Covid-19 Updates & Info

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Togtdyalttai United States of America
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Re: Covid-19 Updates & Info

#2296

Post by Togtdyalttai »

I had the good fortune to be flying home yesterday (from Baltimore to San Diego). I'd say there were still a majority of people wearing masks in both airports, but not a healthy majority.
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Re: Covid-19 Updates & Info

#2297

Post by ti-amie »

“Do not grow old, no matter how long you live. Never cease to stand like curious children before the Great Mystery into which we were born.” Albert Einstein
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Re: Covid-19 Updates & Info

#2298

Post by ti-amie »

“Do not grow old, no matter how long you live. Never cease to stand like curious children before the Great Mystery into which we were born.” Albert Einstein
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Re: Covid-19 Updates & Info

#2299

Post by Deuce »

At this point, I wonder if there's even a mandatory age requirement to be a federal judge in the U.S.
I'd trust a 10 year old child's perspectives and opinions far more than I'd trust any judge who was appointed by the Trump 'administration'.

How can this possibly happen in a civilized country? :oops: :cry:
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Re: Covid-19 Updates & Info

#2300

Post by dryrunguy »

Here's the latest Situation Report. My apologies. I believe I forgot to post the one from Friday.

::

EPI UPDATE The WHO COVID-19 Dashboard reports 504 million cumulative cases and 6.2 million deaths worldwide as of April 20. As expected, the number of cumulative cases surpassed 500 million on April 14.

The global weekly incidence decreased for the fourth consecutive week, down 22% from the previous week. Most regions reported decreasing trends in weekly incidence last week, except for Africa, which remained relatively stable from the previous week (+0.23%). The trend in reported global weekly mortality decreased for a third consecutive week, down 19% from the previous week.

Global Vaccination
As of April 18, WHO reported 11.3 billion cumulative vaccine doses administered globally, with 5.1 billion individuals receiving at least 1 dose, and 4.58 billion fully vaccinated. Analysis from Our World in Data indicates that the overall trend in global daily vaccinations continues to decline, down from nearly 40 million doses per day in late December 2021 to 10.7 million on April 20, a decrease of 70% over that period.* The trend continues to closely follow that in Asia. Our World in Data estimates that there are 5.12 billion vaccinated individuals worldwide (1+ dose; 65% of the global population) and 4.63 billion who are fully vaccinated (58.76% of the global population). A total of 1.77 billion booster doses have been administered globally.
*The average daily doses administered may exhibit a sharp decrease for the most recent data, particularly over the weekend, which indicates effects of reporting delays. In an effort to reflect the longer-term trends, the numbers reported here may not correspond to the most recent data.

UNITED STATES
The US CDC is currently reporting 80.6 million cumulative cases of COVID-19 and 987,034 deaths. The average 7-day daily incidence was 40,985 on April 19, an increase of nearly 40% since a recent low of 24,845 on March 29. Average daily mortality appears to have declined over the past week, with a 7-day average of 385 on April 19, down slightly from 459 on April 12, the date of our last report.* Notably, the 7-day moving average number of new hospital admissions of people with confirmed COVID-19 continues to trend upwards, up 7.2% over the prior 7-day average, for the week ending April 18, reflecting the increasing trend in incidence.
*Changes in state-level reporting may affect the accuracy of recently reported data, particularly over weekends. In an effort to reflect the longer-term trends, the numbers reported here may not correspond to the most recent dates.

US Vaccination
The US has administered 570.5 million cumulative doses of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. Daily vaccinations have mostly leveled off over the past 2 weeks, with a slight increase from 455,258 on April 6 to 459,655 on April 14. A total of 256.9 million individuals have received at least 1 vaccine dose, which corresponds to 77.4% of the entire US population. Among adults, 88.8% have received at least 1 dose, as well as 27.6 million children under the age of 18. A total of 219 million individuals are fully vaccinated**, which corresponds to 66% of the total population. Approximately 75.9% of adults are fully vaccinated, as well as 23 million children under the age of 18. A total of 99.7 million individuals have received an additional or booster dose. This corresponds to 45.5% of fully vaccinated individuals, including 68.1% of fully vaccinated adults aged 65 years or older. Only about 50% of those eligible for a first booster dose have received one.
*Due to delays in reporting, estimates for the average daily doses administered are less accurate for the most recent several days.
**Full original course of the vaccine, not including additional or booster doses.

US TRAVEL MASK MANDATE The US Department of Justice has filed an appeal seeking to reverse an April 18 ruling by a federal District Court judge in Florida that voided a national mask mandate for mass transit. The federal judge ruled that the US CDC’s mask mandate exceeded the agency’s statutory authority, immediately ending the requirement put in place to reduce the risk of SARS-CoV-2 among travelers on public transportation and in transit stations. The ruling left decisions to enforce mask wearing up to individual transportation companies and transit authorities. Following the ruling, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) said it will not enforce its mask mandate in transportation settings, as it awaits future court proceedings. Additionally, most major domestic airlines rescinded their mask requirements, as did Amtrak, rideshare companies Uber and Lyft, and several major transit authorities. The White House called the ruling “disappointing,” especially as the number of new COVID-19 cases in the US begin to rise again. Reactions were more mixed among the public and transportation employees, with some flight attendants gleefully announcing mid-flight that passengers could remove their masks. Other airline employees, TSA agents, and members of the public reacted with confusion and concern, especially for those who are ineligible for vaccination or at higher risk of severe disease.

As such, the CDC issued a statement calling the mandate “necessary for the public health,” prompting the Department of Justice to appeal the case to the US Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit. However, federal officials are uncertain how the appeal will be received in this court given its conservative lean. Additionally, some legal experts expressed concern that if the lower court ruling stands, the precedent could severely handicap CDC’s ability to exercise its mandate to protect public health in the future. In the meantime, US residents will face a patchwork of policies that may or may not be enforced by employers, state or local governments, or private businesses. Nevertheless, the science behind mask-wearing as a means of lowering the risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission in indoor public spaces remains solid, and people who wear high-quality masks can still protect themselves even if others are not masked.

