The Covid epidemic isn’t getting better for the unvaccinated

Good. Let the Repugs die.

If they've had the opportunity to be vaxxed and have turned it down, then let them die.

Not talking about people who have legit medical conditions or people with limited access to vaccines.

I see that denial of science isn't working out for them, as they'd planned. Thoughts and prayers not cutting it, eh?

A clear case of, "Fuck around and find out" going on. Let 'em die. Dumb shits. Darwin rules!

Thank god. They deserve what they get

I don't care. Do you?

I feel sorry for the people who can't/haven't gotten the vaccine.

The ones who've had the option? FUCK them.

[quote]For the unvaccinated, it’s still a raging epidemic

Well, what a stunning turn of events.

At this point, with millions of Americans vaccinated without major side effects, if you haven’t gotten your vaccine, it’s your fault when there are consequences

Bye, Felicias!

It is their choice. What wasn't OUR choice was being exposed to covid-19 because these motherfuckers refused to a wear a mask in public. Well, suck on a ventilator, scum.

Anyone else getting a page-not-found error at the link?

This link works for me but is behind a paywall -- can somebody cut and paste?

At what point do vaccinated folk get their lives back? In some areas they can't give the vaccines away...I live in a predominantly AA city and I'm tired of wearing a mask...Now states have to advertise a lottery prize to get the shot..

[quote]and I'm tired of wearing a mask..

Careful. They won't like this.

R14 - plenty? Reports being buried? Go back to your QAnon site you conspiracy loon.

How can this be true when we are told that the vaccine does not prevent you from getting covid, it only helps lessen the effects of covid if you do get it. So anyone can still get this flu, not just unvaccinated people.

There are still over 30,000 people a day catching covid-19.

[quote] Reports being buried?

Yes, Mary

[quote]Go back to your QAnon site

I don't even know what that is.

[quote] Apparently there are plenty. The reports are being buried. Likewise, the long term effects need to be taken into consideration.

Wow a rational response, yes there are reports that the 2 shot vax's have had far more bad reactions than is being reported.

The J&J has way less negative reactions but the other two vax's have involvement and investment from Bill Gates, one of the reasons he is vax happy. They don't want people knowing that J&J is safer for many reasons, primary being that it is not delivered by mRNA.

Right r20 anything that goes against the talking points forced on us by the media that is owned by billionaires and that has no obligation to facts or truth telling is crazy. The sane ones are the ones believing everything they are told by a media owned by the billionaires. Crazy to think those billionaires wouldn't always have our best interest at heart and wouldn't always be telling us the absolute truth.

Fine. If they’re that fucking stupid, they deserve to die.

R20 and her fat, diabetic family should die from covid, along with anti-vaxx fattards. There I said it!

R21 - and all of this knowledge you have how exactly? And there's no reports in the press because they're being 'buried'.

Excuse me if I don't believe your unverified statements and conspiracy talk with no evidence.

LOL R25 - you believe that crazy bitch who has been removed from her university for her bullshit theories?

You ARE QAnon!

I pity you.

let the morons die, hopefully before they spawn

You sound like you're driven by BIG FEAR R26, hence the knee jerk aggressive reactions to people who see things differently from you.

You're the one who needs to be pitied.

You going to insult me now as well? Go ahead.

R28 - you're the one stoking fear about COVID vaccinations. Look at yourself in the mirror you crazy bitch.

I suggest others reading this thread to FF R25 for promoting conspiracy theories.

So r29 what you are saying is anyone who voices and opinion counter to the government approved talking points about covid should be silenced.

Natural selection. Weed out the morons.

The fact that I can’t produce convincing evidence for my conspiracy theory only proves just how massive the coverup is.

Buh buh vaccines are bad! Soros wants us chipped! Democrat socialist control! My body, my choice! Women’s bodies, my choice too! We support our law enforcement but only when they don’t tell us to wear masks at private businesses, because it’s a personal choice! 🤡

[quote] I feel sorry for the people who can't/haven't gotten the vaccine.

Who would those people be, seeing as that it's completely free?

Getting my first shot on Tuesday 5/25! Second is mid June. Pfizer.

I am glad to get it. I deliberately waited. But fuck it, it's time.

R31 - yes, that is what we're saying. You are not stating an opinion - you are spreading disinformation as facts. It's not opinion-based. And considering this is the only thread you've replied to recently, then we can assume you're a foreign asshole.

Like your thread asking how to authenticate Instagram without giving your phone number. Wonder why you want to hide your phone number so badly? Is it because it's a foreign phone number? Or you don't want your bullshit theories to be traced to you?

FF for r25 and R31 for showing his ass as a professional troll.

Everyone in my family has been vaccinated for awhile now, but there are some anti-vax people in our town. A few got Covid and didn’t tell anyone and continued to send their kids to school. (They were asymptomatic) . Now a bunch of cases have cropped up in the teen set.

Microchips cost $50-1000. No conspiracy loon is worth that cost.

[Quote] yes there are reports that the 2 shot vax's have had far more bad reactions than is being reported. The J&J has way less negative reactions but the other two vax's have involvement and investment from Bill Gates, one of the reasons he is vax happy.

Um, the bad reactions are things like a low grade fever and a sore arm. The two shot versions work better and a reaction just means they are stimulating the immune system, and this working. J&J works less well and thus has fewer side effects

I’d be fine if these shots gave me better 5G

Here I come Covid deniers!

I’ve seen Repugs on FB say that they are afraid they will catch something from vaccinated people.

The stupid never ends.

Catch what? A dose of common decency?

Some trolls in this thread lol

Blocking them all. Gay or no, I have no patience anymore for uneducated idiots claiming they know more than scientists.

[quote]uneducated idiots claiming they know more than scientists.

But then Democrats lose their minds with the trans stuff. Vaccines work. There are only two genders.

To me, it just seems like a lot of people, regardless of which side you're on, are willing to ignore the science when it conflicts with their agenda.

My uncle Bobby is one such unvaccinated moron. Fat, smug and never met a conspiracy theory he didn't love. I don't want him to die from COVID but won't be surprised when he does.

I guess it's a little more dignified than passing from smothering from the weight of his gunt rolling up in the middle of the night, pressing in his thoracic cavity and him having a heart attack.

