Category: Covid-19

Researchers, looking to identify potential antiviral therapies that are effective against COVID-19, found that the antibiotic clofoctol may be an effective treatment for SARS-CoV-2 infections in mice.

Study in mice suggests Clofoctol inhibits SARS-CoV-2 replication and reduces lung pathology.

Repurposed drugs often have a speedier path to clinical use because they have already been shown to be safe in people. A research study that was published on May 19th in the open access journal PLOS Pathogens by Sandrine Belouzard and Jean Dubuisson at Pasteur Institute, Lille, France, and colleagues suggests clofoctol may be an effective treatment for SARS-CoV-2 infections in mice.

While COVID-19 vaccines reduce hospitalizations and death, they do not control virus transmission, and affordable, effective therapies are needed. Previous attempts to repurpose medicines to treat COVID-19 patients have been unsuccessful thus far. In order to identify potential antiviral therapies that are effective against COVID-19, the scientists accessed the Apteeus drug library, a collection of 1,942 approved drugs to identify molecules that exhibit antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2. The authors selected clofoctol based on its antiviral potency. They tested their hypothesis by measuring clofoctols effects in SARS-CoV-2-infected mice.

Clofoctol was identified as a potential antiviral against SARS-CoV-2 following a cell-based phenotypic screening of approximately 2000 drug compounds that have been used or are still used in the clinics. After in vitro validation of the antiviral activity of clofoctol, this compound was confirmed to decrease viral load and inflammation in a humanized mouse model of COVID-19. Credit: Sandrine Belouzard (CC-BY 4.0)

The researchers found that transgenic mice treated with clofoctol had a decreased viral load, reduced inflammatory gene expression, and lowered pulmonary pathology. Future studies are needed to further understand the drugs therapeutic potential in SARS-CoV-2 patients as the study was limited by the physiological differences between humans and mice. Additionally, the mice were euthanized only two days after treatment, so longer-term effects remain unknown.

According to the authors, The antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties of clofoctol, associated with its safety profile and unique pharmacokinetics make a strong case for proposing clofoctol as an affordable therapeutic candidate for the treatment of COVID-19 patients. Finally, the relatively low cost of this drug suggests that it is a potential clinical option for treatment of COVID-19 patients in resource-poor settings.

Antivirals targeting SARS-CoV-2 are sorely needed, adds Dubuisson. In this study, we screened a library of drug compounds and identified clofoctol as an antiviral against SARS-CoV-2. We further demonstrated that, in vivo, this compound reduces inflammatory gene expression and lowers pulmonary pathology and decreases viral load.

Reference: Clofoctol inhibits SARS-CoV-2 replication and reduces lung pathology in mice by Sandrine Belouzard, Arnaud Machelart, Valentin Sencio, Thibaut Vausselin, Eik Hoffmann, Nathalie Deboosere, Yves Rouill, Lowiese Desmarets, Karin Sron, Adeline Danneels, Cyril Robil, Loic Belloy, Camille Moreau, Catherine Piveteau, Alexandre Biela, Alexandre Vandeputte, Sverine Heumel, Lucie Deruyter, Julie Dumont, Florence Leroux, Ilka Engelmann, Enagnon Kazali Alidjinou, Didier Hober, Priscille Brodin, Terence Beghyn, Franois Trottein, Benoit Deprez and Jean Dubuisson, 19 May 2022, PLOS Pathogens.DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1010498

Funding: This work was supported by the Institut Pasteur de Lille (to JeD and BD), the Fondation pour la Recherche Mdicale (FRM to JeD) and the Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR) (Project FRM_ANR Flash 20 ANTICOV to JeD), the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS: COVID and ViroCrib programs to JeD) and the I-SITE ULNE Foundation (I-Site_Covid20_ANTI-SARS2 to JeD) and the Conseil Rgional Hauts-de-France (THERAPIDE grant N20005467 to BD). We also received sponsor support from LVMH (to BD), fondation Rotary (to BD), Vinted (to BD), Crdit Mutuel Nord Europe (to BD), Entreprises et Cits (to BD), AG2R (to BD), DSD Systme (to BD), M comme Mutuelle (to BD), Protecthoms (to BD), RBL Plastiques (to BD), Saverglass (to BD), Brasserie 3 Monts (to BD), Coron Art (to BD). EH received support from the I-SITE ULNE Foundation (ERC Generator Grant). The platform used in this work was supported by the European Union (ERC-STG INTRACELLTB grant 260901), the ANR (ANR-10-EQPX-04-01), the Fonds Europen de Dveloppement Rgional (Feder) (12001407 [D-AL] EquipEx ImagInEx BioMed), CPER-CTRL (Centre Transdisciplinaire de Recherche sur la Longvit) and the Rgion Hauts-de-France (convention 12000080). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.

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Repurposed Antibiotic May Be an Effective COVID-19 Therapeutic - SciTechDaily

COVID-19 cases have crept up once again in the Lehigh Valley, and the cause this time is the BA.2.12.1 variant.

