Rates of Covid-19 infection and severe illness have been relatively low among children. However, it’s worth noting that small numbers of children have been hospitalized from the virus, and it can cause long-term side effects like MIS-C and “long Covid-19.” CDC has not yet released data showing delta variant symptoms among children, but some children’s hospitals have reported increases in hospitalizations related to the delta variant.

medRxiv Advisory Board Daily Briefing 8/9/21

Read the complete article here

Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children

Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS – C) has features in common with toxic shock syndrome and an illness called Kawasaki disease, both of which cause inflammation throughout the body.

“The syndrome is an inflammatory reaction in the body about four weeks after infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The initial symptoms often include fever, rashes, red eyes, diarrhea and vomiting, and may get worse over a few days. The inflammation can affect the heart, blood vessels and other organs, which can make some children very ill and in need of urgent care.”  Johns Hopkins Medicine

Read the complete article here

Delta Variant Surge Challenges Vaccines

A study published in medRxiv indicates mRNA vaccines’ efficacy against infection—particularly the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine—has dropped significantly since the delta variant became widespread in July.  The hospitalized patients reported in the study were in the Mayo system and affiliated hospitals in Arizona, Florida, Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.

Specifically, the researchers found that during July, the Moderna vaccine appeared to have an estimated efficacy of 76% against infection, while the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine had an estimated efficacy of 42% against infection.

Both vaccines had similar 21-day hospitalization rates, 21-day ICU admission rates, and 28-day mortality rates.

Venky Soundararajan, a lead author on the study, said based on the data compiled so far, the vaccines’ reduced efficacy likely stems from “a combination” of both reduced efficacy over time and reduced efficacy against the delta variant. “The Moderna vaccine is likely—very likely—more effective than the Pfizer vaccine in areas where delta is the dominant strain, and the Pfizer vaccine appears to have a lower durability of effectiveness.”

medRxiv Advisory Board Daily Briefing 8/11/21

Read the complete announcement here.

See July 29 PCA vaccine article here

Alameda County Information and August 3, 2021 Order:

Strong recommendations for everyone – 

Everyone is strongly encouraged to wear a mask in outdoor crowded settings and in non-public indoor settings, like a private residence, when you are with people you do not live with.

While fully vaccinated people are less likely to require hospitalization and less likely to die from variants, they may be asymptomatic or get infections.  

While COVID-19 cases are increasing and the Delta variant is spreading, everyone is asked to wear masks to help slow the spread of the virus. 

Eligible, unvaccinated persons are encouraged to get vaccinated to help prevent a future, even more virulent mutant.

We appreciate, applaud and encourage the School Board’s and District Administration’s consideration of a requirement that all PUSD teachers and staff to be vaccinated, subject to valid medical and religious exemptions. This will further reduce the risk of COVID-19 infections in our schools, particularly for students under 12 years old, for whom vaccination is not yet available, and staff who cannot be vaccinated for medical or religious reasons.

The University of California, the California State University, and some community colleges already have adopted such a policy for faculty, staff and students.That’s common sense as more children are getting sick with COVID-19, and more of them are being hospitalized or suffering from “long COVID” symptoms.

Although California law currently requires K-12 students to be immunized against a variety of diseases, it currently does not require public school teachers and staff to be immunized against the same diseases. A possible explanation is that the Legislature has not addressed this issue because (a) students must be immunized absent a medical or religious exemption, and so are less likely to get sick if exposed to an infected staff member; and (b) most staff members themselves were immunized when they were children. Neither rationale applies to COVID-19, for which vaccines have just become available and which are not yet available to children under 12 years old.

We suspect and hope that many, if not all, PUSD teachers and staff already are immunized against COVID-19. A PUSD vaccination requirement will encourage any who have not yet gotten the shots to do so. Just as no one wants to be infected with COVID-19, no one wants to be responsible for infecting anyone else with COVID-19. Those who cannot be vaccinated, and even the vaccinated at risk of “breakthrough” infections, will appreciate a vaccination requirement for all PUSD teachers and staff.

Rick Raushenbush, Former Member of the Piedmont School Board

Barbara Giuffre

Regular Agenda:

1. Approval of Park Commission Minutes for June 2, 2021

2. Update on EBMUD Pipeline Replacement Project on Manor Drive

3. Update on Highland-Guilford Steps and Handrail Project and Adjacent Mature Coast Live Oak

4. Update on Drought Response in Parks and Open Spaces

5. Update on Regulation of Glyphosate Products in the City of Piedmont

6. Update on Heritage Tree Signage in the Parks

7. Update on “Walking the Perimeter of Piedmont” – A Self -Guided Walking Tour

8. Monthly Maintenance Report: Park, Open Space, and Street Tree Update for the Months of June and July 2021 Announcements, old business a

READ the full Agenda and ways to participate, staff reports, and minutes by clicking the link below:

Final Publish Park Agenda 2021-08-04

The draft version of the Piedmont Safer Streets (PSS) plan, an update to the 2014 Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan, is now available for public review. Let us know what you think, especially about Chapter 4 – Recommended Projects, and Chapter 5 – Prioritization and Implementation. The deadline for public comments is Monday, August 23, 2021. Appendices noting all written public comments received prior to July 1, 2021 is also available for your review.

Submit written comments by August 23, 2021 via email to saferstreets@piedmont.ca.gov or U.S. Mail:  Pedestrian & Bicycle Advisory Committee, 120 Vista Avenue, Piedmont, CA 94611.

Please consider providing your feedback so the city can move forward with prioritizing and implementing future projects. For more information or any questions, please contact Associate Planner Gopika Nair at saferstreets@piedmont.ca.gov or visit www.piedmontsaferstreets.org to view all past discussions and documents leading up to the issuance of the draft plan.