On December 21, the CEO of Delta Airlines asked the CDC for help as sick employees threaten airline profits [or as he phrases it, ”our workforce and operations”].
Reuters, Dec. 21,2021.
And just like that, the CDC changed its guidelines.
NPR Dec. 27,2021.
Healthcare workers too
Earlier last week, the CDC downgraded its isolation guidelines for healthcare workers undoubtedly at the behest of now-imploding hospital systems.
“Healthcare workers with COVID-19 who are asymptomatic can return to work after 7 days with a negative test, and isolation time can be cut further if there are staffing shortages.
Healthcare workers who have received all recommended COVID-19 vaccine doses, including a booster, do not need to quarantine at home following high-risk exposures.”
When do the frontline workers weigh in?
They don’t. They’re the ones taking the risk, they’re the ones dealing directly with the infected public and coworkers, they’re the ones who can’t zoom from their living rooms. Where are the goddamn unions? Writing letters to the CDC?
Biden lies as healthcare collapses
Last week, Biden was interviewed by David Muir on ABC World News Tonight. He made these statements:
“Last year [pre-vaccine] you had serious backups in hospitals that were causing great difficulties.” LAST YEAR? That’s over now?
“We are prepared for what’s coming [the Omicron wave].”
“Nobody saw Delta or Omicron coming.”
No, I don’t think [our lack of tests] is a failure. I wish I had thought about it a year ago, six months ago, 2 months ago…I’ve ordered half a billion pills [he meant test kits].”
Lies:
The US is not prepared for what’s coming; hospitals have been overwhelmed for months and months. The situation will only get worse. The workers themselves say so: “A reply to President Biden from California healthcare workers: “No, the country is not better prepared for COVID than last year!”
Scientists said from the get-go that with without vaccinating the rest of the world, we would face more, and more virulent, variants.
Testing: It’s a complete and total failure. Vanity Fair just reported that in October the administration rejected a plan to provide free test kits for the holidays.
No tests and no masks
Quick, at-home test kits have been unavailable, and lines for PCR tests snake for hours, The currently sold-out kits sell for $23. After January, Biden says you can submit claims to your insurance company—if you have insurance and want to spend hours of your time interacting with claims people. Cloth masks do nothing against Omicron; one article called them fashion accessories. For Omicron, people need N95s (best), KN95s, or surgical masks.
People have to buy their own N95s ($50 for a box of 20), or KN95s for $25, or surgical masks. Good luck to people who can’t afford it. Biden just approved a $768 billion 2022 defense budget, but the feds can’t provide tests and protective masks to save lives because some company has to make a buck. Tests and masks should be available to everyone everywhere for free.