Category: Corona Virus

CLEVELAND, Ohio The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention clarifies who should get second COVID-19 vaccine booster dose, and the federal government takes additional steps to research and treat long covid.

Cleveland.com is rounding up some of the most notable coronavirus news making headlines online. Heres what you need to know for Friday, April 8.

CDC clarifies who should get second COVID-19 vaccine booster

People who have had the two-dose Pfizer or Moderna vaccine series plus one booster dont need a second booster if they recently were infected with the omicron COVID-19 variant, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said recently.

People in this category could wait two to four months before their second booster, she said.

The CDC expanded eligibility for an additional booster dose for certain individuals who may be at higher risk of severe outcomes from COVID-19. People over the age of 50 can now get an additional booster 4 months after their prior dose to increase their protection further. This is especially important for those 65 and older and those 50 and older with underlying medical conditions that increase their risk for severe disease from COVID-19, the agency said.

There are no known safety issues for those eligible for a second booster to get one now, even if they may need another shot this fall, Walensky said.

Federal push outlined to research, treat long covid

President Joe Biden directed the federal government to take additional steps to research and treat long covid, in which symptoms of COVID-19 linger long after the initial infection clears.

Long covid is estimated to affect between 7.7 million and 23 million Americans, according to a recent federal report. The condition is linked to fatigue, brain fog and other symptoms that last for months or even years.

The Department of Health and Human Services will coordinate a government-wide plan that includes detailing available services and support for long covid patients, speed up efforts to enroll participants in a clinical research study and pursue federal protections for people with the condition, according to news reports.

The government also will expand a nationwide network of long covid clinics being run through the Department of Veterans Affairs, and collect feedback from people living with long covid.

Medicare Part B to provide free home COVID-19 tests

Medicare Part B recipients, including those enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan, will now be able to get free over-the-counter COVID-19 tests, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

Medicare recipients are eligible to receive up to eight free tests per month from participating pharmacies and healthcare providers. A list of participating stores and providers is here.

This will be the first time Medicare has covered over-the-counter and self-administered COVID-19 tests. The new policy applies to tests approved or authorized by the Food and Drug Administration, according to a news release.

Read this article:

CDC clarifies second COVID-19 vaccine booster, feds have plan to research, treat long covid: Coronavirus upda - cleveland.com

Attorney General Merrick B. Garland and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said Wednesday that they had tested positive for the coronavirus, the latest in a series of prominent Democrats, lawmakers and Biden administration officials to say they had been infected.

Also Wednesday, Representative Katherine Clark of Massachusetts, the assistant House speaker, and Representative Scott Peters of California announced their own positive tests.

The Justice Department said in a statement that Mr. Garland, 69, asked to be tested after learning that he may have been exposed. Mr. Garland, who is vaccinated and boosted, was not experiencing symptoms and planned to work from home for at least five days, the department said. He will not return to the office before he tests negative at the end of that period.

The announcement about Mr. Garland came just hours after he delivered a news briefing at the Justice Department at 10 a.m., where he stood unmasked next to several other officials, including Christopher A. Wray, the director of the F.B.I. The Justice Departments statement announcing the test result followed several hours later.

Mr. Garland addressed reporters for more than half an hour, often trading places with others at the briefing room podium.

A White House official said President Biden, who has not tested positive for the coronavirus, was not considered a close contact. The official was not authorized to speak publicly and asked for anonymity.

In a news briefing Wednesday afternoon, Jen Psaki, the White House press secretary, said that although cases are increasing among Congress, the press corps and the White House, the administration is not planning on toughening protocols and plans to continue its return to work plan.

But Ms. Psaki, who recently tested positive herself for a second time, added that the president has remained protected from the virus by taking measures that go beyond what the C.D.C. protocols are, like ensuring everyone who sees Mr. Biden is tested in advance and socially distancing in meetings with the president including in the Oval Office.

The president was last tested on Monday and received a negative result, according to the White House.

Ms. Raimondo, 50, tested positive after taking an at-home antigen test, the Commerce Department said in a statement on Wednesday. The secretary, who is fully vaccinated and boosted, was experiencing mild symptoms and would isolate and work at home for five days before taking another test, in accordance with guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the department said.

Her office said it was conducting contact tracing and was in the process of notifying people with whom she may have been in close contact.

Ms. Clark, 58, said on Twitter on Wednesday morning that she had tested positive for the virus and was experiencing mild symptoms. She said she had been vaccinated and boosted.

I am grateful to our health care professionals and researchers who have given us the tools to manage this deadly virus, she said.

