Category: Corona Virus Vaccine

Children wait to receive their vaccine in Albuquerque in November.Credit...Paul Ratje for The New York Times

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released two studies on Thursday that underscored the importance of vaccinating children against the coronavirus.

One study found that serious problems among children 5 to 11 who had received the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine were extremely rare. The other, which looked at hundreds of pediatric hospitalizations in six cities last summer, found that nearly all of the children who became seriously ill had not been fully vaccinated.

More than eight million doses of the Pfizer vaccine have been given to children 5 to 11 in the United States so far. But concerns about the unknowns of a new vaccine caused some parents to hesitate in allowing their children to be inoculated, including those who said they preferred to wait for the broader rollout to bring any rare problems to the surface.

By Dec. 19, roughly six weeks into the campaign to vaccinate 5- to 11-year-olds, the C.D.C. said that it had received very few reports of serious problems. The agency evaluated reports received from doctors and members of the public, as well as survey responses from the parents or guardians of roughly 43,000 children in that age group.

Many of the surveyed children reported pain at the site of the shot, fatigue, or a headache, especially after the second dose. Roughly 13 percent of those surveyed reported a fever after the second shot.

But reports of myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle that has been linked in rare cases to coronavirus vaccines, remained scarce. The C.D.C. said there were 11 verified reports that had come in from doctors, vaccine manufacturers or other members of the public. Of those, seven children had recovered and four were recovering at the time of the report, the C.D.C. said.

The C.D.C. said that reporting rates for vaccine-related myocarditis appeared highest among boys and men aged 12 to 29.

A number of parents or doctors also reported instances of 5- to 11-year-olds receiving the incorrect, larger vaccine dose meant for older children and adults. The C.D.C. said that those problems were not unexpected, and that most such reports mentioned that the children experienced no problems afterward.

The C.D.C. detailed two reports of deaths, in girls ages 5 and 6, who the agency said had chronic medical conditions and were in fragile health before their shots. On initial review, no data were found that would suggest a causal association between death and vaccination, the agency said.

The C.D.C.s separate report on pediatric hospitalizations provided additional evidence about the importance of vaccinating all eligible children. The study, which looked at more than 700 children under 18 who were admitted to hospitals with Covid-19 last summer, found that 0.4 percent of those children who were eligible for the shots had been fully vaccinated.

The study also found that two-thirds of all the hospitalized children had a comorbidity, most often obesity, and that about one-third of children 5 and older were sick with more than one viral infection.

Overall, nearly one-third of the children were so sick they had to be treated in intensive care units, and almost 15 percent needed medical ventilation. Among all those hospitalized, 1.5 percent of the children died, the study found. The six hospitals were in Arkansas, Florida, Illinois, Louisiana, Texas and Washington, D.C.

This study demonstrates that unvaccinated children hospitalized for Covid-19 could experience severe disease and reinforces the importance of vaccination of all eligible children to provide individual protection and to protect those who are not yet eligible to be vaccinated, the authors of the study wrote.

More here:

Covid Updates: South Africa Says Its Omicron Wave Has Passed With No Big Spike in Deaths - The New York Times

Covid UK news live: English streets and nightclubs packed, as hospital visits may be banned to beat Omicron  The Independent

Read more:

Covid UK news live: English streets and nightclubs packed, as hospital visits may be banned to beat Omicron - The Independent

COVID-19: A look at the most startling pandemic numbers from 2021

From vaccinations to variants, here are some of the most shocking pandemic stats from 2021.

Staff video, USA TODAY

The Food and Drug Administration is reportedly poised to authorize a third dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine for kids ages 12-15.

Regulators also plan to allow adolescents and adults to get the third shots five months after receiving the second dose of the Pfizers vaccine instead of the current six months, The New York Times reported, citing sources it described as familiar with the agency's deliberations. A third shot, often referred to as a booster, is also expected to be authorized for children as young as 5 with immune deficiencies.

The third dose authorization is expected "in coming days,"CNN reported, citing a source CNN said was familiar with the plan.The Times said the authorization is expected Monday.

"As the booster is already authorized for 16 and over, we are confident regulators are making every effort to look for ways to preserve a high level of protection against the virus across broad populations," Pfizer said in an email to USA TODAY.

The Centers for Disease Control and Preventions vaccine advisory committee is expected to meet next week to vote on whether to recommend the changes, the Times said. If the panel agrees, CDC director Dr. RochelleWalensky is expected to sign off immediately.

A third shot could help ease the health threat faced by millions of middle school and high school students returning to classrooms next week after the holiday break. During that break an omicron-fueled surge has driven reported daily infections across the nation to record levels.

Almost 62% of all Americans are "fully vaccinated" two shots of Pfizer or Moderna shots or one of Johnson & Johnson but only about one-third of all Americans have received a booster,according to the CDC.At least 1.8 million12- to15-years-old have tested positive for the virus,according to the CDC.

Also in the news:

Israel on Thursday became the first country to approvea fourth vaccine dose. The approval isfor people most vulnerable to COVID-19.

Michigans health department said it's not ready to join the CDC in reducing isolation restrictions for people infected with the coronavirus from 10 days to five. Officials said they will first review supporting evidence for the CDC's guidance.

The University of Miami will start the spring semester Jan. 18 with remote-only classes. School President Julio Frenk, president of the private university, said in-person classes are expected to resume on Jan. 31.

The Weatherford Hotel in Flagstaff, Arizona, won't be dropping its giant, lighted metal pine cone this New Year's Eve. The annual event, which draws thousands to downtown, was canceled because of public health concerns.

