SimplyInfo.org Coronavirus Live Blog 8.22.2021

This is an ongoing update of headlines and information related to the coronavirus outbreak. Newest information at the top. If you have a question or want to discuss this issue in depth, we have been discussing this issue in our chat system. Information is updated throughout the day with a large update every morning US time.

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Yesterday’s headlines from 8.16.21 can be found here

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Vaccines In Review Or Approved:

India gives emergency approval for world’s first COVID-19 DNA vaccine

Full FDA approval for Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine could come Monday, report says

Japan: Minimum age for Moderna vaccine lowered to 12

Scientists blast U.S. push for Covid vaccine booster shots as premature, say data isn’t compelling

“U.S. officials’ decision on Covid-19 booster shots baffles — and upsets — some scientists”

What to Know About Boosters if You Got the Johnson & Johnson Vaccine Health experts say that boosters are likely to be needed eventually and that more data should be available in the next several weeks.

Questions and answers on Biden’s new booster shot plan

 

Where Are Vaccines Already Being Administered:

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick blames Democrats for low vaccinations among Black residents, but more white Texans are unvaccinated – In Texas, the vaccination rate among Black people is low compared to other racial and ethnic groups, but in terms of raw numbers, the biggest group of the unvaccinated is white people.

Virginia’s largest school district says employees must get a coronavirus vaccine or be tested

New York City imposes vaccine mandate for many high school athletes and coaches.

Oregon’s governor sets a vaccine mandate for health workers and school employees.

City workers in Los Angeles will soon have to get vaccinated.

US: Unvaccinated federal employees will face discipline for refusing coronavirus testing at work

Biden to require vaccines for nursing home staff

Maryland to require vaccination or testing for health-care workers

Nation hits 1M vaccinations benchmark for first time in seven weeks – The White House noted a 31 percent week-over-week increase in the daily average of those becoming fully vaccinated.

Self-proclaimed ‘Vaccine Police’ tells Walmart pharmacists they ‘could be executed’ for administering shots

NYC launches ‘Vax to School’ but no COVID vaccine mandate for returning students: De Blasio

Dr. Fauci Warns Not to Do This If You Got Pfizer

 

Side Effects & New Vaccine Research:

Israeli doctors find severe COVID-19 breakthrough cases mostly in older, sicker patients

The vaccinated are worried and scientists don’t have answers

Do Delta ‘breakthroughs’ really mean vaccine protection is waning, and are boosters the answer?

CDC says no need for 14 day waiting period between COVID, other vaccinations

What should you do if you get a breakthrough infection? Our expert weighs in

COVID Vaccines Linked to Functional Neurological Disorders — These events may fuel vaccine hesitancy, experts say

Covid-19 booster shot distribution must learn from vaccine roll-out mistakes

“Are vaccines becoming less effective at preventing Covid infection?”

COVID-19 vaccines may trigger superimmunity in people who had SARS long ago

“British study shows COVID-19 vaccine efficacy wanes under Delta”

“Israeli data: How can efficacy vs. severe disease be strong when 60% of hospitalized are vaccinated?”

“HMO: Early vaccinees are twice as likely to catch COVID as later recipients – Latest research ‘definitely’ reinforces argument for giving boosters to the elderly, says lab chief at Leumit”

Third Pfizer dose 86% effective in over 60s, Israeli HMO says

“HMO: Early vaccinees are twice as likely to catch COVID as later recipients – Latest research ‘definitely’ reinforces argument for giving boosters to the elderly, says lab chief at Leumit”

“Immune Correlates Analysis of the mRNA-1273 COVID-19 Vaccine Efficacy Trial”

Third COVID Vaccine Dose Could Be the Last — Experts point to longer interval between doses providing more robust immunity

Vaccines show declining effectiveness against infection overall but strong protection against hospitalization

Troubling CDC vaccine data convinced Biden team to back booster shots – The evidence showed a decline in the initial round of protection against Covid-19 infection that’s coincided with a resurgence in cases driven by the more contagious Delta variant.

