Category: Covid-19

MILANIn the quest to understand how the Covid-19 pandemic began, one persistent mystery is an Italian woman who researchers say they can no longer find.

Members of a World Health Organization-led team studying the origins of the virus want to investigate the case of a 25-year-old Milan resident who in November 2019 visited a hospital with a sore throat and skin lesions: symptoms of a disease that wouldnt be discovered in the city of Wuhan in China for another month. She left behind a skin sample, smaller than a dime, that in two tests conducted more than six months later yielded traces of the Covid-19 virus, according to research published in January by the British Journal of Dermatology.

Additional studies of the womans case, scientists say, could help determine how long the virus was circulating in China and elsewhere before a cluster of cases erupted at Wuhans Huanan seafood market in December 2019. The Covid-19-positive skin sample, sitting in wax in a researchers office in Milan, is an example of the scattered clues about the pandemics early days that the WHO-led investigation is pursuing outside of China, where the pandemic began.

You cannot ignore it, said Dutch virologist Marion Koopmans, a member of the WHO-led team, referring to the Italian case in an April interview. She said the case offered enough evidence to merit broader investigation into whether the virus had spread to Italy by November 2019.

The problem, researchers say, is that none of them know who or where she is. Milans Policlinico hospital and the University of Milan, which oversaw her case, said they dont have her details. Raffaele Gianotti, the dermatologist who treated her, died in March, days before the WHO-led team asked for more research into his patient. Covid-19 didnt cause his death, said his wife, Roberta Massobrio.

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Clues to Covid-19s Origins Include Anonymous Skin Sample in Italy - The Wall Street Journal

Help us practice social distancing, with services that are always on and available 24/7 through Eastern Mobile & Online Banking, ATMs, and Eastern Business Banking or Eastern Treasury. When you need to visit us, the majority of our branch lobbies are now open. However, for everyone's safety there are times when individual branches may temporarily close. Drive-up windows also remain open. Always use our Branch Locator before visiting us to make sure you have the most up to date information on branch hours and availability.

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COVID-19: Customer Information | Eastern Bank

July 14, 2021

In recent months, a variant of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, has been making headlines as it has spread across the world. This so-called Delta variant, which is also known as B.1.617.2, was first identified in India in December 2020, then discovered in the United States in March 2021. Presently, people in all 50 states have tested positive for COVID-19 caused by the Delta variant.

Doctors and researchers are still learning about the Delta variant, but they know many things so far. Here are three things that everyone should know:

Additionally, one recent study from China found that people who were presumably unvaccinated and infected with the Delta variant had a viral load within their respiratory systems that was 1,000 times higher than the amount of virus that was present among people who had been infected by the original strain of the virus.

The combination of a higher viral load, the ability to spread the virus to others earlier (when people may not realize that theyre sick) and the fact that this variant spreads more efficiently makes the Delta variant worrisome. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has classified it as a variant of concern, which is a term thats used when a virus is more transmissible, causes more severe disease or involves other complications.

2. People who are infected with the Delta variant may get sicker. Recently published research from Scotland has shown that unvaccinated people who are infected with the COVID-19 Delta variant are twice as likely to be hospitalized, due to severity of illness, than people who are infected with the COVID-19 Alpha variant, which had previously been identified as more contagious than the original strain of the virus. More research is needed to determine whether the Delta variant causes more severe illness than other strains, but the presence of a higher viral load may contribute to more symptoms among affected people.

3. COVID-19 vaccines offer the best protection against the Delta variant. The current research suggests that the COVID-19 vaccines that are available within the U.S. adequately protect against the Delta variant, although researchers will continue to study their effectiveness.

The CDC recommends that people who arent vaccinated should get the COVID-19 vaccine to protect themselves from the risk of illness from COVID-19, including the Delta variant. In the event that someone who is vaccinated gets COVID-19, the vaccines protect against the severity of illness, which helps to prevent hospitalization and death.

For those who arent vaccinated yet including those who are not yet eligible other ways to help protect against the Delta variant include:

Next Steps & Resources:

The material provided through HealthU is intended to be used as general information only and should not replace the advice of your physician. Always consult your physician for individual care.

