Covid unvaccinated face anger and blaming

As Virus Cases Rise, Another Contagion Spreads Among the Vaccinated: Anger | New York Times - Roni Caryn Rabin:

July 27, 2021 - "As coronavirus cases resurge across the country, many inoculated Americans are losing patience with vaccine holdouts who, they say, are neglecting a civic duty or clinging to conspiracy theories and misinformation even as new patients arrive in emergency rooms and the nation renews mask advisories.

"The country seemed to be exiting the pandemic; barely a month ago, a sense of celebration was palpable. Now many of the vaccinated fear for their unvaccinated children and worry that they are at risk themselves for breakthrough infections. Rising case rates are upending plans for school and workplace reopenings, and threatening another wave of infections that may overwhelm hospitals in many communities....

"The rising sentiment is contributing to support for more coercive measures. Scientists, business leaders and government officials are calling for vaccine mandates — if not by the federal government, then by local jurisdictions, schools, employers and businesses.

"On Monday, Mayor Bill de Blasio of New York City ordered that all municipal workers be vaccinated against Covid-19 by the time schools reopen in mid-September or face weekly testing. Officials in California followed suit hours later with a similar mandate covering all state employees and health care workers. 

"The Department of Veterans Affairs on Monday required that 115,000 on-site health care workers be vaccinated in the next two months, the first federal agency to order a mandate. Nearly 60 major medical organizations, including the American Medical Association and the American Nurses Association, on Monday called for mandatory vaccination of all health care workers.

"'It’s time to start blaming the unvaccinated folks, not the regular folks,' a frustrated Gov. Kay Ivey, Republican of Alabama, told reporters last week....

"As a result of lagging vaccination and lifted restrictions, infections are rising. As of Sunday, the country was seeing 52,000 new cases daily, on average, a 170 percent increase over the previous two weeks. Hospitalization and death rates are increasing, too, although not as quickly.

"Communities from San Francisco to Austin, Texas, are recommending that vaccinated people wear masks again in public indoor settings. Citing the spread of the more contagious Delta variant of the virus, the counties of Los Angeles and St. Louis, Mo., have ordered indoor mask mandates. For many Americans who were vaccinated months ago, the future is beginning to look grim."

Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/27/health/coronavirus-vaccination-hesitancy-delta.html

Tens of thousands protest vaccine pass in France

Tens of thousands protest against health pass in France | Euronews - with AFP:

July 25, 2021 - "Tens of thousands of people demonstrated in the streets of France on Saturday afternoon against the extension of the health pass and compulsory vaccination for certain professions. It was the second weekend in a row to see thousands rally on the streets against the government’s decision to make it compulsory to have a health pass in order to access restaurants, bars and other cultural establishments. The pass attests that the holder has either been fully vaccinated, has tested negative over the previous 24 hours or has recovered from COVID during the previous six months. The new measure was announced last week by President Emmanuel Macron in a bid to boost vaccinations....

"Several thousand people, divided into at least three rallies, began demonstrating in the early afternoon in Paris. Mostly made up of ‘yellow vest’ protesters, a first procession set off shortly after 2pm from the Place de la Bastille, bound for the Porte de Champerret. In the Trocadero square several thousand people, rarely masked, gathered at the call of Florian Philippot. 'You are thousands,' said the President of the Patriots and former RN No. 2, between two 'Marseillaise'.... Finally, a third procession, made up of several hundred people, left the area around the Conseil d'Etat, bound for the Place des Invalides.

"These demonstrations come as a very large majority of French people (76%) approve of President Emmanuel Macron's decision to make vaccination compulsory for health care workers and other professions, with penalties attached, according to an Elabe poll for BFMTV on 13 July.... 

"Outside Paris, rallies are taking place in dozens of cities and towns in France. In Marseilles, thousands of people of all generations marched in a good-natured atmosphere to cries of 'Freedom, Freedom' or 'Macron, your pass, we don't want it', AFP noted.... At least a dozen rallies are taking place in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. Demonstrations are taking place in Valence where there are several thousand people, in Lyon, in Auxerre where several hundred people are marching, in Bourg-en-Bresse, in Grenoble. In the Grand Est region, some 4,000 people are demonstrating, according to the police.

