the day of President Joe Biden’s inauguration. He’s already served more time behind bars that the minimum sentence for his offence. Trump 'Patriot' Who Called Jan. 6 The 'Best Day Ever' Gets Time Served In Capitol Plea Deal | HuffPost

Dr. Fauci warns the US 'could really be in trouble' from new Covid variant even worse than Delta COVID-19's highly infectious Delta variant has been causing considerable misery in the U.S., especially in red states with low vaccination rates. And according to expert immunologist Dr. Anthony Fauci, a COVID-19 variant that is even worse than Delta may wreak havoc in the United States if more Americans don't get vaccinated. In an interview with McClatchy, the 80-year-old Fauci — who heads the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and is President Joe Biden's chief medical adviser — warned, "What we're seeing, because of this increase in transmissibility, and because we have about 93 million people in this country who are eligible to get vaccinated who don't get vaccinated — that you have a significant pool of vulnerable people." According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 70% of U.S.-based adults have been at least partially vaccinated for COVID-19. That figure is taking into consideration the U.S. on the whole; vaccination rates can vary considerably from one state to the next. Some of the lowest vaccination rates are in deeply Republican states. The Mayo Clinic reports that the number of U.S. residents who have been at least partially vaccinated for COVID-19 ranges from 75% in Vermont and 72% in Massachusetts to 39% in Mississippi, 43% in Alabama and Mississippi and 49% in Missouri. A major difference between the current COVID-19 surge that is pounding the U.S. and previous surges is that this one is, according to Biden's administration, a "pandemic of the unvaccinated." Fauci told McClatchy, "Even if we vaccinated everyone today, we're not going to see an effect until the middle to end of September." The more COVID-19 is allowed to spread in the U.S., according to Fauci, the more dangerous a variant that is worse than the Delta variant will be. "If we don't crush the outbreak to the point of getting the overwhelming proportion of the population vaccinated," Fauci told McClatchy, "then what will happen is the virus will continue to smolder through the fall into the winter, giving it ample chance to get a variant — which, quite frankly, we're very lucky that the vaccines that we have now do very well against the variants, particularly against severe illness. We're very fortunate that that's the case. There could be a variant that's lingering out there that can push aside Delta." Fauci added, "If another one comes along that has an equally high capability of transmitting but also, is much more severe, then we could really be in trouble. People who are not getting vaccinated mistakenly think it's only about them. But it isn't. It's about everybody else, also." Dr. Fauci warns the US 'could really be in trouble' from new Covid variant even worse than Delta - Alternet.org

Agreed. I was addressing perceptions, not necessarily reality, but reputations are hard to shake. The Bombers have to have the best, or close to the best O-line in terms of talent and depth, not to mention good receivers on hot routes, so Collaros ought to have everything he needs to not only stay vertical, but shine.

It seems that Reilly and Bo-Levi are both not 100% with lingering owies. I really like Reilly for his talent and high pain threshold, but nobody can take the pounding he has endured without consequences, and he ain't no spring chicken any more.

We have to be pretty close to the moronic bedrock of people who will never get vaccinated. The law of diminishing returns is kicking in and there is little to be done to convince them to get the shot.

Collaros has the reputation of being very brittle, moreso than other QBs in the league. And to add to that, is McGuire's almost total inexperience in the CFL. I hope that McGuire has given the coaches lots of reasons to believe in him.

The biggest liability the Bombers have is behind center. Collaros has an extensive injury history and if he goes down, McGuire is very much an unknown.

An IQ comparable to that of a house plant has never stopped anyone from running his/her mouth.

Missouri Governor Pardons Gun-Toting Couple Mark and Patricia McCloskey -Getty Missouri Gov. Mike Parson has pardoned Mark and Patricia McCloskey, the St. Louis couple who pleaded guilty to misdemeanors for brandishing their guns at a passing crowd of protesters last year. The pardons were among 12 that Parson, a Republican, issued Tuesday. Mark wielded an AR-15-style rifle at the demonstrators, who marched after George Floyd’s murder, and Patricia held a semiautomatic pistol. Mark pleaded guilty to misdemeanor fourth-degree assault and paid a $750 fine, Patricia pled to harassment and a fine of $2,000. Mark McCloskey was defiant in statements following his plea. He said from the courthouse steps, “I’d do it again.” In the wake of the dustup, Mark announced he would run for Senate.

A heads-up to the faithful. TSN (Winnipeg channel 1038) is airing CFL preseason special tonight at 7:00 (Fantasy Football) and 8:00 (CFL preview).

I expect that the Bombers will have a much more balanced attack than they had in the past. Should Harris be out of the lineup (a probability), one would think that the passing game would be the dominant mode, but with their premier receiver out, that hinders the passing game. Realistically, the running game will likely suffer a bit with Oliveira's lack of experience, but I expect our O-line to chew up the 'Cats d-line and spit them out. Collaros now has a full training camp and he did pretty well when parachuted in in 2019, so I do not think our passing game will suffer much- if anything, it ought to get better as the season goes along. I am predicting a 28-6 romp for our side. Can't wait for Thursday- even if the 'Cats manage to walk on water and win, its gonna be GREAT!!!!