The world set a new record for cases Wednesday 1.73 million reported in a day bringing case counts to 7.33 million for the seven-day period, the first time the average has been above more than 1 million per day.Global case counts are up 48% from the previous week.

Today's numbers:The U.S. has recorded more than 53.8million confirmed COVID-19 cases and more than 823,000deaths,accordingtoJohns Hopkins University data.Global totals: More than 285million cases and5.4million deaths. More than 205million Americans61.9% are fully vaccinated,according to theCDC.

What we're reading:Next month, Americans will be able to request free tests from a website, and kits will be mailed to homes. The website, and other details about how and when the tests will be distributed, have not been released. Experts urge thatinsurers work with pharmacies to make the tests free to consumers up front.

Keep refreshing this page for the latest news. Want more?Sign up forUSA TODAY's free Coronavirus Watch newsletterto receive updates directly to your inboxandjoin ourFacebook group.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Thursday warned travelers against taking cruises as clusters of COVID-19 cases increase on the ships with the emergence of the omicron variant. FromNov. 30 toDec. 14, cruise ships operating in U.S. watersreported 162 cases of COVID-19 to the CDC. FromDec. 15 toDec. 29, cruise ships sailing in U.S. waters reported 5,013 COVID-19 casesto the CDC.

"Today, CDC increased theCruise Travel Health Notice to a Level 4, recommending people avoid cruise travel regardless of vaccination status," the CDC said in a statement.

Cruise Lines International Association, the leading industry organization, said it was "disappointed" with the CDC's decision, saying it was "particularly perplexing considering that cases identified on cruise ships consistently make up a very slim minority of the total population onboard ... and the majority of those cases are asymptomatic or mild in nature."

Morgan Hines

The United States is averaging more than 300,000 new reported coronavirus cases per day for the first time, although hospitalizationnumbers are somewhat less gloomy.

AUSA TODAY analysis of Johns Hopkins University data shows the country reported 2.11 million cases in the seven-day period ending Wednesday, an increase of 82% over the previous week as the omicron variant, holiday gatherings and frenzied testing helped push numbers higher.

Forty-sevenstates show rising case counts and 15states reported their highest-ever counts: Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia and WashingtonandPuerto Rico.

The national pace of hospital admissions for likely COVID-19 patients was up 20.7% from a week earlier, alarming but far lower than the jump in infections. Experts say early data indicatesomicron might not be as severe as previous variants. That andtherise in vaccinated Americans havehad an impact the number of Americans now in the hospital with COVID-19 is running at around 65,000, or about half the number in January, theCenters for Disease Control and Preventionreported.

And Dr. Anthony Fauci saidthe average stay during the current surge at a major South African hospital is about four days, down from 8.8 days in previous surges. The numbers are similar to other preliminary reports, Fauci said.

"The pattern and disparity between cases and hospitalization strongly suggests that there will be a lower hospitalization to case ratio when the situation becomes more clear," Fauci said.

Thousands moreU.S.flights have been canceled or delayed Thursday,according toFlightAware, which tracks flight status. There have been more than8,000 cancellations and more than 39,000 delayswithin, to or from the U.S. since Christmas Eve. In a perfect stormof circumstances, between inclement weather and another coronavirus wave, travel industry experts expect the holiday travel season to come to a bumpy end for customers, andwinter isjust beginning. Read more here.

"We look at flights but see, the thing isthey'reconnected to people," said Captain Dennis Tajer, an American Airlines pilot and spokesperson for their pilots union, Allied Pilots Association. "For each one of thosepassengers, there may be five to 10 family members and friends that werecountingon thembeing at the holiday table."

Eve Chen

New York City is forging ahead with modified plans for its annual New Year's Eve ball drop in Times Square on Friday despite record numbers of COVID-19 cases across the city and nationwide.In 2020, revelers were banned from thecelebration as a result of the pandemic, and only essential workers, media members and police were atTimes Square as the ball dropped.This year,the citywill require revelersto show proof of vaccination and photo ID and to wear masks.The event normally hosts 58,000 people, but this year will be limited to about 15,000 attendees and won't allow entry until 3 p.m. ET,de Blasio announced last week.

"We want to show that were moving forward, and we want to show the world that New York City is fighting our way through this,"Mayor Bill de Blasio said Thursday on NBC'sTODAY Show.

Christine Fernando

The number of people in the hospital with COVID-19 has reached a pandemic record high in Ohio, and Gov. Mike DeWine has ordered additional members of the state National Guard into hospitals to help with the surge.Ohio had 5,356 people in the hospital with the coronavirus Wednesday the highest per-capita hospitalization rate in the country, said Robert Wylie, chief medical operations officer at the Cleveland Clinic.More than nine of every 10 people hospitalized with COVID-19 since June have been unvaccinated, DeWine said.

If youre vaccinated, the chances of you ending up in the hospital are pretty darn slim, he said.

A Michigan school teacher traveling over the holidaysvoluntarily isolated in an airplane's tiny bathroom for five hoursafter testing positive for COVID-19 mid-flight.Marisa Fotieo was on a flight to Icelandfrom Chicagoon Dec. 20 when her throat began to hurt,TODAY reported. With rapid test kits handy, Fotieo decided to take one "and within what felt like two seconds" discovered she was positive for the virus.She filmed what it was like to quarantine in the tiny quartersin a videothat drew over 4 million views on TikTok. Shelater isolated again at the Red Cross hotel in Iceland.

"Theres 150 people on the flight, and my biggest fear was giving it to them," she told TODAY.

