https://la.eater.com/2020/12/29/22205136/los-angeles-stay-at-home-lockdown-restaurants-closed-outdoor-dining-covid-19-coronavirus-2021-new

Los Angeles Faces Indefinite Lockdown as COVID-19 Continues to Overwhelm Hospitals


Los Angeles County and the entire Southern California region will remain in lockdown mode for at least the next month, well into the new year — and almost certainly beyond.

Los Angeles is currently among the hardest-hit areas as the ongoing coronavirus pandemic rages, with intensive care unit bed capacity still sitting at zero percent region-wide, and hospitalizations growing exponentially.

https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2020-12-16/column-why-the-u-s-still-hasnt-solved-its-mask-and-glove-shortages

Why the U.S. still hasn’t solved its mask and glove shortages


There’s been some good news about the pandemic this week along with all the bad: A vaccine is being rolled out,

But a long, hard winter still lies ahead, and we’re facing a serious — and completely avoidable — problem: Healthcare workers once again don’t have enough of the masks, gloves and hospital gowns they need to protect them while they treat COVID-19 patients.

Demand for those mundane but essential items is soaring because of the surge in COVID-19 cases, and it will grow again as the vaccination campaign escalates. But 11 months into the pandemic, the world’s greatest industrial power still hasn’t found a way to meet the need.

https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2020-12-16/column-why-the-u-s-still-hasnt-solved-its-mask-and-glove-shortages

Why the U.S. still hasn’t solved its mask and glove shortages


There’s been some good news about the pandemic this week along with all the bad: A vaccine is being rolled out,

But a long, hard winter still lies ahead, and we’re facing a serious — and completely avoidable — problem: Healthcare workers once again don’t have enough of the masks, gloves and hospital gowns they need to protect them while they treat COVID-19 patients.

Demand for those mundane but essential items is soaring because of the surge in COVID-19 cases, and it will grow again as the vaccination campaign escalates. But 11 months into the pandemic, the world’s greatest industrial power still hasn’t found a way to meet the need.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2020/12/29/uk-covid-cases-record/

'Eye of the storm’: As U.K. coronavirus cases hit record high, health-care workers are overwhelmed


Doctors and nurses across Britain are sounding the alarm as confirmed cases of covid-19 reach record highs, with experts urging the government to implement a stricter lockdown

hospitals in London and the southeast of England are already setting up tents to increase their capacity.

“Our control room staff are having to make incredibly difficult decisions to decide who gets an ambulance first and who they are going to ask to wait,” paramedic Will Broughton told Sky News on Tuesday.

Government figures suggest that the virus is surging in Britain, despite restrictions already in place in most of the country.

“I think we are entering a very dangerous new phase of the pandemic,” Andrew Hayward, an epidemiologist at University College London, told BBC Radio 4.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2020/12/29/uk-covid-cases-record/

'Eye of the storm’: As U.K. coronavirus cases hit record high, health-care workers are overwhelmed


Doctors and nurses across Britain are sounding the alarm as confirmed cases of covid-19 reach record highs, with experts urging the government to implement a stricter lockdown

hospitals in London and the southeast of England are already setting up tents to increase their capacity.

“Our control room staff are having to make incredibly difficult decisions to decide who gets an ambulance first and who they are going to ask to wait,” paramedic Will Broughton told Sky News on Tuesday.

Government figures suggest that the virus is surging in Britain, despite restrictions already in place in most of the country.

“I think we are entering a very dangerous new phase of the pandemic,” Andrew Hayward, an epidemiologist at University College London, told BBC Radio 4.

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2020/12/29/asia-pacific/china-coronavirus-vaccines-trust/

'I won’t take it': China struggles to get the world to trust its vaccines

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2020/12/29/asia-pacific/china-coronavirus-vaccines-trust/

'I won’t take it': China struggles to get the world to trust its vaccines

https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2020/12/11/2143922/0/en/The-rubber-gloves-market-by-revenue-is-expected-to-grow-at-a-CAGR-of-over-13-during-the-period-2021-2026.html

https://www.reportlinker.com/p05995437/Rubber-Gloves-Market-Global-Outlook-and-Forecast.html?utm_source=GNW


Rubber Gloves Market - Global Outlook and Forecast 2021-2026


In-depth Analysis and Data-driven Insights on the Impact of COVID-19. The rubber gloves market by revenue is expected to grow at a CAGR of over 13% during the period 2021–2026.

