TheOldGuy @TheOldGuy@social.cleverlibre.org

TL/DR (Too long/ didn't read): Wear a mask.

This started as a short critical post but I don't know all of you from the bird site so here goes:

Basically, the New York originating COVID variant XBB.1.5 is the product of unmitigated evolution of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. It binds better to host cells (us). The difference between where it was and where it is is like elmer's basic glue vs. rubber cement. Or more appropriately a spear vs. a harpoon with a barbed tip. Bot'll stick. One will stick significantly better.

It's evolutionary trajectory specialized to infect ("become more virulent and immune evasive"). Viruses are -whether they have will as we understand it or not- are propelled to propagate: To persist. Unless stopped.

Its evolution cannot outpace physical barriers. Are they 100% effective? No. Nothing is. But even a surgical mask will limit exposure. n95 that fits yer face is significantly better.

(Want to try various masks out before buying a ton all at once? Try the sampler packs!

Various packs for USA: https://shop.evidencebased.ca/collections/all?filter.p.m.custom.ships_to_countries=%F0%9F%87%BA%F0%9F%87%B8+USA

For Canada: https://twitter.com/DonateMask/status/1608576661636939776?s=20&t=PxymrkeGEcx57J51OrbXxg

When you know your preferred best sealing fit and want to buy in bulk: https://www.projectn95.org/collections/respirators/
Thanks @donatemask !)

A vaccine is nice. Encouraged even. But the virus outpaces their development. And they still do nothing to protect from COVID related illness after acute infection. In October the White House warned (in a timidly low key way: a background prop) 1400 deaths a day by April if the bivalant (sometimes called bivariant- ya'know, the latest one Pfizer and Moderna put out) booster was administered at the then current rate. Uh, well, about that. Uptake sucks. https://twitter.com/amorvincitomnia/status/1609946619734298624?s=20&t=PxymrkeGEcx57J51OrbXxg The October projections didn't account for XBB.1.5. It hadn't been identified yet.

The thing about this virus is: it's constantly coming in to contact with other variants of itself. Far more variants than the news ever covers exist. They all swap genetic material with one another. (See attached image from here: https://twitter.com/RajlabN/status/1607193262527504385/photo/1) They evolve and converge. There are 46(!) variants listed on the side from most prevalent to least. XBB.1.5 accounted for 16% back then. Now it's closer to 50% of circulating virus. This jump in prevalence is roughly 1 week.

If any of you have moshed: this evolutionary process is a moshpit, and the music sucks. Here's a visual aid of those mosh pits comparing the original strain to the others from June 2022: https://twitter.com/amorvincitomnia/status/1541824445978800128?s=20&t=PxymrkeGEcx57J51OrbXxg

I'll link to some technical threads regarding XBB.1.5 and COVIDs impact on us, worth a skim even if you aren't familiar with the technical stuff.

But the simple take away is always going to be ridiculously- marvelously- simple: Wear a mask.

Please protect yourself and your community. There is NO cure nor all-in-one treatment for long COVID related issues.

Basic 5 minute overview on Long COVID: https://longcovid.physio/long-covid-video-series/impact-on-day-to-day-life

SARS-CoV-2 is worse to the immune system than SARS-CoV-1 (2003)

After mild SARS2, vitally critical immune cells (plasmacytoid dendritic cells) do not come back even after 7 months.

In SARS 1 they come back in 7 weeks

For comparison: In HIV they are also gone irreversibly.https://twitter.com/fitterhappierAJ/status/1608301676535943168?s=20&t=k0GGLpwHJjKLNlv3qLNxaQ

Thread on how COVID reprograms the immune system (Hot off the presses news and it sucks! For all of us! Wear a mask!): https://twitter.com/WesElyMD/status/1610257204090896385?s=20&t=PxymrkeGEcx57J51OrbXxg

Thread with an approachable TikTok regarding COVIDS impact on the brain: https://twitter.com/amorvincitomnia/status/1606175448672583681?s=20&t=PxymrkeGEcx57J51OrbXxg

Thread on bloodclots related to COVID: https://twitter.com/WesElyMD/status/1610626121996931075?s=20&t=PxymrkeGEcx57J51OrbXxg

Plus, masks are cool. ARE WE NOT ANARCHISTS!? This is like our whole thing (+ everything else. Obviously.)

Per @josephmenn Elon Musk personally ordered Twitter to ban antifascist researcher Chad Loder https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2023/01/04/mudge-finds-a-new-job/ As I reported, Loder's open-source investigations identified multiple Capitol rioters and were cited in a criminal complaint against a violent Proud Boy but the same work infuriated far-right activists Musk admires, Andy Ngo and Chaya Raichik https://theintercept.com/2021/11/10/proud-boys-antifascist-tweet-chad-loder-court/

Me after my husband walked right past me and kissed the dog good morning

Airlines Need To Figure Out How To Take Care Of Wheelchairs — Now.

"I pushed the button on the battery-powered component of my wheelchair. It didn’t work. Before starting to panic, I pressed it again. Nothing."

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/airlines-wheelchairs-damaged-travel_n_63b37502e4b0fe267caa89f6

@Left_Indy those cowards blocked me