Approaching the Panniversary (Pandemic Part XIX)

It's been more than a year now that COVID's been in the news, and we're approaching the anniversary of everything shutting down. The speed at which the vaccines were produced is miraculous, but the pace of distribution less so. People are losing patience with restrictions (if they had any to start with), and trying to get vaccinated is an exercise in frustration.

As little as I've been affected in my day-to-day activities, even I'm just over it all. February was hard. Although I'm thankful for all the snow we had this winter, I'm glad spring is on the way, and we'll be able to be outside more soon. 

Tues., Feb. 16

• The U.S. seven-day average of daily new cases dropped below 90,000 for the first time since early November.
• Researchers had identified seven variants in the U.S., all the same kind of mutation on the spike protein: an example of convergent evolution.
• New York Governor Cuomo was criticized for not releasing nursing home deaths in Spring 2020.
• In a CNN town hall, President Biden said everyone who wants a vaccine will have one by the end of July.
• White House health advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci said he expects most Americans will have access to a COVID-19 vaccine by mid-to-late May or early June.

Wed., Feb. 17

• Secretary of State Antony Blinken committed to pay $200 million to the World Health Organization, after the Trump Administration had deserted it.
• Governor Baker announced that those 65 and over could get vaccinated in Massachusetts starting tomorrow.
• One-third of eligible military personnel had chosen not to be vaccinated. 
• Britain approved the first challenge trial for the vaccine, with 90 participants who will be exposed to the virus.
• New cases had dropped 16 percent globally in the past week.

Thurs.  Feb. 18

• The pandemic cut U.S. life expectancy by a year in the first half of 2020, the most since World War II. The drop was greater for people of color.
• The Massachusetts vaccine website crashed after opening to ages 65+, and snow and freezing temperatures in the South delayed shipment of six million doses. 
• A study showed the Pfizer vaccine to be 90 percent effective after one dose.
• Johnson & Johnson was running a trial for two doses of its one-dose vaccine to see if a booster offered significantly more protection.
• Vaccine trials on pregnant women and kids ages 5-15 started.

Fri., Feb. 19

• Biden pledged $4 billion to Covax, the worldwide vaccniation effort.
• The University of Washington model predicted 106,000 more deaths by June 1.
• The CDC announced the U.S./Canada border-crossing restrictions would continue through Mar. 21.

Sat., Feb. 20

• The U.S. hit 28 million cases.

Mon., Feb. 22

• The U.S. hit 500,000 deaths. President Biden held a ceremony with 500 candles on the steps of the White House.
• 64 million vaccinations had been given in the U.S. 
• Massachusetts upgraded the Northampton Senior Center vaccination site to 5,000 shots/week. 

Tues., Feb. 23

• Pfizer and Moderna told members of the House Energy and Commerce oversight and investigations subcommittee they anticipate a big surge in doses after making manufacturing improvements — an additional 140 million would be delivered in the next five weeks.

Wed., Feb., 24

• Global deaths from the coronavirus fell by 20 percent last week compared with the week before, according to the World Health Organization.
• Covax delivered its the first vaccine doses to Ghana.
• Moderna was considering developing a booster to fight the virus variants.

Thurs., Feb. 25

• One in 10 people who develop COVID-19 still exhibited symptoms three months after infection, according to the World Health Organization.
• President Biden marked 50 million shots given in the first 37 days of his administration.

Fri., Feb. 26

• A CDC advisory panel recommended emergency-use authorization for the Johnson & Johnson one-dose vaccine. Four million doses could be delivered right away; one million more by the end of March; and 100 million more by the end of June. The vaccine didn't perform as well in tests as Pfizer and Moderna, but the variants weren't around then. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine prevented hospitalizations and deaths. 
• The CDC said 10 percent of new cases in the U.S. were the B117 (U.K.) variant.
• The CDC said the decline in cases had plateaued at 70,000/day.
• The House passed the $1.9 trillion COVID relief bill.

Sat., Feb. 27

• By July 1, roughly 56 percent of the U.S. population — about 185 million people — could be vaccinated with at least their first dose, according to projections by data scientist Youyang Gu, whose past models have been cited by the CDC.
• Worldwide, 2.5 million people have died; 20 percent of those were in the U.S.

Mon., Mar. 1

• The first shipments of the Johnson & Johnson vaccines shipped from Louisville, KY.
• CDC Director Rochelle Wallensky said she's concerned about state and local governments loosening restrictions as variants are increasing.
• Massachusetts eliminated capacity limits at restaurants and moved to allowing 50 percent capacity at most businesses.

Tues., Mar. 2

• The Biden Administration announced it had reached a deal for Merck to help produce the Johnson & Johnson vaccines.
• It was revealed that Trump and Melania were secretly vaccinated before leaving the White House. 
• Texas and Mississippi lifted mask mandates, and businesses could be fully open.
• Biden said there would be enough vaccine for every adult in America by end of May and told states to expedite vaccinating teachers.

Wed., Mar. 3

• Mom got her second vaccine dose.

Fri., Mar. 5

• The number of COVID tests conducted every day in America had plummeted by 33.6 percent since January.

Sat., Mar. 6

• COVID-restriction protestors in Idaho held mask burnings.
• The Senate finally passed Biden's $1.9-trillion COVID-relief bill.
• 2.9 million vaccines were administered, a new daily record.

A year ago today, Sarah had a sleepover, and Don and I went out to a movie and dinner. I remember clearly feeling as though life was grand and hoping nothing would change. And then it all did.

As a country, we're making progress in lowering cases and administering vaccines, but people are impatient and new virus variants are constantly appearing. We're in a race against human nature and viral ingenuity. The U.S. is nearing 29 million cases, and, although daily cases have dropped dramatically since January, they're not much lower than they were during the surge last summer.

It's a relief to have Mom fully vaccinated. I've been trying to get an appointment for Don, with no luck. Even so, we're feeling optimistic that he and I will be immunized by July, and we've scheduled a visit to the cabin by the Rodriguezes for the end of August. We're holding out hope for a somewhat-normal summer.