😳💉💉BREAKING - AS EXPECTED, GOVERNOR LUJAN GRISHAM HAS SIGNED THE NEW VACCINE BILL INTO LAW. This means that:
— Sarah Smith NM (@SarahSmithNM) October 9, 2025
*** Vaccines are now mandated for babies and little kids who are in daycare or early childhood education programs (religious and medical exemptions ARE still allowed,… pic.twitter.com/vuVNWIaIMJ
Tucker Carlson On Twitter- episode 6!! Robert Kennedy is WINNING and more hated than TRUMP
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| Above, air travel restrictions will be eased for vaccinated foreigners in November. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
Foreigners from selected countries who are vaccinated and want to travel to the U.S. will be able to do so as air travel restrictions will be relaxed in November.
Reuters reported:
WASHINGTON, Sept 20 (Reuters) - The United States will reopen in November to air travelers from 33 countries including China, India, Brazil and most of Europe who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, the White House said on Monday, easing tough pandemic-related restrictions that started early last year.
The decision, announced by White House coronavirus response coordinator Jeff Zients, marked an abrupt shift for President Joe Biden's administration, which said last week it was not the right time to lift any restrictions amid rising COVID-19 cases.
The United States had lagged many other countries in lifting such restrictions, and allies welcomed the move. The U.S. restrictions have barred travelers from most of the world including tens of thousands of foreign nationals with relatives or business links in the United States.
To read more, go here.
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| Above, from this year's Wells Fun Run. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
When I received my Pfizer vaccinations last February, it was by my choice, not from some government dictator dipshit ordering me to do so.
His Fraudulency Joe Biden's edict yesterday to force private businesses to mandate vaccinations of employees is unconstitutional.
Several southern governors were quick to respond.
From Fox 13 Memphis:
MID-SOUTH — President Joe Biden said more aggressive measures must be taken to keep children in schools and protecting them from COVID-19.
During a speech on Thursday, the president called for governors to require the vaccine for all school employees and for districts to implement regular testing for students and staff.
Moments after Biden’s speech, some Mid-South Governors released statements on Twitter about the new plans.
Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves said the President has “no authority to require that Americans inject themselves because of their employment at a private business.” Reeves also went to say on the vaccine itself is “life-saving, but this unconstitutional move is terrifying.”
Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson also took to Twitter and released a statement following Biden’s new plans. He said he fully supports efforts to increase vaccination rates, but the federal government mandates on private businesses are “not the right answer.”
Finally, Governor of Tennessee Bill Lee also released a statement on Twitter after President Biden’s speech. He said the vaccine is the best tool to combat the pandemic, but “heavy-handed mandates are the wrong approach.” Gov. Lee said he will “stand up for all Tennesseans” when it comes to the Constitution and the mandate of the vaccines.
To read more, go here.
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| Above, yours truly at the Albuquerque Sunport. Photo by Mitch Geriminsky. |
The world we live in today is very confusing. Some states are requiring masks, others aren't. In some, vaccinated people don't have to wear them, while in some others they do. Some have restrictive mandates in place, others don't.
Sometimes, one feels like Richard Dreyfuss in Close Encounters of the Third Kind when he exclaims in frustration, "This is nuts!"
To help in navigating through the muck, Forbes posted the "Ultimate Guide To COVID-19 Restrictions: Masks, Testing, Vaccine Mandates And More". Since their posting is dated August 28, I am assuming that it is up-to-date.
They begin it with:
Gone are the days of planning a carefree getaway on the fly. Nearly two years into the pandemic, it’s now painfully clear that we’re going to be dealing with Covid-related travel restrictions for months and years to come. So it’s essential to do some basic pre-trip homework to assess not only the risk of traveling but what, if any, protocols are in place—not just in a specific destination but along the entire journey.
At the same time, a pattern is emerging, where travel is easier and less restrictive for those who are fully vaccinated. In some major American cities, for instance, vaccine mandates are already in place for indoor dining, sports venues and entertainment arenas. And in many countries around the world, a person’s vaccination status determines whether the welcome mat is rolled out.
So, if those who are reading this are in need of some guidance, go here.
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| Above, nearing sunset in Waikiki. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
Currently, travel to Hawaii is allowed when certain guidelines are followed. However, the guidelines are a little confusing on what is required to go there (as many have found out).
If one is willing to wait a couple of months, Hawaii will be welcoming with open arms without any restrictions.
According to the Tyler Morning Telegraph:
Hawaiian Gov. David Ige reiterated plans to keep current COVID-19-related travel restrictions in place until the state reaches a 70% vaccination rate, likely by September.