Asha C. Gilbert

Federal officials are defending theCenters for Disease Control and Prevention's decision to cut to five days from 10 days the amount of recommended time people should isolate after testing positive for the coronavirus. Some have rejoiced in the shortened isolation period, while others have criticized the decision, arguing the CDC turned its back on science and bowed to business interests.

The announcement came days after Delta Airline's CEO publicly asked the CDC for a shorter isolation period, and in the midst of thousands of canceled flights, which airlines have blamed on staffing shortages because ofthe latest surge in coronavirus infections.

CDC Director Rochelle Walensky said the new recommendation is backed by science. The most amount of COVID-19 transmission happens in the one or two days prior to developing symptoms and in the two to three days after developing symptoms, Walensky said totaling five days.The decision is backed by behavioral science, too, she said.

It really had a lot to do with what we thought people would be able to tolerate, Walensky told CNN'sKaitlan Collins.

Some professional associations have pushed back on the new guidelines, saying they'll be harmful to workers. The American Nurses Associationurged the CDC to reconsider its decision,saying guidance "is especially problematic when reliable testing is not widely available, and particularly difficult to access in places experiencing surge conditions."

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nations top infectious disease expert, warned Americans to stay away from large-scale New Years parties and opt for small gatherings with vaccinated and boosted people.

If you were in a situation with a family setting, in your home, with family parents, children, grandparents and everyone is vaccinated and boosted, although the risk is never zero in anything, the risk is low enough that we feel you should continue to go through with those plans, Fauci said during a news briefing Wednesday.

Cities around the world have canceled their large New Years Eve celebrations amid the rapid spread of the omicron variant of the coronavirus. New York City put an attendance cap of 15,000 on its annual Times Squareparty and will require proof of vaccination. Events in Los Angeles and Seattle have also been canceled.

If your plans are to go to a 40- or 50-person New Years Eve party with all the bells and whistles and everybody hugging and kissing and wishing each other a Happy New Year, I would strongly recommend that this year we do not do that, Fauci said.

In anticipation ofsteep challenges reopening schools amid an omicron-drivensurge of infections, districts are planning toramp up COVID-19 testing whenclasses resume in January. New testing strategiescomeas COVID-19 infections andpediatric hospitalizations have shot up in a handful of states, especially in the Northeast.Witha record number of cases,even among fully vaccinated individuals,school leaders are worried not only the health of staff and students, but also aboutthe ability to stay open if too many employees fall prey to illness or quarantine. Read more here.

"We are moving closer to a safe reopening of school next week," Michael Mulgrew, head of the United Federation of Teachers in New York City schools, said."But we arenot there yet."

Erin Richards

Testing positive for COVID-19 starts a confusing, disruptive and at times frightening process one that millions of Americans will likely go through in the coming week.

First, you need to isolate. Thats a more intense version of quarantining it means cutting off contact with other people as much as possibleso you reduce the chanceof infecting them. Thisalso means forgoing travel, not going to work and even limiting contact with people in your own household who aren't infected.

The CDC says isolating is a necessary step whether youre vaccinated or unvaccinated, and whether you havesymptoms or feelfine.

Everyone who tests positive for COVID-19 should monitor their symptoms. And people who are unvaccinated or at high risk for severe disease should be extra-vigilant for symptoms that might require emergency care. Call your doctor for early treatment options.

How long should you isolate? How long will I be contagious?What if you are in close contact with someone who tested positive?Hereswhat you should know about omicron and COVID-19 this holiday season.

Contributing: Mike Stucka and Karen Weintraub, USA TODAY; The Associated Press

Here is the original post:

FDA reportedly close to authorizing third Pfizer shot for kids 12-15; US averaging record 300,000 daily reported cases: Live COVID updates - USA TODAY

Related video: WHO warns world faces tsunami of Covid-19 infections

NHS bosses are warning that the number of Covid patients in hospitals is expected to keep rising for 10 days before admissions hit their peak, telling health leaders to prepare for the worst but hope for the best.

With the latest data showing there were 11,452 people with coronavirus in hospitals in England this morning up 61 per cent from last week and the highest number since 26 February fears around new year celebrations on Friday continue to mount, made worse by a shortage of rapid tests.

Earlier, health secretary Sajid Javid admitted in a letter to MPs that lateral flow supplies would continue to be constrained for two weeks to deal with huge demand. He also announced the government was upping a pre-Omicron order of 100 million rapid tests for January and February to 300 million per month.

His warning came hours before the UK Health Security Agency announced there had been another record-breaking number of daily Covid cases reported in Britain, with todays 189,213 topping Wednesdays 183,037.

The US Centers of Disease Control and Prevention has warned people of onboard infections and not attend cruises as the Covid-19 infections triggered by the Omicron variant reached record high in the country.

The virus that causes Covid-19 spreads easily between people in close quarters on board ships, and the chance of getting Covid-19 on cruise ships is very high, even if people are fully vaccinated and have received a booster, the CDC said.

The US saw more than 600,000 new cases a world record high of daily infections on Thursday.

More than 90 cruise ships have come under scanner due to ongoing Covid-19 infections, and the total number of cases was not clear immediately.

This comes at the time Covid has wreaked havoc globally with a dominant variant which is highly transmissible as the pandemic clocks two years and hundreds of economies are entering 2022 in a battered condition.

Arpan Rai31 December 2021 04:07

The government has been criticised for failing to respond to a damning report by MPs that accused ministers of mishandling the early stages of the pandemic.

