On Friday, October 30, here are the latest COVID-19 numbers, according to Worldometer:
- World Cases: Over 45.5 million.
- World Deaths: 1,188,900.
Countries Outside of the US with Most Infections:
- India: 8,094,636 confirmed cases; 121,211 deaths.
- Brazil: 5,496,402 confirmed cases; 159,033 deaths.
- Russia: 1,599,976 confirmed cases; 27,656 deaths.
- France: 1,282,769 confirmed cases; 36,020 deaths.
- Spain: 1,238,922 confirmed cases; 35,639 deaths.
National News
Friday, October 30, 2020
- US Cases: Over 9.2 million.
- US Deaths: 234,399 deaths.
US States with Most Confirmed Cases:
- Texas: 942,486 confirmed cases; 18,402 deaths.
- California: 925,055 confirmed cases; 17,571 deaths.
- Florida: 794,624 confirmed cases; 16,726 deaths.
- New York: 539,715 confirmed cases; 33,643 deaths.
- Illinois: 400,171 confirmed cases; 9,945 deaths.
Influential Model Predicts 399,000 Deaths by February 1st
An Influential model developed by The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington School of Medicine now predicts 399,000 deaths from COVID-19 by Feb. 1, a 15,000 increase over last week’s prediction. “If states do not react to rising numbers by re-imposing mandates, cumulative deaths could reach 514,000 by the same date,” the IHME said in its latest forecast. “The fall/winter surge should lead to a daily death toll that is approximately three times higher than now by mid-January. Hospital systems, particularly ICUs, are expected to be under extreme stress in December and January in 18 states.”
9.9 Million Americans are Behind on Rent/Mortgage Payments
A grim example of the economic effect of the pandemic – a US Census Household Pulse Survey shows that 9.9 million Americans were not up-to-date on their rent or mortgage payments and had little to no confidence that their household could pay next month’s rent or mortgage on time. “To be able to understand the eviction crisis that we’re facing today, we have to recognize where we were before Covid-19 came to our country — and that was in the midst of a severe affordable housing crisis,” said Diane Yentel, president and CEO of the National Low-Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC).
Thursday, October 29, 2020
US Reporting Record High Infections
The United States is averaging more than 74,000 new COVID-19 cases each day – a record high since the pandemic started. According to data, four of the five highest number of cases in a single day were recorded in the last seven days, with the top two reported on Friday and Saturday.
Moderna will Have Follow-up Safety Data by Next Month
Biotech company Moderna says it expects to have its first interim analysis of its COVID-19 November, as well safety data later on in the same month, CNN reported. This announcement comes after the US Food and Drug Administration US Food and Drug Administration said it wants to review two months of safety data after volunteers get their second vaccine doses in clinical trials before considering any Covid-19 vaccine candidate for possible emergency use authorization.
Wednesday, October 28, 2020
Did White House Say that Trump Ended the Pandemic?
The White House’s Communications director is downplaying a Tuesday press release from the White House Office of Science and Technology policy that declared “ENDING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC,” as one of the Trump Administration’s main achievements. “No absolutely not, I think that was poorly worded,” said Alyssa Farah said during an appearance on Fox News Wednesday morning when asked whether the President believes the pandemic has ended. “The intent was to say that it is our goal to end the virus. But what I would say is this: because of the President’s leadership, we are rounding the corner on the virus,” she added.
“We’re certainly not getting ahead of it, we’re still in the midst of the pandemic. We do say we’re turning the corner and what we mean by that is, we’re rushing therapeutics, we’re in the best place to treat the virus that we’ve ever been in. And by end of year we expect that we’ll have the vaccine, at which point we will defeat the virus,” she said.
Kushner Bragged that Trump was Taking Country ‘Back from the Doctors’
Jared Kushner, President Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser, bragged in mid-April about how Trump had cut out doctors and scientists advising him on how to handle the spread of COVID-19.
In a taped interview on April 18, Kushner told legendary journalist Bob Woodward that Trump was “getting the country back from the doctors” in what he called a “negotiated settlement.” Kushner also proclaimed that the US was moving swiftly through the “panic phase” and “pain phase” of the pandemic and that the country was at the “beginning of the comeback phase.”
“That doesn’t mean there’s not still a lot of pain and there won’t be pain for a while, but that basically was, we’ve now put out rules to get back to work,” Kushner said. “Trump’s now back in charge. It’s not the doctors.”
US May Not Return to Normal Until 2022, Says Fauci
Dr. Anthony Fauci Says, “I think it will be easily by the end of 2021, and perhaps even into the next year, before we start having some semblances of normality,” Fauci said during a University of Melbourne panel discussion Tuesday.
