Leading from Home: A New Year!

Leading from Home: A New Year!

Dr. Talecia Y. Parks, D.B.A

Walden University: National Society for Leadership and Success

January 1, 2023

COVID-19

???????????There are more than 700 million cases globally representing 192 countries and regions. Around 92 Million of those cases are in the United States. The fatality rate exceeds 1 million cases in the United States. The daily average number of cases is 340,000 per day in the U.S. A combination of COVID, the flu and RSV are increasing illnesses. The new subvariants XBB.15 and XBB are now the dominant cause of infections in the U.S. More than 40% of new cases are XBB.15. Although the FDA approved an Omicron specific BA.4 and BA.5 Pfizer and Moderna booster for emergency use still less than 13% which equates to 6 million of the general population has received the bivalent booster. More than 268 million individuals have received at least one dose of the vaccine averaging 63%. More than 200 million people in the U.S. which equates to more than 74% that are fully vaccinated. Moderna gained emergency authorization to administer boosters to children ages 6-17. According to research, boosters increase protection by more than 70%. The number of Americans receiving unemployment benefits continues to increase within the last month due to mass layoffs in technology. There were 298 new unemployment claims the United States. The unemployment rate increased slightly to 3.8 percent as a result of more individuals applying due to layoffs. Approximately 259,000 new jobs were added within the last month. The labor market and inflation are tumultuous to the global economic system. The job market is still thriving in some industries. The at-risk population should continue to refrain from high risk areas to limit exposure, wash hands frequently, wear masks and refrain from large gathering due to a combination of infections.

Global

???????????Global travel has increased around the world. Global leaders remain focused on vaccinating the general public as cases have exceeded 700 million representing 192 countries and regions. More than 70 million fatalities have occurred within 192 countries and regions. The U.S. is requiring travelers to and from China to have a negative test prior to entry and departure. Employers are still working to decrease staffing shortages across industries. More than 61% out of 210 million individuals are fully vaccinated in Brazil. In Germany around 59% of individuals have been fully vaccinated with only 78% receiving the first dose. Cases in Germany and France actually decreased when the new subvariants emerged. China has increased restrictions due to a surge in illnesses in workers across industries. Countries that have vaccinated more than 90% of the population remain: Pitcairn, United Arab Emirates, Portugal, Brunei, Singapore, Chilie and Malta. Around 70% of the U.S. population has been fully vaccinated [not including boosters].

According to John Hopkins University, the states with the highest number of case remain California, Texas, Florida, New York, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Ohio, North Carolina, Georgia, Michigan and New Jersey. Mississippi and Oklahoma still have the highest number of fatalities. California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Minnesota and New York have the lowest number of fatalities. Arkansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Georgia and Florida, Michigan and New Jersey remain the states with the highest number of variants. In the U.S. fully vaccinated individuals are now at an increased risk and some businesses are still enforcing masks. The U.S. states that have fully vaccinated more than 57% of the population remain: Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts’s, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and Washington D.C. United States with the least amount of fully vaccinated residents: Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas, Wyoming, and Louisiana.?

There are still a few states where more than 50% of the population has been fully vaccinated and boosted: Vermont, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Maine, Iowa and Rhode Island. Although Rhode Island has a high number of fully vaccinated individuals, the number of cases are increasing. Asymptomatic transmission continues to account for more than 40% of all cases. December was the worst month for the S&P 500 since 2008. The technology market is still suffering from mass layoffs across the United States. Technology stocks continue to plummet. Mortgage rates are still around 6%. The housing market is still tumultuous. Consumer loans are holding steady. The cost of oil remains around $70 per barrel. The cost of goods and services continue to rise due to inflation.?Food prices remain inflated.

Education

???????????School systems are bracing from the surge in illness due to the holiday gatherings along with multiple infectious outbreaks. Remote learning remains an option in some school districts colleges and universities. Vaccinations remain a priority for both students and educators. Health officials are continuing to work with school officials to obtain case information. An average of 40% of parents with young children continue to refuse to vaccinate their children. Around 21% of parents with children ages 6 months to 5 have vaccinated their children. More than 24% of parents are continuing to evaluate the impact of the vaccination on other children. Although Pfizer was approved to administer boosters to children 5-11 the vaccinate rates are increasing gradually. Moderna was approved to administer vaccines to children 6 months to 17. Pfizer’s approved for children 5-11 has not increased vaccination rates as much as expected. Pfizer obtained authorization for boosters for children ages 12-15. More than 20 million children remain unvaccinated. Adhering to guidelines and avoiding contact with at-risk family members, hand washing and wearing masks is essential as we grapple with the impact of holiday travel and gatherings. As students return to school for the New Year, inspire them to focus on their goals for success.

