Realistic Restrictions

From the CBC:

“Why we need to rethink COVID-19 risk as the weather warms up”

This is an excerpt from Second Opinion, a weekly roundup of health and medical science news emailed to subscribers every Saturday morning. If you haven't subscribed yet, you can do that by clicking here.

It's been almost a year of "Stay home. Do nothing. Save lives." And people are tired.  Pandemic fatigue has turned to pandemic restlessness as the weather shows signs of improving and vaccines gradually roll out across the country. Hope is on the horizon, but if last spring is any predictor of what lies ahead we can expect to see Canadians flocking outdoors in search of safe ways to gather as temperatures rise.  And with good reason.  After a surge of cases after the holidays, Canada has seen a significant decline in COVID-19 levels across the country following lockdowns in hard-hit regions — even with frigid temperatures driving people indoors and more contagious variants spreading. As more people get vaccinated, cases (hopefully) continue to decline and society slowly reopens, it may be time to shift our messaging away from strict one-size-fits-all public health guidelines.

Allow small risks to counter fatigue Experts say officials need to start to shift their messaging and set out realistic parameters for socializing safely over the next few months or risk losing the room — or worse, pushing people to more dangerous behaviour. Dr. Zain Chagla, an infectious diseases physician at St. Joseph's Healthcare in Hamilton, Ont., says guidelines need to shift in Canada to educate people on how to see their friends and family safely.  "Now that transmission is down, we need to start making some discussions on the trade offs," he said. "Can you really realistically think that people can wait it out at home without any interactions outside of their household for another three months? Or can you at least start prioritizing and building in low risk stuff, so that you give people the sense of normalcy?"  Chagla says recent negative reactions to outdoor activities like tobogganing and skating rinks mirror concerns at the start of the pandemic, when outdoor gatherings in places like parks were seen as dangerous even with no evidence of transmission occurring.  In Ontario, reservations for provincial parks have surged in anticipation of warmer months ahead, nearly doubling in the first few weeks of this year. Cottage rentals are also in high demand, with bookings at levels never seen before. There's no doubt people will want to congregate more as the weather improves, and experts say we should transition from an abstinence approach to one of harm reduction.  "If you gave people that opportunity to do things appropriately outside, how many cases would you then save from indoor activity?" said Chagla. "If you allow them to take that small risk, you're preventing the people that are going to fatigue and say, 'Well, I'm just going to have my family over, we've been fine, we've been isolating for weeks, I deserve this,' and then have COVID transmission that way."

Outside is better than inside Finding practical ways to alleviate pandemic fatigue and allow for some level of safe interaction in the coming weeks and months will be essential to keeping Canada on a downward trajectory with COVID-19 levels.  "People are tired of the sacrifices they've made, and for their mental health and physical health want to see other people and want to socialize," said Linsey Marr, an expert on the airborne transmission of viruses at Virginia Tech. "Doing it outdoors is very low risk if you avoid face-to-face conversation with people, maintain your distance and avoid crowds."  Marr says going for a walk side-by-side, taking an exercise class or even having a beer with friends are all relatively safe outdoors when more than two-metres of space is maintained.  New research from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows the risk of indoor activities when proper precautions aren't taken.  In Hawaii, 21 cases were linked to a fitness instructor during a class where physical distancing measures were in place, but masks weren't worn and airflow wasn't prioritized.  A similar situation occurred in Chicago, where 55 people were infected with COVID-19 after attending indoor exercise classes despite physical distancing and some mask use.  The missing element in both of those outbreaks was ventilation.  "We should be opening up park spaces, we should be encouraging outdoor activities where people can gather and gather safely and converse and talk and just be with people," said Erin Bromage, a biology professor and immunologist at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth who studies infectious diseases. "Recognizing that there is a small risk associated with it — but it's better than the alternative."

'Get creative' with public health messaging Timothy Caulfield, a Canada Research Chair in health law and policy at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, said public health officials are walking a "tightrope" in communicating public health guidelines in the coming months.  "We have to figure out ways that we can allow people to live their lives, while still making sure that we're reducing the risk," he said. "And I think we need to engage people as part of the solution." A recent research article published in SAGE surveyed several hundred Italian and French citizens under strict lockdown and found there was significantly less adherence to public health guidelines when people's concern about COVID-19 was waning, along with their trust in officials. The World Health Organization released guidelines for fighting pandemic fatigue, focused on understanding people, allowing them to live their lives while reducing risk, engaging with them to find a solution and acknowledging the impact of the pandemic on their lives. Caulfield says officials need to evolve their messaging with emerging scientific research and avoid being tuned out by the public by setting realistic guidelines for safely interacting.  "We need to recognize that we're really getting to a point where there's going to be profound complacency," he said. "There is profound fatigue, and not just fatigue about the lockdown. I think there's fatigue about the messaging — people are sick of hearing about this stuff. So I think we need to get creative."

Variants make noncompliance higher risk Bromage said he's concerned transmission could soon skyrocket due to increased interactions with warm weather amid the spread of variants.  "We're heading into March very soon, and March is when the pandemic really took off last year," he said. "I'm holding my breath, just sort of hoping that it's not a repeat of 2020 given the changing mobility that comes with the weather." COVID-19 levels have risen by about five per cent globally in the past week, after significant declines since the beginning of the year, with recent upticks in parts of Canada and the U.S. concerning officials. "What comes next is really uncertain. Do we roll back up again? Do we just stay at this level?" said Bromage. "Nobody really knows." Chagla says we need to give people more low risk activities to do together in the near future, or risk people hiding their interactions with each other behind closed doors.  "A Zoom call versus seeing a very close friend with a mask in the park is slightly higher risk," he said. "But I think using it to allay fatigue is probably a whole lot better than the implications of just keeping people at home."  Caulfield says officials need to re-evaluate public health messaging and explain clearly to people what's safe and what isn't.  "I do want to see recommendations on what they can do outside now and how they can enjoy the weather," he said. "Let's put a positive spin on this, letting them know that there are steps that can be taken." With the emergence of variants, Chagla says the risk of people letting their guard down now is incredibly high.  "You've got to get people on your side for the next few months," said Chagla. "And realistically offering things to them, rather than taking things away, is going to be the way to do it."

^ This may be written about Canada, but can easily be applied to the US, Italy, the UK, etc. With more and more people getting vaccinated and warmer weather coming up (not to mention it’s been over 1 year since the Pandemic started) we need to have realistic restrictions rather than the chaos, confusion and fear restrictions of the past. Covid Vaccine Passports are a good idea ONLY when there are enough available vaccines to give to every citizen that wants one. To do that before (when only certain groups can get the shots) is discrimination and only enforces the “Have’s and the Have-Nots.” If Politicians do not start making realistic Covid Restrictions instead of the Fear Restrictions they have been then no one can expect any real compliance anymore. ^

https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/coronavirus-risk-canada-weather-1.5930135

Porch Bandits

From News Nation:

“Proposed bill would put South Carolina porch pirates in jail for up to 15 years”

A proposed bill in South Carolina could have porch pirates spending 15 years in prison for the crime. “The name porch pirates makes it seem cute, but it’s not a cute issue,” Rep. Cezar McKnight said. McKnight is turning this issue into a criminal law by proposing a bill that would make it a felony to take a package off the porch or from around the perimeter of someone’s house, punishable by up to 15 years in jail. “Some jurisdictions have been treating it as petty larceny, making it a slap on the wrist..” McKnight said no more. “A person’s home is their castle and I don’t like the idea of it being violated, whether that being coming into the inside or going onto the porch. A person’s house is sacrosanct, and it should be treated as such.” But the proposal is receiving some pushback from inside of his party and across the aisle. “One of the things that I’ve heard is, ‘Oh it’s usually people on drugs,’ and my response to that is you have no information anecdotally or statistically to back that up,” McKnight said. “He gave the scenario in the committee meeting of, ‘What I left a package out for days that my wife told me to put up and a homeless guy came and got it?’ It doesn’t matter. The homeless guy doesn’t have a right to come in your yard and go on your porch regardless of if you just put the item out there or it’s been there five years. It’s your home.” McKnight said his colleagues offered a suggestion that folks can send their items to a hub. But he said people shouldn’t have to do that or pay an anti-theft tax for their packages. “Folks don’t need to have the extra stress of worrying about, ‘Oh, is the package that I ordered going to be at home when I get off from work?’”