The following factors are likely to contribute to the growth of the rubber gloves market during the forecast period:
• Outbreak of Pandemic Diseases
• Increased Preference for Nitrile Gloves
• Growth in Cleanroom Technology

https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2020/12/11/2143922/0/en/The-rubber-gloves-market-by-revenue-is-expected-to-grow-at-a-CAGR-of-over-13-during-the-period-2021-2026.html

https://www.reportlinker.com/p05995437/Rubber-Gloves-Market-Global-Outlook-and-Forecast.html?utm_source=GNW


Rubber Gloves Market - Global Outlook and Forecast 2021-2026


In-depth Analysis and Data-driven Insights on the Impact of COVID-19. The rubber gloves market by revenue is expected to grow at a CAGR of over 13% during the period 2021–2026.

The following factors are likely to contribute to the growth of the rubber gloves market during the forecast period:
• Outbreak of Pandemic Diseases
• Increased Preference for Nitrile Gloves
• Growth in Cleanroom Technology

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/backstories/1421/

Japan's hospitals facing medical glove shortage


Frontline medical workers in Japan are worried they're running out of an essential piece of protective equipment. They're facing a critical shortfall of medical rubber gloves at the same time as coronavirus infections rise to record levels.

A recent survey of medical staff involved in the fight against COVID-19 found the shortage is becoming a serious issue nationwide. Almost 60 percent of those who responded said that they were running out.

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/backstories/1421/

Japan's hospitals facing medical glove shortage


Frontline medical workers in Japan are worried they're running out of an essential piece of protective equipment. They're facing a critical shortfall of medical rubber gloves at the same time as coronavirus infections rise to record levels.

A recent survey of medical staff involved in the fight against COVID-19 found the shortage is becoming a serious issue nationwide. Almost 60 percent of those who responded said that they were running out.

https://www.fnlondon.com/articles/third-covid-19-wave-coming-unless-uk-doubles-vaccination-plan-scientists-warn-20201229

Third Covid-19 wave coming unless UK doubles vaccination plan, scientists warn


The government’s vaccination plan must be immediately increased to no fewer than two million doses a week if the UK is to avoid a third wave of coronavirus infections, scientists have warned.

LSHTM said vaccinations were running at approximately 200,000 doses per week in December.

In a paper given to SAGE, the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) said the new variant of coronavirus has increased transmission of the disease

It argued that the new strain is likely to lead to more hospitalisations and deaths from Covid-19 in 2021 than were observed in 2020, “even if regional tiered restrictions implemented before 19 December are maintained”.

Scientists added that regardless of an assumed vaccine rollout of 1 January 2021, all regions of England are expected to experience a subsequent wave of infections, “peaking in spring 2021 for London, South East and East of England, and in summer 2021 for the rest of England”.

https://www.fnlondon.com/articles/third-covid-19-wave-coming-unless-uk-doubles-vaccination-plan-scientists-warn-20201229

Third Covid-19 wave coming unless UK doubles vaccination plan, scientists warn


The government’s vaccination plan must be immediately increased to no fewer than two million doses a week if the UK is to avoid a third wave of coronavirus infections, scientists have warned.

In a paper given to SAGE, the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) said the new variant of coronavirus has increased transmission of the disease

It argued that the new strain is likely to lead to more hospitalisations and deaths from Covid-19 in 2021 than were observed in 2020, “even if regional tiered restrictions implemented before 19 December are maintained”.

Scientists added that regardless of an assumed vaccine rollout of 1 January 2021, all regions of England are expected to experience a subsequent wave of infections, “peaking in spring 2021 for London, South East and East of England, and in summer 2021 for the rest of England”.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/29/who-warns-covid-19-pandemic-is-not-necessarily-the-big-one

WHO warns Covid-19 pandemic is 'not necessarily the big one'


WHO experts have warned that even though the coronavirus pandemic has been very severe, it is “not necessarily the big one”, and that the world will have to learn to live with Covid-19.

