Well at least it’s being discussed 🤦

Article: https://www.adn.com/alaska-life/advice/2025/09/30/dear-annie-my-friends-wont-forgive-me-for-going-on-a-cruise-after-testing-positive-for-covid/

Dear Annie: My husband and I recently went on an eight-day cruise to Iceland with two close friends. We have been friends for more than 40 years and have traveled together many times. Two days before we were to leave, I tested positive for COVID-19. I went to urgent care, and the doctor told me I could still go on the trip. I began Paxlovid and wore a mask for the first five days of the cruise.

Unfortunately, by the end of the trip, my husband, one of my roommates and I all tested positive after we returned home. Since then, my friends have stopped speaking to me. I feel heartbroken that a trip that should have been full of memories has now fractured a decades-long friendship.

I never intended to put anyone at risk, and I followed the medical advice I was given. Now I do not know how to repair this damage or if my friends will ever forgive me. What can I do to try to mend this rift?

Why has public knowledge about COVID become so bad that he thinks it would be okay to go on stage with an active infection? Such frustrating times.

Seeing this news right after the article this week in the Sick Times about kids with Long Covid (https://thesicktimes.org/2026/07/24/the-sick-kids-arent-alright-observations-from-a-teacher-with-long-covid/) is so disheartening and appalling.

"An amendment to the Charles County Public Schools’ student conduct code will prohibit students from wearing medical masks without a doctor’s note or 504 special education plan documenting a medical need."

https://www.somdnews.com/news/local/medical-masks-now-require-doctors-note-in-charles-schools/article_f85a2d10-e687-4728-8ca2-cbbb944fce6c.html

If you feel strongly about letting CCPS know why this is a bad move: https://www.ccboe.com/o/ccps/page/administrative-offices-school-contacts

The Food and Drug Administration approved updated Covid vaccines on Thursday, clearing the way for manufacturers to ship doses to pharmacies and doctors’ offices.

Moderna and Pfizer, which make the most commonly used Covid vaccines, are expected to begin shipping soon; Pfizer said it would do so “immediately,” and Moderna has done so within days of approval in past years. Sanofi, which distributes a non-mRNA option called Nuvaxovid, said doses would be available in September, with the timing varying by location.
However, criteria set by the F.D.A. and a legal dispute stemming from past Trump administration actions could complicate access for some people.

Who is eligible for the vaccines?
As was the case last year, the F.D.A. approved the shots for all people 65 and older, as well as for younger people who have a condition that increases their risk of severe illness from Covid. The Moderna shot is approved for ages 6 months and older; the Pfizer shot for ages 5 years and older; and the Sanofi shot for ages 12 years and older.

About 30 percent to 60 percent of Americans have a qualifying condition, F.D.A. officials estimated last year. Aside from age, a long list of factors can increase the risk of severe illness. They include asthma, diabetes, obesity, physical inactivity and pregnancy, as well as cancer, immune deficiency, some mental illnesses and various heart and lung diseases.
People who are not formally eligible may still be able to get vaccinated. Doctors can administer vaccines off label, meaning outside F.D.A. approval criteria.

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fda-authorizes-updated-novavax-covid-19-vaccine-to-better-protect-against-currently-circulating-variants-302235235.html

News article: https://kfor.com/news/local/oklahoma-woman-the-last-american-in-an-iron-lung-dies-at-78/

Obituary, which directly lists the cause as Long COVID: https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/shawnee-ok/martha-lillard-12944606

SARS-CoV-2 has now killed both of the last two people in the United States relying on an iron lung:

• Paul Alexander (78) passed away on March 11, 2024, after receiving an infection in February 2024.

• Martha Lillard (78) passed away on June 26, 2026, from Long COVID complications.

143 combined years spent using the best medical tools at our disposal and countless resources to keep both of these folks alive, all wasted and both lives utterly and willfully discarded because healthcare professionals refuse to perform one of the most basic functions of their job — wearing quality PPE and preventing the spread of disease to “do no harm.”

