Chinese authorities on January 23, 2020 ordered a total shutdown of transportation and normal businesses in the epicenter of Corona virus outbreak, Wuhan, capital of Hubei Province. The train, bus and other transportation services have been shut down indefinitely to prevent the spread of the disease first reported in early December 2019. People's Daily reported that no one from Wuhan, the city of 11 million people, would be allowed to leave. The novel virus is a close cousin of Severely Acute Respiratory Syndrome, or SARS, that had erupted in 2003. Meanwhile U.S. reported on January 21, 2020 the first person with Corona virus infection, and he returned to Everett, Washington from Wuhan.
Lockdown Expanded in China, 41 Reported Dead
On January 24, 2020, China expanded its lockdown and embargo on movement to include more geographic areas and more people. At least 36 million people are under the clampdown on January 24, 2020. As of January 24, 2020, at least 41 people were reported to have died in Corona virus and more than 1,280 people had been sickened.
Xi Admits the Graveness of Situation
Addressing the Communist Party leaders on the Lunar New Year, Chinese President Xi Jinping on January 25, 2020 called the situation stemming from Corona virus epidemic as grave amid the country going on lockdown mode for vast areas in and around the epicenter of the outbreak: Wuhan and surrounding cities and towns in Hubei Province. According to Chinese authorities, as of January 25, 2020, at least 1,975 people were infected in Corona virus, out of which 56 had died. Meanwhile, U.S. authorities reported on January 25, 2020 a second case of Corona virus, A Chicago woman was diagnosed with the virus after returning from China. Also, during the day, A Toronto hospital reported Canada's first case of Corona, Japan reported its third case and Australia and Malaysia reported four each.
Trump Administration Ups the Ante in Fight against Corona Virus Spread; Xi Defends Handling
Trump administration on January 28, 2020 expanded the number of airports where screening for symptoms of corona virus would happen for the incoming passengers to 20 from 5. DFW International Airport has been added as part of the new 15 airports named during the day.
Also, on January 28, 2020, Chinese President Xi Jinping defended his country's handling of the corona virus pandemic as "open, transparent, responsible".
WHO Expert Concerned over Human-to-Human Transfer of Corona
As China on January 29, 2020 estimated that the number of cases for Corona virus (5,974) had exceeded the number (5,327) of infected in 2002-2003 SARS, a close cousin of the current strain of Corona virus, a WHO expert, Dr. Michael Ryan, chief of the organization's emergency division, said during the day that the spread of the virus from one person to another outside China, say, countries such as Canada, Vietnam, Japan and Germany, was worrisome and confounding the prevention effort. Meanwhile, a research published in the New England Journal of Medicine on January 29, 2020 that based on the first 425 confirmed cases, each Corona case had yielded to 2.2 other cases, a bit more than normal flu cases, but less than Tuberculosis and Whooping Cough. The SARS back in 2002-03 had a ratio of 1-to-3.
Pence to Lead White House Task Force
President Donald Trump on January 29, 2020 named country's infectious disease chief, Dr. Anthony Fauci, as the member of the White House Coronavirus Task Force to be led by Vice President Mike Pence. The coordinator of the task force is Dr. Deborah Birx.
WHO Declares Corona as Global Emergency; U.S. Imposes Restrictions
World Health Organization on January 30, 2020 declared the current bout of Corona virus that had infected 9,692 people in China, including 213 people who had died as a result, as a global emergency, requiring nations to work collaboratively and pull collective resources to tackle the menace. U.S. State Department issued an advisory in the aftermath of WHO declaration for Americans in China to leave the country using commercial means "in light of novel coronavirus". Hours after the U.S. State Department's China travel advisory (a level 4 "Do Not Travel" advisory), U.S. declared the coronavirus a public health emergency, allowing agencies to tap additional resources to help the states.
Speaking to reporters in Geneva during the day, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that the spread of the novel virus in 18 other countries outside China was worrisome.
Trump Administration Introduces Quarantines
A day after WHO declared the current coronavirus sweep as a global emergency, Trump administration on January 31, 2020 imposed sweeping restrictions to prevent the virus' rage here in the homeland. HHS Secretary Alex Azar made public the administration's plan to ban any foreigner, other than close relatives of U.S. citizens and permanent residents, from entering the U.S. if they had been to China in the past 14 days. Under the directive, any returning Americans returning from Hubei Province will be quarantined for 14 days and those returning from other parts of China will be asked to self-screen for the next 14 days. The directive also says that beginning February 2, 2020, all flights from China to the U.S. will be directed to seven major airports for screening: JFK in New York, San Francisco International, Seattle-Tacoma International, O'Hare in Chicago, Hartsfield-Jackson International in Atlanta, and Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Hawaii. Justifying the quarantines, the infectious disease chief at the National Institute of health, Dr. Anthony Fauci, said that a German who had visited China had spread the virus back in Germany after apparently showing no symptom of the virus. CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield expressed confidence that the risks to the homeland remained low.
As of January 31, 2020, China's National Health Commission reported 259 deaths.
First Reported Death outside China as Border Closing Becoming New Norm
The first fatality due to coronavirus outside China was reported on February 1, 2020 in Philippines. The man in question is Chinese from Wuhan, and his female companion, also from Wuhan, has tested positive. Meanwhile, governments are closing their national borders, and flights are getting cancelled as the number of infected in coronavirus has climbed more than 14,380 and number of deaths to 305 as of February 1, 2020. The U.S. has reported its eighth case of coronavirus on February 1, 2020. The economy in China is taking significant hit due to continuous lockdown of a large swath of China, and Chinese authorities has extended the closure of all non-essential services to Feb 9, 2020.
WHO Updates Coronavirus Figures
World Health Organization on February 3, 2020 issued its latest estimate of infections and fatalities in worldwide coronavirus spread with 14,557 cases of infections and more than 360 deaths.
Thousands of Cruise Ship Passengers Quarantined on-board at the Japanese Port
After a man from Hong Kong on board in the cruise ship Diamond Princess tested positive on February 1, 2020 for coronavirus, the vessel--carrying 2,666 passengers and 1,045 crew members--was allowed to proceed to the Japanese port of Yokohama. On February 5, 2020, Diamond Princess docked at the Port of Yokohama, and the passengers and crew personnel were quarantined on-board effective immediately.
350 American Fly back Home from the Pandemic Epicenter; 11 People Reported Sick
About 350 Americans were flown in to Travis Air Force Base on February 5, 2020 from the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak, Wuhan in Hubei Province, in two flights. 178 of the passengers were housed at a hotel on the ground for a two-week observation period, while the remaining passengers were transported to the Marine Corps Air Station in Miramar near San Diego. During the day, FDA Commissioner Dr. Stephen Hahn issued a statement ordering distribution of "diagnostic test" kits to more than 100 state labs immediately as a "critical step forward to protect the public health" amid 11 people were reported to have come down with coronavirus in five states--Washington, Illinois, California, Massachusetts and Arizona.
Doctor who Informs the World about Coronavirus Dies
The very doctor who in December 2019 went public with the news of the coronavirus outbreak and had been detained by Chinese authorities for doing that passed away on February 7, 2020 after contracting the virus himself while treating his patients at a Wuhan hospital. An avalanche of social media postings--later expunged--lauded the courage of Dr. Li Wenliang for telling the world about coronavirus outbreak. Dr. Li Wenliang, along with some of his fellow doctors, were detained after they went public and released in the first week of January 2020. Dr. Li Wenliang returned to his duty to tender patients in Wuhan hospital, and he himself fell sick on January 10, 2020. On February 7, 2020, Dr. Li Wenliang breathed his last at the very hospital where he had worked. The news that Chinese Communist Party's anti-corruption agency and National Health Commission had opened inquiry into Dr. Li Wenliang had angered many Chinese, and they had taken to social media to blast the Chinese authorities. Overnight, the hashtag #WeWantFreedonOfSpeech garnered about 2 million followings before getting deleted.
More Passengers in the Cruise Ship Flagged for Coronavirus
41 additional passengers were found with symptoms of coronavirus on February 7, 2020, and escorted off the cruise ship Diamond Princess, docked in the Japanese Port of Yokohama, in the hazmat protection, adding to 20 already detected earlier and taking the total number of passengers with coronavirus cases to 61.
3,800 Quarantined on board on World Dream
As a second cruise ship, World Dream, was docked at Hong Kong, the report was out on February 7, 2020 that three passengers, who were on board between January 19 and January 24, had been tested positive for coronavirus, leading to a mass quarantine at the World Dream.
Mainland China Hits a Threshold of Coronavirus Deaths Surpassing that of SARS
On February 8, 2020, Chinese authorities added 89 deaths and 2,666 new cases of coronavirus in an ominous trend of rapidly spreading of a contagious virus that had scared the world, became the prime stumbling block to world economic growth and force governments to gnaw their self-prides. With 811 deaths, coronavirus' fatality toll has now risen over SARS' 2002-03 toll of 774. As of February 8, 2020, at least 37,198 cases of coronavirus have been reported.
First American to Die in Coronavirus
On February 8, 2020, an American succumbed to coronavirus in Wuhan, becoming the first known American fatality in the virulent virus.
Coronavirus Hits a Critical Yardstick
China on February 11, 2020 reported an alarming trend in coronavirus pick-up rate in the country as National Health Commission for the first time said that the 24-hour death toll had exceeded 100. An additional 108 reported deaths over the past 24 hours raised the fatalities from coronavirus outbreak to 1,016. However, one piece of assuaging news emerging from China is that over the past 24 hours, Chinese authorities have announced a drop in new cases (2,478) compared to the preceding 24 hours (3,062), raising the total number of infections to 42,638 on the mainland.
The U.K. said that it would forcibly detain people if needed to fight back against this "serious and imminent threat to public health". Five British tourists contracted coronavirus from a French ski resort, according to a report on February 11, 2020.
China Extends the Shutdown; A New Name Given to Coronavirus
After more than 42,000 infections and 1,107 deaths, Chinese authorities on February 11, 2020 extended the shutdown even after the expiry of the country's Lunar Holiday period. Beyond China, 393 cases were detected in 24 nations and one reported death in Philippines.
Meanwhile, in Geneva, World Health Organization gave an official name to this novel virus. Explaining the rationale of giving the name COVID-19, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that, unlike past, the health organization didn't want to give a name that would scar any nation, or population, or geographic area.
After Denied by Several Nation, Cruise Ship Allowed to Docks at Cambodian Port
As the MS Westerdam was cruising in the international waters with more than 2,200 passengers and crew personnel, several Asian nations denied it from anchoring at their shores because of fear of coronavirus. At last Cambodia came to its rescue, giving green light on February 12, 2020 to dock at Sihanoukville Port. The operator of the cruise line, Holland America Line, said that they didn't know any case of COVID-19 among passengers and crew members.
On February 13, 2020, the cruise ship, carrying 1455 passengers and 802 crew members, docked at the port.
Mobile Congress Suspended
The annual mobile congress, Mobile World Congress, scheduled to be held February 24-27, 2020 will be postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Global System for Mobile Communications has announced on February 12, 2020.
More than 1,700 Healthcare Workers Infected by the Virus in China
China's health authorities on February 14, 2020 gave a grim picture of the impact of coronavirus on the country's healthcare workers. As of February 11, 2020, 1,716 healthcare professionals have been diagnosed with the novel COVID-19 virus.
South Korea Declares Emergency in the Southeast
South Korea on February 20, 2020 announced "a special management zone" in the epicenter of the country's outbreak of coronavirus, Daegu. Prime Minister Chung Se-kyun said during the day that "we have entered an emergency phase". South Korea reported 52 new cases, raising the total to 156. Out of 600,000-strong military, the country for the first time reported two cases of novel coronavirus.
South Korea Sees a Six-fold Spike in Coronavirus Cases; WHO Warns of Community Spread
South Korea on February 22, 2020 reported a multi-fold increase in coronavirus cases linked to a church and a hospital in the southeastern city of Daegu, country's fourth-largest city. The number of positive COVID-19 cases as of February 22, 2020 now stands 346. Italy, Iran and South Korea have become now the new battlegrounds of coronavirus pandemic.
China during the day reported a slowdown of coronavirus spread, estimating 397 new cases and 109 additional deaths from the novel coronavirus. As of February 22, 2020, China reported COVID-19 76,288 cases and 2,345 deaths.
On February 22, 2020, World Health Organization warned that coronavirus was spreading in countries such as Italy, Iran and South Korea through "community infection" and there were clusters of infections not linked to travel.
Italy Begins Lockdown in the North
For the first time ever, a western democracy deployed a tactic more characteristic of Chinese approach to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Italy on February 22, 2020 began an unprecedented lockdown in northern part of the nations, covering dozens of towns, after two people with COVID-19 infection had died and there emerged "clusters" of infection not tied to travel.
Coronavirus Spreads Explosively in Italy, South Korea
On February 23, 2020, both Italy and South Korea reported an explosive growth in reported COVID-19 cases. Italy reported during the day a total number of reported cases of 152, up from three few days ago. Venice, venue of a carnival, reported two cases of the virus.
South Korea reported 161 new cases during the day, bringing the total to 763, and two more deaths to increase the fatalities to 7.
On February 24, 2020, China reported 409 new cases of coronavirus and 150 new deaths, bringing the totals to over 77,000 and 2,592, respectively.
Direct Hit from Coronavirus Leads to Market Freefall
The novel coronavirus has begun to take a toll on countries' bourses as DOW Industrial Index has dropped more than 1,000 points on February 24, 2020 as the fear of COVID-19 spread increases. As the lockdown in northern Italy forced cancellation of all events, including soccer matches and shuttering of the renowned La Scala Opera House, Middle East began to reel in under the increased scourge of COVID-19 spread.
Iran on February 24, 2020 reported 12 new deaths in COVID-19 while five neighboring nations--Iraq, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain and Afghanistan--reported their first cases of novel coronavirus, all with known links to Iran. Although the disease is now slowing in China, it's picking up elsewhere, leading to the possibility that it may turn out to be a global pandemic.
CDC Calls for Americans to Prepare for Coronavirus Spread
Trump Administration officials, including Dr. Anthony Fauci, Anne Schuchat of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and HHS Secretary Alex Azar, on February 25, 2020 issued dire warnings to the nation and urged Americans to be prepared for the massive spread of COVID-19 in the USA as conservative commentators such as Rush Limbaugh ridiculed the coronavirus spread here in America.
Trump says, America is "Very" Ready
A day after Trump administration's top healthcare officials urged the nation to prepare for eventual spread of COVID-19, President Donald Trump said during a White House press briefing on February 26, 2020 that the Coronavirus' arrival and spread here was not inevitable and the nation "is very ready". A little while after Trump spoke and gave a rosier picture, CDC made public a new California case of COVID-19 with no link to China or other outside country with coronavirus cases, raising the specter of so called "community spread".
California to Scale up Rapid Test; COVID-19 Task Force Meets First Time; Dow Sheds 1200 Points
On February 27, 2020, Vice President Mike Pence convened for the first time the recently created coronavirus task force as California public health authorities unveiled an aggressive testing program to test out anyone who came in touch with a woman in Solano County, first case of coronavirus through "community transmission", a term used by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to define a case [of infection] with unknown source. CDC reported the case on February 26, 2020 for the Solano County woman who had been hospitalized on February 15, 2020. The infectious disease chief, Anthony Fauci, said during the day that the virus had adopted "very well in the human species". Meanwhile, Feds is struggling to ramp up and fix the faulty testing procedure.
The coronavirus is increasingly taking a toll on the financial market. DOW Industrial Index shed nearly 1,200 points on February 27, 2020, and stock markets were headed to the worst week since October 2008.
Saudi Arabia during the day took the unprecedented decision to close the Kaaba in Mecca to foreign pilgrims.
COVID-19 Pain Felt in Nation's Economy
As the novel coronavirus spreads in America, trade, travel, tourism and entertainment are poised to take an unprecedented hit, and the stock markets have begun behave in an ever increasing wobbly manner. As of February 28, 2020, coronavirus has infected more than 83,000 people in more than 60 nations and counting. At least 2,800 have died in COVID-19. Also on February 28, 2020, California health authorities reported a second case of "community transmission" of novel coronavirus, this time a 65-year-old woman from Santa Clara County.
First Coronavirus Death in the U.S. Reported
The first COVID-19 death in the U.S. was reported on February 29, 2020 at a Washington long-term nursing facility. A man of around 50 years of age had underlying conditions. As President Donald Trump broke the news, he announced new travel restrictions to stop the spread of novel coronavirus. The restrictions include, among others, banning travel of any foreigner to the U.S. with trip to Iran in the past 14 days and limiting travel to parts of South Korea and Italy.
Second U.S. Death in Coronavirus Case Reported
Kirkland, Washington became the first center of gravity of COVID-19 virus as a second person had been reported on March 1, 2020 to have died a day earlier at the Evergreen Health. The long-term nursing facility became the latest hotbed of coronavirus spread in the USA. The New York Times reported on March 1, 2020 that a quarter of the Kirkland firefighters were now under quarantine as they had visited the nursing home, Evergreen Health, recently. As of March 1, 2020, there were 76 reported cases of COVID-19 positives. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo acknowledged during the day state's first confirmed coronavirus case, tied to a woman who had recently visited Iran. Illinois, California and Rhode Island on March 1, 2020 confirmed additional coronavirus cases.
Italy Shuts down Schools, Universities; Saudis Bar Mecca Pilgrimage to Its Own Citizens
In a more radical action more symptomatic with Communist China, Italy--now the epicenter of Europe's COVID-19 pandemic with more than 3,000 infections and at least 107 deaths--on March 4, 2020 ordered all schools and universities closed, at least through March 15, 2020, a timeline most likely to be extended.
Saudi Arabia on March 4, 2020 took an unprecedented step to bar its own citizens from visiting Kaaba in Mecca.
In Israel, the chief rabbi of the nation urged the observant not to kiss the mezuzah, the small box containing a prayer scroll posted on doorposts.
U.S. Reports Spread of Coronavirus
U.S. on March 5, 2020 reported more than 200 COVID-19 cases as of date with 12 deaths, all but one in Washington state. Maryland, Colorado and Nevada reported their first cases of coronavirus infections, raising the number of states with the virus infection to 19.
21 in Diamond Princess Cruise Ship Tested Positive for COVID-19
The cruise ship Diamond Princess becomes the latest symbol of local clusters of coronavirus as it's off the coast of California and has yet to anchor at a port. At least 21 onboard have been tested positive for COVID-19, Vice President Mike Pence said that on March 6, 2020. The ship has been in the waters off the coast of California for a number of days, and passengers desperately want to get off the ship.
Austin's SXSW Cancelled
As the latest victim of novel coronavirus, South by Southwest, or SXSW will cease to be held this year as organizers on March 6, 2020 announced that out of abundance of caution, this year's event will not happen.
Oil Prices Tumble in the War between Saudi and Russia; Italy Orders Northern Lockdown
Oil prices fell on March 8 (Sunday) night precipitously as the production and pricing war between OPEC king Saudi Arabia and non-OPEC major Russia escalated. The stock futures are heading for a free-fall come Monday, indicating a potential economic downturn in the USA and beyond.
Meanwhile, Italy on March 8, 2020 announced a lockdown of 16 million people in northern Italy in an effort to prevent coronavirus further and hospitals, already running on shortages, from being overwhelmed.
Oil, Stock Prices Swoon; Circuit Breaker for the First Time in 23 Years; Ship Passengers Disembark
As stock market was in free-fall on March 9, 2020, the New York Stock Exchange circuit-breaker was used for the first time in more than two decades to halt trading. The circuit-breaker, last time used in 1997, had initially calming effect on the Dow Jones Index, but the index swooned by more than 7% by the time trading closed on March 9. Standard-and-Poor 500 had a similar sharp downward trajectory with more than 7% fall. President Donald Trump during the day floated the idea of payroll tax cut to mitigate the sufferings from coronavirus.
Meanwhile, thousands of passengers disembarked from the Diamond Princess cruise ship at Oakland in California. The cruise ship became the floating hub of coronavirus clusters, and dozens of passengers were tested positive for COVID-19.
Italy Extends the Lockdown to Entire Country
A day after declaring a lockdown in Northern Italy, Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte administration on March 9, 2020 extended the lockdown to entire country of 60 million people, implying how desperate the country had become as it had been hit hard so badly that it was now second-worst in the world behind China
New York Governor Declares Containment Zone; Xi Visits Wuhan for the First Time since Outbreak
In the most drastic action in the country, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo on March 10, 2020 announced creating a "containment zone" in one-mile radius from the city limit, ordering closure of schools and public gathering places as coronavirus began to bite dangerously the city and the state. 104 residents of a New York City suburb, New Rochelle, have tested positive for COVID-19. Throughout the USA, at least 15 states have so far declared state of emergency, and many universities and colleges have announced to take all of the classes online for the rest of the school year.
Chinese President Xi Jinping on March 10, 2020 visited Wuhan for the first time since the coronavirus outbreak erupted late 2019. The spread of the virus has slowed down significantly in China, but picked up in the western nations. During last 24 hours, China reported only 19 new cases of new coronavirus infections, lowest since the country began tracking the numbers on January 20, 2020. As of the day, China reported a total of 80,754 cases and 3,136 deaths.
Other News of the Day (March 10, 2020)
* WHO Director Tedros Adhanon Ghebreyseus said that the "threat of pandemic has become very real" as the virus took foothold in so many countries, infecting more than 113,000 people, out of whom at least 4,000 had perished and more than 63,000 had recovered
* Italy is struggling with the virus, with 9,172 cases and 463 deaths, and entire country is under lockdown
* Iran, ravaged by coronavirus, reported 54 additional deaths during the day, raising the number of cases to 8,042 and death toll to 291
* South Korea reported 35 new cases, raising the total to 7513 and deaths to 53, respectively
Travel Restricted; Major Events Cancelled; WTO Declares Coronavirus a Global Pandemic
In a swift unraveling of events, NBA on March 11, 2020 suspended the rest of the season's games as a Utah Judge player tested positive amidst cancellation of major events and conventions nationwide. Trump administration on March 11, 2020 announced severe restrictions on travel to and from Europe. Although the Europe travel restriction announced by Trump administration will last for 30 days, it's going to be extended as it's now clear that COVID-19 will spread rapidly and test the humanity in an unprecedented way.
World Health Organization on March 11, 2020 declared COVID-19 as a "global pandemic", calling for a unified and ramped up response to the surge.
Dallas Mayor Declares State of Emergency
After Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins on March 12, 2020 banned gatherings of more than 500 people, Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson declared a citywide state of emergency. Meanwhile, COVID-19 cases are reported throughout Dallas County.
Trump Declares National Emergency; Abbott Declares State Disaster
President Donald Trump on March 13, 2020 declared a national emergency to fight against the novel coronavirus, opening the floodgates for federal assistance to states and local jurisdictions. Speaking to reporters at the Rose Garden, President Trump urged the country's hospitals to "activate the emergency preparedness plans".
On the same day, Texas Governor Gregg Abbott declared the state of Texas a "major disaster". As of March 13, 2020, at least 1,920 Americans were infected by coronavirus, and at least 41 had died.
Travel Restrictions Added to U.K., Ireland; Spain Locks down; France Closes Tourist Spots
Trump administration on March 14, 2020 added U.K. and Ireland to the 26-nation Schengen Region of Europe for travel restriction. On March 11, 2020, Trump imposed travel restriction to and from Europe other than U.K. and Ireland to stem spread of novel coronavirus.
On March 14, 2020, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced in a nationalized TV address the closure of much of the country to prevent exponential surge of novel coronavirus. Spain has recorded massive increase in COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, and Sanchez' steps chronicled the actions taken by Italy.
France during the day shut down all tourist spots, including iconic attraction of Eiffel Tower as new cases of coronavirus had spread at an alarming rate.
Fed Intervenes to Prevent Economy's Free-fall as Highest One-day Spike Recorded
Federal Reserve on March 16, 2020 forcefully intervened to slash interest rate to near zero, revive "quantitative easing" related rules and buy $700 billion in treasury and mortgage-backed securities. U.S. also reported during the day highest daily coronavirus deaths with 18 people reported to have died from COVID-19.
Abbott Shuts down Normal Activities in the State; DSHS Declares Public Health Disaster
As the novel coronavirus is taking a toll in various states, governor after governor is taking recourse to tough actions of shutting down the normal activities of their respective states. That moment of action came to Texas Governor Gregg Abbott on March 19, 2020 as the Lone Star State's chief executive ordered closures to school, gyms, restaurant dining areas and movie theaters effective immediately. Governor Abbott's order will last through April 3, 2020, but most likely to be extended. Abbott also limited any gathering to a maximum of 10.
Separately, Department of State Health Services (DSHS) on March 19, 2020 declared a "public heath disaster" for the whole state, empowering state authorities to order quarantines and other emergency measures. Last time, Texas had declared a "public health disaster" in 1901 to fight off small pox.
70 Million People under Shelter-in-Place Order
Illinois and New York on March 20, 2020 joined California to issue shelter-in-place directive, putting almost 70 million people under an unprecedented lockdown to prevent the spread of novel coronavirus. As the nation is gearing up for weeks of shutdown, essentially closing many businesses, three largest cities--New York City, Los Angeles and Chicago--as well as number 8 San Diego and number 14 San Francisco all fall under the edict of this new normal of prolonged lockdown. Governor Andrew Cuomo said that about 40 million residents of his state would go to lockdown mode beginning March 22, 2020, and a similar order was issued by Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker for 12.6 million residents beginning March 21, 2020.
WHO noted the accelerated spread of coronavirus as it took almost three months to hit the milestone of first 100,000 confirmed cases, while it took just 12 days to hit next 100,000 mark. According to a running tally published by Johns Hopkins University, at least 262,000 people have been infected by novel coronavirus as of March 20, 2020.
OTHER NEWS OF THE DAY
* U.S. and Mexico are moving to shut down the border crossings, other than essential crossings, effective midnight March 20, 2020
* President Donald Trump and Dr. Anthony Fauci openly disagreed on the effectiveness of Hydroxychloroquine and a similar drug, Chloroquine.
***************** DALLAS COUNTY'S SHELTER-IN PLACE ORDER
Dallas Declares Stay-in-Home Order
Dallas County Court Judge Clay Jenkins on March 22, 2020 declared a county-wide shelter-in-place order beginning 11:59PM March 23 after two more deaths brought the death toll from coronavirus to 3 and 36 new positive tests increased the total number of confirmed cases in the novel COVID-19 to 131.
Dallas County's Shelter-in Place Order Ends in a Tepid Way
Dallas County's shelter-in place order announced on a Sunday with much fanfare ended after 53 days on May 15, 2020 as Governor Gregg Abbott's statewide opening order made County Judge Clay Jenkin's order non-renewable.
***************** DALLAS COUNTY'S SHELTER-IN PLACE ORDER
Gov. Abbott Issues Restrictions Orders
Gov. Gregg Abbott on March 22, 2020 ordered limits of gatherings to 10, closures of restaurants, gyms and clubs, and other restrictions, but not a statewide shelter-in-place directive. A second element of Gov. Abbott's order includes suspension of all non-emergency operations in state's hospitals to make way for beds for any potential surge of COVID-19 patients.
Senators Work Overboard on Emergency Relief Bill; Rand Paul Tested Positive
Senator Rand Paul, R-Kentucky, acknowledged on March 22, 2020 that he had contracted coronavirus. Meanwhile, Senators are in the midst of an intense discussion on the largest government stimulus bill that has a price tag of almost $2 trillion.
Senators Fight over $2 trillion Stimulus Package; Governors Press for More Aid
As the coronavirus spread takes uglier turn across the U.S., Senators on March 23, 2020 continued to haggle over pork and barrels of the $2 trillion stimulus package.
Meanwhile, nation's governors held a conference call with the White House on March 23, 2020, asking for help to fight the spread of coronavirus, including shipment of N-95 masks, testing kits, ventilators and other protective equipment. National Governors Association Chairman Larry Hogan of Maryland said after a 15-minute conference call with Vice President Mike Pence that there was need for many supplies as the coronavirus infection was spreading through the nation just like a wildfire.
Global Recession, if not Depression, Around the Corner amid Acceleration of the Virus Spread
As 1.5 billion people around the world are ordered to stay at home, it's all but certain that the global economy will face a severe contraction, leading to recession, if not an outright depression. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on March 23, 2020 that the coronavirus pandemic was accelerating. Now, there are more than 300,000 cases of COVID-19 cases since the first case was identified in China's Wuhan City. The first 100,000 cases were registered in 67 days since the first case, it took 11 days for the second 100,000 cases, and just four days for the third 100,000 cases.
New York City Becoming American Epicenter of the Coronavirus Epidemic
New York City has become the latest Ground Zero of COVID-19 spread in America. The New York state is going through a shelter-in place order, and as of March 23, 2020, at least 12,000 people in the state have been diagnosed with the coronavirus and almost 100 have died. Gov. Andrew Cuomo said that things would become lot worse before it got any better. A huge convention center in the New York City, Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, has been transformed into a 1,000-bed emergency facility.
As of March 23, 2020, 43,901 people in the U.S. tested positive for COVID-19 and 557 have died. President Donald Trump meanwhile expressed frustration over continuous shutdown of almost all parts of the economy, tweeting on March 23, 2020: "WE CANNOT LET THE CURE BE WORSE THAN THE PROBLEM ITSELF".
Dow Surges the Largest since 1933 amidst a $2 trillion Compromise Close to Finish Line
In the midst of one of the worst healthcare pandemic in the nation's history, Congressional leaders and White House are inching closer to a $2 trillion deal to fight against the economic fallout stemming from the coronavirus spread that has upended America's normalcy and Americans' lives in an unprecedented way. Under the Senate's $2 trillion package, the largest stimulus package in America's history
* $1,200 will go to adults and $500 to children
* $500 billion loan to be allocated for states, cities and struggling companies
*$367 billion to help the small companies
* Unemployment Insurance program to be strengthened
* $150 billion to be infused to America's hospitals
The stock markets on March 24, 2020 voted with some of the largest rallies at different bourses. The DOW has a field day, with rising as high as 11.4 percent, largest percentage gain since 1933. Standard-and-Poor500 made the third-largest percentage gain since World War II, rising by 9.4 percent.
Other COVID-19 News of March 24, 2020
* Bipartisan pressure mounts on Trump administration for the president to invoke Korean War-era Defense Production Act to orders companies to manufacture face masks, ventilators and other equipment. Sen. Ted Cruz and Rep. Van Taylor are few Republicans favoring the act.
* New York Governor Andrew Cuomo expressed alarm over accelerating rate of coronavirus spread in the state, doubling every three days. The state has reported at least 25,000 COVID-19 cases and at least 210 deaths as of the day. Governor Cuomo said that the peak for the state would likely to arrive in a matter of days, and 40,000 might end up with in intensive care while at present, Cuomo informed, only 3,000 intensive care beds were available through the state.
* Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared a 21-day nationwide lockdown stretching through April 15.
* Texas Governor Gregg Abbott issued an Executive Order instructing all hospitals to keep the state updated on daily basis related to, among other things, number of hospitalizations, number of testing kits available.
********************* COVID-19 EMERGENCY AID PACKAGES ********************
COVID-19 Rescue Package Passed in Senate
After five days of exhaustive and bickering talks, Senators from both sides of the aisle came together on March 25, 2020 to pass the largest bailout package in the U.S. history. This is the third coronavirus-related relief and bailout package. The $2.2 trillion package includes:
* $1,200 per adult plus $500 per child direct payment, with phase-out threshold at $75,000 per adult and $150,000 per family
* $260 billion in Extended Unemployment Insurance, with furloughed and laid-off workers receiving state compensation plus $600 per week from the bailout fund that also includes "gig" workers and Uber drivers
* $500 billion in guaranteed loans to industries such as airlines--$29 billion in grant and $29 billion in low-cost loan for airline industry--and others hit hard by the virtual national lockdown, with caveat that the rescue money can't be used to buy back stocks
* $350 billion for small business support loan, including forgivable loans to sustain payroll payment and operational expenses
(Federal Reserve on April 6, 2020 decided to buy the loans lent by banks to small businesses, providing incentives to lenders to boost lending activity to help out small businesses)
SALIENT FEATURES OF THE EMERGENCY RELIEF PACKAGE
* $23.5 billion in assistance to country's struggling farmers (On the top, President Trump on April 17, 2020 announced a separate $19 billion special assistance package to farmers and an additional $3 billion to procure produces and other items such as milk from farmers and distribute them among food banks)
* $150 billion aid to state, local and tribal governments
* $150 billion in healthcare, including $130 billion to hospitals and emergency rooms (this is in addition to FEMA's $45 billion infusion to nation's hospitals stemming from the presidential proclamation of national emergency)
* A payroll tax holiday for companies to preserve cash under which companies can select to defer their 6.2 percent contribution to Social Security Fund through 2022, with half to be paid by the end of 2021
* 120-day moratorium on evictions for renters from apartments and dwellings with federally backed mortgages
For the hard-hit Airline Industry
* Out of $58 billion in grant and loan, $8 billion was allocated for cargo airlines
* Also, $10 billion included for country's airports, many of which have high debt-service payments
Unemployment Benefit
* The CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security) Act provides $600 per week additional unemployment benefits on the top of state unemployment benefits. However, $600 per week benefit will last through July 25, 2020. Also, under CARES Act, when state unemployment benefits expire after 26 weeks, recipients will receive an additional 13 weeks of unemployment benefit from the $2.2 trillion coronavirus aid package under Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation program. The state of Texas on June 2, 2020 revived a 1971 provision that would provide unemployment benefits for an additional 13 weeks after PEUC program ended. Texas Workforce Commission's June 2, 2020, decision is an indirect acknowledgement of rapidly decelerating state economy with harm caused by extended lockdowns and cratering of energy sector, and will help recipients receive unemployment benefits for a full year, or 52 weeks:
* First 26 weeks--State unemployment benefit + $600 per week as part of CARES Act through July 25, 2020
* 27th through 39th week--CARES Act's Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation program
* 40th through 52nd week--Texas' special 1971 additional unemployment benefit trigger invoked on June 2 as the jobless rate climbs over double digit
However, there were pockets of opposition as some Republicans called the $2.2 trillion rescue bill a massive welfare package that would did-incentivize work, while New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, whose state had witnessed the exponential rise in COVID-19 positives and more than 280 deaths, blasted the aid package insufficient.
The aid package's next stop is the House of Representatives and President Trump will sign the bill as soon as it lands on his desk. The $2.2 trillion package was the result of an arduous negotiation process led by Steve Mnuchin, Nancy Pelosi, Mitch McConnell and Chuck Schumer.
A Renegade Lawmaker May Torpedo Pelosi's Plan of Roll-call Vote
Speaker Nancy Pelosi's plan for a March 27, 2020, roll-call vote, precluding gathering of 425-plus lawmakers in the Capitol, on a Senate's $2.2 trillion emergency coronavirus bill may be heading for failure as libertarian-minded Kentucky Republican Rep. Thomas Massie has raised objection to holding a virtual vote.
Amid Massie's Obstacle, $2.2 trillion CARES Act Passes House; Signed by Trump
America's largest emergency aid measure was passed by House of Representatives in a voice vote on March 27, 2020. There was a high drama, prior to approving the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, as lawmakers were forced to physically come to House floor because of one member's grandstanding. Rep. Thomas Massie received bipartisan scorn for forcing the House session in the Capitol instead of passing the bill through remote voting process.
President Donald Trump didn't hide his disgust for Massie, calling him "a third-rate grandstander". President Trump on March 28, 2020 signed the sweeping CARES Act into law, becoming the president who had led the largest government bailout in the U.S. history.
Feds Intervenes in a Forceful way to Prevent Economic Fallout from Coronavirus
Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell announced on April 9, 2020 that Federal Reserve would pump additional $2.3 trillion to shore up the economy, including bolstering the Paycheck Protection Program unveiled by the Small Business Administration last week as part of $350 billion allocated solely for the small businesses employing less than 500 workers and one of the selling points for $2.2 trillion CARES Act. Federal Reserve is activating the Main Street Lending Program for mid-size businesses, ones that employ between 500 and 10,000 employees, that ensures providing $600 billion in aid, with strings--no dividend to shareholders and limit on executive compensation--attached. Feds is planning to buy $500 billion municipal bonds to support local and state governments that will put new life to $3.8 trillion municipal bond market which has cratered in recent days as investors have pulled out of Muni Bond Market, and as a result, yield has soared. Federal Reserve's April 9, 2020, action came after other steps Jeromy Powell and his team of policymakers had taken in recent days such as lowering the benchmark interest rate to close to zero and announcing purchase of mortgage and treasury securities worth $1 trillion in order to keep the lending pipeline flowing.
However, one component of the $2.3 trillion Federal Reserve-Treasury Department aid package announced April 9, 2020 is controversial as it involves billions of dollars of tax payers money to buy corporate bonds in the open market, thus helping large companies to raise huge amount of cash with almost none of the CARES Act's strings attached. The beneficiary corporations can give huge largesse to executives, carry out stock buy-back and raise dividends as there are no conditions attached for this component of aid meant solely for large corporations.
The move came on the same day when an additional 6.6 millions Americans filed for unemployment claims, taking the three-week total to close to 17 million, a grim milestone that had been reached only in three weeks and fastest such increase since the Great Depression.
Senate Passes a $484 billion Additional Aid Package; House Set to Pass
As a popular program in the CARES Act has exhausted its $349 billion on April 16, 2020 and many small business owners had been left out, adding frustration, Congressional leaders started to put together an additional package to bolster Paycheck Protection Program--including forgivable loans to retain employees on the payroll during lockdown period--to provide a lifeline to millions of small businesses who had been lucked out in the first $349 billion package. Senate on April 21, 2020 passed a $484 billion package that included:
* $251 billion infusion into now-depleted Paycheck Protection Program
* $60 billion for a separate emergency loan program
* $60 billion set aside for loans to be disbursed by smaller banks
* $75 billion for hospitals
* $25 billion for augmented testing capacities, including $11 billion for states, tribal reservations and local jurisdictions
HISTORY OF CORONAVIRUS FEDERAL RESCUE PACKAGES
Although CARES Act stole the limelight because of staggeringly high price tag, it was not the first rescue package to mitigate the COVID-19 suffering. Before CARES Act, Congress took action and the president signed two other measures with price tags of $8.3 billion and $100 billion, respectively.
* The first coronavirus-related bill was Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Act (CPRSA) passed by both House and Senate overwhelmingly and signed by President Donald Trump on March 6, 2020. The $8.3 billion package offers provisions for emergency research, testing kits and medical supplies, among others.
******************* SECOND PACKAGE
* The second coronavirus-related aid package with a multi-billion dollar price tag was first proposed by Nancy Pelosi on March 11, 2020 on the Capitol, and immediately earned bipartisan support. Among the provisions are free coronavirus testing, compensation for lost paychecks because of coronavirus or for taking care of coronavirus patients and other measures.
On March 13, 2020, the same day President Donald Trump declared a national emergency, Speaker Nancy Pelosi reached a deal with the Trump White House on Families First Coronavirus Response Act. Trump also supported H.R. 6201 in a tweet that would, among others,
* Provide free coronavirus testing
* Grant two weeks of sick pay for workers
* Allow enhanced unemployment benefits
* Bolster food programs
House Approves the Aid Package
House of Representatives on March 16, 2020 approved the second coronavirus aid package hammered out by Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and Speaker Nancy Pelosi last week.
Senate Passes the Second Coronavirus Aid Package; President Trump Signs
U.S. Senate on March 18, 2020 signed $100 billion-plus aid package with all but eight Republican Senators voting in favor of it. President Donald Trump signed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act hours later on March 18, 2020.
******************* SECOND PACKAGE
* Third Coronavirus-related relief package is $2.2 trillion CARES Act.
Congressional Oversight Panel Reports Lagging Treasury Funding
As part of the CARES Act, the third coronavirus-related aid package, a Congressional panel, Congressional Oversight Commission, was formed to oversee how the money was being spent. Four members of the commission are working, but without a leader who will be heading the commission. The Commission head will be chosen by Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Majority Leader Mitch McConnel, but both have yet to agree on a name. The panel produced its first report on May 18, 2020 without a leader. The 17-page report said that a $500 billion Treasury Department-created fund had yet to disburse any significant amount of money. The report stated that Treasury had created lending facilities and only one facility, called the Secondary Market Corporate Credit Facility, had received $37.5 billion to be used to buy corporate bonds.
************************** THIRD AID PACKAGE: CARES ACT
*********************** FOURTH CORONAVIRUS AID PACKAGE
* Fourth Coronavirus-related Relief Package
House Overwhelmingly Passes the Fourth Coronavirus Aid Package
House on April 23, 2020 passed the $484 billion fourth coronavirus aid bill by an overwhelming 388-5 margin.
Trump Signs the $484 billion Fourth Coronavirus Relief Package
President Donald Trump on April 24, 2020 signed the $484 billion Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act.
*********************** FOURTH CORONAVIRUS AID PACKAGE
********************** FIFTH CORNONAVIRUS RELIEF PACKAGE
Speaker Nancy Pelosi on May 12, 2020 unveiled an additional $3 trillion rescue package, including $1 trillion for aid to states and cities, "hazard" pay for essential workers and a new instalments of cash payments.
House Passes the Fifth Aid Package with $3 trillion Price Tag
House of Representatives on May 15, 2020 passed the $3 trillion, fifth coronavirus aid package, dubbed as Heroes Act, by 208-199 vote.
Pressure Mounts as $600 per Week Unemployment Benefits Ending
As the $600 per week unemployment benefits under the CARES Act are ending on July 31, 2020, bipartisan pressure is growing on Republican-controlled Senate to come up with a compromise bill that will extend this $600 per week benefit and provide more money to states and cities. However, many GOP lawmakers are reluctant to provide another extension of $600 per week, which comes on the top of states' unemployment benefits, as that may discourage many job seekers from reentering the job market.
President Trump Threatens Unilateral Actions if Parties Can't Agree
President Donald Trump on August 3, 2020 vowed to take unilateral action to help out Americans reeling under the crisis of novel coronavirus as the $600 per week unemployment checks had recently stopped for about 30 million Americans and moratorium on evictions had lasted its tenure too. Meanwhile, Democrats and Republicans are far from each other on crafting an agreeable solution. During day, Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Schumer, White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin huddled for two hours at the speaker's office in Capitol Hill.
