South Dakota’s poor responsee to COVID-19

It starts with their governor

1 in 3 South Dakotans has now been infected with Covid. Stunning.
— Dr. Tom Frieden (@DrTomFrieden) December 9, 2020

A crushingly powerful account of coronavirus illness and death in a South Dakota town, from @anniegowen:https://t.co/7juaIMERTs
— Greg Sargent (@ThePlumLineGS) December 9, 2020

Even before the pandemic, Pine Ridge Reservation in #SouthDakota had the lowest life expectancy in the U.S. Now, more than 1 in 1,000 people statewide are dead from COVID. SD State Rep. #PeriPourier & Sen. @RedDawnFoster1 join me 8aET & 9aET. #velshi #IndianCountry
— Ali Velshi (@AliVelshi) November 29, 2020

But freedom or something. This is a goddamn tragedy and it was avoidable. https://t.co/ovv7YaA5fs
— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) November 28, 2020

S. Dakota COVID-19 deaths bust record—and Noem tweets about shopping https://t.co/fDS1AvEpho
— The Daily Beast (@thedailybeast) November 28, 2020

🚨BREAKING: South Dakota records its deadliest day of COVID pandemic with 54 more dead.

Adjusting for population, that would be like ~20,000 deaths in 1 day nationwide.
— Steven Dennis (@StevenTDennis) November 28, 2020

A South Dakota lawmaker who earlier this week visited Gov. Kristi Noem's mansion and attended her budget address in Pierre has tested positive for COVID-19. https://t.co/EexFNR5zaT
— argusleader (@argusleader) December 10, 2020

See how this works:

Vermont:
* population – 627,180
* total cases – 5,285
* total deaths – 86
* follows mask/social distancing

North Dakota:
* 760,900
* cases 86,149
* deaths 1,080
* limited restrictions late

South Dakota
* 892,631
* cases 88,023
* deaths 1,147
* "freedom"
— Amy Siskind 🏳️‍🌈 (@Amy_Siskind) December 10, 2020

Things I don't understand: SD's death rate is now 71% of NY's at its peak. How can there not be a huge backlash against the see-no-viral-evil governor? pic.twitter.com/XVr2VVQeRv
— Paul Krugman (@paulkrugman) November 24, 2020

Vaccine polls 12/08/20

AP-NORC poll: Only half in US want shots as vaccine nears https://t.co/J3CDOia0GU
— Nigel Duara (@nigelduara) December 9, 2020

This is hugely important — https://t.co/filIZ8yH38
— J U A N A (@jmsummers) December 9, 2020

“A Medscape UK reader poll of 308 UK doctors found 4 in 10 would not have a COVID-19 vaccine as soon as one is approved by the MHRA.”

Are UK Doctors Sceptical of COVID-19 Vaccine? https://t.co/bPMb0X002V
— Anna Brees (@BreesAnna) November 25, 2020

58% of Americans said they would get a COVID-19 vaccine if an FDA-approved vaccine was available right now, according to a Gallup poll conducted in late October. https://t.co/ybzmrdTvUH pic.twitter.com/YitKlRrS2s
— FiveThirtyEight (@FiveThirtyEight) November 20, 2020

9/ As I guessed, the fear that folks might not take vaccine is receding w/ efficacy/safety news, along w/ seeing that @US_FDA stared down Trump & re-earned trust. New poll: ~70% would take vaccine if endorsed by health officials (read: Fauci), up from 50% https://t.co/VrbTpML1KX
— Bob Wachter (@Bob_Wachter) November 25, 2020

Virus research news 12/8/20

Protect yourself in the checkout line is by using hand sanitizer immediately after you pay for your groceries: https://t.co/xwlBShLo6T
— Eat This, Not That! (@EatThisNotThat) December 9, 2020

Research provides strong evidence that coronavirus survives longer in cold weather and inside dry, heated homes.
— The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) December 4, 2020

8 facts about the coronavirus to combat common misinformation https://t.co/VGpwdqgMOQ
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) December 5, 2020

