Yes, Ron DeSantis is OK with Floridians being sacrificed

From the Orlando Sentinel -

‘Recipe for disaster’: Florida Department of Health releases new COVID-19 testing guidelines that contradict CDC’s

Days after Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo said he would prioritize “high value” testing, the Florida Department of Health released new COVID-19 guidance that contradicts the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and recommends fewer people get tested.

“Sensible public health ... it’s the very opposite of what we’ve seen over the last two years, where, for example, leadership at the national public health level have sort of convinced people that it’s just as important to run around testing middle schoolers and elementary school students as it is to be testing other members of the population,” Ladapo said at a Thursday news conference in West Palm Beach.

The CDC recommends people get tested if they have had close contact with someone with COVID-19, if they have COVID-19 symptoms, or if they are not fully vaccinated. It notes that people can spread COVID-19 even if asymptomatic, so testing is crucial.

From the CDC -

Who should get tested

The following people should get tested for COVID-19:

• People who have symptoms of COVID-19.
• People who have come into close contact with someone with COVID-19 should be tested to check for infection at least 5 days after they last had close contact with someone with COVID-19. The date of the last close contact is considered day 0.
• People not fully vaccinated with COVID-19 vaccine who are prioritized for expanded community screening for COVID-19.
• People not fully vaccinated with COVID-19 vaccine who have been asked or referred to get testing by their school, workplace, healthcare provider, state, tribal, localexternal iconor territorial health department.

1. Wear a damn mask.

2. Get vaccinated. 

Ron DeSantis: "If at first you don't succeed, lie. When that doesn't work, blame others."

From Business Insider -

DeSantis accuses press of trying to 'milk' January 6 attack on the Capitol: 'This is their Christmas'

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday accused journalists of having an "obsession" with the January 6 attack on the US Capitol. 

"This is their Christmas: January 6," the Republican governor said, specifically mentioning media organizations based in Washington and New York. "They are going to take this and milk this for anything they can to be able to smear anyone who ever supported Donald Trump." 

From The Daily Beast -

DeSantis Blames Feds, Slams ‘Hysteria’ as Florida Shatters COVID Records

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) blamed the Biden administration for COVID-19 woes in his state while accusing other state leaders of allowing “hysteria” to reign as they encourage mitigation measures against the virus that he claimed had little basis in sound science.

“In terms of Florida, you look what’s going on in other states, they’re letting hysteria drive them to doing really damaging things. We thought that people had learned,” DeSantis said during his first news conference in weeks on Monday after record-setting COVID-19 numbers spread across the state last month. “They’re closing schools, they’re doing things that should not be done. That is not the way you deal with this.”

That's the "blame others" part; as for the lies?

From CNN from 4/2020 -

Florida governor falsely claims the coronavirus hasn't killed anyone under 25

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis falsely claimed Thursday that the novel coronavirus hasn't killed anyone under 25 nationwide while discussing a timeline for reopening schools in the state.

"This particular pandemic is one where, I don't think nationwide there's been a single fatality under 25. For whatever reason it just doesn't seem to threaten, you know, kids," DeSantis said at an educators' meeting to discuss distance learning.

From Politico -

DeSantis, hydroxychloroquine pitchman

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday used his coronavirus briefing to give a choreographed, live-streamed shout-out to hydroxychloroquine, a drug President Donald Trump has touted as a potential miracle cure for Covid-19.

During the briefing, DeSantis took credit for loosening shipments of the drug from India and sought testimonials on the drug from doctors and a patient.

From the American Medical Association -

FDA warns against chloroquine for COVID-19 outside hospitals

What’s the news: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cautioned against the use of  some medicines FDA-approved to treat or prevent malaria and being used for the treatment or prevention of COVID-19. The FDA has warned that hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine should only be used in hospitals or clinical trials because they have been linked to a risk of heart rhythm problems, especially when paired with the antibiotic azithromycin.

Why it’s important: There have been reports of serious, potentially life-threatening, heart rhythm problems in patients with COVID-19 who are treated with hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine and used in combination with azithromycin and other QT prolonging medicines.

“We are also aware of increased use of these medicines through outpatient prescriptions. Therefore, we would like to remind health care professionals and patients of the known risks associated with both hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine,” says the FDA drug safety communication.

There is no evidence to show that hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine—prescribed for years to treat lupus and arthritis—are safe and effective for treating or preventing COVID-19. These medicines are currently being studied in clinical trials for COVID-19 treatment and prophylaxis. However, in late March the FDA issued an emergency use authorization (EUA) to supply chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine from the Strategic National Stockpile to treat certain patients who are hospitalized with COVID-19 and for whom clinical trials are not available, or participation is not feasible. Learn more about lessons learned from COVID-19, including how treatment is unclear at this time.