The report, compiled by the Health and Science and Technology Committees, found the governments initial response to Covid-19 amounted in practice to the pursuit of herd immunity, with the delayed decision to lock down ranking as one of the most important public health failures the United Kingdom has ever experienced.

More than 50 witnesses contributed to the cross-party report, including ministers, NHS officials, government advisers and leading scientists, with the authors saying it was was vital that lessons were learnt from the failings of the past 18 months.

Our science correspondent Samuel Lovett has the full report:

Sam Hancock30 December 2021 23:58

UK international flights drop 71% from pre-pandemic levels

Sam Hancock30 December 2021 22:42

The number of Covid patients in hospitals is expected to keep rising for 10 days before admissions hit their peak, NHS bosses have warned as they told health leaders to prepare for the worst.

With the latest data showing 2,082 hospital admissions on 28 December, the highest since February, and another record rise in infections on Thursday, NHS chiefs and clinicians are concerned the spread on wards could lead to mass outbreaks among patients and staff.

Meanwhile, there are fears that added to the lateral flow test shortage in England new year celebrations on Friday night could also see a further spike in the number of cases.

Our health correspondent Rebecca Thomas and science correspondent Samuel Lovett report:

Sam Hancock30 December 2021 22:11

The government is facing calls to give NHS staff priority for lateral flow tests amid the ongoing shortage.

Royal College of Nursing (RCN) bosses, and the British Medical Association (BMA), said health workers should come first when trying to access the rapid Coronavirus tests in a bid to ease staffing issues.

The BMA said there are more than 18,000 staff absent from acute hospital trusts in England, either with Covid-19 or because they are self-isolating, adding it expected that figure to be much higher when the most recent data is published later this week.

Dr Chaand Nagpaul, BMA chair of council, said: Being unable to get the tests means staff may not be legally allowed to work, and at a time of acute workforce shortages and winter pressures this could be devastating for the care that can be given right across the NHS.

Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting said he had written to Mr Javid urging him to make sure NHS staff were at the front of the queue.

It follows the Welsh governments decision to lend England 4 million lateral flow tests as ministers scramble to stock up. The full story on that is here.

Sam Hancock30 December 2021 21:59

An international conference offering advice on the importance of biosafety measures, including how to avoid lab leaks during research and experiments involving animals, was held this month at an institute of virology in Wuhan.

The event, advertised on the Chinese government-owned labs website, did not get much international publicity. It was, however, a success, according to the Institute, with more than 200 people mostly students signing up from a number of countries.

There is, of course, a strong element of irony in the lab accused of being the source of Covid-19, allegedly from manipulation of bat coronavirus, offering guidance on safety just as another virulent strain of the pandemic spreads across the world. But then again, it may, for that very reason, be the ideal place to do so.

Read our defence and security editor Kim Senguptas thinking in full:

Sam Hancock30 December 2021 21:25

WHO warns world faces 'tsunami' of Covid-19 infections

Sam Hancock30 December 2021 21:00

The UK reported a record-breaking 189,213 new Covid infections in the past 24 hours, according to the latest data.

It follows Wednesdays similarly record-breaking 183,037 positive tests.

A further 332 people died from Covid-related causes on Thursday, up from 57 the day before.

The news comes amid a shortage of Covid tests in the UK, which has sparked concerns over New Years Eve celebrations.

Sam Hancock30 December 2021 20:56

A construction worker builds a temporary field hospital in the grounds of St Georges Hospital in Tooting, south London

(AFP via Getty Images)

People wear face masks as they shop in the rain in Preston

(Getty)

A nurse puts on PPE in a ward for Covid patients at Kings College Hospital, in southeast London

(PA Wire)

A man walks past NHS signage near a Covid vaccine centre in Preston on Thursday

(Getty)

Sam Hancock30 December 2021 20:40

Anti-vaxx protesters who stormed a Covid-19 testing centre have been condemned by ministers, with health secretary Sajid Javid branding their behaviour vile.

Both Javid and home secretary Priti Patel piled criticism on the mob that marched on the Milton Keynes NHS facility shouting abuse - one of whom stole testing equipment before binning it, report Simon Murphy and our home affairs editor Lizzie Dearden.

Javid said he was appalled by the vile behaviour of the dozens of demonstrators who were filmed entering the site on Wednesday, with footage showing staff at the Milton Keynes site sheltering in cabins.

Sam Hancock30 December 2021 20:14

Read this article:

Covid news live: US shatters own record with over 600,000 daily cases as NHS warned to prepare for worst - The Independent

CDC shortens COVID-19 isolation and quarantine guidelines

CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said the changes were made based on "two years of science" about the virus.

Staff video, USA TODAY

A widely shared claim on social media has brought the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's decision to retireits PCR test for COVID-19 back into the spotlight.

"CDC Withdraws Use of PCR Test for COVID and Finally Admits the Test Can Not Differentiate Between the Flu and COVID Virus," reads the screenshot of a Gateway Pundit headlineposted on Instagram on Dec. 29.

The Gateway Pundit article, posted the same day,refers to the CDC's decision in July to withdraw the PCR test in 2022 that the agency created.The screenshot was liked more than 1,000 times in less than 24 hours. Other posts also received hundreds of likes in just a few hours.

But the claim badly mangles the facts.

The CDC's PCR testwill be removed from the list of testsunder emergency use authorizationbecause the demand for it has decreased with the authorization ofother diagnostic testsnot because it confuses viruses. Experts say the test would not show false positives for COVID-19 if the person only had the flu.

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USA TODAY reached out to the user who posted the claimand to Gateway Pundit for comment.

