Category: Corona Virus Vaccine

MANY SELF-EMPLOYED HAVE STOPPED WORKING IN LOCKDOWN, REPORT FINDS

Around 700,000 self-employed Britons have stopped working altogether during the current lockdown, research suggests.

The figure, almost one in seven of the total - is a 50% increase from the first lockdown in May, according to the Resolution Foundation.

The think tank said the coronavirus crisis has caused a huge hit to the living standards of self-employed workers.

More than two out of five self-employed workers have experienced a fall in earnings of at least 25% during the current lockdown, the study indicates.

Government support is failing to reach a significant number of self-employed workers affected by the crisis, said the Resolution Foundation.

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Coronavirus UK news LIVE Britain to hit 15m Covid vaccination target TODAY as plan to get out of lockdown l - The Sun

In recent years, Gokal split his time between two area hospitals. But when the pandemic hit in early 2020, he lived for a month in a hotel and an apartment rather than risk infecting his wife, Maria, 47, who has pulmonary sarcoidosis, a disease in her lungs that leaves her winded after even minimal activity.

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A doctor had 6 hours to use a vial of COVID-19 vaccine before it expired, so he gave the shots to 10 people. For that, he was fired. - Chicago Tribune

MEMPHIS, Tenn. A Mid-South doctor has died of a COVID-related illness. However, he never knew he had the virus and hed been vaccinated.

Dr. J Barton Williams, called a student of medicine and science, went from doctor to patient when he fell ill weeks ago. Dr. Stephen Threlkeld helped treat him at Baptist Hospital.

Threlkeld says the disease quickly went from diagnosis to death.

It was matter of days, Threlkeld said. Just a tragedy.

Williams, an Orthopedic Surgeon for OrthoSouth, died February 8 of multisystem inflammatory syndrome or MIS, a condition usually affecting children and attacking the immune system.

The immune system attacks the body in many ways and causes multi-organ system failure, Threlkeld said. It affects the heart, the gastrointestinal tract and other places.

Threlkeld says Williams tested positive for COVID antibodies, meaning he had COVID at one time, but he never knew it. And he had gotten his second COVID vaccine just weeks before his death.

After rumors that the vaccine contributed to his death, Williamss family allowed those who treated him to do the unprecedented: speak out about his condition.

The family has been incredibly generous and courageous in allowing the details of his case to be put out there for those of us who took care of him, just to try and make sure the facts were out there true, Threlkeld said.

They want to dispel rumors this was a new variant of COVID. Threlkeld says they never found an active virus in Williams body.

It does seem to be in every case we have seen so far to be related to the virus itself, Threlked said. Its a post-viral, sometimes a few weeks later, a post-viral effect. Not during the first part of it.

We asked if the vaccine could not be a protector against this because Williams had already been predisposed to the COVID virus.

Its a very important question. All preliminary, Threlkeld said. We are working with the CDC to see how vaccines can play in all directions. We dont have any data to suggest the vaccine has any affect in either direction.

Health officials are meeting daily to study Williamss rare case. But theyre still spreading the message that everyone should be vaccinated.

The way to avoid this rare, albeit terrible, illness is to get the vaccine, Threlkeld said. The way to avoid it is to prevent the infection in the first place.

He says its something Williams would want.

He would want this out there and the facts. he would want the true facts out there and to have an effect to save other people, Threlkeld said. And you certainly hear his voice in this by saying get your vaccine.

Were told the exact cause of Williamss death has not been determined and an autopsy is pending.

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Memphis surgeon dies of COVID-related illness weeks after receiving second COVID vaccine - WREG NewsChannel 3

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Where to sign up for COVID-19 vaccine in Austin, Travis County area - KXAN.com

When Drew Weissman and Katalin Karik got their COVID-19 vaccine jabs before Christmas at the University of Pennsylvania, the cameras were rolling.

Three decades of persistence and painstaking research into mRNA vaccine science had paid off.

They'd proved the sceptics and naysayers wrong. What started out as a wild idea was suddenly a world-changing, lifesaving technology.

"We were incredibly excited when we saw the results of the Phase 3 trial that our vaccine worked, it was safe, and had 95 percent efficacy," Professor Weissman says.

The COVID-19 vaccines developed at unprecedented speed by Pfizer and Moderna use technology licensed from the University of Pennsylvania team.

Professor Karik is now also a senior vice-president of BioNTech, the German company behind the Pfizer vaccine.

But Professor Weissman isn't resting on his laurels.

"My family always yells at me because I'm not excited enough, and they're right," he says.

"I'm already moved on to the next thing, the next vaccine, the next gene therapy."

The promise of mRNA vaccines and therapeutics for other diseases could be explosive.

"We have five clinical trials set up ready to do, and they've been delayed [by] the coronavirus," Professor Weissman says.

"We've probably made 30 different vaccines against different pathogens.

"Influenza, HIV, malaria, norovirus a whole bunch.

"In just about every animal model, we had 100 percent efficacy. The vaccine is incredibly potent, and it gives very strong protective responses."

But Australia is at risk of missing out on the full fruits of mRNA vaccine technology due to lack of investment and foresight.

The Federal Government plans to start distributing COVID-19 vaccines at the end of the month, initially prioritising high-risk groups.

It leapt out of the gate early in the pandemic to secure doses of Pfizer's mRNA vaccine, the first to be approved by our drug regulator, the Therapeutic Goods Administration.

Last week, an additional 10 million doses were procured, taking the total to 20 million.

Tell us a bit about yourself and we'll tell you where you are in the queue for the COVID-19 jab.

But to meet ongoing demand, Australia is backing a different horse with local manufacturing.

Australian biotech giant CSL is only licensed to make the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, a DNA-based vaccine which doesn't need to be stored at -70 degrees Celsius, unlike mRNA vaccines.

It's proved effective against COVID-19 in clinical trials, but less so than the mRNA vaccines 62 per cent to 90 per cent effective (depending on dosing) versus Moderna and Pfizer's 94 per cent and 95 per cent respectively.