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3 Things You Need to Know About the Delta Variant - COVID-19, Featured, Health Topics - Hackensack Meridian Health

The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) reports as of July 15, 2021, there have been 3,060,485 total confirmatory laboratory results received for COVID-19, with 164,843 total cases and 2,917 deaths.

DHHR has confirmed the death of a 69-year old male from Preston County. We offer our deepest sympathy as both the family and our state grieve another loss due to COVID-19, said Bill J. Crouch, DHHR Cabinet Secretary. Lets continue taking every precaution we can to stop the spread of this disease, including scheduling a COVID-19 vaccination for yourself and all eligible family members.

CASES PER COUNTY: Barbour (1,517), Berkeley (12,915), Boone (2,186), Braxton (1,023), Brooke (2,252), Cabell (8,938), Calhoun (399), Clay (544), Doddridge (647), Fayette (3,565), Gilmer (890), Grant (1,319), Greenbrier (2,913), Hampshire (1,935), Hancock (2,847), Hardy (1,588), Harrison (6,232), Jackson (2,271), Jefferson (4,812), Kanawha (15,547), Lewis (1,313), Lincoln (1,609), Logan (3,310), Marion (4,673), Marshall (3,542), Mason (2,074), McDowell (1,639), Mercer (5,223), Mineral (2,999), Mingo (2,779), Monongalia (9,416), Monroe (1,226), Morgan (1,246), Nicholas (1,916), Ohio (4,320), Pendleton (726), Pleasants (959), Pocahontas (682), Preston (2,965), Putnam (5,374), Raleigh (7,113), Randolph (2,864), Ritchie (765), Roane (667), Summers (866), Taylor (1,293), Tucker (548), Tyler (751), Upshur (1,988), Wayne (3,188), Webster (565), Wetzel (1,400), Wirt (466), Wood (7,967), Wyoming (2,071).

Free pop-up COVID-19 testing is available today in Barbour, Berkeley, Hampshire, Jefferson, Lewis, Lincoln, and Mingo counties.

Barbour County

9:00 AM 11:00 AM, Barbour County Health Department, 109 Wabash Avenue, Philippi, WV

Berkeley County

10:00 AM 5:00 PM, 891 Auto Parts Place, Martinsburg, WV

Hampshire County

10:00 AM 5:00 PM, Hampshire County Health Department, 16189 Northwestern Turnpike, Augusta, WV

Jefferson County

10:00 AM 6:00 PM, Hollywood Casino, 750 Hollywood Drive, Charles Town, WV

Lewis County

Lincoln County

Mingo County

10:00 AM 2:00 PM, Seven Eleven, 11 West Second Avenue, Williamson, WV

11:00 AM 4:00 PM, Larry Joe Harless Community Center, 202 Larry Joe Harless Drive, Gilbert, WV

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COVID-19 Daily Update 7-15-2021 - West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources

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Massachusetts COVID-19 Relief Fund

Eastern Bank is proud to support this statewide Fund as an administrator of the Fund, providing a safe and reliable way for donations to be made to this Fund, and at no cost to the Fund. In addition, ourFoundation has donated $100,000 to this Fund. The Foundation for Business Equity, a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization, is serving as a fiscal sponsor of the Fund.

Grants made through the Fund will be determined solely by the leadership of the Massachusetts COVID-19 Relief Fund, and not by Eastern Bank or Eastern Bank Charitable Foundation.

Supporting each other is the best way to get through this pandemic together. When we all do what we can, we help our neighbors across all communities in Massachusetts.

To make a donation and learn more, visit MACovid19ReliefFund.org.

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Massachusetts COVID-19 Relief Fund | Eastern Bank

A new large-scale randomized evaluationhas found that messages delivered by physicians increased knowledge about Covid-19 and use of preventative health measures, like mask-wearing and social distancing, regardless of recipients race or political beliefs. This research shows that information campaigns delivered by trusted experts can be effective in changing peoples health-related beliefs and behaviors.

