Infections on the Rise, Johannesburg Mayor Dies: Virus Update

[375 Ruger Fan]

CDC Eases School Guidance; Florida Cases Surge: Virus Update

(Bloomberg) -- The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is giving schools more flexibility to decide how to safely keep kids in kindergarten through 12th-grade classrooms while guarding against the further spread of Covid-19. Infections are rising across most regions of the world as...

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Bloomberg News
Fri, July 9, 2021, 9:19 AM·12 min read

Infections on the Rise, Johannesburg Mayor Dies: Virus Update

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(Bloomberg) -- Coronavirus infections are rising across most regions of the world as the delta variant spreads, the World Health Organization’s chief scientist said. The reproduction rate in England has risen to levels last seen in October.
South Africa’s National Coronavirus Command Council will meet on July 11 to assess the country’s response to the pandemic. Johannesburg’s mayor Geoff Makhubo died after contracting Covid-19.
Thailand ordered stricter measures to contain a surge in new cases, while South Korea is raising curbs on social distancing to the highest level in Seoul for two weeks starting Monday. Malaysia reported the biggest single-day increase in new cases since the outbreak began.

Key Developments:
Global Tracker: Cases top 185.5 million; deaths exceed 4 millionVaccine Tracker: More than 3.35 billion doses administeredWhere Are We in Hunting for the Coronavirus’s Origin?: QuickTakeFrom Alpha to Delta, Why Virus Mutations Cause Alarm: QuickTakePfizer Inc. outlined plans for a third booster dose of its vaccinePandemic isn’t slowing down, WHO chief scientist warns
U.K. Cases Surge (9:26 a.m. NY)
U.K. Covid cases surged, presenting Prime Minister Boris Johnson with more worrying data about the fast-spreading delta variant of the virus ahead of a planned easing of restrictions on July 19.
The reproduction rate of the virus in England has risen to levels last seen in October, the government said Friday. Cases of the Delta variant, which now accounts for 99% of U.K. infections, rose by almost a third in the past week to 216,249 cases, data from Public Health England showed.
Pandemic Not Slowing Down (8:59 a.m. NY)
Coronavirus infections are rising across most regions of the world as the delta variant spreads, clear evidence that the pandemic isn’t on the wane, according to the World Health Organization’s chief scientist.
While vaccination levels in some countries are reducing severe cases and hospitalizations, large parts of the world face oxygen shortages, a lack of hospital beds and higher mortality, the WHO’s Soumya Swaminathan said in an interview with Bloomberg Television.
Spain on German Risk List (8:28 a.m. NY)
Germany reclassified Spain as an area of risk after coronavirus infections surged, raising the alarm about a country that’s among the most popular destinations for German tourists.
The ranking, which is Germany’s third highest, includes the Balearic and Canary Islands. But it has little practical impact, as quarantine can be avoided by travelers returning to Germany as long as they have proof of full vaccination or recovery from Covid-19, or can provide a negative test.
South Africa Command Council to Meet (7:46 a.m.)
South Africa’s National Coronavirus Command Council will meet on July 11 to assess the country’s response to the pandemic and whether current restrictions aimed at curbing its spread are appropriate.
The meeting comes two weeks after President Cyril Ramaphosa placed the country on virus alert level 4, shutting schools and banning alcohol sales and all public gathering other than funerals.
Johannesburg’s Mayor Dies (7:17 a.m. NY)
The mayor of Johannesburg, Geoff Makhubo, has died after contracting the coronavirus. Makhubo was hospitalized after becoming infected with Covid-19 and succumbed to the disease on Friday, the city said.

 

[Shootist43]

Thanks for sharing. Obviously the world population isn't out of the woods yet.

 

[shootist~]

Bad stuff, no doubt. Thanks for posting.

 

[crs]

Brazil and India stopped it with Ivermectin.
This information is available on the Internet to anyone that cares to research.

 

[MarkB]

I am wheels up to Joberg in 21 days today. Postponed 3 times already, I need to get there this time. Nail biting for Sundays announcement. Safari planning has never been like this. =sucks.

MB

 

[Beretta391]

I am wheels up to Joberg in 21 days today. Postponed 3 times already, I need to get there this time. Nail biting for Sundays announcement. Safari planning has never been like this. =sucks.

MB

We leave in 68 days for Johannesburg!! Reschedule from 2020 trip. Starting to get excited now this!!!‍‍‍

 

[Red Leg]

While this variant seems to be much more infectious than the original, it also is apparently significantly less serious - with the acknowledgement it can be very serious to anyone with other health issues. But the European infection, hospitalization, and death rates are readily available. Virtually all the new infections are the Delta variant. Yet, hospitalizations and death rates have not climbed meaningfully with the new case surge.

https://www.bing.com/covid/local/unitedkingdom You can pull up any country on this site and run the current numbers.

