Trump administration CDC downplayed pandemic

Trump’s bad response to the virus has caused thousands of needless deaths.

A review of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Covid-19 guidance has found that some of the agency's guidance during the Trump administration was not grounded in science or free from undue influence https://t.co/QvoSGrCtmg
— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) March 15, 2021

SCOOP: CDC has completed its review of covid-19 guidance and removed several controversial ones authored under Trump administration that downplayed severity of pandemic. My story. https://t.co/48Ex7uCjQw
— LenaSun (@bylenasun) March 15, 2021

States with Republican governors had highest Covid incidence and death rates

NEW: States with Republican governors had highest Covid incidence and death rates, study finds https://t.co/hjES73t801
— Geoff Bennett (@GeoffRBennett) March 11, 2021

Virus poll update 3/5/21

Republicans and Democrats remain far apart in their assessments of the nature of the public health threat posed by the coronavirus. https://t.co/aiWZOcAbjx pic.twitter.com/46gb0LijDx
— Pew Research Center (@pewresearch) March 5, 2021

This USC tracking poll is a useful resource for tracking how much people are modifying their behavior as a result of COVID. The orange line, for instance, shows how many people say they're staying at home except for essential activities; currently ~45-50%.https://t.co/BT47WuNxZ4 pic.twitter.com/XTWcVlkc3C
— Nate Silver (@NateSilver538) February 7, 2021

Saturday Night Live’s vaccine game show

Saturday Night Live (2/27/21) opened with a skit of a game show where participants try to get the COVID-19 vaccine. This is not the first satirical game show about diseases. The Firesign Theatre had a comedy routine on their 1968 album Waiting for the Electrician or Someone Like Him called :”Beat the Reaper”. Participants in the game show had to guess what disease they had in order to get the antidote.

Terry Southern‘s 1958 novel Flash and Filigree included a game show called “What’s My Disease?”. My copy is packed up but here are links to descriptions. The show is also mentioned in the film The Loved One (1966) which was co-written by Southern. The one on Southern’s archives states that he wrote a screenplay based on Nathanael West’s A Cool Million. I would love to see a film of that. I think it would be best as a Tim Burton-style animated film.

https://www.theparisreview.org/blog/2019/03/18/the-genius-of-terry-southern/

COVID-19 vaccine comparison table from Business Insider

I have had one shot of the Pfizer vaccine. Side effects were minor – just some soreness where the shot was injected.

COVID vaccines compared in 1 table: Effectiveness, side effects, more (businessinsider.com)

The Black Doctors COVID-19 Consortium in Philadelphia

These doctors are doing a great job getting people vaccinated in Philadelphia. I donated to them and encourage you to support them, too.

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At Philadelphia's first walk-up vaccination clinic, the Black Doctors COVID-19 Consortium vaccinated 4,000 people in 24 hours. The daily average of vaccinations in February from all Philadelphia providers is 3,300. https://t.co/lHgRGPCttu
— John Duchneskie (@jduchneskie) February 20, 2021

Look at this line. “Vaccine hesitancy” is clearly not the problem. Accessibility is. The Black Doctors COVID-19 Consortium are trusted messengers embedded in the community. Philly, give them more funding. https://t.co/BIYwk3UVSG
— uché blackstock, md (@uche_blackstock) February 20, 2021

Home

One woman came to get vaccinated by the Black Doctors Consortium the same night her mother died from COVID. "We put a circle around her, and we talked to her, and we prayed with her, and we gave her the vaccine." https://t.co/7WAUmIdrdn
— Billy Penn (@billy_penn) February 28, 2021

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Virus and vaccine misinformation

This crisis is bad enough without lies.

We're still debunking misinformation about COVID-19. Why? Because hoaxes travel fast, and many claims about the pandemic need clarification. https://t.co/LqLfuMWMvU pic.twitter.com/t2QCMLJPVb
— PolitiFact (@PolitiFact) February 20, 2021

I wrote about how vaccine misinformation mixes with extreme faith online. It’s a piece of the misinfo story that’s often overlooked, but one that many families and churches are struggling with right now. https://t.co/fBy18RXdXR
— Dr. Lizza “kiddo” Dwoskin (@lizzadwoskin) February 16, 2021

This is from project I did last few months on vaccine willingness and link to misinfo. Data shows it is more a mix of conspiracy theories, but interestingly, which ones resonate most differ across subgroups. So for some it is a cross with Qanon, others its nefarious corporate etc
— Peter W. Singer (@peterwsinger) February 19, 2021

Facebook ramps up effort to curb COVID-19 vaccines misinfo https://t.co/Y2kdIGTkxt pic.twitter.com/3tVTaa4k46
— Prosyscom (@prosyscom_it) February 13, 2021