Naw r48. Not all democrats support trans and all the gender BS. Count me as one.

Welcome to the “dark side” of the Democrats, R51!

When o when will the socialists stop talking about the covid? It’s really interfering in our agenda or polarization and exploitation.

Thanks r52. And to add to things I don't agree with my fellow dems on...

GMO's are safe and could solve world hunger but too many stupid people fight against them. Pluto is not a planet. Essential oils smell nice but are not some magic cure for anything. Gender is not "fluid." 911 was not an inside job. Bill Clinton was a good president but a shitty man.

[quote]Natural selection. Weed out the morons.

On one hand, I'm vaccinated as is almost everyone I love (the teens back home aren't yet but they just got permissions to do that.)

On the other hand, I'm annoyed that the virus continuing to spread among the unvaccinated will cause it to mutate into something that causes problems for all of us.

I think once more places start demanding people be vaccinated to enter or do pretty much anything people will finally take the hint.

[quote]I’ve seen Repugs on FB say that they are afraid they will catch something from vaccinated people.

True. My uneducated, conservative parents, who are pushing 80, are not only unvaccinated but actively avoiding people who have been vaccinated. They just turned down the opportunity to see my brothers and me for the first time in 18 months. It’s like living in backwards world.

I'm angry that hospitals in my hometown are still struggling to deal with covid, and thus vaccinated people with other serious health issues are not getting the care they deserve. My mother nearly died because of this nonsense.

I truly feel for those who can't get the vaccine because it's contraindicated.

Otherwise, these people made their choices, willing to ignore the impact their decision will have on the community at large. So be it. I wish we could put them in the back of the line for hospital services.

I just learned a new word from r58! Contraindicated!

we need less of these people

Fewer.

R61 - fewer of the less people, I agree.

My mom’s friend’s husband has COVID and has been in the hospital for a week or two. They finally had to intubate him this week. He’s one of those people that doesn’t believe in the vaccine. I bet he will regret not getting it… if he wakes up.

Unfortunately these fucktards that refused to get vaccinated are a drain on our hospital/medical resources, which we all pay for in higher insurance premiums. It would be better if Trump just started to pass out the cyanide laced Kool Aid.

covid is spiking in many countries in Asia. Of course, we have all heard about India. But cases are increasing in countries where it was well managed before like Taiwan, Singapore and they are in lockdown.

I hope the more people get the vaccine, I don't want xmas to be canceled this year!

"Doctor, it hurts when I don't do this."

“ The Covid epidemic isn’t getting better for the unvaccinated”

🤷🏻‍♂️

Sucks for kids under 12 and those that can't get one, but at least they're getting antibodies if they survive. The virus was mutating before vaccinations too, and due to other countries not having enough, it'll happen regardless. Idk why vaccinated people are getting their panties in a twist if they're protected and know the vaccines work on the known mutations.

It isn't a bad thing if the people in the red states don't get the vax. They may get the virus and die. Less votes!

If all else goes well in the US, COVID isn't going to go away, it's going to become yet another disease of the poor and ignorant.

I've said this for the last year.

It's exploded in Argentina since last month, when they were doing so well before.

I live in the DC area and cities are finally reporting zero new COVID cases...and of course it’s the places considered “liberal.”

I got my second Moderna shot yesterday and rested for a good 12 hours when I went to bed. Achy and fatigued but it kind of subsided enough for me to will myself into the shower. it didn't help that there was a chopper from 2am to 3am in the sky....

But I planned it to get my shots on Friday so I could use the weekend to recover.

R73, I got my 2nd Moderna shot on a Friday too. Friday evening I started getting chills, and Saturday I was down for the count (chills, muscle aches, fever). However, Sunday I was substantially better and Monday I was 100% fine. Bottom line, once you make it past today you should be fine. I’m now 2 weeks out from the 2nd shot and haven’t had a single issue.

Interesting guys. Moderna is "sold out" where I am in New England and that is why I am stuck with Pfizer. I wanted the Moderna.

I wanted to see about side effects before doing this, so Pfizer it is.

I've had two Pfizers, so not an anti-vaxxer, but there is an element who are either truly traumatized fearing doom around every corner, or who have identified the virus politically to an irrational extent.

I got my second Moderna on Wednesday. I was fatigued on Thursday and felt fine yesterday (Friday).

zzzzzzzzzzzzz

We all know by now that when you get the vaccine, you can get kind of sick. No need to keep posting anecdotes about it. Jeebus.

The vaccine turned r78 into a harridan.

[post redacted because linking to dailymail.co.uk clearly indicates that the poster is either a troll or an idiot (probably both, honestly.) Our advice is that you just ignore this poster but whatever you do, don't click on any link to this putrid rag.]

California will lift capacity and distancing requirements on June 15

From CNN's Cheri Mossburg

California will drop all capacity limits for businesses and social distancing requirements when the state fully reopens on June 15 after more than a year of lockdowns due to the Covid-19 pandemic, state health officials announced Friday.

The new guidelines, outlined by state Health and Human Services Secretary Mark Ghaly, come as the state records fewer Covid-19 infections, and nearly half its eligible population is vaccinated. And while California will mostly return to a state of pre-pandemic normalcy, it will keep mask mandates in place for those unvaccinated, in line with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance, and require vaccine verification for some very large gatherings.

For large outdoor events, like concerts and sports with more than 10,000 attendees, the state advises a system to verify vaccination or a negative Covid-19 test. If an attendee is not vaccinated, or opts out of a test, wearing a mask will be recommended. For indoor events, the threshold drops to 5,000 attendees where those without proof of vaccination or a negative Covid-19 test will be required to wear a mask, according to Ghaly.

So-called vaccine passports are not being considered at this time, Ghaly said.

Over 35 million vaccine doses have been administered to date in California and the state continues to push availability, bringing efforts deeper into communities and incentivizing shots. In one such effort, the Los Angeles Lakers are offering a chance to win pair of season tickets to adults who get their first shot this weekend.

“Californians who want a vaccine should have a fairly easy time getting on at this point,” Ghaly noted.

California health officials plan to continue closely tracking Covid-19 case rates after dropping most restrictions, but remain confident the state is in a good position to move forward.

