Category: Corona Virus

As epidemiologists have said from the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, a vaccine is the only true way to eventually resume much of life as we knew it.

Now, more than a year later, there are several vaccines against COVID-19 circulating rapidly through the U.S. population.

As more people get vaccinated against the coronavirus, research continues to show the shots are safe for people and effective at preventing them from developing severe cases of COVID-19, namely those that end in death.

While access may still be an issue for some, the expected increase in production, as well as distribution by agencies like the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the National Guard, will make COVID-19 vaccination for many people a reality soon.

We have a ways to go, Dr. Jonathan Leizman, chief medical officer at Premise Health, told Healthline.

People are sighing in heavy relief after getting their shots. Even pins and T-shirts are available on popular websites to proudly declare the wearer is fully vaccinated.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) keep updating its guidelines to let people who are fully vaccinated know that, yes, you can now hang out indoors with fully vaccinated people without social distancing or wearing masks and the risk is very low.

Still, some people are convinced the shots arent for them and say they wont get them when its their turn. Although surveys show vaccine hesitancy is going down, it remains a concerning issue.

Its something federal authorities are attempting to tackle through a new ad campaign.

Vaccine skepticism has been seen in some religious communities, such as in white evangelical Christians. In response, some congregations are combating vaccine hesitancy from their pulpits, and even hosting vaccine clinics in their parking lots.

Some people simply have a fear of needles or are concerned with how quickly the COVID-19 vaccines were developed.

But with more shots going into more arms, Leizman said theres more real-world data coming in to show the vaccines are safe, effective, free to anyone regardless of health insurance, and that vaccines are the best tool to protect yourself and others.

Communication and education go a long way, he said.

While it largely remains a personal choice, those who are eligible to get the vaccine but chose not to for whatever reasons run the risk of not only getting the virus and transmitting it to others, but also of prolonging the pandemic, contributing to spikes in cases, and giving the virus more opportunities to mutate.

Medical experts say were currently in a crucial part of the pandemic. We need to get enough people to have antibodies against the coronavirus whether through vaccination or prior infection to prevent it from mutating into strains (or variants) that may be more lethal.

Thats a vital point in controlling a viral or bacterial threat known as herd immunity.

For COVID-19, experts are estimating between 70 and 90 percent of the population need to have antibodies to reach herd immunity.

However, experts still arent sure when well reach that level of protection or exactly how many vaccinations well need to make it happen.

Dr. William Lang estimates it wont be until mid to lay May before we can reach 75 percent herd immunity, with the current vaccination rates of 3 million shots per day.

Lang is the medical director of WorldClinic and former deputy White House physician and director of the White House medical unit under Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush

medical director of WorldClinic and former deputy White House physician and director of the White House medical unit under Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, estimates it wont be until mid to late May before we can reach 75 percent herd immunity, with the current vaccination rates of 3 million shots per day.

The thing is, you dont know when you hit herd immunity, he said. Whats dangerous right now is that its clear theres an expectation of, yeah, we made it.

But we havent.

With an expected fourth wave just ahead, efforts to vaccinate people are going well but its still too early to know if weve gained enough ground, or were about to lose even more of it.

Its still unclear where and when people might have to show their vaccination status.

The vaccines currently being used in the United States are authorized by the FDA under emergency use, meaning they havent met full approval standards.

Experts doubt companies would require employees to do something that doesnt have full FDA approval.

As Stat News reports, the FDA has never before approved something on an emergency basis for use in the entire population, so theres some legal gray area about when it can be mandated.

But as more people get the vaccines, widening the base of test subjects, its becoming much more likely the FDA will approve the Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson vaccines, the three currently being used in the United States.

However, while the U.S. government might not be outright mandating vaccination, some private businesses are demanding proof of vaccination before welcoming patrons to their business.

For example, San Francisco Giants fans will need proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test to see games in person.

Rutgers University is requiring all students receive COVID-19 vaccines before arriving for classes in the fall, the first in the country. Northeastern University has followed suit.

Norwegian Cruise Lines announced this week that theyll require all passengers and crew to be vaccinated 2 weeks before ships set sail.

Because they and other private businesses operate on private property, they have the same legal right to make these rules as businesses that refuse to serve people who dont wear masks, shirts, or shoes.

Still, Lang said without full FDA approval, many places of business think its too early to make a policy to require someone to be vaccinated, as it could have some liability issues.

Its going to be an individual decision on risk, Lang said.

Dr. Ray Fabius, president and chief medical officer of HealthNEXT, said businesses will have better luck incentivizing employees to get vaccinated rather than punishing them for not, including awarding bonuses to employees who get their shots.

But places like airlines could soon require vaccination for people to fly, as airplanes are confined spaces youre in for a long time a ripe environment for the coronavirus to spread.

Fabius said cruise lines may require vaccination in their best interest, and indoor entertainment venues like movie theaters and dance clubs could also require the same.

At the end of the day, individuals have to decide if something like this would increase confidence, he said.

Lang said that societies have great interest in keeping the virus spread as low as possible to prevent more variants from emerging, but the pandemic and vaccination have turned into political issues, not medical ones.

Were so close to where we want to be that we dont want to move ahead too fast, Lang said. This isnt something thats going to be over and done.

Read more:

How Vaccine Hesitancy Could Prolong the Pandemic - Healthline

More of Pennsylvanias counties are now showing substantial spread of the coronavirus, Gov. Tom Wolfs office said Monday.

Across Pennsylvania, 45 of the states 67 counties have demonstrated substantial transmission of COVID-19, Wolfs office said. Last week, the Wolf administration said 35 counties were showing substantial transmission of the coronavirus, so 10 more counties have joined that list.

The Wolf administration uses three categories to gauge the transmission of COVID-19: low, moderate and substantial. Each week, the Wolf administration offers a report on the number of counties with substantial spread of COVID-19.

In February and March, the number of counties with high transmission of the coronavirus had been dropping. In mid-March, only 21 counties were designated as having substantial transmission. But since then, that number has more than doubled and now two-thirds of Pennsylvanias counties are considered to have substantial spread of COVID-19.

The positive test rate for the coronavirus rose to 9.4% for the week of March 26 through April 1, up from 7.6% during the previous week. Its the third straight week the positive rate has risen in Pennsylvania. At one point, the rate had dropped for 12 straight weeks.

For context, the rate of positive coronavirus tests remains well below the peak of 16.2% in December, but health officials have said a positive test rate higher than 5% is a source of concern. The rate had been 5.7% just three weeks ago.

More than 2,200 people are being treated in hospitals for COVID-19, an increase of more than 800 since mid-March, according to data from the Pennsylvania Health Department. Hospitalizations remain well below the peak of about 6,300 in December, but the states hospitals are admitting more people for COVID-19 treatment.

The rising number of counties with substantial spread and the uptick in hospitalizations comes as the state is easing restrictions on restaurants and other businesses. Under the new rules, restaurants can move up to 75% of indoor occupancy, resume bar service and serve alcohol up until 2 a.m.

New guidance for schools

State officials have urged school districts to evaluate the spread of COVID-19 in determining whether students should be in school, educated remotely or with a mix of distance learning and face-to-face instruction. Most school districts are offering at least some in-person instruction but some of Pennsylvanias schools continue to operate remotely.

On Monday, the Wolf administration offered some revised guidance for schools.

Even in counties with substantial spread of COVID-19, schools are advised they can continue offering at least a blended learning model mixing remote instruction with in-person classes, Wolfs office said. Previously, the state advised middle and high schools to consider shifting toward remote instruction in counties with substantial transmission.

In counties with moderate transmission, the states new guidance says schools can continue with face-to-face instruction full-time, or schools can opt for a hybrid approach.

We remain committed to doing everything we can to create the conditions for a return to in-person instruction as soon as safely possible, Acting Secretary of Education Noe Ortega said in a statement. Our updated instructional model recommendations create additional flexibilities for school leaders to make decisions at the local level consistent with best practices and with public health and safety at the forefront.

The Wolf administration stresses the guidance for schools is not a mandate.

Only five counties are showing low transmission of COVID-19, while 17 counties have moderate spread of the virus, the Wolf administration said. All of the counties in the Harrisburg area are now showing substantial transmission.

Heres the full breakdown of COVID-19 transmission levels in each county.

Low: Cameron, Forest, Fulton, Potter and Sullivan

Moderate: Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Clarion, Crawford, Erie, Fayette, Indiana, Jefferson, McKean, Mercer, Snyder, Somerset, Tioga, Union, Venango and Warren

Substantial: Adams, Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Berks, Bradford, Bucks, Butler, Carbon, Centre, Chester, Clearfield, Clinton, Columbia, Cumberland, Dauphin, Delaware, Elk, Franklin, Greene, Huntingdon, Juniata, Lackawanna, Lancaster, Lawrence, Lebanon, Lehigh, Luzerne, Lycoming, Mifflin, Monroe, Montgomery, Montour, Northampton, Northumberland, Perry, Philadelphia, Pike, Schuylkill, Susquehanna, Washington, Wayne, Westmoreland, Wyoming and York

Vaccine rollout

The state is also expanding its COVID-19 vaccine rollout.

Beginning Monday, all residents in Phase 1B are now eligible for the vaccines and can begin scheduling appointments. This phase includes mass transit employees, manufacturing workers, postal employees and clergy. They join key front-line workers who became eligible for the vaccine last week, including law enforcement, firefighters, grocery store employees and food and agriculture workers.

Starting April 12, all residents in Phase 1C can start scheduling appointments. Phase 1C covers more critical workers including those in the energy sector, legal services, housing construction, federal, state and local government workers, financial services, bank tellers and information technology workers.

On April 19, everyone will be eligible for the vaccines, Gov. Wolf said last week.

More than 3.7 million Pennsylvanians have received at least one shot and more than 2 million have been fully vaccinated, according to the Pennsylvania Health Department. The state data doesnt include the city of Philadelphia, which is handling its own rollout.

In Philadelphia, more than 530,000 people have been given at least one dose and more than 278,000 are fully vaccinated, according to city health department data through April 1.

Combining the city and state data, heres the vaccination picture in Pennsylvania: More than 4.2 million have had at least one shot and nearly 2.3 million are fully vaccinated.

More than 1 million people have been diagnosed with the coronavirus in Pennsylvania and more than 25,000 deaths have been tied to COVID-19, according to the Pennsylvania Health Department.

Most of those who are infected suffer relatively mild symptoms and many dont even get sick, health officials say. But doctors say the virus poses serious risks to everyone, particularly for seniors and those with chronic medical conditions.

More from PennLive

Pa. universities recommend COVID-19 vaccinations for students but not ready to require them, yet

More here:

45 Pa. counties have substantial spread of COVID-19; positive test rate rises for third week in a row - PennLive

OTTAWA - Canada's hospitalizations are surging and its intensive care beds are filling up, as COVID-19 variants and a third wave of the pandemic sweeps across much of the country, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Tuesday.

"Around the world, countries are facing a very serious third wave of this pandemic," Trudeau told a news conference. "And right now, so is Canada."

Canada has averaged nearly 5,200 new coronavirus cases per day over the past week, and has recorded a total of more than a million positive tests and 23,000 deaths.

The Canadian province of Ontario - the nation's most populous - entered a limited lockdown on Saturday, but some local health officials are calling for more drastic measures. Trudeau said he would speak with Ontario Premier Doug Ford later on Tuesday, without providing further details.

At a separate briefing on Tuesday, Ford said more restrictions were coming.

"We're going to have further restrictions moving forward very, very quickly," Ford told reporters in Toronto. "We'll discuss that tomorrow."

He expressed frustration at seeing people in Toronto allegedly "going into the mall, doing their little wander 'round, and coming out with no bags," Ford said. "That tells me they were just out for a daily jaunt. You can't do that."

The Globe and Mail newspaper reported that Toronto will close in-person learning in schools starting Wednesday.

Canadian provinces from Quebec westward to British Columbia, with the exception of Manitoba, are struggling against surging numbers of coronavirus infections.

The federal government has delivered more than 10 million doses of coronavirus vaccines so far, and provincial health agencies are in the process of administering shots. Trudeau has said everyone among the 38 million Canadians who want to be vaccinated will be by the end of September.

(Reporting by Steve Scherer and David Ljunggren in Ottawa; additional reporting by Moira Warburton in Vancouver; Editing by Mark Heinrich and Aurora Ellis)

See the original post here:

Trudeau says Canada is facing 'very serious' third wave of COVID-19 pandemic - The Union Leader

A total of 293 students and staff at 73 K-12 school districts and two colleges have been infected by coronavirus in new school-related outbreaks, according to data released Monday, April 4, by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.

The data was collected on Thursday, April 1, and includes preschools and daycares in those buildings

Last week, state reported 296 infections in new outbreaks at 69 K-12 school districts and two colleges.

The biggest new outbreak involves 22 students and staff at Bay City Central High School.

The two colleges with new outbreaks involve 14 students at Northwood University in Midland and two students at Dorsey School in Detroit.

K-12 school outbreaks were identified in 28 counties. Below are those outbreaks listed by county.

A cumulative total of 9,807 individuals have been sickened in ongoing outbreaks, the April 4 report says. Ongoing outbreaks include clusters identified earlier but that had at least one additional case in the past 28 days.

Last week, there was a cumulative total of 9,166 cases in ongoing outbreaks.

Most of those ongoing outbreaks involve college communities, and most of those outbreaks occurred outside classroom settings. A total of 7,895 infections linked to ongoing outbreaks have occurred in and around 22 college communities. That compares to 7,545 cases on 22 campuses reported last week.

Among K-12 schools, there were 1,912 staff and students infected in ongoing outbreaks at 203 schools serving pre-K through high school. That compares to 1,626 infected at 182 schools in ongoing outbreaks in last weeks report.

The latest list includes buildings with at least one case in the past 28 days.

The largest ongoing outbreaks in K-12 schools: 58 infected Madison Middle School in Lenawee County; 53 at Lapeer High School; 47 at Ruth Fox Middle School in Lapeer; 43 at East Grand Rapids High School and 41 at Portage Central High School.

Outbreak data for K-12 schools includes only cases in which the student or staff was infected at school or at a school-related function. Those who caught the virus outside of school are not included.

A COVID-19 outbreak is defined as two or more cases with a link by place and time indicating a shared exposure outside of a household.

Below is an online database that allows readers to search outbreak data by school name or by city or county. The number of those infected is a cumulative total since the original outbreak. (Note: Washtenaw County only reports cumulative totals for the past 28 days.)

Below is an interactive map showing both new and ongoing outbreaks listed in the Monday, March 29, report. It shows outbreaks reported as of April 1. You can put your cursor over a dot to see the underlying data.

More on MLive:

Sports, spring break & sleepovers: COVID chaos as outbreaks increase in Michigan schools

4.5M vaccine doses administered as Michigan prepares to expand eligibility to people 16 and older

Michigan grocers quickly adapted to the pandemic, and the changes are stick

Myths and facts about the COVID vaccine shot as Michigan opens access to all

Go here to see the original:

293 infected in new coronavirus outbreaks at 75 schools, says Michigans April 4 school outbreak report - MLive.com

What appears to be a fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic has struck Michigan, the New York region and New England, and experts are uncertain whether it will remain contained.

The United States has entered a fourth wave of transmission, and theres no disputing this. Whether it remains as small regional outbreaks, or whether it generalizes nationwide remains to be seen, Dr. George Rutherford, a UC San Francisco epidemiologist, said Friday at a campus town hall meeting.

Nationally, there has been an 8% week-over-week increase in the average daily number of newly diagnosed coronavirus cases, rising to about 62,000 for the seven-day period that ended Wednesday, federal officials said Friday. The average daily number of new hospital admissions for COVID-19 patients rose 5% over the same period.

California, where case numbers have dipped to levels not seen since the end of last spring, is in a much better situation. The state is reporting daily averages of 2,500 to 2,700 cases. (During the worst of the surge in the fall and winter, California was reporting 45,000 cases a day.) Additionally, California has had a coronavirus test positivity rate of 1%-2% over the last week compared with 16% in Michigan and 9% in New Jersey.

Here in California, were in much better shape we do not have a spike. But I would point out that weve leveled off, and were not seeing continued declines, Rutherford said.

He and others have expressed concern about Florida, the state with the largest concentration of confirmed cases of the U.K. coronavirus variant, B.1.1.7, which is more transmissible and possibly more deadly than the conventional strain. Florida has no statewide mask mandate, and crowds of spring break revelers are prompting fears that travelers will further spread the U.K. variant around the nation. Florida over the last week had a positivity rate of 9%, and it is climbing.

Well have to see how that plays out, Rutherford said.

In Michigan, the surge has accelerated since it began in mid-March, Rutherford said, and appears to be heading toward a peak similar to the states winter high. The Michigan surge appears to be tied to the U.K. variant and may have been precipitated by high school sports, Rutherford said.

Elsewhere in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Delaware theres a series of a kind of interlinked outbreaks, with more modest increases that seem to stem from metropolitan New York and spilling into the neighboring states, Rutherford said.

Other national experts echoed Rutherfords concerns.

Were heading into the fourth surge. Cases are increasing. Variants are increasing. Variants are more deadly, Dr. Tom Frieden, a former director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said Saturday on ABCs Good Morning America. We just have to hang on until a larger proportion particularly of the vulnerable are well vaccinated and more of us are vaccinated, or we will have a large fourth surge. We will have a fourth surge, Im afraid. How large and deadly? That depends on us.

Some experts disagree, given how many people in the U.S. have either been vaccinated or have immunity because of a past coronavirus infection.

I think that theres enough immunity in the population that youre not going to see a true fourth wave of infection, Dr. Scott Gottlieb, a former head of the Food and Drug Administration, said Sunday on CBS Face the Nation. However, he added that there are indeed pockets of infection around the country, particularly in younger people who havent been vaccinated and also in school-age children.

Gottlieb said he believes schools can stay open if they adhere to pandemic safety practices: As one epidemiologist referred to it this week, go the full Harry Potter and try to keep students within defined social cohorts so that theyre not intermingling in large groups.

California has the nations fourth-highest number of cases tied to the U.K. variant, according to federal data. A hopeful scenario envisions the spread of that variant in the state impeded by the California variant, B.1.427/B.1.429, which has been more prevalent here.

Hopefully, well be able to dodge this bullet, because this [U.K. strain] is a more transmissible strain and possibly a strain that causes more severe disease, Rutherford said.

More than 32% of Californians have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, and roughly 17% are fully vaccinated.

Recent data show that the currently available vaccines offer sufficient protection against the new variants. The vaccines produce an immune response way more than you need for the conventional strain of the coronavirus, Rutherford said. And even when they show diminished effectiveness against variants such as South Africas B.1.351 and Brazils P.1 strains the vaccines produce an immune response two to three times more than you need, Rutherford said. So far, so good.

Despite the positive news on vaccination, the leading health official in Northern Californias most populous county, Santa Clara, warned that the decline in daily case numbers there is slowing.

We are now seeing our case rates flatten, and in some cases some indication that theyre beginning to tick up. So we may have gotten as low as were going to go, said Dr. Sara Cody, the health officer and public health director for Santa Clara County. Unfortunately, we still all need to be very aware and very cautious to prevent any surge or even a swell. We dont want that to happen.

The likelihood of another surge or a milder swell hitting California will depend on vaccine supply and the behavior of residents.

Vaccines are going to help, but we need more supply so we can get it out faster, Cody said. And we need people to just hold on for a little bit longer: Keep wearing your mask, delay your travel, dont indoor dine, dont go to indoor bars, dont host an indoor gathering at your home. Even if its allowed under the state rules, dont do it. Its not safe. Not yet.

Health officials have acknowledged the apparent contradiction in easing restrictions while at the same time voicing caution about a rise in cases.

However, some mixed messaging is to be expected when dealing with a new virus, according to Dr. Muntu Davis, L.A. Countys health officer.

This is naturally what happens inside of a pandemic, Davis said Friday. As you start to see how the virus acts, as you start to see when you have new countermeasures, whether that be vaccine or treatment, then we start to learn more. But until we have that information, we have to operate with a lot of caution, because everyone is at risk.

See more here:

Will fourth wave of COVID-19 in East spread to California? - Los Angeles Times

DETROIT The number of confirmed cases of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in Michigan has risen to 683,793 as of Friday, including 16,161 deaths, state officials report.

Fridays update includes a total of 5,498 new cases and 20 additional deaths. On Thursday, the state reported 678,295 total cases and 16,141 deaths.

Testing has been steady around 35,000 diagnostic tests reported per day on average, with the 7-day positive rate above 13% as of Thursday, the highest since early December. The state has reported an up-tick in hospitalizations over the last several weeks.

Related: Michigan COVID hospitalizations: Concerns grow as more younger adults are in ICU

Ad

Michigans 7-day moving average for daily cases was 5,061 on Thursday -- the highest since December. The 7-day death average was 26 on Thursday and has been flat for several weeks. The states fatality rate is 2.4%. The state also reports active cases, which were listed at 94,500 on Thursday. More than 569,000 have recovered in Michigan.

Michigan has reported more than 4.2 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine administered as of Wednesday, with 34.5% of residents having received at least one dose.

More: Whitmer says Michigan plans to combat rising COVID cases with masks, vaccines -- not new restrictions

Ad

According to Johns Hopkins University, more than 30.4.5 million cases have been reported in the U.S., with more than 553,200 deaths reported from the virus.

Worldwide, more than 129.8 million people have been confirmed infected and more than 2.8 million have died. More than 73 million have recovered, according to Johns Hopkins University. The true numbers are certainly much higher, because of limited testing, different ways nations count the dead and deliberate under-reporting by some governments.

Michigan COVID-19 vaccinations: How to find appointments, info on phases

Coronavirus headlines:

VIEW: Tracking Michigan COVID-19 vaccine doses

Ad

VIEW: Tracking coronavirus cases, outbreaks in Michigan schools

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer released a statement Tuesday after White House officials announced that there will increase COVID-19 vaccine doses available for Michigan starting next week.

According to a press release, next weeks shipment will increase by 66,020 bringing the total number of doses to 620,040 -- a weekly record for the state. Officials said the allocation includes 147,800 doses of the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

This comes after Whitmer recently requested for more vaccines as the state is seeing a rise in COVID numbers.

Ad

The CDC said that Michigan is leading the country in new cases of COVID-19 per population.

On Tuesday, officials reported 5,177 new COVID cases and 48 additional deaths, including 20 from a Vital Records review. On Monday, the state reported 660,771 total cases and 16,034 deaths.

Local 4s Dr. Frank McGeorge said hes seen a very clear increase in COVID patients at the hospital where he works.

Many of them need to be hospitalized. I would honestly say, this feels worse to me here in Southeast Michigan than it was during the wave that started in November. Now, the most concerning trend is the number of middle-aged people with severe COVID, McGeorge said.

All Detroiters 16 and older are now eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine, the city announced Monday.

Ad

Any Detroit resident age 16 or older can now call to schedule an appointment to be vaccinated at the TCF Center.

Appointments can be made by calling 313-230-0505. Anyone living outside of the city of Detroit, but reporting to work each day in the city, also are eligible to schedule an appointment.

Johnson & Johnson vaccine site opened at Northwest Activities Center 9-1 this Saturday.

Chief Public Health Officer Denise Fair also announced that the Detroit Health Department has been informed it will receive its first allocation of Johnson and Johnson vaccine this week. Detroiters wanting the one dose J&J vaccine can call 313-230-0505 for an appointment to receive at the Northwest Activities Center, located at 18100 Meyers from 9-1 this Saturday.

The state of Michigan announced Friday that all residents age 16 and up will become eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine on April 5, nearly a month before the May 1 date pledged by President Joe Biden.

Ad

People age 16 to 49 with certain medical conditions or disabilities will qualify starting March 22, when 50- to 64-year-olds can begin getting shots under a previous announcement. Two days later, March 24, a federally selected regional mass vaccination site will open at Detroits Ford Field to administer an additional 6,000 doses a day for two months.

Learn more here.

MORE: Michigans updated COVID-19 vaccination schedule: Who is eligible and when

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services announced that the first case of the COVID-19 variant B.1.351 has been identified in a child in Jackson County.

Ad

The health department did not say how the boy was infected but a case investigation is underway to determine close contacts and if there are additional cases associated.

This new variant was originally detected in South Africa in October 2020 and shares some mutations with the B117 variant. The first case of the B117 variant -- originally detected in the United Kingdom -- was identified in Washtenaw County.

The state of Michigan has loosened its COVID-19 restrictions on bars and restaurants, including the capacity limit and nightly curfew.

On Tuesday, March 2, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services announced the restrictions on indoor dining have been revised.

Ad

Starting Friday, March 5, Michigan restaurants and bars will be allowed to fill up to 50% capacity, with a maximum of 100 people, according to the state.

Im proud that we are able to take this positive step without compromising public health, Whitmer said.

Since Feb. 1, restaurants had been capped at 25% capacity. From mid-November through the end of January, no indoor dining was allowed at bars or restaurants.

The number of the confirmed cases of a more contagious COVID-19 variant in Michigan increased by more than 100 this week, suggesting there is undetected spread in the community.

Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, the chief medical director for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, said the state has confirmed 422 cases of the COVID-19 B117 variant.

That number increased from 314 cases identified as of six days prior (Feb. 24).

Through a partnership with SMART, Macomb County is offering a new vaccination location in Sterling Heights.

Ad

The vaccination site is at the Sterling Heights Senior Center on Utica Road, between Schoenherr and Van Dyke roads.

Appointments are required. Eligible residents and workers can call the SMART Macomb Vaccine line at 586-421-6579.

Wayne County announced it will open several vaccination clinics for residents 65 and older.

According to county Executive Warren Evans, the vaccination clinics will begin Feb. 23.

Im pleased Wayne County is now in a position to begin vaccinating seniors, Evans said. I know everyone is eager to safely get back to normal. Our team is working hard to ensure all of our residents can get their COVID shot as quickly as the vaccine is available.

There are no walk-up appointments and seniors must make an appointment by calling the number for the site in their communities.

The full list of clinics and how to register can be found here.

Ad

Michigan COVID-19 daily reported cases since March 1:

March 1 -- 785 new cases

March 2 -- 1,067 new cases

March 3 -- 1,536 new cases

March 4 -- 1,526 new cases

March 5 -- 1,486 new cases

March 6 -- 1,289 new cases

March 7 -- 980 new cases

March 8 -- 980 new cases

March 9 -- 954 new cases

March 10 -- 2,316 new cases

March 11 -- 2,091 new cases

March 12 -- 2,403 new cases

March 13 -- 1,659 new cases

March 14 -- 1,571 new cases

March 15 -- 1,572 new cases

March 16 -- 2,048 new cases

March 17 -- 3,164 new cases

March 18 -- 2,629 new cases

March 19 -- 3,730 new cases

March 20 -- 2,660 new cases

March 21 -- 2,400 new cases

March 22 -- 2,401 new cases

March 23 -- 3,579 new cases

March 24 -- 4,454 new cases

March 25 -- 5,224 new cases

March 26 -- 5,030 new cases

March 27 -- 4,670 new cases

March 28 -- 4,101 new cases

March 29 -- 4,101 new cases

March 30 -- 5,177 new cases

March 31 -- 6,311 new cases

April 1 -- 6,036 new cases

April 2 -- 5,498 new cases

Michigan COVID-19 daily reported deaths since March 1:

March 1 -- 6 new deaths

March 2 -- 24 new deaths (12 from vital records)

March 3 -- 5 new deaths

March 4 -- 37 new deaths (29 from vital records)

March 5 -- 10 new deaths

March 6 -- 56 new deaths (48 from vital records)

March 7 -- 2 new deaths

Link:

Coronavirus in Michigan: Heres what to know April 3, 2021 - WDIV ClickOnDetroit

Here's the latest COVID-19 case, death and hospitalization data from the state.

ATLANTA We're breaking down the trends and relaying information from across the state of Georgia as it comes in, bringing perspective to the data and context to the trends.

Visit the 11Alive coronavirus page for comprehensive coverage, find out what you need to know about Georgia specifically, learn more about the symptoms, and keep tabs on the cases around the world.

State and federal officials with the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are continually monitoring the spread of the virus. They are also working hand-in-hand with the World Health Organization to track the spread around the world and to stop it.

Appling 1883 63

Atkinson 770 16

Baldwin 3791 109

Barrow 8424 126

Bartow 10910 201

Ben Hill 1482 58

Berrien 1045 29

Bleckley 793 33

Brantley 902 30

Bulloch 5165 62

Carroll 7267 129

Catoosa 5413 61

Charlton 1044 23

Chatham 19597 394

Chattahoochee 2996 12

Chattooga 2180 60

Cherokee 21709 288

Clarke 12474 129

Clayton 22473 415

Coffee 4210 133

Colquitt 3468 74

Columbia 10799 158

Coweta 8439 181

Crawford 519 17

DeKalb 55451 878

Decatur 2111 54

Dougherty 5404 274

Douglas 11498 169

Effingham 3688 62

Emanuel 1714 52

Fayette 6444 142

Forsyth 17251 167

Franklin 2309 41

Fulton 78883 1208

Gordon 6383 100

Gwinnett 83827 1008

Habersham 4594 144

Haralson 1682 34

Henry 18375 274

Houston 9783 185

Jackson 8341 133

Jeff Davis 1278 37

Jefferson 1557 58

Laurens 3645 141

Liberty 3172 59

Lowndes 7596 136

Lumpkin 2721 61

Madison 2685 44

McDuffie 1623 39

McIntosh 672 14

Meriwether 1478 68

Mitchell 1502 73

Montgomery 707 20

Muscogee 13742 374

Newton 7210 209

Non-GA Resident/Unknown State 23420 447

Oglethorpe 1166 28

Paulding 10416 161

Pickens 2454 58

Randolph 463 32

Richmond 19294 391

Rockdale 5793 145

Seminole 734 17

Spalding 3880 149

Stephens 2937 76

Taliaferro 100 3

Tattnall 1827 42

Thomas 3496 112

Treutlen 622 22

Unknown 2419 11

Walton 7841 227

Washington 1595 56

Whitfield 14597 224

Wilkinson 724 27

Go here to see the original:

These are the latest COVID numbers in Georgia for April 4, 2021 - 11Alive.com WXIA

The COVID-19 vaccines produced by Pfizer and Moderna are highly effective at preventing COVID-19 cases in real-world conditions, and research suggests they should maintain their effectiveness over time.