However, CSL has not announced any plans to make mRNA vaccines in the future.

"Part of it is commercial decision-making," says Colin Pouton, professor of pharmaceutical biology at Monash University.

"Obviously they've already agreed and are making deals with AstraZeneca's vaccine, and that's going to be a big effort for them."

But there are mounting calls for Australia to manufacture mRNA vaccines as a matter of vaccine security and savvy investment.

"It's just the sort of high-tech industry that Australia is well suited to get into," Professor Pouton says.

"We have a very good scientific base, very good technical experience and we have the sort of infrastructure already which fits well with this sort of technology."

Importantly, it might also help pave a faster path out of this pandemic.

Like the rest of the world, we are wholly reliant on just two pharmaceutical companies, with operations in the US and Europe, to meet demand.

"We are at their mercy. And that that's not an ideal situation," says Archa Fox, an RNA biologist at the University of Western Australia.

Battles over shortfalls have already erupted, with the European Union introducing export controls to shore up its own supplies.

In late October, Federal Minister for Industry, Science, and Technology Karen Andrews said CSL (which makes our seasonal flu jabs) could make protein-based vaccines relatively quickly.

Determining the facilities needed to manufacture mRNA vaccines would "take significantly longer to do, but the work is underway," she said.

"I would hope that we would be able to do it in about the nine-month to 12-month time frame."

Professor Pouton believes it could happen quicker.

"I don't actually agree with that assessment," he says.

"Australia is very capable of making an mRNA vaccine we can utilise facilities that we already have."

Ms Andrews said an audit identified "some companies in Australia with mRNA production capability.

"We are currently working with them to explore if that capability could be scaled up into the future," she said.

How mRNA vaccines went from a wild idea to a reality

But the Government is yet to confirm any details on funding, logistics or a timeline for action.

Its Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook (MYEFO) statement in December mentioned funding to "develop a business case to inform future investments in onshore mRNA platform-based vaccine manufacturing capability and capacity".

Again, no dollars were attached, citing "commercial sensitivities".

"Producing mRNA vaccines at scale is a brand new challenge the entire world is grappling with and will take time to develop," Ms Andrews said.

Professor Pouton says scaling up production is feasible because of the low amounts of mRNA required by the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines 30 micrograms and 100 micrograms per dose, respectively.

"30 micrograms means that if you make 30 grams [of mRNA], you have a million doses," he says.

Professor Pouton's team are working on two mRNA vaccines for COVID-19 in collaboration with the Doherty Institute in Melbourne.

"Interestingly, it's not actually that difficult," he says.

"Making the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine is actually much more challenging from a pharmaceutical point of view."

Until COVID-19, mRNA vaccines had never been tested in large-scale clinical trials before or approved for use in humans.

"It's the new kid on the block with vaccine technology," Dr Fox says.

"I don't think anybody could have predicted just how effective these vaccines were.

"Sometimes it is hard to break through with a new technology. But this really has proved the naysayers wrong."

mRNA, or messenger RNA vaccines, borrow a mechanism that all of your cells use to make all the proteins in your body. It helps translate the message in your DNA's genetic code into proteins.

mRNA vaccines work by injecting a particular molecule of mRNA into your cells that makes the spike protein found on the surface of the SARS-CoV2 virus.

This trains your immune system to "remember" the virus spike and make antibodies against it, so that if it ever meets the real virus, it ready to pounce and mount an immune response.

"Instead of using the old-fashioned vaccines where they use a deactivated virus or sometimes even an attenuated virus, with all the other complexities that involves, here you're using a very clean presentation of a single protein," Professor Pouton says.

A few main steps are involved in making mRNA vaccines. Simply put, they include:

"Once the RNA is made, the vaccine is essentially done," vaccine inventor Professor Weissman says.

Professor Pouton believes most of this can already done by Australian scientists and facilities.

"Not necessarily in one location, but [with] a bit of teamwork and cooperation, it can be done," he says.

"The step that they're less familiar with is taking the DNA code and producing mRNA from it.

"But it's actually a very simple thing to do once you've got the ingredients. A one pot, if you like, a test tube process.

"It doesn't require a human or mammalian cells or anything like that, it's just mechanics involved here. It's not something that requires a massive plant."

Legal agreements over licensing the technology take time to negotiate, however.

"We're not alone in having this inability to have the sovereign manufacturing of RNA vaccines," Dr Fox says.

Last week, French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed his country had negotiated with Moderna and Pfizer to enable local production in French labs.

The Thai Government has also made headway.

"I've been working with Thailand for years on making RNA vaccines for diseases that were Thailand-specific," Professor Weissman says.

"[They] made the really correct decision that if the [COVID-19] vaccine was made in the West, it would be years before Thailand, the rest of South-East Asia, Africa and other [developing] countries would ever get access."

The Thai Government will fund a manufacturing facility to help supply vaccines to their own population and surrounding low-moderate-income countries.

"To them, it was obvious that RNA was the way to go," Professor Weissman says.

But what will convince Australian companies to put their oar in something so new?

"They see it as a risk will this investment that they make be useful to them in the future?" Professor Pouton says.

Initial government investment would help kickstart industry, he adds.

"We have people who understand good manufacturing practice for human use, and the technology once they get their head around it. It's not as difficult as some of the things that they're already doing," Professor Pouton says.

mRNA vaccines have had a baptism of fire during the COVID-19 pandemic, and their impressive clinical trial results have surprised even their inventor.

"Anybody who does research knows that when you work in mice and even in monkeys, the results are always or usually much better than what you see in people," Professor Weissman says.

"I was relieved and just incredibly happy."

Get the latest health news and information from across the ABC.

But it's what's waiting in the wings that is turning Australia's small community of RNA biologists into lobbyists.

"We know that we can make it at the scale that is required there is this huge untapped potential for all sorts of future applications. It is definitely a game changer," Dr Fox says.

She points to local scientists doing frontier work in mRNA therapeutics ranging from cancer immunotherapies including for childhood cancers, therapeutic vaccines, protein replacement therapies, regenerative medicine and other infectious disease vaccines.

"I hope we take a forward-looking approach and think about future pandemics or even developing vaccines against the variants," Dr Fox says.

"It makes a lot of sense to get this up and running in Australia."

To her, COVID is a prime example of how fundamental research over many years can be pivotal when we least expect it.

mRNA vaccines are unlikely to be a one-pandemic wonder.

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Pfizer and Moderna's COVID-19 vaccines are just the beginning. Will Australia miss out on the mRNA medical revolution? - ABC News

VAN TAM: ONLY SMALL NUMBERS OF SOUTH AFRICA VARIANT PRESENT IN THE UK

Asked about keeping the variant suppressed, Mr Van Tamsaid: "We have small numbers of the South African variant in the UK at the present time.

"And as I've said, I'm not seeing, and the early modelling data do not suggest, a transmissibility advantage for this virus.

"So, that being the case, it's not going to kind of overrun or overtake the current B1.1.7 virus in the next few months, or that is the most likely scenario, that it won't happen.

"I don't think that this is something that we should be concerned about right at this point in time, and I agree with you that the stories and the headlines around variant viruses and vaccines are a bit scary. And I wish they weren't."

Prof Van-Tam said his work recently had been "thinking over the horizon" on preparations for a "a long-term resilient vaccine-orientated solution", adding: "And that includes the potential for variant vaccines for the autumn."

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Covid UK news LIVE Over 70s URGED to chase coronavirus vaccine slots as Brits told too early to book summe - The Sun

A

lmost one in four adults in the UK have had their first dose of Covid-19 vaccine, Matt Hancock has said.

The Health Secretary speaking at a Downing Street press briefing after new data showed that coronavirus deaths in the UK had hit a six-week low. A further 333 fatalities and 14,104 infections were reported on Monday.

On Monday it was reported that Britons could be required to have a third "booster" jab this year, after a major study found the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine was less effective against the South African coronavirus variant.

Meanwhile, the public have said that they would rather Boris Johnson lead the pandemic response than Sir Keir Starmer, in an exclusive poll for The Evening Standard.

The Department of Health and Social Care said the rules were being tightened to prevent new variants entering the country.

Under the new measures, it is expected travellers will have to take tests after two and eight days into their 10-day quarantine period.

It follows the announcement last week that from February 15, UK nationals returning from high risk red list destinations will have to quarantine in Government-approved hotels where they will have to take two tests.

A DHSC spokesman said: Enhancing our testing regime to cover all arrivals while they isolate will provide a further level of protection and enable us to better track any new cases which might be brought into the country, and give us even more opportunities to detect new variants.

Some 10,000 extra tests will be rolled out in the region from Tuesday, after four people from two unconnected households were found to be infected with the mutation, Manchester City Council said.

Dr Cillian De Gascun, medical virologist and director of the National Virus Reference Laboratory, told a National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) briefing that all the cases are directly linked to travel.

A variant first detected in Brazil has not been found in Ireland, where the so-called Kent variant is the most dominant.

The briefing heard that all variants are being monitored.

Deputy chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn urged adherence to public health advice.

Viruses cant mutate if theyre not replicating, he said.

So the fewer the amount of virus we have in this country, the less chance there is of a mutation thats going to have a knock-on impact on vaccine effectiveness.

The Governments new education recovery tsar Sir Kevan Collins has said teachers will be asked to increase the learning time for children following school closures during the pandemic.

In a BBC interview, Sir Kevan suggested it was important to act quite quickly on arrangements for summer, adding that summer schools have promise.

The Government is said to be considering a number of options including summer schools, extended school days and shorter summer holidays as part of catch-up plans for pupils who have missed out on learning due to Covid-19.

Last week the Prime Minister appointed Sir Kevan as the education recovery commissioner to oversee the Governments catch-up programme.

In his first interview since taking up the role, Sir Kevan told the BBC: I think we need to think about the extra hours not only for learning, but for children to be together, to play, to engage in competitive sport, for music, for drama because these are critical areas which have been missed in their development.

He said teachers will need to be asked to increase learning time for children.

If youre going to secondary school in the next couple of years, its vital youre reading at the level you will need. We need to step in to support children in some of these critical areas of learning, the catch-up tsar told the BBC.

Englands deputy chief medical officer urged those who might be panicking after reading headlines on the impact vaccines have on coronavirus variants, to take comfort in the fact that scientists are carrying out major research on the variants from behind the scenes.

The areas targeted for additional testing are M14 4, M14 7, M15 5, M15 6, M16 7 and M16 8.

The DHSC said: Surge testing is in addition to existing extensive testing, and in combination with following the lockdown rules and remembering hands-face-space, will help to monitor and suppress the spread of the virus. Positive cases will be sequenced for genomic data to help understand Covid-19 variants and their spread within these areas.

People living in this targeted area within these locations are strongly encouraged to take a Covid-19 test this week, whether they are showing symptoms or not. People with symptoms should book a test in the usual way.

The South African strain of the coronavirus is unlikely to become dominant in the UK over the coming months, the deputy chief medical officer for England has said .

Professor Jonathan Van-Tam said that unlike the strain which emerged last year in Kent, the South African mutation did not enjoy a transmissibility advantage over other variants.

Speaking at a No 10 news briefing, he said he believed it was likely that the existing vaccines would be effective in preventing serious illness in people who became infected with the new South African strain.

But he suggested that people in high risk groups may need booster jabs either annually or biennially as the vaccines were updated to cope with new mutations of the virus.

A question mark remains over summer holidays this year with Britons told it is still too soon to say whether or not they should start making plans.

Professor Jonathan Van-Tam, deputy chief medical officer for England, was asked about holidays and said he could not give a proper answer as the data is not yet available.

He said any easing of lockdown restrictions in England would have to take place gradually and that contemplating what will happen in summer is stepping into the realm of a guessing game.

Prof Van-Tam told a No 10 news briefing that it is just too early to say.

Tim Spector, professor of genetic epidemiology at Kings College London, has said the impact of the coronavirus pandemic is likely to be felt at large gatherings long after lockdown was over.

