Evidence of leaky protection following COVID-19 vaccination and SARS-CoV-2 infection in an incarcerated population

They examined prison populations and followed COVID infection rates in different exposure conditions. Close contact (in the same cell), moderately close (cell block & communal spaces), and no documented exposure to COVID+ residents. As one might expect, the closer & more frequent exposure someone gets, the more likely they are to contract COVID. Resistance to getting it was helped by vaccination and prior COVID disease but they weren't guarantees.

Thus, they argue that maintaining ventilation, distancing and masking still make a difference in whether someone contracts the virus. Isolating if infected and quarantining if exposed are still effective interventions.

From the lonnng article:

These findings also suggest the benefit of layered interventions in general, and particularly within densely packed social settings. In the presence of leaky vaccines, non-pharmaceutical interventions have been proposed in tandem with vaccination in order to reduce exposure and mitigate infection spread³⁴. Such interventions may include social distancing, quarantine and isolation, masking, and improved ventilation and airflow^35,36. While our findings are obtained from the investigation of a correctional facility system, in the presence of a leaky vaccine, layered interventions may afford a benefit in other congregate settings and community settings where prolonged, close contact with infected people may occur, such as mass gatherings.

Earlier in the week, one member of my chorale was found to be infected and so we all were exposed for about 2 hours while singing. We were in a decently sized room but there were more than 40 of us. Only a few of us were wearing masks so we're keeping an eye out for further positives. We have several health pros in our group and they all report that the hospitals and clinics they work in are seeing a lot more COVID cases now (August 2023) with the two variants going around.

One worrisome aspect of the Eris variant is that it causes symptoms several days before the patient tests positive. They're referring to is as "pre-COVID". That means a person is contagious for longer without finding out they're COVID+. There's the period of time after you're exposed plus those days wherein you have symptoms but aren't testing positive so there's speculation that it must be something else 'cause you tested negative. Then, once your illness continues for 4-5 days, you then test positive. In many instances that happens when you wind up going to the hospital thinking you have a bad case of something else. This means that Eris is causing symptoms at a much smaller viral load. Well, that sucks.

With so many people already infected once or more times before +/- being vaccinated & boosted and getting infected again!, that's all the more reason to use a mask when indoors, even if just popping in to grab a coffee. You can't always count on a place having good air circulation and it's almost impossible to know who might be contagious so protecting yourself with a good-fitting N95 mask is a simple thing that will help. Th Eris variant is able to get people sick with a much smaller initial viral load.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-12408977/Have-suffered-pre-Covid-Phenomenon-sees-symptoms-appear-week-positive-test-rise-variant-Eris-sweeps-US.html

Here's a link to an accounting of the different variants so far.
https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/covid-19/variants-concern

PeterWick said:

Earlier in the week, one member of my chorale was found to be infected and so we all were exposed for about 2 hours while singing. We were in a decently sized room but there were more than 40 of us. Only a few of us were wearing masks so we're keeping an eye out for further positives. We have several health pros in our group and they all report that the hospitals and clinics they work in are seeing a lot more COVID cases now (August 2023) with the two variants going around.

Well, there was an outbreak after that first rehearsal. This is part of the email from our board's president tonight:

Unfortunately, I must report that despite our hopes, we appear to have had some spread of COVID-19 within the choir. Several members have reached out today disclosing that they are now experiencing symptoms of a respiratory tract infection. Half have tested positive for COVID-19, the other half are still negative. Thankfully, all the people who have reached out indicated that they're experiencing symptoms that are either mild or in line with a nasty cold.

While it is possible that some of these are not in fact COVID-19 infections, and it is possible that the infection was picked up from somewhere other than our rehearsal, we should err on the side of caution by assuming that these cases are all related to our rehearsal last Tuesday. As such, I'd ask that everyone be careful this holiday weekend, and treat our rehearsal last Tuesday as an actual exposure. CDC guidelines are to wear a facemask for 10 days following the exposure whenever in public (the last day of masking would be Friday, September 9). CDC recommends that you test yourself 5 days after exposure, even if you're asymptomatic (the testing day would be this Sunday). And, of course, please continue to notify us if you develop any symptoms of a respiratory tract infection.

Looks like there aren't many countries being tracked anymore at this site:

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/

Yesterday - only NY, NJ, Puerto Rico and Veteran Affairs recorded new cases.

NY - 2,794

NJ - 942

PR - 3,117

VetAff - 405

In all of these - 1 new death.