Dr. Alex Benjamin, Lehigh Valley Health Networks chief infection control and prevention officer, said BA.2.12.1 has been in the region for only weeks, but it didnt take long for it to gain a foothold.

The new variant is a subvariant of the BA.2 variant, which is itself a subvariant of the omicron strain of the coronavirus. Continuing the trend set by previous variants, BA.2.12.1 is the most infectious yet.

Omicron and its variants have been noted for being less likely to result in serious illness and BA.2.12.1 continues this trend, with some of the most common early symptoms including scratchy or sore throat, sneezing or runny nose, easily confused with allergies.

Benjamin said because of this, it is important people dont brush off what might otherwise seem like allergies or a sinus infection, even though the Lehigh Valley is one of the worst places to live in the U.S. for allergy sufferers and those with asthma, according to the annual Asthma Capitals report, published by the nonprofit Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.

I think its been really confusing because the air quality has been so bad, Benjamin said. A lot of people attributed their symptoms to allergies and some people did not think to test.

BA.2.12.1 now accounts for the majority of cases nationally and locally, about 60%, and is leading a new surge in cases. The Pennsylvania Department of Health, which had started updating its COVID-19 dashboard on a weekly basis while cases were low, recently resumed updating it daily. New York City is already well into its fifth surge of the pandemic and officials put the city under high COVID-19 alert, according to the New York Times.

There were 1,739 cases reported in Lehigh and Northampton counties in the past seven days. There were an average of 248 cases per day in that time period, down 6.3% from the previous week, but up 130% from where they were.

Hospitalizations are also up compared to where they were a month or so ago. Lehigh Valley totals were 111 COVID-19 positive patients on Thursday, with all seven ICU patients on ventilators. Local hospitalizations are up 7.8% from last week and up 145% from 30 days ago. Lehigh Valley Health Network had 97 COVID-19 patients hospitalized network-wide on Monday when in early April hospitalizations were in the low 20s.

Robert Shipp, vice president for population health and clinical affairs with the Hospital & Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania, and a practicing nurse, said on a slightly more positive note, hospitals are seeing proportionally fewer people who need intensive care after being hospitalized for COVID-19.

Thats a good sign, but there are still twice as many people in the hospital and in the ICU as there were as close as a month ago, Shipp said.

He said other good news is that schools will let out soon, creating fewer opportunities for the disease to spread and with warmer weather coming.

Unlike the last COVID-19 surge, at-home tests are not hard to find and getting a lab test doesnt require waiting in long lines or ending up on a waiting list. President Joe Bidens administration last week announced it would allow Americans to order a third round of free COVID-19 tests through the U.S. Postal Service.

And fortunately, there is no evidence that this variant is more likely to evade tests. But Benjamin said it is possible to test too early in a COVID-19 infection, resulting in a false negative. He said during the earliest stages of infection there may not be a large enough concentration of virus throughout the body for tests to detect anything.

The CDC guideline is to test as soon as you find out that youre exposed and for some people, they find out so quickly that they may be testing earlier than the test can capture any virus in your system, Benjamin said. It may take a couple of days for you to have enough virus in your system for a test to turn positive.

He said this is why some people may test negative early on, only to get sick a few days later, retest themselves and find out they actually did have COVID-19.

But testing is as important as ever, especially since infections by BA.2.12.1 are more likely to result in symptoms similar to those associated with seasonal allergies or the common cold.

Benjamin said if test results are negative, he suggests those results be treated with a good deal of suspicion. The CDC recommends retesting five days after the first test, but Benjamin said if even mild symptoms develop before then, it might be a good idea to test sooner.

Besides getting tested when you arent feeling well or have reason to believe you were exposed to COVID-19, experts are also suggesting people start taking personal actions to reduce the risk of catching COVID-19. This includes getting caught up on shots and choosing to mask while indoors.

Though a vaccine still hasnt been approved for the youngest children, as of last week boosters were authorized for use on children ages 5 to 11 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Morning Call reporter Leif Greiss can be reached at 610-679-4028 or lgreiss@mcall.com.

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Latest COVID-19 strain surges in Lehigh Valley. Experts warn it could be confused with seasonal allergies - The Morning Call

(The Conversation) COVID-19 case numbers are rising again in the U.S. includingamong children. In mid-May 2022, the Food and Drug Administration authorized a booster shot of the COVID-19 vaccine forU.S. children ages 5 to 11, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention followed byrecommending a booster shotfor this age group.

Naturally, many parents are wondering about the importance and safety of a booster shot for their school-age children.Debbie-Ann Shirley, apediatric infectious disease specialistat the University of Virginia, answers some common questions about COVID-19 and booster shots in kids that she hears in her practice and explains the research behind why booster shots are recommended for children ages 5 to 11.

