The Latest COVID-19 Surge Is Just the Start of a New Nightmare

[babylonsister]

https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-latest-covid-surge-is-just-the-start-of-a-new-nightmare?ref=home


The Latest COVID-19 Surge Is Just the Start of a New Nightmare
ENDGAME
With schools reopening and hospitals buckling again, an exhausted, defiant, and heavily unvaccinated nation is entering a new and scary phase.
Peter J. Hotez
Updated Sep. 07, 2021 2:52AM ET / Published Sep. 06, 2021 9:51PM ET


snip//

For the U.S., the latest University of Washington-Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) projections forecast that by the fall, we could hit over 2,400 deaths per day, and reach between 700,000 and 800,000 Americans dead by Dec. 1. In so doing, we will have exceeded the estimated number of Americans who died from the Spanish flu.

Reaching these grim milestones will have a profound and adverse impact on the health and security of the nation. There are two major attendant concerns, and while they echo problems since the pandemic began well over a year ago, they are specific to this moment.

Since the beginning, we have seen how hospitals and ICUs can struggle when overwhelmed with a surge of COVID-19 patients, which in turn is increasingly impacting everyone else—even vaccinated people who are not infected, but need other care. Such findings are confirmed by a recent NIH study.

But in this latest phase, it’s not only an influx of patients but also the accumulating losses of trained health professionals that is so worrisome. Burnout has been a problem throughout the pandemic. Yet overwhelmed nurses and other hospital staff are leaving the profession and their posts due to a combination of factors that include exhaustion and the demoralization of taking care of so many dying young and middle-aged patients who refused vaccines. As The New York Times reported this past week, there were some 2,000 fewer nurses working in the state of Mississippi—currently deep in the throes of a COVID-19 explosion—than there were as recently as Jan. 1 of this year.

snip//

Even these measures may not get us to the last mile. It’s hard to estimate the number of last holdouts who are deeply suspicious and resentful of vaccinations, but we must recognize that this group will likely become the ones responsible for both continuing this current surge and even the potential evolution of new virus variants, and that some might even act on their anger and resentment. While we need a more assertive White House making the case to the American people that full and complete vaccinations are essential to our safety, we also need to brace for an even uglier wave of pandemic backlash.

[gab13by13]

1. Isn't it great that football is back,

with thousands of screaming fans packed together like sardines for 3 1/2 hours, with zero masks. I hope I don't need the sarcasm thingy.

[LisaL]

2. You do need a sarcasm thingy, since some posters here argue that it

actually is great. Young people are having fun.

[Irish_Dem]

3. Probably won't be much fun to spend their Fall semester in the university med center ICU.

[LisaL]

5. That is if they are lucky enough to get that ICU bed.

There will be a lot of competition for ICU beds.

[Irish_Dem]

7. They could do an ICU lottery, like how Big Ten universities sell football tickets.

[Traildogbob]

26. Just the start

I’ve been posting for 6 weeks, wait until football season. Just seeing preseason pro games and baseball all star game, and home run derby was enough to alert us. It’s worse than I thought. I love football, and watched many games the last weekend. But the distraction from the fun of the game, was the constant shots of the fans. Rabid, screaming, packed in 100,000 plus seating stadiums, waving team towels spreading the viral soup further and further. Not a mask in sight. Even sidelines, zero masks. And the announcers, the pregame college game day hosts, just having orgasms over the fans, the fans, the fans their back, it is the greatest thing on earth. And next weekend, college games AND opening pro football day. But on the bright side, watching The FSU/ND game in Florida, the viral stew of the nation, I got a strange sense of glee, as those, the most rabid of college fans, mouths fully agape, screaming, hugging and tomahawk chopping the viral spew, while at jet engine level volumes, howled that racist Seminole battle cry, sending Covid colonies ecstatically to new hosts to continue their life cycles to welcoming hosts vessels.
Now, they will travel nationwide from State to State. All the Texas teams, the Florida teams, Mississippi, Tennessee, Bama, Georgia and let’s never forget South Dakota, all host sites for the worst of the worst exploding amount of cases and deaths, will be heading to blue state stadiums near you. Also at bars, restaurants, bringing the “Fun” to us all, and destroying the nations only source of life saving facilities, our hospitals and staff. God be “Blessin” MurKKKa, GQP makin us great again and finally, football is here, with fans again. Give it 6 weeks, and Biden will be assaulted with Media blame, while Abbott and DeSatan while be cheering on the narrative, Biden said he would beat Covid. So, but Horse Dewormer stock, like GQP have and The Trump Hydro drug. Maybe buy body bag and coffin stocks. With Afghan war over, they will welcome the surge in business. Stay home, watch HD huge screens, and make money while watching football. Go Ducks!!!