"Last Saturday, more than 110,000 people demonstrated throughout France against vaccination, "dictatorship" or the health pass, including 18,000 in Paris divided into several processions and 96,000 in the rest of the country, according to the Interior Ministry.

"A source of debate and the subject of numerous amendments in the National Assembly, the presentation of a health pass came partially into force on Wednesday. Already applied in cultural and leisure venues, its extension to cafés, restaurants and trains is planned for the beginning of August....

"A provision of the new text, currently being examined by the Senate after a first reading in the National Assembly, opens the way to dismissal for workers in establishments receiving the public who refuse to obtain a health pass. The bill also provides for compulsory vaccination for health care workers, firefighters and those working with the elderly."

Read more: https://www.euronews.com/2021/07/24/tens-of-thousands-protest-against-health-pass-in-franc

US Dems blame Facebook for own vaccine failure

Biden Wants To Punish Facebook for the Government's Own Vaccine Failures | Reason - Robby Soave:

July 20, 2021 - "The federal government is stepping up its war on Facebook: President Joe Biden has accused Mark Zuckerberg's social media platform of failing to purge anti-vaccine content, thus contributing to vaccine hesitancy and 'killing people,' said the president. 

"Now the White House is considering methods of tinkering with Section 230, the federal statute that immunizes internet platforms from legal liability, in order to punish Facebook for failing to do everything the government wants. 'We're reviewing that, and certainly they should be held accountable,' said Kate Bedingfield, White House communications director, in response to a question about Section 230 posed by Morning Joe's Mika Brzezinski.

"Biden has long supported getting rid of Section 230, though it would take an act of Congress to do so. Ironically, Section 230 is equally unpopular with many Republicans — including former President Donald Trump, who has called for its total repeal — because they consider it a sort of special perk enjoyed by tech companies that are purportedly hostile to conservative users. But the Biden administration's latest threats should disabuse Republicans of their anti-230 notions once and for all. The White House wants Facebook to proactively censor more content, and views Section 230 as an obstacle.... Democrats in the federal government want to repeal Section 230 so that tech companies have no choice but to ban more content.

"Anti-Facebook Republicans are making a tactical error; the Biden White House, on the other hand, is just plain wrong about the degree to which social media is responsible for vaccine hesitancy. By focusing on the perceived harms of too much anti-vax content on Facebook, the administration is neglecting a dozen other strategies it could pursue to boost countrywide vaccination.

"For one, it's far from clear that social media — or Facebook in particular — is predominantly responsible for vaccine hesitancy, a problem that predates the internet. Facebook users are actually more likely to be vaccinated than the average U.S. citizen, according to the company's data. 'The data shows that 85 percent of Facebook users in the U.S. have been or want to be vaccinated against COVID-19,' wrote Guy Rosen, Facebook's vice president of integrity. 'President Biden's goal was for 70 percent of Americans to be vaccinated by July 4. Facebook is not the reason this goal was missed.'

"Misinformation exists on every medium and in every form of communication from radio to television to word of mouth. The government itself has spread misinformation about COVID-19, from early (bad) guidance on masks to coronavirus czar Anthony Fauci's deliberate misstatements about herd immunity.... It's naive to presume that social media is the primary driver of vaccine hesitancy.... Even the focus on Facebook, as opposed to other sites like YouTube—where anti-vaccine content is probably more widespread — betrays the government's limited understanding of the scope of these issues. It seems that many Democrats still incorrectly attribute Hillary Clinton's 2016 loss to Facebook malfeasance: They have updated their grievances but retained the same target....

"If the White House wants to promote vaccination — a worthy goal! — it should stop being so obsessed with what's happening on Facebook, and social media more broadly. Instead, Biden should push the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to, you know, actually approve the vaccines, which are currently available under emergency use authorization. Despite the global pandemic, federal regulators are proceeding as if there's no reason to rush: Full authorization of the Pfizer vaccine is not expected until January. If the government wants to ease reluctant people's trepidation that the vaccines are in some sense experimental, moving faster on this front would do more good than heckling Mark Zuckerberg."