COVID-19 is generally milder in children than adults, but severe disease can occur. As of late May 2022, more than 15,000 children ages 5 to 11have been hospitalizedwith COVID-19 and180 childrenhave died. During the height of the recent winter surge ofthe highly transmissible omicron variant, 87% of the children in the 5-to-11 age groupwho became hospitalized with COVID-19 were unvaccinated.

In addition, the rare but serious condition that can follow in the weeks after COVID-19 infection, known asMultisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children, or MIS-C, most commonly occurs among children ages 5 to 11. Over3,800 cases of MIS-C have been reportedin that 5-to-11 age group, and93% of the childrenwho developed this complication were unvaccinated.

For some vaccines including those for COVID-19 effectiveness wanes over time.Booster shotshelp to bolster the immune response. Severalchildhood vaccines, such as the tetanus and diphtheria vaccines, require booster shots.

COVID-19 boosters have been shown to improve waning protectionin adolescentsandadults. Side effects are similar to those reported with the initial series. The risk of myocarditis, or heart inflammation a rare side effect that can occur following COVID-19 vaccination seems to be less after a third dose thanafter the second.

When administered to children 5 to 11 years old, the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine generated levels of antibody response similar to that in 16-to-25-year-olds ina clinical trial, which was the basis for theFDAs initial authorization of the shotsin October 2021. Butstudies after the shots were authorizedfound thatvaccine effectiveness rapidly wanedin the 5-to-11 age group during the omicron surge. Despite that, the shots continued to beprotective against severe disease and hospitalization.

Vaccination has alsobeen shown to be be highly protectiveagainst Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children.How to talk to kids about getting vaccinated.

In a clinical trial, researchers tested the Pfizer vaccine in children 5 to 11 using a 10-microgram booster dose, which is the same dose children received for the primary series and is one-third the dose used for adolescents and adults. When tested among 401 children,no new safety concerns arose, and in the smaller subset of children in which the immune response was tested, the third shotsignificantly increased antibody responses, including against the omicron variant. Hence, a third dose seems beneficial for boosting immunity in this age group, similar to older age groups.

The booster dose can be givenfive months or moreafter the second shot. But as of late May 2022, fewer thanone-thirdof children ages 5 to 11 had received two shots, meaning that onlyabout 8 millionschool-age children were eligible to start receiving the booster. This could prove an important layer of protection for them andhelp limit disruptionson schooling and summer activities, particularly asmask mandates have gone by the wayside.

Children withweakened immune systemswho were at first authorized to receive three initial doses of COVID-19 vaccine may now also receive a booster shot or a fourth dose as soon as three monthsafter their third dose.

As of late May 2022, more than18.5 milliondoses of the COVID-19 vaccine had been administered to children in the 5-to-11 age group. MostCOVID-19 vaccine side effects such as pain at the injection site have been mild and short-lived in children. Fatigue, headache and muscle aches are other common side effects.

Reports suggest that most cases of myocarditis that follow vaccination typicallyimprove quickly with medicine and rest. Rates of myocarditishave been lowerin children ages 5 to 11 than in teens. In any age group, myocarditis is more likely to occurafter infectionthan vaccination.

For parents of kids ages 6 months to 5 years, COVID-19 vaccines are also finally within sight. On May 23, 2022, Pfizerreleased new data for this age group, stating that three shots generated strong antibody responses, were well tolerated with no new safety concerns and, based on preliminary data, the series was 80% effective at preventing COVID-19 infection. In late April 2022,Modernareleased similar data showing that two doses of its vaccine stimulated good antibody responses and were tolerated well by kids under age 6.

The FDA isset to meet in June 2022to discuss new low-dose formulations of theModernaandPfizervaccines for this group.

If it is authorized by the FDA, the CDC will then provide recommendations on its use for the more than 20 million children ages 6 months to 5 years in the U.S.

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How important is the COVID-19 booster shot for 5-to-11-year-olds? 5 questions answered - KFOR Oklahoma City

BALTIMORE (WJZ) Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Howard County, and Anne Arundel County are all areas of high community transmission of COVID-19, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

New data indicates there are 283 cases per 100,000 people in Baltimore over the last seven days, and the hospitalizations per case rate grew to 11.8 admissions per 100,000 cases.

Howard County Health Department Medical Director Dr. Kelly Russo recommends wearing a mask indoors in public, staying up to date with vaccines, getting tested if you have symptoms and if you are at high risk for severe illness, considering additional precautions, and talking to your doctor.

Despite the higher transmission rate, she said Baltimore County is not reinstating a mask mandate at this time.

We have not been talking about a mask mandate. You know, were in a very different place now, Russo said. Right now, what we are seeing is, yes, there are a lot of cases but the disease seems to be very mild. Fewer hospitalizations. Fewer deaths. We have widely available treatments now which was not true in the past.

Russo also said that another reason why they are not considering a mask mandate is because of the high rate of vaccination in the county. Data shows that 83.6% of county residents are currently vaccinated, according to the countys COVID-19 dashboard.

Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott says he will consult with City Health Commissioner Dr. Letitia Dzirasa and the citys hospital partners about whether or not a mandate is needed.

Dr. Dzirasa let me know late last night about that, Scott said. Her and I will be meeting and discussing what plan of action we will be taking.

Russo says they might anticipate seeing additional cases after the Memorial Day holiday weekend.

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Baltimore City And Surrounding Communities Experiencing High Community Transmission Of COVID-19 - CBS Baltimore

Taiwans worst Covid outbreak has left the islands insurers bracing for more than $1 billion in claims that the financial regulator is urging them to honor.

The head of the Financial Supervisory Commission, Huang Tien-mu, has ordered insurers to pay out on valid Covid-related insurance policies after they faced criticism from lawmakers for dismissing claims, canceling policies and delaying payouts.

Insurers are looking to limit their losses on policies after underestimating the extent of the disease. There are currently more than 6.3 million still-active Covid-related policies and another million waiting for approval, according to the FSC. This year, insurers have already paid out more to customers -- NT$2.6 billion ($89 million) -- than the NT$2.1 billion in revenue they have received from premiums.

And with only around 2% of policies subject to claims so far and Taiwans outbreak showing no sign of abating, insurers are facing a wave of further claims in June and July. Speaking to lawmakers last Monday, Huang said payouts will likely be higher than the NT$41 billion estimate mentioned by lawmakers.

While that is just a tiny fraction of the NT$2 trillion in net assets held by Taiwans insurance industry, the majority of those are held by the large life insurers. The potential claims represent around 25% of the assets held by property insurance companies, which were among the most active in selling Covid policies.

Risk Models

Property insurers, which focus primarily on car protection, have struggled to find growth in recent years and saw Covid as a great opportunity, according to Andy Chang, director of Taiwan Ratings Corp. When working out their risk models, many miscalculated the potential number of cases by a factor of almost 100. They also didnt adequately estimate the necessary capital buffer.

They shouldnt have just said, how much are our competitors selling? We want to sell that much too, Chang said in a phone interview.

Even Taiwans largest insurers are likely to take a hit. Claims at Fubon Life Insurance Co. and Cathay Life Insurance Co. could reach NT$5 billion, equivalent to about 2% of their net income this year, Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Steven Lam wrote in a May 13 note.

The generosity of the policies insurers sold is a major part of the problem. Since the beginning of the pandemic, many companies have offered policies protecting customers against negative health impacts of Covid and the associated costs.

Quarantine insurance is among the most popular. For as little as NT$666 a year, the insurers guarantee to pay out NT$50,000 if the customer is required by the government to isolate. If the client later tests positive for Covid, they can get another NT$50,000.

Blow Up

Until recently, Taiwan had managed to keep the pandemic broadly under control, making Covid-related policies a solid source of revenue. But cases began surging in late April as the omicron variant breached the islands border controls.

Taiwan reported more than 76,000 local cases and a record-high 145 deaths on Sunday, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control. The health minister has said around 15% of the population -- about 3.5 million people -- could end up getting Covid.

Siang Lin, a financial industry professional working in Taiwan, bought a Covid insurance policy that he renewed once it expired.

I thought, sooner or later its going to blow up here, he said. Were all going to end up getting it -- thats why I extended my policy.

Lin was right. He got Covid in early May and is currently awaiting his NT$50,000 payout.

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Covid-19 in Taiwan: Insurers brace for over $1 bn in payout amid outbreak - Business Standard

ITHACA, N.Y.Its no secret that Ithaca is a tourism hot spot, especially during the summer when the sun is shining, the waterfalls are rushing and everything is in bloom.

With the Finger Lakes towns and their respective gorges making many of the what to do in New York State and best summer activities lists, Ithaca draws thousands of visitors every year, starting with the bang of graduation weekend and this year, the return of the Ithaca Festival.

But, like the rest of the world, Ithaca saw far fewer tourists during the summer of 2020 due to COVID-19 as people stayed home and didnt travel internationally or even domestically for much of the year, particularly during the normally busy spring and summer months.

Gary Ferguson of the Downtown Ithaca Alliance (DIA) said that the organization receives constant feedback from downtown retail and restaurant businesses and that it had quickly become apparent that tourism had regained its speed after the summer of 2020 The bottom line is weve seen a pretty strong bounce back in visitor traffic from our peak of the pandemic.

In its Strategic Tourism Plan for 2021 through 2027, the Tompkins County Tourism Department highlighted goals and focus topics with the purpose of increasing the amount of time visitors spend during trips to the area. Some of the more prominent goals listed are to increase the average trip length to three to four nights; increase average visitor spending by 5% (from $366 to $384); add year-round indoor and outdoor programming; and increase collaboration between local tourism partners and businesses.

Room tax, of particular note as it is the main funding method for tourism programs locally, has a 5% rate charged with every hotel room and Airbnb booked. In the first quarter of 2022, $383,989 was collected more than twice what the same timeframe in 2021 yielded ($167,311). Brett Bossard, chair of the Strategic Tourism Planning Board said that 2022s room tax thus far wasnt expected to that extent, but that it shows a volume increase in tourism returning.