The Gateway Pundit article claims the CDC admitted the soon-to-be-retired PCR test "can not differentiate between the flu and COVID virus."

It claimed flu cases were so low in 2020, then, because the test was counting flu cases as COVID-19. But that's nonsense. Gateway Pundit was misunderstanding the use of the term differentiate.

In an August news release, the CDC wrote the PCR test was specifically designed only to detect the viral genetic material of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19 not influenza, which causes the flu.

"It does not detect influenza or differentiate between influenza and SARS-CoV-2," the website states.

In other words, it's not that the test can't tell the two apart, it's that the test was designed only to detect COVID-19.The CDC spelled this one by noting someone with the flu would not create a false positive for COVID-19 with this test.

Fact check: Made-up Jen Psaki statement on inflation started as satire

Experts told USA TODAY in July it's "technically impossible" for the CDC's PCR test to confuseSARS-CoV-2and the influenza virus.

PCR testsidentify and amplifyconverted viral RNA until the virus's genetic makeup can be detected and analyzed.

In this case, since the CDC's PCR test was made to only identify SARS-Cov-2, it cannot detect or confuse the genetic sequences of another virus such as influenza, according toDr.Petros Giannikopoulos, medical director of theInnovative Genomics Institutes COVID-19 testing consortium.

On July 21, the CDC announced it would withdraw the request for an emergency use authorization for the agency-developed PCR test after Dec. 31.

The test will be removed because the Food and Drug Administration, which is in charge of approving the use of medical devices and vaccines, has authorized "hundreds" of other COVID-specific tests similar tothe CDC's, the agency said in an Aug. 2 clarification after the announcement sparked confusion.

"CDC began distributing the CDC 2019 Novel Coronavirus Real-Time RT-PCR Diagnostic Panel to fill a gap," the release said. "The wide availability of other SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic tests means that the CDC 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Real-Time RT-PCR Diagnostic Panel is no longer filling an unmet need."

The discontinuation, which only applies to the CDC-manufactured test and not other diagnostic tests authorized for useby the FDA,would also let the CDC "focus its resources on public health surveillance testing and other response activities," according to the release.

Fact check: Chris Wallace's CNN+ show has not yet debuted

Jasmine Reed, a CDC spokeswoman, told USA TODAY in July the agencyalso wanted to encourage laboratories to start using tests that can detect the influenza virus and COVID-19 in the same swab to conserve time and resources.

The CDC has its own test that can detect and differentiate COVID-19 and the influenza A and B viruses. That test is not being withdrawn.

USA TODAY reached out to the CDC for comment.

Based on our research, we rate FALSE the claim that the CDC withdrew the use of its PCR test and admitted it can't distinguish between the flu and COVID-19. The CDC is withdrawing the test, but it has nothing to do with the flu. The agency-created PCR test simply isn't needed because hundreds of tests from private companies have addressed this need and been approved by the FDA. The CDC test properly showed positive results only for COVID-19; a person with the flu could not test positive for COVID-19 using the CDC test, experts say.

Thank you for supporting our journalism.You cansubscribe to our print edition, ad-free app or electronic newspaper replica here.

Our fact-check work is supported in part by a grant from Facebook.

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Fact check: CDC is withdrawing its PCR COVID-19 test, but not because it confuses viruses - USA TODAY

Maine National Guard members arriving for orientation at Central Maine Medical Center, in Lewiston, Maine, this month. Their mission is to bolster medical staff in anticipation of a rapid increase in patients because of coronavirus infections.Credit...Robert F. Bukaty/Associated Press

The highly transmissible Omicron virus variant is sending daily U.S. caseloads soaring to levels higher than last years winter pandemic peak.

Hospitalizations are starting to tick up, too, although not at the same rate as cases. It is unclear if they will continue to follow the rise in cases, especially given evidence in South Africa and Europe that Omicron may cause fewer severe cases of Covid.

Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The seven-day average is the average of a day and the previous six days of data. Currently hospitalized is the most recent number of patients with Covid-19 reported by hospitals in the state for the four days prior. Dips and spikes could be due to inconsistent reporting by hospitals. Hospitalization numbers early in the pandemic are undercounts due to incomplete reporting by hospitals to the federal government. Holiday interruptions to testing and data reporting may affect case and death trends.

On Friday, before holiday interruptions to data reporting began to affect the nations daily case totals, the seven-day national average of new daily cases surpassed 197,000, a 65 percent jump over the last 14 days, and hospitalizations reached a seven-day average of more than 70,000, an increase of 10 percent. Deaths also increased by 3 percent during that time, to a seven-day average of 1,345, according to a New York Times database.

The national all-time high for average daily cases is 251,232, set in January during a post-holiday surge.

Source: State and local health agencies. Daily cases are the number of new cases reported each day. The seven-day average is the average of the most recent seven days of data. Holiday interruptions to testing and data reporting may affect case and death trends.

On Sunday, Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, the nations top infectious disease expert, said a growing body of evidence suggested that Omicron was causing less serious illness than its predecessors. But he warned against complacency, saying the variants lightning-speed spread across the United States would likely lead to a perilous spike in hospitalizations among the unvaccinated and could overwhelm the countrys health systems.

When you have such a high volume of new infections, it might override a real diminution in severity, Dr. Fauci said during an interview on ABCs This Week.

In New York, Gov. Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency earlier this month and put elective surgeries on pause at many hospitals. This week, Gov. Charlie Baker of Massachusetts said he would activate up to 500 members of the National Guard to help in overburdened hospitals. Many other states have done the same.

