Coronavirus updates December 2021

[Gloria27]

So many, where do I begin. I am not wasting energy on your poor behavior and misrepresentation of the facts.
You cannot even read properly. Or else you would see the answer in my post above. The very first line of my post in fact. LOL.
But once more for the those who have comprehension issues.
I saw that video long before you posted it Gloria.

The saying Ignorance is bliss has its appeal.
There are times I wish I could just ignore the facts too.
But that isn't who I am.
I prefer reality.

How convenient!

Please make a list, remind me where I lied and what about, let's see if your argument stands.

You keep at it with the insults, "poor behaviour, unable to comprehend, liar " etc but have nothing to back up your claims.

 

[missy]

How convenient!

Please make a list, remind me where I lied and what about, let's see if your argument stands.

You keep at it with the insults, "poor behaviour, unable to comprehend, liar " etc but have nothing to back up your claims.

Read the link I shared. Bye for now Gloria. And try to have a nice day.

 

[missy]

Because that is untrue. 100% untrue.

Fact check: Vaccine not linked to COVID-19 deaths in Gibraltar

The claim that coronavirus deaths in Gibraltar have been caused by the vaccine, not the virus, has been shared on social media. This claim is false.

www.reuters.com

"

The claim that coronavirus deaths in Gibraltar have been caused by the vaccine, not the virus, has been shared on social media. This claim is false.




Reuters Fact Check. REUTERS
Examples can be seen (here , (here).

“Gibraltar is 2.6 square miles in size. On 6th January they had only 10 covid deaths in total. The vaccine arrived to the island on 10th January. By 20th of January there were 53 deaths. Today worldometer is showing that there are now 70 deaths. SEVENTY!! Why is no one talking about Gibraltar?”, the posts read.

The coronavirus vaccination programme began on Jan. 10 in Gibraltar, a British Overseas Territory on the southern tip of the Iberian peninsula (here).

By that date, there had been a total of 16 COVID-19 deaths recorded by the government (here).

By the 20th, this had increased to 53 (here), and to 70 seven days later (here).


But there is no evidence whatsoever that these deaths are linked to the roll out of the vaccine.

The increase appears to be part of an upward trend that started before the first vaccine dose was administered.

On Jan. 27, the government said in a statement that out of the more than 11,000 people who had been vaccinated, six had died for unrelated reasons (here).

“The Gibraltar Health Authority can confirm that there is no evidence at all of any causal link between these six deaths and the inoculation with the Pfizer vaccine”, the press release said. “Statements to the contrary on social media are entirely untrue.”

According to the government, these six people appear to have caught COVID-19 before they were vaccinated.


“Despite testing for COVID-19 before vaccination, the infection had not been detected in them at the time they were vaccinated, but in the days immediately after.”

These people were all aged between 70 and 100, the government said.

Reuters fact check has debunked similar claims about COVID-19 vaccine safety (here , here) and (here).

VERDICT​

False. There is no evidence that the increase in COVID-19 deaths in Gibraltar are in anyway linked to the vaccine.

This article was produced by the Reuters Fact Check team. Read more about our fact-checking work here.


"

Just adding it again for those (Gloria) who might have missed it the first two times I shared it.

 

[Gloria27]

Read the link I shared. Bye for now Gloria. And try to have a nice day.

Nothing there related to anything I said EVER.

You too, mate!

 

[seaurchin]

Thanks again for all your ongoing effort in keeping us updated on the medical facts (vs. sick, politically motivated, deadly disinformation) about coronavirus as they unfold, Missy.

Unfortunately, of course everyone can't be reached but I'm sure many more people benefit from your work on here than you know. Much appreciated.

 

[Dee*Jay]

As someone who got the J&J originally and then a Moderna booster, should I feel less protected than people who go the double MRNA the first time around... ? I also don't know if I got a full or half dose Moderna booster. This is all so confusing!

Sorry for the self-centered question, I'm just trying to figure out whether it's safe for me to leave the house!

 

[missy]

As someone who got the J&J originally and then a Moderna booster, should I feel less protected than people who go the double MRNA the first time around... ? I also don't know if I got a full or half dose Moderna booster. This is all so confusing!

Sorry for the self-centered question, I'm just trying to figure out whether it's safe for me to leave the house!

Dee do you have your vaccine card?
It might say if you got the booster or full dose Moderna


Also, and this is only my opinion, if you can get an antibody test you will see if you have made antibodies and you can feel better about it.

 

[missy]

A Christmas Covid story​

A Christmas party in Norway provides a cautionary tale about the spread of omicron and the risks of infection faced by twice-vaccinated people. Of 111 attendees who participated in a survey, about 80 came down with Covid infections, according to the Norwegian Institute of Public Health. At the time 17 were specifically confirmed as having caught the omicron strain, and the institute said it’s safe to assume most people who were at the restaurant who got Covid were infected with the highly mutated variant. As many as 60% of those infected have since been confirmed with omicron. The incident reveals a disturbing sign: Most of the participants had received a second vaccine dose sometime between May and November, and they were fairly young, most between 30 and 50. And more than 60 other people who visited the restaurant on the same evening, in late November, also got infected. A sign for a Covid-19 vaccine center in Oslo. Photographer: Fredrik Solstad/Bloomberg The Norwegian health institute said it’s well-known that indoor events such as parties heighten the risk of contagion, especially when people sing or speak at loud volumes. Still, the symptoms were relatively benign. More than 70% of the cases had cough, lethargy, a headache and sore throat, and more than half had fever. No hospital admissions were reported. The lightness of those infections may paradoxically explain why omicron might pose a risk: A strain that’s less severe in most people may be underestimated by the majority of the population. Yet it may be deadly for a small minority, especially if it spreads so fast. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the head of the World Health Organization, has said he’s concerned that many people are dismissing the new strain as mild. As researchers study every clue about how transmissible and severe the omicron variant is, this Christmas party in Oslo gives a clear signal it may spread faster and be more resistant to vaccines than many people assume. If that’s true, countries may need to step up their booster campaigns, as evidence has been building that third shots can help prevent transmission.—Thomas Mulier

 

[MMtwo]

I had the J&J first round. The Moderna booster was fantastic and approached the effectiveness of RNA response for J&J recipients.

Go to about the 6:00 mark for a technical break down.

 

[missy]

Data from Imperial College London found no evidence that Omicron is less severe than Delta, based on the proportion of people seeking care at a hospital after infection.

Moderna claimed that lab data showed their booster provides significant protection against Omicron. (New York Times)

Interim data on Pfizer's vaccine for kids ages 2-5 did not produce an immune response comparable to those in ages 16-25. The manufacturer said a third dose of 3 μg will now be studied in this group.



As of Monday at 8 a.m. EST, the unofficial U.S. COVID toll is 50,846,841 cases and 806,438 deaths, increases of 925,419 cases and 9,090 deaths versus a week ago.

