Unforgettable

News blues

“The pain of this pandemic is unforgettable, and we have a responsibility to make sure its lessons are unforgettable, too.”
- US Senator Patty Murray of Washington state.

Senator Murray refers to the Prevent Pandemics Act, a sweeping new bill with powerful bipartisan support in the US Senate. It includes a new Covid commission to inform the US response to future outbreaks as well as the current impact of the disease and lay the groundwork to enshrine new powers in federal health agencies. It will also establish an inquiry into the country’s Covid-19 response similar to the 9/11 Commission, among other provisions aimed at preventing the next pandemic.
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After a recent special cabinet meeting, South Africa’s National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC) and the President’s Co-ordinating Council (PCC) announced a number of new Covid measures:

• Those who test positive with no symptoms do not have to isolate;
• If you test positive with symptoms, the isolation period has been reduced from 10 to seven days;
• Contacts do not have to isolate unless they develop symptoms;
• Primary, secondary and special schools will return to daily attendance; and
• The regulatory provision for social distancing of 1m for pupils in schools has also been removed.

“The rationale for these amendments is informed by the proportion of people with immunity to Covid-19 which has risen substantially, exceeding 60% to 80% in several sero-surveys.
Government commends all South Africans who continue to observe Covid-19 regulations and protocols. We also remind those who are yet to get vaccinated to go for their Covid-19 vaccination and continue observing basic health protocols to prevent the transmission of the virus.”

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Healthy planet, anyone?

Globally, around 2.2 billion people and 27 percent of all food crop production is located near drying-out freshwater basins.
Less than 3 percent of Earth is covered in freshwater. And while that percentage has remained pretty constant, population growth has not. Only 1 percent of freshwater is accessible to the 7.7 billion people and counting.
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Meanwhile, back at the ranch…

Record snowfall, moisture, and low temperatures along the east coast while the west coast enjoy crisp, sunny days with no rain forecasted. Scary.
San Francisco Bay Area
Sunrise: 7:11am
Sunset: 5:32pm
KZN, South Africa:
Sunrise: 5:29am
Sunset: 6:56pm