According to Hawaii News Now, state Health Department statistics show that 68.6 percent of the population 12 and older is fully vaccinated, but Ige’s 70% vaccination benchmark refers to the total population.
Only an estimated 58.6% of all Hawaii residents were fully vaccinated as of mid-July.
“We believe the 70% target is good for us,” Ige told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. “We’re making good progress. Those who are not vaccinated are the most vulnerable and those who are not eligible for the vaccinations are our children.”
To read more, go here.
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| Above, the 2019 Red Rock Balloon Rally. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
Months too late in coming and after killing off 40% of New Mexico's small businesses by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, the state has finally reopened.
KTSM reported:
SANTA FE, N.M. (KTSM)–New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s announced the state of New Mexico could remove remaining pandemic occupancy restrictions on Thursday, including commercial and day-to-day activities and the color-coded county-by-county system.
This comes as the state reached the governor’s goal of 60 percent of eligible residents being fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
Sixty-two percent of eligible New Mexicans have completed their vaccination series as of Tuesday, according to Department of Health data. The agency reports almost 71 percent of eligible New Mexicans have received at least one dose. The state’s vaccination distribution and education efforts will continue.
Effective July 1, all pandemic-related occupancy restrictions on all forms of commercial activity have been lifted.
All businesses across the state may once again operate at 100 percent of maximum capacity. In addition, all limitations on mass gatherings are gone; businesses, large events and organizations may operate at 100 percent of maximum capacity, whether indoor or outdoor.
We're now at this point thanks to the vaccines made possible by the Trump Administration, not by anything good the governor has done.
To read more, go here.
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| Above, the Fort Lauderdale cruise ship terminal. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
It appears that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is trying to use its "iron boot" to make the state of Florida comply with its regulations concerning the cruise ship industry and vaccinations. Gov. Ron DeSantis has issued an executive order banning the use of so-called Vaccine Passports.
TravelPulse reported:
As cruise lines prepare to return to service in the United States, there is a showdown brewing in Florida between Governor Ron DeSantis and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) over COVID-19 vaccinations.
Governor DeSantis signed an Executive Order in April banning businesses operating in the state from asking for proof that customers received a COVID-19 vaccination, a ruling with major implications on Florida’s cruise industry.
Travel advisors and legal experts weighed in on the ongoing battle.
“I firmly believe that the CDC will be able to override Florida Governor DeSantis on the vaccine requirement,” Florida-based travel advisor Scott Lara told TravelPulse. “While I appreciate the Governor resisting so-called Vaccine Passports, we must keep cruise passengers healthy.”
Earlier this week, the CDC approved Celebrity Cruises to become the first cruise line to set sail with paying passengers on board. The ship is scheduled to depart from Fort Lauderdale on June 26.
It will be interestng to see how this one turns out.
To read more, go here.
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| Above, Kiyomizu-dera in Kyoto during normal times. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
We may complain about the measures taken in the U.S. during the pandemic, but at least we're not in Japan.
Several prefectures in Japan have been under a state of emergency for weeks precipitated by surges in coronavirus infections. Getting the Japanese citizenry vaccinated has been lagging. All this has been going on with the postponed Tokyo Summer Olympics only weeks away. This has led the Asahi Shimbun to call for the cancelation of the Olympics.
Now, the government has extended the state of emergency for another month.
According to The Japan News (Yomiuri Shimbun):
The government announced its decision on Friday to extend the state of emergency for nine prefectures including Tokyo and Osaka through June 20.
The decision was reached on Friday evening at a meeting of the government’s COVID-19 task force led by Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, after the subcommittee on basic coronavirus measures approved the decision in a morning meeting.
“Areas subject to the state of emergency have remained in Stage 4,” Yasutoshi Nishimura, the minister in charge of coronavirus measures, said at the subcommittee meeting, referring to the most serious level. “The number of seriously ill patients has been around 1,400 nationwide. The health care system is facing a severe situation.”
The state of emergency for Tokyo, Osaka, Aichi, Fukuoka, Hiroshima, Hokkaido, Hyogo, Kyoto and Okayama was scheduled to end May 31.
It will be some time before things in Japan return to "normal" so that foreign visitors can go there.
To read more, go here.
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| Above, Osaka's Dōtonbori section. Osaka is a hotspot for coronavirus cases. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
It appears that there will be no foreign vacation travel to Japan in the foreseeable future.
Japanese government officials say that the country has entered "the fourth wave" of the coronavirus. This is not surprising since I read that only 1% of the Japanese people have been vaccinated.
This is not good news since the Tokyo Olympic games are due to start in about 100 days.