Trump Tests the Separation Powers; Signs Sweeping EOs on Tax and Spending
President Donald Trump challenged Congress' authorities on tax and spending in an unprecedented way by signing four sweeping executive orders on August 8, 2020 at his private golf club in Bedminster, NJ. Trump blamed Democrats for putting roadblocks to the fifth coronavirus aid package. The four executive orders came a day after talks broke down with the Congressional Democrats. The four EOs include:
* Defer payroll taxes for Americans through the end of year although Trump promised to waive the taxes after he wins reelection
* Extend $400 per week unemployment benefit by partly diverting money from the disaster relief fund of FEMA and requiring states--many of their coffers running dry and low--to contribute 20%
(Texas Workforce Commission earlier in the week of August 17, 2020, has asked the federal government for $7.4 billion to cover $300 per week in unemployment benefit, but the state will not pitch in another $100)
* Suggesting, not enforcing, an extension of moratorium on eviction that has ended in the end of July 2020
* Student loan extension through the end of year
Trump Administration Announces Eviction Moratorium
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on September 1, 2020 issued a directive ordering moratorium on eviction from residences and rental properties for four months after a previous moratorium, a vital component of the CARES Act, had expired its 120-day period at the end of July 2020 and President Trump signed an executive order for CDC to look into possible relief. CDC's September 1, 2020, directive does not absolve missed payment or provide any additional financial incentives to renters and homeowners. CDC issued the order on September 1, 2020, citing the public health laws to prevent spread of COVID-19 by millions of people who might end up as homeless. However, the burden of proof to qualify for the eviction moratorium is on the consumers, who have to meet one of the following four conditions:
1. Household incomes have to be less than $198,000 for a family, or $99,000 for singles
2. Applicants have sought government assistance to make rental payments
3. Applicants can't make rental payments because of loss of income directly caused by COVID-19
4. Applicants are likely to become homeless after eviction
McConnell Unveils a Slimmer, $500 billion Fifth Aid Package
After getting furious pushbacks by conservatives in July 2020 over a $1 trillion aid package, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on September 8, 2020 unveiled a smaller aid package that would provide $300 per week unemployment benefit after a similar $600 per week benefit had elapsed in the end of July 2020, help U.S. Postal Service by forgiving loan from the CARES Act, help small businesses, aid in child care and offer some form of liability protection to businesses. Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Speaker Nancy Pelosi called the $500 billion package as too little to move the needle to help out American people.
10 moderate Republican Senators on February 1, 2021 met
with President Joe Biden to press their $618 billion counter-proposal
to President Biden’s $1.9 trillion expansive COVID-19 relief package. On
January 31, 2021, 10 moderate GOP senators wrote a letter to Biden,
seeking time with the president. GOP 10, as the Senators who have met with
Biden are called, have unveiled their $618 billion package before
meeting with the president. The 2-hour, February 1, 2021, meeting was
cordial, but very little overlapping between the priorities of Biden package
and GOP 10 package. The key differences between the $618 billion GOP 10
package and $1.9 trillion Biden COVID-19 relief package are:
·
Direct Aid: Biden Package—$1,400 direct
aid to individuals earning less than $75,000 and $2,800 to two-earner working
families with cap $150,000 per year. GOP 10 Package—$1,000 direct aid to individuals
earning $40,000 and $2,000 to families with annual income of $80,000.
·
Aid to State and Local Governments: Biden
Package—$350 billion as opposed to no funding by the GOP package
·
Aid to Schools: Biden Package—$170
billion for testing, safety and other aids for educators, students and staff as
well as safe reopening of schools. Large part of the money is allocated for
K-12 classes. $35 billion are set aside for community colleges and Universities.
GOP package—$20 billion for K-12 education.
·
Federal Minimum Wage: Biden Package—$15
per hour to be phased in gradually vs. no federal wage increase envisioned in
the GOP plan. Current federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour.
·
Child Care Funding: Biden Package—$40
billion, out of which $25 billion allocated for “emergency stabilization fund”
to help child care providers offset expenses and stay open or reopen. Another
$15 billion is meant for long-standing block grant program to help with
expenses for low-income families with children younger than 13. GOP Plan—$20
billion for block grant program.
·
Unemployment Insurance Benefit: Biden
Plan—$400 per week unemployment insurance benefit, $100 more than current $300
per week benefit. Under Biden Plan, the unemployment insurance will run through
the end of September 2021. GOP Plan—$300 per week through June 30, 2021.
U.S. Surpasses China as Coronavirus Cases Surge in New York
New York City has become the new hotspot of the coronavirus cases, with 85,000 cases reported as of March 26, 2020, surpassing China's 81,000 and Italy's 80,000 cases, respectively. As of March 26, 2020, a total of 1,200-plus people have died in COVID-19 cases. With the potential surge in COVID-19 positives, which are doubling every three days in the U.S., the ICU bed shortages will strain the system beyond breaking point soon. According to a 2018 Associated Press Analysis, there are about 74,000 ICU beds in the nation, out of which 64% are occupied on a typical day. As a result, many states and local authorities are reopening shuttered medical facilities, converting hotels and convention centers to makeshift emergency rooms. A temporary morgue was even built just outside a Manhattan Hospital.
Other Coronavirus-related News of March 26, 2020
* Texas Governor Gregg Abbott issued an executive order for any traveler from tristate region around New York--New York, New Jersey and Connecticut--and New Orleans to go for 14-day mandatory self-quarantine. This is Gov. Abbott's fourth coronavirus-related executive order. First, on March 19, 2020, Gov. Abbott ordered gathering of no more than 10, closures of schools, gyms, bars and restaurants (other than take-outs). His second order, dated March 22, 2020, involves ordering hospitals to forego any non-emergency medical procedure, and his third order was to report to the appropriate state agencies all the COVID-19 cases by the state's medical facilities. In addition, Gov. Abbott declared a statewide disaster, but no shelter-in-place order yet.
* Italy announced a total lockdown of the country's non-essential factories as the authorities announced an additional 662 deaths, raising the total to 8,165.
* China reported few new coronavirus cases, with its National Health Commission reporting on March 27, 2020 55 new cases of COVID-19, including 54 for new arrivals from abroad
* More than 3.2 million people applied for the unemployment benefits, several folds rise in last week's 282,000 unemployment claim filings
* Spain has become the country with the fastest spread of COVID-19, with about 8,600 new infections and 655 deaths, raising the totals to 56,000 and 4,000, respectively
* France has launched a military-led "Operation Resilience" to tackle the spread of COVID-19 and zero on the hotspot in the northeast by evacuating infected people in a special high-speed train from Alsace
U.S. Hits Grim Milestone of 2,000 Deaths; FDA May Approve Convalescent Plasma Therapy
It took almost a month to reach first 1,000 COVID-19 deaths, but the next 1,000 deaths came at a speed and alarm of an public health avalanche. On March 28, 2020, U.S. reported that coronavirus death toll had surpassed 2,000, making the exponential growth of death toll at a pace of doubling every other day. Worldwide the COVID-19 positives rose to at least 660,000, and the deaths hit at more than 30,000. according to a running tally of Johns Hopkins University.
New York City remains the U.S. epicenter of coronavirus pandemic. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, who had postponed state's primary from April 28 to June 23, acknowledged in frustration that it would take "weeks and weeks and weeks" to bring the situation under control. United Nations has donated 250,000 face masks to the city. Cuomo also blasted Trump's proposal earlier in the day there might be a "forced quarantine" on the New York and surrounding states, calling the proposal war on the state and unconstitutional. Trump later in the day backed down. Donald Trump went to Norfolk, Virginia during the day to flag off a U.S. Navy medical ship destined to New York to help fight the city against the coronavirus.
Meanwhile, many U.S. institutions and hospitals are awaiting for the approval from Food and Drug Administration for a novel therapy involving convalescent plasma, or the liquid obtained from the blood of a recovered patient. Their research will be aimed at coming up with a therapy or vaccine to treat sick coronavirus patient and, if possible, to mitigate the possibility of infection of at-risk people.
Trump Extends Social Distancing for Another Month
President Donald Trump during his daily coronavirus briefing at the White House on March 29, 2020 sounded alarm that healthcare experts had predicted a death toll of 100,000 to 200,000 by the end of summer, and extended the social distancing through April 30, 2020. Among other news of the day,
* According to an AP tally, one-third of the U.S. counties-- 1,297of 3,142--counties have to report a single case of COVID-19 positive, implying twin factors of lack of testing and natural social distancing that comes as most of these counties are rural and less dense and spread through Appalachia and Great Plains to southwest in New Mexico
As Speed for New Treatment Picks up, FDA Approves Unproven Drugs
As institutions and medical research centers are in an intense battle to find a coronavirus therapy or vaccine, many of the Dallas powerhouses don't want to be left behind. Notably among them is Baylor, Scott and White whose research arm has launched a clinical trial with remdesivir. It is soon launching another experimentation on "convalescent plasma" therapy.
Meanwhile, in an alarming twist and, most likely, under political pressure, Food and Drug Administration on March 30, 2020 approved unproven malaria drugs, hydroxychlroquine and chlroquine, so that nation's hospital system crowded with COVID-19 patients could start using those drugs despite numerous side effects. There is some anecdotal evidence, not outcome of any scientific finding, that hydroxychlroquine and chlroquine may be effective in treating some coronavirus patients.
New York Struggles with Surge of Coronavirus Deaths, Morgue Overloads
New York City on March 31, 2020 looked like a ghost town, with emergency vehicles--carrying coronavirus patient after patient--blaring sirens and the city representing the symbol of world's pandemic devastation. The city's morgues are overloaded with bodies, and make-shift morgues are being constructed in front of few of the city's hospitals. COVID-19 seems to be devastating the communities of color in most of the big cities, including New York City and Chicago. According to a Johns Hopkins University running tally, as of March 31, 2020, at least 850,000 people globally were infected in COVID-19 and more than 42,000 deaths. U.S. now accounts for a significant number of deaths, with 3,300 out of 185,000 coronavirus patients have passed away. New York itself has seen at least 1,500 deaths in coronavirus, with overwhelming majority confined to the New York City.
Other News of the Day
* Texas Governor Gregg Abbott ordered only the essential businesses to remain open, while closing schools and other businesses, but is reluctant to call his order a "stay-at-home" order
Unemployment Filings Surge as Coronavirus Pandemic Batters U.S., World
The unemployment claims on April 2, 2020 shattered records with 6.6 million Americans filing for jobless claims, taking the toll on American workers to close to 10 million, including 3.3 million unemployment claims filed on March 26, 2020.
Meanwhile, according to a Johns Hopkins University tally, more than 240,000 people have been infected in COVID-19 and at least 5,800 have died. Globally, the number of infections reported on April 2, 2020 crossed a grim milestone, i.e., 1 million mark, and at least 50,000 deaths.
OTHER NEWS OF THE DAY
* Democratic Party re-scheduled their convention from mid-July to the week of August 17, 2020
* House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced formation of a bi-partisan oversight committee led by Rep. James Clyburn, D-SC, of how the $2 trillion rescue package being disbursed and spent, although no other details over who would be the panel members were known yet
* White House Coronavirus task force head, Vice President Mike Pence, said that White House would soon issue a face mask guidance, asking everyone to wear face masks or face coverings, although it would not be mandatory
New York Guv to Seize Ventilators as Death Toll from Coronavirus Climbs more than 3,200
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo on April 3, 2020 said that he would sign an executive order to seize excess ventilators and protective gears not used by other private hospitals in the state to distribute them among hard-hit hospitals in the New York City. The action marked, most likely, one of the toughest action to hunt for highly sought ventilators and PPEs, a plan Cuomo called the "sharing of resources". According to the Johns Hopkins tally, top five states in terms of COVID-19 deaths are New York (3,218), New Jersey (646), Michigan (479), California (269), and Massachusetts (192), respectively. As of April 3, 2020, the number of people infected by coronavirus in the U.S. crossed a quarter million, with death toll more than 6,900. Global deaths hit 53,000, out of which more than 56%, or roughly 30,000 were recorded in the three worst-hit nations in Europe: Spain, Italy and France. The situation in New York City turned so grim that Mayor Bill de Blasio called for a national enlistment program for medical personnel and mobilization of military as the surge of COVID-19 patients were about to hit the peak in the next 10 days. Already, a convention center, Javits Convention Center, turned a make-shift hospital initially planned for non-coronavirus patients is being transformed into a facility to accept coronavirus patients as the surge is becoming insurmountable.
****** FIRING OF AIRCRAFT CARRIER CAPTAIN OVER VIRUS COMPLAINT *******
* An aircraft carrier captain who was fired for raising concern over spread of coronavirus among the crew personnel of the USS Theodore Roosevelt was given a hero's farewell as Captain Brett Crozier left the carrier on April 3, 2020, a day after being relieved of his duty by Navy Secretary Thomas Modley for displaying poor judgment by sending his concern without proper channel and also hinting at the possible leak of his letter to San Francisco Chronicle. Captain Brett Crozier has disembarked the carrier at Guam. Captain Brett Crozier sent a letter to Pacific Fleet Chain Command on March 29, 2020 in an unsecured communication channel, complaining that many of the aircraft sailors were falling sick in novel coronavirus and the carrier's crew needed urgent attention. Two days later, March 31, 2020, the letter surfaced in the San Francisco Chronicle. Navy Secretary Thomas Modley fired Crozier on April 2, 2020.
Defense Secretary Mark Esper on April 5, 2020, at appearance on various TV channels, defended the April 2, 2020, firing of Captain Brett Crozier by Navy Secretary Thomas Modley, who had taken a "very tough decision"
Modley Berates the Roosevelt Crew
Acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modley on April 6, 2020 chastised the crew of USS Theodore Roosevelt, docked at Guam, for cheering off the fired captain of the ship as Captain Brett Crozier was walking off the ship on April 3, 2020. In a profanity-laced speech delivered via IMC, Modley called Crozier either "too naïve, or too stupid" to be in charge of an aircraft carrier. As of 173 of the sailors have been tested positive to COVID-19 as of April 6, 2020, and about 2,000 of 4,865 crew members were removed from the aircraft carrier.
****** FIRING OF AIRCRAFT CARRIER CAPTAIN OVER VIRUS COMPLAINT *******
China Ready to Give 1,000 Ventilators to New York
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo reached out to Beijing directly to seek China's help in securing ventilators as his state is overwhelmed by coronavirus pandemic and hundreds are dying daily because of lack of adequate ventilators. Governor Cuomo said on April 4, 2020 that China had agreed to give New York 1,000 ventilators as the U.S. death toll from the pandemic rose to more than 8,000 and confirmed positives at least 300,000, according to a daily estimate issued by Johns Hopkins University. Worldwide infections mounted to more than 1.1 million and at least 60,000 deaths. New York's own death toll surpassed 3,500.
Pearl Harbor Moments Awaiting for Americans, Surgeon-General Warns
As President Donald Trump exuded confidence that there might be light at the end of the tunnel, the White House task force for coronavirus pandemic was not so sure on April 5, 2020. The infectious disease chief, Dr. Anthony Fauchi, was candid and straight-forward about the pain points. So was Surgeon-General Dr. Jerome Adams as he warned Americans to be prepared for the Pearl Harbor moments in the coming days.
Other News of the Day (April 5)
* It has come to light that medical supply giant McKesson has warned the White House in June 2019 about the tariffs on medical emergency supplies such as gloves, masks, ventilators and other PPEs, leading to an acute shortage in the case of "potential outbreaks or disasters".
* Defense Secretary Mark Esper at appearance on various TV channels defended the April 2, 2020, firing of Captain Brett Crozier by Navy Secretary Thomas Modley, who had taken a "very tough decision".
* Italy has seen the light at the end of tunnel during the day as its 24-hour death toll was the lowest since March 19, 2020. With 525 deaths reported on April 4, 2020, lowest since 427 deaths had been recorded on March 19, the country had reported 15,887 deaths out of 129,000 cases.
* Spain registered third successive day of decline in new deaths
* Across the English Channel, meanwhile, casualties had mounted and Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who had been diagnosed with COVID-19 10 days ago, had to be hospitalized
British Premier Moved to ICU as Coronavirus Easing off in Italy, Spain
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was moved to ICU on April 6, 2020 as his situation had deteriorated, but not put on ventilator. Meanwhile, both Italy and Spain, which combined accounted for some 30,000 deaths and 265,000 infections, had reported on April 6, 2020 an ease in COVID-19 bite in both the nations.
Coronavirus Deaths in New York Surpass 9/11 Terrorist Attack Toll
In another grim milestone, New York State on April 7, 2020 reported a total of 5,500 deaths, including 4,009 in the New York City alone, the epicenter of coronavirus pandemic. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo called the sufferings of many New York residents in an emotional press conference where he had said that there was a glimmer of hope, though, as the number of new infections and deaths "are plateauing". 9/11 Attack in 2001 killed 2,753 people in the New York City and a total of 2,977.
OTHER NEWS OF APRIL 7, 2020
* China lifted strict lockdown of Wuhan, source of the pandemic, after 76 days. It's April 7, 2020 in the U.S and April 8 in China.
Global Death Toll from Coronavirus Hits Grim Milestone of 100,000
World on the Good Friday (April 10, 2020) received the grim news that its sons and daughters falling victim to COVID-19 crossed a milestone nobody wanted to hear, 100,000-mark. U.S. itself reported more than 1,900 deaths on April 10, 2020, taking the total number of COVID-19 deaths to more than 18,000, now only behind Italy. As encouraging signs of plateauing of the death and infection curves is seen in the epicenter of the pandemic, New York, spikes have popped up in other areas, notably Michigan.
Meanwhile, U.K. on April 10, 2020 reported a record 980 deaths, raising the total fatalities from the novel coronavirus to 8,958 as both Italy and Spain experienced fall-off of their admissions and mortality numbers. Britain registered more one-day death numbers, 980, on April 10, 2020 compared to Italy's maximum one day deaths of 969 reported on March 27 and Spain's 950 reported on April 2.
British Premier Touches Heart with a Personal Address to the Nation; Defends NHS
After released from hospital, Britons had a chance to see their prime minister for the first time as he was recuperating at home and the country was in the fourth week of lockdown with death toll from the novel coronavirus touching a whopping 11,329 people. Prime Minister Boris Johnson, looking exhaustive, spoke, in his April 12, 2020, nationally televised address, loftily and appreciatively the role that National Health System was playing in handling the pandemic, calling the nationalized system as the "beating heart of this country", something Britons never heard from a conservative like Johnson as NHS' funding had been cut over the years and mission had been undermined by Tory-led successive governments. Prime Minister Johnson was also effusive of two tending nurses, who happened to be immigrants from Portugal and New Zealand in what appeared to be a glimmer of hope for a changing heart over immigration after the crisis had knocked at the doorstep.
President Announces Funding Cut for WHO
In a rash decision, President Donald Trump on April 14, 2020 said that U.S. would withhold funding to World Health Organization for failing to carry out its basic responsibility and contain the coronavirus at its source in China.
Countries Rally behind WHO
A day after President Donald Trump announced funding cut for WHO, nations on April 15, 2020 rallied in supportive of the U.N. health agency.
Anti-lockdown Protests Surge across U.S.; China Ups the Wuhan Death Toll
Small-government groups, right-wing activists, conservative blocs and diehard Trump backers are organizing protests against continuing shutdown of states' economies to fight spread of coronavirus. They are defying safe distancing directives and shelter-in-place orders to rally at legislative doorsteps and outside governors' mansions to lodge their protests, often putting their own and their kids' health at risk. However, instead of dissuading them, President Donald Trump is encouraging them to continue their protest against the state leaders. On April 17, 2020, President Trump took to twitter to support the anti-lockdown rally held in Minnesota, tweeting "LIBERATE MINNESOTA!!".
Meanwhile, Chinese authorities on April 17, 2020 revised upward the death toll in Wuhan from coronavirus to 3,829, about 1,290 more than earlier reported.
As New York Sees Falling Cases, Gov Warns against Complacency
Over the past several days, both the mortality and hospitalization trends are looking promising--although still gruesome if one considers sheer numbers--but Governor Andrew Cuomo on April 19, 2020 urged caution and vigilance. Nearly 14,000 people died in New York since the first case was reported on March 1, 2020.
Oil Collapses in Negative Territory
In worst of debacles--there are many significant ones since coronavirus pandemic had all but grounded the economy to a screeching halt--the oil prices on April 20, 2020 cratered to negative territory, implying sellers had to pay buyers to purchase their oversupplied and overstocked oil. The West Texas Intermediate crude for May futures expiring on April 21, 2020 had closed the Monday (April 20) at -$37.63. The prices for June contract ended the April 21, 2020 with little over $20.
1 in 6 Americans Lost Jobs
In a somber reflection of the nation's job casualties stemming from novel coronavirus, 4.4 millions Americans filed unemployment claims in the week of April 12-18, 2020, according to April 23, 2020, U.S. Department of Labor Report on Unemployment Claims. Over the past five weeks that covers the period since the all but nationwide lockdown has begun, at least 26 million, 1 in 6, Americans have filed unemployment claims.
Grim Milestone of 50,000 Deaths Reached
According to the tally issued by the Johns Hopkins University, the U.S. death toll from the novel coronavirus had hit the alarming milestone of 50,000. The April 24, 2020, estimate included a total of 21,349 deaths in New York out of a nationwide death toll of 51,017. Only ten days ago, the death toll in the U.S. hit 25,000-mark and about three months ago, the first coronavirus-related death was reported in the U.S. The pace and ferocity of the death toll overwhelmed the healthcare infrastructure in the pandemic epicenter of New York City. However, the April 24, 2020, report had a silver-lining for New York as the state had registered 422 deaths, lowest since March 31, 2020 when 391 deaths had been recorded.
Global Death Toll from Coronavirus Hits 200,000
As the global deaths from novel coronavirus surpassed another grim milestone of 200,000 on April 25, 2020, many countries and states in the United States had started clamoring to re-open to business, but medical experts called for caution and more of a phased-in approach to open the economy.
Spain Lets Kids Play Outside, Italy Plans Phased Opening
On April 26, 2020, hundreds of young kids, accompanied by one guardian, came out for the first time in weeks to play, cycle, walk and run on boulevards, streets, trails and parks in Madrid, Barcelona and other major cities as Spain opened the country on a limited scale for kids for the first time since the lockdown had been put in place weeks ago. Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said during the day that the country would open gradually as both hospitalizations and deaths fell as a seven-week lockdown had helped reverse the trend in "community infection". First the wholesale supply sites, construction places and factories can open with strict precaution in place. Then come May 4, 2020, parks and gardens will open in Italy.
In the United States, Republican-led states such as Oklahoma, Georgia and Alaska are opening in days while Democratic-led states such as New York and Michigan have emphasized on testing and reiterated that they are not ready yet for opening up and withdrawing strict shelter-in-places. Meanwhile, the worldwide death tally from the novel coronavirus has climbed as high as 206,000 and 2.9 million people have been infected, according to an April 26, 2020, tally compiled by the Johns Hopkins University.
More than 30 million People Lost Jobs in Six Weeks
In what's shaping up as the worst streak of weeks of vanishing jobs and mounting unemployment that one has to go back to 30s to find, an additional 3.8 million people filed for unemployment claims in the week that ended on April 25, 2020, according to an April 30, 2020, Labor Department report. Since nation's non-essential business activities had all but stopped six weeks ago, nearly 30.3 million people lost their jobs.
OTHER NEWS OF APRIL 30, 2020
* The Office of the Director of National Intelligence, or DNI, the clearinghouse of all 17 intel and spy agencies under the federal government, reported that the coronavirus was not "manmade" or "genetically modified", refuting a conspiracy theory that President Donald Trump and his backers had been espousing that China had a hand in it.
Remdesivir Approved by FDA for Emergency Use
At a White House briefing on April 1, 2020, President Donald Trump announced that Food and Drug Administration had approved emergency use of remdesivir as more experiments and trials were going in the run up to a potential full approval. CEO of the drug maker, Gilead Sciences, Daniel O'Day, and FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn were present at the White House press briefing. The limited approval for remdesivir for critically ill COVID-19 patients came after April 29, 2020, public statement by infectious disease chief, Dr. Anthony Fauci, that a government-led strict trial involving 1,063 patients showed promise of the drug with 31% relative effectiveness. On the average, patients on remdesivir left hospitals after 11 days, while patients under standard treatment spent on the average of 15 days in the hospital.
New York's Nursing Home Deaths Estimated Sharply Upward
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo faced criticism from certain quarters over lack of efficient handling by nursing homes and assisted living facilities, run by the state itself, over their poor handling of a rapidly spreading coronavirus infection among vulnerable residents as authorities on May 4, 2020 evening upped the estimate of deaths from COVID-19 by an additional 1,700. Since March 1, 2020, at least 4,813 nursing home and assisted living facility residents have died in COVID-19.
According to a Johns Hopkins University tally, about quarter million people have died of novel coronavirus pandemic, including 70,847 in the U.S., as of May 5, 2020. Britain has taken over Italy as the country with second-highest deaths--29,427 for Britain and 29,315 for Italy, respectively--in the world and highest in Europe.
Fauci Testifies via Videoconferencing, Says Rush will "Set Back" Gains
Appearing over the videoconferencing to testify before the U.S. Senate Health Committee on May 12, 2020, country's infectious disease chief, Dr. Anthony Fauci, warned the states against re-opening in haste when there were no sustained drops in coronavirus infections. Else, the nation, according to Dr. Fauci, faced risk of setting back the way on economic recovery. Many states, including Texas, opened their economies even flouting Trump administration's own health guidelines. However, that was still okay with president as he was becoming impatient to re-open the economy for his own re-election amidst millions of people having lost jobs.
OTHER NEWS OF THE DAY
* Speaker Nancy Pelosi on May 12, 2020 unveiled an additional $3 trillion rescue package, including $1 trillion for aid to states and cities, "hazard" pay for essential workers and a new instalments of cash payments
* CORONAVIRUS SEVERITY METRICS: (1) Percentage of ICU Beds occupied under a jurisdiction, say county or city; (2) R0, "R naught", metric, which implies how many others are infected by each COVID-19 infected subject and "serial interval", defined as average time interval between successive infections. If R0 is one, the infection has plateaued. If R0 > 1, the infection is spreading with growth in each cycle. As an example, say, R0 is 3 and a "serial interval" is of 4 days. On March 1, there was one person infected. On March 5, there will be then 4. On March 9, there will be a total of 13. On March 13, there will be a total of 40. (Source: The Dallas Morning News Editorial)
CDC Issues Opening Guideline
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on May 14, 2020 issued a six-page recommendation on safe opening of schools, businesses, restaurants and other places. The six checklists include decision trees that will help individual businesses make decision to open their facilities and the scale of opening. In April CDC sent White House and its coronavirus task force a more comprehensive guidance, but that has been sitting there for weeks. In mid-April 2020, the White House released a three-phase opening guidance that allowed first phase of opening to be triggered when there were 14 successive days of declines in infections, followed by two other phases accompanied by other improvements.
OTHER NEWS OF THE DAY (MAY 14, 2020)
* European nations announced massive relief packages for rescuing their struggling economies and helping their crumbling businesses. French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe unveiled a $19.4 billion aid package.
* 3 million additional people filed for the first time unemployment claims, taking the total who had claimed unemployment benefit in the two months since COVID-19 pandemic had forced most of the businesses to 36 million
* Fired head of Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, or BARDA, an agency housed in the Health and Human Services department, Rick Bright, appeared before a U.S. House panel to complain that Trump administration had no comprehensive plan to fighting against the novel coronavirus and many of his missives went unheeded. Dr. Rick Bright also predicted a devastating winter ahead if coronavirus returned. Soon afterward, Trump called out Bright as a "disgruntled employee" and whistleblower, who was "not respected".
Trump Announces $10 billion Mission to Have a Vaccine by the End of the Year
President Donald Trump on May 15, 2020 launched Operation Warp Speed to accelerate making a vaccine and put it in place for mass use by the end of the year. The $10 billion project will be led by a former GlaxoSmithKline executive, Moncef Slaoui, and Gen. Gustave Perna, top commander of the Army Material Command. The project aims to streamline several steps to production, testing and scaling up the vaccination on a faster track. Many parallel researches are going on throughout the world, and the two showing promises are a vaccine now under development by NIH and Moderna Inc. and a second one by the researchers at Oxford University. Many healthcare experts called Trump's yearend timeline overly optimistic and dangerous as it would give some people false sense of hope.
New York Stock Exchange Resumes Operation
After it was shut down on March 23, 2020, NYSE's May 26, 2020, re-opening symbolized new life of economic activities full of optimism although the death toll from novel coronavirus inched toward 100,000. May 26, 2020, opening bell at NYSE was rung by Governor Andrew Cuomo.
U.S. Hits Grim Milestone with 100,000 Coronavirus Deaths
According to a running tally by Johns Hopkins University released on May 27, 2020, the death toll from the novel coronavirus had exceeded 100,000, making the U.S. with highest number of COVID-19 fatalities in the world. U.S. also stands number 1 in the cases of infections.
Strict Lockdowns Saved Millions of Lives, Studies Find
Two separate studies that used separate methods and were published in the Nature on June 8, 2020 concluded that widespread lockdowns had resulted in significant savings of human lives. To put a perspective, strict lockdowns in March and April saved 60 million people in the U.S. from getting infected with novel coronavirus and led 285 million fewer cases in China. The study conducted by researchers from the University of California, Berkley used an "econometric" model incorporating 1,717 interventions in U.S., China, France, Italy, Iran and South Korea. The study also points out the timing of the lockdowns and stated that it was crucial to have led to millions of less infections in the affected nations.
A second study conducted by the researchers from the Imperial College in London and published in the June 8, 2020, edition of Nature reached identical conclusion about the effect of lockdowns on the novel coronavirus spread. The study came up with a ballpoint numbers of 3.1 million lives saved in 11 European nations, including 500,000 in the U.K. The strict lockdowns also drove the infection rates down by an average of 82%.
Britain Begins 14-day Quarantine for Travelers
Britain started to have a 14-day quarantine on incoming passengers by air, road and seas effective June 8, 2020, a measure roundly criticized by already devastated airline and tourism industries as well as public health advocates who called the quarantine measure as too little, too late.
As U.S. States Re-open, Coronavirus Cases Surge
As state after state has been re-opening for businesses, novel coronavirus is not taking any break from U.S. lives. According to a June 11, 2020, report by The Associated Press, half of the states are seeing alarming rise in novel coronavirus cases, with Texas, Arizona and Florida seeing the record spikes. Texas is also experiencing record hospitalizations.
CDC Issues New Guidelines for Public
As state after state is reopening and trends are emerging of novel coronavirus spikes in many states, especially the ones which have hurried their openings, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on June 12, 2020 issued directive for people who are going to restaurants, bars, gyms and other public places. For the first time since March 2020, CDC Director Robert Redfield on June 12, 2020 appeared at a press conference and reminded Americans that pandemic was still going. Under the CDC directive, public was urged to wear face coverings, wash hands, follow sanitization and maintain social distancing. CDC also issued a dire warning during the day that between 124,000 and 140,000 people would die of novel coronavirus by July 4, 2020.
OTHER NEWS OF THE DAY (June 12, 2020)
* Prosecutors for the northern province of Bergamo questioned prime minister, Giuseppe Conte, about mishandling of COVID-19 during initial days as many thought that central authorities were late in clamping down strict lock-downs in 11-province Lombardy region as the outbreak had erupted. Bergamo was especially affected.
FDA Revokes Malaria Drugs
Food and Drug Administration on June 15, 2020 revoked its March 30, 2020, directive to encourage malaria drugs to treat COVID-19 patients. In June 15, 2020, directive, FDA said that hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine do more harm than unproven good to COVID-19 patients.
New York City Opens up Further as Coronavirus Spikes Happen in Sun Belt
As a rushed opening throughout south caused the recent spikes in COVID-19 positives and hospitalizations, especially in Texas, Florida and Arizona, New York City returned to further normal mode on June 22, 2020 as 150,000 to 300,000 workers were estimated to return to work this week, two weeks after opening up the city's business with curbside retail, construction, wholesaling and manufacturing. On June 22, 2020, restaurants opened with outside seating arrangement, retailers let customers enter inside the stores and World Trade Center lobby opened, but with safety protocols and social distancing measures. New York City's journey through the darkest of days in April is now in the rear view mirror, but with more than 22,000 deaths, the heart of the world's economic hub is still festering over the grim toll that it has suffered and fearing over the unknown in months to come.
U.S. Nears the Record Number of Coronavirus Cases
Parts of U.S. face renewed closings and crowded hospital system as number of novel coronavirus cases soared to 34,700, close to the record high of 36,400 registered in late April 2020, according to a June 24, 2020, report tallied by the Johns Hopkins University.
Three Northeastern States Announce Self-Quarantines
In a concerted and coordinated effort, three northeastern states--New York, New Jersey and Connecticut--on June 24, 2020 announced 14-day self-quarantine for travelers from nine states, including Texas, as their coronavirus cases were heading in the wrong direction.
U.S. Marks the Record One-day Positive Cases Fueled by Sunbelt; Abbott Imposes New Limits
According to Johns Hopkins University's daily tally, U.S. is marking new records of positive COVID-19 cases almost daily basis. On June 26, 2020, the report put a grim milestone: total positives exceeded, for the first time, 40,000-mark. Florida registered 8,942 cases, 60% more than its previous high just a couple of days ago on June 24, 2020. Beside Florida, five other states recorded highest coronavirus cases: Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, Idaho and Utah. In addition, 11 states, including Texas and California, on June 26, 2020 set new records for 7-day average of positives.
Meanwhile, Texas Governor Gregg Abbott on June 26, 2020 ordered all bars closed immediately, second time such closure was mandated and a little over three months after the first order had been issued on March 16, 2020. Abbott also closed river-rafting and big gathering, and pared back restaurant capacity to 50%. He also gave more power to local authorities to issue stricter rules.
Three Grim Milestones Reported
On June 28, 2020, three grim milestones related to novel coronavirus pandemic were reported. According to John Hopkins University's daily tally reported on June 28, 2020, the number of COVID-19 deaths worldwide now topped half-a-million mark and total number of cases over 10 million. A third disturbing milestone was the highest daily reported cases, now topping 189,000, according to World Health Organization.
Out of total 500,108 deaths, more than 125,000, or 1 in 4, were reported in the U.S., followed by Brazil with more than 57,000 deaths, or 1 in 9.
100,000 Daily New Infections Possible, Fauchi Says
Appearing before a Senate panel on June 30, 2020, nation's infectious disease chief Anthony Fauci said that if not turned around, the country could see as many as 100,000 daily infections per day. Last weekend, U.S. experienced daily record of 44,792, about 30 percent higher than April 25, 2020, previous daily record of 34,203.
Appearing before the same panel, Senate Health, Education, Pension and Labor Committee chaired by Sen. Lamar Alexander, CDC Director Robert Redfield said that Americans should practice social distancing, wear face coverings in public and wash hands as effective mitigation strategy against novel coronavirus spread.
Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Stephen Hahn informed the panel that FDA had issued guidance earlier in the day for biopharmaceutical industry about effectiveness and safety of any vaccine. Under the FDA directive, any vaccine has to be 50 percent or more effective compared to placebo.
50,000-mark Reached on the Eve of 4th July Weekend; Abbott Mandates Masks
As states continued to open and many people went on with their lives just as they were used to before the pandemic, COVID-19 cases began to surge in the Sunbelt States, and on July 2, 2020, Johns Hopkins University reported a daily caseload of 50,700, a record that had beaten the darkest days of the pandemic in April and May when New York had been the epicenter of the pandemic. 40 of the 50 states are now reporting increases in cases over a 14-day span, and 36 states are experiencing COVID-19 positivity rate jumps.
Also, on July 2, 2020, Texas Governor Gregg Abbott ordered Texans to wear masks while in public places and gave authorities to local authorities to impose restrictions on gatherings of more than 10 people in public places. Texas Governor Gregg Abbott's mask mandate marks the reversal of his earlier stand in April 2020 when he has bitterly fought against local officials issuing mask orders.
England Opens on July 4th, Scottish Government Opens July 15th
England is opening up for business on July 4, 2020 after nearly three months of national lockdowns that had prevented hundreds of thousands of deaths, according to Prime Minister Boris Johnson, but also decimated country's economy. Scotland follows suit 11 days later.
U.S. Sends Formal "Quit" Notice to WHO
Carrying out his threat in May 2020, President Donald Trump's administration on July 7, 2020 sent a formal notification to the United Nations that U.S. would quit World Health Organization. The decision will not be effective immediately, and has to wait until next year to take hold. By that time, Joe Biden may become the president, who will reverse the decision on the very first day as he has vowed, or circumstances may be different.
************************************* VACCINE TRIAL ***************************
Trial Vaccine Boosts Immunity
A smaller study launched in March 2020 with 45 volunteers has shown promising results as the trial vaccine developed by National Institutes of Health and Moderna Inc. has increased the level of resisting power of humans to fight against coronavirus by generating antibodies to a scale seen only in recovered patients, according to a July 14, 2020, report in the New England Journal of Medicine. Country's chief infectious disease expert called it a good news. Now, the vaccine will be put to experimentation to a much larger 30,000-subject clinical study scheduled to begin on July 27, 2020. The first round of 45 volunteers who have been given two doses a month apart are mostly young adults. The preliminary test has later been expanded to include older adults, and the results from their tests are still pending. The large trial with 30,000-plus participants to be started on July 27, 2020 will include a large group of older adults and a diverse set of subjects from diverse demographic, ethnic and racial groups.
Moderna Trial Results for Older Adults
Moderna Inc. has submitted on August 26, 2020 to CDC the early-stage test results of its vaccine and the results, based on 20 people older than 55 years, show promising results as the immunity boost is comparable to the younger subjects.
*How Moderna Vaccine Works
Instead of traditional vaccine where inactivated trace of virus, or a smaller trace of active virus, or a weakened degree of virus is injected into bodies, the Moderna-developed vaccine takes an active genetic material called the messenger RNA and injects into the body of patient to produce coronavirus spike protein. The goal is to develop antibodies in the system that can fight against the spike protein, including ones with virus neutralizing capacity so that when patients are exposed to coronavirus, their elevated antibodies can fight it off effectively.
Meanwhile there are dozens of other experiments are ongoing across the world, including one renowned experiment at Oxford University, to produce as many vaccines as possible.
Oxford Vaccine Offers Promise, Study Shows
A study whose results have been published in the medical journal Lancet on July 20, 2020 shows promise in body's immunity against novel coronavirus. The vaccine, jointly developed by scientists of an Oxford University research organization and AstraZeneca, has been given to 1,077 people, and the world has been awaiting for the early-stage trial's outcome. The vaccine is one of 23 currently being tested in humans, according to the World Health Organization. More than 130 are in the pre-clinical trial phase.
Trump Contradicts His Own Expert
A series of incidents on September 16, 2020 starting with CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield sending all the states a planning documentation on a potential vaccine distribution to testifying before a Senate Appropriations subcommittee where he all but ruled out any mass distribution of vaccine anytime this year to President Donald Trump excoriating Dr. Redfield publicly highlighted deep schism and lack of coherence in the administration. Dr. Robert Redfield, the CDC chief, sent the documentation, a playbook for distribution of hundreds of millions of vaccine doses when they would be ready for such prime time, to all 50 states, several cities and other jurisdictions during the day. Later on September 16, 2020, appearing before a Senate appropriations subcommittee, Dr. Robert Redfield made it clear that this year the vaccine would be in "limited" for healthcare workers, first responders and at-risk group of people. The scaled-up distribution among the masses has to wait until Spring or Summer of 2021, according to the chief of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, who had lauded the effectiveness of wearing face masks or coverings. Appearing before the reporters later in the day, President Donald Trump said that Dr. Robert Redfield was "confused", and contradicted him on the timeline of mass distribution of vaccines. Trump has promised to send millions of vaccine, to be taken in two doses in weeks apart and will cost nothing to people, within few months. Trump also cast doubt on the effectiveness of masks.
Stunning Results of Vaccine Effectiveness Reported by Pfizer
Two days after Joe Biden was declared the winner of the presidential election by major networks and on the day the president-elect unveiled his Coronavirus expert team to help formulate a strategy during his transition, there was a truly optimistic and stunning result on vaccine trial. Drug giant Pfizer and German biotech company BioNTech on November 9, 2020 announced that their vaccine turned out to be 90% effective and they would seek “emergency use authorization” for their vaccine. The news of a highly effective vaccine can’t come soon enough as on the same day, U.S. has crossed grim milestones of 10 million infections and more than 238,000 deaths. Another American Pharmaceutical company, Moderna Inc., is also racing ahead with its own vaccine trial and it may likely to seek “emergency use authorization” from the FDA too. One common element of both Moderna and Pfizer vaccines is that both involve messenger RNA technique instead of Coronavirus itself, minimizing the possibility that people taking the vaccine will get the virus itself. The messenger RNA, or m-RNA, technique works as follows: it helps train body’s immunity system recognize the spiked protein on the surface of the virus so that the body’s immunity system can attack the virus.
Eli Lilly & Co Receives the First COVID-19 Treatment from the FDA
As the pharmaceutical companies are racing with clinical trials of COVID-19 vaccines, there is a bridge in the interim that may help the patients with mild symptoms of Coronavirus from getting sicker and afflicted with more severe form the virus. It’s an antibody cocktail, Bamlanivimab, that Eli Lilly & Co. has come out with and sought “emergency use authorization”. On November 9, 2020, Food and Drug Administration accorded the pharmaceutical company with that authorization. The antibody cocktail helps boost body’s immunity system to attack the virus. President Donald Trump received such cocktail when he came down with COVID-19.
Vaccine 95% Effective, Moderna Makes Its Vaccine Study Public
A week after a very upbeat news of a vaccine trial conducted by Pfizer and German biotechnology company BioNTech, American biotechnology firm Moderna Inc. on November 16, 2020 shared with the public the preliminary results from its own vaccine trial. Moderna has claimed that its vaccine is 95% effective. Moderna’s two-dose vaccines are given to 30,000 enrollees in the large-scale trial. Half of the participants received placebos and half of the people received the vaccines. After tracking the symptomatic participants, the researchers found 90 of 95 COVID-19 positives in the placebo group, with all the 11 severely sick participants found in placebo group. Moderna is waiting to reach 151 positive cases to definitively move to the next phase and to apply for “emergency-use authorization”. Both Moderna and Pfizer vaccines leverage a novel technology, messenger RNA, or m-RNA, that does not require the virus itself. The vaccine based on m-RNA helps train the body to identify the spike in a specific protein that is on the surface of Coronavirus as part of building the body immunity. Pfizer has invested $2 billion from its own coffer to run the trial and develop the vaccine. Moderna received $1 billion from the Operation Warp Speed, a $10 billion project set up by Trump administration in May 2020 to speed up the development of coronavirus vaccine. Both companies have contracts with U.S. government to sell 100 million doses. Both Pfizer and Moderna are expecting to produce 20 million doses of vaccines by the end of this year, implying that about 20 million people will get the two-dose vaccines. In 2021, Moderna Inc. is expecting to mass-produce at least 500 million doses of vaccines, while Pfizer projects about 1.3 billion doses of vaccine production in 2021. The key difference in storing procedures of Pfizer and Moderna vaccines may allow authorities to target different groups of people with two sets of vaccines. Since Pfizer vaccines need to be stored in minus 70-degree Celsius temperature, that needs special storage provision. On the other hand, Moderna vials can be stored under regular refrigeration for a month and frozen for up to six months, implying that Moderna vaccines may be suited in rural areas and under-privileged areas where super cold storage facilities may not be readily available.