President Biden will address the nation on Tuesday night about the Omicron variant. (CNBC)

Despite receiving boosters, Senators Elizabeth Warren (D.-Mass.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.), and Rep. Jason Crow (D-Colo.) have all tested positive for COVID. (AP)

In sports, the NBA allowed new rules on replacement players, and the NHL has postponed "cross-border travel" games through December 23. (The Athletic, CBS Sports)

The NFL postponed three games due to COVID outbreaks. The league's solution? Ending weekly testing of fully vaccinated players. (ABC 7, Wall Street Journal)

At least 48 people tested positive for COVID aboard a Royal Caribbean cruise that docked in Miami. (MSN.com)

Omicron now accounts for 45% of local cases in the Houston area, Houston Methodist Hospital says. (ABC 13)



And Indiana confirmed its first case of the Omicron variant. (WLKY)

Fear of COVID is causing some Americans to rethink their holiday travel plans. (New York Times)

In related news, Southwest Airlines CEO, Gary Kelly, who testified to Congress that "masks don't add much" COVID protection on airplanes has tested positive for the virus. (New York Times)

Pfizer's COVID pill, Paxlovid, has yet to be authorized by the FDA, and demand is already outstripping supply. (The Hill)

The Daily Show host, Trevor Noah, has sued a New York City hospital and a doctor, claiming "professional negligence." (Insider.com)

Omicron continued to rage through Europe, with The Netherlands going into lockdown, France, Cyprus and Austria tightening travel restrictions and Denmark closing many indoor spaces. (CNBC)

New Zealand said the death of a 26 year-old man was related to the Pfizer vaccine.(Reuters)

Moderna is ceasing its battle with the federal government over the patent to their mRNA COVID vaccine. (Washington Post)



Up to 15 million people could lose Medicaid eligibility when the Families First Coronavirus Response Act expires next month. (MSN.com)

FDA expanded the indication of Oxbryta (voxelotor) tablets to children ages 4-12 with sickle cell disease.

Alan Brown Scott, the physician credited with developing Botox for medical uses in ophthalmology and neurology, died at age 89. (NPR)

To combat a staff shortage, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) will triple the pay of its travel nurses. (WESA.com)

COVID (Taylor's Version): A Taylor Swift album party in Australia was linked to almost 100 COVID cases. (NBC News)

Last Updated December 20, 2021

 

[Dee*Jay]

I had the J&J first round. The Moderna booster was fantastic and approached the effectiveness of RNA response for J&J recipients.

Go to about the 6:00 mark for a technical break down.

Thank you SO MUCH for this MMtwo! I just watched the video and then called the Walgreens where I got the Moderna booster (because I have my vax card, but it doesn't say the dosage) and they said the boosters are only half dose. Ugh...

 

[Calliecake]

Thank you SO MUCH for this MMtwo! I just watched the video and then called the Walgreens where I got the Moderna booster (because I have my vax card, but it doesn't say the dosage) and they said the boosters are only half dose. Ugh...

*Dee*Jay, All three shots we have received are Moderna. The pharmacist said if we were immune compromised we would be given the full dosage of Moderna for our Booster shot. If not, the half dosage was given as the booster. I would contact your pharmacy and ask if they can give you another 1/2 dose of Moderna. I just tried to call my local pharmacy to find out if they would give you another 1/2 shot Moderna booster. Unfortunately they can’t accept calls do to the high volume of calls regarding the Covid shots.

 

[missy]

“
Denmark has some of the world's best data on the omicron variant, and the country's top epidemiologists say the outlook has never been more dire. Danish disease models show infections spiraling out of control in the coming weeks, marking what one scientist called “the hardest period of the pandemic.” Even in the best-case scenario laid out by Danish experts, the country's daily hospitalizations match last year's peak. In most other forecasts, they climb to unprecedented heights. Scientists expect similar patterns will follow in much of the world. The best hope for now lies in early evidence suggesting omicron might cause less severe illness, but there's still not enough data to know for sure.

In the United States, Anthony S. Fauci said the country could soon see record numbers of infections and hospitalizations. The nation's leading infectious-disease expert described omicron as “extraordinary” in its transmissibility, with a doubling time of two to three days, meaning it will swiftly overtake delta as the dominant variant. For many Americans, a grim sense of déjà vu is setting in. “It feels like 2020 all over again,” one D.C. resident said. “Same vibes,” said a woman in New York, where new cases are shattering previous daily records.

Vaccine booster shots appear to protect against severe illness from omicron, based on the little data we have so far. Moderna's chief executive said Monday that a third dose of the company's vaccine significantly raised antibody levels, offering people “some good level of protection.” Pfizer and its partner BioNTech also recently said boosters of their vaccine are effective against the new variant. But only about 60 million booster doses have been administered in the United States, enough to cover just 30 percent of the fully vaccinated population. Health officials are using increasingly urgent messaging to encourage people to get the additional shots. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention could eventually change its definition of “fully vaccinated” to include boosters, Fauci told CNBC Friday.

Two years into the pandemic, it's still hard to find a coronavirus test. Many Americans spent the weekend scouring stores and websites looking for at-home or laboratory tests only to come up empty-handed. Store shelves were cleared, appointments were booked up. “You feel like you are penalized for doing the right thing,” said one father who struggled to find tests for his sick daughters.

In Washington, the coming omicron wave is rekindling concerns about the U.S. economy. Lawmakers, business leaders and consumer advocates worry that there might not be enough federal aid to shield Americans from another financial blow brought on by rising caseloads. Funding has dried up for key programs meant to keep businesses afloat and help households pay bills. But the White House has expressed confidence that billions of dollars in aid from this year's American Rescue Plan remain available to blunt the variant's impact.

“

Washington Post
December 20, 2021

 

[missy]

Covid has been a pandemic of inequality, and the U.S. vaccination campaign has been no different. For almost a year, Bloomberg News tracked the race and ethnicity of those getting shots. From the very beginning, Black and Hispanic people have had lower vaccination rates. Now, as the omicron variant descends, the Black vaccination rate lags in nearly half of U.S. states, according to our data. It's particularly worrisome, as the unvaccinated still remain at highest risk of hospitalization and death, and omicron appears to be highly contagious. But as we wind down the project, the more interesting thing to me is not the remaining disparities, but where things improved. If I learned one lesson from following the data closely, first weekly and then monthly, it's that inequality isn’t inevitable. Not all the places we tracked told the same story. Philadelphia was the first city with a significantly large Black population to vaccinate a majority of that group, thanks to a consortium of Black doctors. Take New York City, for example: Over the summer, less than a third of Black people had received at least one shot of a Covid vaccine, a much smaller share than other groups. (At that time, 71% of the Asian population had been vaccinated.) Now, due to a mix of vaccine mandates and requirements to participate in daily life, like going out to eat, nearly 60% of Black people have their shots. Deaths have remained relatively flat in the city, too. Mississippi, for its part, went from one of the worst-performing states in vaccine equity to now having a higher share of Black people vaccinated than White people. We don't fully know why some cities and states have had more success than others. But a story from Philadelphia sheds some light on what it takes to reach the hard to reach. The city was the first with a significantly large Black population to vaccinate a majority of that group. When two Bloomberg News reporters dug into why, they discovered it was, in part, because of a Black doctors consortium there that leveraged its connection in Black communities. “From Day 1, we were trust-building,’’ one doctor said. Public health officials and experts have said lessons from the vaccine campaign will help them tackle other public health disparities. The solutions are still difficult and elusive, but we at least know they exist.—Rebecca Greenfield

​ ​ ​ ​ Track the recovery​

Global Retail’s Battle With Covid Saved Its Stores​ Yes, there was a shakeout with thousands of stores, and some chains, closing for good. A wave of retail workers lost their jobs, some permanently, and an unknown number got sick. But Covid’s shock to the system also brought overdue changes that will fortify the sector for years to come, including big investments in technology, the creation of new methods to connect with consumers and speeding online delivery. Read the full story here. Shoppers at the Saks Fifth Avenue store in New York. Photographer: David Dee Delgado/Bloomberg

What you should read​

Hong Kong Adds the U.K. to High-Risk List The move means U.K. arrivals must stay in a government center. Omicron Cancellations Pile Up: Here’s a List “Is It Canceled Yet?” dominates global conversation about pandemic. All You Need to Know About Covid Test Kits Omicron is spurring a scramble for Covid-19 lateral flow tests. Singapore Finds First Omicron Cluster It will likely prompt further concerns about new reversals in reopening. France is Planning No New Covid Restrictions The rapid clip at which the French are signing up for boosters is helping.

