Category: Corona Virus

Its telling us that COVID has not left us, said Dr. Pablo Rodriguez, a public health advocate and host of Nuestra Salud on Latina 100.3 FM. Its still with us, and the new variants are definitely creating a spike in new infections.

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The coronavirus is spreading more than many people realize, he said. These days, fewer people are getting tested and those who do often take the tests at home and dont share the results with the Department of Health, he said.

So at this point, the best measure is to watch the wastewater, Rodriguez said. Hospital admissions are the next shoe to drop.

Joseph Wendelken, a spokesman for the state Department of Health, said, Over the last few weeks, we have seen increases across all our metrics, including wastewater. Our modeling anticipated a small increase around this time, a few weeks after Thanksgiving, and as people are having holiday gatherings.

Rhode Islands COVID-19 data will not be updated this week. Data will be updated again on Jan. 4.

But according to the most recent data, Wendelken said, the increase is similar to those seen over the last few years in Rhode Island at this time. The states hospital admission level remains in the low tier, and the wastewater levels remain lower than where they were at this time last year, he noted.

Still, Wendelken said, This is a reminder that people need to be taking prevention measures, especially this time of year.

The Department of Health recommends:

Rodriguez emphasized that anyone with symptoms should get tested immediately.

That is the most important thing, he said. I see people coughing they should not go out unless they have tested themselves and made sure its not COVID. If its a cold, its a cold. But you should not assume that, Oh, this doesnt seem like COVID. If you have any cold or flu symptoms, you should get tested.

The good news, Rodriguez said, is that many more people have immunity now, compared to when the pandemic began. He estimated that 90 percent of people have been previously infected or vaccinated. So we have that, as much as herd immunity is going to help, he said.

But the new, highly contagious COVID-19 variant, called JN.1, makes previous vaccinations ineffective, Rodriguez said.

So, he urged those older than 65 and those with immune deficiencies and chronic conditions to get the latest vaccine. The vaccine will not prevent you from getting COVID, he said, but it will help prevent you from dying or being hospitalized or getting post-COVID syndrome.

The bad news, Rodriguez said, is that just 15 percent of Rhode Island residents have received the latest vaccine booster.

Thats down from the nearly 50 percent uptake for the first booster shot in 2021 and 25 percent for the bivalent booster at this time last year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Across the country, vaccination rates are so low for influenza, RSV, and COVID-19 that the CDC has issued a health advisory warning the situation could lead to more severe illnesses and overburdened hospitals in the weeks ahead.

In Massachusetts, the amount of the virus found in wastewater levels has roughly doubled since Thanksgiving and hospital admissions are up in several counties. The amount of COVID-19 in wastewater across the city of Boston rose by 23 percent over two weeks.

Though the latest version of booster shots confers broad protection against a new, highly contagious variant that is expected to gain dominance in the coming weeks, just 17 percent of Massachusetts residents have received it, according to the latest numbers from the Department of Public Health.

Edward Fitzpatrick can be reached at edward.fitzpatrick@globe.com. Follow him @FitzProv.

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Coronavirus levels rising in R.I. wastewater - The Boston Globe

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COVID cases, hospitalizations on the rise in Northern California as new variant spreads - CBS News

Coronavirus By IANS 19 hours ago TWC India

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A team of researchers at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) has identified a protein in the SARS-CoV-2, the virus behind COVID-19, that antagonises the hosts immune system!

In the study, published in the journal Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences, the team identified a viral protein called ORF6, which blocks immunity. During COVID-19 infection, the bodys early antiviral responses are orchestrated by interferons (IFNs), triggering specific signalling events that pose a critical hurdle for viruses. Among the identified proteins, ORF6 was found as the most potent inhibitor of IFN induction and signaling.

The research, led by Oyahida Khatun, Mansi Sharma and others, from the Center for Infectious Disease Research (CIDR) at IISc, showed that the protein paralyses the cell's innate immunity through multiple mechanisms. While consistent with previous research on ORF6 function, the study provided evidence that ORF6 directly interacts with a specific host viral sensor called RIG-I, responsible for recognising viral RNA in infected cells.

The presence of the SARS-CoV-2 ORF6 protein resulted in reduced levels of RIG-I and the degradation of an enzyme called TRIM25, crucial for activating RIG-I and controlling viral infection. Consequently, ORF6 also obstructed the expression of antiviral genes downstream of RIG-I by blocking the nuclear import of transcription factors involved in this process.

This is analogous to disabling the ignition (RIG-I) and applying the brakes (inhibiting antiviral gene expression) to halt the cellular antiviral response. Furthermore, the researchers proposed the possibility of removing genes coding for ORF6 and other IFN antagonists from the SARS-CoV-2 viral genome as a potential strategy for developing live vaccines.