“The existence of a vaccine, even at high efficacy, is no guarantee of eliminating or eradicating an infectious disease."

“This pandemic has been very severe … it has affected every corner of this planet. But this is not necessarily the big one,” he said.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/29/who-warns-covid-19-pandemic-is-not-necessarily-the-big-one

WHO warns Covid-19 pandemic is 'not necessarily the big one'


WHO experts have warned that even though the coronavirus pandemic has been very severe, it is “not necessarily the big one”, and that the world will have to learn to live with Covid-19.

“The existence of a vaccine, even at high efficacy, is no guarantee of eliminating or eradicating an infectious disease."

“This pandemic has been very severe … it has affected every corner of this planet. But this is not necessarily the big one,” he said.

https://edition.cnn.com/2020/12/29/health/us-coronavirus-tuesday/index.html

Record Covid-19 hospitalizations in US could soon force health experts to ration care


The number of patients hospitalized across the US with Covid-19 is the highest it's ever been -- and at this rate health experts warn they may have to ration nurses, respirators and care.

"When you run out of capacity, physicians and bioethicists in these hospitals will need to decide which patients are salvageable -- potentially salvageable -- and which patients aren't," CNN medical analyst Dr. Jonathan Reiner explained.

"We have a limited number of ventilators, we have a limited number of ICU beds,"

"If you don't have respirators, you don't have nurses to care for patients, you don't have ICU beds,

https://edition.cnn.com/2020/12/29/health/us-coronavirus-tuesday/index.html

Record Covid-19 hospitalizations in US could soon force health experts to ration care


The number of patients hospitalized across the US with Covid-19 is the highest it's ever been -- and at this rate health experts warn they may have to ration nurses, respirators and care.

"When you run out of capacity, physicians and bioethicists in these hospitals will need to decide which patients are salvageable -- potentially salvageable -- and which patients aren't," CNN medical analyst Dr. Jonathan Reiner explained.

"We have a limited number of ventilators, we have a limited number of ICU beds,"

"If you don't have respirators, you don't have nurses to care for patients, you don't have ICU beds,

https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/12/24/945027680/its-so-much-worse-than-before-dread-and-despair-haunt-nurses-inside-las-icus

'It's So Much Worse Than Before.' Dread And Despair Haunt Nurses Inside LA's ICUs


"We have no ICU beds," says Brad Spellberg, chief medical officer of LAC+USC Medical Center, one of the area's largest hospitals. As dire as the situation is, it's going to get even worse.

Instead of trying to save every life, the goal would be to save as many patients as possible. That means those less likely to survive would not get the same kind of care they would usually receive.

That type of triage is just weeks away, Spellberg warns
.
"We are the safety net, that is the point. The safety net itself is stressed to the limit," he says.

"The worst is yet to come," she warned.

What does that look like, on the inside? Spellberg says it's like "battlefield medicine," a frantic race to save lives when there aren't enough staffers to cope:

"You've got nurses that are assigned 20 patients when they're only supposed to be assigned five. You've got doctors who haven't managed a ventilator in 20 years suddenly being responsible to manage ventilators."

'Right now the ICU is crazy'

https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/12/24/945027680/its-so-much-worse-than-before-dread-and-despair-haunt-nurses-inside-las-icus

'It's So Much Worse Than Before.' Dread And Despair Haunt Nurses Inside LA's ICUs


"We have no ICU beds," says Brad Spellberg, chief medical officer of LAC+USC Medical Center, one of the area's largest hospitals. As dire as the situation is, it's going to get even worse.

Instead of trying to save every life, the goal would be to save as many patients as possible. That means those less likely to survive would not get the same kind of care they would usually receive.

That type of triage is just weeks away, Spellberg warns
.
"We are the safety net, that is the point. The safety net itself is stressed to the limit," he says.

"The worst is yet to come," she warned.

What does that look like, on the inside? Spellberg says it's like "battlefield medicine," a frantic race to save lives when there aren't enough staffers to cope:

"You've got nurses that are assigned 20 patients when they're only supposed to be assigned five. You've got doctors who haven't managed a ventilator in 20 years suddenly being responsible to manage ventilators."