Mr. Peters tweeted that he is feeling fine thanks to being vaccinated and boosted, and will isolate at home while his office remains fully operational.

Jamal Simmons, the vice presidents communications director, also tested positive for the virus on Wednesday, according to a White House statement. He will be isolating and working from home, but Mr. Simmons was in close contact to Vice President Kamala Harris. She will follow consult with her physician and plans to continue with her public schedule.

The officials who announced their test results on Wednesday came the day after three other House Democrats Representatives Joaquin Castro of Texas, Adam Schiff of California and Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida said they had tested positive.

The positive tests are a reminder that, even as top officials seek to pivot away from strict restrictions and encourage Americans to learn to live with the coronavirus, the pandemic continues, driven by the emergence of a new, highly contagious subvariant whose spread is alarming experts.

In March, at least nine House Democrats announced positive tests in a span of five days, with more than half of those cases emerging after lawmakers attended a party retreat in Philadelphia. Two other lawmakers who did not attend the retreat also tested positive during the same time.

Hillary Clinton and Doug Emhoff, the husband of Vice President Kamala Harris, also tested positive for the virus in March, as did Ms. Psaki, who tested positive for the second time in five months, one day before she was scheduled to join Mr. Biden on a diplomatic trip to Europe.

Katie Rogers contributed reporting.

Link:

Attorney General Merrick B. Garland Tests Positive for the Coronavirus - The New York Times

Overview

This policy brief confirms WHO guidance and policy on injection safety in the context of the extraordinary increase in global injections resulting from COVID-19 immunization campaigns. It also calls attention to information on specialized syringes for COVID-19 vaccines and broad short-term and long-term solutions to address and alleviate supply shortages related to vaccine products with non-standard dose volumes.

Related document

Injection safety in the context of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccination: Policy brief, 5 November 2021

Originally posted here:

Injection safety in the context of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccination: Addendum to policy brief, 5 April 2022 - World Health Organization

In the beginning, there was Alpha. Then Beta, Delta, Omicron and a bunch of lesser-known coronavirus variants in between. Were used to the cycle now: Right when we think we can breathe a sigh of relief, a new variant appears with fresh mysteries and confusion.

Its frustrating to keep having our hopes dashed. And theres no end in sight because new variants will almost certainly keep appearing.

Given our future with these new versions of the coronavirus, were hoping you can help us better understand whats in store. Were asking readers: What are your questions about the future of the virus and its variants? Well bring your queries to experts and get some answers. If youd like to participate, you can fill out this form below. We may use your question in an upcoming newsletter.

Excerpt from:

What Are Your Questions About the Future of the Coronavirus? - The New York Times

Attorney General Merrick Garland on Capitol Hill in Washington in 2021.Credit...Al Drago for The New York Times

Attorney General Merrick B. Garland and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said Wednesday that they had tested positive for the coronavirus, the latest in a series of prominent Democrats, lawmakers and Biden administration officials to say they had been infected.

Also Wednesday, Representative Katherine Clark of Massachusetts, the assistant House speaker, and Representative Scott Peters of California announced their own positive tests.

The Justice Department said in a statement that Mr. Garland, 69, asked to be tested after learning that he may have been exposed. Mr. Garland, who is vaccinated and boosted, was not experiencing symptoms and planned to work from home for at least five days, the department said. He will not return to the office before he tests negative at the end of that period.

The announcement about Mr. Garland came just hours after he delivered a news briefing at the Justice Department at 10 a.m., where he stood unmasked next to several other officials, including Christopher A. Wray, the director of the F.B.I. The Justice Departments statement announcing the test result followed several hours later.

Mr. Garland addressed reporters for more than half an hour, often trading places with others at the briefing room podium.

A White House official said President Biden, who has not tested positive for the coronavirus, was not considered a close contact. The official was not authorized to speak publicly and asked for anonymity.

In a news briefing Wednesday afternoon, Jen Psaki, the White House press secretary, said that although cases are increasing among Congress, the press corps and the White House, the administration is not planning on toughening protocols and plans to continue its return to work plan.

But Ms. Psaki, who recently tested positive herself for a second time, added that the president has remained protected from the virus by taking measures that go beyond what the C.D.C. protocols are, like ensuring everyone who sees Mr. Biden is tested in advance and socially distancing in meetings with the president including in the Oval Office.

The president was last tested on Monday and received a negative result, according to the White House.

Ms. Raimondo, 50, tested positive after taking an at-home antigen test, the Commerce Department said in a statement on Wednesday. The secretary, who is fully vaccinated and boosted, was experiencing mild symptoms and would isolate and work at home for five days before taking another test, in accordance with guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the department said.

Her office said it was conducting contact tracing and was in the process of notifying people with whom she may have been in close contact.

Ms. Clark, 58, said on Twitter on Wednesday morning that she had tested positive for the virus and was experiencing mild symptoms. She said she had been vaccinated and boosted.

I am grateful to our health care professionals and researchers who have given us the tools to manage this deadly virus, she said.

Mr. Peters tweeted that he is feeling fine thanks to being vaccinated and boosted, and will isolate at home while his office remains fully operational.

Jamal Simmons, the vice presidents communications director, also tested positive for the virus on Wednesday, according to a White House statement. He will be isolating and working from home, but Mr. Simmons was in close contact to Vice President Kamala Harris. She will follow consult with her physician and plans to continue with her public schedule.

The officials who announced their test results on Wednesday came the day after three other House Democrats Representatives Joaquin Castro of Texas, Adam Schiff of California and Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida said they had tested positive.

The positive tests are a reminder that, even as top officials seek to pivot away from strict restrictions and encourage Americans to learn to live with the coronavirus, the pandemic continues, driven by the emergence of a new, highly contagious subvariant whose spread is alarming experts.

In March, at least nine House Democrats announced positive tests in a span of five days, with more than half of those cases emerging after lawmakers attended a party retreat in Philadelphia. Two other lawmakers who did not attend the retreat also tested positive during the same time.

Hillary Clinton and Doug Emhoff, the husband of Vice President Kamala Harris, also tested positive for the virus in March, as did Ms. Psaki, who tested positive for the second time in five months, one day before she was scheduled to join Mr. Biden on a diplomatic trip to Europe.

Katie Rogers contributed reporting.

View original post here:

Covid News: E.U. Health Agencies Say Its Too Soon for Second Boosters - The New York Times

In his first public appearance since testing positive for the coronavirus last week, Gov. Phil Murphy urged people Wednesday to remember COVID-19 is still here and to be cautious.

The governor spoke in Jersey City at St. Peters Universitys 150th Anniversary Founders Week Celebration. He had been isolated at his home for five days prior.

Allow my experience to be a reminder that even though we may be past the worst of COVID, we are not entirely past COVID, Murphy said. Allow me to be your proof that the virus is still among us and please use me as your example of the need to continue to be smart and safe, and continue to use common sense and common courtesy.

Murphy credited being vaccinated and boosted for being able to make it through COVID with nothing more than mild symptoms.

The 64-year-old governor added he was planning to get his second booster recommended for people over 50 years old around the time he tested positive for the virus.

Murphys office said Friday the governor was experiencing minor symptoms a day after he tested positive. He took a rapid antigen test Thursday afternoon as part of his regularly scheduled testing regime, and it came back positive, his office said. Murphy then took a PCR test, which also came back positive, the office said. PCR tests are more reliable.

Murphy is considered high risk because he had a cancerous tumor removed from his kidney on March 4, 2020, the same day the state reported its first known case of the virus.

New Jerseys COVID-19 numbers plummeted in recent months after a record spike in December and January fueled by the omicron variant. Murphys diagnosis comes as the state is seeing its COVID-19 cases begin to tick up slightly again, though they are still relatively low.

BA.2, also known as the omicron stealth variant, now makes up the majority of cases in North America. Officials have said the strain appears to spread more easily but does not cause more severe illness.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @MatthewArco.

See the article here:

Allow me to be your proof that the virus is still among us, Murphy says in first post-COVID appearance - NJ.com

Catching Covid is associated with a fivefold increase in the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and a 33-fold increase in risk of a potentially fatal blood clot on the lung in the 30 days after becoming infected, data suggests.

The findings, published in the British Medical Journal on Thursday, could help explain a doubling in the incidence of, and deaths from, blood clots in England since the start of the pandemic compared with the same periods in 2018 and 2019.

They also help to put the very small increased risk of blood clots associated with Covid-19 vaccination into context. The degree of complications associated with Covid-19 is much stronger and lasts for much longer than what we might be getting after vaccination, said Dr Frederick Ho, a lecturer in public health at the University of Glasgow, who was not involved in the research.

Even those people with mild symptoms who do not need to be hospitalised might have a small increase in the risk of [blood clots].

Although previous research had suggested that catching Covid was associated with an increased risk of blood clots, it was unclear for how long this risk remained, and whether mild infections also increased peoples risk.