OMICRON SUBLINEAGES Scientists around the world have been closely monitoring SARS-CoV-2 variants and their relative dominance to better inform response activities. In the US, the original Omicron variant has been displaced by its sublineage BA.2, but now, BA.2 may be competing with BA.2.12.1, its own sublineage. The US CDC estimates that BA.2 makes up 75% of current COVID-19 cases in the US, while BA.2.12.1 makes up 19% of COVID-19 cases. The remaining 6% are attributable to BA.1.1 and B.1.1.529, which have been waning. Initial signs point to Omicron descendent lineages not substantially differing from the original variant in terms of virulence or evasion of immunity. That evidence, relatively higher population immunity for the moment, and warmer weather indicate that there is not a need for panic regarding BA.2.12.1. However, caution and vigilance are warranted. The New York State Department of Health notes that BA.2.12.1, along with another new sublineage, BA.2.12, have contributed to a recent spike in cases in the state’s northern region, estimating the new sublineages have a 23-27% growth advantage over BA.2.

CDC ADVISORY PANEL ON BOOSTERS Since the US FDA authorized fourth doses, or second boosters, of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna mRNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccines last month for people 50 and older and additional doses for immunocompromised people 12 and older, there has been widespread confusion among some healthcare providers and eligible individuals about when to get the shots and why. Public health officials maintain that continuous vaccination is only a stopgap measure aimed at lowering the risk of hospitalization and death among vulnerable populations, as they work to develop future vaccination strategies. On April 20, the US CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) met to consider exactly who might benefit most from additional doses and what the ongoing vaccination strategy will entail, although there were no votes taken on any topics of discussion.

A CDC researcher told the panel that based on current data, individuals who are immunocompromised, live with an immunocompromised person, and those who are at increased risk of severe COVID-19 should consider getting a second booster now, while healthy older adults and those who have had COVID-19 within the past 90 days can wait until later in the year to get an additional shot. The panel also reviewed data showing that incidence of vaccine-associated myocarditis and pericarditis is lower after fourth doses than after the primary 2-dose series; there is no evidence boosters lead to immune tolerance that could cause lower antibody levels; and there is no evidence of immunological imprinting, with patients showing responses to several variants after a booster dose. Several of the panel members encouraged clear communication of a shared vision regarding vaccines, their effectiveness, and their purpose to help prevent “booster fatigue” and reduced public confidence in the vaccines. Others expressed the need for future vaccine strategies to be tailored to different populations, such as providing antibody tests prior to booster administration.

Additionally, the panel discussed the importance of future SARS-CoV-2 vaccines, including different formulations and platforms. Several companies, including Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, are developing variant-specific vaccines, but it is unclear how long testing and manufacturing of any newer vaccine versions might take. Moderna this week released preprint data on a bivalent vaccine candidate, mRNA-1273.211, that contains equal mRNA amounts of spike proteins from the ancestral SARS-CoV-2 strain and the Beta variant and could be used as a booster dose. According to the data—which is not yet peer-reviewed—the vaccine produced stronger, longer-lasting antibody responses against SARS-CoV-2 variants, including Omicron, than the company’s original vaccine. Results from a different Moderna bivalent vaccine candidate that uses mRNA from the original virus and Omicron are expected later this spring. Additionally, Moderna announced it plans to submit a request for Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) of its SARS-CoV-2 vaccine among young children ages 6 months to 5 years by the end of this month.

OMICRON IN CHILDREN A report published April 19 in the US CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) highlights both the importance of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination among children to provide protection against the Omicron variant, as well as racial disparities regarding vaccination coverage and hospitalization during the Omicron surge. Researchers analyzed data from the COVID-19-Associated Hospitalization Surveillance Network to describe characteristics of 1,475 hospitalized children aged 5-11 years, focusing on Omicron predominance from December 19, 2021, to February 28, 2022. Among 397 children hospitalized during Omicron predominance, 87% were unvaccinated, with the cumulative hospitalization rate of unvaccinated children (19.1 per 100,000) over twice as high as that of vaccinated children (9.2 per 100,000). Severe disease was more common among children with diabetes and obesity, although 30% of hospitalized children with COVID-19 had no underlying medical conditions.

The most concerning finding showed that non-Hispanic Black children made up 34% of unvaccinated children and one-third of COVID-19 hospitalizations overall, making it clear that racial disparities of the pandemic extend to children. An analysis published earlier this month by the Kaiser Family Foundation also found that Black children were less likely to be vaccinated than White children in 5 out of 7 states that report vaccination status by race/ethnicity for children aged 5-11 years.

SARS-COV-2 BREATH TEST The US FDA on April 14 issued an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for the first COVID-19 diagnostic test that analyzes breath to detect chemical compounds associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection. The InspectIR Covid-19 Breathalyzer is a moderately sized instrument, about the dimension of a piece of carry-on luggage, and must be operated by a qualified and trained worker in a medical office, hospital, or mobile testing site. Test results are returned within about 3 minutes, but positive results should be confirmed with a molecular test. While the breath-based test represents an innovative, noninvasive diagnostic method, restrictions on who can conduct the test, where it can be conducted, and how many samples it can analyze per hour, as well as unknown pricing and a 10-12 week wait for the first devices to come to market, could limit the test’s real-world applications.

