Biden Flexes Executive Power In Covid Vaccine Push - Rachel Maddow - MSNBC

[Rhiannon12866]

Rachel Maddow looks at President Joe Biden's muscular new initiative to push more Americans to get vaccinated against Covid so the U.S. can move past the pandemic, and puts it in the context of past assertions of executive power by U.S. president, which many of Biden's critics are apparently oblivious to. Aired on 09/09/2021.




Biden Boosts Supply Of At-Home Rapid Covid Tests - Rachel Maddow - MSNBC

Dr. David Kessler, chief science officer of the Biden administration's Covid Response, talks with Rachel Maddow about the importance of easy access to rapid Covid tests, especially for parents who are frequently faced with the question of whether their child's cold symptoms are typical sniffles or something more serious. Aired on 09/09/2021.

[wnylib]

1. A couple weeks ago, I tried to buy

an at home test at CVS, but they were sold out and didn't know when they would get more. But two days ago when I was there to pick up a script, I noticed that they had them again. Hope I never need to use it, but it's good to have on hand, just in case.

[Rhiannon12866]

3. Thanks for the tip!

I got vaccinated at CVS, the first site anywhere near me that offered it. The closest CVS was fully booked, but I didn't mind the drive since previously the closest site was clear across the state. CVS offered the Moderna.

[wnylib]

5. The kit was $24, has two tests in it.

I got vaccinated by Rite Aid staff. Locally, both CVS and Rite Aid were vaccinating seniors at nursing homes and at senior apartment complexes last spring. Rite Aid came to a building in my senior complex with Moderna.

Apparently, not enough people in the county got their free shots. Our vaccination rate is still under 50%. This week, our hospitalization numbers doubled overnight. We are averaging 45 to 50 new cases daily, with occasional higher spikes. But, by "new cases," they must mean new positives, not necessarily symptomatic, because the number of new cases added to the previous day's active cases never adds up.

There are several rural hamlets in the county. Their daily cases look like the whole hamlet is infected. People are finally starting to mask up again, but not enough of them. The county health director recorded a good PSA that explains how both vaccinated and unvaccinated people can spread the virus. Local radio stations play it 24/7, a couple times per hour.

Kids went back to school this week.

[Rhiannon12866]

6. Thanks! I'll look for it just in case, we also have a Rite Aid not far from here

And we may be a "blue state," but there are still plenty of anti-vaxxers and anti maskers here. I was disheartened that they rescinded the mask mandate just in time for the arrival of the crowds of tourists here (Lake George). When I've driven through the Village the sidewalks were packed like any other summer. Last year everything was closed. And I've seen license plates from as far away as Florida, Alabama and Utah - this week I also saw one from Texas.

My county is holding at 66% vaccinated, not great, but better than many others in the state. The local paper reports Covid news on the front page and yesterday's headline reported yet another death - #81 for the county - and this was an unvaccinated person in his 40s. *sigh*

At least the local hospital is now requiring everyone working there to be vaccinated by the end of the month. I know two friends who work there who were vaccinated last January - when it was first offered to hospital employees. And school just started here yesterday. I read the requirements for the school that I attended and masks are required this year as well, both in the building and on the buses - but they've lifted the requirement for outdoor activities. It didn't say if vaccinations were required as well, but this year it's not only available to teachers and staff, but also to high school and junior high students. I'm just grateful that we finally have a president who's taking action. *sigh*

[wnylib]

7. We have 3 nationally known

tourist attractions in the county. I'm reluctant to name them, but you would recognize them if you heard the names. Tourism is big business in the summer across the county. There are a number of indoor activities associated with the tourism, as well as very crowded outdoor activities, plus the hotel, motel, and B&B businesses for people to stay for days, weeks, and even months during their vacations here. Not to mention restaurants and gift shops.

In addition, each local community has its own events and gatherings - group tours and hikes, town fairs, farmers' markets, etc. The farmers' market in my city draws such large, closely packed crowds that I stopped going to it in July. Usually I go each week to get fresh fruits and veggies to freeze for the winter.

Our deaths are getting near 200. There are currently about 400 reported active cases that are growing exponentially and an estimated 100 or so more not reported. The entire population of the county is less than 130,00. We had a big leap after the Labor Day weekend, which took a few days to show up in testing.

Now with schools open and the holidays ahead - well, I am really looking forward to that booster shot.

[SheltieLover]

2. K&R!

[Rhiannon12866]

4. Thanks!

Rachel was just full of breaking news tonight!

[SheltieLover]

8. Sounds like it!

[ffr]

9. Keep going! Overwhelm us with progress. We can take it

In fact, we need it!

Thank you, JRB!