To address these uncertainties, Anne-Marie Fors Connolly at Ume University in Sweden and her colleagues measured the risk of DVT, pulmonary embolism a blood clot on the lung and various types of bleeding, such as gastrointestinal bleeding or a burst blood vessel in the brain, in more than 1 million people with confirmed Covid infections and more than 4 million uninfected individuals.

Overall, they identified a 33-fold increase in the risk of pulmonary embolism, a fivefold increase in the risk of DVT and an almost twofold increase in the risk of bleeding in the 30 days after infection. People remained at increased risk of pulmonary embolism for six months after becoming infected, and for two and three months for bleeding and DVT.

Although the risks were highest in patients with more severe illness, even those with mild Covid had a threefold increased risk of DVT and a sevenfold increased risk of pulmonary embolism. No increased risk of bleeding was found in those who experienced mild infections.

Pulmonary embolism can be fatal, so it is important to be aware [of this risk], said Connolly. If you suddenly find yourself short of breath, and it doesnt pass, [and] youve been infected with the coronavirus, then it might be an idea to seek help, because we find this increased risk for up to six months.

Ho said the results remained relevant even in the Omicron era, since current vaccines were highly effective against severe Covid but breakthrough infections were common, even after a third dose of a vaccine.

Despite the potential for new variants of concern, most governments are removing restrictions and shifting their focus to determining how best to live with Covid. This study reminds us of the need to remain vigilant to the complications associated with even mild Sars-CoV-2 infection, including [blood clots].

Read the original here:

Covid linked to 33-fold increase in risk of pulmonary embolism - The Guardian

Green tea (Camellia sinensis) is one of the most popular health beverages around the world.

Originating from China, green tea is lauded for many health benefits due to its potential antioxidant, antiviral and immune-boosting properties (1, 2).

Its recently been investigated for a possible role in managing the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes illness from COVID-19. You may have heard that drinking green tea prevents or cures the disease.

In this article, we explain whether green tea affects COVID-19 and offer some immune-boosting tips.

Green tea is rich in health-promoting polyphenols, such as epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), which has anti-viral effects against single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) viruses like Zika, hepatitis C, influenza (flu), dengue, and others (1, 3, 4, 5).

Like these, the SARS-CoV-2 is an ssRNA virus. Thus, green tea extracts continue to be investigated for their potential role in treating the virus and managing the COVID-19 pandemic (1, 2).

Test-tube research shows that green tea extracts may combat the SARS-CoV-2 virus by damaging the spike protein, preventing its entry into human cells and reducing the overall volume of the virus (3, 4, 5, 6).

Treatment of the test tube cells with EGCG was most effective during early stages of infection (3).

However, its important to understand that drinking green tea itself cant prevent or cure COVID-19. Most studies showing an effect used single green tea extracts like EGCG in concentrated amounts much higher than whats found in the natural tea.

Furthermore, EGCG is poorly absorbed when consumed orally from teas (4).

Nonetheless, green tea extracts may have potential to be used for natural treatment of COVID-19 after further human research and testing.

Remember, the best way to prevent serious illness from COVID-19 is by getting vaccinated, maintaining physical distancing, and washing your hands often. You can learn more about COVID-19 vaccines here.

Drinking green tea cannot prevent, treat, or cure the COVID-19 virus, but concentrated extracts like EGCG may have potential to be used for natural treatment after further human research and testing.

A COVID-19 infection can cause inflammation, which is linked to symptoms like fatigue, muscle pain, and achy joints (7).

Green tea may have anti-inflammatory properties. Its shown to reduce damaging inflammation associated with the COVID-19 virus, potentially easing these symptoms (8).

The EGCG found in green tea may also shorten infection periods by suppressing viral activity, although this effect has only been observed in test-tube studies. We need human research before we can draw conclusions (9).

Green tea is also a source of other immune-supportive nutrients like zinc, iron, and selenium albeit in small amounts (10).

Regardless, you may find that sipping on a warm cup of green tea during your COVID-19 infection is simply soothing.

Green tea may reduce damaging inflammation associated with COVID-19, potentially improving negative symptoms induced by the virus, such as muscle pains. Its also a source of immune-supportive nutrients, though theyre present only in small amounts.

Green tea contains small amounts of the following immune-boosting micronutrients (10):

Nutrient deficiencies impair immune health. For instance, research suggests that selenium deficiency may contribute to more severe illness from COVID-19 (11).

Green tea infusions made by steeping dried green tea leaves or a tea bag in hot water contain varying levels of these micronutrients, dependening on the quality of soil it was grown in (10).

Overall, concentrations of micronutrients in green tea appear low.

Green tea contains small amounts of the micronutrients zinc, copper, selenium, and vitamins B2 and B12, all of which are shown to boost immune health.