"It's not that we won't see Covid cases moving forward, it's not that we won't see even some isolated outbreaks, but we do have the tools to be able to manage that and we have the ultimate tool, vaccination, to be able to help keep those opportunities for outbreaks to occur to a minimum and keep any spread pretty contained," Ghaly said.

Workplaces will be subject to Cal/OSHA requirements, which are expected to be updated June 3. Travel guidelines will also align with CDC recommendations, including potential restrictions on places that have serious outbreaks.

New York and Maryland follow Ohio in creating Covid vaccine lottery

From CNN's Theresa Waldrop, Rebekah Riess and Melissa Alonso

New York and Maryland both announced lotteries on Thursday for people who get vaccinated against Covid-19, joining Ohio, which last week announced drawings to give away millions of dollars in a bid to boost flagging vaccination rates in the state.

New Yorkers who get vaccinated next week from Monday to Friday will be given a lottery ticket with a chance to win as much as $5 million, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said at a news briefing Thursday.

And starting on Tuesday, the Maryland Lottery will randomly select a vaccinated Marylander for a $40,000 prize every single day, Gov. Larry Hogan announced Thursday.

The Maryland drawings will be held for 40 days through July 3, and on July 4, a winner will get a grand prize of $400,000, Hogan said.

"So it's a total of $2 million in prize money for a vaccinated Marylander," Hogan said. "Entry is very simple -- all you have to do is get vaccinated for Covid-19 here in Maryland, be a Maryland resident and be 18 or older. Anyone 18 and older who has already been vaccinated for Covid-19 in the state of Maryland, at any time, is also eligible for these prizes and will automatically be entered to win." "So remember Maryland -- get your shot for a shot to win," Hogan said.

Covid-19 deaths in Latin America and the Caribbean top 1 million

From CNN’s Samantha Beech and Claudia Rebaza

Latin America and the Caribbean have recorded more than 1 million deaths known to be related to Covid-19, a CNN analysis of Johns Hopkins University data shows.

As of Friday, Latin America and the Caribbean have reported a total of at least 1,000,071 deaths due to Covid-19.

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) director, Carissa F. Etienne, described the death toll as a “tragic milestone” in a statement Friday. The PAHO puts the death toll in Latin America and the Caribbean slightly higher, at 1,001,781. It has called on the world to intensify efforts to improve the region’s access to vaccines.

CNN’s analysis is based on figures from Johns Hopkins and local health ministries as of 7 p.m. ET Friday. The data for Latin America and the Caribbean includes the following countries: Brazil, Peru, Chile, Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, Ecuador, Bolivia, Panama, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Venezuela, Costa Rica, Haiti, Paraguay, Nicaragua, Cuba, Uruguay, Jamaica, Suriname, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, the Bahamas, Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda and Belize. The region includes other countries and territories, but they have had few or no coronavirus deaths.

The PAHO said almost 89% of the deaths occurred in five countries: Brazil (44.3%), México (22.1%), Colombia (8.3%), Argentina (7.3) and Peru (6.7%). Three percent of the deaths were concentrated in Central America and 1% in the Caribbean.

“More than one million lives have been cut short because of Covid-19. This is a tragic milestone for everyone in the region,” said Etienne. “This pandemic is far from over, and it is hitting Latin America and the Caribbean severely, affecting our health, our economies, and entire societies. Yet only about 3% of our citizens have been vaccinated.”

More than 153 million people have been immunized in the Americas, but only 21.6% of these are in Latin America and the Caribbean, the PAHO said.

“We urge countries with extra doses to consider donating a significant portion of these to the Americas, where these life-saving doses are desperately needed and will be promptly used,” Etienne said.

Etienne also called on those in the region to observe public health measures, including wearing masks, social distancing, hand hygiene, and ventilating closed spaces when possible. She urged people to get vaccinated when called on by national governments, adding, “Vaccines are safe and effective and a major tool to stop this pandemic.”

"Singapore cases rose after a fully vaccinated nurse at a hospital developed a cough and sore throat. Two weeks later, more than half of the patients in her ward tested positive. A similar situation played out a the airport, where an 88-year-old janitor who was fully vaccinated tested positive. Within weeks, the cluster grew to 86 other people."

So much for the theory that the vaccinated can't infect others.

R80 Unbelievable. Even questioning this would have got you banned a week ago. Even if you google, "Man Made Virus", the first hundred results are "Fact Checkers" who deny it. Most laughable are the fact checked articles which simply say that the origin is unknown. How can you fact check something when there is an absence of facts? We are living in a clown world.

Do you know what kind of vaccine they got R84?

yes, that Indian variant is worrisome. Germany is requiring UK visitors to quarantine for 2 weeks now.

[quote]Do you know what kind of vaccine they got

"The country ... uses the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines."

R84, 88 years old and still working?! oh my...

Rand Paul said he isn't getting the vax coz he has natural immunity...since he already had it.

R63, he's FAT isn't he.

North Carolina will give $25 to individuals who get the Covid-19 vaccine

From CNN's Devon Sayers

As part of an ongoing effort to get more North Carolinians vaccinated, the state is offering $25 "Summer Cash" cards at select vaccine sites, according to a news release from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS).

NCDHHS will begin offering the cash incentives on Wednesday through June 8. The cards will be distributed at select vaccine sites in Mecklenburg, Guilford, Rowan and Rockingham counties, the release stated.

Anyone 18 and older who gets their first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine or drives someone to get their shot will receive the $25 cash card, while supplies last.

The cash cards are for first dose vaccinations only, for both the person being vaccinated and the driver, according to the release.

"Vaccines are the key to emerging from this pandemic and we must continue to do all that we can to get shots into arms," said Gov. Roy Cooper.

NC will have more takers if they switch to a $3 Trump coin.

[quote]Blocking them all. Gay or no, I have no patience anymore for uneducated idiots claiming they know more than scientists.

We have a population of utter morons in this country who won't listen to doctors or scientists who have impeccable credentials, yet they'll watch a video by some crackpot on Facebook or Youtube and treat it like Gospel.

Some people are just too fucking stupid to live.

So the herd for immunity is getting smaller.