What remains unclear, however, is exactly how long the vaccines prevent COVID-19, if booster shots may be needed down the road, or if vaccines will need to be tweaked to fight against emerging variants of the virus.

In an April 2 report, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) studied almost 4,000 vaccinated healthcare personnel, first responders, and other essential and frontline workers.

They found that the messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines developed by pharmaceutical companies Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna prevented 80 percent of cases after the first dose and 90 percent after the second dose.

The frontline workers in the study were tested for COVID-19 every week for 13 weeks.

Researchers said the dearth of positive COVID-19 tests in the study group indicates that the vaccines reduce the risk of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 by vaccinated individuals to others.

Reducing the risk for transmissible infection, which can occur among persons with asymptomatic infection or among persons several days before symptoms onset, is especially important among healthcare personnel, first responders, and other essential and frontline workers given their potential to transmit the virus through frequent close contact with patients and the public, the report noted.

Theres more and more evidence showing that the transmission of the virus after vaccination is likely very low, Dr. Susan Bailey, an allergist and immunologist and president of the American Medical Association, told Healthline.

Separately, Pfizer-BioNTech said that the ongoing phase 3 clinical trial of its mRNA vaccine shows that strong immunization persists for at least 6 months among vaccinated individuals.

Researchers found that the vaccine was 100 percent effective against severe disease as defined by the CDC, and 95.3 percent effective against severe COVID-19 as defined by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The vaccine was also found to be 100 percent effective against one of the main COVID-19 variants (known as B.1.351) currently circulating widely in South Africa.

A study that included 12,000 vaccinated individuals also found no serious safety concerns with the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, the companies announced.

The good news is that in the 6-month status report from Pfizer, immunity stays very strong, and we anticipate that it will continue to stay strong, said Bailey.

These people [in the study] have had the vaccine the longest, and it tells us it lasts at least 6 months, added Bailey. But its definitely longer than that its not just going to drop off after 6 months. I would have been concerned if efficacy had dropped by a third or half.

The fact that COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness remained almost unchanged over the span of the study period is an indication that protection will be enduring.

Bailey noted that some vaccines, such as those for measles, mumps, and rubella, generally confer lifetime immunity. Others, such as the flu vaccine, require a new shot every year.

We dont know which camp the COVID-19 vaccine will fall into, she said. If we do need a booster shot for COVID-19, we do know that it will be easy to produce thanks to the new mRNA technology, she added.

Bailey said that the vaccines now in use appear to be effective against the COVID-19 variants circulating in the United States. But as the coronavirus continues to mutate, variants could emerge that are more resistant.

My prediction is that a situation in which we would need to have a booster shot in the future is not because the first dose of vaccine faded but because there is a new variant that might emerge, she said.

As noted in the research, vaccines dont completely eliminate the risk of developing COVID-19.

A recent report on 100 COVID-19 cases that occurred in vaccinated people in the state of Washington raised some public alarm.

But experts said such breakthrough cases are expected and represent just a fraction of the more than 1 million Washington residents who have been vaccinated.

Finding evidence of vaccine breakthrough cases reminds us that, even if you have been vaccinated, you still need to wear a mask, practice socially distancing, and wash your hands to prevent spreading COVID-19 to others who have not been vaccinated, said Dr. Umair A. Shah, secretary of health for the state of Washington.

Originally posted here:

How Long Does Immunity from COVID-19 Vaccination Last? - Healthline

Brazils coronavirus nightmare: Bolsonaro is more isolated than ever  Financial Times

The rest is here:

Brazils coronavirus nightmare: Bolsonaro is more isolated than ever - Financial Times

(April 4 ,2021) Two new coronavirus cases were reported on Nantucket Sunday, increasing to 1,393 total cases on the island since the start of the pandemic last March.

The results also included 51 negatives. Two-hundred-two new COVID-19 cases have been reported on the island since March 1, and 60 in the past week.

Health director Roberto Santamaria attributed the recent spike to the probable presence on the island of more contagious coronavirus variants, and community spread.

More powerful variants of the COVID-19 virus have been recently confirmed in Massachusetts, and last Friday evidence of the U.K. variant turned up in island sewage tested for coronavirus (Click herefor story).

We have to assume this spread is being caused by variants, Santamaria said. And now we are seeing with the nice weather and coming into the shoulder season people are getting lax in their safety measures like mask-wearing and distancing.

The latest spread cant be pinned to any specific group or section of the island, he added.

Its not coming over from the Cape, its not day-trippers, its people that live here that are primarily spreading this, he said.

Two patients were transported off-island for a higher level of care last week, and two were hospitalized at Nantucket Cottage Hospital, NCH president and CEO Gary Shaw said.

"We're seeing more people sicker, and more people in our emergency room now presenting with symptoms more severe than just what we'd been seeing at the drive-through testing," he said.

Click hereto read Shaw's full statement on the recent surge.