GLOBAL COVID-19 SUMMIT The US will co-host a second Global COVID-19 Summit on May 12 to discuss coordination and funding for global vaccination efforts, work to end the emergency phase of the pandemic, and preparedness for future health threats. The US will co-host the virtual summit with Belize, as CARICOM Chair; Germany, holding the G7 Presidency; Indonesia, holding the G20 Presidency; and Senegal as African Union Chair. The first summit was led by the US in September 2021, and this second meeting was originally scheduled for March but was postponed due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Notably, the US might not be able to offer additional support for global vaccination initiatives because the US Congress has not renewed funding for those programs. Without the incentive of more funds for global efforts, the US might face difficulty obtaining further financial commitments from other countries, non-profit organizations, philanthropists, and the private sector.

US EARLY WARNING SYSTEM The US this week launched the Center for Forecasting and Outbreak Analytics (CFA), a US CDC-run initiative its leaders are likening to a National Weather Service for infectious diseases. (Dr. Caitlin Rivers from the Center for Health Security is currently helping lead this new Center at CDC.) With about 100 scientists, CFA will analyze technical data and communicate—in easy-to-understand language—evidence-based policies and strategies for COVID-19 or future infectious disease outbreaks to decisionmakers and the public. The center will work with experts within the government, academia, and the private sector to examine data on new cases, hospitalizations, who is most affected, how transmission is occurring and among whom, and which public health prevention and mitigation strategies work best to reduce transmission. These analyses should help decisionmakers adopt policies that are the most effective and least disruptive. Notably, CFA also is focused heavily on communicating information to the public, particularly vulnerable and historically underserved communities, to help them understand risk and make decisions based on scientific understanding. CFA begins with US$200 million in coronavirus relief funding but will need additional technical and financial support from inside and outside of the federal government as the nation moves beyond the emergency phase of the COVID-19 pandemic.

https://covid19.who.int/
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Re: Covid-19 Updates & Info

#2301

Post by ponchi101 »

Infections can go undetected if people do not get tested enough. But deaths can't go undetected, so I gather that the drop in deaths down to a bit below 400 can be seen as "good news".
Maybe the new variants are really not as deadly as the first ones.
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Re: Covid-19 Updates & Info

#2302

Post by Deuce »

It's amazing to me that there are many people who don't realize this, as it seems incredibly obvious...

When vaccinated and unvaccinated people mix together in an indoor setting (like restaurants, movie theatres, sporting events, etc.), the vaccinated help to protect the unvaccinated - as a sort of 'buffer' -, while the unvaccinated pose a threat to the vaccinated.
This is why 'vaccine passports' - restricting access to indoor locations to only people who have proof of vaccination - is a very good thing.

Study Shows That the Unvaccinated Are a Threat to the Vaccinated

.
R.I.P. Amal...

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Re: Covid-19 Updates & Info

#2303

Post by dryrunguy »

Here's the latest Situation Report. Haven't read it yet.

::

PAXLOVID The administration of US President Joe Biden this week announced plans to increase awareness and availability of the antiviral treatment Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir and ritonavir), which can reduce the risk of COVID-19-associated hospitalization and death by nearly 90% if taken within the first 5 days of symptom onset. The administration has purchased 20 million doses of the treatment from Pfizer, creating a sufficient stockpile, and will work with the manufacturer to speed delivery of the drug to pharmacies nationwide. Additionally, the White House plans to educate providers and the public about the drug’s availability and effectiveness, part of its effort to expand the federal Test-to-Treat initiative. Currently, about 2,200 pharmacies, long-term care facilities, and community health centers are operating as test-to-treat sites.

Demand for Paxlovid has increased in recent weeks, but many patients have reported difficulty obtaining the pills and physicians have been hesitant to prescribe it for fear of depleting once limited supplies and a lack of clarity on who can and cannot receive the treatment. The US CDC on April 25 issued a health advisory updating healthcare providers about the availability and use of COVID-19 therapies, as well as advising against unproven treatments, including antibiotics. Paxlovid, along with Merck’s molnupiravir, currently are available in about 20,000 locations nationwide, and the Biden administration hopes to double that number in the coming weeks, as well as allow some pharmacies to order oral antiviral treatments directly from the federal government at no cost. Some experts expressed concern that individuals who are more vulnerable to COVID-19 because they lack access to quality health care, have underlying health conditions, or live in rural areas, including many people of color, do not know Paxlovid is a treatment option or cannot travel to obtain the drug, worsening inequities. However, raising awareness, ensuring access, and securing more and better treatments requires additional funding from the US Congress, the White House noted in a fact sheet.

The Biden administration’s announcement comes days after the WHO announced it strongly recommends Paxlovid for the treatment of mild-to-moderate COVID-19 in individuals at the highest risk of hospital admission. The WHO’s living guidelines for COVID-19 treatment were updated on April 22, calling Paxlovid “the best therapeutic choice for high-risk patients to date.” Notably, the WHO outlined several challenges to accessibility, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The agency said questions about availability, lack of price transparency in bilateral sales made by Pfizer, and the need for quick and accurate testing before administering the drug will limit its use in LMICs. Under a deal between Pfizer and the Medicines Patent Pool (MPP), several generic manufacturers are licensed to produce Paxlovid to supply about 95 countries, but few companies have begun making the treatment and some need time to comply with international standards to be able to export the pills. Pfizer currently is facing criticism for resisting efforts by the Dominican Republic to issue a compulsory license for Paxlovid, with advocates saying the company claimed its intellectual property is a human right that would be violated if a compulsory license were issued. In a press release announcing the updated treatment guidelines, the WHO expressed concern that poorer nations will once again be “pushed to the end of the queue,” as happened with SARS-CoV-2 vaccines.

REMDESIVIR FOR UNDER-12 CHILDREN The US FDA on April 25 expanded the approval of the COVID-19 antiviral treatment remdesivir to include children as young as 28 days and older who weigh at least 6.6 pounds and who are hospitalized with COVID-19 or not hospitalized but at high risk of progression to severe disease. The treatment, which is made by Gilead Sciences and sold under the brand name Veklury, was already available for this pediatric population under Emergency Use Authorization (EUA), but the approval makes remdesivir the first approved COVID-19 treatment for children under age 12. The drug is administered as an injection and is already approved to treat pediatric and adult patients aged 12 and older who weigh at least 88 pounds. Early treatment with remdesivir, during the first 5 days of acute infection, is highly effective in preventing disease progression in older adults, according to a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. The FDA’s approval for pediatric patients was based on a small study including only 53 participants that showed similar safety and pharmacokinetic results to those in adults.