'Right now the ICU is crazy'

https://edition.cnn.com/2020/12/26/us/1-in-1000-died-coronavirus-timeline/index.html

How quickly the US lost 1 in 1,000 Americans to Covid-19


The United States reached a grim milestone on Saturday: 1 in 1,000 Americans have died from Covid-19 since the nation's first reported infection in late January.

Census Bureau estimates the US population at around 330,750,000. On Saturday afternoon, the national death toll from Covid-19 reached 331,116, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

Covid-19 infections in the US have reached more than 18.7 million.

Health experts warned that because of testing issues and misclassifications, the total number of deaths may be undercounted.

Since November, death rates have accelerated. Instead of a similar incline that took four months to reach 200,000, the next leap to 300,000 deaths took just 11 weeks. The mark was announced December 14.

https://edition.cnn.com/2020/12/26/us/1-in-1000-died-coronavirus-timeline/index.html

How quickly the US lost 1 in 1,000 Americans to Covid-19


The United States reached a grim milestone on Saturday: 1 in 1,000 Americans have died from Covid-19 since the nation's first reported infection in late January.

Census Bureau estimates the US population at around 330,750,000. On Saturday afternoon, the national death toll from Covid-19 reached 331,116, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

Covid-19 infections in the US have reached more than 18.7 million.

Health experts warned that because of testing issues and misclassifications, the total number of deaths may be undercounted.

Since November, death rates have accelerated. Instead of a similar incline that took four months to reach 200,000, the next leap to 300,000 deaths took just 11 weeks. The mark was announced December 14.

https://www.businessinsider.com/who-chief-warns-covid-19-wont-be-worlds-last-pandemic-2020-12

WHO chief warns that COVID-19 won't be the world's last pandemic as he tells countries to prepare for future emergencies


World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned that COVID-19 won't be the world's last pandemic.

"History tells us this will not be the last pandemic, and epidemics are a fact of life," he said.

He said investments in public health and an "all-of-government, all-of-society, one health approach" could help countries successfully react to global health crises in the future.

"If we fail to prepare, we are preparing to fail. … Last year, the Global Preparedness Monitoring Board published its first report, which concluded, the world remains dangerously unprepared for a global pandemic,"

https://www.businessinsider.com/who-chief-warns-covid-19-wont-be-worlds-last-pandemic-2020-12

WHO chief warns that COVID-19 won't be the world's last pandemic as he tells countries to prepare for future emergencies


World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned that COVID-19 won't be the world's last pandemic.

"History tells us this will not be the last pandemic, and epidemics are a fact of life," he said.

He said investments in public health and an "all-of-government, all-of-society, one health approach" could help countries successfully react to global health crises in the future.

"If we fail to prepare, we are preparing to fail. … Last year, the Global Preparedness Monitoring Board published its first report, which concluded, the world remains dangerously unprepared for a global pandemic,"

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/dr-anthony-fauci-coronavirus-pandemic-b1779336.html

Dr Fauci says ‘worst is yet to come’ from coronavirus as December becomes deadliest month of pandemic


Dr Anthony Fauci has warned that he believes the worst of the coronavirus pandemic “is yet to come” as December becomes America’s most deadly month for Covid-19.

“We very well might see a post-seasonal – in the sense of Christmas, New Years – surge or as I’ve described it, a surge upon a surge,” Dr Fauci said on Sunday.

Dr Fauci warned that hospitals are already struggling to deal with the amount of Covid-19 patients and said that “we are really at a very critical point”, before adding: “As we get into the next few weeks it might actually get worse”.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/dr-anthony-fauci-coronavirus-pandemic-b1779336.html

Dr Fauci says ‘worst is yet to come’ from coronavirus as December becomes deadliest month of pandemic


Dr Anthony Fauci has warned that he believes the worst of the coronavirus pandemic “is yet to come” as December becomes America’s most deadly month for Covid-19.

“We very well might see a post-seasonal – in the sense of Christmas, New Years – surge or as I’ve described it, a surge upon a surge,” Dr Fauci said on Sunday.