Pfizer Trial Concludes; Vaccine 95 Percent Effective
Nine days after making public the very positive findings of the preliminary results from its large-scale clinical trial, Pfizer on November 18, 2020 announced that it had concluded its trial and its vaccine was proven to be 95% effective. In the trial, the vaccine maker enrolled about 44,000 people, out of whom half had received placebo and half the vaccine. There were 170 COVID-19 positives. 162 were from the placebo group and eight from experimental group. Out of 10 cases of severe illnesses, nine belonged to placebo group. For people older than 65, the vaccine has turned out to be about 94% effective. Pfizer is going to ask for “emergency-use authorization".
Pfizer, BioNTech File Emergency Approval from FDA
In a landmark moment to race for a cure for COVID-19 pandemic, Pfizer and its German partner, biotechnology firm BioNTech, on November 20, 2020 filed for “emergency-use authorization” of its vaccine, setting a weeks-long course of intense vetting and deliberative processes by FDA career scientists and outside experts to determine whether the vaccine was “safe and effective”. In a video message to mark this moment that has been arrived at the “speed of science”, Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said that the application for emergency-use authorization for “COVID-19 vaccine is now in the FDA’s hands".
Emergency-use Authorization Approved for Regeneron Monoclonal Cocktail Therapy
Food and Drug Administration on November 21, 2020 approved a second monoclonal antibody treatment, using the emergency-use authorization mandate. First monoclonal antibody cocktail, Banlanivimab, was approved by FDA on November 9, 2020 after its maker Eli Lily had submitted for its “emergency-use authorization”. The second “emergency-use authorization” approval granted by the FDA on November 21, 2020 involved a monoclonal cocktail of two antibodies—Casirivimab and Imdevimab—manufactured by Regeneron Pharmaceuticals and has been given to President Donald Trump to prevent his situation from getting worse. Monoclonal cocktail of antibodies is used to treat mild COVID-19 cases and to ensure that the situation of patients does not become more severe.
Third Virus Vaccine 90% Effective
A clinical trial conducted by Oxford University and AstraZeneca found its coronavirus vaccine to be 90% effective, according to the findings shared on November 23, 2020 with public. Although slightly lower in effectiveness than the vaccines developed by Pfizer and Moderna, the AstraZeneca vaccine is more practical and easier to inoculate to humans as the vials don’t need to be stored in sub-zero temperature, a critical requirement for vaccines developed by Pfizer and Moderna. One interesting finding about AstraZeneca trial is that if a half-dose of vaccine is followed by a full-dose a month later, the effectiveness is 90%, but two full-doses a month apart leads to only 62% effectiveness.
Moderna Applies for Emergency-Use Authorization for Its Vaccine
On November 30, 2020, Moderna filed an emergency-use authorization for its vaccine, becoming the second vaccine-maker to file for emergency-use authorization to the FDA. Ten days ago, Pfizer and German biotech company BioNTech filed for “emergency-use authorization” for their vaccine. U.S. government, through its landmark Operation Warp Speed, financed $955 million in Moderna’s vaccine research program and signed a contract to get 100 million doses of vaccine for $1.5 billion. Pfizer has a separate contract to supply U.S. government with an additional 100 million doses for $1.95 billion. Moderna will be able to supply 20 million doses of vials to U.S. by the end of this year alone, according to the pharmaceutical company update.
Healthcare Workers, Nursing Home Residents to Get Vaccinated First
Laying out a clear strategy of who will get the first of vaccine shots, a key [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] advisory committee, Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, on December 1, 2020 has recommended America’s healthcare workers and nursing home residents to have the first opportunity to get vaccinated as vaccines from two applicants for the emergency-use authorization are likely to be approved by the Food and Drug Administration in the coming days and first of millions of batches are to be shipped to states by the end of December 2020. The panel was created in 1964, and worked as a mouthpiece of nation’s vaccine experts to offer guidance to the nation on vaccine plan, new products and prioritization. The 15-member panel normally meets after a vaccine is approved, but this time, it has met for an emergency session as states are facing a deadline of December 4, 2020 to apply for vaccine doses and this recommendation will help the states on how and where to distribute the doses. The recommendation will cover approximately 24 million people, including 3 million nursing home residents and 21 million healthcare workers.
Britain First to Approve a Coronavirus Vaccine
British regulators on December 2, 2020 approved a vaccine developed by Pfizer and German biotechnology firm BioNTech on the emergency-use basis, becoming the first such nation in the west to approve a vaccine in a record-breaking speed. Prime Minister Boris Johnson lauded the milestone with a nationalistic tone that has not sat well with EU regulators. U.S. Food and Drug Administration will review the Pfizer vaccine application on December 10, 2020, and emergency-use authorization may come within days. However, FDA uses more rigorous vetting compared to British Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency. FDA uses the manufacturing and patient-level data to ensure that the vaccine is safe and effective while the British regulatory agency uses summary data provided by vaccine maker. EU regulators will meet on December 29, 2020 to review the vaccine. Britain will roll out the vaccine to nursing home residents and their caregivers first, followed by people over 80 years old. Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla on December 2, 2020 cautioned against lowering the guard now and emphasized that now “it’s not the time” to go back to normal.
As Russia has Begun Vaccinating, U.K. Gears up and Trump to Sign America First Vaccination Order
Russia has begun vaccinating thousands of doctors, teachers and others at different places in Moscow on December 5, 2020 after it had announced results of its COVID-19 vaccination program, dubbed as Sputnik V vaccine program, in summer of 2020. Sputnik V vaccine was tested on limited number of subjects.
Britain is about to launch a major vaccination drive on December 8, 2020 after greenlighting the vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech for “emergency use” six days ago. Britain’s vaccination will first be geared towards people over 80 years old who are either hospitalized or have outpatient service appointment. In addition, the first 800,000 doses will also cover the nursing home staff. Britain’s revered National Health Service will undertake one the biggest inoculation drive in the country’s history as U.K. has suffered the worst death toll in Europe from the novel Coronavirus, with more than 61,000 deaths and 1.7 million cases, and test the leadership and resolve of NHS top brass, including Chief Executive Simon Stevens. To mark the launch of the first vaccination drive in the western world, Britain’s health minister, Matt Hancock, proudly called the day (December 8) as the V-Day, comparing it to another significant day in its history, D-Day, dating back to World War II.
Meanwhile, as Trump administration sought out another 100 million doses from Pfizer in addition to 100 million doses that it had ordered last summer, it came to know that Pfizer could not deliver that many doses as other countries placed orders with Pfizer, ensuring that U.S. might end up with the first 100 million doses plus whatever remained in Pfizer stockpile. President Donald Trump, instead of trying to secure enough doses from other potential vaccine makers, masked his administration’s lack of foresightedness to whip up nationalism by planning to sign an executive order on December 8, 2020 to vaccinate Americans first before vaccinating people in other nations. Fox News first reported on December 7, 2020 about Trump’s so called “America First” vaccine executive order.
FDA Scientists Report on Pfizer Vaccine, U.K. Launches Vaccination, Astra Vaccine Research Published
In a nod to scientific finding earlier reported, U.S. Food and Drug Administration scientists on December 8, 2020 reported that their analysis had confirmed what Pfizer and BioNTech had earlier shared about their vaccine finding. The FDA scientists’ report came two days before an independent panel of scientists were to meet to consider the efficacy and safety of the Pfizer vaccine. If the independent panel of FDA advisers approves the vaccine, it is then just days away for the FDA to give “emergency-use authorization” as the agency decision-makers often heed the recommendation from the independent panel. FDA scientists reported on December 8, 2020 that Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was 90% effective, about 5 percent below than what had been reported by vaccine makers. FDA scientists have also found that the Pfizer vaccine is effective after the first dose. FDA is expected to approve the Pfizer vaccine in days and vaccines will be rolled out soon. So far, neither the vaccine makers nor the FDA’s scientists have found any side effects other than pain around injection site, or fever, or fatigue.
Meanwhile on December 8, 2020, Britain launched an ambitious vaccination campaign, becoming the first western country to inoculate against COVID-19. The first person to receive the shot was a 90-year-old former store clerk, Margaret Keenan, from Northern Ireland.
On the same day (December 8, 2020) that Britain launched a massive COVID-19 vaccination campaign, the medical journal Lancet published the results from the research of a third vaccine conducted by Oxford University and AstraZeneca. The journal has reported that the AstraZeneca vaccine is safe, and about 70% effective. The experiment had run into a glitch, with 2,741 participants given half a dose in the first shot and then a full dose in the second shot. In this smaller group, the effectiveness rate was reported to be 90%, while in the larger group that had two back-to-back full doses, the effectiveness rate stood out to be 62%. The study involved 23,745 participants from the U.K., Brazil and South Africa and 11,636 received the vaccine. However, there is inconclusive results on how the vaccine works on people over 55 as there have been none in the smaller group and only handful in the larger group that has received two full doses. AstraZeneca vaccine holds tremendous promise for billions of people in the developing world because of its safety, moderately high effectiveness (70% collectively, including 62% for the group receiving two full doses and 90% for the group receiving one half dose followed by a full dose) and ease of use, including requirements that do not need the vaccine vials to be stored in sub-freezing temperatures like the other two candidates from Pfizer and Moderna.
FDA Advisory Panel Approves Pfizer Vaccine a Day after Canada Approves It
In a high-end chase to the launch of a historic vaccination campaign in the U.S., a Food and Drug Administration advisory panel on December 10, 2020 voted 17-4, with one abstention, to approve a vaccine developed by Pfizer and German biotech company BioNTech on “emergency-use authorization” basis. Next step is for FDA to approve the recommendation of FDA advisory panel, which it most often does. The advisory panel has concluded that the vaccine is safe and effective. The vaccine has been approved for adults and teens over 16 years. The decision has been made of a large-scale study involving about 44,000 participants. The study is still ongoing, but major conclusions have been drawn from the study. Some of the dissenting members of the FDA advisory panel worried that the scientific community did not have enough information on how the vaccine worked with younger population, especially teenagers, because of lack of enough participants in the trial, scale of side reactions and, though very effective, how good the vaccine was in mitigating transmission. Also, another fear is once the participants who have received placebo once start taking the vaccines, useful measures and metrics will cease to be collected. The vaccine should not be given, according to the December 10, 2020, recommendation from the FDA advisory panel, to pregnant women and children below 16 years.
The FDA advisory panel’s decision came a day after Canada had approved the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. FDA advisory panel will meet, most likely, next week to consider a second vaccine developed and tested by Moderna and National Institutes of Health. Two other candidates—one by AstraZeneca and another one by Johnson & Johnson—are also in the pipeline. The vaccine being developed by Johnson & Johnson is a single-dose vaccine.
FDA Grants Pfizer Vaccine Emergency Use Authorization
Food and Drug Administration on December 11, 2020 gave Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine “emergency-use authorization” in the U.S., implying that a probable cure, at last, had arrived at a lightning speed and within 336 days of a genetic blueprint of novel Coronavirus had been shared online by Chinese scientists. Earlier in the day, many media sources reported, White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows implored FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn to approve the vaccine by the end of the day or resign, illustrating another example of Trump administration’s pressure tactic on independent policy-making agencies. This specific vaccine has now been approved by Britain, Canada, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, now by the U.S., and on the same day, by Mexico. Pfizer and BioNTech, unlike other companies, did not take any money from the Operation Warp Speed, a program put together hastily in the months aftermath of the outbreak of the pandemic, for development and research, but took from the U.S. government $1.95 billion to supply 100 million doses of vaccines, including 25 million doses this year. Meanwhile, government authorities and vaccine makers promised that within 24 hours of FDA approval of the Pfizer vaccine, 2.9 million doses would be shipped to the states. A key advisory committee of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, that has issued recommendation on December 1, 2020 on who should first get the shots will meet on December 12, 2020 and is expected to okay the FDA approval of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.
********** SPUTNIK V VACCINE
Russia to Share Its Vaccine Insight with AstraZeneca
As the first-generation COVID-19 vaccines are either in the approval or distribution pipeline, collaborative efforts are mounting for the second-generation vaccines. Part of the second-generation vaccine development process will bank on blending the disparate technologies and methodologies used by individual vaccine makers that have worked in silos in developing first-generation vaccines to improve the potency of the resultant vials. Two of the vaccines—one developed by Pfizer and BioNTech and the second one developed by Moderna and National Institutes of Health—leverages a brand new genetic method, called the messenger-RNA, to recognize the spike proteins on the surface of coronavirus and build the body spike proteins as a fighting tool. AstraZeneca and Oxford-developed vaccine, which a peer review research has shown to be 70% effective, uses a common cold virus, or adenovirus, that typically affects the chimpanzees to identify the invading coronavirus and train body to fight against it. Russia’s Gamaleya Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology has developed two-dose Sputnik V vaccine based on vectors of common cold virus, or adenovirus. On December 11, 2020, AstraZeneca issued a statement, confirming a collaboration between the vaccine makers as the Anglo-Swedish pharma giant “will soon begin exploring within Russia to understand whether two adenovirus-based vaccines can be successfully combined”. Another tantalizing research that’s sure to come is what happens if viral-vector vaccine is combined with a messenger RNA vaccine or one dose of viral-vector vaccine is paired with another dose of messenger RNA vaccine.
Russian Authorities Approve One-dose Sputnik Vaccine
Russia on May 6, 2021 approved Sputnik Light, a single-dose vaccine akin to the first shot of two-dose Sputnik V, paving the way for mass-vaccinating people in developing world.
********** SPUTNIK V VACCINE
CDC Advisory Panel Gives Final Greenlight to Pfizer Vaccine
A day after the Food and Drug Administration gave “emergency-use authorization” to Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, a key advisory committee of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, on December 12, 2020 overwhelmingly voted for using the vaccine as the benefits outweigh any potential side effects such as mild fever or pain around injection site. The vote was 11 in favor, and three abstained from voting because of conflict of interest.
FDA Advisory Panel Approves a Second Vaccine
In a boost to COVID-19 vaccination effort, an FDA advisory panel on December 17, 2020 voted 20-0 to approve for “emergency-use authorization” a vaccine co-developed by biotechnology company Moderna Inc. and National Institutes of Health. A second COVID-19 vaccine is highly needed as the number of confirmed Coronavirus cases in the U.S. has climbed to at least 1.6 million and number of deaths has surpassed 310,000.
FDA Approves Moderna’s Vaccine
Food and Drug Administration on December 18, 2020 approved a second vaccine for COVID-19, this time co-developed by Moderna Inc. and National Institutes of Health.
CDC Panel Issues Guidelines for Second Group of Vaccine Recipients
19 days after an advisory panel of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended nation’s 25 million healthcare workers and nursing home residents to receive the COVID-19 vaccine as a first batch of recipients, Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices on December 20, 2020 recommended that next in line for vaccine candidate should include about 49 million people, a group made of country’s 19 million adults of 75 years and above plus 30 million frontline, essential workers such as teachers, grocery store employees, daycare professionals, transit employees and people employed in key areas. The advisory panel’s vote was 13 to 1 in favor of recommending this so called Phase1b group of people for the next phase of vaccination.
The panel has also recommended a 129-million third phase of vaccine recipients, or Phase 1c, that includes adults of age 65 to 74, at-risk group of people in the age group of 16 through 64 and a second batch of essential workers, covering 10 broad areas such as finance, telecommunication, food service, transit, logistics and energy. The December 20, 2020, recommendations by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices for Phase1b and Phase 1c will provide the broad guideline to the states to prioritize their limited stock of vaccines after taking into consideration factors such as hot spots, employment areas and exposure risks. There are not enough vaccine doses in the first few months of 2021. According to Operation Warp Speed’s projection, 20 million people will get the doses in December 2020, followed by 30 million in January 2021 and 50, million in February 2021, implying that vaccination for the combined group of potential recipients from Phase 1a (25 million), Phase 1b (49 million) and Phase 1c (129 million) will not be completed before early Spring 2021.
U.S. to Buy an Additional 100 million doses from Pfizer; Grants Given to Merck for Treatment
U.S. HHS Secretary Alex Azar said on December 23, 2020 that Pfizer had agreed to sell another 100 million doses of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine to Trump administration for $1.95 billion. Earlier, U.S. planned to buy 100 million doses of vaccines. In addition to 200 million doses under the contract that will vaccinate 100 million people, U.S. has option to buy an additional 400 million doses from Pfizer.
.Separately, HHS Secretary Alex Azar announced a $356 million grant to Merck from the Operation Warp Speed to fast-track the production of a yet-to-be-approved, but promising treatment for patients with severe COVID-19 illness. The treatment, MK-7110, helps to minimize the damaging effect from the overdrive of the body’s immune system in reaction to the presence of coronavirus, leading to a series of debilitating effects on the various systems of the body.
Chinese Vaccine Slightly more than 91% Effective, Turkey Says
Turkish infectious disease expert Dr. Serhat Unal announced on December 24, 2020 that a Chinese vaccine that had recently gone through a 7,371-volunteer trial in Turkey that had shown 91.25% effectiveness. The vaccine, CoronaVac, was developed by Chinese pharmaceutical company Sinovac. The results are the first batch reported for CoronaVac, according to Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca.
U.S. Vaccination Falling Short; Biden Vows to Act Swiftly amid Records in Case, Deaths and Hospitalizations
President-elect Joe Biden on December 29, 2020 criticized Trump administration's vaccination drive as it was falling significantly short of the December 2020 vaccination goals, and vowed to invoke the Defense Production Act of 1950 to accelerate the vaccine production and distribution after the inauguration. U.S. planned to inoculate 20 million people in December 2020, but only 11.5 million doses were so far distributed and, out of that, only 20% had been used, according to the CDC.
Biden told reporters at Wilmington, Delaware on December 29, 2020 that his administration would strive for scaling up vaccination of 1 million per day, five to six times as high as current numbers. Joe Biden again warned that worst might yet to come as daily caseloads over the past few weeks were running more than 200,000, with December 17, 2020 hitting the record of 252,431. Total Coronavirus cases have hit 19 million on December 27, 2020. Total number of COVID-19 hospitalizations have been running 100,000-plus daily over the past several weeks, and on December 23, 2020, there was a record of approximately 119,000 COVID-19 patients hospitalized. The daily mortality numbers are trending above 2,000, with December 17, 2020 logging a record of 3,406 deaths. Total death toll from COVID-19 has exceeded 330,000.
U.K. Approves the AstraZeneca Vaccine
U.K. authorities on December 30, 2020 approved the viral vector-based vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University.
BIDEN ADMINISTRATION'S VACCINATION PLAN
Biden Plans Scaling up the Vaccination Drive, Increasing Sites amidst CDC Warning of the New Variant
On January 15, 2021, President-elect Joe Biden has laid out an overview of how he wants to tackle a surging pandemic that has infected more than 23 million people and killed at least 390,000. Biden focused on
* FEMA to take the command of setting up federally administered vaccination sites, with a goal of 100 such sites in gyms, community centers, mobile clinics and others up and running at the end of the first month of his administration
* Expanding the inoculation drive to administer vaccines to people older than 65 years
* Collaborating with chain and independent pharmacies to "immediately start a new effort" to inoculate as many as 100 million people in the first 100 days in office
President-elect Joe Biden cautioned Americans that things would be worse before "we can get it done" and reverse the tide of infections. He also pivoted the economic improvement on beating back the virus, emphasizing that "health of the nation is literally at stake". Trump administration's rollout of vaccine was clumsy at best and chaotic at worst. Trump administration has set up an initial goal of inoculating 20 million people by the end of December 2020. As of January 15, 2021, about 31 million doses have been distributed and at least 10.6 million people vaccinated. President-elect Joe Biden has faulted the initial rollout, and wants to overhaul the supply chain of vaccine production, distribution and administration pipeline. As part of that effort, Biden on January 15, 2021 named former FDA Commissioner David Kessler to head the operation that would streamline and fast-track the production-distribution-administration pipeline. David Kessler replaces Moncef Slaoui, the the chief scientific officer of Trump administration's Operation Warp Speed.
Meanwhile, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a warning on January 15, 2021 that the new variant of COVID-19 first found in England would become the dominant strain in the U.S. in two months. The new variant, B.1.1.7, is 50% more infectious than the original strain, according to the CDC. As of January 15, 2021, 76 cases of the new strain has been found in 12 states, according to the CDC.
CDC Head: Production Needs to be Ramped up; New Variant may be More Virulent
As the nation is craving for return to some semblance of pre-COVID normalcy, the new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention director, Rochelle Walensky, said on January 24, 2021 that U.S. had to accelerate the inoculation drive beyond Biden's goal of 100 million vaccinations in the first 100 days to achieve it. Unfortunately to go beyond 100 million shots in the first 100 days, the production volume needs to be ramped up. Meanwhile, scientists are also concerned about possible mutations of the coronavirus. Joe Biden administration's chief medical officer and nation's infectious disease chief, Dr. Anthony Fauci, said during the day that "we need to assume" that the new strain would have more "virulence".
Novavax Vaccine 89% Effective
Novavax Inc. on January 28, 2021 has reported on the findings of an ongoing trial in the U.K., involving 15,000 participants, that its vaccine is 89% effective, but the vaccine's efficacy goes down for the new strains now circulating around the globe.
J&J Reports 66% Efficacy of Its Single-dose Vaccine
Johnson & Johnson on January 29, 2021 reported results from its 44,000-strong trial at the height of Coronavirus pandemic when more contagious mutants were spreading throughout the globe. Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine is logistically easier to manage compared to those manufactured by Pfizer and Moderna as J&J’s vaccine is a single-dose vaccine. The vaccine is 66% effective, significantly lower than 90%-plus for Moderna and Pfizer vaccines. The company has reported that, although, the overall effectiveness of the vaccine for preventing moderate to serious Coronavirus illnesses is 66%, its mitigation strength shots up to 85% in the cases of serious illnesses. J&J also reported varying degrees of effectiveness by regions. In the U.S., the vaccine is 72% effective in protecting against moderate to severe illnesses. In South Africa, where a more contagious strain is raging the country, the effectiveness falls to 57%, and in Latin America, the effectiveness of the vaccine is slightly better at 66%. What is known about other vaccines so far is that they are highly effective with the initial Coronavirus strain, but the effectiveness drops in protecting against the more contagious mutant strains. Novanax reported an effectiveness of 89% in Britain, but in South Africa, where a mutant strain is raging havoc, the effectiveness drops to less than 50%. J$J’s vaccine uses a harmless cold virus, which then infects the body cells and delivers a gene that has a blueprint for a spike protein found in Coronavirus surface.
AstraZeneca Vaccine Shows Reduction in Transmissions
Most of the COVID-19 vaccines are found to be effective and safe to varying degrees, but there are not enough research into how vaccines reduce the transmissions until a preprint Lancet article published on February 3, 2021 shows that AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine reduces the coronavirus transmissions by 54%, a significant feat that will help achieve the desired goal of having a mitigation strategy against the transmission itself in addition to build immunity.
Biden Administration to Scale up Vaccination Drive
Biden administration took several steps on February 5, 2021 to scale up effort to put more doses into people's arms. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has approved a FEMA request to deploy 1,100 military personnel in vaccination sites, and the first contingent is destined for California around mid-February, according to Andy Slavitt, senior adviser to White House's Coronavirus response team. President Joe Biden promised to open 100 new sites across the country in his first 30 days in office as part of his goal of vaccinating 100 million people in the first 100 days. There are already about 175 federally backed vaccination sites across the nation. Biden administration is also invoking the Defense Production Act to ramp up production of vaccines, vaccine equipment, test kits, surgical gloves and other medical equipment. The U.S. has deals with Pfizer and Moderna of a total of 400 million doses of vaccines in the first six months of 2021, ensuring the coverage for 200 million people. Biden administration is trying to secure an additional 100 million doses from each company. White House Coronavirus supply coordinator Tim Manning has said during the day that the administration is invoking the Defense Production Act to start the production of ingredients of surgical gloves as well as the gloves themselves. At present, U.S. is dependent on overseas supply for surgical gloves, which Manning has called "unacceptable". The goal is to produce more than a billion surgical gloves a month by yearend.
Russia Basks in Sputnik V Vaccine Success
When Russian President Vladimir Putin announced in the summer of 2020 world's first breakthrough of a vaccine against Coronavirus, West was deeply skeptical, especially due to lack of enough data and almost no clinical trial information. However, Russia is now looking forward to reap significant political, health and economic benefit from Sputnik V, its two-dose vaccine, that's easy to store and more affordable after the recent publication of results in the medical journal The Lancet from a 20,000-participant clinical trial has shown an efficacy of 91.6%, a comparable rate with the vaccines manufactured by the western vaccine makers. The Bloomberg News reported on February 6, 2021 that the vaccine can be stored in a refrigerator rather than a freezer.
Johnson & Johnson Vaccine Gets Positive Review
A single-dose vaccine has received positive review from an FDA panel in advance of an all-day meeting on February 26, 2021 that may pave the way for a third vaccine to be approved as soon as this weekend.
A comparative line-up of two existing, two-dose vaccines relative to a single-dose J&J vaccine includes the following data points available as of now (February 25, 2021) in relation to various metrics:
* Efficacy
1. J&J: 66% effective in preventing the moderate to severe COVID-19; 85% effective in preventing the most serious illness
2. Moderna: 92% effective against symptomatic COVID-19 starting the 14 days after the first dose
3. Pfizer-BioNTech: Effective in reducing symptomatic cases by 94% a week after the second dose; severe diseases by 92%
* Dosage
1. J&J: Single shot
2. Moderna: Two shots spaced up to 42 days
3. Pfizer-BioNTech: Two shots in a gap of 21 days
* Storage
1. J&J: Can be stored for at least three months in 36-degree to 46-degree Fahrenheit temperature range
2. Moderna: Can be stored for up to 30 days in 36-degree to 46-degree Fahrenheit temperature range
3. Pfizer-BioNTech: Can be stored for up to two weeks in -13-degree to 5-degree Fahrenheit temperature range
* Number of Doses in the U.S.
1. J&J: 20 million doses by the end of March 2021 and 100 million doses by the end of summer 2021
2. Moderna: 300 million doses through end of July 2021
3. Pfizer-BioNTech: 300 million doses through end of July 2021
FDA Panel Approves J&J Vaccine for Emergency Use
A key Food and Drug Administration panel after a day-long deliberation on February 26, 2021 approved the emergency-use authorization of a third COVID-19 vaccine. Food and Drug Administration is likely to approve the panel's recommendation as soon as this weekend, paving the way for an increased supply of vaccines to the nation's arsenal to fight against the pandemic that had killed more than 500,000 people in the U.S. Many of the panel's scientists warned people not to think single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine as something of a second tier as it turned out to be less efficacious compared to the two-dose vaccines manufactured by Moderna and Pfizer. They reminded that Johnson & Johnson's clinical trial was conducted in the U.S., Latin America and South Africa when a more contagious strain was spreading compared to [Moderna and Pfizer] clinical trials conducted in the early cycle of the pandemic when mutations were yet to detected.
FDA Approves the Third COVID-19 Vaccine
Adding more firepower and focus to the nation's arsenal in its fight against Coronavirus pandemic, Food and Drug Administration on February 27, 2021 granted emergency-use authorization to a single-dose vaccine developed by the pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson.
Biden Administration to Seek an Additional 100 million Johnson & Johnson Vaccine Doses
President Joe Biden on March 10, 2021 announced that his administration would seek an additional 100 million Johnson & Johnson vaccine doses, raising the total [Johnson & Johnson] vaccine stockpiles to jump to 200 million doses in the coming months. That will be enough to inoculate 500 million people. President Joe Biden hailed the news at the White House in presence of Alex Gorsky and Ken Frazier, top two executives of Johnson & Johnson and Merck, respectively. The two pharmaceutical behemoths announced last week to collaborate on the production of the single-dose vaccine developed by Johnson & Johnson, underlining an unprecedented business alliance to help Americans beat an once-a-century pandemic.
AstraZeneca Faces Setback in Europe
On March 15, 2021, Germany, France, Italy and Spain have suspended inoculating with AstraZeneca vaccine after cases of blood clots in the recipients were reported. German Health Minister Jens Spahn said in a news conference during the day that the suspension was "precautionary" after seven cases of blood clots were found, out of 1.6 million German residents who had received the vaccine. World Health Organization and Europe's drug regulatory agency, European Medicines Agency, urged the nations to continue inoculating people with AstraZeneca vaccine as three was no evidence that the blood clot percentage among the vaccine recipients was any higher than that of general population. Last week, Denmark suspended vaccination with AstraZeneca after one person had blood clot and died after receiving the vaccine, and later joined by Ireland, Thailand, Norway, the Netherlands, Iceland and Congo. This is a significant setback to WHO's global vaccination drive dubbed as COVAX as AstraZeneca vaccine is the key tool set in the global agency's tool box to help achieve the so called "herd immunity".
EU's Drug Regulatory Body Head Warns against AstraZeneca Vaccine Halt
European Medicines Agency head Emer Cooke rang the alarm bell on March 16, 2021 over many European nations' decisions to suspend giving AstraZeneca vaccine to people's arms, with several public health experts cautioning that even a brief pause could still lead to disastrous consequences amidst the spread of a more contagious and, apparently a, deadlier strain.
Biden Marks 100 million Vaccine Shots, Decides to Share Astra Vaccines with Canada and Mexico
President Joe Biden on March 18, 2021 marked 100 million jabs of COVID-19 vaccines ahead of his 100-day deadline that he announced on December 8, 2020. Biden administration also announced to loan 4 million AstraZeneca doses to Canada and Mexico. There is an international outcry as only 7 million COVID-19 shots have been administered in Africa continent while the U.S. is holding at least 7 million AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines doses in its stockpile even though the vaccine was not approved on emergency-use authorization.
EU Drug Regulator: Astra Vaccine Safe and Effective
European Medicines Agency on March 18, 2021 met in an emergency meeting. After a thorough discussion EMA has decided that AstraZeneca vaccine is safe and effective although it can not rule out a link between blood clot and the vaccine. EMA said that benefits clearly did outweigh the risks.
AstraZeneca Vaccine Trial Results Found Mostly Positive
AstraZeneca on March 22, 2021 has reported, for the most part, an efficacious vaccine that prevents symptomatic COVID-19 contagion with 79% effectiveness, including older adults. The study involved 32,000-strong clinical trial group in the U.S. More than 70 nations have approved this viral vector-based vaccine, which remains the key component of the U.N. COVAX Plan, a U.N.-run vaccination plan in the developing nations to fight against the spread of COVID-19.
NIH Rebukes AstraZeneca for Including Outdated Data
In a rare rebuke to a pharmaceutical giant as big and as prestigious as AstraZeneca, National Institutes of Health on early morning of March 23, 2021 has issued a rare statement hours after the vaccine maker announced that its viral vector vaccine is 79% effective in preventing COVID-19 among symptomatic adults based on 32,000 volunteers in the U.S., saying that "AstraZeneca may have included outdated information from that trial, which may have provided an incomplete view of efficacy data". The NIH urged the company to ensure that "the most accurate, up-to-date efficacy data be made public as soon as possible". Every vaccine trial is overseen by Data and Safety Monitoring Board, or DSMB. All the key and confidential information are usually kept, tracked and monitored by DSMBs, not the trial participants or the experimenters. Any doubt raised by DSMB is bad for AstraZeneca. Hours after the March 23, 2021, early morning statement issued by the NIH that disputed the AstraZeneca efficacy data, AstraZeneca said that it had included the data through February 17, 2021, but it would furnish more recent data that would show consistent results.
AstraZeneca Reports the Updated Results
In a late night news conference on March 24, 2021, AstraZeneca reported the the most up-to-date findings from a 32,000-strong clinical trial conducted in the U.S. The new efficacy rate (76%) remains close to what has been reported (79%) on March 22, 2021.
Germany Halts AstraZeneca Vaccine for People Younger than 60
A day after Canadian scientists recommended against using AstraZeneca vaccine in people younger than 55 years, German Chancellor Angela Merkel on March 30, 2021 announced that her government would halt the administration of vaccine co-developed by the Swedish-Anglo company and Oxford for people younger than 60 years, following the recommendation of Germany’s vaccine regulator. Germany’s medical regulator, Paul Ehrlich Institute, earlier said that it had recorded 31 cases of cerebral venous thrombosis among 2.7 million people who had received the AstraZeneca vaccine.
EU Vaccine Regulator again Defends the Safety of AstraZeneca Vaccine
European Medicines Agency Executive-Director Emer Cooke on March 31, 2021 justified the continuous administration of AstraZeneca vaccine. A day after German government limited the vaccine only to adults 60 and above, the head of EMA said that "there is no evidence that would support restricting the use of this vaccine in any population".
Pfizer Reports Vaccine Efficacy among Adolescents
Pfizer on March 31, 2021 reported that its vaccine was proven very efficacious among children in the age group of 12-15. Out of 2,260 U.S. volunteers, roughly two-thirds were given the vaccine and one-third was given the placebo. There was no reported case of infection in the group that had received both the doses of vaccines. In the other group, there were 18 reported cases of infection.
British Regulators Recommend not to Inoculate People younger than 30 with AstraZeneca Vaccine
After strengthening evidence of AZ vaccine's association with a rare blood clot, British authorities on April 7, 2021 recommended that AstraZeneca vaccine should be administered only to people older than 30 years. This is another setback for AstraZeneca and global community's race to achieve herd immunity as AstraZeneca vaccine is the bedrock of WHO's COVAX campaign to mass-inoculate in the developing world. Although European Union's regulatory agency didn't issue any recommendation for age-based administration of AZ vaccine, many European countries already suspended the administration of the AZ vaccine or limited it to age-specific population in their nations.
*************** J&J Vaccine
U.S. Suspends J&J Vaccine
The Food and Drug Administration on April 13, 2021 put a pause on administering the Johnson & Johnson vaccine as authorities wanted to investigate into six cases of blood clots following vaccinations out of 6.8 million doses inoculated so far. There are three other cases in Europe that are also under investigation, J&J has said on April 13, 2021, and there is now a pause on rolling out the vaccines there. The acting commissioner of the FDA, Janet Woodcock, assured the nation that the clots were "extremely rare", but "we take all reports of adverse effects following vaccinations very seriously". One of the key reasons FDA has put a pause on administering the J&J vaccine is to make the medical practitioners aware that treating post-vaccine blood clots should not involve the traditional drug, heparin, that may, to the contrary, worsen the condition.
CDC Panel to Continue with Pause of J&J Vaccine
A CDC advisory panel, Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, met on April 14, 2021 and didn't take any stand on a day earlier FDA recommendation of pausing Johnson & Johnson vaccine to allow healthcare experts and researchers to investigate into six cases of blood clots that had been reported in women between 18 and 48, with the symptom of side effect appearing within 6 to 13 days of vaccination. One woman, who lives in Virginia, has died while another woman is in critical state. There were about 7 million doses of Johnson & Johnson vaccines administered in the U.S. as of April 12, 2021. The panel will meet again in 10 days to review the data. The panel can suspend the J&J vaccine indefinitely, or okays it, or limits it to certain age groups.
EU Agency Recommends Inoculation with Johnson & Johnson Vaccine
European Union's drug supervisory agency, European Medicines Agency, has said on April 20, 2021 that J&J vaccine's benefit outweighs the risks posed by rare blood clots, and has recommended the vaccine to be continued to be used. EMA's assessment is based on examining the nine cases, six reported in the U.S., including one death, and three in Europe. EMA Executive-Director Emer Cooke said it was much more important for the world and Europe to end the "untold human sufferings" being inflicted by Coronavirus. EU Health and Human Safety Commissioner Stella Kyriakides reacted to EMA's assessment and recommendation [related to Johnson & Johnson vaccine] by tweeting: "I urge the Member States to follow the opinion of our experts". Johnson & Johnson, which suspended vaccine shipment to Europe last week after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration had recommended temporary pause to administration of J&J vaccine, said during the day that it would resume shipment of the vaccines to EU following EMA's recommendation.
CDC Advisory Panel Recommends Resumption of J&J Vaccine Administration
Ten days after Food and Drug Administration recommended a pause and nine days after a key CDC panel approved the pause for Johnson & Johnson vaccine, CDC's advisory panel, Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, on April 23, 2021 voted 10-4, with one abstention, to resume administration of the vaccine. In a joint statement after the key CDC panel's vote, CDC and FDA reposed faith in safety and effectiveness of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. The vaccine maker will put a warning label as per the regulator's recommendation. FDA and CDC, during 10-day pause, have looked at 15 cases of rare blood clots, all in women in ages 18 to 59, out of whom three have been reported to have died.
Guillain Barre Linked to Johnson & Johnson Vaccine
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on July 12, 2021 reported that about 100 cases of rare Guillain Barre were detected out of 12.8 million J&J vaccine doses administered so far. This is the latest setback for the single-shot vaccine after rare blood clot issues and production bottleneck have hindered its smooth rollout.
Pfizer, Moderna Favored over J&J Vaccine
For the first time, CDC on December 16, 2021 made it public that it would prefer Pfizer and Moderna shots over Johnson & Johnson after a trove of research showed a complex blood clots among a small group of vaccine recipients. The blood clots are very rare (1 in 100,000) and mostly happen among women ages between 30 and 49. The research data includes 54 clot cases in the U.S.—37 women and 17 men—and nine deaths. CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommended on December 16, 2021 that Pfizer and Moderna be preferred over single-dose J&J, and CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky later in the day accepted and approved the recommendation.
FDA Limits Johnson & Johnson Vaccine
Worried about a rare, but severe, blood clot, FDA on May 5, 2022 restricted J&J vaccine only to people who might not get the other vaccine or who would specifically ask the one-dose vaccine.
*************** J&J Vaccine
Denmark Drops AZ Vaccine
In the first such act in Europe and in a clear setback to WHO's massive inoculation campaign in the developing world as part of the COVAX program that relies on AstraZeneca vaccine as a key component to build herd immunity, Denmark on April 14, 2021 has announced that it will drop the vaccine from its arsenal altogether.
WHO Approves Chinese Vaccine, Strengthens COVAX Program
Giving a shot to inoculate hundreds of millions of people in the developing world as part of COVAX plan, World Health Organization on May 7, 2021 granted emergency-use authorization of a two-dose vaccine developed by Chinese pharmaceutical company Sinopharm in collaboration with the Beijing Institute of Biological Products. "This expands the list of COVID-19 vaccines that COVAX can buy", said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on May 7, 2021. WHO's Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization submitted a report this week, reinforcing the confidence in the efficacy of the Sinopharm vaccine for people of ages between 18 and 59 based on trial conducted in China, Bahrain, Egypt, UAE and Jordan.
FDA Approves Pfizer for Adolescents
In a much anticipated move, Food and Drug Administration on May 10, 2021 approved the two-shot Pfizer-BionTech vaccine for emergency-use authorization for kids between 12 and 15. Before the vaccines start flowing into the arms of children, there are two steps that ought to be fulfilled. First, an advisory group for the CDC will meet on May 12, 2021 to recommend how the vaccine should be administered. Second, the CDC director has to sign off on the recommendation. FDA's determination that the vaccine is safe and effective is made based on the findings from a trial, involving more than 2,000 adolescents, that has yielded 18 positive cases in placebo group and none in the experimental group. The most fascinating--and, most likely, the optimistic--part of the finding is that fully vaccinated adolescents have acquired higher degree of antibodies compared to young adults who have received same dosage of two-shot regimen.
CDC Director Signs off Advisory Panel's Approval of Pfizer Vaccine for Adolescents
Two days after the Food and Drug Administration had approved the two-dose Pfizer vaccine for adolescents, an advisory panel to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on May 12, 2021 cleared the vaccine to be inoculated to children of ages between 12 and 15. The vote in the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices was 14 in favor of the use and one recusal. CDC Director Rochelle Walensky later in the day signed off the independent panel's approval. President Joe Biden hailed the decision as "one more giant step" to return to normalcy.
CDC Chief Calls for Vaccination of Adolescents
After an increased number of cases of teen hospitalizations in March and April 2021 and with many of them having ended up with mechanical ventilators, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky on June 4, 2021 urged parents, friends and guardians to get their adolescent loved ones to get vaccinated as soon as possible. Last month, authorities approved the two-dose Pfizer-BioNTech for inoculating kids between 12 and 15.
Mixing Different Vaccines Yields Higher Effectiveness
Two studies published on June 28, 2021 show higher effectiveness on two different fronts when one vaccine is followed by a different vaccine. An Oxford University-conducted study shows that AstraZeneca vaccine followed by a second Pfizer shot produces the highest level of T-cells, according to an article published on June 28, 2021 in the medical journal Lancet. The order in which the vaccines are administered can yield varying results. AstraZeneca followed by Pfizer produces the higher level of antibodies and T-cells than if the order is reversed to Pfizer followed by AstraZeneca. AstraZeneca followed by Pfizer produces the highest T-cells while two consecutive Pfizer shots produces the highest level of antibodies.
A second study conducted by the Washington University researchers and published in Nature shows a longer lasting immunity when two mRNA vaccines (Pfizer and Moderna) are mixed. Researchers looked at structures within lymph nodes called the germinal centers after withdrawing samples from 14 participants just before, one week after, two weeks after and four weeks after the administration of the second dose. 10 participants provided samples 12 weeks after the second dose, and eight of them still showed the germinal centers producing immune cells against the Coronavirus.
15 million People in America Missed the Second Jab, CDC Says
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on July 2, 2021 that about 15 million people in the U.S., or roughly 11%, had missed the second dose of vaccine as of June 16, 2021. If 42 days have been passed since the first jab without getting a second dose, CDC classifies that as a missed second dose. CDC is urging people who have over 42-day threshold and have yet to take the second dose to get it as soon as possible in the light of a more contagious Delta strain. A U.K. study published in May 2021 shows Pfizer vaccine to be 33% effective against the Delta variant after the first dose, but 88% effective after administration of both the doses.
Pfizer to Seek Emergency-Use Authorization for a Third Booster Shot
Pfizer is seeking emergency-use authorization for its booster shot as Delta variant is spreading in the U.S., U.K. and Israel more rapidly. Company's chief research scientist, Dr. Mikael Dolsten, has said on July 8, 2021 that based on the early booster research data, antibody level rises ten-fold after the third shot compared to five-fold increase after the second shot, providing body's immune system the necessary cushion. Dr. Dolsten said that Pfizer-BioNTech would seek FDA's emergency-use authorization in August 2021.
South African Firm to Produce Pfizer Vaccine
Pfizer has announced on July 21, 2021 that a Cape Town-based company, Biovac, will produce the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines for distribution in Africa, relieving pressure on an already teetering supply chain to import millions of doses from other continents.