What seven ICU nurses want you to know about the battle against covid-19 https://t.co/AvgbsfybhU
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) December 7, 2020

We're not saying this is related. But Louie Gohmert did have COVID.https://t.co/Qu2EJXvCil
— The Recount (@therecount) December 8, 2020

"I did not think this level of failure in a federal response was possible in the United States." https://t.co/cGQnueQAV8
— The Upshot (@UpshotNYT) December 4, 2020

Want to know how to end the pandemic? Look no further than cheese. The multilayered “Swiss cheese” model was originally created to improve industrial safety. Now, Ian Mackay, a virologist, has adapted it for the coronavirus. https://t.co/oagCtZNBuv
— The New York Times (@nytimes) December 5, 2020

1 in 3 who recover from Covid have long term chronic complaints, including exhaustion, a racing heart, for months afterward. This includes people under 35 with no previous health conditions. https://t.co/PDM2arcbal
— Taylor Lorenz (@TaylorLorenz) December 6, 2020

Some Black and Latino Americans are still hesitant to take the vaccine. Here's what is fueling that distrust – CNN https://t.co/3GX4vGBffE
— jason carroll (@jasoncarrollcnn) December 5, 2020

CNN’s @drsanjaygupta says the US is at a “breaking point” as the country reports the highest single-day total since the pandemic began.

“This is starting to defy the models — even the aggressive ones — in terms of how bad things could get.” https://t.co/VEYwMuLwOp pic.twitter.com/BanAxk9OTj
— New Day (@NewDay) December 3, 2020

Almost All COVID Transmission Is Happening in These 5 Places, Doctor Says (yahoo.com)

Why radiators produce so much heat

This is the most interesting thing I have ever read. https://t.co/cMOhje1lCf
— Virginia Heffernan (@page88) December 8, 2020

Link: https://t.co/mt2VhNLZS0
— Ana Bretón (@missbreton) December 8, 2020

Most PPP money went to big companies

This is a travesty and not what the program was intended for

Take a close look at this chart/data.
Washington Post & 10 other news orgs had to sue Trump Admin to get this data on where PPP emergency loans really went. https://t.co/A7m34PG52M
— Heather Long (@byHeatherLong) December 2, 2020

More than half of the money from the Treasury Department’s coronavirus emergency fund for small businesses went to just 5 percent of the recipients, according to data on more than 5 million loans that was released by the government.https://t.co/WAYmjZzVIu
— Citizens for Ethics (@CREWcrew) December 5, 2020

https://t.co/OtYqmpF7Fw
— Midwin Charles, Esq. (@MidwinCharles) December 5, 2020

Over 25 PPP loans worth more than $3.65 million were given to businesses with addresses at Trump and Kushner properties, paying rent to those owners. Fifteen of the properties self-reported that they only kept one job, zero jobs or didn’t report a number https://t.co/gcHA7EbHNt
— Emma Kinery (@EmmaKinery) December 2, 2020

Publicly traded firms paid dividends, bought their own stock after receiving PPP loans to pay employees https://t.co/TDzrATZmAW
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) September 25, 2020

Those who defrauded the federal government to profit from covid relief must be held accountable. https://t.co/FKfNNyd0Sk
— Robert Reich (@RBReich) November 8, 2020

Even though Tom Brady is worth an estimated $200M, his company received close to $1M in PPP loans while 52% of small businesses who applied didn't https://t.co/IQ6nwbsDbc
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) December 4, 2020

Four Baltimore-area companies received the maximum #PPP #loan amount of $10 million, newly released data shows. #Baltimore #smallbusiness #finances https://t.co/QfmVST8b2E
— Baltimore Business Journal (@BaltBizOnline) December 5, 2020

There are more than 221,000 PPP stories in Illinois. Some small businesses got millions. One got $73. https://t.co/fqwvHJWFpK
— Chicago Tribune (@chicagotribune) December 5, 2020

Coronavirus stats update 12/4/20

Troubling stat: Gov. Cuomo says even though #StatenIsland makes up just 5% of #NYC population, 25% of #covid deaths in the city coming from the borough. This is also where we are seeing the strongest resistance to restrictions.
— CeFaan Kim (@CeFaanKim) December 9, 2020

This is wild https://t.co/Hhbn3ddwSE
— Ameshia Cross (@AmeshiaCross) December 9, 2020

US coronavirus surge since October 2020. #MaskUp folks.