The evaluation tested the effectiveness of three video messages about Covid-19, recorded by physicians of different ages, genders, and races. One message defined Covid-19 and discussed common symptoms associated with the virus and asymptomatic transmission. A second message reminded the viewer that Covid-19 was actively circulating in the United States. The final message described U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention social distancing guidelines. The study included over 18,000 Black and white adults of modest incomes (the majority below $60,000) in the United States.

The study was led by an interdisciplinary team of researchers from MIT, Harvard University, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Paris School of Economics, Stanford University, Yale University, McLean Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), and the Covid-19 Messaging Working Group a diverse group of physicians convened by theCenter for Diversity and Inclusion at MGH to study and implement effective messaging to help disadvantaged communities protect themselves against Covid-19.

Study participants were randomly selected to view videos featuring the three Covid-19 messages, or three placebo videos on generic health topics. Participants selected to view the Covid-19 videos were then randomly assigned to view the messages delivered by either a Black or white physician. An additional component of the study sought to tailor the message to Black recipients by adding a fourth video featuring acknowledgements of structural racism and the unequal burden of Covid-19 on Black communities.

The positive impact of watching physicians deliver Covid-19 messages was remarkably similar across racial, socioeconomic, and political lines. Video messages delivered by both Black and white physicians reduced the knowledge gaps about Covid-19.

Researchers measured knowledge gaps by asking participants questions about Covid-19 symptoms and prevention strategies and assigning a score from 0-10 based on the number of incorrect answers. The proportion of participants with no gap in knowledge (score 0) increased from 8.4 percent in the comparison group to 13 percent among participants who watched physician-delivered Covid-19 messages. Scores on an index of information-seeking behaviors increased by 5.6 percent relative to the comparison group, and scores on an index of self-reported Covid prevention behaviors increased by 3.2 percent. Willingness to pay for a mask increased as well. The video featuring discussion of structural racism and disparate racial effects of Covid-19 did not have an additional impact on Black recipients beliefs or behaviors.

These results suggest that people of all races and political affiliations can be influenced with accurate and clear information conveyed by trusted experts, such as physicians.

Esther Duflo, the Abdul Latif Jameel Professor of Poverty Alleviation and Development Economics at MIT, co-founder and director of MITs Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab, and a senior author of the study, notes, In the United States, there is a perception that political polarization stands in the way of communicating objective health guidance. While such polarization has influenced behavior patterns related to social distancing and mask-wearing and state responses to the pandemic, our research suggests that physician information campaigns can change minds and behaviors regardless of political affiliation.

The findings also underscore the important role a diverse workforce of physicians can play in delivering effective health information. In a moment when public health guidelines are constantly changing, strategies that encourage individuals to update and revise their beliefs based on accurate health information will be key to ensuring effective pandemic response.

Lead authors of the study are Lucy Ogbu-Nwobodo of Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, and McLean Hospital, and Carlos Torres of Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital for Children. MIT authors include Abhijit Banerjee, Esther Duflo, Mohit Karnani, Benjamin A. Olken, and Pierre-Luc Vautrey, all of the Department of Economics. Other authors include Marcella Alsan of the Harvard Kennedy School of Government; Fatima Cody Stanford and Erica Warner of Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital; Emily Breza of Harvard University; Arun G. Chandrasekhar of Stanford University; Sarah Eichmeyer of Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich; Tristan Loisel of the Paris School of Economics; and Paul Goldsmith-Pinkham of Yale University.

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Study finds physicians are widely effective messengers of Covid-19 information - MIT News

TAMPA, Fla. Researchers say the Delta COVID-19 variant is the most contagious one so far.

It's now the dominant strain in the country, and cases are climbing.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say the Delta variant was initially identified in India and now accounts for at least 57.6% of newly confirmed cases in the United States.

RECOMMENDED: Local doctor worried about fourth wave of COVID-19 as Florida's numbers rise

"It's more transmissible indoors, it's more transmissible outdoors, it's just more transmissible in general," said Dr. Michael Teng, Virologist and Associate Professor at The University of South Florida.

