Virus surge hits New England despite high vaccination rates

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Despite having some of the highest vaccination rates in the U.S., the six New England states are still grappling with a surge of cases due to the delta variant. In some areas, hospitalizations are approaching the pandemic peak and ICUs are filling up.

Link to tweet

Virus surge hits New England despite high vaccination rates

[VarryOn]

1. With Southern states' cases coming down now that summer is over....

It looks like it's going to head North. I saw something yesterday about one of the Dakotas starting to see the same as New England.

[bamagal62]

2. Are the ones in hospital vaccinated?

[VarryOn]

3. Everything I read says most hospitalized haven't had the jab. Nt

[elias7]

7. Oh, I'm sorry, I hate the term "jab".

I don’t know why. I guess it’s so euphemistic and wholly inaccurate. It doesn’t feel at all like a jab.

[VarryOn]

9. Ok, "shot." I don't know why that synonym would be offensive...

A few weeks ago, I read here that it bugged some. Like you, I don't know why. Personal preference, I suppose. I hate it when people say "Coke" to refer to a soft drink. My grandfather call their sofa a "divan." Alwys pissed me off.

[Kaleva]

11. Magahats prefer the term "jab"

[VarryOn]

13. If that's true, I'll certainly stop...

Even though it it makes no sense, whatsoever. I guess I learned it at the office.

[Kaleva]

14. It doesn't make sense but that's what they call the shot.

I lurk often over at FR to see what the crazies are up to and I see that term used very often when the discussion is about vaccination shots.

Edit: here is an example I quickly found:

"Denver Police Officer and Father of Four Takes the Jab and Now Cannot Walk"

[VarryOn]

15. I should probably know, but what is FR? Nt

[Kaleva]

16. Free Republic. The people there are called Freepers

Back when I joined DU, I read many posts expressing hatred for Freepers . I didn't know about FR at the time. I knew that the Detroit Free Press newspaper was called "The Freep" and I thought folks here were heaping abuse on the readers of that fine newspaper and couldn't understand why.

[Blue_true]

10. I hate that term also. nt

[bamagal62]

17. It's what most Brits and Aussies

Call a shot. Kind of like trash can vs bin.

[Mopar151]

12. Something like 97% NOT! nt

[Ex Lurker]

18. In the South, people are indoors in summer and outdoors in winter

In the North, just the opposite.

[Tomconroy]

4. The story is a bit misleading. I try to keep track of the stats out of self interest.

Maine and Vermont cases are near last winters levels but they didn't get hit too badly last winter. Vermont has seen a little drop lately. The others saw a delta spike beginning in July but nothing like last winter..They all are seeing a small drop recently. The hospitalizations and deaths are a small fraction of last winter's.
The serious cases do seem to be among the unvaccinated although break through cases in nursing homes at least in CT are an issue.
Dr Gottlieb was predicting a new Covid spike in the northeast this fall but it really hasn't happened yet. The last time I saw him he was waffling a bit.

[MacKasey]

5. Too many flatlanders and peepers and not enough wearing masks

Though since the case numbers in VT have gone up , I have seen more people wearing masks

[Vinca]

6. I went grocery shopping at a store in southern Vermont this morning. There is no mask mandate

in the town anymore and the store was packed. I saw 1 person without a mask in the whole store. Dollars to donuts it was one of the flatlanders. I feel like double masking when I see a license plate out front with a southern state on it.

[elias7]

8. As a hospital person, I can say NH numbers have been up for two months

That we have a high vaccination rate, there are very few people masking in most places, especially those from out of town such as Massachusetts. A few places that I frequent require masks, and I am pleased. But, for the most part, it is being spread by the unvaxxed, and it is the unvaxxed who are sick in the hospital.

VT is much better at adhering to precautions, almost like a different country…

[NickB79]

19. New York State has 70% vaccinated. But......

70% of their 20 million population leaves 6 million unvaccinated. That's more than enough for the much more contagious Delta strain to burn hot and fast through the state.

Under 90% vaccinated and the virus will still spread far and wide.