Covid-19 Updates & Info

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Re: Covid-19 Updates & Info

#1816

Post by ponchi101 »

I am only mentioning Birx because the news are about her. But those two you mention are also non-paragons of bravery.
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Re: Covid-19 Updates & Info

#1817

Post by JazzNU »

ponchi101 wrote: Fri Nov 12, 2021 11:52 pm I am only mentioning Birx because the news are about her. But those two you mention are also non-paragons of bravery.
Oh I understood completely. It's just news like this is almost always about her, not about any of her male colleagues, who were in greater positions of power than she was no less, and who also made mistakes in how permissive they were of dangerous nonsense.
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Re: Covid-19 Updates & Info

#1818

Post by ti-amie »

From the AP:
A person cannot remove a vaccine from their body once they have been injected, doctors and fact checkers report
NBC News reported that some people on social media were advocating that those who are vaccinated against COVID-19 have attempted to bathe in a substance called Borax. This substance will not remove a COVID-19 vaccine from a person's body, NBC News, Marketwatch, and doctors said. There are no methods of removing a vaccine from a person's body, The AP reported.



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Re: Covid-19 Updates & Info

#1819

Post by ponchi101 »

I don't mind. I don't care. Let them bathe in Borax, Chlorine, Agent Orange, diluted Napalm (mildly), liquified poison ivy, enhanced rattle snake saliva.
Just let them.
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Re: Covid-19 Updates & Info

#1820

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

#1821

Post by Deuce »

"hospitalized for 4 days with lung & oxygen issues" does not sound like "mild COVID-19".
To me, 'mild COVID-19' would be having mild symptoms which don't prevent you from doing much, and staying at home, not going anywhere near a hospital because of your symptoms.

The psychosis could be physically related to the COVID-19, or could be a product of anxiety he may have felt due to having the disease, being hospitalized, etc.
Or the psychosis could be entirely unrelated to any element of his COVID-19. Until we hear of many more cases of psychiatric issues from people who have, or who have had, COVID-19, I don't think it's cause for concern.
No matter the cause, it's certainly tragic for this man and his family, though.
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Re: Covid-19 Updates & Info

#1822

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

#1823

Post by dryrunguy »

My apologies. I am in proposal hell and totally forgot to share yesterday's Situation Report.

::

US VACCINE MANDATE The United States’ “vaccine mandate”* was put on hold following a ruling by a 3-judge panel of the 5th US Circuit Court of Appeals. The panel concluded that the mandate, an Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) issued by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) that generally applies to companies and organizations with 100 or more employees, is “staggeringly overbroad” and does not sufficiently account for variations in working conditions and environments. The panel concluded that the policy should be suspended until the case can be argued in court. Lawyers from the Biden Administration appealed the initial panel ruling, arguing that a delay in implementing the mandate could result in many unnecessary deaths, but the judges upheld the initial decision. In its ruling, the panel described the policy as “fatally flawed” and indicated that lawsuits aiming to overturn it “are likely to succeed on their merits,” which suggests that the White House could face an uphill battle to institute the mandate in January.

The original deadline was scheduled for January 4, 2022, at which time employers would be required to implement weekly testing requirements for unvaccinated employees. Lawsuits have been filed across multiple jurisdictions in opposition to the policy, including by several state governments as well as private companies and religious organizations. Reportedly, these lawsuits may be consolidated into a single jurisdiction, but it is unclear which court could try the case.
*The policy does not actually mandate SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. Rather, it mandates routine testing for unvaccinated employees. The ETS also includes requirements for other aspects of workplace-based COVID-19 protective measures, including mask use.

AUSTRIA LOCKDOWN On November 15, Austria implemented increased COVID-19 restrictions on unvaccinated individuals that resemble "lockdown" measures implemented early in the pandemic. Last week, Austria announced that negative tests would no longer be permitted as a substitute for vaccination or proof of prior infection required for individuals to enter many public spaces, including restaurants and Christmas markets, or for gatherings of more than 25 people. But the new measures take the protective measures a step further by restricting unvaccinated individuals to their homes except for essential activities such as grocery shopping and going to work. Reportedly, police can perform “spot checks” to verify individuals’ documentation of vaccination or prior infection, and individuals who violate the restrictions could be fined up to €1,450 (US$1,660). The new policies essentially implement restrictions similar to the “lockdowns” previously implemented across Europe, but they will apply only to individuals aged 12 years and older who are not fully vaccinated or recovered from SARS-CoV-2 infection. The affected population constitutes approximately 2 million individuals nationwide.