Tuesday, October 27, 2020
Pandemic Will Not be Controlled, Says White House Official
White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows told CNN that the COVID-19 will not be controlled without the use of vaccines and therapeutics. “We are not going to control the pandemic,” Meadows told CNN’s Jake Tapper on “State of the Union” Sunday, arguing that “proper mitigation factors” like therapies and vaccines should be the priority.
Monday, October 26, 2020
US Cases Surge
The 7-day average for COVID-19 cases in United States hit 68,767 on Sunday, a grim record. The US recorded the two highest single days of new COVID infections on Friday and Saturday.
Former FDA Commissioner Pushes for Mask Mandate
Former US Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Scott Gottlieb is urging for a national mask mandate as a way to control COVID-19. He wrote an op-ed for The Wall Street Journal titled, “Winter is Coming: Time for a Mask Mandate.”
Friday, October 23, 2020
Remdesivir Approved by FDA for COVID-19
Remdesivir has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of COVID-19, making it the first approved treatment for the novel virus, according to the drug’s mak
Thursday, October 22, 2020
Vaccine Could Be Available by April for “All Americans,” Says Azar
A COVID-19 could be available to “all Americans” by early April, according to US Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar. “By the end of January, enough vaccine for all of our seniors as well as our health care workers and first responders,” Azar said in an interview Thursday with “CBS This Morning’s” Anthony Mason. “By the end of March and early April – enough for all Americans.”
Moderna Fully Enrolls Late-Stage COVID-19 Vaccine Trial
Moderna has fully enrolled 30,000 volunteers in late-stage testing its experimental coronavirus vaccine. Of those, more than 25,000 study participants have now received their second and final dose of the vaccine, and the company expects to report prelimary data from the trial by sometime next month.
Wednesday, October 21, 2020
US Health Expert Warns of ‘Difficult Fall and Winter’
A leading US health exert warns of a dangerous fall and winter, as COVID-19 cases continue to spike in the US. “It’s going to be a difficult fall and winter,” Dr. Scott Gottlieb, former commissioner of the US Food and Drug Administration, told CNBC on Monday evening. “I think we’re about two or three weeks behind Europe — so we’re about a week away from starting to enter a period where we’re going to see a rapid acceleration in cases.”
Tuesday, October 20, 2020
Vaccine Scientist Gives Grim Prediction
A vaccine scientist is warning that the next four to five months may be the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic. “The key is now hanging on now for the next four or five months, where we’re going to enter what may be the worst period during this epidemic. As bad as it’s been, it’s about to get worse,” Peter Hotez said on CNN’s “New Day.” “We could be looking at a doubling of the number of deaths by the week after the inauguration. This is tough stuff. What I’ve been trying to explain to people is it will get better, but we’re going to go through a terrible period.”
Stocks Are Up Today
US stocks opened higher today amid the hope for a stimulus deal before the fast upcoming election.
- The Dow opened 0.4%, or 105 points, higher.
- The S&P 500 rose 0.5%.
- The Nasdaq Composite also climbed 0.5%.
Monday, October 19, 2020
Expert Issues Dire Warning as US Cases Surge
Cases of COVID-19 are on the rise in the US, with only two US states showing a downward trend – Hawaii and Vermont. That leaves 21 states showing steady trends, and 27 states trending upward. “The next six to 12 weeks are going to be the darkest of the entire pandemic,” said Michael Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, told NBC’s”Meet the Press” on Sunday.
Friday, October 16, 2020
Unemployment Claims on the Rise
Americans filed 898,000 jobless claims last week, according to the Department of Labor. The number is more than economists projected, and up 53,000 from two weeks ago. Although jobless claims have dropped considerably since its peak in late March, those improvements have recently reversed. However, while an additional 372,891 Americans filed for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, that number is down by 91,000 from the previous week.
Chris Christie Not Contact Traced by White House
Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, who was recently released from the hospital infection COVID-19 infection, said that no contact tracing was done by the White House following his positive test for the virus. “Well, I know that there was no contact tracing done with me, George. My contact tracing was done by my local county board of health. They called me while I was in the hospital to contact trace and make sure they have all that information, and I hope so,” he said during an appearance on ABC News.
32 US States Trending in Wrong Direction
Data now show that 32 states are trending upward in COVID-19 cases compared to the previous week, and only 15 states are showing steady trends. Also, only three states are showing a downward trend, and those states are Louisiana, Kentucky, and Vermont.
Thursday, October 15, 2020
21 States Hit Their Peak 7-Day Average of New Cases
Over 20 US states are reporting an upward trend in COVID-19 cases, with 59,494 new cases reported yesterday alone, according to Johns Hopkins University. As of Thursday, the US is now averaging well over 52,000 cases a day, which is up 16% from the previous week. “This is a very ominous sign. I think we’re in for a pretty bad fall and winter,” said Dr. Peter Hotez, professor and dean of tropical medicine at the Baylor College of Medicine.