'Worse than nothing': Texas Gov. Abbott under fire after his baffling response to the state's Covid surge Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott is under fire after signing a wide-ranging COVID-19 executive order Thursday that bans any mask or vaccine mandates, bans anyone requesting or requiring proof of vaccination to obtain goods or services, but promotes "personal responsibility" as the means to control what is quickly becoming a new Delta variant-fueled wave of the coronavirus pandemic. According to the CDC Texas has had over 47,000 new COVID cases and 240 new COVID deaths in the past seven days, with a huge 15%-19.9% positivity rate. Since the start of the pandemic Texas has, under Governor Abbott's leadership, seen nearly 3.1 million coronavirus cases and almost 52,000 deaths. Texas reports just 52% of its population 12 and older has been vaccinated. Abbott's executive order says, "There are no COVID-19-related operating limits for any business or other establishment," and "no person may he required by any jurisdiction to wear or to mandate the wearing of a face covering." "Texans are strongly encouraged as a matter of personal responsibility to consistently follow good hygiene, social-distancing. and other mitigation practices," and vaccines "will never be mandated by the government," although "it is strongly encouraged for those eligible to receive one." The order also overrides and voids any "COVID-19-related limitations imposed by local governmental entities or officials." 'Worse than nothing': Texas Gov. Abbott under fire after his baffling response to the state's Covid surge - Alternet.org

Fixed that for you.

Fully-Vaxxed Lindsay Graham Praises Vaccine After Testing Positive for COVID-19 -Getty Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) said Monday that he’s tested positive for COVID-19 after being fully vaccinated. He began experiencing symptoms over the weekend and will now quarantine for 10 days, he tweeted. The 66-year-old South Carolina senator expressed relief about getting the COVID-19 vaccine, as he fears he would’ve been far sicker without it. “I am very glad I was vaccinated because without vaccination I am certain I would not feel as well as I do now,” Graham wrote. “My symptoms would be far worse.” The news of Graham’s infection comes amid new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that shows less than 0.004 percent of Americans who have been fully vaccinated have had to be hospitalized because of a breakthrough infection. COVID-19 cases continue to rise due to the spread of the Delta variant, as vaccination rates have slowed.

This is what you get when discounted liquor goes on sale.

Which explains why he is no longer a head coach in the CFL.

'It just went boom': Florida ICU's swamped with younger COVID victims According to a report from the Miami Herald, Florida hospitals are being overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients once again in frightening numbers as the Delta variant spreads rapidly among the unvaccinated in the state. Florida has long been a hot spot for COVID-19 infections as Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis has resisted recommendations from health officials and refuses to mandate the wearing of masks -- recently giving parents the option of not masking up their kids returning to school. As the Herald report notes, the new flood of victims flooding in are even sicker than before -- and also younger. Pointing out that every bed in Miami's Jackson Memorial Hospital is filled at the moment, the report notes that every patient was unvaccinated and now suffering the devastating effect of COVID-19. "The youngest patient, a 27-year-old woman on a ventilator, had to be resuscitated with a bag valve mask after her blood oxygen saturation levels crashed. The oldest, a 71-year-old man, has been in the ICU for two weeks. He has been in a coma for three days. When he awakens, if he awakens, he will be a widower. The man's wife, also hospitalized with COVID-19, died two days earlier," the report states. "Many healthcare workers at Jackson Memorial thought the end of the pandemic was in sight, largely due to the effectiveness of the vaccines. Then the delta variant took hold, particularly in areas with low vaccination rates, and cases are surging again, only at a faster clip." Describing the sudden surge from variant, Ademola Ayo Akinkunmi, director of patient care services for Jackson Health bluntly stated, "It just went boom," before adding, "No matter how hard we work to discharge patients we know there are others coming." The report goes on to note, "In Florida, the number of new cases and the rate of positive tests for the virus that causes COVID-19 — a measure known as the level of community transmission — is high in all 67 counties, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data. On Saturday, Florida reported 21,683 new COVID-19 cases as of July 30, the single-highest daily COVID case count since the pandemic began 18 months ago, according to CDC data. The seven-day moving average soared to 15,817, a more than 750% increase since July 1." 'It just went boom': Florida ICU's swamped with younger COVID victims - Alternet.org

This survey shows that what happened in January was not just a few isolated cretins- this was a frighteningly accurate depiction of the mindset of millions of Americans who see no problem with using violence to gain and maintain power. So much for the. worshipping of "freedom"

Florida Records Highest-Ever Daily COVID-19 Case Count, More Than 21,000. Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis has resisted mandatory mask mandates and vaccine requirements. Florida reported 21,683 new cases of COVID-19, the state’s highest one-day total since the start of the pandemic, according to federal health data released Saturday, as its theme park resorts again started asking visitors to wear masks indoors. The state has become the new national epicenter for the virus, accounting for around a fifth of all new cases in the U.S. Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has resisted mandatory mask mandates and vaccine requirements, and along with the state Legislature, has limited local officials’ ability to impose restrictions meant to stop the spread of COVID-19. DeSantis on Friday barred school districts from requiring students to wear masks when classes resume next month. -AP

Oddly enough, Pallister's dismal approval ratings may save the lives of many Manitobans. His image is that of an arrogant idiot and if he follows suit with Kenny, his popularity will plummet even further, along with the PC party's. We should hope that any hope he has of salvaging his image might convince him and his party to act in the best interest of the majority of voters instead of appeasing his nutball base.