EU Approves Moderna for 12-17 Age Group
European Union's drug regulator, European Medicines Agency, on July 23, 2021 recommended authorizing two-dose Moderna vaccine to inoculate adolescents ages 12 to 17. The agency cited research conducted on more than 3,700 children that had shown the vaccine producing almost same levels of antibodies as the young people. In the U.S., FDA is now considering to give emergency-use authorization to Moderna for 12-17 years old age group. It has already given the emergency-use authorization to Pfizer vaccine for the same age group, and since May 2021, when the vaccination opened up for the children of ages 12 to 17, at least 25% for the age group 12-15 have been fully vaccinated and almost 37% of 16 and 17 years old have been fully vaccinated, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The rare cardiac inflammation known as myocarditis and pericarditis that have been found among adolescents are now being scrutinized by the CDC although the benefits of vaccination outweigh the risks.
President Issues New Vaccine Requirements for Federal Workers
President Joe Biden on July 29, 2021 used the White House bully pulpit to declare new COVID-19 vaccine requirements for 4 million federal employees and 3 million federal contractors. Under the new requirements, federal employees need to attest to a form that they have been fully vaccinated. Else, they are required to wear a face mask, practice social distancing and undertake weekly Coronavirus testing. The July 29, 2021, presidential declaration is not a vaccine mandate, but for federal employees, it will make difficult to continue working while remaining unvaccinated.
Pentagon Mandates Vaccine for Service Members
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on August 9, 2021 mandated COVID-19 vaccine for service members by "no later than mid-September, or immediately upon" licensure by U.S. FDA "whichever comes first".
CDC Recommends Vaccination of Pregnant
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on August 11, 2021 changed its stance on vaccination of pregnant women from "eligible", a neutral stand, to highly recommended as more data from mRNA vaccines had poured in. Although research from J&J was not available, CDC recommended the pregnant people to take any of the three approved vaccines. CDC's August 11, 2021, advisory came after a strong push from 20 health organizations, which had called two days earlier for vaccination of pregnant women, or people who were thinking of pregnancy. For pregnant people, the vaccination rate remains very low: about 23%.
FDA Approves a Booster Shot for "Immunocompromised" People
Food and Drug Administration on August 12, 2021 approved a third, booster shot for certain immunocompromised people such as those with transplants. FDA's acting commissioner, Dr. Janet Woodcock, said on August 12, 2021: "Today's action allows doctors to boost immunity in certain immunocompromised individuals who need extra protection from COVID-19".
Biden Ups the Ante in Virus Fight
President Joe Biden, describing the current surge as the pandemic of unvaccinated, said on August 18, 2021 that people in the U.S. would be able to receive a third booster shot for two-dose Pfizer and Moderna, beginning the week of September 20, 2021. The booster shot will be administered eight months after the second shot. President Biden also urged the private companies to mandate vaccine for their employees and country's nursing homes to require staff to get vaccinated in exchange for federal Medicare or/and Medicaid aid money. President Biden also issued a veiled threat to Republican governors such as Ron DeSantis of Florida and Gregg Abbott of Texas who had picked on fights against local mandates, saying that "we are not going to sit by as governors try to block and intimidate educators protecting our children". FDA is yet to approve the booster shot for two-dose vaccines. Data for a booster shot for Johnson & Johnson are not yet available, but a similar outcome is expected.
FDA Nearing the Step to Grant Full Approval of Pfizer
The Washington Post reported on August 20, 2021 that the Food and Drug Administration would grant full approval of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine in the coming days, potentially raising the prospect of employer mandate and widespread adoption of Coronavirus vaccine as a more transmissible Delta strain had been spreading rapidly in the U.S. in recent weeks.
Cutter Incident: A Preventable Tragedy of Vax Distribution Still Haunting the U.S.
Many healthcare experts still refer to Cutter Incident that involved a botched Polio vaccine distribution effort in 1950s in which a laboratory had mistakenly sent vaccines containing active, not inactive, Polio virus, leading to a tragic number of cases that resulted in paralysis and illnesses. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention later referred to Cutter Incident, according to the August 21, 2021, edition of The Dallas Morning News, as a "defining moment in the history of vaccine manufacturing and government oversight of the vaccines". None of the approved COVID-19 vaccines in the U.S. contains Coronavirus. While Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna contain m-RNA, Johnson & Johnson contains an inactive adenovirus.
FDA Grants Full Approval to Pfizer-BioNTech Vaccine
Food and Drug Administration on August 23, 2021 granted full approval to Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, setting a potential flurry of activities among corporations, institutions and employers to mandate vaccine mandate. President Joe Biden hailed the moment of so called "gold standard" achievement. He urged people still sitting out to "get vaccinated today". Many corporations and hospitals have already mandated the vaccine for their employees and contractors. Defense chief Lloyd Austin in an August 9, 2021, memo said that he would seek president's approval to make the vaccine mandatory by "no later than mid-September, or immediately upon" licensure by the FDA "whichever comes first". The vaccine will be marketed under brand name Comirnaty. The full approval is limited to people 16 or older, implying that adolescents between 12 and 15 will continue to get the vaccine on the basis of emergency-use authorization.
Pentagon Chief Presses for "Ambitious" Vaccination Plan
Two days after the Food and Drug Administration granted Pfizer's vaccine the full authorization, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on August 25, 2021 nudged the military leaders in a memo to "impose ambitious timelines for implementation" of vaccine administration to all the service members. The Austin Memo reinforces Pentagon's drive to inoculate all the military service personnel for building a sustained defense against a virulent, once-in-a-generation pandemic.
***************** BIDEN ADMIN'S VACCINATION MANDATE
Biden Admin Announces Vaccination Mandates
As more contagious Delta variant is spreading more rapidly and creating a havoc among unvaccinated population, President Joe Biden on September 9, 2021 addressed the nation and laid out an ambitious plan to ramp up the vaccination drive. Under his plan, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA, will soon roll out the rules for private employers with more than 100 employees to require the workers to get vaccinated or subject themselves to weekly COVID testing. Failure to do that will cost the companies $13,600 per violation. President Joe Biden has also announced that he will require all healthcare facilities that accept Medicare or Medicaid to mandate vaccination, covering 50,000 or so locations and 17 million people. President Biden during the day signed an Executive Order requiring all federal workers and contractors to get vaccinated, with a limited degree of exemptions. There is no alternative testing provision for federal employees under the E.O. President Biden also required the Head Start and other federal program employees to get vaccinated too. The OSHA rule for private employers with at least 100 employees will cover at least 80 million people. The OSHA rule will last six months. After that, a permanent measure has to replace it. OSHA rules cover 29 states over which it has jurisdiction. For remaining states such as California and North Carolina, they have federally approved equivalent rule-setting organizations. They have up to 30 days to come up with similar rules.
White House Close to Publishing the Final Vaccination Rules
Labor Department said on November 1, 2021 that the Office of Management and Budget had completed the review of the federal government's proposed rules on vaccination, or regular testing, for employees of private companies. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA, has crafted the rules that will cover about 80 million people and employers of 100 or more employees. The OSHA rules require private sector employees to get vaccinated, or tested regularly and wear face masks, but the rules are not clear who will bear the cost of testing. New OSHA head Doug Parker, the first Senate-confirmed head since Obama administration, takes charges this week. Once the rules are published this week in the Federal Register, they will become effective.
OSHA Rules Published
Biden administration on November 4, 2021 published an expansive and elaborate set of rules mandating vaccines for the country's private company employees. One aspect of the rules crafted by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA, will cover 84 million employees working for private companies with 100 or more employees. Employees working for such companies are required to be fully vaccinated by January 4, 2022 barring religious or medical exemptions. Anybody not fully vaccinated by January 4, 2022 will be required to take weekly COVID tests at their own expenses, but with company-granted off-time. Another component of OSHA rules covers 17 million workers at medical facilities, nursing homes and assisted living facilities that receive Medicare and Medicaid funding. For this group, the rule is more rigorous. They have to be fully vaccinated by January 4, 2022 barring religious and medical exemptions without any testing option.
Several Lawsuits Filed against Biden's Vaccine Mandate
Attorneys General of at least two dozen states on November 5, 2021 filed several lawsuits at various appeals courts against the OSHA vaccine mandate. Missouri Attorney-General Eric Schmitt opined in the court filing to the St. Louis-based 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals: "This mandate is unconstitutional, unlawful, and unwise". 10 other states joined the lawsuit with Missouri. The office of Iowa Attorney-General Tom Miller, only Democrat to file against the vaccine mandate, joined nine other Republican attorney generals from Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming.
Other coalitions of states filed separate lawsuits on November 5, 2021:
* Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Utah (New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals)
* Kansas, Kentucky, Idaho, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee and West Virginia (Cincinnati-based 6th Circuit)
* Alabama, Florida, Georgia (Atlanta-based 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals)
* Indiana (Chicago-based 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals)
OSHA Rules Put on Hold by Appeals Court Panel
New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on November 6, 2021 issued a temporary nationwide injunction on the implementation of Biden administration's vaccination mandate for employees working for companies with 100 or more workers to be fully vaccinated by January 4, 2022 or continuing to wear face masks and undertake regular weekly COVID-19 tests. A three-judge panel of nation's one of the most conservative courts gave Biden administration 5PM November 8, 2021 to submit its filing. Lauding the ruling, Louisiana Attorney-General Jeff Landry said that the ruling would block President Joe Biden from "moving forward with his unlawful overreach". U.S. Labor Department Solicitor Seema Nanda was emphatic on OSHA rules to pass the judicial scrutiny eventually as OSHA had the authority to "act quickly in an emergency".
U.S. Asks Appeals Court to Uphold OSHA Rule on Vaccination
Attorneys from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and Department of Justice on November 23, 2021 submitted their joint filing at the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals against a different appeals court’s ruling against the OSHA vaccination rules for 84 million employees working in private corporations with more than 100 workers. A three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on November 6, 2021 stayed the OSHA rules, saying that the mandate was “a one-size, fits-all sledgehammer that makes hardly any attempt to account for differences in workplaces”. Last week, all the legal challenges to the OSHA mandate, slated to be effective on January 4, 2022, had been consolidated at the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Last week, OSHA announced that it was staying put its vaccination mandate pending the outcome of the legal challenges. In their filing, the federal government attorneys blasted the 5th court’s ruling for failing to take into account that the mandate would save 6,500 employees from death and 250,000 from hospitalization over the next six months. The pandemic has killed more than 770,000 in the U.S. and rising amidst a rise in infections, including breakthrough infections.
Biden’s Vaccine Mandate for Healthcare Workers Put on Hold
A federal district judge, U.S. District Judge Matthew Schelp of St Louise, on November 29, 2021 has issued an injunction on Biden administration’s vaccination mandate for 17 million healthcare workers in about 76,000 healthcare facilities and home healthcare providers that receive federal funding. Under the mandate, workers are required to get their first shot by December 6, 2021, and the second shot by January 4, 2022. The injunction is applicable for 10 states—Alaska, Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming—that have sued the Biden administration over the vaccination mandate.
Federal Judge Expands Injunctive Order against Biden’s Vaccine Mandate for Health Workers
A federal judge on November 30, 2021 has issued a temporary, nationwide injunctive relief against Biden administration’s vaccination mandate for healthcare workers whose employers receive federal funding. The November 30, 2021, ruling by U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana built upon the legal premise of the 32-page ruling by a separate federal judge, U.S. District Judge Matthew Schelp of St. Louise, a day ago that had temporarily halted the federal government’s vaccination mandate for healthcare workers for the 10 plaintiff states.
Biden’s Vaccine Mandate for Federal Contractors Blocked
A federal judge in Georgia on December 7, 2021 blocked Biden administration’s vaccine mandate for federal contractors and sub-contractors. U.S. District Court Judge R. Stan Baker of Augusta, GA, ruled in a case filed by seven states—Alabama, Georgia, Idaho, Kansas, South Carolina, Utah and West Virginia—and contractors. Since one of the plaintiffs is Associated Builders and Contractors Inc., a nationwide trade group, Judge Baker’s injunction applies nationwide. A federal judge in Kentucky last week has issued a similar injunction against the federal vaccination mandate, which will be effective January 18, 2022, but that applies only to Kentucky, Ohio and Tennessee. With U.S. District Judge R. Stan Baker’s injunction, all three provisions of Biden’s federal vaccination mandate are now on hold.
Appeals Court Removes Nationwide Injunction on Healthcare Vaccine Mandate
An appellate court panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on December 15, 2021 lifted a nationwide injunction issued by a lower federal court on November 30, 2021. The New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals retained the injunction of U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty intact for 14 states that had brought the lawsuit against a November 5, 2021, [publication of] CMS rule requiring healthcare workers of facilities receiving Medicare and Medicaid payments to be fully vaccinated by January 4, 2022, with the first dose by December 6, 2021. Another federal appeals court, 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals based in St. Louise, has issued a separate injunctive relief to healthcare vaccine mandate for 10 additional states. As a result, half of the states will have vaccine requirements for the healthcare workers, while the other half will not. The December 15, 2021, ruling by the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals came a day after U.S. reported a grim milestone 800,000 COVID-19 deaths.
Paxton Wins against Biden Admin over Vaccine Mandate
A federal on December 16, 2021 handed an injunctive relief to Texas Attorney-General Ken Paxton over Biden administration’s vaccine mandate for healthcare workers, employed by facilities receiving federal Medicare and Medicaid funding, a day after an appellate court panel had lifted a nationwide injunction and limited the injunction only to 14 states. Texas was not among the 14 states. U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk of Amarillo, issuing the injunction, opined that Paxton might prove in the court of law that the mandate didn’t have any legal standing because the Biden administration had not carried out the so called regulatory impact analysis, gone through the notice-and-comment period and consulted with Texas officials. U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk ‘s injunctive order applies only to Lone Star State. As Biden administration has received setback over vaccine mandates, including the one for healthcare workers, CMS has decided earlier this month to forego the January 4, 2022, deadline for all healthcare workers at facilities that receive Medicare and Medicaid funding to be fully vaccinated.
Court Restores Vaccination Rule for Private Companies, Supreme Court Takes Another Vax Order
The Ohio-based 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in a 2-1 vote on December 17, 2021 reinstated Biden administration’s vaccination mandate for private employers with more than 100 employees. All the cases pertaining to OSHA rules over vaccination mandate for 84 million private company employees have been consolidated in the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Writing for the majority, Judge Jane Stranch said that to “protect workers, OSHA can and must be able to respond to dangers as they evolve".
Separately, on December 16, 2021, Biden administration has filed a petition at the U.S. Supreme Court to lift injunction on vaccination mandate for healthcare workers at facilities that receive Medicaid and Medicare funding. On December 17, 2021, Supreme Court asked the Republican states contesting against the vaccine mandate for healthcare workers to file their responses by December 30, 2021.
Biden’s OSHA Rules Quashed by Supreme Court; Healthcare Vax Mandate Upheld
The U.S. Supreme Court on January 13, 2022 tossed out the Biden administration’s vaccination-related OSHA rules for employers with 100 or more employees. The verdict was along the ideological line of 6-to-3. However, a related rule for healthcare workers working for facilities that receive federal Medicare/Medicaid funding has been upheld by 5 to 4 votes, with Justice Brett Kavanaugh and Justice John Roberts joining with the Liberal bloc of the apex court.
Texas Judge Blocks Biden Admin’s Vaccination Mandate for Federal Workers
U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Brown for the Southern District of Texas on January 21, 2022 issued an injunction against Biden administration’s vaccine mandate for federal government employees. Judge Jeffrey Brown, a Donald Trump appointee, issued a nationwide injunction. The vaccine mandate has been already in place, and according to White House press secretary, Jen Psaki, 98% of the federal employees have already been vaccinated. Judge Jeffrey Brown opined that the plaintiff would most likely be successful in blocking the vaccine mandate as the U.S. Supreme Court on January 13, 2022 had tossed out related OSHA rules for private sector employees. However, the court, by 5-4 margin, let a similar CMS vaccine mandate stand for healthcare workers employed by facilities receiving federal Medicare and Medicaid funding. Biden administration said that it would appeal to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
***************** BIDEN ADMIN'S VACCINATION MANDATE
Vaccines Provide Significant Cushion against Hospitalizations; Moderna Most Effective: Studies Show
In the two studies reported on September 10, 2021, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said that the fully vaccinated people are better off in warding off the serious effects of COVID-19 infection, even the one spread by more contagious Delta variant that accounts 99% of the cases now. The first study shows that people who are not fully vaccinated are 10 times more likely to be hospitalized and 11 times more likely to die of COVID-19 than fully vaccinated people.
A second study shows that Moderna is slightly more effective in preventing hospitalizations compared to Pfizer and J&J. Collectively, all three vaccines offer 86% effectiveness in preventing hospitalizations, with Moderna offering 95%, followed by Pfizer (80%) and J&J (60%). The study spotlights another metric in addition to hospitalization: trips to emergency rooms or urgent care. Collectively, three vaccines are 82% effective in preventing trips to ER or urgent care, with Moderna (92%) proven to be most effective followed by Pfizer (77%) and J&J (65%).
Both studies are based on the data collected by the CDC between April 4, 2021 and July 17, 2021, covering more than 600,000 people 18 years and older in 13 states and cities. CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky, referring to the studies at a White House briefing, said on September 10, 2021 that "vaccination works and will protect us from severe complications of COVID-19".
FDA Grants "Emergency-use Authorization" to Eli Lily's Monoclonal Antibody Cocktail for Preventative Use
Food and Drug Administration on September 16, 2021 has granted Eli Lily's monoclonal antibody cocktail the go-ahead to be used on emergency basis to people over the age 12, who are at risk of getting infected by COVID-19. The same monoclonal antibody cocktail had been granted the "emergency-use authorization" in November 2020 to treat the patients who came up with COVID-19 infections. The September 16, 2021, FDA decision expands the usage to preventative cases. Earlier in the summer of 2021, FDA granted preventative use of another cocktail made by Regeneron Pharmaceuticals.
Cuba Begins Inoculations of Kids; China Announces 1 billion + People Fully Vaccinated
Cuba on September 16, 2021 launched an ambitious campaign of vaccinating kids between 2 and 11 years using two home-grown vaccines: Abdala and Soberana. Meanwhile, on the other side of the world, Chinese officials on September 16, 2021 announced that more than 1 billion people in the country, or 72% of 1.4 billion people, had been fully vaccinated.
Mass Booster Shots Rejected for the Most by Key CDC Panel
A Food and Drug Administration's advisory panel on September 17, 2021 dealt a setback to Biden administration's plan for a third, booster shot eight months after the second shot in order to shore up immunity levels. Pfizer applied for its third, booster shot's "emergency-use authorization" in the U.S. FDA's key advisory panel in twin votes poured cold water on Pfizer's effort to obtain "emergency-use authorization" for its booster shot. In its first 16-2 vote, the panel rejected mass inoculation--instead of the ones targeted at specific groups--of the booster shot, citing lack of enough data for the booster's safety and effectiveness. In the second 18-0 vote, FDA's advisory panel approved the booster shots for 65 or older or individuals with high risk of severe disease and individuals with professional and institutional exposure to risk of severely infected such as hospital nurses.
Pfizer Announces Applying for Approval of Vaccine for Kids between 5 and 11
Pfizer on September 20, 2021 announced that it would file its trial data and seek "emergency-use authorization" for vaccine to inoculate kids between 5 and 11 years, a critical age group falling more and more sick in the onslaught of Delta variant as they returned to schools for in-person learning. According to a senior vice president of Pfizer, Dr. Bill Gruber, the strength of the vaccine for kids in the trial has been reduced to one-third of what has been used for two shots for adults and teenagers, but the level of immunity achieved is almost the same as the full-strength inoculation. Four days ago, Cuba became the first nation to begin inoculating kids as young as 2 years. China recently approved two of its vaccine brands down to 3 years old. In the U.S., at least 5 million children had been tested positive for COVID-19 since the outset of the pandemic, and at least 460 had died, according to American Academy of Pediatrics.
Johnson & Johnson Touts Its Booster Shot Trial Results
Johnson & Johnson on September 21, 2021 reported that based on what it had seen from its Ensemble 2 Study, a Phase 3 randomized clinical trial, its booster shot given 56 days after its single shot vaccine helps increase immunity against the severe symptom of COVID-19 by 100% two weeks after administration of booster shot. Booster efficacy against the symptomatic illness is found to be 94% in the U.S. and 75% globally.
FDA Approves Pfizer Booster Shot for Select Group
Food and Drug Administration on September 22, 2021 has authorized the booster shot made by Pfizer-BioNTech for people 65 and older as well as adults between 18 and 64 who are at risk of severe illness from COVID-19 and those “whose frequent institutional or occupational exposure” to the Coronavirus put them at high risk of serious complications.
Key CDC Panel Backs Booster Shot for Pfizer
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices on September 23, 2021 approved booster shot made by Pfizer and BioNTech for people 65 and older six months after completing the two-shot vaccination. Separately, the advisory panel of the CDC approved the booster vaccine for nursing home residents and people between 50 and 64 with underlying health conditions. CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommended that the adults between 18 and 49 years of age with underlying conditions should get booster shot too if they request one, thus making the booster shot optional for this age group with chronic health conditions. However, where the recommendation by CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices diverges from that of the Food and Drug Administration is over whether to recommend adults between 18 and 64 at risk of getting infected because of their profession such as grocery workers, teachers and healthcare workers. While FDA has backed a booster shot for this group which is at risk of getting infected because of their profession, Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices declined to recommend a booster shot for them. CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky is expected to accept the recommendation of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.
CDC Chief Defends Her Overturning of Advisory Panel's Recommendation
During a Sunday (September 26, 2021) appearance on the national TV show, CDC chief Dr. Rochelle Walensky defended her weekend action of extending the booster shot recommendation for a larger pool of people than recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices on September 23, 2021. Dr. Wallensky now expanded the booster shot mandate for people whose professions might have put them at higher risks of getting infected as per what had been earlier recommended by the FDA.
************** KIDS' VACCINE
Pfizer Files for Emergency-use Authorization for Kids between 5 and 11
Pfizer and BioNTech on October 7, 2021 submitted formal application to federal government for emergency-use authorization of their vaccine for 28 million additional children in the country, covering 5 to 11 years old, many of them and their parents were longing so much to get them vaccinated so that kids could go for sleepover, meet their grand parents and venture out for near-normal lives. Pfizer vaccine for this age group is of lower strength than that of older children, but even with one-third of strength, the vaccine is equally effective after two doses as young adults and older children.
FDA Advisory Panel Approves Jabs for Kids
In another addition to the nation's toolbox to fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, an advisory panel for the FDA on October 26, 2021 approved Pfizer vaccine for children 5 to 11 years old, giving another layer of protection to schools, educators and parents as more contagious Delta variant was swirling in communities across the nation. The panel has voted, with one abstention, for emergency-use authorization of Pfizer as the benefits clearly outweigh the side effects.
A study of elementary school children found that Pfizer vaccine was 91% effective in preventing symptomatic infection. The study included 2,268 children, and after two doses administered three weeks apart, the antibody level in the fully vaccinated kids between 5 and 11 years rose as high as fully vaccinated older children and young adults although the strength of vaccine for younger kids was one-third of regular Pfizer dose. At the request of the government, Pfizer included about 2,300 children for a study to assess risk and side effect.
FDA Approves Pfizer Vaccines for Emergency Use for Kids
Food and Drug Administration on October 29, 2021 eased the tension of parents of 28 million kids ages 5 to 11 by granting the kids-dose vaccines manufactured by Pfizer for emergency-use authorization. FDA Acting Commissioner Janet Woodcock assured the parents of vaccine's "safety and effectiveness".
CDC approves Kid’s Vaccine for Emergency Use
An advisory panel of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on November 2, 2021 granted “emergency-use authorization” for Pfizer children vaccine, making an additional 28 million children ages 5-11 eligible for the Coronavirus vaccine. Dr. Rochelle Walensky gave the stamp of approval for the unanimous “emergency-use authorization” decision by advisers to the CDC.
European Union Approves Pfizer Kids’ Vaccine
On November 25, 2021, European Medicines Agency approved the Pfizer children vaccine for kids ages 5 to 11.
Pfizer Seeks Booster Shot for Children Ages 5 to 11
Pfizer announced on April 14, 2022 that it would seek authorization from the FDA to give booster shots to children ages 5 to 11. FDA has already approved booster shots for people ages 12 and over. U.S. health authorities have also approved a second booster for people ages 50 and over.
Pfizer Seeks Booster for Children
On April 26, 2022 Pfizer asked FDA to grant emergency-use authorization for booster shots for all children ages between 5 and 11.
FDA Okays Booster Shot for Kids of Ages 5-11
Food and Drug Administration on May 17, 2022 approved a Pfizer booster shot for children ages 5 to 11 at least five months after the last regular shot. Now, there is another hurdle to pass: a CDC approval, which may come in the coming days. A booster is shown to rev up the immunity system even when Omicron is the primary strain. A new mutant of Omicron is now spreading through the U.S., leading to a daily caseload of 91,000 compared to 57,000 just two weeks ago. A recent study also shows that three-quarter of U.S. children have been infected by Coronavirus since it has erupted in early 2020, creating confusion among parents of elementary-grade children whether to go forward with a booster shot.
A CDC advisory panel on May 19, 2022 approved the booster for children ages between 5 and 11.
Moderna Vaccine for 6-17 Years Receives Nod from CDC Advisers
On June 23, 2022, advisers to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention authorized the Moderna vaccine for children ages between 6 and 17, giving another choice to this population group in addition to Pfizer. FDA authorized the Moderna shots—full-strength dose for 12- to 17-year-olds and half-strength dose for children ages between 6 and 12 years—last week. Now, there is one additional step, signing off by CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky, before Moderna vaccine is injected into the arms of nation’s pubescents, adolescents and teens.
CDC on June 24, 2022 approved Moderna for children ages between 6 and 17.
************** KIDS' VACCINE
FDA Panel Recommends Half-dose Moderna Vaccine for Booster
In adding another toolkit in the nation's toolbox in fight against Coronavirus pandemic, an advisory panel of the Food and Drug Administration on October 14, 2021 has recommended a half-dose of Moderna vaccine for people 65 and older as well as immunocompromised and others whose professions have put them at an elevated risk. Now, the ball goes to Food and Drug Administration, followed by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
FDA Advisory Panel Recommends J&J Booster Shot
An advisory panel of the Food and Drug Administration on October 15, 2021 endorsed booster shots for people 18 years and older. FDA has not taken any stand on mix-and-match of vaccines. Johnson and Johnson has argued to FDA, based on the data, if the booster is spaced out by two months from the first shot, antibody levels increase 4 to 6 times. If the booster is given six months later, antibody levels rise by 12 folds.
FDA Approves Booster for Other Two Vaccines, Mixing and Matching
Food and Drug Administration on October 20, 2021 approved booster shots for Moderna and Johnson & Johnson. In addition, FDA approved the so called “mixing-and-matching” of the vaccine, implying recipients could take a booster from any of the three vaccines irrespective of the initial vaccine brand. FDA recommended Moderna booster shot at half the strength of the original and, like the Pfizer booster shot, for people over 65, immunocompromised and people with elevated risk because of job exposure. FDA, though, has recommended J&J booster shot for everyone over 18 years as the single-shot original is not as effective as Pfizer and Moderna. FDA’s “mixing-and-matching” decision will provide the flexibility to providers and vaccine administrators in their goal to ramp up the booster drive. Now, the decision goes to a key CDC panel, and ultimately to the CDC chief, Dr. Rochelle Walensky. Decision of booster shots in the western nations has attracted criticism from World Health Organization as most of the world is still reeling with the contagious Delta variant with very low coverage of vaccination in parts of Asia, Latin America and Africa in the midst of the vaccine shortage.
CDC Panel Puts Stamp of Approval on Moderna and J&J Boosters; Mixing-and-Matching Practice
CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices on October 21, 2021 approved booster shots for Moderna and Johnson & Johnson. The key panel put stamp of approval on the FDA recommendation on booster shots. At present, Pfizer booster shot is recommended six months after the regular one. Moderna booster is recommended at half the strength of regular dosage, and J&J booster shot is recommended at least two months after the initial dosage. CDC’s advisory panel also approved the “mixing-and-matching” of vaccines as recommended by the FDA.
Pfizer Seeks to Expand Booster Shot
Pfizer on November 9, 2021 asked the Food and Drug Administration to expand the booster shots to anyone of age 18 and over. Pfizer and BioNTech shared the data from a 10,000-people late-stage study to assess the safety and efficacy of the booster shots given to people who had been fully vaccinated about six months earlier. Based on the data shared by Pfizer on November 9, 2021, subjects of placebo and experimental groups were given either a placebo or booster shot after a median length of 11 months from the first two-shot regimen. In the experimental group, five people have shown symptomatic infection, while in the control group, there have been 109 symptomatic cases. The study finding shows that booster restores 95% of immunity against symptomatic infection. At least 194 million people have been fully vaccinated in the USA, among them 24.8 million people have taken booster shots as of November 9, 2021.
Current Booster Rules
* People who have initially received two-dose Pfizer or Moderna vaccines are eligible to get the booster shot six months after the last dose of the regular vaccine if they are at least 65 years old, or at a high risk of COVID-19 infection because of underlying health conditions or job exposure or living conditions
* Anyone who has taken Johnson & Johnson vaccine is eligible to get a booster shot at least two months later
* Booster shots can be a mixing-and-matching regimen
*********** OKLAHOMA
Oklahoma National Guard to Defy Pentagon Directive for Mandatory Vaccination
The new adjutant of the Oklahoma National Guard, Brigadier General Thomas Mancino, notified 10,000 guards under his command on November 11, 2021 that they were not required to get vaccinated, an unprecedented defiance of Pentagon chief Gen. Lloyd Austin's order of all military personnel to be fully vaccinated. Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt wrote a letter to Gen. Austin, requesting to suspend the vaccine mandate for his state's guardsmen and guardswomen. Mancino was named the new adjutant of Oklahoma National Guard last week after Major General Michael Thompson had been relieved amidst Thompson's pro-vaccination public stance.
Pentagon Denies Oklahoma Governor’s Request for Vaccination Exemption for the State Guards
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in a letter on November 29, 2021 rejected Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt’s request that Pentagon drop the mandatory vaccine requirements for the Oklahoma National Guard troops. Governor Stitt wrote a letter on November 2, 2021, saying that the mandate “violates the personal freedoms of many Oklahomans".
Federal Judge Dismisses OK Governor’s Suit
U.S. District Judge Stephen Friot on December 28, 2021 dismissed a lawsuit filed by Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt asking the court to overturn Pentagon’s vaccination mandate for state’s National Guard troops.
*********** OKLAHOMA
Biden Admin Plans Billions in Investment to Increase Vax Production, Donate to Poorer Nations
White House COVID-19 Coordinator Jeff Zients said on November 17, 2021 that the federal government’s Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) would invest billions of dollars to entice the pharma industry to ramp up vaccine production in order to fill the critical shortages in the developing world. The White House is hopeful that the investment will increase the capacity to an additional 1 billion shots per year. Biden administration is facing criticism from home and abroad for its push to have booster shots available domestically while many low-income nations have yet to get off the ground with the first series of shots. To illustrate the vaccine inequity, an analysis conducted by One Campaign, an advocacy organization, estimates that, while 173 million booster shots have been administered in the developed nations, only 32 million first shots have been administered in the lower-income nations. Jeff Zients said on November 17, 2021 that the U.S. had so far donated 250 million doses globally and would donate an additional 1.1 billion shots by the end of 2022.
U.S. Government Expands the Booster Eligibility to All Adults
Food and Drug Administration on November 19, 2021 expanded the eligibility of booster shots to all adults as the nation was heading to Thanksgiving and Christmas Holidays amidst surging caseload numbers in many parts of the country. Dr. Rochelle Walensky, CDC chief, endorsed her agency's scientific panel's recommendation to expand the booster shots to all adults. The November 19, 2021, public health agencies' action paves the way for booster shots for Pfizer and Moderna vaccines six months after the initial series and two months after the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
CDC Recommends Booster Shots for All Adults
CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky issued a statement on November 29, 2021, recommending booster shots for “everyone age 18 and older”. CDC’s recommendation comes in the backdrop of increasing weariness over the recently detected Omicron variant. Ten days ago, CDC approved booster shot eligibility for all adults.
Significant Immunity against Omicron Reported by Pfizer
The pharmaceutical giant Pfizer reported on December 8, 2021 that its booster increased the antibody levels by 25 times, providing a significant level of immunity against Omicron.
Booster Approved for 16 and 17 years Old
CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Wallensky on December 9, 2021 endorsed an FDA decision for booster for 16 and 17 years old. The only booster for this age group is Pfizer-BioNTech as Moderna and J&J shots are not approved for this age group. FDA’s decision and CDC’s approval came a day after company research showed significant bolstering of body’s immunity to fight against Omicron after getting the booster shot.
India Vax Approved by WHO
World Health Organization on December 17, 2021 granted the emergency-use authorization to a vaccine developed by Novavax and India’s Serum Institute. This is the ninth vaccine that has received emergency-use authorization.
Novavax Files Application for the Fourth COVID Vaccine in U.S.
Maryland-based Novavax on December 31, 2021 announced that it had submitted supporting data package related to emergency-use authorization for its two-shot vaccine, making the drug giant a step closer to get approval for its vaccine that will be the fourth COVID vaccine in the U.S. Novavax’ filing before the Food and Drug Administration marks the last step before it formally asks for emergency-use authorization and comes days after WHO and European Union have okayed its two-shot, protein-based vaccine.
FDA Approves Boosters for 12+-year Group
Food and Drug Administration on January 3, 2022 approved Pfizer booster shot for children ages 12-15, expanding the coverage of a key mitigation tool as nation’s children were returning to schools amidst a surge in more transmissible Omicron variant. The next step is for a key advisory panel to CDC to weigh in on it and the agency’s director, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, to make a final call. FDA is also revising its Pfizer booster timeline recommendation to shorten between the last of regular shots and the booster shot to five months from the existing six-month wait time for anyone 12 and over. FDA’s January 3, 2022, decision is based on the trial data from Israel that has found no serious side effect from the booster among 63,000 children in the study ages 12 to 15 years. Similarly, FDA’s shortening of wait time for Pfizer vaccine from six months to five months has been based on the Israeli data too. The most common serious side effect from COVID-19 vaccines is myocarditis, a serious heart inflammation found among young men and teen boys after taking either Moderna or Pfizer vaccines. On January 3, 2022, FDA also announced—(1) allowing a third shot for immunocompromised kids ages 5 to 11, with a 28-day lag between the second shot and third shot like their immunocompromised peers older than 11; (2) no change in wait time—now six months for Moderna and two months for Johnson & Johnson—between the last regular shot and the booster shot for the other two vaccines.
CDC Endorses Booster Decisions
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on January 4, 2022 signed off on FDA’s twin recommendations: (1) shortening the latency between Pfizer’s second shot and booster shot from six months to five months as well as (2) okaying a booster shot for the immunocompromised children ages 5 to 11 years 28 days after their second Pfizer shot. CDC has yet to take a decision on FDA’s January 3, 2022, decision to expand Pfizer booster shot to cover 12 to 15 years old.
CDC Signs off on Booster Recommendation for Children Ages 12-15
As the surge in COVID-19 cases due to Omicron variant is overwhelming the nation’s hospitals and healthcare system, the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention on January 5, 2022 took another key step to defeating this virus by giving final approval for Pfizer-BioNTech booster shots for children ages 12 to 15. In addition, CDC strengthened its recommendation of booster shot for 16- and 17-year-olds. Earlier in the day on January 5, 2022, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices voted 13-1 that the children and adolescents ages 12 to 17 should get the booster shot. Earlier, 16- and 17-year-olds have been eligible for booster shot, but CDC has refrained from saying that they should get one. With the January 5, 2022, decision, CDC strengthens the recommendation for 16- and 17-year-olds.
FDA Shortens Latency for Moderna Booster Shot, CDC Agrees
Food and Drug Administration on January 7, 2022 recommended that the length between the second dose of Moderna vaccine and the booster shot should be reduced to five months from six months. CDC agreed on the FDA recommendation.
Moderna Receives Full Approval from FDA
Moderna on January 31, 2022 received a full approval from the Food and Drug Administration for people ages 18 and above. The vaccine is used by the brand name Spikevax.
**************************** VACCINES FOR CHILDREN AGES BELOW FIVE
Pfizer Tries a Third dose for Children under Five
Pfizer has said on December 17, 2021 that its two-dose vaccine is not effective for kids ages between 2 and 5 although it is found to generate antibody levels among children ages below 2 as close to those of recipients ages 12 and above. The strength tried on tots is just 3 micrograms, or one-tenth of what is being recommended for adults. The strength tried on kids ages between 5 and 11 is one-third of adult strength. Despite the opposite outcome from the results for tots ages 2 and above and the results for tots ages below 2, Pfizer has said that it will explore a third shot for all the tots so that there is only one set of recommendation for kids ages below 5. The third shot will be administered two months after the second shot. If the three-shot experimentation for kids ages below 5 turns out to fructify, Pfizer will seek an emergency-use authorization for vaccine for children ages below 5.
Pfizer Asks for Authorization of Vaccines for Children under 5
Pfizer on February 1, 2022 asked the Food and Drug Administration for emergency-use authorization for its vaccine in an ultra-low dose for kids ages below five. Pfizer submitted some data on two-shot vaccines of ultra-low doses, but there was still an experimentation ongoing on whether a third dose was needed for boosting effective immunity against the COVID-19. The data related to third dose will be submitted later, but FDA may still okay the two-shot, ultra-low vaccines for kids below five years not to delay providing the limited benefits now.
FDA Defers Vaccine Decision for Kids Ages Under Five
Food and Drug Administration on February 11, 2022 decided that the time was not ripe for making a call on vaccines for children under five.
Vaccines for Toddlers and Infants Approved by FDA Advisers
Outside advisers to the Food and Drug Administration on June 15, 2022 authorized two-dose Moderna and three-dose Pfizer vaccines for the nation’s 18 million preschoolers, toddlers and infants, only group that had yet to be covered by COVID-19 vaccines. Now, the FDA and CDC will make a decision on the vaccines for youngsters in the coming days.
FDA Approves COVID-19 Vaccines for the Littlest; Florida only State not to Pre-order
In another milestone to conquer COVID-19, Food and Drug Administration on June 17, 2022 authorized vaccines for the still-unprotected age group, kids below 5. FDA on June 17, 2022 followed the unanimous approval of Pfizer and Moderna vaccines by its advisers announced two days ago.
Moderna vaccine is a two-shot dose recommended to be administered a month apart to children ages between 6 months and 5 years. Pfizer and BioNTech vaccine is a three-shot series for kids ages 4 years and younger, with the first two shots three weeks apart and the recommended gap between the second and third shots being eight weeks.
Meanwhile, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis continues to resist call for pre-ordering COVID-19 vaccines for toddlers, infants and preschoolers. Florida is the only state that has not pre-ordered the vaccines for the country’s littlest. Governor Ron DeSantis recently justified his decision not to pre-order on the ground that there didn’t need to be any middleman between the providers and the federal government and hospitals and clinics could pre-order directly from the federal government.
CDC Signs off on Vaccines for the Littlest
On June 18, 2022, advisers to the CDC, Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, authorized a pair of vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer for America’s 18 million infants, preschoolers and toddlers, thus putting a stamp of approval on FDA’s decision to grant the vaccines for the nation’s youngest group of population. Dr. Rochelle Walensky later in the day signed off on the vaccines, paving the way for pediatricians, pharmacies and other providers to begin administering the vaccines beginning immediately.
Vaccines for Kids Under 5: Pfizer Appears to be More Efficacious
According to June 20, 2022, edition of The Dallas Morning News, Moderna’s two-shot vaccine is 51% effective against COVID-19 for kids under 2 and 37% effective for those ages between 2 and 5 years. Pfizer’s three-shot series is 80% effective against COVID-19 for kids ages between 6 months and 4 years.
FDA Approves Bivalent Booster for Little-most Kids
Food and Drug Administration on December 8, 2022 signed off the “bivalent booster” for the kids of ages between 6 months and 5 years. However, in that age group, the rate of primary series vaccination is only 5%. CDC will now give the final approval.
**************************** VACCINES FOR CHILDREN AGES BELOW FIVE
Booster Loses Efficacy after Four Months
A recent study released on February 11, 2022 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that the effectiveness of the mRNA booster shot wanes after four months, but the booster along with the primary series still remains an effective tool against serious illness and hospitalization. Booster shot provides 91% effectiveness in protecting a fully vaccinated individual against hospitalization within two months of the booster shot, but effectiveness falls to 78% after four months. The research has also found the effectiveness of the booster against trips to urgent care and emergency room visits to be 87% within two months and 66% after four months, respectively. The effectiveness falls to only 31% after five months although not enough data are available for the post-five-month timeline. The study raises the possibility of a fourth dose in future. The booster shot, although abundantly available, has been embraced by 91 million people in the U.S. There are tens of millions of people inoculated with the primary series of doses, but yet to take the booster shot.
Vaccinated Mothers Protect Newborns too from COVID-19
A tantalizingly interesting study published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on February 15, 2022 not only found the virtue of vaccine in preventing hospitalizations for vaccinated people, but also lowering the odds of hospitalizations for newborn kids whose mothers were vaccinated. The study included 176 children under 6 months hospitalized with COVID-19 and 203 children ages under 6 months hospitalized with something other than COVID-19. Among the kids hospitalized with COVID-19, the [COVID] vaccination rate for mothers was 16% vs. 32% for the group hospitalized with something else.
First Plant-based Vaccine Authorized
Canada on February 24, 2022 authorized the use of two-dose vaccine developed by Medicago, becoming the first nation in the world to authorize a plant-based vaccine. Canada authorized the vaccine for people ages between 18 and 64, saying there were not enough data to approve for the elderly people. Based on a trial involving about 24,000 adults, the Medicago vaccine is found to be 71% effective against COVID-19. Medicago scientists used plants to grow a virus-like particle that mimic Coronavirus spike proteins. The particles removed from the leaves are then removed and mixed with another immunity-boosting chemical, adjuvant, made by GlaxoSmithKline to develop the vaccine.
Pfizer to File for Approval of a Fourth Shot
The Dallas Morning News has published in its March 16, 2022, edition that Pfizer will soon file data and supportive evidence for an emergency use-authorization for a second booster shot for elderly people ages 65 and above.
Moderna Seeks Authorization for Second Booster for All Adults
Moderna on March 18, 2022 asked the Food and Drug Administration for authorization for a second booster for people ages 18 and above, much broader than what Pfizer had asked earlier this week: elderly population ages 65 and above.
Second Booster Okayed
The Food and Drug Administration on March 29, 2022 okayed a second booster shot for people ages 50 and above as well as some groups of people below 50 with severely weakened immune system. The second booster of Pfizer or Moderna can be administered four months after the first booster. Later in the day, CDC okayed the second booster, but didn’t encourage the people to rush to get it. CDC chief Dr. Rochelle Walensky said that people ages 65 and above and 50-plus people “are most likely to benefit from receiving an additional booster".
