New infections drop more than 50% as delta wave wanes: COVID updates
New coronavirus infections are down 56.8% nationwide because the delta variant surge peaked within the first week of September, a USA TODAY evaluation of Johns Hopkins College information reveals.
Circumstances are down in each area – the South, Mid-Atlantic, most of New England, the Midwest, the West. Among the states hit hardest within the delta wave – Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, South Carolina and Tennessee – are reporting instances at a price about one-sixth of the place they had been lower than two months in the past. Arkansas and Louisiana instances have fallen by greater than three-quarters since then, too.
However there are some warning indicators from states, principally in colder climes and infrequently with low vaccination charges in some communities. In comparison with the week of Sept. 4, the tempo of latest instances is up about 85% in Alaska, 63% in Michigan and 56% in Montana. They’re even up 39% in Vermont, which was an early chief in vaccination.
The U.S. has seen sharp declines up to now, solely to see instances rise once more. Winter might drive social gatherings indoors, the place infections can unfold extra simply.
Melissa Nolan, an assistant professor of epidemiology and biostatistics on the College of South Carolina Arnold College of Public Well being, stays cautiously optimistic.
“Our fashions proceed to foretell a decline and stabilization of instances by the remainder of the calendar 12 months,” Nolan mentioned. “That’s assuming we don’t see one other new variant take maintain in our inhabitants.”
– Mike Stucka
Additionally within the information:
►An order barring the president of the Chicago police union from making public statements encouraging members to disobey the town’s vaccine mandate expired after a decide denied a request to increase it.
►The North Dakota Division of Well being on Tuesday switched off feedback on its social media accounts, saying it was doing so to fight the unfold of misinformation. The remark ban “might be utilized to all posts, and never be particular to any explicit matter,” the company mentioned.
►Maine well being care facilities are going through a staffing crunch, however vaccination mandates should not the trigger, the chief of the state’s largest well being community mentioned Tuesday. Maine Well being CEO Andrew Mueller blamed an getting older workforce and workers leaving the business due to the stress of working through the pandemic.
►Inexperienced Bay Packers large receiver Davante Adams, who ranks second within the NFL in catches and third in receiving yards, tested positive for COVID-19 and can doubtless miss Thursday’s recreation towards the unbeaten Arizona Cardinals. Adams says he is vaccinated.
📈 Immediately’s numbers: The U.S. has recorded greater than 45 million confirmed COVID-19 instances and practically 738,000 deaths, in accordance to Johns Hopkins University data. World totals: Greater than 244 million instances and 4.96 million deaths. Greater than 190 million Individuals – 57% of the inhabitants – are absolutely vaccinated, in response to the CDC.
📘 What we’re studying: Analysis through the pandemic has proven these with mental health disorders are more vulnerable to COVID-19, but it surely wasn’t till final week that the CDC added them to the record of underlying medical circumstances related to the next danger of extreme illness
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FDA panel’s OK of Pfizer vaccine for teenagers 5-11 a serious step
After a dialogue the place it was identified greater than 40% of American kids ages 5-11 had contracted COVID-19 by the tip of June, a panel of Meals and Drug Administration advisers voted 17-0 Tuesday to authorize the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine for teenagers that age.
The resounding help for the vaccine is a serious transfer towards making these school-age kids eligible for inoculation, doubtless by subsequent week. Nonetheless, three different steps stay. The FDA must log off, an impartial CDC advisory panel will evaluation the information, after which the CDC director must give her clearance.
The FDA committee of vaccine consultants and pediatricians mentioned that, whereas considerations stay concerning the unknowns, the information was enough to help utilizing the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine on this age group as a result of its advantages outweigh the dangers.
The information figures to be welcome by dad and mom wanting to get their children a excessive stage of safety towards the coronavirus. Pfizer-BioNTech reported 10 micrograms of their vaccine, a 3rd of the dose administered to adults, is 90.7% efficient at stopping symptomatic COVID, a rising concern for youngsters.
One examine introduced by the CDC discovered that 42% of kids ages 5-11 within the U.S. had been contaminated with COVID-19 as of the tip of June. The best hospitalization charges for youngsters occurred in September, so many children remained vulnerable after the summer time, the CDC’s Dr. Fiona Havers advised the committee.
— Karen Weintraub and Elizabeth Weise
Embattled Florida surgeon basic defends refusal to put on masks
Florida’s new surgeon basic, below fireplace for his refusal to put on a masks for a gathering with a state legislator who has most cancers, is trying to defend his actions as he takes more flak.
Dr. Joseph Ladapo was advised by Sen. Tina Polsky that she had a severe medical situation — later revealed to be breast most cancers — and was involved about COVID-19 transmission. He refused to put on a masks and supplied as a substitute to satisfy Polsky exterior, which she declined.
In a Twitter submit Tuesday, Ladapo tried to elucidate his pondering, writing: “Having a dialog with somebody whereas carrying a masks shouldn’t be one thing I discover productive, particularly when different choices exist. It will be significant for me to speak successfully with individuals. I can not do this when half of my face is roofed.”
His stance runs counter to the CDC and different medical consultants who’ve suggested utilizing masks to stop unfold of the coronavirus.
Additionally Tuesday, the Rev. Dr. R.B. Holmes Jr., a Black Republican minister who’s main a statewide effort to get individuals of shade vaccinated, mentioned of Ladapo: “For that prime physician to not put on a masks is disrespectful and dishonorable.”