From the Mayo Clinic -

Turns out that stupidity isn't limited to stupid people, or even to Americans

From The Daily Beast via Yahoo! News -

California Deputy DA Who Fought Vaccine Mandate Dies Abruptly After Falling Ill With COVID at Age 46

A deputy district attorney and up-and-coming Republican political star in California’s Orange County has died abruptly after telling friends she contracted COVID-19.

Kelly Ernby, a presumed candidate for the state Assembly in 2022, was only 46 years old. According to the Los Angeles Times, she fell ill shortly after speaking out against vaccine mandates at a rally organized by Turning Point USA on Dec. 4.

For what it's worth, I'm presuming that anyone who has graduated from law school is reasonably intelligent.

As for stupidity not being limited to Americans, from CBSNews -

Twins Igor and Grichka Bogdanoff, controversial French TV stars, die of COVID-19 after refusing vaccines

Controversial French TV stars and famous twins Igor and Grichka Bogdanoff were inseparable in life, and in death. They had refused to be vaccinated against the coronavirus, believing their good health would save them, but were admitted to a hospital on the same day last month and diagnosed with COVID-19. 

The younger twin, Grichka, died in an intensive care unit on December 28. Igor followed him six days later on January 3. They were 72. 

Of course, violence toward those who are vaccinated or doing the vaccinating seems to be a thoroughly American thing.

From NBCNews -

Man arrested after attacking workers at California vaccination site, police say

A man was arrested last week after allegedly harassing patients and attacking workers at a Covid vaccination clinic in Orange County, California, police and clinic representatives have said.

One of the workers sustained serious injuries and was transported to hospital in an ambulance after the Dec. 30 incident, according to the Families Together of Orange County Community Health Center.

Thomas Apollo was arrested.

From The Mayo Clinic -

1. Wear a damn mask.

2. Get vaccinated. 

3. Don't get violent.

Sen. Judy Burges embraces her inner conspiracy theorist

 Of course, with Judy "Birther" Burges, her inner conspiracy theorist isn't exactly "inner."

Not hardly.

She hasn't even proposed any legislation for the coming session yet, but she's already declared her candidacy for the Legislative Loon Award.

From Jerod MacDonald-Evoy at the AZ Mirror -

GOP senator wants Brnovich to investigate collusion to block ivermectin as a COVID treatment

Sun City West Republican Sen. Judy Burges wants Attorney General Mark Brnovich to weigh in on whether doctors and pharmacists can prescribe unproven COVID-19 treatments like ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine without being punished by state regulators. 

And she wants the Republican AG to launch an investigation into what she says is a wide-ranging conspiracy by the the federal government, pharmaceutical companies, hospitals, state public health officials and regulators to block access to so-called therapeutic treatments for COVID-19.

The FDA advises folks to not use ivermectin for Covid -

Why You Should Not Use Ivermectin to Treat or Prevent COVID-19

COVID-19. We’ve been living with it for what sometimes seems like forever. Given the number of deaths that have occurred from the disease, it’s perhaps not surprising that some consumers are turning to drugs not approved or authorized by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). 

One of the FDA’s jobs is to carefully evaluate the scientific data on a drug to be sure that it is both safe and effective for a particular use. In some instances, it can be highly dangerous to use a medicine for the prevention or treatment of COVID-19 that has not been approved by or has not received emergency use authorization from the FDA. 

There seems to be a growing interest in a drug called ivermectin for the prevention or treatment of COVID-19 in humans. Certain animal formulations of ivermectin such as pour-on, injectable, paste, and "drench," are approved in the U.S. to treat or prevent parasites in animals. For humans, ivermectin tablets are approved at very specific doses to treat some parasitic worms, and there are topical (on the skin) formulations for head lice and skin conditions like rosacea.

However, the FDA has received multiple reports of patients who have required medical attention, including hospitalization, after self-medicating with ivermectin intended for livestock.

The American Medical Association (AMA), American Pharmacists Association (APhA), and American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) have a similar advisory.

AMA, APhA, ASHP statement on ending use of ivermectin to treat COVID-19

The American Medical Association (AMA), American Pharmacists Association (APhA), and American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) strongly oppose the ordering, prescribing, or dispensing of ivermectin to prevent or treat COVID-19 outside of a clinical trial.