Green tea contains only small amounts of immune-boosting micronutrients. Enjoy infused green tea along with these tips to better support your overall immune health:

Increase fruit and vegetable intake, exercise regularly, avoid smoking, practice handwashing and hand hygiene, and aim for 7-9 hours per night to boost your immune health.

Green tea is a popular drink often touted as a health beverage. Some claims may hold true: it has proven antiviral effects against single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) viruses like Zika, hepatitis C, influenza, and dengue.

Its potential role in combatting SARS-CoV-2 continues to be investigated, but drinking green tea is not proven to prevent or cure COVID-19.

Increase fruit and vegetable intake, exercise regularly, avoid smoking, practice hand-washing and hand hygiene, and aim for 7-9 hours of sleep per night to boost your immune health.

Vaccination against COVID-19, in conjunction with physical distancing and masking when appropriate, remains the best way to protect yourself and others from severe illness.

See the rest here:

Green Tea and Covid: Is There a Relationship? - Healthline

CNN

Watching an ad in which former President Donald Trump promoted Covid-19 vaccines was linked to increased vaccinations in US counties with low immunization rates, according to a new study. The study was released Monday as a working paper in the National Bureau of Economic Research that has not yet been peer-reviewed.

Researchers created a 27-second ad designed to serve as a public service announcement from Trump encouraging people to get vaccinated. Through a randomized control trial, the ad was featured on different YouTube channels across more than 1,000 counties with populations of less than 1 million and in which more than half of the population was still unvaccinated.

When compared to counties that did not receive the ads, those that did receive the ads had more than 100 additional vaccinations on average. In total, treatment counties received an estimated 104,036 more vaccines than control counties. The analysis also found that for every 1,000 more ads presented, there were nearly nine additional vaccinations, on average, per county.

However, the ads effect waned with increasing strength of Trumps base. Researchers found that in counties where more than than 70% of voters supported Trump, the ads did not change vaccine uptake.

Studies have shown that Covid-19 vaccination rates often differ across party lines. A Kaiser Family Foundation poll found that in October 2021, when the ad campaign took place, 90% of Democrats reported being vaccinated compared to 61% of Republicans.

Marc Hetherington, an author of the study and professor of political science at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, was conducting surveys to assess peoples attitudes towards the pandemic when it first hit the US in 2020.

What we started to realize at that point is this is turning into a highly politicized pandemic of all things, he said. Public health people are probably not used to coming up with solutions to health problems that are politicized.

Overall, the researchers spent $100,000 in ads that reached 6 million viewers, costing about $1 per additional vaccine received. The ad campaign ran from October 14, 2021 to October 31, 2021, after Trump was no longer in office. The ad was featured on a diverse array of YouTube channels, including NBC News, Fox News and Saturday Night Live.

We found in our survey work that unvaccinated Republicans had more confidence in Donald Trump than even their own family doctor when it came to providing advice about vaccines, Hetherington said.

The ad opens with a segment from a Fox 13 News Utah anchor who says, Donald Trump is urging all Americans to get the Covid-19 vaccine.

A Trump interview on Fox News follows: I would. I would recommend it. And I would recommend it to a lot of people that dont want to get it, and a lot of those people voted for me, frankly, he says about the vaccine in the ad. The ad also features a quote from Ivanka Trump with a photograph of her receiving the vaccine.

The ad also linked to a full interview between Trump and Fox News anchor Maria Bartiromo from March 16, 2021 a clip of which was featured in the ad.

Due to the algorithms used by YouTubes advertising platform, Google Ads, the researchers could not control exactly who received the ads within the treatment counties. Not all counties that were assigned as treatment counties received the ads, though the analysis was based on whether they were intended to receive the treatment.

Hetherington said he hopes the results of this study can be used to influence public health campaigns, especially as more health issues become politicized. Paralleling coronavirus vaccine trends, flu vaccine uptake has recently become partisan a change that was not observed prior to the pandemic.

This politicization of the Covid vaccine is leaking over into peoples attitudes about vaccines more generally, Hetherington said. For public health professionals, theyre going to probably need to take politics into account, not just about the Covid vaccine, but about other vaccines in the future.

View original post here:

Trump's endorsement of Covid-19 vaccines increased uptake in counties with low vaccination rates - CNN

Not Ready for the End Game Why Ending Federal Covid-19 Emergency Declarations Will Harm Access to Care | NEJM  nejm.org

Originally posted here:

Not Ready for the End Game Why Ending Federal Covid-19 Emergency Declarations Will Harm Access to Care | NEJM - nejm.org