 

[dk168]

I know of 3 people who had been double-vaccinated and got C19 via youngsters under 12 who have not had been vaccinated.

Another friend tested positive using a home LFT kit today, after having his booster less than a week ago, such as shame as his plans for the big days would need to be changed quite drastically.

DK

 

[Lula]

I know of 3 people who had been double-vaccinated and got C19 via youngsters under 12 who have not had been vaccinated.

Another friend tested positive using a home LFT kit today, after having his booster less than a week ago, such as shame as his plans for the big days would need to be changed quite drastically.

DK

Sorry to hear that, DK. Hope they make a full and speedy recovery. I’m sure the treats you dropped off will brighten their holidays.

Unvaccinated children are a major source of spread. Especially with Omicton, which is far more contagious than previous variants. Boosters help prevent severe disease. But until children of all ages are approved for vaccines, and ventilation in schools is improved, adults who are exposed to kids risk testing positive. Governments should have been more transparent about this last fall when schools opened.

 

[missy]

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is poised to authorize a pair of pills from Pfizer and Merck to treat Covid-19, a potential milestone in the fight against the pandemic that will expand therapies for the infected. The news came as President Joe Biden sought to reassure a fearful America, echoing preliminary studies showing that while the omicron variant will cause more breakthrough infections among the vaccinated, they are very unlikely to cause severe illness—especially for people with booster shots. But as politicians and health officials pin their hopes on diminished severity and coming treatments, health systems are already imploding—especially in the U.S. —David E. Rovella

Bloomberg is tracking the coronavirus pandemic and the progress of global vaccination efforts.


With the exception of the U.K., where Boris Johnson rejected calls for more precautions despite an omicron tsunami, the other side of the Atlantic is buckling down for Christmas. Germany is set to limit gatherings to 10 people; Nightclubs and bars in Portugal will be shut from Saturday; and Sweden will introduce new measures as hospitalizations increase there. New Year’s Eve in France will be quiet, too. Worldwide, some 550,000 new infections were recorded yesterday along with 6,500 Covid-19 related deaths. There have been 275 million confirmed infections and more than 5.3 million fatalities since the pandemic began. The actual numbers, however, are likely much higher. Here’s the latest on the pandemic.

Across America, 2021 brought more jobs, lower unemployment, higher wages and pumped-up stock markets. On the other hand, the whiplash of the pandemic and lockdowns helped trigger backups at ports and rail yards, hobbling companies already struggling with labor shortages. Enter inflation: Here’s the story from Bloomberg Quicktake on how this economic scourge returned in force. Speaking of inflation, traditional foods for the holiday season, especially those sold for a limited time in even a normal year, are significantly costlier now—if they’re even available at all.

​

 

[missy]

FDA Expected to Authorize Pfizer and Merck Covid Pills This Week​

By
Josh Wingrove
,
Jennifer Jacobs
, and
Robert Langreth
December 21, 2021, 10:38 AM EST Updated on December 21, 2021, 4:45 PM EST

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is poised to authorize a pair of pills from Pfizer Inc. and Merck & Co. to treat Covid-19 as soon as this week, according to people familiar with the matter -- a milestone in the fight against the pandemic that will soon expand therapies for the ill.
An announcement may come as early as Wednesday, according to three of the people. They asked not to be identified ahead of the authorization and cautioned that the plan could change.
Pfizer’s pill, Paxlovid, and Merck’s molnupiravir are intended for higher-risk people who test positive for the coronavirus. The treatments, in which patients take a series of pills at home over several days, could ease the burden on stretched hospitals with infections poised to soar through the winter in the U.S.

The FDA declined to comment.

“It’s the biggest thing to happen in the pandemic after vaccines,” said Eric Topol, director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute. The timing of the announcement, so late in the year, is unusual for the FDA and reflects the urgency behind the medicines, he added.
The FDA authorizations may come with limitations on who should get which drugs., one of the people familiar with the matter said. A Food and Drug Administration advisory committee narrowly recommended the Merck pill last month, with some members of the panel citing safety concerns including for pregnant women.

Read More: Biden Says Omicron Means More Mild Breakthrough Infections
Pfizer closed at $58.95 a share in New York, down about 3.4%, while Merck closed at $75.54, down about 1.1%.
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said she wouldn’t get ahead of any FDA decision.
“But certainly, having antivirals available is another component that will help us fight the virus, address the pandemic, help people return to a version of normal and we will be prepared like Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts to ensure we are making these antivirals available to the public,” she said Tuesday.

President Joe Biden, speaking at the White House on Tuesday about the omicron variant, said the current spike in cases is not like previous surges because of the availability of medical supplies and vaccines. He warned of increasing breakthrough cases in vaccinated people but assured Americans that almost of all of them would be mild or entirely asymptomatic.
“No, this is not March of 2020,” he said.
The U.S. government has ordered 10 million courses of the Pfizer pill and about 3 million courses of Merck’s, which isn’t as effective, clinical studies indicate, and may carry risks. However, the pills are likely to not be immediately available in widespread supply.
In a clinical trial, Pfizer’s pill showed an 89% reduction in hospitalization for patients who received the medicine within three days of developing symptoms, compared to patients who got a placebo. None of the patients treated with the drug died.

Authorization for Pfizer’s pill would represent a vote of confidence in the medicine from regulators, as FDA advisers have not been asked to consider the drug’s clinical evidence.
Merck developed molnupiravir with partner Ridgeback Biotherapeutics LP.
— With assistance by Cynthia Koons, and Fiona Rutherford
(Updates with Psaki, Biden comment, in eighth and ninth paragraphs.)



Omicron Becomes Dominant U.S. Strain With 73% of Covid Cases

 

[MMtwo]

My daughter's COVID-19 experience has been very mild (congestion, runny nose, fever for a day). She has some comorbidities, so she received monoclonal antibodies. Unfortunately, she had a reaction to the infusion and her bp dropped and she could not breathe. A very frightening reaction. They treated that and restarted the infusion. It was not lost on her that the antibodies were far worse than the COVID infection. Her boyfriend did have a loss of smell for a few days, so not sure if they had Omicron or Delta. Since both were vaxxed in March , maybe Omicron. Apparently here in Virginia, it is 75% of infections.

 

[rainydaze]

My daughter's COVID-19 experience has been very mild (congestion, runny nose, fever for a day). She has some comorbidities, so she received monoclonal antibodies. Unfortunately, she had a reaction to the infusion and her bp dropped and she could not breathe. A very frightening reaction. They treated that and restarted the infusion. It was not lost on her that the antibodies were far worse than the COVID infection. Her boyfriend did have a loss of smell for a few days, so not sure if they had Omicron or Delta. Since both were vaxxed in March , maybe Omicron. Apparently here in Virginia, it is 75% of infections.

I'm sorry to hear this @MMtwo, that sounds very scary! I am so glad her case was mild, that she recovered from the reaction, and that she was able to continue the treatment.

May I ask if her reaction was to the antibodies or to the infusion?

One of my kids has a monthly infusion and reactions to infusions are a big deal - its not the mediation, but to something regarding the actual process. Patients are required to take an antihistamine at the start as a preventative, and have an epi pen along with Benadryl to treat if there is a reaction during. My understanding is that this is common practice for all infusions.

 

[MMtwo]

I'm sorry to hear this @MMtwo, that sounds very scary! I am so glad her case was mild, that she recovered from the reaction, and that she was able to continue the treatment.

May I ask if her reaction was to the antibodies or to the infusion?

One of my kids has a monthly infusion and reactions to infusions are a big deal - its not the mediation, but to something regarding the actual process. Patients are required to take an antihistamine at the start as a preventative, and have an epi pen along with Benadryl to treat if there is a reaction during. My understanding is that this is common practice for all infusions.