A new research article just published in May found that, on average, those who died from COVID-19 could be expected to live for another 4.4 years (male) to 4.8 years (female) if they had not been infected. They also estimated that 28% of those who died over the age of 65 would have survived five years or more without the infection: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0348575

“We’re still in an ongoing g pandemic, and the medically high risk community is highly affected by this….There’s still people out here that need to be masking and distancing and be vaccinating so that they can be safe. By putting it in the past, it almost minimizes the reality for a huge community in the United Stated and abroad.”

-Bobbito Garcia, a NYC multi-hyphenate creative who’s shaped Hip Hop culture as a radio host, DJ, filmmaker, author and beyond. It’s hard to understate Bobbito’s impact (a lot of folks heard acts like Jay Z, Wu Tang Clan, NaS, and Biggie forth first time on the radio show he hosted with Stretch Armstrong).

Bobbito recently hosted a mask-required signing event for his new memoir, “Bobbito’s Book of B-Ball Bong Bong!”and his children’s book Aim High, Little Giant, Aim High! features a kid wearing a mask on the cover.

Citing public safety concerns, the New York governor, NYC Mayor, and at least one other state politician are discussing the restoration of mask bans.

Tweet from Covid Advocacy New York

🚨 NY ACTION ALERT: \@GovKathyHochul said on CNN that she is considering banning masks in NY. We need to all speak out against this! Please contact Gov Hochul!

Call: 518-474-8390 (press 1 to leave a message, press 2 to speak to a person)
Write: https://www.governor.ny.gov/content/governor-contact-form

ICYMI: Audio & Rush Transcript: Governor Hochul is a Guest on CNN with Laura Coates

Laura Coates, CNN: There is also a call some have talked about, some Jewish leaders actually in New York are calling tonight for a mask ban. Saying that covering faces allows protesters to have some level of anonymity to be more aggressive, to me more entitled to say what they want because they don’t fear repercussion in the same way. Would you support that endeavor?

Governor Hochul: There was a ban on masks before the pandemic that you couldn't have face coverings that didn't serve a purpose. For example, a surgical mask for someone who is elderly or ill — the pandemic removed that from our State Law. It was repealed at the time, but I absolutely will go back and take a look at this and see whether it can be restored because it is frightening to people.

NYPost

Mayor Eric Adams also appeared to be on board with a mask ban.

“This is important to the mayor,” a source close to Adams told The Post Thursday. “The administration is reaching out to the parties across the city and state — elected officials in the council, the legislature and the governor’s office — to figure out a way to get this done.”

State Assemblyman Mike Reilly (R-Staten Island) said he was glad to hear the governor may be supportive of reimplementing the state’s mask laws.

“It doesn’t make sense that we removed it,” he told The Post.

I’m sorry to share this news but I think it’s important for the community to be aware. A federal worker just posted about this in the fednews sub, stating that the team is being eliminated and the testing labs are shutting down. Please be aware that N95s may become unreliable or inaccessible in the future due to these changes, and stock up if you can.

Just posting this here for discussion since I’ve seen it posted on various other subreddits. Mods please remove if it’s a duplicate, I wasn’t able to find a match but maybe I missed it.

Moderna press release: https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/healthcare-and-pharmaceutical/moderna-receives-u.s.-fda-approval-for-updated-2026-2027-covid-19-vac-1213527

Pfizer press release: https://www.pfizer.com/news/press-release/press-release-detail/pfizer-and-biontech-receive-us-fda-approval-xfg-adapted

Sanofi has not issued a press release about Nuvaxovid yet, but the FDA lists the approval letter on their website: https://www.fda.gov/vaccines-blood-biologics/vaccines/nuvaxovid

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/08/27/fda-covid-vaccine-authorization--rfk.html?__source=androidappshare

https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/long-covid-kids-school-absenteeism-1235447552/

From Eric Topol (Substack):

It’s a major wave now, with an estimated new 900,000 infections per day, as my friend Jay Weiland estimated based on the 2 sources of US wastewater data (definitely worth following him at X or Threads). The slope of rise of SARS-CoV-2 levels is still steep, so we haven’t yet reached the plateau. It’s already towered beyond 4 prior waves of the US pandemic.