Shaw also attributed the recent spike in part to new arrivals on the island.

"We're seeing a greater number of people coming from other parts of the country for seasonal work, not knowing they are infected, getting tested and testing positive," he said last Thursday.

"We are not out of the woods by any means. A good part of the country and the world are not vaccinated at a time when people really want to travel. Levels of decline have plateaued within the state. Thats a bad sign. A ramp-up in caseload is going to be coming," he continued..

"We all need to be vigilant to cross this hurdle. Its a race to get vaccines into arms. We are havinganother surge, and we need to be careful."

The 60 new cases reported in the past seven days represent a 9.4 percent weekly positivity rate.

"Our biggest line of defense is you working together with us to help prevent the spread of this heinous virus. We are in the 24th mile of a full marathon. The end is near, but we cant quit now," Santamaria said in a recent Twitter message.

There have been four COVID-19 Nantucket deaths since the start of the pandemic, the most recent Dec. 22, 2020, a man in his mid-80s.

The second round of Phase 2 vaccinations began in early March, and vaccination of the general public is scheduled to begin April 19. (Click herefor story).

As of Monday, 4,979 first doses and 2,138 second doses of vaccine have been administered on Nantucket.

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on March 8 issued its first set of guidelines for fully-vaccinated people.Click herefor more.

Starting Monday, April 5, all COVID-19 testing will be conducted at the hospital's drive-through portico to free up additional vaccination space at the VFW. Testing hours for those with symptoms and close contacts will be held from 7 a.m.-10 a.m. Monday-Friday at the drive-through portico.

COVID-19 elective testing for asymptomatic patients (those with no symptoms) will be held from 10 a.m.-noon Monday-Friday and 8 a.m.-10 a.m. Saturdays.

Click here to read more.

Free asymptomatic testing under the state's "Stop the Spread" program is administered indoors at the VFW on New South Road from 8-10 a.m. Monday-Saturday, but is limited to 75 tests per day.

Symptomatic testing is provided at the hospital's drive-through portico on Prospect Street from 7:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Monday through Friday.

Hospital staff have collected 29,652 nasal swabs for testing since the start of the pandemic. In addition to the 1,391 positive tests 4.69 percent of the total number returned 28,245 have come back negative, and 16 are awaiting results.

The Board of Health on Dec. 11, 2020 established a COVID-19 task force to better enforce and raise awareness of coronavirus regulations (Click herefor story).

Gov. Charlie Baker in late Februry lifted the 9:30 p.m. statewide restaurant closing time, and in early March increased capcacity limits for restaurants, theaters, museums and other indoor locations. Additional capacity increases took effect March 22 (Click herefor story).

Part-time in-class learning for Nantucket public-school students resumed Jan. 14 after being remote only since before Christmas. State officials are targetting April 5 for a full return to in-class learning for elementary-school students, and later in April for middle- and high-school students.

"I ask everyone on Nantucket to take personal responsibility and do all you can to reduce the potential for transmission in our community. That means wearing masks, staying physically distant, washing your hands, and not hosting or attending gatherings with people outside your immediate households," Shaw said recently.

"Most of all, we want our community to stay healthy, we want our economy to remain open, we want our public schools to be able to return to in-person learning. To that end, we must work together and apply the simple preventive measures that will keep this situation from spiraling out of control."

There have been 1,328 coronavirus cases confirmed on Nantucket in the past six and a half months, beginning Sept. 9, 2020 with a spike linked to workers in the trades, followed by a second surge in late September tied to a church function in which a communal meal was shared.

A third spike in early November was again tied to workers in the trades, followed by significant surges related to holiday gatherings and travel at Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's.

Prior to Sept. 9, Nantucket had one of the lowest COVID-19 rates in the state per 100,000 population, and the fewest confirmed cases of any county in Massachusetts.

The Board of Health on Oct. 6, 2020 voted to require all people on publicly-accessible property across the island to wear a mask, not just downtown and in Sconset, as was previously mandated.

It decided in mid-November against tightening restrictions to limit the total number of workers on a job site to six in an attempt to stop the spread (Click herefor story).

Nantucket Cottage Hospital does not have an intensive-care unit and only five ventilators. Shaw has said patients in need of acute respiratory care would be transferred to mainland hospitals if at all possible.

The criteria for symptomatic drive-up testing at the hospital includes at least one of the following signs or symptoms consistent with a viral respiratory syndrome: subjective/documented fever, new sore throat, new cough, new runny nose/nasal congestion, new shortness of breath, new muscle aches or anosmia (new loss of sense of smell). Close contacts of COVID-19 positive patients and pre-procedure patients can also be tested.

For more information about symptomatic and asymptomatic testing,click here.

Click hereto sign up for Above the Fold, The Inquirer and Mirrors twice-weekly newsletter, bringing you both the news and a slice of island life, curated with content created by Nantuckets only team of professionally-trained journalists.

For up-to-the-minute information on Nantuckets breaking news, boat and plane cancellations, weather alerts, sports and entertainment news, deals and promotions at island businesses and more, Sign up for Inquirer and Mirror text alerts.Click Here

Read more:

Two new coronavirus cases reported on Nantucket Sunday - The Inquirer and Mirror