We haven’t even seen the worst yet. We are so damn screwed. #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/98j7UETOMU
— Eric Feigl-Ding (@DrEricDing) December 4, 2020

Looks like we're again starting to see a big rich-poor gap in COVID spread in New York City.

Wealthy parts of Manhattan and Brooklyn have fairly low positivity rates. Other parts of the city are struggling more.https://t.co/FzTtPAVIGR pic.twitter.com/PTIqIYKzF8
— Nate Silver (@NateSilver538) December 2, 2020

So disturbing and destructive. https://t.co/n87Qw828q5
— Max Boot (@MaxBoot) November 6, 2020

About 4 percent of the country has contracted the coronavirus. Perhaps 10 percent of the Senate has. The rate among Republican senators? 15 percent. https://t.co/60b8osWV2W
— Philip Bump (@pbump) November 24, 2020

The COVID cases continue to grow in Congress.

Rep. @Robert_Aderholt of AL today became the latest.

Here are some stats I've complied…

1/
— Lisa Desjardins (@LisaDNews) December 4, 2020

last 2 million cases in under two weeks https://t.co/EjCY0ccSwA
— Laura Rozen (@lrozen) November 21, 2020

what are people doing https://t.co/gRwbmJujDu
— Amanda Terkel (@aterkel) November 18, 2020

NYC has zip-code level data on positivity, which clearly demonstrates that politics>>population density. Neighborhoods like Jackson Heights, 60K/sq mile, far less dangerous than Trump country/aka Staten Island, with 8K/sq mi pic.twitter.com/1USmB0thDE
— Paul Krugman (@paulkrugman) November 18, 2020

Coronavirus polls update 12/4/20

Americans who will get coronavirus vaccine via new Pew Research poll:

83% Asian
75% Postgrad
75% Over 65
71% Upper income
69% Democrats
67% Men
66% College
63% Hispanic
61% White
60% Middle income
56% HS or less
55% Under 30
55% Lower income
54% Women
50% Republicans
42% Black
— Ryan Struyk (@ryanstruyk) December 4, 2020

Gender gap on COVID vaccine is especially notable because it doesn't track with usual partisan gender gap. Per new Pew poll, men (67%) & Democrats/leaners (69%) are more likely to say they'll take the vaccine than women (54%) & Republicans/leaners (50%).https://t.co/2Vst8ge4y5 https://t.co/JFNDJkphVS
— Eric Columbus (@EricColumbus) December 4, 2020

A majority of Americans, 54%, now say they personally know someone who has been hospitalized or died from COVID-19 via new Pew Research survey.
— Ryan Struyk (@ryanstruyk) December 4, 2020

Coronavirus vaccines face trust gap in Black and Latino communities, study finds https://t.co/mEUAeJc5ty
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) November 24, 2020

In a sign that Americans are becoming less hesitant to take a coronavirus vaccine, a Gallup poll showed that 58% of the adults who were surveyed were willing to be vaccinated. From The New York Times: https://t.co/21LDjAezcE
— The Baltimore Sun (@baltimoresun) November 21, 2020

Based on what you know right now about the coronavirus outbreak in the area where you live, would you feel comfortable or not comfortable returning to your regular routine today?