Lawmakers in his party weren’t supportive of McKnight’s idea that the porch pirates would need to be sentenced to a mandatory minimum of five years in prison. After working with them, he dropped the minimum to a judge’s discretion of no years in prison to 15 years. Trent Faris with the York County Sheriff’s Office says deputies receive only a few formal complaints of packages stolen throughout the year. “Especially in the neighborhoods where the houses are really close together. In the last years, we’ve had around about maybe 11 to 15,” Faris said. He said doorbell video helps them try to get some clues to who the person is, but it’s not often that there’s an arrest. “Its difficult, but its not unheard of.” McKnight feels like it should still be a criminal law in place either way. “This is the second time that I’ve put this bill forward and I’m gonna keep putting it forward. My interest is protecting the people of South Carolina,” he said. McKnight said he feels like if something isn’t done now, the issue will only get worse.

^ I believe there needs to be tougher on porch pirates, but don’t think going to jail for up to 15 years is right. Maybe up to 5 years in jail, but not 15 years. You know this bill was created because the lawmaker had it happen to him (it’s the main reason most bills like this get introduced.) ^

https://www.newsnationnow.com/us-news/proposed-bill-would-put-south-carolina-porch-pirates-in-jail-for-up-to-15-years/

J&J Approved

 From News Nation:

“FDA authorizes Johnson & Johnson’s single-dose COVID-19 vaccine”

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized Johnson and Johnson’s single-dose COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use Saturday, making it the third vaccine available in the United States and the first that only takes one dose to protect against the coronavirus. An FDA panel of U.S. health advisers unanimously endorsed the one-dose vaccine on Friday. A few million doses of the new vaccine could begin shipping as early as Monday. The company has said it can deliver 20 million doses by the end of March and a total of 100 million by the end of June, keeping President Joe Biden on track for his vaccination goal. More than 66 million COVID-19 vaccine shots have been administered in the U.S. to date, according to the CDC, including 50 million since Biden and Harris entered the White House.

J&J’s vaccine protects against the worst effects of COVID-19 after one shot, and it can be stored up to three months at refrigerator temperatures, making it easier to handle than the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, which must be frozen. The two-dose Pfizer and Moderna shots were found to be about 95% effective against symptomatic COVID-19 while the J&J vaccine was 85% protective against the most severe COVID-19 and 66% effective in moderate cases. While the FDA found J&J’s vaccine safe and effective, some experts fear that lower effectiveness could feed public perceptions that J&J’s shot is a “second-tier vaccine.” J&J’s vaccine was tested in the U.S., Latin America and South Africa at a time when more contagious mutated versions of the virus were spreading. That wasn’t the case last fall when Pfizer and Moderna were wrapping up testing, and it is still not clear if their numbers would hold against the most worrisome of those variants.

The United States has an agreement to buy 100 million doses of J&J’s vaccine for $1 billion, and the option of purchasing an additional 200 million doses. J&J said it aims to deliver 1 billion doses in 2021 with production in the United States, Europe, South Africa and India. President Biden applauded the news in a statement Saturday but urged Americans not to let their guards down in preventing the spread of the virus. “Today, after a rigorous, open, and objective scientific review process, the Food and Drug Administration issued an emergency use authorization for a third safe and effective vaccine to help us defeat the COVID-19 pandemic — the Janssen COVID-19 (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine,” Biden said. “This is exciting news for all Americans, and an encouraging development in our efforts to bring an end to the crisis.” The third vaccine is expected to speed up vaccination efforts amid setbacks caused by winter storms across the country. So far, the virus has killed more than 500,000 Americans.

^ I am on the fence with this vaccine. While it protects against hospitalizations, deaths and many of the variants I am not sure if it is as effective or good as the other 2 two-shot vaccines. I guess it is better to get any shot than no shot. ^

https://www.newsnationnow.com/us-news/fda-authorizes-jj-single-dose-covid-19-vaccine/

Cuba's Animals

From Reuters:

“Cuba approves animal welfare law after civil society pressure”

Cuba has approved a long called-for decree on animal welfare in what some rights activists are hailing as an unusual triumph of civil society in the Communist-run country where animal sacrifice and cock and dog fighting remain commonplace. The move aims to prevent cruelty and raise awareness about the need to protect animals, marking a cultural advance in a nation where strays abound and the coast is strewn with chicken carcasses sacrificed in religious rituals. Although details remain scarce, the new legislation will become clear within 90 days when it is published in the Official Gazette. “Cuba was one of the few countries in Latin America that didn’t have an animal welfare law so to have one now is an immense joy,” Fernando Gispert, President of the Havana branch of the Cuban Association of Veterinary Medicine.

The Agriculture Ministry said the decree, which regulates scientific experiments, the handling of strays and veterinarian practices amongst other matters, responded to concerns aired in a nationwide debate over the new constitution three years ago. For decades though, animal rights activists have called for legislation on animal welfare, largely through official channels in the one-party state where public dissent is frowned upon. In recent years, frustrated with the slow pace of change, a younger generation has opted to exert pressure on authorities with marches, protests in public spaces and social media campaigns. “This has set an example for all communities that want their voice to be heard,” said Beatriz Batista, 23, who has become one of the leaders of the movement. “You have to pressure, pressure.” The approval of the decree underscores the extent to which Cuban civil society has strengthened of late, particularly thanks to the rollout of internet which has increased the flow of information and allowed citizens to better mobilize, analysts say. In a country where demanding anything of the government outside official channels is frowned upon as weakening the common front against old Cold War foe the United States, it is unsurprising that a topic not deemed to be particularly sensitive should be the one to galvanize many Cubans, they say. “While important, this decree law is a relatively low hanging fruit that both the government and civil society activists can celebrate as having picked in a tense collaboration/standoff,” said Cuba expert Ted Henken at Baruch College in New York.

ANIMAL SACRIFICE The growing voice of activists has led to a proliferation of citizen initiatives to rescue and sterilize strays and to clean the coasts and river beds of the remains of animal sacrifices. “We are fighting for dead animals not to be left out in public spaces,” said José Manuel Pérez, president of the officially recognized Yoruba Cultural Association of Cuba. Perez said the blood of sacrificed animals had spiritual significance and sacrifices had increased of late due to a growth in believers but also due to malpractice. The ministry said in a statement on its website that sacrifices would not be outlawed but the decree would stipulate they be conducted in a “compassionate and rapid manner, avoiding pain and stress,” establishing some broad criteria. Supporters of cock fighting, often hosted in official arenas, say it is part of Cuban, and more broadly Caribbean, culture. Activists say it should at the very least be strictly regulated to avoid unnecessary cruelty. To those worrying the decree may not be far-reaching enough, Cuban independent journalist Monica Baro said in a widely shared Facebook post: “It is better to have a minimal framework of legal protection than nothing.”