Healthcare

Healthcare officials are overwhelmed with the surge in cases due to travel and increased gatherings. About 75% of the United States population is fully vaccinated. Yet only 52% have received boosters. Only 13% have received the bivalent booster. People who have not been vaccinated have a higher risk of contracting the virus. There is an average of 340,00 daily cases and around 3,400 fatalities each day in the U.S. Individuals 12 and older receive the vaccine if a minimum of two months has passed since the last dose. More than 43% of the fatalities are still among seniors age 85 and older. According to research, 2-4% of patients continue to experience rebound systems within the fist week; 5-6% of patients experience rebound symptoms within a month. Extensive trail data remains limited among the vulnerable population. Due to the continuous refusal to get vaccinated, individuals under 50 are continuing to contract the virus at a higher rate. Military doctors and nurses remain in hospitals and facilities due to the shortages. Individuals with Guillain-Barre Syndrome should continue to refrain receiving the vaccine as it is still deemed unsafe. CVS, Walgreens and Wal-Mart are continuing to offer the bivalent booster. Protecting seniors and individuals with pre-existing conditions [high blood pressure, diabetes, asthma, etc.] is essential and exposure should continue to be limited due to the virus.?

Government

???????????Federal, State and local government agencies are developing strategies to handle the impact of holiday travel toppled with Covid, the flu an RSV. Although government ended the free at home testing program due to resources allocation, you can still access testing kits at a reasonable price. It is possible that vaccinations may no longer be administered for free this year. Pfizer’s approval to administer vaccines to children 5-11 a step in the right direction. Moderna’s authorization to administer vaccines to children ages 6 months to 17 is progress. The FDA’s approved Remdesivr to treat children and infants is decreasing the number of fatalities Novavax is recommended for children 12-17. Johnson & Johnson is only approved for individuals 18 and older. Government officials must continuously work with healthcare professionals to implement best practices to minimize the impact of the pandemic. Individuals with pre-existing health conditions should continue to limit exposure to no more than 15 minutes to decrease the likelihood of contracting the virus, flu or RSV. ?

A New Year

It’s amazing how some individuals will ask for your help and when things are not going well for them they abandon their obligations. It’s not okay to use people when it’s convenient for you. Stop taking from people for your own personal gain. Communicate effectively and be honest. Please do not tell lies. What you put into the world is what you will get in return. It is paramount to know your worth and value. It does’t cost you anything to be a kind and genuine individual. Now that you’ve finalized your plan, it’s time to flourish. Remember that it is important to celebrate your successes along the way. You now have the ability to identify negative traits so steer clear of anything or anyone that is not supportive of your journey to reach your full potential. As I said before, jealousy and envy are detrimental. Your growth process is a vital component to the individual that you are becoming. Genuine individuals will support you even when there is no direct benefit to them. It’s interesting how you can support and celebrate some people and their success, but the moment that you start to grow and progress is problematic. That’s when you know it’s time to move on. So, it’s okay for you to be successful and excel, but I can’t? Moving on! As we end this series, don’t allow anything, anyone or affiliation that’s not conducive to your growth process to follow you into the New Year.

Summary

???????????Federal, State and local governmental officials are working to combat the winter combination of Covid, the flu and RSV. Thee FDA approved Omicron specific BA.4 and BA.5 component for boosters are equally effective to the original boosters. Only 13% of the general population have received the bivalent booster. As a result of refusal to get vaccinated, individuals under 50 are contracting the virus at a higher rate. XBB.15 and XBB are new subvariants spreading rapidly. More than 40% of parents still refuse to vaccinate their children. Seniors over age 65 have an increased rate in fatalities. Scientists and Health Officials are encouraging individuals to obtain the bivalent boosters for Pfizer and Moderna that are still accessible at local pharmacies. Focus on your long-term goals and plans for the New Year as we continue to lead from home to save lives.