There's a new rule of no antivax posts of any kind. Covid misinfo has always been a strike but it's only now they're acting on the antivax problem they helped bring to the world.https://t.co/0g78oeUPEr
— celerysorbet (@CelerySorbet) February 17, 2021

This study suggests recent exposure to online misinfo about the COVID-19 vaccine in the UK and US could reduce intent to vaccinate by ~6 percentage pointshttps://t.co/Oqki1t2Ary
— Alexios (@Mantzarlis) February 17, 2021

Lots of misinfo circulating wrongly suggesting Covid vaccine can harm fertility- but this is completely baseless https://t.co/I9aTre7GTL
— Rachel Schraer (@rachelschraer) February 13, 2021

In Rochester at Mayo Clinic speaking out against vaccine misinformation online. Check out any reputable health website (including Mayo’s and CDC) to get the truth.

Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Mayo Clinic unite against online vaccine 'infodemic' | Post Bulletin https://t.co/CUvyrwHh1c
— Amy Klobuchar (@amyklobuchar) February 18, 2021

At first, China worked to contain COVID conspiracy theories. But after weeks of fiery rhetoric from President Trump and top Republicans, Beijing fought back.

China launched what may be its first truly global digital disinfo campaign. pic.twitter.com/sMyp6rkroO
— The Associated Press (@AP) February 16, 2021

DISINFO WARS: @TomPerez, @MariaTeresa & @GoAngelo team up to create Latino Anti-Disinformation Lab. First target: COVID-19. Second target: Mid-term elections. Read about the $22 million project, first reported here–>https://t.co/A2tjASqn6W
— Jonathan Allen (@jonallendc) February 17, 2021

"Some GOP state lawmakers are using their platform to promote false information about the virus, the steps needed to limit its spread and the vaccines that will pull the nation out of the pandemic…" https://t.co/aWYH808QYV
— Oliver Darcy (@oliverdarcy) February 28, 2021

Virus news 2/14/21

COVID-19 could become a seasonal illness like the flu, experts say https://t.co/yNUJD7fmYY pic.twitter.com/1TcjCKwmyO
— Yahoo News (@YahooNews) February 12, 2021

Even with Trump gone, there's an effort to cast covid coverage as partisan, reinforcing a bad existing pattern.https://t.co/aY7bWDLQvi
— Philip Bump (@pbump) February 10, 2021

Yes, you do actually need fresh air. https://t.co/1eoqdR1SR0
— Men's Health Mag (@MensHealthMag) February 9, 2021

Having COVID-19 may not protect against getting infected again with some of the new variants, new research suggests. Scientists still think reinfections are fairly rare and usually less serious than initial ones. https://t.co/nIcCAc6EhD
— The Associated Press (@AP) February 8, 2021

That routine list of COVID symptom questions is apparently far from comprehensive. COVID tongue? The virus can come at you in a lot of ways. https://t.co/9FvTKunxwe
— John Bacon (@realjohnbacon) February 7, 2021

Coronavirus graffiti

A terrible pandemic has inspired some fine graffiti all over the world

Coronavirus inspires world graffiti (usatoday.com)

Downtown Las Vegas mural by @recycledprop in the Arts District @LasVegasLocally pic.twitter.com/dht668nTEX
— Beaker (@Beakerlives) February 5, 2021

See the Recycled Propaganda web site. They sell hats and a poster based on this takeoff of Hunter Thompson’s Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas which had art by Ralph Steadman.

Graffiti has never been so powerful—or urgent. In the past months of the global coronavirus outbreak, local artists have used the walls and sidewalks of their cities and towns as canvases https://t.co/ZTswk2iD4R by @CarolineLHoward pic.twitter.com/ubR4tx651R
— Forbes (@Forbes) May 31, 2020

… not all wars are the same, not all weapons are deadly. Art by Escif in Valencia #streetart #art #graffiti #mural #urbanart #Coronavirus #hope #beauty #valencia pic.twitter.com/S1rKvVJBmG
— One World Street & Art (@StreetArtDream) January 18, 2021

… the marks on the skin tell your story, your eyes your soul. Art by SAsur in Loures, Portugal #StreetArt #Art #beauty #Heroes #Eyes #Love #graffiti #Coronavirus #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/OEHRjhkzk6
— One World Street & Art (@StreetArtDream) December 30, 2020

WATCH: Video from Instagram account of British street artist Banksy appears to show him spray painting coronavirus-themed graffiti on a London subway train during normal operating hours. pic.twitter.com/HkdFjKbOF5
— NBC News (@NBCNews) July 15, 2020