Wednesday, October 14, 2020
Eli Lily Pausing Monoclonal Antibody Trial
Drugmaker Eli Lily paused its trial of a combination antibody treatment for COVID-19 due to undisclosed safety reasons. “The trial, evaluating Lilly’s investigational neutralizing antibody as a treatment for COVID-19 in hospitalized patients, is sponsored by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Lilly is supportive of the decision by the independent DSMB to cautiously ensure the safety of the patients participating in this study,” the company said in the statement.
Small Gatherings Fueling COVID Spread
Small social gatherings have become a growing source of COVID-19 spread, according to a leading health expert, as infections and hospitalizations rise nationwide. “In the public square, we’re seeing a higher degree of vigilance and mitigation steps in many jurisdictions,” US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Robert Redfield said during a call with the nation’s governors on Tuesday, in audio obtained by CNN. “But what we’re seeing as the increasing threat right now is actually acquisition of infection through small household gatherings,” Redfield said. “Particularly with Thanksgiving coming up, we think it’s really important to stress the vigilance of these continued mitigation steps in the household
Tuesday, October 13, 2020
Trump COVID Negative, Not Infectious, Says White House
President Donald Trump has tested negative for COVID-19 for consecutive days and is not infectious to others, according to his physician. Physicians used antigen tests from Abbot, along with laboratory data included with viral load to determine Trump’s risk for spreading the virus. “This comprehensive data, in concert with the CDC’s guidelines for removal of transmission-based precautions, have informed our medical team’s assessment that the President is not infectious to others,” Dr. Sean Conley said in a memo.
Johnson & Johnson Vaccine Trial Paused
Pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson said Monday that it has paused the advanced clinical trial of its potential coronavirus vaccine due to an unexplained illness in one of the volunteers. “Following our guidelines, the participant’s illness is being reviewed and evaluated by the ENSEMBLE independent Data Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) as well as our internal clinical and safety physicians,” the company said in a statement. “Adverse events — illnesses, accidents, etc. — even those that are serious, are an expected part of any clinical study, especially large studies.”
Monday, October 12, 2020
Trump Claims He is Now COVID-19 Negative
President Donald Trump insists he no longer has coronavirus, despite the fact that The White House refuses to say whether he has tested negative for the virus. Hours after his physician issued a memo saying he is no longer “a transmission risk” to others, Trump said in an interview on Fox News he no longer has the virus, and is now immune. Moreover, Trump announced in an audio message that he tested “totally negative” for COVID-19, which goes beyond the memos released by his medical staff.
Twitter Flags Trump’s Comment; Facebook Does Not
Twitter added a warning label to a Trump tweet that claimed, with no backing evidence, that he is now immune to COVID-19 after his physician cleared him to resume public activities. Twitter’s warning label says the tweet, it “violated the Twitter Rules about spreading misleading and potentially harmful information related to Covid-19.” While Trump posted the same claim to his Facebook account, thus far the platform has done nothing to flag it.
Cases Going Up in More than Half of US States
Data show that more than half of US states are seeing an increase in COVID-19 cases, and five states – Montana, New Mexico, North Carolina, Tennessee and Vermont – report an increase of more than 50% in one week.
Friday, October 9, 2020
Doctor Clears Trump for Public Engagements
President Trump’s doctor said that the President has completed his coronavirus treaments and is cleared to resume “public engagements” on Saturday. “Saturday will be day 10 since Thursday’s diagnosis, and based on the trajectory of advanced diagnostics the team has been conducting, I fully anticipate the president’s safe return to public engagements at that time,” Dr. Sean Conley said.
Thursday, October 8, 2020
Regeneron Applies for Emergency Use for Antibody Therapy
Regeneron has applied for to the US Food and Drug Administration for emergency use authorization for its experimental monoclonal antibody therapy. This cocktail was used to treat President Donald Trump’s coronavirus infection. The company confirmed on its website the submission of emergency use to the FDA. “Under our agreement with the U.S. government for the initial doses of REGN-COV2, if an EUA is granted the government has committed to making these doses available to the American people at no cost and would be responsible for their distribution,” the statement said. “At this time, there are doses available for approximately 50,000 patients, and we expect to have doses available for 300,000 patients in total within the next few months.
CDC Now Projects 233,000 US Deaths by End of October
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now predicts 224,000 to 233,000 US deaths from COVID-19 by the end of October – up by 1,000 since the previous enable forecast, released on September 30.
Notre Dame University President in Hot Water Over COVID-19 Diagnosis
University of Notre Dame President Rev. John I. Jenkins is facing a student petition for his resignation and a possible “no confidence,” by faculty following his COVID-19 diagnosis. Students are furious that Jenkins attended the nomination ceremony for Amy Coney Barrett at the White House Rose Garden on Sept. 26 without donning a mask and failing to adhere to social distancing.