Although COVID-19 generally causes less severe disease in children, severe illness does still occur in this population. Children aged 5-11 became eligible for vaccination with Pfizer-BioNTech’s SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in November 2021, but those under age 5 are not yet eligible for vaccination. In its approval, the FDA noted that remdesivir is not a substitute for vaccination in those who qualify but is an effective treatment option for pediatric patients. Data published last week in the US CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) show that during the winter Omicron surge, COVID-19-associated hospitalization rates were approximately twice as high among unvaccinated children aged 5-11 as among vaccinated children of the same age. The FDA’s approval of remdesivir for the youngest COVID-19 patients could help lower their risk of disease progression and keep some children out of the hospital.

VACCINE FOR UNDER-5 CHILDREN The approximately 19.5 million children younger than age 5 in the US remain ineligible for vaccination against COVID-19, and the US FDA likely will postpone any action to authorize a vaccine for the youngest children until June, according to several sources. Moderna is expected to submit a request for Emergency Use Authorization for its SARS-CoV-2 vaccine by the end of this month, and Pfizer-BioNTech earlier this year postponed its rolling application for their vaccine to wait for data on a 3-dose primary series. Those familiar with FDA discussions said the regulator might wait until early summer to simultaneously authorize both vaccines rather than push one through before the other, thereby simplifying communication about the vaccines to the public. However, those plans could change, particularly if the current uptick in COVID-19 cases accelerates. The administration of US President Joe Biden is under increasing pressure to move on authorizing a vaccine for the youngest children, from members of his own political party and parents who are eager to vaccinate their children. Notably, less than 30% of children aged 5-11—who became eligible for vaccination in November 2021—have received their primary 2-dose vaccine series, and some polls show parents of young children might be hesitant to vaccinate their younger children. The FDA has called on its Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) to set a tentative meeting for June, although the topic of that meeting is not yet known.

CHINA After weeks of lockdowns in China’s largest city, Shanghai, due to surging numbers of new COVID-19 cases driven by the Omicron variant of concern, the nation’s capital of Beijing this week rolled out a 5-day mass testing drive and locked down several residential areas. Cultural holidays, mass gatherings, and holiday travel have all been suspended. The swift response prompted panic buying, as residents crowded grocery stores and swamped food delivery services with requests. Since the outbreak was detected 5 days ago, authorities have identified 92 cases in Beijing, a small number compared with the more than 500,000 cases confirmed in Shanghai, where the number of new cases is beginning to fall. However, the number of new deaths in Shanghai tripled in a 24-hour period between April 22 and April 23. This is expected, as increases in deaths typically follow increases in the number of new cases by 3-4 weeks. China’s lockdowns are not only disrupting life for residents but also are significantly impacting domestic and global economies, crippling supply chains, increasing unemployment, and affecting stock markets.

SOUTH AFRICA The number of new COVID-19 cases is once more rising in South Africa, signaling a potential fifth wave of infections. The country has reported its highest rate in 3 months. South Africa’s National Health Department reported 4,406 new COVID-19 cases in a 24-hour period ending April 21, just over 1.5 times more cases than were reported the day before. The nation’s positivity rate rose from 16% over the weekend to 19.3% on April 25, with an additional 1,954 new cases. The increase is being driven by Omicron sublineages, with a rising proportion of cases attributable to BA.4 and BA.5. No new variant has been reported. Notably, the pandemic may have given a boost to South Africa’s efforts to reform its health system through a national insurance scheme by highlighting the need to improve health equity.

CORONAVAC BOOSTERS New data from Chile estimates vaccine effectiveness with the use of homologous and heterologous booster administration in individuals aged 16 years and older. Published in The Lancet Global Health on April 23, the study evaluates a national-level prospective cohort of more than 4 million individuals who completed a primary immunization schedule (2 doses) of CoronaVac and subsequently received a booster. Of the cohort, 46.5% received a booster of Oxford-AstraZeneca, 48.9% Pfizer-BioNTech, and 4.5% CoronaVac. Both homologous and heterologous booster administration with a primary vaccination schedule of CoronaVac showed a high level of protection against symptomatic COVID-19, including severe disease and death. Notably, vaccine effectiveness (VE) in preventing symptomatic COVID-19 was higher among the heterologous booster cohorts compared to homologous booster administration. The Pfizer-BioNTech booster adjusted VE for preventing symptomatic COVID-19 was 96.5% (96.2–96.7), 93.2% (92.9–93.6) for Oxford-AstraZeneca, and 78.8% (76.8–80.6) for CoronaVac. Adjusted VEs against hospitalization, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and death followed a similar trend. The study enforces the need for boosters for the Chinese-made CoronaVac vaccine to improve effectiveness, and could help inform policymaking in China, which is experiencing a surge in COVID-19 cases.

LONG COVID No one knows what causes post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC), commonly known as long COVID, but researchers worldwide are working to uncover clues about what causes the condition, its prevalence in COVID-19 survivors, and potential therapies. A study published April 23 in The Lancet Respiratory Health describing results from the Post-hospitalisation COVID-19 study (PHOSP-COVID) suggests that fewer than 1 in 3 people (28.9%) who were hospitalized for COVID-19 felt fully recovered 1 year after being discharged. Factors associated with being less likely to report full recovery were female sex, obesity, and invasive mechanical ventilation during hospitalization. The most common ongoing symptoms were fatigue, muscle pain, physically slowing down, poor sleep, and breathlessness, all of which were reported by more than 51% of the patients 1 year after discharge. Another study—which was presented at the European Congress of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases (ECCMID) in Lisbon, Portugal, by researchers from the Luxembourg Institute of Health—found that 6 in 10 people continue to have at least 1 symptom a year after their initial infection. The study, Predi-COVID, suggests that severity of initial disease is associated with the likelihood of persistent symptoms and their intensity, reinforcing the need for vaccination to prevent severe disease.

