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8/25/2023

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VOCs pt 2

In PA, a very rounded out set of variants here, lots of sequences....no doubt the number of which being due to increased BA.2.86 monitoring.: https://ibb.co/fDSZ5rw

In NY/NJ, FL.1.5.1 solidly in the lead, proving faster/more immune dodging than XBB.1.16 and XBB.1.5. : https://ibb.co/zPcd5Cc

LINEAGE NEWS

BA.2.85 has been found in a few more samples worldwide.: https://ibb.co/47XYXRt

8/25/2023

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LINEAGE NEWS pt 2

When compared here to FL.1.5.1, it has a +70% advantage over it, but the confidence index is still very very low at only 9 samples.: https://ibb.co/d6Psp5w

Dr. Eric Topol (https://mstdn.social/@erictopol) has a great Substack article of what we know right now.: https://erictopol.substack.com/p/a-quick-update-on-the-ba286-variant

Summary: Immune escape is a very real threat if this variant takes off, due to differences from XBBs.

8/25/2023

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RESEARCH

Dr. Bagai: C19 long term symptoms are not dependent on Tcell immunity. Long Covid is a result of immune dysregulation at infection.: https://ibb.co/GknTSjN

This ties in with @fitterhappierAJ's research showing that SARS2 "ninjas" past the immune system, replicates quickly, and when the body finally manages to realize it's there, overreacts with a damaging cytokine storm.

8/25/2023

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WASTEWATER

Nationally, C19 wastewater has plateaued, for now.: https://ibb.co/0rJMZzp

Regionally, 2 out of 4 regions are plateauing or declining, but the West and Northeast continue to show increased material in wastewater. https://ibb.co/3T7fq9P

In PA, 6/10 monitored sheds showing increases. Butler County is finally showing a steep downturn.: https://ibb.co/fH92gZs

ChesterCo and BucksCo showing notable increases but remaining below naitonal levels.

8/25/2023 (whoa you guys are fast updooting this lol)

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Wastewater pt 2

The Lackawanna County area is starting to vertical, and ready to break national averages. PLEASE use caution in the Lackawanna Co area.

CDC

CDC at a Glance shows a current +20% increase in hospital admissions and a +20% increase in deaths.: https://ibb.co/CPMJRGL

Though these are LAGGING NUMBERS and are not a good indication of current safety or transmission levels, they do show important national trends.

8/25/2023

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CDC pt 2

The hospital admission map is reflecting great increases in hospitalizations in all Eastern states including PA. Coal country is being spared, for now.: https://ibb.co/zFrL7zg

Hospital bed occupation is remaining on the whole, stable since last week.: https://ibb.co/PGD02L8

Staffed ICU beds are showing increasing use along the NY border, and in Centre Co- and Delaware-bordering counties.: https://ibb.co/pz423sy

8/25/2023

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The vast majority of states are showing a sizeable increase in emergency visits confirmed as C19, with PA showing a moderate increase from 10% to almost 20%.This is not BA.2.86 or due to any single new variant. It's an indicator of waning immunity since most people have not been vaccinated in the past 6 months.

8/25/2023

9/

Walgreen's C19 data tracker (showing data since May) is showing many states with sizeable increases in the positivity rates. Very few samples. Not enough tests are being done to track BA.2.86 well.: https://ibb.co/0QZbNjH

I certainly hope we have a safe upcoming Fall!

@cjonthehudson

oh, yw! I always feel I'm not doing enough for visually impaired because I'm not alt-texting anything at all but honestly it already takes a huge chunk out of my time to prepare this...so that's why I don't.

The CDC should definitely look into VI option settings on their stuff tho too.

@SARS2PA Yeah, I knew it was the source material, not you, so I'm thankful for the interpretation.

@cjonthehudson