**

The above article has been published from a wire agency with minimal modifications to the headline and text.

The Weather Companys primary journalistic mission is to report on breaking weather news, the environment and the importance of science to our lives. This story does not necessarily represent the position of our parent company, IBM.

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IISc Scientists Identify COVID-19 Protein that Thwarts Host's Immunity - The Weather Channel

The omicron coronavirus subvariant JN.1 now makes up 44.2% of COVID-19 cases in the United States, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.As of Friday, CDC data estimates indicate that the quickly spreading variant is now causing almost half of infections nationwide, when just days ago it was estimated that JN.1 caused only about 20% of infections.JN.1 makes up nearly 57% of new COVID-19 cases in the Northeast, according to the data. Earlier this week, the variant was already dominant in the region, causing about a third of new infections at the time.Globally, JN.1 continues to be reported in multiple countries, and its prevalence has been rapidly increasing. The World Health Organization named it a variant of interest on Tuesday because of its rapidly increasing spread but noted that the additional public health risk remains low.The CDC estimates that the prevalence of JN.1 more than doubled in the U.S. between late November and mid-December. It seems to be getting an assist from holiday travel and waning immunity.Variant trackers say they expect JN.1 to become the leading coronavirus variant around the world in a matter of weeks.Vaccine immunity is expected to remain cross-reactive to JN.1 a descendant of the variant BA.2.86 itself a subvariant that came to the worlds attention over the summer because of the large number of changes to its spike proteins.COVID-19 caused seven hospitalizations for every 100,000 people in the week ending on Dec. 9, accounting for a 3% increase, CDC data shows.More than three-quarters of U.S. hospital beds are currently in use, which is largely in line with trends over the past three years since the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the CDC warns that rising respiratory virus hospitalizations could strain health care resources in the coming weeks.Overall, COVID-19 data shows weekly hospitalizations have been trending down in recent weeks.Meanwhile, flu hospitalizations are rising but remain steady compared with recent weeks, according to CDC data. Flu-like activity is very high in five states and high in 15 states.CNN Healths Brenda Goodman contributed to this report.

The omicron coronavirus subvariant JN.1 now makes up 44.2% of COVID-19 cases in the United States, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

As of Friday, CDC data estimates indicate that the quickly spreading variant is now causing almost half of infections nationwide, when just days ago it was estimated that JN.1 caused only about 20% of infections.

JN.1 makes up nearly 57% of new COVID-19 cases in the Northeast, according to the data. Earlier this week, the variant was already dominant in the region, causing about a third of new infections at the time.

Globally, JN.1 continues to be reported in multiple countries, and its prevalence has been rapidly increasing. The World Health Organization named it a variant of interest on Tuesday because of its rapidly increasing spread but noted that the additional public health risk remains low.

The CDC estimates that the prevalence of JN.1 more than doubled in the U.S. between late November and mid-December. It seems to be getting an assist from holiday travel and waning immunity.

Variant trackers say they expect JN.1 to become the leading coronavirus variant around the world in a matter of weeks.

Vaccine immunity is expected to remain cross-reactive to JN.1 a descendant of the variant BA.2.86 itself a subvariant that came to the worlds attention over the summer because of the large number of changes to its spike proteins.

COVID-19 caused seven hospitalizations for every 100,000 people in the week ending on Dec. 9, accounting for a 3% increase, CDC data shows.

More than three-quarters of U.S. hospital beds are currently in use, which is largely in line with trends over the past three years since the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the CDC warns that rising respiratory virus hospitalizations could strain health care resources in the coming weeks.

Overall, COVID-19 data shows weekly hospitalizations have been trending down in recent weeks.

Meanwhile, flu hospitalizations are rising but remain steady compared with recent weeks, according to CDC data. Flu-like activity is very high in five states and high in 15 states.

CNN Healths Brenda Goodman contributed to this report.

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COVID variant JN.1 now the leading cause of infections in the US - 4029tv

The omicron coronavirus subvariant JN.1 now makes up 44.2% of COVID-19 cases in the United States, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.As of Friday, CDC data estimates indicate that the quickly spreading variant is now causing almost half of infections nationwide, when just days ago it was estimated that JN.1 caused only about 20% of infections.JN.1 makes up nearly 57% of new COVID-19 cases in the Northeast, according to the data. Earlier this week, the variant was already dominant in the region, causing about a third of new infections at the time.Globally, JN.1 continues to be reported in multiple countries, and its prevalence has been rapidly increasing. The World Health Organization named it a variant of interest on Tuesday because of its rapidly increasing spread but noted that the additional public health risk remains low.The CDC estimates that the prevalence of JN.1 more than doubled in the U.S. between late November and mid-December. It seems to be getting an assist from holiday travel and waning immunity.Variant trackers say they expect JN.1 to become the leading coronavirus variant around the world in a matter of weeks.Vaccine immunity is expected to remain cross-reactive to JN.1 a descendant of the variant BA.2.86 itself a subvariant that came to the worlds attention over the summer because of the large number of changes to its spike proteins.COVID-19 caused seven hospitalizations for every 100,000 people in the week ending on Dec. 9, accounting for a 3% increase, CDC data shows.More than three-quarters of U.S. hospital beds are currently in use, which is largely in line with trends over the past three years since the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the CDC warns that rising respiratory virus hospitalizations could strain health care resources in the coming weeks.Overall, COVID-19 data shows weekly hospitalizations have been trending down in recent weeks.Meanwhile, flu hospitalizations are rising but remain steady compared with recent weeks, according to CDC data. Flu-like activity is very high in five states and high in 15 states.CNN Healths Brenda Goodman contributed to this report.

The omicron coronavirus subvariant JN.1 now makes up 44.2% of COVID-19 cases in the United States, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

As of Friday, CDC data estimates indicate that the quickly spreading variant is now causing almost half of infections nationwide, when just days ago it was estimated that JN.1 caused only about 20% of infections.

JN.1 makes up nearly 57% of new COVID-19 cases in the Northeast, according to the data. Earlier this week, the variant was already dominant in the region, causing about a third of new infections at the time.

Globally, JN.1 continues to be reported in multiple countries, and its prevalence has been rapidly increasing. The World Health Organization named it a variant of interest on Tuesday because of its rapidly increasing spread but noted that the additional public health risk remains low.

The CDC estimates that the prevalence of JN.1 more than doubled in the U.S. between late November and mid-December. It seems to be getting an assist from holiday travel and waning immunity.

Variant trackers say they expect JN.1 to become the leading coronavirus variant around the world in a matter of weeks.

Vaccine immunity is expected to remain cross-reactive to JN.1 a descendant of the variant BA.2.86 itself a subvariant that came to the worlds attention over the summer because of the large number of changes to its spike proteins.

COVID-19 caused seven hospitalizations for every 100,000 people in the week ending on Dec. 9, accounting for a 3% increase, CDC data shows.

More than three-quarters of U.S. hospital beds are currently in use, which is largely in line with trends over the past three years since the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the CDC warns that rising respiratory virus hospitalizations could strain health care resources in the coming weeks.

Overall, COVID-19 data shows weekly hospitalizations have been trending down in recent weeks.

Meanwhile, flu hospitalizations are rising but remain steady compared with recent weeks, according to CDC data. Flu-like activity is very high in five states and high in 15 states.

CNN Healths Brenda Goodman contributed to this report.

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COVID variant JN.1 now the leading cause of infections in the US - WBAL TV Baltimore

he World Health OrganiZation has classified the SARS-CoV-2 sub-variant JN.1 as a separate variant of interest (VOI) from its parent lineage BA.2.86, due to its rapidly increasing spread. This new variant was recently found in Kerala. In this episode of businesslines News Explained, Anjana PV and Jyothi Datta discuss the emergence of the JN.1 variant, the potential implications of this new variant, its origins, and the ongoing surge in Covid-19 cases.

Jyothi explains that the JN.1 variant is a sub-variant of the SARS-CoV-2, which initially caused the pandemic. The variant is considered a part of a lineage that includes well-known variants like omicron. Currently, health authorities such as the Union Health Ministry of India, WHO, and CDC suggest that there is no significant increase in public health risk from the variant based on available evidence.

The classification of JN.1 as a variant of interest rather than as part of a larger family of variants is highlighted in this podcast. This change in classification is attributed to a spike in cases linked to the JN.1 variant. The discussion moves on to the situation in India, where the first case of the JN.1 variant was detected in Kerala.

Jyothi emphasises the need for surveillance and precautionary measures in response to the detection of the variant in India, despite the absence of a call for panic. She also states that current vaccines are seen to protect against severe disease and death, and there is no widespread call for booster shots at the moment. However, she acknowledges that vulnerable populations, such as those with weakened immune systems, may need to consult their doctors regarding booster shots.

The podcast also dives into the possibility of future variants and the importance of continuing basic public health measures. Jyothi emphasises the need for common sense in navigating the upcoming festive season, advocating for handwashing, mask-wearing, and other preventive measures.

Tune in to know more about the JN.1 Variant.