Dr Fauci warned that hospitals are already struggling to deal with the amount of Covid-19 patients and said that “we are really at a very critical point”, before adding: “As we get into the next few weeks it might actually get worse”.

https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/12/27/04/37296832-9090081-image-a-14_1609044001384.jpg

https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/12/27/04/37296832-9090081-image-a-14_1609044001384.jpg

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9090637/LA-investigating-super-infectious-COVID-strain-UK-surge-cases.html

LA investigates whether super-infectious mutant COVID strain from UK is behind surge in cases as terrifying graph shows California's infection rate has rocketed


California remains under statewide lockdown due to surge in number of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations

L.A. County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer told The LA Times tests are being carried out to see if the new mutant strain - which may spread up to 70 per cent more easily than other strains of the virus - is there

Los Angeles County's top public health official said that patients are dying at rate of one every 10 minutes

Hospital staff said they are forced to wheel patients into gift shops due to a lack of available room
Officials worry that gatherings during Christmas will fuel another surge that could be evident in a few weeks

One out of every 1,000 Americans has now died of COVID-19 with December set to be the deadliest month since the pandemic began with 63,000 Americans dead because of the virus; November saw 36,964 deaths

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9090637/LA-investigating-super-infectious-COVID-strain-UK-surge-cases.html

LA investigates whether super-infectious mutant COVID strain from UK is behind surge in cases as terrifying graph shows California's infection rate has rocketed


California remains under statewide lockdown due to surge in number of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations

L.A. County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer told The LA Times tests are being carried out to see if the new mutant strain - which may spread up to 70 per cent more easily than other strains of the virus - is there

Los Angeles County's top public health official said that patients are dying at rate of one every 10 minutes

Hospital staff said they are forced to wheel patients into gift shops due to a lack of available room
Officials worry that gatherings during Christmas will fuel another surge that could be evident in a few weeks

One out of every 1,000 Americans has now died of COVID-19 with December set to be the deadliest month since the pandemic began with 63,000 Americans dead because of the virus; November saw 36,964 deaths

https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Coronavirus/Beijing-tightens-COVID-19-curbs-as-cases-detected-across-capital

Beijing tightens COVID-19 curbs as cases detected across capital

A meeting led by the capital's Communist party boss, Cai Qi, urged all districts in Beijing to enter an "emergency" mode, sealing off residential compounds and villages where infections are found.

Shunyi district, where all Beijing's recent coronavirus cases have been reported, has declared a wartime mode and testing for all its 800,000 people.

The coronavirus pandemic ravaged both global public health and economies in 2020. As of Friday, more than 65 million infections had been confirmed worldwide with more than 1.5 million deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University but numbers are certainly much higher due to lack of testing in some areas and asymptomatic cases.

In October, the World Health Organization warned that 10% of the world’s population may have already been infected. Vaccines should start being widely distributed in the U.S. this month, but it will likely take many more months before they are available to the general population in the U.S. and even longer for people in other countries.

World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Friday that he worries that people may assume that the pandemic is over simply because a vaccine exists.

The coronavirus pandemic ravaged both global public health and economies in 2020. As of Friday, more than 65 million infections had been confirmed worldwide with more than 1.5 million deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University but numbers are certainly much higher due to lack of testing in some areas and asymptomatic cases.

In October, the World Health Organization warned that 10% of the world’s population may have already been infected. Vaccines should start being widely distributed in the U.S. this month, but it will likely take many more months before they are available to the general population in the U.S. and even longer for people in other countries.

World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Friday that he worries that people may assume that the pandemic is over simply because a vaccine exists.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicholasreimann/2020/12/04/you-thought-2020-was-bad-un-issues-bleakest-and-darkest-outlook-ever-for-2021/?sh=1b4311081388&fbclid=IwAR2fRAGgUa-uvuCN4DuDq8ij8UpCHbAa_PzrWU761M0yQiL9BX4IHbQG4wc

You Thought 2020 Was Bad: UN Issues ‘Bleakest And Darkest’ Outlook Ever For 2021


After a year widely panned as one of the worst in modern history, the United Nations is warning 2021 could be even more awful, with top officials saying the new year could be the worst in terms of humanitarian catastrophes in the organization’s 75-year history.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicholasreimann/2020/12/04/you-thought-2020-was-bad-un-issues-bleakest-and-darkest-outlook-ever-for-2021/?sh=1b4311081388&fbclid=IwAR2fRAGgUa-uvuCN4DuDq8ij8UpCHbAa_PzrWU761M0yQiL9BX4IHbQG4wc

You Thought 2020 Was Bad: UN Issues ‘Bleakest And Darkest’ Outlook Ever For 2021


After a year widely panned as one of the worst in modern history, the United Nations is warning 2021 could be even more awful, with top officials saying the new year could be the worst in terms of humanitarian catastrophes in the organization’s 75-year history.

https://fox8.com/news/coronavirus/us-leads-virus-deaths-as-global-covid-19-case-count-tops-80-million/

US leads virus deaths as global COVID-19 case count tops 80 million


While the global count of COVID-19 cases tops 80 million, the U.S. continues to lead among nations.

Data from Johns Hopkins University indicated the 80 million mark was topped Saturday. The U.S. has 18.8 million, and has reported more than 330,000 deaths.

https://fox8.com/news/coronavirus/us-leads-virus-deaths-as-global-covid-19-case-count-tops-80-million/

US leads virus deaths as global COVID-19 case count tops 80 million


While the global count of COVID-19 cases tops 80 million, the U.S. continues to lead among nations.

Data from Johns Hopkins University indicated the 80 million mark was topped Saturday. The U.S. has 18.8 million, and has reported more than 330,000 deaths.

https://www.thehealthsite.com/diseases-conditions/covid-19-virus-will-stay-with-us-for-next-10-years-biontech-ceo-787942/

Covid-19 virus will stay with us for next 10 years: BioNTech CEO


As the world grapples with the Covid-19 pandemic amid the origin of newer and potentially lethal strains, BioNTech CEO Ugur Sahin has said that the deadly virus is going to stay with us for the next decade at least.

https://www.thehealthsite.com/diseases-conditions/covid-19-virus-will-stay-with-us-for-next-10-years-biontech-ceo-787942/

Covid-19 virus will stay with us for next 10 years: BioNTech CEO


As the world grapples with the Covid-19 pandemic amid the origin of newer and potentially lethal strains, BioNTech CEO Ugur Sahin has said that the deadly virus is going to stay with us for the next decade at least.

https://edition.cnn.com/2020/12/22/politics/biden-holiday-remarks/index.html

Biden says 'our darkest days' in battling Covid-19 'are ahead of us'


President-elect Joe Biden on Tuesday said the "darkest days" in the battle against the coronavirus pandemic "are ahead of us, not behind us," and urged Americans to prepare themselves for the struggle.

https://edition.cnn.com/2020/12/22/politics/biden-holiday-remarks/index.html

Biden says 'our darkest days' in battling Covid-19 'are ahead of us'


President-elect Joe Biden on Tuesday said the "darkest days" in the battle against the coronavirus pandemic "are ahead of us, not behind us," and urged Americans to prepare themselves for the struggle.

https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/12/22/948085513/vaccines-are-coming-but-the-u-s-still-needs-more-testing-to-stop-the-surge

Vaccines Are Coming, But The U.S. Still Needs More Testing To Stop The Surge


Vaccines are finally starting to roll out, but the virus is spreading faster than ever — and killing thousands of Americans daily.

That means it's critical to continue the measures that can limit the toll: PPE, hunkering down, hand-washing and testing and contact tracing.

"Vaccines will not obviate the need for testing any time soon," says Dr. Ashish Jha, the dean of the Brown School of Public Health. "It doesn't mean we can let our guard down. The virus will not be gone."

The U.S. is currently conducting nearly 1.9 million tests daily. The analysis finds that the U.S. should be doing about three times more than that — or nearly 6 million daily tests — to stop outbreaks from growing and protect the most vulnerable.

In spite of the optimistic vaccine news, Tsai says this type of coordinated and proactive coronavirus screening is still critical to stopping the pandemic in the U.S. Vaccines are part of the tool kit along with continued testing and masking and social distancing to suppress the virus.