Ivermectin is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for human use to treat infections caused by internal and external parasites. It is not approved to prevent or treat COVID-19. Ivermectin is also available to treat certain veterinary conditions; medications formulated or intended for use in animals should not be used by humans. We are alarmed by reports that outpatient prescribing for and dispensing of ivermectin have increased 24-fold since before the pandemic and increased exponentially over the past few months. As such, we are calling for an immediate end to the prescribing, dispensing, and use of ivermectin for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19 outside of a clinical trial. In addition, we are urging physicians, pharmacists, and other prescribers—trusted health care professionals in their communities—to warn patients against the use of ivermectin outside of FDA-approved indications and guidance, whether intended for use in humans or animals, as well as purchasing ivermectin from online stores. Veterinary forms of this medication are highly concentrated for large animals and pose a significant toxicity risk for humans.

There may be a conspiracy at work here, but it's a conspiracy to not kill people, and Judy Burges is not part of it.

Maybe Gov. Greg Abbott should read some court decisions before running his mouth

From Militarycom via Yahoo! News -

'He Is Not Your Commander-in-Chief:' Texas Governor Promises Guardsmen He'll Fight Biden Over Vaccine Mandate

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is digging in against COVID-19 vaccinations and related mandates, telling National Guardsmen in his state they can ignore Pentagon inoculation rules and will not face any retribution for not getting coronavirus vaccines.

On Tuesday, the Republican governor, who is facing challenges from his political right in a reelection bid next year, threatened to file a federal lawsuit challenging the Biden administration's authority to order troops to be inoculated against COVID-19.

Abbott's filing is here.

From the filing -

From Article 4, Section 7 of the Texas Constitution -

From AP via Military Times -

Judge rejects Oklahoma’s lawsuit over National Guard vaccine mandate

A federal judge in Oklahoma on Tuesday ruled against the state in its lawsuit challenging the vaccine mandates for members of the Oklahoma National Guard in a dispute that is the first critical test of the military’s authority to require National Guard troops to get the shot.

U.S. District Judge Stephen Friot denied Oklahoma’s request for a preliminary injunction, saying the claims by Gov. Kevin Stitt, Attorney General John O’Connor and 16 anonymous Oklahoma National Guard members were without merit.

From Stitt's own press release on the suit -

Governor Stitt, Attorney General O’Connor Sue Biden Administration Over National Guard Vaccine Mandate

“The U.S. Constitution, the Oklahoma Constitution, and U.S. Code Title 32 are all clear: as governor, I am the Commander-in-Chief of the Oklahoma National Guard.

“Therefore, unless mobilized by the President of the United States under U.S. Code Title10, I retain the authority for all training and governance of the Oklahoma National Guard – including determining if and how training guidelines issued by the president will be implemented.

From the Oklahoma Constitution -

The language in Oklahoma's constitution looks very similar to the language in Texas', but I'm not a lawyer.  My guess is that Abbott's suit will face the same fate as Stitt's.

Of course, I could be wrong.

From the website of the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas, Tyler Division (where Abbott filed his lawsuit) -

Both district judges were appointed by Trump, while the magistrate judge circled in blue was appointed by George W. Bush.

Covid is swamping Phoenix hospitals

 From AZFamily (Phoenix channels 3 and5) -

'It's basically a war zone,' says Phoenix ER doc about slammed hospitals

Health care workers watching the pandemic from the frontlines have seen the COVID-19 numbers rise and more patients in need of care.

Dr. Arya Chowdhury is an independent contractor, so she works at several hospitals in the Phoenix area. "For literally the last six months, in certain facilities, I have been seeing patients in the waiting room, and sometimes, the waiting room is so full, there's not enough chairs for patients there, so they're standing," she said. 

From the Arizona Department of Health Services -

1. Wear a damn mask.

2. Get vaccinated. 

Covid is still ravaging the U.S.

 From WPLG (FL) -

Florida is breaking pandemic records. Where is Gov. Ron DeSantis?

Florida has been reporting a record-breaking increase in coronavirus cases. The highly-contagious omicron variant is affecting some of the state’s most important industries including airlines and cruise lines.

Despite the situation, Gov. Ron DeSantis decided to go on vacation.

From KSDK (MO) -

'This is really a frightening scenario': Task force reports record number of new COVID admissions

The St. Louis Metropolitan Pandemic Task Force held an unplanned briefing Thursday to provide an update on what leaders called "the rapidly deteriorating COVID situation."

"We felt it was really important to let the community know where we are and what they can do to help prevent a disaster from happening," Dr. Alex Garza said in a recorded briefing Thursday.

From St. Louis Post-Dispatch -

Amid latest surge, Missouri governor won't renew COVID-19 state of emergency

Even as the number of COVID-19 cases is surging, Missouri Gov. Mike Parson announced Thursday that he will let a 22-month-long state of emergency declaration expire on New Year’s Eve.