[quote]We have a population of utter morons in this country who won't listen to doctors or scientists who have impeccable credentials, yet they'll watch a video by some crackpot on Facebook or Youtube and treat it like Gospel.

"This chiropractor from Poughkeepsie knows what's really going on!"

Darwinism is working. Let the Trumptards rot.

4 US states have fully vaccinated half of their residents, CDC data shows

From CNN's Deidre McPhillips

About 39% of the US population — nearly 131 million people — is fully vaccinated against Covid-19, according to data published Monday by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

But four states have already fully vaccinated more than half of their total resident population:

Connecticut

Maine

Massachusetts

Vermont

Nearly 164 million people in the US — about 49% of the population — have received at least one dose of Covid-19 vaccine, CDC data show.

Overall, 286,890,900 total doses of vaccine have been reported administered, about 80% of the 357,250,475 doses delivered.

That’s about 1.2 million more doses reported administered since Sunday, for a seven-day average of about 1.8 million doses administered per day.

Note: Data published by the CDC may be delayed, and doses may not be reported on the day administered.

More than 2.7 million Ohioans have registered for state's Vax-a-Million drawing

From CNN's Rebekah Riess

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced today, that 2,758,470 Ohioans have registered for the $1 million Vax-a-Million drawing and 104,386 young Ohioans have registered for the state’s scholarship drawing, as the first winners will be announced this Wednesday.

The governor said since announcing the promotion, Ohio has seen the biggest increase in vaccinations in the 16-to-17-year-old age group, a 94% increase.

“Very, very interesting. One assumes that they’re very interested in getting that scholarship. They’re looking at college coming up and they’re looking to see if they can get in and win,” DeWine said.

Among 18-to-19-year-olds, there has been a 46% increase and in the 20-to-49-year-olds age group, the state has seen a 55% increase in Covid-19 vaccinations.

Additionally, the governor noted that as of this morning, the state has had 74 million page views on the Vax-a-Million registration page. The amount of earned media that the state has received for the first seven days since the drawing was announced comes up to $15 million of free earned media, DeWine said.

More on the campaign: According to a news release from Ohio's health department, Ohioans who are 18 and older who have received at least one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine "can enter to win one of five $1 million prizes."

Ohioans ages 12 to 17 who have received at least one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine "can enter to win one of five four-year, full-ride scholarships, including room and board, tuition, and books, to any Ohio state college or university."

No it isn't R95.

“Last fall, there were reports that antibodies wane quickly after infection with the virus that causes COVID-19, and mainstream media interpreted that to mean that immunity was not long-lived,” said senior author Ali Ellebedy, PhD, an associate professor of pathology & immunology, of medicine and of molecular microbiology. “But that’s a misinterpretation of the data. It’s normal for antibody levels to go down after acute infection, but they don’t go down to zero; they plateau. Here, we found antibody-producing cells in people 11 months after first symptoms. These cells will live and produce antibodies for the rest of people’s lives. That’s strong evidence for long-lasting immunity.”

@apoorva_nyc NEW: Immunity to the coronavirus lasts at least a year, possibly a lifetime, and improves over time especially after vaccination, according to two new studies

I don’t care at this point. Let the dumb people die.

"cause it to mutate into something that causes problems for all of us"

Same old trope people still use about HIV and Prep etc but somehow hasn't happened, and won't happen with covid.

Many folks are so invested in the subject that they don't want it to end.

Stupid cunts

And to the stupidest cunt, R104, I’m a performer and like the millions of us in the US we are never going to work again until audiences are safe to congregate together, which they aren’t (yet) at this time

Sanofi and GlaxoSmithKline begin Phase 3 trial for coronavirus vaccine

From CNN's Jacqueline Howard

The companies Sanofi and GlaxoSmithKline announced on Thursday that they have started enrolling volunteers in their Phase 3 clinical trial to assess the safety and efficacy of their coronavirus vaccine.

The trial will include more than 35,000 participants aged 18 and older from around the world, including the United States, Asia, Africa and Latin America, according to statements from the companies.

"We are encouraged to see first vaccinations starting to take place in such an important, pivotal Phase 3 study, as we believe that our unique technology platform will provide a clinically-relevant vaccine option," Thomas Triomphe, executive vice president and global Head of Sanofi Pasteur, said in the statement.

"We have adapted our vaccine development strategy based on forward-looking considerations as the virus continues to evolve, as well as anticipating what may be needed in a post-pandemic setting," Triomphe said. "This trial is testament to the urgency and agility in our approach to help overcome the ongoing impact of this pandemic."

The companies announced that they plan to evaluate the efficacy of their vaccine against variants and test boosters. The release noted that, pending positive Phase 3 trial results, the vaccine could be authorized as early as in the fourth quarter of this year if all goes well.

"We believe further solutions for COVID-19 are very much needed to help reach people around the world, especially as the pandemic evolves and variants continue to emerge," Roger Connor, President of GSK Vaccines, said in the statement.

Delta will only hire people who have been vaccinated, CEO says

From CNN's Elise Hammond

CEO of Delta Airlines Ed Bastian said the company will only be hiring people who are vaccinated as travel, particularly on planes, starts to reopen.

He said as they are evaluating applicants, Delta can ask them if they have been vaccinated.

"If they haven't been vaccinated, we're not going to take them into the employment," he told CNN on Thursday. "We have 20, 30, 40 applicants per job so we have the opportunity to be selective," he added.

Bastian said Delta is encouraging all current employees to get the shot, and right now, about 64% worldwide are vaccinated.

Delta Airlines will be operating at close to 90% of its capacity in the US by this summer, according to Bastian. He said this is ahead of an anticipated surge in demand as restrictions relax.

Bastian said ticket prices are at about 15-20% what they were in 2019.

"As the summer plans continue to get booked, I encourage everyone to go out and hold your seats and get your plans booked because pricing will eventually start to respond to the big surge in demand," he said.

He said Delta will continue to require passengers to wear masks on planes for now, adding the airline will re-evaluate after the federal mandate ends in September.

"I think the majority of our customers appreciate the fact that we... particularly as the planes are full, we're flying at 80% to 90% load factors for this weekend, so I think people actually are happy to be wearing masks, collectively," Bastian said.

