Covid19-Coronavirus updates and news

9 hr 9 min ago
Pfizer “ready to release millions of doses each day” in response to Biden proposal, says spokeswoman

Pfizer is "ready to release millions of doses each day" to meet the plans of the incoming Biden administration, a spokeswoman for the company has said.

"Rest assured that Pfizer is working around the clock to manufacture and is ready to release millions of doses each day, ” said Amy Rose, Vice President of Global Media Relations for Pfizer.

Her comments came in response to whether the company would be ready to meet the demand of the incoming Biden administration’s plan to release all doses of coronavirus vaccines right away.

President-elect Joe Biden will aim to release every available dose of the coronavirus vaccine when he takes office, a break with the Trump administration's strategy of holding back half of US vaccine production to ensure second doses are available...................

https://www.cnn.com/world/live-news...s-01-09-21/h_3aeda90ebffed764340d0a400c62bd30

 

Current Covid19 death numbers as of 9:00 am EST are below, primarily from the source in the original post (https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus). If your country of interest is not listed below, simply go to the link above to do a search for relevant information.

Total: 1,936,825
United States: 381,497
Brazil: 202,657
South Africa: 32,824
United Kingdom: 80,868
Canada: 16,833
Mexico: 133,204
Poland: 31,189
Russia: 61,837
India: 151,070
Bolivia: 9,351
Japan : 3,932
Indonesia: 24,129
Italy: 78,394
Spain: 51,874
Belgium: 20,038
France: 67,599
Netherlands: 12,307
Chile: 17,037
Philippines: 9,405

 

Japan finds new COVID strain, distinct from UK and Africa types

A new variant of COVID-19 has been detected in Japan, the country's Health Ministry announced on Sunday.

The mutation was found in four people -- male and female, ranging from their teens to their 40s -- who arrived from Brazil. While there are similarities to strains first reported in the U.K. and South Africa, this particular type does not appear to have been spotted before.

The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has reported the variant to the World Health Organization.



The infected passengers arrived at Tokyo's Haneda Airport on Jan. 2. After they tested positive at the airport, the National Institute of Infectious Diseases analyzed their samples and confirmed the COVID-19 variant. Three had shown symptoms such as difficulty breathing, fever and sore throat.

 

Pope Francis’ personal doctor reportedly dies from COVID-19 complications

Pope Francis’ personal doctor has died from COVID-19 complications, according to a report.

Fabrizio Soccorsi, 78, was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli Hospital for a previous health issue on Dec. 26, the Catholic News Agency reported.

The cause of his death, however, was coronavirus complications, the outlet reported, citing the Vatican’s newspaper L’Osservatore Romano.

It’s unclear when he last had direct contact with the pontifex.

 

LOCKDOWN 🏴‍☠️🔐 HOW LONG WILL THIS LAST? 📆 HOW LONG CAN THIS LAST? 📉 CONTROL VS. ELIMINATION 🧬

 

Covid-19 dashboard from NASA

As communities around the world have changed their behavior in response to the spread of COVID-19, NASA satellites have observed changes in the environment. This experimental dashboard reflects a rapid response to COVID-19 that is currently underway and will continue to evolve as more data becomes available

https://earthdata.nasa.gov/covid19/

 

Current Covid19 death numbers as of 8:00 am EST are below, primarily from the source in the original post (https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus). If your country of interest is not listed below, simply go to the link above to do a search for relevant information.

Total: 1,944,832
United States: 383,275
Brazil: 203,140
South Africa: 33,163
United Kingdom: 81,431
Canada: 16,950
Mexico: 133,706
Poland: 31,189
Russia: 62,273
India: 151,198
Bolivia: 9,376
Japan : 3,996
Indonesia: 24,343
Italy: 78,755
Spain: 51,874
Belgium: 20,078
France: 67,750
Netherlands: 12,361
Chile: 17,096
Philippines: 9,416

 

That is very impressive!
I will definitely be exploring this further.