Thanks rainydaze. I believe it may have been the infusion speed?. My sister (in another part of the county) has been doing in home COVID antibody infusions for months. She is in a program that dispatches advanced care into homes. She said she only had two reactions in hundreds in all that time.

My daughter said the local hospital had two reactions out of the six rooms. Of course, then I start texting my sister for more information. My sister said that she uses a protocol from UofM that has the drip delivered over 1/2 hour to 40 minutes.

She suspects the local hospital used a FAST drip on my daughter. It CAN be delivered in 21 minutes. This does not mean that speed is tolerated in everyone. After her reaction, they treated her with steroids and Benadryl before proceeding. For COVID - they do not pre-treat before infusions.

I'm so glad that your kid has protocols to keep them safer during infusions. I'm so glad they have ways to help should anything go wrong.

 

[missy]

December 21, 2021 Omicron variant and coronavirus news

Health experts are urging people to get vaccinated as the Delta and Omicron coronavirus variants spread across the globe. Follow here for the latest news updates.

www.cnn.com

• The Omicron variant is now the dominant strain in a host of countries including the US, Denmark, Portugal and the UK.
• US President Biden announced a new initiative to distribute at-home tests and said vaccinated Americans can safely go ahead with holiday plans. However, the World Health Organization’s leader said the pandemic might mean cancelling in-person events over the holiday period.
• Meanwhile, Israel will now offer a fourth dose of the Covid-19 vaccine to vulnerable groups.

Israel will begin rolling out a fourth dose of the coronavirus vaccine with immediate effect. The additional dose will be given to people over 60 years-old, medical workers, and people with a suppressed immune system, the prime minister’s office announced, following a recommendation from the country’s panel of coronavirus experts.
“Wonderful news, do not waste time – go get vaccinated,” Israel’s Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said in a statement.
Those eligible for the fourth dose will be given it provided at least four months have passed since their third dose.

“The State of Israel is continuing to stand at the forefront of the global effort to deal with the pandemic. The citizens of Israel were the first in the world to receive the third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and we are continuing to pioneer with the fourth dose as well,” Bennett said.

In a related announcement, the recommended gap between a second and third dose is also being shortened from five months to three months.
One of the members of the expert panel told Israeli radio Tuesday evening that the decision to go for a fourth dose had not been an easy one.
“We don’t really have data yet on the level of immunity, like we did when we decided on the third dose, but on the other hand, there is really scary data out there in the rest of the world, Professor Galia Rahav said.
“In a situation like this, if you don’t act immediately, you miss the train,” she added.
New measures: The government’s ministerial committee tasked with driving policy on the pandemic also met Tuesday, deciding on a number of new measures in the wake of the new wave of infections brought on by the Omicron variant.
In particular, schoolchildren living in areas of low vaccine up-take among under-18s could find themselves back in online schooling as early as this week.
In areas with high Covid-19 case numbers, known as red or orange communities, only classes in which at least 70% of children have received at least one dose of the vaccine will be taught at school. Classes with lower vaccination rates will be taught online. The new policy goes into immediate effect for children age 13 and above; for younger children, it will take effect in three weeks’ time.
There will also be an increased requirement on Israelis to produce a "Green Pass" when out shopping. For instance, it will now be mandatory to show the pass to enter or work at a store larger than 100 square meters.
Earlier in the evening it was announced that public sector workplaces would reduce the number of staff working onsite by half. The measure will go into effect on Sunday and be in place for at least a month.
A few days ago, Prime Minister Bennett asked private sector businesses to encourage staff to work from home as much as possible.
Some context: Latest Omicron data in Israel shows 341 confirmed cases, of which more than two thirds were in people either fully vaccinated or recently recovered from the disease. In addition, there are more than 800 cases in which there is a high suspicion of the Omicron variant.
The total number of new Covid-19 cases in Israel topped 1,300 on Monday, a figure not reached since the middle of October.
The R co-efficient – the number of people infected by each Covid-19 positive person – is at 1.28, its highest figure since the height of the fourth wave at the beginning of August.




16 hr 50 min ago

Delta Air Lines urges CDC to shorten isolation period for vaccinated people​

From CNN’s Pete Muntean

Delta Air Lines is urging the CDC to shorten the isolation period for vaccinated people who become infected with coronavirus.

"With the rapid spread of the Omicron variant, the 10-day isolation for those who are fully vaccinated may significantly impact our workforce and operations," Delta CEO Ed Bastian and the company's top health officers wrote in a letter to CDC Director Rochelle Walensky on Tuesday.

The letter notes that "over 90 percent" of Delta's workforce is vaccinated.
Delta suggests shortening the isolation period to five days "from symptom onset for those who experience a breakthrough infection," the letter said. "Individuals would be able to end isolation with an appropriate testing protocol."
"Our employees represent an essential workforce to enable Americans who need to travel domestically and internationally," the letter said.




17 hr 14 min ago

Spain records its highest daily number of new Covid-19 cases since start of pandemic​

From CNN’s Al Goodman and Livvy Dohetry

A health care worker administers the first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine to a girl at a walk in clinic at Sculptor Alberto Sanchez Public School on December 15, in Toledo, Spain. (Pablo Blazquez Dominguez/Getty Images)

Spain registered its highest daily number of new Covid-19 cases since the start of the pandemic, with 49,823 cases recorded in the past day, the country’s health ministry said Tuesday.
The previous highest figure for Spain was recorded on Jan. 21, 2021, when the country saw a daily increase of 44,357 new coronavirus cases.
The daily ministry data does not break down cases by variants, but it released a separate report on Tuesday on all variants, saying "at the present time, the data drawn from sequencing of specific PCR indicates that there's a rapid substitution of the Delta variant by the Omicron."
The health ministry also reported Tuesday that 15.77% of all hospital ICU beds are now occupied with coronavirus patients. At the start of the month, a ministry report said the figure was just over 8%.




17 hr 32 min ago

Here's a snapshot of the current vaccination status in the US​

From CNN’s Deidre McPhillips

Registered nurse Allison Anderson, left, gives Chuck Struckness a booster shot at a pop-up Covid-19 vaccination clinic on December 21, in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Here’s the latest data on vaccination efforts in the United States, published Tuesday by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

• Fully vaccinated: 61.6% of the total US population (all ages), about 205 million people
• Not vaccinated: 22.8% of the eligible population (age 5+) have not received any dose of Covid-19 vaccine, about 72 million people
• Current pace of vaccinations (7-day average): 1,542,936 doses are being administered each day
• That’s down about 19% compared with a month ago.
• More than half – about 1 million – are booster doses.
• An average of about 225,000 people are initiating vaccination each day.
• An average of about 296,000 people are becoming fully vaccinated each day.
• About 62.2 million people have received an additional dose, or booster
• 33.1% of fully vaccinated adults (18+) have received a booster
• 44.9% of fully vaccinated people 50 and older have received a booster
• 55.4% of fully vaccinated seniors (65+) have received a booster

Note: CDC data on Covid-19 vaccinations are estimates. The agency notes that data on people who are fully vaccinated and those with a booster dose may be underestimated, while data on people with at least one dose may be overestimated.