^ While the extent of this new law isn’t known yet it is a step in the right direction for Cuba. ^

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-cuba-politics-animalrights/cuba-approves-animal-welfare-law-after-civil-society-pressure-idUSKBN2AR0GM

Dominican Fence

From Reuters:

“Dominican Republic to construct fence along border with Haiti”

The Dominican Republic will begin constructing a fence along its 376-kilometer (234 mi) border with Haiti later this year to curb unauthorized migration and illicit trade, President Luis Abinader said on Saturday. “In a period of two years, we want to put an end to the serious problems of illegal immigration, drug trafficking and the movement of stolen vehicles,” Abinader said in a presentation to Congress. Construction of the border fence, whose cost has not been disclosed, will begin in the second half of 2021, Abinader said. The barrier will include a double-fence in the “most conflictive” sections, along with motion sensors, facial recognition cameras and infrared systems, he added, speaking on the 177th anniversary of the country’s independence from Haiti.

According to government estimates, about 500,000 Haitian immigrants resided in the Dominican Republic as of 2018, along with tens of thousands of their children born in the Caribbean country. A large part of the Haitian community, which makes up about 5% of the total population, does not have residency permits. The announcement came a month after the government agreed to help Haiti provide identity documents to its citizens living in Dominican territory.

^ Another border wall/fence to stop illegal trade and migration. Whether right or wrong it is another example of what countries have to do to protect themselves. ^

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-dominicanrepublic-immigration/dominican-republic-to-construct-fence-along-border-with-haiti-idUSKCN2AR0OL?il=0

Sarcasm?

Canada Approves

 From the CBC:

“Health Canada approves AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine”

After a months-long review, Health Canada regulators today approved the COVID-19 vaccine from Oxford University-AstraZeneca for use in Canada — clearing the way for millions more inoculations in the months ahead. The department's regulators concluded the shot has an efficacy rate of 62 per cent and have authorized it for use in all adults 18 and older. While it's less effective than the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines at preventing infection, the shot is 100 per cent effective in preventing the severe outcomes of COVID-19 — including serious illness, hospitalizations and death — the regulators said. "Overall, there are no important safety concerns, and the vaccine was well tolerated by participants," the decision reads.

Canada has secured access to 22 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, most of which are slated to arrive between April and September. Public Services and Procurement Minister Anita Anand has said the government is trying to negotiate faster delivery of these doses now that new, more contagious COVID-19 variants are taking hold in Canada. Health Canada also has authorized the vaccine manufactured by the Serum Institute, which has partnered with AstraZeneca to make that company's COVID-19 product at its facilities in India. That version, which is biologically identical to the AstraZeneca shot but is manufactured under different conditions, has been branded "Covishield."

The Serum Institute, which is working with Mississauga, Ont.-based Verity Pharmaceuticals, will deliver 500,000 doses of its vaccine next Wednesday, the company told CBC News. A further 1 million doses will arrive in April and 500,000 more in early May. With these new doses, Canada now stands to receive about 6.5 million doses of the AstraZeneca, Moderna and Pfizer vaccines by the end of March. That's enough to fully vaccinate just over 3.2 million people. "This is very encouraging news. It means more people vaccinated, and sooner. Because for AstraZeneca, just like we were for Pfizer and Moderna, we are ready to get doses rolling," Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said. "Vaccines will keep arriving faster and faster as we head into the spring." Anand told reporters her department "will leave no stone unturned" in its quest to bring more doses into Canada "as quickly as possible." She said the government has received "positive indications" that the other AstraZeneca deliveries are on track but she could not say just how many shots will arrive in the second quarter. What is known is that at least 26.4 million more doses — 23 million from Moderna and Pfizer combined, 1.5 million AstraZeneca doses from the Serum Institute and another 1.9 million AstraZeneca doses from COVAX, the global vaccine-sharing initiative — will arrive between April and June.

All told, the country is projected to have enough supply to fully vaccinate at least 16.45 million people by Canada Day. The supply will grow once delivery schedules for the AstraZeneca doses are confirmed. Canada is a vaccine laggard in the Western world right now; dozens of other countries have vaccinated more people per capita. The government has been insisting that everyone who wants a shot will get one by the end of September. Asked today if the new approval will result in an earlier end date for the vaccination campaign, Health Minister Patty Hajdu said she's hopeful but there could be more "bumps" and "unexpected challenges" that disrupt delivery schedules. Canada faced shortages earlier this year when Pfizer retooled its Belgian plant and Moderna slashed planned deliveries.

'Promising evidence' Some countries — such as France — have restricted the AstraZeneca vaccine to people under the age of 65, even though the World Health Organization insists the product is safe and effective for all age groups The regulator said the clinical trial results "were too limited to allow a reliable estimate of vaccine efficacy in individuals 65 years of age and older," but the department was comfortable with approving the shot because of "post-market experience in regions where the vaccine has already been deployed." Speaking at a technical briefing today, Dr. Supriya Sharma, Health Canada's chief medical adviser, conceded there was limited clinical trial data about the efficacy of the shot in people over the age of 65 but said regulators approved it because of "promising evidence from real-world use of the vaccine." Other countries — notably Australia, the European Union and the United Kingdom — have authorized AstraZeneca already for use in their jurisdictions. In a study of vaccine efficacy in Scotland — where both the AstraZeneca and Pfizer products have been in widespread use for weeks — researchers found the AstraZeneca product reduced the risk of COVID-19 hospital admissions by roughly 94 per cent, 28 to 34 days after the first shot. The researchers also warned that the study sample was quite small.  While there are risks associated with any vaccine, Sharma said, the benefits of getting an AstraZeneca shot "outweigh their potential risks." Sharma said it will be up to the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) to decide which groups should get each type of vaccine. And while the AstraZeneca product was found to be less effective than the Pfizer and Moderna shots already approved, Sharma said there's no doubt that a dose of this vaccine is better than no dose at all. She cautioned Canadians against comparing efficacy rates of the various vaccine products, saying that in the areas that matter most — preventing serious illness, reducing hospitalizations and curbing the number of deaths — "all these vaccines are good." "If you look across all the clinical trials of the tens of thousands of people who were involved, the number of cases of people who died from COVID-19 that got vaccines was zero," Sharma said. "The number of people that were hospitalized because their COVID-19 disease was so severe was zero. The number of people that died because of an adverse event or effect of the vaccine was zero." Health Canada is recommending that the second dose of the AstraZeneca product be administered four to 12 weeks after the first, but Sharma said there is early evidence suggesting it's best to wait the full 12 weeks to deploy the second shot. "With an increased interval, the efficacy might be much higher," she said. The product was approved in Australia, for example, but regulators there recommended a three-month wait between shots.

Unlike the Moderna and Pfizer shots, which are based on groundbreaking mRNA technlogy, the AstraZeneca product uses a more conventional viral vector load vaccine platform. The AstraZeneca shot also doesn't require the same cold storage equipment necessary for the other two. The product can be stored and transported at normal refrigerated temperatures of 2 to 8 C for at least six months. This vaccine also can be easily administered in traditional health care settings, like a doctor's office or pharmacy.

Regulator still reviewing 2 other vaccine candidates  Health Canada is still reviewing two other vaccine candidates: one from Johnson & Johnson and another from Novavax. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration's vaccines advisory committee will meet today to review the clinical trial data for the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. A final U.S. decision on issuing emergency use authorization (EUA) could come as early as this weekend. Canada has ordered 10 million doses from Johnson & Johnson with options for up to 28 million more, if necessary. Most of those shots are expected to arrive by the end of September. While Health Canada regulators are aiming to make a decision on this product on a timeline similar to that of the FDA, Sharma said the department is still collecting some data from the manufacturer and a final decision is not expected this weekend.

^ Canada now has one more Vaccine to help it against Covid. Hopefully, they will stop being behind the rest of the world in getting shots into people’s arms. ^

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/astrazeneca-approved-1.5929050

US Restrictions

From CNN:

“Covid-19 travel restrictions state by state”

Editor's Note — This story was current as of February 23 and will be updated periodically. However, you should still check with the official state websites before you commit to travel plans.

With cases of Covid-19 beyond the 28 million mark in the United States, some states have updated or expanded their travel rules and regulations in 2021. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns against nonessential travel at this time. If you do decide to travel to another state, it is vital that you stay updated on the latest statewide regulations. While some US states still have no restrictions on allowing leisure travel, all their official websites have important Covid-19 safety information. For instance, most states have mandates on face masks in public settings.

This list is alphabetical:

Alabama As of February 23, there were no statewide travel restrictions in Alabama. However, visitors should be aware of the state's mask mandate, as it applies to travelers, too. It's effective through March 5 (though it's been extended numerous times).

Alaska UPDATE: Visitors to Alaska are no longer required to have a negative result from a Covid-19 test to enter. Gov. Mike Dunleavy said the state's emergency Covid-19 declaration has been allowed to expire, according to a news release from the governor's office. As of February 23, the state's official Safe Travels site did not reflect the announced change.

Arizona  As of February 23, there were no statewide travel restrictions in Arizona. Check here for updates. Here's a direct link for information on Native American lands in the state. And you can click here to see the status of specific tourist sites.

Arkansas As of February 23, there were no statewide travel restrictions in Arkansas.

California California has lifted its recent stay-at-home order but discourages out-of-state visitors. People are encouraged to quarantine for 10 days upon entering the state. San Francisco and Santa Clara counties have a 10-day mandatory quarantine. Los Angeles County requires visitors to fill out this online travel form. In most counties, restaurants can serve patrons outdoors and hotels can accommodate visitors. Part of US Highway 1 in Monterey County continues to be closed because of a mudslide.

Colorado Pitkin County, Colorado (which includes ski resort Aspen/Snowmass), requires overnight visitors to complete a health affidavit and provide a negative Covid-19 test taken within 72 hours of arrival or face a mandatory 14-day quarantine. There are no other known travel restrictions in the rest of Colorado, though nonessential travel is not recommended. Find out more:

Connecticut Anyone traveling to Connecticut from anywhere other than New York, New Jersey or Rhode Island must self-quarantine for 10 days. You must also fill out a travel health form. Failure to do either could result in a $500 fine. You can be exempt from the quarantine with a negative Covid-19 test result taken within 72 hours before your arrival or after getting a negative result for a test taken after arrival. If you have tested positive for Covid-19 within 90 days and have clinically recovered or not been symptomatic for 10 days, you're not required to self-quarantine. But you must provide written proof of a positive test result to the Commissioner of Public Health via email to: DPH.COVID-Travel@ct.gov or via fax to: (860) 326-0529.

Delaware As of February 23, there were no statewide travel restrictions in Delaware. Check here for updates.

Florida As of February 23, there were no statewide travel restrictions in Florida.

Georgia As of February 23, there were no statewide travel restrictions in Georgia.

Hawaii UPDATE: Hawaii has a complicated and evolving set of travel requirements, and you can expect variation even within the islands. You should read them thoroughly before you plan a trip and check often for updates. A brief summation from the state: "Travelers (5 and older) wishing to bypass the 10-day mandatory quarantine must have their negative Covid-19 test results -- from a trusted testing partner -- prior to departure for the State of Hawaii. Travelers heading to Hawaii must upload their negative test result to the Safe Travels system prior to departure or, as an alternative to uploading, bring a hard copy of their negative test result with them when boarding their flight." Because of winter storms on the US mainland, Hawaii temporarily extended the test time to 96 hours before departure. Starting February 25, the test requirement return to being taken within 72 hours of the final leg of departure. Visitors to Kauai must quarantine regardless of test result unless they qualify to stay in a "resort bubble" hotel.

Idaho As of February 23, there are no statewide travel restrictions in Idaho.

Illinois UPDATE: As of February 23, there were no statewide restrictions in Illinois, but visitors heading to Chicago have been placed in two categories -- orange and yellow. Anyone from an orange state must quarantine for 10 days or have a negative Covid-19 test result no more than 72 hours old to avoid the quarantine. There are no specific requirements if you're coming from a yellow state, of which there are currently 19.

Indiana As of February 23, there were no statewide travel restrictions in Indiana.

Iowa As of February 23, there were no statewide travel restrictions in Iowa. Anyone 2 and older is encouraged to wear a face covering in indoor public settings.

Kansas While mostly open, Kansas has some specific quarantine requirements subject to change.

Kentucky The Bluegrass State is discouraging out-of-state leisure travel. If you decide to go anyway, the state asks you to self-quarantine for 14 days.

Louisiana As of February 23, there were no statewide travel restrictions in Louisiana.

Maine Travelers must quarantine for 10 days upon arrival or fill out a travel protocol form stating they've received a negative Covid-19 test within 72 hours. You may also get tested upon arriving in Maine but must quarantine while awaiting results. Residents of New Hampshire and Vermont are exempt.

Maryland People who travel to Maryland must either get a negative Covid-19 test result within 72 hours of arrival or self-quarantine for 10 days. This applies to people coming from all places except Delaware, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and Washington, DC.

Massachusetts All visitors and returning residents must complete a travel form before arriving in Massachusetts unless they are arriving from a state designated by the Department of Public Health as low risk. Otherwise, visitors must quarantine for 10 days, have proof of a negative Covid-19 test taken within 72 hours of arrival or test upon arrival and quarantine until a negative result is returned. You could be fined $500 a day if you don't comply.

Michigan As of February 23, there were no statewide travel restrictions in Michigan, though some of the activities and venues vacationers might enjoy are not open or very limited in operations for now.

Minnesota Visitors to Minnesota are asked to quarantine for 14 days or follow CDC guidelines on how to shorten a quarantine. Also note that many indoor venues of interest to tourists have capacity limits and restrictions

Mississippi As of February 23, there were no statewide travel restrictions in Mississippi.

Missouri As of February 23, there were no statewide travel restrictions in Missouri.

Montana As of February 23, there were no statewide travel restrictions in Montana. Travel restrictions might vary at Native American reservations.

Nebraska As of February 23, there were no statewide travel restrictions in Nebraska.

Nevada As of February 23, there were no statewide travel restrictions in Nevada, though many indoor places tourists might visit have capacity limits.

New Hampshire UPDATE: Visitors to New Hampshire are asked to self-quarantine for 10 days unless they are arriving from elsewhere in New England. People who get a negative Covid-19 test result on or after the seventh day of quarantining can break it early. If it has been 14 days or more since you got your second Covid-19 vaccine, you do not need to quarantine or get tested. You can also bypass the requirements if you have previously tested positive for active Covid-19 infection in the past 90 days. If you had a previous infection that was more than 90 days ago, you must still follow all quarantine requirements.

New Jersey Tourism is discouraged. Travelers not from New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and Delaware should self-quarantine at their home, hotel or other temporary lodging with the following in mind: -- If travel is unavoidable, you should consider getting tested with a viral test (not an antibody test) one to three days before the trip and again three to five days afterward. -- If you test negative, you should quarantine for seven days after travel. -- If testing is not available or results are delayed, you should quarantine for 10 days after travel. -- You're requested to fill out a voluntary online survey.

New Mexico People traveling from out-of-state are required to self-quarantine for 14 days or the length of their stay in New Mexico, whichever is shorter. Exemptions from low-risk states are allowed, but currently, only Hawaii is deemed low risk.

New York Current guidelines allow travelers to New York to test out of what is otherwise a mandatory 10-day quarantine. Travelers from states that are contiguous with New York will continue to be exempt from the travel advisory. Covered travelers must continue to fill out the Traveler Health Form.

North Carolina As of February 23, there were no statewide travel restrictions in North Carolina.

North Dakota As of February 23, there were no statewide travel restrictions in North Dakota. The state does post suggested travel guidance and testing protocols. Be aware North Dakota has had the highest number of Covid-19 cases per 100,000 people in the country for months now.

Ohio Travelers visiting Ohio from states reporting positive testing rates of 15% or more are advised to self-quarantine for 14 days. This list updates each Wednesday.

Oklahoma As of February 23, there were no statewide travel restrictions in Oklahoma.

Oregon UPDATE: People arriving in Oregon from other states or countries, including returning Oregon residents, are encouraged to self-quarantine for 14 days after arrival. Nonessential travel, which includes tourism, is discouraged.

Pennsylvania Travelers arriving in Pennsylvania are required to quarantine for 10 days or provide a negative Covid-19 test result that's less than 72 hours old upon arrival.

Puerto Rico To visit this US commonwealth, you need a negative result from a Covid-19 molecular test taken within 72 hours before arrival. If you come without a test result, you must self-quarantine for 14 days or the duration of the trip, whichever is shorter. You must also fill out an online travel declaration form

Rhode Island Those traveling to Rhode Island from a state that has a positive testing rate of 5% or more must quarantine for 10 days. Travelers can opt out of the quarantine if they can provide proof of a negative Covid-19 test taken within 72 hours of their arrival. This exception does not apply to international arrivals.  Those waiting on test results must self-quarantine until a negative test result arrives. You must also fill out a certificate of compliance and a travel screening form. You still must follow quarantine guidance if you've gotten a Covid-19 vaccine. If you've tested positive for Covid-19 in the past 90 days and finished your isolation period, you are not required to quarantine or retest unless you display symptoms.

South Carolina As of February 23, there were no statewide travel restrictions in South Carolina.

South Dakota As of February 23, there were no statewide travel restrictions in South Dakota. Some routes through Native American lands might be closed.

Tennessee As of February 23, there were no statewide travel restrictions in Tennessee.

Texas UPDATE: As of February 23, there were no statewide travel restrictions in Texas. However, many areas of the state are still coping with power outages and water supply problems since a recent crippling winter storm. If you do go, the state urges people to wear a mask, saying "an itty-bitty piece of cloth goes a long way towards keeping yourself and others healthy."

Utah As of February 15, there were no statewide travel restrictions in Utah, though there is a statewide mask mandate.

Vermont Vermont has a mandatory 14-day quarantine upon arrival for nonessential travel. You have the option of taking a Covid-19 PCR test on day seven of the quarantine and ending the quarantine early with a negative reading.

Virginia As of February 23, there were no statewide travel restrictions in Virginia. The state suggests getting tested one to three days before travel and again three to five days after you return.

Washington, DC These travel requirements apply to anyone coming to the District from a jurisdiction with more than 10 cases per 100,000 people: Visitors are asked to get tested 72 hours or less before coming to DC. If you're there for more than three days, you're asked to get tested again.

Washington state Washington state recommends a 14-day self-quarantine for interstate and international travel. Tourists are being discouraged from visiting.

West Virginia As of February 23, there were no statewide travel restrictions in West Virginia.

Wisconsin As of February 23, there were no statewide travel restrictions. However, the state is discouraging nonessential travel.

Wyoming As of February 23, there were no statewide travel restrictions in Wyoming.

^   I know people who just went on vacation, are on vacation now or who will go on vacation soon to different States. They should check-out the rules of where they are going and their home State since they aren't the same and constantly change (ie People from MA can come to NH without quarantining or tests, but when they go back to MA from NH their State makes them.) Ignorance of the laws and restrictions can still get you heavy fines and/or jail time. The above article is missing the US Territories: Guam, US Virgin Islands, American Samoa and the Northern Marianas. ^

https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/us-state-travel-restrictions-covid-19/index.html

7: Biden's Pledge

 From UNIAN:

“Biden on 7th anniversary: U.S. will never recognize Russia's purported annexation of Crimea”

The United States authorities will never recognize Russia's purported annexation of the Crimean peninsula and will stand with Ukraine against Russia's aggressive acts. U.S. President Joe Biden announced this in a statement on the seventh anniversary of Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine, which was posted on the White House website on February 26.

 "The United States does not and will never recognize Russia's purported annexation of the peninsula, and we will stand with Ukraine against Russia's aggressive acts. We will continue to work to hold Russia accountable for its abuses and aggression in Ukraine," the U.S. leader said in the statement. "Seven years ago today, Russia violated international law, the norms by which modern countries engage one another, and the sovereignty and territorial integrity of its neighbor Ukraine when it invaded Crimea. The United States continues to stand with Ukraine and its allies and partners today, as it has from the beginning of this conflict. On this somber anniversary, we reaffirm a simple truth: Crimea is Ukraine," he said. According to the U.S. president, the United States still believes in the promise of Ukraine and supports all those working towards a peaceful, democratic, and prosperous future for their country. "We will also continue to honor the courage and hope of the Revolution of Dignity, in which the Ukrainian people faced down sniper fire and enforcers in riot gear on the Maidan and demanded a new beginning for their country," he said.

Occupation of Crimea by Russia Today Ukraine marks the Day of Resistance to Russia's Occupation of Crimea. President Volodymyr Zelensky said that the liberation of the peninsula is a joint task for the international community, which is to get united around the Crimean Platform. Also, the Ukrainian leader signed a decree on measures aimed at ending the Russian occupation of Crimea and its reintegration into Ukraine. Russia occupied Ukraine's Crimea in March 2014 after its troops had seized the peninsula. An illegal referendum was held amid the aggressive takeover on the issue of the peninsula's accession to Russia. De-facto Crimean authorities claimed that 96.77% of the Crimean population had allegedly supported the move. On March 18, 2014, the so-called agreement on the accession of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol to the Russian Federation was signed off in the Kremlin. Western powers never recognized the seizure of Crimea and imposed sanctions on Russia over aggression against Ukraine.

^ It’s nice to see the United States’ continued support for Ukraine against the Russian aggressor. ^

https://www.unian.info/politics/crimea-biden-says-u-s-will-never-recognize-russia-s-purported-annexation-11335943.html

7: Resistance Day

 Today (February 26^th) marks The Day of Resistance to Russia's Occupation of Crimea:

The Russo-Ukrainian War (Ukrainian: російсько-українська війна, Russian: российско-украинская война) has been an ongoing war between Ukraine (supported by the European Union, the United Nations, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Canada, the United Kingdom, Japan, Norway, Albania, Iceland, Montenegro, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Australia, New Zealand. the United States) and Russia since February 2014 (for Crimea) and April 2014 (for Donbas) when Russia invaded, occupied and illegally annexed Crimea and invaded and occupied Donbas. Russia wants to create Novorossiya (Russian: Новороссия) or New Russia and make the former parts of the USSR Russian (Russian already occupies Transnistria in Moldova, South Ossetia in Georgia and Abkhazia in Georgia.)

3,350 Ukrainian Civilians have been killed

4,431 Ukrainian Soldiers have been killed

10,500 Ukrainian Soldiers have been wounded

5,665 Russian Soldiers have been killed (Russia has denied any Russians were killed or wounded in Ukraine yet they do have a ban on their soldiers posting on Social Media from Ukraine. They bury the dead throughout Russia in graves with fake names on them. The wounded go to hospitals throughout Russia under fake names to be treated. Their families do not receive the truth about their loved ones' death or Survivor Benefits – just like during the 1979-1989 Soviet-Afghanistan War.)

1,414,798 Ukrainian Civilians have fled Crimea and eastern Ukraine for the other regions of Ukraine.

925,500 Ukrainian Civilians have fled Ukraine for other countries.

Occupation Life: Russia has made it illegal to support anything Ukrainian (Ukrainian Language, Culture, Traditions, Way-Of-Life, etc.) in the Donbass and Crimea. Russia has made it illegal to support anything Tartar (Tartar Language, Culture, Traditions, Way-Of-Life, etc.) in Crimea. Anyone found speaking Ukrainian or Tartar or having anything to do with those cultures disappear to penal colonies in Russia. It is part of Putin’s Dictatorship and a nod to his love for the Soviet Dictatorship.

The men, women and children in Russian-occupied Crimea and Donbas are forced to speak the Russian Language, use the Russian Education System, use the Russian Ruble, have Russian Internal and International Passports (although Russian Internal and International Passports and other documents issues from Crimea, Donbas and neighboring regions inside Russia are not recognized around the world) and the men are forced into the Russian Military to fight their friends and family. Russia also created a High-Tech Security Border along Crimea and Ukraine.

International Sanctions imposed on Russia, Russians and companies make it illegal to have anything to do (travel, do business, etc.) with anyone or any company in Crimea or Donbas. Penalties for those that do include: jail time, fines, refusal of Visas, revocation of business licenses, etc.

Ukraine not only continues to fight for their illegally occupied territory back (which they call “Temporarily Occupied territories of Ukraine”), but has gone from a deadly Dictatorship under former President Viktor Yanukovych – who fled and now lives in Russia) to a burgeoning Democracy in just 7 short years. Ukrainians even have Visa-Free Travel to the European Union since 2017 (Russians do not.)

Russia has suffered years from Putin’s War in Ukraine. Due to the Self-Isolation imposed by Putin and the International-Imposed Sanctions Russia’s rank on most International Indexes (Standard of Living, Freedom, Ability to Free Travel, Democracy, Health Care, etc.) has fallen every year since 2014.

The Russian Male Life Expectancy has gone down to 67 years (for reference the US Male Life Expectancy is 76 years), the Russian Ruble has fallen Internally and Internationally leading to Russia’s Standard of Living being the lowest since the Soviet Union collapsed in December 1991.  By mid-2016, Russia had lost an estimated $170 billion due to financial sanctions, with another $400 billion in lost revenues from oil and gas and the financial lost of both has only gone down. That has made basic goods across Russia to cost more and the number of ordinary Russians living below the Poverty Line to also go up.

Russia continues to spend most of what little money it has on fighting in Donbas and supplying Crimea (the Kerch Bridge, Electricity, Water, Soldiers, etc.) than it does within Russia or on ordinary Russians. The result is the same situation that the USSR faced in the 1980s-1991 right before it collapsed: a tightly controlled Dictatorship that spends more on the Military and Arms to fight outside of their country while their own citizens struggle for basic items at home.

Vaccine Finder

From NYT:

“Helping People Find COVID-19 Vaccines Is Aim of CDC-Backed Site”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, hoping to make it easier for Americans to find COVID-19 vaccines, is backing the test of a centralized online portal where the public can search for nearby vaccination locations with doses on hand. The website, called Vaccine Finder, is run by Boston Children’s Hospital with the help of several collaborators. It grew out of the H1N1 flu pandemic of 2009 and has been used for years to coordinate the distribution of flu and childhood vaccines. It expanded Wednesday to include the availability of coronavirus vaccines in several states. If the program goes well, the website’s developers plan to expand it nationwide in coming weeks to include nearly all vaccine providers that agree to be featured. That would make the website far more comprehensive than anything that exists now. “We’re trying to create a trusted site and bring some order to all this chaos and confusion around availability,” said John Brownstein, a Boston Children’s Hospital researcher who runs VaccineFinder.org.

The project is not a panacea. It will not enable people to book appointments; it simply directs people to other portals where they can try to register to get vaccinated. Nor does the website address the key constraints — most notably the limited supply of vaccine doses — that are preventing more people from quickly getting shots. And there is a risk that the addition of yet another vaccine website will only exacerbate the current confusion. “It’s not a tool that’s going to necessarily make things easier for people to get the vaccine,” said Claire Hannan, executive director of the Association of Immunization Managers. “They’re going to see where vaccine is, but they’re still going to have challenges trying to get an appointment.” After a rocky start, the vaccination campaign in the United States has accelerated in recent weeks. Seventeen percent of adults have received a first dose, and 7.6% are fully vaccinated, according to the CDC. That puts the government well on the way to fulfilling President Joe Biden’s promise that at least 100 million vaccine doses would be administered in the United States by his 100th day in office; he has since raised that target to 150 million doses.

Despite the progress, though, getting appointments for vaccinations has been a source of great frustration for many people. Appointment slots are filled within minutes of becoming available. States, local health departments and pharmacy chains have their own sign-up websites that in many cases do not share data with one another. The CDC has its own vaccine administration management system, or VAMS, which some states are using to have people register for vaccinations and to collect essential data, but state officials have complained that it is clunky.

Exasperated people have taken matters into their own hands, creating online navigator tools and “vaccine hunter” Facebook groups in cities like Los Angeles and New Orleans to help connect people with available doses. When the Vaccine Finder portal goes live this week, it will include some drugstores and grocery stores nationwide, plus many other locations, like mass-vaccination sites, in Alaska, Indiana, Iowa and Tennessee. Kristen Nordlund, a spokeswoman for the CDC, said the agency was encouraging vaccination locations to “provide accurate and up-to-date information on location, hours and availability of vaccines, so Americans can find vaccine sites easier.” Dr. Marcus Plescia, chief medical officer of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, said, “I think people are optimistic and eagerly awaiting it.” He continued, “As with anything that we roll out in the middle of this pandemic, if there are glitches it could end up creating a lot of confusion, but I think we’ll just have to work through it.” Finding doses was relatively straightforward in the first weeks of the vaccine rollout, when eligible people — health care workers and residents and staff at long-term care facilities — were getting vaccinated mainly where they lived or worked. But states have since expanded their eligibility criteria to include older people, people with certain medical conditions and certain front line workers. More locations have also been added to give out vaccines, including stadiums and local pharmacies.

The federal government did not create a centralized sign-up system for the vaccine rollout, and states have been slow to set up their own. In that void, counties, local health departments, pharmacy chains and other vaccine providers started their own appointment-booking websites, in some cases adapting systems they already had and in others buying new tools from vendors. These systems are often not synchronized to share information like which people have registered on their websites. That has frustrated state and local health officials, who cannot cross off their lists people who have secured an appointment at a different location after registering on multiple systems. “It’s harder to track vaccination appointments and offer them to people who need it most when the systems are so disjointed,” said Blaire Bryant, associate legislative director for health for the National Association of Counties. Federal and state lawmakers have been clamoring for more centralized registration systems. Rep. Anthony Brown, D-Md., last week introduced legislation that would create a nationwide sign-up system where the public can register to get vaccinated. More states have begun registration websites in recent weeks, but those systems typically don’t let people reserve a vaccine or an appointment directly. Instead, they help people navigate existing systems or sign up to get notified when they can schedule an appointment. The Vaccine Finder website is meant to complement, not replace, those efforts, said Brownstein, who is also the chief innovation officer at Boston Children’s Hospital.

Google started the earliest version of what became the Vaccine Finder website. In 2012 Brownstein and his team took it over. Since then they have been working with state and local officials to identify locations that offer routine vaccinations. The project has received federal funding of about $1 million annually to maintain the website, first from the Department of Health and Human Services and since 2017 directly from the CDC. The U.S. government has provided more than $8 million to help the website expand for COVID-19 vaccines. The Vaccine Finder allows people to enter their ZIP code, the distance they’re willing to travel and which of the authorized vaccines they are seeking. That information generates a map dotted with nearby vaccination locations, with links to appointment-booking websites set up by states, local health departments and pharmacy chains. Vaccine providers can opt out of being highlighted on Vaccine Finder. For example, a provider might opt out if it is only vaccinating a certain slice of the population like health care workers. The website will show which places have doses available, based on data that vaccine locations are supposed to report daily. The need to report that information daily “could be a big lift and lead to varying degrees of accuracy in the system,” said Adriane Casalotti, chief of government and public affairs at the National Association of City and County Health Officials. “As with anything, the value will be in the quality of the data provided,” she added.