Amtrak Warns of Mass Layoffs Without Stimulus
Amtrak says without $5 billion in stimulus funds from the federal government, it will layoff 2,400 workers while reducing the frequency of trains on some routes, and halting major improvement projects. “We have seen that our ridership is not returning as quickly or at the levels that we had hoped for,” Amtrak president and CEO William J. Flynn wrote in a Thursday letter to Vice President Mike Pence and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Cases Once Again Rising in New Jersey
New Jersey reports 1,301 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday – the state’s highest total of new cases since May 29. “This is a sobering number,” said New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy. The positivity rate for NJ is ow at 3.69%.
Wednesday, October 7, 2020
- US Cases: 7.7 million.
- US Deaths: 216,125.
US States with Most Infections:
- California: 838,705 confirmed cases; 16,262 deaths.
- Texas: 814,323 confirmed cases; 16,664 deaths.
- Florida: 722,707 confirmed cases; 14,914 deaths.
- New York: 501,824 confirmed cases; 33,330 deaths.
- Georgia: 324,650 confirmed cases; 7,229 deaths.
How COVID-19 Impacts Tonight’s Debate
Tonight Vice President Mike Pence will go head-to-head in debate with Democratic Senator Kamala Harris. In response to the White House coronavirus outbreak – a number of new safety protocols are in place. Pence and Harris will have to stand more than 12 feet apart (instead of the standard six), using plexiglass as barriers between the two. Also, everyone in the audience will be required to wear masks. Both VP Pence and Sen. Harris have tested negative for COVID-19 going into tonight’s debate.
Tuesday, October 6, 2020
White House Denies Offers for Contact Tracing
The White House declined offers from the CDC to help investigate the source of the outbreak that lead to President Trump’s COVID-19 infection.
FDA Demands Safety Before Any Vaccine is Approved
The US Food and Drug Administration stated on Tuesday that it wants to see two months of follow-up data after volunteers get their second dose of a coronavirus vaccine as part of clinical trials testing potential coronavirus vaccines. This request will make it near possible for any vaccine maker to apply for emergency use authorization by election day or the end of this month.
Only Four US States are Trending Downwards
Only four US states are showing downward trends in new COVID-19 cases: Hawaii, Kansas, Missouri, and South Carolina. That leaves at least 22 states showing upward trends, and 24 states are showing steady trends.
Monday, October 5, 2020
CDC Once Again Updates Guidance to Say COVID-19 is Airborne
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has once again updated its guidance about how COVID-19 can spread. “Today’s update acknowledges the existence of some published reports showing limited, uncommon circumstances where people with COVID-19 infected others who were more than 6 feet away or shortly after the COVID-19-positive person left an area. In these instances, transmission occurred in poorly ventilated and enclosed spaces that often involved activities that caused heavier breathing, like singing or exercise. Such environments and activities may contribute to the buildup of virus-carrying particles.”
Biden States He Will Debate Trump is Scientists Approve
Joe Biden will listen to the doctors, he said when asked if he would debate President Trump if he were healthy by their next scheduled debate on Oct. 15. “If the doctors — listen to the science. If the scientists say that it’s safe and the distance are safe, then that’s fine. I’ll do whatever the experts say is appropriate to do.”
NJ Gov. Murphy Says Trump Was Reckless
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy said that President Trump was reckless for deciding to Bedminister rally last Thursday in NJ after his adviser, Hope Hicks, has tested positive for coronavirus. “We continue to send out best wishes and prayers to the President, the First Lady and former Gov. Chris Christie and all that have tested positive over the weekend. This is not a matter of politics but a matter of humanity, but this is also a matter of leadership by example and it is clear that the President and his staff acted recklessly in the first place knowing they had been exposed to someone with a confirmed positive test,” Murphy said.
Health Care Workers Should Be At Front of Vaccine Line
Frontline health care workers should be the first to receive COVID-19 vaccinations, according to experts advising the federal government. Following health care workers, then should come older adults living in congregate settings, like nursing homes, a National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) committee said in a final report.
Wednesday, October 1, 2020
Massive Airline Layoffs
Sadly, 32,000 airline employees are losing their jobs today after attempts to receive federal money failed. American Airlines is cutting 19,000 jobs, and United Airlines is cutting 13,000 jobs. United CEO Scott Kirby said the decision marked “”a very sad day for all of us here at United.”
American Airlines CEO Doug Parker had said in an interview with CNN that he hoped the layoffs could be avoided if the airlines and Congress could reach a deal, that has yet to occur.
Credit: Original article published here.