As more people continue to gather once again, doctors say it's possible to get a breakthrough COVID-19 infection, even if you're fully vaccinated.

"Obviously, the vaccines are not 100%. There are some cases of people getting relative severe infection after getting vaccinated, but this is vanishingly small," said Teng.

The CDC says breakthrough infections are expected and that there will be a small percentage of fully vaccinated people who will get sick, hospitalized, or die from COVID-19.

While still uncommon, experts say these breakthrough cases are more possible with the Delta variant.

"For the vast majority of people who are vaccinated, it's going to be very mild," said Teng.

The Delta strain was first detected in March in the U.S. and can now be found in all 50 states.

The variant has been identified in more than 100 countries and is expected to become the dominant COVID-19 mutation worldwide, according to the World Health Organization.

Experts say the Delta strain is particularly dangerous for unvaccinated and partially vaccinated people.

"The vaccines are great at protecting you from severe disease. Some people may feel symptoms after getting exposed. Some people might not get symptoms. But for unvaccinated people, Delta is a much bigger problem," said Teng.

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COVID-19 Delta variant could be to blame for recent breakthrough cases in fully vaccinated people - ABC Action News

The City and Borough of Juneau Emergency Operations Center reports nine new individuals four residents and five nonresidents identified with COVID-19 in Juneau for July 13 and 14. Of the resident cases, Public Health attributes one to community spread and three to secondary transmission. Of the nonresident cases, three are in the tourism sector and two are visitors.

Four nonresidents three reported today and one reported on Monday are part of a cluster associated with the American Cruise Lines ship Constellation. That cluster total is currently at 10 individuals four who are isolating in Petersburg and six who are isolating in Juneau. While six are presently in Juneau, only four received positive test results in Juneau and are included in Juneau case counts.

Cumulatively, Juneau has had1,398 residentstest positive for COVID-19 and 178 nonresidents. There are 15 active cases in Juneau and 1,556 individuals have recovered. All individuals with active cases of COVID-19 are in isolation.

Statewide, the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services reports247 new peopleidentified with COVID-19 in the past two days 235 are residents and 12 are nonresidents. Alaska has had 69,187 cumulative resident cases of COVID-19 and a total of 2,966 nonresidents.

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CBJ reports nine new COVID-19 cases in Juneau July 13 & 14 City and Borough of Juneau - City and Borough of Juneau

Confirmed cases of COVID-19 have passed 188.3 million globally, according to Johns Hopkins University. The number of confirmed deaths stands at more than 4.05 million. More than 3.51 billion vaccination doses have been administered globally, according to Our World in Data.

Haiti received on Wednesday its first 500,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines donated by the US government through the COVAX vaccine distribution scheme, regional health officials said.

South Korea is sending a medical team to the Middle East to tackle a coronavirus outbreak on one of its ships on anti-piracy patrol. New daily infections in South Korea are hovering around record levels with 1,600 reported on Thursday.

More than 5,000 anti-vaccine protesters rallied in Athens on Wednesday to oppose Greece's coronavirus vaccinations programme.

Police in Paris clashed with demonstrators protesting against President Emmanuel Macron's plan to require a COVID-19 vaccine certificate or negative PCR test to gain entry to bars, restaurants and cinemas from next month.

Singapore reported its highest number of local coronavirus cases in 10 months on Wednesday, after the discovery of a cluster among hostesses and customers of KTV karaoke lounges.

The Australian state of Victoria was ordered into a five-day lockdown on Thursday following a spike in COVID-19 infections. The city of Sydney is also in lockdown as the two main population hubs battle an outbreak of the highly contagious Delta variant.

How case numbers are rising around the globe.

Image: Our World in Data

A number of COVID-19 cases have emerged involving athletes and others taking part in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, reports Reuters.

The following is a list to date, in chronological order.

JUNE 20 - A coach with Uganda's squad tests positive on arrival at Narita airport and is quarantined at a government-designated facility. The rest of the team heads by bus to their host city, Izumisano near Osaka in western Japan.

JUNE 23 - A Ugandan athlete tests positive, Izumisano officials said.