[Roc2020]

28. THIS.

half my brain tried to enjoy the college games. The other half was thinking how many people in those packed stadiums will be dead in a month. Covid won in a landslide. But isn't taking prisoners.

[Traildogbob]

35. Same here

I loved the games, glad games are here, but every time the cameras scanned the crowd, I would get mad and sick in the gut. I really do not like fans of my rivals, especially FSU, or anything Florida, but this rose my disdain for them to an unhealthy level. Being unmasked, and raging like mad dogs, the all seemed like trump cultist rallies. I refuse to watch ANY game with the home team in red. Damn it!!!!!My Ducks are at Ohio Sate next week😡😡🤬🤬🤬🤬. May have to find broadcast on radio.
I think there needs to be a drone, no not with missiles,😋 but a camera like they use to view spray from a sneeze, and show the Covid soup in a stadium of 100,000 screaming,

[NJCher]

37. Sports know-nothing here

Last edited Wed Sep 8, 2021, 06:29 AM - Edit history (1)

Since I ignore sports to the best of my ability, your post brings up observations and information that never occurred to me.

I have, however, seen a shot or two of some stadium that must have been recently taken. Since it was very brief and I probably had the sound off, I recall thinking wow how did that happen? How is that even allowed? I guess because the rules about this are made on the state level?

You say you watched several games so I guess that makes you
a pretty enthusiastic fan. What I’m getting from your posts, however, is that the horror of all those Covid germs has filled you with such alarm that you can’t enjoy the game.

Ever since this pandemic began, I have had the thought that the ability to visualize must play some role in the decision to expose oneself to Covid. These people are probably sensors. I hope to write more about that tomorrow.

[Traildogbob]

38. Very alarmed

My daughter is an ICU nurse. Easy for me to avoid these fools. I prefer to watch games at home on a big TV hanging with my dogs. She, cannot Escape the inevitable outcome from this stupid.

[SheltieLover]

14. Always a delight.

[Scrivener7]

4. And because IHME has been notorious for throwing out absurdly low numbers since the beginning

of the pandemic, we can expect a lot more than the death numbers they are projecting.

There are a few very sad facts that we just have to prepare for:

1. Despite our best efforts, we are not going to get the remaining people vaccinated. And by the way, the article's blaming of the White House for that fact is dumb AF. Please.

2. Delta infects unvaccinated people at an unbelievably high rate, and vaccinated people at a lesser rate.

3. Most unvaccinated people will get Delta. This will happen within the next few months.

4. Tons of them will die.

5. Here's the saddest thing: if we are VERY lucky, Delta will rip through the population so fast and violently that a vaccine-resistant variant will not be able to take hold.

The best thing we can hope for is that last one: that in a few months, Delta would have hit everywhere, with the result that everyone is either vaccinated, immune from having had the virus, or dead. Then it will begin to fade. But in the meantime we have to go through a world of hurt that could have been prevented but was not prevented.

The worst thing that can happen is if an even more virulent strain than Delta shows up and it is vaccine resistant. Then all bets are off.

Buckle up. It's going to be awful.

(NOTE: to the usual two posters who greet this kind of post with accusations of "doom mongering" and "you are a ghoul" - you have been wrong at every turn in this pandemic. The "doom mongers" as you term them, have been proven right at every turn. So pipe down.)

[LisaL]

6. They are already talking about mu variant spreading.

After delta runs through the country, other variants are already waiting in the wings.
Covid is just a gift that keeps on giving.

[Scrivener7]

20. But Delta overpowered Lambda. It just couldn't compete. Hopefully the same happens to mu.

Last edited Tue Sep 7, 2021, 04:39 PM - Edit history (1)

Edited. Lambda has a "b" in it!

[NBachers]

8. "Biden was elected on promises to end the pandemic. He has failed. Time for a New Direction!"

Millions of dead or infected Americans just so they can sabotage Joe Biden.

[gab13by13]

9. A national mask mandate is needed,

with that said, it will never happen since the narrative is that masks don't work, confirmed by the MSM.

[Jon King]

11. President can not order a national mask mandate

This has already been concluded by National Constitution Committee and many legal experts. He only has the authority to order it for those employees directly under federal government control.

[maxsolomon]

22. I'm starting to feel that is precisely the GQP Strategy

Obstruct, facilitate chaos; point at the Dems.

[IronLionZion]

10. Megachurches

Lots of unvaccinated unmasked people packed in close together deep in song and prayer.

People enjoying sports stadiums, concert venues, bars/restaurants and large house parties. Getting indoors for air conditioning is important for folks during this warm summer. Getting indoors for heat is important for folks during a cold winter. I would hope people in cold places are vaccinated by now after seeing what happened last winter.