Unfortunately, the increase in testing appears to have stagnated. "The rate at which we have increased testing in the last month is much slower compared to the previous month and yet we have more infections now than we've ever had," Nuzzo says.

"Testing is slowing in the United States. We're hearing reports of shortages once again and test turnaround time increasing. All of the warning signs are there that now is the time to take this problem seriously and fix this problem.

https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/12/22/948085513/vaccines-are-coming-but-the-u-s-still-needs-more-testing-to-stop-the-surge

Vaccines Are Coming, But The U.S. Still Needs More Testing To Stop The Surge


Vaccines are finally starting to roll out, but the virus is spreading faster than ever — and killing thousands of Americans daily.

That means it's critical to continue the measures that can limit the toll: PPE, hunkering down, hand-washing and testing and contact tracing.

"Vaccines will not obviate the need for testing any time soon," says Dr. Ashish Jha, the dean of the Brown School of Public Health. "It doesn't mean we can let our guard down. The virus will not be gone."

The U.S. is currently conducting nearly 1.9 million tests daily. The analysis finds that the U.S. should be doing about three times more than that — or nearly 6 million daily tests — to stop outbreaks from growing and protect the most vulnerable.

In spite of the optimistic vaccine news, Tsai says this type of coordinated and proactive coronavirus screening is still critical to stopping the pandemic in the U.S. Vaccines are part of the tool kit along with continued testing and masking and social distancing to suppress the virus.

Unfortunately, the increase in testing appears to have stagnated. "The rate at which we have increased testing in the last month is much slower compared to the previous month and yet we have more infections now than we've ever had," Nuzzo says.

"Testing is slowing in the United States. We're hearing reports of shortages once again and test turnaround time increasing. All of the warning signs are there that now is the time to take this problem seriously and fix this problem.

https://www.axios.com/coronavirus-vaccine-trump-election-2020-43d69ab2-a7cc-4a74-a258-76af49bb11f7.html

America's "very dark winter" begins


It's a fitting end to a crappy year: White House officials are calling us in a panic about President Trump’s erratic behavior. England is panicking about a possible super-spreading virus strain. And vaccine distribution is hitting bumps.

https://www.axios.com/coronavirus-vaccine-trump-election-2020-43d69ab2-a7cc-4a74-a258-76af49bb11f7.html

America's "very dark winter" begins


It's a fitting end to a crappy year: White House officials are calling us in a panic about President Trump’s erratic behavior. England is panicking about a possible super-spreading virus strain. And vaccine distribution is hitting bumps.

A bigger worry is when a virus mutates by changing the proteins on its surface to help it escape from drugs or the immune system.

“Emerging evidence” suggests that may be starting to happen with the new coronavirus, Trevor Bedford, a biologist and genetics expert at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, wrote on Twitter. “We’ve now seen the emergence and spread of several variants” that suggest this, and some show resistance to antibody treatments, he noted.

https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2020-12-20/explainer-are-new-coronavirus-strains-cause-for-concern

Reports from Britain and South Africa of new coronavirus strains that seem to spread more easily are causing alarm.

Viruses naturally evolve as they move through the population, some more than others. It’s one reason we need a fresh flu shot each year.

On Saturday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced new restrictions because of the new strain. Several European Union countries and Canada were banning or limiting some flights from the U.K. to try to limit any spread.

Patrick Vallance, the British government’s chief scientific adviser, said that the strain “moves fast and is becoming the dominant variant,” causing over 60% of infections in London by December.

The strain is also concerning because it has so many mutations — nearly two dozen — and some are on the spiky protein that the virus uses to attach to and infect cells. That spike is what current vaccines target.

“I’m worried about this, for sure,” but it’s too soon to know how important it ultimately will prove to be, said Dr. Ravi Gupta, who studies viruses at the University of Cambridge in England. He and other researchers posted a report of it on a website scientists use to quickly share developments, but the paper has not been formally reviewed or published in a journal.

A bigger worry is when a virus mutates by changing the proteins on its surface to help it escape from drugs or the immune system.