Another Fuck Corona Wall#streetArt #Mural #Graffiti #Corona #coronavirus pic.twitter.com/LeP5y0h38h
— Cuiet(4.26) Matte.L (@Cuiet426) November 10, 2020

The calligraphy and graffiti on this new mural on the Near West Side? They’re the names of people who have died of the coronavirus.https://t.co/zliOH4dkDP
— Chicago Sun-Times (@Suntimes) November 26, 2020

#COVID19 has ruined countless lives and upended the world order since it first reared its head more than a year ago. But it has also inspired artists and literati to depict it in innovative ways. Pics of some of the most interesting #coronavirus #graffiti worldwide pic.twitter.com/ydd9Doj0FX
— Kourosh Ziabari (@KZiabari) February 2, 2021

In Lebanon the coronavirus has also become a central theme for graffiti artists, following months in which their focus was on poverty and the failing economy https://t.co/Mrog89zQEX
— Haaretz.com (@haaretzcom) June 29, 2020

A woman walks past a #graffiti, amidst the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in New Delhi #Covid_19 #DelhiDefeatingCorona #coronavirus #CoronaWarriors #Delhi #IndiaFightsCOVID19 #DelhiFightsCorona #graffitiart pic.twitter.com/B3uRaKy1gp
— Rahul Singh (@Rahulphoto_) July 18, 2020

Coronavirus street art by the Rebel Bear graffiti artist on Bath Street, Glasgow, in the city centre. pic.twitter.com/xbezT4XMq0
— Grouse Beater (@Grouse_Beater) June 14, 2020

The #Coronavirus #Graffiti and #StreetArt in #London is spreading exponentially, check out some #ViralArt on #LDNGraffitiV2 > https://t.co/NKhekcJcXq 🦠 pic.twitter.com/Xe7G6KbhSP
— LDNGraffiti (@LDNGraffiti) May 17, 2020

also

“World champs” digital illustration pic.twitter.com/SbznNKoHxW
— Recycled Propaganda (@recycledprop) February 7, 2021

Virus news 2/8/21

"The best defenses against an airborne virus are masks, social distancing & ventilation, not gloves & bleach. 'Some people still don’t get it. They’re distracting the public from measures that can really protect them.'”@DKThomp revisits hygiene theater: https://t.co/0BtSh7RS4S
— Alec MacGillis (@AlecMacGillis) February 8, 2021

Superspreader Sunday? What to do if you’re exposed to COVID-19 at a Super Bowl gathering https://t.co/mtkQ7v4VwD
— MarketWatch (@MarketWatch) February 8, 2021

That routine list of COVID symptom questions is apparently far from comprehensive. COVID tongue? The virus can come at you in a lot of ways. https://t.co/9FvTKunxwe
— John Bacon (@realjohnbacon) February 7, 2021

"COVID tongue" could be a thing now. https://t.co/HeDvN1fmdH
— MarketWatch (@MarketWatch) January 29, 2021

"I interviewed 10 scientists for this story and was surprised by the vehemence of some of their language. 'Are you sure it could be that bad?' I asked, over and over." @CarolineYLChen https://t.co/OKgpOWnJ9J
— Roxanne Khamsi (@rkhamsi) February 6, 2021

What if you test positive for covid-19 abroad? Here’s what travelers need to know. https://t.co/pqENKQakQb
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) February 6, 2021

"The evidence is now clear. #SARSCoV2 is transmitted predominantly through the air — by people talking and breathing out large droplets and small particles called aerosols. Catching the virus from surfaces — although plausible — seems to be rare."https://t.co/xCFprZviQ0 @nature
— Eric Topol (@EricTopol) February 3, 2021

The antidepressant Fluvoxamine shows promise in preventing people infected with coronavirus from developing serious symptoms and having to be hospitalized, a new non-randomized study suggests. https://t.co/LjOSCcvjoD pic.twitter.com/knst04mKL7
— WebMD (@WebMD) February 2, 2021

New diabetes cases linked to covid-19 https://t.co/wvmfjnwTDw
— Farai Chideya (@farai) February 1, 2021

It’s the UK but seems to be the most scientific study out there so far. https://t.co/0ksqBE7iPF
— Jeff Wyrwa (@jeff_wyrwa) January 31, 2021

U.S. Labor Department issues COVID-19 workplace safety guidance | Article [AMP] | Reuters https://t.co/kKZ85ogmPA
— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) January 30, 2021

Did you miss a chance to say goodbye because of COVID-19? | Opinion https://t.co/gCY0qEnEDm
— The Philadelphia Inquirer (@PhillyInquirer) February 8, 2021