Study warns of higher risk of Bell’s palsy linked to Sinovac vaccine

 

New Covid Variants:

ALPHA = B.1.1.7 = aka: UK variant
CAL20.C = aka: California variant
L452R = aka: California & other US states
GAMMA = P.1 = aka: Brazil variant
N501Y = aka: South Africa variant
BETA = B.1.351 = aka: South Africa variant
DELTA = B.1.617 = aka: India variant

What Do We Know About B.1.621? — Variant garners attention after deadly Belgian nursing home outbreak

Viral evolution 101: Why the coronavirus has changed as it has, and what it means going forward

Coronavirus spread among kids ‘is categorically different with Delta,’ doctor explains

The lambda variant is ominous for what it says about the future trajectory of the pandemic – The lambda variant is alarming experts who fear, more generally, a return to  lockdown era COVID-19 conditions

Rise of delta variant and waning immunity are fueling breakthrough infections, experts say

SARS-COV-2 Post-Delta: Andy Slavitt Says “Let ‘Er Rip” 2.0

 

New Scientific Studies:

A Texas Lab Performs Crucial Testing For Pfizer’s COVID Vaccine

Interesting article on antibodies

Covid-antibody therapy approved in UK

AstraZeneca Says Antibody Combo Can Prevent COVID — Top-line phase III data finds efficacy of therapy as COVID pre-exposure prophylaxis

AstraZeneca antibody drug prevents coronavirus symptoms, study shows – Late-stage study shows the drug stymied COVID-19 symptoms when taken as a preventative treatment.

Monoclonal antibody treatments are effective against covid-19, but few Americans are getting them

That ‘damn machine’: the dark side of mechanical ventilators in the ICU

COVID anxiety rising amid delta surge, AP-NORC poll finds

Early COVID-19 therapy with azithromycin plus nitazoxanide, ivermectin or hydroxychloroquine in outpatient settings significantly improved COVID-19 outcomes compared to known outcomes in untreated patients

Seven Cognitive Distortions Poisoning COVID Debates — Our society is more and more incapable of debating real issues

Researchers May Have Discovered the Root Cause of Long COVID Syndrome

 

Outbreaks, Lockdowns & Restrictions:

Covid cases overwhelm the Gulf Coast, leaving region with no I.C.U. beds.

US: Cases top 900,000 in a week for the first time since January https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2021/08/17/covid-delta-variant-live-updates/#link-OKLMV7WDSVF7DLYY3TH6NAHBIA

Florida reports more than 150,000 new COVID cases for second week

Florida sets another record for COVID-19 hospitalizations

Shocking Image Reveals Suffering of Patients Waiting for Florida’s Monoclonal Antibody Treatments

Louisiana doctors fight surge in COVID patients and misinformation over vaccines: “We have two pandemics”

Many Hospitals With No Beds Left Are Forced To Send COVID Patients To Cities Far Away

Anchorage ICUs at capacity as a surge of COVID-19 patients has hospitals under stress and scrambling

Alabama is out of ICU beds

Minnesota hospitals report 477 COVID-19 patients, limited beds Surge beds being used in Minnesota for first time since last spring to address COVID-19, other patient demands.

South Dakota leads nation in new COVID-19 case increases per 100,000 residents

More than nine in 10 Wisconsin ICU beds are in use

Over 80% of students projected to be infected with covid in schools with no precautions

COVID strikes Santa Clara County Assessor’s Office weeks after workers return

Santa Clara case rates for vaxxed/not are still climbing

COVID-19 cases continue surge in Sacramento County, hospital impact rises 

Delta surge is ‘clearly plateauing’ in the Bay Area, UCSF doctors say – State data shows California’s COVID-19 case rates are trending down, especially in the Bay Area.

COVID cases hit all-time highs in rural California hospitals as delta variant rages

Aug 3: “Infections Increasing In L.A. Skilled Nursing Facilities Again As Delta Variant Breaks Through Vaccines”

Oregon, Tennessee enlist National Guard to help hospitals amid COVID-19 surge

TX: Rice University Turns to Online Classes The Texas school has high vaccination rates. And strict mask rules. Now, it’s taken another step to fend off the coronavirus.

More Than 1,500 Students Quarantined Across Western Kentucky School Districts

Georgia school district shuts down for 2 weeks because of skyrocketing COVID-19 cases

Hundreds of thousands of Los Angeles students are back for the first day of school

LAUSD Reports 118 New Covid Cases In One Day, Most Of Them Among Students, During First Week Of School

Hundreds of Southern California students forced into quarantine over possible COVID-19 exposure

With more than 5,000 students in isolation or quarantine, Florida school district weighs mask mandate

Orange County NY (not CA or FLA): “Two Orange County kids under 10 are in intensive care as COVID hospital cases rise to 60 – More than 1,000 people in Orange now have active COVID cases, nearly a quarter of whom are children”

Inside Mississippi’s 4th Covid wave: Younger patients, crying nurses and 7 ICU beds left – The state set a new single-day record of Covid hospitalizations and patients placed in intensive care and on ventilators.