From Dec. 5, there has been a fourfold increase of Covid hospital admissions among children in New York City, where the Omicron variant is spreading rapidly, the New York State Department of Health said in an advisory on Friday. About half were under the age of 5, and not eligible for vaccination. The city did not provide numbers, but state data showed a few dozen children under 5 were hospitalized across the state as of Thursday.

The jump in pediatric cases is evident in other states as well. The American Academy of Pediatrics reported last week that Covid cases were extremely high among those under 18 across the country. Citing data as of Dec. 16, the academy said that cases among those under 18 had risen by 170,000 from the prior week, an increase of nearly 28 percent since early December. Pediatric cases are higher than ever before in the Northeast and Midwest, the data show, and all regions of the country have significantly more such cases since schools reopened for in-person instruction in the fall.

Even with the rising cases, government data show that vaccination is still a strong protector against severe illness. Unvaccinated people are five times more likely to test positive and 14 times more likely to die of Covid than vaccinated patients, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Promising data out of South Africa and other European countries have also shown that Omicron surges have been milder and with fewer hospitalizations.

The new research is heartening, but experts warn that the surge coming to many countries still may flood hospitals.

Each place has its own demographics and health care system access and, you know, vaccine distribution, Akiko Iwasaki, an immunologist and researcher at the Yale School of Medicine, said in an interview on Saturday. She added that people in England, Scotland and South Africa could have acquired enough immunity from other infections to be able to deal with this variant, or that there could be intrinsic differences in the pathogenicity of Omicron that results in fewer people needing to be hospitalized.

We cannot assume the same things will happen to the U.S., Dr. Iwasaki said. That is not a reason to relax our measures here, and we still need to vaccinate those pockets of people who are unvaccinated.

Read more from the original source:

Covid News: Thousands of Flights Are Canceled as Omicron Spreads - The New York Times

After choosing not to impose more restrictions before the New Year, England remains an outlier among the four nations.

Professor Andrew Watterson, a public health expert, has said there are "real causes for concern" here.

"It's very strange, because if we're looking at the evidence then just before Christmas, the English COVID rate per 100,000 was way, way above anything in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland," he told Sky News.

"So on that basis, I think you'd be looking for more precaution, more prevention, and practical action based on the evidence and that's not coming."

He continued that COVID numbers are still going up and things can "change very rapidly indeed".

"I think there are real causes for concern about England not being guided by the science," he said.

Read more:

COVID news live: Delta could be less likely to reinfect people who have had Omicron, small study suggests - Sky News

The COVID-19 omicron variant is now the dominant coronavirus variant in the US.

Saying "it's your patriotic duty, " President Joe Biden on Tuesday called on Americans to get vaccinated and get a booster shot. "You have an obligation to yourself, to your family and quite frankly -- I know I'll get criticized for this -- to your country. Get vaccinated now." In his address to the nation, Biden said he would send military personal to assist hospitals, step up medical supplies for health facilities and send half a billion free at-home tests starting in January to anyone who wants one.

The omicron variant of COVID-19 has quickly become the dominant coronavirus in the US, accounting for 73.2% of COVID-19 cases.

Scientists are working through the growing body of evidence that the mutated virus can easily pass from one person to another and evade protection provided by the primary vaccine doses of Pfizer, Moderna and Johson & Johnson. The New York Times on Sunday reported that COVID-19 vaccines used elsewhere in the world "offer almost no defense against becoming infected by the highly contagious Omicron variant." Only the Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna mRNA vaccines appear to be effective in guarding against omicron. And those vaccinated with the Pfizer and Moderna shots need a booster to protect against infection and serious illness.

So far, the COVID-19 vaccines authorized in the US -- especially the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines -- have proven to be highly effective in preventing hospitalization and death, with people who are unvaccinated being over10 times more likely to be hospitalized if infected. A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention panel on Thursday recommended that those looking for a safe and effective vaccineshould choose an mRNA option (Pfizer or Moderna) -- andnot Johnson and Johnson's.

Here are nine important things to know about omicron today. For more on COVID-19 boosters, here's how to get an appointmentand a free ride to your shot. Here's how you'll soon get a COVID-19 test kit for free and details on mixing and matching vaccines.

Now playing: Watch this: What to do if you lose your vaccination card, and how...

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In an address to the nation on Tuesday, Biden set out his administration's plans to get the country through the climbing infection rate caused by the highly infectious omicron variant.

Help for hospitals. Biden said he will mobilize an additional 1,000 troops -- including military doctors, nurses, paramedics and other medical personnel to hospitals -- to help those facilities burdened with COVID patients.

Expand hospital beds. Government agencies will work with states to increase hospital bed count.

Create testing sites. The administration will expand government COVID testing sites across the country in those areas.

Distribute free at-home testing kits. Starting in January 2022, the government will send free at-home testing kits to anyone who requests one.

Stressing the need for a booster, Anthony Fauci, chief medical adviser to Biden, said this weekend, "when you get to omicron, the protection significantly goes down," with two doses of the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines. "But the good news is when you boost someone, it goes right back up," Fauci said.

A third booster shot is urged by the CDC, which may eventually affect the definition of "fully vaccinated." Fauci said on Sunday whether the CDC changes the definition, the importance of a booster holds: "As far as I'm concerned -- I make it very clear -- if you want to be optimally protected, get boosted."

A growing collection of data suggests that omicron could be more infectious than the delta variant and is now the dominant strain in the UK.

The World Health Organization said the variant has been reported in 89 countries and the number of cases is doubling in 1.5 to 3 days, including in countries with high levels of immunity.

Some hopeful news on omicron came recently from South Africa. At a press briefing Thursday, Minister of Health Dr. Joe Phaahla noted that hospitalizations are "definitely much lower" than during the country's third wave, in June 2021. Only 1.7% of COVID-19 cases in this fourth wave's second week of infections involved hospitalization, compared with 19% during the second week of the third wave.

Health officials said the numbers may be skewed by breakthrough cases of those who are vaccinated and experiencing asymptomatic or mild illness. Those who are unvaccinated could have more severe illness.

On Thursday, a CDC advisory panel voted to recommend that those looking for a safe vaccine pick either Moderna's or Pfizer's because of the risk of a potentially fatal blood clot issue associated with the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the CDC, is expected to decide as soon as today whether to accept that panel's vote.

Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson have all said they are gearing up to create a vaccine specifically designed to combat omicron if it's needed.

Fauci on Dec. 15 said that there is no need for a variant-specific booster at this point. The current boosters appear to be effective against omicron.

COVID latches onto cells using a spike protein in its structure. Omicron has more mutations than the delta variant, which is considered at least twice as contagious as previous strains. While it isn't clear yet whether omicron is more or less contagious than delta, the presence of those mutations is one cause of concern.

That may be one reason numerous have banned travel from some countries in southern Africa and increased travel restrictions to include a negative COVID-19 test 24 hours before travel, regardless of vaccination status.

Drugmakers are exploring if the current vaccines are effective against the new variant.

Most PCR tests to identify the presence of COVID-19 in the body are free (COVID-19 tests for international travel are the main exception). So it's good news that the existing nasal swab test has been found to detect the omicron variant; a blood test or other procedure is so far unnecessary.

"Fortunately for us, the PCRs that we mostly use would pick up this very unusual variant that has a real large constellation of mutations," Fauci said in a Nov. 29press briefing.

On Dec. 2, Biden announced a plan to help protect the US against the omicron variant this winter. It includes:

For additional COVID-19 guidance, here's what to know about new travel restrictions, how to store your vaccine card on your phone and what to do if you lose your vaccine card.

The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.

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Omicron dominates the US: What Biden is doing, booster protection, free at-home COVID tests - CNET

Given that the symptoms associated with the original strain of Covid-19 and its first variants were so similar to the common cold, it has been difficult to tell over the last year or so whether the onset of headaches and sniffles meant you had contracted the coronavirus or just a bout of conventional winter flu.

Lateral flow tests provided an answer but the subsequent emergence of the new Omicron variant in late November has complicated the picture still further as its symptoms are slightly different - stuffy nose, sore throat - and because it cannot yet be specifically identified by home test kits, which simply tell us whether someone is Covid-positive or negative, not which strain they have contracted.

Professor Tim Spector, from Britains ZOE Covid app, said it is now more important than ever to get tested - even without symptoms - as we seek to bring the new variant under control against soaring infection rates.

He said that data from the ZOE study app suggests that about half of all cases of Delta are being missed because people are only on the lookout for the classic Covid symptoms of fever, new and persistent cough and a loss or change of smell or taste they have been told to expect by the official guidance, whereas a mild case may not result in all of the conditions on that checklist being experienced.

Omicron is probably much more similar to the mild variants were seeing in people who have been vaccinated [but still subsequently taken ill] with Delta than anything else, he said.

And so it is going to be producing cold-like symptoms that people wont recognise as Covid if they just believe the official government advice.

Christina Marriott, chief executive of the Royal Society for Public Health says: Growing evidence shows that people whove received two doses of the vaccine typically present with less severe symptoms, such as headache, runny nose, sneezing, sore throat and loss of smell.

Its important for people whove been fully vaccinated to stay vigilant for cold-like symptoms and get tested if theyre living or working around people who are at greater risk from the disease.

To find out what others are saying and join the conversation scroll down for the comments section or click here for our most commented on articles

Professor Irene Petersen, a professor of epidemiology and health informatics at University College London, adds: A runny nose and headache are symptoms of many infections, but may also be the first symptoms and only symptoms of Covid. Therefore, if you have these symptoms, Id encourage you to use lateral flow tests for a couple of days.

The ZOE Covid Symptom Study, which is funded by the UK government, has identified the top symptoms associated with Covid and says they differ slightly depending on whether youve been vaccinated or not.

Headache

Although headaches are a less well-known symptom of Covid, they are one of the earliest signs, according to the ZOE study, and are more common than the classic symptoms of cough, fever and loss of smell.

The study found Covid headaches tend to be moderately to severely painful, can be pulsing, pressing or stabbing, occur across both sides of the head rather than in one area, may last for more than three days and tend to be resistant to regular painkillers.

Runny nose

Last winter, the ZOE study found that a runny nose was the second most commonly reported symptom after headaches, with nearly 60 per cent of people who tested positive for Covid with loss of smell also reporting having a runny nose.

But now the data indicates that the prevalence of the disease is the most significant factor. So, when Covid rates are high, the chances of a runny nose being due to the virus are also high.

The study also stresses that when Covid rates are low, a runny nose is less likely to indicate the sufferer has caught the coronavirus and is more likely to be due to a cold or even an allergy.

It concludes that while many people with Covid may report a runny nose, its difficult to call it a definitive symptom as its so common, especially during winter.

Sneezing

The ZOE study found sneezing more than usual can be a sign of Covid in people whove been vaccinated, although it stresses sneezing is much more likely to be a sign of a cold or an allergy.

It says that even though many people with Covid might sneeze, its not a definitive symptom because sneezing is so common.