According to Japan Today:
TOKYO - Osaka Prefecture on Wednesday reported a record 1,130 daily coronavirus cases, bringing the nationwide tally to the highest in over two months, as the country grapples with what medical experts describe as a "fourth wave" of the pandemic.
Osaka saw another record of infections after topping the 1,000 mark for the first time Tuesday, prompting Gov Hirofumi Yoshimura to say the western Japan prefecture could ask the central government to issue a state of emergency again.
"I have a strong sense of crisis," Yoshimura told a press conference, adding a "request for large-scale business suspensions would be necessary" if effects of the current measures under the quasi-state of emergency are proven unproductive next week.
The Osaka governor said his government is considering requesting schools to switch to online lectures and suspend student club activities as part of efforts to curb the infections.
The nationwide tally topped 4,300 new cases, the highest since Jan. 23, with Hyogo Prefecture adjacent to Osaka also confirming a record 507 cases, as highly contagious variants are spreading around Osaka with Tokyo also seeing them rising.
To read more, go here.
Talk about being in the right place at the right time.
Several news outlets are lauding the state of New Mexico for its success in its vaccination program.
NBC News reported:
More than a quarter of the adult population in New Mexico is fully vaccinated, making the state the closest to achieving herd immunity. Officials say speed, equity, education and community partnerships have been critical.
I received my vaccinations in February in Gallup.
To see more, including a video, go here.
It looks like I was lucky to get the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.
The Wall Street Journal posted this on Twitter:
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| Above, the Sheraton Waikiki's Helumoa Playground pool. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
There are some in Hawaii who believe that the summer tourism season looks promising for Hawaii. Hopefully, they're right and not just "whistling past the graveyard."
According to an article in Honolulu Civil Beat:
Hawaii’s economy is poised for a significant recovery over the next six months, as pent-up demand for travel coincides with vaccinations on the mainland and an expected new wave of federal stimulus money in March, two leading Hawaii economists said during an interview with Civil Beat’s editorial board.
“There’s a heck of a lot of money that makes a real difference in basically holding people up while we simultaneously see what we think will probably be an acceleration in the visitor recovery, mostly in the summer,” said Carl Bonham, executive director of the University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization.
Bonham was joined by Sumner La Croix, a professor emeritus of economics at the University of Hawaii, for a wide-ranging interview on COVID-19 and the state economy. Perhaps the most notable theme, which Bonham kicked off with, was the relatively sanguine outlook on the economy for the next several months.
The bottom line: stimulus money plus tourism income will help Hawaii significantly.
To read more, go here.
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| Above, Red Rock Navajo Casino near Gallup, New Mexico. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
Last week, while driving to Gallup, I saw police and security vehicles with their light bars on and many people in the parking lot of Fire Rock Casino.
Fire Rock Casino has been closed since the pandemic started last year.
As I drove closer, there were tables and tents set up with people on foot and in vehicles lined up.
This was a mass inoculation of members of the Navajo Nation of the COVID-19 vaccine.
According to the article below from the Arizona Public Media, mass vaccinations in different locations in and around the Navajo Nation are paying off. During the height of the pandemic, the virus hit the Navajo Nation hard and many Navajos came down with the virus that caused many deaths, most of which hit the tribal elders hard.
Arizona Public Media reported:
The Navajo Nation exceeded its goal to administer 100,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses by the end of February. Now it's aiming for 120,000 by the end of the month.
Tribal officials reported Thursday that 104,974 doses had been administered. Since then, they have continued to advertise vaccination events across the reservation that is the size of West Virginia.
Dr. Chris Percy, the Community Health Director of the Northern Navajo Medical Center, was helping with the vaccine rollout at Shiprock High School Saturday in Shiprock, New Mexico. He said 84% of elders over the age of 65 have been vaccinated, along with 37% of people over the age of 16. The Navajo Department of Health reports it's vaccinating people in Phase 1B now.
"We're really excited so many people have come out and got it. Many, many of our families have been affected by COVID," Percy said. "We've lost so many people, and so many people have suffered all year, and now we can finally do something about it."
This is good news for the Navajo Nation as well as the counties surrounding it in the Four Corners region, including New Mexico's McKinley County, where I reside.
To read more, go here.
As of yesterday, here's how New Mexico is shaping up on vaccinations for COVID-19.
COVID-19 Vaccine Dashboard
Last Updated: 2/22/2021New Mexico State DataCumulative Doses Administered*501,436Total Primary Doses Administered329,054Total Booster Doses Administered172,382Doses Administered in the Last 7 Days54,939Total Doses Received*465,175Total Registrants643,823*Doses administered may occasionally exceed doses received; in some cases, providers have been able to use six doses of Pfizer – not five – from each vial.
