Category: Corona Virus

Here are the latest developments with COVID-19 spread in Minnesota and Wisconsin, and the effort to vaccinate state residents.

ST PAUL, Minn. Monday, Feb. 8

Governor Tim Walz has announced another COVID-19 community vaccination site, this one in Rochester.

According to a press release from the governor's office, the "large-scale, permanent site" will launch this week, joining two others of its kind in Minneapolis and Duluth. Officials said the site will serve about 1,500 Minnesotans 65 and older.

The three sites are part of Minnesota's COVID-19 Community Vaccination Program. Officials said more than 220,000 Minnesotans have registered for the states COVID-19 vaccine registry for those 65 and older.

While announcing the new site, Walz continued his push for more vaccine doses from the federal government.

"We still need more supply, but we have to be ready when the federal government ramps up to meet the demand," Walz said in the release.

He said later this week, the state plans to release information on "a permanent tool for Minnesotans to sign up for information about vaccination opportunities."

Data released Monday by the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) reflects a drop in new COVID-19 case numbers, but recorded testing volume is also relatively low, which is often the case on weekends.

MDH recorded 564 cases of coronavirus in the past day, based on results from 18,567 tests (17,863 PCR, 704 antigen) processed in private and state labs. Health officials consider a positive PCR test a confirmed COVID case, while a positive antigen test is considered a probable case.

Monday's cases are more than 300 lower than cases reported Sunday, but Sunday's numbers were based on more than 9,000 more tests processed.

Deaths dropped Monday, with three people losing their lives to the virus. That's the first time deaths have been in single digits in nearly a week. State fatalities now sit at 6,302 since the pandemic began.

A federal announcement that vaccine shipments will be sent out to community pharmacies this week should provide another boost to vaccination numbers. As of Saturday the state's vaccine dashboard was reporting 556,482 Minnesotans have received at least one dose of COVID vaccine, with 158,763 of those people having completed the two-shot series.

Providers report administering 86% of the vaccine they've received within three days time, inching closer to the 90% goal set by Gov. Tim Walz in a recent directive.

The vaccine dashboard says nearly 10% of state residents have now received at least one dose of vaccine.

The number of hospital beds being used statewide to treat COVID patients is holding fairly steady. As of Sunday, 330 beds were filled with coronavirus patients, 80 of them in the ICU. Bed occupancy remains tight in the Twin Cities metro, with just 144 non-ICU beds (3.9%) not in use.

Total hospitalizations have climbed to 24,780 since the start of the pandemic, with 5,105 patients requiring ICU care. MDH says 454,290 people who at one time tested positive for COVID have recovered to the point they no longer need to be isolated.

Minnesotans in their 20s make up the largest group of the state's coronavirus cases. Those 20 to 24 account for 46,978 cases and three deaths, while their counterparts ages 25 to 29 have recorded 42,088 cases and six deaths. The group with the most COVID-19 fatalities are those ages 85 to 89, with 1,196 deaths in 6,132 diagnosed cases.

Hennepin County reports the highest amount of COVID activity with 97,297 cases and 1,550 deaths, following by Ramsey County with 41,779 cases and 780 deaths, Dakota County with 34,741 cases and 371 deaths, and Anoka County with 32,255 cases and 375 fatalities.

Cook County in northeastern Minnesota has recorded the least COVID activity, holding steady with just 116 diagnosed cases since the pandemic hit.

New cases dipped back below 1,000 Sunday, and close to 10% of Minnesota's population have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

A total of 554,102 people in the state have received at least one dose. Out of that group, 156,638 have received both doses. As there is a several-day delay in releasing vaccination data, these numbers are valid as of Feb. 5.

As for other COVID-19 data, today's newly-reported cases and deaths both fell since Saturday. The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) reported 914 new COVID-19 cases, along with 10 new deaths.

MDH's COVID-19 case definition includes both antigen testing and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing. Positive PCR test results are considered confirmed cases, while positive antigen test results are considered probable cases.

Sunday's new case total includes 774 confirmed cases and 140 probable cases.

The total number of Minnesotans who have tested positive for the virus since the pandemic began is now 468,118, with 21,047 of those as antigen test results.

MDH says 10 new deaths from the virus were reported. That pushes the total number of fatalities in Minnesota to 6,299.

To date, 24,745 Minnesotans have been hospitalized with the coronavirus since the pandemic started, with 5,101 of them needing care in the ICU.

MDH reports that 453,225 people once diagnosed with the virus have passed the point where they are required to isolate.

Of those who have tested positive, people between the ages of 20-24 account for the most cases with 46,945 cases and three deaths, and ages 25-29 follow with 42,051 cases and six deaths. Those between 85 and 89 years old account for the highest number of fatalities in one age group with 1,196 out of 6,127 diagnosed cases.

In terms of likely exposure to the coronavirus, MDH says 102,839 cases were the result of community transmission with no known contact with an infected person, and 95,449 had known contact with a person who has a confirmed case.

A total of 38,502 cases involved exposure in a congregate living setting,7,874 were in a corrections setting, and 992 were in a homeless shelter. MDH data shows 18,421 were linked to an outbreak outside of congregate living or health care.

MDH says 31,879 cases were linked to travel. Health care workers or patients account for 14,441 diagnosed COVID-19 cases. The source of transmission for 157,721 cases is still unknown or missing.

MDH has prioritized testing for people in congregate care, hospitalized patients and health care workers, which may impact the scale of those numbers. However, now MDH is urging anyone who is symptomatic or even asymptomatic to be tested. Testing locations can be found online.

Hennepin County has had the most COVID activity in the state with 97,160 cases and 1,549 deaths, followed by Ramsey County with 41,742 cases and 780 deaths, Dakota County with 34,695 cases and 371 deaths, and Anoka County with 32,221 cases and 375 deaths.

Full data, including a breakdown of PCR and antigen test totals in some categories, can be found on MDH's website.

KARE 11s coverage of the coronavirus is rooted in Facts, not Fear. Visit kare11.com/coronavirus for comprehensive coverage, andkare11.com/vaccinefor answers to all of your questions about the race to get the U.S. vaccinated. Have a question? Text it to us at 763-797-7215. And get the latest coronavirus updates sent right to your inbox every morning. Subscribe to the KARE 11 Sunrise newsletter here. Help local families in need: http://www.kare11.com/give11.

The state of Minnesota has set up a data portal online at mn.gov/covid19.

Excerpt from:

Live updates: New community COVID-19 vaccination site to open in Rochester - KARE11.com

Coronavirus: Security guard punched after asking shopper to wear mask  KIRO Seattle

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Coronavirus: Security guard punched after asking shopper to wear mask - KIRO Seattle

When he comes out of this, life will not be as he knows it at all. How do you describe it, his aunt, Kate Yarbo, told CNN. I think its going to be a shock. Were all still processing it Im not sure you can ever actually describe how this pandemic feels.

Originally posted here:

Teen awakes from year-long coma with no knowledge of coronavirus pandemic - KIRO Seattle

Doses of coronavirus vaccine will be available to eligible individuals in every Louisiana parish this week.

The vaccine will be delivered to 378 providers, including pharmacies and hospitals, in all 64 parishes, the Louisiana Department of Health announced Monday morning.

The doses will only be available to people eligible under the Phase 1B, Tier 1 guidelines. That includes:

Urgent care clinic providers and staff

Community care providers and staff

Dental providers and staff

In order to receive the vaccine, a person must make an appointment with the provider. A person who arrives to a location without an appointment will not be given a vaccine.

Louisiana expanded its eligibility for the coronavirus vaccine on Thursday, allowing people 65 and older to now obtain the vaccine.

Read more:

Here's where coronavirus vaccines will be available in Louisiana this week - The Advocate

Press Releases

02/08/2021

(HARTFORD, CT) Governor Ned Lamont today announced that Connecticut residents over the age of 65 will be eligible to schedule COVID-19 vaccination appointments starting on Thursday, February 11, 2021, as the state rolls into the next part of phase 1b of its vaccination program. Vaccinations for individuals over the age of 75 and those within phase 1a will continue.

With approximately 350,000 individuals in Connecticut between the ages of 65 and 74, and a slightly increased but relatively small weekly supply of the vaccine being received in the state from the federal government, Governor Lamont and state public health officials are stressing the need for patience on the part of Connecticut residents.

Currently, the state anticipates receiving about 60,000 first doses of the vaccine per week from the federal government.

In a perfect world, we would receive enough doses of the vaccine to make it available to everyone in Connecticut right now, however each state is being given a very limited supply, which is why we need to phase it in and give priority to the most vulnerable populations, Governor Lamont said. I know that people are anxious to receive it, and I will continue advocating for our state to receive increased allocations in the coming weeks and months.

COVID-19 has disproportionately impacted older individuals and individuals in traditionally underserved communities, Connecticut Public Health Acting Commissioner Dr. Deidre Gifford said. Now that weve vaccinated the majority of our highest risk age group, we are ready to move to those over the age of 65. However, we want to ensure that within this high risk group, we focus on getting vaccine to individuals within the group who come from communities that have been hardest hit by the virus, namely our Black and Latino communities. We are working with our vaccine providers and other community partners to identify underserved areas and focus vaccine resources into those areas, including providing transportation assistance and other solutions to address barriers to vaccine access.

All eligible residents are required to make an appointment in advance of receiving the vaccine. To find available vaccination clinics throughout the state, residents can visit ct.gov/covidvaccine and enter their zip code.

Appointments can be made utilizing the following tools:

For the most up-to-date information on COVID-19 vaccination distribution plans in Connecticut, visit ct.gov/covidvaccine.

Excerpt from:

Governor Lamont Announces Connecticut Residents Over 65 Can Register for COVID-19 Vaccination Appointments Starting Thursday, February 11 - CT.gov

February 8, 2021 Through its free community COVID-19 test operations, Healthy Davis Together and the UC Davis Genome Center identified the first known case of the B.1.1.7 variant of the virus SARS-CoV-2 in the Sacramento region.

Scientists at the Genome Center began genotyping positive samples of the virus in January as part of their COVID-19 screening efforts to monitor for variants of concern.Researchers have found evidencethat the B.1.1.7 variant virus is more contagious and predict that it will spread rapidly in the United States, doubling in relative frequency approximately every 10 days.So far, studies suggest that antibodies generated through vaccination with currently authorized vaccines recognize these variants.

Even though Davis has an overall low rate of COVID-19 positive tests, it has always been a matter of when, not if, we would see new variants in the area, said David Coil, project director of environmental monitoring for Healthy Davis Together and project scientist at the Genome Center. A variant that spreads more easily, such as B.1.1.7 (which originally emerged and spread in the U.K.), will eventually displace other variants.

The Genome Center added genotyping of positive samples to its testing protocol to monitor for any variants of concern so we can quickly alert the community and double down on community efforts to prevent spread.

It is not surprising

Yolo County Public Health Officer Aimee Sisson said: Given that the B.1.1.7 variant has already been found in Southern California and the Bay Area, it is not surprising that it has now been detected in Yolo County.

However, detecting this more infectious variant locally is a reminder that even though case rates are declining in Yolo County, we must maintain our vigilance and continue using protective measures against coronavirus. Masking, distancing and avoiding indoor gatherings are as important as ever, and will continue to be critical until most of the population has immunity. We cannot let down our guard.

The person who tested positive for the B.1.1.7 variant has already been notified and is under isolation, and contact tracing efforts began immediately upon notification. This individual is an adult and may have acquired the variant through travel outside of the community. The B.1.1.7 variant, thought to have emerged in the United Kingdom in September 2020, has now been detected in 33 states, including California, Florida, Nevada, New York and Texas.

The first detection in the U.S. occurred in Colorado on Dec. 29. Two days later researchers at UC San Diego reported a case in San Diego. Scientistshypothesizethat the variant has been spreading rapidly in the United States since late November.

Genotyping process

Scientists use the same instrument used to screen COVID-19 test samples for genotyping virus samples. The IntelliQube PCR System, designed as a genotyping instrument by LGC Biosearch Technologies, permits rapid genotyping of all positive samples, and in its first week of use revealed a virus sample with two of the mutations associated with B.1.1.7.

Whole genome sequencing of the sample was done in the laboratory of UC Davis Professor Samuel L. Daz-Muoz to confirm the identity of the variant as B.1.1.7. Daz-Muoz, who studies viral evolution, noted that variants emerge during viral replication in infected individuals, and that widespread transmission of the virus contributes to the emergence of new variants.

These variants shouldnt be a sign that we should give up, but rather be a wake-up call that people should take control measures seriously, he said.

Genotyping technology can also be used to screen positive samples for other significant variants in the future, including variants with the E484K mutation, which has been associated in some cases with reduced neutralization of the virus by antibodies and present in variants first identified in South Africa (B.1.351) and Brazil (P.1).

Although genotyping, unlike whole genome sequencing, will not discover new viral mutations, it is quicker and less expensive than sequencing and therefore more practical for screening large numbers of samples said Richard Michelmore, director of the Genome Center. All positive samples identified by the testing lab are now genotyped immediately for all currently known variants of concern. Samples of interest will also be sequenced.

Reducing the spread

Healthy Davis Together and Yolo County have been collaborating throughout the COVID-19 pandemic on COVID-19 testing, vaccination and education to help reduce the spread of this virus among those who live or work in the Davis community.

Now, more than ever, people must continue to follow guidance to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and all its variants, including:

More information

Healthy Davis Togetheris a joint project between UC Davis and the city of Davis to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in our community and facilitate a coordinated and gradual return to regular city activities and student life.Comments and questions are welcome by email.

TheUC Davis Genome Centertesting lab operates under a CLIA-certified extension of the UC Davis Student Health and Counseling Services CLIA license.

Excerpt from:

1st Detection of Coronavirus B.1.1.7 Variant in Sacramento Region - YubaNet

Posted: Feb 8, 2021 / 03:59 PM EST / Updated: Feb 8, 2021 / 03:59 PM EST

ALBANY, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) New Yorkers with underlying conditions will be eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine Monday, February 15.

Appointments at state-run vaccine clinics can be scheduled beginning Sunday, February 14. For county vaccination clinics, it will be up to local governments to determine the details the how, where, and when of inoculating this group.

Proof will be required to receive the vaccine. Patients will need one of the following:

The New York State Department of Health will be hosting a call with county executives and local health departments to discuss strategies and compliance associated with vaccinating New Yorkers with underlying conditions and comorbidities. New York State will be auditing the certifications.

Excess vaccine supply that was going to hospital workers will now be used to open eligibility for those with underlying conditions.

Below is a list of conditions eligible for the shot. New York State says this list is subject to change as additional scientific evidence is published and as it obtains and analyzes state-specific data.

Adults who are 16 and older with the following conditions is eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine due to an elevated risk of moderate to severe illness or death from the virus.

If you have questions, call the New York State COVID-19 hotline at 833-NYS-4-VAX (833-697-4829) or the Pennsylvania Department of Health hotline at1-877-724-3258.

Go here to read the rest:

Guidance for those with underlying conditions looking to receive the COVID-19 vaccine - WETM - MyTwinTiers.com

by: Dr. Mary Gillis, D.Ed.

Posted: Feb 8, 2021 / 05:46 PM EST / Updated: Feb 8, 2021 / 05:46 PM EST

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) Flu deaths in Indiana are markedly lower this year. As of this week, only three Hoosiers have died from the flu compared to the 50 who passed during this same time last year.

Health officials say were experiencing a milder flu season across the country, but the drop in cases might also be largely due to the precautions people are taking to avoid the coronavirus.

But flu season hasnt hit its peak just yet and cases could still pick up. Its important to stay vigilant and safe between now and May, when the flu tends to trail off. Equally important is to know the signs and symptoms as well as similarities and differences between the flu and COVID-19:

News 8s medical reporter, Dr. Mary Elizabeth Gillis, D.Ed., is a classically trained medical physiologist and biobehavioral research scientist. She has been a health, medical and science reporter for over 5 years. Her work has been featured in national media outlets. You can follow her on Facebook @DrMaryGillis.

With information from the Indiana Department of Health through Feb. 5, 2021, this timeline reflects updated tallies of deaths and positive tests prior to that date.

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COVID-19 or the flu? Here's how to tell the difference - WISHTV.com

AARP Florida is pressing members of the Legislature to oppose Senate Bill 74, a measure filed last week that would grant immunity from COVID-19 lawsuits to health care providers, including nursing homes, hospitals and doctors.

The bill, introduced by Sen. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg, would further erode the rights of older Floridians to seek redress for negligence and abuses endured in these facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic, said Jeff Johnson, state director for AARP in a news release.

The group focused its opposition on how the bill might affect nursing homes. Johnson referenced a recent Tampa Bay Times in-depth story, Death at Freedom Square, as an example of shameful atrocities occurring in Senator Brandes own district.

Disregard for Floridas nursing home residents and their loved ones is appalling, Johnson said. At a time when consumer confidence in Floridas long-term care system is at an all-time low, lawmakers would make things worse by letting nursing homes off the hook.

He called the COVID-19 death toll in long-term facilities a national disgrace, saying more than 9,000 residents have died thus far without family members at their side.

In numerous cases, facilities may have contributed to those deaths and other harms by their lack of care or abuse, Johnson said. Now the Florida Legislature would strip from grieving families the right to seek justice for deceased and injured loved ones who may have been hurt or killed by negligent care.

Brandes said in an interview that he spoke with AARP leadership Monday.

Generally, their position is theyre fine with the provisions we have for hospitals and doctors, but their concern is with nursing homes, he said.

He explained that many nursing homes dont have insurance that covers pandemics and would go bankrupt in a settled-suit model, he said.

What I expressed to them is you may get one of these suits settled, but by that time if they get 10 of them, theyre just going to file bankruptcy and your folks get nothing. Brandes said.

Brandes said he plans to continue talking to AARP about their concerns.

The text of the bill argues in part that hospitals and other health care facilities have struggled to acquire personal protective equipment, and that the circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic have made it difficult or impossible for health care providers to maintain ideal levels of staffing.

It refers to the measure as an overpowering public necessity ... that will deter unfounded lawsuits against health care providers based on COVID-19-related claims, while allowing meritorious claims to proceed.

Johnson said AARP Florida wants the state to look to new forms of long-term care.

We will never stop fighting for our members and all Floridians who use long-term care services, Johnson said. They deserve better, and this legislation is a shameful step backwards.

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AARP blasts bill seeking to protect nursing homes from coronavirus lawsuits - Tampa Bay Times

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