“Emerging evidence” suggests that may be starting to happen with the new coronavirus, Trevor Bedford, a biologist and genetics expert at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, wrote on Twitter. “We’ve now seen the emergence and spread of several variants” that suggest this, and some show resistance to antibody treatments, he noted.

A bigger worry is when a virus mutates by changing the proteins on its surface to help it escape from drugs or the immune system.

“Emerging evidence” suggests that may be starting to happen with the new coronavirus, Trevor Bedford, a biologist and genetics expert at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, wrote on Twitter. “We’ve now seen the emergence and spread of several variants” that suggest this, and some show resistance to antibody treatments, he noted.

https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2020-12-20/explainer-are-new-coronavirus-strains-cause-for-concern

Reports from Britain and South Africa of new coronavirus strains that seem to spread more easily are causing alarm.

Viruses naturally evolve as they move through the population, some more than others. It’s one reason we need a fresh flu shot each year.

On Saturday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced new restrictions because of the new strain. Several European Union countries and Canada were banning or limiting some flights from the U.K. to try to limit any spread.

Patrick Vallance, the British government’s chief scientific adviser, said that the strain “moves fast and is becoming the dominant variant,” causing over 60% of infections in London by December.

The strain is also concerning because it has so many mutations — nearly two dozen — and some are on the spiky protein that the virus uses to attach to and infect cells. That spike is what current vaccines target.

“I’m worried about this, for sure,” but it’s too soon to know how important it ultimately will prove to be, said Dr. Ravi Gupta, who studies viruses at the University of Cambridge in England. He and other researchers posted a report of it on a website scientists use to quickly share developments, but the paper has not been formally reviewed or published in a journal.

A bigger worry is when a virus mutates by changing the proteins on its surface to help it escape from drugs or the immune system.

“Emerging evidence” suggests that may be starting to happen with the new coronavirus, Trevor Bedford, a biologist and genetics expert at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, wrote on Twitter. “We’ve now seen the emergence and spread of several variants” that suggest this, and some show resistance to antibody treatments, he noted.

https://www.startribune.com/the-coronavirus-is-mutating-what-does-that-mean-for-us/573442881/

The coronavirus is mutating. What does that mean for us?


Just as vaccines begin to offer hope for a path out of the pandemic, officials in Britain on Saturday sounded an urgent alarm about what they called a highly contagious new variant of the coronavirus circulating in England.

Scientists are worried about these variants but not surprised by them. Researchers have recorded thousands of tiny modifications in the genetic material of the coronavirus as it has hopscotched across the world.

But as it becomes more difficult for the pathogen to survive — because of vaccinations and growing immunity in human populations — researchers also expect the virus to gain useful mutations enabling it to spread more easily or to escape detection by the immune system.

The British announcement also prompted concern that the virus might evolve to become resistant to the vaccines just now rolling out. The worries are focused on a pair of alterations in the viral genetic code that may make it less vulnerable to certain antibodies.

The vaccination of millions of people may exert enormous pressure on the virus to become resistant to the immune response, setting back the global fight by years.

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/backstories/1421/

Japan's hospitals facing medical glove shortage


Frontline medical workers in Japan are worried they're running out of an essential piece of protective equipment. They're facing a critical shortfall of medical rubber gloves at the same time as coronavirus infections rise to record levels.

The clinic's deputy director, Doi Yoshiyasu, says it's getting difficult to source the item, and the price has doubled. He urges authorities to prioritize resource allocation to the people who need it most.

A recent survey of medical staff involved in the fight against COVID-19 found the shortage is becoming a serious issue nationwide.

Some facilities have resorted to using gloves that are not medical grade, but Professor Sugawara Erisa, an infection control expert at Tokyo Healthcare University, says that's putting people at risk.

"Sending frontline workers in without medical-grade gloves is like sending them to war without ammunition," she says.

One reason for the shortage is that Japan, like many countries, relies heavily on imports.

Malaysia produces two-thirds of the world's rubber gloves. Supramaniam Shanmugam, head of the Malaysian Rubber Glove Manufacturers Association, says global demand far exceeds supply. "We will be trying to catch up with demand for the next couple of years," he says.