^ The article should have the actual website you can go to listed in it.  The website’s not perfect since it doesn't have all the different States' vaccine rules, etc. but is one of the better ones. So far the Federal and State Governments have not done a great job in making a central website to learn about Covid-19, about the Vaccines, about the different and constantly- changing restrictions. The vaccine website is https://vaccinefinder.org/ ^

https://www.yahoo.com/news/helping-people-covid-19-vaccines-130909412.html

Buttergate

From the BBC:

“Canadian farmers advised to ditch palm oil after 'buttergate' row”

Canadian farmers have been advised to stop feeding palm oil to cows after foodies claimed local butter had become harder due to the diet supplement. The Dairy Farmers of Canada group has formed an expert panel to examine the matter and has asked milk producers to temporarily halt the practice. Experts note many factors, not just fat intake, determine butter consistency. The Canadian butter controversy comes amid a rise in demand for baking goods during Covid lockdowns. In a news release issued on Thursday, the Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFA) lobbying group asked that while their investigation is ongoing, milk producers "consider alternatives to palm supplements". "It's just a precautionary [measure] to ensure that consumers maintain confidence in dairy products across Canada," DFA board member Gordon MacBeath told CBC News. DFA communications director Lucie Boileau told the BBC the working group has not formally met yet, but individual farmers "have already reached out to their animal nutritionist to identify alternatives". Adding palm oil-based energy supplements to cow feed is a decades-old practice said to increase the milk output of cows and increase the milk's fat content. Little research has been done on the true impact of palm oil in dairy. With a 12% rise in butter demand last year amid pandemic lockdowns, according to the DFA, many farmers increased their use of palm oil supplements to boost dairy supply. The so-called "buttergate" row took off earlier this month, when Canadian foodies took to social media to express problems with too-hard butter that would not melt at room temperature. Agricultural experts have said that butter made from cows with palm oil has a higher melting point and may thus be harder to spread at room temperature.

^ Butter should melt at room temperature. ^

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-56205239

25 Million Masks

From USA Today:

“Biden administration to deliver more than 25 million masks to health centers, food pantries”

The Biden administration announced Wednesday that it would distribute more than 25 million masks to over 1,300 community health centers and 60,000 food pantries and soup kitchens in an effort to reach underserved communities and as part of the president's promise to make the pandemic response more equitable.  Between March and May, the administration will send well-fitted cloth masks, available in child and adult sizes, that can be washed for reuse, White House COVID-19 response coordinator Jeff Zients announced in a news briefing. The masks will comply with coronavirus guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, be made in the U.S. and will not affect the availability of masks for health care workers. "Not all Americans are wearing masks regularly, not all Americans have access and not all masks are equal," Zients said. "With this action, we are helping to level the playing field, giving vulnerable populations quality, well-fitted masks."

The CDC has recommended wearing a mask as a key step to limiting the spread of COVID-19, and President Joe Biden has asked every American to wear a mask for his first 100 days in office. The Biden administration has required masks in federal buildings and on public transportation. The Department of Health and Human Services, in partnership with the Department of Defense, will deliver masks to Federally Qualified Health Centers. Among these health centers, two-thirds of the people served live in poverty, 60% are racial or ethnic minorities, and nearly 1.5 million are homeless, according to a fact sheet provided by the White House.  The Defense Department will work with the Department of Agriculture to deliver masks to about 300 food banks that extend across a network of 60,000 food pantries, soup kitchens and other food distribution points.  Americans can pick up individual wrapped masks at any of these locations, Zients said. Twelve million to 15 million Americans are expected to receive masks as a result of the campaign, the White House said.  The campaign rollout came a day after Biden told essential workers at a virtual roundtable that he expected his administration to send millions of masks around the country "very shortly."

^ At this point if you aren’t wearing a mask you are just dumb and probably aren’t going to wear one ever. ^

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2021/02/24/coronavirus-white-house-deliver-25-million-masks-across-us/4575314001/

New Trucks

From News Nation:

“See the new, futuristic-looking Postal Service trucks”

The Postal Service announced Tuesday that it would be unveiling a completely redesigned fleet of vehicles — for the first time in about thirty years. The Postal Service has more than 230,000 vehicles — 1,900 of which deliver mail — making it one of the largest fleets in the world. The new vehicles will have increased cargo capacity and include air conditioning and heating, improved ergonomics, 360-degree cameras, advanced braking traction control and a collision avoidance system, according to a press release. “Our fleet modernization also reflects the Postal Service’s commitment to a more environmentally sustainable mix of vehicles,” said Postmaster General and USPS Chief Executive Officer Louis DeJoy in a statement. “Because we operate one of the largest civilian government fleets in the world, we are committed to pursuing near-term and long-term opportunities to reduce our impact on the environment.” The vehicles are expected to hit streets by 2023.

^ Hopefully this is just one step that the USPS is making to improve service across the country. ^

https://www.newsnationnow.com/us-news/see-the-new-futuristic-looking-postal-service-trucks/

What's Purim

Purim

What Is Purim? The jolly festival of Purim is celebrated every year on the 14th of the Hebrew month of Adar (late winter/early spring). Purim 2020 begins on Monday night, March 9 and continues through Tuesday, March 10, (March 11 in Jerusalem). It commemorates the (Divinely orchestrated) salvation of the Jewish people in the ancient Persian empire from Haman’s plot “to destroy, kill and annihilate all the Jews, young and old, infants and women, in a single day,” as recorded in the Megillah (book of Esther).

The Story in a Nutshell The Persian Empire of the 4th century BCE extended over 127 lands, and all the Jews were its subjects. When King Ahasuerus had his wife, Queen Vashti, executed for failing to follow his orders, he arranged a beauty pageant to find a new queen. A Jewish girl, Esther, found favor in his eyes and became the new queen, though she refused to divulge her nationality. Meanwhile, the Jew-hating Haman was appointed prime minister of the empire. Mordechai, the leader of the Jews (and Esther’s cousin), defied the king’s orders and refused to bow to Haman. Haman was incensed, and he convinced the king to issue a decree ordering the extermination of all the Jews on the 13th of Adar, a date chosen by a lottery Haman made. Mordechai galvanized all the Jews, convincing them to repent, fast and pray to G‑d. Meanwhile, Esther asked the king and Haman to join her for a feast. At a subsequent feast, Esther revealed to the king her Jewish identity. Haman was hanged, Mordechai was appointed prime minister in his stead, and a new decree was issued, granting the Jews the right to defend themselves against their enemies. On the 13th of Adar, the Jews mobilized and killed many of their enemies. On the 14th of Adar, they rested and celebrated. In the capital city of Shushan, they took one more day to finish the job.

Why Is It Called Purim? Purim means “lots” in ancient Persian. The holiday was thus named since Haman had thrown lots to determine when he would carry out his diabolical scheme. You can pronounce this name many ways. In Eastern tradition, it is called poo-REEM. Among Westerners, it is often called PUH-rim. Some Central-European communities even call it PEE-rim. (WARNING: Calling this holiday PYOO-rim—as English speakers are sometimes wont to do—is a surefire newbie cover-blower.)

Purim Observances Reading of the Megillah (book of Esther), which recounts the story of the Purim miracle. This is done once on the eve of Purim and then again on the following day. Giving money gifts to at least two poor people. Sending gifts of two kinds of food to at least one person. A festive Purim feast, which often includes wine or other intoxicating beverages.

Purim Traditions and Customs There is a spirit of liveliness and fun on Purim that is unparalleled on the Jewish calendar. If there were ever a day to “let loose” and just be Jewish, this is it! Read why here. It is also customary for children (and adults, if they desire) to dress up in costumes.  A traditional Purim food is hamantaschen (or oznay Haman), three-cornered pastries bursting with poppy seeds or another sweet filling.  On the day before Purim (or on the Thursday before, when Purim is on Sunday), it is customary to fast, commemorating Esther’s fasting and praying to G‑d that He save His people.

