COVID-19 News and Discussions

[wjfox]

From a post in this thread dated Sun Jun 06, 2021 4:44 am:

Eradicating Covid not a reasonable target now, says WHO official

Perhaps I am just a wild eyed optimist untethered to the reality of the situation. Still, I can't help but think of Dolly Parton's quip that went something like: "I wish those who say it is impossible would stop interrupting those of us who are doing it."

To fully eradicate COVID-19 would need a combination of:

– Multi-strain vaccines with extremely high efficacy
– Extremely rapid scaling-up of vaccine production, much faster than possible now
– A more equal distribution of vaccines worldwide
– Fines or other negative consequences for those who are able to get a vaccine, but refuse
– Stricter enforcement of mask-wearing
– Many other measures to reduce transmission, such as ubiquitous cleaning of public spaces on a regular basis (e.g. robots with UV light); this is already happening to a certain extent but would need to be done pretty much everywhere

I can't see Covid going away for decades, if ever. At this point, it almost seems like eradicating the common cold.

[caltrek]

^^^All good points, and I would not argue against them. Still setting a target, even an unrealistic target, can have beneficial effects. Falling short of the target could still many saving many lives. That is to the extent that the target is partially met. Of course, the economics of the situation can be highly problematic. Some measures to eradicate might cost more than society is willing to pay and may simply displace dying from Covid-19 by dying from some other source. So trade offs need to be understood.

[weatheriscool]

Evidence grows stronger for Covid vaccine link to heart issue, CDC says
Source: NBC News

A higher-than-usual number of cases of a type of heart inflammation has been reported following Covid-19 vaccination, especially among young men following their second dose of an mRNA vaccine, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Thursday.

Overall, 226 cases of myocarditis or pericarditis after vaccination in people younger than age 30 have been confirmed, Dr. Tom Shimabukuro, deputy director of the CDC's Immunization Safety Office, said during a presentation to a Food and Drug Administration advisory group. Further investigation is needed, however, to confirm whether the vaccination was the cause of the heart problem. Normally, fewer than 100 cases would be expected for this age group.

Teenagers and people in their early 20s accounted for more than half of the myocarditis cases reported to the CDC's safety monitoring systems following Covid-19 vaccination, despite representing a fraction of people who have received the shots.

"We clearly have an imbalance there," Shimabukuro said.

Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-n ... s-n1270339

[weatheriscool]

F.D.A. Tells J.&J. to Throw Out 60 Million Doses Made at Troubled Plant
Source: New York Times

WASHINGTON — Federal regulators have told Johnson & Johnson that about 60 million doses of its coronavirus vaccine produced at a troubled Baltimore factory cannot be used because of possible contamination, according to people familiar with the situation.

The Food and Drug Administration plans to allow about 10 million doses to be distributed in the United States or sent to other countries, but with a warning that regulators cannot guarantee that Emergent BioSolutions, the company that operates the plant, followed good manufacturing practices.

The agency has not yet decided whether Emergent can reopen the factory, which has been closed for two months because of regulatory concerns, the people said.

The Johnson & Johnson doses administered in the United States so far were manufactured at the firm’s plant in the Netherlands, not by Emergent. For weeks the F.D.A. has been trying to figure out what to do about at least 170 million doses of vaccine that were left in limbo after the discovery of a major production mishap involving two vaccines manufactured at the Baltimore factory.

Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/fda-t ... li=BBnb7Kz

[caltrek]

Poll Finds U.S. Voters Want Biden to Lead on Vaccinating World

https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/ ... ting-world

Introduction:

(Common Dreams) The vast majority of U.S. voters support the Biden administration's plan to send hundreds of millions of vaccine doses to other countries to help end the coronavirus pandemic, according to a new survey that was released ahead of a global summit where leaders will discuss the need to vaccinate the world.

The poll, (pdf) conducted by progressive think tank Data for Progress and David Binder Research and commissioned by the Open Society Foundations (OSF), showed that 76% of Americans want the Biden administration to lead other countries including the G7, which begins the G7 Summit in Cornwall, England Friday, in ensuring vaccine doses get to countries that need them, and 79% support the U.S. taking part in global vaccination efforts.

Nearly three-quarters of independent and Republican voters are among those who support efforts by the U.S. to help distribute vaccine doses.

"The Biden administration has a moral responsibility to help end global vaccine apartheid," said government watchdog Public Citizen. "The American people understand that."

[weatheriscool]

Disney World Dropping Indoor Mask Mandate
Source: Forbes

Walt Disney World in Florida will lift its indoor mask mandate for vaccinated guests on June 15, the resort announced Friday, the latest unwinding of precautions taken by Disney’s largest theme park amid the coronavirus pandemic in response to rising vaccination rates and new public health guidance.

Starting June 15, vaccinated guests at Walt Disney World will not be required to wear face coverings except on Disney transportation like buses and monorails, where masks will still be required.

“We expect guests who are not fully vaccinated to continue wearing face coverings in all indoor locations,” the resort said on their website, though Disney noted they will not ask guests for proof of vaccination against Covid-19.

Disney moved to drop its mandate after nearby theme park Universal Orlando Resort had already dropped its indoor mandate in May, and after Orange County, Florida—where Walt Disney World is located—lifted its mask requirements and state of emergency last week.

Read more: https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisondurk ... 58bf9d49c3

[wjfox]

[weatheriscool]

In first federal ruling on vaccine mandates, judge sides with Houston hospital, dismissing claims fr
Source: USA Today

OUSTON – In the first federal ruling on vaccine mandates, a Houston judge Saturday dismissed a lawsuit by hospital employees who declined the COVID-19 shot – a decision that could have a ripple effect across the nation.

The case involved Houston Methodist, which was the first hospital system in the country to require that all its employees get vaccinated. U.S. District Judge Lynn N. Hughes said federal law does not prevent employers from issuing that mandate.

After months of warnings, Houston Methodist had put more than 170 of its 26,000 employees on unpaid suspension Monday. They were told they would be fired it they weren't vaccinated by June 21.

Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/in-fi ... MM?ocid=st

[wjfox]

[Time_Traveller]

Nearly two thirds of Brazilians oppose hosting Copa America amid pandemic - poll

June 11, 2021

Nearly two thirds of Brazilians oppose the country hosting the upcoming Copa America soccer tournament, a poll showed on Friday, amid concerns over the country's dire COVID-19 outbreak.

The South American Football Confederation last week unexpectedly relocated the tournament, which kicks off on Sunday, with Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro's backing.

Brazil stepped up after co-hosts Colombia were dropped because of civil unrest and Argentina withdrew after a surge in coronavirus infections.

Bolsonaro has played down the severity of the pandemic and fought against lockdowns to control an outbreak that has killed more than 480,000 Brazilians. Public health experts, Supreme Court justices and footballers questioned the wisdom of hosting the tournament with a pandemic raging, while high-profile sponsors have pulled out.

According to an XP/Ipespe poll, 64% of respondents were against hosting the cup, while 29% were in favor. Among Bolsonaro's critics, 83% were against the tournament in Brazil, while 35% of his supporters also did not support the competition.

https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/ ... 021-06-11/

[Time_Traveller]

Restrictions could remain until spring 2022 ‘if freedom day is delayed’

Sunday 13 Jun 2021

Some government ministers are worried lockdown restrictions could end up staying in place until 2022, reports say.

Boris Johnson is set to announce whether the so-called ‘freedom day’ on June 21 can go ahead tomorrow.

It’s widely expected the date will be delayed by as much as four weeks as dire warnings about the spread of the Delta variant – first detected in India – pile up.

Almost 48,000 people have tested positive in the last seven days, up by more than 50%, and experts warn the variant could be fuelling an exponential explosion in cases.

A chorus of scientists and health experts have called for a delay in recent days, but some ministers are reportedly pushing back.

https://metro.co.uk/2021/06/13/covid-re ... i=14762642

[weatheriscool]

Blinken says China "has to cooperate" with international probe into coronavirus origins
Source: CBS

Washington — Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Sunday that China must cooperate with further investigations from the United States and the World Health Organization into the origins of COVID-19, with the world now "insisting" that Beijing do so.

In an interview with "Face the Nation," Blinken said the main purpose of the examinations is to ensure proper policies and mechanisms can be put in place to prevent another pandemic from happening again or mitigate another outbreak.

"China has to cooperate with that," the secretary of state told "Face the Nation." "Transparency, access for international experts, information sharing, that has to happen and, again, I think you're seeing countries come together to insist on that."

While President Biden ordered last month the U.S. intelligence community to redouble efforts to investigate the origins of COVID-19, the Group of Seven leaders are also calling for a so-called "Phase II" study from the World Health Organization (WHO) into how the pandemic started, Blinken said.

Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/antony-bli ... he-nation/

[weatheriscool]

Novavax: Large study finds COVID-19 shot about 90% effective
Source: AP

By LINDA A. JOHNSON

Vaccine maker Novavax said Monday its shot was highly effective against COVID-19 and also protected against variants in a large, late-stage study in the U.S. and Mexico.

The vaccine was about 90% effective overall and preliminary data showed it was safe, the company said.

While demand for COVID-19 shots in the U.S. has dropped off dramatically, the need for more vaccines around the world remains critical. The Novavax vaccine, which is easy to store and transport, is expected to play an important role in boosting vaccine supplies in the developing world.

That help is still months away, however. The company says it plans to seek authorization for the shots in the U.S., Europe and elsewhere by the end of September and be able to produce up to 100 million doses a month by then.

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus- ... 1baabde4f7

[weatheriscool]

[deleted]

[wjfox]

[Time_Traveller]

Here is an alternative link.

COVID-19: England lockdown easing delayed until 19 July as Delta variant cases rise

Monday 14 June 2021

Boris Johnson has announced a four-week delay in lifting lockdown restrictions in England to 19 July amid rising cases of the Delta variant.

The PM said the postponement of step four of the government's roadmap, which was due to take place on 21 June, will allow for more people to receive their second jab before further easing of restrictions takes place.

By 19 July there will be a "very considerable wall of immunity around the whole of the population", he added.

The proposed extension will be reviewed to see if action can be taken two weeks sooner on Monday 5 July.

MPs will get to have their say on the delay in a Commons vote, the PM's spokesperson has said.

https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-eng ... e-12332607

[caltrek]

As a resident of California and from a purely selfish point of view, I hope this good news (see below) continues.

California Reopens Economy and Lifts All Restrictions
June 15, 2021

Introduction:

(USA Today via MSN) The nation's largest state will reopen Tuesday, effectively ending a slew of 15-month restrictions to stem the COVID-19 pandemic.

California is ranked 41st among the states where coronavirus was spreading the fastest on a per-person basis, according to a USA TODAY Network analysis of Johns Hopkins University data. With 11.87% of the country's population, California had 6.19% of the country's cases in the last week.

The Golden State is in a markedly different place than it was in December when it was declared by many to be the epicenter of the pandemic. California broke records for hospitalizations and single-day case numbers multiple days in a row. Deaths topped 30,000, then 45,000 the next month, and many funeral homes in Southern California were overrun by the surge.

Last week, California recorded 792 to 1,136 new infections every day, down from a December peak of nearly 54,000. In Los Angeles County, which in January lifted air quality restrictions so crematoriums could burn bodies, the number of cases reported Monday was 135.

"It's a new day," Gov. Gavin Newsom said during a news conference Monday, before the state's reopening. "This state is not poised to recover, it's poised, as was noted, to come roaring back."

Of course, the GOP is in the middle of a recall of Governor Newsome on the grounds of his poor performance in handling the pandemic. Cuz we all know how much better Donald Trump was at that task.

[caltrek]

Rich Nations' Vaccine Pledge Includes Just 613 Million New Doses—Well Short of Promised 1 Billion

https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/ ... t-promised

Introduction:

(Common Dreams) A group of the world's richest nations vowed Sunday to collectively donate at least 1 billion coronavirus vaccine doses to developing nations over the next year, but a closer look reveals that the pledge includes just 613 million new doses—a paltry sum compared to the 11 billion doses that experts say will be needed to inoculate 70% of the global population.

Bloomberg's Josh Wingrove and Alberto Nardelli reported that in order to reach the promised 1 billion-dose figure, G7 leaders "included pledges made starting back in February."

"So far, the G7 countries have promised 613 million truly new doses—including some funded in part by previously announced aid," Wingrove and Nardelli noted. "If doses already announced in recent weeks by G7 and E.U. nations are included, the tally grows to roughly 870 million doses."

"The 500 million doses pledged by the U.S. will be funded in part by $2 billion that Biden had initially promised for Covax, the World Health Organization-backed initiative aimed at facilitating equitable global distribution. Biden will claw that money back and buy doses directly, then work with Covax to distribute them," the pair continued. "The Canadian pledge includes 13 million directly donated doses as well as a previously announced C$440 million ($361.9 million) pledge to Covax. Counting that money, Canada framed its donation as up to 100 million doses total, though only the 13 million are new."

Already outraged by the inadequacy of the 1 billion-dose commitment—which, if fulfilled, would provide enough shots to protect just 11% of the world's unvaccinated population—public health campaigners said the G7 countries' inflation of their pledge with older promises further underscores the failure of the closely watched summit in Cornwall, England over the weekend. The gathering took place as developing nations in Africa, South America, and Asia are experiencing deadly Covid-19 waves as they struggle to get their vaccination campaigns off the ground.

I do remember articles where it looked like Trump and his gang were trying to actively figure out how to monopolize the supply, even if that meant restricting available sources. At least in Biden, we have a leader who is attempting to meet the need.

[weatheriscool]

US COVID-19 deaths hit 600,000, equal to yearly cancer toll
Source: AP

By JANIE HAR and MICHAEL KUNZELMAN

The U.S. death toll from COVID-19 topped 600,000 on Tuesday, even as the vaccination drive has drastically brought down daily cases and fatalities and allowed the country to emerge from the gloom and look forward to summer.

The number of lives lost, as recorded by Johns Hopkins University, is greater than the population of Baltimore or Milwaukee. It is about equal to the number of Americans who died of cancer in 2019. Worldwide, the COVID-19 death toll stands at about 3.8 million.

The real totals in the U.S. and around the globe are thought to be significantly higher, with many cases overlooked or possibly concealed by some countries.

The milestone came the same day that California, the most populous state and the first to impose a coronavirus lockdown, lifted most of its remaining restrictions and ushered in what has been billed as its “Grand Reopening” just in time for summer.

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus- ... f6e996dfbe

[weatheriscool]

More evidence suggests COVID-19 was in US by Christmas 2019
By MIKE STOBBE, AP Medical Writer 3 hrs ago

NEW YORK (AP) — A new analysis of blood samples from 24,000 Americans taken early last year is the latest and largest study to suggest that the new coronavirus popped up in the U.S. in December 2019 — weeks before cases were first recognized by health officials.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/more- ... d=msedgntp