We benefit from a lot of different factors being where we are located, he said. Were a relatively easy drive from a number of large metropolitan areas, [] and up until very recently, other forms of travel, like air travel, were not as appealing because of the health concerns.

Projected room tax for the entirety of 2022 is $2.4 million, even with occupancy being assumed in the budget at 20% of what it was in 2019. In 2019, Tompkins County collected $2.9 million in room tax, dropping to $1.2 million for the entire 2020 year.

In its annual report from 2020, Visit Ithaca found that visitors spent $229.8 million in 2019. Similarly, in 2020, $230 million was spent, though the total for 2021 is not yet reported.

A 2019 visitor profile report from Visit Ithaca and the Tompkins County tourism found that 76% of visitors are repeaters, primarily traveling as a couple or with children. Seventy-eight percent stayed overnight with 22% visiting for a day trip, and the overnight visitors stayed on average between two and three nights, mostly at hotels or inns.

Of the visitors surveyed in the 2019 report, the Commons, Ithaca Farmers Market, Buttermilk Falls, Robert H. Treman and Taughannock Falls state parks were among the most visited locations in town.

According to the Downtown Ithaca Alliances pedestrian counters for foot traffic, the Commons saw 1.6 million visits between May 2019 and 2020 keep in mind that this timeframe is skewed as New York went on pause and shut down non-essential businesses from March 22 to May 26, 2020 991.6 thousand visits between May 2020 and 2021, and the beginning of recovery between May 2021 and 2022 with 1.637 million visits. During those timeframes, visitors to the Commons came back three to four times on average, so while that data does count overall visits, unique visitors are not distinguished.

Trips to the area (particularly the state parks listed above) help paint another partial picture of the number of visitors Ithaca sees. The 2020 data sticks out as a slightly abnormal trend likely because of individuals and families seeking things to do outdoors during that COVID summer as they were considered the safest activities.

As a baseline, in 2019, Buttermilk Falls saw 326,156, Treman saw 369,121 and Taughannock Falls saw 577,391 visitors. In 2020 (keep in mind the outdoor activities sentence from the above paragraph), Buttermilk saw 441,386, Treman had 444,124 and Taughannock had 606,202 visitors, according to the New York State parks website.

Last year, 2021, Buttermilk and Treman both had numbers similar to 2019: 378,350, and 358,536, respectively, but Taughannock saw a large bump from its 2019 number and an increase still from 2020 with 618,162 visitors throughout the year.

Visit Ithaca, one of the tourism bureaus in town, also reported that website traffic numbers in 2020 were down 14% for the year but tracked almost identically for the months of July through October, even with case numbers fluctuating seeming to show that interest was there, even if actual visitation remained down.

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Tourism in Ithaca is bouncing back after the heights of COVID-19 - The Ithaca Voice

Four of Maryland's biggest jurisdictions are now areas of high community transmission for COVID-19, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.|| COVID-19 updates | Maryland's latest numbers | Get tested | Vaccine Info ||While most elected leaders and health officials in those jurisdictions said they will not reinstate face mask mandates, one remains a "maybe."The CDC is now recommending the public wear face masks indoors and on public transportation across the heart of the Baltimore metro region.The CDC cited rising COVID-19 case rates and hospitalizations that have pushed Baltimore City and Anne Arundel, Baltimore and Howard counties into the category of high community transmission.So, what does this mean at the local level? Are mask mandates coming back?The answer was a solid "maybe" from Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott and Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Letitia Dzirasa, who said she'll issue advice after the next batch of data comes in next month."Dr. Dzirasa let me know late last night about that. (She) and I will be meeting and discussing what plan of action we will be taking," Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott said. "As always, we'll be talking with Dr. D, our hospital partners, everyone that we've been taking advice from around COVID so far."| RELATED: Baltimore-area health officials prepare for uptick in children's COVID-19 vaccinesBut it was a resounding "no" from the other three jurisdictions.The Howard County Health Department told 11 News: "We are not going to be reinstating a mask mandate."Baltimore County Health Officer Dr. Gregory Branch issued a statement to 11 News that read, in part: "We will not be going to a mask mandate."And, there are no revived mask rules on tap in Anne Arundel County either, according to Anne Arundel County Health Officer Dr. Nilesh Kalyanaraman."So, we're not talking about a mandate at this time," Kalyanaraman told 11 News.| RELATED: New CDC research: Majority of Americans have had COVID-19 in recent monthsKalyanaraman, like his counterparts in neighboring jurisdictions, endorsed the CDC guidance, underscoring the importance of wearing a mask indoors during elevated community transmission.He also explained why this wave is different, saying: "While we're seeing high community levels, (that) means that there's both a lot of spread and some increase in hospitalizations. We're not seeing the same level of hospitalizations that we did just six months ago. And so, it is a different situation. And, we do have the tools to better manage this, including oral treatments, which we didn't have six months ago."The CDC recalculates community transmission every Thursday based on case rates, hospital admissions and the percentage of COVID-19 inpatients.