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Published on December 21, 2023

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What is JN.1? Here's all you need to know about the new Coronavirus variant - BusinessLine

With the onset of winter, we witness the emergence of a new COVID variant like every year which is fueling a sudden spike in cases.

As of December 21, India reported 22 cases of the JN.1 subvariant of Covid-19. However, no clustering of cases has been observed, and all instances of the subvariant exhibit mild symptoms. But are all the symptoms the same as before or are we noticing a few new symptoms too?

Kerala, the first state to report the JN.1 Covid variant reported 265 fresh Covid-19 infections and one death in the last 24 hours. The total number of active cases of Covid-19 in the country was recorded at 2,997.

Experts caution identifying the subtle changes in symptoms caused by different COVID-19 variants is challenging due to diverse antibodies from vaccinations or prior infections.

"The types of symptoms and how severe they usually depend more on a person's immunity and overall health rather than which variant causes the infection," the CDC said in a report on Dec. 8 discussing the JN.1 strain, as reported by CBC News.

Now with COVID-19 and influenza on the rise, here are a few common symptoms that are being noticed:

Runny Nose (31.1%)

Cough (22.9%)

Headache (20.1%)

Weakness or tiredness (19.6%)

Muscle ache (15.8%)

Sore throat (13.2%)

Trouble sleeping (10.8%)

Worry or anxiety (10.5%)

Research through last winter, co-authored by health authorities in the U.K., found symptoms were similar for COVID-19 and other germs that often drive respiratory illnesses during the winter.

"Cough, sore throat, sneezing, fatigue and headache were all among the most commonly reported symptoms for each of the three infections, suggesting that discriminating between SARS-CoV-2, influenza and RSV based on symptoms alone may prove challenging," they wrote in a preprint, that has not been peer-reviewed, released in October, CBC News said

That is also in line with other research from previous waves of COVID-19.

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JN.1 Covid 19 variant: Are coronavirus symptoms still the same? Expert says, tricky to identify as | Mint - Mint

WHO defines long COVID as continuing or new symptoms at least 3 months from start of COVID

EG.5 or the Eris COVID variant is dominant in parts of Australia. Eris, along with other circulating strains, are descendants of Omicron.

While these strains appear less severe than the original Alpha and Delta variants, the risk of long COVID remains.

So what does the latest data say about the chance of long COVID? What symptoms should you look out for? And what can be done to support people with long COVID?

For most people, long COVID means not getting better after a COVID infection.

The World Health Organization defines long COVID as continuing or new symptoms at least three months from the start of a COVID infection that last at least two months and cannot be explained by an alternative diagnosis.

The most common symptoms include fatigue, brain fog, breathlessness, headaches and abdominal pain. But people with long COVID can experience a wide range of problems including cardiovascular issues, mental health problems such as depression and anxiety, insomnia, muscle and joint pain, and gastrointestinal problems.

Australian data on long COVID remains limited compared to international data, and estimates of its prevalence have varied. A report from Australia's parliamentary inquiry into long COVID, published in April, suggested 2%-20% of people may develop long COVID following an infection.

A recent Australian study conducted when vaccines were widely available indicates earlier Omicron variants saw 10% of people who caught COVID develop long COVID.

Another recent study, yet to be peer-reviewed, found 18.2% of those infected went on to have long COVID. The wide-ranging estimates are likely to be because of different COVID variants, differences in vaccination, and different long COVID definitions and assessment methods.

The risk is lower in children. One Australian study indicated persistent symptoms in 8% of children who had COVID in 2020, while preliminary research points to a slightly lower risk among children infected in 2021.

But more research is needed, especially as the virus continues to evolve. This can be complicated because typical long COVID symptoms are common to many other health problems. As in other countries, more research is now underway in Australia to determine the accurate prevalence of the condition using a definition and methods that carefully exclude other causes.

Although research on long COVID risk factors with new variants is ongoing, we expect being female, having more severe initial disease and having other health conditions will increase a person's chance of getting long COVID.

Research shows COVID vaccines offer protection against long COVID. As well as vaccinations, immunity from previous COVID infections and antiviral treatments are contributing to less severe COVID and potentially less long COVID than we saw earlier in the pandemic.

But while the Omicron waves may lead to fewer cases of long COVID than the earlier Alpha and Delta variants, because so many Australians are contracting COVID, this will still result in a large number of people with long COVID. And each repeat infection presents a new risk of prolonged symptoms.

Long COVID can impact a person's life in many ways. Fatigue following exertion, brain fog and other symptoms can reduce capacity to perform tasks such as concentrating at a computer, manual labour, and even normal household tasks.