Novavax Wins Approval from FDA Advisers
The advisers to the Food and Drug Administration on June 7, 2022 approved two-dose, protein-based Novavax vaccine, adding more choices in the growing arsenals of COVID-19 vaccines. Next step is for the FDA to approve the vaccine.
FDA Advisers Approve Updated Booster Shots
The advisers to Food and Drug Administration on June 28, 2022 recommended tweaking the [COVID] booster composition to include the more transmissible Omicron strain. The vote was 19-2. In the coming days, FDA will weigh in the actual composition and concentration for the updated booster shots for select group of adults. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, two nearest cousins of the original Omicron—BA.4 and BA.5 strains—are now the pre-dominant version of COVID-19 in the U.S.
U.K.: U.K. Lowers the Age for Fourth COVID-19 Dose
As the COVID-19 infection is again surging in the United Kingdom fueled by BA.4 and BA.5 cousins of Omicron variant, the Department of Health in the United Kingdom on July 15, 2022 expanded the eligibility of the fourth dose by lowering the age from 65 to 50. In addition, the fourth dose will be administered to all nursing home staff, healthcare workers and all those ages 5 and above with underlying conditions.
********************************** BIVALENT BOOSTER
Pfizer Asks Emergency-Use Authorization for the First “Bivalent” Booster Shot
Pfizer and BioNTech on August 22, 2022 filed application to the Food and Drug Administration to receive the authorization for the first “bivalent” vaccine. The Pfizer application is meant for the new booster COVID-19 shot for people ages 12 and higher. The proposed booster is tweaked to work for both the original strain and Omicron strains BA.4 and BA.5. BA.5 strain is now responsible for almost all the new COVID-19 infections in the U.S. Moderna is similarly planning to apply for a “bivalent” booster shot. U.S. government has pre-ordered 105 million bivalent Pfizer booster doses and 66 million bivalent Moderna booster doses.
FDA Approves Bivalent Booster Shots
Food and Drug Administration on August 31, 2022 approved the bivalent booster shot that had been tweaked to address both the original strain of COVID-19 and the most predominant strain, BA.5, of omicron and its close cousin, BA.4. FDA Commissioner Robert Califf said that “these updated boosters present us with an opportunity to get ahead” of the next wave. The bivalent booster of Pfizer can be used for people ages 12 and higher and Moderna's booster for people ages 18 and older.
CDC Advisers Authorize the Use of Bivalent Booster Shots
The Advisers to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on September 1, 2022 authorized the use of bivalent booster shot.
Bivalent Booster Approved for Children
FDA and CDC on October 12, 2022 signed off the new bivalent booster shots for the nation’s children ages 5 and 12.
Fauci Pushes for Bivalent Booster in His Probably Last Press Conference
Before he steps down at the end of 2022, White House’s chief doctor, Dr. Anthony Fauci, on November 22, 2022 has addressed probably the last press conference on official capacity, and pushed for the people to take the “bivalent” booster shots. Since the newest booster was rolled out in September 2022, only 13% adults in the U.S. received the shot amidst a general complacency and widespread misinformation. The recent research findings from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention based on about 360,000 tests conducted at nation’s drug stores between September 2022, when the “bivalent” booster has been rolled out, and early November 2022 show that “bivalent” booster is 30% to 56% more effective against symptomatic infection, depending on the number of shots, when the last shot has been administered, age and other conditions. Dr. Fauci and Dr. Ashish Jha, White House COVID coordinator, asked people to get the bivalent booster shots in the run-up to the holiday period.
********************************** BIVALENT BOOSTER
Moderna Sues Pfizer over COVID-19 Vaccine Technology
Moderna on August 26, 2022 filed patent infringement lawsuits against Pfizer and BioNTech both in the USA and Germany. In a filing in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, maker of Spikevax said that it had invested in the mRNA platform since 2010 and, when Coronavirus had put the U.S. and much of the world to the lockdown mode a decade later, “neither Pfizer nor BioNTech has Moderna’s level of experience with developing mRNA vaccines for Coronaviruses”. Moderna accused Pfizer and its German partner’s vaccine, Comirnaty, of infringing the proprietary rights of its mRNA platform.
India, China to Adopt Needleless COVID-19 Vaccine
India and China approved needleless COVID-19 vaccines. Indian regulators approved a nasal version made by Bharat Biotech for the people who had not been vaccinated yet. CanSino Biologics on September 4, 2022 announced that Chinese regulators had approved its inhaler vaccine as a booster shot.
Pfizer Responds to Ted Cruz's Vax Skepticism Podcast
Sen. Ted Cruz has been riling up, and in recent days amplified the rhetoric, against COVID-19 vaccine. The shrill and silliness of the right-wingers increased in recent days after a Pfizer official, Jannine Small, testified at an October 10, 2022, European parliamentary hearing in Germany, saying that Pfizer vaccine had not been tested on curbing transmission. On October 31, 2022, Pfizer responded to the ongoing right-wing chorus by emphasizing that its Phase 3 Clinical trial published in November 2020 "met two critical endpoints" which had been "prevention of confirmed symptomatic COVID-19 infection" and "prevention of severe disease". The "BNT162b2 (Comirnaty) trials were not designed to evaluate the vaccine's effectiveness against transmission of SARS-CoV-2", according to Pfizer, under Operation Warp Speed.
FDA Approves Revamped COVID-19 Vaccine
Food and Drug Administration on September 11, 2023 approved a reformulated vaccine that would mitigate the spread of recently mutated Omicron variant. The vaccine is administrable for anyone ages 6 months and above, thus simplifying and standardizing the vaccine administration process. The reformulated vaccine is monovalent unlike the previous booster shots which are bivalent, targeting the original COVID-19 strain as well as BA.4 and BA.5 strains. The reformulated vaccine approved by FDA on September 11, 2023 is designed to target XBB.1.5 variant [of Omicron] which has subsided by now. However, this reformulated vaccine is also expected to work, with varying degree of effectiveness, against what’s prevalent variant now: EG.5. CDC is to make the final approval before the reformulated vaccine is available to people. Also, this is the first time that federal government is not going to procure all the COVID-19 vaccines, leaving millions of vials for providers, clinics, individual practices, and hospitals.
CDC Chief Signs on Updated Vaccine
On September 12, 2023, the advisory board to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention approved the updated COVID-19 vaccine for anyone ages 6 months and above. The CDC chief signed off on the approval, making it possible that the first of supplies would be in pharmacies and providers’ offices as soon as September 13, 2023. The vaccines approved have been developed by Moderna and Pfizer and its partner, BioNTech. A third vaccine developed by Novavax is under review.
Updated COVID Vaccine Administration Rate Low
The Associated Press reported on January 19, 2024 that the updated vaccine administration remained low. The vaccination rate now stands a meager 17%. The updated vaccine is found to be reasonably effective against the current predominant variant, JN.1.
FDA to Approve Updated COVID-19 Vaccines amidst Plunge in Vaccine Administration
Food and Drug Administration is going to approve in coming days the updated COVID-19 vaccine to target the prevalent strain of COVID-19, KP.2 variant, according to an August 17, 2024, report by The Washington Post. The updated vaccine will be more effective compared to the existing vaccines. FDA is going to promptly approve two m-RNA [updated] vaccines developed by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna. The vaccines are to hit the pharmacies before the Labor Day. Another pharmaceutical firm, Novavax, has its own protein-based vaccines pending approval from the FDA.
There is no certainty on how often the pharma firms should update their vaccines to more effectively and efficaciously target the evolving strains as the vaccination rates have sharply fallen. For the latest iteration of the vaccine, the vaccination rates are 22% for the U.S. adults and 15% for the children, respectively. Among the elderly adults ages 65 and older, 37% took at least one shot of the latest iteration of the vaccine and only 25% took the both shots.
************************************* VACCINE TRIAL ***************************
U.S. Land Borders Will Remain Closed for at least another Month
After closing its borders on March 18, 2020 to contain the spread of coronavirus, U.S., Mexico and Canada extended the closure in April, May and June for a moving 30-day, or so, window each time. It's likely that there will be another one-month extension coming in the coming days that will stay effective through August 21, 2020, according to July 15, 2020, edition of The Dallas Morning News.
Russian Intel Hackers Trying to Steal from Western Coronavirus Research
A joint statement attributed to the official cyber arms of governments of the U.S., Canada and Britain accused a Russian intelligence group of trying to hack computer systems of coronavirus researchers in the three nations to steal intellectual properties, including the ones related to vaccine clinical trials. According to World Health Organization, out of more than 100 vaccines developed across the world, trials had begun for 23. The July 16, 2020, joint statement by USA's National Security Agency's cybersecurity division, Canadian Communication Security Establishment (CSE) and Britain's National Cybersecurity Center implicated Russian APT29, a hacking unit tied to a Russian foreign intelligence division, SVR. SVR along with its military intel unit GRU were accused of hacking Democratic National Committee's computer system in 2016 to sow division in the party.
Russian hackers scanned the IP Address of the coronavirus research organizations' computer systems, and deployed malware to gain access. Sometimes, hackers used the customized malware such as "WellMess" or "WellMail" to gain access to research orgs' computers.
Far More People Infected by Coronavirus, CDC Says
Making public a recent study results, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on July 21, 2020 reported that far more people had elevated level of antibodies in their blood than the infection numbers. The elevated levels of antibodies in the blood found in the CDC-commissioned survey in 10 regions reflect the fact that many of them don't even know that they might have the infection and fought it off successfully. The results of the antibody study, formally called the Seroprevalence Study, were published in the July 21, 2020, edition of the Journal of the American Medical Association. As part of the study, blood samples obtained by two labs during March 23-May 12, 2020, regular clinical testing or other medical needs have been tested for specific antibodies. The study found that Seroprevalence Rate in the New York City area was about 6.9%, leading to an estimate of 464,896-826,070 people might have been infected by the novel coronavirus, multiple time higher than 53,803 reported cases during the time interval between March 23, 2020 and May 12, 2020. However, there is no "herd immunity" developed so far as, for that, the Seroprevalence Rate has to be more than 60 percent, according to many experts.
Dr. Birx Warns Americans about Virus' Lethality
Days after U.S. crossed a grim milestone of 150,000 deaths in novel coronavirus, White House coronavirus coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx said on August 2, 2020 that the current wave of virus spread was ominous and more widespread than what the country had experienced in March and April 2020. She said neither urban nor rural area were immune to virus' assault and whipsaw. She said that in an interview on the CNN's State of the Union.
Brazil, U.S. Hit Grim Milestones
Brazil hit a grim and painful milestone on August 8, 2020 as the number of deaths crossed 100,000-mark five months after the first death from novel coronavirus had been reported. With 100,000-Plus deaths and counting and 3 million infections, Brazil is only second to the U.S. in both infections and deaths.
On August 9, 2020, U.S. had reported number of coronavirus cases exceeded 5 million mark.
Brits Rush to Return from France ahead of a Deadline
After coronavirus cases surged in France, British authorities on late August 13, 2020 took France off the list of quarantine-exempt countries, leading to anyone returning from France to self-quarantine for 14 days. The new order will go into effect 4AM on August 15, 2020. The British decision forces tens of thousands of British residents vacationing in France to cut short their stay there and scurry for whatever means of travel available to return to Britain before the deadline.
CDC Reports 215,000 more Deaths This Year; Minorities Share the Bigger Brunt
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on August 21, 2020 has issued a scathing report on how racial inequities and systemic discrimination are taking a toll on communities of color. In an average year, about 1.7 million people die between January 1 and July 31, but this year, that number has climbed to about 1.9 million, resulting in a spike of 215,000 additional deaths. Out of that, about 150,000 have been reported as COVID-19-related deaths as of July 31, implying about 65,000 additional deaths that may be attributable to indirect effect of coronavirus pandemic such as chronically ill heart patients foregoing suggested procedures and then falling victim when their heaths reach a critical point of no return.
The breakdown of the additional deaths shows an insightful picture of how racial inequities are having impact on the mortality rates.
* White: 119,472 ; 60% of the U.S. population; up 9% from the comparable baseline
* Hispanic: 50,426 ; 18% of the U.S. population; up 44% from the comparable baseline
* Black: 60,004; 12% of the U.S. population; up 31% from the comparable baseline
* Asian: 13,620; 6% of the U.S. population; up 35% from the comparable baseline
* Native Americans: 2,199; < 1% of the U.S. population; up 22% from the comparable baseline
CDC's Revised Guidelines Evoke Strong Criticisms
The Associated Press, The Washington Post and The Dallas Morning News, among others, reported on August 26, 2020 that Centers for Disease Control and Prevention put a revised guideline on its website on August 24, 2020 that would not require coronavirus testing for individuals who came in close proximity with infected individuals, a marked shift from earlier guidelines that recommended testing for such individuals if they had been present within 6 feet of an infected person for more than 15 minutes. The revised CDC guidelines on testing created a furor among scientists who called out political pressure from the White House.
Steroids Found to Help Critically Ill COVID-19 Patients; WHO Meta-analysis Backs it up
Three papers were published in the Journal of American Medical Association on September 2, 2020 that all pointed at saving lives of critically ill COVID-19 patients when steroids were used. World Health Organization's meta-analysis confirmed the outcomes of these three trials. Each trial used steroids from the family of anti-inflammatory drug corticosteroids. One trial used a synthetic steroid dexamethasone to 299 patients in Brazil. A second trial in France used hydrocortisone in low doses and given to 76 patients vs. 73 who received placebo. The third trial involved 379 patients in the U.S. and seven other countries who had received hydrocortisone. The WHO meta-analysis shows that with the corticosteroid treatment of critically ill COVID-19 patients, mortality rate is improved from 2-in-5 to 1-in-3. However, steroid treatment does seem to be conclusively yield positive outcome for mild or medium COVID-19 cases.
Half of Texas Nursing Homes not Equipped for Federally Mandated Tests
As the Trump administration last week has issued rules for tests at the nation's nursing homes, breeding ground of COVID-19 since the breakout of the pandemic, close to 50 percent of Texas nursing homes don't have sufficient test kits to comply with the rules and face fines, according to September 5, 2020, printed edition of The Dallas Morning News. Dallas and Tarrant county nursing homes have to carry out twice a week testing for their nursing home staff. The frequency of the tests depends on the positivity rate. According to last week's federal directive, the test frequency per week for nursing home staff is as follows:
* Two times a week if the county's COVID-19 positivity rate is over 10 percent
* Once a week if the county's COVID-19 positivity rate in between 5 percent and 10 percent
* Once a month if the county's COVID-19 positivity rate is less than 5 percent
Amazing Turnaround for New York; A Success Story in Fight against Coronavirus
Once an epicenter of destruction and ravage symbolized by coronavirus' deadly strike, New York State on September 6, 2020 marked a golden milestone in its fight against the virus as it marked the 30th consecutive day of lower than 1-percent [COVID-19] positivity rate. Applauding the milestone, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo cautioned the state residents not to let the guard down as the Labor Day Weekend might bring more people out and there was natural temptation to flout social distancing norm and other safety protocols.
British Authorities Stiffens Rules to Reverse the Coronavirus Spikes
After young people are spreading the coronavirus by attending parties, flouting mask-wearing rules and social distancing protocols, British authorities on September 8, 2020 have lowered the allowable crowd size from 30 to 6. However, exemptions are made to wedding, school, games and funeral as well as for households with more than six members.
Nine Pharma Companies Stress on "Safety" and "Efficacy" of Vaccines
In an unusual way, the executives of nine pharmaceutical giants on September 8, 2020 issued a statement, assuring the American people that they would "only submit for approval or emergency use authorization" of their vaccines only after "demonstrating the safety and efficacy through a Phase 3 clinical study that is designed and conducted to meet requirements of expert regulatory authorities such as FDA". However, the statement, signed by, AstraZeneca Johnson and Johnson, Merck, Moderna, Novavax, Pfizer, BioNTech, Sanofi and GlaxoSmithKline, respectively, has left the door open for using the partial data from Phase 3 clinical trials, that require at least 30,000 subjects to participate. Separately, AstraZeneca paused a massive trial on September 8, 2020 as it reported a participant to show some unexpected side effect. The joint statement issued by the executives of world's top pharmaceutical companies was notable as Trump administration was rushing to get a vaccine ready for use by November 1, 2020, prompting Democratic Vice Presidential candidate, Sen. Kamala Harris, to contend that she didn't trust Trump's words on vaccine. Trump's own vaccine chief, Operation Warp Speed co-chief Moncef Slaoui, said in an interview with NPR last week that he didn't believe that a vaccine could be ready for prime time two days before the Election Day. Operation Warp Speed is the program launched by Trump administration in the summer of 2020 to get a vaccine in the pipeline and its production scaled up for use of millions of Americans as soon as possible.
**************** FALLOUT FROM BOB WOODWARD'S NEW BOOK ****************
Woodward's New Book Points to Trump's Hiding of Virus' Danger from American Public
The Washington Post Associate Editor and veteran journalist Bob Woodward says that President Donald Trump has known the danger and virulence of novel coronavirus since at least late January 2020, but has continued to play down for weeks until national shutdown in mid-March 2020. Woodward's new book, Rage, chronicled events based on his interviews with Trump and comments from other cabinet officials. The upcoming book's serious information was revealed in bits and pieces on September 9, 2020 and seized by Former Vice President Joe Biden, who told union members at Warren, Michigan that Trump's action had amounted to "life-and-death betrayal of the American people". According to Rage, Trump's National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien warned the president on January 28, 2020 that coronavirus would pose the most dangerous national security challenge to the administration, and Trump called Woodward on February 7, 2020 to tell the veteran journalist that the virus was indeed "more deadly". At the same time, Trump continued to tell Americans that the virus was no worse than a regular seasonal flu. On March 19, 2020, Trump told Bob Woodward, according to Rage, he had underplayed the severity of coronavirus as he didn't want Americans to panic. Woodward's book also touched on Trump's take on race relations, an "overrated" Obama, whom Trump called "Barack Hussein", and his admiration for dictators, including Kim Jong Un. The revelation of what Trump knew about the virus in the early days of the outbreak and what he had told the nation came to surface on September 9, 2020, a day when the total U.S. death toll from coronavirus surpassed 190,000.
**************** FALLOUT FROM BOB WOODWARD'S NEW BOOK ***************
CDC Reverts back to Its Original Guideline
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on September 18, 2020 issued a modified testing guideline that dropped a controversial provision from its August 2020 guideline. The September 18, 2020, modified guideline recommends anyone within 6 feet of a sick patient for more than 15 minutes to get a test as, according to the CDC, many of the infections are happening by pre-symptomatic and asymptomatic carriers of coronavirus.
CDC
Backpedals again on Rules
Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention has
again self-undermined its credibility first by putting a rule on September
18, 2020 that coronavirus not only spreads by larger droplets, but
also by aerosolized particles, and then taking out the addition of “aerosolized
particles” from the agency website three days later on September 21,
2020. The initial narrative about spread is that it does through larger
droplets, prompting the original six-foot distancing protocol. However,
the recent findings that spread may happen through aerosolized particles lead
to determination, although not yet agreed by all SMEs, that even six feet of
distance is not safe enough, wearing face mask or covering more important now
more than ever.
Coronavirus
Death Tops 200,000 amid a Resurge in Europe and Parts of Us
In
a grim milestone, U.S. on September 22, 2020 crossed 200,000 deaths
in COVID-19 as a more virulent second wave of coronavirus had returned
in Europe, forcing many nations to impose stricter safety protocols. In the
U.S., parts of Midwest and Great Plains have seen surge in coronavirus
infections.
Trump Administration to Ship 100 million Rapid Test Kits to Open up Schools
At a White House news conference, President Donald Trump announced on September 28, 2020 that effective this week, his administration would send a total of 100 million point-of-care, rapid test kits to states so that they could quickly reopen the schools. The rapid test kits are developed by Abbott Laboratory. At present, there are about 900,000 tests per day, but often the test results take days to be analyzed and returned as the specimens are being sent to labs. The point-of-care tests don’t necessitate the samples to be sent to outside lab, but are also prone to erroneous results. Experts also worry since the rapid tests will be happening outside the overall healthcare oversight, they may not be reported back to the healthcare system, thus leading to underreporting.
WHO Announces Plan to Bridge Testing Gap as Death Toll Hits 1 million
World Health Organization on September 28, 2020 announced plan to ship 120 million rapid coronavirus tests to poor and middle-income countries so that they would have shot to bridge the ever-increasing testing gaps with the rich nations. Meanwhile, in an ominous report, Johns Hopkins University reported during the day that global death toll from the pandemic crossed 1 million. Currently India, which has number of known infections, now more than 6 million, only second to the USA with 7.1 million infections, is recording one in every three new infections and one in every five new deaths from coronavirus.
*************************** TRUMP’S COVID INFECTION
***************************
Trump, First Lady Tested Positive for Coronavirus
As the nation is seeing more than 206,000 coronavirus deaths and 7 million infections and counting, there were two high-profile additions to that tally in the early hours of October 2, 2020 as President Donald Trump acknowledged in a mid-night tweet that both he and First Lady Melania Trump had tested positive for the virus. Hours earlier, on October 1, 2020 evening, White House aide Hope Hicks, who traveled extensively with President Trump in recent weeks, was tested positive. Weeks before the presidential election, President Trump’s [positive] test will shadow his election prospect as has been trying to tell American electorate that worst of the pandemic is behind us.
Conflicting Reports on Trump’s Health Create Confusion in
White House and Beyond
White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows on October 3, 2020 said that there was some very “concerning period” a day earlier, leading to President Donald Trump’s hospitalization in the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center at Bethesda, Maryland, and next 48 hours “will be critical”. That assessment contradicts what President Trump’s medical team led by Dr. Sean Conley has given as a rosier prognosis of president’s health, calling president’s symptoms are “resolving and improving”. Meanwhile, reports emerged that Trump was given supplemental oxygen before taking to Walter Reed on October 2, 2020. Dr. Conley also stated that president had a fever-free 24-hour. At the White House on October 2, 2020, Trump has taken a single dose of an experimental drug from Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. that supplements antibodies and boosts body’s immunity system. At the hospital, starting October 2, 2020, night, he began a five-day course of remdesivir manufactured by Gilead Sciences. Remdesivir helps prevent virus’ ability to multiply. Dr. Sean Conley explained the use of both antibody-boosting experimental drug and remdesivir as “we are maximizing all aspects of his care”.
Trump Takes a Drive to Cheer up His Base
President Donald Trump in one of the most irresponsible conducts emerged out of the military hospital on October 4, 2020 in a black car to wave at hundreds of his supporters who had gathered outside the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center since Trump had been hospitalized two days ago. Hours earlier, Trump’s medical team gave a more chilling update of the president’s blood oxygen level having dropped alarmingly twice in recent days, hitherto kept secret, and the president given an experimental steroid, dexamethasone, usually reserved for very sick patients.
Trump Back in White House, Takes off His Mask
President Donald Trump returned from Walter Reed National Military Hospital to White House in a dramatic fashion on October 5, 2020 evening in Marine One helicopter, and immediately upon reaching the steps of South Portico towards the Truman Balcony, he gingerly removed his face mask and flashed thumbs-up. He proclaimed that “I feel good” although his physician, Dr. Sean Conley, admitted that the president “is not out of the woods yet” although his situation was improving. Dr. Conley also said that with a mix of drugs—remdesivir; dexamethasone, a powerful steroid; and a cocktail of innovative and antibody-boosting brand new, but yet unapproved for public use, medication manufactured by Regeneron—given to President Trump over the past few days, his health “is now in unchartered territory”. The combination of trio of remdesivir, dexamethasone and an antibody-boosting cocktail is not a sure mix of therapeutic treatment, according to many medical experts, to have a positive outcome on a severely sick patient’s health. Therefore, the treatment mix given to President Trump remains unique in absence of adequate information and results, and its efficacy will not be known with surety. President Trump during the day minimized the coronavirus’ danger to public health, tweeting “don’t be afraid of” COVID. Meanwhile, White House staff and political figures who came in close contact with the president in recent days have become their own cluster of Coronavirus infection. They include:
Trump aide Hope Hicks (October 1, 2020)
President Donald Trump, Melania Trump, Kellyanne Conway,
Ronna McDaniel, Senator Mike Lee, Senator Thom Tillis (October 2, 2020)
Trump Campaign Manager Bill Stepien, Senator Ron Johnson,
Former Governor Chris Christie (October 3, 2020)
Nicholas Luna, assistant to president (October 4, 2020)
Kaleigh McEnany (October 5, 2020)
********************** TRUMP’S COVID INFECTION ***********************
Whistleblower Official Forced to Resigned
Rick Bright, who had been moved from Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, or BARDA, in May 2020, had been forced from his job at the National Institutes of Health, according to his lawmakers who divulged the news on October 7, 2020. Rick Bright had fought hard against Trump’s insistence on distributing and using hydroxychloroquine and criticized administration’s lack of any comprehensive plan to deal with the pandemic.
Brazil Hits 150K Mark, India Nearing 7 million, France Faces
ICU Overload
Novel Coronavirus second wave is all but set to overwhelm the healthcare infrastructure of France, usually one of the most advanced in hospital facilities. As of October 10, 2020, one out of four ICU beds in France is occupied by COVID patients, with Paris especially hit hard with 40% ICU beds now belong to COVID patients. As of October 10, 2020, Brazil has hit a grim milestone of 150,000 coronavirus deaths, only second to the U.S., although the new infections seem to be slowing down. Meanwhile, India is inching towards 7-million mark.
Trump Calls Fauci Disaster
President Donald Trump during a conference call with his re-election staff on October 19, 2020 trashed Dr. Anthony Fauci for his constant public warning against novel Coronavirus, saying “people are tired of listening to Fauci and these idiots”. Trump also called Dr. Anthony Fauci a “disaster”. President’s tirade came amidst a second surge in coronavirus across the U.S. and his trailing in poll numbers.
CDC: More than 285,000 Additional Deaths during Pandemic
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on October 20, 2020 gave a grim picture of how Coronavirus had such a devastating impact on the nation’s mortalities, estimating 285,404 annualized incremental deaths during the pandemic. Out of that, almost two-thirds had been attributed to COVID-19. The CDC report days before U.S. Presidential election marked a new testament to Trump administration’s mishandling of coronavirus pandemic that had killed more than 219,000 people.
Remdesivir Becomes the First Drug to be Approved in the
USA to Treat Coronavirus
U.S. Food and Drug Administration on October 22, 2020 approved the Gilead Sciences Inc’s remdesivir, sold under the brand name Veklury, as the first and only drug to treat COVID-19. The drug’s effectiveness has been found to be exemplary with recovery accelerated almost by one-third of the time in terms of hospital stay from 15 days to 10 days. In April 2020, FDA gave “emergency-use authorization” for remdesivir, and the drug had been used to treat many seriously ill COVID-19 patients, including President Donald Trump.
Near Record Hospitalizations Two Days after Record Daily
Infections Reported
As the nation was reeling through the precursor of a massive
second wave, or through the second wave itself, of Coronavirus pandemic towards what Former
Vice President and Democratic Party candidate Joe Biden called a “dark
winter”, more than 42,000 people were reported to be hospitalized on
October 26, 2020, two days after October 24, 2020 marked the
highest reported infections number (more than 83,000). However,
hospitalizations and deaths will increase in the coming days as they follow the
infection spikes. The second wave of the pandemic is qualitatively different
than the first wave. The first wave had struck more densely populated
metropolitan areas such as New York City and Chicago. The second wave is sweeping
through a much broad swath of area, including rural America. Just to put it in
context, 41 states and Puerto Rico have more hospitalizations now compared to
late September 2020, and 22 of them have seen at least 50% increase, according
to The Washington Post. The pandemic had affected at least 8.6
million people and killed more than 225,000 people.
Prevalence Study Shows 5% Exposure Rate in DFW Metroplex
UT Southwestern Medical School and Texas Health Resources
on October 26, 2020 have made public the preliminary results from a joint
study, dubbed as Prevalence Study, that shows an exposure rate of 5% in
Dallas and Tarrant Counties. A prevalence rate of 5% is smaller than
national exposure rate of 9%, and much smaller than 60% to 70% prevalence rate
needed to acquire so called herd immunity. The Prevalence Study is
now enrolling about 44,000 participants from Dallas and Tarrant Counties. The
participants need to take a survey and will receive free coronavirus testing
and antibody testing.
1 Million Cases in the First 10 Days in November Reported
COVID-19 cases are rising at an alarming rate, and this third wave seems to be broader compared to the first wave in the Spring and the second wave in the summer. The third wave seems to have hit a broad swath of the nation, including Great Plains and Midwest, including many rural regions. According to COVID Tracking Project’s November 10, 2020, estimate more than 1 million people were infected by the virus in the first ten days of November 2020. The hospitalizations had hit a record high on November 10, 2020, with 61,964 cases reported. The average daily death toll is running 930, according to COVID Tracking Project’s November 10, 2020, estimate, lower than April high of daily 2,200 deaths, but the trend line indicates an ominous sign. Several states hit the record infections, including Texas 10,800 cases, Illinois more than 12,000 cases and Wisconsin at least 7,000 cases. However, in the third wave of the pandemic, our nation is better prepared to handle compared to preceding two waves.
More States Order Strict Rules as Coronavirus Cases Spike
As the third wave of Coronavirus is hitting almost all the states, governors and local leaders are imposing stricter limits on congregation, businesses and other activities as nation is heading to Thanksgiving Week. On November 16, 2020, New Jersey Governor Chris Murphy announced lowering the cap on indoor congregation from 25 to 10 as trend curve for infections had been moving in the wrong direction. California Governor Gavin Newsom introduced “emergency brake” on the re-opening speed of state’s economy as California was witnessing the fastest growth in caseloads. New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s stay-at-home order went into effect on November 16, 2020. During the day (November 16, 2020), COVID Tracking Project reported a horrendous hospitalization number as of a day before (November 15, 2020). At least 70,000 people remained hospitalized as of November 15, 2020, an increase of 13,000 from a week earlier. The death toll from COVID-19 has exceeded 246,000 and the daily infection volume is running at more than 1,100, according to November 16, 2020, estimate of COVID Tracking Project.
CDC Issues Advisory against Travel amid Rising Coronavirus
Cases
On November 19, 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention issued an advisory to Americans against travel in the upcoming Thanksgiving
Holiday. In its directive, CDC advises: “postponing planned travel and
staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others” this Thanksgiving.
The CDC advisory was issued as the seven-day daily average of COVID-19
positives was running more than 160,000, total death toll passed 250,000
on November 19, 2020 and nearly 1,900 daily deaths were reported on November
18, 2020 alone, highest single-day since May 2020.
California Governor Gavin Newsom on November 19, 2020
announced stay-at-home order from 10PM to 5AM through December 21, 2020,
covering all non-essential businesses. Governor Newsom’s order will have broad
implication as it includes almost 94% of state’s 40 million people.
Rhode Island Gina Raimondo announced a “two-week pause” on many business activities, including curtailing the capacity of restaurants and gatherings.
2 million+ Fliers Pass through Nation’s Airports; Warp
Speed Czar Predicts about Herd Immunity
Ignoring CDC advisory against Thanksgiving travel and gathering, more than 2 million Americans flew on November 20, 2020 and November 21, 2020, according to data shared by Transportation Security Administration on November 22, 2020. High-volume air traffic and subsequent gatherings may trigger an upsurge in infection cases in post-Thanksgiving weeks, adding more miseries to an already alarming situation coinciding with more than 256,000 deaths as of November 22, 2020, more than 83,000 Americans hospitalized and both the positive numbers and mortality numbers are sky-rocketing across the nation. Meanwhile, Operation Warp Speed’s chief scientific adviser, Moncef Slaoui said during an November 22, 2020, appearance on CNN’s State of the Union that USA’s so called herd immunity would be achieved when about 70% of the population were vaccinated and that would likely come around May 2021.
********************************************* TEXAS
******************************
North Texas COVID-19 Trends Head in the Wrong Direction
Based on November 27, 2020, state data, one of the key metrics in North Texas is heading in the wrong direction. According to an October 7, 2020, gubernatorial executive order, businesses and other activities in any county are to be curtailed if COVID-19 positivity rates for hospitalized patients in a hospital region that includes the county stay over 15% for seven consecutive days. A sustained COVID-19 positivity rate of all hospitalized patients below 15% for each of seven consecutive days can only return the businesses to pre-curtailment capacity levels. Texas has 22 such hospital regions, and Dallas, Collin, Tarrant, Denton, Rockwall and other smaller counties sit in a 19-county North Texas hospital region. On November 27, 2020, the number of patients in the region’s hospitals who had tested positive for Coronavirus climbed to more than 2,300, a positivity rate of 15.05%. If the positivity rate over a consecutive seven-day period stays over 15% among all hospitalized patients in North Texas hospital region, the restaurants will be asked to reduce the capacity from the current 75% level to 50% level. If that happens, it will take another seven days of daily COVID-19 positivity rates among all hospitalized patients in the 19-county region to fall below the threshold of 15% to resume businesses in restaurants at 75% capacity.
Indoor Business Capacity in North Texas to be Cut back
North Texas has entered a critical phase on December 3, 2020 when all indoor businesses such as restaurants, retail and gyms have to cut capacity from 75% to 50% as the positivity rate among hospitalized patients in the hospital region that includes Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area hits more than 15% for the seventh day in a row, triggering the capacity reduction. Bars will remain closed.
Texas Hits Record in COVID-19 Hospitalizations
In a preamble to the so called "dark winter", Texas hit a grim statistic on December 28, 2020 as the number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients reached a record high of 11,351 in the state. State's previous high was 10,893 on July 22, 2020. What's concerning to healthcare experts is that the worst is ahead of us as it takes about 10 days to show COVID-19 symptoms and subsequently be hospitalized as situations worsen for many. With the just concluded Christmas weekend and an upcoming New Year's weekend, January 2021 is shaping up the worst month for Texas and other states as people are letting the guards down. On another metric, Texas is backsliding as 15 of the state's 22 trauma regions are as of December 28, 2020 showing a 7-day rolling average of greater than 15% of all hospitalized patients with COVID-19 illness, leading to an automatic closure of bars, suspending of elective surgeries and scaling back of restaurant capacity to 50% from 75% and additional restrictions on businesses and other general activities as per Governor Gregg Abbott's October 7, 2020, order.
Governor Lifts Mask Mandate, Reopens Economy at 100% Capacity, Faces Backlash
Governor Gregg Abbott on March 2, 2021 announced that effective March 10, 2021, there would not be any statewide mask mandate in the public places and all the businesses would be allowed to operate at 100% capacity. That the governor used the Texas Independence Day to make a sweeping healthcare announcement without consulting many of his healthcare experts was telling and reflective of upcoming election next year with a possibility of a primary challenge lurking on his shoulder.
On March 3, 2021, one of the governor's four medical advisers, Mark McClellan, expressed his disappointment in lifting the masking rule and fully reopening the Texas businesses as the state "has been making some real progresses" and now faced a back-sliding. Even Gregg Abbott's health commissioner, Dr. John Hellerstedt, evaded a question if he had endorsed the relaxation plan beforehand. A third adviser, Dr. John Zerwas, a vice chancellor with the U.T. systems, though agreed with the governor's decision. The fourth medical adviser to the governor, Dr. Parker Hudson of the Dell Medical School in Austin, categorically stated that he was not involved in the decision.
At a press conference at the White House, President Joe Biden on March 3, 2021 called the governor's action as something like "Neanderthal thinking" instead of adhering to sound medical science.
Dallas County's Data-driven Vaccination Effort (Source: The Dallas Morning News March 29, 2021)
Dallas County is working with Parkland Center for Clinical Innovation, or PCCI, to prioritize who will get the vaccination first. PCCI came up with a priority list initially for who would be tested first. The same model is now being used to prioritize inoculation. It's a six-step process to determine a person's vaccine rank:
* Step 1: Compare Dallas County's waitlist with the state's immunization registry to identify people who have already taken vaccination in another county.
* Step 2: Filtration of people based on current eligibility criteria
* Step 3: Map the location of eligible people relative to active COVID-19 map
* Step 4: Create a Proximity Index Score (on a scale of 1 to 3) that reflects the risk of people based on where they live
* Step 5: Use the person's address to generate an Area Deprivation Score (on a scale of 1-100) based on 17 socioeconomic indicators, including income level, housing affordability and education
*Step 6: Factor in person's age
Gov. Abbott Halts Federal Unemployment Checks
Citing a rising Texas economy and employers' growing pain in hiring people, Texas Governor Greg Abbott on May 17, 2021 announced that the state would stop sending federal supplemental unemployment checks of $300 per week approved as part of the federal COVID relief package, joining 20 other GOP-run states who had taken similar measures. Texas will halt the federal unemployment benefits effective June 26, 2021, more than two months before the September 6, 2021, timeline through which the federal unemployment insurance benefits have been allocated for. Texas business groups have lauded Governor Abbott's May 17, 2021, decision to cut off the federal supplemental unemployment benefits as state's many industries including restaurants and convenience stores are struggling to hire workers.
Gov. Abbott Removes Mask Mandate from Texas Schools
Extending his March 2, 2021, executive order that removed statewide mask mandate and capacity limits of the businesses, Governor Greg Abbott on May 18, 2021 removed mask mandate from public schools, state, municipal and local government buildings. Failure to oblige will result in fines as high as $1,000. The school mask mandate will be removed after June 4, 2021. However, there are some exemptions to the order, which Governor Abbott made public on a CNBC interview on May 18, 2021, such as prison systems, state homes and state-run hospitals.
Governor
Tightens on Local Bans
Governor
Gregg Abbott on
July 29, 2021 tightened the noose around local authorities and county
judges as he doubled down on curtailing the mandate authority of the state’s local
leaders. Governor Gregg Abbott’s July 29, 2021, executive order
essentially bans local authorities’ and school districts’ mask mandate and
other discretionary powers such as scaling down the restaurant capacity in case
of rising hospitalization rates.
Caseloads, Hospitalizations Moving in the Wrong Direction
Texas is seeing the surge in both caseloads and hospitalizations not seen since last summer, and North Texas is becoming one of the hot spots in the state. On August 4, 2021, 1,922 people with COVID-19 have remained hospitalized, according to Steve Love, head of the Dallas-Fort Worth Hospital Council. This is becoming a pandemic of unvaccinated.
************************** MASK MANDATE POLITICS
Judge Issues Restraining Order on Abbott's Edict on Mask
A Dallas area judge, Tonya Parker, on August 10, 2021 issued a retraining order against Governor Gregg Abbott's executive order banning local authorities from requiring mask mandate. The restraining order is issued as Delta variant is spreading more rapidly and sending the state's hospital system into brink. The judge issued the verdict in response to a suit filed by parents of 12 Dallas County children, paving the way for County Judge Clay Jenkin's mask mandate order to go forward. Many local authorities, including Dallas County and DISD, have defied the governor's proclamation banning the local mandate as the more transmissible Delta variant has become the major source of contagion and there is no vaccine yet for kids under 12 as many schools are in the midst of opening for School Year 2021-22. The genesis of the case at the docket of the 116th civil district court is the mandate of Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins to wear face masks while conducting the commissioners' court meeting last week. The Republican Commissioner J.J. Koch refused to oblige Judge Jenkins's order, citing Governor Abbott's executive order to ban local mandate. County Judge Clay Jenkins cited the recent Texas Supreme Court ruling, giving the judges the broad leeway to protect their staff and other people. However, Commissioner Koch has insisted that Commissioners' Court is not same as judicial court. Commissioner Koch was escorted out of the meeting room by a bailiff, leading to Koch filing a suit against Jenkins. Jenkins then dragged Abbott into this case. At issue is parts of Texas Disaster Act that empower both governor and local executives to take action in the time of disaster. Parents of 12 Dallas County children joined the suit as representing their children, or counter-plaintiffs, and named Texas Attorney-General Ken Paxton as counter-defendant. Paxton filed his own application for injunctive relief on August 10, 2021, arguing Governor Abbott's order took precedence over local orders. Judge Tonya Parker later on August 10, 2021 issued a restraining order against Abbott's executive proclamation.
Countywide Mask Mandate Back in Dallas County
A day after getting a temporary reprieve from a Dallas judge, 116th Civil District Court Judge Tonya Parker, Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins on August 11, 2021 has instituted mask mandate in the county schools, buildings and facilities as Delta variant of COVID-19 is spreading rapidly, students are returning to classrooms, and still, there is no vaccine for kids under 12. Texas Attorney-General Ken Paxton on August 11, 2021 filed an appeal to one of the state's appellate courts against Jenkins' order.
Two Appeals Courts Side with Local Mandate; Ed Secretary Cardona Blasts Abbott
Governor Gregg Abbott and Attorney-General Ken Paxton tasted another round of defeat on August 13, 2021 as the state's 5th Court of Appeals rejected attorney general's appeal against a Dallas lower court order, thus allowing the Dallas County's mask mandate to continue. Another appeals court, 4th Court of Appeals in San Antonio, also upheld Bexar County's mask mandate. Attorney-General Ken Paxton filed an appeal to the state's Supreme Court, saying that the "Texas Disaster Act of 1975 definitively makes the Governor the 'Commander in Chief' of the State's response to a disaster". The only court that had so far ruled against local mask mandate was a Tarrant County lower court that on August 13, 2021 had issued a restraining order against Fort Worth ISD's mask mandate in response to a case filed by parents. Meanwhile, U.S. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona criticized Gregg Abbott's ban on local face mask mandate, writing a letter on August 13, 2021 to Abbott and Texas Education Agency chief, Mike Morath, that attempts to bar local mask mandate might "infringe upon a school district's authority to adopt policies to protect students and educators".
Texas Supreme Court Suspends Jenkins' Mask Order
Governor Gregg Abbott and Attorney-General Ken Paxton won a key legal victory on August 15, 2021 as the all-Republican Texas Supreme Court lifted a stay order on Governor Gregg Abbott's executive order. Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins said that the Texas Supreme Court did not strike down his administrative order, requiring face masks at county schools and businesses. The state Supreme Court's temporary injunction will remain in place as hearings will be held at lower courts. The Bexar County case will be heard on August 16, 2021, and the Dallas County case on August 24, 2021. In response to the Texas Supreme Court ruling, Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins on August 15, 2021 said that he would amend his mask order, and instead of imposing the fines for non-complying businesses, he would leave the mask mandate without fine. Dallas Independent School District later on August 15, 2021 said that it would leave in place its mask requirement, saying the state's highest court ruling was addressed to [county] judge's legal battle with Abbott, and DISD is not a party to that litigation.