Four of Maryland's biggest jurisdictions are now areas of high community transmission for COVID-19, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

|| COVID-19 updates | Maryland's latest numbers | Get tested | Vaccine Info ||

While most elected leaders and health officials in those jurisdictions said they will not reinstate face mask mandates, one remains a "maybe."

The CDC is now recommending the public wear face masks indoors and on public transportation across the heart of the Baltimore metro region.

The CDC cited rising COVID-19 case rates and hospitalizations that have pushed Baltimore City and Anne Arundel, Baltimore and Howard counties into the category of high community transmission.

So, what does this mean at the local level? Are mask mandates coming back?

The answer was a solid "maybe" from Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott and Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Letitia Dzirasa, who said she'll issue advice after the next batch of data comes in next month.

"Dr. Dzirasa let me know late last night about that. (She) and I will be meeting and discussing what plan of action we will be taking," Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott said. "As always, we'll be talking with Dr. D, our hospital partners, everyone that we've been taking advice from around COVID so far."

| RELATED: Baltimore-area health officials prepare for uptick in children's COVID-19 vaccines

But it was a resounding "no" from the other three jurisdictions.

The Howard County Health Department told 11 News: "We are not going to be reinstating a mask mandate."

Baltimore County Health Officer Dr. Gregory Branch issued a statement to 11 News that read, in part: "We will not be going to a mask mandate."

And, there are no revived mask rules on tap in Anne Arundel County either, according to Anne Arundel County Health Officer Dr. Nilesh Kalyanaraman.

"So, we're not talking about a mandate at this time," Kalyanaraman told 11 News.

| RELATED: New CDC research: Majority of Americans have had COVID-19 in recent months

Kalyanaraman, like his counterparts in neighboring jurisdictions, endorsed the CDC guidance, underscoring the importance of wearing a mask indoors during elevated community transmission.

He also explained why this wave is different, saying: "While we're seeing high community levels, (that) means that there's both a lot of spread and some increase in hospitalizations. We're not seeing the same level of hospitalizations that we did just six months ago. And so, it is a different situation. And, we do have the tools to better manage this, including oral treatments, which we didn't have six months ago."

The CDC recalculates community transmission every Thursday based on case rates, hospital admissions and the percentage of COVID-19 inpatients.

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CDC: 4 Baltimore-area jurisdictions have high COVID-19 community transmission - WBAL TV Baltimore

With a three-day Memorial Day holiday weekend coming up, the state health department is warning Wisconsin residents to pay attention to COVID-19 risks where they live or where they will be visiting.

Gather outdoors as much as possible and wear masks indoors in areas where the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported a high community level for COVID-19, said Dr. Ryan Westergaard, chief medical officer for the communicable disease bureau at the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS).

The CDCs community level map, updated late Thursday, showed that 10 counties in Wisconsin have a high community level of COVID-19. The rating combines county case rates for the virus along with hospital capacity.

The latest figures appear to be an improvement from a week ago, when 18 counties had a high community level.

Under the community level assessment system, the CDC recommends that in counties with a high level, everyone should wear a mask when gathering indoors with others outside the persons household.

In a high transmission community, the more people who wear masks, the better, Westergaard told reporters in an online briefing Thursday.

The current trajectory of the virus isnt clear, he said. Up to now, COVID-19 infections have been rising since mid-April, attributed largely to sub-variants of the variant referred to as omicron, which led to a steep spike in cases starting late last year and peaking in the first week of January.

The new variants are much more easily transmitted, Westergaard said. So far the recent upswing in cases is much less dramatic. Nevertheless, the current COVID-19 test data collected by DHS doesnt include the results of home tests, he said, so it probably undercounts the real case level in the state.

Westergaard said public health providers hope that the current wave will be milder than past ones. But at the same time, we want people to be cautious, he said.

Even where transmission is lower, masking can reduce the risk of getting COVID, influenza or other illnesses, he added. But with COVID activity still high heading into the weekend than it has been, he advised people to pay more attention to it and consider wearing masks if youre in one of those areas where theres a lot going around.

A person who feels symptoms of illness should stay home and take a home COVID-19 test, Westergaard said. People also should consider taking a home test before they go to a gathering, he added.

People who have risk factors for more severe disease and who test positive for COVID-19 also qualify for antiviral drugs that are now being used to combat the infection drugs that were not available a year ago, Westergaard said.

Since the start of the pandemic more than two years ago, he said, holiday gatherings have heightened the risk of transmitting the virus. With nice weather that encourages people to spend more time outdoors, and with more people who have been vaccinated as well as some who have been infected and have a short-term immunity, Westergaard said people can safely meet for Memorial Day weekend events if they take precautions.

DHS is advising people who havent gotten vaccinated for COVID-19 yet to begin the process. People who have been vaccinated but not received a booster should do so as soon as they are eligible, and if theyve been boosted once and qualify for a second booster, should get that as well, according to the DHS recommendations.