Sore throat

Many people with Covid have reported via the ZOE Study app that they have a sore throat that feels similar to one you might experience you get when you have a cold or laryngitis.

Covid-related sore throats tend to be mild and last no more than five days so a very painful one that lasts longer is likely to be something else. If it persists, you should contact your GP.

Although it can be a Covid symptom, most people with a sore throat will probably just have a cold. According to ZOEs data, almost half of people who are ill with Covid report having a sore throat, although this is more common in adults aged between 18-65 than the elderly or those under 18.

Loss of smell

This continues to be the strongest indicator of Covid infection, regardless of a persons age, sex or illness severity.

While people who have Covid might not lose their sense of smell completely, it may change, so you may not be able to smell strongly-scented things, and your sense of taste may be affected too, so food may taste different or seem tasteless.

Persistent cough

A persistent cough is widely agreed to be one of the three main symptoms of Covid but, according to the ZOE study, only around four in 10 people who are ill with the virus will experience this.

In this context, persistent means coughing many times a day, for half a day or more.

A Covid cough is usually a dry cough, compared with a chesty one that brings up phlegm or mucus and that may indicate a bacterial infection. A persistent cough tends to arrive around a few days into the illness and usually lasts for around four or five days.

Alan McNally, a professor of microbial evolutionary genomics at the University of Birmingham, who was infectious disease lead at the Milton Keynes Lighthouse Lab the UK governments first flagship Covid testing facility adds: If you have any symptoms of respiratory infection, you should stay at home to prevent transmission and get a test done.

Trying to self-diagnose is a sure fire way to send Covid case rates soaring again.

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Omicron symptoms: What to look out for from new Covid variant - The Independent

Prime Minister Boris Johnson attending a Christmas event at 10 Downing Street last week.Credit...Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

LONDON For a week, Prime Minister Boris Johnson of Britain has denied damaging claims that his staff broke lockdown rules by holding a party last Christmas when such festivities were banned under government-imposed coronavirus restrictions.

Late Tuesday, the governments story weakened when a video surfaced of senior staff members joking about just such a party four days after they had reportedly gathered to eat snacks, drink wine and play party games in Downing Street.

The revelations have shaken Mr. Johnsons government, coming just as Britain and the rest of the world enter a second holiday season battered by the emergence of a new variant and faced by anger and frustration from exhausted citizens.

The furor claimed its first casualty on Wednesday when Allegra Stratton, a senior aide, resigned. Ms. Stratton acknowledged that remarks she made in the video, at a time when she was Mr. Johnsons spokesperson, seemed to make light of rules that people were doing everything to obey.

Most recently, Ms. Stratton had been spokesperson for the British government on the United Nations global climate summit in Glasgow known as COP26.

Later on Wednesday, Mr. Johnson of Britain announced major new restrictions to curb the spread of the coronavirus, urging people to work from home and introducing a vaccine passport for some indoor venues, measures that his government had long resisted.

Critics have accused Mr. Johnson of lying and trying to cover up the event in Downing Street last Christmas. There has also been anger from some Britons who, at the time, were prevented by lockdown rules even from saying farewell to dying relatives.

Downing Street has denied that a Christmas party took place but has not denied that there was an event of some kind. Mr. Johnson has said that any gathering that occurred followed Covid protocols.

At his weekly question-and-answer session at Parliament Wednesday, Mr. Johnson apologized for the video and said he was sickened and furious about it. But he said he was repeatedly assured that no party took place. He said the cabinet secretary, Simon Case, who is head of the civil service, would investigate and that if there were breaches of lockdown rules there would be disciplinary action.

Amid growing pressure on the prime minister, even some of his own lawmakers appealed publicly for him to get his story straight. On Tuesday night, the Metropolitan Police, the force that covers London, said it was reviewing the video.

The reports about the Downing Street party, which first appeared in the Daily Mirror, did not suggest that Mr. Johnson himself had attended any festivities. Nor does the video released by ITV, which shows staff members conducting a mock news conference with questions about the implications of holding such a party, completely confirm that an event occurred.

But the video shows that senior staff members were aware of the risk that they might be asked about a party in Downing Street and had no credible response. The video shows Allegra Stratton, who was then Mr. Johnsons press secretary, at a rehearsal for a news conference, with a Downing Street colleague playing a journalist. At the time, Ms. Stratton was preparing to give White House style news conferences, though that idea was eventually abandoned.

When asked about reports of a Downing Street Christmas party, she laughed and replied: I went home, before asking, Whats the answer?

Is cheese and wine all right? It was a business meeting, Ms. Stratton can be heard saying. This fictional party was a business meeting, she continued, before laughing and adding: And it was not socially distanced.

Opponents have seized on the video as more evidence of a familiar and damaging critique: that the Conservative-led government applies one set of rules to itself and another to the rest of the population. That was deeply damaging early in the pandemic when faith in the government was seriously undermined after Mr. Johnsons former chief adviser, Dominic Cummings, traveled hundreds of miles to his parents home during a lockdown.

In response to the video, the leader of the opposition Labour Party, Keir Starmer, accused the government of misleading the public. People across the country followed the rules even when that meant being separated from their families, locked down and tragically for many unable to say goodbye to their loved ones, he said.

They had a right to expect that the government was doing the same, he added. To lie and to laugh about those lies is shameful.No timescale has yet been given for the inquiry to be conducted by Mr. Case, the cabinet secretary. Nor does his remit extend to investigating reports about other parties in Downing Street including one that the Daily Mirror claims Mr. Johnson himself spoke at.

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Covid News: Over 200 Million Americans Are Fully Vaccinated - The New York Times