Austria’s full vaccination coverage is approximately 65%. This is currently lower than many central and western European countries but higher than both the European average and the US. Like multiple other European countries, Austria is in the midst of its largest surge to date. At more than 11,000 new cases per day, the daily incidence is already 50% higher than Austria's previous record and increasing rapidly. The daily incidence has increased by a factor of 6 since mid-October and a factor of 170 since early July. On a per capita basis, Austria’s daily incidence ranks #3 globally. Austria’s daily mortality is also accelerating on a concerning trajectory. Austria is currently averaging 33 deaths per day, which is essentially equal to its second highest peak (April 2021).

In addition to Austria, several other countries in Europe are strengthening COVID-19 restrictions in response to the current surge. Multiple European countries, particularly across the central portion of the continent, are facing their most severe surges to date. Like Austria, several German states are eliminating negative tests as an option to eat indoors at restaurants or bars, which limits those spaces to individuals who are fully vaccinated or recovered from prior infection. The Netherlands is reportedly reinstating a nationwide “partial lockdown” for 3 weeks, which will mandate that nonessential businesses close at 6pm and essential businesses (eg, supermarkets) and restaurants close at 8pm. Additionally, the restrictions limit large indoor gatherings, such as at sporting events and museums. The Netherlands also reinstated a mask mandate on November 6 for public spaces where individuals are not required to show their COVID-19 entry pass, including public transit, retail shops, and colleges and universities.

AFRICA: DIABETES & COVID-19 Since early in the pandemic, evidence has shown that certain underlying health conditions can elevate the risk of severe COVID-19 disease and death. A team of WHO researchers analyzed COVID-19 data from 13 African countries and identified a four-fold increase in the case fatality ratio among COVID-19 patients with diabetes—10.2% compared to 2.5% in other COVID-19 patients. Additionally, the case fatality ratio for individuals with diabetes was twice as high as for individuals with other underlying health conditions (eg, hypertension, heart disease), although individuals with diabetes frequently suffer from multiple comorbidities. Preliminary findings from the study were presented to coincide with World Diabetes Day on November 14.

Diabetes can result in inflammation and decreased blood circulation, which increases the risk of complications from COVID-19 disease. The elevated risk of severe disease and death appears to affect individuals with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, but the prevalence of type 2 across Africa is increasing rapidly. There are currently an estimated 24 million people across Africa who have diabetes—approximately 1.7% of the total population—but this number is expected to more than double by 2045—to 55 million; 4.0% of the population. The WHO estimates that 70% of affected individuals do not know they have the disease and, therefore, are not aware that they are at higher risk for severe COVID-19. The WHO’s Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, commented that “fighting the diabetes epidemic in Africa is, in many ways, as critical as the battle against the current pandemic.” African countries continue to struggle to access SARS-CoV-2 vaccines, with only 6.6% of the continent fully vaccinated, compared to the global average of 40%.

PFIZER ORAL ANTIVIRAL Pfizer announced today that it signed a voluntary license agreement with the Medicines Patent Pool, which is supported by the UN, to allow sub-licensed generic pharmaceutical manufacturers to produce its candidate oral antiviral COVID-19 treatment—a combination of ritonavir and a new antiviral, PF-07321332—pending regulatory authorization or approval. Interim analysis from Phase 2/3 clinical trials found that the treatment demonstrated an 89% risk reduction in COVID-19-related hospitalization or death among high-risk adults when administered within 3 days of symptom onset. Under the terms of the agreement qualified manufacturers would be allowed to supply the treatment to 95 countries, including all low- and lower-middle income countries. Pfizer will not collect royalties on sales to low-income nations or other countries covered under the agreement while COVID-19 is classified as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) by the WHO.

HEART INFLAMMATION France and Germany joined Finland, Norway, and Sweden in recommending that the Moderna SARS-CoV-2 vaccine not be used for individuals under the age of 30 due to increased risk of myocarditis in that age group. Denmark has similarly recommended against offering the vaccine to individuals under the age of 18. French authorities recently emphasized, however, that vaccine effectiveness was slightly higher for the Moderna vaccine than for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, and the Moderna product should be preferentially utilized for individuals aged 30 years or older. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has authorized the Moderna vaccine for use in individuals aged 12 years and older.

PLANNING FOR ENDEMICITY As we approach the 2-year anniversary of the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, many around the world are starting to plan for a future in which COVID-19 is an endemic threat. Early on, many public health experts discussed the potential for reaching herd immunity at some point in the pandemic, which could effectively contain community transmission in the absence of other protective measures. At the time, estimates suggested that at least 85% of the population would need to have immunity, whether through natural infection or vaccination. Some scientists are now calling for a shift away from herd immunity as the “end goal” and toward preparing for COVID-10 to become endemic.

The rationale behind this paradigm shift is multi-factored. First, the emergence of more transmissible variants, including the Alpha and Delta variants of concern, has increased the immunity threshold needed to achieve herd immunity. Pairing this reality with low vaccination coverage and stalled vaccination progress in many countries, including the US, shifts the goal of herd immunity even further away. Many scientists calling for this shift recognize that it would be difficult for governments to backtrack on the promise of herd immunity, which could further damage confidence in public health agencies and potentially harm ongoing vaccination efforts. But this process is already in motion in some countries. Last month, for example, White House Chief Medical Advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci acknowledged that elimination of the virus may not be achievable.

Over the past several months, many news media outlets have featured articles with input from public health experts regarding the potential outcomes for the US COVID-19 epidemic. Many of these experts projected that the virus will be a permanent fixture for the foreseeable future. While many unknowns remain that could impact how SARS-CoV-2 spreads in the future, including the potential for new variants and the duration of vaccine effectiveness, now is the time to prepare for the distinct possibility that COVID-19 will transition from a pandemic to an endemic global threat that will require continual investment and response activities in countries around the world.
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Re: Covid-19 Updates & Info

#1824

Post by ponchi101 »

The endemicity paragraph sounds so true. We will always be able to thank all the people in the world that decided not to get the vaccine, or simply wear a mask. Their valiant efforts will make us wear a mask for the rest of our lives.
Meanwhile, in Colombia.
I went to the movies yesterday. Perfect day, as there were 3 people in the theater (including me; that is what happens when you go see DUNE, directed by Villeneuve). But, the important thing: as of yesterday, you are not allowed to go into any enclosed, public space UNLESS you can show physical proof of vaccination. I was so happy to show my CDC card.
Poor Colombians; there went their freedoms (the other two people at the theater also showed theirs).
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Re: Covid-19 Updates & Info

#1825

Post by ti-amie »

Because of the covidiots I wondered how public health officials would deal with a never ending "pandemic" as the virus continues to mutate. Along with the Alpha and Delta variants I heard about a Lambda variant a couple of months ago. Sadly, we are going to have to learn to live with this. It makes what TFG didn't do even worse, if that's possible.
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Re: Covid-19 Updates & Info

#1826

Post by ti-amie »

A couple convicted of stealing Covid funds is on the run, the F.B.I. says.

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Richard Ayvazyan, who was convicted in a scheme to steal $20 million in Covid-19 relief funds, at the federal courthouse in Los Angeles in June.Credit...Gary Coronado/Los Angeles Times, via Getty Images

By Maria Cramer
Nov. 17, 2021
Updated 4:20 p.m. ET

When the Covid-19 pandemic began last year, a Southern California man recruited his brother, his wife and many others to use the identities of older people, foreign exchange students who had left the country and dead relatives to apply for $20 million in federal relief funds, the authorities said.

The man, Richard Ayvazyan, 43, bought a $3.25 million mansion and filled it with gold coins, luxury watches and imported furniture using the stolen Covid-19 disaster-relief funds, federal prosecutors in California said.

In June, Mr. Ayvazyan; his wife, Marietta Terabelian, 37; and Artur Ayvazyan, Mr. Ayvazyan’s brother, were convicted of scheming to fraudulently obtain funding that was meant for people and businesses that had sustained economic losses as a result of the pandemic.

In August, as they awaited sentencing at their home in the San Fernando Valley, Mr. Ayvazyan and Ms. Terabelian removed their bracelet monitors and fled, according to the F.B.I. They left their children behind, according to federal prosecutors.

On Monday, they were both sentenced in absentia. Mr. Ayvazyan received 17 years in prison and his wife received six. Artur Ayvazyan, 41, was sentenced to five years.

During the hearing on Monday, Judge Stephen V. Wilson of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California said he could not recall a fraud case done in such a “callous, intentional way without any regard for the law” and described Mr. Ayvazyan as “an endemic, coldhearted fraudster.”

Mr. Ayvazyan’s lawyer, Ashwin J. Ram, said that his client’s family believed the couple was kidnapped but that the authorities had made no serious effort to investigate the claim.

“There are dozens of people who potentially have exposure,” Mr. Ram said. “My fear was that someone wanted to silence my client.”

Mr. Ram said a one-sided picture of Mr. Ayvazyan was presented at sentencing.

“The entire point of sentencing is not whether a crime occurred,” he said. “The point of sentencing is what is just punishment in this case.”

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Mr. Ayvazyan’s background as a churchgoer, a father and a prominent member of the Armenian community in Southern California who invested in small start-ups did not come up at the hearing.

“That story didn’t get told at sentencing because he wasn’t there,” the lawyer said. According to Mr. Ram, the couple has three children, ages 13, 15 and 16, who are living with their grandparents.

Prosecutors said in court filings that Mr. Ayvazyan left a typed letter for their children explaining they had to flee because he has brought “danger and fear” to their lives.

“We will be together again,” he wrote, according to a copy of the letter. “I will find a way, that’s a promise.”

Mr. Ayvazyan had a history of loan fraud, according to a sentencing memorandum filed by prosectors.

He pleaded guilty to conspiring with Ms. Terabelian to fraudulently obtaining a line of credit and was charged with conspiring to use stolen identities to secure mortgage loans and green loans for environmentally friendly home projects, the memo stated.

Ms. Terabelian used to work at a children’s hair salon, according to the F.B.I.

Image
Marietta Terabelian, right, in Los Angeles in June. On Monday she was sentenced in absentia to six years in prison.Credit...Gary Coronado/Los Angeles Times, via Getty Images

Ryan Fraser, a lawyer for Ms. Terabelian, described her as a “loving mother and devoted wife who has tirelessly supported not only her three children, but also her parents, mother-in-law and sister­.”

Mr. Fraser noted that Judge Wilson sentenced Ms. Terabelian to “less than one-third the time” that prosecutors had sought. They asked for 21 years in prison.

Mr. Ayvazyan began stealing disaster-relief funds as soon as they became available in March 2020, according to the prosecutors’ memo.

In messages to his co-conspirators, he joked that the federal government would run out of money and told them to move quickly to get the funds.

“This program is over by end of the month so get as much as you can,” he wrote, according to the memo.

Mr. Ram said the court sentenced Mr. Ayvazyan on guidelines based on the theft of about $1.5 million from the government. He added that he did not believe that prosecutors proved that Mr. Ayvazyan himself stole anyone’s identity.

The government “was handing out money with no checks and a lot of people took advantage of that,” Mr. Ram said.

“It’s a honey trap,” he added. “Richard Ayvazyan fell into that trap.”

The F.B.I. said it was offering a $20,000 reward for anyone with information that could lead to the couple’s arrest.

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/17/us/c ... &smtyp=cur
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Re: Covid-19 Updates & Info

#1827

Post by dryrunguy »

Here's the latest Situation Report. I read it very quickly, but the sections on healthcare worker burnout and U.S. overdoses stood out.

::

EPI UPDATE The WHO COVID-19 Dashboard reports 254.3 million cumulative cases and 5.1 million deaths worldwide as of November 17. Global weekly incidence increased for the fourth consecutive week, while global weekly mortality rose slightly over the previous week. Weekly incidence increased by 7.84% compared to the previous week, and mortality increased by 1.45%. During the week ending November 14, 3.3 million cases were reported, with Europe accounting for 2.15 million of those, according to the WHO COVID-19 Weekly Epidemiological Update.

Global Vaccination
The WHO reported 7.3 billion cumulative doses of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines administered globally as of November 15. A total of 4.05 billion individuals have received at least 1 dose, and 3.06 billion are fully vaccinated. Analysis from Our World in Data indicates that the overall trend in global daily vaccinations has decreased over the past week, down to 29.6 million doses per day on November 17 from a recent high of 33.48 million doses per day on November 14.*

Our World in Data estimates that there are 4.13 billion vaccinated individuals worldwide (1+ dose; 52.41% of the global population) and 3.25 billion who are fully vaccinated (41.23% of the global population).
*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 reports 47.2 million cumulative COVID-19 cases and 762,994 deaths. The current daily incidence average is approximately 85,944 new cases per day and appears to be increasing. Daily mortality appears to be holding relatively steady, with the US currently averaging 1,028 deaths per day.*
*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 434.5 million cumulative doses of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. The daily vaccination trend reached a recent peak at 1.2 million doses on October 29 but has declined slightly to 1.17 million doses as of November 5.* Since CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky endorsed the recommendation by the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) to authorize use of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine in children aged 5 to 11 years, an estimated 1 million elementary-age kids have received their first dose, according to a White House official.

There are 228.2 million individuals who have received at least 1 vaccine dose, equivalent to 68.7% of the entire US population. Among adults, 81.7% have received at least 1 dose, as well as 15.3 million children under the age of 18. A total of 195.6 million individuals are fully vaccinated, which corresponds to 58.9% of the total population. Approximately 70.7% of adults are fully vaccinated, as well as 12.9 million children under the age of 18. Since August 13, 31.5 million fully vaccinated individuals have received an additional or booster dose, including 37.3% of fully vaccinated adults aged 65 years or older.
*Due to delays in reporting, estimates for the average daily doses administered are less accurate for the most recent 5 days. The most current average provided here corresponds to 5 days ago.

BOOSTER DOSES The US FDA is expected to expand eligibility for booster shots of mRNA-based SARS-CoV-2 vaccines to all adults who received their second dose at least 6 months prior, as early as today. Both vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna already are authorized as booster doses* for adults aged 65 years and older, adults at risk of severe disease due to underlying health conditions, and adults at risk of disease due to their occupation. According to some estimates, between 30-40% of adults are not eligible for booster doses under current authorizations. The FDA is expected to decide on Pfizer-BioNTech’s and Moderna’s requests to expand their vaccines’ emergency use authorizations (EUAs) without convening the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) for discussion. VRBPAC previously rejected initial requests for booster doses for all adults for both vaccines in favor of scaled back authorizations focusing on at-risk populations. There are some concerns that not convening the expert panel could undercut its influence and skip important public discussions about the use of limited global vaccine resources and breakthrough cases. A meeting of the US CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) is scheduled to discuss booster dose efficacy on November 19. Some US states—amid rising COVID-19 cases and frustration with what they see as a delay in federal approval for widespread booster shots—have moved forward to expand eligibility among their populations.

Meanwhile, the UK Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunization (JCVI) expanded SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine booster eligibility in England from all adults aged 50 and older to all adults aged 40 years and over in an effort to stem new infections, as mainland Europe experiences a large surge. The panel also recommended a second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for adolescents ages 16-17 years, a minimum of 12 weeks after their initial dose. Many in Europe are expecting a difficult winter with high SARS-CoV-2 transmission. But as wealthier nations continue to expand booster dose eligibility to larger swaths of their populations, WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus last week called SARS-CoV-2 vaccine disparities between high-income and low- and middle-income countries a “scandal.” There are currently 100 countries at risk of falling short of the WHO’s previous goal of fully vaccinating 40% of the global population by year’s end. The WHO claims that this goal could still be achieved if COVAX immediately received 500 million additional doses of vaccine. Experts warn that ongoing global vaccine disparity could lead to the rise of additional SARS-CoV-2 variants with the potential to escape current immunity and vaccine design.
*The Pfizer-BioNTech dose is the full dose of the prime-boost series (30μg) while the Moderna booster is administered as a half dose of the original 2 shots (50μg vs 100μg).

VACCINE SUPPLY The administration of US President Joe Biden this week announced plans to invest billions of dollars to expand domestic manufacturing capabilities to increase the supply of SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines to low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) by 1 billion doses annually. According to the White House, the funds will go to companies that make mRNA vaccines—including Pfizer, BioNTech, Moderna, and other subcontractors—to expand vaccine infrastructure and capacity, such as facility space, equipment, and staff. Funding will come from the American Rescue Plan that President Biden signed into law in March. So far, the US has pledged to donate at least 1.1 billion doses to LMICs and is requesting that other wealthier countries make similar commitments to address global inequities in vaccine access and distribution. The Biden administration is under increasing pressure to do more to close vaccine access gaps and reach global vaccination goals, and while this latest announcement is welcomed, no agreement has been reached with the pharmaceutical companies and any results in increased manufacturing are not expected until the latter half of 2022. In a US House of Representatives Appropriations subcommittee hearing this week, some lawmakers focused their criticism on Moderna, saying the company has not contributed enough to global vaccine supplies and criticizing it for its reluctance to give credit and share vaccine technology patent rights with government scientists. For its part, the US government has asked Moderna to take steps to help increase vaccine supplies, particularly in Africa—where less than 7% of the population is vaccinated— and with COVAX. It is unclear whether these latest steps by the Biden administration will help quell the growing anger among some activists.

US HEALTHCARE WORKER EXODUS Due to the protracted nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, many US healthcare workers are facing extreme burnout and leaving their posts in droves. About 18% of healthcare workers in the US have quit since the beginning of the pandemic and another 12% have been laid off. The stressors of the current emergency have nearly doubled the risk of burnout among physicians, with up to 75% reporting symptoms of exhaustion, depression, sleep disorders, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Healthcare workers also are reporting higher rates of “moral injury,” prolonged moral trauma caused by factors including staffing shortages, a lack of equipment necessary to treat patients, decreasing wages, or feelings of helplessness. The exodus is increasing strain on already pressured healthcare systems as they struggle to fill vacancies and ensure patients' needs are met. Some experts—worried about how to restore and reinvigorate an essential, yet exhausted, workforce—are calling on the federal government for help to address healthcare worker shortages and urging healthcare systems to implement better preventive measures, such as creating chief wellness officer positions to oversee employees’ needs. With so many healthcare workers leaving their jobs, steps must be taken to ensure continuity in patient care and to prevent an implosion of the nation’s healthcare system.

PFIZER ORAL ANTIVIRAL Pfizer submitted a request for emergency use authorization (EUA) of its candidate oral antiviral COVID-19 treatment PAXLOVID—a combination of a new antiviral, PF-07321332, and ritonavir—with the US FDA on November 16. The submission is based on an interim analysis from a Phase 2/3 clinical trial showing the treatment demonstrated an 89% risk reduction in COVID-19-related hospitalization or death among high-risk adults when administered within 3 days of symptom onset. If authorized, the medication could help people with COVID-19 recover at home instead of seeking treatment at a hospital, and therefore reduce the strain on the healthcare system. Another similar COVID-19 treatment could be authorized soon, with an FDA advisory committee set to consider an EUA application from Merck and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics for their candidate antiviral drug molnupiravir on November 30. The US government plans to purchase 10 million courses of Pfizer’s treatment at a cost of $5 billion, although the deal is not yet finalized. Both Pfizer and Merck have announced voluntary license agreements with the Medicines Patent Pool to allow sub-licensed generic medicine manufacturers to produce the antivirals for 95 countries, including all low- and lower-middle income countries. However, availability will remain a challenge, as Merck expects to supply around 3 million courses of its treatment before February 2022 and Pfizer expects to supply only about 300,000 courses prior to February. For context, an average of more than 500,000 cases are confirmed daily worldwide.

ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE An increasing number of countries are pledging to address antimicrobial resistance (AMR), but the COVID-19 pandemic has stalled progress and potentially drove an increase in the prevalence of AMR infections, according to a survey supported by the WHO, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE). Funding reductions, coordination challenges, lack of political commitment, and delays in surveillance are some of the factors impacting the development and implementation of national AMR plans, according to the 163 countries that responded to the Tripartite AMR survey. Part of the problem is a lack of regulatory enforcement in many countries, with only 33% of nations saying they have guidelines and practices in place to improve the use of antimicrobials in healthcare settings.

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) this week warned that the overuse of antimicrobial medicines has risen to unprecedented levels during the pandemic and some nations are reporting surges of drug-resistant infections. A large majority of hospitalized COVID-19 patients in the region are given antimicrobials for treatment—90% to 100%—but only 7% have a secondary infection that warranted the use of those drugs. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) also released new data this week showing antibiotic-resistant bloodstream infections fell in 2020 for the first time since 2016. However, the agency cautioned the world could move from one pandemic into another “hidden pandemic” of AMR and warned the number of resistant infections could increase in the coming years if efforts to reduce them are not sufficient. For years, experts have been calling for more investment into ways to address AMR and prepare for potential outbreaks of drug-resistant diseases. World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW) is recognized November 18-24.

US OVERDOSE DEATHS An estimated 100,000 people died of drug overdoses in a yearlong period ending in April, a record high number spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic and a more deadly drug supply, according to new data from the US CDC. Social isolation and a lack of access to treatment during the beginning of the pandemic likely drove the increase, leading to what US President Joe Biden called “a tragic milestone.” The number of overdose deaths rose 28.5% from the same period a year earlier and has nearly doubled over the past 5 years. Experts warn that even if the COVID-19 pandemic ended today, the increasing use of the synthetic drug fentanyl will continue and urgent steps must be taken to improve access to treatment.

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

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From dry's post.
US HEALTHCARE WORKER EXODUS Due to the protracted nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, many US healthcare workers are facing extreme burnout and leaving their posts in droves. About 18% of healthcare workers in the US have quit since the beginning of the pandemic and another 12% have been laid off. The stressors of the current emergency have nearly doubled the risk of burnout among physicians, with up to 75% reporting symptoms of exhaustion, depression, sleep disorders, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Healthcare workers also are reporting higher rates of “moral injury,” prolonged moral trauma caused by factors including staffing shortages, a lack of equipment necessary to treat patients, decreasing wages, or feelings of helplessness. The exodus is increasing strain on already pressured healthcare systems as they struggle to fill vacancies and ensure patients' needs are met. Some experts—worried about how to restore and reinvigorate an essential, yet exhausted, workforce—are calling on the federal government for help to address healthcare worker shortages and urging healthcare systems to implement better preventive measures, such as creating chief wellness officer positions to oversee employees’ needs. With so many healthcare workers leaving their jobs, steps must be taken to ensure continuity in patient care and to prevent an implosion of the nation’s healthcare system.
The problem is just anyone can't roll up to a hospital or ER and volunteer. I think staff levels will be critical for the next two to three years. That's just my opinion. If this thing continues as an endemic what happens then? There are lots of covidiots out there.
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Re: Covid-19 Updates & Info

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The nursing shortage in the U.S. was quite palpable even before COVID hit. I mean, not a lot of young folks or people looking to revamp their careers by being trained as a health professional wake up one morning and say to themselves, "Gee, wouldn't it be fun to constantly be exposed to a deadly disease every day at work!"
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Re: Covid-19 Updates & Info

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In NYC many nurses are from either the Philippines or the English speaking Caribbean. If it wasn't for these men and women I don't know what staffing would look like.
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