18 hr 4 min ago

US has highest number of new Covid-19 cases worldwide, WHO data shows​

From CNN’s Virginia Langmaid


Lenarco Velasco gets a Covid-19 PCR test, Tuesday, Dec. 21, in Miami. (Marta Lavandier/AP)
Cases of Covid-19 declined by 12% in the United States last week and increased in several other countries, but the US still had the highest number of new cases of any country, according to datapublished Tuesday in the World Health Organization’s weekly epidemiological report.
There were 4.1 million new cases around the world from Dec. 13 to Dec. 19, a slight decline from the previous week. The number of new deaths fell 9%, to nearly 45,000.
The US, the UK, France and Germany reported the highest number of new Covid-19 cases last week. Cases in the US declined by 12% to 725,750, while cases in the UK increased 45%.
The WHO African region had the largest increase in cases, and this region and the Western Pacific were the only ones to see new cases increase in the past seven days, according to WHO data. Europe had the highest total number of new cases and accounted for 63% of new cases reported.
Covid-19 cases fell 10% in the Americas, but a quarter of countries in the region reported increases in the week. The US, Canada and Argentina had the highest number of new cases in the region. Cases increased 55% in Canada and 91% in Argentina.
Weekly deaths increased by 15% in the African region, the only region to see any increase in new deaths. The Americas saw a 15% decrease in new deaths, the largest of any region.





18 hr 27 min ago

Israel’s health experts recommend a fourth vaccine dose for over-60s​

From CNN's Andrew Carey

An Israeli health worker administers a dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine to a student at the al-Manahel School in the Druze village of Majdal Shams in the Israel-annexed Golan Heights, on December 12. (Jalaa Marey/AFP/Getty Images)

Israel's panel of coronavirus experts has recommended that all over-60s be given a fourth dose of the coronavirus vaccine.
Medical workers will also be in line for a fourth dose.
“Wonderful news, do not waste time – go get vaccinated,” Israel’s Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said in a statement.

“The State of Israel is continuing to stand at the forefront of the global effort to deal with the pandemic. The citizens of Israel were the first in the world to receive the third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and we are continuing to pioneer with the fourth dose as well,” Bennett added.

According to a statement from the health ministry, over-60s, medical staff and those with a suppressed immune system will be eligible for a fourth dose provided four months have passed since their third dose.
The recommended gap between a second and third dose is also being shortened from five months to three months.




18 hr 40 min ago

WHO: Omicron has been confirmed in 106 countries​

From CNN’s Virginia Langmaid


A man walks past a sign indicating a vaccination point against Covid-19 in Bogota, on December 21. Colombian health authorities detected the first three cases of the Omicron variant of Covid-19 in passengers who arrived from the US and Spain. (Daniel Munoz/AFP/Getty Images)

The Delta variant of the coronavirus is dominant among global virus samples, but the Omicron variant is increasing and poses a risk, according to the World Health Organization’s newest weekly epidemiological report, published Tuesday.
In a section of the report on the spread of variants of concern, the organization said 96% of samples sequenced globally were Delta, down from 99.2% the previous week, and 1.6% were Omicron, up from 0.4% the previous week.
According to WHO data, the Omicron variant has been confirmed in 106 countries.
“Recent evidence indicates that Omicron variant has a growth advantage over the Delta variant and is spreading rapidly, even in countries with documented community transmission and high levels of population immunity,” the organization said.
Data on severity is limited, but hospitalizations are rising in the UK and South Africa.

“Given rapidly increasing case numbers, it is possible that healthcare systems may become overwhelmed. Preliminary data suggest that there is a reduction in neutralization of Omicron in those who have received a primary vaccination series or in those who have had prior SARS-CoV-2 infection, which may suggest a level of humoral immune evasion,” the organization said.

Because of these factors, “the overall risk related to the new variant of concern Omicron remains very high.”




19 hr 6 min ago

Chicago will require proof of vaccination for most businesses serving food or drinks​

From CNN’s Kay Jones

An eight-year-old child receives a second dose of the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine at Northwest Community Church in Chicago, Saturday, Dec. 11. (Nam Y. Huh/AP)

The city of Chicago will require proof of vaccination for most businesses that serve food or drinks starting Jan. 3, the mayor announced Tuesday.
Mayor Lori Lightfoot said in a news conference that the new requirement will be in effect for anyone over the age of five at restaurants, gyms, theaters, bars, and other entertainment and sporting venues that serve food and drink throughout the city.
All patrons must be fully vaccinated to enter these establishments, she said, and there is no testing option. Unvaccinated employees of these venues will have a test-out option, according to Lightfoot.
“The unvaccinated are affecting the health, well-being, and livelihoods of all the rest of us,” Lightfoot said. “To control the spread, we have to limit the risk.”
Grocery stores, schools, places of worship, office buildings, and residential buildings are exempt from the requirement.
Lightfoot said hospitalizations in the city are at their highest since the surge last winter and deaths are at a rate higher than the city has seen in months. “I’ve not been this concerned about Covid-19 since the early days in February 2020,” she said.
The order will remain in effect until the city deems that the risk is diminished and the city is out of the current surge, Lightfoot said on Tuesday.




19 hr 16 min ago

New York state reports a decrease in daily Covid-19 cases and a slight increase in hospitalizations​

From CNN's Laura Ly

New York state reported 22,258 new Covid-19 cases on Tuesday, marking a decrease of over 1,000 cases since Monday’s report, according to a news release from Governor Kathy Hochul’s office.
Over 61% of Tuesday’s reported new cases are from New York City, data shows. Tuesday’s case count is the first number in five days that does not break a record for the state’s highest daily count of new cases.
An additional 308 hospitalizations were reported on Tuesday, bringing the state’s total number of Covid-19-related hospitalizations to 4,328, the release states.




19 hr 48 min ago

Biden "considering" lifting travel ban on southern African countries​

From CNN's Nikki Carvajal

President Biden said he is "considering" whether to lift the US' travel ban on South Africa and seven other southern African countries that was put in place as the Omicron variant of the coronavirus began to spread.
"I'm considering reversing (the travel ban), I'm going to talk to my team in the next couple days," Biden told reporters after a speech on Covid-19 at the White House.
In late November, Biden acted on advice from the nation's top infectious diseases expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci, and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention by restricting travel from South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique and Malawi.
The ban has come under increasing scrutiny as the strain is already the predominant one in new cases in the US, and has run rampant in other countries that have not seen similar travel restrictions.

"Remember why I said we put the travel ban on – it was to see how much time we had before it hit here so we could begin to decide what we needed by looking at what was happening in other countries," Biden said. "And we're past that now, and so it's something that's being raised with me by the docs and I'll have an answer for that soon."

For days the White House has been giving a similar answer on the restrictions. On Monday, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the ban was never meant to be permanent, and that the administration was “continuing to assess day to day the decision to lift that ban.”




20 hr ago

Biden says lack of tests in US "not a failure"​

From CNN's Nikki Carvajal

President Biden defended his administration’s actions on testing Tuesday, telling reporters that the shortage of tests in the US was “not a failure.”
“No it’s not,” the President responded to CNN’s Phil Mattingly, “because Covid is spreading so rapidly. We know this, it just happened almost overnight, it happened in the last month.”
Biden reiterated that while the lack of tests was “not a failure,” he admitted, “the alarms are going off.”

“I don’t think anybody anticipated this would be as rapid at spreading as it did,” he said, “then all of the sudden it was like everybody rushed to the counter was a big, big rush.”

“I knew that was coming,” Biden insisted, “so what I tried to do was meet with the companies to use the Defense Production Act to get a half a billion more tests.”
Asked by another reporter what took so long to ramp up production of tests, Biden seemed irritated at the question.
“Come on, 'what took so long?',” he asked. “What took so long is it didn’t take long at all.”

“What happened was, the Omicron virus spread more rapidly than anyone thought,” he said. “If I told you four weeks ago that this would spread on a daily basis 50, 100%, 200% 500%, I think you look to me and say, 'Biden, what are you drinking?'”

He said that while it’s not clear what’s going to happen with the variant, hospitals would not be in a position where they run out or run low on critical supplies.




19 hr 12 min ago

Biden: "This is a critical moment"​

From CNN's Maureen Chowdhury

(Patrick Semansky/AP)

President Biden closed his remarks on the current surge in coronavirus cases in the country by encouraging people to have faith during this "critical moment."