Based on previous research, some scientists believe long COVID could be the result of an overactive immune response, but the results of a small study published in Clinical Infectious Diseases suggest the persistent symptoms could be the result of a suppressed immune system. The researchers, from the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, suggest that certain antibody treatments could help some patients improve. Notably, the study was funded by the manufacturer of the antibody treatment used in the research. Another preprint paper, conducted by researchers at Stanford Medical School and not yet peer-reviewed, raises the question of whether viral reservoirs, possibly in the gastrointestinal system, could contribute to long COVID symptoms. After 4 months from initial infection, researchers were unable to detect SARS-CoV-2 in nasal or oral swab samples from any of the 113 participants who had mild or moderate COVID-19, but nearly 13% had detectable viral RNA in fecal samples. Nearly 4% continued to shed viral RNA in their stool 7 months after initial diagnosis. Ongoing research shows long COVID can impact people far after initial infection. While there currently are no proven effective pharmacological or non-pharmacological interventions for patients with long COVID, some research suggests that SARS-CoV-2 vaccination can reduce but not eliminate the risk of longer-term symptoms, reinforcing public health recommendations to remain up to date on vaccination.

US DEATHS As the US edges closer to marking 1 million deaths from COVID-19, many are grappling with how to explain this reality. In an attempt to describe the seemingly unfathomable death toll, Eric Boodman of STAT equates it to about “5,500 commercial airplanes crashing in a little more than 2 years,” but says trying to account for human loss through analogy is meaningless and does not make those who have lost loved ones feel less alone. In the US, the pandemic’s death toll has been concentrated among elderly populations, including those at long-term care facilities, and mortality rates are highest among Black and Hispanic populations. For a second year, COVID-19 was the third leading cause of death in the US in 2021, although racial and ethnic disparities narrowed compared with 2020, most likely showing the impacts of public health interventions such as contact tracing, mask mandates, and, most importantly, vaccination. According to recent analysis from the Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker, about 234,000 COVID-19-related deaths in the US could have been prevented since June 2021 with a primary vaccination series. Additionally, many could have been spared immense amounts of grief with more widespread and quick vaccine uptake. According to a study published April 25 in JAMA Internal Medicine, most families who had loved ones in intensive care units (ICUs) due to COVID-19 have experienced symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Ed Yong of The Atlantic notes that for every person lost to COVID-19, an average of 9 close relatives are left bereaved, meaning no fewer than 9 million US residents are learning to cope with grief and adjust to their new realities, processes often intensified by the continuing politicization of the pandemic.
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Re: Covid-19 Updates & Info

#2304

Post by ponchi101 »

1. Good to see that some treatments are coming along.
2. Pardon me for being callous. How can the loss of a loved one, or them being in an ICU due to covid, is different than losing them or having them in an ICU DUE TO ANY OTHER FACTOR? Mourning is like that. My brother passed away in January of 2018 and I still can't go a day without thinking of him. Of course, it was not C19 (it was cancer) but why is it being singled out due to the disease?
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Re: Covid-19 Updates & Info

#2305

Post by Deuce »

ponchi101 wrote: Tue Apr 26, 2022 7:22 pm 2. Pardon me for being callous. How can the loss of a loved one, or them being in an ICU due to covid, is different than losing them or having them in an ICU DUE TO ANY OTHER FACTOR? Mourning is like that. My brother passed away in January of 2018 and I still can't go a day without thinking of him. Of course, it was not C19 (it was cancer) but why is it being singled out due to the disease?
Certainly any death of a loved one is an enormous blow...
Maybe they're thinking of the difference being that when someone is in ICU with COVID-19, it's often difficult - or even impossible - for family to be allowed to visit/see them/say 'goodbye'...
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Re: Covid-19 Updates & Info

#2306

Post by dryrunguy »

Here's the latest Situation Report. The paragraph on measles is interesting. I'm not so sure that increase is solely due to COVID interrupting vaccination schedules. I'd bet increases in general vaccine skepticism is part of the problem. The section on viral spillover also caught my attention.

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EPI UPDATE The WHO COVID-19 Dashboard reports 509 million cumulative cases and 6.2 million deaths worldwide as of April 27. As expected, the number of cumulative cases surpassed 500 million on April 14. The global weekly incidence decreased for the fifth consecutive week—down 19% from the previous week—to the lowest weekly total since mid-December 2021. Most regions continued to report decreasing trends in weekly incidence. Africa’s weekly total increased 32% over the previous week, which appears to be largely driven by the surge in South Africa. Weekly incidence also increased in the Americas, up 8.7% over the previous week. The trend in reported global weekly mortality decreased for a third consecutive week, down 19% from the previous week.

Global Vaccination
As of April 18, WHO reported 11.4 billion cumulative vaccine doses administered globally, with 3.82 billion individuals receiving at least 1 dose, and 3.35 billion fully vaccinated*. Analysis from Our World in Data indicates that the overall trend in global daily vaccinations continues to decline overall—down from nearly 40 million doses per day in late December 2021—although the global average increased from 10.7 million doses per day last week to 11.7 million on April 27**. The trend continues to closely follow that in Asia. Our World in Data estimates that there are 5.13 billion vaccinated individuals worldwide (1+ dose; 65.2% of the global population) and 4.64 billion who are fully vaccinated (59.0% of the global population). A total of 1.84 billion booster doses have been administered globally.
*The WHO data for cumulative global vaccinated individuals decreased substantially from the previous week—down from 5.1 billion with 1+ dose and 4.58 billion fully vaccinated. It is not immediately clear why the current numbers are lower.
**The average daily doses administered may exhibit a sharp decrease for the most recent data, particularly over the weekend, which indicates effects of reporting delays. In an effort to reflect the longer-term trends, the numbers reported here may not correspond to the most recent data.