The 90-day countdown for Biden's investigation into Covid-19 origins began yesterday

From CNN's Kaitlan Collins

An administration official tells CNN the 90-day window President Biden has given the US intelligence community to investigate the origins of Covid-19 started Wednesday, meaning officials should wrap up their deep dive by Aug. 24.

The White House has not yet committed to making the results of that report public. Officials had privately debated not even announcing the investigation, multiple people told CNN, but decided to do so in the end amid heightened interest.

President Biden made the ultimate decision to make the investigation public.

More on the investigation: Biden said in a statement Wednesday that in March he directed his national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, to task the intelligence community with preparing a report on the most up-to-date analysis of the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic, including whether the virus emerged from human contact with an infected animal or from a laboratory accident. Biden said he received that report earlier this month and asked for additional follow-up.

A series of factors went into Biden's decision to task his intelligence community with a deeper dive into the origins of Covid-19, including the thinking that the initial March-ordered report didn't go far enough in delving into the issue, according to a source familiar with the decision.

Biden viewed Wednesday's statement, and additional review, as in the compelling public interest given the scale of the devastation wrought by the pandemic, the source said.

CNN's Kate Sullivan, Donald Judd and Phil Mattingly contributed reporting to this post.

Taiwan unveils $7.5 billion relief package as Covid-19 cases rise

From CNN's Eric Cheung in Taipei, Taiwan

Taiwan plans to spend $7.55 billion on relief measures as it fights its worst Covid outbreak so far, the self-ruled island's National Development Council said Thursday.

The funds will go to subsidies for workers like taxi drivers and tour guides, as well as partial salary compensation for companies affected by ongoing restrictions.

The proposal, which will be discussed in the legislature by the end of the month, is the fourth round of Covid relief that Taiwan has announced since last year, with the first three rounds collectively worth $15 billion.

Contact tracing troubles: On Tuesday, the island's health minister said more than 300 people who tested positive for Covid have been unreachable.

Authorities have been unable to immediately contact 146 people in the capital, Taipei, and 164 in the surrounding New Taipei City, minister Chen Shih-chung told a news conference, voicing concerns this could increase the risk of transmission.

Some background: In 2020, Taiwan had one of the most successful Covid-19 responses in the world, and went more than 250 days without reporting any local infections. The democratic island has been praised internationally for its quick initial action and effective containment measures.

But cases began rising in early May, spiraling into Taiwan's worst outbreak and prompting stringent new restrictions.

On Thursday, Taiwan reported 405 new cases, according to the Central Epidemic Command Center. It also reported 13 new Covid-related deaths -- the highest single-day figure of the pandemic.

Australia's Victoria state announces 7-day lockdown after fresh outbreak

From CNN's Paul Devitt in Sydney and Sophie Jeong in Hong Kong

The Australian state of Victoria will enter a seven-day circuit-breaker lockdown, as health authorities race to contain a fresh cluster of infections in greater Melbourne.

The lockdown will start at 11:59 p.m. local time Thursday, running until June 3. People will only be allowed to leave their homes for five reasons: shopping for necessary goods and services, authorized work or permitted education, exercise, caregiving or compassionate and medical reasons, and to get vaccinated.

“We've seen more evidence we're dealing with a highly infectious strain of the virus, a variant of concern, which is running faster than we have ever recorded,” Victoria Acting Premier James Merlino told reporters in Melbourne.

Merlino said they have identified more than 10,000 primary and secondary contacts who will need to either quarantine, or test and isolate, adding “that number will continue to grow and change."

A cluster of infections in greater Melbourne early this week rose to 26 total cases on Thursday, after the state reported 12 new infections overnight.

[quote]Many folks are so invested in the subject that they don't want it to end.

Yea, the idiots who wouldn’t wear a mask and now aren’t getting vaccinated. They’re stringing it out for all of us.

Pennsylvania to lift mask mandate by end of June, acting health secretary says

From CNN’s Ganesh Setty

Pennsylvania’s mask order will be lifted on June 28 or when 70% of all adults in the state have received their second vaccine dose, whichever comes first, the commonwealth’s acting health secretary Alison Beam announced during an ongoing press conference Thursday, citing encouraging vaccination data.

According to Beam, “nearly 98%” of Pennsylvanians over the age of 65 have received at least one vaccine dose, while 52.7% of all adults have completed their vaccine regimen.

On Wednesday, Pennsylvania crossed the milestone of having more than 70% of adults partially vaccinated.

“Once the statewide masking order is lifted, Pennsylvania will continue to follow the CDC guidance for wearing a mask where required by law, rule, and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance,” a statement from the health department said.

“I assure you that the department of health will continue making getting the vaccine as convenient as possible,” Beam said.

Gee, isn't it weird how COVID cases are dropping in places with high vaccine rates? Strange!

It must be a librul gubmint conspiracy, r113

That’s right r114. Don’t you know that everyone who got vaccinated will be dead by October? Stay away from these people, they’re all shedding COVID proteins.

I don't care. Do you?

Funny how, while making his cult followers believe COVID is nothing, Trump and Melania quietly got vaccinated in january

A "BRILLIANT" BBC presenter died after suffering a blood clot following the AstraZeneca Covid vaccine, her family said today.

Lisa Shaw's devastated relatives told of their heartbreak, saying "there is a Lisa-shaped hole in our lives that will never be filled".

The 44-year-old mum-of-one, who worked for BBC Newcastle, developed "severe" headaches a week after having the Covid jab and fell seriously ill a few days later, her family said in a statement.

Experts stressed that cases of blood clots linked to the vaccine are extremely rare.

Lisa's family said: "She was treated by the Royal Victoria Infirmary's intensive care team for blood clots and bleeding in her head.

"Tragically, she passed away, surrounded by her family, on Friday afternoon.

"We are devastated and there is a Lisa-shaped hole in our lives that can never be filled. We will love and miss her always.

"It's been a huge comfort to see how loved she was by everyone whose lives she touched, and we ask for privacy at this time to allow us to grieve as a family."

The latest MHRA data reveals 332 cases of these very rare blood clots reported, and 58 deaths.

It comes as 24.2million first doses and 10.7million second doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine have been given in the UK. The incidence rate after first doses was 13 per million doses.