"I know you're tired. I really mean this, and I know you're frustrated. We all want this to be over. But we're still in it. And this is a critical moment. We also have more tools than we have ever had before. We're ready. We'll get through this," Biden said from remarks from the White House.

He continued, "As we head into the holidays, I want us to all keep the faith. I want to sincerely thank you for your perseverance, your courage, your countless acts of kindness, love and sacrifice during these last two years. Throughout our history, we have been tested as a people, and as a nation. Through war and turmoil, we had to ask whether we would be safe, whether we would be okay. Whether we can get back to who we are. We have always endured because remember: there is no challenge too big for America."

• https://www.yourhealthgazette.com/m...hese&ob_click_id=$ob_click_id$&obOrigUrl=true

20 hr 12 min ago

President Biden says vaccine requirements are in place "not to control your life, but to save your life"​

(Patrick Semansky/AP)


President Biden noted during his speech on Tuesday that the courts reinstated his "vaccination or test rule" requiring businesses with more than 100 employees to ensure all workers are vaccinated or tested each week or go home.
"These rules are going to keep workers safe ... and will help keep businesses open," he said.
The President said that he knows vaccination requirements are "unpopular" for many reasons. But he said that the administration has put the vaccination mandates in place "not to control your life, but to save your life and the lives of others."
"400,000 Americans died from Covid this calendar year, and almost all were unvaccinated. Almost all were preventible," Biden said. "The rule is legal and effective, and it's going to save thousands of American lives."




19 hr 7 min ago

Biden announces plans to expand at-home testing in January​

From CNN's Elise Hammond

(Patrick Semansky/AP)
President Biden announced an expansion of at-home rapid tests to combat the surge of new cases, adding it's "critically important to know who's infected."
The President said the federal government will purchase a half-billion at-home rapid Covid-19 tests and plans to distribute them free to Americans who request them through a website.
The 500 million new tests will be made available next month and will reach Americans through the mail, he said.
Biden said also starting next month, private insurance will cover at-home testing so that you can get reimbursed for those orders. There are additional plans to provide tests to those who don't have insurance as well, he said.
Previously, CNN reported that an administration official said that the website will launch "in January or around January." The official also said the White House is "working through all the details" when asked how Americans without internet access could secure tests.
"But it's not enough. We have to do more. We have to do better – and we will," Biden said. "Starting this week the federal government will set up emergency testing sites in areas that need additional testing capacity," which includes places where people have been waiting in long lines for tests, like New York City.
The President said the government will continue to use the Defense Production Act to produce as many tests as quickly as possible.

"The bottom line is it's a lot better than it was. But we're taking even more steps to make it easier to get tested and get tested for free," Biden said.

20 hr 22 min ago

President Biden calls on those pushing "dangerous misinformation" about the Covid-19 vaccine to "stop it now"​

(Patrick Semansky/AP)

President Biden said this afternoon that the number of Americans getting the Covid-19 vaccine "slowed this summer as vaccine resistance among some hardened."
The President blamed "dangerous misinformation" for the slowdown
"Look, the unvaccinated are responsible for their own choices. But those choices have been fueled by dangerous misinformation on cable TV and social media," Biden said.
He called on those pushing the information to "stop it now."
"You know, these companies and personalities are making money by peddling lies and allowing misinformation that can kill their own customers and their own supporters. It's wrong. It's immoral, I call on the purveyors of these lies and misinformation to stop it, stop it now."




20 hr 24 min ago

You can safely celebrate the holidays if you are vaccinated, Biden says​

From CNN's Elise Hammond

(Patrick Semansky/AP)


President Biden said that if you are vaccinated and follow precautions, you can safely celebrate the holidays with your friends and family – especially if you have gotten a booster shot.

"If you are vaccinated and follow the precautions that we know well, you should feel comfortable celebrating the Christmas holiday as you planned it. You know you've done the right thing. Enjoy the holiday season," Biden said.

He pointed to the progress the US has made in vaccination rates since when the first shots first became available and said that while vaccinated people might still test positive for Covid-19, they are protected from severe illness and death.
Biden said the best way to make your family feel safer is to get a booster.
"The answer is simple: Get your booster shot. Wear a mask. Our doctors made it clear, booster shots provide the strongest protection," he said. "Unfortunately we still have tens of millions of people who are eligible for the booster shot who have not yet gotten it."
"The booster shots are free and widely available," he added.




19 hr 50 min ago

Are we going back to March 2020? "Absolutely no," Biden says​

President Biden said the state of the Covid-19 pandemic in the US is "absolutely" not regressing back to the situation in March 2020.
"Another question folks are asking, is are we going back to March 2020?" Biden said during remarks in the White House. "The answer is absolutely no. No."
The President outlined three reasons why the situation now is not the same. Today, more than 200 million Americans are fully vaccinated compared to March 2020, when no Americans were vaccinated.
Additionally, "we're prepared today for what's coming," Biden said, noting there are enough gowns, masks, ventilators and other supplies.
Finally, "we know a lot more today than we did back in March 2020," Biden said, noting protocols in schools have evolved to help keep them open.
"Know this is not March of 2020," he added. "We're prepared. We know more. We just have to stay focused."




20 hr 24 min ago

Biden: Booster shots may be one of the few things Trump and I agree on​

From CNN's Maureen Chowdhury

(Patrick Semansky/AP)


President Biden urged Americans to get their booster shots amid a surge in coronavirus cases around the country.
"Folks, the booster shots are free and widely available," Biden said.
The President touted the fact that he received a booster shot along with former President Trump.

"I got my booster shot as soon as they were available. And just the other day, former President Trump announced he got his booster shot. Maybe one of the few things he and I agree on. People with booster shots are highly protected. Join them. Join us," Biden said during remarks from the White House.

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20 hr 21 min ago

Biden: People who are vaccinated and have gotten boosters have "much less reason to worry"​

(Patrick Semansky/AP)
President Biden said that people who are "not fully vaccinated" have "good reason to be concerned" about the spread of the Omicron variant.
"You're at a high risk of getting sick. And if you get sick you're likely to spread it to others, including friends and family," Biden said in White House remarks.
He added that unvaccinated people have a "significantly higher risk" of being hospitalized or dying from Covid-19.

"If you're among the majority of Americans who are fully vaccinated and especially if you got the booster shot, the third shot... you have much, much less reason to worry. You have a high degree of protection against severe illness," the President said.

Biden said that because the Omicron variant "spreads so easily" fully vaccinated individuals will get Covid-19. He said that they have seen breakthrough cases at the White House but these cases among the vaccinated "are highly unlikely to lead to serious illness."
"Vaccinated people who get Covid may get ill. But they're protected from severe illness and death. That's why you should still remain vigilant," he said.




20 hr 39 min ago

NOW: Biden delivers speech on Omicron and his administration's response to Covid-19 surge​

From CNN's Kevin Liptak, Nikki Carvajal and Jeremy Diamond

President Biden is delivering remarks on the pandemic and is expected to announce a purchase of a half-billion at-home rapid Covid-19 tests and a plan to distribute them free to Americans who request them through a website, one of a series of new steps he'll unveil as the country faces a wintertime surge of infections.
The 500 million new tests will be made available next month and will reach Americans through the mail, the official said. The administration is still working to determine how many tests each household may request.
Among the President's new initiatives is a plan to prepare 1,000 military service members to deploy to overburdened hospitals across the country in January and February, administration officials said. Those service members will include doctors, nurses, medics and other military medical personnel.
Biden hopes to reassure Americans that if they are vaccinated, they can still proceed with their holiday plans without fear of becoming seriously ill. Conversely, he wants to warn those who have not yet received shots of the potential for severe illness or death in the coming months.