Read more: https://reason.com/2021/07/20/facebook-biden-section-230-vaccine-hesitancy-covid-19/

Aussie gov'ts to crack down on lockdown protests

Sydney anti-lockdown protesters slammed as ‘selfish’ and 'self-entitled' as police vow to make further arrests | Sky News - AAP|SBS: 

July 24, 2021 - "Thousands of protesters who marched through Sydney's CBD in objection to the city's COVID-19 lockdowns have been slammed as 'selfish' and 'self-entitled'. NSW Police Minister David Elliott has announced the formation of a strike force comprised of 22 detectives to identify and track down the estimated 3,500 protesters who marched through the city on Saturday.... 'I’m hoping we issue 3,500 infringement notices, I’m hoping we have people before the courts,' he told reporters on Saturday afternoon.... Mr Elliott described the protest as an 'absolute disgrace', saying the 'selfish and inappropriate behaviour' of protesters is 'what's going to continue this city into lockdown'....

"Premier Gladys Berejiklian said in a statement that she was 'utterly disgusted' by the protesters who had shown 'utter contempt for their fellow citizens'.... NSW Police released a statement acknowledging the attendees were in breach of the COVID-19 rules.... Thousands of angry people, many of whom were unmasked, marched from inner Sydney's Victoria Park to Town Hall in the central business district. They broke through a police barrier to continue down George Street but were stopped at King Street. 

"There is a heavy police presence in Sydney, including mounted police and riot officers.... Greater Sydney has been locked down for the past four weeks, with residents only able to leave home with a reasonable excuse.

"NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard condemned the planned protest as 'really silly' on Saturday morning.... NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Gary Worboys said it was not the time for a protest. He said police wanted to work with the organisers to make sure people were complying with public health orders and that it did not turn into a 'disastrous' mass spreading event....

"Meanwhile, in Melbourne, a separate anti-lockdown protest was brought to a violent end by police. An AAP photographer wearing visible press accreditation was pepper sprayed as police cleared the rally, as were other photographers.... Thousands of protesters of all ages chanted 'freedom' as they gathered outside Victoria's Parliament House. Some lit flares. They held banners, including one that read: 'This is not about a virus it's about total government control of the people.'

"In a statement released on Saturday evening, Victorian Assistant Commissioner Luke Cornelius described the protesters as 'selfish' and having 'blatant disregard for others'.... He said police are reviewing the evidence from the protest ... 'to identify as many protesters as possible so that appropriate action can be taken against them'. Earlier, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews labelled the idea of protesting lockdown 'ridiculous'.... 

"Hundreds also rallied in Brisbane on Saturday. A car rally was also planned for locked-down Adelaide, with police warning they would make arrests over unlawful activity."

Read more: https://www.sbs.com.au/news/sydney-anti-lockdown-protesters-slammed-as-selfish-and-self-entitled-as-police-vow-to-make-further-arrests

UK vaccine pass legislation could be defeated

Labour likely to vote against vaccine passports, threatening Johnson with humiliating Commons defeat | The Independent - Adam Forrest:

July 21, 2021 - "Boris Johnson’s plans to bring in mandatory Covid vaccine 'passports' for crowded venues this autumn have been thrown into disarray after Labour signalled its opposition..... [A]round 40 Tory MPs are believed to be ready to rebel against the plan to make full vaccination a requirement of entry into nightclubs and other large venues from the end of September. With the Lib Dems already opposed to use of mandatory vaccine passports, Labour’s opposition could spell disaster for the government when a vote comes to the Commons.

"[Labour leader] Sir Keir Starmer used PMQs on Wednesday to criticise the prime minister’s decision to focus on vaccination alone, rather than allowing people to show they recently received a negative test. A Labour spokesperson later said: 'We need to see the detail of what the government puts forward regarding vaccine passports.' But the spokesperson added: 'We oppose the use of Covid vaccination status for everyday access to venues and services. It’s costly, open to fraud and is impractical. Being double jabbed doesn’t prove you aren’t carrying the virus. Testing for access to venues would be more efficient, and would give people and businesses more certainty.'

"In a fiery clash with Mr Johnson at PMQs, Sir Keir said: 'I remember when [the prime minister] used to say he’d eat an ID card if he ever had to produce one, and now he is introducing one. Sir Keir added: 'Why is it okay to go to a nightclub for the next six weeks without proof of a vaccine or a test, and then from September it will only be okay to get into a nightclub if you’ve got a vaccine ID card?'