UNITED STATES
The US CDC is reporting 80.9 million cumulative cases of COVID-19 and 989,408 deaths. The average daily incidence has nearly doubled from the recent low of 24,982 new cases per day on April 4 to 48,692 on April 26. The daily mortality continues to decline, down to 299 deaths per day—the first day below 300 since July 23, 2021.* Notably, new COVID-19 hospital admissions continue to trend upwards, with an increase of 17.6% over the past week.
*Changes in state-level reporting may affect the accuracy of recently reported data, particularly over weekends. In an effort to reflect the longer-term trends, the numbers reported here may not correspond to the most recent dates.

US Vaccination
The US has administered 574 million cumulative doses of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. After a slight increase starting in late March, following US FDA authorization of a second booster dose, daily vaccinations are once again declining, down from 485,000 doses per day on April 12 to 394,000 on April 21 (-18.6%). A total of 257 million individuals have received at least 1 vaccine dose, which corresponds to 77.5% of the entire US population. Among adults, 89.0% have received at least 1 dose, as well as 27.7 million children under the age of 18. A total of 219 million individuals are fully vaccinated**, which corresponds to 66.1% of the total population. Approximately 76.0% of adults are fully vaccinated, as well as 23.1 million children under the age of 18. A total of 100.3 million individuals have received an additional or booster dose. This corresponds to 45.7% of fully vaccinated individuals, including 68.5% of fully vaccinated adults aged 65 years or older. Only 49.5% of individuals eligible for a first booster dose have received one.
*Due to delays in reporting, estimates for the average daily doses administered are less accurate for the most recent several days.
**Full original course of the vaccine, not including additional or booster doses.

VACCINES FOR YOUNGEST CHILDREN Moderna this morning submitted a request with the US FDA for Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) of its SARS-CoV-2 vaccine for children ages 6 months to under age 6. The submission is based on data from the Phase 2/3 KidCOVE study, which tested a 2-dose primary series in young children using a low-dose 25 μg version of the vaccine. According to Moderna, the lower dosage led to a similar immune response in young children as the higher 100 μg 2-dose primary series in adults, with a favorable safety profile. In a revised analysis based on data first released in March, the data showed the vaccine was 51% effective at preventing symptomatic COVID-19 in the youngest children, ages 6 months to under 2 years, and 37% effective at preventing symptomatic disease in children ages 2 through 5. These results were collected during the Omicron surge and showed similar declines in protection as adults due to the variant’s ability to partially evade vaccine-induced immunity. Moderna also is expected to soon seek authorization of its vaccine for children ages 6-11, as well as file an update to its EUA for adolescents aged 12-17. The FDA has not ruled on the company’s EUA request for adolescents, submitted in June 2021, citing concerns over the rare side effect of myocarditis and pericarditis, particularly in teen boys. Currently, only the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is authorized for children aged 5-11.

A top FDA official this week suggested the agency has not yet reviewed data on SARS-CoV-2 vaccines for the youngest children because the manufacturers have not completed their EUA applications. The agency is expected to release a timeline for expert review this week. Despite growing pressure, a decision on whether to authorize a vaccine for the nation’s 18 million youngest children likely will not happen until June. Moderna is expected to complete its EUA submission for the youngest children next week, and Pfizer and BioNTech plan to complete their application for a 3-dose vaccine regimen for children younger than 5 years in late May or early June. A White House official suggested the FDA might prefer to review both applications simultaneously in order to compare the vaccines side-by-side and simplify communication about the vaccines if and when one or both are authorized for young children.

BOOSTERS FOR CHILDREN AGES 5-11 Pfizer and BioNTech on April 26 submitted a request to the US FDA for Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) of a booster dose of the companies’ SARS-CoV-2 vaccine for children aged 5 to 11 years. The booster would be a third shot of the same 10 µg dosage used in the 2-dose primary series, administered about 6 months after the second dose. Currently, third doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine are authorized for children aged 5 to 11 who are moderately to severely immunocompromised, and booster doses are authorized for all individuals aged 12 years and older, who receive a higher dose (30 µg). Experts are divided over whether a booster dose is necessary in healthy children. Some say data show vaccine effectiveness wanes over time and support the use of boosters in children to maintain a higher level of protection. Others remain skeptical, contending that 2 doses continue to protect recipients against serious illness from the currently circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants and because children have an overall lower risk of severe disease and hospitalization from COVID-19. Only 28% of children aged 5 to 11 years are fully vaccinated, signaling that demand for a booster dose among this age group likely would be low. Pfizer and BioNTech also plan to submit data for booster authorization to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and other regulatory agencies worldwide in the coming weeks.

ANNUAL BOOSTERS The US FDA has authorized second booster, or fourth, doses for parts of the US population, raising questions over how frequently boosters will be required moving forward. Several companies, including Novavax and Moderna, have begun initiatives to develop joint influenza and COVID-19 shots, creating what would be a new annual vaccine administered each fall. But several US scientists and researchers recently urged more involved dialogue regarding future plans for the use of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine boosters, pushing back on the idea of annual boosters and calling for more data on the value of annual SARS-CoV-2 booster doses. While there is no evidence suggesting any harm from additional booster doses, the experts have shared several concerns that could stem from a policy requiring annual vaccinations. First, they worry that an emphasis on boosters diminishes the long-lasting protection that current vaccine doses provide against severe COVID-19 disease. Second, experts worry that a lack of evidence in regulatory decision making could set a dangerous precedent moving forward. The group specifically urged the FDA to measure T-cell responses, in addition to antibody responses, when conducting SARS-CoV-2 vaccine trials. Lastly, they noted the lack of response for both first and second booster doses signals fatigue from the US public. More than 100 million US residents have received the first COVID-19 booster, roughly 50% of eligible people. Some worry that “booster fatigue” will be a problem, adding to calls for a more prudent, data-driven approach to annual boosters.