It's a shame that it takes plagues and wars to offer our planet a bit of respite from our damage. Remember how air-quality improved in the weeks after 9/11 because of the reduction in air travel? And during our recent lockdowns, wild animals started returning to my local neighbourhood.

 

Researchers at Stanford are working to develop a single-dose vaccine for SARS-CoV-2 that could potentially be stored at room temperature.

Stanford’s Single-Dose Nanoparticle Vaccine for COVID-19

Before the pandemic, the lab of Stanford University biochemist Peter S. Kim focused on developing vaccines for HIV, Ebola and pandemic influenza. But, within days of closing their campus lab space as part of COVID-19 precautions, they turned their attention to a vaccine for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Although the coronavirus was outside the lab’s specific area of expertise, they and their collaborators have managed to construct and test a promising vaccine candidate.




“Our goal is to make a single-shot vaccine that does not require a cold-chain for storage or transport. If we’re successful at doing it well, it should be cheap too,” said Kim, who is the Virginia and D. K. Ludwig Professor of Biochemistry. “The target population for our vaccine is low- and middle-income countries.”


Their vaccine, detailed in a paper published on January 5, 2021, in ACS Central Science, contains nanoparticles studded with the same proteins that comprise the virus’s distinctive surface spikes. In addition to being the reason why these are called coronaviruses – corona is Latin for “crown” – these spikes facilitate infection by fusing to a host cell and creating a passageway for the viral genome to enter and hijack the cell’s machinery to produce more viruses. The spikes can also be used as antigens, which means their presence in the body is what can trigger an immune response.

https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acscentsci.0c01405

 

UN: COVID-19 herd immunity unlikely in 2021 despite vaccines

The World Health Organization’s chief scientist warned that even as numerous countries start rolling out vaccination programs to stop COVID-19, herd immunity is highly unlikely this year.

At a media briefing on Monday, Dr. Soumya Swaminathan said it was critical countries and their populations maintain strict social distancing and other outbreak control measures for the foreseeable future. In recent weeks, Britain, the U.S., France, Canada, Germany, Israel, the Netherlands and others have begun vaccinating millions of their citizens against the coronavirus.

Scientists typically estimate that a vaccination rate of about 70% is needed for herd immunity, where entire populations are protected against a disease. But some fear that the extremely infectious nature of COVID-19 could require a significantly higher threshold.

 

Current Covid19 death numbers as of 8:00 am EST are below, primarily from the source in the original post (https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus). If your country of interest is not listed below, simply go to the link above to do a search for relevant information.

Total: 1,955,799
United States: 385,249
Brazil: 203,617
South Africa: 33,579
United Kingdom: 81,960
Canada: 16,950
Mexico: 134,368
Poland: 31,593
Russia: 62,804
India: 151,364
Bolivia: 9,415
Japan : 4,044
Indonesia: 24,645
Italy: 79,203
Spain: 52,275
Belgium: 20,122
France: 68,060
Netherlands: 12,411
Chile: 17,162
Philippines: 9,554

 

I mentioned in another thread that I would prefer this brand of vaccine if given a choice.

Moderna Says Its Covid-19 Vaccine Provides One Year’s Immunity

https://www.forbes.com/sites/robert...-provides-one-years-immunity/?sh=4d99ec1e68ae

 

I read today that Bruce Willis was ejected from a pharmacy for not wearing a face mask.

How badass is the employee who asked the Die Hard star to leave?

There's some irony in that.

EDIT:
"It was an error in judgment," Willis tells PEOPLE in an exclusive statement.
He adds, "Be safe out there everyone and let's continue to mask up."

Celebrities, politicians, and anyone who is in the public spotlight, need to show some initiative and lead by example. It's the best form of education.


He wore a suit in the film 12 Monkeys because a virus killed-off mankind.

 

He said 2 years per this report.

Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel says vaccine likely to protect from Covid-19 infection for 'couple of years' - The Financial Express


Am I missing something?

 

My guess would be they project it will last 2 years but without any real world data (only in testing for few months) they are thinking it may be safer to say one year.