People under 40 in the UK are being offered an alternative to the AstraZeneca vaccine following reports of extremely rare blood clots on the brain.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has said the benefits of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine continue to outweigh risks for most people.

It has not proven the vaccine causes the clots but has said the link is getting firmer.

^^Terrible story. German scientists say they have the vaccine-clot issue IDed and can help manufacturers solve it. Hope it's true.

From the first 7 minutes of the video linked below:

BBC report: A mystery donor from Russia with a “colossal” budget paid at least several social media influencers in France to lie about the Pfizer vaccine, falsely claiming it causes 3 times more deaths than AstraZeneca. In one documented case, a doctor was paid 2.5 thousand euros by this donor.

And more evidence of significant disinformation efforts:

“The EU Defense Ministry has discovered that 'Both Russia and China are using state-controlled media, networks of proxy media outlets and social media, including official diplomatic social media accounts, to achieve these goals of spreading fear and mistrust in any type of western vaccine.'" [why? to promote their own vaccines and maybe stir up trouble for western countries, as usual...]

Oh Vlad... and Chairman Xi - how could you? Have you no shame?

These cunts are incubators for Covid-22, Covid-23, Covid-24, etc.. Bring back leprosy colonies and put these cunts in them.

Sorta related - we in trouble, gurls! Trump 2024 & covid vac-resistance gonna bring us down....

Hackers linked to Russian intelligence seized an email system used by a U.S. agency and then mounted attacks on groups critical of Vladimir Putin. Hackers linked to Russian intelligence seized an email system used by a U.S. agency and then mounted attacks on groups critical of Vladimir Putin.

SORRY I repeated myself. The second sentence was meant to be:

Microsoft reported that it had detected the intrusion and that the same hackers behind the earlier SolarWinds attack were responsible.

One of our employees went to groom a dog and she could hear the people coughing. She put the grooming table on the porch and straight up asked them if they had coronavirus. They insisted it was just a cold. 2 days later the dog owner called to say her husband was in the hospital with pneumonia and had tested positive for coronavirus. They were still in disbelief that his pneumonia was related to the fucking covid that they felt comfortable enough to try to give to my coworker. She's had coronavirus and been vaccinated but acted insulted that I asked her to wear a mask, but complied. This was 3 days ago. This shit ain't over

To which I say: tough shit. And it’s no longer our responsibility to wear masks and protect these unvaccinated shits either.

They’re on their own now.

(Oh and to those who haven’t gotten both shots just yet, because I know someone will interject here...those people are still being careful and protecting themselves.)

The unvaccinated are almost entirely Trumpers.

What's the problem?

Those Russian disinformation hackers are doing a bangup job in France according to this chart (details in R120). This is happening in the US too.

Percent unvaccinated and not willing to be vaccinated (ourworldindata.org)

France 34%; US 28%; Italy, South Korea 22%; Canada, Norway 21%; Germany 19%; Denmark 17%; UK 12%

[quote]The unvaccinated are almost entirely Trumpers. What's the problem?

As has been explained over and over again, as long as the virus continues to spread among the unvaccinated, it can mutate into a form the vaccines will not work against.

My brother is EMS. Yesterday, he had to assist four pedestrians who were hit by cars. That was a lot for one day.

And all four of them had been vaccinated.

There is a side effect that no one is talking about.

Must be the magnets in the vaccine, R129, they're attracting the metal in the cars.

UK approves single-dose Janssen Covid-19 vaccine

From CNN's Amy Cassidy

The single-dose Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccine – known as Janssen, which is the the vaccine arm of Johnson & Johnson – has been approved for use in the UK by regulators, the country’s Department of Health announced Friday.

The UK government has secured 20 million doses of the shot and it is expected to be available from later this year, the department said in a statement.

“The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has today announced that the COVID-19 Vaccine Janssen meets the expected standards of safety, quality and effectiveness,” it said.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson welcomed the news on Twitter, saying it is “another boost to our hugely successful vaccination programme.”

He added: “As we encourage everyone to get their jabs, the single-dose Janssen vaccine will play an important role in helping us protect people from the virus. When you get the call, get the jab.”

1 in 10 Americans have been infected with Covid-19, data shows

From CNN’s Deidre McPhillips

About one in 10 Americans have had a confirmed Covid-19 infection, with more than 33.2 million total reported cases United States, according to data from Johns Hopkins University

But reported infections are likely an undercount. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that closer to one in three Americans have had Covid-19 – with about 115 million total infections estimated through mid-April.

Official case rates are highest in North Dakota, Rhode Island and South Dakota, according to JHU data, with more than 14% of the population infected in each state since the beginning of the pandemic

They’re lowest in Hawaii, Vermont and Oregon – each with reported cases for less than 5% of the population.

I thought some blacks are afraid that the batches sent to 'black areas' might be "tainted" (Tuskeegee cultural PTSD, paranoia)?

[post redacted because linking to dailymail.co.uk clearly indicates that the poster is either a troll or an idiot (probably both, honestly.) Our advice is that you just ignore this poster but whatever you do, don't click on any link to this putrid rag.]

R134 they're doing the lord's work

Denver Cop: "You F*cksticks Rushing Out To Get Your Vaccine..."

33-year-old Daniel "Duke" Trujillo, a deputy with the Denver Sheriff Department died of COVID complications Wednesday night – the second deputy with the department to die from the virus this month:

Vietnam’s Health Ministry announced Saturday that it had detected a highly transmissible new variant of the coronavirus that has helped fuel a recent wave of infections in the country.

Genetic sequencing indicated that the new variant was a mix of the coronavirus strains first detected in the United Kingdom and India.

Health Minister Nguyen Thanh Long said the new variant was particularly contagious via air, and viral cultures have revealed it replicates extremely quickly. “The new variant is very dangerous,” Long said in a statement.

So, forced vaccinations when?

If the shoe were on the other foot, with an R prez trying to get vaccinations done, I could see some lefties hemming and hawing about it.

The B.1.617.2 is doing a number on the UK:

Brits decided on that 12-week jab-gap. Surprise!

Context: New cases = 4000... out of 60 million people.

Vietnam reports new, highly contagious variant of COVID-19

Vietnam health officials have identified a new, highly transmissible variant of the coronavirus, according to a report.