Many people with long COVID submitted evidence to the recent parliamentary inquiry that they were unsupported, stigmatised, isolated, and not taken seriously by health professionals.

Evidence suggests many symptoms will improve in most people over 12 to 18 months, although recovery time can differ between symptoms. Some, including gastrointestinal and respiratory symptoms, tend to resolve sooner than others, such as cognitive symptoms.

Long COVID is the kind of challenge Australia's health system finds most difficult. GPs are stretched and the small number of specialist long COVID clinics are struggling to maintain funding.

Australia has trailed behind the US, the UK and Europe in rolling out care for long COVID, and in collecting data on the condition.

As a result, support for long COVID in Australia is hard to access, expensive and patchy.

However, there is consensus on what constitutes good care. Clinicians seeing patients with possible long COVID should:

validate the person's experience of symptoms and the impact their symptoms are having on their functioning, particularly when the cause is not clear

diagnose and treat any other health conditions that are part of the picture

support people to minimise the impairment their symptoms cause by pacing of physical and cognitive activities. Importantly, this doesn't involve pushing through fatigue.

These steps are not a cure but they may improve a person's ability to function in their day-to-day life, at work and to fulfil their caring responsibilities.

The best way to prevent long COVID is to avoid contracting and spreading COVID. This means:

getting vaccinated or boosted, if you're eligible

staying home if you feel unwell

wearing a mask to protect yourself and vulnerable community members

testing for COVID if you have symptoms and if you test positive, taking antivirals (if eligible) and isolating until your symptoms resolve.

Long COVID is not going away, but we all have a role to play in preventing and responding to it.

Ruby Biezen from the APPRISE Network and the University of Melbourne and Andrew Lloyd from the Kirby Institute at UNSW contributed to this article.

(Authors:Andrew Baillie, Professor of Allied Health, University of Sydney; Amelia Gulliver, Senior Research Fellow, ANU College of Health and Medicine, Australian National University; Lena Sanci, Professor, Department of General Practice and Primary Care, The University of Melbourne; Lucette Cysique, Senior Research Fellow, Viral Immunology Systems Program, The Kirby Institute, UNSW Sydney, and Philip Britton, Associate Professor, Child and Adolescent Health, University of Sydney)

(Disclosure Statement:Andrew Baillie is a Conjoint Professor of Allied Health at Sydney Local Health District, a Member of the Australian Psychological Society (APS) and a Fellow of the Clinical College of the APS.

Amelia Gulliver is a senior research fellow at the Centre for Mental Health Research, National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, ANU College of Health & Medicine, and has lived experience of Long COVID.

Lena Sanci is the co-lead of the APPRISE initiative which has received commonwealth funding. She is the Chief GP advisor for the state department of health and the president of the Australasian School Based Health Association.

Lucette Cysique is a Senior Research Fellow based at the Kirby Institute, UNSW, and manages the DoHAC-funded APPRISE Long COVID initiative. Lucette Cysique receives support from the Peter Duncan Neuroscience Unit at the St. Vincent's Applied Medical Research Centre which contributed to her involvement in the neurological substudy of the St. Vincent's Hospital COVID-19 ADAPT study.

Philip Britton is Conjoint Associate Professor in Child Health at the University of Sydney. He has received funding from the NHMRC, MRFF and Royal Australasian College of Physicians)

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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I Have Covid. Here's How Likely I Am To Get Long Covid - NDTV

India saw a single-day rise of 656 COVID infections while the active cases have increased to 3,742, according to Union health ministry data updated on Sunday.

The death toll was recorded at 5,33,333 with one new death reported from Kerala in 24 hours, the data updated at 8 am showed.

The countrys COVID case tally is 45 million (4,50,08,620).

The number of people who have recuperated from the disease has increased to 44.47 million and the national recovery rate stands at 98.81%, according to the health ministrys website.

The case fatality rate stands at 1.19%.

According to the ministrys website, 2.2 billion doses of COVID vaccines have been administered in the country so far.

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India logs 656 new COVID-19 cases, active case tally now 3,742 - CNBCTV18

Malcolm Brabant:

Twenty miles to the south are sheer drops, where, over the years, several people have leapt to their deaths. The cliffs no longer have such a grim reputation, thanks in part to a neighborhood regeneration scheme, including the benches.

I have come to Ramsgate, a seaside town some 80 miles southeast of London. This is a chatty bench. It's a glorious sunny day, a real change from the miserable winter that Britain's having. People are out and about. Let's see if anybody wants to talk.

The sad truth is, I was studiously ignored, until David Barber turned up. He's one of the community leaders behind this chatty bench project.

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How 'chatty benches' are combating loneliness in Britain - PBS NewsHour