India, Brazil still lag far behind USA's COVID-19 death tally
Vaccine trial resumes; dire predictions from infectious disease and epidemiology experts about herd immunity and the coming flu season.
Hard to find any upbeat news today…
North and South Dakota have the fastest growing COVID-19 outbreaks presently. Trouble spots on the Johns Hopkins tracker are: Arkansas, Massachusetts, North Dakota and South Carolina.
Canada reported no new COVID-19 deaths on Friday, the first no-death day since March 15. Meantime, Friday was the USA’s deadliest day since August.
With more than 300,000 new cases worldwide, the WHO reported the highest one-day increase in COVID-19 cases on Sunday since the pandemic started in January. The surge is led by India, the United States and Brazil. The USA still leads the world on number of deaths — by far.
AstraZeneca and its partners resumed their vaccine trial, which was paused for investigation of an adverse event.
A University of Michigan survey finds that half of all adults 50 or older feel isolated some or all of the time, representing about twice the rate of isolation during pre-pandemic times. (Image above provided by the University of Michigan.)
Experts from the Infectious Disease Society of America predict a deadly period ahead — a “worst case scenario” — with both COVID-19 and seasonal flu spreading as more people move indoors for cold weather. Watch the media briefing at this link.
More about herd immunity: Researchers writing in the journal Nature consider whether herd immunity against COVID-19 might be achieved with only 50% of Americans exposed to the virus estimate that a “best case” scenario towards herd immunity without an effective vaccine would mean at least 500,000 and up to 2 million Americans dead before herd immunity is achieved.
Speaking of herd immunity: Infectious disease and other experts from the Stanford University School of Medicine issued a rare public rebuke of their former colleague, now-Trump advisor Scott Atlas. “To prevent harm to the public health, we … have a moral and ethical responsibility to call attention to the falsehoods and misrepresentations of science” promoted by Atlas, whose medical experience is as a radiologist. Read the full letter.
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