"The President will tell the American people if they're vaccinated and follow the precautions we all know well, especially masking while traveling, they should feel comfortable celebrating Christmas and the holidays as they planned," a senior administration official said ahead of time, previewing a speech that Biden hopes will reassure anxious Americans ahead of the festive season.

By contrast, Biden will warn the tens of millions of Americans who have so far declined to get vaccinated that they run a high risk of becoming ill or hospitalized as the highly transmissible Omicron variant spreads rapidly across the country.
Biden will also announce new vaccination sites and increased vaccine access, and will deploy hundreds of additional federal vaccinators who will help add "thousands of appointments each week," the official said.
More background: The speech, coming just days before Christmas, reflects Biden's renewed focus on the coronavirus pandemic as anxiety rises around the country at the potential for new restrictions and lockdowns.
Lines for testing centers have stretched for blocks in certain areas, including the northeast, leading the White House to develop plans to open new federal testing sites in New York City before Christmas.
Distributing free at-home tests to all Americans was written off by the White House as recently as this month. Press secretary Jen Psaki scoffed earlier this month when asked if tests should be free and given out, available everywhere.




20 hr 49 min ago

WHO Europe Director warns of "storm coming" as Omicron becomes dominant strain across region​

From CNN's Niamh Kennedy

Hans Kluge is seen in St. Petersburg, Russia, in November. (Alexander Demianchuk/TASS via Getty Images)
The World Health Organization on Tuesday warned of a "storm coming" as Omicron spreads in a host of countries across Europe.
Omicron has now become the dominant strain of Covid-19 in countries such as Denmark, Portugal, and the UK where cases are doubling every 1.5 to three days, WHO Regional Director for Europe Dr. Hans Kluge said.

"We can see another storm coming," Kluge said at a news conference in Vienna, Austria. "Within weeks Omicron will dominate in more countries of the region, with a threat to push already overwhelmed health systems further to the brink."

Countries in WHO's Europe region recorded at least 2,749,122 new Covid-19 cases in the past week, according to WHO data released Tuesday. The "sheer volume" of new Covid-19 cases may culminate in more hospitalizations and the disruption of other critical health services, Kluge said.
He also hailed boosters as "the single most important defense against the Omicron" variant. Despite the ability of vaccination to prevent severe disease and hospitalizations, it does "not necessarily interrupt transmission," Kluge said, stressing the need for other complementary measures.
"We need to double the number of people in our region wearing masks indoors," Kluge said as an example. Acknowledging that although it "is important to celebrate Christmas" and New Year's, Kluge said there is a firm need to "celebrate safely" in Europe this year.
On Monday, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus urged people to consider canceling festive events, saying that "an event canceled is better than a life canceled."




21 hr 28 min ago

Atlanta mayor reinstates indoor mask mandate​

From CNN’s Gregory Lemos

Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms announced Tuesday she signed an executive order that reinstates the city’s indoor mask mandate.
“The order is in response to the rising number of COVID-19 infections and the impact of the Omicron variant,” the City of Atlanta tweeted.
The order also moves the city back into the"yellow zone" of the Covid-19 Resilience Plan. The city considers metrics such as positive cases and hospitalizations when deciding whether Atlanta is in the blue, green, yellow or red zone, according to the city’s Covid-19 website.

 

[missy]

18 min ago

New York City is adding additional testing capacity and hospitals are limiting visitors following outbreak​

From CNN's Kristina Sgeuglia

New York City is adding additional testing capacity to grapple with the demand, and hospitals are tightening restrictions on visitation as Omicron continues to spread at a rapid pace, officials said Wednesday.
Mayor Bill de Blasio said the city is adding seven additional city-run Covid-19 testing sites — bringing the total up to 119 city-run locations — and adding an additional five sites for the sole purpose of handing out at-home tests kits beginning Thursday.
This comes as the head of NYC’s 11 public hospitals says they are restricting visitors following an “outbreak” that they believe is connected to a visitor.
The 119 testing sites include fixed sites and mobile distribution all around the five boroughs, de Blasio said.
At the city-run testing locations, de Blasio says “lot of them do not have big lines thankfully and are very good at getting you a quick turnaround time.”
These locations are in addition to partner and private sites. The goal is to minimize lines, he said.
New York Senator Chuck Schumer said he’s sending a letter to FEMA requesting 100 more Covid-19 mobile testing sites for New York.
CEO of Health + Hospitals Mitch Katz acknowledged “some challenges in meeting the demand,” with regards to testing.
“Today we are expanding hours on all our health and hospitals sites from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.,” he said.
This has been made possible by going virtual for ambulatory care visits so that nurses and staff from clinics can be available in testing areas, he said.
Katz also said they have acquired a significant number of testing kits to distribute to those who feel comfortable testing at home.
For a temporary period, the city’s 11 public hospitals will also “be tighter about restricting visitors,” Katz said.

“We’ve had a recent outbreak in one of our hospitals that we think is related to visitors, not of course their fault, theres so much transmission going on in NYC now because of Omicron, and so for a short while, while we get the situation under control, we’re going to have limited visitation,” Katz said.

Certain exceptions will be made, he said, including for women in labor who will be able to bring someone with them.
He also noted for end of life hospice situations and in the case of sick children, family will be permitted.
“In order to make sure we don’t cause more disease we need to limit the number of visitors,” Katz said.





27 min ago

University of California campuses delay winter in-person instruction, encourage or require boosters​

Royce Hall on the campus of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) as UCLA lecturers and students celebrate after a strike was averted Wednesday morning. Lecturers across the UC system were planning to strike Wednesday and Thursday over unfair labor practices. UCLA on Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2021 in Los Angeles, CA. (Al Seib/Los Angeles Times/Getty Images)

Several University of California campuses will require Covid-19 boosters and will move the start of the winter session online, as Covid-19 cases tick up during the holiday break.
The president of the university system, Michael Drake, encouraged chancellors at each campus to implement a plan for the next term.

“The emergence of this new and fast-moving variant, coupled with student travel to and from campus and the prevalence of gatherings over the holidays, will present our campuses with a unique set of public health challenges as we begin the New Year,” according to a letter from Drake.

UCLA will begin the winter quarter as planned on Jan. 3, but classes will be held remotely for the first two weeks. Booster shots will be required for all eligible students, faculty and staff.
UC Irvine encourages boosters and testing before returning to campus. “At the present time, however, we know it is not prudent to return to in-person instruction immediately after winter break,” according to a letter from UCI Chancellor Howard Gillman.
UC Riverside, in addition to an online start, says its approach will be aggressive. “All students must take a COVID-19 test before returning to campus, or immediately upon their arrival, then sequester and test again five days after arriving on campus. If you test positive before returning to campus, do not come to campus until you have completed your home isolation period and your symptoms have improved,” said an announcement from Chancellor Kim Wilcox. Boosters are “strongly” encouraged for those who are eligible but are required for all health care workers and medical students by Jan. 31.
“This shift in instructional delivery will give us two weeks to identify COVID-19 cases and take appropriate measures to mitigate further spread through our campus community,” said an online update to UC Santa Cruz students.
UC San Diego, shifting to an online start for the winter quarter, will require testing twice a week of those who are unvaccinated or did not receive a booster shot. The tests must be three to five days apart, according to a note to students on its website.
UC Santa Barbara recommends a booster ahead of the winter session. “The decision to delay in-person teaching is related to supporting students and instructors, particularly those who either test positive over winter break and cannot travel back to campus on time, or who test positive upon arrival and need to isolate,” said the campus announcement.
UC Davis will start classes remotely for one week instead of two and will require booster shots for all students, staff and faculty. The school will also continue to test everyone – every two weeks for vaccinated and every four days for those who are not vaccinated. Anyone without an exemption will be required to get a booster shot.
UC Berkeley will plan for an in-person spring semester, which starts mid-January. It is one of the UC’s two campuses that uses a semester system rather than quarters. The university said on its website that remote instruction during the fall semester was challenging for students and instructors.
CNN has requested more information from UC Merced about its January instruction plans.
The UC system has more than 285,000 students, 227,000 faculty and staff across 10 campuses, five medical centers, three affiliated national laboratories, and a statewide agriculture and natural resources program.