US SEROPREVALENCE A study published April 26 in the US CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) estimates that 58% of the US population, including 75% of children, have been infected with SARS-CoV-2. Many of those infections occurred during the winter’s Omicron surge. The study reports on data from national commercial laboratories across all 50 states, Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico. Between September 2021 and February 2022, labs conducted convenience samples on blood specimens that were submitted for clinical testing in their labs, excluding samples that were testing for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies upon initial receipt. The median sample size for the group of labs was 73,869 each month, with a drop in the number of tests to 45,810 in February 2022, likely caused by disruptions from the surge in domestic infections fueled by the Omicron variant. The research team weighted samples by demographic data to produce estimates of seroprevalence.

The team saw a slight, but steady, increase in seroprevalence between September and December 2021, increasing between 0.9-1.9% every 4 weeks. At the end of this collection period, the seroprevalence across the US sample was estimated to be 33.5%. Between December 2021 and February 2022, at the height of the Omicron surge, the team observed a spike in national seroprevalence, rising from 33.5% to 57.7%. Notably, during this period, children aged 0-11 saw an increase from 44.2% to 75.2% and those aged 12-17 saw a similar increase from 45.6% to 74.2%. Adult populations saw spikes in seroprevalence from 36.5% to 63.7% for individuals aged 18-49, 28.8% to 49.8% for those 50-64, and 19.1% to 33.2% among those aged 65 and older. The researchers noted several limitations in their study design, including restrictions of applicability tied to convenience sampling; limited race and ethnicity data; the potential for sampling bias due to the setting of sample collection; and the possibility that infection following vaccination resulted in reduced antibody titers.

SARS-CoV-2 testing is only able to catch a fraction of cases occurring in the country, so serosurveys present an opportunity to better understand the scale of infections. Still, the study may not represent a full picture of COVID-19 in the country, nor does it indicate whether or not individuals with SARS-CoV-2 antibodies have persistent immunity to new infections. CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky noted the study’s results and vaccine uptake show an increased level of community protection from SARS-CoV-2. She added that vaccination remains key in creating a more resilient population, urging those who remain unvaccinated, including those previously infected, to get vaccinated.

PANDEMIC TRANSITIONING COVID-19 remains a pandemic, constituting a serious health threat in many parts of the world. Even as COVID-19-related deaths reach their lowest point since the pandemic began, several Asian nations are experiencing their largest surges to date and countries in Africa—which currently is experiencing an increase in cases—continue efforts to ramp up vaccination programs. But other countries, particularly in North America and Europe, are taking steps to move beyond an emergency phase, relaxing public health mitigation guidelines and reducing or eliminating COVID-19 funding from budgets. Global health experts note the pandemic is at a critical juncture, as wealthy nations—criticized for not doing enough to help low- and middle-income countries throughout the pandemic—cut back even more.

The EU this week declared an end to the COVID-19 emergency, saying the disease should be treated similarly to influenza. Denmark announced an end to its widespread vaccination program, saying “the epidemic has reversed.” However, the Danish Health and Medicines Authority said additional vaccinations against COVID-19 likely will be needed in the future as new variants emerge. In the US, debate over additional funding for the pandemic response is at a standstill in the US Congress, and the administration of US President Joe Biden has warned that without new funds, the nation’s domestic and international response efforts will falter. White House Chief Medical Advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci said this week that the US is “out of the pandemic phase,” but later clarified those remarks, noting the pandemic is ongoing but that the US is in “a transitional phase,” moving out of an acute emergency state and into a more controlled phase. Mexico’s government declared the nation has moved into an endemic stage, and authorities will treat COVID-19 as a seasonal disease. Still, as long as COVID-19 outbreaks continue, the virus will continue to evolve and potentially develop the ability to further evade vaccine-induced or natural immunity, creating high levels of uncertainty around the future of the pandemic.

GLOBAL DECLINE IN TESTING As the pandemic continues, the WHO is receiving less testing data, which is compounding challenges in monitoring epidemiological trends and emerging variants. Earlier this week, WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called on governments to maintain sufficient SARS-CoV-2 surveillance, in part to ensure that the WHO has the data necessary to track the pandemic and provide guidance. Global testing has reportedly declined by 70-90% over the past 4 months, although the exact cause remains uncertain. Over that period, the global daily incidence fell from a record high of 3.4 million new cases per day in late January to fewer than 700,000, a decline of 80%. It is difficult to get a reliable global estimate for test positivity, because it is not reported consistently by many countries; however, the trends vary considerably among countries with the highest cumulative incidence. Test positivity in some countries—including Argentina, India, Russia, Turkey, and the United States*—has declined substantially from peaks in January-February, while it remains elevated or has increased sharply in others—such as Brazil, France, Germany, Netherlands, South Korea, and Vietnam. Without additional data, the extent to which the decline in testing is a function of slowing transmission, changes in national policies or capacities, or other factors is unclear. One potential factor is the expanded availability of at-home rapid tests in many countries. Many of these test results (positive and negative) go unreported to public health authorities, and therefore, to the WHO. As the pandemic continues, epidemiological and genomic surveillance are needed to provide critical data for health and elected officials at all levels of government.
*Although the US estimate has more than doubled since its recent low in mid-March.