Jenkins Amends the Mask Order; Bexar Mask Order to Stay; Paxton's Slight Setback at TX Supreme Court
Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins on August 16, 2021 has amended the county's mask order by dropping the penalty against the businesses which will not enforce the county's mask requirement in order to stay compliant with the Texas Supreme Court's August 15, 2021 ruling. Meanwhile, a Bexar County judge on August 16, 2021 issued a temporary injunction, allowing the county's mask rule to stand for now. A similar Dallas County case will be heard on August 24, 2021. Texas Attorney-General Ken Paxton immediately filed a brief at the Texas Supreme Court after the Bexar County judge's ruling, asking the state's highest court to issue a statewide ruling. However, the Texas Supreme Court on August 16, 2021 rejected Paxton's appeal, allowing the individual local cases to be heard separately.
TX Supreme Court Allows TRO that Favors Face Masks at Public Schools
That the Texas Supreme Court may not be interested in getting into local vs. state mask mandate in a hurry has become abundantly clear with the state's highest court's refusal on August 19, 2021 to intervene in favor of the state on procedural ground. On the same day, August 15, 2021, Texas Supreme Court ruled to lift a judge's stay order on Governor Gregg Abbott's executive proclamation on mask, a Travis County judge granted a new, state-wide temporary restraining order (TRO) to suspend Governor Gregg Abbott's executive order banning public school districts from mandating masks for students, staff and educators. Richardson Independent School District and other ISDs used the Travis County TRO to require masks in their classrooms. Texas Attorney-General Ken Paxton filed an appeal straight to the state's all-Republican Supreme Court. On August 19, 2021, Texas Supreme Court has refused Paxton's appeal, citing Rule 52.3(e) of the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure, which reads that petition "must be presented first to the court of appeals unless there is a compelling reason not to do so".
Dallas Judge Sides with Jenkins over Mask Mandate
Dallas' 116th Civil District Court Judge Tonya Parker on August 25, 2021 ruled against Governor Gregg Abbott's ban of the local face mask mandate as that would hurt the county's top administrator Clay Jenkins' effort to stop the spread of more contagious Delta variant.
State Supreme Court Favors Abbott's Ban on Local Mask Mandate
Texas Supreme Court on August 26, 2021 temporarily blocked San Antonio's and Bexar County's mask mandate for their public schools.
U.S. Opens Investigation into State's Mask Mandate Directive
U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights on September 21, 2021 opened a probe into action of Texas state leaders banning local authorities' and school districts' policies requiring face masks in schools. Although Governor Gregg Abbott's ban is still hanging in the state court system, a Texas disability advocacy group, Disability Rights Texas, filed a lawsuit on behalf of students 12 and younger with disabilities in a federal court. On August 30, 2021, DOE's OCR opened probe into local mask mandate ban orders issued by the state leaders of South Carolina, Oklahoma, Iowa, Utah and Tennessee. At that time, the U.S. Department of Education stayed away from opening a probe into Texas. That had changed with last week's directive issued by the Texas Education Agency, dictating the local school districts that school systems "cannot require students or staff to wear a mask" as per the governor's executive order. On September 21, 2021, U.S. Department of Education's acting assistant secretary for civil rights, Suzanne Goldberg, wrote a letter to TEA that the division would examine whether [TEA] "may be preventing school districts in the state from considering or meeting the needs of students with disabilities as a result of Texas' policy that prohibits school districts and individual schools from requiring face masks to reduce the risk to students and others from contracting COVID-19".
Texas' Mask Mandate Ban Rejected by Federal Judge
U.S. District Judge Lee Yeakel on November 10, 2021 has ruled that state of Texas' ban on school mask mandate hurts the students with disabilities and violates their rights. The federal judge nullified the ban throughout the state with implication for more than 1,000 school districts and 5 million students. This lawsuit spawns from the first federal suit filed on behalf of the students with disabilities in August 2021 by the group Disability Rights Texas.
County
Judge’s Mask Mandate Authority Upheld
A
state appeals court, Dallas-based Fifth State Court of Appeals, on November
22, 2021 upheld a lower court ruling that had rejected Governor Gregg
Abbott’s order to overturn Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins’ mask
mandate.
Governor’s
Mask Ban Order Reinstated
The
U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals on December 1, 2021 rejected a
lower court verdict and restored Governor Gregg Abbott’s order to ban
mask mandates by local authorities. U.S. District Judge Lee Yeakel on
November 10, 2021 sided with Disability Rights Texas that had filed
a federal lawsuit challenging Governor Abbott’s order on the ground that it
would violate the rights of students with disabilities under the American
with Disabilities Act.
************************** MASK MANDATE POLITICS
Texas' COVID Casualty Reaches 60K
Texas on September 17, 2021 reported 377 deaths from COVID-19, exceeding 60,000 casualty mark, only second to California's nearly 67,000 deaths. Texas' 60,357 reported deaths from COVID-19 as of September 17, 2021 ranks the state 24th with 206 deaths per 100,000 residents, slightly higher than the national average of 201. Mississippi's 306 deaths per 100,000 residents is the highest per capita COVID-19 death rate in the nation, and Vermont's 45 is the lowest.
Abbott Reverses His August Directive, Bans Vaccine Mandate by Entities
Texas Governor Greg Abbott on October 11, 2021 somersaulted on his August 2021 executive order in which he had banned state or local governments from requiring vaccine mandate, but allowed the private companies to make their own vaccination requirement rules for employees. On October 11, 2021, Gov. Abbott signed a new executive order prohibiting private businesses from requiring their workers to get vaccinated. Legal scholars, though, believe that federal rules will supersede and the governor's EO is constitutionally weak to begin with.
Biden Administration Scolds Texas
Biden administration on October 12, 2021 reprimanded Texas Governor Greg Abbott for issuing executive order a day earlier that would prohibit Texas businesses from requiring employees to get vaccinated and levy a fine of $1,000 per violation. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki admonished Abbott about the consequence of his order in the midst of a pandemic.
CDC Raises Dallas COVID Status to Red
Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention
on July 14, 2022 issued a red (high) alert status for Dallas County.
CDC uses trio metrics to determine whether a region is green (low), yellow
(medium) or red (high). Trio of metrics that CDC uses are (1) New cases per
100K people for the past seven days, (2) % of staffed in-patient beds occupied
by COVID-19 patients (a 7-day average), and (3) New Admissions per 100K over
the past seven days.
Based on the first metric, the higher of the second and third metric determination yields the regional/county status. The CDC ruleset is
·
Metric
1 < 200
o
%
of staffed In-patient Bed (Metric 2)
§
Less
than 10% signifies LOW
§
10%
- 14.9% Signifies MEDIUM
§
15%
or more Signifies HIGH
o
New
Admissions per 100K (Metric 3)
§
Less
than 10 signifies LOW
§
10
- 19.9 Signifies MEDIUM
§
20
or more Signifies HIGH
·
Metric
1 >= 200
o
%
of staffed In-patient Bed (Metric 2)
§
Less
than 10% signifies MEDIUM
§
10%
or more Signifies HIGH
o
New
Admissions per 100K (Metric 3)
§
Less
than 10 signifies MEDIUM
§
10
or more Signifies HIGH
According to
the CDC report on July 14, 2022, Metric 1 in Dallas County is 242.38, Metric 2
is 4.5% and Metric 3 is 11. The COVID-19 status in Dallas County is thus RED or
HIGH.
Dallas County’s own internal color-based system is now Yellow, raised from Green last week. The four-tier (Green/Yellow/Orange/Red) is determined in different ways than CDC’s ranking system.
Texas Extends Emergency SNAP Assistance
Governor Gregg Abbott on August 3, 2022 extended SNAP assistance for one additional month, providing $305.5 million for the month of August 2022. Before the August 2022 disbursement, Texas had provided more than $7.6 billion in special SNAP assistance since April 2020 as part of the pandemic relief packages.
CDC: Up to 321,000 Deaths from Coronavirus by Third Week
of December
In an alarming reminder of grim days that are awaiting, a CDC model, COVID-19 Forecasts: Deaths, projects that between 294,000 and 321,000 total coronavirus deaths will be recorded by December 21, 2020. The projection from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention came as Johns Hopkins University tally on November 27, 2020 estimated more than 263,000 U.S. deaths and 12.9 million U.S. confirmed cases. Worldwide 61.2 coronavirus cases were recorded, according to Johns Hopkins University tally.
States Push for Relief as Trump Administration Remains
MIA
As coronavirus is raging in much of the country with renewed venom in this third, and the broadest, wave of pandemic spread, most of the states are left to defend themselves with whatever money they are left with to provide relief to renters, small businesses and unemployed. Many state leaders, including some Republicans, are urging the Trump administration and Congress to extend the current timeline of December 30, 2020 so that no money is returned to the federal government. Johns Hopkins University daily tally estimated the infection number at 205,557 on November 27, 2020, first time the number exceeded the 200,000-mark. The previous record was reported on November 20, 2020 with 196,000 positives
“Surge upon a Surge” Happening
As the nation’s infectious disease chief Dr. Anthony Fauci has described on November 29, 2020 that a “surge upon a surge” is all but inevitable as millions of Americans have defied government warning against travel, including a pandemic-time record of 1.2 million fliers on Sunday after Thanksgiving (November 29, 2020), the ominous prediction is emerging with vengeance. Hospitalizations continued to climb, first time exceeding 95,000 on November 30, 2020. The pandemic has killed more than 267,000 people in the U.S., infected more than 13.4 million people in the U.S., is now behind some of the grim statistics such as 160,000 new cases per day and more than 1,400 daily deaths, both these numbers have last been seen in mid-May when the epicenter of the pandemic has been New York.
CDC Revises Its Quarantine Guideline
After millions of people defied to follow the recommendation of earlier CDC guidance of a two-week quarantine, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on December 2, 2020 issued a revised guidance that traded off risk of spread for better compliance. Now, under the CDC’s revised directive, the quarantine length will be reduced from 14 days to 10 days or even seven days.
U.S. Faces Coronavirus Armageddon
After millions of Americans have defied the CDC warning during Thanksgiving Holiday, the surge of COVID-19 cases is now overwhelming nation’s hospitals, stressing caregivers and testing the nation’s nerve like never before. On December 2, 2020, trio of metrics hit new records. 3,157 deaths were reported on December 2, 2020, according to the Johns Hopkins University tally, shattering the earlier record of 2,603 deaths on April 15, 2020. Total number of hospitalizations exceeded 100,000 for the first time on December 2, 2020, according to the COVID Tracking Project. Total number of cases also set a new record on December 2, 2020, registering more than 200,000 for the first time, according to the Johns Hopkins University.
U.S. Single-Day Coronavirus Toll Crosses D-Day, 9/11
Deaths
In a bleak record, U.S. on December 9, 2020 had deaths recorded at 3,124, exceeding the previous one-day death toll record of 2,603 on April 15, 2020 when New York was the epicenter of the pandemic. The December 9, 2020, single-day record exceeds 9/11 death toll of 2,977 and about 2,500 American deaths registered on the opening day of Normandy Invasion during the World War II out of a total 4,000 allied soldier deaths. The grim milestone is matched by 106,000 people remaining hospitalized on a single day, a record by itself, as well as an all-time daily infection average of 209,000. As of December 10, 2020, at least 290,000 people had died of COVID-19 and at least 15.5 million people were infected. Over the past five days, more than a million people were infected by this stubborn virus.
First Day of Vaccination as UPS, FedEx Trucks with
Vaccine Boxes Arrive at Hospitals
It was a historic day in fight against COVID-19 as UPS and FedEx trucks arrived at nation’s hospitals on December 14, 2020, and inoculations of healthcare workers began immediately.
Europe Imposes Strict Travel Restrictions from U.K. after
Discovery of a Coronavirus Mutant
Hours after British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced
a strict Tier 4 restrictive measure in London and parts of southern England,
upending people’s Christmas shopping, over a fast spreading, more infectious variant of coronavirus in that region, most of
the European countries on December 20, 2020 announced strict ban on
travel from the U.K.
Panic Strikes Truckers at British Ports; E.U. Approves
Vaccine
Hours after British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on
December 19, 2020 imposed a stricter set of measures in London and parts of
South England, leading to upheaval to people’s plan for Christmas shopping and
other events, thousands of trucks lined up at British ports, including Dover,
to cross into France in a mad rush following French President Emmanuel Macron’s
December 20, 2020, order to impose a 48-hour ban on all modes of travel to assess
the situation stemming from a fast-spreading and more infectious variant of
Coronavirus that had originated in southern England. Other nations, including
Canada and India, suspended flights from Britain for varying lengths of time. The
new strain of Coronavirus does not seem to be more dangerous, and thus, the
vaccines developed for the initial strain should be effective for new strain
too.
European Union on December 21, 2020 approved the vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech, leading to a massive vaccination program to begin in 27-nation bloc right after the Christmas. The Amsterdam-based European Medicines Agency, or EMA, has recommended that the vaccine is safe and has met all required quality standards. Hours later, European Commission approved the vaccine. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen sounded optimistic, saying that it’s a turning point and finally the time had come to turn the “page on COVID-19”. EMA is the overseer agency that approves medicines and vaccines in the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. EU ordered 300 million doses of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.
France Opens Borders for Truckers Stuck in Britain
After a series of intense negotiations between British and French officials, France on December 22, 2020 began to let thousands of truckers enter the country after a 48-hour border closure aimed at preventing a new strain of coronavirus from spreading into 27-nation European Union. France also decided to allow British nationals who work in the E.U. to enter France. British travelers are still barred. All of the entrants into the European Union have to show a negative COVID-19 test report.
California Becomes the First State to Exceed 2-million
Infection Mark
In a grim milestone, California on December 24, 2020 became the first state in the nation to have crossed a 2-million mark in coronavirus infections. State’s first Coronavirus case was reported on January 25, 2020. It took many months until it hit a million mark on November 11, 2020. It took just 44 days to hit the second million mark. California is going through a near-total lockdown, with daily night curfews in place, public venues shuttered, bars closed and restaurants only serving takeout. The strict measures have helped slightly over the past two weeks as infection rates are slowing. That’s a flicker of good news, according to Governor Gavin Newsom.
First Case of New Variant of Coronavirus in the U.S. Found in
Colorado
First case of a new Coronavirus strain first found in Southeast England and reported to be more infectious than the initial strain was found in Colorado. Coloradan Governor Jared Polis tweeted about the case in Elbert County, a rural county southeast of Denver, on December 29, 2020. The person has no record of travel, implying the strain may have already arrived in the U.S. and may be already spreading here, thus igniting a fear that it will overwhelm already a very stretched healthcare infrastructure.
A Second Case of New Strain of Coronavirus in the U.S. Reported in California
During a conversation with the nation's infectious disease chief, Dr. Anthony Fauci, California Governor Gavin Newsom on December 30, 2020 divulged that a case of new strain of coronavirus had been found in Southern California. Newsom didn't share any other details about the person or how the person had gotten this more infectious strain first found in Southeastern England. The Southern California case is the second in the nation of the new strain which Dr. Fauci said that he was not surprised and it was not an "odd" case either, Meanwhile, more have been known about the first case of the new strain reported a day earlier in Colorado. The person is a Colorado National Guardsman who has earlier helped at a nursing home.
Third Case of New Strain in the U.S. Reported in Florida
Florida on January 1, 2021 became the third U.S. state to report the new strain of Coronavirus which had been first found in Southeast England in September 2020. According to The New York Times, so far 33 nations have witnessed the new variant of Coronavirus.
WHO Scientists Arrive at Wuhan to Study Origin of Virus
A World Health Organization team of scientists on January 14, 2021 arrived at the city of Wuhan as part of an agreement between Chinese government and WHO for a joint collaboration with Chinese scientists and assess and analyze information to understand better about the origin of Coronavirus that had first erupted in the city and subsequently spread to the rest of the world, killing more than 1.9 million people worldwide.
2 million Mark Reached, Disparities in Vaccination Effort Highlighted
On January 15, 2021, another grim milestone has been reached. On the first anniversary of the first reported Coronavirus death in Wuhan, Johns Hopkins University reported a grim milestone of 2 million deaths from COVID-19 as deep disparities and inequities had plagued the vaccination drive in developed and developing world. Amidst a bungled rollout in parts of the developed world such as the USA, people are lining up and rolling up the sleeves in USA, Britain, Israel, Canada and other developed nations while the WHO-led vaccination drive, COVAX, for much of the developing world is hamstrung with supply and distribution problems.
**************************************** COVID-19 STRAINS *******************************
Three Variants of COVID-19 so far Identified Worldwide
The Dallas Morning News on January 17, 2021 published an insightful article on variants of SARS-CoV-2 Variants. SARS-CoV-2 is the initial strain. As of January 17, 2021, three variants of the initial strain of COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, have been found.
(1) B.1.1.7: First identified in the U.K. in September 2020. Current Sequence-confirmed Cases: worldwide 15,369 (U.S.: 88). Countries with Sequences: 36.
(2) B.1.351: First identified in South Africa in October 2020. Current Sequence-confirmed Cases: worldwide 415 (U.S.: 0). Countries with Sequences: 13 (Beta strain as per The Dallas Morning News August 14, 2021)
(3) P.1: First identified in Japan and Brazil in January 2021. Current Sequence-confirmed Cases: worldwide 35 (U.S.: 0). Countries with Sequences: 2 (Gamma strain as per The Dallas Morning News August 14, 2021)
Delta variant, first detected in India, accounts now 95% of the new cases in the U.S. as of August 14, 2021
Gamma variant, first detected in Peru in December 2020, has been found in North Texas five cases, according to a gene sequencing findings by a team of researchers at the Southwestern Medical School and reported on August 13, 2021.
**************************************** COVID-19 STRAINS *******************************
400,000 Mark Crossed in U.S. COVID-19 Death Toll
January 19, 2021 marked another grim milestone in Coronavirus pandemic as nationwide death toll from COVID-19 hit the once-unthinkable 400,000.
President Biden Issues 10 Executive Orders on the First Full Day in Office to Battle Coronavirus
Calling the fight against the Coronavirus pandemic as "one of the greatest operational challenges our nation has ever undertaken", President Joe Biden on the first full day in office on January 21, 2021 signed 10 executive orders as part of a concerted strategy to boost production of vaccine, deliver them in hard-hit areas, make it mandatory to wear face masks in planes, buses and trains for inter-state travel as well as airports, instruct his own administration to come up with rules to open up schools and implement better testing and quarantining for people entering the U.S. During the day's press briefing, Biden was joined by Vice President Kamala Harris and the administration's new infectious disease chief Dr. Anthony Fauci. Dr. Fauci called working for the new administration a "liberating" feeling and committed to work closely with World Health Organization that Biden had re-joined a day earlier after Trump withdrew U.S. from the WHO.
Biden Administration Extends Travel Restriction on Europe, Adds South Africa to the List
In the face of widely spreading variants of COVID-19, Biden administration on January 25, 2021 extended the non-citizen travel restriction from Brazil, U.K., Ireland and 26 other European countries. The travel restriction, first imposed on Europe by Trump administration in March 2020 and then on Brazil in May 2020, is about to expire on January 26, 2021. White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki called the action a "science-driven response" to contain the spread of COVID-19 and its mutants. In the light of recent findings that another variant found in South Africa is more lethal, Biden administration on January 25, 2021 has added the country to the travel restriction list. The travel restriction for all non-U.S. citizen from South Africa will be effective on January 30, 2021. Biden administration is also proposing to require all travelers to the U.S. to show the proof of negative Coronavirus test results before boarding U.S.-bound flights. Biden administration has also instructed respective authorities to explore options on self-quarantining by travelers upon arriving at the U.S.
An Additional 90,000 Deaths Forecast
Biden administration, in line with president's straight-talking with America strategy, gave the ominous projection of additional 90,000 deaths within four weeks. The January 27, 2021, projection came during a ZOOM conference call attended by the administration's healthcare Pros, a sharp departure from Trump's flamboyant style of often putting himself in the spotlight and shunning his own healthcare experts. The ZOOM session itself is in line with President Biden's own assiduous adherence to the safe distancing protocol. CDC's new director, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, urged the American people to be united and to practice safety protocols. Jeff Zients, White House's coordinator for Coronavirus, urged the Congress to quickly pass President Biden's $1.9 trillion "American Rescue Plan". Administration's top infectious disease chief, Dr. Anthony Fauci, cautioned the nation on January 27, 2021 about the so-called South African variant of the Coronavirus. The January 27, 2021, projection of additional 90,000 deaths comes amidst a raging pandemic that has so far killed more than 425,000 people.
Highly Contagious South African Strain Arrives at the U.S.
In a highly alarming event for public health, a more infectious strain first detected in South Africa in late 2020 was found in two people in South Carolina with no known history of travel, from two different regions of the state and no relation between them. South Carolina's Department of Health and Environmental Control made public of the presence of B.1.351 strain, also known as South African strain, on January 28, 2021. The strain is more infectious than the original Coronavirus strain like B.1.1.7 found first in southeast England. The British strain, B.1.1.7, has been found in more than two dozen states in the U.S. Another strain, P.1, is spreading in Brazil and Japan, and the first case of P.1 strain has been reported on January 25, 2021 by Minnesota health authorities in a person who has been to Brazil in recent days. P.1 strain spread rapidly in the Brazilian Amazonian city of Manaus, even sickening significant number of otherwise healthy people and overwhelming the hospital system which is at the brink of collapse. Although the jury is still out in the effectiveness and efficacy of vaccines to the mutating strains, other therapeutics such as monoclonal antibodies may not be as effective, according to many public health experts, against these mutations.
CBO Projects Faster Recovery, Lingering High Jobless Rates amidst Falling Infections
There is a mixed bag of economic news on February 1, 2021 with the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office projecting a faster recovery in the second half of 2021 as the vaccination drive was gaining steam and after the worst economic contraction last year--the U.S. economy shrank 3.5% in 2020 based on the available data--as the Coronavirus pandemic forced business shutdowns, mandatory lockdowns, tens millions of people out of work and 10 million jobs off the payroll roster as of now. CBO's February 1, 2021, forecast now envisions a 4.6% economic growth in 2021 before returning to a more normal level of about 2% in 2023. However, the economic growth in the U.S. will not lift the job opportunities across the board as the total number of employed will reach, according to the CBO projection, the pre-pandemic level in 2024. However, a key metric, jobless rate, will hover 5.7% in 2021, 5% in 2022, 4.7% in 2023, and 4.1% between 2026 and 2031, a 4 basis point higher compared to 3.7% average jobless rate registered in 2019. In February 2020, the unemployment rate was 3.5%.
Meanwhile, some good news emerged for the deadliest month of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to data available on February 1, 2021. Although about 95,000 lives have been lost in January 2021 alone from the pandemic, a record monthly total, raising the total death toll to more than 440,000, both the infection and hospitalization cases fell sharply for the month. Daily infections are now running at 148,000 cases, sharply lower than about 250,000 cases. Also, the hospitalizations have fallen significantly to less than 100,000 on February 1, 2021. The divergence between death figures and cases of hospitalization and infection is due to the fact that death is often a lagging factor.
CDC Warning about Super Bowl Gathering
The February 7, 2021, Super Bowl can become a super-spreader event for Coronavirus, according to the director of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Rochelle Walensky, as the infection trend is moving in the right direction after a long time. The 7-day case average stands at 125,854 as of February 5, 2021 compared to 180,489 as of January 22, 2021, according to a Johns Hopkins University tally.
CDC's Guidance: Schools Now Can Reopen with Safety Precaution
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on February 12, 2021 has issued guidance on re-opening the nation's schools, and it has said that vaccination is not necessary for safe re-opening of the schools as long as the other safety protocols such as hand washing, diagnostic testing, contact tracing, face mask wearing, building sanitizing and appropriate air ventilation are put in place. CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky was emphatic on face mask wearing as "we know that most clusters in the school setting have occurred when there are breaches in the mask wearing". President Joe Biden is under pressure to re-open K-8 schools in his first 100 days in office as he has promised on the campaign trail, and he has asked Congress to quickly approve his $1.9 trillion COVID-19 package that includes $130 billion fund for safely re-opening the nation's schools.
WHO Approves Second Vaccine for Emergency-use Authorization
World Health Organization on February 15, 2021 approved the AstraZeneca vaccine for emergency-use authorization. WHO approved so far two vaccines for emergency-use authorization. In December 2020, WHO approved Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. The approval of this more affordable vaccine will enable WHO to launch the most ambitious vaccination campaign, dubbed as COVAX, to fight against a global pandemic that had killed at least 2.4 million people and infected more than 109 million people.
U.S. to Ramp up Genomic Sequencing of Coronavirus
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and a U.S. Army biodefense unit are scaling up the DNA mapping of the Coronavirus to better trace and track the evolving mutation patterns. CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said on February 17, 2021 that Biden administration would spend about $200 million to perform DNA mapping on 25,000 samples a week, triple the current sample volume. A U.S. Army biodefense unit will perform genomic sequencing on about 10,000 samples a week, more than double the current level of 4,000 samples. However, the real game plan on genetic sequencing lies in the hands of Congress as it is debating on Biden's $1.9 trillion package that includes about $1.75 billion for DNA mapping.
Italy Honors 1-year Anniversary by Dedicating a Special Day for Healthcare Workers
A day to the date when the first Coronavirus hospitalization was reported, Italy on February 20, 2021 dedicated the day for healthcare workers for their sacrifices and endeavors to fight back against the pandemic that had taken more than 95,000 lives. February 20 is now called the National Day of the Health Care Personnel. Pope Francis and President Sergio Mattarella marked the day with somber note and paying their rich tributes to healthcare workers. According to professional associations, at least 326 doctors and 81 nurses have died in COVID-19. Pope Francis called the dedication of healthcare personnel as an example of a "vaccine against individualism and selfishness". President Mattarella lauded the healthcare workers for preventing the pandemic from taking Italy into an "irreversible chaos". On February 20, 2020, a 38-year-old man with no known travel history to China was reported to have contracted the Coronavirus and admitted at a hospital in Codogno.
U.S. Marks Half-a-million COVID Death
President Joe Biden, First Lady Jill Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and Second Husband Doug Emhoff observed a moment of silence at the White House on February 22, 2021 evening as the U.S. crossed the grim milestone of half a million COVID-19 deaths, a figure higher than combined American death toll from the World War II (405,000), Korean War (36,000) and Vietnam War (58,000), respectively. On the positive side, though, about 44 million Americans have received at least one dose of vaccines as of February 22, 2021 while the caseloads, hospitalizations and deaths have plummeted in recent days. The trajectory of hitting 500,000 COVID-19 deaths is dramatic too: it has taken four months to hit the first 100,000-mark, followed by 200,000 in September 2020, 300,000 in December 2020, 400,000 and 500,000 a month apart, respectively.
Fully Vaccinated Can Enjoy More Normal Lifestyle, CDC
Says
A directive issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on March 8, 2021 paves the way for a broader window of opportunity for fully vaccinated people on how they meet with others and enjoy inside dining. People over 14 days past the final dose of Coronavirus vaccine will have low risk if they meet with unvaccinated people from a single household without face mask or social distancing, leading to many fully vaccinated grandparents to become optimistic in meeting their unvaccinated grandkids.
Biden's First Prime-time Address Coincides with the First Anniversary of WHO's Pandemic Declaration
President Joe Biden struck an optimistic tone in the first prime-time address to the nation on March 11, 2021. After a "dark winter" when the U.S. death toll exceeded half-a-million mark and now over 530,000, President Biden said that "finding light in the darkness is a very American thing to do", and the administration was doing just that. He added that, by May 1, 2021, all Americans would be able to make appointments for vaccination, obviating the need to prioritize one group over another. Biden also expressed hope that U.S. would be inching towards a much more normal mode by July 4 Independence Day. Expanding the eligibility criteria to include all Americans by May 1, 2021 marks a significant milestone for Biden administration to inoculate a nation still reeling under the impact of the pandemic and achieve "herd immunity" by the end of summer.
CDC Relaxes School "Social Distancing" Guideline
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on March 19, 2021 issued another revision to school safety guidelines, this time bringing down the social distancing threshold to 3 feet from the 6-foot threshold that had been in existence since the beginning of the pandemic. However, students still need to wear face masks within classroom. The six-foot distance is still recommended for events such as sports, choir, or when the students congregate for lunch. The relaxation of social distancing standard brings immediate help to schools who are struggling to accommodate students in classrooms without jeopardizing the safety of students or teachers.
Biden Administration Casts Doubt on Transparency of WHO Report on Coronavirus Sources
At least three prominent Biden administration officials cast doubt in recent weeks on the transparency of a World Health Organization report on the source of the Coronavirus. There was a WHO delegation to Wuhan in January 2021 to study the origin of virus. The panel is supposed to submit a report in early March 2021. Unfortunately, the report submission timeline has been pushed to the last week of March 2021. On February 21, 2021, U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said that China didn't "make available sufficient original data" to the delegation to understand how "this pandemic began to spread in China" and elsewhere. On March 26, 2021, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki questioned the "transparency" of the WHO report. On March 28, 2021, Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, appearing on the CNN's State of the Union, went as far as saying that China was in fact helping write the report.
Eviction Moratorium Extended through June 30
CDC on March 29, 2021 extended the moratorium on eviction, set to expire on March 31, 2021, for another three months through the end of June 2021.
WHO Issues Report on Its Findings of Coronavirus Origin
The World Health Organization on March 30, 2021 issued a much-anticipated report on the origin of coronavirus after an experts panel had visited Wuhan in January 2021 to collaborate with the Chinese scientists and analyze the data provided by the Chinese authorities. WHO report has confirmed a transmission pipeline of the virus from animals to humans although falling short of identifying the exact contagion cycle of the virus jumping from bat to at least one animal, and eventually, to humans. The report didn’t give any credence to a lab leakage hypothesis. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on March 30, 2021 criticized the level of cooperation accorded by Beijing, sharpest ever rebuke by WHO chief. Hours later, U.S., Britain, South Korea, Japan, Israel and nine other nations issued a statement, expressing concern over delays by Chinese authorities in allowing the access to the vital data and called for a “transparent and independent analysis, free from interference and undue interference".
France Announces New Lockdown
French President Emmanuel Macron on March 31, 2021 went to TV to address the nation and announced a new round of national lockdown as he had announced in two other occasions--March 2020 and October 2020--through nationally televised addresses. As per Macron's lockdown order, the schools will be closed for three weeks and domestic travel will be banned for a month. In addition, the 7PM to 6AM curfew, announced in January 2021, will continue. France's bars, gyms, theaters, restaurants, museums and cinemas have been closed since October 2020. The severity of the surge can be gauged from hospitalizations in ICU. On March 30, 2021, ICU hospitalizations exceeded 5,000, a key threshold that had been crossed only once about 11 months ago. President Macron promised to scale up the number of available ICU beds to 10,000 from 7,000. The most alarming trend is the increased hospitalization of younger people, with 44% of intensive care recipients younger than 65.
Spring Surges Push Some U.S. States to Breaking Points
In the midst of a massive Coronavirus vaccination campaign that has inoculated more than 125 millions people in the U.S., a trend in wrong direction has been reported in at least 35 states as nationwide hospitalizations jumped to more than 47,000, highest since March 4, 2021, according to a research published by The Washington Post on April 15, 2021. The surge is more concentrated regionally, with upper Midwest faring worse than Deep South. Michigan, especially, is faring one of the worst as Governor Gretchen Whitmer requested federal government to send more vaccines to the state. However, Biden administration balked, staying on course to specific allotment targets for individual states, and instead, offering Michigan help in vaccine administration and supplying additional volumes of monoclonal antibodies for treating sickest population among the patients.
U.S. to Ramp up Shield against Variants
U.S. is now gearing up a concerted campaign to scale up efforts to effectively track new variants of Coronavirus and formulate a strategy of mitigation against them. Biden administration can tap the recently passed $1.9 trillion Coronavirus package to fund a $1.7 billion national initiative focused on triumvirate of components:
* Funding boost for CDC and state health departments to boost gene mapping
* Creating six "centers of excellence" in collaboration with Universities and research institutions to carry out research and develop technologies for gene-based surveillance of pathogens
* Building a data-driven solution and analytics system that can analyze emerging disease threats and turn insight into action
White House Coronavirus Adviser Andy Slavitt said on April 16, 2021 that the focus would be "to intensify our efforts to quickly test for and find the genetic sequence of the virus as it spreads". This is a transformative effort as much of the infrastructure will stay permanently and will respond to any emerging pandemic in future more effectively than that of during the Coronavirus pandemic.
3 Million Coronavirus Deaths Reported
Johns Hopkins University's tally reported on April 16, 2021 that total global deaths from Coronavirus had exceeded the grim milestone of 3 million, three months after the 2-million mark.
50% Adult People in America Have Now been Vaccinated, CDC Says
A day after crossing the grim milestone of 3 million Coronavirus deaths, about 50.4% of U.S. residents of 18 and above, or about 130 million people, have been vaccinated at least one dose as of April 17, 2021, according to an April 18, 2021, CDC Report. About 84 million people, or 32.5% of the population, have been fully vaccinated. However, the U.S. vaccination pace (61.6 doses administered per 100 people) trails that of Israel (119.2), Britain (62), UAE and Chile.
India Registers Record COVID Infection Cases
In a single-day record set by any nation, India has breached its own grim milestones twice to set record numbers of daily infections three days a row. On April 24, 2021, India reported 346,786 new cases of Coronavirus, a record set by any nation on the planet. On April 24, 2021, India reported 2,624 COVID deaths. Hospitals in New Delhi, Maharashtra, U.P and some other states are teetering at the brink. There is an acute shortage of oxygen. Relatives of dying relatives are crying out for oxygen. In many parts, mass pyres are lighting up the sky.
Biden Pledges to Help India as the Country Sets Another 24-hour Record
India on April 25, 2021 reported 349,691 new cases of Coronavirus infection in the past 24 hours, hitting the grim milestone of maximum number of infections in a 24-hour timespan anywhere in the world. During the day, Biden administration also pledged to help New Delhi with test kit, vaccines, raw materials for vaccines, PPEs and other aid.
CDC Relaxes on Mask Rules
In a major shift in directives, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on April 27, 2021 has announced that the fully vaccinated people can now go outside without face masks unless there are large gatherings of strangers. CDC Director Rochelle Walensky said that the new directive marked "another step back to the normalcy of before". The mask mandate has been relaxed as more than 50% people in the U.S. have received at least one shot, one-third have been fully vaccinated and at least 570,000 people have died of COVID-19.
India's Dire Plight Punctuated another Daily Record; CDC to Send a Strike Team
Every single day, India is falling into deeper hole of a catastrophe as the cases of infections are rising by the day and hitting new worldwide records, with the latest figure reported on April 28, 2021 and showed a total of new infections of 360,960 over a 24-hour-period, a single day record for any nation in the world, nudging the total infections over 17.9 million. The death toll reported on April 28, 2021 for the latest 24-hour timespan is a staggering 3,293, raising the total deaths to at least 200,000. As of April 25, 2021, according to the World Health Organization, India accounted for 38% of all new cases over a seven-day period.
Many nations are coming forward to help India as the director of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, said on April 28, 2021 during an appearance on Good Morning America that the agency was "deploying a strike team this week to go and assist" in India.
U.S. Imposes Travel Restrictions on India
U.S. President Joe Biden on April 30, 2021 signed a proclamation barring entry of any foreigner who had lived in India for the past 14 days except Green Card holders, close family members and few others. The April 30, 2021, proclamation, set to go into effect on May 4, 2021, has been issued due to unmanageable spread and deadlier strains of the virus now swirling in India. On April 30, 2021, government authorities reported 386,452 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours as well as 3,498 deaths. So far, India ranked second after the United States in number of infections since the pandemic had erupted more than a year ago, with India reporting a total of 18.7 million cases.
Monoclonal Antibody Shown to be Effective in Lab Setting Now Goes for Clinical Trial in North TX
A new monoclonal antibody made by Eli Lily and Vancouver-based AbCellera Biologics has shown promise in neutralizing all known variants of Coronavirus, including the mutants first found in Britain, South Africa and Brazil. The antibody attaches to the virus "in a way that allows it to stop every variant", said AbCellera CEO Carl Hansen in an interview. The Dallas Morning News in its May 5, 2021, edition said that the "monoclonal antibody" from Eli Lily and AbCellera Biologics would now move to clinical trials in North Texas. The monoclonal antibody, LY-CoV1404, is also effective against the double-mutant version now swirling across India. Another positive side of this specific monoclonal antibody, LY-CoV1404, is that it's potency makes it effective in a smaller dosage, thus not requiring special outpatient facilities equipped with IV machines and, instead, allowing the option to inject the antibody using simple shots.
U.S. Registers the Best Day in 10 months in Key COVID Metrics
The Associated Press reported on May 12, 2021 that U.S. had the lowest single-day COVID-19 deaths in the past 24 hours since July 2020. There were 608 death cases reported and about 38,000 per day new infections, lowest since mid-September 2020, with some states reporting no deaths at all some days. Part of the success story is due to nation's massive vaccination campaign, with 45% of people having received the both shots and at least 59% having received one shot. Some states which have seen avalanche of COVID-19 deaths only couple of months ago are turning the corner faster. Case in hand is Michigan, where a daily average of 4,860 COVID-19 cases about two months ago has tumbled to 2,680 as of May 10, 2021.
CDC Virtually Waives Mask or Social Distancing Rules for Fully Vaccinated People
For an increasingly impatient nation, this can not come soon enough: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advised on May 13, 2021 that fully vaccinated people in America do not require face masks or social distancing either outside or inside, paving the way for the country to leap forward to normalcy with infection cases and deaths from COVID-19 tumbling. CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky, though, asked the unvaccinated people to continue wearing masks and maintain social distancing. President Joe Biden, appearing in the Rose Garden without a mask, called it a great day. However, CDC's relaxed guidelines issued on May 13, 2021 do not cover airports, airlines, transit and train.
India Virus Strain Believed to have Three Sub-lineages
In another alarming twist of SARS-CoV-2 mutation, the virus strain that's now causing havoc in India, B.1.617, is now believed to have further mutated into three sub-variants. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has described all three B.1.617 sub-lineages as "variants of interest". On May 10, 2021, World Health Organization designated the India strain, B.1.617, as a "variant of concern".
India Reports Highest Single-day Death Toll Ever
India on May 19, 2021 surpassed the U.S. in reporting the highest COVID-19 deaths for a single day as authorities reported that 4,529 people had died in the preceding 24-hour period. The previous daily high was 4,475 in the U.S. on January 12, 2021. India's confirmed fatalities are 283,248 and its daily infection cases fell to 267,234, third day in a row less than 300,000-mark. India's recent surge was precipitated by a mutant, B.1.617, first detected in December 2020, now spreading very rapidly through urban and rural India, low vaccination coverage and large political rallies in recent weeks.
Virtual Global Health Summit to Streamline Vaccine Distribution
An European Union-Italy-co-hosted virtual health conference of G-20 nations on May 21, 2021 yielded what Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi called a "significant and staggering" outcome as private pharma companies pledged 1.3 billion COVID-19 vaccine doses for the middle-income and low-income nations. According to the information available from the May 21, 2021, virtual global summit, co-hosted by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, Pfizer-BioNTech will supply about a billion doses, J&J 200 million doses and Moderna about 100 million doses. The vaccines will be supplied at a net loss to the low-income nations and at a sight profit to the middle-income nations. In addition, Pfizer-BioNTech pledged an additional 1 billion doses next year. The vaccines will be supplied as part of the WHO-led COVAX program. The 1.3 billion COVID-19 vaccine doses pledged on May 21, 2021 are in addition to what some of the western nations such as U.S., New Zealand and other European nations have promised to share parts of their remaining vaccine stockpiles with the needy nations and going to make up a significant shortfall in the vaccine shipment as a result of Indian vaccine maker Serum Institute of India's announcement earlier this week to forego exports in the light of disastrous second wave now biting vast parts of India.
U.S. New Infections, Deaths Tumbling amidst Fear of New Variant
There is a remarkable improvement in COVID-19 situation in the United States as at least 60% of the adults have at least one vaccine dose, inching closer but still a difficult road ahead to President Joe Biden's goal of achieving a coverage of 70% by July 4 Holiday. As of May 21, 2021, the seven-day average new infections turned out to be 27,815, lowest since June 22, 2020, according to The Washington Post. The seven-day average death toll as of May 21, 2021 has plunged to 552, a rate not seen since July 2020. A COVID-19 Community Profile Report released last week by Biden administration shows a more nuanced picture of scattered concentrations of COVID hot spots. The report shows 694 counties to have "high" levels of transmissions, mostly in the Deep South, Rocky Mountains and the Pacific Northwest. The same report showed almost double the counties with "high" transmission rates in mid-April 2021.
Biden Instructs Intel Agencies to Probe Origin of Coronavirus Eruption
After initially diluting the theory of a lab accident in Wuhan that might have led to the worst global pandemic in a century, President Joe Biden on May 26, 2021 instructed his national intelligence agencies and national labs to probe the origin of Coronavirus outbreak and report back within 90 days.
U.K. CORONAVIRUS CONTROVERSY
Former Aide Lambasts British Premier
A former aide of British Prime Minster Boris Johnson, who had drawn wide-ranging condemnation for driving 260 miles across England last year in the middle of a national lockdown along with his wife while both infected with the Coronavirus, on May 26, 2021 told MPs during a parliamentary hearing that his former boss had contributed to tens of thousands of avoidable deaths after the premier had played down the severity of the coronavirus, was late in ordering the first lockdown and had displayed laissez faire attitude towards the virus. Dominic Cummings, a former insider within Boris Johnson's advisory group, also affirmed what was only an alleged statement so far attributed to Johnson while declaring the second national lockdown in October 2020 that he would see "piles high bodies" before declaring a third lockdown.
************************************* EVICTION MORATORIUM *****************************
Eviction Moratorium Extended for another Month, This Time It’s Final Extension
Extending for the last time, CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky on June 24, 2021 extended the rental eviction moratorium, currently scheduled to expire on June 30, 2021, to July 31, 2021.
Biden Administration Extends Eviction Moratorium for Another Two Months
After coming under fire for letting the eviction moratorium timeline to expire on July 31, 2021, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on August 3, 2021 announced new steps to protect most of the 3.6 million vulnerable households. CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said that the eviction moratorium would be extended through October 3, 2021 in areas of "substantial and high levels" of virus transmissions. President Joe Biden was initially hesitant to extend the moratorium in view of June 2021 U.S. Supreme Court's 5-4 ruling that had put a roadblock on CDC's authority for extending the eviction moratorium beyond July 31, 2021 and asked the administration to work with Congress to pass a law to this effect. Dr. Walensky has cited the low distribution of rental aid money by state and local authorities among renters and landlords as the reason for extension, an argument that many legal scholars think may not sit well with the U.S. Supreme Court's majority of justices, but at least buys some time for millions of renters. President Joe Biden and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on August 3, 2021 called for states and local authorities to accelerate the pace of distribution of money from a $47 billion aid package allocated for this purpose. The distribution has been slow so far in many states. In recent days, progressive Democrats are up in the arms to demand that President Biden take executive action to keep renters in the apartments as 3.6 million households are potentially facing eviction, or fearing it. Rep. Cori Bush, D-Missouri, who herself once was homeless, camped outside the U.S. Capitol for days to drive her point, and her action drew national attention and plaudits from Democrats.