Actually, I was surprised to see them going with the full year statement as many professionals are saying most vaccines may only be 100% effective for 6 to 8 months (like the current yearly flu vaccine).

 

Current Covid19 death numbers as of 8:00 am EST are below, primarily from the source in the original post (https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus). If your country of interest is not listed below, simply go to the link above to do a search for relevant information.

Total: 1,973,287
United States: 389,786
Brazil: 204,726
South Africa: 34,334
United Kingdom: 83,203
Canada: 17,233
Mexico: 135,682
Poland: 32,074
Russia: 63,370
India: 151,564
Bolivia: 9,454
Japan : 4,094
Indonesia: 24,951
Italy: 79,819
Spain: 52,683
Belgium: 20,194
France: 68,802
Netherlands: 12,563
Chile: 17,182
Philippines: 9,699

 

New 'Columbus strain' of coronavirus evolved in the US

The variant has three gene mutations that haven't previously been seen together.

Two new COVID-19 variants have been found in Ohio, and they appear to have originated in the United States, researchers announced on Wednesday (Jan. 13).

One of these variants, dubbed the "Columbus strain," has three gene mutations that haven't previously been seen together in SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, according to a statement from The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. These mutations occur in the so-called spike protein of the virus, which it uses to latch onto cells.

This strain quickly became the dominant coronavirus variant in Columbus, Ohio, over a three-week period from late December 2020 to early January, according to the researchers, who hope to post their findings soon on the pre-print database bioRxiv.

https://www.livescience.com/us-covid-19-variant-ohio.html

 

The future of the coronavirus? An annoying childhood infection

As millions are inoculated against the coronavirus, and the pandemic’s end finally seems to glimmer into view, scientists are envisioning what a postvaccine world might look like — and what they see is comforting.

The coronavirus is here to stay, but once most adults are immune — following natural infection or vaccination — the virus will be no more of a threat than the common cold, according to a study published in the journal Science on Tuesday.

The virus is a grim menace now because it is an unfamiliar pathogen that can overwhelm the adult immune system, which has not been trained to fight it. That will no longer be the case once everyone has been exposed to either the virus or vaccine.

Children, on the other hand, are constantly challenged by pathogens that are new to their bodies, and that is one reason they are more adept than adults at fending off the coronavirus. Eventually, the study suggests, the virus will be of concern only in children younger than 5, subjecting even them to mere sniffles — or no symptoms at all.

 

Saliva could hold clues to how sick you will get from COVID-19

To the known risk factors for developing severe COVID-19—age, male sex, or any of a series of underlying conditions—a new study adds one more: high levels of the virus in your saliva. Standard COVID-19 tests sample the nasal passage. But several new tests look for SARS-CoV-2, the pandemic coronavirus, in saliva, and the new work finds a striking correlation between high virus levels there and later hospitalization or death. If the results are confirmed, saliva tests could help doctors prioritize which patients in the early stages of the disease should receive medicines that drive down levels of the virus.

Researchers led by Akiko Iwasaki, an immunologist at Yale, compared viral loads in saliva and NP swabs from 154 patients and 109 people without the virus. They divided the patients into groups that had low, medium, and high viral loads as determined by both types of test. Then they compared those results with the severity of symptoms the patients developed later.

They found that patients who developed severe disease, were hospitalized, or died were more likely to have had high virus loads in their saliva tests, but not in their NP swabs. Viral load in both saliva and nasal mucus declined over time in patients who recovered, but not in those who died.

Saliva tests are cheaper and easier than NP tests, but much less widely available. So confirmation of the new results could bolster efforts to make saliva tests more readily available, says Sri Kosuri, CEO of Octant, Inc., a biotech company. “If this study happened in March, we’d be talking about whether we should be doing NP testing at all,” Kosuri says.

https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2021/01/saliva-could-hold-clues-how-sick-you-will-get-covid-19

 

Recovering from Covid gives similar level of protection to vaccine

People who recover from coronavirus have a similar level of protection against future infection as those who receive a Covid vaccine – at least for the first five months, research suggests.