3-year-old Tulsa girl battles COVID in hospital, mom pleads for people to get vaccinated

FL: DOH says COVID-19 is ‘absolutely’ spreading in Orange County schools – Health officials remind parents to answer calls from the health department

U.S. extends nonessential-travel restrictions with Canada until Sept. 21

Boston joins a growing list of cities to require masks indoors.

WA: Health director issues mask directive for Pierce County

Highly Vaccinated Israel Is Seeing A Dramatic Surge In New COVID Cases. Here’s Why

Israel has one of the world’s highest daily COVID-19 infection rates, despite high vaccine uptake  Israel, once a global leader in coronavirus containment, has one of the highest daily infection rates in the world. Nearly one in every 150 people in Israel today has the virus. An average of nearly 7,500 people are infected per day – double the infection rate of two weeks ago. The new surge has Israeli leaders scrambling to bring back mask mandates and restrict gatherings as case rates come close to the worst days of last winter. Nearly 80% of Israeli adults are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, which constitutes 58% of the country’s relatively young population, according to NPR.

Sydney has been in lockdown for two months, while Melbourne and the capital, Canberra, went into lockdown in August [William West/AFP] 

Australia: Scores arrested at anti-coronavirus lockdown protests – At least seven police officers injured amid nationwide demonstrations against government’s COVID containment measures.

Seven residents of Belgian nursing home die after outbreak of B.1.621 lineage of COVID-19

Belgium scraps COVID-19 restrictions for restaurants and bars – No more restrictions on the number of people per table and no more fixed closing hours.

England dropped most of its Covid restrictions in July. One month on, here’s how it’s going

Germany enters 4th coronavirus wave – Germany’s Robert Koch Institute made the assessment as the country grapples with rising positive test results. This time, younger age groups are more affected.

Japan’s governors call for COVID lockdown

Tokyo COVID-19 patients unable to access hospitals as cases remain high

Japan: Over 60% of COVID patients denied hospitalization

Tokyo reports 5,405 new coronavirus cases

Thailand scrambles for COVID-19 antiviral as vaccines run short – Bangkok to import more Favipiravir as patient numbers surge

Red Cross sounds alarm over rising cases in Southeast Asia

Overwhelmed by Coronavirus, Cuba’s Vaunted Health System Is Reeling “The funeral homes can’t cope, the hospitals can’t cope, the clinics can’t cope,” said a Cuban doctor who was fired for publicly lamenting the distressed state of medical care.

New Zealand locking down after discovery of single virus case

 

Other Covid News:

(age 79) Civil rights leader Jesse Jackson hospitalized with COVID-19

Outspoken conservative radio host Phil Valentine dies after battling COVID-19

Christian Radio Host Who Called Vaccine ‘Government Control’ Dies of COVID-19

SC county Republican party leader dies from COVID-19

Maine Lawmaker Whose Wife Just Died of COVID Joins Anti-Vaxx Rally

Illinois Senate Republican leader has breakthrough COVID-19 case a day after GOP Day at State Fair

WI: GOP Senator Railed Against Vax, Caught COVID, Then Hid It From Dem Colleagues – “They have a colleague who was in the hospital, and they’re still shrugging it off,” a furious Sen. Chris Larson told The Daily Beast.

Sens. Wicker, King and Hickenlooper announce they have tested positive for coronavirus

Barry Sanders says he’s tested positive for COVID-19 despite being fully vaccinated Barry Sanders revealed Friday that he has tested positive for COVID-19 despite being fully vaccinated, wearing a mask and taking all the precautions he says he could. The Detroit Lions legend said in a tweet that he’s asymptomatic, but will be isolating until doctors give him the go-ahead. He says will still be available for the Lions’ opener against the San Francisco 49ers on Sept. 12, in which he figures to to serve his usual duties as a team ambassador.

Bills LT Dion Dawkins details scary battle with COVID-19: ‘I don’t know if I’m going to make this‘

Why is Gov. Abbott receiving Regeneron antibody treatment if he has no COVID-19 symptoms? – Gov. Abbott remained quiet on his first full day in quarantine in the governor’s mansion. Abbott’s office did not provide an update on his condition.