Supreme Court Overturns Biden Admin's New Moratorium
U.S. Supreme Court's conservative majority on August 26, 2021 handed a second defeat to Biden administration in a week. Two days after restoring Trump-era Stay in Mexico order, the U.S. Supreme Court on August 26, 2021 ruled to make CDC's August 3, 2021, order for eviction moratorium null and void. The unsigned verdict said in no uncertain terms that for "a federally imposed moratorium" to continue, "Congress must specifically authorize it". Court's three Liberal justices joined in a dissent, with Justice Stephen Breyer writing strongly in favor of continuation of the eviction moratorium as "over 90% of the counties are experiencing high transmission rates". Biden administration urged the state and local authorities to pick up steam of disbursing $46.5 billion in rental assistance that Congress had passed. According to the Treasury data, about $5 billion, or 11% of the allocated money, have been distributed as 3.6 million households face eviction.
Rental Assistance Slowly Ramping up, not at a Desired Scale
Treasury Department said on October 25, 2021 that the number of households that had received rental assistance from the $46.5 billion Emergency Rental Assistance program jumped almost 10% to up to 510,000 in September 2021 compared to 459,000 households in August 2021. Gene Sperling, President Joe Biden's point-person on aid disbursement, said on October 25, 2021 that the uptick brought the good news, "but it is still not good enough" as the most recent Household Pulse Survey by the Census Bureau estimated about 7.3 million Americans behind on their rents and 3.1 million Americans expressing the fear that they would be evicted in the next 60 days.
Tenants Facing Evictions even after Rental Assistance Program
Many tenants thought that after applying and doing the right things that have paved the way for receiving rental assistance from the $46.5 billion Emergency Rental Assistance program, they can breathe a little more peacefully at least for the next few months. But they are mistaken, according to a February 11, 2022, report by The Associated Press, as many of them are facing ominous outcome of eventual eviction in a matter of weeks due to several factors including increase in their monthly rents and falling behind in rental dues by several months. Gene Sperling, the White House point-person who is overseeing the spending from the $1.9 trillion Coronavirus relief package, has expressed concern and voiced frustration, saying that eviction may not be against the “letter” of the law, but definitely it is against the “spirit” of the law.
Political Battles Brewing over Unspent Rental Assistance
The Associated Press reported on April 3, 2022 that the Treasury Department had begun reallocating the unspent money from the $46.5 billion Emergency Rental Assistance to the jurisdictions most needed at this moment. States and local jurisdictions have until September 30, 2022 to spend from a pot of $25 billion, known as ERA1. The remainder, $21.55 billion ERA2, are to be spent by 2025. The Treasury Department said earlier this month that $1 billion in ERA1 would be reallocated along with an additional $1.3 billion this year. Most of the money will be reallocated from the Republican states to the Democratic ruled jurisdictions.
************************************* EVICTION MORATORIUM *****************************
DELTA Variant: Surge Response Teams to be Formed and Deputized
The Biden administration on July 1, 2021 announced that it would form and deploy "surge response" teams to effectively fight against a fast-spreading Delta variant, blamed for one out of four cases now. Whitehouse Coronavirus coordinator, Jeff Zients, said the response teams would be primarily composed of CDC, FEMA and HHS personnel and would be working with the "communities at a higher risk" for outbreaks and with low vaccination rates.
CDC: No Need to Wear Face Masks for Fully Vaccinated Students, Teachers
Another milestone in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic arrived on July 9, 2021 as Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its guidance for fully vaccinated students and teachers in the nation's classrooms, waiving the requirements for wearing face masks, pushing the country further to normalization. Erin Sauber-Schatz, who leads the CDC's task force for recommendation to keep the nation safe, has exulted: "we are really at a new point in the pandemic".
Britain's so called Freedom Day Marked by Angst, Confusion
As Sunday evening turned into midnight of July 19, 2021, several pub- and night club-goers felt ecstatic as night clubs, pubs and other public venues opened for the first time since they had been shuttered at the outset of the pandemic and an impatient crowd took to dance floors in bars, night clubs and pubs from Leads to London to Liverpool. Although the media called the July 19, 2021 as the "Freedom Day", many public health officials were nervous and concerned over the wrong message that the moniker had sent to young people many of whom were not even fully vaccinated. Meanwhile, the case loads and hospitalizations are rising in England as the more contagious Delta variant is spreading rapidly. The re-opening of U.K. to public, with all the restrictive protocols off the ground, coincided with Prime Minister Boris Johnson himself relegated to a 10-day quarantine as he came in proximity of Health Minister Sajid Javid, who had tested positive. Treasury Minister Rishi Sunak is also self-isolating for 10 days.
Canada to Welcome Fully Vaccinated U.S. Travelers
Canada on July 19, 2021 announced that it would allow fully vaccinated Americans to enter Canada effective August 9, 2021 and fully vaccinated people from other parts of the world effective September 7, 2021. The 14-day self-quarantine requirement will be waived for fully vaccinated Americans beginning on August 9, 2021. The announcement came after Canadian Public Safety Minister Bill Blair spoke with U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. The reciprocal steps are yet to be announced by the U.S. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki made it clear on July 19, 2021 that Biden administration would not reciprocate without assessing the public health ramification of opening up the northern border, which like the southern border, remained closed since March 2020.
U.S. Cases Triple; Borders to Remain Closed; South Korea Cases Peak; Violence in Greek; WHO Warning
As the U.S. falters with vaccination--56.2% of Americans have received at least one dose--the Coronavirus cases are rising again and it's fast becoming a pandemic of unvaccinated. The seven-day rolling average of cases was more than 37,000 on July 20, 2021, almost triple of 13,700 recorded on July 6, 2021, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University. The spread is unbridled in many parts of the nation due to a combination of factors such as a more contagious Delta variant, low vaccination coverage in parts of the country, especially in the Deep South, loosened healthcare rules such as face masking and social distancing.
South Korea on July 21, 2021 reported the highest daily caseload at 1,842, topping over 1,000-threshold for the past 16 consecutive days.
World Health Organization on July 21, 2021 reported an increase of 12% of new caseload of Coronavirus, more than 3.4 million, fueled by Western Pacific and European regions.
On July 21, 2021, DHS announced the extension of border closures, both at north and south, at least for a month through August 21, 2021.
Police on July 21, 2021 fought back against demonstrators near the Greek parliament at Athens as protest mounted against a government push to mandate vaccination for nursing home and care facility employees. Police used water cannons and tear gas to disperse the protesters at Athens and Thessaloniki, second-largest Greek city.
Fauci Warns the Nation against Another Peak
Infectious disease chief, Dr. Anthony Fauci, on July 25, 2021 said on CNN's State of the Union that key metrics were heading in the wrong direction as the nation had stalled on vaccination. According to the CDC data, about 49% of U.S. population, or more than 163 million people, are fully vaccinated. Of those who are eligible, people 12 and older, the figure jumps to 57%. Chief to Dr. Fauci's concern were some numbers such as an Israeli study showing the Pfizer's effectiveness against the new Delta variant in that country falling to 39% and in Los Angeles County, 1 in 5 new infections in June 2021 being reported among the vaccinated.
About 60 Medical Groups Call for Vaccination Requirement for Healthcare Employees
In a joint statement on The Washington Post, 57 medical organizations, including American Medical Association and American Nurses Association, on July 26, 2021 called for mandatory vaccination for long-term and healthcare employees in the backdrop of rising rates of positivity and hospitalizations.
Vaccination Requirements Growing as CA, NYC mandate; Vaccination Slightly up
As a stubborn Delta variant is rapidly spreading among communities with low vaccination coverage, so are back many of the requirements and some new mandatory orders too. On July 26, 2021, New York City and California announced all government employees to get vaccinated or undertake weekly COVID-19 testing. On July 26, 2021, Veterans Affairs Department became the first federal agency to require all of its healthcare employees to get vaccinated. Meanwhile, face mask requirements are back in Los Angeles County and St. Louise County. As caseloads and hospitalizations are rising, public prodding by Biden administration, healthcare groups and employers seem to have been working as the seven-day rolling daily inoculation average jumped to 583,000 on July 25, 2021 compared to 525,000 a week earlier.
CDC: Mask up again
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on July 27, 2021 walked back on its late April 2021 recommendation on mask for the fully vaccinated people. Under that recommendation back in April 2021, fully vaccinated people could waive masking indoors in most settings--some of the exceptions in indoor setting where mask rules were allowed to stay on included crowded places such as buses, planes, prisons, hospitals and homeless shelters--as well as most of the outdoors. Under the July 27, 2021, guideline, all people, irrespective of their vaccination status, are encouraged to wear masks indoors and in public in areas where risk of community spread is high. That applies to areas where 50 new cases have been reported for every 100,000 people in the past 7 days or where positivity rate is 8% or higher in that period. CDC's new recommendation came as, in recent days, daily caseloads averaged 57,000 and average daily hospitalizations stood at 24,000.
CDC Presentation Portrays Grim Picture of Delta Variant
An internal CDC presentation obtained by The Washington Post and published on July 29, 2021 has depicted a picture of desperation among the public health officials as the Delta variant seems to be proving more contagious and more severe. The presentation makes a strong recommendation that public health officials “must acknowledge” that “the war has changed”. Recent research shows that the Delta variant may be as contagious as chicken pox, and the virus load is as high for vaccinated people as unvaccinated. Vaccinated people can transmit the virus as easily as unvaccinated. The so called “breakthrough infections”, or infections happening among the fully vaccinated people, is a grave concern for American public health officials and, in some way, has forced the CDC to issue new masking guidelines two days ago for vaccinated people in some areas with higher rate of infection. The Delta variant, or B.1.617.2, was first found in India in October 2020 and now had spread to 132 nations.
Massachusetts’ Cases Trigger Reversal of CDC Stand on Masking
In a sobering outlook, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on July 30, 2021 made public of a study that found a summer explosion of Delta variant in Massachusetts having impacted the fully vaccinated people. The study found super spreader events—at least five such events of partying—around July 4 Holiday at Provincetown, at the tip near Cape Cod. The outbreak from the July 4, 2021, weekend sickened more than 900 people, but the CDC study analyzed 469 cases. 75% of the infections were so called breakthrough infections, or infections that had happened among fully vaccinated people. A separate study from a mid-July 2021 cases in Dane County, Wisconsin found near identical nasal viral load for vaccinated people as unvaccinated people, making it almost as easy for the vaccinated cohorts to spread the virus. In another testament yet on the uncertainty of evolving nature of the virus, according to an internal CDC document, obtained by The Washington Post, based on the national surveillance data, about 35,000 breakthrough infections are happening per week among more than 162 million vaccinated people in the U.S. The Provincetown findings are believed to be the turning point for the CDC staff and scientists to announce a revised masking rule on July 27, 2021.
U.S. New Infections Cross 100,000-mark; Florida's Daily Caseload Registers a New Record
What has deemed as a sustained recovery just eight weeks ago seems to be fleeting away as U.S. has reported on August 7, 2021 a new caseload of more than 100,000, sharply higher than the June 2021 average daily new infections of 11,000. The daily new caseload has peaked at 250,000 in January 2021. The more transmissible Delta variant is disproportionately sickening the unvaccinated people who are getting hospitalized at a higher rate compared to vaccinated people. Florida is beating its own daily new caseload record just the next day. On August 7, 2021, CDC reported that Florida's daily new infections stood at 23,903, a record, effective August 6, 2021. Its previous daily infection record was just the previous day at 22,783.
Closure of Land Borders to non-Essential Travels Extended
Department of Homeland Security on August 20, 2021 has announced that the continued closures of U.S.-Canada and U.S.-Mexico borders will be extended through September 21, 2021.
Biden Administration Opens Federal Civil Rights Investigation into States' Mask Bans
Education Secretary Miguel Cardona on August 30, 2021 sent letters to education chiefs of the five Republican-ruled states that the department's Office for Civil Rights would open investigations into their statewide mask ban policies as they could have adversarial impact on in-person learning for students with disabilities. The letters sent to education chiefs of Iowa, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Utah vowed to "protect every student's right to access in-person learning safely". This opens a new vista of fight and proactive intervention by the Biden administration against the Republican states which are bent upon curbing local authorities' and school districts' abilities to customize their own safety protocols, including universal mask mandate in compliant with the CDC's directive, to facilitate safe return of students, including the students with disabilities, to in-person learning environment.
Masks Are Effective: First Comprehensive Randomized Experiment Shows
The Washington Post has reported on September 1, 2021 that a randomized study, involving more than 340,000 adults across 600 villages in Bangladesh, shows promising results on the effectiveness of mask wearing as a preventative tool. The randomized study was designed and executed by a Bangladeshi group, GreenVoice, in consultation and direct guidance from researchers from Yale and Stanford. One group was encouraged to wear masks, and the mask-wearing has increased by 28.8%. This group has yielded a 9.3% reduction in symptomatic COVID-19 seroprevalence, meaning that the virus has been confirmed by the bloodwork, and 11.9% reduction in COVID-19 symptoms. The research is now being peer-reviewed for publication in the Science.
Vaccines Provide Significant Cushion against Hospitalizations; Moderna Most Effective: Studies Show
In the two studies reported on September 10, 2021, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said that the fully vaccinated people are better off in warding off the serious effects of COVID-19 infection, even the one spread by more contagious Delta variant that accounts 99% of the cases now. The first study shows that people who are not fully vaccinated are 10 times more likely to be hospitalized and 11 times more likely to die of COVID-19 than fully vaccinated people.
A second study shows that Moderna is slightly more effective in preventing hospitalizations compared to Pfizer and J&J. Collectively, all three vaccines offer 86% effectiveness in preventing hospitalizations, with Moderna offering 95%, followed by Pfizer (80%) and J&J (60%). The study spotlights another metric in addition to hospitalization: trips to emergency rooms or urgent care. Collectively, three vaccines are 82% effective in preventing trips to ER or urgent care, with Moderna (92%) proven to be most effective followed by Pfizer (77%) and J&J (65%).
Both studies are based on the data collected by the CDC between April 4, 2021 and July 17, 2021, covering more than 600,000 people 18 years and older in 13 states and cities. CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky, referring to the studies at a White House briefing, said on September 10, 2021 that "vaccination works and will protect us from severe complications of COVID-19".
Caseloads, Deaths Highest since "Dark Winter"
The Dallas Morning News on September 15, 2021 ran a frontpage report, highlighting the nation's backsliding nine months in the vaccination campaign, mainly fueled by unvaccinated people and a highly contagious Delta variant. Now, the daily new caseloads are averaging 170,000 and daily deaths are averaging 1,800. Both these numbers are highest since winter 2021, which the then-candidate Joe Biden has often referred as a "dark winter". Still, both these numbers are significantly less than their respective peaks in January 2021 when daily new cases and daily deaths have been averaging 250,000 and 3,400, respectively. States like Utah have stopped non-life threatening surgeries. The present surge is mainly fueled by unvaccinated people. At present, an average of 950,000 people are being vaccinated daily, significantly less than mid-April daily average of 3.4 million.
COVID-19 Death Toll Now Tops 1918-19 Spanish Flu Death Toll
As the COVID-19 death toll in the U.S. now exceeded 675,000, according to a September 20, 2021, tally by the John Hopkins University, it marked another grim milestone. The death toll from COVID-19 now tops that of 1918-19 Spanish Flu in the U.S. At that time, data collection and reporting were not as precise as today's, but based on rough estimate by the CDC, "Spanish Flu" has killed 675,000 people in the U.S. The name itself is a misnomer as it has not originated in Spain, rather it has been first publicized by the Spanish media. The 1918-19 influenza killed about 50 million people worldwide, accounting a much larger percentage of population, compared to 4.6 million people now due to COVID-19.
U.S. Caseload Drops, but Deaths, a Lagging Metric, Inch up
According to the Johns Hopkins University tally on September 21, 2021, U.S. deaths from COVID-19 are now averaging over 1,900. The daily caseload, though, has fallen and is now averaging 134,000.
A Key Measure of Infection Ebbs
According to covidestim, a modeling project collaborated by Yale School of Public Health, Harvard's T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Stanford Medicine, the effective reproduction number, or Rt, is below 1 in 47 states plus the District of Columbia, Bloomberg News has reported on September 29, 2021. Rt measures the average number of persons infected by a newly infected person. If the measure is less than 1, it implies that infection is slowing down. The seven-day average of new cases stands at 110,232 as of September 27, 2021, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
************************************* COVID-19 PILL **************************************
Merck to Seek FDA Approval for Its Pill
The Dallas Morning News in its October 2, 2021, edition has reported that Merck is going to submit its findings on the efficacy of its Coronavirus pill to Food Drug Administration in the coming days. The pill, molnupiravir, reduces the risk of hospitalization and death almost by 50%. In the clinical trial, the group that has received the pill within five days of the symptoms has almost 7.3% deaths or hospitalizations within 30 days, while the placebo group's corresponding rate has been found 14.1%. After the 30-day period, no death was reported in the experimental group, while eight deaths were reported in the placebo group. The pill's treatment regimen will include twice a day for five days to complete the course. Molnupiravir, which is efficacious against Delta, Gamma and Mu strains, will be a more affordable alternative to monoclonal antibody treatment to prevent hospitalizations and deaths. Merck has collaborated with Ridgeback Biotherapeutics to make the drug. Pfizer and Roche are also conducting experiments on their COVID-19 drugs. Biden administration has committed to buy 1.7 million doses of molnupiravir once it is approved by FDA. Merck also said that it would scale up its production of the drug and, by year end, it would produce 10 million doses.
Merck Applies for Emergency-Use Authorization for Its Pill
Merck on October 11, 2021 asked the Food and Drug Administration for emergency-use authorization of its COVID-19 pill molnupiravir which it had developed in partnership and collaboration with Ridgeback Biotherapeutics. Once approved, the pill will be a second tool in the toolbox: treatment by a medication. However, the other tool--prevention by vaccination--is still more preferable. Given that there are 68 million eligible people who have remained unvaccinated, an effective pill will work as an insurance against mildly and moderately sick people from getting severely ill, leading to hospitalizations.
Britain Grants COVID Pill Use
United Kingdom on November 4, 2021 became the first nation to approve a COVID-19 pill, fueling the hope for a multipronged effort to fight more effectively against the pandemic that had taken more than 5 million lives and counting. The pill, molnupiravir, made by Merck is found to cut the risks of hospitalizations and deaths by half.
Pfizer Pill 90% Effective against Death or Hospitalization
Pfizer on November 5, 2021 released the preliminary results of its much anticipated pill against COVID-19, boosting another option for more availability of pills in treating the disease. The results were released a day after the U.K. approved molnupiravir, a COVID-19 pill developed by Merck. Pfizer's Paxlovid pill cuts the combined risks of death and hospitalization by 90%, and the preliminary results have been so strong that outside advisers have asked to stop the trial because of the immediate potential benefit. The trial included 775 adults. The study participants were unvaccinated and at risk of being hospitalized because of obesity, diabetes and other underlying conditions. The experimental group received Paxlovid along with another antiviral shortly after showing symptoms. The hospitalization rate in this group in one month since taking the drug was less than 1%. The hospitalization rate in the placebo group was 7%. There were 7 deaths in placebo group and none in the experimental group.
One key difference between how molnupiravir functions as opposed to how Paxlovid functions centers around molnupiravir attacking the genetic makeup of the Coronavirus while Paxlovid attacking a key enzyme needed for Coronavirus to multiply. Paxlovid is part of the family of antiviral drugs known as Protease Inhibitors used over the past several decades to treat HIV and Hepatitis C. The efficacy of Protease Inhibitors family was found in 2003 eruption of SARS in Asia. Last year, scientists began to re-pivot on Protease Inhibitors for assessing the effectiveness against the Coronavirus infection.
Pfizer said that it would soon ask for approval from FDA. U.S. has approved another anti-viral drug, remdesivir, and three antibody cocktails to treat COVID-19, but all of them have to be administered through IV or injections and have to be done at hospital or doctor's clinic.
Pfizer, Merck Agree to License-Sharing Deal
Pfizer on November 16, 2021 agreed to a license-sharing deal that would allow 53% of the world's population to have access to Pfizer's Paxlovid pill at an affordable price to be manufactured by local companies. The agreement was reached between Pfizer and Medicines Patent Pool, a U.N.-backed group, on November 16, 2021. Last month, Merck had reached a similar deal with MPP on the drug maker's Molnupiravir pill. This deal will go a long way to add another toolkit in our toolbox to fight against COVID-19.
Pfizer Files Application for Authorization for Its Pill
Drugmaker Pfizer on November 16, 2021 filed to seek authorization from the Food and Drug Administration for its COVID-19 pill, Paxlovid. Paxlovid was found to be effective if taken within three days of the symptoms. Testing is, thus, the key to making the pill an effective tool if another wave strikes.
Merck COVID-19 Pill Authorized by FDA Panel
An advisory panel to the Food and Drug Administration on November 30, 2021 has narrowly voted (13-10) to authorize the Merck pill of Molnupiravir, concluding that its potential benefits outweigh the significant risks that it poses, especially to fetus in pregnant women. The decision came four days after an updated reporting by Merck on the efficacy of the pill. Merck on November 26, 2021 said that its pill reduced the hospitalization and death risks by 30% instead of 50% originally reported.
Another Antibody Drugs Approved
Biden administration on December 8, 2021 has approved another antibody drug suited for people who have severely compromised immune system from allergy, rheumatoid arthritis and organ transplants, to name among the few. AstraZeneca’s Evusheld approved by the Food and Drug Administration is a long-term treatment compared to short-term therapies offered by the other three approved antibody cocktails—antibody treatments from Regeneron, Eli Lilly and GlaxoSmithKline. For many of the severely immunocompromised people, vaccines alone may not be effective, and they need a long-term treatment to avoid falling seriously ill and subsequent hospitalizations. In an internal study, Evusheld is shown to reduce the risk of infection by 77% over the following six months compared to that of control group.
First COVID-19 Pill Authorized
U.S. on December 22, 2021 has authorized Pfizer’s pill, Paxlovid, as a new wave of the COVID-19 fueled by Omicron, which accounts for 73% of the new infections as of last week, is now sweeping the nation. Another pill, Merck’s Molnupiravir, awaits authorization. Food and Drug Administration on December 22, 2021 authorized Paxlovid for adults and children ages 12 and over, who tested a COVID positive and had mild to high risk of hospitalization. Pfizer currently has 180,000 treatment courses available globally, including 60,000 to 70,000 in the U.S. Pfizer said that it would have about 250,000 treatment courses available in the U.S. by the end of January 2022. U.S. has an agreement with Pfizer for procuring pills to treat 10 million people. Pfizer said that it would make 80 million treatment courses by the end of 2022.
Second COVID Pill Authorized in the U.S.
Food and Drug Administration on December 23, 2021 authorized the use of Merck’s at-home pill, Molnupiravir, a day after Pfizer’s Paxlovid had obtained similar approval. However, there are additional restrictions for Molnupiravir given that it had been proven less efficacious and carried risks from more side effects. Molnupiravir is recommended for people ages 18 and above. Since it carries significant risk for pregnant women, it is recommended for women of child-bearing age with the conditions that they will take birth control pills. Men are advised to take birth control measures for up to three months after taking the pill. To the contrary, Paxlovid has very few side effects, the main one is related to liver or kidney. Both the pills are effective within five days of showing symptoms and, thus, testing is the key to successful outcome of taking the pills.
UTSW Reported to be Studying a Novel COVID-19 Treatment
The Dallas Morning News reported in its January 5, 2022, edition that the UT Southwestern Medical Center was studying a polyclonal antibody therapy as part of the ACTIV-2 Outpatient Monoclonal Antibodies and Other Therapies Trial. The polyclonal antibody treatment, SAB-185, formulated by Sioux Falls, South Dakota-based SAB Therapeutics, contains several different COVID-19 antibodies generated by cows which are subsequently genetically modified into human antibodies. SAB-185 is injected into patient’s body through IV or injection. The polyclonal antibody treatment is thought to be more effective than monoclonal antibody cocktail as polyclonal antibody cocktail attacks various regions of the Coronavirus while the monoclonal antibody cocktail attacks the spike protein.
The UTSW is also studying Synairgen’s Interferon Beta Therapy, an inhaled antiviral protein, through the ACTIV-2 trial.
U.N.-backed Group Announces Deal with 35 Companies for Generic COVID Pill
Medicines Patent Pool, a U.N.-backed group, issued a statement on March 17, 2022, announcing that it had reached agreements with 35 companies to start producing generic Pfizer pill Paxlovoid, or Nirmatrelvir, that would cater half of the world’s population.
Paxlovid Rebound Hysteria Hurting COVID Mitigation Effort
After a May 2022 CDC advisory titled “COVID Rebound After Paxlovid Treatment” that cautioned healthcare professionals and other related stakeholders that COVID could relapse two to eight days after testing negative following a five-day course of the Pfizer pill, there were much of ambiguity and misinformation over misleading efforts to establish a causal relationship between Paxlovid and COVID, according to an insightful article published by The Dallas Morning News on November 20, 2022. This is hurting Biden administration’s “Test to Treat” initiative where Paxlovid, which has less side effect than Merck’s Molnupiravir, can be given free to the patients tested positive to avoid falling seriously ill or ending up in hospital. A key benefit of Paxlovid treatment is that it can be taken at home instead of an antibody cocktail that has to be injected at a provider’s office. Paxlovid treatment is useful for unvaccinated patients or people with underlying health conditions.
Pfizer on May 25, 2023 received full approval from FDA for Paxlovid.
************************************* COVID-19 PILL **************************************
President Joe Biden Marks the "Painful" Milestone; Urges Americans to Get Vaccinated
President Joe Biden on October 2, 2021 issued a statement marking the "painful" milestone that the nation had hit a day earlier with 700,000 COVID-19 deaths. President Biden pleaded with unvaccinated Americans to roll up sleeves and take jabs to protect themselves, their families and communities from this scourge.
*********************** RUSSIA
Caseload, Deaths Nearing Record Levels
Because of the low vaccination rate and loose promulgation of safety protocols, daily caseload and mortality are running at a record, or near record, levels in Russia. According to an October 11, 2021, update, by the Russia's Coronavirus task force, daily new infections are running at 29,409, close to the December 2020 high infection number. The task force also reported 957 deaths on October 11, 2021, only 11 less than the record 968 daily deaths during the past weekend. The primary reason for near-record high daily new infections and deaths is low vaccination rate and central authorities' reluctance to have a unified policy towards imposing safety protocols, leading various regions to adopt varying degrees of mitigation measures. Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova said on October 8, 2021 that 47.8 million Russians, or 33% of Russia's total population of 146 million people, had been vaccinated partially and 42.4 million, or 29%, people had been fully vaccinated. According to the state Coronavirus task force, more than 217,000 people have died of COVID-19, worst so far in Europe. However, Russian statistical agency Rosstat reported on October 8, 2021 that at least 418,000 people had died in COVID-19. The discrepancy between the Rosstat and the state task force numbers stem from the statistical agency's inclusion of people who might have died from other causes, but also had COVID-19 as well as people who might have suspected--but not confirmed--cases of Coronavirus.
Russia Announces a Closure for a Week as Daily Mortality Hits Record Level
Russian President Vladimir Putin on October 20, 2021 approved a cabinet proposal adopted a day earlier to order millions of Russians to stay away from work beginning October 30, 2021, and possibly, extending the work-off week through another week, with couple of days in the following week already part of Russian Holidays. Russian President Vladimir Putin also expressed his shock over people’s reluctance to get vaccinated although it was the first country to introduce a COVID-19 vaccine, Sputnik V, first in the world. Only 45 million of 146 million people have been fully vaccinated in Russia, and there is plenty of vaccine availability for all Russians to get one. Although the order covers only government employment and state-owned entities, it is not clear how this will be embraced by private businesses. Russia’s Coronavirus task force reported during the day (October 20, 2021) that the total deaths over the preceding 24-hour period were 1,028, a daily record, raising the total reported mortalities to 226,353, Europe’s highest casualty from COVID-19.
Russia's Deaths Spike to the Highest Number
Russia's Coronavirus task force reported on November 13, 2021 that its 24-hour mortality number had spiked to a new high of 1,241, up by two from the previous record of 1,239 reported on November 10, 2021. The caseload jumps to 39,256, bringing the total number of infections reported so far to more than 9 million people.
Russia Hits another Record
Russia’s state Coronavirus task force on January 29, 2022 reported 113,122 new cases over the past 24 hours, clearly setting a record for the daily caseloads. Number of deaths reported over the past 24 hours now stands at 668, raising the total COVID-19 fatalities to 330,111.
*********************** RUSSIA
Land Borders with Canada, Mexico to Open to Non-Essential Travel
The Department of Homeland Security on October 13, 2021 announced that it would re-open the land borders to non-essential travel as long as visitors are fully vaccinated or have been tested negative. The borders will be open in early November.
********************************************* WHO **************************************
WHO Forms a 26-member Panel
World Health Organization on October 13, 2021 formed a 26-scientist advisory panel, Scientific Advisory Group for the Origins of Novel Pathogens, or SAGO, that would not only look into the source of SARS-CoV-2, but also study potential mitigation measures and techniques to prepare the world for the next pandemic. The panel includes scientists from U.S., China and 24 other nations. The only member from the U.S. is Inger Damon, director of the division of the high consequences of pathogens and pathology at the CDC. Many of the scientists were also part of the mission that visited Wuhan as part of a joint WHO-China probe mission into the origin of Coronavirus. That mission was mired with allegation of Chinese impediment to fair investigation, leading WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, to sharply criticize Beijing. That mission's incomplete conclusion has reinforced some of the opposition to the formation of new panel in the west.
Worldwide Coronavirus Cases Drop for the Third Week in a Row
World Health Organization on February 22, 2022 reported third weekly drop of coronavirus caseloads, this time by 21% compared to the preceding week. WHO’s weekly pandemic report issued on February 22, 2022 estimated 12 million new cases last week and 67,000 worldwide deaths, a drop of 8% compared to the prior week. The report is the latest in a stream of good news that was preceded by Australia opening up for traveling public and England shedding many restrictions a day ago and coincided with 27-nation E.U.’s decision to loosen the rules for travelers.
WHO Reports Two Successive Weeks of Falling COVID Deaths
World Health Organization’s weekly pandemic report issued on March 1, 2022 shows another good week for the world as the weekly death toll has fallen for the second week in a row, this time an almost 10% decrease to about 60,000 deaths. The caseloads have fallen to more than 10 million, an improvement of almost 16% compared to the preceding week. Infection numbers fell every region other than Western Pacific where the caseloads rose by 33%. Deaths fell all regions except in Middle East (up 4%) and Western Pacific (up 22%). Based on the analysis of genetic sequences, Omicron accounted for 99.5% of all cases in the week and Delta accounted for only 0.3%.
WHO Backs Booster Shot after Discouraging Last Year
World Health Organization on March 8, 2022 issued a statement that it now “strongly supports urgent and broad access” to booster shots. The statement was issued after a meeting of an 18-member advisory body to assess the impact of more contagious Omicron variant and revise its policy guidance, if needed, on booster shot. Last year (2021), WHO Secretary-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that booster shots were not needed for most as that would compound the vaccine inequity and, instead, the wealthy nations should share their vaccines with the poorer nations. In January 2022, though, in the middle of a severe outbreak of Omicron, the WHO position changed to recommending the booster once countries had adequate supply and protected their vulnerable.
WHO: Cases, Deaths Down for the Third Straight Week
World Health Organization on late April 12, 2022 reported that the new caseloads had fallen by 24% to about 7 million compared to the preceding week, marking the decline for three weeks in a row. The weekly death toll from COVID-19 was down by 18% to more than 22,000 compared to the preceding week.
World Health Organization also said that it was monitoring closely some of the mutants and sub-mutants of Omicron. Scientists in South Africa and Botswana are studying the variants BA.4 and BA.5, a twin of lineages from Omicron. WHO also urged for individual nations to sequence at least 5% of samples.
WHO Estimates the COVID Death Toll Sharply up
World Health Organization on May 5, 2022 issued a sharply higher death toll estimate from COVID-19. Between January 1, 2020 and December 31, 2021, nearly 15 million people were killed by COVID-19, or due to impact from COVID-19 such as hospitalization being denied because of full capacity of hospital bed due to surge in virus.
COVID Deaths Fall 21%, WHO Reports
World Health Organization on May 19, 2022 said in its latest weekly report that the worldwide caseload had stabilized after sharply dropping since late March 2022. The latest report shows a slight uptick of 1% to 3.5 million. The deaths dropped 21% to about 9,000. Cases have increased in Americas, Western Pacific, Africa and Middle East, while falling in Europe. North Korean data are not included in the latest report. On May 19, 2022, North Korea reported more than 262,000 new cases, taking the total number of cases to more than 2 million in a span of days. WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, requested Pyongyang to share the data with WHO.
COVID Cases Plunge Worldwide
The World Health Organization’s latest weekly report issued on June 8, 2022 shows an improving picture of COVID-19 situation—in both the key metrics of new caseload and mortality—throughout the world. In the latest report, the global new caseload number and mortality figure have fallen by 12% to more than 3 million and by 22% to about 7,600, respectively, in the last week compared to preceding week. Only regions that have balked the trend this week are Southeast Asia and Middle East. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus cautioned that a new variant could jeopardize the progress in the key metrics as there were 68 nations in the world that had yet to protect 40% of their population.
WHO says COVID-19 Deaths up by 4%
The weekly WHO report released on June 16, 2022 shows an uptick of 4% in COVID-19 deaths (to more than 8,700) compared to the preceding week, largely fueled by 21% jump in Americas and 17% jump in Western Pacific. WHO also said that the infection caseload had fallen to 3.2 million new cases, with the exception of Southeast Asia (33% up) and Middle East (58% up).
WHO Reports Global Cases Rising
On June 30, 2022, WHO reported that the weekly new cases in the latest week rose to more than 4.1 million cases, an increase of 18%, mostly fueled by two Omicron strains BA.4 and BA.5. The deaths in the latest week remained stable.
Coronavirus Deaths Plunge, WHO Reports
World Health Organization in its latest weekly report said on August 10, 2022 that the deaths from COVID-19 fell almost 9% to more than 14,000 deaths and new infections remained stabilized at around 7 million. Western Pacific reported 30% jump in new cases while Africa reported 46% drop. Americas and Middle East also registered more than 20% drop in new cases.
WHO: Deaths, New Cases Plunge
World Health Organization on August 31, 2022 said in its weekly report that the new cases had dropped 16% compared to the preceding week to 4.5 million cases and the deaths dropped 13% to about 13,500. The deaths in Southeast Asia rose by 15% and Western Pacific by 3%, only two regions where WHO had reported spikes in fatalities.
WHO: Pandemic End in Sight; Experts Panel Criticizes WHO's Handling
The head of World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, on September 14, 2022 said that the Coronavirus deaths hit the lowest since March 2020, thus turning a corner in the world’s fight against the pandemic of the century. WHO’s director general added that “we are not there yet, but the end is in sight”. In its latest weekly report, WHO estimated that the COVID deaths worldwide had plunged 22% in the past week to just over 11,000. The new cases dropped 28% globally to 3.1 million.
The WHO’s improved outlook was issued on the same day as a report by a panel of eminent experts criticized WHO’s handling of COVID-19 in its early stage. A 45-page editorial by the Lancet COVID-19 Commission criticized some governments and their leaders for displaying “untrustworthy and ineffective” leadership during the time of pandemic. The report, issued on September 14, 2022, decried leaders such as Donald Trump and Jair Bolsonaro for diluting the lethality of the virus. The report has some pointed caustic words for WHO that has “acted too cautiously and too slowly".
WHO Declares End to Coronavirus as Public Health Emergency
World Health Organization on May 5, 2023 shifted the status of Coronavirus, thus ending it as a public health emergency of international concern. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on May 5, 2023 at a press conference at Geneva that COVID-19 had claimed a life every three minutes even last week, thus urging people to continue following the best public health practices and protocols. WHO declared Coronavirus as public health emergency of international concern on January 30, 2020. The Dallas Morning News reported in a first-page article on May 6, 2023 that COVID-19 had taken 6.9 million lives globally and at least 1 million lives in the U.S. U.S. is to end public health emergency on May 11, 2023. U.S. is to end federal vaccine mandate and other emergency public health protocols after it lifts public health emergency on May 11, 2023. According to WHO, the week ending April 24, 2023 has seen the minimum number of cases and deaths—630,979 and 3,568, respectively, since the early days of pandemic.
********************************************* WHO **************************************
The UTD Research Shows Strong Ties between Air Quality and COVID-19 Severity
The Dallas Morning News on the front page coverage on October 18, 2021 reported the finding of a University of Texas, Dallas research correlating the air quality with the severity of COVID-19. They collected data related to three key metrics from NASA satellites: (1) Temperature and Relative Humidity data from the NASA's Aqua satellite, and (2) Amount of tiny particles, or aerosols, from the NASA's Terra satellite. Researchers also collected the hospitalization data from a number of Texas counties. Temperature seems to have no impact on hospitalizations, while relative humidity and air quality, or amount of aerosols, are correlated with hospitalizations. The measure used to quantify aerosols is "aerosols optical depth" that reflects the volume of sunlight reflected by tiny particles in the air. Since Terra satellite is measuring the AOD from a great height, AOD does not always reflect precise air quality as there may be more aerosols in the upper layer than what we breath near us, especially that's true near the Gulf Coast. The research is another component of our broader climate change paradigm of why we need to focus on cutting the greenhouse gas emissions for the betterment of our broader community health as well as one of several mitigation strategies against severity in a future pandemic.
COVID-19 Death Toll Hits 5 million
In another grim reminder that this pandemic is anything but over, Johns Hopkins University on November 1, 2021 reported that the death toll from COVID-19 pandemic had hit 5-million mark 22 months after the Coronavirus had erupted. Among the nations, United States, by far, accounts the maximum number of deaths at 745,832 and counting, followed by Brazil (607,824), India (458,437) and Mexico (288,365). U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called the milestone a "global shame".
Non-essential Travel to Begin
As November 8, 2021 approaches, travelers from other nations are eagerly looking forward to make that postponed trip to the U.S. that they have been longing for, but because of the pandemic have not been able to undertake. First, they need to get fully vaccinated by WHO-approved vaccines. Travelers also need to show a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours prior to travel. The land borders with Mexico will also open on November 8, 2021. Airline bookings are up in key international markets, including U.K., E.U. and Brazil, because of the pent-up demand since the White House's October 25, 2021, announcement.
**************************************** EUROPE ****************************************
Tension Mounts in Dutch Cities over Renewed Lockdown
Netherlands' caretaker premier, Mark Rutte, on November 12, 2021 announced a new set of partial lockdown beginning on November 13, 2021 after Dutch public health institute had reported a record number of 16,364 new positive tests in the preceding 24 hours. As pubs, night clubs and bars are being forced to close at 8PM on November 13, 2021 as part of caretaker premier Rutte's vow to "deliver a hard blow to the virus", many young people resorted to protest at various cities. Youths burned tires at the central square of the northern city of Leeuwarden, 85 miles north of Amsterdam. To many Dutch people, the return of partial lockdown is frustrating after normalcy has seemed to have returned in September 2021 amidst one of the highest vaccination rates in Europe with 85% of the Dutch adults being fully vaccinated.
Austria to Impose Lockdowns on the Unvaccinated
Austrian Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg on November 14, 2021 announced that a 10-day lockdown would commence at 12:01 AM local time on November 15, 2021 for the country's unvaccinated people ages 12 and older. The lockdown will cover 2 million of the Alpine nation's 8.9 million residents. Unvaccinated people will be prohibited from activities such working, grocery and exercises. Unvaccinated people can be fined up to $1,660. The seven-day infection rate now stands 775.5 per 100,000, much higher than Germany's 289. The vaccination rate in Austria is 65%, one of the lowest in Western Europe.
Massive Protests Staged in Austria, Other European Cities
Massive protest was staged on November 20, 2021 at Vienna to protest government’s vaccination mandate for everyone by February 1, 2022 and the 10-day lockdown set to begin on November 22, 2021. The lockdown in Austria may last as long as 20 days if the current surge in hospitalizations do not slow down. Anti-vaccine demonstrations were held on November 20, 2021 in Switzerland, Croatia, Italy and Northern Ireland. A day before, November 19. 2021, violence erupted in Rotterdam, Netherlands as youths defying COVID restrictions clashed with police.
Austria to Ease Restrictions as Vax Mandate Goes into Effect
Days before Europe’s first vaccination mandate to go into effect on February 5, 2022, Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer on January 29, 2022 said that restaurants would be allowed to extend their hours from 10 PM to midnight effective February 5, 2022. Other restrictions will be phased out too as vaccination requirement goes into effect on February 1, 2022.
**************************************** EUROPE ****************************************
Nasal Spray Touted to Fight Coronavirus
A novel way of fighting against the Coronavirus infection involving an intranasal vaccine is being researched at the University of Houston, The Dallas Morning News reported on November 15, 2021. A study to this effect was published in iScience in September 2021. The study was conducted by Dr. Navin Vardarajan, a professor in the William A. Brookshire department of chemical and biomedical engineering at the University of Houston, and his colleagues on mice. The researchers found that antibodies generated in the mucosal secretions "give you the immunity right at the doorstep of the virus", said Dr. Vardarajan. The research found that the antibodies generated in mice through intranasal spray were detected both in nose and in the entire body, a very tantalizing finding. Now, the challenge is to translate this study from mice to humans.
Biden Admin to Extend Vaccination Mandate to Essential Business Travelers
The Associated Press reported on November 23, 2021 that the Biden administration would set the January 22, 2022 as the date for non-citizen, non-permanent resident travelers associated with essential commerce to be fully vaccinated to enter the United States, bringing parity between the non-essential travelers who had been allowed to travel starting November 8, 2021 given they were fully vaccinated and essential business travelers.
************************ COVID-19: OMICRON MUTATION ***********************
New Strain Has Many Mutations
In a more dangerous turn of events as part of an ever-changing Coronavirus mutation pattern, South Africa’s health minister, Joe Phaahla, said on November 25, 2021 that authorities in South Africa had detected a new Coronavirus variant that had high number of mutations. The strain is more transmissible and sickening young adults in the most populous province, Gauteng.
The strain, B.1.1.529, was also found in Botswana and among Hong Kong travelers who had been to South Africa. The World Health Organization’s technical working group is to meet on November 26, 2021 to assess the new variant and decide whether to give a name from Greek alphabet. The British government on November 25, 2021 banned flights from South Africa and five other Southern African nations effective in 24 hours.