TWITTER & MISINFORMATION The WHO has worked with social media platforms prior to and throughout the COVID-19 pandemic to mitigate the spread of online misinformation and disinformation. With the news that billionaire Elon Musk has reached a US$44 billion deal to purchase Twitter—a previously publicly owned influential platform with 217 million daily active users worldwide—WHO officials are warning of the dangers of health and vaccine misinformation on social media. During a briefing this week, several WHO officials said Musk—who has said he plans to hold up free-speech standards similar to those of the US government—has a “huge responsibility” to combat health-related falsehoods, which can lead to mistrust, confusion, or risk-taking and potentially prolong or intensify disease outbreaks.

According to the WHO, false information is 70% more likely to get shared than accurate news on social media. In a paper published April 26 in Nature Scientific Reports, researchers from Indiana University and the Polytechnic University of Milan suggest that online misinformation posted during the pandemic is associated with early COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy and refusal. The researchers underscored the importance of combating online misinformation, writing that although people in the US have a constitutional right to free speech, providing access to trustworthy information is vital to maintaining public health. Another study from Germany, published April 27 in BMC Public Health, reinforces these findings, concluding that online misinformation is an important reason for vaccination refusal and providing access to quality information sensitive to the needs of the target audience is vital. It is unclear how or if Musk will continue Twitter’s work with the WHO or other health agencies, and many fear that his insistence on free speech could create a fertile platform for the dissemination of even more health misinformation, myths, and conspiracy theories.

MEASLES Over the past 2 years, the COVID-19 pandemic interrupted routine childhood vaccinations globally, resulting in a backslide of immunization efforts in many regions. As a potential signal of future vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks, the number of reported measles cases increased 79% during the first 2 months of 2022, compared to the same period in 2021, according to UNICEF and the WHO. In 2020, 23 million children missed out on routine childhood immunizations, the highest number since 2009. The agencies urged nations to rapidly get vaccination programs back on track to help mitigate the impacts of missed shots, the effects of which will be felt for decades.

VIRAL SPILLOVERS At least 10,000 virus species have the ability to infect humans, but most of those are currently silently circulating in mammalian species other than humans. But as the planet warms and humans are forced to move into new habitats, the risk that these diseases will pass from their animal hosts to humans increases enormously over the next 50 years, according to research published today in Nature. Using a computational model, the researchers estimate that more than 4,000 spillover events could occur among 3,139 species as the climate changes and their habitats overlap. This situation is already happening, and some experts say the world is moving from the Anthropocene era—when humans dominated influence over the Earth’s environment—into a Pandemicene, an era characterized by diseases’ influence on humanity. Several SARS-CoV-2 spillover events have been documented, including one involving mink in the US and another involving white-tailed deer in Canada. Hence, global health experts are promoting a One Health approach to tracking COVID-19 and other viruses and warning that more pandemics will occur as the Earth warms, making pandemic preparedness one of the most urgent issues of our time.

https://covid19.who.int/
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Re: Covid-19 Updates & Info

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dryrunguy wrote: Thu Apr 28, 2022 4:37 pm ...
VIRAL SPILLOVERS At least 10,000 virus species have the ability to infect humans, but most of those are currently silently circulating in mammalian species other than humans. But as the planet warms and humans are forced to move into new habitats, the risk that these diseases will pass from their animal hosts to humans increases enormously over the next 50 years, according to research published today in Nature. Using a computational model, the researchers estimate that more than 4,000 spillover events could occur among 3,139 species as the climate changes and their habitats overlap. This situation is already happening, and some experts say the world is moving from the Anthropocene era—when humans dominated influence over the Earth’s environment—into a Pandemicene, an era characterized by diseases’ influence on humanity. Several SARS-CoV-2 spillover events have been documented, including one involving mink in the US and another involving white-tailed deer in Canada. Hence, global health experts are promoting a One Health approach to tracking COVID-19 and other viruses and warning that more pandemics will occur as the Earth warms, making pandemic preparedness one of the most urgent issues of our time.

https://covid19.who.int/
C'mon, this is ridiculous. We can't have "eras" with a 50 year span. That is geologically and scientifically bogus. Why not split them even more: "C19 era", or we can re-baptize the Middle Ages as "the Black Plague era".
Humanistically, sure, it can be done. But as a marker of the passage in time on geological terms, it makes no sense. If we were not to document this and we were to go extinct, a future civilization would not even find traces of what has happened. It has been too short.
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Re: Covid-19 Updates & Info

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Post by ti-amie »

MEASLES Over the past 2 years, the COVID-19 pandemic interrupted routine childhood vaccinations globally, resulting in a backslide of immunization efforts in many regions. As a potential signal of future vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks, the number of reported measles cases increased 79% during the first 2 months of 2022, compared to the same period in 2021, according to UNICEF and the WHO. In 2020, 23 million children missed out on routine childhood immunizations, the highest number since 2009. The agencies urged nations to rapidly get vaccination programs back on track to help mitigate the impacts of missed shots, the effects of which will be felt for decades.
This is frightening. Measles is highly contagious and in some causes more than a pimply outbreak. This has more to do with the original antivaxx nonsense and has probably gotten worse because of the current situation. When my daughter was an infant and it came time for her MMR I was really worried but went ahead with it anyway. That's how long this antivaxx stuff has been around.
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Re: Covid-19 Updates & Info

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It's best to not fool oneself into the rather arrogant comfortable belief that this virus is under control, and things should return back to normal...

There is still much, much more that we DON'T know about COVID-19 than there is that we know. (When I say 'we', I mean mankind.)

There is So Much That We Don't Know...

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Re: Covid-19 Updates & Info

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My daughter told me that she knows 6 people who, in the last two weeks, have been infected, one severely. The infected include her mother-in-law who came down with symptoms after the Passover Seder.

I'm getting my second booster tomorrow. And avoiding a Mother's Day brunch at the above mother-in-laws house. To show you how clueless people are she is still testing positive, some quack told her it's okay, she will for a few days after the five day quarantine he gave her, so she went and got a haircut.

And she wants to know why I said I'll skip the brunch this go around.

Edited because I counted on person twice.
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