I am due to leave on the 2d and am watching the SA decision with more than mild interest.

 

[MarkB]

Personally I am healthy, "young" and not really worried about Covid and or its rules, living under a Dictator for last 5 years maybe stained me, I am worried about Gov responses and not allowing us in or out.

MB

 

[V.Veritas]

@Red Leg - please keep us updated with your findings. I'm due in 14 days, so I hope for no sudden policy changes to mess up our trip.

 

[HuntingGold]

I cancelled my trip to the Eastern Cape just a few days ago. I was due to fly out a week from today.

I've had the virus and was not really concerned for myself, though a very mild concern did exist. The problems started when Safair cancelled an original flight from Joberg to PE, causing me to spend additional time in Joberg. Addition time equates to additional possibility of exposure. My concerns then became what if I drug that virus to my PH and his family? After a five day hunt there, I was to move on to another PH. I then could be dragging it to another family. Not to mention staff, etc. As much as I wanted to be hunting kudu on my birthday, I just didn't want to be responsible for being the vector, and dragging this crap to them.

I got word this morning that the first PH has now been exposed and has canceled a hunt. Another PH, whom I used before, was admitted to a hospital yesterday with covid as the suspect. Apparently 2 clients partied in Cape Town before arriving in camp and exposing this PH.

I hope this resolves itself soon and all of you are able to make it safely to your respective hunts.

 

[shootist~]

Nail biting time for sure - we leave next week.

Leoni at AfricaSky reports difficulty in getting our pre-approved rifle permits released from the SAPS head office.

That SAPS office was closed last week due to a Covid Staff member. Sure hope this gets resoveled before next Thursday.

Will Qatar accept the rifle permit Application, or is the pre-approved version mandatory??

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

A friend of mine that is going on a BC moose hunt with me in October just tested positive for COVID a few days ago. He has received both shots of the Pfizer vaccine. He is experiencing flu like symptoms. Obviously monitoring this situation closely.

 

[IvW]

Problem here is pos rate from tests is way up, recovery rate is down, hospitals are over full....
Much higher than first two spikes....not looking good here and personally I cannot see them lifting the current ban...spreading to other provinces so we could expect more stringent lockdown rules.....
Not what we want to hear but I think that is what will happen.....

 

[HuntingGold]

@IvW
You have been on this from the beginning of the latest spike. I appreciate your reporting.

 

[MarkB]

Problem here is pos rate from tests is way up, recovery rate is down, hospitals are over full....
Much higher than first two spikes....not looking good here and personally I cannot see them lifting the current ban...spreading to other provinces so we could expect more stringent lockdown rules.....
Not what we want to hear but I think that is what will happen.....

X2, nice to have some real time details and boots on ground data. Must say I am starting to worry again. Have the rental car and 14 days after the hunt to drive all around, across and attend our pre paid tour events? May need a plan H? That part scares me as does what happens if one of us gets a positive prior to return flights???

Ethiopian has piss poor communications with my agent, more like ignored 6 weeks of emailed requests, cant imagine the issues when stuck in SA.

MB

 

[revturbo9967]

Pfizer is working on a delta booster now. Unfortunately I'm not sure how much it will help SA.

 

[IvW]

@IvW
You have been on this from the beginning of the latest spike. I appreciate your reporting.

And after JZ went to the lockup on wednesday night the riots and protests have flared up, KZN in particular the N2, stoning, burning, trucks etc. So yip not so good...

 

[Denvir Tire]

What a mess. Last time I was touring after a hunt, there was "Black Thursday"?? Hope I'm remembering that correctly. Our route was through something called Motherwell? Motherplace? As we approached, it was clear that middle aged tourists from the US did not belong here. Point is, if you're touring and the caveman genes hidden deep inside all of us alert you, trust them. U-Turn it the hell out of there and don't stop.
Hoping I'm not sounding dramatic...
BTW 79 days to Namibia, fingers crossed

 

[Newboomer]

Plain common sense says STAY THE HELL HOME and don't take foolish chances. This pandemic is here to stay for the forseeable future and beyond with all the mutations. Is an ego trip to Africa really worth your life or your loved ones? Running the risk of getting quarantined over there for who knows how long and not being able to reenter your home country? Possibly infecting your PH, his family and whoever you come in contact with? To each his own but it makes no sense at all to me.

 

[LivingTheDream]

Pfizer is working on a delta booster now. Unfortunately I'm not sure how much it will help SA.

I think only .5% of the RSA population has been vaccinated.