With more than 15,000 dead in the state from the respiratory virus, Parson said he would not renew the declaration saying “there is no longer a need for a state of emergency.”

Contrast that with what a Democrat does.

From the governor's office in Delaware -

Governor Carney to Issue State of Emergency to Fight COVID-19 Winter Surge

Governor John Carney on Thursday announced a new State of Emergency declaration – effective Monday, January 3, 2022 – to combat the winter surge of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations.

The new SOE declaration, which will be formally issued on Monday, will:

• Allow the State additional flexibility to respond to the winter surge of COVID-19.
• Enable members of the Delaware National Guard to work as certified nursing assistants (CNAs) in skilled nursing facilities to care for patients currently in Delaware hospitals.

From KSTU (UT) -

Utah reports a staggering 3,563 new COVID cases Thursday

The Utah Department of Health on Thursday, for the second day in a row, reported more than 3,000 new COVID-19 cases since the day before. Including seven more deaths.

Before the holidays, new daily case counts had been trending down, but this week they shot back up by a large margin.

From IndyStar.com -

'Come and count them': Indiana hospital CEO addresses Rokita's COVID-19 numbers comment

Indiana health care leaders and CEOs on Thursday pushed back at comments Attorney General Todd Rokita made during a recent televised interview in which he questioned the accuracy of the state's COVID-19 data and attributed hospital staffing shortages to vaccine mandates. 

That is not the case, said Brian Tabor, president of the Indiana Hospital Association, though it's a claim raised time and time again about the health care sector.

The IndyStar story about Rokita's comments is here.

From KBOI (ID) -

Idaho Covid positivity up, 924 new cases and 1 death

Idaho Covid positivity is up, and the state saw 924 new cases on Thursday, the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare reports.

Statewide positivity has risen from 5.4 percent to 8.4 percent over the course of the last week.

What do these states have in common?

They're mostly run by Republicans who despise vaccines, masks, and other Covid mitigation efforts.

From Johns Hopkins University -

In the interest of being thorough -

From The Mayo Clinic -

Bad trend.

1. Wear a damn mask.

2. Get vaccinated. 

Is "whereas" Doug Ducey's version of "let them eat cake"?

 Covid is still ravaging the US, and Arizona, but the most Ducey will do is create a PSA urging vaccinations and to issue an executive order about an "Enhanced Surveillance Advisory".

There *are* 51 uses of the word "whereas" in Ducey's order (EO 2021-21)

Maybe he thinks that those can treat Covid.  Like ivermectin can't.

He better hope they can, because, late December PSA notwithstanding, he's been using his office to fight masks and vaccines.

From EO 2021-15 -

From EO 2021-15 -

He appears to be concerned with his legacy, especially since his legacy will almost certainly be all about dead Arizonans.

From Johns Hopkins University -

Also from JHU -

1. Wear a damn mask.

2. Get vaccinated. 

Note: I would have linked to the executive orders, but I couldn't, so I didn't.

A headline that you won't see in AZ

Well, nothing similar*.

* = Outside of Phoenix, Tucson, and Tempe...and any other places where they take infection and death seriously.

From WCVB (Boston) -

Boston Public Schools to pause athletic games, practices through early January

Boston Public Schools will pause all athletics games and practices in response to recent confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 in schools, the school district said Friday.

The district said the pause comes at the advice of the Boston Public Health Commission and will remain in effect through at least the end of Jan. 10.

Data released Thursday by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education showed 322 students in the Boston Public School district tested positive for COVID-19 between Dec. 16 and Dec. 22.

Additionally, 100 district staff members tested positive for COVID-19 during the same time period, according to the data released by DESE.

From Johns Hopkins University -

1. Wear a damn mask.

2. Get vaccinated.  

In a Christmas gift to the R base, Doug Ducey says that infecting others or endangering them is a "personal choice"

From KJZZ -

Experts urge masks for all in AZ. Ducey says it's personal choice

Public health policies and politics continue to collide in Arizona. Pima County is reimposing a mask requirement in public places as the omicron variant spreads. But Gov. Doug Ducey says that kind of mandate is unenforceable in the state.

In response to Pima County’s plan, Ducey tweeted Arizonans who want to wear a mask can, but he said he believes it’s a personal choice

. 

The last time I heard, masks are about not exposing others to Covid.

And, like a good 21st century R, Ducey is all about using his position to cause harm to others.

Covid numbers, from the Mayo Clinic -

1. Wear a damn mask.

2. Get vaccinated.