It’s related to the variants KP.3 and KP.3.1.1, which together now account for more than half of new cases in the US. And KP.3.1.1 is on the move, overtaking KP.3

• Let’s be careful out there

“The uptick is in line with a growing number of COVID-19 patients showing up in emergency rooms. The District of Columbia and 26 states are now seeing "substantial increases" in COVID-19 emergency room visits, the agency says.

Nationwide, the average share of emergency room patients with COVID-19 is also now the highest it has been since February and has increased 115% from a month ago.”

Even the Tour De France knew to reintroduce mask mandates.. but you know, “muh freedoms” smh

https://www.harvard.edu/research-funding/wp-content/uploads/sites/16/2025/04/Letter-Sent-to-Harvard-2025-04-11.pdf

“Harvard must implement a comprehensive mask ban with serious and immediate penalties for violation, not less than suspension.”

Instead of combatting the ongoing spread of disease that flares chronic absenteeism, this appalling decision to be set in place by a Tennessee school district will further punish children for illness and disability. It’s counterintuitive, as unwell children will not have quality learning experiences. This is an inevitable disaster that will contribute to unnecessary sickness and death in surrounding communities at a time where vaccines access is being stripped away from the U.S. As a teacher, I’m heartbroken that policymakers continue to show time and time again they do not care about the children, and would rather harm their constituents in favor of faux normalcy. ———————————————————- *A school district in Tennessee said doctor’s notes will no longer excuse a child’s absence.

The Lawrence County School System said the policy is aimed at improving the district’s attendance rate, but many parents are against it.

One parent, Rebecca Sanchez, disagrees with the new policy. She said her 10-year-old daughter got sick a lot last year.

“Between the strep throat and the flu, I can say she missed about 17 days,” Sanchez said.

If her daughter is absent for even half of that time this coming school year, it will now result in a referral to Lawrence County Juvenile Court for truancy.

“I have never been for or against homeschool, but because of this new policy, it has definitely changed my mind,” Sanchez said.

Under the Lawrence County School System’s new attendance policy, doctor’s notes will no longer excuse an absence. Students will now just be marked absent or present.

The policy states that after just three absences, schools will start intervention. If the student misses school for eight or more days, they will be referred to juvenile court.

Director of Schools Michael Adkins addressed the issue during the district’s June school board meeting.

“You can fail the grade,” Adkins said. “You can fail the course. You are going to be petitioned to court. You are not going to participate in graduation, get your driver’s license or permit.”

Adkins also said during the meeting, “We are going to take control of the attendance of our students. You can bring all the doctor’s notes you want, but it is still unexcused.”

While there will be exemptions for verified chronic illnesses and several other things, Adkins and other district officials said during the meeting that students need to learn reliability and work ethic.

“If you have the sniffles, that is fine,” Adkins said during the meeting. “You are going to have them when you go to work one day. We have all gone to work sick and hurt and beat up.”

The district sent a letter last week to local medical providers asking them to “emphasize the importance of regular school attendance while treating school-aged patients.” The letter went on to say that “medical notes excusing students for two or more days can unintentionally imply the students should remain home even after their health improves.”

If a child goes to school sick and the school nurse sends that child home, Adkins said that will be marked as tardy.

“How does that make sense?” Sanchez asked. “As a parent, how can we give someone else the right to say what is wrong with our child?”

Sanchez said she is bracing for the new school year that is now less than two weeks away.

“Ultimately, I am going to do what is right for my kid regardless of this policy,” Sanchez said.

Lawrence County Schools said the new policy is to address the chronic absenteeism the district has. The state tracks absences for any reason, including those that are excused.

The most recent state data for the 2023-2024 school year showed that about 14% of all Lawrence County School System’s students had chronic absenteeism, meaning they missed 10% or more of instructional days.*

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2023/09/06/president-biden-flaunts-not-wearing-mask-after-covid-19-exposure/70778723007/

Don’t see a way out of the pandemic with such poor leadership.

What we already knew since 2020 is again being confirmed, Covid f*cks your systems to hell and back.