The new variant is a mix of the strains of COVID-19 found in the United Kingdom and India, the Vietnamese Health Ministry told VnExpress, an international newspaper.

The new variant is very contagious and can replicate itself quickly, the Hill reported Saturday. It has caused a recent wave of new infections in the country.

Oh, golly gee, it isn't getting better for them? 😊

R139, since it was science based, it was non partisan. The Repugs made it into a political discussion.

I’ll be honest: The vaccines were being rolled out during the final weeks of Trump’s term, and I planned on waiting a year or more until further researched proved their safety. I believed he was so desperate to do anything to stay in power, he would put lives at risk by encouraging political flunkies at the CDC and FDA to approve ineffective vaccines for emergency use.

They just announced here in the US that employers can require the vaccine.

This should wake some folks up.

R145

At least you admit to being in a tribal bubble.

For all the hand-wringing and doomsday scenarios, the US is at a point where over 50% of ALL people are vaccinated, which includes 60% of anyone over the age of 12. Also, thanks to incentives and employer mandates, vaccinations are trending upward after weeks of declining.

I’ve followed all the public health guidance from the beginning of the pandemic, but in the past few days alone I shared close quarters with someone outside my household and went into a few bars and restaurants without a mask. I know we aren’t out of the woods, but vaccinated people are showing what’s possible...

[quote] Denver Cop: "You F*cksticks Rushing Out To Get Your Vaccine..."33-year-old Daniel "Duke" Trujillo, a deputy with the Denver Sheriff Department died of COVID complications Wednesday night – the second deputy with the department to die from the virus this month:

This week’s recipient of the Darwin Award is...

The Brits decided in the 12 weeks to get most first doses in more arms. Many countries are doing that. Meanwhile the U.S. is sitting on stockpiles of doses with millions reluctant to get a shot. I don't quite know what to think about that. I get it - you gotta keep supply for converts, yet the world's on fire.

R147, I think R145's post expresses what I feel would have been a justifiable fear on the part of the left regarding the vaccines had Trump still been president. Trump made it clear from the start of the pandemic that he did not take it the least bit seriously and was only concerned about how it impacted him politically, so with that reality in front of us, what reason would we have had to trust him about the efficacy of the vaccines? None in my opinion. Compare that to Biden, who has had a long and reputable career in government and public service and who took the pandemic seriously from day one; I feel the ONLY reason we are where we are now is because of Biden, who had a plan and executed it brilliantly to get the country back on track. Had Trump still been president, even with the vaccines being as good as they are, I don't think the distribution/rollout would have been anywhere near as efficient; moreover, despite this, once we saw over time that the vaccines did indeed work, I think most, if not all of us on the left would have been very willing and anxious to get our shots (despite whatever boost it might give Trump politically). I feel this is the direct opposite of Trump's supporters, many of whom are still refusing to get the shot not out of a legitimate fear of their effect but out of their twisted sense of loyalty to Trump because God forbid the public good should outweigh keeping the orange shitstain happy. And of course Trump wanted it that way, which is why he chose to get the shot but only in private so that his idiot base wouldn't see him do it and think the coast is clear now to do the same.

So yes, while tribal bubbles exist on both sides, I do feel there's a real and legitimate difference between us and them on this point.

But the Pfizer vaccine was developed by a German company, BioNTech or something like that.

Can't see how they'd be influenced by Trump.

I love how everyone acts like these vaccines were just developed in the last year. How do you even think that is possible?

They have been working on corona-vaccines ever since sars. Long before Trump. Long before COVID-19. This vaccine was tested and been through all the clinical stages of approval.

@StevenTDennis 6h

“97% or more of current cases are among unvaccinated people”

Yes, the gubmint will require everyone to come in for vaccinations and while they’re at it, bring their guns in for confiscation.

[quote]Unfortunately these fucktards that refused to get vaccinated are a drain on our hospital/medical resources, which we all pay for in higher insurance premiums.

This is where I think opinions about vaccines will change; employers can't make their employees get vaccinations, but insurance companies can provide incentives like "XX off your premiums if you can provide proof of vaccination" - or summer camps are implementing these very strict protocols - unless you're vaccinated, at which point they'll waive them.

So by all means, wear that unvaccinated star all you want, but corporate America - sneaky bitches that they are - will find ways to punish you.

Vegas hotels add resort fees and parking fees to their advertised room rates. And now will be adding unvaccinated fees for those who cannot show evidence of vaccination.

R157 r156 I hope all that happens. They’re no longer our responsibility. And if by some tiny chance I got a breakthrough asymptomatic case , and then a tiny chance on top of that I unwittingly passed it to some unvaccinated fuck, well tough shit they should have either vaxxed or continued masking and distancing (which those who WANT to get vaxxed but haven’t just yet are still doing). But it’s not our responsibly anymore to mask and distance just to protect THEM. Fuck that.

"employers can't make their employees get vaccinations"

Except they can and they are starting to do it. The government just said employers can require their employees to have had the vaccine.

It is such a simple thing to do, and in some places you can win prizes and money for getting a shot.

No one should be getting churlish about vaccinations.

R159---via CNN

The EEOC already said in December that companies can legally mandate all employees re-entering the workplace and new hires be vaccinated for Covid-19. But there are two exemptions companies must allow for, according to the EEOC: a disability or religious reasons.

R161, in my state of Florida, one is not allowed to require vaccines in the workplace.

The cruiselines are upset about the Florida mandate. Maybe they could move their departure bases to friendlier states, like Virginia? It's farther to the Caribbean but I'm not sure the extra day or two of sailing makes that impossible.

I imagine they'll try suing DeSantis first, R163, but I'd love to see them do what you suggest.

They sail from Boston to Bermuda regularly - and Virginia Beach to the Bahamas is a similar distance. I wish they'd do it too.

And a nationwide sort of 'boycott' could help a lot. Magats would still go to Florida but who the hell wants to vacation where there's more of those scary people?

Georgia's probably no better (though they did just elect two Dem senators!) but if they wanted take economic advantage, Savannah would be a good alternative to Fort Lauderdale (for cruise departures). And Disneyland could benefit from people avoiding the red-state menace.