JULY 4 - A member of Serbia's Olympic rowing team tests positive on arrival. The other four team members are isolated as close contacts.

JULY 9 - One Lithuanian and one Israeli athlete test positive, according to reports. Later reports say the Lithuanian's results were unclear and subsequently tested negative.

JULY 14 - A masseur for the Russian women's rugby sevens team tests positive, forcing the team into isolation for two days, the RIA news agency reports. Officials in Munakata, southwestern Japan, confirmed that one staff member was hospitalised and said none of the team members could be considered close contacts.

- The refugee Olympic team has delayed its arrival in Japan following a positive case with a team official in Doha, Qatar. The infected official is in quarantine without symptoms and 26 of the 29 refugees will remain in their Doha training camp.

- Seven staff at a hotel in Hamamatsu, central Japan, where dozens of Brazilian athletes are staying have tested positive, a city official said.

- Twenty-one members of the South African rugby team are in isolation after they are believed to have been in close contact with a case on their flight.

JULY 15 - Eight athletes from the Kenya women's rugby team were classified as close contacts after a positive coronavirus case was found on their flight to Tokyo, said an official with the southwestern city of Kurume, where they were set to hold a training camp.

The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone and not the World Economic Forum.

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COVID-19: What you need to know about the coronavirus pandemic on 15 July - World Economic Forum

GENEVA/NEW YORK, 15July 2021 --- 23 million children missed out on basic vaccines through routine immunization services in 2020 3.7 million more than in 2019 - according to official data published today by WHO and UNICEF. This latest set of comprehensive worldwide childhood immunization figures, the first official figures to reflect global service disruptions due to COVID-19, show a majority of countries last year experienced drops in childhood vaccination rates.

Concerningly, most of these up to 17 million children likely did not receive a single vaccine during the year, widening already immense inequities in vaccine access. Most of these children live in communities affected by conflict, in under-served remote places, or in informal or slum settings where they face multiple deprivations including limited access to basic health and key social services.

Even as countries clamour to get their hands on COVID-19 vaccines, we have gone backwards on other vaccinations, leaving children at risk from devastating but preventable diseases like measles, polio or meningitis, said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. Multiple disease outbreaks would be catastrophic for communities and health systems already battling COVID-19, making it more urgent than ever to invest in childhood vaccination and ensure every child is reached.

In all regions, rising numbers of children miss vital first vaccine doses in 2020; millions more miss later vaccines

Disruptions in immunization services were widespread in 2020, with the WHO Southeast Asian and Eastern Mediterranean Regions most affected. As access to health services and immunization outreach were curtailed, the number of children not receiving even their very first vaccinations increased in all regions. As compared with 2019, 3.5 million more children missed their first dose of diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis vaccine (DTP-1) while 3 million more children missed their first measles dose.

This evidence should be a clear warning the COVID-19 pandemic and related disruptions cost us valuable ground we cannot afford to lose and the consequences will be paid in the lives and wellbeing of the most vulnerable, said Henrietta Fore, UNICEF Executive Director. Even before the pandemic, there were worrying signs that we were beginning to lose ground in the fight to immunize children against preventable child illness, including with the widespread measles outbreaks two years ago. The pandemic has made a bad situation worse. With the equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines at the forefront of everyones minds, we must remember that vaccine distribution has always been inequitable, but it does not have to be.

Table 1: Countries with the greatest increase in children not receiving a first dose of diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis combined vaccine (DTP-1)

2019

2020

India

1'403'000

3'038'000

Pakistan

567'000

968'000

Indonesia

472'000

797'000

Philippines

450'000

557'000

Mexico

348000

454'000

Mozambique

97'000

186'000

Angola

399'000

482'000

United Republic of Tanzania

183'000

249'000

Argentina

97'000

156'000

Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of)

75'000

134'000

Mali

136'000

193'000

The data shows that middle-income countries now account for an increasing share of unprotected children that is, children missing out on at least some vaccine doses. India is experiencing a particularly large drop, with DTP-3 coverage falling from 91 per centto 85 per cent.