DHS and the CDC have said that people age 50 or older qualify for a second booster five months after the first one, as do people 12 or older who have a compromised immune system.

The ability of vaccines to prevent an initial infection has diminished, according to DHS, but they still remain a key protection against serious disease and its effects, including hospitalization and death. New data from the department show that in April, unvaccinated Wisconsin residents with COVID-19 were twice as likely to go to the hospital and seven times as likely to die as COVID-19 patients who were vaccinated.

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Health department suggests COVID-19 caution heading into Memorial Day weekend - Wisconsin Examiner

COVID-19 case numbers are rising again in the U.S. including among children. In mid-May 2022, the Food and Drug Administration authorized a booster shot of the COVID-19 vaccine for U.S. children ages 5 to 11, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention followed by recommending a booster shot for this age group.

Naturally, many parents are wondering about the importance and safety of a booster shot for their school-age children. Debbie-Ann Shirley, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at the University of Virginia, answers some common questions about COVID-19 and booster shots in kids that she hears in her practice and explains the research behind why booster shots are recommended for children ages 5 to 11.

COVID-19 is generally milder in children than adults, but severe disease can occur.As of late May 2022, more than 15,000 children ages 5 to 11 have been hospitalized with COVID-19 and 180 children have died. During the height of the recent winter surge of the highly transmissible omicron variant, 87% of the children in the 5-to-11 age group who became hospitalized with COVID-19 were unvaccinated.

READ MORE: Analysis: Boosters are crucial, but revamped COVID vaccines will be key to ending the pandemic

In addition, the rare but serious condition that can follow in the weeks after COVID-19 infection, known as Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children, or MIS-C, most commonly occurs among children ages 5 to 11. Over 3,800 cases of MIS-C have been reported in that 5-to-11 age group, and 93% of the children who developed this complication were unvaccinated.

For some vaccines including those for COVID-19 effectiveness wanes over time. Booster shots help to bolster the immune response. Several childhood vaccines, such as the tetanus and diphtheria vaccines, require booster shots.

COVID-19 boosters have been shown to improve waning protection in adolescents and adults. Side effects are similar to those reported with the initial series. The risk of myocarditis, or heart inflammation a rare side effect that can occur following COVID-19 vaccination seems to be less after a third dose than after the second.

When administered to children 5 to 11 years old, the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine generated levels of antibody response similar to that in 16-to-25-year-olds in a clinical trial, which was the basis for the FDAs initial authorization of the shots in October 2021. But studies after the shots were authorized found that vaccine effectiveness rapidly waned in the 5-to-11 age group during the omicron surge. Despite that, the shots continued to be protective against severe disease and hospitalization.

Vaccination has also been shown to be be highly protective against Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children.

In a clinical trial, researchers tested the Pfizer vaccine in children 5 to 11 using a 10-microgram booster dose, which is the same dose children received for the primary series and is one-third the dose used for adolescents and adults. When tested among 401 children, no new safety concerns arose, and in the smaller subset of children in which the immune response was tested, the third shot significantly increased antibody responses, including against the omicron variant. Hence, a third dose seems beneficial for boosting immunity in this age group, similar to older age groups.

The booster dose can be given five months or more after the second shot. But as of late May 2022, fewer than one-third of children ages 5 to 11 had received two shots, meaning that only about 8 million school-age children were eligible to start receiving the booster. This could prove an important layer of protection for them and help limit disruptions on schooling and summer activities, particularly as mask mandates have gone by the wayside.

Children with weakened immune systems who were at first authorized to receive three initial doses of COVID-19 vaccine may now also receive a booster shot or a fourth dose as soon as three months after their third dose.

As of late May 2022, more than 18.5 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine had been administered to children in the 5-to-11 age group. Most COVID-19 vaccine side effects such as pain at the injection site have been mild and short-lived in children. Fatigue, headache and muscle aches are other common side effects.

READ MORE: Three Pfizer COVID shots protect children under 5, company says

Reports suggest that most cases of myocarditis that follow vaccination typically improve quickly with medicine and rest. Rates of myocarditis have been lower in children ages 5 to 11 than in teens. In any age group, myocarditis is more likely to occur after infection than vaccination.

For parents of kids ages 6 months to 5 years, COVID-19 vaccines are also finally within sight. On May 23, 2022, Pfizer released new data for this age group, stating that three shots generated strong antibody responses, were well tolerated with no new safety concerns and, based on preliminary data, the series was 80% effective at preventing COVID-19 infection. In late April 2022, Moderna released similar data showing that two doses of its vaccine stimulated good antibody responses and were tolerated well by kids under age 6.

The FDA is set to meet in June 2022 to discuss new low-dose formulations of the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines for this group.

If it is authorized by the FDA, the CDC will then provide recommendations on its use for the more than 20 million children ages 6 months to 5 years in the U.S.