Nations Race to Impose Travel Restrictions in View of the New Variant
A WHO panel has met on November 26, 2021 to assess a new variant, B.1.1.529, which has high number of mutations and spread more rapidly. WHO’s technical working group named the strain “Omicron”. President Joe Biden said on November 26, 2021 that “I have decided that we are going to be cautious”, and U.S. joined E.U., Canada and Russia in restricting travel from the Southern Africa region, where the variant was first detected. The U.S. will bar foreigners from traveling to the U.S. other than permanent residents and American citizens from South Africa, Botswana, Malawi, Eswatini, Lesotho, Zimbabwe, Namibia and Mozambique.
World on High Alert over Omicron as New Cases Detected
United Kingdom on November 27, 2021 tightened its rule over face masking and testing of the international arrivals after two cases of Omicron had been found. New cases of Omicron also had been found on November 27, 2021 in Italy, Israel, Germany, Belgium and Hong Kong.
First U.S. Case of Omicron Confirmed; New Variant Reported from at least 23 Nations
White House Coronavirus Adviser Dr. Anthony Fauci on December 1, 2021 confirmed the first case of the new variant with high number of mutations first detected in South Africa a week ago. The person of interest has been fully vaccinated, and has returned from South Africa to California on November 22, 2021. He was showing mild symptoms of COVID-19 and was tested positive on November 29, 2021. Researchers from the University of California, San Francisco obtained the individual’s sample on November 30, 2021 for further genetic testing. Researchers on December 1, 2021 detected the COVID strain as Omicron. San Francisco’s health director, Grant Colfax, responding to the news of the first U.S. case of Omicron in his own backyard, said on December 1, 2021: “we should all be focused on getting vaccinated and boosted”. As of December 1, 2021, at least 23 nations have detected their first cases of the new variant Omicron. Meanwhile, WHO on December 1, 2021 decried various countries’ blanket ban on travel from the southern African region.
Biden Announces Ambitious Plan to Fight Potential Winter Surge
President Joe Biden used his bully pulpit to announce big push on December 2, 2021 at the National Institutes of Health against a possible winter surge amidst the latest detection of Omicron variant in at least five states, overwhelming of the hospital infrastructure in several regions because of mostly unvaccinated people falling sick to a still-ferocious Delta variant and upcoming winter holidays. President Joe Biden’s December 2, 2021, announcement of the most aggressive COVID-19 mitigation protocol yet was greeted with warmth by public health advocates, but, even to many of them, they still fell short of what’s needed to ward off an alarming winter surge.
According to the president’s latest measures, all incoming international travelers will have a stricter testing regimen, there will be a focus on vaccination, booster shots, testing and contact-tracing, and provisions will be made to distribute at-home testing kits. Another innovative approach will be to launch “family mobile vaccination clinics” to bring regular and booster shots to millions of homes. President Joe Biden touted vaccines and boosters as the most effective tool yet for the country to fight against the diabolical effect of Coronavirus surge amidst only 59.4% of people having been fully vaccinated as of December 1, 2021, according to The Washington Post. President Joe Biden pushed for rapid tests, including at-home test kits available for millions of people. He added: “private employers already cover the expensive PCR test that you get at a doctor’s office, and now they will cover at-home tests as well”. Departments of HHS, Labor and Treasury will issue the related rules by January 15, 2022. Biden also tightened the testing requirements of all incoming travelers from overseas irrespective of vaccination status. Under the stricter rule, all passengers will have to undertake a test within one day of the flight departure beginning next week. Biden also extended the mask mandate at the airport, planes, transit and other transportation facilities through March 18, 2022 beyond the original timeline of mid-January 2022.
Meanwhile, a day after the first case of Omicron was detected in California, several cases were reported from Minnesota, New York, Colorado, and Hawaii. A participant to Anime NYC 2021 Convention, held November 19-21, 2021 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, who had been fully vaccinated and had also booster shot, was tested positive for COVID-19 upon return to Minnesota. Minnesota authorities on December 2, 2021 reported it, making the case as the second Omicron case in the United States. Within hours, four cases of Omicron were reported in New York City and one in Long Island. The third case of Omicron was reported on December 2, 2021 in Colorado where a woman, who had been in southern Africa recently, was tested positive for the new variant. In Hawaii, an unvaccinated individual with no travel history was tested for Omicron variant.
Johnson Calls for Rapid Administration of Booster
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on December 12, 2021 said that “tidal waves” of caseloads were about to emerge from Omicron, and emphasized the widespread availability of booster shots to everybody ages 18 and over by December 31, 2021, pushing the timeline a month before than originally planned January 31, 2022. Omicron is spreading in the United Kingdom rapidly, doubling every two to three days, and on track to overtake Delta as the predominant variant. In a televised statement, Johnson vowed to pursue a “national mission” to launch massive vaccination drive, including pop-up clinics, 7-day availability and deployment of military healthcare professionals to beat back the “tidal waves” of Omicron.
Omicron now the Predominant Variant in the U.S.
Federal health officials said on December 20, 2021 that Omicron had accounted for 73% of the new cases last week, taking over Delta which had been the number 1 strain since the end of June 2021.
Biden Calls for Free At-Home Rapid Test, Expanding Testing Sites in a Primetime Speech
President Joe Biden on December 21, 2021 addressed the nation as Omicron had become the pre-dominant variant and was spreading at an alarming rate. He goaded the nation to be patient and do the right things such as unvaccinated people to get vaccinated and vaccinated people to get booster shots. President Biden said that his administration was planning to set up a new website and distribute directly about 500 million rapid test kits among people. People can order the at-home, free test kits through the new website beginning in January 2022. President Biden, among other measures, is planning to expand the number of federally run test sites and deploy about 1,000 military healthcare personnel to help out stressed employees of hospitals and healthcare centers as the winter surge had begun to show its devastating effect on the nation’s hospital and healthcare infrastructure.
CDC Under Fire for Halving the Isolation Period
Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s December 27, 2021, guidelines on quarantine period drew fire from several quarters as the isolation time for asymptomatic people was halved from 10 days to 5 days. CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky, weighing on the new guidelines, said that “not all the cases will be severe” and “we want to make sure that there is a mechanism by which we can safely continue to keep society functioning while following the science”. The cut-down in quarantine period came after hundreds of cancellations of flights in midst of Holiday period, inconveniencing millions of travelers, because of surging COVID cases among flight crews. The healthcare workers are also falling sick in large numbers due to high transmissibility rate of Omicron. However, what has startled many healthcare experts is the lack of the quarantine exit requirement such as a negative COVID test in the guidelines. There is another school of thought, though, on why CDC has not recommended a negative test after five-day quarantine. That will create a huge demand on rapid test kits which are already in short supply.
CDC Lowers Omicron Infection Rate; Shorter Incubation Period for Omicron Reported
Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Nowcast Model, based on genome-sequencing data, issued on December 28, 2021 revised downward the percentage of new cases due to Omicron for the week ending December 18, 2021 to 22.5% from previously reported 73%, a significant revision. That was still a big jump from a mere 3% infection rate of new infections attributed to Omicron in the preceding week (December 11, 2021). For the week ending December 25, 2021, Omicron accounts for 58.6% of the sequenced new caseloads while Delta accounts for 41.1% of the sequenced new caseloads, according to the Nowcast Model issued on December 28, 2021. In a separate finding, CDC said that the incubation period, or latency between infection and appearance of symptoms, for Omicron might be shorter than other variants. The median time from infection to appearance of symptoms was found five days or more for other variants. Based on the Omicron outbreak in a household of six, CDC reported on December 28, 2021 that the incubation period for Omicron was three days. Out of six in the family under the CDC study, one was fully vaccinated, four were re-infected and one tested positive for the first time.
Daily Caseloads Reach at Record High Levels
Johns Hopkins University’s daily count tally reported on December 29, 2021 showed a record high level of daily caseloads of Coronavirus infections largely fueled by highly transmissible Omicron. The seven-day average as of December 28, 2021 stood at 265,427, eclipsing the previous record of about 250,000 in mid-January 2021. The daily caseloads in the last two days hit half-a-million mark, reaching a new zenith. The average daily death toll has risen over the past two weeks from 1,200 per day to 1,500 per day.
J&J Booster Shot Found 85% Effective against Hospitalization
South African Medical Research Council on December 30, 2021 released results from a comprehensive study that involved more than half a million South African healthcare employees vaccinated with a single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine and 69,092 of them receiving Johnson & Johnson booster shot. The study tracked hospitalizations between November 8, 2021 and December 17, 2021. The period was marked by prevalence of Omicron spread in South Africa. The study found an effectiveness of 85% against hospitalization. There were 713 hospitalizations among those who had remained unvaccinated, 10 who had received booster within the past two weeks, eight who had received booster within 2-week-to-1-month time range and three who had received the booster more than a month ago. The research clearly shows that the body’s immunity level rises with time since the booster has been administered. The effectiveness of the Johnson & Johnson booster shot in preventing hospitalizations stands 85% when booster has been administered between one month and two months, but the effectiveness falls to 63% for those who have been administered booster shot within the past two weeks.
New COVID Cases Hit Record High
The Washington Post reported on December 31, 2021 that the seven-day average of the new cases has reached a record level of 343,172 on December 30, 2021.
Free At-home Test Kit Web Site to be Stood up; WHO Approves Two Treatments
The Dallas Morning News reported on January 15, 2022 that American households might order up to four at-home test kits on covidtests.gov, a federal government-run website that would begin functioning effective January 19, 2022. Biden administration has procured about 500 million at-home test kits. There will be a limit of four test kits per family. In addition, private insurance carriers will cover at-home test costs for their employees beginning January 15, 2022.
In a separate move, World Health Organization on January 14, 2022 granted emergency-use authorization to two drugs: an oral medication, baricitinib, from Eli Lily, for people with severe COVID-19, and a monoclonal antibody treatment. WHO “strongly recommended” that baricitinib be given for severe symptom along with steroids. WHO “conditionally recommended” sotrovimab, an intravenous infusion by Vir Biotechnology and GlaxoSmithKline, for non-severe patients with elevated risks of hospitalization. U.S. Food and Drug Administration already granted emergency-use authorization for these two treatments.
Omicron Pushing Deaths Higher
Highly transmissible Omicron, although milder in impact, is driving hospitalizations, especially among unvaccinated, elderly and immunocompromised, and deaths higher. The seven-day average deaths stood 2,267 on January 27, 2022, higher than the September 2021 corresponding number of 2,100 when Delta had been the pre-dominant variant.
Omicron Sub-lineage Found to be More Transmissible
A new sub-lineage of Omicron is circulating in many nations, and the strain, BA.2, so far is found to be more transmissible than the original version of Omicron, BA.1, which itself is more contagious than Delta. In Denmark, BA.2 cases have jumped from 20% of all COVID cases in the last week of December 2021 to 45% of all COVID cases in the second week January 2022, according to Danish public health organization, Statens Serum Institut. U.K. Health Security Agency recently classified BA.2 as “under investigation".
New Variant Likely to Avoid Immunity, More Transmissible
The Dallas Morning News reported on May 27, 2022 that research had shown a new variant of Omicron was more transmissible and had ability to avoid immunity acquired from vaccines as well as prior omicron infection. The new mutant is a hybrid strain of Omicron and Delta, a strain that was predominant in mid-2021. According to researchers, 58% of the current COVID-19 cases in the U.S. are due to BA.12.2.1, a hybrid strain of Delta and Omicron. This strain is identical to two other strains found in South Africa: BA.4 and BA.5. Both the South African strains are blended versions of Delta and Omicron. The new strain, made of mutants from Delta and Omicron, is sickening more easily the people with prior Omicron infection than those sickened by Delta. However, the jury is still out on how fatal this new strain is or how the hospitalization is going to be affected in the coming days.
Another Rapidly Spreading Strain Reported
The Dallas Morning News reported in its July 12, 2022, edition that researchers had found another rapidly transmissible strain of Omicron that’s more contagious than BA.4 and BA.5 and could easily skirt immunity from previous infection or vaccination. The mutant BA.2.75 is spreading in India and other nations more rapidly, giving rise to breakthrough infections.
Omicron Cousins Account for more than 80% of New Infections
The Associated Press on July 13, 2022 has reported that BA.5 variant now accounts for 65% of new infections and BA.4 accounts for 16% of new infections.
************************ COVID-19: OMICRON MUTATION ***********************
********************************** ANTIBODY COCKTAILS ***************************
FDA Grants "Emergency-use Authorization" to Eli Lily's Monoclonal Antibody Cocktail for Preventative Use
Food and Drug Administration on September 16, 2021 has granted Eli Lily's monoclonal antibody cocktail the go-ahead to be used on emergency basis to people over the age 12, who are at risk of getting infected by COVID-19. The same monoclonal antibody cocktail had been granted the "emergency-use authorization" in November 2020 to treat the patients who came up with COVID-19 infections. The September 16, 2021, FDA decision expands the usage to preventative cases. Earlier in the summer of 2021, FDA granted preventative use of another cocktail made by Regeneron Pharmaceuticals.
Another Antibody Drugs Approved
Biden administration on December 8, 2021 has approved another antibody drug suited for people who have severely compromised immune system from allergy, rheumatoid arthritis and organ transplants, to name among the few. AstraZeneca’s Evusheld approved by the Food and Drug Administration is a long-term treatment compared to short-term therapies offered by the other three approved antibody cocktails—antibody treatments from Regeneron, Eli Lilly and GlaxoSmithKline. For many of the severely immunocompromised people, vaccines alone may not be effective, and they need a long-term treatment to avoid falling seriously ill and subsequent hospitalizations. In an internal study, Evusheld is shown to reduce the risk of infection by 77% over the following six months compared to that of control group.
Emergency-Use Authorizations Revoked for Two Antibody Cocktails
Food and Drug Administration on January 24, 2022 revoked the emergency-use authorization for two antibody cocktails made by Regeneron and Eli Lily, respectively, as they were shown to have no effectiveness in treating Omicron, now responsible for almost all of the cases in the United States. FDA, though, said that it would continuously evaluate the situation, and re-introduce the cocktails on emergency-use basis if shown effective for any future strain.
FDA Grants Emergency-Use Authorization for a New Antibody Cocktail to Treat Omicron
Food and Drug Administration on February 11, 2022 granted emergency-use authorization for a new monoclonal antibody treatment for more transmissible Omicron. The new cocktail, developed by Eli Lily, was approved on emergency-use basis 18 days after the company’s the then-used monoclonal antibody cocktail had been ordered by the FDA off the market as it failed to be an effective deterrent against Omicron. Biden administration purchased 600,000 doses of this new monoclonal antibody cocktail even prior to approval.
********************************** ANTIBODY COCKTAILS ***************************
World not Prepared for Pandemics
A report compiled by a D.C.-based organization, Nuclear Threat Initiative, and Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security at the Bloomberg School of Public Health points at glaring gaps of how the world will approach another pandemic in future as nations across the globe are not prepared in handling a future epidemic or pandemic. The consequence of the global unpreparedness is a devastation of epic proportion. The Global Health Security Index study, released on December 8, 2021, assesses the preparedness of 195 nations on individual basis and score them accordingly based on several criteria such as people’s trust in government. The average score is 38.9 out of 100. No country gets over 75.9. U.S. is ranked at the top as it has been in the first year of publication of the index in 2019. U.S. is facing trust gap in its government. The Global Health Security Index study outlines a 7-1-7 model for pandemic detection, reporting and response. The 7-1-7 Model has been formulated by Resolve to Save Lives, a public health think tank that is as part of Vital Strategies and led by Former CDC Director Thomas Frieden, and it entails into three steps:
STEP 1: Identifying a suspected threat within 7 days
STEP 2: Informing the next level of public health authority within 1 day
STEP 3: Mounting an effective response within 7 days
Student Loan Moratorium Extended
Biden administration, which earlier said that the January 31, 2022 was the final extension of the federally backed student loan payment moratorium, on December 22, 2021 extended the moratorium one more time in view of a fast-spreading Omicron and financial recovery lagging the nation’s job recovery. The 0% interest rate and payment pause will last through May 1, 2022. The moratorium will cover 36 million people in America and costs a collective price tag of $1.37 trillion.
Nations ruled by Populist Leaders Fare Poorer in Handling COVID-19
In a rare research of its kind, an authoritative scientific work conducted by a group of scientists, including Michael Bayerlein of the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, has looked at the excess mortality rate in a group of nations led by the populist leaders compared with the remainders, according to the January 27, 2022, edition of the Bloomberg News. Authors classified 11 governments as populist. The list includes U.S. under Trump, U.K., Turkey, Brazil, Poland, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, India, Mexico and Israel. The excess mortality rate in those “populist” class of nations has been found 18% compared to 8% in their non-populist peers, implying the policies pursued by the populist governments had led to hundreds of thousands of preventable deaths. As of now, U.S. suffered 880,000 deaths, followed by 625,000 in Brazil, 490,000 in India and 150,000 in the U.K.
*********************************** COVID-RELATED RESEARCH **************************
Research Finds Climate-COVID Relationship
A new research conducted by the researchers with the University of Florida has found a close relationship between how Coronavirus surge is happening at different regions at different time and the regions’ temperature and humidity levels. Cold climate regions such as American Northeast experiences COVID surge in the winter while the warmer South faces the wrath of COVID during summer month. The Washington Post reported the University of Florida research on January 28, 2022. Aerosol experts have speculated earlier, and this research confirms that now, that drier cold weather lead to water evaporation and subsequent reduction in the size of virus particles. They can float freely in the recirculated air indoors where many tend to flock during the winter season in cold regions, thus leading to a surge. In the warmer climate, humidity often makes the aerosol particles bigger and they often drop to the ground. In the hot climate, people tend to go inside at the peak of the summer and the air conditioning makes recirculate the air, and as a result, drier situation arises, leading to water evaporation just like winter months in the cold climate. People thus catches the Coronavirus easily as the AC in the indoor runs and aerosol particles become smaller in size and begin floating after the dry air from air recirculation helps evaporate the water from the particles. The research finds a correlation between the season and COVID surge based on the regions. The research brings valuable insight into regional variation impacting the degree of COVID surge, thus helping in the understanding of surge pattern by regions and empowering the healthcare communities with the knowledge of COVID-Climate relationship to formulate a more effective mitigation strategy. The research finds a sweet spot for a temperature range between 62 degree Fahrenheit and 75 degree Fahrenheit that is conducive to a more normalized lifestyle without much concern over a surge.
Key Benefit of Vaccination: Kids’ Protection
An Israeli research published in the January 27, 2022, edition of the journal Science provides a strong argument for vaccination for parents who are still dithering on whether to take the jab. Kids with fully vaccinated parents are less at risk to get infected by COVID-19 and parents with booster shots increase the defense of their kids further against the virus. The study involved nearly 232,000 Israeli families with unvaccinated kids with two 10-week periods of the pandemic—one during Alpha surge and another during Delta surge. Last winter as Alpha was ravaging the world, the study found that children ages 15 or less were 72% less likely to get the infection when parents were fully vaccinated compared to those of families where neither parent was vaccinated. As more contagious Delta spread in the summer of 2021, children ages 10 and below were 58% less likely to get infected when parents did take the booster shot compared to those of parents without booster shots.
COVID Increases the Risk of Stroke, according to a Pair of Publication
Two years after the SARS-CoV-2 became a worldwide pandemic, scientists found that the scale of collateral damage from the virus was very high as a brush with COVID-19 increased the risk of strokes within a year. A pair of studies published in February 2022 point to the association between the infection and the risk of strokes. The first research involves 153,760 patients treated for COVID at the Veterans Affairs Department-tied providers. The research has found that the risk of a stroke increases in the first year in the aftermath of the infection by almost 52%. The research has been published on February 7, 2022 in the journal Nature Medicine.
A second study published on February 3, 2022 in the journal Neurology shows that the risk of a stroke is most pronounced during the first three days after being diagnosed. The second study involves 37,379 patients ages 65 and above who have caught COVID-19. During the first three days, the risk of a stroke increases almost 10 times compared to the control group. The elevated risk wanes with time, with the odds of having strokes 15 to 28 days after the diagnosis about 9% higher compared to the control group.
Poorer Regions Hit Hard by the Pandemic, Research Says
It does not come as a surprise. The poor suffer the hardest in any pandemic. A research by the U.N. Sustainable Development Solutions Network, A Poor People’s Pandemic Report: Mapping the Intersections of Poverty, Race and COVID-19, published on April 4, 2022 illustrated how the bottom 300 U.S. counties had suffered the most as the pandemic devastated the U.S. and the rest of the world compared to their affluent peers. In those 300 worst-suffering counties of the highest death rates, 45% of the people live below the 200% of the national poverty threshold, i.e., $54,985 for a family and $28,194 for a person. At the outset of the pandemic in early 2020, it’s the population of the wealthy counties that had suffered the most as many of them were traveling at that time, but as time went by, they had begun to work remotely and taken many precautions as recommended by government officials and healthcare professionals while the people from the poorer counties had to go to work, often under a daunting situation, as they were employed in essential services, thus reversing the infection, hospitality and mortality trends.
Kids' Infection Rates Zoom During Omicron Surge
CDC on April 26, 2022 reported that prior infection-induced immunity in children jumped to 75% in the month of February 2022 in the midst of Omicron surge. CDC sampled blood from more than 200,000 people in the U.S. to focus on the immunity anti-bodies achieved from the prior infection instead of from vaccines. For all age groups, about 34% had prior infections in December 2021, but prior infection rate jumped to 58% just two months later in February 2022. That's an astonishing jump in just two months. For children ages 17 and below, the corresponding prior infection rates were 45% in December 2021 and 75% in February 2022. For the elderly people 65 and older, the Omicron-period prior infection rate was only 33.2%, lowest among any age group.
*********************************** COVID-RELATED RESEARCH **************************
U.S. COVID Death Toll Crosses 900,000
Two years after most of the world came to know about Coronavirus for the first time, millions of people had been dead, with the United States, with the most advanced medical system in the world, accounting for the maximum number of deaths. In another grim reminder, U.S. COVID-19 death toll exceeded 900,000, according to a running tally on February 4, 2022 by the Johns Hopkins University. The grim milestone of 900K was reached more than a year after vaccines had been rolled out. However, the vaccine rollout was followed by chaotic distribution of vaccines, super-spreading of conspiracy theories, stubborn vaccine resistance and political headwind against the vaccination mandate. As a result, only 64%, or 212 million, of the U.S. population are fully vaccinated as of now, a low watermark among the population of the advanced world.
White House Releases “Test-to-Treat Plan” Five Days after CDC Loosens Mask Rules
As part of bringing back the normal life to a more customary rhythm amidst falling caseloads, hospitalizations and deaths from COVID-19, the White House on March 2, 2022 unveiled a plan to get the country back on normal track. Under the plan, dubbed as the National COVID-19 Preparedness Plan, people may seek out tests at the nation’s pharmacies and, if the test results turn out to be positive, they may get the anti-viral pills free of cost. Releasing the 90-page plan on March 2, 2022, White House COVID-19 Coordinator Jeff Zients said that this “test-to-treat plan” would “keep our businesses and schools open with the tools that we have at our disposal”. The plan will first roll out in hundreds of pharmacies across the country, including Walgreens and CVS. People will be given access to testing and, if they are tested to be positive, they will be given anti-viral pills, including Pfizer pills which have been found to be 90% effective against hospitalization. In the next stage, the “test-to-treat plan” will be rolled out among tens of thousands of additional pharmacies.
According to a CDC assessment, about 140 million people, 43% people, have been infected by COVID-19 based on the surveillance program that have tested blood samples from more than 72,000 people. CDC on February 25, 2022 revised the mask rules by weighting more on the hospital capacity and ICU Bed availability than solely depending on the caseload numbers. Under the February 25, 2022, guidance, 70% of the country now does not require indoor facemasks. CDC’s new directive is an welcome news for millions of Americans who have been suffering from COVID fatigue. According to the CDC, 947,000 people have died of COVID-19, and much of the country wants to move forward and go about with normal life as the pandemic is transitioning to an endemic.
Six Million Coronavirus Deaths Underline the Fury of the Pandemic
Marking the seriousness and the depth of gravity and burden of once-in-a-century pandemic and what it had meant to our world, the world crossed an once-unthinkable milestone of six million deaths from COVID-19, according to a report by Johns Hopkins University on March 7, 2022. The world is still experiencing 7,000 daily deaths over the past four weeks. U.S. topped the list with a cumulative death toll of 960,000 and counting, with the daily deaths averaging around 1,000. Parts of the globe remained unvaccinated and under-vaccinated. Even in the U.S., where there is enough supply of vaccines, 76.5% of the population have received at least one dose and 65% have received the full course of a vaccine as of March 6, 2022, according to the CDC, leaving a critical component of the U.S. population vulnerable to catching COVID-19, becoming seriously ill and hospitalized, and facing deaths with elevated levels of odds.
********************************* CHINA'S ZERO-COVID POLICY ***********************
China Begins Two-Phase Strict Lockdown of Shanghai
China on March 28, 2022 mounted the strictest restriction since it had first launched an iron-clad “zero tolerance” policy after the Coronavirus had been detected in Wuhan in late 2019. On March 28, 2022, authorities began the first phase of lockdown in Shanghai. The second phase will begin within days. China is experiencing a new surge in Coronavirus in recent days.
Shanghai, Epicenter of the COVID-19, under Lockdown
The eastern part of Shanghai was supposed to reopen on April 1, 2022, but given the surge, authorities continued the lockdown beyond the deadline while the lockdown had begun on the western side of the Yangtze River, leading to a complete shutdown of the financial and commercial hub of China. On April 4, 2022, the caseload rose to a record level of more than 13,000 in Shanghai. Chinese authorities sent 10,000 medical personnel to the city, including 2,000 military personnel. A massive testing operation is underway throughout the city.
Shanghai Loosens Restrictions, Hong Kong Lifts Entry Ban
Shanghai authorities on April 22, 2022 announced relaxation of strict restrictions that had been used since March 28, 2022 to institute rolling shut-downs in the country’s commercial hub as part of a containment and testing strategy. However, the iron-clad strategy brought immense misery to 25 million residents of Shanghai, with people running out of food, medicines and other essential commodities.
Meanwhile, Hong Kong authorities on April 22, 2022 announced the lifting of entry ban on the non-resident travelers effective May 1, 2022. The entry ban, put in place since the early days of pandemic in 2020, was designed to minimize the spread of the virus that had inflicted a severe toll on the tiny island of 7.5 million people, infecting more than 1.2 million people, killing at least 9,000 and straining the healthcare and hospital infrastructure.
Beijing Sees Spikes Linked to a Popular Bar, Shanghai Briefly Shuts down for Mass Testing
Authorities in Beijing said on June 12, 2022 that a surge in cases had erupted over the weekend stemming from a super-spreader linked to a popular bar, leading to delaying the re-opening of most of the schools in Beijing that was scheduled to reopen on June 13, 2022. Meanwhile, in Shanghai, where a two-month lockdown was lifted on June 1, 2022, a partial shutdown was imposed in the weekend to carry out mass testing.
China Introduces Inhalable Vaccine
China on October 26, 2022 has launched a booster vaccine that can be inhaled through mouth. The launch took place in Shanghai.
China Issues a 20-point Guideline in a Shift in COVID Zero Policy
China’s National Health Commission on November 11, 2022 issued a 20-point playbook for local and state officials that’s seen more of a downward revision and easing of the current COVID Zero policy that had throttled economic growth, increased societal discontent and raised public ire. The 20-point playbook includes, among others:
* Eliminating penalty on airlines bringing passengers with positive cases
* Shortening the total quarantine time from travelers from 10 days (7 days in hotel or government-run facility + 3 days at home) to 8 days (5 days in hotel or government-run facility + 3 days at home)
* Loosening the contact-tracing system
China Marks a One-day Record of New Infections
Days after a 20-point guidebook was introduced as a framework for COVID mitigation, the daily new infections climbed past 30,000-mark for the first time on November 24, 2022. The 31,987 new infections reported on November 24, 2022 were sharply up from the previous day’s record of 29,754.
*********** ANTI-COVID LOCKDOWN PROTEST AGAINST GOVERNMENT
China’s Zero-COVID Policy Pushes People to Brink, Apartment Inferno Triggers Protest
That the Chinese government’s Zero-COVID policy being implemented over the past three months with harshness and little exception has created frustration, anxiety and anger among a restive population is not an overstatement, and the proof of that has emerged with the spontaneous spread of anti-government protests across cities in the aftermath of an apartment fire in Urumqi, capital city of the far western region of Xinjiang. Although the official death toll in the Urumqi apartment fire on November 24, 2022 is 10, the actual death toll is reported to be far higher. There are reports that people have not been able to flee from the burning apartment complex on November 24, 2022 because of the strict lockdown measure. No sooner had the news of the November 24, 2022, Urumqi fire spread, than thousands of protesters poured on the streets in various parts of the nations, demanding that Chinese President Xi Jinping resign. In Shanghai, police on November 26, 2022 used force to disperse hundreds of protesters who defied the lockdown order.
Protest Spreads to at least Eight Cities
In an unprecedented event and unseen in recent memory, crowds are now chanting the resignation of Chinese President Xi Jinping as the anti-COVID lockdown protest that has begun on November 25, 2022 is now becoming a big political headache for the Chinese government, Communist Party of China and Xi Jinping himself. On November 27, 2022, anti-government demonstrations were held in at least eight cities. Police had to resort to pepper spray and other punitive steps to disperse the crowds at various places. People were especially aghast after knowing that many residents had perished in the November 24, 2022, apartment fire at Urumqi in Xinjiang because fire-rescue operation had arrived at the apartment complex late and residents could not get out of the apartment complex on time because of the strict lockdown as part of the government’s ZERO-COVID policy.
*********** ANTI-COVID LOCKDOWN PROTEST AGAINST GOVERNMENT
China Relaxes COVID Rules
Faced with days of unprecedented protests, Chinese authorities on December 7, 2022 added more relaxations to their earlier easing of rules. As per December 7, 2022, guidance from the National Health Commission, the testing and quarantine requirements will be further eased, paving the way for restoring a more normal rhythm of life, but also a potential surge in COVID-19 cases.
CHINA: COVID-19 Death Explosion about to Happen
As Beijing recently lifted its strict testing and quarantine regime, COVID-19 cases began to jump exponentially. Morgues and crematoriums are reported to be overflowing with the bodies. A renowned research division at the University of Washington on December 16, 2022 reported more than 322,000 COVID-19 deaths by April 2023. In addition to the December 16, 2022, report issued by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington, Reuters has carried out a projection analysis based on the report itself for the full year. According to Reuters’ analysis, at least 1 million Chinese are projected to die from COVID-19 in 2023 compared to an official toll of 5,235 as of now.
China to Eliminate Quarantine Requirement
Come January 8, 2023, China will not require the incoming passengers to go through 8-day quarantine—including five days of quarantine at a pre-designated place or a central facility followed by three days of home confinement. Under the proposed rule issued on December 26, 2022 by the National Health Commission, the incoming passengers are required to get negative COVID-19 test results within 48 hours.
U.S. to Require Negative COVID Test for Travelers from China
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on December 28, 2022 issued a rule to require all passengers boarding a flight from China to undertake a COVID-19 test within 48 hours prior to departure and producing the negative test result before boarding the flight. The CDC rule will go into effect on January 5, 2023. CDC rationalized the new travel restriction for China’s deficiency in sharing adequate information on post-Zero-COVID policy and related data to genome sequencing, explaining that information sharing was “critical to monitor the case surge effectively and decrease the chance for entry of a novel variant of concern".
China Reports Nearly 60,000 COVID-19 Deaths in about a Month
China’s National Health Commission on January 14, 2023 reported that about 60,000 people with COVID-19 had died since December 8, 2022. That’s a huge jump compared to 10,775 deaths since the beginning of the COVID-19 in 2019 reported just before China has abruptly stopped reporting. China only reported COVID-19 deaths tied to pneumonia and other respiratory diseases.
********************************* CHINA'S ZERO-COVID POLICY ***********************
Mask Mandate in Airport, Planes Extended
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on April 13, 2022 extended the mask mandate at airports, planes, transit and other modes of transportation through May 3, 2022. The extension has been announced as most of the cases now are being driven by a more transmissible variant of Omicron, BA.2. On April 11, 2022, Philadelphia became the first major city to reinstitute mask mandate in indoor settings. The mask mandate was instituted by the Biden administration on February 3, 2021.
Airlines Forego Mask Requirement after a Federal Judge Tosses out CDC Order
A federal judge in Florida on April 18, 2022 ruled that CDC had overstepped its pandemic authority when it had issued masking requirements at the nation’s airports, airlines and transportation systems. Hours after the ruling, Biden administration suspended the enforcement of masking at the nation’s airports and other federal transportation modes. Airlines—including Southwest and American—followed suit and dropped the mask requirements. In the 59-page ruling, U.S. District Court Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle of Tampa, a Trump appointee, opined that CDC had failed to follow proper rule-making process.
Biden Administration to Appeal Judge's Mask Ruling
Biden administration on April 20, 2022 announced that it would appeal against U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle's April 18, 2022, order. CDC during the day determined that indoor "transportation corridor" masking remained necessary. Subsequently, the U.S. DOJ announced that it would appeal.
U.S. Marks the Grim Milestone of 1 million Deaths in COVID
President Joe Biden on May 12, 2022 ordered U.S. flags to be flying at half-staff in commemoration of the once unthinkable grim milestone of 1 million COVID deaths. President Biden during the day co-hosted a virtual COVID summit along with Germany, Indonesia, Senegal and Belize. U.S. has so far shipped 540 million doses of vaccines to more than 110 countries. The leaders committed about $3 billion in new funding to fight against the virus.
U.S. Death Toll from COVID-19 Hits 1 million
That the scale of devastation wreaked by COVID-19 is unimaginable at best can be gauged by once unthinkable milestone of 1 million deaths, and the U.S. has officially reached that milestone on May 16, 2022. That is equivalent to the combined population of Boston and Pittsburgh. That is larger than the death toll of the World War II and Civil War combined. President Joe Biden, who ordered the flag to be flying at half-staff four days ago, issued a statement on May 16, 2022, saying that “as a nation, we must not grow numb to such sorrow”. More than half the deaths occurred after vaccines were available in December 2020. Two-thirds of people in America are fully vaccinated, and half have taken at least one booster shot. Also, the Biden administration has rolled out two rounds of free test kits through an online portal, covidtests.gov, and in recent days, extended the eligibility for the third round of test kits. It takes less time to get the results from antigen tests compared to molecular, or PCR, tests.
North Korea Slides into Disaster as COVID Seems to Surge beyond Control
Over a span of four days, a fever, reported to be driven by COVID-19, is sweeping North Korea. First, on May 12, 2022, North Korea reported that an unspecified number of people in Pyongyang had tested positive for Omicron. On May 13, 2022, North Korean authorities reported that six people were dead and more than 350,000 were sickened in a mysterious fever. On May 16, 2022, those figures jumped to eight and 392,920, respectively, bringing the total deaths to more than 50 and total number of people sickened by this feverish-like symptom to more than 1.2 million in a span of four days. North Korea’s supreme leader, Kim Jung Un, on May 16, 2022 blasted officials for their slow response and mobilized army to tackle a rapidly deteriorating situation.
Political Bureau Mulls Easing the Strict Restrictive Measures
North Korea’s ruling Workers Party Political Bureau met on May 29, 2022 to discuss on pros and cons of relaxing the stiff restrictive protocols that the government had imposed to bend the exponential growth curve of Omicron infections. Now, the new infection cases are stabilizing. On May 29, 2022, authorities have reported about 89,500 new cases of fever-like symptoms, taking the total number of new cases to more than 3.4 million.
********************************* PRESIDENT BIDEN'S COVID INFECTION *****************
President Biden’s Infection Rebound Emblematic of Post-pill Recurrence
President Joe Biden first tested positive on July 21, 2022, leading him to stay and work in an isolated manner in the White House while First Lady Jill Biden stayed in Connecticut. Biden was vaccinated and boosted prior to his infection, and he was treated with Pfizer pill Paxlovid. On July 26 and July 27, 2022, President Biden tested negative. He returned to normal rhythm of life within the confines of White House on July 28, 2022. However, on July 30, 2022, President Biden has again tested positive, marking the “rebound” case of COVID-19 which is found more common among patients treated with Paxlovid. On July 31, 2022, President Joe Biden tested positive for the second consecutive day. In a letter divulging the positive test of Biden for the second consecutive day, White House physician Dr. Kevin O’Connor on July 31, 2022 said that the president “continues to feel well".
President Biden Ends Isolation after Two Consecutive Negative Testing
President Joe Biden on August 7, 2022 ended what he had been eagerly looking forward to after testing negative on August 6, 2022 and August 7, 2022, respectively, thus ending a tortuous journey of the fully vaccinated and double-boosted septuagenarian president to first get infected, then tested negative, followed by a “rebound” infection within days, and eventually, emerging out of this vicious cycle with two consecutive days of negative testing.
********************************* PRESIDENT BIDEN'S COVID INFECTION *****************
CDC Relaxed Quarantine, Distancing Guidelines on August 11, 2022.
At least 57 million Youths Infected by COVID-19
The Dallas Morning News reported on August 21, 2022 that many more children had been infected by COVID-19 than what had been known so far. The recent CDC data, based on blood samples drawn at commercial labs for non-COVID-19 testing, found that nearly 80% of the 26,725 blood samples obtained in May and June 2022 contained elevated levels of antibodies symptomatic with post-infection immunity level. The research implies that at least 57 million youths might have been infected by Coronavirus as of June 2022.
New Subvariant of Omicron Detected in L.A. “Worrisome”
According to The Dallas Morning News’ October 9, 2022, edition, a new subvariant of Omicron, BA.2.75.2, has been detected in Los Angeles County. White House Chief Medical Officer Dr. Anthony Fauci called the subvariant “suspicious”. Los Angeles County Medical Director Barbara Ferrer said that three specimens of BA.2.75.2 were found in the county. The subvariant may evade the vaccine-generated immunity or natural immunity (from prior infection) of the body altogether, leading to a more complex healthcare situation if it spreads widely, according to Ferrer.
XBB Variant Predominant in Northeast
According to January 3, 2023, edition of The Dallas Morning News, XBB.1.5 has emerged as a dominant strain, displacing the BQ variant.
FDA Asks Advisers to Come up with Once-a-Year Booster
Food and Drug Administration on January 26, 2023 asked its advisers to come up with a plan for a single annual COVID-19 booster shot along the model of the annual flu shot.
Pandemic Health Emergency to End on May 11, 2023
The Dallas Morning News has reported on May 13, 2023 that, according to a Biden administration’s directive issued last month (January 2023), the pandemic health emergency (PHE) state will end on May 11, 2023. To many people, that may go unnoticed, but for the vulnerable people, it means increasing disenrollment from Medicaid, less access to telehealth and more restriction to Food Stamp program. At least 1.3 million Texans may lose the health insurance because of the end of pandemic health emergency. National and public health emergencies are originally scheduled to end on March 1, 2023 and April 11, 2023, respectively. Biden administration, in its notice issued last month, said that it would extend to ensure that people in the U.S. could get enough time to prepare.
Findings Point Coronavirus as Zoonotic Spillover Event
World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on March 17, 2023 that recent findings based on genetic sequencing and analysis linked the eruption of Coronavirus to a seafood and meat market in the Chinese city of Wuhan. Samples were collected from the market in early 2020, but only recently scientists with Chinese CDC uploaded their findings on the world’s biggest public virus database, only to take them down shortly afterward, but not before a French scientist came across the findings and shared them with other scientists. Coronavirus was officially reported to have erupted in late 2019 at the Wuhan meat and seafood market. Samples collected from near a stall in the market that involved trade in racoon dogs yields to a strong, but not definitive, conclusion—based on evidence that racoon dog DNA comingled with Coronavirus—that the virus might be an effect of a Zoonotic Spillover Event, or a jump in virus from animal to humans.
Operation Warp Speed’s $5 billion Sequel Launched
It was long overdue as scientists and public healthcare experts are clamoring for another moonshot to take the successful outcome of the Trump-era Operation Warp Speed to the next elevation level. On April 10, 2023, Biden administration launched the $5 billion Project Next Gen, with three clear objectives laid out:
* Creating long-lasting monoclonal antibodies
* Accelerating development of vaccines that produce mucosal immunity, key to boosting immunity against transmission and infection risks
* Ramping up development of pan-Coronavirus vaccines to guard against new SARS-CoV-2 variants as well as new Coronaviruses
******************************* LONG COVID AND RELATED TREATMENT ******************
Long-COVID Trials Launched
The National Institutes of Health is enrolling hundreds of people in a quartet of upcoming trials to research and develop treatment for long-COVID symptoms. The so-called RECOVER study, an observational study launched about three years ago, has tracked 24,000 people related to some common and burdensome symptoms. On July 31, 2023, the NIH launched four trials as part of accelerating the findings and outcomes of the RECOVER initiative. Four trials will focus on: (1) Viral Persistence, (2) Brain Fog, Memory Problems and Other Cognitive Issues, (3) Excessive Sleepiness and Sleep Disturbances, and (4) Automatic Nervous System, which includes Heart Rate, Digestive System and Breathing. A fifth trial—Exercise Intolerance and Fatigue—is under development now.
******************************* LONG COVID AND RELATED TREATMENT ******************
Hospitalizations, Cases Rising as a New Variant with Several Mutants Spreading
COVID cases are again rising in Texas and other states. On August 12, 2023, the hospitalization rate in Texas climbed to 3.85 per 100,000 residents after hitting an all-time low in June 2023. In January 2023, it was hovering around 12 per 100,000 residents. The case number and hospitalization are rising as the new booster is not expected to come to pharmacies before mid-September 2023. Although most of the people have developed some form of immunity because of initial regimes of vaccines, or prior infections, or both, the current variant is the lineage from Omicron for which earlier vaccine regimes have not been meant for and over time the acquired immunity has waned too. On the top, people fatigued over the COVID-19 pandemic-era restrictions in 2020-2022 have dropped many precautions and best practices, leading to the current increase in case number and hospitalization.
XBB.1.5 and EG.5—both are of Omicron lineage—now account for the majority of the Texas cases, with each sharing 28% of the cases. XBB accounts for 22% of cases. The new booster scheduled to be out by mid-September 2023 is geared towards targeting the XBB.1.5 subvariant. What’s concerning many virologists, according to the August 26, 2023, edition of The Dallas Morning News, is the spread of a new variant, BA.2.86, that has several mutations with abilities to avoid the body’s immunity. It’s not yet known whether this new variant, BA.2.86, is more severe and will end up with more hospitalizations, or as severe as previous variants, but more transmissible.
A New Subvariant Spreading in Europe, U.S.
The Los Angeles Times reported on September 23, 2024 that a new subvariant, XEC, was likely to spread more rapidly in the U.S. after it was detected in Europe and had spread across the Atlantic. XEC, like many preceding subvariants, emerged from the Omicron family. XEC is reported to be hybrid of two other subvariants—KP.3 and KS.1.1.