Fuelled by funding shortfalls, vaccine misinformation, instability and other factors, a troubling picture is also emerging in WHOs Region of the Americas, where vaccination coverage continues to fall. Just 82 per centof children are fully vaccinated with DTP, down from 91 per centin 2016.

Countries risk resurgence of measles, other vaccine-preventable diseases

Even prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, global childhood vaccination rates against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, measles and polio had stalled for several years at around 86 per cent. This rate is well below the 95 per centrecommended by WHO to protect against measles often the first disease to resurge when children are not reached with vaccines - and insufficient to stop other vaccine-preventable diseases.

With many resources and personnel diverted to support the COVID-19 response, there have been significant disruptions to immunization service provision in many parts of the world. In some countries, clinics have been closed or hours reduced, while people may have been reluctant to seek healthcare because of fear of transmission or have experienced challenges reaching services due to lockdown measures and transportation disruptions.

These are alarming numbers, suggesting the pandemic is unravelling years of progress in routine immunization and exposing millions of children to deadly, preventable diseases, said Dr Seth Berkley, CEO of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. This is a wake-up call we cannot allow a legacy of COVID-19 to be the resurgence of measles, polio and other killers. We all need to work together to help countries both defeat COVID-19, by ensuring global, equitable access to vaccines, and get routine immunization programmes back on track. The future health and wellbeing of millions of children and their communities across the globe depends on it.

Concerns are not just for outbreak-prone diseases. Already at low rates, vaccinations against human papillomavirus (HPV) - which protect girls against cervical cancer later in life - have been highly affected by school closures. As a result, across countries that have introduced HPV vaccine to date, approximately 1.6 million more girls missed out in 2020. Globally only 13 per cent ofgirls were vaccinated against HPV, falling from 15 per centin 2019.

Agencies call for urgent recovery and investment in routine immunization

As countries work to recover lost ground due to COVID-19 related disruptions, UNICEF, WHO and partners like Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance are supporting efforts to strengthen immunization systems by:

The agencies are working with countries and partners to deliver the ambitious targets of the global Immunization Agenda 2030, which aims to achieve 90% coverage for essential childhood vaccines; halve the number of entirely unvaccinated, or zero dose children, and increase the uptake of newer lifesaving vaccines such as rotavirus or pneumococcus in low and middle-income countries.

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Notes for editors:

About the data

Based on country-reported data, the official WHO and UNICEF estimates of national immunization coverage (WUENIC) provide the worlds largest data-set on immunization trends for vaccinations against 13 diseases given through regular health systems - normally at clinics or community centres or health worker visits. For 2020, data were provided from 160 countries.

Globally, the vaccination rate for three doses of diphtheria-tetanus and pertussis (DTP-3) vaccine fell from around 86 per centin 2019 to 83 per cent in 2020, meaning 22.7 million children missed out, and for measles first dose, from 86 to 84 per cent, meaning 22.3 million children missed out. Vaccination rates for measles second dose were at 71 per cent(from 70 per cent in 2019). To control measles, 95 per cent uptake of two vaccine doses is required; countries that cannot reach that level rely on periodic nationwide vaccination campaigns to fill the gap.

In addition to routine immunization disruptions, there are currently 57 postponed mass vaccination campaigns in 44 countries*, for measles, polio, yellow fever and other diseases, affecting millions more people.

New modelling also shows significant declines in DTP, measles vaccination coverage

New modelling, also published today in The Lancet by researchers at the Washington-based Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), similarly shows that childhood vaccination declined globally in 2020 due to COVID-19 disruptions. The IHME-led modelling is based on country-reported administrative data for DTP and measles vaccines, supplemented by reports on electronic medical records and human movement data captured through anonymized tracking of mobile phones.

Both analyses show that countries and the broader health community must ensure that new waves of COVID-19 and the massive rollout of COVID 19 vaccines dont derail routine immunization and that catch-up activities continue to be enhanced.

*Correction: This figure was corrected from57 postponed mass vaccination campaigns in 66 countries.

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COVID-19 pandemic leads to major backsliding on childhood vaccinations, new WHO - UNICEF