Comfortable 50%
Not comfortable 48%

(CNN Poll, 10/23-26/20)
— PollingReport.com (@pollreport) October 29, 2020

94% of Republicans "who rely most on Trump for coronavirus news say his messaging on the outbreak has been completely or mostly right, and virtually the same portion of the Republicans who cite Fox News or talk radio as major sources (96%) say the same" https://t.co/97dkfbNPE4
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) October 12, 2020

Record in U.S. Name COVID-19 as Most Urgent Health Problem (Jeffrey M. Jones, Gallup) https://t.co/0Aue6rTqxm
— OpinionToday.com (@OpinionToday) December 4, 2020

Coronavirus slang

New words and phrases for the COVID-19 era

It's 2020. It happens 😉.

(Psst … you might notice someone familiar in our round-up of corona slang too!) https://t.co/jC5jXiM0o3
— Dictionary.com (@Dictionarycom) December 3, 2020

Coronavius research update 12/4/20

CNN’s @drsanjaygupta says the US is at a “breaking point” as the country reports the highest single-day total since the pandemic began.

“This is starting to defy the models — even the aggressive ones — in terms of how bad things could get.” https://t.co/VEYwMuLwOp pic.twitter.com/BanAxk9OTj
— New Day (@NewDay) December 3, 2020

Many patients survive Covid only to find that long-term symptoms are “as real and possible as dying from the virus itself.” Now, federal health officials say it’s urgent to understand and address these problems. https://t.co/GJsa3pViON
— Pam Belluck (@PamBelluck) December 4, 2020

Five places where most transmissions occur

They are: restaurants, bars, cafes, hotels and houses of worship

Researchers hunt for clues in our blood to discover COVID-19 vaccines of the future https://t.co/0KiDlhfetW pic.twitter.com/yfCsXwNgkb
— Yahoo News (@YahooNews) December 4, 2020

A study from Korea showing why indoor dining is unsafe and why airborne transmission matters. Case B infected case A from 6.5m (~21 feet!) away in *just five minutes*, and case C from 4.8m (15 feet!). Footage shows no interaction—and only those in line of air flow got infected. pic.twitter.com/Yw3Gb8INWP
— zeynep tufekci (@zeynep) December 3, 2020

Very helpful guidance from @CDCgov that explains the rationale for cutting quarantine period for #covid19 to 10 days or 7 days + test.

Note that people must remain symptom-free.

Shorter period should increase compliance with quarantine guidelines.https://t.co/b8HqBP2w1C pic.twitter.com/4o50gR8JhF
— Leana Wen, M.D. (@DrLeanaWen) December 3, 2020

With Pfizer’s vaccine being granted authorization in the UK and the prospect of a Covid-19 vaccine EUA here in the US, I wanted to take a moment to answer some of the most common questions surrounding these vaccines. (1/16) pic.twitter.com/GQrt73tXfd
— Dr. Sanjay Gupta (@drsanjaygupta) December 2, 2020

The covid-19 symptoms to watch out for https://t.co/dxqD5pySZD
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) December 3, 2020

An interview with Pfizer's CEO raises the question. Here's what we know—and what we don't. https://t.co/c8J7qEQbMu
— Men's Health Mag (@MensHealthMag) December 4, 2020

Health experts on COVID-19 vaccine: Americans have ‘a lot of distrust’ https://t.co/Tr3ut1Q4nz pic.twitter.com/DELgM5gb5x
— Yahoo News (@YahooNews) December 4, 2020

TV commercials during the coronavirus era

I assume that the commercials we see now (December 2020) have been filmed since widespread awareness of the coronavirus began in February and March 2020. Yet, few of the ones I have seen show people wearing masks. Why is that?

Here’s my theory:

I think advertisers don’t want to offend the large minority of people who oppose mask wearing. If they show commercials with people without masks (in places where they should wear them), they probably figure that people who support mask wearing will just think the ads are old.

One company that tries to have it both ways is AT&T. Here’s one of their current ads. The people are not wearing masks but the ad says you should wear a mask in their stores.

AT&T Wireless TV Commercial, ‘Word of Mouth Advertising: iPhone 12 Mini’ – iSpot.tv

Here’s an ad with no masks or social distancing: