COVID-19 Update: Wednesday, December 23rd

Another big mutation, CA, Antarctica, Death Row, Vaccination, Moderna profile overview

1. Another mutation has emerged, this one, named 501Y.V2 has become the dominant strain in parts of South Africa and has a higher prevalence among younger people without pre-existing health conditions. What if any impact it may have on the vaccine remains unknown but is under investigation.

2. Hospitals in parts of California are overwhelmed and have developed a plan to ration care.

3. Antarctica has reported its first case which means COVID is now on every continent.

4. 14 death row inmates have tested positive for COVID.

5. Roughly 2.4 million people worldwide have now been vaccinated against COVID. Keep in mind that two doses are required of the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines so those individuals while having received one shot, are not yet immune. You can track vaccinations in your state or around the world by going here: https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/covid-vaccine-tracker-global-distribution/

6. People are using Facebook to adopt frontline healthcare workers and send them anonymous gifts to encourage and thank them for their work through the pandemic. If you are interested, you can type "adopt a nurse healthcare worker" into the search bar on FB and several pages will come up.

7. Here is a profile document outlining the Moderna vaccine for those who are interested:

Moderna COVID vaccine.docx

Download DOCX • 568KB

FINAL THOUGHTS: This year has been difficult. It has been wrought with challenges to our bodies, our minds, and our spirits. And now, we enter the holiday season and I am acutely aware that 1.7 million families around the world, 331k of which are here in the United States, will be experiencing the holidays without someone they love. Millions of people are grieving. Millions of families have one less seat at the table. They will reach across the bed to find the other side empty. If you are among them, please know that my heart aches for you.

If you are not among them, count your blessings, and squeeze your loved ones just a little bit tighter, feel the blessing of one more day together and relish it. If 2020 has taught us anything, and let's be honest, we have learned a lot this year about ourselves, our friends, our tolerance, and our limits. But let the biggest lessons be for us to take nothing for granted. To treasure our loved ones and to be kind. This year I am taking the easy route on Christmas day - snackapalooza - a table full of grazing options instead of a formal meal. Like so many others the decorations are a little lighter and there are fewer gifts under the tree. But we are so blessed to be together and healthy when so many are not.

I am thankful for all of you. Writing this post has kept me sane throughout this experience. It has encouraged me at a time when so there is so much discouragement. This has been a safe space for me where I could find people who had questions, and answers, and were seeking truth and offering encouragement at a time when that was precisely what I needed. When my "day job" brought anger and hatred and resentment from those who preferred to wallow in lies and conspiracies or sorrow, uncertainty, and angst from those negatively impacted - you were a place I could come and find truth seekers. You have been a community that allowed me to share my thoughts at the end of each post and has built each other up. You have answered questions, shared resources, and encouraged one another. You have sought out honest answers and shared those answers even when it wasn't easy or was met with resistance. Thank you.

I won't post again until after the new year. I wish you and yours a wonderful Christmas and Holiday season and happy new year. Savor the beauty of your loved ones - don't take a single second for granted. And remember all of those who are walking through the darkness on the difficult journey from loss to hope.