@EricTopol May 30 The virus continues to evolve, gets more fit, but has yet to outsmart the vaccines that humans made to block it. If only more humans could outsmart the virus by getting vaccinated. And block its capacity to evolve further.

@DrTomFrieden May 31 When you're vaccinated, you're well protected against Covid. When most people around you are also vaccinated, you're superbly well-protected against Covid.

NYT 4/17 When asked in polls about their vaccination plans, Republicans across the country have been far less likely than Democrats to say they plan to get shots. Most recently, on Wednesday, Monmouth University and Quinnipiac University polls indicated that almost half of Republicans did not plan to pursue vaccinations. Only around one in 20 Democrats said the same.

Canada moving up fast in the vaccination sweepstakes:

@ForecasterEnten 1h

The states where children are getting the Covid-19 vaccine? The same states where adults are getting vaccinated... Correlation is over +0.9. This will only serve to exacerbate the blue/red state gap on vaccinations.

What these rightwingers don't realize is that healthcare will be stretched further in unvaccinated areas, especially with maskless school back in session - even if it's just a nervous trip to the E.R. for relatively minor covid issues.

What about people with heart attacks, strokes, accidents - and these are also the same states that refused to expand Medicaid, so all this will mean more pressure on cash-strapped hospitals (and thus, more closures - there have already been some for that very reason).

And all to "own the libs"? Do these people refuse flu vaccines? measles vaccines for their children?

Dr Deepti Gurdasani, epidemiologist, Queen Mary University of London (Guardian, 31 May 2021): The Indian variant is “a highly transmissible variant, capable of a significant level of escape from vaccines – especially after a single dose, leading to an exponential rise in cases in many areas [of the UK]”

The Indian variant is in the US and we're still allowing flights from India, at least for people based in the US on work visas or citizenship. Many tech workers are Indian - and the variant has shown up in California, Nevada, New York, Iowa, well, probably many states by now.

Canada has two advantages over most countries: a smaller population and a lot of elections in the next twelve to eighteen months.

And Canada doesn't have as many crazy people.

[quote] Unfortunately these fucktards that refused to get vaccinated are a drain on our hospital/medical resources, which we all pay for in higher insurance premiums.

I’m willing to pay. It’s like paying to watch a good movie.

[quote]And Canada doesn't have as many crazy people.

If only.

There will be a surge in a few weeks after this very busy memorial day.

I am afraid you are right, R175... the dividing line is the vaccinated and the unvaccinated. Anyone who isn't is both a fool and endangering us all. It is not impossible eventually a variant will emerge that defies the vaccines and then where are we? I hate to think. Could anyone stand another lockdown? That's what would likely be necessary if it gets out of control and it looks like letting things get out of control are what our governments do best.

Yeah, WaPo pointed out this weekend that the Covid rate amongst the unvaccinated is basically what it was in January. The declines in the overall numbers are masking what's going on in America's ginormous mentally challenged population. Memorial Day will certainly get their numbers even higher -- virtually nobody around me was wearing masks this weekend.

This lib won't be well and truly "owned" until at least HALF of these motherfucking anti vaxxers are dead from the 'rona.

If that wipes Texas, florida, the dakotas and south carolina off the face of the earth then so be it.

R97 Darwin isn't working fast enough for my taste. I'm still gobsmacked that people turned a virus into a political statement. They politicized AIDS as if it were political. I read an article in time mag in 1980 about how AIDS (it was called grid at the time) was a gay disease. My first thought was how the hell does a virus knows if someone is gay or straight.

I just read in The Guardian that the UK will likely not reopen things in June as planned because of the India varient.

They shouldn't. only 37.4% of the country is fully vaccinated. Somewhere over 50 with one dose and an easily transmitted variant on the go.

The kind of only problem with unvaccinated people amongst us is that they can transmit the virus to 5% of us vaccinated with Pfizer or Moderna and 35% of us vaccinated with the Johnson and Johnson. I am all for vaccination passports and baring unvaccinated people from venues of gatherings of more than 50 people, including schools. A polio and measles outbreak is just a matter of time thanks to the antivaxxers and visitors from countries that have had outbreaks.

We got off easy with Covid, lucky us, but it showed us how unprepared we are for a real plague, which is bound to happen.

[quote] The kind of only problem with unvaccinated people amongst us is that they can transmit the virus to 5% of us vaccinated with Pfizer or Moderna and 35% of us vaccinated with the Johnson and Johnson.

That’s not how efficacy works. Please read this.

“ One common misunderstanding is that 95% efficacy means that in the Pfizer clinical trial, 5% of vaccinated people got COVID. But that's not true; the actual percentage of vaccinated people in the Pfizer (and Moderna) trials who got COVID-19 was about a hundred times less than that: 0.04%. What the 95% actually means is that vaccinated people had a 95% lower risk of getting COVID-19 compared with the control group participants, who weren't vaccinated. In other words, vaccinated people in the Pfizer clinical trial were 20 times less likely than the control group to get COVID-19.”

[quote]The cruiselines are upset about the Florida mandate. Maybe they could move their departure bases to friendlier states, like Virginia?

That was a lot of posturing - FL needs the tourism that cruises bring to Fort Lauderdale & Miami. While other locations like Savannah or New Orleans may not be able to handle the volume of cruises, it's not unreasonable to assume that it's going to take awhile for volume to pick up anyway. Might be worth it just to show Fatty DeSantis who wears the pants in that relationship

I'm always game for a cheap vacation, but yuck...even I wouldn't go on a cruise

R170 this kills me while things are still moving well and we aren’t yet seriously threatened by this variant why aren’t we fucking banning travel there? Have we not learned our lesson?

I think we’ll be fine but when people let political correctness always color their policy at the expense of Public health it’s highly infuriating .

[quote] and baring unvaccinated people from venues

I don’t want to see that. They can keep their clothes on.

In Chicago, Covid is happening in black neighborhoods.

The demographic with the highest vaccination rate happens to be college educated black women.

[quote] Fatty DeSantis

He's thin now. Odd, he gained a ton of weight last year and now seems to have suddenly lost it.

Yeah, odd the manic governor of a narco-state was able to lose weight so fast. I wonder what his secret is.

Slim-Fast?