1 hr 5 min ago

CDC forecast predicts US Covid-19 deaths to have a stable or uncertain trend over the next 4 weeks​

From CNN’s Naomi Thomas

Following a week of predicted increases, an ensemble forecast published Wednesday by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention predicts that new Covid-19 deaths in the US will have a stable or uncertain trend over the next four weeks.
The CDC forecasts also include caution about the Omicron variant for the first time, with all three saying: “Current forecasts may not fully account for the emergence and rapid spread of the Omicron variant and should be interpreted with caution.”

The latest forecast predicts that there will be a total of 838,000 to 844,000 Covid-19 deaths reported in the US by Jan. 15, 2022.

According to data from Johns Hopkins University, there have been 810,164 Covid-19 deaths in the United States.
For the fifth straight week, hospitalizations are predicted to increase, with 5,400 to 27,500 new confirmed hospital admissions likely reported on Jan. 14.
According to US Department of Health and Human Services data, there were 69,037 people hospitalized with Covid-19 on December 21.
The forecast for cases did not predict an increase or decrease.
“More reported cases than expected have fallen outside the forecast prediction intervals for 3- and 4-week ahead case forecasts. Case forecasts at those horizons and assessments of likely increases or decreases will not be shown until sustained improvements in performance are observed,” the CDC said.

 

[missy]

12 min ago

Serious adverse effects from Covid-19 vaccines are rare, another study affirms​

From CNN's Deidre McPhillips

Most people who have been vaccinated against Covid-19 experience some side effects, but most are mild or very mild, and serious adverse effects are rare, according to a study published Wednesday in the medical journal JAMA Open Network.
After receiving a second dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech or Moderna vaccine or one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, about 80% of people reported some side effects – the most common being fatigue, muscle pain, headache and chills. But only 0.2% of people reported experiencing an allergic reaction or anaphylaxis after full vaccination – a total of 27 people out of more than 11,000 responses.
For this study, researchers from the University of California, San Francisco, conducted daily, weekly and monthly surveys about health and Covid-19-related events among an online cohort of adults between March 26 and May 19, 2021. The survey included nearly 20,000 participants, though not all participants responded to all questions.
The study also found that there was a “strong association” to adverse reactions to the Covid-19 vaccine among those who reported being infected with Covid-19 prior to being vaccinated.
People who received the Moderna vaccine were about twice as likely to report experiencing side effects than those who received the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, as were women. Those who received the J&J vaccine had lower odds of adverse effects, along older people and those with asthma.
More on the study: The researchers note that while the surveyed group was diverse, rural residents and people reporting lower subjective social status are underrepresented. Also, not all participants responded to all surveys, which may affect results.

 

[missy]

FDA: The Wait for COVID Pills Is Over​

— Paxlovid first oral antiviral authorized to treat high-risk COVID patients​

by Nicole Lou, Staff Writer, MedPage Today December 22, 2021


Oral antiviral treatment for COVID-19 is now on the table following FDA's emergency use authorization (EUA) for nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (Paxlovid), the agency announced on Wednesday.
Paxlovid is authorized for use in adults and pediatric patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 who are at high risk of progressing to severe illness. It is administered as three pills (two of nirmatrelvir and one of ritonavir) twice daily for 5 days, for a total of 30 pills, the agency said.

However, the FDA added that the drug is only available by prescription, must be given within 5 days of symptom onset and is not authorized for use longer than 5 days.
Importantly, the FDA said the drug is not meant as a substitute for vaccination for those where vaccines and boosters are indicated, nor is it authorized for pre-exposure or post-exposure prophylaxis.
"This authorization provides a new tool to combat COVID-19 at a crucial time in the pandemic as new variants emerge and promises to make antiviral treatment more accessible to patients who are at high risk for progression to severe COVID-19," said Patrizia Cavazzoni, MD, director of the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research in an FDA statement.
Paxlovid's problem, however, is insufficient production by manufacturer Pfizer: the company revealed that there are only 180,000 treatment courses available, and another 80 million expected by the end of 2022. The Biden administration has already claimed 10 million courses of the pills.

Experts worried about supplies for the rest of the world are calling for other companies to join in the manufacturing of the drug.
In the EPIC-HR trial, Paxlovid was found to cut COVID hospitalizations and deaths by nearly 90% in high-risk patients in interim results announced in November; this was confirmed in final data from the phase II/III trial released in mid-December. The trial of more than 2,200 people saw no deaths in the Paxlovid arm and 12 in the placebo arm through day 28.
Side effects of Paxlovid include sense of taste, diarrhea, high blood pressure and muscle aches, and the FDA added that it may cause interactions with other drugs and HIV drug resistance among people living with undiagnosed or uncontrolled HIV.
Because ritonavir may cause liver damage, the agency urged caution when administering the drug to those with pre-existing liver diseases, liver abnormalities or liver inflammation.

The drug is contraindicated for patients already taking drugs that either are "highly dependent" on the enzymes Paxlovid inhibits "for metabolism and for which elevated concentrations of certain drugs are associated with serious and/or life-threatening reactions," and those taking drugs that induce the same enzymes as Paxlovid inhibits, the FDA said.
Paxlovid is not recommended for those with severe liver or kidney impairment, the agency added, and a healthcare provider should be consulted prior to use.
The FDA did not convene its Antimicrobial Drugs Advisory Committee (AMDAC) prior to this EUA, the way they did for molnupiravir in late November. That drug was ultimately recommended by a divided committee by a vote of 13-10, but has yet to be authorized.
Last Updated December 22, 2021

 

[MRBXXXFVVS1]

Do you feel Omnicorn is "inevitable"?

I was reading about someone who asked friends if they tested positive for COVID if they would continue with holiday (travel) plans and they said yes...that Omnicorn is mild and not a big deal. Very concerning.

 

[missy]

Do you feel Omnicorn is "inevitable"?

I was reading about someone who asked friends if they tested positive for COVID if they would continue with holiday (travel) plans and they said yes...that Omnicorn is mild and not a big deal. Very concerning.

That is so irresponsible. They don't care about anyone but themselves reading what you wrote. So they don't care about infecting others. Others who might not have a robust immune system to fight it off. Sad.

 

[MRBXXXFVVS1]

That is so irresponsible. They don't care about anyone but themselves reading what you wrote. So they don't care about infecting others. Others who might not have a robust immune system to fight it off. Sad.

Oh they aren't my friends. I read it on a forum. If they were my friends, they would no longer be my friends!

 

[missy]

Oh they aren't my friends. I read it on a forum. If they were my friends, they would no longer be my friends!

Agree. With friends like that you don't need enemies lol. But seriously just awful that people behave like that. Without care for anyone but themselves.

 

[mellowyellowgirl]

Australia is wild! We went from locking down playgrounds to being reasonable about Omicron. I suspect they think public goodwill is going to expire soon if they lock us up again.

Omicron ‘five times less severe’ than Delta

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet says early signs indicate Omicron is “five times less severe” than Delta.

www.news.com.au

That said I REALLY REALLY REALLY trust Dr Chant and I do everything she tells me (seriously I ate dodgy supermarket bread for that lady because she said not to go into cramped bakeries) so if she's going to hang her hat on Omicron being milder, I believe her.