A Public Health England (PHE) study of more than 20,000 healthcare workers found that immunity acquired from an earlier Covid infection provided 83% protection against reinfection for at least 20 weeks.

https://www.theguardian.com/society...-gives-similar-level-of-protection-to-vaccine

 

Current Covid19 death numbers as of 9:00 am EST are below, primarily from the source in the original post (https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus). If your country of interest is not listed below, simply go to the link above to do a search for relevant information.

Total: 1,989,976
United States: 393,961
Brazil: 206,009
South Africa: 35,140
United Kingdom: 84,767
Canada: 17,383
Mexico: 136,917
Poland: 32,456
Russia: 63,940
India: 151,770
Bolivia: 9,493
Japan : 4,145
Indonesia: 25,246
Italy: 80,326
Spain: 52,878
Belgium: 20,250
France: 69,031
Netherlands: 12,685
Chile: 17,204
Philippines: 9,739

 

More than 90,000 Americans could die of Covid-19 in next three weeks, CDC forecast shows

(CNN)More than 38,000 Americans have died of Covid-19 in the first two weeks of the new year.

Another 92,000 are projected to die from the virus over roughly the next three weeks, according to an ensemble forecast published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The numbers are scary and reflect what public health experts have repeatedly warned: While the end is in sight -- with the help of ongoing Covid-19 vaccinations -- the nation is still facing challenging times ahead.

https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/14/health/us-coronavirus-thursday/index.html

 

The projections I've made will be exceeded...more people than I expected traveled during the holiday period.

On a side/similar note, previously in the thread I posted about my golf pro friend that ran a large course near my home. He left there a couple of months ago over their amazing lack of respect for members/guests when it came to taking precautions against covid19.

The GM and part owner in particular (even though his retired nurse wife tried her best to educate him) did not support staff that wanted to make some health based changes. My friend finally left because of the lack of preparedness and he said to the GM and other owners for months. "We (the staff) are sitting ducks and it is a matter of time we get it unless you make some changes". I learned yesterday the GM (63 years old and overweight) and half the staff are out sick and have tested positive for covid19.

 

UPDATE: You are free to be human! You do NOT have to kowtow to sick agendas that are not out to help you!




DOCUMENTS, LETTERS, FLYERS, POSTCARDS, BUSINESS CARDS and PRINT-OUTS

(1) THE HEALTHY AMERICAN large business cards/postcard (5x7)
Front has info about the Healthy American Click for front
Back has a “LEGAL NOTICE” to stores about your rights Click for back

(2) THE HEALTHY AMERICAN “Prayer for Activists” card 5x7
Front is the prayer we recite Sundays at 6:00 for strength and unity Click for front
Back has photos of HEALTHY AMERICAN patriots Click for back

(3) BUSINESS HELP — postcards (5x7):
”OPEN FOR BUSINESS” Front: Click here
”SHUTDOWNS ARE ILLEGAL” Back: Click here

(4) FRIENDLY LETTER to business owners about their rights and responsibilities:
”Dear Business Owner…” Click here

(5) CIVIL RIGHTS LAWS and “Direct Threat” definition (5x7)
Front — Civil Rights click here
Back — Direct Threat definition click here

(6) STAY OPEN FOR BUSINESS 5-x7 postcards and flyers to print out Click here

(7) SAMPLE LAWSUITS you can adapt for your own situation Click here

(8) Letters to Farmer’s Markets and the Laws that Protect your Rights Click here

(9) Letters to remove covid freeway signs Click here

(10) RELIGIOUS EXEMPTION CARD Print out card Click here

(11) NOTICE OF DISCRIMINATION Print out the form Click here
How to use the Notice of Discrimination Click here

(12) What to do if you have been discriminated against Click here

(13) Can you Fly Mask-Free? Click here

https://www.thehealthyamerican.org/documents

 

It still mystifies me how people can delude themselves about the virus. The people I work with are the same way, even though five people in the building have been sick from it.