COVID extra harmful than flu for teenagers, however RSV could also be worse
COVID-19 isn’t the one viral illness kids are catching this 12 months. Influenza, which sends 1000’s of kids to a hospital every season, is predicted to ramp up within the coming months. USA TODAY analyzed information and spoke to pediatric specialists across the nation to know the dangers of COVID-19 in kids relative to different frequent viral illnesses.
Dr. David Buchholz, a professor of pediatrics at Columbia College’s Irving Medical Heart, says the flu, which is dormant by the summer time, shouldn’t be a easy comparability to COVID-19, which infects year-round. What’s clear, he says, is that the danger of COVID-19 outweighs that of the flu throughout a typical season. Respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, is especially harmful, killing 100 to 500 kids a 12 months, he mentioned.
“You probably have an toddler or toddler you have to be much more apprehensive about RSV than COVID,” Buchholz mentioned. “Much more kids die of RSV than COVID, significantly kids below 2.”
Councilwoman says Lyft driver pulled gun on her husband over masks difficulty
A St. Louis County councilwoman says a Lyft driver pulled a gun on her husband when he requested the driving force to put on a masks. Councilwoman Lisa Clancy tweeted at Lyft saying, “one in every of your drivers simply cocked a gun on my husband when he requested him to put on a masks (which is your coverage).” Clancy mentioned her husband wished to report the incident, however the driver canceled the journey and erased data of the transaction.
“Lyft is working with police and likewise has suspended the driving force,” she tweeted and Lyft and police confirmed. “We’re happy with how Lyft is dealing with this.”
FDA panel to weigh in on Pfizer vaccine for ages 5-11 right now
A panel of Meals and Drug Administration advisers will vote Tuesday on whether or not to authorize the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to be used in kids 5 to 11. As soon as the advisory committee has authorized the vaccine, three steps stay earlier than it might be out there to kids: The FDA must log off, an impartial CDC advisory panel will evaluation the information, after which the CDC director must log off. Youngsters are far much less doubtless than adults to be hospitalized with COVID-19 or undergo long-term penalties from the illness, placing the next burden on the vaccines to show protected and efficient to justify their dangers.
In the meantime, Moderna introduced Monday that its vaccine for youngsters ages 6 to 11 reveals a “strong” immune response in a examine of greater than 4,500 youths. Moderna mentioned it plans to submit the information to the FDA “within the close to time period.”
One examine introduced by the CDC discovered that 42% of American kids ages 5-11 had been contaminated with COVID-19 by the tip of June. The best hospitalization charges for youngsters occurred in September, so many kids remained vulnerable after the summer time, the CDC’s Dr. Fiona Havers advised the committee.
Alabama governor says she will not implement federal vaccine mandate
In response to Auburn College’s lately introduced vaccine mandate for all workers, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey issued an executive order of her personal Monday, instructing all state businesses to not implement the federal vaccine mandate issued by President Joe Biden that applies to corporations using 100 or extra individuals.
In a tweet, Ivey mentioned: “The federal authorities’s overreach has given us no different possibility.” Auburn introduced Friday that each one college workers should be vaccinated by Dec. 8.
First-year Auburn soccer coach Bryan Harsin, who contracted COVID in August and missed 10 days of preseason follow, declined to answer reporters’ questions Monday on whether or not he was vaccinated. The college mentioned as of Oct. 21, a minimum of 82% of workers with university-sponsored advantages had been absolutely or partially vaccinated.
– Bennett Durando, Montgomery Advertiser
Unvaccinated Individuals will face more durable guidelines for reentry into US
Unvaccinated Americans reentering the country will face stricter rules starting Nov. 8, when the U.S. will once more open its doorways to overseas vacationers – so long as they’re absolutely vaccinated towards COVID-19. American residents with out proof of vaccination “must produce documentation of a unfavourable take a look at inside at some point of departure” to be allowed again within the U.S., the White Home mentioned Monday. The present rule permits the take a look at to be carried out inside three days of journey.
Absolutely vaccinated Individuals will nonetheless have a three-day window for COVID-19 testing with unfavourable outcomes so long as they will present proof of vaccination.
– Bailey Schulz and Eve Chen
Lengthy-term aspect impact of coronavirus, consists of ‘mind fog,’ examine says
Lengthy-term COVID-19 unwanted side effects could include memory loss and other cognitive dysfunctions generally labeled as “mind fog,” in response to a examine that examined 740 sufferers within the Mount Sinai Well being System. The examine was printed within the peer-reviewed medical journal JAMA Community Open.
One other examine that documented “mind fog” was printed by Oxford College and the Nationwide Institute for Well being Analysis earlier this month. Cognitive signs had been seen in about 8% of sufferers and are extra frequent among the many aged. The examine additionally discovered frequent lingering signs, similar to bother respiration, stomach illnesses, fatigue, ache, nervousness and despair.
– Michelle Shen
Gov. DeSantis desires $5K bonuses to lure unvaccinated police to Florida
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is pushing for the state Legislature to authorize $5,000 bonuses and different incentives to lure police officers from different states. Extra particularly, DeSantis is aiming to recruit these from jurisdictions with vaccine necessities who do not wish to comply, encouraging them to relocate to the mandate-less Sunshine State. In lots of elements of the nation, police officers and their unions have steadfastly resisted the requirement. DeSantis has raised his nationwide profile, significantly among the many Republican base, by fiercely opposing masks and vaccine mandates all through the pandemic.
“Within the subsequent legislative session, I will hopefully signal laws that provides a $5,000 bonus to any out-of-state legislation enforcement that relocates in Florida,” DeSantis mentioned Sunday in a Fox interview. “So NYPD, Minneapolis, Seattle, for those who’re not being handled nicely, we’ll deal with you higher right here.”
Contributing: The Related Press