[AllaN01Bear]

12. new reality.

some friends and i have been having ongoing conversations about this ,,
1: welcome to the new america . the old one was a lie but some ppl tried to corrrect that lie . rip rbg , etc
2 masks WILL be a part of our new future .
3: my rights , my body, tell that to a woman. get a brian you moran.

[Texaswitchy]

13. Just think none of them his had to happen.

Well I hope all the undecided grow up and get their shots.

I do not understand people listening to face book or other sources.

[leftieNanner]

15. You are right - none of this had to happen

But there are still people who will not take the shot. I know a woman in my community who will never take any vaccine for anything EVER. Her mother is not vaccinated, nor is her daughter. (No tetanus - and they both are around horses in a barn from time to time).

My county is absolutely exploding with cases - only 46% vaccinated. We are screwed. We are thinking about moving.

[Texaswitchy]

19. Do what you need to do.

It is a damn shame people are so stupid.

Well the virus will find them.

The longer it takes the worse it will get for medical care.

People will be dieing at home or in a tent.

Care will be rationed.

[leftieNanner]

23. "Care will be rationed"

I know. I was supposed to have surgery on August 6, but it was cancelled because the hospital was full. Cancer patients (not my particular issue) are having to postpone surgeries and therefore shorten their lives significantly.

Heart attack patients cannot get an ambulance to take them to the hospital and once there, they can't be treated.

And yesterday, I went to the grocery store where I always shop. They have been very good about asking people to wear a mask throughout this pandemic, but not any more. Lots of mostly young people unmasked. I called the manager, but he was out yesterday. He will be hearing from me today. Our Dem Governor has mandated indoor masks. I will also be writing a LTE this morning.

This is bullshit.

[Texaswitchy]

27. My housemate needs minor surgery.

Should have had it all ready.

The anti- vaccine types need to go to tents.

Enough.

Not fair to put them in the front of the line.

[leftieNanner]

30. They call it "elective" surgery

But it's not a boob job that I need! To me, that's elective. Fixing a body part that's not properly operational is not elective.

Sorry to hear about your housemate.

I'm not sure what the solution is, but I hope they figure it out soon.

[Texaswitchy]

32. Both VA and private hospitals.

It will not kill her but it is uncomfortable.for her.

I am doing all the yard work because of it.

The hospitals are full of the fools who will not take the shot.

But them in tents.

We did the right thing and got the shots.

Enough all ready.

[leftieNanner]

33. Plus 1,000,000,000 nt

[Texaswitchy]

34. My housemate is a Vet

30 years.

20 active and 10 reserve.

Not right.

[SheltieLover]

16. Exactly what I'm hearing & seeing

Friend had a heart attack last week.

Waited in ER for eight hours for treatment!

Then was sent home as a precaution (with rxs) because hospitals are overrun with willfully unvaxed.

[BlueIdaho]

17. Pfizer is working on the missing link...

We have a vaccine and we have a few infusion treatments for those terribly sick with covid. Now Pfizer is in stage 2/3 trials for a medication that will act early on with any covid variant. It is similar to medications used to treat AIDS and cure Hep C. It attacks the virus’ ability to replicate and make copies. With a medication that can be taken early - we can stop the firestorm from starting again.

[ffr]

18. this group will likely be responsible for the potential evolution of new virus variants

Because their irrational plumbism brains are broken in a way that is consistent with their infatuation for all things lead.

[multigraincracker]

29. Speaking about evolution,

adapt to the new environment or perish.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

21. 1 in 500 Americans dead from Covid are not enough to satisfy the RepubliQon death cult. . . .nt

[inwiththenew]

24. This fall/winter will be worst than last

Even though many have been vaccinated last fall/winter had mask mandates, social distancing requirements, and occupancy rules in placed that limited the size of public gatherings. Flipping through the channels on Saturday I saw stadiums packed with 50-80k people, all on top of each other, with hardly a mask to be seen.

[mnhtnbb]

31. I am concerned about the football stadiums, too.

Yes, it's outside. BUT, even if students and faculty/staff are vaccinated, many of the people in the stadiums come from all around the state to games. Football is HUGE in the south and that's where the vaccination rates are lowest.

I'm going to be very surprised if the COVID numbers don't continue to climb--especially in the south--as the football season progresses.

[ProfessorGAC]

36. Here In Illinois...

...about 7 in 9 eligible for vax people have at least one shot.
That means at Soldier Field, it's likely 14,000 fans won't be vaxxed.
14,000!
No thanks.

[lagomorph777]

25. I hope 4/5 of the deaths are MAGAT voters.

That's the only way we'll ever get out of this. By watching them commit self-genocide.