He told Times Radio: I cant see us suddenly having another Cheltenham Festival with no regulations again, I cant see us having massive weddings with people coming from all over the world. I think for the next few years those days are gone.

Giles Watling, the Conservative MP for Clacton, Essex, said the music industry is facing the double whammy of the impact of coronavirus and new post-Brexit restrictions on touring.

His comments came in a debate sparked by more than 280,000 people signing a petition calling for a cultural work permit deal to be reached.

Mr Watling told the Petitions Committee music is a great deployment of UK soft power.

He added: Our performers are now facing a double whammy of an industry devastated by Covid and the loss of an entire continent as a venue.

We must continue to raise this issue with our EU neighbours.

Former Labour Party deputy leader Harriet Harman told the committee the issue is so important in so many ways, culturally as well as financially.

It is not a Brexit teething problem, she told the Petitions Committee. It will be enduring unless it is sorted out.

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UK coronavirus LIVE: Brits face third AstraZeneca vaccine as over-70s urged to contact NHS for jab - Evening Standard

Here you can find up-to-the-minute information on the coronavirus in the Piedmont Triad, North Carolina and the surrounding region. Click the video player above for the latest information from North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper.Live Updates:4:05 p.m. Friday: The Alamance County Health Department will now offer coronavirus vaccinations to people who are 65 years and older, in coordination with the NCDHHS guidelines.3:30 p.m. Friday: The Forsyth County Health Department will start registration for 900 new appointments at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 6. The appointments are for Feb. 11 through Feb. 13.To schedule online, click here.1:50 p.m. Friday: The Forsyth County District Court will change the way it works for cases on the docket for the first time starting Monday because of coronavirus. A new ADVISE court, located on the Main Street (second floor) entrance of the Hall of Justice, will be where people are seen for their first time on the docket.During the pandemic, a limited number of people will be let in the building at one time, so people will most likely have to wait in a social-distanced line outside of the building for admittance.With weather conditions, people are strongly urged to dress appropriately and avoid bringing small children, "as the wait time outdoors could be relatively significant, given the number of people needing to be advised and the small number of individuals that will be allowed into the building at once," according to Chief District Court Judge Lisa Menefee.Masks will be required both in the building and while people are waiting in line outside.Individuals who have an attorney before the scheduled ADVISE court date do not have to be present, as attorneys can notify the office ahead of the date and secure a new court date on their behalf.1:35 p.m. Friday: NCDHHS reported 113 new deaths Friday as the number of patients in the hospital continues to trend downward.12:30 p.m. Friday: The Guilford County Health Department will start registration for 3,800 new appointments on Tuesday, Feb. 9, at 8 a.m.The county is following NCDHHS guidelines of offering vaccinations to people 65 years and older as part of groups 1 and 2.To schedule an appointment, click here or call 336-641-7944 (Option 2) from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.Vaccine clinics are being held at:Mount Zion Baptist Church - 1301 Alamance Church Rd., GreensboroHigh Point University Community Center at Oak Hollow Mall - 921 Eastchester Dr., Suite 1230, High PointGreensboro Coliseum - 1921 W. Gate City Blvd., Greensboro 6:50 p.m. Thursday: A North Carolina Correctional Institution for Women Offender who tested positive for the coronavirus died Thursday. We are working hard to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 in our prisons. The health and safety of the staff and the offender population continues to be our top priority, said Todd Ishee, Commissioner of Prisons.The person tested positive on Dec. 24, was hospitalized on Jan. 3 and her condition worsened, officials said. She was a female in her early 70s with underlying health conditions.6 p.m. Thursday: While Wake Forest Baptist Health emergency medicine physicians Dr. Jennifer Hannum and Dr. Manoj Pariyadath always watched the Super Bowl together, they've never attended the game in person -- until now.Drs. Hannum, Dr. Pariyadath, and eight of their friends are part of a group of 7,500 vaccinated health care workers in the U.S. personally invited by the NFL to go to Super Bowl LV, which is Sunday in Tampa, Florida at Raymond James Stadium.Both WFBH doctors said they feel comfortable traveling to and attending the game."We looked into what the NFL was doing and the safety precautions and measures they were affording us and we felt good about it," said Dr. Hannum, who added it was another doctor in the group who personally wrote a letter to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell explaining their Super Bowl tradition and hoping they would be among those chosen to go.Click the link below to read more.3:45 p.m. Thursday: Gov. Roy Cooper outlined a $4 billion budget plan Thursday to use COVID-19 relief funds for immediate needs and state resources during the coronavirus pandemic.This plan would be a part of the bill that passed in the House Thursday, according to Cooper's press conference.I appreciate the work of legislators to quickly pass vital relief as the state responded to the pandemic last year and I believe we can work together to get the job done again," Gov. Cooper said." Our communities and people face serious challenges and we must come together to identify areas of common ground and help our people beat the pandemic and thrive once again."According to Gov. Cooper, federal funds would go toward:About $2 billion for emergency assistance for public and private K-12 schools and higher education institutions$336 million for childcare and development block grantsAbout $700 million for access to vaccines and testing, tracing and prevention measures to slow the spread of the virus$546 million for emergency rental assistance, which will build on North Carolinas current work, such as the HOPE program$258 million for Highway Infrastructure and $65 million for airports$47 million for Community Mental Health ServicesFunding for food assistance programs, such as SNAP and school nutritionCooper said the state's budget remains strong, and he also recommends:$50 million for continued hazard duty pay for state employees on the frontlines of COVID-19, especially law enforcement and corrections personnel$64.5 million for the replenishment of the North Carolina State Health Plan$468 million for bonuses for educators and school personnel in public K-12 schools, community colleges and the university system$30 million to extend high-speed internet to all corners of the state and other urgent connectivity initiatives, such as IT infrastructure, security for community colleges and enhancement of 35,000 hotspots used for education$37 million to support small businesses that have suffered during the pandemic and often dont have large cash reserves, including small business counseling, marketing for tourism and hospitality, ReTOOLNC program for historically underutilized businesses (HUBs), and the business loan program at Golden L.E.A.F.Expansion of state unemployment benefits, which are still among the lowest in the country (North Carolinas Unemployment Trust Fund remains healthy, with a balance of more than $2.59 billion. North Carolina should increase the maximum duration of benefits to 26 weeks and increase the maximum benefit from $350 to $500 per week.)Click the link below to watch the full press conference.3:15 p.m. Thursday: NCDHHS reported 150 new coronavirus-related deaths Thursday as other data trends downward. 2:45 p.m. Thursday: The House unanimously approved a coronavirus relief bill Thursday that sends federal money approved by Congress in December to schools for reopening, public health officials distributing the vaccine and residents struggling to pay their rent.The bill also extends the Extra Credit grants for parts who didn't take advantage of the stimulus opportunity in 2020.Click the link below to learn more.2:40 p.m. Thursday: North Carolina senators gave preliminary approval for a bill Thursday that would require school districts in the state to offer at least partial in-person instruction for all K-12 public school students.Senate Bill 37, which was proposed by state Sens. Deanna Ballard, Michael Lee and Ralph Hise, would still allow parents to utilize an online-only option for their child.Click the link below to read more.1:45 p.m. Thursday: Gov. Roy Cooper is giving a coronavirus update at 3 p.m. to discuss the state's vaccine efforts and emergency budget supplement options.This will be streamed live on our Facebook and Twitter pages, WXII on TV, and in the lead video of this article.12:45 p.m. Thursday: North Carolina State Superintendent Catherine Truitt presented her vision and priorities to the State Board of Education Thursday to transform public education during the coronavirus.Truitt noted literacy, testing and accountability, and human capital will guide the Department of Public Instruction to address learning loss during the pandemic and make sure every student has a highly qualified teacher and education. Truitt addressed the three priorities in the following statement:If we want to truly address learning loss that has resulted from COVID, the conversation must begin with literacy. Reading and math proficiency has been a decades-long struggle in North Carolinaa struggle that certainly pre-dates COVID. If we want to change the statistics and improve reading proficiency, our state must start doing things differently. My goal is for us to shift from a one-by-one approach focused on individual students who struggle in reading to instead addressing the underlying issue: the methods used to teach reading. The department will share more on this priority in the coming weeks.As part of the departments continued COVID transition and recovery efforts, we will seek to change our current system of student testing and school accountability. Testing is an essential tool used by educators to see where knowledge gaps exist and will undoubtedly play a key role in navigating the path forward out of COVID. But it must be student-centered, allow teachers to make data-driven instructional decisions, and provide timely communication to parents regarding their childs performance. The fallout of the pandemic has also underscored the limitations of the current school accountability system in place. We need to reform the accountability model so that it better reflects the myriad ways schools are working to transform teaching and learning.Finally, I know that in order to equip students, we must invest in the very people on the frontlines who lead, teach and guide every day. This is why we will develop a human capital strategy that creates a robust pipeline of highly qualified teachers, principals, and school support personnel in every district. We know that many of our students do not have fully licensed math teachers, and our schools frequently lack teachers for exceptional children and secondary science. As students transition back into the classroom in the coming months, school support staff like school psychologists will play a pivotal role in helping students recovery emotionally and academically."12:10 p.m. Thursday: Multiple employees at Tyson Foods received their coronavirus vaccine from health officials at the Wilkesboro facility. This is part of the eligibility of Group 2 for North Carolina, including people who are older than 65.11:55 a.m. Thursday: Dr. Christopher Ohl, an infectious disease expert at Wake Forest Baptist Health, gave an update on the coronavirus in the Triad Thursday.He said he is concerned that people are letting their guard down when they should be putting it back up because of coronavirus variants."Its more important than ever actually to pay attention than ever to those details, Dr. Ohl said in regards to the 3 Ws. He said he has gotten a lot of questions about double masking, but reminded people that masking is to protect others rather than yourself. If you really are looking to protect yourself, you should consider a surgical mask, N-95 mask, or wearing a mask and a face shield. As for what he does, Dr. Ohl said he wears a double-lined, strong, form-fitting cloth mask on his nose and mouth. He doesn't see a need at this time to double mask.The major risk is when taking the mask on and off with your hands, because most people don't do it properly or wash their hands beforehand.When it comes to vaccines, Dr. Ohl said there is no reason at this time that pregnant people or women who are breastfeeding cannot get the shot. Those who have had COVID-19, but are no longer symptomatic can get the shot, but can also wait about three months because of antibodies if they want to let others who may have more of risk ahead of them in line.Once you have had the coronavirus or are vaccinated, Dr. Ohl stressed that it is not a free-for-all and people still need to take precautions. While there is more of an immunity to the virus, there is no data of whether a person can still transmit the disease at this time.11:20 a.m. Thursday: Hope Fest 4 Hunger, a multicultural dance festival, is going virtual in 2021.The premiere of "Dances for a Pandemic" will be streamed at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 28. for free with donations going to fight local hunger with Greensboro Urban Ministry and A Simple Gesture.The dances will include African, Cambodian, Hindu, Irish, Latin, and Native American cultures.10: 50 a.m. Thursday: The Davidson County Health Department announced Thursday that Ottendorf Labratories, LLC will provide free coronavirus tests at the Davidson County Fairgrounds.The testing center, located at 400 Greensboro St., Lexington, will be open every day from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. No appointments will be needed.2:45 p.m. Wednesday: Novant Health announced three Novant Health Express at Walgreens will open in North Carolina, with one of them opening in Winston-Salem.The healthcare company said it will open at the location on 1712 S. Stratford Road in Winston-Salem.At this time, COVID-19 vaccinations will not be offered at this site.Novant Health is excited to partner with Walgreens as this will help us make healthcare more convenient, affordable and accessible, said Dr. Pam Oliver, executive vice president and president of Novant Health Physician Network. Our new clinics at Walgreens create an additional venue for Novant Health to support and care for community members with chronic conditions as well as expand access to quality care for minor illnesses and injuries. 9:45 p.m. Tuesday: Walgreens announces plan to administer COVID-19 vaccines at 300 locations in North Carolina, thanks to a federal program.The CDC will allot more than 31,000 doses across the state. Vaccinations will begin Feb. 12.2:30 p.m. Tuesday: Gov. Roy Cooper and top state education leaders are urging on North Carolina's K-12 school districts to allow in-person instruction for all students. Cooper joined North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Dr. Mandy Cohen, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Catherine Truitt and State Board of Education Chair Eric Davis to thank educators for their extraordinary work during an unprecedented time, to highlight ongoing research that shows that with proper mitigation measures, in-person learning is safe, and to emphasize the critical importance of ensuring all students have an opportunity to learn in a classroom. Protecting the health and safety of the people of this state, especially our children and our teachers, has been our goal, Cooper said. We know school is important for reasons beyond academic instruction. School is where students learn social skills, get reliable meals, and find their voices. Research done right here in North Carolina tells us that in-person learning is working and that students can be in classrooms safely with the right safety protocols in place. Since the beginning of the pandemic, state leaders have emphasized the importance of returning students to in-person learning as quickly and safely as possible. Children who rely solely on remote instruction are feeling the negative effects of isolation, including learning loss, mental health challenges and food insecurity. The states public health toolkit details specific health and safety protocols K-12 schools must implement to keep students and teachers safe during in-person instruction.Even with the thousands of students and teachers attending school in-person across the state, we have seen few COVID-19 clusters in our public schools, Cohen said. Our Department will continue to serve our school communities, offering resources and support so we can keep our school doors open. Increasing evidence suggests that, with prevention measures in place, there are low rates of COVID-19 transmission in primary and secondary school settings even with high rates of community transmission. In addition, ongoing medical studies and peer-reviewed data affirm that children infected with COVID-19 generally have mild or no symptoms, and are less likely to spread the disease. Learning loss resulting from COVID has the potential to be a generational hurdle, but the data we have seen shows us that schools can reopen safely if they adhere to COVID prevention policies, Truitt said. For many schools, the logistics of returning to in-person instruction five days per week will be a challenge, but this is absolutely a challenge we must face head on so that all students have a chance to fulfill their potential. With strong prevention measures in place, and the scientific research to back them, now is the time to act. North Carolinas students cannot lose any more time. Resources:

Here you can find up-to-the-minute information on the coronavirus in the Piedmont Triad, North Carolina and the surrounding region.

Click the video player above for the latest information from North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper.

4:05 p.m. Friday: The Alamance County Health Department will now offer coronavirus vaccinations to people who are 65 years and older, in coordination with the NCDHHS guidelines.

3:30 p.m. Friday: The Forsyth County Health Department will start registration for 900 new appointments at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 6. The appointments are for Feb. 11 through Feb. 13.

To schedule online, click here.

1:50 p.m. Friday: The Forsyth County District Court will change the way it works for cases on the docket for the first time starting Monday because of coronavirus.

A new ADVISE court, located on the Main Street (second floor) entrance of the Hall of Justice, will be where people are seen for their first time on the docket.

During the pandemic, a limited number of people will be let in the building at one time, so people will most likely have to wait in a social-distanced line outside of the building for admittance.

With weather conditions, people are strongly urged to dress appropriately and avoid bringing small children, "as the wait time outdoors could be relatively significant, given the number of people needing to be advised and the small number of individuals that will be allowed into the building at once," according to Chief District Court Judge Lisa Menefee.

Masks will be required both in the building and while people are waiting in line outside.

Individuals who have an attorney before the scheduled ADVISE court date do not have to be present, as attorneys can notify the office ahead of the date and secure a new court date on their behalf.

1:35 p.m. Friday: NCDHHS reported 113 new deaths Friday as the number of patients in the hospital continues to trend downward.

12:30 p.m. Friday: The Guilford County Health Department will start registration for 3,800 new appointments on Tuesday, Feb. 9, at 8 a.m.

The county is following NCDHHS guidelines of offering vaccinations to people 65 years and older as part of groups 1 and 2.

To schedule an appointment, click here or call 336-641-7944 (Option 2) from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Vaccine clinics are being held at:

6:50 p.m. Thursday: A North Carolina Correctional Institution for Women Offender who tested positive for the coronavirus died Thursday.

We are working hard to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 in our prisons. The health and safety of the staff and the offender population continues to be our top priority, said Todd Ishee, Commissioner of Prisons.

The person tested positive on Dec. 24, was hospitalized on Jan. 3 and her condition worsened, officials said. She was a female in her early 70s with underlying health conditions.

6 p.m. Thursday: While Wake Forest Baptist Health emergency medicine physicians Dr. Jennifer Hannum and Dr. Manoj Pariyadath always watched the Super Bowl together, they've never attended the game in person -- until now.

Drs. Hannum, Dr. Pariyadath, and eight of their friends are part of a group of 7,500 vaccinated health care workers in the U.S. personally invited by the NFL to go to Super Bowl LV, which is Sunday in Tampa, Florida at Raymond James Stadium.

Both WFBH doctors said they feel comfortable traveling to and attending the game.

"We looked into what the NFL was doing and the safety precautions and measures they were affording us and we felt good about it," said Dr. Hannum, who added it was another doctor in the group who personally wrote a letter to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell explaining their Super Bowl tradition and hoping they would be among those chosen to go.

Click the link below to read more.

3:45 p.m. Thursday: Gov. Roy Cooper outlined a $4 billion budget plan Thursday to use COVID-19 relief funds for immediate needs and state resources during the coronavirus pandemic.

This plan would be a part of the bill that passed in the House Thursday, according to Cooper's press conference.

I appreciate the work of legislators to quickly pass vital relief as the state responded to the pandemic last year and I believe we can work together to get the job done again," Gov. Cooper said." Our communities and people face serious challenges and we must come together to identify areas of common ground and help our people beat the pandemic and thrive once again."

According to Gov. Cooper, federal funds would go toward:

Cooper said the state's budget remains strong, and he also recommends:

Click the link below to watch the full press conference.

This content is imported from Facebook.You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

3:15 p.m. Thursday: NCDHHS reported 150 new coronavirus-related deaths Thursday as other data trends downward.

2:45 p.m. Thursday: The House unanimously approved a coronavirus relief bill Thursday that sends federal money approved by Congress in December to schools for reopening, public health officials distributing the vaccine and residents struggling to pay their rent.

The bill also extends the Extra Credit grants for parts who didn't take advantage of the stimulus opportunity in 2020.

Click the link below to learn more.

2:40 p.m. Thursday: North Carolina senators gave preliminary approval for a bill Thursday that would require school districts in the state to offer at least partial in-person instruction for all K-12 public school students.

Senate Bill 37, which was proposed by state Sens. Deanna Ballard, Michael Lee and Ralph Hise, would still allow parents to utilize an online-only option for their child.

Click the link below to read more.

1:45 p.m. Thursday: Gov. Roy Cooper is giving a coronavirus update at 3 p.m. to discuss the state's vaccine efforts and emergency budget supplement options.

This will be streamed live on our Facebook and Twitter pages, WXII on TV, and in the lead video of this article.

12:45 p.m. Thursday: North Carolina State Superintendent Catherine Truitt presented her vision and priorities to the State Board of Education Thursday to transform public education during the coronavirus.

Truitt noted literacy, testing and accountability, and human capital will guide the Department of Public Instruction to address learning loss during the pandemic and make sure every student has a highly qualified teacher and education.

Truitt addressed the three priorities in the following statement:

12:10 p.m. Thursday: Multiple employees at Tyson Foods received their coronavirus vaccine from health officials at the Wilkesboro facility. This is part of the eligibility of Group 2 for North Carolina, including people who are older than 65.

11:55 a.m. Thursday: Dr. Christopher Ohl, an infectious disease expert at Wake Forest Baptist Health, gave an update on the coronavirus in the Triad Thursday.

He said he is concerned that people are letting their guard down when they should be putting it back up because of coronavirus variants.

"Its more important than ever actually to pay attention than ever to those details, Dr. Ohl said in regards to the 3 Ws.

He said he has gotten a lot of questions about double masking, but reminded people that masking is to protect others rather than yourself. If you really are looking to protect yourself, you should consider a surgical mask, N-95 mask, or wearing a mask and a face shield.

As for what he does, Dr. Ohl said he wears a double-lined, strong, form-fitting cloth mask on his nose and mouth. He doesn't see a need at this time to double mask.

The major risk is when taking the mask on and off with your hands, because most people don't do it properly or wash their hands beforehand.

When it comes to vaccines, Dr. Ohl said there is no reason at this time that pregnant people or women who are breastfeeding cannot get the shot. Those who have had COVID-19, but are no longer symptomatic can get the shot, but can also wait about three months because of antibodies if they want to let others who may have more of risk ahead of them in line.

Once you have had the coronavirus or are vaccinated, Dr. Ohl stressed that it is not a free-for-all and people still need to take precautions. While there is more of an immunity to the virus, there is no data of whether a person can still transmit the disease at this time.

11:20 a.m. Thursday: Hope Fest 4 Hunger, a multicultural dance festival, is going virtual in 2021.

The premiere of "Dances for a Pandemic" will be streamed at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 28. for free with donations going to fight local hunger with Greensboro Urban Ministry and A Simple Gesture.

The dances will include African, Cambodian, Hindu, Irish, Latin, and Native American cultures.

10: 50 a.m. Thursday: The Davidson County Health Department announced Thursday that Ottendorf Labratories, LLC will provide free coronavirus tests at the Davidson County Fairgrounds.

The testing center, located at 400 Greensboro St., Lexington, will be open every day from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. No appointments will be needed.

2:45 p.m. Wednesday: Novant Health announced three Novant Health Express at Walgreens will open in North Carolina, with one of them opening in Winston-Salem.

The healthcare company said it will open at the location on 1712 S. Stratford Road in Winston-Salem.

At this time, COVID-19 vaccinations will not be offered at this site.

Novant Health is excited to partner with Walgreens as this will help us make healthcare more convenient, affordable and accessible, said Dr. Pam Oliver, executive vice president and president of Novant Health Physician Network. Our new clinics at Walgreens create an additional venue for Novant Health to support and care for community members with chronic conditions as well as expand access to quality care for minor illnesses and injuries.

9:45 p.m. Tuesday: Walgreens announces plan to administer COVID-19 vaccines at 300 locations in North Carolina, thanks to a federal program.

The CDC will allot more than 31,000 doses across the state. Vaccinations will begin Feb. 12.

2:30 p.m. Tuesday: Gov. Roy Cooper and top state education leaders are urging on North Carolina's K-12 school districts to allow in-person instruction for all students.

Cooper joined North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Dr. Mandy Cohen, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Catherine Truitt and State Board of Education Chair Eric Davis to thank educators for their extraordinary work during an unprecedented time, to highlight ongoing research that shows that with proper mitigation measures, in-person learning is safe, and to emphasize the critical importance of ensuring all students have an opportunity to learn in a classroom.

Protecting the health and safety of the people of this state, especially our children and our teachers, has been our goal, Cooper said. We know school is important for reasons beyond academic instruction. School is where students learn social skills, get reliable meals, and find their voices. Research done right here in North Carolina tells us that in-person learning is working and that students can be in classrooms safely with the right safety protocols in place.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, state leaders have emphasized the importance of returning students to in-person learning as quickly and safely as possible. Children who rely solely on remote instruction are feeling the negative effects of isolation, including learning loss, mental health challenges and food insecurity.

The states public health toolkit details specific health and safety protocols K-12 schools must implement to keep students and teachers safe during in-person instruction.

Even with the thousands of students and teachers attending school in-person across the state, we have seen few COVID-19 clusters in our public schools, Cohen said. Our Department will continue to serve our school communities, offering resources and support so we can keep our school doors open.

Increasing evidence suggests that, with prevention measures in place, there are low rates of COVID-19 transmission in primary and secondary school settings even with high rates of community transmission.

In addition, ongoing medical studies and peer-reviewed data affirm that children infected with COVID-19 generally have mild or no symptoms, and are less likely to spread the disease.

Learning loss resulting from COVID has the potential to be a generational hurdle, but the data we have seen shows us that schools can reopen safely if they adhere to COVID prevention policies, Truitt said. For many schools, the logistics of returning to in-person instruction five days per week will be a challenge, but this is absolutely a challenge we must face head on so that all students have a chance to fulfill their potential. With strong prevention measures in place, and the scientific research to back them, now is the time to act. North Carolinas students cannot lose any more time.

Resources:

Go here to see the original:

LIVE BLOG: North Carolina bills for COVID-19 relief, mandatory in-person schooling working through General Assembly - WXII12 Winston-Salem

In a bootcamp that launched in January, University of Washington School of Nursing students train other UW students and faculty who hope to help in COVID-19 vaccinations. (Kiyomi Taguchi / University of Washington Photo)

Lets start with the good news. The number of new COVID-19 cases in the greater Seattle area, Washington state and the national level have all been declining since early January, showing a recovery from whats known as the third wave of infections.

The potentially bad news? New models predict that a fourth wave could be on the horizon but if, when and how it crests is uncertain.

Were in a race against time, health officials warn, pitting our ability to quickly vaccinate as many people as possible against the emergence of more infectious and possibly more deadly variants of the COVID virus. They include strains from the United Kingdom, South Africa and Brazil.

Im yo-yoing between pessimism and optimism on a daily basis. I do think that there is a window where the worst of this is behind us, but there are too many open variables to be sure of it, said Dr. Joshua Schiffer, an infectious disease modeler at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.

Depending on how the different factors play out, between 28-to-40% of the King County population will have been infected by the virus by the end of the year, according to a study from Schiffer and colleagues that posted Wednesday on medRxiv. Thats including verified cases and those that go undetected. (The scientists estimate that roughly 15% of the county, which includes tech hubs of Seattle, Bellevue and Redmond, have been infected to date; the official number of confirmed cases is less than 4%.)

Fred Hutch researchers ran 3,888 simulations in which they altered vaccination rates, vaccine effectiveness in preventing infection and transmission, and what level of infections would trigger the government to enforce a partial lockdown of business and social interactions. They wanted to know which measures matter most in controlling the virus.

Their conclusion: under all plausible scenarios, rapid vaccination and early enforcement of partial lockdown are the two most critical variables to save the greatest number of lives.

The research has not yet been peer-reviewed.

Washington so far has given more than 728,000 vaccinations. The state is averaging 28,000 doses administered per day, with a goal of 45,000. About 8% of the population has received one shot, and almost 2% are fully vaccinated. On Monday, eight Washington counties, including King and other populous Puget Sound area counties, were permitted by the state to ease their partial lockdowns.

Late last week, the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) shared its updated COVID projections that run through the end of April. The IHME, a research center at the University of Washington, makes predictions at the global, national and state levels.

Heres what the two organizations forecast:

When it comes to a spring COVID surge, I dont think any state will allow this to happen, said Ali Mokdad, an IHME professor and chief strategy officer for Population Health at the UW.

If the downward trends in infections and deaths started reversing, lockdowns would quickly follow, Mokdad predicted. [States] will go and hit the breaks as fast as they can. As soon as we start hearing that the new variant is taking over, that its more likely to be transmitted and its deadlier, mask wearing will go up.

Mokdad had less certainty for fall and winter, which is when the U.S. and Washington saw its biggest wave in case numbers last year. He expects an increase when cold weather sets in, but the severity will depend on what percent of the population has been vaccinated or already infected, which variants are predominant, and how the vaccine performs against them.

Information is still emerging on the variants. B.1.1.7 has been found in multiple cases in the Puget Sound area and is estimated to be roughly 50% more contagious than the original virus. Last week the first cases of the Brazilian variant and the South African strain were found in the U.S.

The currently approved vaccines appear largely effective against B.1.1.7 and the Brazilian variant, but less so against the South African mutation. That said, the vaccines provide a tremendous benefit and the new variant makes vaccinations more urgent, particularly in the Pacific Northwest.

While Washington, Oregon and Hawaii have done a better job than many other states in terms of controlling the spread of COVID, when it comes to reaching herd immunity, that success puts these Western states at a disadvantage at least temporarily compared to states where the infections raged.

Eight states including North and South Dakota, Utah, Arizona and Tennessee have all had case totals of more than 10,000 per 100,000 residents, while Washington has tallied slightly more than 4,000 per 100,000. Epidemiologists estimate that the actual number of infections could be four times higher. That means some states are getting close to 50% infection rates, even before vaccinations are added in.

States with fewer total infections dont have nearly as many cases contributing to herd community, Schiffer said. And so the burden of vaccination is higher.

Heres more on what the COVID experts are thinking about, and want you to know:

Editors note: This story has been updated to correct that the state is averaging 28,000 vaccination doses daily, not weekly.

Read the original here:

New COVID-19 prediction models forecast a potential fourth wave and how to minimize it - GeekWire

WORLD COULD FACE PANDEMIC WORSE THAN COVID

The world is at risk of a far worse pandemic than Covid "on the scale of the Black Death", warn experts.

Deadly microbes which have jumped from animals into humans could "kill tens of millions of people" they terrifyingly add.

Environmental writer John Vidal, who is working on a book revealing the links between nature anddisease, has published his dire prediction in theDaily Mail.

He says that governments must face up to "the nightmare scenario" of new diseases - or a new, more lethal strain of an older one - emerging "which is as contagious as measles, and as deadly asEbola".

Given the popularity of air travel and global trade, a virus could rampage across the world, unknowingly spread by asymptomatic carriers, "in a few weeks, killing tens of millions of people before borders could be closed", he adds.

Go here to read the rest:

Covid UK news Most adults will be vaccinated by May leaked letter reveals as it emerged pub curfew to be s - The Sun