COVID-19 hospitalizations are getting more expensive for patients

Many private health plans aren’t waiving cost-sharing for coronavirus treatment, analysis finds

Orlando urges reduced water usage as liquid oxygen used to purify water goes to COVID patients

“Florida rolls out at least 15 state-run COVID-19 treatment clinics – Merritt Island, Orlando clinics opened operations this week”

Parents get coached on how to escape mask and vaccine rules

Philadelphia Archdiocese says it will not support religious exemptions from Covid vaccination.

Mask, vaccine conflicts descend into violence and harassment

School or ‘Russian Roulette’? Amid Delta Variant and Lax Mask Rules, Some Parents See No Difference

Kindergarten or ‘Russian roulette’? To some parents, the Delta variant and lax mask rules make those one and the same

Massachusetts’s largest teachers union calls for COVID-19 vaccine mandate for students and staff

Faculty at some U.S. state universities protest for more safety measures.

Livid parents take their kids out of class in response to a school board member’s Covid misinformation

A Texas school superintendent speaks out after parents accosted 2 teachers over masks

After Texas parent rips mask off teacher’s face, school official warns: ‘Do not fight mask wars in our schools’

University of Virginia disenrolls 238 students for not complying with university’s vaccine mandate

Pandemic pushes nurses to breaking point, jeopardizes care: ‘We’re exhausted’ Bedside nurses are angry, depleted and traumatized, their ranks thinned by early retirements or career shifts

‘It’s soul-draining’: Health workers deployed to Covid hot zones are overwhelmed by deaths among the unvaccinated

San Antonio hospitals say employees threatened by patients, families amid COVID-19 surge – Hospital staff members say patients and families are frustrated about limited visitation, longer wait times and mask policies

Bexar County health care workers continue reporting threats, harassment as COVID-19 surges – Urgent care clinics experiencing longer wait times with COVID cases risings in the San Antonio area

Oregon National Guard deployment to help hospitals with COVID-19 surge causes conspiracy-theory revival

Coronavirus vaccination protester calls Fauci ‘fuhrer’: ‘Your children’s children will be subjugated’ by ‘Nazis‘

FDA warns against using animal parasite medicine as at-home COVID-19 treatment

Pharmacists Fight Off COVID Truthers Demanding Horse Medicine Instead of the Jab

Pharmacist arrested for allegedly selling Covid-19 vaccination cards on eBay

Person Hospitalized After Taking Livestock Ivermectin From Feed Store To Treat COVID-19

“Tainted” blood: Covid skeptics request blood transfusions from unvaccinated donors – As much as 60% to 70% of the blood currently being donated is coming from vaccinated donors”

An Alabama doctor watched patients reject the coronavirus vaccine. Now he’s refusing to treat them.

Facebook takes action against ‘disinformation dozen’ after White House pressure

French scientist who pushed unproven Covid drug may be forced from post Didier Raoult, who promoted hydroxychloroquine treatment, may not be able to continue his research

Maker of Popular Covid Test Told Factory to Destroy Inventory One of the leading producers of rapid tests purged supplies and laid off workers as sales dwindled. Weeks later, the U.S. is facing a surge in infections with diminished capacity.

Virologist suggests coronavirus origin theorists are missing a cover-up that’s ‘staring them right in the face‘

CDC tells older adults, pregnant women, those not fully vaccinated to avoid cruise ships

Carnival Cruise Passengers Grow Frustrated by COVID-19 Protocols

Aug 19: Every 2021 Concert & Festival Canceled Due to COVID-19

California Tightens Vaccine Proof Requirements For Large Indoor Events

Los Angeles to Require Masks at Large Outdoor Concerts and Events The order comes as the spread of the Delta variant has driven up caseloads.

COVID-19 spread at an outdoor concert. What does that mean for Oregon’s big upcoming events?

What’s safe to do during summer’s Covid surge? STAT asked public health experts about their own plans

Labor shortages slam into rebounding tourism in Maine

‘Racist and flat out wrong’: Texas Republican blames Black Americans for Covid surge Dan Patrick refuses to apologise for false claim while Texas experiences highest hospitalisation rates since January

City hosting Trump rally in Alabama declares COVID-19 emergency

“GOP governors embrace Covid cocktails over masks as cases surge – The push to medicate rankles public health officials and some within the Biden administration, who say the governors’ stance misleadingly implies Covid-19 can be treated easily.”

DeSantis top donor invests in COVID drug governor promotes

The GOP is losing the PR battle on coronavirus mandates The Republican Party has rather clearly marched itself into a minority position

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has COVID-19. Could he have infected anyone else? Experts say that anyone who came in close contact with the Republican governor in the last two days should take precautions.

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