Deceleration
Top of Mind – Deceleration
Case counts are encouraging, but friends, now is NOT the time to relax. We are far from out of danger. In the past two weeks, at least five close friends have lost parents, siblings, or other relatives to COVID, some more than one. Variants pose a significant risk. Only 2.6% of Iowans are fully vaccinated.
While cases are declining, Polk County activity is stable, not low. Polk County averages 150 new cases per day. Per the New York Times assessment, the risk of acquiring COVID-19 is still “extremely high”. Despite the loosening of state restrictions, it is important to keep personal protections in place.
Despite the data and presence of variants in Iowa, Gov. Reynolds lifts face mask mandate. https://qctimes.com/.../article_fb20810b-7630-59c7-a3f9...
Polk County, Iowa Covid Case Tracker https://www.nytimes.com/.../us/polk-iowa-covid-cases.html...
CDC director says to watch Super Bowl virtually or only with people you already live with https://www.cnbc.com/.../cdc-director-says-to-watch-super...
Vaccines
As of today, 2.5% of Iowans are fully vaccinated
https://coronavirus.iowa.gov/pages/vaccineinformation
Variants – B.1.1.7 (UK), B.1.351 (SA), P.1 (Brazil)
https://www.cdc.gov/.../2019-ncov/transmission/variant.html
New variant presents re-infection risk. SARS-CoV-2 501Y.V2 escapes neutralization by South African COVID-19 donor plasma
https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.01.18.427166v1
Travel
Coming Soon: The ‘Vaccine Passport’ - The New York Times. Some countries may require digital proof of vaccination before admission.
https://www.nytimes.com/.../coronavirus-vaccine-passports...
There is now a negative testing requirement for returning to the US after international travel (and post travel quarantine and retest recommendation) for return to the US. https://www.cdc.gov/.../testing-international-air...
Vaccine-related questions
Trials data shows 75% efficacy, but a lower response to the South African variant. Johnson & Johnson’s Vaccine Offers Strong Protection but Fuels Concern About Variants https://www.nytimes.com/.../covid-vaccine-johnson-and...
The rate of anaphylaxis is 11.1 per million doses with 71% of reactions occurring within 15 minutes of administration. For perspective, 1 in every 2,500 – 5,000 doses result in an anaphylactic reaction. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/70/wr/mm7002e1.htm
Schools
Schools can reopen safely when masks are used with social distancing and ventilating rooms. Covid: CDC director says schools can safely reopen without vaccinating teachers (cnbc.com)