Fast vaccine still means not until next year
CDC director contradicts the president in Capitol Hill testimony; Bill Gates wants USA to provide more global COVID-19 aid, and latest data suggests lockdown avoided 70% of possible NYC C19 infections
Don’t expect a vaccine so fast. CDC Director Robert Redfield told Congress that a vaccine won’t be widely available until the second or third quarter of next year, even if one becomes available for first responders or other highest-risk individuals sooner.
Also in his Capitol Hill testimony, Redfield declared in definitive terms that face masks provide better protection than any vaccine is likely to provide, especially because of the time that will be required for a vaccine to be widely distributed and administered. The comment directly contradicts the president, who again Tuesday criticized masks for COVID-19 prevention.
Philanthropist Bill Gates wants Congress to add $4 billion in foreign aid to a COVID-19 stimulus bill. According to Gates, the sooner a COVID-19 vaccine can be administered globally, the faster the world economy will recover.
New York City’s COVID-19 lockdown reduced infections by about 70%, according to Columbia University researchers in a pre-published study. The team also estimates that universal mask use would reduce infection rates by about 30% when lockdown restrictions are lifted. The study looked at data from a variety of sources, including serology tests that indicate many more New York area residents were infected with COVID-19 than initially recognized.
Remember the wedding in Maine that caused a surge of cases a couple weeks ago? Now, authorities attribute seven deaths and 175 COVID-19 cases to the August 7th event that was held against public health orders.
More than half (60%) of business closures due to COVID-19 are permanent, according to a study by Yelp.
A couple of other items:
The Washington Post created an interesting and impressive multimedia report on how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the wine and hospitality industry of Sonoma County, Calif.
The University of Maryland is holding a panel on disinformation and how it impacts health, science and other communication. Thursday, Sept. 17, 2020, at 7:00 PM EDT. Details and RSVP here.