Enough already!

Worldwide (Map) 
January 6, 2022 – 298,194,650 confirmed infections; 5,468,100 deaths
January 6, 2021 – 87,157,000 confirmed infections; 1,882,100 deaths 

28 days ago: 29,921,000 confirmed infections; 184,300 deaths
Total doses of vaccine administered: 9,324,042,300

US (Map) 
January 6, 2022 – 57,826,000 confirmed infections; 823,359 deaths
January 6, 2021 – 21,294,100 confirmed infections; 361,100 deaths
28 days ago: 8,153,786 confirmed infections; 37,295 deaths

SA (Coronavirus portal) 
January 6, 2022 – 3,494,700 confirmed infections; 91,561 deaths
January 6, 2021 – 1,150,000 confirmed infections; 30,525 deaths
28 days ago: 423,632 confirmed infections; 1,523 deaths

 
A year ago, Trump and his Trumpie allies attempted a coup. Post from January 6, 2021 >> 

News blues

No combinations of vaccines or viruses can confer invulnerability to future tussles with SARS-CoV-2. Whether acquired from an injection or an infection, immunity will always work in degrees, not absolutes.
Immunity is, in many ways, a game of repetition. The more frequently, and more intensely, immune cells are exposed to a threat, the more resolutely they’ll commit to fighting it, and the longer they’ll store away any microbial information they glean. Time and viral mutations pare down those protections; vaccines and sickness build them back up. That’s part of why we almost always dose people with vaccines multiple times.

Read more >> 

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President Cyril Ramaphosa had recovered from his bout with Covid-19 and had reiterated that Covid-19 Alert Level 1 regulations would be strictly adhered to. He was due to speak at the ANC Women's League memorial lecture, an event scheduled in the lead-up to the ANC’s 110th birthday celebration in Polokwane. But when it was discovered that the crowd was largely non-compliant with the regulations, the ANC cancelled the address and quickly led Ramaphosa from the packed venue >> 

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In other Covid news:

• France's parliament has approved plans for a vaccine pass to help curb the spread of the Omicron variant.
• Hong Kong is set to ban flights from eight countries, including the UK and the US.
• The World Health Organization is monitoring a new coronavirus variant identified  in the southern Alps of France.
• The Grammy Awards have been postponed for a second year due to the Omicron surge. Rio de Janeiro has also cancelled its world-renowned Carnival street parades for the second year in a row as a new wave of infections spreads. Giorgio Armani has cancelled shows in the Milan and Paris fashion weeks.

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The Lincoln Project releases the first in a new series of ads. Closer than you think 

 In their words  depicts America in 2025 if the Republican Party achieves their anti-democratic, authoritarian goals. (1:10 mins) Subsequent episodes of the series will be released throughout the week. (1:10 mins)

When you think about Covid and its trajectory across the US and the next election, remember this: Truth  (1:00 mins)

Healthy planet, anyone?

Europe takes the lead… why doesn’t the US follow?

From New Year’s Day, France will ban supermarkets and other shops from selling cucumbers wrapped in plastic, and peppers, courgettes, aubergines and leeks in plastic packaging. A total of 30 types of fruit and vegetables will be banned from having any plastic wrapping, including bananas, pears, lemons, oranges and kiwis. …
A law banning plastic packaging for large numbers of fruits and vegetables comes into force in France on New Year’s Day, to end what the government has called the “aberration” of overwrapped carrots, apples and bananas, as environmental campaigners and exasperated shoppers urge other countries to do the same.
Emmanuel Macron has called the ban on plastic packaging of fresh produce “a real revolution” and said France was taking the lead globally with its law to gradually phase out all single-use plastics by 2040.
Spain will introduce a ban on plastic packaging of fruit and vegetables from 2023. For years, international campaigners have said unnecessary plastic packaging is causing environmental damage and pollution at sea.

Read more >> 

On the same theme, European companies race to stem flood of microplastic fibres into the oceans. New products range from washing machine filters and balls to fabrics made from kelp and orange peel >> 

Meanwhile, back at the ranch…

As I expected, countries are beginning to refuse visitors from the US. Hong Kong is the most recent.  This is not good news for my safe travel to/from South Africa.
In the meantime, local birds, real or not, will keep me company. 

Huddling from the cold: American Avocets (black & white)
Larger birds likely marbled godwits or whimbrels (easier to tell if beaks are visible)
and Western Sandpipers (small, foreground)

Bay Area, California:
Sunrise: 7:24am
Sunset: 5:05pm
Cold and hazy.
Howick, South Africa:
Sunrise: 5:07am
Sunset: 7:03pm
Still raining ….