When to Celebrate One of the unique aspects of Purim is the diverse timing for its celebration.

● Common Custom: Jews all over the world celebrate Purim on Adar 14, the day when our ancestors rested from the war against their enemies.

● Walled Cities: Since the Jews of Shushan rested one day later, their Purim was deferred to the 15th. This was extended to include any city that was surrounded by walls in the days of Joshua, notably Jerusalem.

● Small Towns: In ancient times, villagers only banded together with fellow Jews in the larger towns on Mondays and Thursdays, which were market days. Thus, the sages decreed that they should read the Megillah on the market day preceding 14 Adar. This custom is no longer practiced.

The Significance of Purim In addition to the miracle of Jewish survival despite the efforts of our enemies, Purim celebrates G‑d’s intimate involvement in every aspect of this world. Even though there were no overt miracles recorded in the Megillah—indeed, His name is not even mentioned once—G‑d was actively “pulling the strings” to care for His nation. Additionally, Haman’s edict catalyzed a spiritual revival among the Jews. In a sense, this was even more significant than the Covenant at Sinai—an overwhelming spiritual experience that compelled the Jews to accept the Torah—since it occurred of their own volition, even as they were scattered among the Persian people and immersed in their culture. It was in the merit of this spiritual reawakening that G‑d orchestrated their salvation.

Other Cool Purim Facts All too often, Jewish communities have narrowly escaped catastrophe. More often than not, the plot involves an evil tyrant who follows the ways of Haman. And just like the Purim story, G‑d is there to save His people from certain doom. Some communities make their own “Purim” holiday on the anniversary of the date of their respective salvation. Some even read the chain of events from specially-made “megillah” scrolls.

https://www.chabad.org/holidays/purim/article_cdo/aid/645309/jewish/What-Is-Purim.htm

Purim

 

Last Franco

From Reuters:

“Last statue of dictator Franco removed in 'historic day' for Spain”

The last statue of former Spanish dictator Francisco Franco was removed on Tuesday from the city gates of Melilla, a Spanish enclave and autonomous city on the northwest African coast. Without much fanfare, a group of workmen operated a mechanical digger and heavy drills to chip away at the brick platform on which the statue stood, lifted it off by a chain around its neck and carted it away in bubble wrap on a pickup truck. The statue, erected three years after Franco’s death in 1978, commemorated his role as commander of the Spanish Legion in the Rif War, a conflict fought in the 1920s by Spain and France against the Berber tribes of the Rif mountainous region of Morocco. “This is a historic day for Melilla,” Elena Fernandez Trevino, in charge of education and culture in the enclave, said on Monday after the local assembly voted to take the statue down, pointing out that it was “the only statue dedicated to a dictator still in the public sphere in Europe.” Only the far-right Vox party voted against the move, arguing that the statue celebrated Franco’s military role and not his dictatorship, so the Historical Memory Law, a 2007 statute calling for the removal of all symbols connected to Franco’s regime, should not apply. The Spanish government has made several high-profile removals off the back of this law, including taking over the former dictator’s summer palace from his heirs last September.

^ It is good that Melilla took down this statue. What is really sad is that it was erected 3 years after he died wasn’t forced on anyone (ie. Franco didn’t put it up himself.) ^

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-spain-politics-franco-statue/last-statue-of-dictator-franco-removed-in-historic-day-for-spain-idUSKBN2AN28N

Military Extremism

From Military.com:

“SecDef Austin to Troops: If You've Seen Extremism in the Ranks, Tell Your Commander”

Troops who have encountered extremism from their fellow service members should share those experiences with their leaders, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a video posted Friday. In the video, Austin said the military needs troops' help to stamp out extremism and extremist ideologies, or "views and conduct that run counter to everything that we believe in, and which can actually tear at the fabric of who we are as an institution." And when troops report examples of extremism in the military, Austin said their leaders need to listen to their stories, as well as any ideas on how to eradicate "the dangerous conduct that this ideology inspires." Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby told reporters Monday that the video, which is part of the military's broader effort to crack down on extremist ideologies in the ranks, will be shown to troops, along with other training materials, during stand-downs to address the problem. Earlier this month, Austin ordered each of the services to take one day over the next two months to talk about extremism in the ranks. The stand-downs were ordered in the wake of the violent Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol; several of the rioters had previously served in the military. Kirby said at the time that, while the number of troops holding extremist views is likely small, "They may not be as small as we would like them to be or we would need them to be." In the video, Austin said he has seen and lived through these attitudes before, both as a soldier and a commander. "It's not new to our country and, sadly, it's not new to our military," he said. But a key difference today is the ease and speed at which social media allows extremist ideologies to spread, as well as the organized, emboldened and aggressive recruitment efforts by hate groups and sympathizers. "It concerns me to think that anyone wearing the uniform of a soldier, or a sailor, an airman, Marine, or Guardian or Coast Guardsman would espouse these sorts of beliefs, let alone act on them," Austin said. "But they do. Some of them still do."

The military has to be better than that, he said, not just for its own sake, but for the United States as a whole and the idea of what it represents to the world. Wiping out extremism is also a readiness issue, he added. Austin prefaced his remarks by saying "there is not a single doubt in my mind" that troops watching the video take their oaths to the Constitution seriously, serve with "honor and dignity and character," and uphold the military's core values every day. And he acknowledged such stand-downs can seem like yet another burden to troops. Austin said he wants service members watching the video to revisit their oaths to the Constitution. "Read those words again," he said. "Consider what they really mean. And think about the promise that you made to yourselves and to your teammates and to your fellow citizens." However, Austin did not go so far as to call for them to take part in a full reaffirmation, as the Navy is requiring as part of its stand-downs. The Pentagon has not yet answered a question on whether the other services will be required to conduct oath reaffirmations. "We have serious commitments around the world, and people depend on us," Austin said. "So we can't afford actions and behavior that are at odds with our values and that undermine good order and discipline, that harm or harass or otherwise violate the oath that we share, and the bonds of trust upon which we all rely." In Monday's press conference, Kirby said Austin would like to find a way to better compile data on the extent of extremism in the military, but he acknowledged that getting numbers on how many troops hold those beliefs and are willing to act on them will be difficult.

The military usually learns about individual cases of extremism through violations of the Uniform Code of Military Justice or instances of conduct and behavior that hurt good order and discipline, Kirby said. But even then, it sometimes may not be possible to tell whether extremist beliefs motivated such harmful actions or something else, he added. Further complicating matters, Kirby said, is the fact that some instances of extremist behavior happen off base and are handled by federal or even local law enforcement. The military may not have full access to those law enforcement databases. But Kirby also acknowledged that troops' First Amendment rights have to be respected. "This isn't about trying to get into the brains of an individual member of the military, but rather to make sure that we have a better sense of who we're bringing in and that those who are in are ascribing and acting on our core values, the core values of the institution, and not some other group's core values that are inimical to what we're supposed to do for defense of the nation," he said. "And then the last piece is that they're not acting out on extremist beliefs that put good order and discipline in jeopardy or, worse, put their shipmates, their teammates, their colleagues in jeopardy as well." Kirby said some commands have already conducted stand-down days. The Pentagon will soon provide additional training materials to help the services conduct the stand-downs, he said, though he did not have a specific date.

^ Sadly, Extremism is very popular with both Active-Duty and Veteran Soldiers. It puts a dark stain on the sacrifice that men and women in the Military risk every day. ^

https://www.military.com/daily-news/2021/02/23/secdef-austin-troops-if-youve-seen-extremism-ranks-tell-your-commander.html