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

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Kids aged 5 to 11 can get a COVID-19 booster shot. Heres what you should know - PBS NewsHour

A strange, spring spike in flu cases has hit Colorado this year as many people also are dealing with COVID-19 infections and spring allergies. Photo: Getty Images.

Colorado has experienced a strange, spring spike in flu cases this year, and like many other trends in the post-pandemic world, this years odd flu season likely is related to COVID-19.

Its wild. Its throwing everyone for a loop, infectious disease expert, Dr. Michelle Barron, said of the 2022 flu season. A lot of people have caught the flu in the last few weeks. Its here. A lot of us got our flu shots in August. The vaccine might not have been a perfect match for this years flu. And any protection we had probably has worn off by now.

Flu cases jumped in April and May at the same time that Colorado has experienced a new wave of COVID-19 cases. You could call the convergence of flu and COVID-19 infections a twindemic of sorts.

Its the weirdest flu season Ive ever seen, said Barron, who is senior medical director of infection prevention and control at UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital on the Anschutz Medical Campus.

Along with the spread of flu and COVID-19, many people are experiencing seasonal allergies as spring plants bloom. Those who are feeling sniffly or achy cant be sure whats making them sick unless they get tested for COVID-19 and the flu.

Typically, flu cases in North America peak during the winter months from December through February. This year, in Colorados most populous counties, flu cases began to climb in December, then dipped to uncharacteristically low levels in January and February. They then began to inch up again in March, and during April and May reached very high levels.

Barron sees a direct link between the end of COVID-19 mask mandates and the spring spike in flu infections.

It has everything to do with COVID-19, said Barron

In February and March, when people stopped wearing masks, we started seeing flu cases rise. By April and May, there were more than 1,100 cases a week (in Colorados most populous counties), Barron said.

On top of people not wearing masks in the spring, protection from fall flu shots also was decreasing.

Take a look at the chart below and youll see a visual representation of the strange flu trends. Tri-County Health monitors flu cases and created a chart that shows some strange patterns. Flu cases in Colorado for 2022 appear in green. The spring spike this year reached levels nearly as high as the infections during the 2019-2020 flu season (noted with a red line), just before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The following year, during the winter of 2020 and 2021, there were almost no flu cases due to all of the efforts to drive down COVID-19 infections (denoted by a flat line at the bottom).

The 2021-2022 flu season appeared to start off normally in December. Then the delta COVID-19 variant hit, followed by omicron and its variants.

During the winter months, Barron thinks people were wearing masks and being cautious while in crowded, indoor spaces.

That probably suppressed the flu in the early months, Barron said.

Then, politicians started lifting mask mandates. Many people were tired of worrying about COVID-19 and ditched their masks. And guess what? The influenza virus, which like all other viruses is opportunistic and finds hosts where it can, started spreading more easily in the spring.

What will happen this summer and fall related to flu and COVID-19? That remains unclear. Barron keeps a Magic 8 Ball on her desk at work and often jokes about her inability to predict the future. All humor aside, Barron is concerned that flu could remain pervasive as COVID-19 infections continue to spread.

During typical years, influenza A strain spreads first, then influenza B takes over and causes infections later. This year, the flu cases that have caused the spring spike all have been tied to the A strain.

Its possible that influenza B could start circulating during the summer while COVID-19 variants continue to spread.

So, what should you do if youre feeling sick?

Get tested, Barron advises.

Since COVID-19 is widespread, you can get tested first for the coronavirus.

If you test negative for COVID-19, and you havent had exposure to people with the flu, you could be getting a false negative for COVID-19 or you could have the flu. The symptoms are similar: fever, body aches, cough, Barron said.

Furthermore, a small number of people have gotten sick with both COVID-19 and the flu at the same time.

That kind of double whammy is not common, Barron said.

Nonetheless, its good to get tested. COVID-19 tests are available both at home and at health facilities. Please keep in mind that home tests are not as reliable as a nasal swab, PCR tests. With an at-home test, you can get false-negative results. So, if youre feeling sick, be careful about exposing other people.

To get a flu test, contact your doctors office.

If you test positive for either the flu or COVID-19, there are treatments you can get to shorten the duration of your illness or reduce the severity. Barron advises people to act fast.

The antiviral medication that helps fight the flu is called Tamiflu and people need to start taking it quickly, within about 48 hours of the onset of symptoms.

If you test positive for COVID-19, you might also qualify to get additional treatments. Its best to start these treatments within about five days of symptom onset.

As people cope with a crazy constellation of illnesses this spring, researchers are working on vaccines for the fall. Stay tuned for vaccine news throughout the summer. Its possible that a combined vaccine for both flu and the newest COVID-19 strains will be available in the fall. If not, we could be in for another tough wave of multiple viruses.

Im seriously worried about the fall. COVID-19 likely will surge again. Our immunity will be suppressed and there could be new variants, Barron said.

Thankfully, both vaccines and new treatments make flu and COVID-19 a little less dangerous.

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Strange, spring flu spike likely related to COVID-19. How? - UCHealth Today