"At least 42 Conservative MPs have signed a cross-Big Brother Watch Declaration against Covid status certification to deny individuals 'access to general services, businesses or jobs' in the past few months."

Read more: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/covid-vaccine-passports-clubs-labour-b1888089.html

Half of ZeroCovid Australia locked down

Covid: Anger as half of Australians in lockdown again - BBC News:

July 21, 2021 - "Anger is growing in Australia as 13 million people - about half the population - endure fresh lockdowns to quash Covid outbreaks. A third state went into lockdown on Tuesday. Stay-at-home orders are now in place in South Australia, Victoria and parts of New South Wales.

"Many people have expressed frustration at being back in highly policed lockdowns 18 months into the pandemic. And re-openings in the UK and the US have put pressure on the government.

Fewer than 14% of people are vaccinated - the worst rating among OECD nations. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has been heavily criticised over the slow vaccination rate, but has resisted calls to apologise.... 915 people have died of Covid in Australia. Mr Morrison noted that the UK had recorded more than 90 deaths in a single day on Tuesday.

"Until recently, Australia's strategy of border closures, quarantine programmes and snap lockdowns helped keep cases low. But the highly contagious Delta variant has challenged these defences in the past month. The outbreak in Sydney - Australia's largest city - has infected more than 1,500 people and officials reported more than 110 new cases on Wednesday, despite the city being in lockdown for a fourth week.... 

"Sydney's lockdown could extend into September. Australian authorities have said they intend to eliminate local cases completely until a majority of people are vaccinated, but in Sydney eliminating cases could take months.

"Victoria - which saw 22 new infections on Wednesday - will keep its lockdown until at least Tuesday. And in south Australia a seven-day lockdown has been called after five cases of the Delta variant were found. Last month, a total of seven cities were in lockdown for a brief period.

"Critics say flawed reports about the AstraZeneca vaccine's rare clotting risk have made many Australians reluctant to take it. Australia only has limited supplies of its other authorised vaccine, from Pfizer."

Read more: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-57911032

67% have Covid antibodies in India

Covid-19 antibodies detected in 67% of India’s population | The Guardian - Hannah Ellis-Petersen:

July 21, 2021 - "Covid-19 antibodies have been detected in 67% of the population of India, according to a new survey, indicating how widely the virus spread through communities during the second wave. India’s fourth national sero-survey, which examines the prevalence of Covid-19 antibodies either through infection or vaccination, found that 67.6% of the population of more than 1.3 billion has coronavirus antibodies.

"The survey also demonstrated the slow pace of India’s vaccination programme. Of those surveyed, 62.2% had not been vaccinated, 24.8% had taken one dose and 13% were fully vaccinated.

"The survey result marks a significant rise from the last such survey which was conducted in December and January and found that just 24% of the population had antibodies. This recent survey was carried out in the final weeks of June and beginning of July, just as the second wave had abated, interviewing almost 29,000 people across India....

"Balram Bhargava, director general of the Indian Council for Medical Research ... warned that the survey showed 400 million Indians still did not have antibodies, and so were vulnerable to the third wave that experts are predicting will hit India within the next few months. In states such as Kerala and Assam, there has already been a severe spike in cases in recent days.

"The high prevalence of antibodies was mainly attributed to the virulent second wave which struck India in April. The virus spread like wildfire through both urban and rural areas, overwhelming hospitals and leading to a widespread shortage of oxygen ... fuelled by the highly transmissible Delta variant which emerged in India.

India’s official death toll from Covid-19 is more than 400,000 but that is believed to be a huge undercount, particularly when taking into consideration the results of the latest serosurvey. A new report released by the Centre for Global Development this week concluded that excess deaths in India during the pandemic could be as high as 4.7 million, 10 times the official toll.

"In the latest sero-survey, the age group with the highest prevalence was the 45-60 bracket, where over 77% had Covid-19 antibodies, while 66% of those between 18 and 44 were found to have antibodies."

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jul/21/covid-19-antibodies-detected-in-67-of-indias-population