augieray

augieray, 11 days ago to random

Taking a short Mastodon break. I'm tired of the culture of criticism here. Unlike Twitter, on Mastodon, it comes from those on the left who attack liberals for not meeting their purity tests. I've been attacked for wanting to help defeat Trump by those who don't like a Biden policy; for COVID-safe dining outside with heaters because that harms the environment; for traveling masked because some immunocompromised feel they can't. Stop attacking others; start being the change you want in the world.

augieray, 12 days ago to queer

Target is scaling back LGBTQ+ merchandise this year after "right-wing backlash" last year. It can couch this decision in all the research-supported logic it wants, but it's still a capitulation to bigots. #Target is betting those of us who support equity will be more accepting of this decision than bigots will of the retailer carrying #Pride products. Those who care need to raise their voices and make their wishes heard by curtailing their spending at Target.

https://www.cnn.com/2024/05/10/business/target-pride-merchandise-june-2024/index.html

augieray, 12 days ago to random

Every crisis brings out the best and worst in people. Here's the worst: A part-time actor has been convicted of soliciting investors for a fake #COVID19 cure in March 2020. He claimed to have a patent-pending cure and investors eager to buy his company. (A cure? In March 2020? A fool and their money...) The man faces up to 20 years in federal prison on each of 11 counts of wire fraud.

https://www.latimes.com/socal/daily-pilot/news/story/2024-05-10/huntington-beach-part-time-actor-convicted-of-marketing-fake-covid-19-treatment

augieray, 12 days ago to random

I'll say "post-COVID infection," never "post-COVID pandemic."

I'll say "since COVID began," never "since COVID ended."

I'll say "after pandemic caution ended," never "after the pandemic ended."

I'll say "what we know AS OF NOW about COVID," because the story of #COVID19 won't be complete until we know what 5 or ten infections do or, for that matter, what a virus that can remain in the body causes ten years after a single infection.

We have much to learn. Many will learn the hard way.

augieray, 13 days ago to random

STUDY finds that #COVID19 vaccine effectiveness (VE) was 78% and increased to 89% after boosting during the Delta-dominant study period, but VE of primary vaccination was significantly reduced in those aged 60+ and patients with malignancy, chronic cardiac disease or an immunocompromising condition.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0264410X24004328

augieray, 13 days ago to random

STUDY of newborns exposed to #COVID19 before or after birth: Exposed kids had 3.81x risk of delayed personal-social skills and 3.58x increased risk of delayed social-emotional development, plus higher inpatient (38% vs. 21%) and outpatient (38% vs. 30%) appointments.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589537024002074

augieray, 13 days ago to random

For the "#COVID19 is just the flu" crowd. STUDY of healthcare workers from 11/2022 through 5/2023 found that "COVID-19, influenza, and asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection accounted for 71.5%, 9.2%, and 6.0% of episodes of absenteeism, respectively." Also, "Full COVID-19 vaccination status conferred significant protection against COVID-19 and was associated with shorter periods of absence from work."

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0264410X2400522X

augieray, 13 days ago to random

STUDY of kids one year after #COVID19 infection: 7.0 % (24/345) of first-positives and 7.5 % (27/360) of reinfected CYP (children and young people) experienced cognitive impairment.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0889159124003891

augieray, 13 days ago to random

STUDY of kids who reported no #COVID19 infection: 9.2% had anti-N antibody, and this rate rose in kids who had contact with individuals who were positive for COVID-19, particularly their mothers. What I found most interesting was that, in a 4-month follow-up during the 2022 holiday surge, 1 in 6 kids who were negative for anti-N antibodies reported an infection.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S168411822400080X

augieray, 13 days ago to random

STUDY finds that older individuals can greatly reduce #LongCOVID risk by getting BOTH influenza and #COVID19 vaccines. "Those vaccinated with neither COVID-19 nor influenza vaccine had higher risk of long COVID (OR, 1.72; 95% CI, 1.26-2.35) compared to those vaccinated with both vaccines." (That means a 72% higher risk.)

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/research/coronavirus/publication/38724010

augieray, 13 days ago to random

Had lunch with a peer in a restaurant today. I brought my CO2 monitor, and as I am wont to do, I felt the need to explain and be a bit apologetic, since most people find it weird. Turns out his spouse has had Long COVID for a year, so he was both supportive and fascinated. In the half-empty restaurant, CO2 climbed from 600 to almost 900 by the time I left. I thought this might be a safer place, but perhaps not. (This is why I bought the CO2 monitor in the first place--to find safer options.)

augieray, 14 days ago to random

New STUDY explores microstructural properties of white matter in those infected with #COVID19. "Although there were significant differences between healthy controls and infected groups, we found no significant differences between hospitalized and non-hospitalized COVID patients. Notably, the identified tracts are part of the limbic system and orbitofrontal cortex, indicating microstructural differences in neural circuits associated with memory and emotion."

https://academic.oup.com/braincomms/article/6/3/fcae139/7665554?login=false

augieray, 14 days ago to random

My new post on LinkedIn about a #COVID19 court case. An appellate court in Colorado found that COVID can be occupational disease that is compensable under the state's Workers Comp laws. The employer and its insurance company appealed the judgement and lost. This is a reminder that employers may urge you to take risks, but they may not stand behind you if you get ill. https://www.linkedin.com/posts/augieray_covid-19-can-be-occupational-disease-colorado-activity-7194390536126885890-4VF9?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop

augieray, 15 days ago to random

My latest post on LinkedIn about the savings to both costs and lives if hospitals did the least little bit to prevent nosocomial #COVID19 infections. Patient testing and staff masking were associated with savings in costs and lives, per a new STUDY. My post:

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/augieray_admission-screening-testing-of-patients-and-activity-7194025581762482176-51PH?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop

augieray, 16 days ago to random

A couple weeks ago, I noted that new #COVID19 variants are rising, and we might expect a modest uptick in COVID infections before summer. Biobot just noted a small rise in COVID in wastewater for the first time since December, driven entirely by the Northeast region. It might simply be a leveling off, or it could be a sign that infections are about to rise. I still don't expect a significant surge, but time will tell. https://biobot.io/data/

augieray, 16 days ago to random

I upset a few people with a post earlier today, so here is a place where you can get a random compliment. Enjoy.

https://complimentme.replit.app/

augieray, 17 days ago to random

"I'm so angry at Biden over Isreal/Gaza that I'm going to help Trump destroy democracy, weaponize the Justice system, send millions to deportation camps, lower the taxes on the wealthy and shift the burden to the middle class, cut Social Security, track and prosecute women having abortions, pardon the people who violently attacked Capitol police, dismantle NATO, help Russia, AND ON TOP OF ALL THAT do even more harm to Palestinians" is a take--it's just a really awful take, IMO.